Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

No Refuge From The Fields Vol. 2: Revitalization Of Farmworker Housing Research, Manda Laporte

Capstone Projects – Politics and Government

Farmworkers in the U.S. are often subjected to substandard living situations. However, since they are primarily seasonal, migrant, or temporary work visa holders, limited attention is focused on their quality of life. Although farmworkers are some of the hardest working people, they are typically exposed to extreme weather and working conditions, have the highest percentage of people among the working poor, face restrictive access to education and health care, etc. While service providers, such as housing developers and healthcare specialists, are concerned about these individuals’ well-being, there is still minimal research available about current farmworker trends. This report seeks to …

Concurrent Validity Of The Actigraph Gt3x+ And Activpal For Assessing Sedentary Behaviour In 2-3-Year-Old Children Under Free-Living Conditions, Joao Rafael Rodrigues Pereira, Eduarda Sousa-Sa, Zhiguang Zhang, Dylan P. Cliff, Rute Santos

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objectives

ActiGraph accelerometer cut-points are commonly used to classify sedentary behaviour (SB) in young children. However, they vary from 5counts/5 s to 301counts/15 s, resulting in different estimates and inconsistent findings. The aim was to examine the concurrent validity of ActiGraph GT3X + cut-points against the activPAL for measuring SB in 2–3-year-olds during free-living conditions.

Design

Observational validation-study.

Methods

Sixty children were fitted with the activPAL and ActiGraph simultaneously for at least 2 h. Nine ActiGraph cut-points ranging from 60 to 1488 counts per minute were used to derive SB. Bland & Altman plots and equivalent tests were performed to …

Performance Evaluation Of Intermittently Cfrp Wrapped Square And Circularised Square Reinforced Concrete Columns Under Different Loading Conditions, Anh Duc Mai, M Neaz Sheikh, Muhammad N. S Hadi

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on square and circularised square rein-forced concrete (RC) columns intermittently wrapped with carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP)under different loading conditions. Twelve RC specimens consisting of eight square RC specimenswith 150mm150mm cross-section and 800mm height and four circularised square RC specimenswith 212mm diameter and 800 mm height were tested under concentric axial load, eccentric axialload and four-point flexural load. The test results showed that intermittent wrapping increased thestrength and ductility of square RC specimens. The test results also showed that circularisation com-bined with intermittent wrapping significantly improved the strength and ductility of …

Alternative Interventions For Children Coping With Chronic Conditions: A Critical Review Of The Literature, Nina M. Pelsi, Kim S. Amer

DePaul Discoveries

Reduction of stressors and anxiety levels in adolescents with chronic illnesses is a critical concept in pediatric health care in America today. The many stressors associated with chronic illness include displaying physical and mental differences, social stigma, financial difficulty, and family stress. These stressors may affect the adolescent’s ability to learn and cope in everyday life. The current research was a critical review of the literature examining studies done with adolescents coping with chronic diseases and illnesses. The aim was to analyze the most efficacious non-pharmacological methods for reducing stressors in adolescents with chronic illness. A critical review of the …

Extension Of Behavioral Momentum Theory To Conditions With Changing Reinforcer Rates, Andrew R. Craig

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Behavior is more likely to persist when disrupted in some way in the presence of stimuli correlated with frequent delivery of reward than in the presence of stimuli correlated with infrequent rewards. In laboratory investigations, the correlation between reward rates and specific stimuli are almost always held constant before testing for persistence. In the real world, however, how often rewards are encountered is likely to vary substantially over time. The major goal of the work described in this dissertation was to explore effects of reward rates that change over time on persistence of behavior in controlled laboratory settings using pigeon …

American Civil Associations And The Growth Of American Government: An Appraisal Of Alexis De Tocqueville’S Democracy In America (1835-1840) Applied To Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal And The Post-World War Ii Welfare State, John P. Varacalli

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859), a French aristocrat, intellectual, and commentator on American society during the 1830’s, described the United States as a society marked by a general “equality of condition,” that is, by a lack of noticeable social and economic distinctions among the citizenry. For Tocqueville, this characteristic of democracy encouraged the formation of an informal political bloc he termed “the majority” - a group who would often elect demagogues to political offices, since the latter were best able to give voice to majority opinion. Furthermore, de Tocqueville believed that this group was not only …

Accurate Range Estimation For An Electric Vehicle Including Changing Environmental Conditions And Traction System Efficiency, Kaveh Sarrafan, Danny Sutanto, Kashem M. Muttaqi, Graham Town

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part B

Range anxiety is an obstacle to the acceptance of electric vehicles (EVs), caused by drivers' uncertainty regarding their vehicle's state of charge (SoC) and the energy required to reach their destination. Most estimation methods for these variables use simplified models with many assumptions that can result in significant error, particularly if dynamic and environmental conditions are not considered. For example, the combined efficiency of the inverter drive and electric motor varies throughout the route and is not constant as assumed in most range estimation methods. This study proposes an improved method for SoC and range estimation by taking into account …

Driver Alerting System Using Range Estimation Of Electric Vehicles In Real Time Under Dynamically Varying Environmental Conditions, Vincent R. Tannahill, Kashem M. Muttaqi, Danny Sutanto

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

As the technology supporting electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly progressing and the cost of EV components is reducing, EVs are becoming more feasible for use in Australia and in many countries around the world. However, the public perception of EVs and their perceived limitations result in a slow uptake of the technology, partially because of the uncertainty regarding the ability of an EV to meet the driving needs of the general population. Range anxiety is a particular concern with drivers having fear of being stranded by a depleted EV battery. This study explores means of reducing range anxiety by taking …

Coke Degradation Under Simulated Blast Furnace Conditions, Xing Xing, Harold P. Rogers, Guangqing Zhang, Kim Hockings, Paul Zulli, Oleg Ostrovski

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Three metallurgical cokes made from coking coals over a significant range in rank were subjected to treatment with blast furnace-like gas composition-temperature profile to 1 673 K, annealing under N2 to 2 273 K and gasification with subsequent annealing at 1 873 and 2 273 K. The degradation of cokes after reaction and annealing was characterised using I-drum tumbling, tensile testing, ultra-micro indentation and X-ray diffraction. Both gasification and annealing decreased the mechanical strength of coke. Compared with annealing at 1 673 K, gasification at same temperature caused larger degradation for all three cokes, and the effect was more significant …

Experimental Study On Frp Tube Reinforced Concrete Columns Under Different Loading Conditions, Weiqiang Wang, M Neaz Sheikh, Muhammad N. S Hadi

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The behavior of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) tube reinforced concrete (FTRC) columns under different loading conditions was investigated in this study. Four groups of 16 specimens were cast and tested. Specimens in the first group (the reference group) were re- inforced with longitudinal steel bars and steel helices (Group REF). Specimens in the second group were reinforced with intact glass FRP tubes (Group IT). Specimens in the third group were also reinforced with intact glass FRP tubes. In addition, polymer grid was embedded into the concrete cover to reduce the cover spalling (Group ITG). Specimens in the fourth group were reinforced …

Effects Of Sintering Materials And Gas Conditions On Formation Of Silico-Ferrites Of Calcium And Aluminium During Iron Ore Sintering, Zhe Wang, David J. Pinson, Sheng Chew, Brian J. Monaghan, Mark Pownceby, Nathan A.S. Webster, Harold P. Rogers, Guangqing Zhang

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Silico-ferrites of calcium and aluminium (SFCA) are desirable phases in a high quality iron ore sinter product. The effects of sintering temperature, CaO/SiO2 ratio, sintering gas atmosphere and cooling procedure on the phase composition of sintered specimens from an industrial sinter blend were examined with focus on the formation of SFCA phases. The proportions of mineral phases in specimens sintered at 1 250-1 325°C were quantitatively examined using image analysis. SFCA can be formed at low temperatures by solid state reactions, the formation of which was enhanced by increasing temperature. Further increasing sintering temperature promoted the reduction of Fe3+ in …

Wearable Vibrotactile Biofeedback Device Allowing Identification Of Different Floor Conditions For Lower-Limb Amputees, Anson Wan, Duo Wong, Christina Ma, Ming Zhang, Winson Lee

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Objective

To evaluate a newly developed biofeedback device enabling lower-limb amputees to identify various floor conditions.

Design

Self-control with repeated measures (with and without the biofeedback device) within the amputee group, and group control comparing between amputee and nonamputee groups.

Setting

University locomotion laboratory.

Participants

Five lower-limb amputees and 8 nonamputees (N=13).

Interventions

A wearable biofeedback device, which identified different floor conditions by analyzing the force patterns under the prosthetic feet and provided vibration cues in response to different floor conditions, was provided to the amputees.

Main Outcome Measures

The subjects stepped on a foam platform concealing a small object …

Young Children's Identity Formation In The Context Of Open Adoption In Nsw: An Examination Of Optimal Conditions For Child Wellbeing, Marc De Rosnay, Betty Luu, Amy Conley Wright

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This working paper was commissioned by Barnardos Australia, through its Centre for Excellence in Open Adoption, to establish how open adoption can support the best interests of children in optimising developmental outcomes and establishing healthy identity formation. This paper focuses on children who are up to 5 years of age in out-of-home care (OOHC) for whom there is no realistic chance of restoration to their birth family or kinship care. Therefore, the options facing such children, according to recent amendments to the NSW Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (hereafter referred to as the Care Act) in …

Removal Of Bisphenol A And Diclofenac By A Novel Fungal Membrane Bioreactor Operated Under Non-Sterile Conditions, Shufan Yang, Faisal I. Hai, Long D. Nghiem, Luong N. Nguyen, Felicity Roddick, William E. Price

Faisal I Hai

Previous studies have confirmed significant removal of various trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) by white-rot fungal cultures under sterile batch test conditions. However, little is known about TrOC removal in continuous flow fungal reactors in a non-sterile environment. This study reports the removal of two TrOCs, namely, bisphenol A and diclofenac, by a fungal membrane bioreactor (MBR).

Pre-Service Perspectives On E-Teaching: Assessing E-Teaching Using The Epec Hierarchy Of Conditions For E-Learning/Teaching Competence, Ashley Sisco, Stuart Woodcock, Michelle J. Eady

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This article examines pre-service teacher perspectives of teaching with an online synchronous (live-time) platform as a part of their training. Fifty-three students who participated in a blended learning (including both face-to-face and online lectures) course were assessed in a teaching simulation through an online presentation, and participated in questionnaires and interviews about their experiences as e-learners using the platform. The EPEC hierarchy of conditions (Ease of use, Psychologically safe environment, e-learning/e-teaching Efficacy, and e-learning Competence) for e-learning competency, developed based on an analysis of pre-service teachers' experience as e-learners in this same study, was used as a framework to assess …

Macrostrength And Pore Structure Of Coke Subjected To Gasification And Annealing Under Blast Furnace Conditions, Xing Xing, Harold P. Rogers, Guangqing Zhang, Paul Zulli, Oleg Ostrovski

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Metallurgical cokes were subjected to gasification by CO-CO2-N2 gas with blast furnace-like composition-temperature profile to 1400 °C and annealing under N2 at temperature up to 2000 °C. The degradation of coke strength following reaction and annealing was characterised using tensile testing. Both gasification and annealing decreased the mechanical strength of coke. Degradation of all examined cokes by gasification at 1400 °C was stronger in comparison with annealing at the same temperature.

Calibrating Markov Chain-Based Deterioration Models For Predicting Future Conditions Of Railway Bridge Elements, Niroshan Walgama Wellalage, Tieling Zhang, Richard Dwight

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Existing nonlinear optimization-based algorithms for estimating Markov transition probability matrix (TPM) in bridge deterioration modeling sometimes fail to find optimum TPM values, and hence lead to invalid future condition prediction. In this study, a Metropolis-Hasting algorithm (MHA)-based Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation technique is proposed to overcome this limitation and calibrate the state-based Markov deterioration models (SBMDM) of railway bridge components. Factors contributing to rail bridge deterioration were identified; inspection data for 1,000 Australian railway bridges over 15 years were reviewed and filtered. The TPMs corresponding to a typical bridge element were estimated using the proposed MCMC simulation method …

Influence Of Loading Conditions During Tensile Testing On Acoustic Emission, Turbadrakh Chuluunbat, Cheng Lu, Andrii Kostryzhev, A Kiet Tieu

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring technique is widely used in mechanical and material research for detection of plastic deformation, fracture initiation and crack growth. However, the influence of AE features (such as signal amplitude, frequency, rise time and duration) on the fracture parameters (such as brittle or ductile mode of propagation and fracture propagation speed) is not completely understood. In this paper, the effect of loading conditions on fracture behavior was studied using AE monitoring during tensile testing of an aluminum alloy specimen. The fracture development was observed using a high speed video camera and was analyzed using the finite …

Emg Activity And Total Work Reduction In Occluded And Non-Occluded Resistance Exercise Conditions, John Sampson, Herbert Groeller, Darryl Mcandrew, Heath Kilah

Darryl J McAndrew

No abstract provided.

Whole Body Vibration Exposure Experienced By Bauxite Mining Operators: An Evaluation Of Heavy Haulage Equipment During Varying Seasonal Conditions (Wet & Dry Seasons) And The Potential Exposure Risk, Marcus Brooks, Marion A. Burgess, Jane L. Whitelaw

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at the 32nd Annual Conference & Exhibition of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists Inc, 29 November - 3 December 2014, Melbourne, Australia.

A Tool To Estimate The Wheel/Rail Contact And Temperature Rising Under Dry, Wet And Oily Conditions, Khoa Vo, A Kiet Tieu, Hongtao Zhu, Prabuono Buyung Kosasih

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

In this paper, finite element method (FEM) has been applied to evaluate the wheel/rail contact stress under different contact conditions. The elastic-plastic model coded in ANSYS/LS-DYNA includes a whole wheel, 680 mm of the canted rail, and sub-components of the track (railpads, sleepers, and ballast). The three values of friction coefficient 0.4, 0.2 and 0.07 have been chosen to model the dry, wet and oily environmental contacts, respectively. The high mechanical stresses exerted at the contact area will cause the temperature rise, which results in decreasing of the yield strength of the wheel/rail. The growth of temperature is a major …

Variational Inequality Model For Cordon-Based Congestion Pricing Under Side Constrained Stochastic User Equilibrium Conditions, Zhiyuan Liu, Qiang Meng, Shuaian Wang

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

A major objective of the practical implemented cordon-based congestion pricing schemes is to maintain the traffic conditions within the cordon area, which is rarely considered in most of the existing studies. Thus, this paper addresses the optimal toll charge pattern that can restrict the total inbound flow of each cordon to a predetermined threshold. The toll charges on all the entry links of one cordon are required to be identical, for the ease of implementation and users' recognition. The users' route choice behaviour is assumed to follow stochastic user equilibrium (SUE) with asymmetric link travel time functions. It is shown …

Effects Of Hydrogen On The Critical Conditions For Dynamic Recrystallization Of Titanium Alloy During Hot Deformation, Jingwei Zhao, Hua Ding, Zhengyi Jiang, Dongbin Wei, Kezhi Linghu

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

Hot deformation tests were performed to study the flow behavior and microstructural evolution of a Ti600 titanium alloy with different hydrogen contents. The effects of hydrogen on the critical conditions for the initiation of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) were investigated. The DRX kinetics models of hydrogenated Ti600 alloy were developed, and the DRX volume fractions were quantified under different deformation conditions. The results indicate that the addition of proper hydrogen (no greater than 0.3 pct) benefits the decrease of both the critical stress and critical strain for the initiation of DRX. The critical stress and critical strain are dependent linearly on …

Reporting On The Seminar - Risk Interpretation And Action (Ria): Decision Making Under Conditions Of Uncertainty, Emma Doyle, Shabana Khan, Carolina Adler, Ryan Alaniz, Simone Athayde, Kuan-Hui E. Lin, Wendy Saunders, Todd Schenk, Fabiola Sosa-Rodriguez, Victoria Sword-Daniels, Olayinka Akanle, Marie-Ange Baudoin, Chiung T. Chang, Karianne De Bruin, Riyanti Djalante, Christine Eriksen

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The paper reports on the World Social Science (WSS) Fellows seminar on Risk Interpretation and Action (RIA), undertaken in New Zealand in December, 2013. This seminar was coordinated by the WSS Fellows program of the International Social Science Council (ISSC), the RIA working group of the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) program, the IRDR International Center of Excellence Taipei, the International START Secretariat and the Royal Society of New Zealand. Twenty-five early career researchers from around the world were selected to review the RIA framework under the theme of 'decision-making under conditions of uncertainty', and develop novel theoretical approaches …

Flicker Mitigation Strategy For Dfigs During Variable Wind Conditions, Lasantha Meegahapola, Brendan Fox, Damian Flynn

Dr Lasantha G Meegahapola

This paper presents a flicker mitigation scheme for the doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) during variable wind conditions. The flicker mitigation strategy was developed based on the distribution line X/R ratio and the active power deviation from the average active power during variable wind conditions. Flicker emission was analyzed using a flicker meter based on the IEC standards. Both short-term and long-term flicker severities were analyzed during the time period of study. The flicker mitigation strategy was evaluated under different system conditions such as X/R ratio, distribution line length, shortcircuit capacity (SCC), and wind variability. It is shown that the proposed …

Optimal Power Flow With Variable Wind Conditions, S Durairaj, L Meegahapola, D Flynn, B Fox

Dr Lasantha G Meegahapola

This paper presents simulation studies of an electric arc furnace (EAF) model in the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. EAF was modeled as a current source controlled by a non-linear resistance. Voltage flicker, a phenomenon of annoying light intensity fluctuation, caused by EAF, has been a major power quality concern for both power companies and customers. A model was developed for the electric arc furnace and it was applied in the simulation studies of distribution static synchronous compensator (DSTATCOM) for voltage flicker mitigation. The controller for DSTATCOM was designed based on DQ-model for the reactive power management which helps in the mitigation of …

Voltage And Power Quality Improvement Strategy For A Dfig Wind Farm During Variable Wind Conditions, L Meegahapola, T Littler, B Fox, J Kennedy, D Flynn

Dr Lasantha G Meegahapola

This paper presents a voltage and power quality enhancement scheme for a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind farm during variable wind conditions. The wind profiles were derived considering the measured data at a DFIG wind farm located in Northern Ireland (NI). The aggregated DFIG wind farm model was validated using measured data at a wind farm during variable generation. The voltage control strategy was developed considering the X/R ratio of the wind farm feeder which connects the wind farm and the grid. The performance of the proposed strategy was evaluated for different X/R ratios, and wind profiles with different characteristics. …

Optical Solitary Waves In Thermal Media With Non-Symmetric Boundary Conditions, Simon Louis, Timothy R. Marchant, Noel F. Smyth

Tim Marchant

Optical spatial solitary waves are considered in a nonlocal thermal focusing medium with non-symmetric boundary conditions. The governing equations consist of a nonlinear Schrödinger equation for the light beam and a Poisson equation for the temperature of the medium. Three numerical methods are investigated for calculating the ground and excited solitary wave solutions of the coupled system. It is found that the Newton conjugate gradient method is the most computationally efficient and versatile numerical technique. The solutions show that by varying the ambient temperature, the solitary wave is deflected towards the warmer boundary. Solitary wave stability is also examined both …

Structural Re-Assignment Of The Mono- And Bis-Addition Products From The Addition Reactions Of N-(Diphenylmethylene)Glycinate Esters To [60]Fullerene Under Bingel Conditions, Graham E Ball, Glenn Ashley Burley, Leila Chaker, William Hawkins, James Williams, Paul A. Keller, Stephen G. Pyne

Paul Keller

The addition of N-(diphenylmethylene)glycinate esters (Ph₂C=NCH₂CO₂R) to [60]fullerene under Bingel conditions gives [60]fullerenyldihydropyrroles and not methano[60]fullerenyl iminoesters [C₆₀C(CO₂R)(N=CPh₂)] as previously reported. Unequivocal evidence for the structure of C₆₀C(CO₂Et)(N=CPh₂) was provided by INADEQUATE NMR studies on ¹³C enriched material. New mechanistic details are proposed to account for the formation of [60]fullerenyldihydropyrroles and their reductive ring-opening reactions.

Electronic Interactions Within Composites Of Polyanilines Formed Under Acidic And Alkaline Conditions. Conductivity, Esr, Raman, Uv-Vis And Fluorescence Studies, L Dennany, P C. Innis, S T. Mcgovern, Gordon G. Wallace, Robert J. Forster

Gordon Wallace

The properties of two forms of polyaniline (PAni) synthesised under acidic and basic conditions have been investigated both individually and as combined complexes. The PAni polymerised within alkaline media was redox inactive and non-conducting while the PAni emeraldine salt (ES) was electroactive and conducting. Raman, electron spin resonance, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies were used to monitor the changes in electronic properties of these conducting polymer composites. Solution cast films of alkaline synthesised (A-PAni) with the PAni ES resulted in an increase in the high spin polaron population suggesting that it acts as a pseudodopant. The ability of the A-PAni to …