Digital Commons Network^™

Prognosis Of Equine Limb Fractures Based On Type And Location, Megan Gaffney

Theses

Horses are powerful animals: a galloping horse’s forefoot hits the ground with an average of about 2,000 pounds of force. This can result in many kinds of injuries. To work with and love a horse properly, the owner needs to understand more than just grooming and feeding. Owners must understand how the horse operates, particularly the structure and workings of the horse’s legs, to comprehend how a broken leg impairs a horse. This understanding enables the owner to work well with a veterinarian in determining the best course of treatment for an injury.

A review of the current veterinary literature …

Ancient Chinese Tombs: Western Han Dynasty Chapter, Yaling Zhang

Theses

The study of history is one way of preserving human culture. In China, a country with thousands of years long history, a vast number of historical events have been recorded in different literary works, including history books, fictions, biographies, and so on. However, we still need evidence to support or verify those literatures.

One physical evidence are antiques excavated from tombs of different dynasties. The ancient tomb mirrors a micro society of a certain dynasty. This project presented in this study is a 3D environmental design, comprised of four 3D scenes in high quality rendering to show the architecture and …

Assessment Of Clinical And Blood Gas Parameters In Healthy And Diarrhoeic Calves, Patrick Dillane

Theses

Neonatal calf diarrhoea (NCD) is a major problem to calf health worldwide. Metabolic acidosis, electrolyte imbalances are common complications of NCD, consequently, blood gas analysis is regarded as the gold standard test to assess of severity of these abnormalities in diarrhoeic calves. The objective of this research was to develop blood gas reference ranges for neonatal calves accounting for influencing physiological and environmental factors. As this disease is commonly treated by primary producers, previously published clinical assessment scoring chart was also analysed and compared to gold standard blood gas, in addition to next- generation biomarkers for severity diagnosis for NCD. …

‘The Show Must Go On’: Amateur Musical Theatre As A Community Of Practice, Kevin Walsh

Theses

Amateur musical theatre has its roots in long-standing theatre traditions that include both professional and amateur production. Apart from the performance, which is the over-arching goal, participation in amateur musical theatre yields many other personal and social benefits in areas of learning, community and identity, aligning with Wenger’s concept of a ‘Community of Practice’.

Using an analytical framework based on previous studies in this area, this research investigates how amateur musical theatre functions as a ‘Community of Practice’. The research was conducted using an ethnographic case study of two contrasting local amateur productions. Experiential data and details regarding participant interactions …

A Numerical Analysis Of The Effects Of Flapping Wing Kinematics On The Aeroacoustics In Hovering Flight, Kabilan Nedunchezian

Theses

Despite the recent interest in flapping wing aerodynamics, the aerodynamic sound generation mechanism of a flapping wing is inadequately understood. In this thesis, the interplay between the wing motion, resulting unsteady aerodynamics, and aeroacoustics of a flapping wing flyer is investigated. The wing motion is varied in terms of the flapping amplitude, pitching amplitude and the phase difference between flap and pitch. The unsteady flow around the flapping wing is numerically calculated using a well-validated Navier-Stokes equation solver. Acoustic pressures are computed using the Ffowcs- Williams and Hawkings equation in a three-dimensional space at varying distances from the wing. Two …

Spec Cpu2017 : Performance, Energy And Event Characterization On Modern Processors, Ranjan Hebbar Seethur Raviraj

Theses

Computer engineers in both academia and industry rely on a standardized set of benchmarks to quantitatively evaluate the performance of modern computer systems and research prototypes. The SPEC CPU2017 benchmark suites are the most recent incarnation of standard benchmarks designed to stress a system’s processor, memory subsystem, and compiler. This thesis describes the results of measurement-based studies focusing on performance and energy-efficiency of modern Intel processors using SPEC CPU2017. The studies utilize SPEC CPU2017 run utilities as well as modern Linux tools for profiling that interface on-chip performance monitoring units. The thesis encompasses the following aspects of performance evaluation: (a) …

The Use Of Machine Learning To Detect Suckling In Pre-Weaned Calves, Sukumar Katamreddy

Theses

The weaning of cattle is a process which is known to be labour intensive and to have stressful effects on both cow and calf Common methods used in the weaning process include the temporary removal of a mother from the calf and manual observation and intervention. Early and speedy weaning is known to have a number of benefits, including health benefits for both cow and calf, additional weight gains for the calves as well as reduced labour and feed requirements. The process known as Two-Stage Weaning is recognised to be an effective low-stress approach to weaning in which the calf …

Improving Methods To Estimate Time Of Death From Body Temperature, Carly Berdan

Theses

By protocol, ambient and body temperatures are collected at every investigated death scene. These data has been used since 1839 to estimate the time of death, a crucial factor when it comes to cases of unnatural deaths and homicides. The Glaister Equation and Henssge's nomogram, commonly used to calculate estimated time of death, are inconsistent and often do not agree with each other. Therefore, my objective was to evaluate and improve them.

I collected data in the field and consistently measured temperature data. Furthermore, I was granted access to a database of every death in New Jersey and published data. …

Changes In Nadph Oxidase (Nox) Protein Isoforms And Downstream Reactions As Function Of Time And Overpressure In Blast Tbi, Smit Prakash Shah

Theses

Blast-induced Traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a leading cause of morbidity in soldiers on the battlefield and training sites with long-term neurological and psychological pathologies. Among many pathological sequela of blast TBI, oxidative stress has been identified as a major factor contributing to the pathophysiology of bTBI. Recent studies have demonstrated activation of oxidative stress pathways following blast injury but their distribution among different brain regions as function of post injury time and Blast over pressure (BOP) have not been explored. The present study examines the protein expression of NADP oxidase (NOX) isoforms 1 & 2, corresponding superoxide production, a …

The Shadow In The Light: The Dark Romanticism Of Francisco De Goya, Elizabeth Burns-Dans

Theses

The work of Francisco de Goya (1746-1828) is impressive both in its skill, and in its scope; but perhaps most strikingly in its diversity. This diversity has cultivated a crisis-narrative of Goya’s life; his famed artistic darkness only appeared following significant ‘crisis moments’ in his life. This research contends with this narrative by analysing a collection of Goya’s earlier, lesser-known artworks, the Tapestry Cartoons. The cartoons provide a powerful comparison to the collections of his later years, such as the Black Paintings (1819–23) and the Disasters of War (1810–20). Framing this analysis is the influence of Dark Romanticism, which was …

Optimisation Of Ion Exchange Chromatography Purification Protocols For A Staphylococcal Peptidoglycan Degrading Hydrolase Enzyme, Fiona Maher

Theses

Bacteriophage (phage) are the most abundant biological entities on earth and were first discovered by d’Herelle in 1917. They are found wherever their hosts live and, like all viruses they do not have the ability to make their own protein. Therefore, in order to reproduce, phage must invade and infect bacterial cells. This project focused on the optimisation of Ion Exchange Chromatography purification protocols for a staphylococcal peptidoglycan degrading hydrolase enzyme (CHAPk). The project objective was to obtain the greatest yield of enzyme from the growth of the E.coU XL 1-Blue expression system into which the vector pQE60 was previously …

Predicting Energy And Water Consumption On Dairy Farms Through Statistical Analysis And Machine-Learning Methods, Philip Shine

Theses

With the abolishment of milking quotas across all European Union member states in April 2015, dairy farmers must adjust their farming practises to minimise milk production costs to adequately prepare for potential periods of reduced revenue. Milk production is an intense energy and water consuming process. Coupled with challenging European greenhouse gas reduction targets and legislation regarding the prevention of groundwater pollution and deterioration, increasing the production of milk in Ireland must be met with the sustainable consumption of on-farm energy and direct water resources, to ensure the future monetary and environmental sustainability of Ireland’s dairy industry. Thus, this body …

Development Of Multi-Class Analytical Methods For Agrochemical Contaminants, Sarah Tuck

Theses

In this project, cost-effective multi-class analytical methods were developed to detect a range of antiparasitic, feed additive and pesticide substances in foodstuffs of animal origin. These substances have the potential to enter the food chain through their occurrence as residues either through the animals themselves or other routes e.g. contamination. To ensure the continued safety of food destined for human consumption regulatory control limits have been established for permitted levels of these residues in foods of animal origin. Despite these controls the continued monitoring of foodstuffs is necessary to ensure these limits are not breached and that substances are not …

The Design And Development Of E-Textbooks To Support Problem-Based Learning In Secondary School Science Classrooms, Nigel Stewart

Theses

Problem-based Learning (PBL) is widely used in education and extensive research has been conducted into the use of PBL to improve student learning. E-textbooks are a relatively recent development and represent the next stage of evolution of print media with improvements in the presentation of information. They also offer the possibility of being used as a learning tool rather than just as a store of knowledge. This thesis attempts to develop a set of design principles that allow the development of e-textbooks to promote PBL in secondary school science students.

This research presents the results of a four-year study, between …

Assessment Of The Neuroprotective Efficacy Of Poly-Arginine-18 (R18) Peptides In A Pre-Clinical Model Of Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy (Hie), Adam Edwards

Theses

Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in infants, globally. This disorder eventuates following a reduction in oxygenated cerebral blood flow to the foetus in utero, leading to excitotoxic-mediated brain cell (e.g. neuron, glia and glial progenitor cell) death. Currently, there is no clinically appropriate neuroprotective treatment to reduce acute brain injury following HIE. Recent studies have demonstrated that poly-arginine and cationic arginine-rich peptides (CARPs; e.g. R18: R = arginine residues) exhibit potent neuroprotective properties in both in vitro and adult animal models of ischaemia, and therefore have the potential to be developed into …

Modelling Spatial Heterogeneity In The Haemodynamic Response With Implications For Neuroimaging, Russell Gore

Theses

Background: A foundational assumption of neuroimaging is the central volume principle (CVP): the mean transit time of oxygen particles in the brain equals the ratio of blood vessel volume to blood flow. Changes in mean transit time are expected to cause detectable changes in images produced by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The CVP assumes a uniform distribution of transit times, but in fact blood vessel volumes are spatially heterogeneous. This thesis examines the implications of spatial heterogeneity for fMRI research.

Methods: An amended form of the CVP that accounts for spatial heterogeneity is developed and parameterised using empirical data. …

The Impact Of Pilgrimage Upon The Faith And Faith-Based Practice Of Catholic Educators, Rachel Capets

Theses

A pilgrimage of Catholic educators from Sydney Catholic Schools served as a phenomenographic case study for an investigation into the impact of pilgrimage upon the faith and faith-based practice of Catholic educators. Forty-five Catholic educators embarked on a pilgrimage for the Canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in April 2014. The pilgrimage itinerary led the educators through Italy, whereby the pilgrims visited the holy sites of Saints significant in the life of the Church.

Phenomenographic data collection and analysis are used to investigate the range of ways educators’ perceive the impact of pilgrimage on faith. Pilgrimage is …

Psychometric Testing Of The Endotracheal Suction Assessment Tool© (Esat©): An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Kylie Davies

Theses

Background: Endotracheal tube (ETT) suction is a common nursing procedure performed in paediatric intensive care settings. Significant side effects of this procedure can dramatically affect the stability of the critically ill ventilated paediatric patient. The lack of clear standards for determining when the procedure is warranted, especially in paediatrics, can present challenges for the inexperienced paediatric intensive care nurse when assessing a patient’s need for ETT suction. Previous research underpinned the development of an Endotracheal Suction Assessment Tool© (ESAT©) to guide inexperienced nurses through the decision making process to determine suction requirements. The aim of the ESAT© is to improve …

Investigating The Molecular Pathology Of Dupuytren’S Disease, Robert Pearce

Theses

The eponymous progressive palmar fibromatosis described by Guillaume Dupuytren in 1831 is a common and debilitating disease with limited treatment options and high rates of recurrence after intervention. Dupuytren’s disease has been generally accepted as predominantly affecting Northern European individuals; Dupuytren’s disease is sometimes referred to as “Vikings Disease” as an attribution to this ethnic origin. Its familial occurrence in all communities is suggestive of Mendelian inheritance as an autosomal dominant disease with incomplete penetrance. The genetic and molecular basis of Dupuytren’s disease (DD) has been the focus of many studies, with increasingly sophisticated approaches since the sequencing of the …

The Christian Concept Of The Nature Of Motherhood And Its Implications In A Contemporary Context, Christine Fisk

Theses

The contemporary context presents countless ideologies and conflicting views about what femininity is and what it is not. In particular, the modern pursuit of equality and autonomy has resulted in the perception of motherhood as inconvenient in some quarters or, worse yet, inconsequential. This thesis considers the question as whether or not motherhood is separable from womanhood, and if there is indeed any inherent value to motherhood. The intent of this thesis was to go beyond the variety of views of what motherhood is to the two primary female figures in Scripture – Eve and Mary - to discern what …

Ontologia Ad Theologia: An Intellectual History Of Contemporary English Language Rahner Scholarship, Maddison Reddie-Clifford

Theses

This thesis develops the methodology of the practice of the History of Ideas for the study of English language Rahnerian literature. Drawing primarily on the Cambridge School and techniques of French analysis, it endeavours to recover the intended consequence of particular writings of Karl Rahner and to examine how this intended consequence conforms with the current English language understanding. It facilitates this with a study of several questions that arise in the current dominant hermeneutics of English language Rahner study. By deploying a rigorous intellectual history of Rahner’s theological development, it tests the extent to which the non-foundationalist approach to …

The Emergence & Evolution Of The Concepts Of “The Author”, “The Work” And “Literary Property” With Specific Reference To Enlightenment England 1450-1769: The Role And Influence Of John Locke In The Case Of Millar V Taylor (1769), Mark Doepel

Theses

This thesis argues that the political philosophy of John Locke, as mostly contained in his Two Treatises of Government, but also in a number of other of his works, and especially in relation to his theory on how property rights might be acquired, had a direct influence on the emergence of the modern notions of the author, the literary work and copyright as witnessed through a series of legal cases brought before the courts of England and Scotland over the period of 1700 to 1780. It is specifically shown that Locke’s philosophy had a direct influence on the acknowledgment of …

A Dialogue Of Traditions On The Reality Of Mind: Thomas Nagel And Bernard Lonergan, Robert Van Gend

Theses

The scientific picture of the world is one of invisible particles and empty space, but this is not the world of our everyday experience. How can we reconcile the scientific view of the world with the view from our ordinary perspective? This thesis puts Thomas Nagel and Bernard Lonergan into dialogue on the question of the mind’s place in the world. Coming from different philosophical traditions, both thinkers provide a bigger picture in which to place materialism and to assess its errors. Thomas Nagel criticises modern forms of materialism because they try to explain away the reality of our perspective …

Aboriginal Women Yarning About Experiences As Undergraduate Nursing Students In Western Australian Universities, Melanie Robinson

Theses

The inequities and poor health outcomes experience by Aboriginal people in Western Australia are well documented. It has been suggested that such issues could be better addressed if more Aboriginal nurses are employed, as there appears to be a link between improved health outcomes and the inclusion of Aboriginal health professionals in practice. In recent years the number Aboriginal nursing students undertaking tertiary studies has increased, but their completion rates could be improved. Aboriginal nursing students continue to struggle to achieve success.

The aim of this study was to investigate factors that enabled (supported) or inhibited (prevented) the progress of …

Open Versus Endovascular Thoracic Aneurysm Repairs In Australia, Timothy Shiraev

Theses

Objectives: Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) affect 10 per 100,000 people, and are responsible for significant mortality. Open surgical repair carries substantial risks of both morbidity and mortality. Endovascular TAA repair is a relatively new technology, with numerous proposed benefits over open repair. However, data is yet to demonstrate whether endovascular TAA repairs outperform open repair. We sought to observe trends and outcomes of TAA repairs over the previous decade in order to identify the optimal method of management of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repairs, as well as predictors of poor outcome.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients …

Evaluation Of An E-Learning Training Package By Nurses For Various Designations For Developing Clinical Skills And Knowledge., Nitasha A. Narayan

Theses

An essential component of nurses delivering good healthcare is continuous education. However, nurses’ [participation in continuing education can be hampered by lack of time, limited access to educational resources and cost concerns. Globally, electronic learning has emerged in the last decade as a flexible mechanism to provide education for nurses.

The purpose of this research is to evaluate an e-learning training package used by nurses of various designations for developing clinical skills and knowledge at a private hospital in Perth, Western Australia (‘The Hospital’). This study employs descriptive correlational design – a non-experimental quantitative approach. Data was collected via a …

Flannery O'Connor And Monster Theory, Katlyn Sutton

Theses

This study will assert that Flannery O'Connor's fiction falls into the genre of horror based on the frequent occurrences of monstrousness within her works. This study proposes that there is a hierarchal system of monstrousness that can be observed in O'Connor's writing. The first level of monstrousness observed can be found through reading O'Connor's works through the author's social critique of post-World War II culture. The second level of monstrousness can be found within the characters of O'Connor's fiction. The characters who are deemed monsters are both influenced by O'Connor's social critique and the role of God within the specific …

Using High-Order Prior Belief Predictions In Hierarchical Temporal Memory For Streaming Anomaly Detection, Brody Kutt

Theses

Autonomous streaming anomaly detection can have a significant impact in any domain where continuous, real-time data is common. Often in these domains, datasets are too large or complex to hand label. Algorithms that require expensive global training procedures and large training datasets impose strict demands on data and are accordingly not fit to scale to real-time applications that are noisy and dynamic. Unsupervised algorithms that learn continuously like humans therefore boast increased applicability to these real-world scenarios.

Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) is a biologically constrained theory of machine intelligence inspired by the structure, activity, organization and interaction of pyramidal neurons …

Altered Myelination As A Proposed Mechanism For Neurocognitive Dysfunction Observed In Mice With Tyrosinemia Type 1, Marissa E. Moore

Theses

The exact mechanism behind the recent reports of impaired neurocognitive function in individuals with the rare genetic disorder Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type I (HT1) has yet to be determined. This disorder stems from lack of expression of the gene fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH), which is responsible for tyrosine catabolism. This subsequently leads to a buildup of tyrosine and associated harmful metabolites that will cause sever liver dysfunction and cancer if treatment is not provided. The drug 2-[2-nitro-4-(trifluoromethylbenzoyl) cyclohexane-1,3-dione (NTBC) has proven to be effective in stopping the negative consequences on the liver and kidneys by inhibiting an enzyme upstream in the metabolic …

Carbon Fiber Electrodes For In Vivo Neural Recording, Esma Cetinkaya

Theses

Multi-channel micro electrodes for neural recording is a growing field that thrives on novel materials and fabrication techniques offered by micro fabrication technology. The material and the design of microelectrodes have a critical role on the quality of neural signals recorded. The neural signals collected by chronic implantation of these devices in experimental animals reveal new information about the brain functions and guide the development of new diagnostic and treatment options for neurological disorders.

Ideally, a microelectrode should meet two important criteria: longevity after implantation and minimal tissue insult. Carbon fibers` high tensile strength and flexibility allow fabrication of micro-scale …