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• Generation Y were found to perceive EVs to have better design with less impact on the environment. • For safety , generation Z were found to perceive EVs to be superior. • Technical features of commercially available EVs are no longer a major barrier towards EVs' adoption rate. • One-time financial incentives are more effective compared to discounts on operating costs or parking expenses. • Same amount of money paid to consumers is preferred more than a discount on purchase price. Relative advantage, or the degree to which a new technology is perceived to be better than an existing technology which is being replaced, has a significant impact on individuals' decisions on when, how and to what extent to adopt. An integrated choice and latent variable model is used, in this paper, to explicitly measure the perceived advantages in electric vehicles over the conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. The analysed data is obtained from a stated preference survey including 1076 residents in New South Wales, Australia. According to the results, the latent component of the model disentangles the perceived advantages across three dimensions of vehicle design , impact on the environment , and safety. These latent variables are interacted with price, driving range and body type, respectively, to capture the impact of perception on preference. The developed model is then used to examine the effectiveness of different support schemes on Millennials (Gen Y), the generation before them (Gen X) and after them (Gen Z). The results show higher probability of adopting electric vehicles for Gen Y, compared to Gen X and Z. Gen Y is found to be the least sensitive cohort to purchase price, and Gen X to be the most sensitive cohort to this attribute. People are more sensitive to incentives for the initial price compared to ongoing incentives for operating costs. Also, offering financial incentives to consumers as a rebate on the purchase price is more effective than allocating the same incentive to manufacturers to reduce the purchase price. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exposure to the suicide death of another may lead to distress and increase the risk of suicide in those connected to the deceased. Yet, the extent of this exposure across the population is ill-defined. This paper utilises representative data to quantify the extent of exposure to suicide in the Australian community and the reported effect of this exposure.Methods: A random digit dial, computer-assisted telephone interview survey was undertaken to understand how Australian's may assist someone in severe distress or at risk of suicide. Embedded within this survey were questions on exposure to suicide and the impact of this exposure.Results: Among a representative sample of 3002 Australians, 58% reported exposure to the suicide of someone known to them in their lifetime and 18.5% of exposed individuals reported their own suicidal thoughts in the past-year. Higher perceived impact of the suicide and concern for another person were associated with increased likelihood of current suicidal thinking.Limitations: Survey design limitations resulted in unknown psychological harms beyond past-year suicidal thinking in respondents.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate a high level of exposure to suicide death among Australians, with multiple exposures common. How and why suicide manifests in some exposed to suicide and not others remains unknown and requires further research. However, these findings suggest suicide prevention efforts need to expand to include a focus on suicide exposure, and mental health clinicians should consider exposure to suicide in risk assessment to better understand an individual's vulnerability to suicide following exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Literature suggests that value of time (VOT) may decrease due to advent of AVs. • Reduction in VOT may impact households' residential location choices. • This expectation was tested empirically using stated choice methods. • Empirical results do not suggest drastic changes in VOT due to AVs. The literature suggests that autonomous vehicles (AVs) may drastically change the user experience of private automobile travel by allowing users to engage in productive or relaxing activities while travelling. As a consequence, the generalised cost of car travel may decrease, and car users may become less sensitive to travel time. By facilitating private motorised mobility, AVs may eventually impact land use and households' residential location choices. This paper seeks to advance the understanding of the potential impacts of AVs on travel behaviour and land use by investigating stated preferences for combinations of residential locations and travel options for the commute in the context of autonomous automobile travel. Our analysis draws from a stated preference survey, which was completed by 512 commuters from the Sydney metropolitan area in Australia and provides insights into travel time valuations in a long-term decision-making context. For the analysis of the stated choice data, mixed logit models are estimated. Based on the empirical results, no changes in the valuation of travel time due to the advent of AVs should be expected. However, given the hypothetical nature of the stated preference survey, the results may be affected by methodological limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exponential growth of water demand and a decrease in usable freshwater due to various climate, environmental and anthropogenic events make rainwater harvesting a useful practice. According to Australian health regulations, drinking rainwater is low risk, if the roof catchment, collection system and storage are well maintained. The CSU Engineering building, which has received an architectural award for its sustainable design, produces its drinking water (3.7 L/person/day) within the premises. Rainwater is collected from the roof catchment, stored outside the building and treated on demand at a fully transparent water treatment plant installed at the entrance of the building. The water treatment facility is fully powered by solar panels installed on the roof. The treatment process consists of several operations, including aeration, sand filtration, GAC adsorption and UV disinfection. The performance of the CSU Engineering water treatment plant for the past 30 months is discussed in this paper. Primary and secondary water quality parameters of treated water were well within Australian drinking water quality standards and showed better results than municipal water available in the host town. The aeration unit improved secondary water quality standards (odor and taste) and the adsorption process was effective for elimination of metals. The result of this experiment indicated that this process could be a promising solution for providing safe drinking water in remote Australia, including sessional demands in rest areas and caravan parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for aged care services coupled with a global shortage of skilled nursing staff has hindered long-term care facilities' ability to provide necessary services to their residents. Healthcare information technology is expected to mitigate this challenge by streamlining nursing work, while also improving quality of care and productivity. This study set out to examine how nurses and care workers work, the role of information technology (IT) in their work and what contradictions they face in their IT mediated work. Ethnographic study informed by six components of activity theory: subject, object, tool, rule, community and division of labor. Eight care units in two long-term care facilities in Australia. Eleven staff from two long-term care facilities including registered nurses (n = 2), endorsed enrolled nurses (n = 5) and personal care workers (n = 4) participated in this study. Participants were shadowed during morning shifts (6:30 am to 3:00 pm). A total of 24 morning shifts were observed over four months. Field notes were created based on observational data and informal interviews, in addition to document review. Through the lens of activity theory, the work activity system of nurses and care workers in the long-term care facilities consisted of the subject (nurses and care workers), their object (resident care), tools used for work including IT, rules of work, community, and division of labor. These components interacted through work processes; therefore, a "process" component was added in the activity system. Special attention was given to the role of IT as the conduit of information in the work processes. Although IT helped track medication rounds, automated documentation and communication among the staff, it introduced contradictions. Seven contradictions involving IT were identified, including contradictions within the IT tool, between the IT tool and the object of work, between the subjects and documentation rules, between the work activity system using paper records and the system using IT, and between the activity system within the long-term care facility and the pharmacists' work activity system outside the facility. Activity theory provided a theoretic framework to model the work activity system of nurses and care workers. Information technology played an important role in supporting information flow in this system, however it also caused contradictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectively dealing with invasive species is a pervasive problem in environmental management. The damages that stem from invasive species are well known. However, controlling them cost-effectively is an ongoing challenge, and mathematical modeling and optimization are becoming increasingly popular as a tool to assist management. In this paper we investigate problems where optimal control theory has been implemented. We show that transforming these problems from state–costate systems to state-control systems provides the complete qualitative description of the optimal solution and leads to its theoretical expression for free terminal time problems. We apply these techniques to two case studies: one of feral cats in Australia, where we use logistic growth; and the other of wild-boars in Italy, where we include an Allee effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exponential growth of water demand and a decrease in usable freshwater due to various climate, environmental and anthropogenic events make rainwater harvesting a useful practice. According to Australian health regulations, drinking rainwater is low risk, if the roof catchment, collection system and storage are well maintained. The CSU Engineering building, which has received an architectural award for its sustainable design, produces its drinking water (3.7 L/person/day) within the premises. Rainwater is collected from the roof catchment, stored outside the building and treated on demand at a fully transparent water treatment plant installed at the entrance of the building. The water treatment facility is fully powered by solar panels installed on the roof. The treatment process consists of several operations, including aeration, sand filtration, GAC adsorption and UV disinfection. The performance of the CSU Engineering water treatment plant for the past 30 months is discussed in this paper. Primary and secondary water quality parameters of treated water were well within Australian drinking water quality standards and showed better results than municipal water available in the host town. The aeration unit improved secondary water quality standards (odor and taste) and the adsorption process was effective for elimination of metals. The result of this experiment indicated that this process could be a promising solution for providing safe drinking water in remote Australia, including sessional demands in rest areas and caravan parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mutual information is effective to analyze dependence of foF2 on R 12 and F10.7 12. • Dependence of foF2 on R 12 and F10.7 12 differ in different solar activity years. • Mutual information provides an effective selection of inputs for foF2 prediction. This paper analyzes the dependence of the ionospheric F2 layer critical frequency, f oF2, on two widely used solar activity indices (12-month running mean of the sunspot number (R 12) and the solar radio flux of 10.7 cm wavelength (F10.7 12)) by using mutual information method at the ionospheric station of Darwin (geographic 12.4°S, 131.5°E) in Australia. The results show that the f oF2 have different responses to R 12 and F10.7 12 in different solar activity years. In the high and low solar activity years, the f oF2 is more dependent on R 12 rather than F10.7 12. In the moderate solar activity years, the f oF2 is more dependent on F10.7 12 rather than R 12. We further verify the effectiveness of the mutual information on the selection of the solar activity index by developing the prediction models of the f oF2. Additionally, the results are compared against the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model. The data of training period used in the model is from 1998 to 2015, except 2000, 2009 and 2013. Data for 2000, 2009 and 2013 are used to validate the prediction accuracy, for high, low and moderate solar activity years, respectively. The results demonstrate that the favorable prediction results can be obtained when the solar activity index with large mutual information is used as the input variable of the fo F2 prediction model. The proposed method not only can quantitatively analyze the nonlinear relationship between the fo F2 and solar activity indices but also provides an effective way of selecting the solar activity indices for the fo F2 prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catheter associated urinary tract infections are one of the most common infections acquired in hospital. A recent randomised control study demonstrated the benefit of using chlorhexidine (0.1%) for meatal cleaning prior to urinary catheter insertion, by reducing both catheter associated asymptomatic bacteriuria and infection. These findings raise the important question of whether a decision to switch from saline to chlorhexidine was likely to be cost-effective. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adopting routine use of chlorhexidine for meatal cleaning prior to urinary catheter insertion The outcomes of this cost-effectiveness study are changes to health service costs in $AUD and changes to quality adjusted life years from a decision to adopt 0.1% chlorhexidine for meatal cleaning prior to urinary catheter insertion as compared to saline. Effectiveness outcomes for this study were taken from a 32 week stepped wedge randomised controlled study conducted in three Australian hospitals. The changes in health costs from switching from saline to 0.1% chlorhexidine per 100,000 catheterisations would save hospitals AUD$387,909 per 100,000 catherisations, prevent 70 cases of catheter associated urinary tract infections, release 282 bed days and provide a small improvement in health benefits of 1.43 quality adjusted life years. Using a maximum willingness to pay for a marginal quality adjusted life year threshold of AUD$28,000 per 100,000 catherisations, suggests that adopting chlorhexidine would be cost effective and potentially cost-saving. The findings from our work provide evidence to health system administrators and those responsible for drafting catheter associated urinary tract infections prevention guidelines that investing in switching from saline to chlorhexidine is not only clinically effective but also a sensible decision in the context of allocating finite healthcare resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Presenting a set of mathematical models for green flowshop scheduling problems. • Considering common carbon reduction policies and their corresponding scenarios. • Providing analysis of models and insights to design a framework for green flowshops. • Industries can use our cost-effective strategies to meet limits mandated by government. • Government can explore our integrated framework to gauge impacts of carbon policies. In this paper we consider, from an environmental policy-maker perspective, how carbon reduction policies impact the economic competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. Specifically, we focus on flowshop scheduling – which typically aims to minimize makespan for purely economic objectives – and consider how three common carbon reduction policies – namely, taxes on emissions, baselines on emissions, and emissions trading schemes – can create competitive green flowshops that balance minimization of makespan and carbon emissions. The goal is to enable policy-makers to understand how to set policies and control parameters to achieve environmental objectives while ensuring global economic competitiveness of industry. We initially present a set of mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) models for flowshop scheduling problems operating in a regulated environment in which each carbon reduction policy is adopted. We then introduce a bi-objective scheduling framework for the corresponding problem to obtain alternative solutions under each policy. These models and their computational results however, are not the main focus of the study, but are presented as a means to demonstrate how green policies co-exist with economic objectives, with policy-makers in control of the balance. To this end, based on financial data from Australia's carbon emissions profile, we provide a policy-oriented analysis of the models, and some managerial insights into the effect of scheduling strategies on carbon emissions under different reduction policies. These insights offer support to both environmental policy-makers and corporate production and sustainability managers to determine whether it is technically feasible and profitable to replace traditional scheduling strategies with environmentally friendly scheduling strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effects of cognitive abilities and non-cognitive skills on gambling behaviors in Australia. We use the scores for three cognitive functioning tasks as measures of cognitive abilities. Locus of control and the Big Five personality traits are used as measures of non-cognitive skills. We find that cognitive abilities affect both gambling participation and problem gambling. While locus of control does not affect people's participation in gambling, gambling participants with strong internal locus of control are less likely to become a problem gambler than those with external locus of control. We also show that personality traits are important factors for both gambling participation and problem gambling. There is also evidence that both cognitive and non-cognitive skills affect gamblers' choice between skill-and-chance gambling and pure-chance gambling. Our findings seem to support the view that market imperfection could at least explain some individuals' participation in gambling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echocardiography is a common and increasingly used noninvasive imaging tool in medicine. In this paper, we imagine the echocardiography laboratory of the future and consider the challenges we face currently, and may face in the future, and how these might be overcome; challenges such as training enough sonographers to meet the increasing demands of the ageing population living with chronic cardiovascular disease and the need for surveillance in other clinical scenarios. We consider the changing qualification framework and the requirements for accreditation and registration in Australia and New Zealand and the potential for migrant sonographers to meet some of the increasing demand. Advanced scopes of practice are likely to be a feature of the future workforce and we consider some of the ways these may evolve. Lastly, we consider how the evolving clinical landscape and technology may change the way echocardiography is delivered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An increasing number of stock assessments are based on spatially-structured models. • Six formulations for spatially-structured assessment models are outlined. • Estimation of migration rates within assessments leads to improved performance. • Guidelines are given for estimating recruitment in spatially-structured assessments. Many, if not most, stocks of fish and invertebrates subject to commercial, recreational or subsistence harvesting exhibit some degree of spatial heterogeneity. This can be due to a lack of complete movement within a single biological population or due to the assessed region consisting of multiple sub-stocks. In principle, assessments for stocks for which the assumption of homogeneity is violated should be based on population dynamics models that are spatially-explicit. There are, however, relatively few stocks for which multi-stock/multi-area assessments are conducted. However, the number of assessments in which space is explicitly represented in the population dynamics model has been increasing in recent years and such models are available for fish stocks such as New Zealand hoki and canary rockfish off the US west coast, as well as invertebrates such as the rock lobsters off southern Australia and New Zealand. A challenge within such spatially-explicit assessments pertains to how recruitment and movement are modelled. This paper reviews assessments for fish and invertebrate stocks that are based on spatially-explicit models, identifying the challenges associated with modelling recruitment caused by increased model and parameter estimation complexity, and the available solutions. A set of illustrative simulations are undertaken to evaluate the consequences of different assumptions regarding spatial recruitment and movement, and hence develop some recommendations for best practice guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Machine learning algorithms have been applied to estimate wheat yield for Australia. • Combining climate and satellite data achieves high performance for yield prediction. • The unique and overlapping information of climate and satellite data is quantified. • Optimal prediction performance can be achieved two-month lead time before maturity. Wheat is the most important staple crop grown in Australia, and Australia is one of the top wheat exporting countries globally. Timely and reliable wheat yield prediction in Australia is important for regional and global food security. Prior studies use either climate data, or satellite data, or a combination of these two to build empirical models to predict crop yield. However, though the performance of yield prediction using empirical methods is improved by combining the use of climate and satellite data, the contributions from different data sources are still not clear. In addition, how the regression-based methods compare with various machine-learning based methods in their performance in yield prediction is also not well understood and needs in-depth investigation. This work integrated various sources of data to predict wheat yield across Australia from 2000 to 2014 at the statistical division (SD) level. We adopted a well-known regression method (LASSO, as a benchmark) and three mainstream machine learning methods (support vector machine, random forest, and neural network) to build various empirical models for yield prediction. For satellite data, we used the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) from MODIS and solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) from GOME-2 and SCIAMACHY as metrics to approximate crop productivity. The machine-learning based methods outperform the regression method in modeling crop yield. Our results confirm that combining climate and satellite data can achieve high performance of yield prediction at the SD level (R2 ˜ 0.75). The satellite data track crop growth condition and gradually capture the variability of yield evolving with the growing season, and their contributions to yield prediction usually saturate at the peak of the growing season. Climate data provide extra and unique information beyond what the satellite data have offered for yield prediction, and our empirical modeling work shows the added values of climate variables exist across the whole season, not only at some certain stages. We also find that using EVI as an input can achieve better performance in yield prediction than SIF, primarily due to the large noise in the satellite-based SIF data (i.e. coarse resolution in both space and time). In addition, we also explored the potential for timely wheat yield prediction in Australia, and we can achieve the optimal prediction performance with approximately two-month lead time before wheat maturity. The proposed methodology in this paper can be extended to different crops and different regions for crop yield prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper analyzes the ongoing transition to sustainable energy in Australia, moving from traditional large-scale plants to distributed renewable generation by studying the time series of coal and gas consumption as well as onshore wind and solar. Even though most of energy generation, especially in the form of electricity is currently being generated from coal and gas, a quantitative assessment of their evolution is necessary to understand whether, and to which extent, renewables are competing in the marketplace with conventional production means. A well-accepted innovation diffusion model is used to capture and interpret the underlying dynamics of the competitive transition in generation. The results show that renewables are exerting a competitive pressure on coal and collaborate with gas towards the transition. The view that gas should play a key role in transition is confirmed by our findings, because it is found to have a competitive role towards coal, while aiding the uptake of renewables. Highlights • Analysis of the ongoing transition to sustainable energy in Australia. • Study to understand whether renewables are competing in the marketplace. • A diffusion model used to capture the dynamics of the competitive transition. • Renewables exert a competitive pressure on coal and cooperate with gas. • Gas plays a competitive role towards coal, and aids the uptake of renewables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is wide agreement that the US student loan system faces significant problems. Seven million borrowers are in default and many more are not repaying for reasons such as returning to school, or economic hardship. The stress of repayments faced by many students results at least in part from the design of US student loans. Specifically, loans are organised like a mortgage, with fixed monthly repayments over a fixed period of time, creating a high repayment burden on borrowers with low income. This paper draws on the experience of the income-contingent loan (ICL) systems operating in England and Australia, in which monthly or two-weekly repayments are related to the borrower's income in that period, thus building in automatic insurance against inability to repay during periods of low income. We discuss the design of this type of loan in detail since such an exercise seems to be largely absent in the US literature. Drawing on data from the US Current Population Survey (CPS) we provide two main empirical contributions: a stylised illustration of the revenue and distributional implications of different hypothetical ICL arrangements for the USA; and an illustration of repayment problems faced by low-earning borrowers in the US loan system, including a plausible example of adverse outcomes with respect to Stafford loans. Importantly, we compare repayment burdens under the existing and alternative systems. Our illustrations show how US mortgage-type loans can create financial difficulties for a significant minority of US borrowers, difficulties which an ICL is designed to address. We note also that the current small and ineffective income-based repayment system in the US has few of the characteristics of an ideal ICL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behaviour of low rise cold-formed steel-framed residential structures when subject to lateral loading (e.g. wind and earthquake loads) is significantly influenced by both structural and non-structural elements. The ceiling is normally considered as a horizontal diaphragm for the distribution of such lateral loads to the bracing walls. In Australia, the ceiling diaphragm, in single and two storey cold-formed steel-framed houses, is made of plasterboard lining fixed to ceiling battens which in turn are screwed to the roof trusses. Determination of the stiffness and strength of the ceiling diaphragm is crucial for accurate distribution of the lateral load to the lateral resisting elements (e.g. bracing walls). This paper presents experimental results from tests of typical ceiling diaphragms. Further, a detailed finite element model is described which was validated against the experimental results. The model is capable of reproducing the initial stiffness, non-linear deformation and ultimate strength. The finding from this work would assist engineers in designing the lateral load resisting system for houses. • Performance of steel-framed ceiling diaphragms is mainly governed by the behavior of the sheathing-to-framing connections. • Ceiling diaphragm test showed a failure of the plasterboard connections at the corners of the specimen. • Presence of end-wall top plate increased the load carrying capacity and displacement capacity of ceiling diaphragm. • Finite element model results showed good agreement with the experimental results. • Design engineer can prepare design charts to provide maximum spacing of bracing walls for houses constructed in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Australia is behind in the race of solar power generation. • The usual energy payback period of a solar panel is about 10–15 years. • Large portions of energy are wasted because of the low quality invertor. • A selection procedure should be followed to choose BIPV systems. • Reducing initial capital costs and raising public awareness are necessary. Buildings consume a large quantity of energy. In May 2010, the European Union (EU) reported that around 40% of their energy consumption was related to building sectors, which is similar to the proportion of 39% in the United States. In Australia, buildings count 20% of its total energy consumption. Experts across the globe have been working in the development of new technologies, which not only reduce the building energy consumption but also harness energy from renewable sources. Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system is one of the most popular techniques towards constructing a net-zero energy building through the utilisation of solar energy. In this review, we focus on the BIPV applications in Australia, where BIPV has not been prevailed as widely as might be expected despite the high solar irradiation in the country. This paper discusses recent advancements in BIPV systems and challenges that Australia is facing in order to adopt this technology. In addition, the current carbon emission issues in Australia are presented to build awareness among people, which will contribute towards adopting this technology. A range of experimental and numerical studies have been reviewed to identify the effectiveness of BIPV on building performances. This study also reports on the sustainability and economic feasibility of BIPV systems in terms of energy payback time and economical payback time, respectively. Based on this review, it is argued that BIPV is technically and economically feasible for Australia and its implementation might be started with solar roof tiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on an empirical study that explores the ways students approach learning to find and use information. Based on interviews with 15 education students in an Australian university, this study uses phenomenography as its methodological and theoretical basis. The study reveals that students use three main strategies for learning information literacy: 1) learning by doing; 2) learning by trial and error; and 3) learning by interacting with other people. Understanding the different ways that students approach learning information literacy will assist librarians and faculty to design and provide more effective information literacy education. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper introduces a novel model for predicting the performance and conducting sensitivity analysis of design parameters in two-body point absorber wave energy converters. The key novelty lies in the examination of design parameter sensitivity and their interaction effects on performance. The model utilizes the response surface method (RSM) in conjunction with central composite design to establish analytical equations for efficiently predicting the resonance frequency and peak generated power of the two-body wave energy converters based on geometric parameters and wave height. This eliminates the need for complex analytical solutions and boundary element simulations. The accuracy and reliability of the RSM prediction models are validated through state-of-the-art numerical simulations and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Using these RSM prediction models, the study proceeds to design and optimize two-body point absorbers for locations along the coastlines of the six Australian states, focusing on two objectives: maximizing peak output power and maximizing the power-to-weight ratio at each location. By incorporating the second optimization target, it is observed that impressive power output with smaller device dimensions or a higher power-to-weight ratio can be achieved across all six Australian states. The developed response surface method prediction model is a versatile mathematical framework applicable to all two-body point absorber wave energy converters and can be adapted for optimizing other types of wave energy converters with expansive search spaces. Australia was selected as a case study due to its abundant wave energy density along its southern shorelines. Notably, no similar studies addressing these specific aspects have been reported in the literature, making this work the first of its kind. • The performance prediction models of two body wave energy converters have been developed from design parameters. • The prediction models are validated against numerical simulations and the analysis of variance (ANOVA). • The sensitivity of design parameters and their interactions has been analyzed and disclosed. • The optimal dimensions for the maximum power and maximum power to weight ratio are derived for all the Australian seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• GIS analysis is conducted to quantify the hydrological information for mud pumping prediction. • In-service train data and hydrological variables are combined to develop predictive model. • Incorporating hydrological variables can improve prediction performance. • Explainable deep learning can be used to reveal the effects of a single variable on the probability of mud pumping. • The most vulnerable sections for mud pumping in railway tracks can be identified. Automatic and timely identification of mud pumping is important for the reliability and safety of railroads. The current mud pumping prediction model is based on monitoring the dynamic response of railway tracks. The essential geotechnical trigger factors such as the hydrological conditions are not well-considered in these prediction models, as that information is hard to be quantified, which unavoidably reduces the accuracy of the prediction. This paper proposes to utilize the Geographic Information System (GIS) to quantify the hydrological information along railway tracks. Through GIS analysis, the hydrological variables including elevation, near-river distance, rainfall, sink depth, and soil types are estimated and combined with in-service train monitoring data for model development. To deal with multi-attribute data, a dual-channel neural networks model is proposed to separately mine the characteristics in different attributes data for prediction. To further understand the prediction model, Shapely addictive explanations (SHAP) method is applied to estimate the importance of hydrological variables and reveal the possible relationships between the variables and the probability of mud pumping. The proposed approach is applied to a real-life case from the railway tracks in Australia to validate its effectiveness. The prediction results show that the proposed approach can predict mud pumping with balanced accuracy of 90.84%. The results confirm that integrating of GIS information and monitoring data can generate more accurate prediction and reduce the false prediction rate. Based on the explainable results, it is observed that rainfall is the most important hydrological variable that influences mud pumping occurrence. Apart from rainfall, groundwater-related variables show a greater impact on mud pumping occurrence than surface water-related variables. The explainable results also can help infrastructure managers to identify the most vulnerable sections in railway tracks, which facilitates targeted maintenance planning and track substructure design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, and internationally, mentoring is proffered as a powerful professional learning experience for both early career teachers (ECTs) and their mentors alike. However, authentically beneficial learning partnerships have proven challenging to achieve. This paper provides a theoretical and practical response to this issue, arguing the criticality of genuine conversations cultivated through balanced, non-hierarchical questioning to position ECTs and mentors as co-learners. Drawing on positioning theory in conjunction with the concept of genuine conversations, the contents of five recorded mentoring conversations involving Australian ECTs and mentors were analysed. These findings have important implications for mentoring practice across educational contexts. • Learning partnerships between early career teachers and mentors are challenging to achieve, regardless of experience. • Innovative use of positioning theory in conjunction with the concept of genuine conversations. • The criticality of genuine conversations cultivated through balanced, non-hierarchical questioning for learning partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curtailment of distributed photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems will have significant implications for power system transition around the world. Australia offers a unique case study as it has highest installation rate of distributed-PV and growing fleet of battery energy storage systems. Distributed-PV and battery inverters in Australia are required to exhibit voltage-responsive power-quality response modes to prevent excessive voltage rise caused by increasing day-time energy exports, but these modes can curtail power output and limit the value that can be gained from the renewable energy assets. For the first time in Australia, this paper studies all three inverter power-quality response modes and develops novel algorithms to assess curtailment. The algorithms are applied to a real-world dataset of 1-sec distributed-PV and battery power measurements from 1300 residential households; therefore, data resolution is higher and sample size is larger than previous related studies. Using these datasets, the study compares the experienced curtailment between distributed-PV only sites and distributed-PV coupled with battery sites for the first time. The study investigates and quantifies the energy loss due to curtailment within the South Australia region with over 40% distributed-PV penetration which has the highest uptake in the world. The results show that average curtailment loss was 1.5% for distributed-PV only sites and 0.2% for distributed-PV coupled with battery sites, however, some sites were heavily impacted losing up to 25% of generation. The reasons for the larger curtailment loss were identified as wiring and network connection faults and high voltage set-points at households' respective local substations. Other potential reason for the heavily impacted sites is being located towards the end of the low voltage feeder, however this couldn't be verified due to lack of spatial data. The large variation in curtailed generation across sites raises concerns for system owners and suggests further inquiry into the power-quality response mode design and regulations. The study also examines inverter conformance using real-world operational data for all three power quality response modes for the first time, and the results showed a low rate of conformance according to the Australian Standards and there were various discrepancies in the execution of these modes which raises concerns considering the increasing importance of distributed-PV and battery inverter fleet in supporting network operations and security. The results therefore warrant further investigation into the reasons behind these discrepancies and devising appropriate mechanisms to tighten inverter conformance checks. • Energy curtailment is calculated for D-PV only and D-PV coupled with BESS sites • Average loss due to curtailment is less than 2% of total D-PV generation • Curtailment is greater for D-PV only sites than D-PV coupled with BESS sites • Some sites lose up to 25% of generation due to curtailment • The large variation of curtailment losses across sites raises concerns • Inverters showed low conformance in power quality response mode standards [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long distance dispersal (LDD) contributes to the replenishment and recovery of tropical seagrass habitats exposed to disturbance, such as cyclones and infrastructure development. However, our current knowledge regarding the physical attributes of seagrass fragments that influence LDD predominantly stems from temperate species and regions. The goal of this paper is to measure seagrass fragment density and viability in two tropical species, assessing various factors influencing their distribution. We measured the density and viability of floating seagrass fragments for two tropical seagrass species (Zostera muelleri and Halodule uninervis) in two coastal seagrass meadows in the central Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Australia. We assessed the effect of wind speed, wind direction, seagrass growing/senescent season, seagrass meadow density, meadow location and dugong foraging intensity on fragment density. We also measured seagrass fragment structure and fragment viability; i.e., potential to establish into a new plant. We found that seagrass meadow density, season, wind direction and wind speed influenced total fragment density, while season and wind speed influenced the density of viable fragments. Dugong foraging intensity did not influence fragment density. Our results indicate that wave action from winds combined with high seagrass meadow density increases seagrass fragment creation, and that more fragments are produced during the growing than the senescent season. Seagrass fragments classified as viable for Z. muelleri and H. uninervis had significantly more shoots and leaves than non-viable fragments. We collected 0.63 (±0.08 SE) floating viable fragments 100 m−2 in the growing season, and 0.13 (±0.03 SE) viable fragments 100 m−2 in the senescent season. Over a third (38%) of all fragments collected were viable. There is likely to be a large number of viable seagrass fragments available for long distance dispersal. This study's outputs can inform dispersal and connectivity models that are used to direct seagrass ecosystem management and conservation strategies. • There are large numbers of viable seagrass fragments available for dispersal. • Moderate winds with high seagrass density increases seagrass fragment creation. • More seagrass fragments are produced during the growing than the senescent season. • Seagrass fragments have more shoots and leaves than non-viable fragments. • Over a third (38%) of all floating fragments are viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes fire safety experiments on Australian native timber samples with a special focus on their use in bushfire-prone areas. Nine species were assessed through testing in a cone calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effects of density, moisture content and chemical extractives content were evaluated. Marked differences in ignition times were found, possibly due to variations in density across species, as well as the chemical extractives content. Analysis of the heat flow through DSC indicated that the type of extractives can influence the fire safety performance and that this aspect of wood properties merits further study. One additional species was identified as a suitable candidate for bushfire-resisting species in the Australian bushfire context. • Determination of flammability of northern Australia timber species. • Multiscale testing of varied density and extractive content. • Assessment for timber use in bushfire attack level 29 zones. • Extractives content and ignition have linear correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We provide new evidence for the benefits and challenges of accessing SMART Recovery mutual-help groups virtually via videoconference. • Identified benefits include availability, ease of access and the zoom chat feature. • Potential challenges included in-group engagement, group size, non-verbal cues, social interaction and technology problems. • Virtual SMART Recovery mutual-help groups appealed to different people under different circumstances. • Our findings have implications for research, training and practice. COVID-19 prompted widespread transition of face-to-face mutual-help groups to virtual delivery. Current understanding of the experience of virtual mutual-help groups is limited to 12-step approaches or asynchronous groups (e.g., forums). This paper explores participant and facilitator perspectives regarding the benefits and challenges of accessing SMART Recovery mutual-help groups virtually via videoconference. A self-selected convenience sample of participants (n = 29) and facilitators (n = 15) from SMART Recovery mutual-help groups in Australia were enrolled. Participants and facilitators were sampled to reflect experience of virtual groups delivered via videoconference ('online'), face-to-face groups ('face-to-face') or both types of groups ('both'). Telephone qualitative interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using iterative categorisation. Participant and facilitators discussed their experience across eight interconnected themes benefits were typically discussed with regard to the (1) availability, (2) ease of access and (3) value add of the chat feature in online groups. Challenges largely pertained to (1) in-group engagement, (2) group size, (3) non-verbal cues, (4) social interaction and (5) technology problems. The impact of these challenges on participant and facilitator experience varied, and neither modality was consistently identified as superior. SMART Recovery mutual-help groups provided participants with another option for accessing mutual-help and appealed to different people under different circumstances. Depending on the needs and preferences of the individual, online SMART Recovery mutual-help groups may help to mitigate a range of barriers to help seeking and may also engage people otherwise unable or reluctant to engage in treatment. To inform training, practice and policy, improved understanding of the individual and contextual factors that enhance participant engagement, experience and outcomes is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spotty Liver Disease (SLD) is a serious problem in laying hens farmed in cage-free systems. The causative organism, Campylobacter hepaticus , is regarded as having a fecal-oral method of transmission and hence may build up and spread readily in housing systems which allow ease of direct contact of hens with the flock's fecal material. The epidemiology of SLD has not been thoroughly investigated. An initial cross-sectional analytical epidemiological survey of SLD in free range and barn layer systems was conducted in Australia over 2019 to 2021.The survey involved rearing flocks (n = 32) which were then followed through into laying flocks (n = 24) up to 40 wk of age. Cloacal swabs were collected during rearing and lay for C. hepaticus detection by PCR. Flocks were classified as "Cases" (n = 18) where clinical SLD according to the case definition was observed or "Controls" (n = 6) which were clinically unaffected. No C. hepaticus was detected in cloacal swabs from rearing houses whereas the organism was detected in 18 Case flocks in lay and from 2 Control flocks in lay. All layer houses that incorporated a scratch area (n = 13) were categorized as Cases. Thus, having a scratch area is a key determinant for SLD and no analyses of further contributory factors from these flocks were able to be made. Of the remaining 11 flocks which had floors fully covered by slats, 5 were Cases (45%). Further risk factor analysis was compromised by this small sample size and identification of other significant associations was not possible. A larger survey investigating flocks laying in houses with fully slatted floors was undertaken to further the understanding of SLD epidemiology and is reported in a companion paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study conceptualises water security indicators in the regional urban context for water security policy formulation and implementation. The paper used a Process Analysis Method (PAM) to develop and apply a set of Urban Water Security (UWS) indicators suitable for the regional urban water authorities. The UWS indicators were calibrated and validated by the relevant stakeholders of the northern, tropical, urban region of Queensland, Australia. Although the priorities for different regional cities vary, the indicators are expected to help water authorities monitor, measure and track their policy performance over time. • Regional cities are having their unique water supply security challenges. • Urban water supply Indicators designed with stakeholder consultation and verification. • Indicators are developed to support urban water supply policy formulation to improve water security. • Pilots the indicators in a regional urban water context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia has long been observed to experience the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) of periodic alternation of flooding and drought. Australia has experienced consecutive years of the La Niña cycle of heavy rain and flooding. At some stage, this will revert to one or more years of drought, often severe. In previous years of drought, consideration was given to alternative water supply, including recycled wastewater. This paper reflects on the case of the previous period of El Niño drought in South East Queensland (SEQ), aiming to contribute to drought mitigation planning through reviving consideration of recycled water. • In depth case study on Queensland response to drought conditions. • Includes analysis of attempts to introduce other water sources, particularly recycled water for potable and non potable uses. • Examines reasons for failure and non-acceptance and uses comparisons with successful schemes to suggest policy changes for a way forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Challenge the monolingual English norm in intercultural doctoral education. • Motivate bilingual doctoral researchers' translingual capabilities for theorising. • Develop a translingual pedagogy for bilingual doctoral researcher education by drawing upon the Chinese character jiāo/jiào 教. • Resolve bilingual doctoral researchers' doubts and concerns about translingual theorising. • Highlight supervisors' three roles when supervising bilingual doctoral researchers. The transcultural and translingual diversity of bilingual doctoral researchers who speak languages other than English, in particular those with non-Anglophone backgrounds, has been emphasised in recent years to challenge the monolingual English norm. To explore effective pedagogies to motivate these bilingual doctoral researchers to theorise translingually, this paper draws upon methodologies about translingualism and intercultural doctoral education to dispel the recurrent doubts raised by these bilingual doctoral researchers. Thus, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Chinese bilingual doctoral researchers and their supervisors in Australia and China to understand their perceptions and practices regarding using the linguistic and epistemological resources buried in Chinese for academic purposes. In response to the concerns expressed by the participants, three critical roles of supervisors are highlighted, namely exemplifying, teaching and demanding translingual theorising. These three roles are further developed into a pedagogical framework inspired by the Chinese word jiāo/jiào 教, which itself is an example of translingual theorising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Developing a dynamic model to optimize the operation and maintenance of offshore wind firms (OWFs). • Predicting the future states of downtime expenses, failures, and production losses. • Identifying factors affecting maintenance to minimize the impact of human response on O&M activities. • Applying to an exemplar OWF, located in the Bass Strait, the north coast of Tasmania, Australia. This paper presents a system dynamics model to for the degradation of offshore wind farms (OWFs) optimise O&M planning and asset management, taking into account the effects of weather-related delays. The model predicts the future states of wind turbines, repairs, downtime expenses, failures, and production losses. Simulation results show the optimal scenario for effective intervention and the adaptability of the proposed model in controlling wind farm assets. By considering various maintenance planning approaches, the model identifies the factors affecting maintenance and minimises the impact of human response on O&M activities in OWFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources such as wind farms and solar power plants are replacing conventional coal-based synchronous generators (SGs) to achieve net-zero carbon emissions worldwide. SGs play an important role in enhancing system strength in a power system to make it more stable during voltage/frequency disruptions. However, traditional coal-fired SGs are being decommissioned in many parts of the world, owing to stringent environmental regulations and low levelized cost of energy of renewables. Consequently, maintaining system strength in a renewable energy-dominated power system has become a major challenge, and without adequate mitigation techniques, low system strength can potentially cause widespread power outages. This paper provides an overview of system strength and its measurement techniques in a power system with a large number of renewable energy sources (RESs), for example solar and wind farms. The review includes the system strength measurement techniques, mitigation approaches, and future challenges. • A comprehensive review on system strength for Australia. • Integration of power systems with large number of renewable energy sources. • Measurement and mitigation techniques for system strength shortfalls. • Analysis of future challenges and research directions on system strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a nationwide testing program for literacy and numeracy in Australia. Several studies explored and used NAPLAN numeracy test results as a source of valuable data and a potential means to improve education. This paper presents a systematic literature review to investigate the use of NAPLAN numeracy test results in those peer-reviewed articles in relation to the purposes of NAPLAN results mentioned by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). Findings showed a variety of uses of the NAPLAN numeracy test results in these studies. Most of the studies used the test results to map student progress and identify strengths and weaknesses in teaching. A significant number of studies used the NAPLAN numeracy test results that differ from the purposes mentioned by ACARA. The review concluded that there is currently insufficient use which reflects the purpose of NAPLAN test results. • There is currently insufficient use which reflects the purpose of NAPLAN test results. • NAPLAN test results are often used solely for measuring students learning outcomes. • There are risks in focusing too strongly on any one indicator assessment test results. • This study is applicable in contexts practising standardised tests and their unintended use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local and state governments depend on small area population forecasts to make important decisions concerning the development of local infrastructure and services. Despite their importance, current methods often produce highly inaccurate forecasts. Recent years have witnessed promising developments in time series forecasting using Machine Learning across a wide range of social and economic variables. However, limited work has been undertaken to investigate the potential application of Machine Learning methods in demography, particularly for small area population forecasting. In this paper we describe the development of two Long-Short Term Memory network architectures for small area populations. We employ the Keras Tuner to select layer unit numbers, vary the window width of input data, and apply a double training and validation regime which supports work with short time series and prioritises later sequence values for forecasts. These methods are transferable and can be applied to other data sets. Retrospective small area population forecasts for Australia were created for the periods 2006–16 and 2011–16. Model performance was evaluated against actual data and two benchmark methods (LIN/EXP and CSP-VSG). We also evaluated the impact of constraining small area population forecasts to an independent national forecast. Forecast accuracy was influenced by jump-off year, constraining, area size, and remoteness. The LIN/EXP model was the best performing method for the 2011-based forecasts whilst deep learning methods performed best for the 2006-based forecasts, including significant improvements in the accuracy of 10 year forecasts. However, benchmark methods were consistently more accurate for more remote areas and for those with populations <5000. • A novel deep learning method for small area forecasts is presented. • Forecast accuracy was influenced by jump-off year, constraining, area size, and remoteness. • Deep learning methods performed best for the 5 and 10 year 2006-based forecasts. • The LIN/EXP model was the best performing method for the 5 year 2011-based forecasts. • Benchmark methods were consistently more accurate for more remote areas and for those with populations <5000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses practising schoolteachers' use of figurative language, drawn from a set of semi-structured interviews with 42 Australian teachers, part of a wider, five-nation study of teachers' emotional experiences. The analysis is clustered around the teachers' talk about commitment (as manifesting motivation), agency (as a consequence of professional competence), relationships (as expressing social competence) and self-awareness (as a primer of emotional competence) that framed the teachers' experiences of effectiveness and wellbeing. More broadly, teachers' intuitive use of figurative language to communicate their experiences sheds new light on the phenomenon of teacher resilience. • Presents a clear conceptualisation of the pillars that support teacher resilience. • Analyses figurative language that reveals a view of resilience that respects the teachers' actions. • Expands theoretical and practical understanding of teacher resilience in everyday interactions. • Suggests tailoring teacher professional learning towards enhancing teacher resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health orders were introduced in many countries, including Australia, during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the spread of the virus. However, for many people this led to an exacerbation of mental health symptoms, particularly those living with severe or persistent mental illness (SPMI). Additionally, the conduct of clinical research was severely impacted during the pandemic, with many difficulties encountered in the conduct of clinical trials. This paper describes the COVID-related impacts experienced during the implementation of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) testing the effectiveness of a community pharmacist-led support service for people living with SPMI in Australia (the PharMIbridge RCT), and the strategies used to successfully implement the RCT. Australian public health orders led to interstate border closures, stay-at-home orders and work-from-home requirements, resulting in necessary changes to allow for the continuation of the RCT including; changes to trial regions, transferring some training materials online while delaying face-to-face (F2F) training components, delays in pharmacy and consumer recruitment, encouraging telehealth service delivery and extensions to timelines with existing funding. Having a solution-focussed and flexible approach, while still ensuring critical trial protocol elements were adhered to, such as providing opportunities for F2F skills-based training for pharmacists, as well as F2F site visits from researchers and mentors to support trial implementation, resulted in high pharmacy and consumer participant retention through to trial conclusion. Future planning for RCTs should consider possible pandemic-related risks and rapid responses from approval bodies to ensure researchers can be agile and adapt to ensure successful trial completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ever-increasing level of bidding freedom bestowed to participants in deregulated electricity markets, bidding strategies have become more diversified and complicated, inevitably giving rise to the growth of market uncertainties. Some researchers have developed tools to predict the bidding behaviors of generation companies (GENCOs) considering uncertainties. However, there still remains a gap in enhancing the performance of probabilistic Bidding Behavior Forecasting (BBF) and understanding the sources of bidding uncertainties in electricity markets. This paper proposes a holistic Bayesian Deep Learning (BDL) framework based on Accurate Variational Inference (AVI) to capture both aleatoric uncertainty and epistemic uncertainty, two important uncertainties in bidding behaviors. The introduced framework also procures higher BBF accuracy and reasonable computation cost compared with existing techniques. Derivatives of GENCOs' bidding uncertainty are ascertained by implementing a new metric to quantify the impact of influence factors. A numerical experiment is conducted using data from National Electricity Market (NEM) in Australia to demonstrate the performance of the proposed framework. • A BDL framework based on AVI is proposed for analyzing bidding uncertainty. • A modified BNN is constructed to perform BBF with higher efficiency. • The epistemic uncertainty and the aleatoric uncertainty in BBF are captured. • The derivatives of bidding uncertainty are ascertained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serious games have shown to be effective in improving motivation to learn, knowledge and retention, thus are being increasingly used for alcohol and other drug (AOD) education. This paper outlines the development of an online AOD serious game for in-class use by Australian secondary school teachers for students in Years 9–10. Adapted from Edwards et al. (2018), the seven-step systematic and iterative user-centred development framework included: (1) Forming an expert multidisciplinary design team, (2) Defining the problem and establishing user preferences, (3) Incorporating the evidence base, (4) Serious game design, (5) Incorporating behavioural and psychological theory, (6) Developing a logic model and investigating causal pathways, and (7) User testing. High school students (n = 8), health and physical education teachers (n = 7), and parents (n = 8) were engaged throughout different stages of the development process to inform development and provide feedback on considerations for promoting engagement, acceptability, and usability of the game amongst both students and teachers. Overall, participants rated game acceptability and usability favourably and would recommend the game for learning about AOD. Constructive feedback and suggestions for improvements from user testing sessions were implemented to form the final version of the game and module. The next step is to test Sideffect GamePlan in a simulated classroom environment before piloting in school settings. [Display omitted] • A six-lesson alcohol and other drug education package for high school teachers to use in-class with Year 9 and 10 students. • Serious game development process outlining conceptual and theoretical approaches. • An interactive narrative serious game and in-class activities aligned to Australian health education curriculum. • Content focused on alcohol and other drug harm reduction and real-life scenarios. • User-centred design approach to promote end-user engagement and adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper aimed to investigate whether distinct sleep quality subtypes predicted health-related quality of life in a nonclinical sample of children.Methods: This paper utilized data from two waves of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a cohort study that follows a representative population of children in Australia. This paper examined data from Waves 4 and 5 of the LSAC (covering the period 2010-2012) and included 3974 children aged 10-11 years at Wave 4 (51.4% male). Multiple dimensions of sleep quality were assessed using a combination of child- and parent-reported measures. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed through the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory.Results: Latent class analysis indicated six distinct sleep quality classes in children, namely good sleep, moderate sleep quality, mild sleep disturbances, short sleep, long sleep, and disordered sleep. In general, the disordered sleep and minor sleep disturbance classes had poorer HRQOL, which worsened over time. The long sleep and moderate sleep quality classes also showed some decreases in HRQOL over time.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that there are distinct sleep quality subtypes in children that could have implications for HRQOL. These findings may inform future strategies to promote improved sleep and HRQOL in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main focus of this paper is to select an economically suitable sustainable standalone power supply system for a remote off-grid town in Western Australia. Existing power systems of such remote towns in Australia have adverse environmental impacts and contribute to global warming due to the utilization of fossil fuels, especially diesel and gas. The possible electricity supply systems for such towns can vary from a diesel/gas generator towards a hybrid system composed of a generator, wind turbine, photovoltaic system, and battery energy storage. In order to limit the cost of the system and to propose the most economically feasible solution, various combinations of supply systems are considered. These systems are analyzed in this paper by the help of HOMER software to determine the optimal architecture and the control strategy of the supply system. This study has used real demand data of the town, as well as the prices of different electrical components in the Australian market. The scenario which yields the minimum cost of energy is defined and suggested. Also, a decision-making based technique is proposed to help the local electricity utility in finding the suitable solution in the case of budget limits on the investment and annual operation and maintenance. Another aim of this analysis is to investigate and illustrate the impact of a small annual load growth on the size of the selected components for the selected power system, as well as the total net present cost and the cost of electricity. A sensitivity analysis is also performed to analyze the impact of uncertainties of some of the parameters in the outcome of the study to obtain the optimized cost of the selected system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines a discrete set of issues pertaining to the constitution of addiction in law. Based on qualitative interviews undertaken with lawyers in Australia and Canada, I examine how addiction figures in lawyers' daily practice. Drawing on ideas from science and technology studies scholars Sheila Jasanoff, Michael Lynch and Bruno Latour, and building on recent research I undertook on legal addiction veridiction, I explore the constitution of addiction 'facts' in law. I examine how and when lawyers claim to make decisions about addiction in the course of their legal practice. Lawyers report playing a central role in the making of decisions about addiction, at multiple stages of the legal process including: before taking cases on, while running cases in court, and while negotiating and/or settling cases. I argue that these decisions can be properly described as 'quasi-expert' determinations with important parallels to scientific, technological and medical claims often made in legal settings by more conventional 'expert witnesses'. I call these 'quasi-expert' decisions because they are decisions of the kind that might be assumed to be the purview of scientific or medical experts and because they have tangible implications for clients. Lawyers uniquely constitute addiction in unique ways, drawing on a combination of factors, including their own experience with and observations about addiction, the experiences of family members who have experienced alcohol and other drug problems, relevant legal concepts and frameworks, popular and scientific claims about addiction, emotions and values, including the gender politics of alcohol and other drug addiction. These addiction 'facts' can have a range of material and discursive effects, including potentially adverse implications for people characterised as 'addicts'. I conclude the paper with a discussion of some implications of these practices, and with reflections on how we might address these issues in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular recreational book reading is a practice that confers substantial educative benefit. However, not all book types may be equally beneficial, with paper book reading more strongly associated with literacy benefit than screen-based reading at this stage, and a paucity of research in this area. While children in developed countries are gaining ever-increasing levels of access to devices at home, relatively little is known about the influence of access to devices with eReading capability, such as Kindles, iPads, computers and mobile phones, on young children's reading behaviours, and the extent to which these devices are used for reading purposes when access is available. Young people are gaining increasing access to devices through school-promoted programs; parents face aggressive marketing to stay abreast of educational technologies at home; and schools and libraries are increasingly their eBook collections, often at the expense of paper book collections. Data from the 997 children who participated in the 2016 Western Australian Study in Children's Book Reading were analysed to determine children's level of access to devices with eReading capability, and their frequency of use of these devices in relation to their recreational book reading frequency. Respondents were found to generally underutilise devices for reading purposes, even when they were daily book readers. In addition, access to mobile phones was associated with reading infrequency. It was also found that reading frequency was less when children had access to a greater range of these devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been argued that infrastructure unevenness rigidifies into more lasting structures of socio-economic and political privilege and advantage. This paper focuses on telecommunication infrastructure as the backbone of the fast-growing digital economy, and raises important questions about the early National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout in Australia. The paper asks whether there was any case of pork barrelling in the selection of early release sites that enjoyed a regional competitive advantage against other localities that had to wait several years to receive the infrastructure. The answer to this question then leads to a second question about the degree to which voting in the early NBN release sites has swung following the infrastructure rollout. In order to answer these questions the paper examines the voting patterns in the earlier NBN release sites versus all electorates in the Federal elections in 2007–2013 using the data available via Australian Electoral Commission. Findings show trends of politically targeted funding, followed by vote swing in the very next election. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: According to the most recent statistics from the World Health Organization, 1.2 million people die or are injured on the world's roads every year. Drink-driving continues to be a major risk factor for road traffic crashes, with 22% of serious road injuries (SRIs) in Victoria involving a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) equal to or above the legal driving limit of 0.05g/mL. Use of police and hospital data to determine alcohol involvement in SRIs is not reliable, with researchers using proxy measures such as high alcohol hours (HAH). This paper examines patterns of alcohol-related SRIs based on reported BAC versus the surrogate HAH measure.Methods: Trends over a 10year period (2000-2010) were examined, comparing four different SRI rates (low alcohol hours (LAH), LAH with positive BAC, HAH, HAH with positive BAC). Discontinuities in the data series were also examined. SRI data were drawn from the Road Networks Database of VicRoads containing information on all reported road crashes in Victoria.Results: For the 10year period there were 52,286 reported SRIs relating to the driver. Of the incidents where a driver's reading was recorded, 44% had a recorded BAC exceeding Victoria's legal limit of 0.05% and a further 23% had a BAC below the legal limit. During the period over 17,000 (or 34%) SRIs occurred during HAH. Where a BAC had been recorded during HAH, almost 60% exceeded the legal limit and a further 20% had some positive recording of BAC. Where SRI drivers had a recorded BAC during LAH, 58% had a positive BAC (31% with a BAC over the legal limit). While it is likely that an SRI occurring during HAH will be associated with a positive BAC (80%), of which 60% will be above the legal limit, almost 60% of SRIs during LAH had a positive BAC, with 31% above the legal limit.Conclusion: There was no significant change in overall alcohol-related SRI rates between 2000 and 2010, suggesting that policies and procedures implemented to decrease drink-driving have not reduced alcohol-related SRI rates. In the absence of a reliable direct measure (i.e., BAC readings) this paper demonstrated the utility of the surrogate HAH measure for determining changes in alcohol-related serious road injuries. Further, the unmet need for routine BAC testing in SRIs occurring during LAH requires further exploration given the significant proportion of SRIs involving positive BAC during these times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the Australian and institutional policy experience, this paper considers the problems associated with water governance and seeks to draw some general lessons for public policy. The paper is used to specifically explore the governance challenges that arise because of (1) the proclivity to regard water as ‘special’; (2) the scope for political opportunism especially in drought; (3) the inherent uncertainty that attends water availability in some settings. We conclude that enhanced governance can be achieved, but diversions from cost recovery pricing can be difficult to reverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal aquifers provide a source of water for more than one billion people, with island freshwater lenses being some of the most vulnerable coastal groundwater systems due to their susceptibility to saltwater intrusion. Basic hydrogeological and hydrochemical knowledge regarding the recharge and salinisation processes of freshwater lenses is important to ensure sustainable utilisation, especially considering possible climate change effects. This paper makes an assessment of the fate of a freshwater lens in a drying climate through a comparison of current and historic hydrochemical data, which to the author’s knowledge is unique to this study. Fresh groundwater stable isotope signatures (δ 18 O, δ 2 H) reflect local amount weighted rainfall signatures (δ 18 O: −3.8‰; δ 2 H: −15.1‰), and confirm rainfall as the origin of fresh groundwater (δ 18 O: −4.47 to −3.82‰; δ 2 H: −20.0 to −16.6‰). Mixing with seawater was identified through enriched groundwater δ 18 O and δ 2 H signatures (maximum values of −0.36‰ and −1.4‰ respectively) compared to local rainfall and higher salinity (maximum 29,267 mg/L Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)) in a number of monitoring wells around the freshwater lens. Enhanced seawater intrusion detected in the northern section of the lens area was identified through significantly increased TDS values over the last 20–40 years, with increases of up to 3000% observed between 1990 and 2014. A reduction in the extent of freshwater by approximately 1 km 2 was identified since 1977, which was found to be primarily caused by a reduction in recharge to the freshwater lens due to a ∼20% decline in winter rainfall in the south-west Western Australian region since the mid 1960s. Groundwater abstraction was found to equate to between 5% and 9% of the estimated recharge for the island, and is not a significant factor in the reduction of the lens extent compared to the observed decline in rainfall recharge. Interestingly, seawater intrusion into the fresh water lens was found to occur by older seawater (0.03–0.09 TU) in regions of the lens that were previously fresh or slightly brackish, while one sample (0.67 TU) suggests either modern seawater intrusion or mixing of older saline groundwaters (>60 years) with rainfall recharge. The use of tritium dating in this island aquifer was essential in identifying ‘older’ seawater that was previously unidentified until now. The isotopic and hydrochemical tools used in this paper quantify the effects of groundwater abstraction and climate variability on the freshwater lens and have implications for the sustainable management of the groundwater resource on Rottnest Island, and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we propose two extensions of the Exponential model to describe income distributions. The Exponential ArcTan (EAT) and the composite EAT–Lognormal models discussed in this paper preserve key properties of the Exponential model including its capacity to model distributions with zero incomes. This is an important feature as the presence of zeros conditions the modelling of income distributions as it rules out the possibility of using many parametric models commonly used in the literature. Many researchers opt for excluding the zeros from the analysis, however, this may not be a sensible approach especially when the number of zeros is large or if one is interested in accurately describing the lower part of the distribution. We apply the EAT and the EAT–Lognormal models to study the distribution of incomes in Australia for the period 2001–2012. We find that these models in general outperform the Gamma and Exponential models while preserving the capacity of the latter to model zeros. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Lifecycle assessment of coal plus wood and paper waste co-firing with CO 2 capture. • Combustion modelling used to predict direct CO 2 and trace emissions. • Increasing co-firing ratio without CO 2 capture decreases CO 2 emissions slightly. • Lower global warming potential due to CO 2 capture drives a lower endpoint score. • Negative emissions achievable at more than 30 % waste co-firing with CO 2 capture. Bio-Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is an emerging energy conversion technology with the potential to deliver 'negative emissions', a net removal of CO 2 from the atmosphere that may be necessary to achieve the net-zero targets adopted in the Glasgow Climate Pact at COP26. This paper uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to investigate the environmental impacts of co-firing dry waste biomass (wood and paper waste) while implementing CCS technology (i.e., BECCS) in a conventional black coal-fired power plant. The LCA covers CO 2 emissions and trace contaminants, determined via combustion modelling coupled with chemical-equilibrium-based ash-forming element and trace element calculations. As a case study, the context of New South Wales, Australia, is analysed to assesses the viability and discuss policy implications of waste co-firing BECCS as a future energy source for coal-reliant regions. An increase in co-firing ratio is found to decrease emission intensity. At current typical efficiencies, BECCS with a 10 % co-firing ratio can reduce emission intensity from 938 to 181 kgCO 2 /MWh. At 20 % to 25 % co-firing, the emission intensity of BECCS is comparable with other renewable technologies, and negative emissions are achievable above 30 %, although waste availability in NSW is insufficient to achieve these levels. Moreover, BECCS increases environmental impact in all categories except for global warming potential (GWP), land use, and terrestrial acidification. Nonetheless, when aggregating all impacts, the large reduction in GWP drives an endpoint score reduction, indicating that co-fired BECCS may be preferred over sub-critical black (bituminous) coal-fired power without or with CCS, or other higher emission intensity coal-fired power generation. Therefore, policy makers should consider incentivising waste co-firing BECCS as part of future energy policies towards achieving the net-zero targets, weighing its benefits against other environmental impacts, waste availability and competition with recycling initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost half of the world population lives in rural and remote areas facing more challenging and hazardous life conditions than the rest of the population. This paper and proposed method contribute to addressing an apparent gap in modelling travel-related decisions of rural and remote populations to enhance equitable access to basic amenities (e.g., education, health services, retail) for these populations. The application of these models is highly relevant for planning and policy purposes in remote communities. This paper uses data obtained from a mobility survey of remote Aboriginal communities in Central Australia to estimate purpose-specific destination choice models for access to basic services. The analysis is based on stated preference data to measure the attractiveness of destinations. Then, the models are used to analyse the impact of increasing the number of services provided in the remote communities. A better understanding of the impact of local development on travel patterns in remote communities is provided by analysing three aspects: attracted trips to the destinations, reduction of distance travelled by travellers in all the communities and improved equity in the distribution of travel distance among the communities. The case study illustrates the method successfully determines the most relevant parameters in the decisions of the surveyed individuals and determines potential destinations for local development, with the final objective of contributing to the alleviation of accessibility and inclusion problems in remote areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop a robust palaeo-proxy technique for inferring seasonal fluctuations in Phanerozoic seawater temperature. Specifically, we report δ13C and δ18O values across the columnar layer (inner shell) of Permian brachiopods, including five genera of the Order Spiriferida (Ingellarella , Martinia, Permophricodothyris , Cartorhium , and Trigonotreta) and two genera of the Order Athyridida (Araxathyris and Comelicania). These brachiopod specimens are inferred to have inhabited varied palaeo-depths, based on facies analysis, and were collected from low, middle and high palaeolatitudes. To obtain high-resolution ontogenetic isotopic time-series, a handheld microdrill was used to collect low-magnesium calcite samples along the longitudinal axis of the mid-valve for each specimen. Intrageneric and intergeneric comparison of statistics (mean values, variance, and range) reveals that δ18O values are consistent within and between genera although δ13C values are more variable. In specimens obtained from low palaeolatitudes (Julfa Formation, Iran; Bellerophon Formation, Italy; Late Permian), the range of δ18O values is small and consistent with weak seasonal temperature variations, irrespective of water depth. In specimens obtained from middle palaeolatitudes (Qarari Formation, Oman; Early-Middle Permian), we found a range of δ18O values dependent on inferred water depth, possibly reflecting a change in thermocline structure between warm and cold seasons. In specimens obtained from high palaeolatitudes (Wasp Head and Wandrawandian Siltstone formations, Australia; Early-Middle Permian), brachiopods from glacial and interglacial climate phases show significant variations of δ18O values, probably caused by seasonal changes in the seawater surface temperature. Based on these findings, the technique developed in this paper appears to provide reliable paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental data for Permian sites, and should be also applicable for Phanerozoic studies in general. However, we caution that δ18O values vary dependent on the growth direction, resulting in differences of up to 5 °C in seawater paleotemperature calculations, and emphasise that a consistent sampling strategy accounting for shell structure and growth direction is required. • Paleozoic brachiopods shells are suitable for sclerogeochemical studies. • The columnar layer of calcite brachiopods embeds the short term climatic signal of δ18O. • Past seasonality of seawater can be potentially reconstructed using brachiopod shells. • Past seasonality was significantly different between ice- and green-house conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]