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Leveraging Product And Process Characteristics Across The Concrete Pavement Life Cycle To Integrate Global Warming Potential Into Project Procurement Processes, Michelle Annette Cooper Jan 2025

Leveraging Product And Process Characteristics Across The Concrete Pavement Life Cycle To Integrate Global Warming Potential Into Project Procurement Processes, Michelle Annette Cooper

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The objective of this research is to support sustainable procurement of concrete pavements by linking materials-level global warming potential (GWP) to the project-level. Infrastructure owners require reliable environmental product declarations (EPDs) and methodologies for integrating GWP into the procurement process to ensure equitable decision-making. This work provides insights into current EPD reliability by assessing the sensitivity of concrete GWP to materials-level contributors to recommend a level of supply chain specificity needed to effectively communicate GWP. A benchmarking methodology was developed and implemented to establish reference values for procuring sustainable products. Having provided evidence towards EPD reliability, this work presents a …


Phase-Field Method Of Fracture In Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Theory, Modeling, And Validation, Akash Kumar Jan 2025

Phase-Field Method Of Fracture In Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Theory, Modeling, And Validation, Akash Kumar

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPCs) are widely used in aerospace, automotive, and civil engineering due to their high specific strength, stiffness, and durability. However, their anisotropic and heterogeneous nature makes fracture prediction challenging, with damage modes classified as intralaminar failure (matrix cracking, fiber breakage, fiber-matrix debonding) and interlaminar delamination. Delamination, driven by weak through-thickness strength and high interlaminar stresses, is a predominant failure mechanism in FRPCs. While cohesive zone models (CZMs) are commonly used for delamination, they are computationally expensive and inefficient for capturing intralaminar fractures where crack paths are unknown. To address this, we developed a unified phase field-based cohesive …


Distributing Composition: Rhetorical Agency In First-Year Writing, Elizabeth Novotny Jan 2025

Distributing Composition: Rhetorical Agency In First-Year Writing, Elizabeth Novotny

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This project centers on engaging students in class lessons related to rhetorical agency. Typically understood as the capacity to act, within rhetoric, I define agency as the capacity to make meaning. In most traditional Western conceptions, agency is primarily located with the individual rhetor. However, these views were increasingly challenged throughout the later twentieth century as theorists from various traditions came to understand that discussing our agency as solely our own doing was insufficient. In contrast to an individualistic understanding of agency, theories that characterize rhetorical agency as more fragmented have evolved, where, instead of writing and rhetoric being …


Great Lakes And Its Regional Climate In The Future, Miraj Bhakta Kayastha Jan 2025

Great Lakes And Its Regional Climate In The Future, Miraj Bhakta Kayastha

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The overarching objective of this dissertation is to enhance our predictive understanding of the Great Lakes regional climate by utilizing advanced modeling techniques and provide comprehensive insights into the future of the Great Lakes. This dissertation focuses on four areas pertinent to the future of the Great Lakes hydroclimate and extreme events, beginning with the derivation of robust water level projections for the Great Lakes in Chapter 2. Using a regional climate modeling system with a two-way coupled three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic lake and ice model for the Great lakes, we analyze long-term future changes in the over-lake precipitation, lake evaporation, …


From Plasmonics To Superfluorescence: Engineering Light- Matter Interactions For Quantum Optical Phenomena, Aaron J. Wildenborg Jan 2025

From Plasmonics To Superfluorescence: Engineering Light- Matter Interactions For Quantum Optical Phenomena, Aaron J. Wildenborg

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This work presents different ways to engineer light-matter interactions by using nanostructures to exploit quantum-optical phenomena. First, sodium (Na) is predicted to be an ideal plasmonic material due to its ultra-low optical losses from the visible to the near-infrared (NIR). However, Na has practical limitations due to its high chemical reactivity. Using a scalable fabrication method for Na plasmonic nanostructures by combining phase-shift photolithography and a thermo-assisted spin-coating process, we produced nano-pit arrays of varying periodicities (300-600 nm), supporting tunable surface plasmon polariton (SPP) modes spanning visible to NIR. These structures demonstrated SPP resonances as narrow as 9.3 nm, with …


Biomedical Applications Of Reactive Oxygen Species From Catechol Oxidation, Zhongtian Zhang Jan 2025

Biomedical Applications Of Reactive Oxygen Species From Catechol Oxidation, Zhongtian Zhang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Catechol, a key functional moiety found in mussel adhesive proteins, undergoes oxidation to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can be leveraged for biomedical and environmental applications. By modifying catechol-based polymers, ROS generation can be controlled and applied toward organic compound degradation, antimicrobial treatments, and polymer crosslinking. This dissertation focuses on the design and application of catechol-based materials that leverage ROS generation for biomedical and environmental applications.


Linear Response Of Driven Non-Hermitian Photonic Systems, Lucas R. Simonson Jan 2025

Linear Response Of Driven Non-Hermitian Photonic Systems, Lucas R. Simonson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The notion of non-Hermitian engineering in optics and photonics has attracted considerable attention in the past decade. From laser devices and sensing applications to light trapping and guiding, non-Hermitian engineering provides additional degrees of freedom that allows for more control over light-matter interaction. It is thus of great importance to develop a deep insight into the linear response of non-Hermitian optical systems. We begin by studying the linear response of non-Hermitian Hamiltonian systems under general conditions and derive an expression for its Green's operator in terms of its eigenvectors and its canonical Jordan vectors. Next, we investigate the quantum noise …


Ansi Z97 Impact Testing Of Thin Glass, Justin P. Anthony Jan 2025

Ansi Z97 Impact Testing Of Thin Glass, Justin P. Anthony

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

To determine whether thin glass constructions can pass Z97 impact test to qualify as safety glass an extensive protocol was performed. Constructions including monolithic, chemically strengthened, filmed, laminated, and triple pane insulated glass units comprised of thin glass ranging in thickness between 0.50 mm and 1.6mm were evaluated. Test results indicate annealed specimens, and laminated specimens performed similar to constructions with 3 mm and 6 mm glass. Specimens with 0.2 mm film consistently performed as safety glass for thicknesses between 0.7 mm and 1.6 mm and similar performance for specimens with 0.1 mm film with thickness of 1.1 mm and …


Proximal Seismic Tracking Of Pyroclastic Density Currents At Volcán De Fuego, Guatemala, Jacob A. Krier Jan 2025

Proximal Seismic Tracking Of Pyroclastic Density Currents At Volcán De Fuego, Guatemala, Jacob A. Krier

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Pyroclastic Density Currents (PDCs) are deadly flows of ash, tephra, gas, and solidified magma which predominantly occur when an ash plume collapses during a volcanic eruption. PDCs are also able to form when large deposits of ash at the summit of a volcano are displaced during an eruption and flow downslope. This is typically the mechanism behind PDCs that occur at Volcán de Fuego such as one that occurred in 2018 killing at least 430 people. The purpose of this paper is to track the propagation of PDCs that occurred at Fuego seismologically in order to better understand how they …


Life Cycle Assessment And Techno-Economic Analysis Of Mine Tailings As A Sustainable Raw Material For Mineral Carbonation And Recovery Of Critical Minerals, Vida Amankwaa Jan 2025

Life Cycle Assessment And Techno-Economic Analysis Of Mine Tailings As A Sustainable Raw Material For Mineral Carbonation And Recovery Of Critical Minerals, Vida Amankwaa

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This study assesses the feasibility of using mine tailings for mineral carbonation and nickel recovery through a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA). The LCA quantifies greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and resource consumption, while the TEA evaluates capital investment, operational costs, and process efficiency. The conventional beneficiation process at Eagle Mine serves as a baseline, highlighting its environmental footprint and operational costs. Results indicate that tailings reprocessing incurs higher costs ($34.76 per tonne of tailings processed) compared to conventional ore processing ($25.90 per tonne) due to increased energy consumption and material handling requirements. Additionally, several mineral …


Developing A Graphql Mesh Federated Api Gateway: Rapid Integration Of New Endpoints Into A Predefined Schema, Noah Kolczynski Jan 2025

Developing A Graphql Mesh Federated Api Gateway: Rapid Integration Of New Endpoints Into A Predefined Schema, Noah Kolczynski

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The Navy’s Undersea Warfare Decision Support System (USW-DSS) uses data from an ever growing number of sensors, accessible through an equally growing number of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Due to the lack of standardization among these sensors and APIs, as the system has continued to grow, the challenge of collecting and using these data has become increasingly prevalent. Previous work at Michigan Tech, in collaboration with engineers at ARiA (Applied Research in Acoustics LLC), introduced a GraphQL Mesh federated API gateway. The gateway would enable the combination of diverse API sources into a predefined hierarchical structure. This report follows the …


Knowledge Integrated Deep Learning For Enhanced Fault Diagnosis And Prognosis For Rotating Machinery And Its Applications On Marine Systems, Yunsheng Su Jan 2025

Knowledge Integrated Deep Learning For Enhanced Fault Diagnosis And Prognosis For Rotating Machinery And Its Applications On Marine Systems, Yunsheng Su

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation develops a knowledge-informed deep learning framework for robust fault diagnosis and prognosis across various engineered systems, including bearings, lithium-ion batteries, and mooring systems in wave energy converters (WECs). A deep transfer learning (DTL) method is first developed to improve bearing fault diagnosis by fusing data from multiple sources and extracting key features using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Building upon this, a knowledge-informed deep network (KIDN) framework is proposed, integrating physics-based features with deep learning to enhance diagnostic accuracy and generalizability. A constrained Gaussian process (CGP) model is further employed to guide adaptive network design and reduce model tuning …


Computational Tools For Protein Classification In Metagenomes, Fawad Ullah Jan 2025

Computational Tools For Protein Classification In Metagenomes, Fawad Ullah

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Advances in genomic sequencing have dramatically increased the amount and the speed at which genomic data is being generated. These technological advances have enabled the ability to profile the genetic information of organisms and communities at unprecedented scales. Many methods have been developed to identify and classify genes within these datasets. However, many generic pipelines for gene annotation struggle to accurately predict specific protein classes that may not be represented in their databases. Two major challenges exist for classification of specific protein classes in metagenomic databases. The first is the fact that many metagenomic assemblies are highly fragmented with many …


The Impact Of Opening A Private Hospital Emergency Department On The Hospital And Patient Characteristics, Christiana Mustac, John Maxwell, Paola Chivers, Gordon Laing, Terry Bayliss Jan 2025

The Impact Of Opening A Private Hospital Emergency Department On The Hospital And Patient Characteristics, Christiana Mustac, John Maxwell, Paola Chivers, Gordon Laing, Terry Bayliss

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction Australian public hospital emergency departments (EDs) are under increasing pressure with higher patient volumes, failure to meet triage target times and increased ambulance wait times. Further, there is limited literature exploring how the opening of an ED affects Australian hospitals. This study focuses on Hollywood Private Hospital (HPH), a large private hospital in Western Australian which opened their ED in November 2021. The research aimed to examine how the introduction of the ED influenced the hospital’s service demands and resourcing. Method This study investigated hospital inpatient characteristics including admissions, clinical deterioration episodes, deaths, aft er-hours theatre activity and companion …


Needs And Pathways For Strengthening The Contribution Of Qualitative Methods Toward More Effective Impact Assessment Practice, Heidi Walker, A. John Sinclair, Alan P. Diduck, Alan Bond, Jenny Pope, Angus Morrison-Saunders, Francois Retief Jan 2025

Needs And Pathways For Strengthening The Contribution Of Qualitative Methods Toward More Effective Impact Assessment Practice, Heidi Walker, A. John Sinclair, Alan P. Diduck, Alan Bond, Jenny Pope, Angus Morrison-Saunders, Francois Retief

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Many jurisdictions are looking to next-generation impact assessment (IA) that includes sustainability considerations that extend beyond biophysical. Subjectivity is inherent in many of these additional impact considerations, and they are often not easily nor effectively quantified. Delivering effective IA within this broadening scope requires new, innovative, and rigorous applications of qualitative methods that enable meaningful inclusion of diverse knowledges, values, and information. While many qualitative methods are available for IA, there remains a significant opportunity to strengthen their contribution toward more effective IA practice. As such, we establish in this paper needs that must be addressed if qualitative methods are …


Diagnostic Accuracy Of Electrocardiogram Algorithms For Differentiating Left From Right Outflow Tract Ventricular Arrhythmia: A Systematic Review And Network Meta-Analysis, Zhuoqiao He, Ming Liu, Pengxiang Ying, Manshu Song, Xuerui Tan Jan 2025

Diagnostic Accuracy Of Electrocardiogram Algorithms For Differentiating Left From Right Outflow Tract Ventricular Arrhythmia: A Systematic Review And Network Meta-Analysis, Zhuoqiao He, Ming Liu, Pengxiang Ying, Manshu Song, Xuerui Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Accurate pre-Ablation differentiation between left (LVOT) and right (RVOT) ventricular outflow tract arrhythmias (OTVAs) using ECG algorithms is essential for decision on vascular access and treatment strategy. However, the most reliable ECG algorithm remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-Analysis (NMA) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of available algorithms. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases through 7 May 2025 for studies evaluating ECG algorithms against ablation-confirmed OTVA origin. A Bayesian diagnostic test accuracy NMA was performed to estimate pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratios (DORs) and a superiority index (S) for each algorithm. Study …


Joint Channel Allocation And Power Control For Mission-Critical Applications In Sustainable Underwater Acoustic Networks, Sadaf Vahabli, Iftekhar Ahmad, Quoc Viet Phung, Daryoush Habibi Jan 2025

Joint Channel Allocation And Power Control For Mission-Critical Applications In Sustainable Underwater Acoustic Networks, Sadaf Vahabli, Iftekhar Ahmad, Quoc Viet Phung, Daryoush Habibi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Underwater Acoustic Networks (UANs) are gaining popularity for underwater communication due to their long-range capabilities. However, they experience significant challenges, including limited bandwidth and spectrum overlap with marine mammal vocalizations, which raises concerns about the sustainable and ethical use of underwater acoustic resources. This study proposes an eco-friendly approach that integrates joint channel allocation and power control to minimize harmful interference with marine life while ensuring reliable communication for mission-critical applications, such as diver safety. To balance marine protection and communication reliability, this work introduces a strategy for intelligent spectrum management, where nodes first sense the acoustic spectrum to detect …


Specialisation In The Primary Education Community, Kevin Sullivan, Susan Main, Joseph J. Scott, Kin Eng Chin, Jason Boron, Matthew Byrne, Eibhlish O'Hara, Elisabeth Taylor, Rozita Dass, Kuki Singh, Helen Adam, Gail Berman Jan 2025

Specialisation In The Primary Education Community, Kevin Sullivan, Susan Main, Joseph J. Scott, Kin Eng Chin, Jason Boron, Matthew Byrne, Eibhlish O'Hara, Elisabeth Taylor, Rozita Dass, Kuki Singh, Helen Adam, Gail Berman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Australian students’ results in international assessments have led to considerable attention on teacher quality and, more specifically, on how well pre-service teachers (PSTs) are being prepared to teach. Acting on one of the recommendations in the Action Now, Classroom Ready Teachers Report (TEMAG, 2014), the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership updated Accreditation Standards and Procedures for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs to include primary specialisation into ITE courses (AITSL, 2017). The Australian Government’s Next Steps report (2022) also identified the need to obtain data on the specialisation of ITE graduates to assist with issues of supply and demand. …


Graduate Outcomes Of Australian Hospitality Educational Institutions And Skills Desired By Employers: A Matrix Model, Alireza Amrollahi, Hana Hadinejad, Brent D. Moyle, Nicholas Thomas Jan 2025

Graduate Outcomes Of Australian Hospitality Educational Institutions And Skills Desired By Employers: A Matrix Model, Alireza Amrollahi, Hana Hadinejad, Brent D. Moyle, Nicholas Thomas

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Demand for a skilled hospitality workforce has accelerated post-pandemic. However, limited research has explored the core competencies desired by the hospitality sector and their alignment with graduate outcomes from bachelor’s programs. Consequently, this study uses the Australian accommodation sector as an exemplar case to examine the alignment of skill supply and demand in the sector. An analysis of 28,000 Australian job advertisements reveals that employers seek a combination of soft and hard skills. Soft skills prevalent in job advertisements include communication, customer-orientation, teamwork, and adaptability. Hard skills that emerged include quality assurance, property management, culinary expertise, hospitality proficiency, and safety. …


Investigating The Environmental Awareness And Attitudes Among Fisher Folks In Ghana: A Sustainability Threat, Nana Akua Okyerewa Djandoh, Enock Swanzy-Impraim Jan 2025

Investigating The Environmental Awareness And Attitudes Among Fisher Folks In Ghana: A Sustainability Threat, Nana Akua Okyerewa Djandoh, Enock Swanzy-Impraim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Environmental concerns, such as human alteration, pollution, and the effects of climate change, have had a significant impact on the survival of beaches worldwide. In Ghana, beaches face numerous threats stemming from human activities, such as deforestation, construction, sand mining, open defecation, and disposal of waste into the sea. Moreover, other factors such as strong winds, high waves, and the effects of climate change contribute to beach vulnerability. This paper is part of a broader study that investigated the environmental attitude and behavior of the Fisher Folks along coastal beaches in the Winneba Municipality in Ghana. Although the broader study …


Natural Hydrogen Soil Gas Emissions Near Harvey, Perth Basin: A Comparative Study Of Survey Methods, Krista Davies, Peter W. Haines, Charmaine Thomas, Leon Normore Jan 2025

Natural Hydrogen Soil Gas Emissions Near Harvey, Perth Basin: A Comparative Study Of Survey Methods, Krista Davies, Peter W. Haines, Charmaine Thomas, Leon Normore

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Quantifying natural hydrogen soil gas emissions and their controlling factors is critical for assessing hydrogen storage viability and improving exploration strategies. This study provides the first detailed comparison of hydrogen emissions near the DMP Harvey-2 well in the Perth Basin and compares the effectiveness of repeated point surveys and autonomous monitoring in capturing emission variability. Hydrogen concentrations ranged from 0 to >1000 ppm in point surveys, with transient pulses up to 598 ppm detected through continuous monitoring, indicating episodic release. Repeated point surveys successfully captured the overall range of emissions but failed to resolve dynamic processes, such as abrupt flux …


Varying Vulnerabilities: Seagrass Species Under Threat From Prolonged Ocean Warming, Marnie L. Campbell, Chi T.U. Le Jan 2025

Varying Vulnerabilities: Seagrass Species Under Threat From Prolonged Ocean Warming, Marnie L. Campbell, Chi T.U. Le

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Understanding the response of various seagrass species to prolonged elevated water temperatures is crucial for effective management and seagrass species restoration amid increasing climate change-induced ocean warming and marine heat waves. This is especially important in intertidal seagrass meadows, where heat can penetrate substrate depths of up to 50 cm. We assessed and contrasted the responses of five intertidal species—Zostera muelleri Irmisch ex Asch, Halophila ovalis (R.Br.) Hook f., Halodule uninervis (Forssk.) Asch, Halophila decipiens Ostenf., and Halophila spinulosa (R.Br.) Asch—over a month of elevated temperatures by examining rhizome growth, number of living shoots, root development, and sprig survival. While …


Exercise Parameters To Consider For Achilles Tendinopathy: A Modified Delphi Study With International Experts, Yoann Demangeot, Seth O’Neill, Francis Degache, Amandine Rapin, Umer Asgher, Hakan Alfredson, Rachel Chester, Ruth L. Chimenti, Robert Jan De Vos, Adrian Escriche-Escuder, Kenneth Farnqvist, Bas Habets, Nicola Maffulli, Stig Peter Magnusson, Peter Malliaras, Myles C. Murphy, Craig R. Purdam, Jonathan D. Rees, Ebonie K. Rio, Igor Sancho, Alex Scott, Karin Gravare Silbernagel, Vincent Gremeaux, Francois C. Boyer, Redha Taiar Jan 2025

Exercise Parameters To Consider For Achilles Tendinopathy: A Modified Delphi Study With International Experts, Yoann Demangeot, Seth O’Neill, Francis Degache, Amandine Rapin, Umer Asgher, Hakan Alfredson, Rachel Chester, Ruth L. Chimenti, Robert Jan De Vos, Adrian Escriche-Escuder, Kenneth Farnqvist, Bas Habets, Nicola Maffulli, Stig Peter Magnusson, Peter Malliaras, Myles C. Murphy, Craig R. Purdam, Jonathan D. Rees, Ebonie K. Rio, Igor Sancho, Alex Scott, Karin Gravare Silbernagel, Vincent Gremeaux, Francois C. Boyer, Redha Taiar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

To assess the level of agreement among experts on the heel raise exercise parameters that influence midportion and insertional Achilles tendinopathy (AT) rehabilitation outcomes. An international expert panel in AT rehabilitation was invited to complete a three-round Delphi survey. In the first two rounds, experts were asked to review a pregenerated list of exercise parameters (based on the heel raise exercise) and rate their perceived influence on rehabilitation outcome, using a 5-point Likert scale. For each parameter, consensus criteria for major influence on rehabilitation were (a) median≥4, (b) ≥75% of scoring 4 or 5 and (c) IQR≤1. The third round …


Improved Strength And Corrosion Resistance Of Ti–50zr Alloy Through Heat Treatment, Yuhua Li, Qian Zhang, Rong Zhao, Haojie Wang, Yujing Liu, Zibo Zhao, Chengliang Yang, Lai Chang Zhang Jan 2025

Improved Strength And Corrosion Resistance Of Ti–50zr Alloy Through Heat Treatment, Yuhua Li, Qian Zhang, Rong Zhao, Haojie Wang, Yujing Liu, Zibo Zhao, Chengliang Yang, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This work systematically analyzes the effects of heat treatment on the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of Ti-50Zr alloy produced via vacuum arc melting. Microstructural characterization demonstrates that the microstructure of Ti–50Zr transforms from coarse lamellar α phase in as-cast condition to fine and uniformly distributes acicular α′ phase in heat-treatment state. The tensile strength, yield strength, and microhardness are significantly improved. This strengthening effect can be attributed to grain refinement and increase in dislocation density induced by heat treatment. Furthermore, the heat-treated Ti–50Zr exhibits lower corrosion current density and higher passive film resistance, suggesting a notable improvement in corrosion …


Students As Designers With 3d Design And Fabrication Technologies, Carol Puddicombe, Rob Rouse, Marco Tolomei, David Ellis Jan 2025

Students As Designers With 3d Design And Fabrication Technologies, Carol Puddicombe, Rob Rouse, Marco Tolomei, David Ellis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This chapter explores integrating 3D design and fabrication technologies into educational settings, emphasising their potential to enhance student creativity, problem-solving skills, and real-world capabilities. Through using 3D design and fabrication tools such as computer-aided design (CAD) software, 3D printers, laser cutters, and computer numerical control (CNC) machines, students can transition from passive learners to active creators, engaging with tangible projects that connect theoretical concepts and practical challenges. The chapter highlights the importance of supporting teachers in adopting these technologies, addressing challenges such as hardware costs, software accessibility, and teacher training. By progressively increasing project complexity and incorporating real-world applications, educators …


Students As Designers With Robotics And Control Systems, Katie Waters, David A. Martin, Natalie Mcmaster, Ben Zunica, Bronwyn Tregenza, Martin Levins Jan 2025

Students As Designers With Robotics And Control Systems, Katie Waters, David A. Martin, Natalie Mcmaster, Ben Zunica, Bronwyn Tregenza, Martin Levins

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The chapter defines and explores the core concepts of robotics and control systems from the broader perspective of ‘ mechatronics’, highlighting the integration of systems, design, and computational ways of thinking that may not be as comprehensive if strictly limited to the more familiar but slightly narrower ‘robotics and control systems’. Due to their role in society and relevance to the future workplace, they make for a rich and meaningful learning context for education. This includes a focus on the integration of systems that combine electronics and physical structures with digital devices and systems. Examples of mechatronics are provided from …


Students As Digital Designers In Engineering, Matthew Daniel Christie, Belinda Von Mengersen, Martin Levins, Carol Puddicombe Jan 2025

Students As Digital Designers In Engineering, Matthew Daniel Christie, Belinda Von Mengersen, Martin Levins, Carol Puddicombe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This chapter examines the integration of digital technologies in Engineering education contexts from primary to secondary school classrooms. It outlines a progression of learning experiences integrating digital tools, such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, programming platforms, and data analysis applications, into Engineering education modules so that students can build their technological proficiency and creativity. The chapter emphasises using real-world scenarios, such as the design of a smart garden or bridge-building projects, to make engineering principles more tangible. It explores the role of signature pedagogies and the Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL) in structuring curriculum and instructional strategies to …


Transdisciplinary Work-Integrated Learning’S Contribution To Societal Transition: A Scoping Review, Denise Jackson, Claire Lambert, Sonja Coetzee Jan 2025

Transdisciplinary Work-Integrated Learning’S Contribution To Societal Transition: A Scoping Review, Denise Jackson, Claire Lambert, Sonja Coetzee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This scoping review explores the perceived value of transdisciplinary work-integrated learning (TWIL) for contributing to social change and the enablers of impactful TWIL offerings. TWIL is a pedagogy-based approach which connects students from diverse disciplines with external partners to engage in authentic, work-focused activities as a formal component of academic study. This review focuses on TWIL where students collaboratively explore and problem-solve on known local community and wider societal issues, such as climate, health, food, and water, to foster transformative practice. Thematic analysis of 31 academic sources highlighted the recognised worth of TWIL for fostering student skills for transformation, developing …


Development And Characterization Of Sustainable Coal–Biomass Briquettes Of Sub-Bituminous Coal And Levistona Chinensis Biomass, Amad Ullah Khan, Borhen Louhichi, Muhammad Abas, Muhammad Saleem, Nashmi H. Alrasheedi, Farida Anjum, Aamer Sharif Jan 2025

Development And Characterization Of Sustainable Coal–Biomass Briquettes Of Sub-Bituminous Coal And Levistona Chinensis Biomass, Amad Ullah Khan, Borhen Louhichi, Muhammad Abas, Muhammad Saleem, Nashmi H. Alrasheedi, Farida Anjum, Aamer Sharif

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions has driven the exploration of alternative fuels, such as coal–biomass briquettes, which combine the benefits of both coal and renewable biomass sources. This study focuses on the development and characterization of sustainable coal–biomass briquettes made from sub-bituminous coal (SubC) and Levistona chinensis seed biomass, with the aim of reducing environmental impact and enhancing combustion properties. Briquettes were produced by varying the coal-to-biomass ratios (90:0–0:90), with 10% corn starch used as a binder. Proximate analysis revealed that increasing biomass content raised moisture (5.85%–14.25%) and volatile matter (VM; 24.75%–32.5%), while reducing ash (15.75%–3.39%) and fixed …


Empowering Social Competence: A Scoping Review Of Digital Social Skills Training Interventions, Nasim Salehi, Mansoureh Nickbakht, Cindy Branch-Smith, Nazli Bashi, Elham Salehi, Sally Sargeant, Diarmuid Hurley, Farhad Fatehi Jan 2025

Empowering Social Competence: A Scoping Review Of Digital Social Skills Training Interventions, Nasim Salehi, Mansoureh Nickbakht, Cindy Branch-Smith, Nazli Bashi, Elham Salehi, Sally Sargeant, Diarmuid Hurley, Farhad Fatehi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Effective social skills are essential for functional social support, help-seeking, and resource access. Digital social skills training (DSST) plays a key role in empowering individuals to develop social competence, improve access to various support and resources, and enhance locus of control through dynamic media. This scoping review aims to identify and explore existing DSST programs and their mechanisms for access to support and resources, as well as health outcomes among people with and without health conditions. A search across four databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Embase) from 2000 to 2023 resulted in the inclusion of 59 papers. Thematic analysis categorized …