Submission to Queensland Law Reform Commission WP 73 Review of Child Protection Mandatory Reporting Laws for the Early Childhood Education and Care Sector

In 2015 the QLRC is conducting an inquiry into whether to extend legislative mandatory reporting duties for physical abuse and sexual abuse to early childhood education and care practitioners. The current legislation does not require these practitioners to report suspected cases of significant harm from physical or sexual absue to child welfare agencies. Based on the literature, and a multidisciplinary analysis, our overall recommendation is that we endorse the extension to selected early childhood education and care practitioners of Queensland’s current mandatory reporting duty in the Child Protection Act 1999 s 13E.

State of Charge of Lead Acid Battery

Lead acid batteries are used in hybrid vehicles and telecommunications power supply. For reliable operation of these systems, an indication of state of charge of battery is essential. To determine the state of charge of battery, current integration method combined with open circuit voltage, is being implemented. To reduce the error in the current integration method the dependence of available capacity as a function of discharge current is determined. The current integration method is modified to incorporate this factor. The experimental setup built to obtain the discharge characterstics of the battery is presented.

Denoising neural data with state-space smoothing: Method and application

Neural data are inevitably contaminated by noise. When such noisy data are subjected to statistical analysis, misleading conclusions can be reached. Here we attempt to address this problem by applying a state-space smoothing method, based on the combined use of the Kalman filter theory and the Expectation–Maximization algorithm, to denoise two datasets of local field potentials recorded from monkeys performing a visuomotor task. For the first dataset, it was found that the analysis of the high gamma band (60–90 Hz) neural activity in the prefrontal cortex is highly susceptible to the effect of noise, and denoising leads to markedly improved results that were physiologically interpretable. For the second dataset, Granger causality between primary motor and primary somatosensory cortices was not consistent across two monkeys and the effect of noise was suspected. After denoising, the discrepancy between the two subjects was significantly reduced.

High-Pressure Magnetic-Susceptibility Studies of Spin-State Transaction

High-pressure magnetic susceptibility measurements have been carried out on Fe(dipy)2(NCS)2 and Fe(phen)2(NCS)2 in the pressure range 1–10 kbar and tempeature range 80–300 K in order to investigate the factors responsible for the spin-state transitions. The transitions change from first order to second or higher order upon application of pressure. The temperature variation of the susceptibility at different pressures has been analysed quantitatively within the framework of available models. It is shown that the relative magnitudes of the ΔG0 of high-spin and low-spin conversion and the ferromagnetic interaction between high-spin complexes determines the nature of the transition.

A thermal molecular migration in the solid-state - structures of isomeric 5-amino-4-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1-(2-nitrophenyl)-1h-1,2,3-triazole (yellow form i) and 4-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-5-(2-nitroanilino)-2h-1,2,3-triazole (red form-ii), c14h9cl2n5o2

Yellow form (I): Mr= 350.09, monoclinic, P2Jn, Z--4, a=9.525(1), b=14.762(1), c= 11.268(1),/t, fl= 107.82 (1) o , V= 1508.3 A 3 , Din(flotation in aqueous KI)= 1.539 (2), D x= 1.541 (2) g cm -3, #(Cu Ka, 2 = 1.5418 A) = 40.58 cm -~, F(000) = 712, T= 293 K, R = 8.8% for 2054 significant refections. Red form (II): Mr= 350.09, triclinic, Pi, Z=2, a=9.796(2), b= 10.750 (2), c= 7.421 (1)A, a= 95.29 (2), fl= 0108-2701/84/111901-05501.50 70.18 (1), y = 92-.76 (2) °, V= 731.9 A 3, Din(flotation in KI) = 1.585 (3), D x = 1.588 (3) g cm -3, ~t(Cu Ka, 2 = 1.5418/~) = 40.58 cm -1, F(000) = 356, T=293 K, R = 5.8% for 1866 significant reflections. There are no unusual bond distances or angles. The triazole and two phenyl rings are planar. On the basis of packing considerations the possibility of intermolecular interactions playing a role in the reactivity of the starting material is ruled out.

Initiation Reactions in Thermal Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers in the Molten State

Evidence of the initiation process during uncatalyzed thermal polymerization of vinyl monomers is presented. DSC studies reveal a prominent endothermic effect just before the polymerization exotherm, which is substantiated by the identification of the free radicals produced in the initiation by a quick quenching technique and subsequent detection by ESR at low temperatures.

Steady state optimization of an ammonia reactor

A hybrid simulation technique for identification and steady state optimization of a tubular reactor used in ammonia synthesis is presented. The parameter identification program finds the catalyst activity factor and certain heat transfer coefficients that minimize the sum of squares of deviation from simulated and actual temperature measurements obtained from an operating plant. The optimization program finds the values of three flows to the reactor to maximize the ammonia yield using the estimated parameter values. Powell's direct method of optimization is used in both cases. The results obtained here are compared with the plant data.

Vermicular graphite cast iron current state of the art

Vermicular graphite cast iron is a new addition to the family of cast irons. Various methods for producing vermicular graphite cast iron are briefly discussed in this paper. The mechanical and physical properties of cast irons with vermicular graphite have been found to be intermediate between those of gray and ductile irons. Other properties such as casting characteristics, scaling resistance, damping capacity and machinability have been compared with those of gray and ductile irons. Probable applications of vermicular graphite cast irons are suggested.

Social media in selected Australian federal and state election campaigns, 2010-15

Campaigning in Australian election campaigns at local, state, and federal levels is fundamentally affected by the fact that voting is compulsory in Australia, with citizens who are found to have failed to cast their vote subject to fines. This means that - contrary to the situation in most other nations – elections are decided not by which candidate or party has managed to encourage the largest number of nominal supporters to make the effort to cast their vote, but by some 10-20% of genuine ‘swinging voters’ who change their party preferences from one election to the next. Political campaigning is thus aimed less at existing party supporters (so-called ‘rusted on’ voters whose continued support for the party is essentially taken for granted) than at this genuinely undecided middle of the electorate. Over the past decades, this has resulted in a comparatively timid, vague campaigning style from both major party blocs (the progressive Australian Labor Party [ALP] and the conservative Coalition of the Liberal and National Parties [L/NP]). Election commitments that run the risk of being seen as too partisan and ideological are avoided as they could scare away swinging voters, and recent elections have been fought as much (or more) on the basis of party leaders’ perceived personas as they have on stated policies, even though Australia uses a parliamentary system in which the Prime Minister and state Premiers are elected by their party room rather than directly by voters. At the same time, this perceived lack of distinctiveness in policies between the major parties has also enabled the emergence of new, smaller parties which (under Australia’s Westminster-derived political system) have no hope of gaining a parliamentary majority but could, in a close election, come to hold the balance of power and thus exert disproportionate influence on a government which relies on their support.

Understanding solid-state transformations during dehydration: new insights using vibrational spectroscopy and multivariate modelling

Many active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) have both anhydrate and hydrate forms. Due to the different physicochemical properties of solid forms, the changes in solid-state may result in therapeutic, pharmaceutical, legal and commercial problems. In order to obtain good solid dosage form quality and performance, there is a constant need to understand and control these phase transitions during manufacturing and storage. Thus it is important to detect and also quantify the possible transitions between the different forms. In recent years, vibrational spectroscopy has become an increasingly popular tool to characterise the solid-state forms and their phase transitions. It offers several advantages over other characterisation techniques including an ability to obtain molecular level information, minimal sample preparation, and the possibility of monitoring changes non-destructively in-line. Dehydration is the phase transition of hydrates which is frequently encountered during the dosage form production and storage. The aim of the present thesis was to investigate the dehydration behaviour of diverse pharmaceutical hydrates by near infrared (NIR), Raman and terahertz pulsed spectroscopic (TPS) monitoring together with multivariate data analysis. The goal was to reveal new perspectives for investigation of the dehydration at the molecular level. Solid-state transformations were monitored during dehydration of diverse hydrates on hot-stage. The results obtained from qualitative experiments were used to develop a method and perform the quantification of the solid-state forms during process induced dehydration in a fluidised bed dryer. Both in situ and in-line process monitoring and quantification was performed. This thesis demonstrated the utility of vibrational spectroscopy techniques and multivariate modelling to monitor and investigate dehydration behaviour in situ and during fluidised bed drying. All three spectroscopic methods proved complementary in the study of dehydration. NIR spectroscopy models could quantify the solid-state forms in the binary system, but were unable to quantify all the forms in the quaternary system. Raman spectroscopy models on the other hand could quantify all four solid-state forms that appeared upon isothermal dehydration. The speed of spectroscopic methods makes them applicable for monitoring dehydration and the quantification of multiple forms was performed during phase transition. Thus the solid-state structure information at the molecular level was directly obtained. TPS detected the intermolecular phonon modes and Raman spectroscopy detected mostly the changes in intramolecular vibrations. Both techniques revealed information about the crystal structure changes. NIR spectroscopy, on the other hand was more sensitive to water content and hydrogen bonding environment of water molecules. This study provides a basis for real time process monitoring using vibrational spectroscopy during pharmaceutical manufacturing.

State space formulation of ammonia reactor dynamics

The specific objective of this paper is to develop a state space model of a tubular ammonia reactor which is the heart of an ammonia plant in a fertiliser complex. A ninth order model with three control inputs and two disturbance inputs is generated from the nonlinear distributed model using linearization and lumping approximations. The lumped model is chosen such that the steady state temperature at the exit of the catalyst bed computed from the simplified state space model is close enough to the one computed from the nonlinear steady state model. The model developed in this paper is very useful for the design of continuous/discrete versions of single variable/multivariable control algorithms.

Disabled Revolutionary War Veterans and the Construction of Disability in the Early United States, c. 1776-1840

This thesis addresses the following broad research question: what did it mean to be a disabled Revolutionary War veteran in the early United States during the period from 1776 to roughly 1840? The study approaches the question from two angles: a state-centred one and an experiential one. In both cases, the theoretical framework employed comes from disability studies. Consequently, disability is regarded as a sociocultural phenomenon rather than a medical condition. The state-centred dimension of the study explores the meaning of disability and disabled veterans to the early American state through an examination of the major military pension laws of the period. An analysis of this legislation, particularly the invalid pension acts of 1793 and 1806, indicates that the early United States represents a key period in the development of the modern disability category. The experiential approach, in contrast, shifts the focus of attention away from the state towards the lived experiences of disabled veterans. It seeks to address the issue of whether or not the disabilities of disabled veterans had any significant material impact on their everyday lives. It does this through a comparison of the situation of 153 disabled veterans with that of an equivalent number of nondisabled veterans. The former group received invalid pensions while the latter did not. In comparing the material conditions of disabled and nondisabled veterans, a wide range of primary sources from military records to memoirs and letters are used. The most important sources in this regard are the pension application papers submitted by veterans in the early nineteenth century. These provide us with a unique insight into the everyday lives of veterans. Looking at the issue of experience through the window of the pension files reveals that there was not much difference in the broad contours of disabled and nondisabled veteran life. This finding has implications for the theorisation of disability that are highlighted and discussed in the thesis. The main themes covered in this study are: the wartime experiences of injured American soldiers, the military pension establishment of the early United States and the legal construction of disability, and the post-war working and family lives of disabled veterans. Keywords: disability, early America, veterans, military pensions, disabled people, Revolutionary War, United States, disability theory.

State of Charge of Lead Acid Battery

Lead acid batteries are used in hybrid vehicles and telecommunications power supply. For reliable operation of these systems, an indication of state of charge of battery is essential. To determine the state of charge of battery, current integration method combined with open circuit voltage, is being implemented. To reduce the error in the current integration method the dependence of available capacity as a function of discharge current is determined. The current integration method is modified to incorporate this factor. The experimental setup built to obtain the discharge characterstics of the battery is presented

Spin-state equilibria in the LCoO3 system from 59Co NMR

Spin-state equilibria in the whole set of LCoO3 (where L stands for a rare-earth metal or Y) have been investigated with the use of 59Co NMR as a probe for the polycrystalline samples (except Ce) in the temperature interval 110-550 K and frequency range 3- 11.6 MHz. Besides confirming the coexistence of the high-spin—low-spin state in this temperature range, a quadrupolar interaction of ∼0.1 -0.5 MHz has been detected for the first time from 59Co NMR. The NMR line shape is found to depend strongly on the relative magnitude of the magnetic and quadrupolar interactions present. Analysis of the powder pattern reveals two basically different types of transferred hyperfine interaction between the lighter and heavier members of the rare-earth series. The first three members of the lighter rare-earth metals La, Pr (rhombohedral), and Nd (tetragonal), exhibit second-order quadrupolar interaction with a zero-asymmetry parameter at lower temperatures. Above a critical temperature TS (dependent on the size of the rare-earth ion), the quadrupolar interaction becomes temperature dependent and eventually gives rise to a first-order interaction thus indicating a possible second-order phase change. Sm and Eu (orthorhombic) exhibit also a second-order quadrupolar interaction with a nonzero asymmetry parameter ((η∼0.47)) at 300 K, while the orthorhombic second-half members (Dy,..., Lu and Y) exhibit first-order quadrupolar interaction at all temperatures. Normal paramagnetic behavior, i.e., a linear variation of Kiso with T-1, has been observed in the heavier rare-earth cobaltites (Er,..., Lu and Y), whereas an anomalous variation has been observed in (La,..., Nd)CoO3. Thus, Kiso increases with increasing temperature in PrCoO3 and NdCoO3. These observations corroborate the model of the spin-state equilibria in LCoO3 originally proposed by Raccah and Goodenough. A high-spin—low-spin ratio, r=1, can be stabilized in the perovskite structure by a cooperative displacement of the oxygen atoms from the high-spin towards the low-spin cation. Where this ordering into high- and low-spin sublattices occurs at r=1, one can anticipate equivalent displacement of all near-neighbor oxygen atoms towards a low-spin cobalt ion. Thus the heavier LCoO3 exhibits a small temperature-independent first-order quadrupolar interaction. Where r<1, the high- and low-spin states are disordered, giving rise to a temperature-dependent second-order quadrupolar interaction with an anomalous Kiso for the lighter LCoO3.

The carbon dioxide hydration activity of the sulfonamide-resistant carbonic anhydrase from the liver of male rat: pH independence of the steady-state kinetics

The steady-state kinetic constants for the catalysis of CO2 hydration by the sulfonamide-resistant and testosterone-induced carbonic anhydrase from the liver of the male rat has been determined by stopped-flow spectrophotometry. The turnover number was 2.6 ± 0.6 × 103 s− at 25 °C, and was invariant with pH ranging from 6.2 to 8.2 within experimental error. The Km at 25 °C was 5 ± 1 mImage , and was also pH independent. These data are in quantitative agreement with earlier findings of pH-independent CO2 hydration activity for the mammalian skeletal muscle carbonic anhydrase isozyme III. The turnover numbers for higher-activity isozymes I and II are strongly pH dependent in this pH range. Thus, the kinetic status of the male rat liver enzyme is that of carbonic anhydrase III. This finding is consistent with preliminary structural and immunologic data from other laboratories.