Too close for comfort? : personal and professional role boundaries in rural health and welfare practice
- Authors: Gregory, Raeleene
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "'Too close for comfort?' explores the challenges of working and living in Australian rural communities for a group of health and welfare professionals. Personal and professional role overlap is a key concern particularly as it has implications for ethical practice. This project [...] used a qualitative grounded theory approach to develop a theory about the adoption and management of professional role boundaries within ethical service delivery. "
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Gregory, Raeleene
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "'Too close for comfort?' explores the challenges of working and living in Australian rural communities for a group of health and welfare professionals. Personal and professional role overlap is a key concern particularly as it has implications for ethical practice. This project [...] used a qualitative grounded theory approach to develop a theory about the adoption and management of professional role boundaries within ethical service delivery. "
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A public want and a public duty [manuscript] : The role of the Mechanics' Institute in the cultural, social and educational development of Ballarat from 1851 to 1880
- Authors: Hazelwood, Jennifer
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Mechanics’ Institutes were an integral element of the nineteenth-century British adult education movement, which was itself part of an on-going radicalisation of the working class. Such was the popularity of Mechanics’ Institutes, and so reflective of contemporary British cultural philosophy, that they were copied throughout the British Empire. The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, established in 1859, instilled a powerful, male-gendered British middle-class influence over the cultural, social and educational development of the Ballarat city. The focus of this study is to identify and analyse the significance of the contribution made by the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to the evolving cultural development of the wider Ballarat community, with a particular emphasis on the gender and class dimensions of this influence. This is done within the context of debates about ‘radical fragments’ and ‘egalitarianism’. Utilizing a methodology based on an extensive review of archival records, contemporary newspapers held at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, and previously published research, this study was able to show that, during the period from its inception in 1859 to 1880, the Institute became a focal point for numerous cultural, social and educational activities. As one of the few institutions open to all classes, it was in a position to provide a significant influence over the developing culture of the Ballarat community. The study has also identified the use made of the Institute’s School of Design by women and the contribution of these educational classes to preparing women for employment outside their traditional roles of wives and mothers. The thesis argues that despite some early radical elements, the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute initially espoused liberal egalitarian values. By 1880, however, the Institute was more readily identifiable as reflecting British, male, middle-class values.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Hazelwood, Jennifer
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Mechanics’ Institutes were an integral element of the nineteenth-century British adult education movement, which was itself part of an on-going radicalisation of the working class. Such was the popularity of Mechanics’ Institutes, and so reflective of contemporary British cultural philosophy, that they were copied throughout the British Empire. The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, established in 1859, instilled a powerful, male-gendered British middle-class influence over the cultural, social and educational development of the Ballarat city. The focus of this study is to identify and analyse the significance of the contribution made by the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute to the evolving cultural development of the wider Ballarat community, with a particular emphasis on the gender and class dimensions of this influence. This is done within the context of debates about ‘radical fragments’ and ‘egalitarianism’. Utilizing a methodology based on an extensive review of archival records, contemporary newspapers held at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, and previously published research, this study was able to show that, during the period from its inception in 1859 to 1880, the Institute became a focal point for numerous cultural, social and educational activities. As one of the few institutions open to all classes, it was in a position to provide a significant influence over the developing culture of the Ballarat community. The study has also identified the use made of the Institute’s School of Design by women and the contribution of these educational classes to preparing women for employment outside their traditional roles of wives and mothers. The thesis argues that despite some early radical elements, the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute initially espoused liberal egalitarian values. By 1880, however, the Institute was more readily identifiable as reflecting British, male, middle-class values.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
DSM-IV AD/HD symptoms: Prevalence, gender and age differences, and construct validity of parent and teacher ratings of Malaysian children
- Authors: Hafetz, Nina
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is marked by deficits in attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). The current DSM-IV conceptualisation of AD/HD as comprising of separate, but related, Inattention (IA) and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity (H/I) dimensions have been supported in confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) studies. Despite being one of the most extensively studied childhood disorder, there is a lack of research on AD/HD in non-western populations. Research on AD/HD in Asian countries, particularly, is limited. To date, no study has comprehensively investigated the characteristics of AD/HD in a Malaysian sample. The current study had 4 major aims. The first aim of the study was to investigate how the IA and H/I symptoms groups vary by age, gender, and age by gender interaction. The second aim of the study was to obtain prevalence rates of DSM-IV AD/HD and the three subtypes (i.e., Predominantly Inattentive Type, AD/HD-IA; Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Type, AD/HD-H/I; and Combined Type, AD/HD-C) within this population. This was examined for boys and girls separately, and together. The third aim of the study was to investigate the internal validity of DSM-IV AD/HD using single source confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), while the fourth aim of the study was to examine trait, source and error variance of the AD/HD symptoms using the CFA multitrait (IA and H/I) by multisource (parent and teacher) approach (CFA MT-MS). All the CFA and CFA MT-MS analyses were conducted separately for boys and girls and used scores recoded via the binary method, as opposed to the ordinal scoring method. The sample consisted of 934 Malaysian schoolchildren aged 6-12 years (436 boys: mean age 8.86 years; and 498 girls: mean age 9.02 years) [...] There was more source than trait variance for parent rated H/I and teacher rated IA for girls. Unique to the current study is the use of binary as opposed to ordinal data to run the CFA and MTMS analysis. The implications of the findings for the conceptualisation, assessment, treatment, psychometric properties of AD/HD rating scales and the recognition of AD/HD in the Malaysian population are discussed. Suggestions for future research are offered.
- Description: Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
- Authors: Hafetz, Nina
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is marked by deficits in attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). The current DSM-IV conceptualisation of AD/HD as comprising of separate, but related, Inattention (IA) and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity (H/I) dimensions have been supported in confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) studies. Despite being one of the most extensively studied childhood disorder, there is a lack of research on AD/HD in non-western populations. Research on AD/HD in Asian countries, particularly, is limited. To date, no study has comprehensively investigated the characteristics of AD/HD in a Malaysian sample. The current study had 4 major aims. The first aim of the study was to investigate how the IA and H/I symptoms groups vary by age, gender, and age by gender interaction. The second aim of the study was to obtain prevalence rates of DSM-IV AD/HD and the three subtypes (i.e., Predominantly Inattentive Type, AD/HD-IA; Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Type, AD/HD-H/I; and Combined Type, AD/HD-C) within this population. This was examined for boys and girls separately, and together. The third aim of the study was to investigate the internal validity of DSM-IV AD/HD using single source confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), while the fourth aim of the study was to examine trait, source and error variance of the AD/HD symptoms using the CFA multitrait (IA and H/I) by multisource (parent and teacher) approach (CFA MT-MS). All the CFA and CFA MT-MS analyses were conducted separately for boys and girls and used scores recoded via the binary method, as opposed to the ordinal scoring method. The sample consisted of 934 Malaysian schoolchildren aged 6-12 years (436 boys: mean age 8.86 years; and 498 girls: mean age 9.02 years) [...] There was more source than trait variance for parent rated H/I and teacher rated IA for girls. Unique to the current study is the use of binary as opposed to ordinal data to run the CFA and MTMS analysis. The implications of the findings for the conceptualisation, assessment, treatment, psychometric properties of AD/HD rating scales and the recognition of AD/HD in the Malaysian population are discussed. Suggestions for future research are offered.
- Description: Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
Exploring risk-awareness as a cultural approach to safety : An ethnographic study of a contract maintenance environment
- Authors: Borys, David
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Safety culture has risen to prominence over the past two decades as a means by which organisations may enhance their safety performance. Safety culture may be conceptualised as an interpretive device that mediates between organisational safety rhetoric and safety programs on the one hand, and local workplace cultures on the other. More recently, risk-awareness has emerged as a cultural approach to safety. Front line workers are encouraged to become risk-aware through programs designed to prompt them to undertake mental or informal risk assessments before commencing work. The problem is that risk-awareness programs have not been the subject of systematic research and the impact of these programs on the culture of safety and the resultant level of risk is unknown. Therefore, this ethnographic study of two sites within a large contract maintenance organisation in Australia explored what impact risk-awareness programs have upon the culture of safety and the resultant level of risk. The researcher spent two months in the field and data was collected through participant observation, semistructured interviews and through a review of organisational documents. This study found that managers focused upon collecting the paperwork associated with the program as proof that workers had a safer workplace, whereas workers preferred to rely upon their common sense rather than the paperwork to keep them safe. As a consequence, the riskawareness program resulted in a culture of paperwork and varying levels of risk reduction because the paperwork associated with the program created an illusion of safety for managers as much as common sense did for workers. The results of this study have implications for safety culture, risk-awareness programs and for organisational learning. They also have implications for organisations wishing to improve their safety culture by encouraging risk-awareness in front-line workers.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Borys, David
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Safety culture has risen to prominence over the past two decades as a means by which organisations may enhance their safety performance. Safety culture may be conceptualised as an interpretive device that mediates between organisational safety rhetoric and safety programs on the one hand, and local workplace cultures on the other. More recently, risk-awareness has emerged as a cultural approach to safety. Front line workers are encouraged to become risk-aware through programs designed to prompt them to undertake mental or informal risk assessments before commencing work. The problem is that risk-awareness programs have not been the subject of systematic research and the impact of these programs on the culture of safety and the resultant level of risk is unknown. Therefore, this ethnographic study of two sites within a large contract maintenance organisation in Australia explored what impact risk-awareness programs have upon the culture of safety and the resultant level of risk. The researcher spent two months in the field and data was collected through participant observation, semistructured interviews and through a review of organisational documents. This study found that managers focused upon collecting the paperwork associated with the program as proof that workers had a safer workplace, whereas workers preferred to rely upon their common sense rather than the paperwork to keep them safe. As a consequence, the riskawareness program resulted in a culture of paperwork and varying levels of risk reduction because the paperwork associated with the program created an illusion of safety for managers as much as common sense did for workers. The results of this study have implications for safety culture, risk-awareness programs and for organisational learning. They also have implications for organisations wishing to improve their safety culture by encouraging risk-awareness in front-line workers.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Multiculturalism : (re) intellectualising teaching
- Authors: Edmonds, George
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosphy
- Authors: Edmonds, George
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosphy
Optimal number and placement of network infrastructure in wireless networks
- Authors: Kouhbor, Shahnaz
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) have become a major success in telecommunications during the last few years, due to advantages such as mobility, flexibility, and easier maintenance. A device called an access point (AP) acts as a base station in WLAN for connecting a group of users to the network via radio signal. During the planning of such a network an important problem is to determine the optimal number of these devices and their placement/distribution so that coverage, capacity, and physical security are maximised at minimum cost. In this thesis we are using continuous optimisation techniques to optimise the number of APs and their distribution while cost of deployment is reduced and physical security of the network is enhanced. To find the number and placement of APs, we developed a multi-objective functions model based on path losses and power for free space environments. The two functions in the models are combined by using a balancing parameter. Since it is recognised that some of the objectives can be handled one at a time, in another approach, we followed a step-by-step procedure. We start with a novel optimisation model based on path losses for indoor environments including obstacles. Cost of deployment is saved by finding the minimum number of APs ensuring that the path loss at each test point/receiver is below the given maximum path loss. Next, the physical security of the network is enhanced by placing the APs far from places accessible to unauthorised users to reduce the risk of intrusion into the network. This is achieved in the framework of the model by introducing potential unauthorised users in unauthorised areas for whom coverage is minimised. Due to the presence of obstacles in indoor buildings, the path loss function is discontinuous. Therefore, the objective functions are very complicated and most of the existing optimisation algorithms cannot be applied to solve the problem. We use a global optimisation algorithm that is not used by other researchers to solve the same problem. To validate the accuracy of the optimisation model and performance of the numerical methods, we run tests on several indoor buildings and use wide range of WLAN parameters. The results demonstrate the quality of our model and algorithm. Based on the proposed model and algorithm, we developed a software to assist the network designers in planning wireless LANs.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Kouhbor, Shahnaz
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) have become a major success in telecommunications during the last few years, due to advantages such as mobility, flexibility, and easier maintenance. A device called an access point (AP) acts as a base station in WLAN for connecting a group of users to the network via radio signal. During the planning of such a network an important problem is to determine the optimal number of these devices and their placement/distribution so that coverage, capacity, and physical security are maximised at minimum cost. In this thesis we are using continuous optimisation techniques to optimise the number of APs and their distribution while cost of deployment is reduced and physical security of the network is enhanced. To find the number and placement of APs, we developed a multi-objective functions model based on path losses and power for free space environments. The two functions in the models are combined by using a balancing parameter. Since it is recognised that some of the objectives can be handled one at a time, in another approach, we followed a step-by-step procedure. We start with a novel optimisation model based on path losses for indoor environments including obstacles. Cost of deployment is saved by finding the minimum number of APs ensuring that the path loss at each test point/receiver is below the given maximum path loss. Next, the physical security of the network is enhanced by placing the APs far from places accessible to unauthorised users to reduce the risk of intrusion into the network. This is achieved in the framework of the model by introducing potential unauthorised users in unauthorised areas for whom coverage is minimised. Due to the presence of obstacles in indoor buildings, the path loss function is discontinuous. Therefore, the objective functions are very complicated and most of the existing optimisation algorithms cannot be applied to solve the problem. We use a global optimisation algorithm that is not used by other researchers to solve the same problem. To validate the accuracy of the optimisation model and performance of the numerical methods, we run tests on several indoor buildings and use wide range of WLAN parameters. The results demonstrate the quality of our model and algorithm. Based on the proposed model and algorithm, we developed a software to assist the network designers in planning wireless LANs.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Optimization based clustering and classification algorithms in analysis of microarray gene expression data sets
- Authors: Mardaneh, Karim
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: Bioinformatics and computational biology are relatively new areas that involve the use of different techniques including computer science, informatics, biochemistry, applied math and etc., to solve biological problems. In recent years the development of new molecular genetics technologies, such as DNA microarrays led to the simultaneous measurement of expression levels of thousands and even tens of thousands of genes. Microarray gene expression technology has facilitated the study of genomic structure and investigation of biological systems. Numerical output of this technology is shown as microarray gene expression data sets. These data sets contain a very large number of genes and a relatively small number of samples and their precise analysis requires a robust and suitable computer software. Due to this, only a few existing algorithms are applicable to them, so more efficient methods for solving clustering, gene selection and classification problems of gene expression data sets are required and those methods need to be computationally applicable and less expensive. The aim of this thesis is to develop new algorithms for solving clustering, gene selection and data classification problems on gene expression data sets. Clustering in gene expression data sets is a challenging problem. The increasing use of DNA microarray-based tumour gene expression profiles for cancer diagnosis requires more efficient methods to solve clustering problems of these profiles. Different algorithms for clustering of genes have been proposed, however few algorithms can be applied to the clustering of samples. k-means algorithm, among very few clustering algorithms is applicable to microarray gene expression data sets, however these are not efficient for solving clustering problems when the number of genes is thousands and this algorithm is very sensitive to the choice of a starting point. Additionally, when the number of clusters is relatively large, this algorithm gives local minima which can differ significantly from the global solution. Over the last several years different approaches have been proposed to improve global ii Abstract Abstract search properties of k-means algorithm. One of them is the global k-means algorithm, however this algorithm is not efficient when data are sparse. In this thesis we developed a new version of the global k-means algorithm, the modified global k-means algorithm which is effective for solving clustering problems in gene expression data sets. In a microarray gene expression data set, in many cases only a small fraction of genes are informative whereas most of them are non-informative and make noise. Therefore the development of gene selection algorithms that allow us to remove as many non-informative genes as possible is very important. In this thesis we developed a new overlapping gene selection algorithm. This algorithm is based on calculating overlaps of different genes. It considerably reduces the number of genes and is efficient in finding a subset of informative genes. Over the last decade different approaches have been proposed to solve supervised data classification problems in gene expression data sets. In this thesis we developed a new approach which is based on the so-called max-min separability and is compared with the other approaches. The max-min separability algorithm is an equivalent of piecewise linear separability. An incremental algorithm is presented to compute piecewise linear functions separating two sets. This algorithm is applied along with a special gene selection algorithm. In this thesis, all new algorithms have been tested on 10 publicly available gene expression data sets and our numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of the new algorithms that were developed in the framework of this research
- Authors: Mardaneh, Karim
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: Bioinformatics and computational biology are relatively new areas that involve the use of different techniques including computer science, informatics, biochemistry, applied math and etc., to solve biological problems. In recent years the development of new molecular genetics technologies, such as DNA microarrays led to the simultaneous measurement of expression levels of thousands and even tens of thousands of genes. Microarray gene expression technology has facilitated the study of genomic structure and investigation of biological systems. Numerical output of this technology is shown as microarray gene expression data sets. These data sets contain a very large number of genes and a relatively small number of samples and their precise analysis requires a robust and suitable computer software. Due to this, only a few existing algorithms are applicable to them, so more efficient methods for solving clustering, gene selection and classification problems of gene expression data sets are required and those methods need to be computationally applicable and less expensive. The aim of this thesis is to develop new algorithms for solving clustering, gene selection and data classification problems on gene expression data sets. Clustering in gene expression data sets is a challenging problem. The increasing use of DNA microarray-based tumour gene expression profiles for cancer diagnosis requires more efficient methods to solve clustering problems of these profiles. Different algorithms for clustering of genes have been proposed, however few algorithms can be applied to the clustering of samples. k-means algorithm, among very few clustering algorithms is applicable to microarray gene expression data sets, however these are not efficient for solving clustering problems when the number of genes is thousands and this algorithm is very sensitive to the choice of a starting point. Additionally, when the number of clusters is relatively large, this algorithm gives local minima which can differ significantly from the global solution. Over the last several years different approaches have been proposed to improve global ii Abstract Abstract search properties of k-means algorithm. One of them is the global k-means algorithm, however this algorithm is not efficient when data are sparse. In this thesis we developed a new version of the global k-means algorithm, the modified global k-means algorithm which is effective for solving clustering problems in gene expression data sets. In a microarray gene expression data set, in many cases only a small fraction of genes are informative whereas most of them are non-informative and make noise. Therefore the development of gene selection algorithms that allow us to remove as many non-informative genes as possible is very important. In this thesis we developed a new overlapping gene selection algorithm. This algorithm is based on calculating overlaps of different genes. It considerably reduces the number of genes and is efficient in finding a subset of informative genes. Over the last decade different approaches have been proposed to solve supervised data classification problems in gene expression data sets. In this thesis we developed a new approach which is based on the so-called max-min separability and is compared with the other approaches. The max-min separability algorithm is an equivalent of piecewise linear separability. An incremental algorithm is presented to compute piecewise linear functions separating two sets. This algorithm is applied along with a special gene selection algorithm. In this thesis, all new algorithms have been tested on 10 publicly available gene expression data sets and our numerical results demonstrate the efficiency of the new algorithms that were developed in the framework of this research
Stock market predictions based on quantified intermarket influences
- Authors: Tilakaratne, Chandima
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research investigated the feasibility and capability of neural network-based approaches for predicting the direction of the Australian Stock market index (the target market). It includes several aspects: univariate feature selection from the historical time series of the target market, inter-market analysis for finding the most relevant influential markets, investigations of the effect of time cycles on the target market and the discovery of the optimal neural network architectures. Previous research on US stock markets and other international markets have shown that the neural network approach is one of most powerful techniques for predicting stock market behaviour. Neural networks are capable of capturing the non-linear stochastic and chaotic patterns in the stock market time series data. This study discovered that the relative return series of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market, show 6-day cycles during the studied period of about 14 years. Multi-layer feedforward neural networks trained with a backpropagation algorithm were used for the experiments. Two major testing methods: testing with randomly selected test data and forward testing, were examined and compared. The best neural network developed in this study has achieved 87%, 81% 83% and 81% accuracy respectively in predicting the next-day direction of the relative return of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market. The architecture of this network consists of 33 input features, one hidden layer with 3 neurons and 4 output neurons. The best input features set includes the relative returns from 1 to 6 days in the past of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market, the day of the week, and the previous day’s relative return of the Close prices of the US S&P 500 Index, US Dow Jones Industrial Average Index, US Gold/Silver Index, and the US Oil Index.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Tilakaratne, Chandima
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research investigated the feasibility and capability of neural network-based approaches for predicting the direction of the Australian Stock market index (the target market). It includes several aspects: univariate feature selection from the historical time series of the target market, inter-market analysis for finding the most relevant influential markets, investigations of the effect of time cycles on the target market and the discovery of the optimal neural network architectures. Previous research on US stock markets and other international markets have shown that the neural network approach is one of most powerful techniques for predicting stock market behaviour. Neural networks are capable of capturing the non-linear stochastic and chaotic patterns in the stock market time series data. This study discovered that the relative return series of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market, show 6-day cycles during the studied period of about 14 years. Multi-layer feedforward neural networks trained with a backpropagation algorithm were used for the experiments. Two major testing methods: testing with randomly selected test data and forward testing, were examined and compared. The best neural network developed in this study has achieved 87%, 81% 83% and 81% accuracy respectively in predicting the next-day direction of the relative return of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market. The architecture of this network consists of 33 input features, one hidden layer with 3 neurons and 4 output neurons. The best input features set includes the relative returns from 1 to 6 days in the past of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market, the day of the week, and the previous day’s relative return of the Close prices of the US S&P 500 Index, US Dow Jones Industrial Average Index, US Gold/Silver Index, and the US Oil Index.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Structural properties and labeling of graphs
- Dafik
- Authors: Dafik
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The complexity in building massive scale parallel processing systems has re- sulted in a growing interest in the study of interconnection networks design. Network design affects the performance, cost, scalability, and availability of parallel computers. Therefore, discovering a good structure of the network is one of the basic issues. From modeling point of view, the structure of networks can be naturally stud- ied in terms of graph theory. Several common desirable features of networks, such as large number of processing elements, good throughput, short data com- munication delay, modularity, good fault tolerance and diameter vulnerability correspond to properties of the underlying graphs of networks, including large number of vertices, small diameter, high connectivity and overall balance (or regularity) of the graph or digraph. The first part of this thesis deals with the issue of interconnection networks ad- dressing system. From graph theory point of view, this issue is mainly related to a graph labeling. We investigate a special family of graph labeling, namely antimagic labeling of a class of disconnected graphs. We present new results in super (a; d)-edge antimagic total labeling for disjoint union of multiple copies of special families of graphs. The second part of this thesis deals with the issue of regularity of digraphs with the number of vertices close to the upper bound, called the Moore bound, which is unobtainable for most values of out-degree and diameter. Regularity of the underlying graph of a network is often considered to be essential since the flow of messages and exchange of data between processing elements will be on average faster if there is a similar number of interconnections coming in and going out of each processing element. This means that the in-degree and out-degree of each processing element must be the same or almost the same. Our new results show that digraphs of order two less than Moore bound are either diregular or almost diregular.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Dafik
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The complexity in building massive scale parallel processing systems has re- sulted in a growing interest in the study of interconnection networks design. Network design affects the performance, cost, scalability, and availability of parallel computers. Therefore, discovering a good structure of the network is one of the basic issues. From modeling point of view, the structure of networks can be naturally stud- ied in terms of graph theory. Several common desirable features of networks, such as large number of processing elements, good throughput, short data com- munication delay, modularity, good fault tolerance and diameter vulnerability correspond to properties of the underlying graphs of networks, including large number of vertices, small diameter, high connectivity and overall balance (or regularity) of the graph or digraph. The first part of this thesis deals with the issue of interconnection networks ad- dressing system. From graph theory point of view, this issue is mainly related to a graph labeling. We investigate a special family of graph labeling, namely antimagic labeling of a class of disconnected graphs. We present new results in super (a; d)-edge antimagic total labeling for disjoint union of multiple copies of special families of graphs. The second part of this thesis deals with the issue of regularity of digraphs with the number of vertices close to the upper bound, called the Moore bound, which is unobtainable for most values of out-degree and diameter. Regularity of the underlying graph of a network is often considered to be essential since the flow of messages and exchange of data between processing elements will be on average faster if there is a similar number of interconnections coming in and going out of each processing element. This means that the in-degree and out-degree of each processing element must be the same or almost the same. Our new results show that digraphs of order two less than Moore bound are either diregular or almost diregular.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The causes and prevention of airline baggage handler back injuries : Safe designs required where behaviour and administrative solutions have had limited effect
- Authors: Dell, Geoff
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "Back injuries have consistently been the most common types of injuries suffered by people at work. They have been a significant worker injury problem in most, if not all, industrialised countries for many years and manual handling has long been established as a significant task related back injury causal factor.[...] This research project established that the manufacturers of the jet airlines used by the airlines in this study had not previously been acquainted with the issue of baggage handler back injuries.[...] This study also canvassed the opinion of airline safety professionals and airline baggage handlers concerning baggage handling tasks and working environment related causal factors. [...] A major focus of this research project was also to measure the effect of ACE and Sliding Carpet, two commercially available retro-fit baggage systems, on the risk of back injuries to baggage handlers stacking baggage within Boeing B737 narrow-body aircraft."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Dell, Geoff
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "Back injuries have consistently been the most common types of injuries suffered by people at work. They have been a significant worker injury problem in most, if not all, industrialised countries for many years and manual handling has long been established as a significant task related back injury causal factor.[...] This research project established that the manufacturers of the jet airlines used by the airlines in this study had not previously been acquainted with the issue of baggage handler back injuries.[...] This study also canvassed the opinion of airline safety professionals and airline baggage handlers concerning baggage handling tasks and working environment related causal factors. [...] A major focus of this research project was also to measure the effect of ACE and Sliding Carpet, two commercially available retro-fit baggage systems, on the risk of back injuries to baggage handlers stacking baggage within Boeing B737 narrow-body aircraft."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The Sexual beliefs, attitudes and script of men convicted of sexual offences against children : An empirical investigation
- Authors: Owen, Karen
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Community concern about sexual offending places continued pressure on correctional services to refine treatment and reduce re-offending. While cognitive processes have been identified as a key element in the development and maintenance of sexual offending, more research on the precise nature of these processes is required. The current study, based on Ward and Siegert’s Pathways Model, involved 100 male offenders of various types: 25 intra – familial sex offenders against children, 25 extra-familial sex offenders against children, 25 sex offenders who chose adult victims, and 25 convicted of non-sexual offences. There was also a control group of 25 non-offenders. The quantitative data, derived from a series of questionnaires concerning childhood and sexual experiences, provided evidence that the two types of child sex offender differed from the other groups with respect to their expectations of sexual behaviour among children, their experience of sexual abuse and neglect as children themselves, and, paradoxically, their current high self-esteem. In addition, scripts relating to hypothetical consenting adult sexual relations and sexual contact with a child were collected from the 50 sex offenders against children. The script content suggested that, compared with intra - familial offenders, extra-familial offenders had notably unrealistic, naïve and romanticised scripts for adult relationships and more sophisticated scripts for offences against children. The latter suggested that scripts might serve as a mediating function in offending behaviour and that offenders acquired a degree of task domain expertise. Despite some inherent problems undertaking research with the sex-offender population, the findings confirmed that sex-offenders do not constitute a homogenous group and that the pathways model offers a unique perspective on how males become and develop their capacity as sex-offenders, how they sustain a positive view of themselves, and how they continue to commit offences. Finally, the model was considered in terms of its capacity to suggest ways to better target treatment efforts to specific groups of sexual offenders to further reduce their rate of recidivism
- Description: Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
- Authors: Owen, Karen
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Community concern about sexual offending places continued pressure on correctional services to refine treatment and reduce re-offending. While cognitive processes have been identified as a key element in the development and maintenance of sexual offending, more research on the precise nature of these processes is required. The current study, based on Ward and Siegert’s Pathways Model, involved 100 male offenders of various types: 25 intra – familial sex offenders against children, 25 extra-familial sex offenders against children, 25 sex offenders who chose adult victims, and 25 convicted of non-sexual offences. There was also a control group of 25 non-offenders. The quantitative data, derived from a series of questionnaires concerning childhood and sexual experiences, provided evidence that the two types of child sex offender differed from the other groups with respect to their expectations of sexual behaviour among children, their experience of sexual abuse and neglect as children themselves, and, paradoxically, their current high self-esteem. In addition, scripts relating to hypothetical consenting adult sexual relations and sexual contact with a child were collected from the 50 sex offenders against children. The script content suggested that, compared with intra - familial offenders, extra-familial offenders had notably unrealistic, naïve and romanticised scripts for adult relationships and more sophisticated scripts for offences against children. The latter suggested that scripts might serve as a mediating function in offending behaviour and that offenders acquired a degree of task domain expertise. Despite some inherent problems undertaking research with the sex-offender population, the findings confirmed that sex-offenders do not constitute a homogenous group and that the pathways model offers a unique perspective on how males become and develop their capacity as sex-offenders, how they sustain a positive view of themselves, and how they continue to commit offences. Finally, the model was considered in terms of its capacity to suggest ways to better target treatment efforts to specific groups of sexual offenders to further reduce their rate of recidivism
- Description: Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
Work/life balance through a critical ‘gender lens’ : A cross-country comparison of parental leave provisions and take-up in Australia and Sweden
- Authors: Zacharias, Nadine
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Work/life balance researchers have documented the low take-up rates of corporate work/life balance policies at the same time as there are reports of persistent work/life pressures. This research aims to provide more comprehensive explanations of the phenomenon of low policy take-up than those currently available in the work/life balance literature which focus on organisational and individual factors. The research project is based on a critical review of the work/life balance literature which focuses on organisational solutions and starts from the assumption that the organisational approach to researching and addressing work/life conflicts is inherently limited, mainly because it does not theorise gender as a social structure and does not take into consideration the social and political context in which work/life arrangements are negotiated but focuses, instead, on individual employees and organisations. I integrated my critical review of the organisational work/life balance literature with concepts in the feminist literature, most importantly the gendered public/private divide, to create an explicit ‘gender lens’ which guides the interpretations of my findings. I applied this gender lens to Habermas’ model of societal evolution to operationalise it as an analytical tool for this research. From this theoretical basis, I designed a comparative research project, using Australia and Sweden as country case studies, which compares the approaches to work/life balance in the two countries. The focus of the analysis is on parental leave as one important example of work/life balance policies. The data for this research includes the parental leave legislation, public documents released by governments and associated bodies as well as national surveys on the take-up of parental leave provisions in both countries. This material is analysed in the light of the conceptual framework. [...]
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Zacharias, Nadine
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Work/life balance researchers have documented the low take-up rates of corporate work/life balance policies at the same time as there are reports of persistent work/life pressures. This research aims to provide more comprehensive explanations of the phenomenon of low policy take-up than those currently available in the work/life balance literature which focus on organisational and individual factors. The research project is based on a critical review of the work/life balance literature which focuses on organisational solutions and starts from the assumption that the organisational approach to researching and addressing work/life conflicts is inherently limited, mainly because it does not theorise gender as a social structure and does not take into consideration the social and political context in which work/life arrangements are negotiated but focuses, instead, on individual employees and organisations. I integrated my critical review of the organisational work/life balance literature with concepts in the feminist literature, most importantly the gendered public/private divide, to create an explicit ‘gender lens’ which guides the interpretations of my findings. I applied this gender lens to Habermas’ model of societal evolution to operationalise it as an analytical tool for this research. From this theoretical basis, I designed a comparative research project, using Australia and Sweden as country case studies, which compares the approaches to work/life balance in the two countries. The focus of the analysis is on parental leave as one important example of work/life balance policies. The data for this research includes the parental leave legislation, public documents released by governments and associated bodies as well as national surveys on the take-up of parental leave provisions in both countries. This material is analysed in the light of the conceptual framework. [...]
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A longitudinal study of trauma, social and personality factors as predictors of post-traumatic stress symptom severity in student paramedics
- Authors: Armstrong, Kim Maree
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Previous research suggests student paramedics are among the professionals at highest risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little research has been conducted examining duty-related post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and clinical levels of PTSD in this poplulation. The current study of 36 student paramedics undertaking university or job-based training is the first longitudinal investigation of PTSS and PTSD in this group.
- Description: Professional Doctorate of Psychology (Clinical)
- Authors: Armstrong, Kim Maree
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Previous research suggests student paramedics are among the professionals at highest risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little research has been conducted examining duty-related post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and clinical levels of PTSD in this poplulation. The current study of 36 student paramedics undertaking university or job-based training is the first longitudinal investigation of PTSS and PTSD in this group.
- Description: Professional Doctorate of Psychology (Clinical)
Ahliat va Masir (roots and routes) : Narratives of identity and adaptation from Persian Baha'i refugees in Australia
- Authors: Williams, Ruth
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This study aims to discover what oral history narratives reveal about the post-migration renegotiation of identity for seven Persian Baha'i refugees and to assess the ensuing impact on their adaptation to Australia.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Williams, Ruth
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This study aims to discover what oral history narratives reveal about the post-migration renegotiation of identity for seven Persian Baha'i refugees and to assess the ensuing impact on their adaptation to Australia.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
An investigation into modification of the engineering properties of salt affected soils using electrokinetics
- Authors: Jayasekera, Samudra
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Soil salinity (due to ingress of excess amounts of dissolved salts in soil pores) and soil sodicity (due to excess amounts of sodium ions attached to the clay surface) are significant forms of land degradation in many parts of the world in particular in arid and semi arid regions. In Australia, soil salinity has long been identified as the major form of land degradation and the greatest environmental threat. Saline soils cover almost 6% of Australia’s land mass and impose severe threats on agricultural productivity and built infrastructure with an estimated annual loss of $250 million. In recent years, ‘soil sodicity’ is recognised as a far more significant form of land degradation and a severe environmental problem both in terms of affected land area and impact on the environment than is salinity as a problem in Australia. One third of Australian land mass is occupied by sodic soils costing an estimated $2 billion each year in lost production alone, with further significant impacts on the economy due to extensive damage to infrastructure facilities and the environment. [...]
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Jayasekera, Samudra
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Soil salinity (due to ingress of excess amounts of dissolved salts in soil pores) and soil sodicity (due to excess amounts of sodium ions attached to the clay surface) are significant forms of land degradation in many parts of the world in particular in arid and semi arid regions. In Australia, soil salinity has long been identified as the major form of land degradation and the greatest environmental threat. Saline soils cover almost 6% of Australia’s land mass and impose severe threats on agricultural productivity and built infrastructure with an estimated annual loss of $250 million. In recent years, ‘soil sodicity’ is recognised as a far more significant form of land degradation and a severe environmental problem both in terms of affected land area and impact on the environment than is salinity as a problem in Australia. One third of Australian land mass is occupied by sodic soils costing an estimated $2 billion each year in lost production alone, with further significant impacts on the economy due to extensive damage to infrastructure facilities and the environment. [...]
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Conditions for global minimum through abstract convexity
- Authors: Sharikov, Evgenii
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The theory of abstract convexity generalizes ideas of convex analysis by using the notion of global supports and the global definition of subdifferential. In order to apply this theory to optimization, we need to extend subdifferential calculus and separation properties into the area of abstract convexity.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Sharikov, Evgenii
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The theory of abstract convexity generalizes ideas of convex analysis by using the notion of global supports and the global definition of subdifferential. In order to apply this theory to optimization, we need to extend subdifferential calculus and separation properties into the area of abstract convexity.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Conducting suicide research in Australia in relation to the operation of Human Research Ethics Committees
- Authors: Macgill, Jennifer
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis began with a research project on suicide that was abandoned after many hurdles were encountered in terms of reaching participants and after various applications to ethics committees. The ultimate research question was then recast as ‘Do Human Research Ethics Committees influence the conduct of suicide research in Australia?’ The conceptual framework for setting up the research was derived from literature on Critical Theory, Feminism and Weberian concepts of power and rationality. Subsidiary questions were then derived from this literature and the starting exemplar case of my own research attempts. These considered whether suicide research was problematic for ethics committees, the nature of the experiences of ethics committee members in making decisions regarding suicide research and whether the influences of disciplinary background, patriarchal medical dominance and pro-positivism were evident. In addition, questions were raised about whether and how other researchers who sought approval to conduct research into suicide-related issues were appraised. [...]
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Macgill, Jennifer
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis began with a research project on suicide that was abandoned after many hurdles were encountered in terms of reaching participants and after various applications to ethics committees. The ultimate research question was then recast as ‘Do Human Research Ethics Committees influence the conduct of suicide research in Australia?’ The conceptual framework for setting up the research was derived from literature on Critical Theory, Feminism and Weberian concepts of power and rationality. Subsidiary questions were then derived from this literature and the starting exemplar case of my own research attempts. These considered whether suicide research was problematic for ethics committees, the nature of the experiences of ethics committee members in making decisions regarding suicide research and whether the influences of disciplinary background, patriarchal medical dominance and pro-positivism were evident. In addition, questions were raised about whether and how other researchers who sought approval to conduct research into suicide-related issues were appraised. [...]
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Graphs and subgraphs with bounded degree
- Authors: Teska, Jakub
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "The topology of a network (such as a telecommunications, multiprocessor, or local area network, to name just a few) is usually modelled by a graph in which vertices represent 'nodes' (stations or processors) while undirected or directed edges stand for 'links' or other types of connections, physical or virtual. A cycle that contains every vertex of a graph is called a hamiltonian cycle and a graph which contains a hamiltonian cycle is called a hamiltonian graph. The problem of the existence of a hamiltonian cycle is closely related to the well known problem of a travelling salesman. These problems are NP-complete and NP-hard, respectively. While some necessary and sufficient conditions are known, to date, no practical characterization of hamiltonian graphs has been found. There are several ways to generalize the notion of a hamiltonian cycle. In this thesis we make original contributions in two of them, namely k-walks and r-trestles." --Abstract.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Teska, Jakub
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "The topology of a network (such as a telecommunications, multiprocessor, or local area network, to name just a few) is usually modelled by a graph in which vertices represent 'nodes' (stations or processors) while undirected or directed edges stand for 'links' or other types of connections, physical or virtual. A cycle that contains every vertex of a graph is called a hamiltonian cycle and a graph which contains a hamiltonian cycle is called a hamiltonian graph. The problem of the existence of a hamiltonian cycle is closely related to the well known problem of a travelling salesman. These problems are NP-complete and NP-hard, respectively. While some necessary and sufficient conditions are known, to date, no practical characterization of hamiltonian graphs has been found. There are several ways to generalize the notion of a hamiltonian cycle. In this thesis we make original contributions in two of them, namely k-walks and r-trestles." --Abstract.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Hybrid training approaches to Hidden Markov Model-based acoustic models for automatic speech recognition
- Authors: Huda, Shamsul
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Huda, Shamsul
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Leadership and career aspirations in female and male middle managers : A cross-cultural study in Malaysia and Australia
- Authors: Jogulu, Uma
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Western research dominates in areas of theories and models which describe organisational behaviours, human resource management and workplace participation. However the 21st century brings new challenges. Findings to-date suggest that attitudes and values are strongly culture specific therefore many facets now require re-thinking by human resource specialists and organisational behavioural theorists. For instance, the globalisation of the market economy has dramatically changed the contemporary business environment. As a direct consequence of the globalisation process, the nature of organisational structures and workforce diversity has also changed. Such changes may make the application of Western theories less relevant to explain behaviours and attitudes of contemporary employees around the world. Therefore, there is a need for expanding our cross-cultural understanding in order to provide practical knowledge to enhance people and business management so that organisations can remain successful nationally and internationally. Comparative cross-cultural studies are required to expand on Western theories and models. The present study acknowledged and regarded the importance of cross-cultural studies to date, and endeavoured to expand on the extant knowledge by providing specific information relating to two diverse countries. The aim of the research project is to examine two measurable areas of organisational behaviours namely leadership styles and managerial career aspirations of female and male managers in Malaysia and Australia to explore the similarities and differences between the groups. The study found differences within and between female and male managers in Malaysia and Australia in terms of leadership styles, perception of effectiveness, perceptions towards managerial career aspirations and perceived promotion opportunities during the quantitative and qualitative data collection stages. The study concludes by providing empirical evidence to refute the universality of Western theories and models in all cultures. The analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data revealed significant differences in terms of values, behaviours and attitudes of managers in the two diverse cultures which have important implications for work and employment. This suggests that Western theories and models of organisational behaviour and workplace participation are not universally applicable, appropriate or relevant in all cultural environments. Implications for theory and practice in the light of an enhanced cross-cultural understanding were recommended.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Jogulu, Uma
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Western research dominates in areas of theories and models which describe organisational behaviours, human resource management and workplace participation. However the 21st century brings new challenges. Findings to-date suggest that attitudes and values are strongly culture specific therefore many facets now require re-thinking by human resource specialists and organisational behavioural theorists. For instance, the globalisation of the market economy has dramatically changed the contemporary business environment. As a direct consequence of the globalisation process, the nature of organisational structures and workforce diversity has also changed. Such changes may make the application of Western theories less relevant to explain behaviours and attitudes of contemporary employees around the world. Therefore, there is a need for expanding our cross-cultural understanding in order to provide practical knowledge to enhance people and business management so that organisations can remain successful nationally and internationally. Comparative cross-cultural studies are required to expand on Western theories and models. The present study acknowledged and regarded the importance of cross-cultural studies to date, and endeavoured to expand on the extant knowledge by providing specific information relating to two diverse countries. The aim of the research project is to examine two measurable areas of organisational behaviours namely leadership styles and managerial career aspirations of female and male managers in Malaysia and Australia to explore the similarities and differences between the groups. The study found differences within and between female and male managers in Malaysia and Australia in terms of leadership styles, perception of effectiveness, perceptions towards managerial career aspirations and perceived promotion opportunities during the quantitative and qualitative data collection stages. The study concludes by providing empirical evidence to refute the universality of Western theories and models in all cultures. The analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data revealed significant differences in terms of values, behaviours and attitudes of managers in the two diverse cultures which have important implications for work and employment. This suggests that Western theories and models of organisational behaviour and workplace participation are not universally applicable, appropriate or relevant in all cultural environments. Implications for theory and practice in the light of an enhanced cross-cultural understanding were recommended.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy