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Politics & Religion In Comparative Perspective: Papal Pastoral Visits To Mexico In 1990 & 1993, Kiara Catherine Black

Theses

This research examines the multi-layered agency of Pope John Paul II and the diplomatic relationship between the Holy See and the United States of Mexico from 1990-1993. Specifically, the research aims to examine Pope John Paul II’s pastoral visits to Mexico in 1990 and 1993 and how his activities are shaped by religious mission and statecraft. The pastoral visits of Pope John Paul II to Mexico in 1990 and 1993 are major inflections as the diplomatic relationship changed from one of cold hostility to normalised, and even congenial, in 1992. The research project is established via a detailed description of …

Looking In Jefferson's Mirror: Thomas Jefferson's Evolving Representation In Public History, Julie Spent

Theses

Thomas Jefferson's legacy entertains a high level of debate and controversy. Though he left a dense record of historical documents, the debate surrounding his words and actions has allowed for differing interpretations and representations over time. This study will focus on Jefferson's representations in public history with specific emphasis on examining the limitations or distortions present in these interpretations. Analysis of the image of Jefferson in public history reveals larger social and cultural influences in American society. This investigation will incorporate the way in which public history interpretations of Jefferson reflect and influence public views on race, class, and gender. …

Alabama's French Connection, Dixie Norwood

Theses

During the seventeenth century, a race to expand European empires into the New World was underway. Many explorers landed on shores that were far from where they had intended to arrive. What many perceived as mistakes, others saw as opportunities. Louis XIV was determined to expand his empire and establish a larger French dominance in North America. He and his minister of finance, Jean Baptiste Colbert, recognized that France was in a position to expand New France and the French Empire’s territory by following a previously spoken plan laid out by French explorer, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in …

Disjointed Cynicism, Jay Armstrong

Theses

Like most students, I started this writing MA program to become a better writer, which would be a tremendous benefit to me both personally and professionally. Put simply, I want to write books I would enjoy reading. While I have enjoyed a few of the short stories that I have written so far, my work is nowhere near the level of the action-lacked novels I love to read for leisure. I feel my biggest shortcoming is in framing up multiple storylines to make a well-paced novel, which is my long-term goal. My writing usually has a lot of action and …

The Satiating Potential Of Plant Proteins Transiting The Upper Gut., Leo Nunn

Theses

Increasing the feeling of fullness through modulation of satiety hormones by dietary proteins may be a promising daily approach in the prevention of unnecessary weight gain and in the maintenance of a healthy weight over our lifetime. The effects of animal sourced proteins on satiety hormone (GLP-1, PYY and CCK) has been well documented. However to meet the EU Green Deal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a 15-20 % dietary shift to plant proteins is required. This thesis examined the satiating potential of six plant protein ingredients, Teff, Oat Fibre, Lentil Protein Isolate, Buckwheat, Quinoa and Strong …

The Transformation Of Cherokee Medicial Practices And The Hesitations That Surround Them, Rebecca Bills

Theses

Studies on traditional Cherokee medicine during the 1800s explained Cherokee religious beliefs and the treatments they used to heal the members of their community. However, no updated research has been done to see if Cherokees are still using traditional medicine and if they are, which kinds are they using in the 21st century. This is in part due to the fact that Native Americans and the U.S. government have a complicated relationship from centuries of mistreatment, broken treaties, and the removal from their ancestral homelands. This has created a distrust between native and non-natives. Today, traditional healers' identities are protected …

An Evaluation Of A Novel Coach Education Programme On The Knowledge And Behaviours Of A Cohort Of Gaa Academy Coaches.Dr. Con Burns And Dr. Edward Coughlan, Sinead O'Brien

Theses

Title: An evaluation of a novel Coach Education Programme on the knowledge and behaviours of a cohort of GAA academy coaches. Background: To positively impact coaching behaviour, it is important to be aware of coach’s current behaviours and practices. Limited research has examined the behaviours and practice of coaches within the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) context. This study therefore i) examined the current coaching behaviours and practices among a cohort of GAA academy coaches ii) evaluated the impact of an educational intervention on GAA academy coach’s knowledge and behaviours relative to the games based approach (GBA) content covered in the …

Caring For Individuals Who Have Used Methamphetamine: A Study Exploring The Experiences Of West Australian Nurses Working In An Authorised Mental Health Institute, John Kriticos

Theses

Background: Methamphetamine (MA) use in Australia has stabilized over the last 22 years, however changing routes of administration and increased purity of the drug has led to greater rates of physical dependency and higher rates of cardiovascular, neurological, and mental health complications. Challenges managing MA related presentations have been reported in Australian Emergency Departments (ED’s), with limited research considering nurses’ experience treating individual(s) who use MA (IWUM) and require prolonged mental health care. Purpose: The aim of this study was to understand nurses’ experiences who care for IWUM in a West Australian hospital’s inpatient mental health service. Methods: Interpretive phenomenological …

The Development Of The Mini-Neurosurgical Assessment Tool For Nurses, Loreta Murphy

Theses

A neurological assessment is performed on a patient to determine their neurological function and to establish a differential diagnosis should deficits be identified. Not all patients require the same neurological assessment, and a comprehensive assessment can be very time-consuming and lead to patient fatigue. However, the ability to identify and manage neurological decline and emergencies is singularly the most important skill required for the care of neurosurgical patients by their nurses. Consequently, neurosurgery nurses remain forever vigilant for neurological changes, assessing and recording their observations over time and at the bedside. Neurosurgery patients would benefit from a neurological assessment tool …

One Beat At A Time: Mitigating The Risk Factors Of Rheumatic Heart Disease Through Public Policies, Duy Phuong Huynh Nguyen

Theses

This thesis examines the challenges associated with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and the persistent prevalence of these diseases in the Australian context. In particular, the study focuses on the high resurgence of these preventable conditions within the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Torres Strait Island population. The study begins with an initial analysis on the initial infection of the Group A streptococcus (GAS: Streptococcus pyogenes). We then examine current knowledge of the mechanisms which permit the transmission and development GAS infections, leading to ARF and RHD. This chapter explores current challenges associated with …

An Examination Of The Trends In Activities Of Daily Living In The 12 Months After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Descriptive Study, Irene Van Staden

Theses

Background

The current trend to reduce the length of stay for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, together with the steadily increasing number of procedures being performed, has impacted on the functional independence goals expected by patients and the ability of nurses to deliver adequate education prior to discharge. Over the past 10 years length of stay has reduced from 7-10 days to 3-4 days and patients are expected to largely self-manage their post-operative rehabilitation and optimise their functional outcomes.

Patient feedback confirmed that patients do not feel ready for discharge and lack the ability to self-manage some activities of daily …

'Crying Wolf': Generating New Understandings Of Alarm Fatigue Using A Convergent Mixed Methods Approach, Meagan Rae Vidyaeva

Theses

Introduction: Alarm fatigue is a consequence of sensory overload due to frequent nuisance alarms from physiologic monitoring devices. This ‘cry wolf’ phenomenon occurs frequently in the context of continuous cardiac monitoring and ST segment monitoring.

Research significance: The effect of these alarm types on nurses’ perceived alarm fatigue in Australian settings is yet to be examined. Accordingly, this thesis explores registered nurses (RN’s) perception of alarm fatigue. The effect of ST segment monitoring on perceived alarm fatigue, as well as the necessary resources for RNs to reduce alarm fatigue is also a focus of this thesis.

Methodology: The research was …

An Evaluation Of A Health, Wellbeing And Lifestyle Promotion Intervention Among A Cohort Of Year 1 Male Gaelic Games Student Athletes In An Irish University Setting, Anthony Casey

Theses

Background: The current research investigated the health, wellbeing and lifestyle behaviours of a cohort of 1st year male Gaelic Games student athletes (Study 1), and subsequently evaluated the impact of a bespoke intervention on these health, wellbeing and lifestyle behaviours in the same cohort (Study 2).

Methods: Participants were 1st year male Gaelic Games student athletes (mean age 18.6 ± 0.6 years, n=166) in a university in southern Ireland. Data were collected using a mixed-methods approach during the 2018/19 and the 2019/20 academic years. Data collection consisted of an online questionnaire (Bickerdike et al., 2018), which assessed health, wellbeing …

‘A Healthy Mtu’ A Mixed Methods Baseline Programme Of Research To Empirically Inform A Campus Health Promotion Initiative Within An Irish Higher Education Setting, Andrea Bickerdike

Theses

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been called to lead global health promotion actions, yet there remains a dearth of empirically informed ‘Healthy University’ (HU) initiatives. This thesis constituted a baseline mixed methods needs assessment to inform a settings-based health promotion (HP) initiative (‘A Healthy MTU’) within a multi-campus ‘case’ HEI in Ireland (Cork campuses of MTU, formerly CIT). Specific aims were to (i) investigate student and staff health metrics, and (ii) identify the cultural and environmental determinants of health and wellbeing within the case HEI setting. Using a phased, mixed methodology (QUAN-QUAL), five sequential empirical studies were undertaken. Quantitative data …

Isolation And Characterisation Of Soil-Derived Bacteria With Antimicrobial Activity Against Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens, Ellen Twomey

Theses

Bacteriocins are a diverse range of ribosomally synthesized bioactive peptides, recognised predominantly for their potent antimicrobial activity against other strains closely related to the producer. The focus of this thesis was to explore this activity and examine the potential of bacteriocins to inhibit the growth of clinically relevant pathogens. Although evidence exists in the literature to suggest that bacteriocins could be applied in a similar fashion to conventional antibiotics, to date they are only utilised as preservative in food to prevent the growth of foodborne illness causing organisms. Isolating and screening bacterial strains in order to identify bacteriocin producers has …

The Experiences Of Parents Diagnosed With Cancer Whilst Parenting Minor-Aged Children, George Prince

Theses

The incidence of cancer in Australia for people in the parenting age range is significant, and as the fertility rate of women aged 35 years and over continues to rise, many cancer patients may be parenting minor-aged children. The aim of this research was therefore to explore the lived experience of parents diagnosed with cancer whilst parenting minor-aged children, and to gain knowledge and understanding as to how parents and their families respond to a parent’s cancer illness. Utilising a qualitative research design, eight participants, receiving treatment for cancer in a private hospital cancer treatment service, and parenting at least …

The Influence Of Personal Traits, Individual Behaviours And Population Health Determinants On The Epidemiology Of Facial Injury: Psychiatric Comorbidity, Substance Abuse, Sars Social Distancing Measures, Gary Russell Hoffman

Theses

ABSTRACT Introduction Injury can be defined as an act or event that causes harm, hurt or damage. It occurs as a result of the transfer of energy to living tissue. The biological response to such an insult is inflammation and is based on the activation of immune competent cells in tandem with alterations in vascular permeability. The process is orchestrated at a subcellular level by the release of immunomodulatory molecular mediators. T

he bones of the skull and face are the key determinant of human appearance. They form the framework to which other tissues are attached. The variability of facial …

The Aesthetically Engaging City: The Role Of Beauty And Play In Urbanism And Human Fulfilment, Amy Roser

Theses

This thesis argues that cities can only become better attuned to the complex human need for identity, meaning, understanding, and self-expression when urban decision-makers better understand the nature and significance of aesthetic engagement. When we strive toward aesthetic goals in building and city planning, we then nurture, more fully, essential human activities and needs. This thesis argues that the aesthetic of the urban environment profoundly influences the thoughts, emotions, and behaviours of those who dwell there and is therefore inseparable from culture, everyday life, and the cultivation of human fulfilment. By doing so, this thesis reconceptualises architecture, the urban environment, …

The Laicisation Of Principalship In Australian Jesuit Province Schools, Christopher John Kitching

Theses

This study examines the introduction of lay (non-religious) principals into three of the four Australian Jesuit Province schools, and their influence on Ignatian Spirituality and the Jesuit charism within the tradition of Catholic education in Australia. This study coincides with a decrease in the number of clergy available to provide extensive academic, pastoral, and social justice activities throughout the Australian Jesuit Province. First, this study seeks to explain the values, understandings, and pedagogy of the schools, their heritage, and contribution to Australian Catholic education as well as the contribution of the laity in partnership with the (Society of Jesus) Jesuits. …

Aquinas’S Four–Fold Senses Of Scripture: Harnessing Metaphysical Analogy For Theological Exegesis, Susanna Edmunds O.P. Sr.

Theses

This thesis seeks to contribute to the integration of exegesis and theology called for by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger in his 1988 Erasmus address, “Biblical Interpretation in Crisis.” While much progress towards this integration has been made, limited attention has been given to Ratzinger’s recommended philosophical framework, the metaphysics of participation and analogy as formulated by St. Thomas Aquinas. This thesis builds on the contemporary revival in Aquinas’s approach to Scripture to propose a metaphysical framework for theological exegesis. This framework will be based on three claims. First, that the hermeneutic of faith adopted by the Pontifical Biblical Commission, among others, …

Is Patient Controlled Analgesia A Feasible Method Of Pain Relief In The Emergency Department: A Mixed Method Study, Raja Natasya Raja Azlan

Theses

Although pain is the most common reason for patients to present to emergency departments (EDs), conventional methods of pain management in EDs are suboptimal. Patient controlled analgesia (PCA), commonly used for post operative pain relief, was proposed as a modality of pain management in ED. PCA enables the patient to self-administer intravenous analgesia, has been rigorously evaluated in acute care settings and is widely used in many clinical areas. It is not routinely used in EDs. The literature review found critical gaps in the existing evidence of PCA use in EDs justifying this research. A three-phase sequential mixed methods study …

Novel Investigations For Reflux Disease And Their Complications In The Oesophagus, Jin-Soo Park

Theses

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a disease process in which gastric acid from the stomach refluxes upwards into the lower oesophagus and causes typical symptoms such as heartburn. In contrast, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR) is a reflux disease where stomach contents reflux upward to the upper oesophagus, pharynx, larynx, and lungs. LPR instead causes more nebulous and atypical symptoms such as voice change, chronic cough, and laryngitis. Furthermore, prolonged acid contact can cause cellular changes that increase risk of oesophageal malignancy.

GORD is a prevalent disease, and there are various investigative modalities to assess, diagnose, and quantify its impacts. On …

Anal Cancer Outcome Research Network (Acorn) Baseline Study – 20 Year Retrospective Study From Australia, Jean Wong Dr

Theses

Purpose

Anal cancer is an uncommon condition, occurring at higher rates in specific subpopulations. Clinical experience is limited and substantial changes have recently occurred in our understanding of this condition. We therefore set out to characterise patients presenting with anal cancer and investigate whether there had been any changes over the past 20 years.

Methodology

A retrospective audit of cases identified from pathology databases during the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2019.

Results

224 patients, comprising 162 (72%) males and 62 (28%) females were identified, with a mean age of 54 years (range 30-85) for males and 61 …

An Exploration Of The Causes And Effects Of Interpersonal Conflict Related Stress Among A Self-Selected Cohort Of Second Level Teachers In Ireland, Patrick Bruce

Theses

Teaching has been classified by researchers as a high stress profession. Stress in teaching has been reported to have many negative health outcomes and also affects productivity. The literature also reports that stress in teaching is a difficult matter to resolve satisfactorily, with mixed outcomes from interventions. An emergent cause of work-related stress in education is IPC and this study sets out to investigate the prevalence of this underreported phenomena.

A sample of 25 teachers working in Irish second level schools were recruited. Semi structured interviews were conducted to report on the experiences of stress, it’s causes and effects both …

Pedagogical Approaches To Enhancing Student Self-Efficacy And Addressing Gender Inequality In Undergraduate Stem, Gintarė Lübeck

Theses

Previous research has shown that the success and retention of students in STEM university programmes are highly correlated with their self-efficacy beliefs, and women and gender minority students in STEM have been consistently found to possess lower self-efficacy than men. Since specific teaching and learning practices are known to contribute to increased self-efficacy and help diversify STEM education, this study sought to identify which pedagogical approaches are effective in creating a more equitable learning environment in introductory STEM classes by positively contributing to students’ self-efficacy. This study employed methodological triangulation and synthesised findings from self-efficacy questionnaires, classroom observations, and a …

The Role Of Mkp-2 In Cellular Senescence And Metabolic Function, Morgan Welch

Theses

Senescence is a state of permanent cell cycle arrest which stops proliferation. It is hallmarked by changes in proteins such as p21, p53, and p16, which are regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) which are regulated by MAPK Phosphatases (MKPs). One such MKP, MKP-2, has a paucity of information on its physiological function. To study MKP-2 in senescence, we used mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from novel MKP-2 whole-body knockout mice. These MEFs were analyzed using senescence-associated β-galactosidase assays and immunoblotting approaches. It was found that there were reduced β-Galactosidase positive cells and reduced senescence phenotypes in the Mkp2 -/- …

Trust In Automation And The Consequences Of Reliance On Monitoring Checks, Jenna E. Cotter

Theses

As automation becomes increasingly prevalent across society, it is crucial to further understand the benefits or consequences of the solutions implemented in automated systems that support user interaction and the overall system design. While previous literature has provided valuable knowledge to the understanding of automation and trust, there is still uncertainty about how individuals perform and respond to automated systems that provide monitoring checks to maintain users’ attention. To address this gap, this study assessed the effects of varied reliability and monitoring checks on individuals interacting with an automated system. This study is among the first to examine the consequences …

Reliability Of Physical Unclonable Function Derived From The Power-Up State Of Static Random-Access Memory In Extreme Environments, Horace J.L Wilson

Theses

Static random-access memory (SRAM) is a high-speed, volatile memory that is ubiquitous in a wide range of computing platforms. Because of intrinsic process variations, an SRAM array’s power-up state presents a random yet distinctive, device-specific signature known as a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF). However, as SRAM dimensions continue to shrink, concerns arise about the PUF's resilience in extreme environments like outer space. Space has environmental conditions with high radiation levels and very low temperatures, so SRAM's reliability must be studied in these conditions. This research finds that ionizing radiation effects can dramatically impact the reliability of SRAM PUF. A technology …

Performance Analysis Of Zero Trust In Cloud Native Systems, Simone Rodigari

Theses

Critical applications demand strong security implementations, low latency and high availability at constant rates, however, the performance of a software system is affected by the implementation of security. This research measures the performance overhead and possible mitigation in cloud native systems secured with a service mesh, which allows enabling security policies for the authentication, authorization and encryption of traffic within distributed systems. The side-car proxy is a core component of this architecture, acting as a policy enforcement point and intercepting networking communication from/to applications part of the mesh, consequently affecting the performance of applications hosted in the cloud. Physical resources …

Energy Consumption Of Drones For Delivery Usage: Case Study In Dubai, Maitha Huraiz Bin Touq

Theses

In the past couple of years, the dependency of delivery services on road vehicles has increased, compromising the efficiency of this service in urban areas. Aside from efficiency, another issue is the increase in greenhouse emissions, which jeopardizes the government's efforts to reduce dangerous gasses. Drone-based delivery has been highlighted as one of the most promising technologies in the field of delivery systems. This system could ease traffic congestion, expediting delivery efficiency, and in parallel, the use of electrified drones could help with decarbonizing the atmosphere. This study examines the use of drones for delivery in the city of Dubai …