Edith Cowan University

About: Edith Cowan University is a education organization based out in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 4040 authors who have published 13529 publications receiving 339582 citations. The organization is also known as: Edith Cowan & ECU.

Benchmarking, benchaction, and benchlearning: rework mitigation in projects

Abstract: The Australian government has issued several calls to improve the performance of the construction industry. A lack of available benchmark metrics has made it difficult, if not impossible, for organizations to identify areas to target for process improvement. A significant factor that has been found to contribute to poor organizational and project performance is rework. Using the results of a questionnaire survey, the paper presents and discusses a series of benchmark metrics for the causes and costs of rework for 161 construction projects. A generic framework for benchmarking rework at the interfaces of a project’s life cycle is proposed, and unstructured interviews are used to subject the proposed framework to validation by industry practitioners.

Intense physical activity is associated with cognitive performance in the elderly

Abstract: Numerous studies have reported positive impacts of physical activity on cognitive function. However, the majority of these studies have utilised physical activity questionnaires or surveys, thus results may have been influenced by reporting biases. Through the objective measurement of routine levels of physical activity via actigraphy, we report a significant association between intensity, but not volume, of physical activity and cognitive functioning. A cohort of 217 participants (aged 60–89 years) wore an actigraphy unit for 7 consecutive days and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. The cohort was stratified into tertiles based on physical activity intensity. Compared with individuals in the lowest tertile of physical activity intensity, those in the highest tertile scored 9%, 9%, 6% and 21% higher on the digit span, digit symbol, Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT) copy and Rey Figure Test 30-min recall test, respectively. Statistically, participants in the highest tertile of physical activity intensity performed significantly better on the following cognitive tasks: digit symbol, RCFT copy and verbal fluency test (all P<0.05). The results indicate that intensity rather than quantity of physical activity may be more important in the association between physical activity and cognitive function.

In vivo assessment of muscle fascicle length by extended field-of-view ultrasonography

Abstract: The present study examined the reliability and validity of in vivo vastus lateralis (VL) fascicle length (Lf) assessment by extended field-of-view ultrasonography (EFOV US). Intraexperimenter and i...

The contribution of work-integrated learning to undergraduate employability skill outcomes

Abstract: WIL has attracted considerable attention as an instrument for enhancing professional practice and developing work-readiness in new graduates. It is widely considered a point of difference in developing graduate employability by enhancing skill outcomes, such as team-working, communication, self-management and problem solving; employment prospects and student understanding of the world-of-work. This paper investigates the role of WIL in improving undergraduate employability skills; gauging its impact on a range of skills and identifying variations in outcomes for certain demographic, study background and placement characteristics using survey data from 131 WIL students in an Australian university. Results indicate a significant improvement in undergraduates’ perceived ability to perform all ten employability skills following placement. Demographic, study background and demographic characteristics produced minor variations in skill outcomes, both in general and specific to the completed placement. The number of hours completed in the workplace was of particular importance. Implications for placement design are discussed.

Ultrahigh-performance TiNi shape memory alloy by 4D printing

Abstract: For additively manufactured components, it's widely accepted to have high enough energy input to facilitate nearly full density and low enough energy input to avoid cracking tendency. In this work, ultrahigh-performance Ti 50.6 Ni 49.4 (at.%) shape memory alloy (SMA) was manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) under high enough energy inputs (155–292 J/mm 3 ). The microstructure, phase transformation behaviors, mechanical and shape memory properties of the SLM-manufactured SMA were investigated by various characterization methods of X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, differential scanning calorimetry, room temperature and stress-controlled cyclic tensile tests, etc. Results show that the martensite content and the austenite and martensitic transformation temperatures decrease with the decrease of laser energy input (the increase of laser scanning speed). Interestingly, the SLM-manufactured SMA exhibits ultrahigh tensile strength of 776 MPa and elongation of 7.2% under room-temperature tensile condition. In addition, stress-controlled cyclic tensile tests under 400 MPa indicate that the SLM-manufactured SMA has ultrahigh shape memory effect of 98.7% recovery ratio and 4.99% recoverable strain after ten times loading-unloading cycle. The ultrahigh mechanical and shape memory properties are associated to the combined effects of dispersedly distributed nano-sized Ti 2 Ni precipitates, ultrafine grains and profuse dislocations in the SLM-manufactured SMA. This work substantiates, for the first time, high enough energy input in SLM can be applied to manufacture ultrahigh-performance TiNi SMAs.