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Hydrogen gas is a potential alternative reducing agent that could substantially decrease CO2 emissions from the ironmaking process in New Zealand (NZ). This paper investigates the reduction of pre-oxidized NZ titanomagnetite ironsand using hydrogen gas in a laboratory scale fluidized bed (FB) reactor, at temperatures ranging from 800°C to 1000°C. The results show that pre-oxidation can accelerate the reduction rate at temperatures ≤ 900°C compared to unoxidized ironsand, with no sticking of particles observed at any temperature investigated. The initial reduction of titanohematite proceeds swiftly, resulting in very high initial P H 2 O levels (~ 0.9 atm), which then plateau through the reaction's middle stages as the reduction of wüstite to iron is thermodynamically limited. Multiple sub-micron voids are formed within each particle, which appears to enable rapid diffusion of hydrogen gas to the inner regions of the particle, thus enhancing the reduction rate in the latter stages of the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluidized bed reduction of iron ore fines is typically inhibited by the onset of "sticking" at temperatures above 973 K, which leads to particle agglomeration and defluidization of the bed. Here, we report the sticking-free fluidized bed reduction of titanomagnetite (TTM) ironsand at 1223 K in Ar-H2 gas mixtures. We show that sticking is prevented by the formation of a protective titanium-rich oxide shell around each particle during the initial reduction stage. This protective shell prevents iron-iron contact between particles throughout the reduction process, enabling metallization degrees of 93 pct to be attained without sticking occurring. Phase evolution during the reaction has also been analyzed using q-X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope/energy dispersed spectroscopy. We find that the reduction proceeds through four separate stages. During the initial stage, approximately half of the initial TTM phase is converted to wüstite, forming a network of sub-micron wüstite channels which interlace the TTM matrix. During this stage, Ti and Al are enriched within the TTM matrix, due to the low solubility of both species in wüstite. This enrichment stabilizes the remaining TTM, meaning that wüstite is then preferentially reduced to metallic iron in stage 2 of the reduction. In stage 3, the remaining Ti-enriched TTM is reduced directly to metallic iron and ilmenite. The final stage of reduction involves the conversion of ilmenite into rutile and pseudobrookite. Our findings clarify the important role played by titanium species during the reduction of TTM and suggest that New Zealand ironsand can offer significant advantages over conventional hematite ores when used as a feedstock for fluidized bed direct-reduced iron processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ABSTRACT Kench, P.S.; Ryan, E.J.; Owen, S.; Bell, R.; Lawrence, J.; Glavovic, B.; Blackett, P.; Becker, J.; Schneider, P.; Allis, M.; Dickson, M., and Rennie, H.G. 2018. Co-creating resilience solutions to coastal hazards through an interdisciplinary research project in New Zealand, In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 1496–1500. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Coastal communities ‘living at the edge’ face intensification and acceleration of coastal hazard risk in the face of climate change. Communities will need to be adaptive in reducing these risks now and over long timeframes. Developing coastal hazard adaptation pathways requires co-production of interdisciplinary knowledge between scientists, policy makers and communities. However, there remains little guidance and limited dialogue about the research practices and frameworks that underpin co-created research. In a first for New Zealand, a co-created research programme is underway titled ‘Living at the Edge’ that aims to improve the resilience of coastal communities to coastal hazards. This paper provides novel insights into the complexities underpinning the formative stages of co-created research, drawing on practical experience from the Living at the Edge project. We explore the enablers and shapers that led to co-created shifts in the research project objectives and framework. Notions of integration, trust, and flexibility are three fundamental aspects that influenced the early stages of co-creation. The importance of bridging interactions with actors early on in co-created projects is exemplified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To provide practical guidance for psychiatrists asked to conduct an assessment of a woman requesting a termination of pregnancy.Method: The law relevant to termination of pregnancy in each of the Australian states and territories and in New Zealand was synthesised and reviewed, as was the available literature around the key roles for the psychiatrist in these settings.Results: Little is known about the rates of and reasons for terminations in Australasia. The ‘lawfulness’ of termination varies between jurisdictions and might require a consideration of the woman’s mental health. When psychiatrists are asked to assist, their roles can be divided into: assessment and management of the woman’s mental health, assessment of the woman’s capacity to consent to the termination, assessment of the impact of having a termination or not having a termination upon the woman’s mental health, assistance in determining the lawfulness of the proposed termination and, finally, support of the obstetric team providing terminations.Conclusions: The psychiatric assessment of a woman requesting a termination of pregnancy requires an understanding of the ethical issues, the relevant law and a clinical framework within which the psychiatrist can delineate his or her various roles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Kidney transplants using organs from paediatric cadaver donors are uncommon and technically difficult. It has become accepted practice to transplant both kidneys en bloc from donors of 5 years into a single recipient. We aim to compare outcomes of en bloc kidney (EBK) transplants versus single kidney (SK) transplants from cadaver donors of age 5 years and lesser. Methods: Data reported to Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry from 1989 to 2004 were analysed. Results: From donors 5 years of age and younger, there were 33 EBK and 38 SK transplants carried out. Overall graft survival rates at 1 and 5 years were 78 and 61%, respectively, in the EBK group and 63 and 55%, respectively, in the SK group ( P = 0.94). Vascular thrombosis was the most common cause of early graft loss with an incidence of 11 and 18%, respectively, in the EBK and SK groups ( P = 0.5). Conclusion: There is a trend towards a lower vascular thrombosis rate and a better long-term graft survival in EBK transplants. These transplants will remain a technical challenge for the surgeon and EBK transplants should remain the technique of choice for donors of 5 years and lesser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hospital-treated deliberate self-harm (DSH) is common, costly and has high repetition rates. Since brief contact interventions (BCIs) may reduce the risk of DSH repetition, we aim to evaluate whether a SMS (Short Message Service) text message Intervention plus Treatment As Usual (TAU) compared to TAU alone will reduce hospital DSH re-presentation rates in Western Sydney public hospitals in Australia. Methods/design: Our study is a 24-month randomized controlled trial (RCT). Adult patients who present with DSH to hospital emergency, psychiatric, and mental health triage and assessment departments will be randomly assigned to an Intervention condition plus TAU receiving nine SMS text messages at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12-months post-discharge. Each message will contain telephone numbers for two mental health crises support tele-services. Primary outcomes will be the difference in the number of DSH re-presentations, and the time to first re-presentation, within 12-months of discharge. Discussion: This study protocol describes the design and implementation of an RCT using SMS text messages, which aim to reduce hospital re-presentation rates for DSH. Positive study findings would support the translation of an SMS-aftercare protocol into mental health services at minimal expense. Trial registration and ethics approval: This trial has been registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Trial registration: ACTRN12617000607370. Registered 28 April 2017) and has been approved by two Local Health Districts (LHDs). Western Sydney LHD Human Research Ethics Committee approved the study for Westmead Hospital and Blacktown Hospital (Protocol: HREC/16/WMEAD/336). Nepean Blue Mountains LHD Research Governance Office approved the study for Nepean Hospital (SSA/16/Nepean/170). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct reduction of iron ore in a fluidized bed reactor is usually limited by the onset of particle sticking at temperatures ≳ 800 °C. This paper examines the phase and microstructural evolution of New Zealand titanomagnetite (TTM) ironsand during fluidized bed reduction by hydrogen gas at temperatures ranging from 750 °C to 1000 °C. All samples were characterized using quantitative X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectroscopy. No sticking was observed at any point during this series of experimental reduction reactions. At higher temperatures sticking appears to be prevented by the formation of a Ti-rich oxide shell around each partially-reduced particle. At lower temperatures, no shell is observed to form, but temperatures are not high enough to drive particle sticking/agglomeration. The reduction mechanism appears to vary within different temperature regimes. At high temperatures (950 °C and 1000 °C), the reduction of TTM proceeds via the wüstite phase during the initial reduction stage, although the TTM is not completely converted to wüstite. The formation of wüstite results in an enrichment of Ti within the residual TTM phase. This is observed as an increase in the TTM lattice parameter, which is stretched by Ti substitution into the spinel. For reactions at low temperatures (750 °C and 800 °C), the TTM is directly reduced to metallic iron without any evidence of the appearance of the wüstite phase. At 'intermediate temperatures' (850 °C and 900 °C), a mixed behaviour is observed with the appearance of low levels of short-lived wüstite during the reduction reaction. Overall, these results indicate that the fluidized bed processing of NZ TTM ironsand in hydrogen can be completed over a wide temperature range without incurring sticking. [Display omitted] • There is no occurrence of sticking phenomena during the fluidized bed reduction of TTM ironsand by H 2 gas up to 1000 °C. • The final metallization degree of ~93% was obtained at 1000 °C. • The reduction path of TTM ironsand appears to be vary at different temperature regime. • At high temperatures (> 900 °C), the reduction reaction proceeds through the initial formation of wüstite. • At low temperatures (<850 °C), the formation of intermediate wüstite was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaesthetists have an important role in preventing nosocomial infection. Failures in this role have resulted in critical reports in the media. We ascertained the current practices of New Zealand anaesthetists relating to infection control, by distributing a questionnaire to all 450 anaesthetists practising in New Zealand. Sixty-one percent responded. Just over half the respondents had never read their hospital policy on infection control and over a third had never read the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists policy document on infection control. It was found that 3.4% rarely changed gloves if they became contaminated and 2.2% occasionally used the same syringe to administer drugs to more than one patient. The majority (86.3%) of respondents split one drug ampoule between more than one patient, 41.3% used multidose vials for more than one patient and 2.2% used pre-filled syringes for more than one patient. The majority complied with the College infection control policy for performing arterial cannulation (85.7%), central venous cannulation (77.4%) and regional blockade (65.1%). Respondents ranked the overall risk of the anaesthetist contributing to the transmission of infectious agents on a scale from 0 to 10 (10=highest risk). The median response was 7, the modal response was 10 and interquartile range was 4 to 8. There was a high level of awareness of the risks of contributing to cross-infection inherent in anaesthesia, most anaesthetists reporting that they followed recommended guidelines in this context. However, these data suggest more effort is required to promote compliance with appropriate guidelines.