Transportation behaviours of older adults : an investigation into car dependency in urban Australia

Aim: Increased car dependency amongst Australia's ageing population may result in increased social isolation and other health impacts associated with the cessation of driving. While public transport represents an alternative to car usage, patronage remains low amongst senior cohorts. This study investigates the facilitators and barriers to public transport patronage and the nature of car dependence among older Australians. Method: Data was gathered from a sample of 24 adults (mean = 70.33 years) through a combination of quantitative (remote behavioural observation) and qualitative (interviews) investigation. Results: Findings suggest factors of relative convenience, affordability and health/mobility dictate choices of transport mode. The car is considered more convenient for the majority of suburban trips irrespective of the availability of public transport. Conclusion: Policy attention should focus on providing better education and information regarding driving cessation and addressing aged-specific social aspects of public transport including the accommodation of various health and mobility issues.

Hydrogen-bonding in the structures of the hydrated proton-transfer compounds of isonipecotamide with the isomeric indole-2 and indole-3-carboxylic acids

The structures of two hydrated proton-transfer compounds of 4-piperidinecarboxamide (isonipecotamide) with the isomeric heteroaromatic carboxylic acids indole-2-carboxylic acid and indole-3-carboxylic acid, namely 4-carbamoylpiperidinium indole-2-carboxylate dihydrate (1) and 4-carbamoylpiperidinium indole-3-carboxylate hemihydrate (2) have been determined at 200 K. Crystals of both 1 and 2 are monoclinic, space groups P21/c and P2/c respectively with Z = 4 in cells having dimensions a = 10.6811(4), b = 12.2017(4), c = 12.5456(5) Å, β = 96.000(4)o (1) and a = 15.5140(4), b = 10.2908(3), c = 9.7047(3) Å, β = 97.060(3)o (2). Hydrogen-bonding in 1 involves a primary cyclic interaction involving complementary cation amide N-H…O(carboxyl) anion and anion hetero N-H…O(amide) cation hydrogen bonds [graph set R22(9)]. Secondary associations involving also the water molecules of solvation give a two-dimensional network structure which includes weak water O-H…π interactions. In the three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded structure of 2, there are classic centrosymmetric cyclic head-to-head hydrogen-bonded amide-amide interactions [graph set R22(8)] as well as lateral cyclic amide-O linked amide-amide extensions [graph set R24(8)]. The anions and the water molecule, which lies on a twofold rotation axis, are involved in secondary extensions.

Sub-tropical high-density, low rise residential buildings: case study 3

The case study 3 team viewed the mitigation of noise and air pollution generated in the transport corridor that borders the study site to be a paramount driver of the urban design solution. These key urban planning strategies were adopted: * Spatial separation from transport corridor pollution source. A linear green zone and environmental buffer was proposed adjacent to the transport corridor to mitigate the environmental noise and air quality impacts of the corridor, and to offer residents opportunities for recreation * Open space forming the key structural principle for neighbourhood design. A significant open space system underpins the planning and manages surface water flows. * Urban blocks running on east-west axis. The open space rationale emphasises an east-west pattern for local streets. Street alignment allows for predominantly north-south facing terrace type buildings which both face the street and overlook the green courtyard formed by the perimeter buildings. The results of the ESD assessment of the typologies conclude that the design will achieve good outcomes through: * Lower than average construction costs compared with other similar projects * Thermal comfort; A good balance between daylight access and solar gains is achieved * The energy rating achieved for the units is 8.5 stars.

Stepping stones : student guide : year 3

"ORIGO Stepping Stones gives mathematics teachers the best of both worlds by delivering lessons and teacher guides on a digital platform blended with the more traditional printed student journals." -- Publisher website

National Environmental Law Review Issue 2011: 3, Editorial: Federal Developments

Clean Energy Agreement of the MPCCC On 10 July 2011, details of the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee’s Clean Energy Agreement for implementing a carbon price were released. This included an agreed package of measures that the Committee considered would enable Australia to meet its emissions reduction targets in an environmentally and economically efficient way. A copy of the agreement can be found on the website of the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency...

Information literacy programs and research: reflections on 'Information literacy programs and research: An international review' by Christine Bruce. 2000. The Australian Library Journal 49, 3: 209-218

Although in the late 1990s there was much discussion as to whether the idea of information literacy was necessary or had longevity, global interest in the phenomenon has increased rather than diminished. In the midst of all this activity, what has happened to the way in which we interpret the idea of information literacy in the last decade or more? The label of information literacy has certainly become widely applied, especially to library based programs and remains more popular in formal learning environments.Ultimately information literacy is about peoples’ experience of using information wherever they happen to be. Information literacy is about people interacting, engaging, working with information in many contexts, either individually or in community. Emerging technologies may transform the kinds of information available and how it is engaged with. Nevertheless, we continue to need to understand the experience of information use in order to support people in their information environments. We continue to need to develop programs which reflect and enhance peoples’ experiences of using information to learn in ever widening and more complex settings (Bruce, 2008; Bruce & Hughes, 2010).

Practice and procedure : a recent Court of Appeal case examines the meaning of 'third party payer' in terms of Part 3.4 of the Legal Profession Act 2007.

In Legal Services Commissioner v Wright [2010] QCA 321 the Queensland Court of Appeal allowed an appeal from the first instance decision. The decision involved the construction of “third party payer” in Part 3.4 of the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld).

The undesirable acetylation of cellulose by the acetate ion of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate

The ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C2mim]OAc) is considered to be an inert solvent of cellulose and lignocellulosic biomass. Acetylation (1.7 % mol, or DS 0.017) of cellulose after dissolution in [C2mim]OAc (150 °C for 20 min), is demonstrated by compositional analysis, FTIR analysis and 13C NMR spectroscopy (in [C2min]OAc with 13C enriched acetate). This acetylation, in the absence of added acylating agents, has not been reported before and may limit [C2mim]OAc utility in industrial scale biomass processing, even at this low extent. For example, cellulose acetylation may contribute to IL loss in processes where the IL is recovered and reused and inhibit enzyme saccharification of cellulose in lignocellulosic biofuel production processes based on saccharification and fermentation.

4-(4-Aminophenylsulfonyl)aniline-1,3-5-trinitrobenzene (1/2)

The asymmetric unit of the title co-crystalline 1:2 adduct C12H12N2O2 . 2(C6H3N3O6) contains two independent molecules of bis(4-aminophenyl)sulfone (the drug Dapsone) and four molecules of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene and is extended into a two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network structure through amino N-H...O hydrogen-bonding associations with nitro O- atom acceptors. In the two independent Dapsone molecules the inter-ring dihedral angles are 69.0(2) and 63.59(11)deg. Aromatic pi-pi interactions are also found between one of the Dapsone aromatic rings and a trinitrobenzene ring [minimum ring centroid separation 3.576(5)Ang.]. A 4-aminophenyl ring moiety of one of the Dapsone molecules and two nitro groups of a trinitrobenzene are disordered in a 50:50 ratio.

1,1,3,3-Tetraethylisoindolin-2-ium chloride

In the structure of the title compound C16H26N+ Cl-, the salt of a precursor in the synthesis of an isoindolin-2-yloxyl free-radical trapping agent, the cations and anions form discrete centrosymetric cyclic dimers through N---H...Cl hydrogen-bonding associations [graph set R2/4(8)].

4-(4-Aminophenylsulfonyl)aniline-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (1/1)

In the title co-crystalline adduct of the drug Dapsone with 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid, C~12~H~12~N~2~O~2~S . C~7~H~4~N~4~O~6~, the dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings of the Dapsone molecule is 75.4(2)deg. and those between these rings and that of the 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid are 64.5(2) and 68.4(2)deg. A strong inter-species carboxylic acid O-H---N(amine) hydrogen-bond is found, which together with intermolecular amine N-H...O hydrogen-bonding associations with carboxyl, nitro and sulfone O-atom acceptors as well as weak pi-pi interactions between one of the Dapsone phenyl rings and the 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid ring [minimum ring centroid separation 3.774(2)Ang.], give a two-dimensional network structure.

A superdirective 3-element array for adaptive beamforming

A small array composed of three monopole elements with very small element spacing on the order of λ/6 to λ/20 is considered for application in adaptive beamforming. The properties of this 3-port array are governed by strong mutual coupling. It is shown that for signal-to-noise maximization, it is not sufficient to adjust the weights to compensate for the effects of mutual coupling. The necessity for a RF-decoupling network (RF-DN) and its simple realization are shown. The array with closely spaced elements together with the RF-DN represents a superdirective antenna with a directivity of more than 10 dBi. It is shown that the required fractional frequency bandwidth and the available unloaded Q of the antenna and RF-DN structure determine the lower limit for the element spacing.

Project 2.7 Leveraging R&D Investment for the Australian built environment : Phase 2 Case Study Report Part 3 - Green Buildings

This report discusses findings of a case study into "Green Buildings" undertaken as a part of the retrospective analysis component of Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre (SBEnrc) Project 2.7 Leveraging R&D investment for the Australian Built Environment. The Western Australian Government (WAG) has taken a leadership role for a number of decades in developing more environmentally responsive buildings. In the past decade, considerable initiatives have been introduced to contribute to: (i) greening the stock of government buildings; and (ii) providing leadership in the development of other non-residential buildings developed commercially. This role has been informed by global, national and internal initiatives and research in this area. This case study investigates: (i) the nature of this leadership; and (ii) the role of R&D policy development; and (iii) the dissemination and impact of outcomes in the broader industry. This case study should be read in conjunction with Part 1 of this suite of reports.