Digital Commons Network^™

Engineering Of Nanostructured Metal-Based Catalysts For Electrochemical Reduction Of Co2, Amruthalakshmi Vijayakumar

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (ECO₂R) into value-added chemicals and liquid fuels using renewable energy is considered as a viable option for CO₂ recycling and closing the carbon cycle. Design and development of cheap and efficient catalysts holds the key to the practical implementation of this technology. Studies have focused on the development of nanostructured metal-based catalysts for ECO₂R. The interfacial and surface engineering are two efficient strategies to improve the catalytic properties of these metal-based catalysts by altering the intrinsic activity and the electronic structure of the catalysts.

This thesis focuses on the utilization of …

Cenozoic Deformation And Tectonics Of Eastern Bird’S Head Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia, Sukahar Eka Adi Saputra

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This thesis aims to establish how the late Cenozoic oblique convergence of the Pacific- Caroline and Australian plates has affected the tectonic history of the eastern Bird’s Head Peninsula in northwestern New Guinea. Emphasis is placed on insights provided by >5 magnitude earthquakes since 1976 and the structural geology of Miocene-Pleistocene sediments in the Manokwari area and Permian to Paleogene units of the northern Lengguru Fold Belt around Mawi Bay. The Bird's Head Peninsula is moving west- southwest relative to the Australian Plate based on GPS data, but slower than the west- southwest movement of the Pacific-Caroline Plate. This accounts …

Development And Application Of Luminescence Approaches To Dating Of Indonesian Archaeological And Palaeoanthropological Sites, Mariana Sontag González

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Establishing reliable chronologies for archaeological and palaeoanthropological sites in Indonesia is important for studies of human evolution and dispersal. However, many such sites are situated in volcanic regions, whose sediments are generally difficult to date using luminescence dating methods. Here, the application of improved procedures using the post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) signal targeted to dating volcanic sediments is presented on two case studies of archaeological sites in Indonesia with an extended hominin occupation in the Pleistocene: Liang Bua and Leang Bulu Bettue.

Strategies To Improve The Knowledge And Clinical Skills For Recognition And Management Of Delirium Of Critical Care Nurses, Mu-Hsing Ho

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Delirium is common among hospitalised individuals, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). The complications of delirium among critically ill patients can lead to adverse outcomes. Critical care nurses are the frontline professionals providing direct care to critically ill patients. However, critical care nurses in Taiwan did not have adequate training or perform routine delirium assessment in their daily practice. Low awareness of delirium among critical care nurses contributes to a high incidence rate of ICU delirium. Therefore, the overall aim of this doctoral thesis was to develop an ICU-specific delirium care education programme to enhance the knowledge, confidence, competence and …

Acquisition Of 3d Shapes Of Moving Objects Using Fringe Projection Profilometry, Chengpu Duan

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement for object surface reconstruction has potential applications in many areas, such as security, manufacturing and entertainment. As an effective non-contact technique for 3D shape measurements, fringe projection profilometry (FPP) has attracted significant research interests because of its high measurement speed, high measurement accuracy and ease to implement. Conventional FPP analysis approaches are applicable to the calculation of phase differences for static objects. However, 3D shape measurement for dynamic objects remains a challenging task, although they are highly demanded in many applications.

The study of this thesis work aims to enhance the measurement accuracy of the FPP …

Crossing The Threshold: What Are The Experiences Of Male Learners Transitioning Into Higher Education From An Enabling Course?, Jacinta Margaret Mcnamara

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

When mature-age students return to study within higher education, they are presented with opportunities for life changing experiences. Many more students who are mature-age and from diverse backgrounds are now commencing university studies as part of the widening participation phenomenon. While quantitative data are readily available concerning these students, less well known are the lived experiences of the learners who undertake this journey. The focus of this study is an exploration of the experiences of one such group of learners, namely mature-age males entering university through an enabling pathway. Older males often return to education in order to improve their …

Development Of A 4Πβ (Plastic Scintillator) - 4Πγ Detection System For Radionuclide Standardisation, Heranudin

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This thesis describes the development of a 4πβ - 4πγ detection system to perform primary standardisations of activity at the Radionuclide Metrology Laboratory at Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). Characterisation of the detectors, plastic scintillator for β-detector and well type NaI(Tl) detector for γ-detector, has been investigated by using Monte Carlo GEANT4 simulation and experimental measurement. Modelling of energy deposition in the scintillator and optical photon transport were employed the GEANT4 simulations. Several issues of the well type NaI(Tl) detector related to potential dead layer/inactive materials, full energy peak efficiency, coincidence-summing correction, and energy resolution broadening have been …

Critical Current Density In Superconducting Thin Film In Different Magnetic Environments: Iron Sheath And Magnetic Environments In Vsm, Alaa Hamid Hammood

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

At this time, the significance of superconductivity is increasing as a result of our increased need for clean electrical energy. It has become important to find innovative solutions for the production of energy and for reducing the losses due its transportation. This requirement makes it attractive to use the special properties of high-temperature superconductors. Products such as sensitive superconducting quantum interference (SQUID) devices based on the Josephson Effect, high-speed floating trains, low loss cables, highly efficient motors, high-field magnets for magneto-resonance imaging, and power generators are now arriving on the market. The requirement for a high-temperature superconductors material that has …

Model Simplification For Efficient Collision Detection In Robotics, Alexander Visser

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Motion planning for industrial robots is a computationally intensive task due to the massive number of potential motions between any two configurations. Calculating all possibilities is generally not feasible. Instead, many motion planners sample a sub-set of the available space until a viable solution is found. Simplifying models to improve collision detection performance, a significant component of motion planning, results in faster and more capable motion planners.

Several approaches for simplifying models to improve collision detection performance have been presented in the literature. However, many of them are sub-optimal for an industrial robotics application due to input model limitations, accuracy …

Design And Development Of Highly Active Cathodes For Metal-Sulfur Batteries, Huiling Yang

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

The lightweight rechargeable batteries with high energy density have received increasing attention in recent years, due to the demand from the rapid development of transportation and grid applications. Among these candidates, rechargeable metal−sulfur (M-S) batteries represent one of the most attractive electrochemical systems because of the high theoretical capacity (1672 mAhg-1) of the sulfur, low cost, and non-toxicity. Nevertheless, it has some challenges that are impeding their practical application, such as low Coulombic efficiency (CE) and poor cycling life. The low electronic conductivity of sulfur will result in the poor CE; the huge volume change of sulfur and the “shuttle …

Hydrogel-Based 3d Hybrid Bioprinting Towards Cartilage Application, Yuchao Fan

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has been applied to fabricate constructs that facilitate cartilage regeneration, as it provides the ability to assemble biomaterials with cells in a spatially controlled manner. For conventional bioprinting, the bioink is applied alone to fabricate constructs. However, this strategy is hitting a bottleneck due to the challenging requirements of bioink formulation. The bioinks applied in conventional bioprinting have to fulfill both the physicochemical requirements for fabrication, as well as the biological requirements associated with the processing of the embedded cells. To address this issue, hybrid bioprinting techniques that simultaneously apply two (or multiple) inks have been explored …

Post-Exercise Hydrotherapy; Improving Cardiometabolic Health, Brooke Maree Russell

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Purpose: To determine whether the addition of warm or cold hydrotherapy to exercise training can provide similar or greater benefits for cardiometabolic health compared to time-matched exercise training. Primary Aim: To compare the effects of short-term exercise training coupled with warm (WWI) or cold water-immersion (CWI), and time-matched exercise alone, on improving exercise capacity and fitness outcomes. It was hypothesised that post-exercise WWI would improve V̇O₂max to a similar extent to time-matched exercise, and greater extent than CWI. Secondary Aim: To compare the effects of short-term exercise training with post-exercise WWI or CWI, and time-matched exercise alone, on …

Design And Digital–Material Possession: Sartre’S Potential For Mobile Ui Design, Jody Roberta Watts

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Jean-Paul Sartre’s conceptualisation of material possession contains rich insights for this study located at the intersection of visual communication, mobile UI design, human–computer interaction and design philosophy. Possession is a relational concept concerning more than just the ownership of things. It contributes to an understanding of self-identity via an individual’s relationship with the objects they see, use, use up and create. Initial ideas for a contemporary conceptualisation of digital-material possession presented in this study expands on Sartre’s philosophy enabling technologies such as the iPhone, including its hardware and software components, to be positioned as an entanglement of possessions. Likewise, the …

Political Institution And Audit Quality: Evidence From China, Yunlin Tian

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

In the course of far-reaching reforms of economy in China, the issue of how to keep the proper functioning of the capital market is the major concern. As external monitors, auditors play a key role in communicating relevant information to outside users through providing reasonable assurance that financial reports are free from material misstatement (DeAngleo, 1981; Francis and Krishnan, 1999). Their reporting behavior and association with firms’ performance have been studied extensively. Moreover, Chinese institutional environment is critical in analysing auditor behavior as the Chinese government dominates key resource allocations and exerts significant influence on the auditing market. Therefore, the …

An Exploratory Study Of Food And Nutrition Instruction In Australian Primary Schools, Emma Gorman

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Many Australian children have unhealthy dietary behaviours. These unhealthy dietary behaviours have been linked to rising rates of childhood obesity. Food and nutrition education plays an important role in shaping children’s dietary behaviours and schools have been identified as ideal location for such education to occur.

Despite recognition of the importance of food and nutrition education evidence suggests adequate time is not being allocated to food and nutrition education in primary schools. To effectively educate, support, and encourage teachers to include food and nutrition education in their programs, it is critical to understand the influences that enable or constrain their …

Vortex Pinning And Critical Current Control And Enhancement By Magnetic Structure And Artificial Arrays In Yba2cu3o7-Δ Superconductor Thin Films, Mustafa Al-Qurainy

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Superconductivity provides revolutionary solutions to practical applications, such as magnetic resonance imaging, fault current limiters, and unsurpassable sensitivity and characteristic for electronics and quantum computing, which to date are unattainable by more conventional technologies. The is still a lot can be improved in making superconductors cheaper, more reproducible and robust to enable even easier and broader paths into our everyday lives.

One of the most versatile superconductor with strong potential for many types of technologies and corresponding applications is YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO), a high temperature superconductor (HTS) ceramic material. This material can be manufactured in the form of high quality single-crystalline …

Detecting Archaeological And Forensic Burial Scenarios Using Ground Penetrating Radar (Gpr), Antonella Skepasianos

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a geophysical tool that images the subsurface and has gained acceptance across a myriad of fields. It is because of this non-destructive method that GPR has been used effectively in archaeological and forensic prospection to locate unmarked or clandestine burials where minimal disturbance is imperative. Prevailing scenarios that are commonly seen in both forensic cases and the archaeological record are the use of both lime (CaO or Ca(OH)₂) and gypsum (CaSO₄.2H₂O). The custom of human remains covered in lime or gypsum has been linked to several phenomena perpetuated throughout …

How Are Theories Of Supervision Applied In Practice In The Executive Coaching Context?, Michael Robert Armour

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Coaching supervision has become the sine qua non for the rapidly expanding field of executive coaching, although much of the current theory and practice of supervision was developed for use in clinical and therapeutic disciplines. Despite an extensive literature discussing theories of supervision, there is little consideration in the literature of how supervision theories are applied in practice in executive coaching. This study addresses two key problems. Firstly, to what extent respondents consider theories, models, and functions of supervision relevant in the executive coaching context. Secondly, the study explores the link between theory and practice and whether any of the …

Exploring Individual Women Managers’ Perceived Work–Life Balance: A Work-Values Perspective, Zhiling Sun

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This research applies a work-values perspective to investigate the work–life balance (WLB) of women managers in present-day Australia. Workforce transformation and societal changes, particularly the shift in societal expectations around the role of women over the past several decades, necessitate a fresh investigation into the phenomenon of WLB for this particular group, women managers.

Despite extensive literature on work values, WLB, and their potential relationship, there has been no research directly linking these topics. This research addresses this missing connection and proposes that WLB research should begin by exploring why women managers work and how the work values of women …

Remote Sensing Of Mangroves And Their Biomass, Maria Rafaela Braga Salum De Abreu

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Mangroves provide many ecosystem services, including shoreline protection, habitat, and nutrient cycling. The need to mitigate climate change has focused attention on the ability of mangrove forests to sequester atmospheric carbon within biomass and store carbon for long periods within substrates. Traditional approaches for quantifying mangrove above-ground biomass relied upon destructive sampling and subsequent development of allometric equations. These equations related mangrove structural parameters, such as height and diameter at breast height, to their biomass and were used to estimate biomass by measuring mangrove forest structural parameters. Measuring mangrove structural parameters and developing allometric equations takes considerable effort and is …

Design And Fabrication Of Soft 3d Printed Actuators: Expanding Soft Robotics Applications, Ryan G. Drury

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Soft pneumatic actuators are ideal for soft robotic applications due to their innate compliance and high power-weight ratios. Presently, the majority of soft pneumatic actuators are used to create bending motions, with very few able to produce significant linear movements. Fewer can actively produce strains in multiple directions. The further development of these actuators is limited by their fabrication methods, specifically the lack of suitable stretchable materials for 3D printing.

In this thesis, a new highly elastic resin for digital light projection 3D printers, designated ElastAMBER, is developed and evaluated, which shows improvements over previously synthesised elastic resins. It is …

Defect-Engineering Design Of Advanced Materials For Efficient Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Yueyu Tong

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Defect engineering is considered as an effective idea for regulating the electronic structure and surface geometric structure of both metal- and carbon-based electrocatalysts. Furthermore, those defects can also be regarded as efficient active sites or collaborate with the surrounding environment to offer unique physical/chemical properties and interactions between active centers and host/support materials. In this regard, a serial of practical defect engineering methods has been developed for the preparation of electrocatalysts for various electrocatalytic processes, including nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), hydrogen reduction reaction (HER), oxygen reduction reaction (OER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Comparing with state-of-the-art noble metal catalysts, our …

Metal Hydride Based Materials For Advanced Lithium Storage Applications, Yuqin Huang

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

The state of the art, commercial used graphite anode materials are far from meeting the increasing demand for high-energy density devices. It is necessary to develop anode materials with high energy density, low-cost and superior safety. Generally, compared with classical intercalation anodes, conversion type anodes display higher theoretical capacity have been paid widely attention. Some of the emerging metal hydrides demonstrate high specific capacity, small polarization and suitable working potential. This thesis focusing on two metal hydrides both with relatively high specific capacity, sodium alanate (NaAlH4) and mageneisum hydride (MgH2) as anodes materials in LIBs. In order to enhance the …

3d Brachyview System, Taylah Brennen

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Prostate cancer is quickly becoming the most common form of cancer across the globe, and is commonly treated with low dose rate brachytherapy due to its curative measures and highly conformal dose delivery. It is important to ensure there is a means of real time monitoring of the dose and seed placements when radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate gland during a low dose rate brachytherapy treatment. The BrachyView system presents as a unique system that provides the capability of 3D seed reconstruction within an intraoperative setting.

In this thesis the BrachyView system is tested for its suitability, accuracy …

Verification Of Gynaecological Brachytherapy Treatments Using An End-To-End Phantom, Yashiv Dookie

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

High dose rate brachytherapy allows the delivery of radiation internally, with high-dose gradients creating a conformal distribution. The inherent drawback of this treatment exists within small uncertainties producing a large impact on safety and efficacy. Applicator displacement was ret-rospectively simulated for 29 cervical cancer treatments to determine a critical shift in applicator position. A 2 mm shift in the anterior and posterior directions was detrimental to the bladder and rectum, respectively and a 4 mm shift in all directions caused a critical reduction in HR-CTV cover-age. These findings indicate the importance of quality assurance practices that mitigate applicator displacement. Furthermore, …

The Therapeutic Relationship Between Client And Dietitian: An Investigation Of The Core Of Clinical Dietetic Practice, Annaliese Julia Nagy

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Over recent decades healthcare has shifted towards patient-centred care as a result of the numerous benefits this approach has shown. Within dietetics, part of practising in a patient-centred way requires the development of a ‘positive’ relationship between client and dietitian. Governing documents depict this relationship as a fundamental aspect of clinical dietetic practice, however little is known about how this ‘positive’ relationship is developed and maintained in clinical practice and what education and training dietitians receive in this aspect of practice. Consistent findings from psychotherapy research show that the quality of the relationship between a client and therapist (described as …

Finding Sanctuary: Australian Foxes And Dingoes And The Challenges Of Rescue, Charlie Jackson-Martin

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

In Australia the term ‘sanctuary’ is used to define a very broad range of animal/human shared spaces, with no regulation as to who can and can’t use the term ‘sanctuary’ to describe their practices. On one hand the term ‘sanctuary’ is often used in Australia to describe the growing number of refuges for ‘domestic’ and ‘livestock’ animals rescued from agricultural industries. However, there are animal breeding facilities in Australia, (that breed, sell and exhibit animals for money) that also describe themselves as ‘sanctuaries’. For the last decade I have been running the “Sydney Fox and Dingo Rescue” and in this …

Psychological Strengths In The Workplace: How Organisational Climate Factors Impact Strengths Knowledge And Strengths Use In An Educational Workplace Setting, Aylin J. Dulagil

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Central to this thesis is the exploration of the impact of organisational context on individuals’ ability to know and use their strengths in the workplace. Strengths-based approaches (SBAs) are a key process of the positive psychology movement (Oades et al., 2017). Strengths are especially relevant to the workplace due to their association with individual wellbeing and performance (Biswas-Diener et al., 2017) and have been enthusiastically adopted by practitioners and organisations. However, there are several conceptual issues pertinent to the strengths construct, which have implications for how strengths are implemented. A summary of the history and research of the emerging strengths …

Dispersity-Based Test Case Prioritization, Chen Liu

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

With real-world projects, existing test case prioritization (TCP) techniques have limitations when applied to them, because these techniques require certain information to be made available before they can be applied. For example, the family of input-based TCP techniques are based on test case values or test script strings; other techniques use test coverage, test history, program structure, or requirements information. Existing techniques also cannot guarantee to always be more effective than random prioritization (RP) that does not have any precondition. As a result, RP remains the most applicable and most fundamental TCP technique. In this thesis, we propose a new …

An Empirical Investigation Of The Impact Of Government Support Programs On Small And Medium Enterprises Performance In Dubai: The Role Of Tendering Capabilities And Tendering Activity, Essam Omran Disi

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered a cornerstone of any economy. They are engines of economic development, job creation, innovation and new business models. SMEs’ relatively small size and agility allows them to be more flexible and adaptable than larger enterprises. However, due to certain characteristics, such as their small size and limited access to resources, SMEs usually face various challenges in their business life cycle. Therefore, governments have introduced policies and support programs to help SMEs set-up their businesses and access development services that aid in advisory, capability development, access to finance and access to markets. Such programs …