Enhancing deep transfer learning for image classification
- Authors: Shermin, Tasfia
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Though deep learning models require a large amount of labelled training data for yielding high performance, they are applied to accomplish many computer vision tasks such as image classification. Current models also do not perform well across different domain settings such as illumination, camera angle and real-to-synthetic. Thus the models are more likely to misclassify unknown classes as known classes. These issues challenge the supervised learning paradigm of the models and encourage the study of transfer learning approaches. Transfer learning allows us to utilise the knowledge acquired from related domains to improve performance on a target domain. Existing transfer learning approaches lack proper high-level source domain feature analyses and are prone to negative transfers for not exploring proper discriminative information across domains. Current approaches also lack at discovering necessary visual-semantic linkage and has a bias towards the source domain. In this thesis, to address these issues and improve image classification performance, we make several contributions to three different deep transfer learning scenarios, i.e., the target domain has i) labelled data; no labelled data; and no visual data. Firstly, for improving inductive transfer learning for the first scenario, we analyse the importance of high-level deep features and propose utilising them in sequential transfer learning approaches and investigating the suitable conditions for optimal performance. Secondly, to improve image classification across different domains in an open set setting by reducing negative transfers (second scenario), we propose two novel architectures. The first model has an adaptive weighting module based on underlying domain distinctive information, and the second model has an information-theoretic weighting module to reduce negative transfers. Thirdly, to learn visual classifiers when no visual data is available (third scenario) and reduce source domain bias, we propose two novel models. One model has a new two-step dense attention mechanism to discover semantic attribute-guided local visual features and mutual learning loss. The other model utilises bidirectional mapping and adversarial supervision to learn the joint distribution of source-target domains simultaneously. We propose a new pointwise mutual information dependant loss in the first model and a distance-based loss in the second one for handling source domain bias. We perform extensive evaluations on benchmark datasets and demonstrate the proposed models outperform contemporary works.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Shermin, Tasfia
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Though deep learning models require a large amount of labelled training data for yielding high performance, they are applied to accomplish many computer vision tasks such as image classification. Current models also do not perform well across different domain settings such as illumination, camera angle and real-to-synthetic. Thus the models are more likely to misclassify unknown classes as known classes. These issues challenge the supervised learning paradigm of the models and encourage the study of transfer learning approaches. Transfer learning allows us to utilise the knowledge acquired from related domains to improve performance on a target domain. Existing transfer learning approaches lack proper high-level source domain feature analyses and are prone to negative transfers for not exploring proper discriminative information across domains. Current approaches also lack at discovering necessary visual-semantic linkage and has a bias towards the source domain. In this thesis, to address these issues and improve image classification performance, we make several contributions to three different deep transfer learning scenarios, i.e., the target domain has i) labelled data; no labelled data; and no visual data. Firstly, for improving inductive transfer learning for the first scenario, we analyse the importance of high-level deep features and propose utilising them in sequential transfer learning approaches and investigating the suitable conditions for optimal performance. Secondly, to improve image classification across different domains in an open set setting by reducing negative transfers (second scenario), we propose two novel architectures. The first model has an adaptive weighting module based on underlying domain distinctive information, and the second model has an information-theoretic weighting module to reduce negative transfers. Thirdly, to learn visual classifiers when no visual data is available (third scenario) and reduce source domain bias, we propose two novel models. One model has a new two-step dense attention mechanism to discover semantic attribute-guided local visual features and mutual learning loss. The other model utilises bidirectional mapping and adversarial supervision to learn the joint distribution of source-target domains simultaneously. We propose a new pointwise mutual information dependant loss in the first model and a distance-based loss in the second one for handling source domain bias. We perform extensive evaluations on benchmark datasets and demonstrate the proposed models outperform contemporary works.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Data analytics identify glycated haemoglobin co-markers for type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis
- Jelinek, Herbert, Stranieri, Andrew, Yatsko, Andrew, Venkatraman, Sitalakshmi
- Authors: Jelinek, Herbert , Stranieri, Andrew , Yatsko, Andrew , Venkatraman, Sitalakshmi
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers in Biology and Medicine Vol. 75, no. (2016), p. 90-97
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is being more commonly used as an alternative test for the identification of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or to add to fasting blood glucose level and oral glucose tolerance test results, because it is easily obtained using point-of-care technology and represents long-term blood sugar levels. HbA1c cut-off values of 6.5% or above have been recommended for clinical use based on the presence of diabetic comorbidities from population studies. However, outcomes of large trials with a HbA1c of 6.5% as a cut-off have been inconsistent for a diagnosis of T2DM. This suggests that a HbA1c cut-off of 6.5% as a single marker may not be sensitive enough or be too simple and miss individuals at risk or with already overt, undiagnosed diabetes. In this study, data mining algorithms have been applied on a large clinical dataset to identify an optimal cut-off value for HbA1c and to identify whether additional biomarkers can be used together with HbA1c to enhance diagnostic accuracy of T2DM. T2DM classification accuracy increased if 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OhdG), an oxidative stress marker, was included in the algorithm from 78.71% for HbA1c at 6.5% to 86.64%. A similar result was obtained when interleukin-6 (IL-6) was included (accuracy=85.63%) but with a lower optimal HbA1c range between 5.73 and 6.22%. The application of data analytics to medical records from the Diabetes Screening programme demonstrates that data analytics, combined with large clinical datasets can be used to identify clinically appropriate cut-off values and identify novel biomarkers that when included improve the accuracy of T2DM diagnosis even when HbA1c levels are below or equal to the current cut-off of 6.5%. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
Bitcoin : users’ characteristics, motivations and investment behaviours
- Authors: Carter, Corey
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: In less than a decade, the cryptocurrency known as Bitcoin has gone from a fringe phenomenon to a topic of increasing interest to academia and mainstream investors. However, despite the growing body of research seeking to understand Bitcoin, the pseudonymous, decentralised, and globally-diffused nature of its user base means that the individuals who use it remain poorly understood. In particular, the motivations, risk-appreciation, and investment behaviours of early adopters and innovators are subject to supposition in the absence of data derived from the user base. This thesis seeks to address this gap in knowledge by employing a multi-stage, mixed methodology approach and a theoretical framework to understand the Bitcoin user base. Utilising semantic analysis, a survey of online cryptocurrency communities, and econometric time-series analysis, this thesis addresses the extent and nature of Bitcoin in hedging; how individual users perceive their own motivations, uses, and risks that have driven their behaviour; and the nature of the relationship between the prices of cryptocurrency and indices of confidence. Analysis of the data determined that the use of Bitcoin as an instrument of hedging is limited, and influenced by political and institutional factors. Likewise, its motivations, uses, and risks are reflective of the users’ political ideology, with the community and marketplace becoming more sophisticated as they evolve over time. Additionally, despite several case studies demonstrating risk-averse adoption of Bitcoin, there is no relationship between its prices and confidence.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Carter, Corey
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: In less than a decade, the cryptocurrency known as Bitcoin has gone from a fringe phenomenon to a topic of increasing interest to academia and mainstream investors. However, despite the growing body of research seeking to understand Bitcoin, the pseudonymous, decentralised, and globally-diffused nature of its user base means that the individuals who use it remain poorly understood. In particular, the motivations, risk-appreciation, and investment behaviours of early adopters and innovators are subject to supposition in the absence of data derived from the user base. This thesis seeks to address this gap in knowledge by employing a multi-stage, mixed methodology approach and a theoretical framework to understand the Bitcoin user base. Utilising semantic analysis, a survey of online cryptocurrency communities, and econometric time-series analysis, this thesis addresses the extent and nature of Bitcoin in hedging; how individual users perceive their own motivations, uses, and risks that have driven their behaviour; and the nature of the relationship between the prices of cryptocurrency and indices of confidence. Analysis of the data determined that the use of Bitcoin as an instrument of hedging is limited, and influenced by political and institutional factors. Likewise, its motivations, uses, and risks are reflective of the users’ political ideology, with the community and marketplace becoming more sophisticated as they evolve over time. Additionally, despite several case studies demonstrating risk-averse adoption of Bitcoin, there is no relationship between its prices and confidence.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Transversality, regularity and error bounds in variational analysis and optimisation
- Authors: Nguyen, Duy
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Transversality properties of collections of sets, regularity properties of set-valued mappings, and error bounds of extended-real-valued functions lie at the core of variational analysis because of their importance for stability analysis, constraint qualifications, qualification conditions in coderivative and subdifferential calculus, and convergence analysis of numerical algorithms. The thesis is devoted to investigation of several research questions related to the aforementioned properties. We develop a general framework for quantitative analysis of nonlinear transversality properties by establishing primal and dual characterizations of the properties in both convex and nonconvex settings. The H¨older case is given special attention. Quantitative relations between transversality properties and the corresponding regularity properties of set-valued mappings as well as nonlinear extensions of the new transversality properties of a set-valued mapping to a set in the range space are also discussed. We study a new property so called semitransversality of collections of set-valued mappings on metric (in particular, normed) spaces. The property is a generalization of the semitransversality of collections of sets and the negation of the corresponding stationarity, a weaker property than the extremality of collections of set-valued mappings. Primal and dual characterizations of the property as well as quantitative relations between the property and semiregularity of set-valued mappings are formulated. As a consequence, we establish dual necessary and sufficient conditions for stationarity of collections of set-valued mappings as well as optimality conditions for efficient solutions with respect to variable ordering structures in multiobjective optimization. We examine a comprehensive (i.e. not assuming the mapping to have any particular structure) view on the regularity theory of set-valued mappings and clarify the relationships between the existing primal and dual quantitative sufficient and necessary conditions including their hierarchy. The typical sequence of regularity assertions, often hidden in the proofs, and the roles of the assumptions involved in the assertions, in particular, on the underlying space: general metric, normed, Banach or Asplund are exposed. As a consequence, we formulate primal and dual conditions for the stability properties of solution mappings to inclusions. We propose a unifying general framework of quantitative primal and dual sufficient and necessary error bound conditions covering linear and nonlinear, local and global settings. The function is not assumed to possess any particular structure apart from the standard assumptions of lower semicontinuity in the case of sufficient conditions and (in some cases) convexity in the case of necessary conditions. We expose the roles of the assumptions involved in the error bound assertions, in particular, on the underlying space: general metric, normed, Banach or Asplund. As a consequence, the error bound theory is applied to characterize subregularity of set-valued mappings, and calmness of the solution mapping in convex semi-infinite optimization problems.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Nguyen, Duy
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Transversality properties of collections of sets, regularity properties of set-valued mappings, and error bounds of extended-real-valued functions lie at the core of variational analysis because of their importance for stability analysis, constraint qualifications, qualification conditions in coderivative and subdifferential calculus, and convergence analysis of numerical algorithms. The thesis is devoted to investigation of several research questions related to the aforementioned properties. We develop a general framework for quantitative analysis of nonlinear transversality properties by establishing primal and dual characterizations of the properties in both convex and nonconvex settings. The H¨older case is given special attention. Quantitative relations between transversality properties and the corresponding regularity properties of set-valued mappings as well as nonlinear extensions of the new transversality properties of a set-valued mapping to a set in the range space are also discussed. We study a new property so called semitransversality of collections of set-valued mappings on metric (in particular, normed) spaces. The property is a generalization of the semitransversality of collections of sets and the negation of the corresponding stationarity, a weaker property than the extremality of collections of set-valued mappings. Primal and dual characterizations of the property as well as quantitative relations between the property and semiregularity of set-valued mappings are formulated. As a consequence, we establish dual necessary and sufficient conditions for stationarity of collections of set-valued mappings as well as optimality conditions for efficient solutions with respect to variable ordering structures in multiobjective optimization. We examine a comprehensive (i.e. not assuming the mapping to have any particular structure) view on the regularity theory of set-valued mappings and clarify the relationships between the existing primal and dual quantitative sufficient and necessary conditions including their hierarchy. The typical sequence of regularity assertions, often hidden in the proofs, and the roles of the assumptions involved in the assertions, in particular, on the underlying space: general metric, normed, Banach or Asplund are exposed. As a consequence, we formulate primal and dual conditions for the stability properties of solution mappings to inclusions. We propose a unifying general framework of quantitative primal and dual sufficient and necessary error bound conditions covering linear and nonlinear, local and global settings. The function is not assumed to possess any particular structure apart from the standard assumptions of lower semicontinuity in the case of sufficient conditions and (in some cases) convexity in the case of necessary conditions. We expose the roles of the assumptions involved in the error bound assertions, in particular, on the underlying space: general metric, normed, Banach or Asplund. As a consequence, the error bound theory is applied to characterize subregularity of set-valued mappings, and calmness of the solution mapping in convex semi-infinite optimization problems.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Continuous carbonatitic melt-fluid evolution of a REE mineralization system : Evidence from inclusions in the Maoniuping REE Deposit, Western Sichuan, China
- Xie, Yuling, Hou, Zengqian, Yin, Shuping, Dominy, Simon, Xu, Jiuhua, Tian, Shihong, Xu, Wenyi
- Authors: Xie, Yuling , Hou, Zengqian , Yin, Shuping , Dominy, Simon , Xu, Jiuhua , Tian, Shihong , Xu, Wenyi
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ore Geology Reviews Vol. 36, no. 1-3 (2009), p. 90-105
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The Maoniuping REE deposit is a world-class deposit with 1.2 Mt of REO grading on average 2.89 wt.% REO. It is the largest in the 270-km long Mianning-Dechang REE belt and is associated with Himalayan carbonatite-alkalic complexes in the eastern Indo-Asian collisional zone, Western Sichuan Province, China. The deposit is hosted by nordmarkite stocks and carbonatite sills that display a radiometric age of 40 to 24 Ma and which intruded a Yanshanian granite pluton. The 40.3 to 27.8 Ma REE mineralization occurs as vein systems hosted in nordmarkite and carbonatite with minor altered granite and rhyolite. Four ore types are recognized based on ore texture and mineral assemblage: (1) disseminated; (2) pegmatitic; (3) brecciated; and 4) stockwork (stringer) types. Five mineralizing stages are confirmed according to vein crosscutting relationships, mineral assemblage and microthermometric results, these are: 1) carbonatite stage, 2) pegmatite stage, 3) barite-bastnaesite stage, 4) later calcite stage and 5) epigenetic oxidation stage. Varied inclusion assemblages are found in fluorite, quartz, bastnaesite, barite and calcite from stages 1 through to stage 4. The dominant inclusion types include: melt, melt-fluid, CO2-rich fluid and aqueous-rich fluid inclusions. Fluid, melt-fluid and melt inclusion studies indicate that the ore-forming fluid resulted from the unmixing of carbonatite melt and carbonatitic fluid. Initial ore-forming fluids were high-temperature (600 to 850 degrees C), high-pressure (>350 MPa) and high-density supercritical orthomagmatic fluids, characterized by SO4-rich and multicomponent composition (e.g. K, Na, Ca, Ba, Sr and REE). The dominant anion is not Cl. but SO4. The evolution of the ore-forming fluid is from a melt-fluid at high temperature, through a CO2-rich fluid at high to medium temperature to aqueous-rich fluid at low temperature. REE precipitation occurred from a high to medium temperature CO2-rich fluid. The main mechanism for REE precipitation was phase separation of CO2 and aqueous fluids resulting in a decrease of temperature and pressure. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Xie, Yuling , Hou, Zengqian , Yin, Shuping , Dominy, Simon , Xu, Jiuhua , Tian, Shihong , Xu, Wenyi
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ore Geology Reviews Vol. 36, no. 1-3 (2009), p. 90-105
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The Maoniuping REE deposit is a world-class deposit with 1.2 Mt of REO grading on average 2.89 wt.% REO. It is the largest in the 270-km long Mianning-Dechang REE belt and is associated with Himalayan carbonatite-alkalic complexes in the eastern Indo-Asian collisional zone, Western Sichuan Province, China. The deposit is hosted by nordmarkite stocks and carbonatite sills that display a radiometric age of 40 to 24 Ma and which intruded a Yanshanian granite pluton. The 40.3 to 27.8 Ma REE mineralization occurs as vein systems hosted in nordmarkite and carbonatite with minor altered granite and rhyolite. Four ore types are recognized based on ore texture and mineral assemblage: (1) disseminated; (2) pegmatitic; (3) brecciated; and 4) stockwork (stringer) types. Five mineralizing stages are confirmed according to vein crosscutting relationships, mineral assemblage and microthermometric results, these are: 1) carbonatite stage, 2) pegmatite stage, 3) barite-bastnaesite stage, 4) later calcite stage and 5) epigenetic oxidation stage. Varied inclusion assemblages are found in fluorite, quartz, bastnaesite, barite and calcite from stages 1 through to stage 4. The dominant inclusion types include: melt, melt-fluid, CO2-rich fluid and aqueous-rich fluid inclusions. Fluid, melt-fluid and melt inclusion studies indicate that the ore-forming fluid resulted from the unmixing of carbonatite melt and carbonatitic fluid. Initial ore-forming fluids were high-temperature (600 to 850 degrees C), high-pressure (>350 MPa) and high-density supercritical orthomagmatic fluids, characterized by SO4-rich and multicomponent composition (e.g. K, Na, Ca, Ba, Sr and REE). The dominant anion is not Cl. but SO4. The evolution of the ore-forming fluid is from a melt-fluid at high temperature, through a CO2-rich fluid at high to medium temperature to aqueous-rich fluid at low temperature. REE precipitation occurred from a high to medium temperature CO2-rich fluid. The main mechanism for REE precipitation was phase separation of CO2 and aqueous fluids resulting in a decrease of temperature and pressure. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Interleukin-6 inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha expression is mediated by JAK2- and PI3K-induced STAT1/3 in HepG2 hepatocyte cells
- Chew, Guatsiew, Myers, Stephen, Shu-Chien, A. C., Muhammad, Tengku
- Authors: Chew, Guatsiew , Myers, Stephen , Shu-Chien, A. C. , Muhammad, Tengku
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Vol. 388, no. 1-2 (2014), p. 25-37
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is the major activator of the acute phase response (APR). One important regulator of IL-6-activated APR is peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR
- Authors: Chew, Guatsiew , Myers, Stephen , Shu-Chien, A. C. , Muhammad, Tengku
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Vol. 388, no. 1-2 (2014), p. 25-37
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is the major activator of the acute phase response (APR). One important regulator of IL-6-activated APR is peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR
The effects of norepinephrine on the proliferation, lipid-uptake and mRNA expression of inflammatory markers in vascular smooth muscle cells
- Authors: Anesi, Jack
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , Master of Applied Science
- Full Text:
- Description: Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading, global cause of death. Elevated levels of norepinephrine (NE) are associated with CVDs such as coronary heart disease with atherosclerosis as the underlying mechanism. Oxidised low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) has been shown to play an integral role in the formation of atherosclerosis within the vasculature. Previous studies suggest a decrease in NE by renal denervation is associated with enhanced atherosclerosis in mice and NE has anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, we hypothesised that NE may protect against atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of NE on cellular proliferation, OxLDL uptake and mRNA expression of inflammatory markers in mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), a key cell type involved in atherosclerosis. Methods: Mouse aortic VSMCs were cultured and treated with NE for three consecutive days. Cell proliferation was measured using the trypan blue exclusion and MTS proliferation assays. VSMCs were exposed to fluorescence-labelled OxLDL in the presence or absence of NE for 24 hours. Cellular uptake of fluorescence-labelled OxLDL was visualised by confocal microscopy and analysed for mean fluorescence intensity using ImageJ. To investigate the involvement of NE receptors, the
- Description: Masters
- Authors: Anesi, Jack
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , Master of Applied Science
- Full Text:
- Description: Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading, global cause of death. Elevated levels of norepinephrine (NE) are associated with CVDs such as coronary heart disease with atherosclerosis as the underlying mechanism. Oxidised low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) has been shown to play an integral role in the formation of atherosclerosis within the vasculature. Previous studies suggest a decrease in NE by renal denervation is associated with enhanced atherosclerosis in mice and NE has anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, we hypothesised that NE may protect against atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of NE on cellular proliferation, OxLDL uptake and mRNA expression of inflammatory markers in mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), a key cell type involved in atherosclerosis. Methods: Mouse aortic VSMCs were cultured and treated with NE for three consecutive days. Cell proliferation was measured using the trypan blue exclusion and MTS proliferation assays. VSMCs were exposed to fluorescence-labelled OxLDL in the presence or absence of NE for 24 hours. Cellular uptake of fluorescence-labelled OxLDL was visualised by confocal microscopy and analysed for mean fluorescence intensity using ImageJ. To investigate the involvement of NE receptors, the
- Description: Masters
Machine learning-based optimal load balancing in software-defined networks
- Authors: Sharma, Aakanksha
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The global advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) has poised the existing network traffic for explosive growth. The prediction in the literature shows that in the future, trillions of smart devices will connect to transfer useful information. Accommodating such proliferation of devices in the existing network infrastructure, referred to as the traditional network, is a significant challenge due to the absence of centralized control, making it tedious to implement the device management and network protocol updates. In addition, due to their inherently distributed features, applying machine learning mechanisms in traditional networks is demanding. Consequently, it leads to an imbalanced load in the network that affects the overall network Quality of Service (QoS). Expanding the existing infrastructure and manual traffic control methods are inadequate to cope with the exponential growth of IoT devices. Therefore, an intelligent system is necessary for future networks that can efficiently organize, manage, maintain, and optimize the growing networks. Software-defined network (SDN) has a holistic view of the network and is highly suitable for handling dynamic loads in the traditional network with a minimal update in the network infrastructure. However, the standard SDN architecture control plane has been designed for a single controller or multiple distributed controllers that faces severe bottleneck issues. Our initial research created a reference model for the traditional network, using the standard SDN (SDN) in a network simulator called NetSim. Based on the network traffic, the reference models consisted of light, modest and heavy networks depending on the number of connected IoT devices. Furthermore, the research was enhanced with a priority scheduling and congestion control algorithm in the standard SDN, named extended SDN (eSDN), which minimized the network congestion and performed better than the existing SDN. However, enhancement was suitable only for the small-scale network because, in a large-scale network, the eSDN does not support dynamic controller mapping in the network. Often, the same controller gets overloaded, leading to a single point of failure. Our exhaustive literature review shows that the majority of proposed solutions are based on static controller deployment without considering flow fluctuations and traffic bursts that lead to a lack of load balancing among controllers in real-time, eventually increasing the network latency. Often, the switch experiences a traffic burst, and consequently, the corresponding controller might overload. Therefore, to maintain the Quality of Service (QoS) in the network, it becomes imperative for the static controller to neutralize the on-the-fly traffic burst. Addressing the above-mentioned issues demands research critical to improving the QoS in load balancing, latency minimisation, and network reliability for next- generation networks. Our novel dynamic controller mapping algorithm with multiple- controller placement in the SDN is critical in solving the identified issues. In the dynamic controller approach (dSDN), the controllers are mapped dynamically as the load fluctuates. If any controller reaches its maximum threshold, the rest of the traffic will be diverted to another controller, significantly reducing delay and enhancing the overall performance. Our technique considers the latency and load fluctuation in the network and manages the situations where static mapping is ineffective in dealing with the dynamic flow variation. In addition, our novel approach adds more intelligence to the network with a Temporal Deep Q Learning (tDQN) approach for dynamic controller mapping when the flow fluctuates. In this technique, a multi-objective optimization problem for flow fluctuation is formulated to dynamically divert the traffic to the best-suited controller. The formulated technique is placed as an agent in the network controller to take care of all the routing decisions, which can solve the dynamic flow mapping and latency optimization without increasing the number of optimally placed controllers. Extensive simulation results show that the novel approach proposed in this thesis solves dynamic flow mapping by maintaining a balanced load among controllers and outperforms the existing traditional networks and SDN with priority scheduling and congestion control. Compared to traditional networks, tDQN provides a 47.48% increase in throughput, a 99.10% reduction in delay and a 97.98% reduction in jitter for heavy network traffic. The thesis also presents a few future research directions as possible extensions of the current work for further enhancement.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Sharma, Aakanksha
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The global advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) has poised the existing network traffic for explosive growth. The prediction in the literature shows that in the future, trillions of smart devices will connect to transfer useful information. Accommodating such proliferation of devices in the existing network infrastructure, referred to as the traditional network, is a significant challenge due to the absence of centralized control, making it tedious to implement the device management and network protocol updates. In addition, due to their inherently distributed features, applying machine learning mechanisms in traditional networks is demanding. Consequently, it leads to an imbalanced load in the network that affects the overall network Quality of Service (QoS). Expanding the existing infrastructure and manual traffic control methods are inadequate to cope with the exponential growth of IoT devices. Therefore, an intelligent system is necessary for future networks that can efficiently organize, manage, maintain, and optimize the growing networks. Software-defined network (SDN) has a holistic view of the network and is highly suitable for handling dynamic loads in the traditional network with a minimal update in the network infrastructure. However, the standard SDN architecture control plane has been designed for a single controller or multiple distributed controllers that faces severe bottleneck issues. Our initial research created a reference model for the traditional network, using the standard SDN (SDN) in a network simulator called NetSim. Based on the network traffic, the reference models consisted of light, modest and heavy networks depending on the number of connected IoT devices. Furthermore, the research was enhanced with a priority scheduling and congestion control algorithm in the standard SDN, named extended SDN (eSDN), which minimized the network congestion and performed better than the existing SDN. However, enhancement was suitable only for the small-scale network because, in a large-scale network, the eSDN does not support dynamic controller mapping in the network. Often, the same controller gets overloaded, leading to a single point of failure. Our exhaustive literature review shows that the majority of proposed solutions are based on static controller deployment without considering flow fluctuations and traffic bursts that lead to a lack of load balancing among controllers in real-time, eventually increasing the network latency. Often, the switch experiences a traffic burst, and consequently, the corresponding controller might overload. Therefore, to maintain the Quality of Service (QoS) in the network, it becomes imperative for the static controller to neutralize the on-the-fly traffic burst. Addressing the above-mentioned issues demands research critical to improving the QoS in load balancing, latency minimisation, and network reliability for next- generation networks. Our novel dynamic controller mapping algorithm with multiple- controller placement in the SDN is critical in solving the identified issues. In the dynamic controller approach (dSDN), the controllers are mapped dynamically as the load fluctuates. If any controller reaches its maximum threshold, the rest of the traffic will be diverted to another controller, significantly reducing delay and enhancing the overall performance. Our technique considers the latency and load fluctuation in the network and manages the situations where static mapping is ineffective in dealing with the dynamic flow variation. In addition, our novel approach adds more intelligence to the network with a Temporal Deep Q Learning (tDQN) approach for dynamic controller mapping when the flow fluctuates. In this technique, a multi-objective optimization problem for flow fluctuation is formulated to dynamically divert the traffic to the best-suited controller. The formulated technique is placed as an agent in the network controller to take care of all the routing decisions, which can solve the dynamic flow mapping and latency optimization without increasing the number of optimally placed controllers. Extensive simulation results show that the novel approach proposed in this thesis solves dynamic flow mapping by maintaining a balanced load among controllers and outperforms the existing traditional networks and SDN with priority scheduling and congestion control. Compared to traditional networks, tDQN provides a 47.48% increase in throughput, a 99.10% reduction in delay and a 97.98% reduction in jitter for heavy network traffic. The thesis also presents a few future research directions as possible extensions of the current work for further enhancement.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Sources of severe occupational injury in a major Australian water authority
- Authors: Bellchambers, Brenton
- Date: 1992
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: An analysis of occuptational accidents (n=587) was completed for the years 1989/90/91 for a major Australian water authority for injuries of five or more days lost time.
- Description: Masters of Applied Science, Occupational Health and Safety
- Authors: Bellchambers, Brenton
- Date: 1992
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: An analysis of occuptational accidents (n=587) was completed for the years 1989/90/91 for a major Australian water authority for injuries of five or more days lost time.
- Description: Masters of Applied Science, Occupational Health and Safety
A neural network approach for predicting the direction of the Australian stock market index
- Authors: Tilakaratne, Chandima
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- 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: Master of Information Technology by Research
- Authors: Tilakaratne, Chandima
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- 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: Master of Information Technology by Research
The Social Phobia Inventory (SoPhI): Validity and reliability in an adolescent population [Social Phobia Inventory (SoPhI): Validez y fiabilidad en una poblacin adolescente
- Bermejo, Ross, Garcia-Lopez, Luis, Hidalgo, Maria, Moore, Kathleen
- Authors: Bermejo, Ross , Garcia-Lopez, Luis , Hidalgo, Maria , Moore, Kathleen
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Anales de Psicologia Vol. 27, no. 2 (2011), p. 342-349
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Although there are numerous self-report measures to assess social anxiety in adults, and an increasing number in adolescents, only one scale designed during the last decade, the Social Phobia Inventory (SoPhI; Moore & Gee, 2003) has included an item to tap DSM-IV criterion F of social anxiety disorder (i.e. social anxiety must be present for at least six months). However, questions remain regarding the validity of the SoPhI in other languages and cultures. To address this problem the SoPhI was administered in two studies: firstly, to 457 adolescents from a community sample in order to test the internal consistency and factor analysis of the scale; and secondly, to a clinical sample comprising 114 participants with a principal diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, and a control group consisting of 78 adolescents with no diagnosis of social anxiety disorder. The scale showed good psychometric properties, including test-retest reliability, convergent validity, internal consistency, and a single-factor structure similar to the original study. Together these findings support the use of the SoPhI in a language other than English and for this range of ages.
- Authors: Bermejo, Ross , Garcia-Lopez, Luis , Hidalgo, Maria , Moore, Kathleen
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Anales de Psicologia Vol. 27, no. 2 (2011), p. 342-349
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Although there are numerous self-report measures to assess social anxiety in adults, and an increasing number in adolescents, only one scale designed during the last decade, the Social Phobia Inventory (SoPhI; Moore & Gee, 2003) has included an item to tap DSM-IV criterion F of social anxiety disorder (i.e. social anxiety must be present for at least six months). However, questions remain regarding the validity of the SoPhI in other languages and cultures. To address this problem the SoPhI was administered in two studies: firstly, to 457 adolescents from a community sample in order to test the internal consistency and factor analysis of the scale; and secondly, to a clinical sample comprising 114 participants with a principal diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, and a control group consisting of 78 adolescents with no diagnosis of social anxiety disorder. The scale showed good psychometric properties, including test-retest reliability, convergent validity, internal consistency, and a single-factor structure similar to the original study. Together these findings support the use of the SoPhI in a language other than English and for this range of ages.
An examination of physical exercise therapy on quality of life (QoL) and mortality in men diagnosed with Prostate Cancer (PCa)
- Authors: Khan, Nazib
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent malignancy in men worldwide, accounting for 27% of new cancer cases in men and responsible for 3.8% of worldwide male cancer deaths (2018). This risk is projected to double before 204, so it is surprising that there are no well- established modifiable risk factors for PCa diagnosis orr progression. Considering this, the following thesis consists of three original research studies that examined; (1) the moderating effect of physical activity and muscular strength on prostate cancer mortality; (2) the magnitude of effect from pooled therapeutic exercise studies to impact quality of life and adverse events in PCa patients following surgery; (3) the head-to-head comparative efficacy of individual exercise therapies to impact quality of life and adverse events following surgery. The sum of works presented in this thesis lead to the conclusion that 1) when PCa is the only lifetime cancer diagnosis, life expectancy is similar to lifetime cancer free counterparts whereas diagnosis of PCa with any other lifetime cancer is associated with a 30.2% lower life expectancy during 10-year follow-up. Physical activity has negligible effect on life-expectancy whereas handgrip strength accounts for ~4% of the difference in life-expectancy between PCa with any other lifetime cancer compared with controls; 2) Pooled evidence from randomised controlled trials (n=999 participants) identifies that perioperative exercise therapy (aerobic, resistance, pelvic floor, mind-body exercise, or mixed exercise (combined aerobic and resistance) has a positive impact on patient quality of life and adverse events in PCa patients undergoing surgery which is predominant in perceptions of symptom related QoL (SMD: 0.56, 111 95% CI’s [0.22-0.89]) more so than health related quality of life (HRQoL) (SMD: 0.02, 95% 112 CI’s [-0.16-0.20]; 3) Comparison of head-to-head efficacy of different therapeutic exercise interventions [Aerobic, resistance, pelvic floor, mind-body exercise or mixed exercise (combined aerobic and resistance)] identified pelvic floor muscle exercise to be the most favorable exercise therapy to maintain QoL in PCa patients undergoing surgery, partly due to the current lack of evidence to support other exercise therapies. These findings provide new knowledge to support the effective treatment of PCa patients.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Khan, Nazib
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent malignancy in men worldwide, accounting for 27% of new cancer cases in men and responsible for 3.8% of worldwide male cancer deaths (2018). This risk is projected to double before 204, so it is surprising that there are no well- established modifiable risk factors for PCa diagnosis orr progression. Considering this, the following thesis consists of three original research studies that examined; (1) the moderating effect of physical activity and muscular strength on prostate cancer mortality; (2) the magnitude of effect from pooled therapeutic exercise studies to impact quality of life and adverse events in PCa patients following surgery; (3) the head-to-head comparative efficacy of individual exercise therapies to impact quality of life and adverse events following surgery. The sum of works presented in this thesis lead to the conclusion that 1) when PCa is the only lifetime cancer diagnosis, life expectancy is similar to lifetime cancer free counterparts whereas diagnosis of PCa with any other lifetime cancer is associated with a 30.2% lower life expectancy during 10-year follow-up. Physical activity has negligible effect on life-expectancy whereas handgrip strength accounts for ~4% of the difference in life-expectancy between PCa with any other lifetime cancer compared with controls; 2) Pooled evidence from randomised controlled trials (n=999 participants) identifies that perioperative exercise therapy (aerobic, resistance, pelvic floor, mind-body exercise, or mixed exercise (combined aerobic and resistance) has a positive impact on patient quality of life and adverse events in PCa patients undergoing surgery which is predominant in perceptions of symptom related QoL (SMD: 0.56, 111 95% CI’s [0.22-0.89]) more so than health related quality of life (HRQoL) (SMD: 0.02, 95% 112 CI’s [-0.16-0.20]; 3) Comparison of head-to-head efficacy of different therapeutic exercise interventions [Aerobic, resistance, pelvic floor, mind-body exercise or mixed exercise (combined aerobic and resistance)] identified pelvic floor muscle exercise to be the most favorable exercise therapy to maintain QoL in PCa patients undergoing surgery, partly due to the current lack of evidence to support other exercise therapies. These findings provide new knowledge to support the effective treatment of PCa patients.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Ecology and management of a tropical invasive weed, Cyperus aromaticus (Navua sedge) in Queensland, Australia
- Authors: Chadha, Aakansha
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Cyperus aromaticus (Ridley) Mattf. & Kükenth, commonly known as Navua sedge is an invasive C4 perennial sedge species of the Cyperaceae family found predominantly in tropical environments. A native of tropical Africa, it has spread widely and become problematic in many southwest Pacific islands and in tropical north Queensland, Australia. It is a principal weed infesting pastures, sugarcane, banana and root crops, which causes significant damage across a range of industries including dairy, beef, sugarcane and banana in the highly fertile and productive areas of Queensland. The primary objective of this thesis was to contribute to a significant weed management problem at a stage where intervention is cost effective, efficient and environmentally sensitive. At the centre of this work, was a contribution to fundamental knowledge regarding the ecology of the species. The first objective was to examine the global literature on rhizomatous weeds and C. aromaticus in particular to identify the research problems and knowledge gaps. As C. aromaticus has dual mode of reproduction, via seeds and rhizomes, both these aspects were taken into consideration in the experimental chapters. The project critically addressed the issues related to (i) understanding the fundamental ecological aspects of reproduction via seeds in C. aromaticus, (ii) the regeneration of C. aromaticus from its rhizomes, and (iii) control of C. aromaticus using herbicides. A stepwise approach, involving multiple objectives was used to meet the primary objective of this project. Three experiments were conducted to understand the fundamental ecological aspects of reproduction via seeds. (i) A study was conducted to understand the soil seed bank dynamics of pastures invaded by C. aromaticus. It was found that C. aromaticus is the dominant species in the soil seed bank of pastures invaded by C. aromaticus and can contribute between 62% and 95% of the total seed bank. In this respect, the abundance of C. aromaticus seed in the soil seed bank is positively correlated with the aboveground biomass of C. aromaticus and 83% of the total C. aromaticus seeds was found in the top 0-5 cm layer of soil. (ii) The lifespan of C. aromaticus seeds was estimated by artificial ageing technique in the laboratory whereby the results indicate that long-term management is required to control the recruitment from the soil seed bank even in the absence of additional seed deposition. (iii) Seed germination ecology was investigated to understand the effect of various environmental factors on the germination of C. aromaticus seeds. It was found that light is absolutely required for C. aromaticus seed germination, and there was no germination of seeds above 150 mM NaCl concentration and -0.8 Mpa osmotic potential, or from seeds buried greater than 2 cm below the soil surface. Focussing on the regeneration from C. aromaticus rhizomes, an experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of rhizome size and burial depth on the emergence from rhizomes in different soil types. A positive correlation was found between the total emergence of tillers and rhizome fragment size of C. aromaticus, but a negative correlation was found between the total emergence of tillers and burial depth of rhizomes. Importantly, it was also found that rhizomes when reduced to 10 cm or smaller fragments and buried 15 cm or deeper will prevent emergence. A further two glasshouse experiments were conducted to explore chemical options to control both the aboveground biomass and the belowground rhizomes. (i) The herbicide sensitivity of various rates of halosulfuron-methyl was evaluated at different growth stages using plants with and without established rhizomes. Mortality of 27.5%, 0% and 5% was recorded when treated with 75 g ai ha-1 of halosulfuron-methyl at the mowed, pre-flowering and flowering stages, respectively in plants with established rhizomes. The herbicide was effective in controlling the aboveground growth, however, subsequent emergence of new growth from the rhizome confirms the failure of the herbicide to kill the rhizome. In contrast, application of 75 g ai ha-1 of halosulfuron-methyl provided 100% mortality in plants treated at seedling and pre-flowering stage in plants without established rhizomes. (ii) Another herbicide with an alternate mode of action, florpyrauxifen-benzyl, was assessed at different growth stages again using plants with and without established rhizomes. Results indicate that a single application of florpyrauxifen-benzyl is effective at controlling C. aromaticus seedlings, but not effective at controlling plants with established rhizomes. In summary, this thesis has increased the fundamental knowledge about the ecology of C. aromaticus which will feed into designing of management strategies. Likewise, new tools established in the form of mechanical and chemical control and improving the methods currently used to manage populations will advance the capacity to effectively manage C. aromaticus in the future. Although this investigation is based on a relatively focussed suite of issues relevant to tropical north Queensland, where there is an immediate application of the research outcomes from this study, it is anticipated that they will also inform weed management strategies more broadly in a range of similar environments throughout the world.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Chadha, Aakansha
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Cyperus aromaticus (Ridley) Mattf. & Kükenth, commonly known as Navua sedge is an invasive C4 perennial sedge species of the Cyperaceae family found predominantly in tropical environments. A native of tropical Africa, it has spread widely and become problematic in many southwest Pacific islands and in tropical north Queensland, Australia. It is a principal weed infesting pastures, sugarcane, banana and root crops, which causes significant damage across a range of industries including dairy, beef, sugarcane and banana in the highly fertile and productive areas of Queensland. The primary objective of this thesis was to contribute to a significant weed management problem at a stage where intervention is cost effective, efficient and environmentally sensitive. At the centre of this work, was a contribution to fundamental knowledge regarding the ecology of the species. The first objective was to examine the global literature on rhizomatous weeds and C. aromaticus in particular to identify the research problems and knowledge gaps. As C. aromaticus has dual mode of reproduction, via seeds and rhizomes, both these aspects were taken into consideration in the experimental chapters. The project critically addressed the issues related to (i) understanding the fundamental ecological aspects of reproduction via seeds in C. aromaticus, (ii) the regeneration of C. aromaticus from its rhizomes, and (iii) control of C. aromaticus using herbicides. A stepwise approach, involving multiple objectives was used to meet the primary objective of this project. Three experiments were conducted to understand the fundamental ecological aspects of reproduction via seeds. (i) A study was conducted to understand the soil seed bank dynamics of pastures invaded by C. aromaticus. It was found that C. aromaticus is the dominant species in the soil seed bank of pastures invaded by C. aromaticus and can contribute between 62% and 95% of the total seed bank. In this respect, the abundance of C. aromaticus seed in the soil seed bank is positively correlated with the aboveground biomass of C. aromaticus and 83% of the total C. aromaticus seeds was found in the top 0-5 cm layer of soil. (ii) The lifespan of C. aromaticus seeds was estimated by artificial ageing technique in the laboratory whereby the results indicate that long-term management is required to control the recruitment from the soil seed bank even in the absence of additional seed deposition. (iii) Seed germination ecology was investigated to understand the effect of various environmental factors on the germination of C. aromaticus seeds. It was found that light is absolutely required for C. aromaticus seed germination, and there was no germination of seeds above 150 mM NaCl concentration and -0.8 Mpa osmotic potential, or from seeds buried greater than 2 cm below the soil surface. Focussing on the regeneration from C. aromaticus rhizomes, an experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of rhizome size and burial depth on the emergence from rhizomes in different soil types. A positive correlation was found between the total emergence of tillers and rhizome fragment size of C. aromaticus, but a negative correlation was found between the total emergence of tillers and burial depth of rhizomes. Importantly, it was also found that rhizomes when reduced to 10 cm or smaller fragments and buried 15 cm or deeper will prevent emergence. A further two glasshouse experiments were conducted to explore chemical options to control both the aboveground biomass and the belowground rhizomes. (i) The herbicide sensitivity of various rates of halosulfuron-methyl was evaluated at different growth stages using plants with and without established rhizomes. Mortality of 27.5%, 0% and 5% was recorded when treated with 75 g ai ha-1 of halosulfuron-methyl at the mowed, pre-flowering and flowering stages, respectively in plants with established rhizomes. The herbicide was effective in controlling the aboveground growth, however, subsequent emergence of new growth from the rhizome confirms the failure of the herbicide to kill the rhizome. In contrast, application of 75 g ai ha-1 of halosulfuron-methyl provided 100% mortality in plants treated at seedling and pre-flowering stage in plants without established rhizomes. (ii) Another herbicide with an alternate mode of action, florpyrauxifen-benzyl, was assessed at different growth stages again using plants with and without established rhizomes. Results indicate that a single application of florpyrauxifen-benzyl is effective at controlling C. aromaticus seedlings, but not effective at controlling plants with established rhizomes. In summary, this thesis has increased the fundamental knowledge about the ecology of C. aromaticus which will feed into designing of management strategies. Likewise, new tools established in the form of mechanical and chemical control and improving the methods currently used to manage populations will advance the capacity to effectively manage C. aromaticus in the future. Although this investigation is based on a relatively focussed suite of issues relevant to tropical north Queensland, where there is an immediate application of the research outcomes from this study, it is anticipated that they will also inform weed management strategies more broadly in a range of similar environments throughout the world.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Utilisation of Kluyveromyces marxianus for the ethanolic fermentation of lactose in skim milk permeate
- Authors: Wakeling, Lara
- Date: 1994
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: "In this study ethanoal was produced via fermentation of skim milk permeate using Kluyveromyces marxianus".
- Description: Master of Applied Science
- Authors: Wakeling, Lara
- Date: 1994
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: "In this study ethanoal was produced via fermentation of skim milk permeate using Kluyveromyces marxianus".
- Description: Master of Applied Science
Some new characterizations of intrinsic transversality in hilbert spaces
- Thao, Nguyen, Bui, Hoa, Cuong, Nguyen, Verhaegen, Michel
- Authors: Thao, Nguyen , Bui, Hoa , Cuong, Nguyen , Verhaegen, Michel
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Set-Valued and Variational Analysis Vol. 28, no. 1 (2020), p. 5-39
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Motivated by a number of questions concerning transversality-type properties of pairs of sets recently raised by Ioffe and Kruger, this paper reports several new characterizations of the intrinsic transversality property in Hilbert spaces. New results in terms of normal vectors clarify the picture of intrinsic transversality, its variants and sufficient conditions for subtransversality, and unify several of them. For the first time, intrinsic transversality is characterized by an equivalent condition which does not involve normal vectors. This characterization offers another perspective on intrinsic transversality. As a consequence, the obtained results allow us to answer a number of important questions about transversality-type properties. © 2020, The Author(s).
- Authors: Thao, Nguyen , Bui, Hoa , Cuong, Nguyen , Verhaegen, Michel
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Set-Valued and Variational Analysis Vol. 28, no. 1 (2020), p. 5-39
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Motivated by a number of questions concerning transversality-type properties of pairs of sets recently raised by Ioffe and Kruger, this paper reports several new characterizations of the intrinsic transversality property in Hilbert spaces. New results in terms of normal vectors clarify the picture of intrinsic transversality, its variants and sufficient conditions for subtransversality, and unify several of them. For the first time, intrinsic transversality is characterized by an equivalent condition which does not involve normal vectors. This characterization offers another perspective on intrinsic transversality. As a consequence, the obtained results allow us to answer a number of important questions about transversality-type properties. © 2020, The Author(s).
Mandarin DP1-he-DP2 in the subject position
- Authors: Han, Weifeng , Shi, Dingxu
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: SKASE Journal of Theoretical Linguistics Vol. 19, no. 1 (2022), p. 43-62
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Recent studies claim that, syntactically, he in DP1-he-DP2 can only be analyzed as a conjunction or as a preposition, but not both, in the subject position in Mandarin. This paper presents both empirical and theoretical arguments against such singular analyses of he. Drawn upon cross-linguistic evidence, we argue that he is open to both a conjunction and a proposition analyses. Under the Merge theory, it is argued that the prepositional phrase (PP) is derived through only EXTERNAL MERGE (EM), while the conjunction phrase (&P) is yielded through EM and then INTERNAL MERGE (IM). Therefore, PP and &P undergo different processes of labelling. The Phase Impenetrability Condition helps explain the topicalization and focus marking issues by the singular analysis of he as a preposition only. This paper illustrates how the same lexical item of he is used for both the conjunction and the comitative structures in Mandarin, and how both structures differ syntactically under the Merge theory. © 2022 Slovak Association for the Study of English. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Han, Weifeng , Shi, Dingxu
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: SKASE Journal of Theoretical Linguistics Vol. 19, no. 1 (2022), p. 43-62
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Recent studies claim that, syntactically, he in DP1-he-DP2 can only be analyzed as a conjunction or as a preposition, but not both, in the subject position in Mandarin. This paper presents both empirical and theoretical arguments against such singular analyses of he. Drawn upon cross-linguistic evidence, we argue that he is open to both a conjunction and a proposition analyses. Under the Merge theory, it is argued that the prepositional phrase (PP) is derived through only EXTERNAL MERGE (EM), while the conjunction phrase (&P) is yielded through EM and then INTERNAL MERGE (IM). Therefore, PP and &P undergo different processes of labelling. The Phase Impenetrability Condition helps explain the topicalization and focus marking issues by the singular analysis of he as a preposition only. This paper illustrates how the same lexical item of he is used for both the conjunction and the comitative structures in Mandarin, and how both structures differ syntactically under the Merge theory. © 2022 Slovak Association for the Study of English. All rights reserved.
Integrating public health and sport management : Sport participation trends 2001-2010
- Eime, Rochelle, Sawyer, Neroli, Harvey, Jack, Casey, Meghan, Westerbeek, Hans, Payne, Warren
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Sawyer, Neroli , Harvey, Jack , Casey, Meghan , Westerbeek, Hans , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sport Management Review Vol. 18, no. 2 (2015), p. 207-217
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In order to inform strategies to increase levels of physical activity (PA) for a healthier society, it is important to understand participation trends in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Little is known about the context of LTPA participation, particularly from the perspective of "sport and recreation" (S&R) categories such as organised and club-based activities. The primary aim of this study is to contribute to the sport management literature by specifically examining PA participation levels and trends in Australia over a decade, for those aged 15 years and older, through the lens of S&R. This paper also discusses the potential synergy between the public health and sport management domains with regard to LTPA/S&R. The Australian Sports Commission provided data from the Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS), a population survey conducted quarterly from 2001 to 2010 by computer-assisted telephone interview. Participation in LTPA was analysed by year, gender and age, in three hierarchically related categories: (1) any LTPA participation, (2) participation in an organised context, and (3) organised participation in a club. Participation rates in any LTPA increased significantly over the decade. However, this was not matched by increases in organised and/or club participation, which largely remained steady over the 10-year period. Much of the organised participation was within a club setting, and participation in this context is more likely among males than females. There is some evidence that the overall level of LTPA is increasing, which is positive for health, but there was generally no increase in club-based participation, resulting in sport contributing relatively less to overall population LTPA. However, the depth of information available from population surveys regarding club-based LTPA is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions, or make important strategic decisions about sport and health policy. There is a critical need for more comprehensive sport participation data to provide the evidence for improved programme and policy development. An avenue for this to occur may be through the integration of participation data from peak sport organisations. (C) 2014 Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Sawyer, Neroli , Harvey, Jack , Casey, Meghan , Westerbeek, Hans , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sport Management Review Vol. 18, no. 2 (2015), p. 207-217
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In order to inform strategies to increase levels of physical activity (PA) for a healthier society, it is important to understand participation trends in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Little is known about the context of LTPA participation, particularly from the perspective of "sport and recreation" (S&R) categories such as organised and club-based activities. The primary aim of this study is to contribute to the sport management literature by specifically examining PA participation levels and trends in Australia over a decade, for those aged 15 years and older, through the lens of S&R. This paper also discusses the potential synergy between the public health and sport management domains with regard to LTPA/S&R. The Australian Sports Commission provided data from the Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS), a population survey conducted quarterly from 2001 to 2010 by computer-assisted telephone interview. Participation in LTPA was analysed by year, gender and age, in three hierarchically related categories: (1) any LTPA participation, (2) participation in an organised context, and (3) organised participation in a club. Participation rates in any LTPA increased significantly over the decade. However, this was not matched by increases in organised and/or club participation, which largely remained steady over the 10-year period. Much of the organised participation was within a club setting, and participation in this context is more likely among males than females. There is some evidence that the overall level of LTPA is increasing, which is positive for health, but there was generally no increase in club-based participation, resulting in sport contributing relatively less to overall population LTPA. However, the depth of information available from population surveys regarding club-based LTPA is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions, or make important strategic decisions about sport and health policy. There is a critical need for more comprehensive sport participation data to provide the evidence for improved programme and policy development. An avenue for this to occur may be through the integration of participation data from peak sport organisations. (C) 2014 Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Virtual streetgames : a mixed methods study exploring the delivery of an online youth physical activity program
- Authors: Kemel, Paul
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic there was already considerable concern relating to the declining physical activity rates of adolescents and young adults seen across the world. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the various corresponding social distancing and lockdown guidelines, has further exacerbated these concerns. The utilisation of various forms of technology to maintain and encourage a degree of social connectedness during these timeframes sparked a degree of creativity in how our usual ways of interacting could be modified to the unique social-political circumstances. One such example is the youth community physical activity program Latrobe Streetgames, who adapted their program to be delivered across a range of social media platforms. A mixed methods study was conducted to help understand the impact that the adapted online program had on its participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study highlight the negative impact that the various COVID-19 lockdowns had on the target population, and while the ability to maintain some degree of social-physical intractability via the modified Latrobe Streetgames delivery was beneficial, it likely did not outweigh the negative impact of the lockdowns itself. Therefore, as the world moves pasts the pandemic, an emphasis needs to be placed on ensuring that youth physical activity is promoted in order to combat the acquired negative health effects relating to physical, mental and social health.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Authors: Kemel, Paul
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic there was already considerable concern relating to the declining physical activity rates of adolescents and young adults seen across the world. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the various corresponding social distancing and lockdown guidelines, has further exacerbated these concerns. The utilisation of various forms of technology to maintain and encourage a degree of social connectedness during these timeframes sparked a degree of creativity in how our usual ways of interacting could be modified to the unique social-political circumstances. One such example is the youth community physical activity program Latrobe Streetgames, who adapted their program to be delivered across a range of social media platforms. A mixed methods study was conducted to help understand the impact that the adapted online program had on its participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study highlight the negative impact that the various COVID-19 lockdowns had on the target population, and while the ability to maintain some degree of social-physical intractability via the modified Latrobe Streetgames delivery was beneficial, it likely did not outweigh the negative impact of the lockdowns itself. Therefore, as the world moves pasts the pandemic, an emphasis needs to be placed on ensuring that youth physical activity is promoted in order to combat the acquired negative health effects relating to physical, mental and social health.
- Description: Masters by Research
Effect of hydralazine on angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in apolipoprotein e-deficient mice
- Wang, Yutang, Sargisson, Owen, Nguyen, Dinh, Parker, Ketura, Pyke, Stephan, Alramahi, Ahmed, Thihlum, Liam, Fang, Yan, Wallace, Morgan, Berzins, Stuart, Oqueli, Ernesto, Magliano, Dianna, Golledge, Jonathan
- Authors: Wang, Yutang , Sargisson, Owen , Nguyen, Dinh , Parker, Ketura , Pyke, Stephan , Alramahi, Ahmed , Thihlum, Liam , Fang, Yan , Wallace, Morgan , Berzins, Stuart , Oqueli, Ernesto , Magliano, Dianna , Golledge, Jonathan
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Molecular Sciences Vol. 24, no. 21 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) causes about 200,000 deaths worldwide each year. However, there are currently no effective drug therapies to prevent AAA formation or, when present, to decrease progression and rupture, highlighting an urgent need for more research in this field. Increased vascular inflammation and enhanced apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are implicated in AAA formation. Here, we investigated whether hydralazine, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties, inhibited AAA formation and pathological hallmarks. In cultured VSMCs, hydralazine (100
- Authors: Wang, Yutang , Sargisson, Owen , Nguyen, Dinh , Parker, Ketura , Pyke, Stephan , Alramahi, Ahmed , Thihlum, Liam , Fang, Yan , Wallace, Morgan , Berzins, Stuart , Oqueli, Ernesto , Magliano, Dianna , Golledge, Jonathan
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Molecular Sciences Vol. 24, no. 21 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) causes about 200,000 deaths worldwide each year. However, there are currently no effective drug therapies to prevent AAA formation or, when present, to decrease progression and rupture, highlighting an urgent need for more research in this field. Increased vascular inflammation and enhanced apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are implicated in AAA formation. Here, we investigated whether hydralazine, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties, inhibited AAA formation and pathological hallmarks. In cultured VSMCs, hydralazine (100
Suppression subtractive hybridization method for the identification of a new strain of murine hepatitis virus from xenografted SCID mice
- Islam, Mohammed, Toohey, Brendan, Purcell, Damian, Kannourakis, George
- Authors: Islam, Mohammed , Toohey, Brendan , Purcell, Damian , Kannourakis, George
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Archives of Virology Vol. 160, no. 12 (2015), p. 2945-2955
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- Description: During attempts to clone retroviral determinants associated with a mouse model of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to identify unique viruses in the liver of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice transplanted with LCH tissues. A partial genomic sequence of a murine coronavirus was identified, and the whole genome (31428 bp) of the coronavirus was subsequently sequenced using PCR cloning techniques. Nucleotide sequence comparisons revealed that the genome sequence of the new virus was 91-93 % identical to those of known murine hepatitis viruses (MHVs). The predicted open reading frame from the nucleotide sequence encoded all known proteins of MHVs. Analysis at the protein level showed that the virus was closely related to the highly virulent MHV-JHM strain. The virus strain was named MHV-MI. No type D retroviruses were found. Degenerate PCR targeting of type D retrovirus and 5'-RACE targeting of other types of retroviruses confirmed the absence of any retroviral association with the LCH xenografted SCID mice. © 2015, The Author(s).
- Authors: Islam, Mohammed , Toohey, Brendan , Purcell, Damian , Kannourakis, George
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Archives of Virology Vol. 160, no. 12 (2015), p. 2945-2955
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: During attempts to clone retroviral determinants associated with a mouse model of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to identify unique viruses in the liver of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice transplanted with LCH tissues. A partial genomic sequence of a murine coronavirus was identified, and the whole genome (31428 bp) of the coronavirus was subsequently sequenced using PCR cloning techniques. Nucleotide sequence comparisons revealed that the genome sequence of the new virus was 91-93 % identical to those of known murine hepatitis viruses (MHVs). The predicted open reading frame from the nucleotide sequence encoded all known proteins of MHVs. Analysis at the protein level showed that the virus was closely related to the highly virulent MHV-JHM strain. The virus strain was named MHV-MI. No type D retroviruses were found. Degenerate PCR targeting of type D retrovirus and 5'-RACE targeting of other types of retroviruses confirmed the absence of any retroviral association with the LCH xenografted SCID mice. © 2015, The Author(s).