A conceptual framework for a theory of liquidity
- Authors: Culham, James
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This study contributes to the understanding of liquidity in two ways. First, it considers the multifaceted nature of liquidity and its relationship with money. Second, it constructs a conceptual framework for a theory of liquidity. The first contribution is achieved by clarifying and categorising the various forms of liquidity to identify those overlooked by the existing literature. The second contribution consists of a realist critique of the literature on liquidity and money to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each theoretical approach. The study reflects on the attempts to analyse liquidity using moneyless models of perfect barter with the assumption that every commodity exhibits perfect saleability; an assumption that removes any need for a medium of exchange and, moreover, crowds out all other forms of liquidity. It is concluded that, because liquidity is a social and monetary phenomenon, it cannot be analysed with models populated by a representative agent consuming a single commodity. Furthermore, this conclusion is not altered by the introduction of ‘financial frictions’, which are fundamentally at odds with the nature of money. Instead, the clarification of the nature of liquidity forms the basis for an interpretation of Keynes’s theory of liquidity preference that emphasises its reliance on liquidity in general, not money in particular. The study introduces the terms redemption liquidity and exchange liquidity to explain the trade-off that underpins the theory of liquidity preference. Properly interpreted, the theory of liquidity preference can then address many of the deficiencies prevalent in the dominant theories of the rate of interest. The study therefore has implications for monetary policy and asset pricing.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Culham, James
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This study contributes to the understanding of liquidity in two ways. First, it considers the multifaceted nature of liquidity and its relationship with money. Second, it constructs a conceptual framework for a theory of liquidity. The first contribution is achieved by clarifying and categorising the various forms of liquidity to identify those overlooked by the existing literature. The second contribution consists of a realist critique of the literature on liquidity and money to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each theoretical approach. The study reflects on the attempts to analyse liquidity using moneyless models of perfect barter with the assumption that every commodity exhibits perfect saleability; an assumption that removes any need for a medium of exchange and, moreover, crowds out all other forms of liquidity. It is concluded that, because liquidity is a social and monetary phenomenon, it cannot be analysed with models populated by a representative agent consuming a single commodity. Furthermore, this conclusion is not altered by the introduction of ‘financial frictions’, which are fundamentally at odds with the nature of money. Instead, the clarification of the nature of liquidity forms the basis for an interpretation of Keynes’s theory of liquidity preference that emphasises its reliance on liquidity in general, not money in particular. The study introduces the terms redemption liquidity and exchange liquidity to explain the trade-off that underpins the theory of liquidity preference. Properly interpreted, the theory of liquidity preference can then address many of the deficiencies prevalent in the dominant theories of the rate of interest. The study therefore has implications for monetary policy and asset pricing.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Anti-war, radical youth revolt, Victoria, 1965-1975
- Authors: Butler, Nicholas
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis is a political history of the emergence and evolution of selected radical, left, student and workers movements in Victoria between 1965 and 1975. It examines the development of radical alliances, demonstrations and public actions using documentary materials and oral accounts provided during interviews. It argues that the radical left movement in Victoria began within the Monash University Labor Club, which subsequently generated radical groups outside the university. During this timeframe, both military conscription for the Vietnam War and the war itself became focal points for oppositional political mobilisation in Victoria. In 1967, the Monash Labor Club’s disruptive campaign against university authority was sufficiently popular for the club to turn its attention to disrupting the war effort. Soon, its locus of operations shifted into the general anti-war movement and the Labor Club established new, non-student, and avowedly communist and revolutionary organisations. Roughly termed the “Maoists,” by 1970 these organisations coalesced into the Worker Student Alliance (WSA), which grew rapidly to become a “left-wing” body that challenged the leadership of the established “left” organisations. The cessation of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War removed a major cause for radical action and, despite the generation of some important campaigns to replace it, the WSA dissolved itself in 1974.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Butler, Nicholas
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis is a political history of the emergence and evolution of selected radical, left, student and workers movements in Victoria between 1965 and 1975. It examines the development of radical alliances, demonstrations and public actions using documentary materials and oral accounts provided during interviews. It argues that the radical left movement in Victoria began within the Monash University Labor Club, which subsequently generated radical groups outside the university. During this timeframe, both military conscription for the Vietnam War and the war itself became focal points for oppositional political mobilisation in Victoria. In 1967, the Monash Labor Club’s disruptive campaign against university authority was sufficiently popular for the club to turn its attention to disrupting the war effort. Soon, its locus of operations shifted into the general anti-war movement and the Labor Club established new, non-student, and avowedly communist and revolutionary organisations. Roughly termed the “Maoists,” by 1970 these organisations coalesced into the Worker Student Alliance (WSA), which grew rapidly to become a “left-wing” body that challenged the leadership of the established “left” organisations. The cessation of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War removed a major cause for radical action and, despite the generation of some important campaigns to replace it, the WSA dissolved itself in 1974.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Assessing healthcare providers' performance with and without risk adjustment
- Authors: Morales-Silva, Daniel
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This study focuses on how healthcare data can be used to draw comparisons between healthcare providers (surgeons or hospitals). Depending on the type of access to datasets, these comparisons can be done with or without risk adjustment. For us, risk adjustment refers to the use of patient-level information to explain variation in healthcare spending, resource utilisation and health outcomes. For unadjusted comparisons, we highlight the diagnostic potential that radar plots offer for reporting on outcome indicators. These outcome indicators were obtained from hospital admissions of patients undergoing certain surgical procedures. We address two drawbacks of radar plots: presence of missing information and order of indicators. By introducing a consolidated view at provider level, we define an uncomplicated ranking of providers which can be used to identify potential low and high performers. For risk adjusted comparisons, we introduce a novel and robust methodology that enables comparisons of healthcare providers across multiple hierarchies, namely, surgeons, teams, departments and hospitals, using a consistent approach. Our methodology puts the patient at the centre of the analysis, and thus, can be used for personalised predictions (e.g. expected length of stay, costs and probability of being transferred to intensive care unit). Our findings suggest that the observed variation in selected outcome indicators, such as length of stay and charges of healthcare providers, cannot be explained by patient characteristics alone. Importantly, we have also observed that the perceived performance, on selected outcome indicators, of providers can change substantially following risk adjustment. Healthcare is unique in that clinical expertise is essential in guiding decision making and in informing all statistical models that seek to describe patient outcomes. For future iterations of our models, we will seek greater clinical input.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Morales-Silva, Daniel
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This study focuses on how healthcare data can be used to draw comparisons between healthcare providers (surgeons or hospitals). Depending on the type of access to datasets, these comparisons can be done with or without risk adjustment. For us, risk adjustment refers to the use of patient-level information to explain variation in healthcare spending, resource utilisation and health outcomes. For unadjusted comparisons, we highlight the diagnostic potential that radar plots offer for reporting on outcome indicators. These outcome indicators were obtained from hospital admissions of patients undergoing certain surgical procedures. We address two drawbacks of radar plots: presence of missing information and order of indicators. By introducing a consolidated view at provider level, we define an uncomplicated ranking of providers which can be used to identify potential low and high performers. For risk adjusted comparisons, we introduce a novel and robust methodology that enables comparisons of healthcare providers across multiple hierarchies, namely, surgeons, teams, departments and hospitals, using a consistent approach. Our methodology puts the patient at the centre of the analysis, and thus, can be used for personalised predictions (e.g. expected length of stay, costs and probability of being transferred to intensive care unit). Our findings suggest that the observed variation in selected outcome indicators, such as length of stay and charges of healthcare providers, cannot be explained by patient characteristics alone. Importantly, we have also observed that the perceived performance, on selected outcome indicators, of providers can change substantially following risk adjustment. Healthcare is unique in that clinical expertise is essential in guiding decision making and in informing all statistical models that seek to describe patient outcomes. For future iterations of our models, we will seek greater clinical input.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Canonical dual finite element method for solving nonconvex mechanics and topology optimization
- Authors: Ali, Elaf
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Canonical duality theory (CDT) is a newly developed, potentially powerful method- ological theory which can transfer general multi-scale nonconvex/discrete problems in Rn to a unified convex dual problem in continuous space Rm with m
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Zhalehjoo, Negin
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- 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
Effective and efficient kernel-based image representations for classification and retrieval
- Authors: Karmakar, Priyabrata
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Image representation is a challenging task. In particular, in order to obtain better performances in different image processing applications such as video surveillance, autonomous driving, crime scene detection and automatic inspection, effective and efficient image representation is a fundamental need. The performance of these applications usually depends on how accurately images are classified into their corresponding groups or how precisely relevant images are retrieved from a database based on a query. Accuracy in image classification and precision in image retrieval depend on the effectiveness of image representation. Existing image representation methods have some limitations. For example, spatial pyramid matching, which is a popular method incorporating spatial information in image-level representation, has not been fully studied to date. In addition, the strengths of pyramid match kernel and spatial pyramid matching are not combined for better image matching. Kernel descriptors based on gradient, colour and shape overcome the limitations of histogram-based descriptors, but suffer from information loss, noise effects and high computational complexity. Furthermore, the combined performance of kernel descriptors has limitations related to computational complexity, higher dimensionality and lower effectiveness. Moreover, the potential of a global texture descriptor which is based on human visual perception has not been fully explored to date. Therefore, in this research project, kernel-based effective and efficient image representation methods are proposed to address the above limitations. An enhancement is made to spatial pyramid matching in terms of improved rotation invariance. This is done by investigating different partitioning schemes suitable to achieve rotation-invariant image representation and the proposal of a weight function for appropriate level contribution in image matching. In addition, the strengths of pyramid match kernel and spatial pyramid are combined to enhance matching accuracy between images. The existing kernel descriptors are modified and improved to achieve greater effectiveness, minimum noise effects, less dimensionality and lower computational complexity. A novel fusion approach is also proposed to combine the information related to all pixel attributes, before the descriptor extraction stage. Existing kernel descriptors are based only on gradient, colour and shape information. In this research project, a texture-based kernel descriptor is proposed by modifying an existing popular global texture descriptor. Finally, all the contributions are evaluated in an integrated system. The performances of the proposed methods are qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated on two to four different publicly available image databases. The experimental results show that the proposed methods are more effective and efficient in image representation than existing benchmark methods.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Karmakar, Priyabrata
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Image representation is a challenging task. In particular, in order to obtain better performances in different image processing applications such as video surveillance, autonomous driving, crime scene detection and automatic inspection, effective and efficient image representation is a fundamental need. The performance of these applications usually depends on how accurately images are classified into their corresponding groups or how precisely relevant images are retrieved from a database based on a query. Accuracy in image classification and precision in image retrieval depend on the effectiveness of image representation. Existing image representation methods have some limitations. For example, spatial pyramid matching, which is a popular method incorporating spatial information in image-level representation, has not been fully studied to date. In addition, the strengths of pyramid match kernel and spatial pyramid matching are not combined for better image matching. Kernel descriptors based on gradient, colour and shape overcome the limitations of histogram-based descriptors, but suffer from information loss, noise effects and high computational complexity. Furthermore, the combined performance of kernel descriptors has limitations related to computational complexity, higher dimensionality and lower effectiveness. Moreover, the potential of a global texture descriptor which is based on human visual perception has not been fully explored to date. Therefore, in this research project, kernel-based effective and efficient image representation methods are proposed to address the above limitations. An enhancement is made to spatial pyramid matching in terms of improved rotation invariance. This is done by investigating different partitioning schemes suitable to achieve rotation-invariant image representation and the proposal of a weight function for appropriate level contribution in image matching. In addition, the strengths of pyramid match kernel and spatial pyramid are combined to enhance matching accuracy between images. The existing kernel descriptors are modified and improved to achieve greater effectiveness, minimum noise effects, less dimensionality and lower computational complexity. A novel fusion approach is also proposed to combine the information related to all pixel attributes, before the descriptor extraction stage. Existing kernel descriptors are based only on gradient, colour and shape information. In this research project, a texture-based kernel descriptor is proposed by modifying an existing popular global texture descriptor. Finally, all the contributions are evaluated in an integrated system. The performances of the proposed methods are qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated on two to four different publicly available image databases. The experimental results show that the proposed methods are more effective and efficient in image representation than existing benchmark methods.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Epidemiology, injury and illness prevention in Olympic combat sports
- Authors: Bromley, Sally
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Background: Olympic combat sports are commonly considered dangerous, however injury rates for these sports are not well understood. Isolated studies in combat sports have investigated injury, however these are mainly during competition, and therefore are unlikely to include significant or persistent injury which prevents athletes competing and participating in data collection. This thesis was undertaken as a series of linked studies, to provide further detail into the types, mechanisms and aetiology of injuries in combat sports. Methods: Study 1 was a systematic review that utilised the PRISMA guidelines to investigate the current evidence. Study 2 was a repeated measures study to examine the reliability of training load measures. Study 3 employed a longitudinal study design to assess the feasibility of injury, illness and training load monitoring. Finally, Study 4 was a cross-sectional cohort study that gathered perspectives of combat sport coaches and managers before and after an injury and illness prevention workshop. Results: Study 1 found one high-quality epidemiological study with low risk of bias in Judo. Variation in injury and illness definitions prevented cross-sport comparisons, however the injury incidence was comparable to other sports. In Study 2, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was shown to have good stability across sessions (ICC=0.84), and no significant differences were found between coach (observed) and athlete (experienced) RPE (ordered logistic regression coefficient = 0.47 [1.51–0.57 95%CI]). Study 3 found that athlete engagement with the monitoring system was low, with only 13% of athletes entering data across a 12-week period. Irrespective of low engagement, 62 injuries and illnesses were recorded. In Study 4, combat sport coaches and managers were found to be generally well informed of the risk and seriousness of injury and illness, however, illness risk perceptions changed after the workshop (p=0.048). Discussion and Conclusion: Currently, cross-sport comparisons are not possible due to varying data methodology and study quality. Based upon the results presented in this thesis, RPE can be used as a tool to quantify training load in the sport of judo. Longitudinal surveillance of training load, injury and illness in combat sport is not currently feasible within the Australian system, due to low uptake and engagement. However, the collection of data on a large number of injuries and illnesses indicates that athletes are experiencing multiple, repeated health problems. Coaches and managers are well informed about injury and illness risk and seriousness, indicating that injury and illness prevention education alone may not translate to a decrease in injury and illness incidence in combat sport.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Bromley, Sally
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Background: Olympic combat sports are commonly considered dangerous, however injury rates for these sports are not well understood. Isolated studies in combat sports have investigated injury, however these are mainly during competition, and therefore are unlikely to include significant or persistent injury which prevents athletes competing and participating in data collection. This thesis was undertaken as a series of linked studies, to provide further detail into the types, mechanisms and aetiology of injuries in combat sports. Methods: Study 1 was a systematic review that utilised the PRISMA guidelines to investigate the current evidence. Study 2 was a repeated measures study to examine the reliability of training load measures. Study 3 employed a longitudinal study design to assess the feasibility of injury, illness and training load monitoring. Finally, Study 4 was a cross-sectional cohort study that gathered perspectives of combat sport coaches and managers before and after an injury and illness prevention workshop. Results: Study 1 found one high-quality epidemiological study with low risk of bias in Judo. Variation in injury and illness definitions prevented cross-sport comparisons, however the injury incidence was comparable to other sports. In Study 2, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was shown to have good stability across sessions (ICC=0.84), and no significant differences were found between coach (observed) and athlete (experienced) RPE (ordered logistic regression coefficient = 0.47 [1.51–0.57 95%CI]). Study 3 found that athlete engagement with the monitoring system was low, with only 13% of athletes entering data across a 12-week period. Irrespective of low engagement, 62 injuries and illnesses were recorded. In Study 4, combat sport coaches and managers were found to be generally well informed of the risk and seriousness of injury and illness, however, illness risk perceptions changed after the workshop (p=0.048). Discussion and Conclusion: Currently, cross-sport comparisons are not possible due to varying data methodology and study quality. Based upon the results presented in this thesis, RPE can be used as a tool to quantify training load in the sport of judo. Longitudinal surveillance of training load, injury and illness in combat sport is not currently feasible within the Australian system, due to low uptake and engagement. However, the collection of data on a large number of injuries and illnesses indicates that athletes are experiencing multiple, repeated health problems. Coaches and managers are well informed about injury and illness risk and seriousness, indicating that injury and illness prevention education alone may not translate to a decrease in injury and illness incidence in combat sport.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Epigenetic modifications in essential hypertension
- Authors: Wise, Ingrid
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a complex, multifactorial, quantitative trait under polygenic control that affects more than one billion people globally. Despite advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of HTN and the implementation of more effective treatment and prevention strategies, HTN remains one of the world’s great public health problems. The accepted inference from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is that the genetic code lays the foundation for transcriptomic changes and in turn physiological change. On the other side of the coin, environmental factors (smoking, diet, chemical exposure) can in turn affect DNA itself in genes relevant to blood pressure (BP). Variation in epigenetic forms of modification may thus explain additional phenotypic variation in BP and provide new clues to the physiological processes influencing its regulation. DNA methylation is one of these epigenetic mechanisms responsible for changes to gene expression, activated by interaction with environmental triggers. DNA methylation is a reversible epigenetic modifier of specific dinucleotide sites called CpGs, which consists of a transfer of a methyl group derived from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to position five of a cytosine ring, forming 5mC. Pathophysiologically, the kidney is known as the key organ of BP regulation and one of the most important contributors to HTN. According to the hypothesis put forward by Guyton, over 40 years ago, the control of BP in the steady-state and longer-term is critically dependent on renal mechanisms. In fact, almost all monogenic forms of HTN are driven by rare mutations in genes involved in salt handling in the distal nephron. It is therefore crucial to understand kidney DNA methylation changes that may drive gene expression in kidney and lead to HTN. Hypothesis: The central hypothesis underpinning this PhD thesis is that alterations in kidney specific DNA methylation plays a fundamental role in modulating gene expression changes involved in the regulation of BP and pathophysiology of EH. Aims: This PhD thesis focuses on characterising the role of DNA methylation in the hypertensive kidney using array and RNA-sequencing methods. Three major aims are addressed: • Aim 1: To characterise blood and kidney global DNA methylation dynamics and its functional role in the hypertensive population (Chapter 3). • Aim 2: To determine the role of genome-wide, loci specific DNA methylation in the hypertensive human kidney (Chapter 4). • Aim 3: To understand the relationship between DNA methylation and differential expression of genes associated with BP and HTN in the human kidney (Chapter 5). Results: In Aim 1 global DNA methylation changes were characterised in peripheral blood leukocyte and kidney DNA of the hypertensive (HT) population using he ELISA method. We found no association between HTN diagnosis and global methylation percentage in either peripheral blood leukocytes or kidney DNA. However, a negative correlation was found between global methylation and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), yet this relationship was not evident after adjustment for the effect of antihypertensive medication. Furthermore, we investigated the sensitivity of ELISA-based global methylation detection by calculating the percentage of global methylation in kidney using array based methods; the results were similar, demonstrating no association between HTN diagnosis and median kidney methylation
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Wise, Ingrid
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a complex, multifactorial, quantitative trait under polygenic control that affects more than one billion people globally. Despite advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of HTN and the implementation of more effective treatment and prevention strategies, HTN remains one of the world’s great public health problems. The accepted inference from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is that the genetic code lays the foundation for transcriptomic changes and in turn physiological change. On the other side of the coin, environmental factors (smoking, diet, chemical exposure) can in turn affect DNA itself in genes relevant to blood pressure (BP). Variation in epigenetic forms of modification may thus explain additional phenotypic variation in BP and provide new clues to the physiological processes influencing its regulation. DNA methylation is one of these epigenetic mechanisms responsible for changes to gene expression, activated by interaction with environmental triggers. DNA methylation is a reversible epigenetic modifier of specific dinucleotide sites called CpGs, which consists of a transfer of a methyl group derived from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to position five of a cytosine ring, forming 5mC. Pathophysiologically, the kidney is known as the key organ of BP regulation and one of the most important contributors to HTN. According to the hypothesis put forward by Guyton, over 40 years ago, the control of BP in the steady-state and longer-term is critically dependent on renal mechanisms. In fact, almost all monogenic forms of HTN are driven by rare mutations in genes involved in salt handling in the distal nephron. It is therefore crucial to understand kidney DNA methylation changes that may drive gene expression in kidney and lead to HTN. Hypothesis: The central hypothesis underpinning this PhD thesis is that alterations in kidney specific DNA methylation plays a fundamental role in modulating gene expression changes involved in the regulation of BP and pathophysiology of EH. Aims: This PhD thesis focuses on characterising the role of DNA methylation in the hypertensive kidney using array and RNA-sequencing methods. Three major aims are addressed: • Aim 1: To characterise blood and kidney global DNA methylation dynamics and its functional role in the hypertensive population (Chapter 3). • Aim 2: To determine the role of genome-wide, loci specific DNA methylation in the hypertensive human kidney (Chapter 4). • Aim 3: To understand the relationship between DNA methylation and differential expression of genes associated with BP and HTN in the human kidney (Chapter 5). Results: In Aim 1 global DNA methylation changes were characterised in peripheral blood leukocyte and kidney DNA of the hypertensive (HT) population using he ELISA method. We found no association between HTN diagnosis and global methylation percentage in either peripheral blood leukocytes or kidney DNA. However, a negative correlation was found between global methylation and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), yet this relationship was not evident after adjustment for the effect of antihypertensive medication. Furthermore, we investigated the sensitivity of ELISA-based global methylation detection by calculating the percentage of global methylation in kidney using array based methods; the results were similar, demonstrating no association between HTN diagnosis and median kidney methylation
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
First World War Avenues of Honour : Social history through the landscape
- Authors: Taffe, Michael
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis argues that avenues of honour were the first choice of memorial to the Great War created by Australians. Despite not being the first such avenue, the thesis argues that, by virtue of the massive amount of publicity it brought to focus on this form of memorial, the Ballarat Avenue of Honour was a significant cultural statement by Australians during the Great War. The Ballarat Avenue of Honour was inspirational and pivotal to the establishment of a movement that saw similar memorial avenues planted throughout Australia and also in the U.S.A., U.K., Canada and New Zealand. Using examples from municipal council minutes, correspondence and newspaper reports the spread of this form of memorial is followed from its infancy in South Australia through the Ballarat experience to Britain, North America and New Zealand. Following Australia‘s first plantings in 1915, there was a groundswell from many communities throughout Australia who adopted this form of memorialisation. Australian communities took control of their own need to honour their heroes, their local volunteers, in avenue of honour plantings. Following the example of Ballarat after 1917, this desire to plant memorial avenues became a movement. Examples of the growth of this memorial movement, while government aimed to control spending by curtailing ‗waste‘ on memorials, are outlined and analysed. The thesis also examines the symbolism of avenues against the perceived superior ‗worthiness‘ of later built memorials. By the time the movement declined in Australia, other countries were continued to plant avenues. The diminution, and eventual fall, from memory of many of these heritage landscapes is explored as a part of the politics of identity. In examining the arguments, the links between Ballarat‘s avenue and others throughout Australia, the respective Commonwealth countries as well as the U.S.A. are developed.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Taffe, Michael
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis argues that avenues of honour were the first choice of memorial to the Great War created by Australians. Despite not being the first such avenue, the thesis argues that, by virtue of the massive amount of publicity it brought to focus on this form of memorial, the Ballarat Avenue of Honour was a significant cultural statement by Australians during the Great War. The Ballarat Avenue of Honour was inspirational and pivotal to the establishment of a movement that saw similar memorial avenues planted throughout Australia and also in the U.S.A., U.K., Canada and New Zealand. Using examples from municipal council minutes, correspondence and newspaper reports the spread of this form of memorial is followed from its infancy in South Australia through the Ballarat experience to Britain, North America and New Zealand. Following Australia‘s first plantings in 1915, there was a groundswell from many communities throughout Australia who adopted this form of memorialisation. Australian communities took control of their own need to honour their heroes, their local volunteers, in avenue of honour plantings. Following the example of Ballarat after 1917, this desire to plant memorial avenues became a movement. Examples of the growth of this memorial movement, while government aimed to control spending by curtailing ‗waste‘ on memorials, are outlined and analysed. The thesis also examines the symbolism of avenues against the perceived superior ‗worthiness‘ of later built memorials. By the time the movement declined in Australia, other countries were continued to plant avenues. The diminution, and eventual fall, from memory of many of these heritage landscapes is explored as a part of the politics of identity. In examining the arguments, the links between Ballarat‘s avenue and others throughout Australia, the respective Commonwealth countries as well as the U.S.A. are developed.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry analysis of volatile organic compounds from cancer cell cultures - The effect of hypoxia
- Authors: Kalluri, Usha
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Early diagnosis of lung cancer improves patient outcomes which has led to a search for non-invasive diagnostic tests suitable for population screening. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath have shown potential, however, confirmation of the metabolic origins and disease specificity of candidate markers is required. Cell culture metabolomics can identify disease biomarkers and their origins. To date VOC profiles from in vitro cultured cancer cells have little similarity to cancer breath VOC profiles. In vivo, cancer cells experience hypoxia whereas in vitro cells are cultured under normoxic conditions. Since hypoxia influences cell metabolism, we hypothesize that cancer cells cultured under hypoxic conditions will have altered cell metabolism and produce VOC profiles more typical of cancer breathe. This study investigates the effect of hypoxia on metabolic reprogramming in A549 lung cancer cells cultured under standard normoxic (atmospheric oxygen) or hypoxic (2% oxygen) conditions. Results from quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated a significant upregulation in hypoxia of the glucose transporter (GLUT1) and the key TCA regulatory gene PDHK1, demonstrating that hypoxia plays a pivotal role in regulating metabolism in A549 cells. A ratio-metric assessment of Lipid Peroxidation (LPO) and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) showed an increase in LPO and a slight decrease in the production of ROS in hypoxic cultures, the combined effect of which may serve to equip the cells to adapt to and proliferate under low oxygen. Finally, the comparison of endogenous VOCs produced by A549 cells under hypoxic and normoxic conditions identified twelve VOCs unique to cells grown under hypoxic conditions including n-pentane, a marker of LPO and cancer, and 3-methyl hexane, which has been reported as a biomarker of cancer. This data is consistent with the hypothesis that a hypoxic tumour microenvironment may influence cell metabolism leading to a unique and diagnostic cancer VOC profile.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Kalluri, Usha
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Early diagnosis of lung cancer improves patient outcomes which has led to a search for non-invasive diagnostic tests suitable for population screening. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath have shown potential, however, confirmation of the metabolic origins and disease specificity of candidate markers is required. Cell culture metabolomics can identify disease biomarkers and their origins. To date VOC profiles from in vitro cultured cancer cells have little similarity to cancer breath VOC profiles. In vivo, cancer cells experience hypoxia whereas in vitro cells are cultured under normoxic conditions. Since hypoxia influences cell metabolism, we hypothesize that cancer cells cultured under hypoxic conditions will have altered cell metabolism and produce VOC profiles more typical of cancer breathe. This study investigates the effect of hypoxia on metabolic reprogramming in A549 lung cancer cells cultured under standard normoxic (atmospheric oxygen) or hypoxic (2% oxygen) conditions. Results from quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated a significant upregulation in hypoxia of the glucose transporter (GLUT1) and the key TCA regulatory gene PDHK1, demonstrating that hypoxia plays a pivotal role in regulating metabolism in A549 cells. A ratio-metric assessment of Lipid Peroxidation (LPO) and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) showed an increase in LPO and a slight decrease in the production of ROS in hypoxic cultures, the combined effect of which may serve to equip the cells to adapt to and proliferate under low oxygen. Finally, the comparison of endogenous VOCs produced by A549 cells under hypoxic and normoxic conditions identified twelve VOCs unique to cells grown under hypoxic conditions including n-pentane, a marker of LPO and cancer, and 3-methyl hexane, which has been reported as a biomarker of cancer. This data is consistent with the hypothesis that a hypoxic tumour microenvironment may influence cell metabolism leading to a unique and diagnostic cancer VOC profile.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Investigating the impact of participation in alternative education from a positive youth development perspective : A case study of the School for Student Leadership
- Authors: Joyce, Susan
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The School for Student Leadership (SSL) has existed since 2001 as an alternative residential educational setting for Year 9 students in Victoria, Australia. It was designed in response to growing calls for more effective ways of engaging middle school students. A review of the literature illustrated a dearth of research regarding alternative programs and schools, particularly from a positive youth development (PYD) perspective, and relating to long term effects of participation. This study investigated student participants’ perceived development in relation to the Five Cs - Confidence, Competence, Character, Connection and Care, concepts derived from the framework of PYD. It also examined differences in perceptions of students attending a shorter five-week program, compared to the standard nine-week program, as well as differences between male and female participants. This case study was undertaken utilising a mixed methods approach, using pre and post program surveys and interviews. Between 2013 and 2014, 385 students were surveyed and 58 interviews conducted over nine program offerings. The participants were then followed up one year post program, with 172 surveys returned and 14 interviews conducted. With the assistance of computer software programs, both the quantitative and qualitative data was analysed and then triangulated to form the findings. Participants’ ratings for each of the Five Cs were higher at the end of the program, and effect sizes, though generally small, when combined with the qualitative data indicated the program as having a significant positive impact, although this diminished slightly one year post program. Little discernible difference was found between the five- and the nine-week programs, and only slight differences between the two genders. The set of recommendations that emanated from this research should be of assistance for both the SSL and other schools, particularly in relation to enhancing attributes such as the Five Cs.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Joyce, Susan
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The School for Student Leadership (SSL) has existed since 2001 as an alternative residential educational setting for Year 9 students in Victoria, Australia. It was designed in response to growing calls for more effective ways of engaging middle school students. A review of the literature illustrated a dearth of research regarding alternative programs and schools, particularly from a positive youth development (PYD) perspective, and relating to long term effects of participation. This study investigated student participants’ perceived development in relation to the Five Cs - Confidence, Competence, Character, Connection and Care, concepts derived from the framework of PYD. It also examined differences in perceptions of students attending a shorter five-week program, compared to the standard nine-week program, as well as differences between male and female participants. This case study was undertaken utilising a mixed methods approach, using pre and post program surveys and interviews. Between 2013 and 2014, 385 students were surveyed and 58 interviews conducted over nine program offerings. The participants were then followed up one year post program, with 172 surveys returned and 14 interviews conducted. With the assistance of computer software programs, both the quantitative and qualitative data was analysed and then triangulated to form the findings. Participants’ ratings for each of the Five Cs were higher at the end of the program, and effect sizes, though generally small, when combined with the qualitative data indicated the program as having a significant positive impact, although this diminished slightly one year post program. Little discernible difference was found between the five- and the nine-week programs, and only slight differences between the two genders. The set of recommendations that emanated from this research should be of assistance for both the SSL and other schools, particularly in relation to enhancing attributes such as the Five Cs.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Ranjbar Pouya, Kaveh
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Coode Island Silt (CIS) is one of the predominant geological units in Melbourne, Australia. Having high compressibility and low shear strength, CIS is considered a problematic soft soil that challenges the construction of infrastructure in the region. To tackle such challenges, one practical approach is the application of ground improvement techniques such as in situ soil mixing. This PhD study focuses on the application of Cutter Soil Mixing (CSM) for the construction of excavation retaining walls in CIS. Although cement is widely used in most CSM projects, this study investigates the suitability of different lime types available in the Australian market as a potential alternative to cement for the stabilisation of CIS. To investigate the effect of lime stabilisation, a comprehensive geotechnical characterisation of untreated and lime treated CIS is performed. Four different lime types are used: agricultural lime, quicklime, hydrated lime and slag lime. Based on the results obtained from strength tests, slag lime was found to be the most effective among the four types that were tested. The optimum slag lime to CIS ratio is then found for the construction of retaining walls in CIS. Having the geotechnical characterisation of untreated and treated CIS from the laboratory experiments, a series of two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) analyses were conducted to investigate the applicability and reliability of the selected mixing ratio for the construction of CSM excavation retaining walls in CIS. A nonlinear constitutive soil model was employed, calibrated and verified to be used in FEM analyses to investigate both the stability factor of safety and excavation-induced deformations. The results obtained for both undrained and fully coupled flow deformation analyses prove that CSM panels can be constructed by mixing slag lime and CIS to act as retaining walls to allow for deep excavation in CIS.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Negotiating policy - renegotiating practice : Understanding language, literacy and numeracy teachers' professional identities within discursive weather systems
- Authors: Krusche, Julianne
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines the professional identities of teachers in light of Australian vocational educational policy reform since the late 1980s. Although the reform has been national, this study is located within Victoria. It is specifically interested in the professional identities of Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) teachers who work within the Vocational Education and Training sector. This study brings the voices of LLN specialists to the forefront. Poststructural theory, with particular emphasis on the work of Michel Foucault and narrative inquiry, is used to make sense of these voices, collectively known as the ‘voice of practice’. This study treats professional identity as a multiple term encompassing a range of assigned roles and chosen identities; as such, it argues that professional identity should be seen as fluid and dynamic and as something that continues to evolve. The teachers involved in this study actively negotiated various discourses related to the shaping of professional identity. The effects of this were threefold: LLN teachers ascribed to certain identity positions in line with government policy and institute directives; they preserved other identities; and they forged new identities based on opportunism and a resistance to policy discourse. While there has been a decline in the Adult and Community Education voice in policy development, within practice, this study found that teachers have retained a voice through the maintenance and creation of teaching practices that sit outside policy. Further, this study found that although numerous stakeholders invest in the provision of LLN, it is learners who hold a lot of the power; indeed, the needs of learners, feedback from learners and their transformative learning experiences are the primary drivers in teacher motivation and identity. Finally, this study found a misalignment between policy discourse and the voice of practice that requires attention if LLN policies are to be successfully implemented.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Krusche, Julianne
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines the professional identities of teachers in light of Australian vocational educational policy reform since the late 1980s. Although the reform has been national, this study is located within Victoria. It is specifically interested in the professional identities of Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) teachers who work within the Vocational Education and Training sector. This study brings the voices of LLN specialists to the forefront. Poststructural theory, with particular emphasis on the work of Michel Foucault and narrative inquiry, is used to make sense of these voices, collectively known as the ‘voice of practice’. This study treats professional identity as a multiple term encompassing a range of assigned roles and chosen identities; as such, it argues that professional identity should be seen as fluid and dynamic and as something that continues to evolve. The teachers involved in this study actively negotiated various discourses related to the shaping of professional identity. The effects of this were threefold: LLN teachers ascribed to certain identity positions in line with government policy and institute directives; they preserved other identities; and they forged new identities based on opportunism and a resistance to policy discourse. While there has been a decline in the Adult and Community Education voice in policy development, within practice, this study found that teachers have retained a voice through the maintenance and creation of teaching practices that sit outside policy. Further, this study found that although numerous stakeholders invest in the provision of LLN, it is learners who hold a lot of the power; indeed, the needs of learners, feedback from learners and their transformative learning experiences are the primary drivers in teacher motivation and identity. Finally, this study found a misalignment between policy discourse and the voice of practice that requires attention if LLN policies are to be successfully implemented.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Of railways, wine and flowers : A biography of George William Knight
- Authors: Hunter, Robyn
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The title page photograph
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Hunter, Robyn
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The title page photograph
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Physical activity promotion in physiotherapy practice
- Authors: Kunstler, Breanne
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Australian physiotherapists promote non-treatment physical activity, which is physical activity used to improve or maintain general health, to patients with musculoskeletal conditions. However, it is unclear how physiotherapists promote non-treatment physical activity and the behaviour change techniques they use to do this. This thesis used four studies to: (i) review the efficacy of physiotherapist-led physical activity interventions; (ii) investigate the factors that influence physiotherapists’ choice to promote non-treatment physical activity; and (iii) identify the behaviour change techniques that private practice and outpatient physiotherapists use to promote non-treatment physical activity. Two systematic reviews identified that physiotherapist-led physical activity interventions are efficacious. However, effects were small and not maintained. Additionally, physiotherapists only used a small number of behaviour change techniques when promoting physical activity. National survey and interview studies were used to identify the factors that influence physiotherapists’ choice to promote non-treatment physical activity. The survey found that having poor knowledge of how to promote non-treatment physical activity, prioritising other patient problems before non-treatment physical activity and using promotion methods that were not compatible with daily practice significantly and independently reduced the odds of physiotherapists promoting non-treatment physical activity. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to design interviews that showed that having a perceived inability to motivate an unmotivated patient and believing that patients expect hands-on therapy instead of non-treatment physical activity promotion complicated treatment choices. The behaviour change techniques Australian physiotherapists used to promote non-treatment physical activity were compared to those used to encourage adherence to rehabilitation exercises in the survey too. The survey found that physiotherapists used similar behaviour change techniques to promote non-treatment physical activity and encourage adherence to rehabilitation exercises. This thesis provides clinicians and researchers with an understanding of the factors that influence Australian physiotherapists’ decision to promote non-treatment physical activity and the behaviour change techniques they use.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Kunstler, Breanne
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Australian physiotherapists promote non-treatment physical activity, which is physical activity used to improve or maintain general health, to patients with musculoskeletal conditions. However, it is unclear how physiotherapists promote non-treatment physical activity and the behaviour change techniques they use to do this. This thesis used four studies to: (i) review the efficacy of physiotherapist-led physical activity interventions; (ii) investigate the factors that influence physiotherapists’ choice to promote non-treatment physical activity; and (iii) identify the behaviour change techniques that private practice and outpatient physiotherapists use to promote non-treatment physical activity. Two systematic reviews identified that physiotherapist-led physical activity interventions are efficacious. However, effects were small and not maintained. Additionally, physiotherapists only used a small number of behaviour change techniques when promoting physical activity. National survey and interview studies were used to identify the factors that influence physiotherapists’ choice to promote non-treatment physical activity. The survey found that having poor knowledge of how to promote non-treatment physical activity, prioritising other patient problems before non-treatment physical activity and using promotion methods that were not compatible with daily practice significantly and independently reduced the odds of physiotherapists promoting non-treatment physical activity. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to design interviews that showed that having a perceived inability to motivate an unmotivated patient and believing that patients expect hands-on therapy instead of non-treatment physical activity promotion complicated treatment choices. The behaviour change techniques Australian physiotherapists used to promote non-treatment physical activity were compared to those used to encourage adherence to rehabilitation exercises in the survey too. The survey found that physiotherapists used similar behaviour change techniques to promote non-treatment physical activity and encourage adherence to rehabilitation exercises. This thesis provides clinicians and researchers with an understanding of the factors that influence Australian physiotherapists’ decision to promote non-treatment physical activity and the behaviour change techniques they use.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Spatial epidemiological investigation of sport and leisure injuries in Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Singh, Himalaya
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Sport and leisure injuries are recognised as a public health issue in Australia. Despite the many health benefits associated with sport and leisure participation, there is a risk of sustaining injury during participation. To keep Australia active, there is a critical need to prevent injury occurrence. Epidemiological investigations in sport and leisure injuries have been largely examined by grouping of sports, age groups, sex and level of play. In addition, intrinsic (person-level) factors have been considered, such as strength, flexibility or previous injury history. These factors may not be sufficient to identify injury burden or prevent an increase in injury incidences. In the broader injury literature (e.g., road traffic crashes or drowning), it is known that injuries often cluster within specific places (i.e., road intersections or bodies of water). These specific geographic locations may also relate to sport and leisure injuries (e.g., sports grounds or facilities). Similarly, population-level factors such as socio-economic status or cultural groups within an area could influence the types of sports and leisure activities people participate in and consequently, the injuries that occur. A review presented in this PhD thesis revealed that there is very limited sport and leisure injury epidemiological information from a geographical perspective. To address this gap, and determine whether there is a spatial pattern in sport/leisure injuries, the aim of this PhD was to examine the geospatial distribution of sport/leisure injury hospitalisations and their association with a broad range of social and economic characteristics. This thesis uses spatial epidemiological methods to answer questions such as ‘Where do sports and leisure injuries occur?’ and ‘In whom do sports/leisure injuries occur?’ The main chapters present the results of the application of spatial epidemiological methods to describe the problem, to test hypotheses and to explore associations with possible explanatory variables. The findings showed a significant variation across metropolitan, regional and rural areas in the pattern and clustering of injuries when examining different sports, age groups and other variables such as education level. A secondary aim of this thesis was to consider the dissemination of sport and injury epidemiological data. As emphasised in the literature, there is limited spatial epidemiological information available to decision-makers and key stakeholders. At best, descriptive maps might be included in a report or research paper. However, these are static and limited to the results that the author chooses to present. Therefore, an important output from this PhD is a web-GIS application that has been specifically built to enable the exploratory analysis of sport/leisure injuries in Victoria. Sport and leisure injury prevention strategies and policy development relies on information about where, when, to whom and how sport/leisure injuries occur. This thesis demonstrates that a spatial epidemiological approach is an important and novel way to address epidemiological questions from a geographical perspective.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Singh, Himalaya
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Sport and leisure injuries are recognised as a public health issue in Australia. Despite the many health benefits associated with sport and leisure participation, there is a risk of sustaining injury during participation. To keep Australia active, there is a critical need to prevent injury occurrence. Epidemiological investigations in sport and leisure injuries have been largely examined by grouping of sports, age groups, sex and level of play. In addition, intrinsic (person-level) factors have been considered, such as strength, flexibility or previous injury history. These factors may not be sufficient to identify injury burden or prevent an increase in injury incidences. In the broader injury literature (e.g., road traffic crashes or drowning), it is known that injuries often cluster within specific places (i.e., road intersections or bodies of water). These specific geographic locations may also relate to sport and leisure injuries (e.g., sports grounds or facilities). Similarly, population-level factors such as socio-economic status or cultural groups within an area could influence the types of sports and leisure activities people participate in and consequently, the injuries that occur. A review presented in this PhD thesis revealed that there is very limited sport and leisure injury epidemiological information from a geographical perspective. To address this gap, and determine whether there is a spatial pattern in sport/leisure injuries, the aim of this PhD was to examine the geospatial distribution of sport/leisure injury hospitalisations and their association with a broad range of social and economic characteristics. This thesis uses spatial epidemiological methods to answer questions such as ‘Where do sports and leisure injuries occur?’ and ‘In whom do sports/leisure injuries occur?’ The main chapters present the results of the application of spatial epidemiological methods to describe the problem, to test hypotheses and to explore associations with possible explanatory variables. The findings showed a significant variation across metropolitan, regional and rural areas in the pattern and clustering of injuries when examining different sports, age groups and other variables such as education level. A secondary aim of this thesis was to consider the dissemination of sport and injury epidemiological data. As emphasised in the literature, there is limited spatial epidemiological information available to decision-makers and key stakeholders. At best, descriptive maps might be included in a report or research paper. However, these are static and limited to the results that the author chooses to present. Therefore, an important output from this PhD is a web-GIS application that has been specifically built to enable the exploratory analysis of sport/leisure injuries in Victoria. Sport and leisure injury prevention strategies and policy development relies on information about where, when, to whom and how sport/leisure injuries occur. This thesis demonstrates that a spatial epidemiological approach is an important and novel way to address epidemiological questions from a geographical perspective.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Teachers' emotional intelligence as a predisposition for discrimiation against students with severe emotional and behavioural disorders
- Authors: Metaxas, Melinda
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Students with Emotional Behavioural Disorders (EBD) are among the most challenging students to teach. Personality Trait Theory predicts teachers’ level of Emotional Intelligence (EI) would affect their cognitive-affective-behavioural reactions towards students with EBDs, and influence level of academic achievement and difficult behaviour of these students. This research explores which teachers are more predisposed to discriminate against EBD students, and identifies the most ‘effective’, supportive EI teacher traits. Underlying psychological processes, such as genetic EI make-up of teachers, may prove to be most valuable in determining whether more practical strategies for dealing with students’ behaviour/emotions are effectively applied and successful. An Attribution Model framework helped assess teacher reactions towards students. Two hundred and sixty one teachers from 51 Victorian schools participated in the study by completing self-report questionnaires, including the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire. A quantitative survey methodology used vignettes, with each school contact person randomly giving 50/50 surveys to their teachers (depicting a student with either mild or severe EBD symptoms). Pathway analysis revealed that teachers with higher EI reported less stigmatising and punitive intentions and likely greater helping behaviours. A new EI Process Model of Stigmatisation was proposed to measure teacher reactions through an affective-cognitive-behavioural sequence, rather than a cognitive-affective-behavioural sequence. Teachers’ EI levels also related to their own levels of psychological distress and/or compassion stress, which influenced likely helping or punitive outcomes. Despite behavioural severity of EBD students, teachers higher in EI still indicate more supportive helping behaviours. Specifically-identified ‘ideal’ teacher EI traits should lead to greater helping and be psychologically beneficial to both students and teachers. These results assisted development of an assessment tool (ASET – Assessment Screen for Emotionally Intelligent Teachers), which lays a sound foundation for schools and others to profile or recruit teachers with best ‘qualities’ to effectively teach students EBD students.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Metaxas, Melinda
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Students with Emotional Behavioural Disorders (EBD) are among the most challenging students to teach. Personality Trait Theory predicts teachers’ level of Emotional Intelligence (EI) would affect their cognitive-affective-behavioural reactions towards students with EBDs, and influence level of academic achievement and difficult behaviour of these students. This research explores which teachers are more predisposed to discriminate against EBD students, and identifies the most ‘effective’, supportive EI teacher traits. Underlying psychological processes, such as genetic EI make-up of teachers, may prove to be most valuable in determining whether more practical strategies for dealing with students’ behaviour/emotions are effectively applied and successful. An Attribution Model framework helped assess teacher reactions towards students. Two hundred and sixty one teachers from 51 Victorian schools participated in the study by completing self-report questionnaires, including the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire. A quantitative survey methodology used vignettes, with each school contact person randomly giving 50/50 surveys to their teachers (depicting a student with either mild or severe EBD symptoms). Pathway analysis revealed that teachers with higher EI reported less stigmatising and punitive intentions and likely greater helping behaviours. A new EI Process Model of Stigmatisation was proposed to measure teacher reactions through an affective-cognitive-behavioural sequence, rather than a cognitive-affective-behavioural sequence. Teachers’ EI levels also related to their own levels of psychological distress and/or compassion stress, which influenced likely helping or punitive outcomes. Despite behavioural severity of EBD students, teachers higher in EI still indicate more supportive helping behaviours. Specifically-identified ‘ideal’ teacher EI traits should lead to greater helping and be psychologically beneficial to both students and teachers. These results assisted development of an assessment tool (ASET – Assessment Screen for Emotionally Intelligent Teachers), which lays a sound foundation for schools and others to profile or recruit teachers with best ‘qualities’ to effectively teach students EBD students.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Tertiary student connectedness : Intervention influence on student connectedness as measured in health and academic behaviours of regional tertiary students
- Authors: Young, Patricia
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: At a time when university student diversity is heightened and when national government regulations have shifted their quality focus from support improvements to student achievement, little is known about the mechanism of the latter. University efforts to support quality, caring interactions between students and staff, known as connectedness, are currently favoured, and this thesis examines connectedness, mood, emotional well-being and academic behaviours of commencing students at a regional Australian university. This is done through the lens of a first semester intervention, known as Tertiary Learning Communities (TLC). Drawing on existing connectedness research, across both school and university settings and guided by a whole-school framework, details of the establishment of a suitable working party, the development of survey, pilot and intervention activities, and monitoring the ability of a cross-campus intervention to influence student connectedness and behaviour markers, are highlighted to advance further understanding of the mechanics of connectedness in a university setting. The developed survey, which collected data from undergraduate students early in their first semester, effectively captured perceptions of connectedness across a broad range of sources in addition to their mood, emotional well-being and academic student behaviours. Paired sample-tests assessed connectedness changes, and chi square analysis assessed behaviour changes when comparing the experimental and control groups on two occasions. A single intervention aligned to a first year core unit to support academic and social interactions, was shown to be ineffective in enhancing student connectedness during the semester of the intervention or the semester following the intervention. However, the level of connectedness decreases measured across ‘personal’, ‘other students’ and ‘lecturers’ were indeed significant, as was the finding that connectedness decreases for intervention participants exceeded the decreases of the control group. Furthermore, mood and emotional well-being challenges and the slow emergence of academic behaviours were also revealed. These findings provided support for future inclusive student support initiatives, maintained the involvement of working party members and extended support beyond the first semester to across first year.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Young, Patricia
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: At a time when university student diversity is heightened and when national government regulations have shifted their quality focus from support improvements to student achievement, little is known about the mechanism of the latter. University efforts to support quality, caring interactions between students and staff, known as connectedness, are currently favoured, and this thesis examines connectedness, mood, emotional well-being and academic behaviours of commencing students at a regional Australian university. This is done through the lens of a first semester intervention, known as Tertiary Learning Communities (TLC). Drawing on existing connectedness research, across both school and university settings and guided by a whole-school framework, details of the establishment of a suitable working party, the development of survey, pilot and intervention activities, and monitoring the ability of a cross-campus intervention to influence student connectedness and behaviour markers, are highlighted to advance further understanding of the mechanics of connectedness in a university setting. The developed survey, which collected data from undergraduate students early in their first semester, effectively captured perceptions of connectedness across a broad range of sources in addition to their mood, emotional well-being and academic student behaviours. Paired sample-tests assessed connectedness changes, and chi square analysis assessed behaviour changes when comparing the experimental and control groups on two occasions. A single intervention aligned to a first year core unit to support academic and social interactions, was shown to be ineffective in enhancing student connectedness during the semester of the intervention or the semester following the intervention. However, the level of connectedness decreases measured across ‘personal’, ‘other students’ and ‘lecturers’ were indeed significant, as was the finding that connectedness decreases for intervention participants exceeded the decreases of the control group. Furthermore, mood and emotional well-being challenges and the slow emergence of academic behaviours were also revealed. These findings provided support for future inclusive student support initiatives, maintained the involvement of working party members and extended support beyond the first semester to across first year.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The acute effects of aerobic exercise on Leukocyte Telomere biology
- Authors: Chilton, Warrick
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The contribution of silverfish (insecta: zygentoma) to Australian invertebrate biodiversity and endemism
- Authors: Smith, Graeme
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Silverfish (Order Zygentoma) are quite abundant in Australia but have been largely overlooked. This thesis examines the biodiversity of the Australian fauna at the level of genus, describing at least one representative species from each named genus and some new genera. The endemism of the fauna is evaluated and likely zoogeographic origins proposed. Over 4000 specimens were examined, either collected by the author, borrowed from or examined within museum collections or supplied by organisations and individuals conducting fauna surveys. Twenty- seven new native species are described and two redescribed, bringing the number of named species recorded in Australia to 74. Five new genera are described and four additional genera recorded in Australia for the first time including autochthonous representatives of three subfamilies previously unrecognised as native to Australia (Acrotelsatinae, Lepismatinae and Coletiniinae). No representatives of the families Maindroniidae, Tricholepidiidae and Protrinemuridae were found. The subfamily Acrotelsatinae was redefined following a revision of the enigmatic genus Anisolepisma Paclt, 1967 with the unique structure of the thoracic sterna identified as diagnostic for the subfamily. Contrary to existing opinion, it is suggested that this is a fundamentally different and plesiomorphic character, rather than an apomorphic reduction of the free thoracic sterna. A monograph of the Australian Zygentoma is presented, including a summary of the biology of the order, a key to and diagnoses of the genera, as well as information on the known habitat and distribution of each genus and a discussion of their zoogeography. At the suprageneric level the fauna is less diverse than seen in other zoogeographic regions but appears to be rich in the number of species. The fauna displays a high degree of endemism with 91% of described species and 52% of the genera known only from Australia. Some genera appear to be ancient and probably represent a Pangean element in the Australian fauna. Others appear to have emerged in the late Jurassic when Africa was still joined to Gondwana, while some may have appeared in the Cretaceous or Palaeocene when Australia and South America were connected to Gondwana. More recent links with the Asian fauna are limited and there appears to be no widespread highly mobile global species other than the six introduced anthropophilic species. Maps of the worldwide distribution records extracted from the taxonomic literature are used to discuss the zoogeography of the subfamilies and tribes present in Australia. Molecular data using two mitochondrial genes (16S and COI) as well as a nuclear gene (28S) were compared with detailed morphological and morphometric analysis to examine populations initially determined as Heterolepisma sclerophylla or close to it. Distances of 0.9– 1.8% or greater in 28S, and 7.2–14% in COI were associated with morphologically distinct species. A southern Queensland population was found to be genetically, morphometrically and morphologically very distinct from those collected in NSW and was described as new (Heterolepisma sp. B). Six well-defined barcode clusters (“lineages”) were identified within the NSW populations, each with >4% divergence in COI sequences and each geographically restricted. Intracluster divergences are also large, and despite the well-supported phylogeny no clear “barcode gap” (distinction between intracluster and intercluster distances) was found for three of the six NSW populations. The 28S data distinguished only four of the six COI clusters from NSW with essentially no variation within each cluster. The 28S data generally aligned well with morphological evidence, clearly identifying Heterolepisma sp. B as a distinct species, and supporting also the description of Heterolepisma sp. A even though it only appears to differ from H. sclerophylla in the number of styli. Similar genetic distances are observed in 28S data for H. sclerophylla populations from North Nowra, Glenbrook/Burralow/Nattai and Megalong, however the Broulee and Wellington populations have identical 28S sequences. The low levels of variation in 28S sequences between NSW populations accord with the lack of unambiguous morphological differences.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Smith, Graeme
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Silverfish (Order Zygentoma) are quite abundant in Australia but have been largely overlooked. This thesis examines the biodiversity of the Australian fauna at the level of genus, describing at least one representative species from each named genus and some new genera. The endemism of the fauna is evaluated and likely zoogeographic origins proposed. Over 4000 specimens were examined, either collected by the author, borrowed from or examined within museum collections or supplied by organisations and individuals conducting fauna surveys. Twenty- seven new native species are described and two redescribed, bringing the number of named species recorded in Australia to 74. Five new genera are described and four additional genera recorded in Australia for the first time including autochthonous representatives of three subfamilies previously unrecognised as native to Australia (Acrotelsatinae, Lepismatinae and Coletiniinae). No representatives of the families Maindroniidae, Tricholepidiidae and Protrinemuridae were found. The subfamily Acrotelsatinae was redefined following a revision of the enigmatic genus Anisolepisma Paclt, 1967 with the unique structure of the thoracic sterna identified as diagnostic for the subfamily. Contrary to existing opinion, it is suggested that this is a fundamentally different and plesiomorphic character, rather than an apomorphic reduction of the free thoracic sterna. A monograph of the Australian Zygentoma is presented, including a summary of the biology of the order, a key to and diagnoses of the genera, as well as information on the known habitat and distribution of each genus and a discussion of their zoogeography. At the suprageneric level the fauna is less diverse than seen in other zoogeographic regions but appears to be rich in the number of species. The fauna displays a high degree of endemism with 91% of described species and 52% of the genera known only from Australia. Some genera appear to be ancient and probably represent a Pangean element in the Australian fauna. Others appear to have emerged in the late Jurassic when Africa was still joined to Gondwana, while some may have appeared in the Cretaceous or Palaeocene when Australia and South America were connected to Gondwana. More recent links with the Asian fauna are limited and there appears to be no widespread highly mobile global species other than the six introduced anthropophilic species. Maps of the worldwide distribution records extracted from the taxonomic literature are used to discuss the zoogeography of the subfamilies and tribes present in Australia. Molecular data using two mitochondrial genes (16S and COI) as well as a nuclear gene (28S) were compared with detailed morphological and morphometric analysis to examine populations initially determined as Heterolepisma sclerophylla or close to it. Distances of 0.9– 1.8% or greater in 28S, and 7.2–14% in COI were associated with morphologically distinct species. A southern Queensland population was found to be genetically, morphometrically and morphologically very distinct from those collected in NSW and was described as new (Heterolepisma sp. B). Six well-defined barcode clusters (“lineages”) were identified within the NSW populations, each with >4% divergence in COI sequences and each geographically restricted. Intracluster divergences are also large, and despite the well-supported phylogeny no clear “barcode gap” (distinction between intracluster and intercluster distances) was found for three of the six NSW populations. The 28S data distinguished only four of the six COI clusters from NSW with essentially no variation within each cluster. The 28S data generally aligned well with morphological evidence, clearly identifying Heterolepisma sp. B as a distinct species, and supporting also the description of Heterolepisma sp. A even though it only appears to differ from H. sclerophylla in the number of styli. Similar genetic distances are observed in 28S data for H. sclerophylla populations from North Nowra, Glenbrook/Burralow/Nattai and Megalong, however the Broulee and Wellington populations have identical 28S sequences. The low levels of variation in 28S sequences between NSW populations accord with the lack of unambiguous morphological differences.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy