Curtin University

About: Curtin University is a education organization based out in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Zircon. The organization has 14257 authors who have published 48997 publications receiving 1336531 citations. The organization is also known as: WAIT & Western Australian Institute of Technology.

Wireless Sensor Networks: A Survey

Abstract: Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), an element of pervasive computing, are presently being used on a large scale to monitor real-time environmental status. However these sensors operate under extreme energy constraints and are designed by keeping an application in mind. Designing a new wireless sensor node is extremely challenging task and involves assessing a number of different parameters required by the target application, which includes range, antenna type, target technology, components, memory, storage, power, life time, security, computational capability, communication technology, power, size, programming interface and applications. This paper analyses commercially (and research prototypes) available wireless sensor nodes based on these parameters and outlines research directions in this area.

Pre‐ and postpartum levels of childbirth fear and the relationship to birth outcomes in a cohort of Australian women

Abstract: Aim. To investigate pre- and postpartum levels of childbirth fear in a cohort of childbearing women and explore the relationship to birth outcomes. Background. While results are mixed, there is evidence that fear of childbirth is associated with mode of birth. Limited theoretical work around childbirth fear has been undertaken with Australian women. Design. A prospective correlation design. Method. Women (n = 401) completed the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) version A at 36 weeks gestation, with 243 (61%) women also completing version B at six weeks postpartum. Scores were summarised with means and standard deviations. Content analysis of the free statements identified nine issues of concern. Results. Twenty-six per cent of pregnant women reported low levels of childbirth fear, 48% were moderately fearful and 26% were highly fearful. Fear decreased after birth for those women in the high antenatal fear group, however surgical intervention at birth (n = 238, anova, F1,230 = 12糹, p = 0簰1) and suspected fetal compromise (F1,230 = 4糳, p = 0簳9) increased levels of postpartum fear. Univariately, high antenatal fear was associated with emergency caesarean delivery (n = 324, Wald 5簵, p = 0簲5) however after adjustment for nulliparity and fetal compromise the association disappeared. Australian-born women were more likely to report higher levels of fear and experience higher rates of caesarean section than participants of non-Australian origin. Conclusions. Results support those from earlier studies in showing that nulliparous women experience more fear than parous women before birth and that there is no difference in levels of postpartum fear between these two groups. Fear levels were higher in Australian women when compared to a Swedish sample. Relevance to clinical practice. The results of this study add to our preliminary understanding of the phenomena of childbirth fear within an Australian context and are particularly useful in profiling women for whom secondary fear of childbirth is more likely to occur.

In Situ FTIR-ATR Examination of Poly(acrylic acid) Adsorbed onto Hematite at Low pH

Abstract: The adsorption of water-soluble polymers (e.g., flocculants, coagulants) onto mineral particles is typically characterized by “trains” of adsorbed polymer segments with “loops” and “tails” of unadsorbed polymer segments that extend into the solution. Ex situ spectroscopic studies carried out in the past have been complicated by the way in which the unadsorbed segments of the polymer interact with the surface of the substrate upon drying. In this study, an in situ Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection technique was used to examine the interaction of poly(acrylic acid) and hematite at pH 2. A hematite colloid was deposited onto a ZnSe crystal, and the poly(acrylic acid) solution was subsequently pumped across the coated crystal at a known rate. Polymer adsorption was irreversible and could be described by a Langmuir isotherm, the rate of curvature of which suggested that the adsorption was weak. The mode of adsorption was shown to be bidentate chelate complexation by the carboxylate functio...