An experimental investigation of flow fields generated by extraction hoods in local exhaust ventilation / by Wilhelmus (Bill) Joost Vermeend
- Authors: Vermeend, Wilhelmus (Bill)
- Date: 1994
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The researcher investigated the effectiveness of exhaust hoods in controlling toxic contaminants and dust. Computer programs were used to measure velocities around the captor hoods.
- Description: Doctor of Philosphy
Different contexts of physical activity in relation to children's self-concept
- Authors: Jiang, Xiaoli
- Date: 1996
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "This study investigates children's self-concept in relation to the quality of school physical education and sports programs, the teaching by physical education specialists and participation in extra curricular sport activities."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Breaking the safety barrier : engineering new paradigms in safety design
- Authors: Culvenor, John
- Date: 1997
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Occupational health and safety legislation in Australia and internationally is based on the safe place concept and the hierarchy of control. A safe place is best achieved at the design stage and consequently the education of engineers in safety has been a priority. There have been notable efforts at the integration of safety with engineering studies, and this should be an ongoing objective, however extensive integration is likely to be difficult at least in the short term. The challenge was to develop a supplemental, innovative way to improve the ability of engineers to develop safe place solutions. The hypothesis was that training in creative thinking would achieve this aim. The hierarchy of control methodology shares a strong relationship with creative thinking. Safe place thinking challenges assumptions in the same way that creative thinking seeks to escape dominant paradigms. For this reason creative thinking seems a natural aid to the safe place approach. This study tested the effect on safety design of a creative thinking program; de Bono’s six thinking hats method. Given a recognition that groups other than engineers impact on workplace design, a range of subjects were included; engineering students, technology students, industry safety advisers, and government safety advisers. In response to safety case studies, subjects were required to generate solutions and to prioritize potential solutions. Subjects worked on a range of problems, some individually and some in teams of three. Results show that training in creative thinking improved the generation of solutions to safety problems. As the number of solutions increased, the average quality of ideas was maintained, therefore the increased number of solutions was accompanied by a similar increase in good quality safe place solutions. The results also showed in some instances the training improved the prioritization of solutions according to the safe place methodology. The effects were of a similar magnitude for individuals and teams. Creative thinking training was shown to be a useful way to enhance the generation of safe place solutions to safety problems. Given that creative thinking skills can theoretically be applied to any area of problem solving, the enhancement of these skills are likely to yield wider benefits. Furthermore the enhancement of creative thinking accords well with the current industrial mandates for improved innovation.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Video compression using a region-based motion model
- Authors: Baker, Matthew
- Date: 1997
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Analysis and methods in nonsmooth and nonconvex optimization
- Authors: Xu, Huifu
- Date: 1998
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "The purpose of this thesis is to propose, by a variety of techniques from nonsmooth and convex analysis, numerical methods for the solution of nonsmooth equations and nonconvex minimization problems arising in mathematical programming, economics, engineering, and sciences."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Composition and ecology of the flora and fauna of remnant native grasslands of the western basalt plains and northern plains of Victoria : implications for management on private property
- Authors: Hadden, Susan A.
- Date: 1998
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "This thesis investigated a) the effects of the removal of grazing on the botanical composition, structure and biomass of two long-grazed species-rich grassland remnants, b) the habitat use and requirements of the ground-dwelling mammal, reptile and amphibian fauna and c) the composition, and abundance of the beetle, ant and spider assemblages."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A study of recovery and separation of heavy metal ions from waste solutions using precipitate flotation
- Authors: Ren, Xiang (Sean)
- Date: 1999
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: An important industrial problem is the production of wastewater containing a large amount of heavy metal ions. The study described in this thesis is trying to use precipitate flotation technology to explore techniques for not only removing heavy metal ions from the solution, but also selectively separating them to recycle of the recoyered metal value from industry wastewater. Zinc and copper hydroxide precipitation and flotation behaviour have been studied. lt shows that it is almost impossible to separate copper and zinc ion using hydroxide precipitate flotation when the solution contains Fe3+ or Al3+ ions. The influence of additional ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+, and other electrolytes on the flotation and separation have been studied. DLVO theory has been used to explain the mechanisms occurring in the process. A new process, named "self-carrier" precipitate flotation us~g anionic surfactants, has been developed to improve the flotation recovery and reduce the consumption of collector. The mechanism of the process is discussed in detail with reference to data collected from Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Zeta Potential Measurement. The xanthates are the most commonly used class of sulphide mineral collectors. This study investigated the copper sulphide precipitate reactions and the aggregation behaviour, the influence of oxidation, additional ions etc., and successfully used xanthate to float the sulphide precipitates. The mechanisms occurring in this process have been discussed. The investigation of the sulphide precipitate flotation behavior using a cationic collector has also been carried out to discover the possibility of copper and zinc separation. An important application of this study is the flotation and separation of copper and zinc ions from industry wastewater. The tailing wastewater from a mineral processing plant, Woodlawn Mines (N.S.W., Australia), which contains high concentrations of harmful heavy metal ions was used to test the flotation and separation of the heavy metal ions. Both xanthate and cationic collectors have been investigated for the flotation separation. Effective separation has been achieved .
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
An investigation into commercially feasible applications of ellagic acid and its derivatives
- Authors: Przewloka, Simon
- Date: 1999
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "Significant quantities of ellagic acid and its metal salts, in the form of waste byproducts, are readily available from both the pulping and tanning industries should a feasible commercial use for the acid (1) be found. The purpose of this work was to prepare key derivatives of ellagic acid and assess their feasibilty for use on a commercial scale. To accomplish this, it was first necessary to prepare ellagic acid in high yield."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Between the public and personal voices : discourses and meanings of quality teaching in higher
- Authors: Crebbin, Wendy
- Date: 1999
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "This thesis is an analysis of the construction of, and contestation over, meanings about quality teaching in higher education in Ausralia, during the period 1992-1996."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Efficient data structures for modelling the combination of three-dimensional DTM and CAS data
- Authors: Warren Walker, Lloyd
- Date: 1999
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "The overall aim of this research is to develop efficient data structures, algorithms and techniques that can be used to model the combination of artificial structures and realistic terrain."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Estimation of population using satellite imagery
- Authors: Harvey, Jack
- Date: 1999
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The basic aims of this research were twofold; to extend and refine statistical image analysis methodologies for directly estimating small area populations and population densities from Landsat TM images and to validate procedures developed and to explore their robustness to geographical and seasonal differences within Australia, and hence to explore the potential of this methodology to provide a genuine operational alternative to existing methods of population estimation."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Using narrative strategies in contemporary figurative painting
- Authors: Coutts, Maryanne
- Date: 1999
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "This project applies an analysis of narrative, its elements, strategies and devices to figurative painting within the practical project of producing visual narrative fiction."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A region-based progressive image compression technique : RePic
- Authors: Bell, Daniel
- Date: 2000
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "This thesis is concerned with the development of RePIC, a new method for the representation and compression of images in such a way that allows the image to be progressively reconstructed."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Economic modelling of countries in transition and artificial intelligence applications to economic
- Authors: Veliev, Raoul
- Date: 2000
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: The basic aims of this research were twofold. Firstly to develop a new macroeconomic model, which was aimed at capturing particularities of countries in transition and the case study was the economy of Azerbaijan. Secondly several methods of artificial intelligence data mining were developed and applied to economic modelling.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Exercise-induced hypervolemia : mechanisms and regulation
- Authors: O'Brien, Brendan
- Date: 2000
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "The primary purpose of this dissertation is to elucidate the mechanisms and sources of fluid contributing to exercise-induced hypervolemia. The second aim is to identify changes in blood volume regulation that act to retain this fluid in the vascular space. A final aim is to identify the mechanisms responsible for inducing training bradycardia".
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The reading/spelling connection : case studies of readers and spellers
- Authors: O'Brien, Terence
- Date: 2000
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "The thesis argues that reading and spelling are interdependent and complex processes, and that "good" readers. but "poor" spellers, read in ways which do not assist in their developing spelling repertoires: their reading behaviours contribute to overall text meanings wihout contributing to individual word knowledge. As well, their writing behaviours do not allow for this knowledge to be used, practised, or displayed."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The Rhetoric and reality of client education within a nursing context
- Authors: Moore, Heather
- Date: 2000
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "Client education undertaken by nurses, its content, delivery, and focus on health outcomes provided the direction for this study".
- Description: Doctor of Philosphy
Global minimization of some classes of generalized convex functions
- Authors: Andramonov, Mikhail
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: "A number of methods of global optimization are proposed and their convergence is proved"
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Organic matter dynamics in willow and eucalypt lined central Victorian streams
- Authors: Wilson, Michael
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The spread of exotic willows (Salix spp.) in SE Australia, New Zealand and South Africa has provoked widespread debate in scientific, management and broader communities. In Australia, the extent of spread is unknown, but at least 30000 km of river frontage in Victoria are lined by willows. Management and research literature has identified the poor knowledge of willow impacts on Southern Hemisphere aquatic ecosystems. It has been speculated that the major distinction between deciduous willows and evergreen native vegetation will be the timing and quality of litterfall. This would have flow-on consequences for metabolic processes, stream biota and water quality at reach, stream and catchment scales. These two vegetation types were studied through the preparation of partial organic matter budgets for native and willow lined reaches in a central Victorian catchment. Organic matter inputs from litter, groundwater and gross primary production (GPP), organic matter standing crop . and respiratory output were quantified. Total inputs to willow and native reaches were similar (735 and 764 g ash free dry weight m•' yl, respectively). Inputs were dominated by litterfall (-60%) and there were no significant differences in annual litterfall between sites. GPP contributed -20% of total inputs and estimates suggested there were few significant differences in annual GPP, 24 h community respiration, ratio of GPP to community respiration (PIR) or net daily metabolism (NDM) between sites. Groundwater contributed -20% of total inputs with one third of the dissolved organic matter sourced during short flow paths through riparian sediments. Aggradation at willow sites appeared to increase the riparian flow path. Willow and native sites were heterotrophic and similarly dependent on allochthonous organic matter (P/R=O.2, NDM= -.6, and ratio of net primary production to total inputs -0.1). Willow research and management should also focus on retention capacity, including the recruitment and role of LWD and the structure and function of root systems. Removal of willows potentially facilitates native vegetation establishment but simultaneously decreases retention capacity and metabolic control by the canopy. Establishing native vegetation to fulfil broader biodiversity objectives whilst retaining willows for their potentially positive roles is a management challenge. In principle, establishing native species on the upland-sides of fringing willows and under willow canopies will direct succession toward a preferred outcome without destructive disturbance. Understanding of when benefits of willows outweigh their costs is a notable gap.
- Description: School of Science & Engineering
- Description: The spread of exotic willows (Salix spp.) in SE Australia, New Zealand and South Africa has provoked widespread debate in scientific, management and broader communities. In Australia, the extent of spread is unknown, but at least 30000 km of river frontage in Victoria are lined by willows. Management and research literature has identified the poor knowledge of willow impacts on Southern Hemisphere aquatic ecosystems. It has been speculated that the major distinction between deciduous willows and evergreen native vegetation will be the timing and quality of litterfall. This would have flow-on consequences for metabolic processes, stream biota and water quality at reach, stream and catchment scales. These two vegetation types were studied through the preparation of partial organic matter budgets for native and willow lined reaches in a central Victorian catchment. Organic matter inputs from litter, groundwater and gross primary production (GPP), organic matter standing crop . and respiratory output were quantified. Total inputs to willow and native reaches were similar (735 and 764 g ash free dry weight m•' yl, respectively). Inputs were dominated by litterfall (-60%) and there were no significant differences in annual litterfall between sites. GPP contributed -20% of total inputs and estimates suggested there were few significant differences in annual GPP, 24 h community respiration, ratio of GPP to community respiration (PIR) or net daily metabolism (NDM) between sites. Groundwater contributed -20% of total inputs with one third of the dissolved organic matter sourced during short flow paths through riparian sediments. Aggradation at willow sites appeared to increase the riparian flow path. Willow and native sites were heterotrophic and similarly dependent on allochthonous organic matter (P/R=O.2, NDM= -\.6, and ratio of net primary production to total inputs -0.1). Willow research and management should also focus on retention capacity, including the recruitment and role of LWD and the structure and function of root systems. Removal of willows potentially facilitates native vegetation establishment but simultaneously decreases retention capacity and metabolic control by the canopy. Establishing native vegetation to fulfil broader biodiversity objectives whilst retaining willows for their potentially positive roles is a management challenge. In principle, establishing native species on the upland-sides of fringing willows and under willow canopies will direct succession toward a preferred outcome without destructive disturbance. Understanding of when benefits of willows outweigh their costs is a notable gap.
The competing discourses of workplace health
- Authors: Allender, Steven
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "This study provides a postcritical analysis of the discourses on workplace health, using data gathered with information technology company Labyrinth Computing."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy