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• Water retention curves (WRCs) of municipal solid wastes (MSWs) • Hysteresis of WRCs of MSWs with decomposition. • Effects of decomposition and paper content on the WRCs. • Unsaturated hydraulic and gas conductivity of MSWs. This paper investigates the drying and wetting water retention curves (WRCs) of municipal solid wastes (MSWs) with different paper contents, dry unit weights and degrees of biodegradation (DOBs). Fresh synthetic samples were prepared based on the field composition of the MSWs at Mugga Lane Landfill, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Australia. The degraded samples were prepared in simulators with MSWs of different initial dry unit weights and decomposition periods with leachate recirculation. The water retention curves (WRCs) of the MSWs were determined using pressure plate tests, in both drying and wetting phases. The outflow from MSWs was analysed using Gardner's method to obtain the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. The results indicate that the WRCs of the MSWs are greatly affected by the DOB, paper content and dry unit weight. When DOB < 30 %, as DOB increases, the air-entry pressure of MSWs with paper increases, and the residual moisture content decreases regardless of paper content. With DOB > 30 %, the air entry pressure and residual water content depend on the balance between organic matter and highly decomposed organic constituents. The paper content affects the WRCs of MSWs due to its water retention capacity and change in the particle size distribution with decomposition. The increase in the dry unit weight of MSWs significantly increases the air entry pressure and residual moisture content, similar to the borehole samples with combined effects of biodegradation and increase in stress level from literature. Hysteresis effects have been observed during the drying and wetting of MSWs. The hysteresis of WRCs increases with the paper content and DOB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This discussion paper highlights the importance of Australian nursing and midwifery students' lack of exposure to electronic medical records during their undergraduate programs. There is pressure on universities offering nursing and midwifery programs to provide students with opportunities to learn to use patient electronic medical records. This will provide authentic rehearsal with the digital technology prior to clinical placements and increase graduate work readiness. Informed by contemporary literature, we describe the benefits of implementing electronic medical records (eMR) in health organisations and identify the challenges and barriers to implementing and integrating the education of electronic records into undergraduate nursing and midwifery programs. Undergraduate students who had not experienced eMR as part of on-campus learning felt unprepared and lacked confidence when commencing clinical practice. Some international nursing and midwifery programs have found that student's skills improve in decision-making and documenting patient observations when eMR is integrated into their university education program. Successful integration of an eMR program should consider academic/teaching staff skills and confidence in technology use, initial and ongoing costs and technical support required to deliver the program. In conclusion, Australian universities need to embed eMR learning experiences into the nursing and midwifery undergraduate curricula to increase students work-readiness with a focus on patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We examined panic buying and hoarding at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. • Perceived scarcity was the strongest predictor of panic buying. • Intolerance of uncertainty was the strongest predictor of hoarding. • Buying restrictions imposed by retailers may reduce panic buying. The COVID-19 pandemic led to panic buying in many countries across the globe, preventing vulnerable groups from accessing important necessities. Some reports inaccurately referred to the panic buying as hoarding. Although hoarding is a separate issue characterised by extreme saving behaviour, the two problems may be influenced by similar factors. Participants from Australia and the United States (final N = 359) completed online self-report measures of panic buying, hoarding, shopping patterns, perceived scarcity, COVID-19 illness anxiety, selfishness, and intolerance of uncertainty. Our findings showed that panic buying was related to hoarding symptoms (r 's =.23 -.36), and yet, both were uniquely associated with different psychological factors. Whilst panic buying was most strongly related to greater perceived scarcity (r 's =.38 -.60), hoarding was most related to a general intolerance of uncertainty (r 's =.24 -.57). Based on our findings, future strategies to prevent panic buying should focus on reducing perceived scarcity cues in the community, as this seems to be the primary driver of panic buying. Another preventative strategy to reduce excessive acquiring and saving may be to implement educational programs to increase people's ability to tolerate distress and uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a trending mobility choice, e-scooters have become popular in many cities. A number of authorities have initiated shared e-scooter trial schemes to assess the feasibility of the vehicles prior to enacting official legalisation. This paper aims to provide an evidence review of shared e-scooters and investigate how existing evidence may inform long-term policies. This carries significant relevance for jurisdictions that are in a conflicting position with e-scooters, such as New South Wales (NSW), Australia whose context motivates this study. The evidence review focuses on three themes derived from experience with shared e-scooters within the broader micromobility landscape, namely: safety; where shared e-scooters fit into the modal landscape; and the environmental impacts. Findings confirm that ensuring the safety of shared e-scooters requires complex solutions, which may include a clear regulatory framework for e-scooters, safety education and skill training, innovative data collection and analysis methods, and an approach to safety management that is user-based, location-based, and time-based. In terms of modal fit policymakers should encourage first and last-mile combinations with public transport, with consideration of user characteristics; while climate impact is strongly correlated to the mode replaced by e-scooter trips. The paper provides insights for policymakers on the regulation and positioning of shared e-scooters. • Many jurisdictions are struggling to determine policies for e-scooters. • Existing e-scooter evidence sheds light on possible long-term policies. • Safety management should consider different users, locations, and times. • First and last-mile combinations with public transport should be encouraged. • Climate impact is strongly correlated to the mode replaced by e-scooter trips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature cycling stability studies can be appropriately designed and utilized to ensure that drug product quality, efficacy, and safety are not compromised when materials are subjected to short term temperature excursions from intended storage that may occur during e.g., shipping, transport, or patient use. Some countries, such as Australia and Brazil, impose specific regulations that specify the need to conduct stability studies that are supportive of "real world" excursions as part of licensing approval requirements. These temperature cycling stability studies extend beyond what is described in ICH Guidelines Q1A(R2) and Q5C, and companies may be challenged in designing studies that not only satisfy country specific regulations, but also satisfy all global regulatory health authority expectations. This article focuses on responses to a cross-industry survey conducted within the International Consortium for Innovation and Quality (iqconsortium.org) member companies, regarding practices related to temperature cycling stability studies, in order to determine how these requirements are being interpreted and met. The results indicate that while there is no one-size-fits-all approach to performing temperature cycling stability studies, there are common and best practices that can be followed to satisfy global health authority regulatory guidelines and requirements. The purpose of this paper is to describe the outcome of an industry survey and common/best practices on temperature cycling stability studies performed on drug product (DP) to satisfy the requirements established for marketing authorizations in Australia and Brazil or any other countries that may have similar requirements. The framework is proposed within the context of late phase and commercial development of common biological and/or large molecule modalities, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs, including bispecific antibodies), fusion proteins, complex proteins, oligonucleotides, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), but many of the general principles involved may be applied to other therapeutics, such as Virus Like Particles (VLP), gene or cell therapies (GTx or CTx), or vaccines. For the purposes of this paper, temperature cycling stability studies refer to studies that are designed, in part, to support short term temperature excursions that drug product may be subjected to during shipping and storage activities and is outside of the labeled storage condition of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travel Demand Management (TDM) initiatives are widely applied by transport planners to establish and enable appropriate use of critical transport infrastructure. Less attention has been given to the specific case of TDM in an education precinct (university) context. Travel Plans have been promoted as a means for an organisation to encourage sustainable travel choices by their employees, visitors and customers. This paper offers an empirical contribution to the literature through a comparative qualitative evaluation of selected University Sustainable Travel Plans (USTPs) in Australia to identify the most important questions that a USTP should address explicitly. The evaluation comprised identification of a set of evaluation questions, completion of a template for each USTP considered and application of a simple scoring exercise. We also identify TDM measures that have been introduced as part of a USTP in response to the typical travel patterns exhibited in university settings. A contribution of this paper is to create a means of comparison of USTPs and to establish the components of a comprehensive travel plan. • Conducts a comparative analysis of University Sustainable Travel Plans. • Explores international experience of Travel Demand Management (TDM) in an education precinct context. • Key components of University Sustainable Travel Plans are identified. • The important role of regular surveys of staff and student travel behaviour is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loneliness contributes to mortality risk, comparable to the risks associated with smoking and obesity, although the causal determinants of loneliness remain less clear. This paper leverages mandatory stay-at-home orders in Australia as a natural experiment and employs data from a panel study to investigate the causal link between physical isolation and loneliness. By analyzing variations in the number of lockdown days experienced by respondents up until their interview dates, and utilizing difference-in-differences analyses with individual, region, and year fixed-effects estimations, we find, contrary to expectations, that the number of days in lockdown does not significantly impact loneliness. Our study examines cumulative, concurrent, and non-linear effects, and assesses external validity through community morale and peer effects during lockdowns using spatial analysis. Additionally, we delve into heterogeneous effects across various factors, such as income, age, personality, living arrangements, and remoteness, finding statistically and empirically insignificant effects. However, for extroverts and young people, we observe weak statistical significance. We investigate exclusion restrictions by analyzing factors including social contacts, internet access, job industry, and household characteristics in relation to loneliness; as well as time use and relationship satisfaction to better understand the underlying mechanism. Our study challenges the notion that 'being alone' and 'being lonely' are interchangeable concepts, providing the first empirical causal evidence of no links between the two. Furthermore, our findings refine earlier understandings of social isolation, highlighting that it likely encompasses factors beyond physical isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Driver preference of roadwork lane merging methods studied using a survey. • Early merge is preferred over Joint lane merge or Signalised merge. • Drivers with work zone experience prefer non-conventional merging strategies. • Experienced drivers prefer Signalised merge over Conventional merge. • Drivers with full license preferred Early merge over Conventional merge. Merging at work zones with lane closures is associated with delays and conflicts that often result in crashes. To minimize these undesirable effects of merging, researchers have studied and evaluated various merging strategies, such as Early Merge (EM), Late Merge (LM), Joint Lane Merge (JLM) and Signalized Merge (SM). While these studies provided important insights on the efficiency and safety aspects, a key gap exists in the literature where limited knowledge is available on driver preference and perceptions of the merging strategies. This paper aims to examine drivers' preferences of merging strategies and how demographic and travel characteristics influence their preference. Using an online survey of 455 drivers in Australia, data on these strategies and the Australian Conventional Merging (CM) setup were collected. This survey sample is equally split between drivers with and without work zone-related employment experience, thus capturing insights and viewpoints of both groups. Results from an ordered probit model showed that drivers with less driving experience drivers preferred CM more and SM less than the experienced drivers. The JLM strategy was less preferred by female drivers than male drivers. Non-conventional merging strategies like EM and SM were preferred over the CM strategy by those without any work zone-related employment experience than those who have such experience. These findings regarding drivers' merging strategy preferences have important implications for implementing merging strategies in future work zones, including potential improvement in driver compliance rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The geographic distribution of Rhipicephalus linnaei is much wider than previously known. • Rhipicephalus linnaei was recorded on a dingo. • The record of R. linnaei on a dingo suggest that dingoes might aid the spread of Ehrlichia canis in Australia. • We discuss possible incursion routes and how E. canis has apparently spread rapidly in Australia. The tropical brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus linnaei , is a tick of much medical, veterinary, and zoonotic importance. This tick has a nearly world-wide distribution due to its ability to survive and propagate in kennels and houses. Rhipicephalus linnaei is the vector of Ehrlichia canis , the causative agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, an often debilitating disease of canids and, occasionally, humans. To prevent incursion of E. canis into Australia, dogs entering Australia have been required to have a negative immunofluorescence antibody test for E. canis. In May 2020 however, E. canis was detected in Western Australia. The detection of E. canis in Australia prompted disease investigation and concerted surveillance for R. linnaei and E. canis in regions across Australia. These investigations revealed that R. linnaei was established far beyond the previously recognised geographic range limits of this tick. In the present paper, using records from various collections, published data, and data from our network of veterinarian collaborators and colleagues, we update the current geographic range of R. linnaei in Australia. Our analyses revealed that the geographic range of R. linnaei in Australia is much wider than was previously supposed, particularly in Western Australia, and in South Australia. We also map, for the first time, where E. canis has been detected in Australia. Last, we discuss the possible routes of incursion and subsequently the factors which may have aided the spread of E. canis in Australia which led to the establishment of this pathogen in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant advances have been made in artificial intelligence technology in recent years. Many health care applications have been investigated to assist clinicians and the technology is close to being integrated into routine clinical practice. The high prevalence of cardiac disease in Australia places overwhelming demands on the existing health care system, challenging its capacity to provide quality patient care. Artificial intelligence has emerged as a promising solution. This discussion paper provides an Australian perspective on the current state of artificial intelligence in cardiology, including the benefits and challenges of implementation. This paper highlights some current artificial intelligence applications in cardiology, while also detailing challenges such as data privacy, ethical considerations, and integration within existing health infrastructures. Overall, this paper aims to provide insights into the potential benefits of artificial intelligence in cardiology, while also acknowledging the barriers that need to be addressed to ensure safe and effective implementation into an Australian health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the skills landscape of the emerging green hydrogen industry in Australia drawing on data collected from a study that gathered insights on training gaps from a range of hydrogen industry participants. A total of 41 industry participants completed a survey and 14 of those survey respondents participated in industry consultations. The findings revealed widespread perceptions of training and skilling as being very important to the industry, but under-provisioned across the sector. Data were analysed to consider the problem of skilling the green hydrogen industry and the barriers and enablers as perceived by industry stakeholders. In this paper we argue that urgent cross-sector attention needs to be paid to hydrogen industry training and skill development systems in Australia if the promise of green hydrogen as a clean energy source is to be realised. • Cross-sector collaboration is needed to support education and training on hydrogen energy. • Insufficient training is available to support skill development in hydrogen energy. • Training on electrolysers, fuel cells, hydrogen storage and refuelling stations is most needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dedicated grid-tied offshore hybrid energy system for hydrogen production is a promising solution to unlock the full benefit of offshore wind and solar energy and realize decarbonization and sustainable energy security targets in electricity and other sectors. Current knowledge of these offshore hybrid systems is limited, particularly in the integration, component control, and allocation aspects. Therefore, a grid-integrated analytical model with a power dispatch allocation strategy between the grid and electrolyzer for the co-production of hydrogen from the offshore hybrid energy system is developed in this paper. While producing hydrogen, the proposed offshore hybrid energy system supplies a percentage of its capacity to the onshore grid facility, and the amount of the electricity is quantified based on the electricity market price and available total offshore generation. The detailed controls of each component are discussed. A case study considers a hypothetical hybrid offshore energy system of 10 MW situated in a potential offshore off the NSW of Australia based on realistic metrological data. A grid-scale proton-exchange membrane electrolyzer stack is used and a model predictive power controller is implemented on the distributed hydrogen generation scheme. The model is helpful for the assessment or optimization of both the economics and feasibility of the dedicated offshore hybrid energy farm for hydrogen production systems. • Modeling of a grid-integrated analytical model of an OHES for hydrogen co-production. • Development of a power dispatch allocation strategy for the proposed OHES. • Development of detailed controls of each component used in the proposed OHES. • Demonstrations of a case study considering 10 MW OHES situated in offshore off the NSW of Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are under intensifying pressure to respond to climate change and growing social inequities. Integrating nature-based solutions, as part of essential city infrastructure, contributes to resilient, liveable and equitable cities, as well as provision of biodiversity habitat. There is increasing focus on how concepts of justice can be embedded in these planning and governance processes. This paper proposes a framework to inform planning for just nature-based cities. It brings together concepts of just city, environmental and climate justice and more-than-human thinking, with research on urban nature-based solutions. It highlights the centrality of epistemic justice, and the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in just nature-based city planning and governance. The just nature-based city framework is applied to the case study of the Yarra River (Melbourne, Australia). In 2017, the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act, the first legislation in Australia to be co-titled in the Traditional Owners' language, legally recognised the river as a single living and integrated natural entity. Applying the just nature-based city framework, we find that there are both opportunities and challenges in this new approach to planning. While the Act and associated programs represent substantial and innovative advances, their scope is limited by exclusion of key policy domains and a focus on waterway corridor rather than catchment. The paper concludes by reinforcing the importance of a broadened understanding of justice, that spans both human and non-human considerations, and foregrounds Traditional Owners' perspectives and aspirations in designing, planning and governing just nature-based cities. • 'Just nature-based cities' integrate theories of just cities, nature-based solutions and epistemic justice. • The 'just nature-based city' framework can be applied as both a planning and an analytical tool. • Yarra River-Birrarung is a case study of new approaches to just nature-based city governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strange as it may seem, Treasury, brewers, winemakers, distillers and drinkers all share a common interest: The taxation of alcohol and its price elasticity of demand. Treasury needs this information to determine revenue, the industry for pricing purposes, and drinkers bear the burden of taxation. This paper presents new estimates of demand elasticities of beer, wine and spirits for Australia. The estimates are considerably lower than those of Srivastava et al. (2014), who used monthly, off-premise consumption. Frequency of purchase and location of drinking are most likely the source of the differences. The paper demonstrates the importance of demand elasticities with simulations of changes in the tax mix for alcoholic beverages with partial and general equilibrium approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen, produced from renewable electricity, can be transported long distances in multiple mediums. In this paper, a Techno-economic model is proposed to show the economic viability of global green hydrogen transport along 15 major regional routes such as Australia to Asia and Europe for the first time. A Monte Carlo-based technique is presented to assess the levelised cost of green hydrogen for different regions for the next 30 years. Depending on the specific route, green hydrogen can be transported in different forms, including ammonia, Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC), Hydrogen Slush, compressed or liquefied hydrogen, etc. form and using different modes including shipping, truck, train, and pipeline. A linear programming analysis has been conducted for different regions, showing that among the global projected 300Mt of green hydrogen demand in 2050, 85% will need to be transported between regions to achieve the most economically optimal distribution. • Techno-economic analysis of green H 2 export via 15 worldwide regional trade routes. • Export model includes H2 generation, conversion, transport, and carbon prices. • In 2030, North America will be the largest exporter, followed by Australia. • Higher carbon prices allow for rapid growth in the green hydrogen industry. • Shipping is the most likely and cheapest H 2 export mode for distant transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supporters of hydrogen energy urge scaling up technology and reducing costs for competitiveness. This paper explores how hydrogen energy technologies (HET) are perceived by Australia's general population and considers the way members of the public imagine their role in the implementation of hydrogen energy now and into the future. The study combines a nationally representative survey (n = 403) and semi-structured interviews (n = 30). Results show age and gender relationships with self-reported hydrogen knowledge. Half of the participants obtained hydrogen information from televised media. Strong support was observed for renewable hydrogen, while coal (26%) and natural gas (41%) versions had less backing. Participants sought more safety-related information (41% expressed concern). Most felt uncertain about influencing hydrogen decisions and did not necessarily recognise they had agency beyond their front fence. Exploring the link between political identity and agency in energy decision-making is needed, with energy democracy a potentially productive direction. • Hydrogen's strongest appeal to Australians is its benefit for climate change mitigation. • Although widely accepted, there is limited knowledge about hydrogen in terms of how it is produced or used. • The more people know about hydrogen, the more willing they are to participate in the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many countries have experienced more than one wave of the pandemic throughout 2020, Australia has been able to contain the virus in a way that makes it a stand out (with New Zealand) in the way that it has been contained, with an exception in Victoria linked to failed quarantine procedures for travellers returning from overseas. Through descriptive analysis, this paper builds on earlier papers by the authors on the Australian response, with a focus on the changing dynamics of travel activity, concern with public transport, and attitudes surrounding activity given the perception of risk of COVID-19 and the level of public support for regulatory intervention and restrictions on movement. We find that Australia continues to suppress travel, particularly that for commuting, that comfort in completing day-to-day activities continues to rise (with the exception of Victoria where confidence feel significantly), and while support for intervention measures remains high, there has been an erosion in sentiment. As with previous work, we discuss what this might mean for future transport policy, and attempt to draw lessons from the Australian experience. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper (Part 2 in the paper series), building on earlier studies examining the Australian response, extends on findings related to travel activity, commuting, and attitudes towards COVID-19 measures (Part 1 in the paper series). In this paper we focus in detail on the impact of, and experiences with, working from home (WFH), perhaps the largest of the positive unintended consequence of the pandemic, with respect to transport, and a key lens through which the changing patterns in travel activity and attitudes discussed in Part 1 need to be understood. We conclude that through the widespread adoption of WFH as a result of nationwide public health orders, there is evidence emerging that WFH is now seen as an appealing instrument of change by employees and employers, there is growing support to continue to support WFH into the future. This represents a significant potential contribution to the future management of the transport network, especially in larger metropolitan areas. We also discuss policy implications of this result and what the international community may take from the Australian experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Rural Australia" has long been a special site of political contestation. Staking the terms of public depictions of "the rural", "the bush", or "country life" is a constitutive thread running through Australian settler colonial identity and a cornerstone of national electoral politics. This paper analyses major News Corporation media outlets' presentation of an evolving political campaign, comparing contesting representations of farming and rural Australia deployed by the Morrison Coalition government and advocacy group Farmers for Climate Action, in the period between the government's re-election in May 2019 and July 2021. The paper steps through the key tactical discursive moves made by these contesting parties. It argues that in their depictions of rural Australia there are two important features that these perspectives share. Both embrace a discourse of increased agricultural productivity inspired by high-tech innovation, and both are silent on the related social and economic transformations that undergird the "crisis" of the rural. Consequently, public political contestation over rural policy unfolds without engaging transforming structural arrangements that fundamentally organise work and life on the land. • Presents comparative depictions of rurality by the Australian prime minister and advocacy group Farmers for Climate Action. • Political contests over the representation of the rural during the time of accelerating climate change are shown to have strong temporal framings. • Both government and Farmers for Climate Action embrace a discourse of increased agricultural productivity inspired by high-tech innovation and both are silent on socio-economic transformations. • Farmers for Climate Action have made significant steps towards normalising the idea that farming and climate activism go hand in hand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is a potential future solution addressing global warming, climate change, and energy security challenges. It efficiently allows for storing excess renewable energy and generating heat and electricity without increasing greenhouse gas emissions. It can create a practical pathway to replace fossil fuel vehicles and move toward a net-zero transport sector. Various hydrogen strategies and industry roadmaps have been developed to identify key goals, set targets for progress, and develop strategic plans to remove barriers. As identified through these documents, the development of consistent national and international codes and standards and the creation of clear procedures and regulations are essential for the safe implementation and adaptation of hydrogen systems, leading to the successful process of hydrogen sector. This paper provides a comprehensive and critical review of the different aspects of hydrogen safety to advance hydrogen regulations, codes, and standards. While it summarises the key international hydrogen frameworks, the main focus of the paper is on Australian plans, progress, and working groups for hydrogen deployment that will help future green energy society. • The safety developments affect the cost of Australian hydrogen scaling targets. • Training and safety developments are essential to achieve public trust in Australia. • Better community engagement is needed to move from hydrogen planning to its development. • Data-based tools assist the development of hydrogen safety procedures in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate land valuation is necessary for tax purposes, land resources allocation, real estate management and urban development and planning. Since various factors from different domains affect land prices through non-linear relationships, automating the land valuation process on a large scale is a complex task. Advanced technologies in big data analysis and artificial intelligence have demonstrated superior capabilities in knowledge extraction in such cases. Accordingly, this paper develops and compares the performance of four Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) based on machine learning and deep learning techniques utilizing physical, geographical, socio-economic, environmental, legal and planning factors in Melbourne Metropolitan, Australia. According to the results, the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) method outperforms other algorithms of Support Vector Regression (SVR), random forest and Deep Neural Network (DNN). This method has achieved the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.862, Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 0.139, and normalized Root Mean Square Error (nRMSE) of 0.281. The achieved high accuracy is due to incorporating a wide range of driving factors and applying innovative feature selection and hyperparameter tuning procedures evaluating various possible feature sets and hyperparameters. Accordingly, this paper can contribute to research, governmental and industry-based activities in terms of developing AVMs for mass land valuation. • Automated land valuation models using machine learning and deep learning • Comprehensive feature set and hybrid feature selection process for robust model performance • Spatial mapping of land values in large urban areas • Contribution to fair housing policies and urban development by accurate land valuation • Practical insights for housing affordability strategies in terms of land management [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the clearance of native forests and native vegetation for plantation establishment, otherwise known as forest conversion, in the state-owned plantations of New South Wales, Australia. It begins by describing Australia's forests, plantations, and forest conversion, continues with an outline of the history of public hardwood plantations in New South Wales, and explores the regulatory frameworks that allow this practice to happen, and the responses adopted by non-state environmental governance systems, notably forest certification, to address this problem. The paper presents a case study analysis of conversion in the hardwood plantations of northern NSW, and concludes that the current regulatory environment facilitates deforestation, with cumulative impacts at the landscape level, and that without government intervention, efforts to prevent this by non-state action will only be partially successful, leading to ongoing habitat and species loss. The failure of existing legislative and regulatory frameworks to adequately acknowledge, define, and prohibit conversion will remain an impediment to sustainable forest management, as the entry of such timber into the market contaminates supply chains, resulting in considerable reputation risk. Reform is needed in both public and private governance systems to ensure strong governance, effective planning, and ecosystem integrity at the landscape level. Recommendations are provided for policymakers. • A new methodology to identify original forest inside plantation areas via historical aerial imagery. • A detailed evaluation of a range of spatial datasets demonstrating the increase of plantation cover, potentially at the expense of native forest. • A case study identifying that forest conversion has occurred in public hardwood plantations managed by the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales. • There is an urgent need to undertake reform to ensure New South Wales does not fall foul of the EUDR, or the Glasgow Declaration. • More research is needed to determine how significant these conversion events are , and the impacts on flora and fauna, notably the koala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel approach for modelling subsidence induced by fluid extraction from coal seams. • Transient groundwater and subsidence models are linked. • Coal shrinkage induced by gas desorption can significantly impact subsidence. Several coal seams are contained within the formations of Great Artesian Basin (GAB), the largest natural underground water reservoir in Australia and the world. The extraction of coal seam gas (CSG) and its associated water from thousands of wells within the coal measures of the GAB has led to tens of millimetres of subsidence in CSG development areas. Since highly developed farming systems located in these areas rely on very low slope landforms, even this scale of subsidence has caused significant community concern about the potential for CSG extraction to impair farming operations and productivity through changes in land slope and drainage. Coal seam compaction associated with dewatering and gas extraction has two key components: poromechanical compaction and desorption-induced bulk shrinkage. The former results from pore pressure depletion (due to dewatering and gas extraction) and an increase of vertical effective stress, while the latter is induced by gas desorption from the coal matrix, leading to further deformation. While poromechanical compaction of fluid-bearing formations has been extensively addressed in the literature, relatively little research has been conducted on the role of coal shrinkage in CSG-induced subsidence. This paper introduces an innovative practical modelling approach for assessing CSG-induced subsidence at a subregional/regional scale. The approach utilises an analytical model for CSG-induced subsidence derived from constitutive stress–strain relations for poroelastic-sorptive media. This is a novel approach in the context of CSG-induced subsidence which considers both poromechanical compaction and desorption-induced shrinkage. A further distinction to previous work is the integration of the geomechanical-sorptive subsidence model with a numerical groundwater model. Based on this approach, this paper examines the effect of coal shrinkage on subsidence, and its proportions with respect to total compaction for one of the major coal measures in the Surat Basin. Input data are derived from three-dimensional geological, geomechanical, and groundwater models, as well as methane adsorption and desorption reports. Results show that (a) the impact of coal shrinkage on CSG-induced subsidence is likely to be significant in the study area and (b) the contribution of coal shrinkage to CSG-induced subsidence depends on gas content, Langmuir isotherm, shrinkage strain parameters, and the saturation state of coal. This study provides important insights into CSG-induced subsidence and lays the foundation for the development of robust, efficient, and localised predictive models to support environmental impact assessment and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the empirical correlations between inter-city population distribution, intra-city urban economic structures, and networked inter-city relationships to propose a conceptual classification framework for the Australian urban system. This paper sets the pre-COVID-19 benchmark for future research which will investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the economic geography of the Australian urban system. This research confirms that the form of Australia's urban structure is informed by a combination of population distribution, economic concentration, specialisation and diversity of industries and occupations, and networks between cities. Based on these results, we propose an urban structure framework characterised by hierarchical sub-systems and typologies of cities. The framework consists of standalone regional centres and larger cities which form a networked megaregion. Additionally, we propose five typologies of cities based on their functional roles. The Australian urban system presents a unique hybrid economic geography where its structure of networked megaregions of cities and standalone regional centres each with its complementary functional roles, presents itself an interesting case study to inform population policies for other geographies. • This study proposes a method to synthesise city size, economic structure and their networked relationships. • Principles of economic agglomeration mostly apply within the Australian context however, there are nuances and exceptions. • Proximity has a role to play when determining the economic roles of cities and the strength of interactions between cities. • Two urban sub-systems exist in Australia: standalone regional centres and megaregions. • Five city types in Australia which considers their size, economic structure and geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phasing out coal-fired power is inevitable, but a deeply complex process from a social-institutional standpoint. • The nature of the coal-fired power transition is comparable to the automotive industry closures observed in Australia's recent industrial past. • This paper draws on just transitions and the transition management analytical frameworks. • Four key insights offer pointers for policymakers to support the transition away from coal-fired power in Australia and globally. Nearly three-quarters of Australia's electricity generation is coal-dependent with fossil fuel-led electricity contributing to over a third of Australia's CO 2 emissions. Climate change imperatives are calling for permanent shifts to these patterns, leading to early closure announcements of several coal-fired power plants across the country. Although the pace and scale of the energy transition are unprecedented, the closure of large-scale industries is not uncommon. The most recent closure in Australia's industrial past that remains vivid in the nation's collective memory was the end of nearly 70 years of automotive manufacturing. Drawing on expert consultations, and applying just transitions and transition management thinking, this paper identifies four key insights from the auto sector closure experience. These offer compelling pointers to guide socio-economic transformations in frontline regions that are likely to face challenging, often deeply personal, impacts resulting from the closure of coal-fired power stations over the coming decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nations where colonialism persists such as Australia, scholars have identified the hegemony of a morally infused white farming imaginary. While this construction has traditionally been invested in heteropatriarchal ideologies our aim in this paper is to demonstrate how, in recent years, white middle-class farming women have been woven into this narrative through settler colonial logics. We take up this contention in the Australian context examining 100 posts to two major institutional Instagram accounts that feature farming women: @invisfarmer and @agrifuturesau. Using the lens of settler colonialism, and a visual and textual analysis, we identify how the "white middle-class woman farmer" is framed by discourses of white feminism and invisibility/visibility. We reveal the emergence of a narrow farming woman aesthetic which is bolstered by narratives which celebrate the "successful female farmer" and the "successful female farm leader". In concluding the paper, we discuss the implications of the gendering of the white farming imaginary, and make a call for gender and rural studies scholars to de-centre and disaggregate the "white middle-class settler farming woman" subject position, through attending to settler colonialism and Indigenous scholarship in understandings of Australian rurality. • Australian rural studies uphold the "white middle-class settler farming woman". • The gendering of the white farming imaginary occurs through settler colonialism. • The "white middle-class woman farmer" is framed by discourses of white feminism. • Narratives of the "successful female farmer" and "leader" are celebrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Social Media (SM)'s adoption as educational instruments in Higher Education (HE) has been gaining popularity among researchers and practitioners. Nonetheless it has been adopted to support various learning approaches such as Cooperative Learning (CL). Despite the growing research in this field, few studies have proposed a comprehensive SM integration framework as well as empirical studies to evaluate its effectiveness. This paper examines how SM is being used as a pedagogical tool in HE and identifies major factors that drives SM's inclusion in HE classrooms. In addition, the paper investigates the effectiveness of a previously proposed integration framework which was developed to promote CL using a popular SM platform, LinkedIn. A survey was administered to collect data from students in different subjects at a university in Australia. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was adopted for data analysis using IBM's SPSS26 and AMOS26. One of the notable results of this study is the significant positive relation found between the use of the adopted integration framework and CL, SM challenges' mitigation, students' intention to use SM and their learning process. The findings of this study have important implications for practice and pave the way for future empirical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper presents the first on-the-ground study of attitudes towards just transition ideas in Australian coal communities. • It highlights the range of specific anxieties and reservations that workers and individuals in these communities have about these ideas. • The study highlights the dire need for local autonomy and control over any transition planning in these regions. Over the past several years, numerous actors across Australian society have increasingly advocated 'just transition' policies to help coal communities move beyond their reliance on fossil fuel extraction. As part of this, individuals from the environmental movement, trade unions, various NGOs and the private sector have called for a range of initiatives designed to help maintain the social and economic integrity of these regions as coal inevitably declines. Yet while just transition ideas have grown in popularity in these numerous forums in Australian society, it remains unclear how they are being understood by the very workers and communities for whom they are being proposed. To shed light on this question, we conducted interviews with residents of coal communities throughout Eastern Australia. We found that respondents had several key anxieties about just transition ideas and their impacts on their lives. In this paper, we break our findings down into five main themes that help explain these anxieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Innovative phenotype-genotype association analysis for categorical genomic data having non-ignorable missing values. • Statistical learning method of random forest is used for variable selection in the analysis. • Weighted logistic ridge regression with EM algorithm is used for missing data imputation in the analysis. • Linear statistical hypothesis testing is used for determining the missingness mechanism in the analysis. • An application to analyzing real data from Australia breast cancer genome-wide association study (GWAS). Genomic data arising from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) are often not only of large-scale, but also incomplete. A specific form of their incompleteness is missing values with non-ignorable missingness mechanism. The intrinsic complications of genomic data present significant challenges in developing an effective and efficient procedure of phenotype-genotype association analysis by a statistical variable selection approach. In this paper we develop a coherent procedure of categorical phenotype-genotype association analysis, in the presence of missing values with non-ignorable missingness mechanism in genomic data. It is developed by integrating the statistical learning methods of random forest for variable selection, joint weighted logistic ridge regression with EM algorithm for missing data imputation, and linear statistical hypothesis testing for determining the missingness mechanism. Two simulated genomic datasets are used to undertake the phenotype-genotype association analysis by the proposed procedure, with the performance validated. The proposed procedure is then applied to analyze a real data set from breast cancer GWAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role of socioeconomic status (SES) in affecting access to care and the survival of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients in Australia's universal health care system. We jointly model the probabilities of patients being admitted to a catheterisation-capable hospital, receiving invasive coronary angiography (ICA), and surviving 30 days post discharge as a recursive system of probit equations. We further investigate the role of capacity and whether the access gap between SES groups widens when capacity becomes limited. Our study shows that SES plays a significant role in affecting the survival of AMI patients, both directly and indirectly through healthcare access. We find that socioeconomically disadvantaged patients are less likely to gain access to crucial services like catheterisation hospitals and ICA, which indirectly affects their survival probability in addition to the adverse direct impact of SES. While healthcare capacity showed no overall effect on access, its interplay with SES exacerbates the access disparity in situations of limited capacity. Our findings suggest that, to reduce inequality in health outcomes, public health strategy needs to focus not only on enhancing access but also addressing the direct consequences of SES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify and elaborate on the choices that were made in the development of the Patient Scale of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale 3.0 (POSAS 3.0), based upon the rich information obtained from patients during focus groups and pilot tests. The discussions described in this paper are a reflection of the focus group study and pilot tests that were conducted in order to develop the Patient Scale of the POSAS3.0. The focus groups took place in the Netherlands and Australia and included 45 participants. Pilot tests were performed with 15 participants in Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. We discussed the selection, wording and merging of 17 included items. Additionally, the reason for exclusion of 23 characteristics are given. Based upon the unique and rich material of patient input obtained, two versions of the Patient Scale of the POSAS3.0 were developed: the Generic version, and the Linear scar version. The discussions and decisions taken during the development are informative for a good understanding of the POSAS 3.0 and are indispensable as a background for future translations and cross-cultural adaptations. • The Patient Scale was meant to be concise, readily assessable, quick, and user-friendly instrument assessing the key attributes of scar quality. • Two versions have been developed, the Generic version (total of 16 items), and the Linear scar version (total of 17 items). • Eight of the identified characteristics were merged into three included items. • Twenty-three characteristics were excluded during different phases of the development process for multiple reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green steel, produced using renewable energy and hydrogen, presents a promising avenue to decarbonize steel manufacturing and expand the hydrogen industry. Australia, endowed with abundant renewable resources and iron ore deposits, is ideally placed to support this global effort. This paper's two-step analytical approach offers the first comprehensive assessment of Australia's potential to develop green steel as a value-added export commodity. The Economic Fairways modelling reveals a strong alignment between prospective hydrogen hubs and current and future iron ore operations, enabling shared infrastructure development and first-mover advantages. By employing a site-based system optimization that integrates both wind and solar power sources, the cost of producing green steel could decrease significantly to around AU$900 per tonne by 2030 and AU$750 per tonne by 2050. Moreover, replacing 1% of global steel production would require 35 GW of well-optimized wind and solar photovoltaics, 11 GW of hydrogen electrolysers, and 1000 square kilometres of land. Sensitivity analysis further indicates that iron ore prices would exert a long-term influence on green steel prices. Overall, this study highlights the opportunities and challenges facing the Australian iron ore industry in contributing to the decarbonization of the global steel sector, underscoring the crucial role of government support in driving the growth and development of the green steel industry. [Display omitted] • Australia could produce low-cost green steel for value-added export • Strong correlation between hydrogen hubs and iron ore operations • Existing infrastructure supports the roll-out of the industry • Optimized generation mix reduces storage, curtailment and production costs • Iron ore prices substantially influence green steel prices in the long term [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a thriving hydrogen industry will depend on public and community support. Past research, mainly focusing on the acceptance of hydrogen fuelling stations and cars, suggests that people generally support hydrogen energy technology (HET). Few studies have, however, considered how people think about other components of the hydrogen supply chain (i.e., technologies required to make, store, transport and use hydrogen). Moreover, there has been limited research investigating how people interpret and develop beliefs about HET after being presented with technical information. This paper attempts to address these research gaps by presenting the findings from four face-to-face focus group discussions conducted in Australia. The findings suggest that people have differing views about HET, which depends on the type of technology, and these views influence levels of support. The study also revealed concerns about a range of other factors that have yet to be considered in hydrogen acceptance research (e.g., perceived water use, efficiency and indirect benefits). The findings highlight the value of qualitative research for identifying salient beliefs that shape attitudes towards HET and provide recommendations for future research and how to effectively communicate with the public and communities about an emerging hydrogen industry. • Focus group discussions with Australians about whole hydrogen supply chain. • Generally positive, but tentative, attitudes toward hydrogen overall. • Stronger support for industrial applications over domestic/household applications. • Concerns raised about hydrogen's efficiency and its conflict with other technologies. • Support for more research and pilot projects to provide tangible evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen supplying to industrial users is currently the major hydrogen business worldwide and the demand for hydrogen is almost entirely supplied from fossil fuels. In the last years a widespread interest on hydrogen has grown as energy vector for the decarbonization of multiple sectors, including industry, transport and buildings. Nevertheless, the impact of natural gas and other fossil fuels substitution with hydrogen is highly affected by the mix of different technologies and energy sources applied for hydrogen generation. The paper aims to investigate current CO 2 emissions related with hydrogen generation in Australia and Italy by means of PEM and alkaline technologies; and to evaluate the potential impact considering cell characteristics variation and 3 scenarios based on energy mix. A sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the critical parameters. Based on experimental data, the energy consumption for hydrogen production using PEM technology is more sensitive to cell voltage compared to current density, which indicates the importance of cell manufacturing and electrolyte resistance. In addition, by performing sensitivity analysis regarding energy sources scenarios it is found that carbon dioxide emission in Australia is more sensitive to renewable energy sources rather than Italy. [Display omitted] • Importance of manufacturing and electrolyte resistance because of high PEM energy consumption sensitivity to cell voltage. • Predicted emission in 2030 is 5–10 kg CO 2 using PEM/alkaline technology in Italy. • 18% reduction of national electricity grid CO 2 emission in Australia is predicted. (In 2030 in comparison to 2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to investigate the extent to which Australia's northern cities have become increasingly important mediators of migration of nurses and general practitioners (GPs) to the regional north since the 1980s. Over that period, national and provincial policy has focused on 'regionalisation' of health workforce development, including creating education and training infrastructure outside of metropolitan areas. This paper hypothesises that the effectiveness of regionalisation in northern Australia should be reflected in an increased net flow of GPs and nurses from northern cities (which are the hubs of education and training) to the regional north. Data from the seven Australian Census between 1986 and 2016 are used to model changing patterns of migration. Overall, there was limited evidence of substantial change in migration patterns, although for GPs there was a reduction in migration from the key metropolitan source markets (Brisbane and Adelaide) matching an increase in supply from northern cities. Northern cities have consistently been the source of about one quarter of new nurse and GP migrants to the regional north, but the regional north has become a much less favoured destination for professionals leaving northern cities as cities' populations have grown much faster than regional populations. Net flows have remained small and for nurses have favoured the cities while for GPs favoured the regional north. The paper concludes that, while there is limited evidence of increased 'spillover' of labour from the cities to the regional north, there is also no evidence of the cities increasingly 'spongeing' regional labour. Cities and regional migration systems may be increasingly disconnected as labour demands diverge, but new connections are being created with the rest of non-metropolitan Australia. The research is the first to analyse health professional migration over such a long period, and contributes to the debates about the roles of cities in sparsely populated areas in the development of their rural and remote hinterlands. • There is no evidence of increasing 'sponge' or 'spillover' relationships between northern cities and the regional north. • Large investment in 'regionalisation' of workforce development has not led to an increase in intra-northern migration. • There is evidence of increasing net loss of health professionals from the regional north to other regional Australia. • Regionalisation may be an ineffective strategy for growing the health professional workforce in the regional north. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• South Australia is leading low carbon energy transitions in Australia. • Socio-technical transitions are complex, non-linear and follow multiple adaptive pathways. • Complex adaptive systems and risk society theory can be integrated to better understand transitions. • Bold leadership and innovative policy are required to navigate transitions in a reflexive modernity. • Governance can exploit crises to justify transition policy in response to future risk and uncertainty. Renewable energy transitions are occurring across the globe in response to climate change. Such socio-technical transitions are complex and non-linear. They require bold leadership and innovative policy, both in response to environmental risk and to navigate political, technical and socio-economic conditions. This paper integrates complex adaptive systems and risk society theory to inform a discussion on regional socio-technical transitions. South Australia is forging its own adaptive pathway, and in doing so, is leading energy transitions in Australia. Utilising the complex adaptive cycle to frame the state's renewable energy transition, the path can be seen to be evolving from a simple first modernity to a multi-dimensional second modernity. Socio-technical transitions are partly a by-product of responses to risk. While there is no single map for navigating societal transitions, this paper proposes that risk, in the context of risk society theory, is an important guiding dimension for understanding transformational change in socio-technical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are implemented across multiple cities worldwide and feature as promising solutions in local and global agendas. As solutions that can deal with interlinked urban challenges, NBS are being taken up by cities in different geographies and are considered to be mainstreaming. The process, referred to as mainstreaming, and how this can be achieved needs to be better understood, which is identified as a research gap. In this paper, we examine the roles that actors can undertake that contribute to the mainstreaming of NBS in cities. The aim is to understand the roles that urban actors, especially those within local governments, assume in the process of NBS mainstreaming to mobilise and implement novel and innovative strategic solutions for cities. This topic is explored in a case study of the metropolitan Melbourne region in Australia, where urban forest strategies are gaining traction in local governments for addressing urban resilience concerns. We present how the roles different actors assume contribute to the (re)shaping, building, and/or transformation of institutions to attain climate and ecologically resilient cities. The main contribution of this paper is a pathways framework that illustrates how sustainability norms can move through the mainstreaming process, facilitated by the roles that actors undertake – to champion, advocate, and realise transformative discourses and actions within urban politics and urban practices. Our key findings are framed as success factors of mainstreaming agencies and pathways underpinning transformation, which are: commitment longevity, innovative capacity, collaborative mindset, and on-ground delivery. • Policy, practice, and research actors can facilitate NBS mainstreaming in cities. • Role archetypes describe the mainstreaming actions of specific actors. • The configuration of roles is analysed to explain mainstreaming pathways. • Define mainstreaming pathways framework for actors' roles in NBS mainstreaming. • Success factors are commitment, innovation, collaboration, and on-ground delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the fourth in a series of papers that provides an historical record in this journal of contributions made by the most influential figures in the field of stuttering. Ann Packman is an Australian researcher who will retire shortly. This paper reflects on her long and productive career, and her contributions to the field. With a background in literature, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, and the brain and language, she became well equipped to contribute to understanding stuttering causality. That work, and an accompanying collection of basic and applied clinical research, was constantly grounded with the thoughts and feelings of those who stutter in the community. • Ann Packman is an Australian researcher who will retire shortly. • This paper reflects on her career and her contributions to the field. • Her work was grounded with the thoughts and feelings of those who stutter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of the stratigraphic evolution of marine rift basins is important for both "pure" scientific and economic reasons. From a hydrocarbon exploration point of view the main goal is to develop tools to predict reservoir location, quality, and extent. Stratigraphic models try to do that, and only historical cases can be used to test those models. On the other hand, depositional model cannot precisely predict reservoir location as factors unique to the specific basin under analysis affect sediment distribution (basin physiography, type of flows, among others). This aspect can be assessed only on a case-by-case basis and can be used for initial hypothesis generation based on analogues. This paper shows a case history study based on the integration of well logs, and 3D seismic data across the Eastern Dampier sub-basin, Northwester Shelf of Australia. Advanced seismic interpretation techniques, calibrated to well data, enable the definition of a chrono-stratigraphic framework of the late syn-rift sequence (Late Jurassic) of the Lewis Trough, and the description of the sediment distribution through the interpretation of geomorphological features. During the Late Jurassic three different channel systems deliver sandstones to the deep-water part of the basin through multiple entry points. The timing of the sediment input seems to be linked to variation of sediment input as during that time relative sea-level was slowly rising. The location of the entry points is related to local physiography and defies any attempt of prediction based on general "rules." From a stratigraphic point view, the findings of the study support the idea that, in rift basin, mechanical subsidence is the primary control for accommodation space, with episodic pulses of extension followed by longer periods of tectonic quiescence. It is during these episodic movements along the basin's bounding faults that space for sedimentation is created. This interpretation is in striking contrast with the basic assumptions of the conventional sequence stratigraphy model. • Understanding the stratigraphic evolution of marine rift basins allows to predict reservoir location and extent. • The present paper analyzes the late syn-rift succession of the Lewis Trough to reconstruct the stratigraphic evolution of the basin infill. • Accommodation space in the Lewis Trough is primarily controlled by mechanical subsidence related to asymmetrical fault movement. • Turbiditic sedimentation occurs during sea-level rise, and it is related to an Increase in sediment supply. • IConventional sequence stratigraphic modeling cannot be applied to rift-basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on an energy/exergy analysis of a standalone solar-hydrogen system with a metal hydride (MH) system thermally managed using a phase change material (PCM). This is a self-contained thermal management arrangement that stores the heat released from the MH unit, when it is being charged and transfers it back to the MH while discharging hydrogen. The first and second laws of thermodynamics were used to develop a mathematical model in MATLAB to simulate this system and quality its performance from the energy and exergy viewpoints. The model was then applied on a passive standalone house, with ∼3.8 MWh/year electricity demand, located in southeast Australia. The exergy efficiencies of the solar PV, electrolyser, fuel cell and the whole solar hydrogen system were found to be 6.5%, 88%, 50.6%, and 3.74%, respectively. The paper also provides the detailed entropy generation and exergy analysis on the MH hydrogen storage unit together with its PCM-based thermal management arrangement. The results show that the annual entropy generation, exergy destruction and exergy efficiency of the MH hydrogen storage unit were 173 Wh/K, 51.5 kWh, and 98.8%, respectively. • Exergy analysis of phase change material used for metal hydride thermal management in solar hydrogen system. • The energy and exergy efficiencies of the solar PV are around 6.1% and 6.5%, respectively. • Energy and exergy of solar-hydrogen system were 3.48% and 3.74%, respectively. • Exergy efficiency of the MH thermal management using PCM was 98.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing methods of quantifying agricultural employment mask the changing profile of agricultural employment occurring in response to the pressures of competitive productivism, general progress in scientific and technical knowledge, an increasingly complex value chain and changing consumer expectations. This article critically reviews the traditional sources of data used to inform the quantification of the agricultural labor force data and presents a method, the Professional Agricultural Services Sector (PASS) Trident, which measures employment in the agriculture sector more fully, by including employment in professional services and capturing key demographic characteristics. Applying the PASS Trident, our analysis of the industry and occupation level data indicates that the existing method of measuring agricultural employment under-counts the contribution of agribusiness professionals. Moreover, people employed in the professional agricultural services sector are highly educated, younger than the traditional on-farm workforce and reside in urban areas. The methodology proposed in this paper provides a framework for future studies for monitoring shifts in agricultural employment. • Agricultural producers are increasingly seeking professional services. • This is in response to economic pressures, scientific progress, value chain complexity, and changing consumer expectations. • Existing methods of measuring agricultural employment under-count the contribution ofagribusiness professionals. • Those employed in professional agricultural services sector are highly educated, young, and reside in urban areas. • The methodology proposed in this paper provides a framework formonitoring shifts in agricultural employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a narrative review of existing academic and grey literature on the roles of Australian First Nations' Knowledges and the arts in regional and remote development. We do so to examine the degree to which current mainstream approaches to development are actualising international calls for "inclusive" development that accentuate "Indigenous" local and knowledges and strengths. The paper discusses existing regional and remote development literature through a lens of holistic, strength-based, and inclusive development. This incorporates many forms of valuing and developing including: cultural, social, environmental, and economic forms of value and activity. We conclude by offering recommendations for future research, policy, and practice that can draw on the strengths of First Nations' Knowledges and the arts to achieve inclusive and holistic development. This artwork was commissioned for this project from Tartakula artist Lindy Brodie. The article authors hold a license to use the artwork for this research. [Display omitted] • Mainstream government-led development approaches are not substantively including the arts and First Nations' Knowledges. • Inclusive development seeks to respond to the failure of top-down regional development initiatives and policies. • To achieve inclusive development, stakeholders must examine power relations and governance. • Further research into the value of arts and First Nations' Knowledges in rural, regional, and remote regions is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines three sites where diplomacy interacts with geoscience, international law, and military capabilities. These sites, invisible to the general public due to their subterranean character, are undersea long-distance telecommunications cables; submarine operations; and espionage operations. The paper uses these subterranean sites to shed light on the hidden dimensions of Australian statecraft. Taken as a whole, they illustrate the influence of elite economic interests in Australia's national security objectives. The covert instruments of statecraft are devoted not just to military security but to the power and interests of the private sector. These interests heavily influence the concept of "national interest" in Australia's external relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the strategies that speakers employ in response to children's crying in the remote Aboriginal community of Wadeye, in northern Australia. Drawing on spontaneous interactions amongst Murrinhpatha speaking families, we analyse instances of crying by children aged 0;6 to 8;11 years, and the ways in which they are responded to. Results indicate that adult Murrinhpatha speakers manage children's distress through a variety of verbal and non-verbal strategies, and multimodal combinations thereof. The selection of strategies directly relates to the developmental stage of the crier. Adult caregivers respond differently to the crying of infants, of children who can walk unaided but are producing little if any language, of children who can talk intelligibly, and children more advanced again who have a degree of social independence. In the particular strategies that caregivers apply, they guide children towards a developmentally appropriate self-sufficiency. Caregivers encourage autonomy in ways that reflect a child's current abilities, be it physical, linguistic, emotional, or social. By exploring responses to crying in an under-researched cultural and linguistic context, this paper offers a unique perspective on the pragmatics of managing distress and what this reveals about local constructions of personhood within the context of carer-child interaction. • Analysis examines responses to children's crying in a remote Australian Aboriginal community. • Methods utilize multimodal analysis of spontaneous crying events in early childhood. • Findings show how caregiver responses are situated in relation to local expectations of children across developmental stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Climate change and dynamic government policy is compounding pressure on water resources in farming landscapes creating water scarcity. Successful adaptation to a more sustainable farming system in the face of water scarcity is not a foregone conclusion and requires choosing between short-term incremental change or more transformational options. In this paper, we propose a framework 'unpacking' four pathways that farmers might use to achieve sustainability: absorb, exploit, adapt and transform. Each pathway has specific attributes that relate to the type of farming system change undertaken. The framework is applied to 28 irrigation farmers from southern Murry Darling Basin, Australia, all facing water scarcity from drought and water policy. Using semi-structured interviews, we test the attributes and found they help understand farmers' pathway choices. We show that farmers use all four pathways, either singularly or simultaneously, to achieve a range of sustainability outcomes when facing a water crisis, although some are maladapted, and result in less sustainable outcomes. The study adds to the literature on pathways to sustainability by illustrating the need to clarify attributes that describe what each pathway means to farmers' decision-making and to consider multiple pathways, not just one, e.g. transformation. Policy implications are clear: there are various pathways to, or away from, farm sustainability. Therefore, policy interventions must be 'fit for purpose' and appropriately consider the diversity of farmer capacities and contexts. A focus on a single pathway or single technological fix will fail to deliver farm sustainability. This paper starts to develop a more specific and nuanced understanding of pathways to farm sustainability that reflect real life farming experiences with insight for policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the mid-1980s, Australia has resettled thousands of African refugees. This paper focuses on the racialization of youth violence and the damage it sustains on refugee-background young Africans. The discussion proceeds in two interrelated stages. In the first stage, to understand the representation of African youth in the public sphere, the paper reviews the relevant literature, media headlines, and political commentaries. In so doing, it establishes that the continual framing of African youth as dangerous and violence-prone by conservative politicians and media outlets amounts to racial moral panic. In the second stage, guided by narrative research methodology, a small group of young Africans were invited to reflect on their everyday life under racialized frames. Accounts of the youth are presented under four themes: the presumption of guilt, emotional ill-being, opportunity hoarding, and the permanence of otherness. It is argued that, if left unaddressed, the racialization of youth violence can diminish the integration outcomes of African youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Qualitative study with participants in Australia's largest Connected Intelligent Transportation Systems field trial. • Participants were generally positive towards the system and expressed interest in future adoption of the technology. • Participants expressed desire for increased personalisation of system settings. • Participants expressed some concerns about timing and accuracy of some information provided. • Participants expressed desire for appropriate data privacy and confidentiality controls and use of the data. The Ipswich Connected Vehicle Pilot (ICVP) was the largest on-road trial of connected vehicle technology in Australia. In the ICVP, 355 privately-owned vehicles were outfitted with connected vehicle technology and driven for 9 months with 326 participant vehicles remaining in the study until completion. User acceptance is as a key determinant of the future effectiveness of connected and co-operative Intelligent Transport systems (C-ITS) given it impacts likely uptake of these vehicles and the optimal functioning of such systems is contingent on widespread uptake by the public. This paper presents the findings of two qualitative studies conducted as part of the ICVP, comprising 53 individual interviews and 14 focus groups/interviews with 47 participants. The purpose of the qualitative studies was to understand users' perceptions of the system as well as their acceptance of C-ITS in general. Overall, participants were generally positive towards the system, could appreciate the safety benefits it offers, and expressed interest in adopting the technology presuming future systems would be refined. Some participants reported that they missed the warnings provided by the system once the technology had been removed. Participants wanted the system to be seamlessly integrated in their vehicle and have features that enabled personalisation. Participants identified that some of the warnings, most notably the advanced red light warning, were presented too late or at inaccurate times indicating that these issues must be remedied to ensure successful future implementation of C-ITS. Participants appreciated that data sharing would optimise the system but wanted controls to be put in place to guard against misuse; participants did not want their data to be used for sales or marketing purposes. Users' experience and perceptions are key to ensuring wider-spread adoption of C-ITS. The findings thus have important implications for future C-ITS implementation to ensure that the benefits of C-ITS are optimised to facilitate wide-spread penetration of the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper presents a review on the state-of-the-art electric vehicle charging technologies i.e., fast, super-fast, and ultra-super-fast charging stations that are under development. These have the potential to cause power quality issues such as charging transients, rapid voltage fluctuations, and harmonics in the power grids. • EVs can participate as mobile storage to provide vehicle-to-grid (V2G) support and ancillary services. There are still some barriers to the wide implementation of V2G systems. This paper has highlighted these issues and their impacts to power grids. • This paper investigates the impacts of random and fluctuating EV fast-charging loads on the electric power grids, mainly considering the random connection of EVs to the power grids through DC fast-charging stations as the principal source of fluctuating EV loads. • The charging stations are modeled for three different commercial DC fast charger connections (CHAdeMO, SAE CCS, and Chargepoint Express 20), with separate CC-CV charging modes of the DC fast chargers incorporated. To quantify the impacts, case studies are conducted on the simulation platform for two different scenarios. • The impact on the electric power grid is evaluated in terms of voltage drops, maximum power demand, current, and voltage total harmonic distortion (THD) experienced by the corresponding transformer connected to the charging stations. • The results have revealed that random and fluctuating EV fast-charging loads pose much more intense impacts on the power systems than the normal EV slow charging loads. The era of the electrified transportation system is fast approaching. Although the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) have contributed to their large-scale utilization, it has also created a huge load demand on the existing power grids throughout the world. Moreover, fast, super-fast, and ultra-super-fast charging stations are under development, some of which are now in the markets. These have the potential to cause power quality issues such as charging transients, rapid voltage fluctuations, and harmonics in the power grids. Moreover, EVs can participate as mobile storage to provide vehicle-to-grid (V2G) support and ancillary services. There are still some barriers to the wide implementation of V2G systems. This paper addresses these issues and provides a review of the state-of-the-art EV technologies and their impacts on power grids. This paper also investigates the impacts of random and fluctuating EV fast-charging loads on the electric power grids, mainly considering the random connection of EVs to the power grids through DC fast-charging stations as the principal source of fluctuating EV loads. A practical electrical grid of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia has been considered in this work to separately analyze the impacts of constant current (CC) and constant voltage (CV) charging modes upon the grid. Furthermore, design and modeling of three different commercial DC fast charger connections (CHAdeMO, SAE CCS, and ChargePoint Express 200), with separate CC-CV charging modes of the DC fast chargers have been incorporated. To quantify the impacts, two separate scenarios were examined using a simulation platform, with case studies conducted to determine the impacts on the power grid. The first scenario involved three fast charging stations, while the second scenario featured ten stations that were able to charge six and twenty electric vehicles respectively, with various load combinations considered. Each of these scenarios was analyzed under different conditions to evaluate their impact on the grid, using factors such as voltage drops, maximum power demand, current, and voltage total harmonic distortion (THD) for the transformer that was connected to the charging stations. The study results indicated that the power systems were affected more significantly by random and fluctuating EV fast-charging loads, compared to normal EV slow-charging loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia has significant offshore wind resources that can support ever-increasing power demand and hence provide a long-term contribution to the net-zero target by 2050. Although some offshore wind farm projects are proposed in Australia, the industry is not mature enough to justify the benefits and display economic opportunities. More specifically, the techno-economic analysis of offshore wind energy has not been systematically mapped in Australia. Therefore, the investigation of the spatial variation of technical feasibility and economic potential of offshore wind is vital to identify the potential regions and to develop strategies for future offshore wind farm developments in Australia. This paper presents detailed mappings of the techno-economic potential of offshore wind energy in Victoria-Tasmania's exclusive economic zone. Offshore wind energy resources are assessed in the paper in terms of energy availability and variability and the feasibility of various offshore wind technologies is investigated, including turbines, foundation types and transmission topologies. In addition, the high-fidelity life-cycle cost models and two innovative evaluation matrices are developed to assess the economic potential of offshore energy farms in South-eastern Australia. The impact of local power system regulation costs and future carbon prices on the viability of offshore wind is also investigated in this paper. It is concluded that the detailed mapping approach and analysis in the paper can provide a systematic tool for industry partners, investors and policymakers at the pre-planning stage of developing offshore renewable energy systems. • The technical feasibility of offshore wind is mapped under various constraints. • The novel LACE and high-fidelity LCC assessment models are developed. • The techno-economic potential is systemically mapped in South-eastern Australia. • The impacts of electricity market regulation and future carbon prices are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the nonlinear relationships between oil and inflation for twelve major global economies in the presence of important macroeconomic variables. Using the nonparametric quantile causality approach, we show strong evidence of causality-in-variance from inflation to changes in oil prices for all economies across different quantiles with the exception of Australia. On the other hand, evidence of a causality-in-mean from oil to inflation is identified for Australia, Canada, Greece, the UK, and the US and a causality-in-variance in the same direction for almost all economies, exhibiting a hump-shaped pattern across the quantiles. Results for partial and multivariate wavelet approaches show that the macroeconomic factors drive and accentuate the oil-inflation co-movements under all frequencies and over time. These results have significant implications for investors and policy makers. • We examine nonlinear relationships between oil and inflation for twelve major global economies. • Our work also considers important macroeconomic variables. • Evidence of causality-in-variance from inflation to changes in oil prices for all economies except Australia. • Evidence of a causality-in-mean and variance from oil to inflation for Australia, Canada, Greece, the UK, and the US. • Macroeconomic factors drive the oil-inflation co-movements across frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]