Causes, magnitude and implications of Griefing in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games
- Authors: Achterbosch, Leigh
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: This thesis presents findings from research into the global phenomenon known as griefing that occurs in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs). Griefing, in its simplest terms, refers to the act of one player intentionally disrupting another player’s game experience for personal pleasure and potential gain. For too long it has been unknown how pervasive griefing is, how frequently griefing occurs and, in particular, the impact on players that are subjected to griefing. There has also been limited research regarding what causes a player to perform griefing. This thesis addresses these concerns by answering the research question “What are the causes and implications of griefing in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, and what magnitude of griefing exists in this genre?” Mixed method research was employed using the “Sequential Explanatory Strategy”, in which a quantitative phase was followed by a qualitative phase to strengthen the findings. The quantitative phase consisted of a survey that attracted 1188 participants of a representative player population. The qualitative phase consisted of interviews with 15 participants to give more personalised data. The data was analysed from the perspectives of different demographics and different associations to griefing. The thesis contributed original findings regarding the causes, magnitude and implications of griefing in MMORPGs. Some of the main findings were: • Factors that motivated a player to cause grief; • how griefers selected their targets based on particular demographics or avatar characteristics; • the pervasiveness, frequency and impact of different types of griefing; • the amount of griefing that can be tolerated; • how players reacted to griefing; • the impact to the well-being of the players after a griefing incident. The thesis concluded with advice to MMORPG developers regarding the most pervasive, frequent and impactful types of griefing, and how game design may increase or decrease the amount and intensity of griefing.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Challenges faced by early-career researchers in the sciences in Australia and the consequent effect of those challenges on their careers : a mixed methods project
- Authors: Christian, Katherine
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: The purpose of the study was to explore the challenges faced by early-career researchers (ECRs) in the sciences in Australia and the consequent effect of those challenges on their careers. Using a realist/postpositivist paradigm, an evaluative approach, and a framework of job satisfaction, this project has explored and compared the views of ECRs to evaluate the factors which shape the ECR experience and contribute to job satisfaction or dissatisfaction and intention to leave, and to define the features which are necessary to keep an ECR in research. Data collection for this mixed methods study entailed a national survey of researchers working in universities and research institutes (n=658), a focus group discussion and semistructured in-depth interviews with eight women from a variety of scientific disciplines who had recently left academic research workplaces. I focussed particularly on the difficulties consequent to job insecurity: the constant need to attracting funding and a permanent position, lack of work-life balance and associated stress; and evidence of workplace difficulties such as bullying, harassment or inequity and support – or lack of it – offered by the research institutions. I examined the factors which contribute to and barriers which prevent job satisfaction of this population, and the consequent intention (if any) for ECRs to leave research or change their career path. I found an interesting situation whereby the satisfaction derived from a “love of science” was counterbalanced by stress and poor working conditions which are a consequence of lack of job security, typified by poor supervision, bullying or harassment, inequitable hiring practices, a concerning rate of impact from “questionable research practices” (impacting 34%-41% of respondents) and evidence of very high (80%) intention of ECRs to leave their position. The most significant predictor of intention to leave is time as a postdoctoral scientist: eventually the job insecurity and its associated stresses become too much and the ECRs leave their chosen career for work elsewhere. This decision, too, provides interesting findings as many of the ECRs have difficulty planning what to do next. They feel ill-prepared for an alternate career and suffer from a sense of failure as a result of having to leave academia. While addressing the shortage of funding is outside the scope of this study, in addition to offering my findings I put forward a range of recommendations which could lead to ar change of culture and benefit the wellbeing of ECRs in STEMM without incurring significant cost. The Australian Government, higher education institutions and the research community need to improve job security and workplace conditions and take better care of our people in STEMM disciplines or we will not have the scientists we need to deliver the “innovative Australia” planned for 2030 (Department of Industry Innovation and Science, 2018)
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Changing rural general practitioner practice : Evaluating health assessment uptake
- Authors: McGrath, Alicia
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
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- Description: The Enhanced Primary Care Package aimed to improve health and quality of life through enhancing primary health care for those over 75 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 55 years and those with chronic conditions and multidisciplinary needs. A multi-level approach was implemented to promote the package. West Vic Division of General Practice conducted the General Practice Education Support and Community Linkages implementation program for the package in Western Victoria and focused on health assessments for those over 75 years. This research investigated what factors affected change in rural general practitioner practice through surveying general practitioners and collecting Health Insurance Commission data prior to and following the program. Patients were also interviewed to determine acceptance of health assessments and nurse involvement. The program increased awareness, but had little effect on increasing uptake, as only 53% of general practitioners began undertaking health assessments. However the general practitioners indicated an increased frequency of health assessment prescription. Health Insurance Commission data suggested an immediate increase in the use of the assessments, however the rate fluctuated and then declined. Lack of sustained uptake of the program was not associated with remuneration, as 77% of general practitioners did not regard finance as a barrier. Respondents’ major barrier was time (40% pre-education, 73% post-education). This data reflected a rural environment where general practitioners face competing priorities, time constraints, workforce shortage and long consultation lists. A notable change did however occur from practice nurse employment as the involvement of a practice nurse generally resulted in patient satisfaction with the assessment. It was apparent that a complex multifaceted and longer-term view is needed to address factors which limit rural general practitioners’ ability to change. This needs to be addressed at the Commonwealth level and not in isolation in order to produce an integrated framework to enhance and promote, rather than demand change.
- Description: Master of Applied Science
Characterisation of apoptosis in thye1M6
- Authors: Hay, Stewart
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: "Interest surrounds apoptosis-inducing factors for use in treatment of proliferative disorders and for the elucidation of cell death pathways. Here, a murine SCID thymic lymphoma cell line (ThyE1M6) is described which produces a cytotoxic factor that acts on specific human and murine cancer cell lines, including some lymphomas and hepatomas. The cytotoxic property of the lymphoma was first noted in co-culture experiments that revealed increased apoptosis in some cell types. This attribute was thought to be unusual and as a result a project was initiated with the aim to characterise the factor responsible for cell death."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Characterisation of the deformation behaviour of unbound granular materials using repeated load triaxial testing
- Authors: Zhalehjoo, Negin
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: Unbound Granular Materials (UGMs) are used in the base/subbase layers of flexible pavements for the majority of roads around the world. The deterioration of pavements increases with the increase of traffic loadings. To ensure the long-term performance and serviceability of pavement structures through a realistic design, the precise evaluation and comprehensive characterisation of the resilient and permanent deformation behaviour of pavement materials are essential. The present PhD study aims to investigate the characterisation of the resilient and permanent deformation behaviour of four road base UGMs sourced from quarries in Victoria, Australia, using Repeated Load Triaxial (RLT) testing. The triaxial system used in this study is instrumented with four axial deformation measurement transducers to achieve highly precise measurements and to evaluate the effect of instrumentation on the resilient modulus of UGMs. The resilient Poisson’s ratio of the studied UGMs is also determined using a radial Hall-Effect transducer. Moreover, a series of permanent deformation tests is performed to precisely characterise the axial and radial permanent deformation behaviour of UGMs and investigate the factors that may significantly influence the accumulated axial and radial permanent deformations. Finally, three permanent deformation models incorporated with a time-hardening procedure are employed to predict the magnitude of permanent strain for multiple stress levels of the RLT test. The predictions using the employed models are then compared against the measured values to evaluate the suitability of the models and to identify the model that best predicts the strain accumulation behaviour of the tested UGMs. While this study focuses on the resilient and permanent deformation behaviour of four Victorian UGMs under repeated loading, the knowledge generated from this comprehensive investigation will contribute towards the global development of more reliable methods for evaluating the long-term performance of pavement structures and minimising road maintenance and repair costs.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Characterising MAIT cells in human mucosal cancers
- Authors: Kelly, Jason
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: Mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) are MR1-restricted T cells that regulate the local immune milieu with cytotoxic and cytokine responses. MAIT cells are well-known for their antimicrobial properties but are also of interest in mucosal cancers, such as colorectal cancer (CRC) and lung cancer (LC). These cancers arise in tissues that provide a barrier to the gut-resident microbiota that can potentially stimulate MAIT cells. Previous studies established that MAIT cells are present within CRC tissues, but there has been contradictory evidence about their significance within these tumour tissues. For example, their cytokine response may promote tumour elimination; however, the high frequencies of MAIT cells within CRC correlate with poor prognostic outcomes, suggesting they may be detrimental in these cancers. Despite the interest in MAIT cells within these tumours, little is known about their location, activation status and cytokine potential within the neoplastic tissue. Chapter 1 of this project investigated human circulating MAIT cells in both CRC and LC patients, finding a significant reduction in the frequency of circulating MAIT cells in the LC patient cohort. We also investigated the frequency and location of MAIT cells within non-cancerous colorectal tissues, identifying that MAIT cells are frequent in the sub-epithelial dome of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). In contrast, MAIT cells are frequent in the inflammatory response at the tumour margin in CRC tissues. Chapter 2 of this project investigated MAIT cell activation within the CRC tumour environment, with CD25 analysis identifying that MAIT cells appeared to be selectively activated within CRC tissue. We then sought to identify which cells within CRC tissue can present the cognate MAIT cell antigen, finding that CRC cells can take up soluble antigen, upregulate MR1 to the cell surface, and activate MAIT cells. However, these experiments identified a yet to be characterised soluble product secreted by CRC cells that appears to suppress MAIT cell TNF expression after encountering antigen. Chapter 3 of this project investigated MAIT cell responses after chronic (> 2 weeks) stimulation via TCR signalling, a condition likely to be found in both CRC tissue and pre-cancerous lesions, as these lesions are associated with mucosal barrier defects that allow microbes within the gut lumen to transit the barrier. These investigations found a novel, mixed Th1/Th2 cytokine response that included prodigious IL-13 expression. We found that the IL-13 produced by chronically stimulated MAIT cells was sufficient to signal to CRC cells and induce CRC cell transcriptional changes via the STAT6 pathway. Collectively, the findings of our study have provided new insights about the significance of MAIT cells in CRC and highlighted them as a potential target for immunotherapies to improve anti-tumour immunity in mucosal tissues.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Characteristics of the female landing pattern
- Authors: Saunders, Natalie
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "This research aimed to explore and better understand intervention protocols and their effect on lower limb control associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. A fundamental and unique aspect of this investigation was to establish a lab-based testing protocol that successfully mimicked actual game play. [...]This research validated a lab-based measure that best mimicked game-play to use as a pre- and post- testing measure for two common methods used in current ACL intervention strategies. In addition, further understanding of the effects of a landing training and dynamic balance training program were found."
- Description: Doctor of Philosphy
Charting cyberspace : self-identity, community, and nationalism in the virtual realm
- Authors: Thompson, Kevin
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
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- Description: "This thesis takes a broad look at recent developments in cyberspace with a particular focus on the key concept areas of self-identity, community and nationalism. The field of cyber research is very much a nascent one, but already a seminal core of literature abounds that privleges cyberspace as a world that is somehow removed from the everday one in which we reside. This study argues against this assertion, suggesting instead that cyberspace, for most users, is merely another commonly accessed part of daily life."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Chemical management in research laboratories : South-Eastern Australia, 1997
- Authors: Bailey, Trevor
- Date: 1997
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text: false
- Description: "Through a comprehensive literature review this project examines the necessary components of a laboratory chemical safety program, including requirements under the new hazardous substance regulations. It also examines, via a survey, the problems associated with the laboratory use of chemicals and with compliance with the new regulations. Finally the current situation in Australia and the approach research laboratories must take in the future to achieve compliance with the new regulatory package are reviewed."
- Description: Master of Applied Science
Chemistry of bis(O-ethyldithiocarbonato)cadmium(II) and flotation properties of aminodithiocarbonates
- Authors: Griffiths, Philip
- Date: 1976
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text: false
- Description: Masters of Applied Science
Citizen science: Knowledge, networks and the boundaries of participation
- Authors: Bonney, Patrick
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The water-related challenges facing humanity are complex and urgent. Although solutions are not always clear, involving the public in localised knowledge production and policy development is widely recognised as a critical part of this larger effort. Such public engagement is increasingly achieved through “citizen science”—a practice that involves non-professionals in scientific research and monitoring. Academic literature has recognised that, while citizen science is both important and necessary to strengthen environmental policy, its acceptance and successful implementation is a difficult governance challenge. Researchers agree that overcoming this challenge depends on the ability of volunteers, coordinators, scientists and decision-makers to work together to convert the potential of citizen science into practice. However, little is known about the collaborative relationships or the broader social contexts that shape and define the practice. To address these shortfalls, this thesis advances a conceptual framework for the relational analysis of citizen science that illustrates social networks and the boundaries between expert and community-based knowledge as critical sites of investigation. Through its multi-phase and mixed-methods research design, the findings of this thesis shed light on the contributions of citizen science to key waterway governance objectives, including the social, political and cultural factors that influence its acceptance and uptake in governance contexts. By unpacking the relational dimensions of citizen science, this thesis provides both theoretical and practice-based insights into how actors within and outside citizen science programs work together to achieve collective aims to engender stronger connections between science, society and policy. This thesis will benefit practitioners, policymakers and participatory advocates interested in achieving practical social change in efforts to understand and manage natural resources.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Classification of HTML Documents
- Authors: Xie, Wei
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Text Classification is the task of mapping a document into one or more classes based on the presence or absence of words (or features) in the document. It is intensively being studied and different classification techniques and algorithms have been developed. This thesis focuses on classification of online documents that has become more critical with the development of World Wide Web. The WWW vastly increases the availability of on-line documents in digital format and has highlighted the need to classify them. From this background, we have noted the emergence of “automatic Web Classification”. These mainly concentrate on classifying HTML-like documents into classes or categories by not only using the methods that are inherited from the traditional Text Classification process, but also utilizing the extra information provided only by Web pages. Our work is based on the fact that, Web documents, contain not only ordinary features (words) but also extra information, such as meta-data and hyperlinks that can be used to advantage the classification process. The aim of this research is to study various ways of using the extra information, in particularly, hyperlink information provided by HTML-documents (Web pages). The merit of the approach, developed in this thesis, is its simplicity, compared with existing approaches. We present different approaches of using hyperlink information to improve the effectiveness of web classification. Unlike other work in this area, we will only use the mappings between linked documents and their own class or classes. In this case, we only need to add a few features called linked-class features into the datasets, and then apply classifiers on them for classification. In the numerical experiments we adopted two wellknown Text Classification algorithms, Support Vector Machines and BoosTexter. The results obtained show that classification accuracy can be improved by using mixtures of ordinary and linked-class features. Moreover, out-links usually work better than in-links in classification. We also analyse and discuss the reasons behind this improvement.
- Description: Master of Computing
Classification of network information flow analysis (CONIFA) to detect new application versions
- Authors: Azab, Ahmad
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Monitoring network traffic to identify applications or services is vital for internet service providers, network engineers and law enforcement agencies. The identification of applications enables network traffic to be prioritized, sophisticated plans for network infrastructure to be developed and facilitates the work of law enforcement agencies. Voice over IP (VoIP) and malware services are important to be classified because of the reliance by both legitimate users and cybercriminals respectively on these services. This dissertation addresses the detection of these services, represented by Skype application voice calls traffic and Zeus application command and control traffic. Three major approaches have been used to fulfil the classification goal, which are port-based, deep packet inspection and the use of the statistical features in conjunction with the machine learning algorithms. The latter approach addressed many of the limitations of the first two. However, the existing approach still contains many limitations. The detection of new versions by analysing and building the classifier on an old version was not deeply discussed for the machine learning approach. However, not all the statistical values are similar for different versions for Skype voice calls and Zeus command and control traffic. This is because Skype uses different codecs for different versions and Zeus uses different malware builders for different versions. While some approaches, aside from the machine learning approach, tackled the detection of the different versions, none of them maintain all the characteristics supported by the machine learning approach in terms of providing online classification capability and supporting various transport and application protocols, without the need to access different device’s traffic, access packet’s content or monitor different phase’s traffic. This research study aims to tackle this gap by proposing a novel framework called Classification of Network Information Flow Analysis (CONIFA). CONIFA addresses the detection of different untrained versions for a targeted application (Skype voice calls and Zeus command and control traffic) with a low detection time by analysing and building the classifier on a different single version in a systematic and well-defined approach, providing online classification capability and supporting various transport and application protocols, without the need to access different device’s traffic, access packet’s content or monitor different phase’s traffic. CONIFA is not limited to a specific application and could be extended to other types of applications. CONIFA utilizes the concepts of cost sensitive algorithms and different feature combinations for building the classifiers, unlike the machine learning approach that utilizes cost insensitive algorithms and a single feature combination. The outputs of the first phase are two classifiers, lenient and strict, that are used by the next phase to detect the untrained versions of a targeted application as well as to reduce the error rate. CONIFA results, for detecting the untrained version of Skype voice calls and Zeus C&C traffic, supported this approach in providing a better detection performance compared to the previous approach. While the previous approach was not able to reliably detect new versions of VoIP, CONIFA was able to consistently detect a previously unseen version. For the botnet detection, the previous approach had a good efficacy at the network level. However, CONIFA outperformed this approach in detecting a new version of a known piece of malware.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Co-encapsulation of Omega-3 fatty acids and probiotic bacteria through complex coacervation
- Authors: Eratte, Divya
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The research described in this thesis investigated the microencapsulation of omega-3 oil and probiotic bacteria together in a protein-polysaccharide complex coacervate matrix. The synergistic or competitive interactions between the probiotic bacteria and omega-3 fatty acids when packaged in a single microcapsule was determined including how best to utilise such interaction to achieve improved oxidative stability of omega-3 fatty acid and better survival of the probiotic bacteria. Encapsulation and co-encapsulation of tuna oil (O) and Lactobacillus casei 431 (P) as models of omega-3 and probiotic bacteria, respectively, were carried out and the works is described in this thesis in five distinct sections. (1) The optimisation of the complex coacervation process between whey protein isolate (WPI) and gum Arabic (GA). (2) Microencapsulation of tuna oil (O) in WPI-GA complex coacervates followed by spray and freeze drying to produce microcapsules (WPI-O-GA). (3) Microencapsulation of probiotic bacteria L. casei 431 (P) in WPI-GA complex coacervates followed by spray and freeze drying to produce microcapsules (WPI-P-GA). (4) Co-encapsulation of omega-3 oil and L. casei 431 together in WPI-GA coacervate matrix followed by spray and freeze drying to produce co-microcapsules (WPI-P-O-GA). (5) In-vitro digestion evaluation of co-microcapsules and microcapsules to indicate bioavailability. The viability of L. casei was significantly higher in WPI-P-O-GA co-microcapsules than in WPI-P-GA microcapsules in both spray and freeze dried microcapsules. The oxidative stability of tuna oil was significantly higher in spray dried co-capsules. Also, co-microencapsulation increased the survivability of L. casei during simulated digestion. There was no significant influence observed on the release properties of omega-3 oil due to co-microencapsulation. However, the total omega-3 fatty acids in the released oil during in-vitro digestion were found to be higher, when co-microencapsulated. Hence, co-microencapsulation was shown to protect the L. casei and deliver both viable cells and omega-3 oil to human intestine without any significant adverse effect on their functionality and properties.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Coach education : design and evaluation of a university model
- Authors: Poulton, Michael
- Date: 1996
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: This paper considers the accrediation of coaches and proposes the University model as a viable alternate provider for coach education.
- Description: Master of Education
Cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia and depression among older adults : A mixed methods randomised controlled clinical trial
- Authors: Sadler, Paul
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Background A strong relationship exists between insomnia and depression, particularly among older adults (aged 65 years and older). Recently experts in the field of behavioural sleep medicine established cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) was an effective treatment for comorbid insomnia, however, it was unknown whether cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) benefitted older adults with co-occurring depression (literature review published in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy). A mixed-methods randomised controlled clinical trial (RCT) was warranted within a community mental health setting to investigate the efficacy of CBT-I for older adults with comorbid insomnia and depression. Furthermore, no study had tested whether an advanced form of CBT-I that included additional positive mood-enhancing strategies produced better outcomes compared to a standard form of CBT-I that only targeted insomnia. It was anticipated that the results from such a trial could influence the evolution of treatment for older adults with these highly prevalent comorbid conditions. Methodology An RCT was conducted between 2014 and 2016 across Victoria, Australia, through Latrobe Regional Hospital‟s and Peninsula Health‟s Community Mental Health Services (protocol published in Trials). Seventy-two older adults with diagnosed comorbid insomnia and depression were randomly assigned to one of three group therapy conditions: cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia (CBT-I, standard), cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia plus positive mood strategies (CBT-I+, advanced), psychoeducation control group (PCG, control). The primary outcomes were insomnia severity (Insomnia Severity Index) and depression severity (Geriatric Depression Scale). Primary and secondary measures were collected at pre (week 0), post (week 8), and follow-up (week 20). Participants who completed the experiential conditions were invited to provide feedback in the form of semi- xvii structured focus groups following the final session of treatment. Thirty-one participants from six groups reflected on their experiences of participating in CBT-I and CBT-I+. Results Quantitative analyses demonstrated the experiential CBT conditions both generated significantly greater reductions in insomnia and depression severity compared to PCG from pre to post, which were maintained at follow-up. The standard and advanced conditions showed similar reductions on insomnia and depression severity at post and follow up. These results were also consistent for the secondary measures across conditions. Both active treatments demonstrated large effect sizes, high retention, and strong remission rates for older adults with insomnia and depression (published in journal SLEEP). A qualitative analysis was also conducted to explore the participants‟ experiences of treatment. Interview data from the reflective focus groups was transcribed into 424 sentences and 60 codes were extracted. Thirty-four initial themes emerged, which were finally transformed into 3 themes and 10 subthemes. The three themes were (1) positive experiences, (2) negative experiences, and (3) suggested modifications. The positive subthemes were (1a) therapists, (1b) togetherness, (1c) use of strategies reduced symptoms, and (1d) acceptance. The negative subthemes were (2a) persistent symptoms, (2b) program too condensed, and (2c) attendance obstacles. The suggested modifications were (3a) lengthen program, (3b) multi-dimensional learning, and (3c) multi-modal delivery options (manuscript under review in Aging and Mental Health). Conclusion This is the first RCT to demonstrate that specifically treating comorbid insomnia with CBT has an additional positive effect of improving depression for older adults with multiple comorbidities. Both CBT programs were effective at reducing insomnia and depression severity for older adults with comorbidity. Replication of this study is necessary with a larger sample size to conclusively establish whether the two interventions have different or equivalent effects. It was suggested mental health services that deliver treatment for comorbid insomnia with CBT may improve recovery outcomes for older adults with depression. Future CBT-I programs for older adults may be improved by increasing the length of therapy (e.g., 8 sessions to 12 sessions), adding multi-dimensional learning opportunities (e.g., visual/audio/mentorship), and offering various modes of treatment delivery (e.g., group, individual, internet, telephone).
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Community response to shading a Phragmites australis reedbed
- Authors: Colville, Sonia
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The consequences of introducing riparian shade on in-stream community structure has not been well explored in south-eastern Australia. With catchment managers focusing on revegetation of riparian zones, there is a need to understand, monitor, and predict changes in ecological patters and processes that may take place as a system shifts from an open to a shaded stream community. Presented in this thesis is a conceptual model portraying possible responses of a macrophyte community to light reduction as a result of the introduction of riparian vegetation. This model was tested in the field by artificially shading sites (three shade treatments) to observe the direct effects of light reduction on Phragmites australis growth and structure and flow-on effects to associated in-stream biota."
- Description: Doctor of Philosphy
Complemented and uncomplemented subspaces of Banach spaces
- Authors: Vuong, Thi Minh Thu
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: "A natural process in examining properties of Banach spaces is to see if a Banach space can be decomposed into simpler Banach spaces; in other words, to see if a Banach space has complemented subspaces. This thesis concentrates on three main aspects of this problem: norm of projections of a Banach space onto its finite dimensional subspaces; a class of Banach spaces, each of which has a large number of infinite dimensional complemented subspaces; and methods of finding Banach spaces which have uncomplemented subspaces, where the subspaces and the quotient spaces are chosen as well-known classical sequence spaces (finding non-trivial twisted sums)." --Abstract.
- Description: Master of Mathematical Sciences
Composition and ecology of the flora and fauna of remnant native grasslands of the western basalt plains and northern plains of Victoria : implications for management on private property
- Authors: Hadden, Susan A.
- Date: 1998
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "This thesis investigated a) the effects of the removal of grazing on the botanical composition, structure and biomass of two long-grazed species-rich grassland remnants, b) the habitat use and requirements of the ground-dwelling mammal, reptile and amphibian fauna and c) the composition, and abundance of the beetle, ant and spider assemblages."
- 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