Digital Commons Network^™

Novel Electrocardiogram Biomarkers In Long Qt Syndrome, Daniel Theodore Tardo

Theses

Prolongation of the corrected QT interval (QTc) is key in diagnosing long QT syndrome (LQTS), however 25-50% of individuals with congenital LQTS (cLQTS) demonstrate a normal resting QTc. T wave morphology (TWM) can distinguish cLQTS subtypes but its role in acquired LQTS (aLQTS) requires further elucidation. Beyond the challenge of concealed LQTS, utilising the QTc is complicated by limitations related to overcorrection at fast and slow heart rates, due to assumptions based on non-physiological QT rate dependence. QT-RR dynamics enable improved heart rate correction and have been shown to distinguish cLQTS from controls, however RR dynamics have not yet been …

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 …

'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 …

The Impact Of Weighted Football Training On The Skill Acquisition Processes Of Place-Kicking In Sport, Sam Jermyn

Theses

Weighted implement training (WIT) involves performance of sport-specific motor skills with heavier-than-normal sporting implements. Typically, full range of motion (ROM) and similar kinematic characteristics of the respective motor skill are maintained concurrent to minimal changes in the force-velocity movement profile. While the majority of WIT research has been conducted in baseball, track and field, and cricket, there is a paucity of research conducted in the football codes, particularly Gaelic football. Existing observations of increased standard implement velocity and distance following the use of weighted implements infers potential benefits for Gaelic football performance, such as increasing kick-out ball velocity (BV) and …

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 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 …

Is Knowledge Enough? Exploring Mental Health Literacy And Other Factors Of Help-Seeking In Rural And Urban Emerging-Adult Males, Chris Haydock

Theses

Background and Aim: There is strong evidence to support that mental health concerns become most prevalent among emerging adult males (18-25 years) due to their reluctance to seek-help. Mental Health Literacy (MHL) comprises knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes towards mental health with some evidence suggesting it also enhances help-seeking. However, research has reported that rural residents are less likely to seek help compared to their urban counterparts, despite similarities in MHL. Other factors that impact help-seeking include self-stigma towards mental illness, masculine norms, wellbeing, and access to care. Despite this, there is limited research investigating the influence of MHL in unison …

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 …

Empirical-Based Hydrometeor Identification Algorithm Using Gmi Brightness Temperatures And Wsr-88d Derived Hydrometeor Classification, Michael B. Solomon

Theses

This research uses passive microwave brightness temperatures (TB) from the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI), and hydrometeor identification (HID) data from the GPM Ground Validation Network (GVN). An empirical relationship is developed between the observed TB and hydrometeors within the profile, using four years of co-located TB and GVN HIDs for training and testing purposes. The empirical relationship is used to create an HID algorithm, which predicts the probabilities of hydrometeor classifications, given a combination of TB values, with an average accuracy within 6.6 percent of observations, using mean absolute error. The HID algorithm is applied to …

Genetic Selection For Improved Production Efficiency In The Mature Dairy Herd, Maeve Williams

Theses

Improving dairy cow production efficiency is highly desirable because of its well-documented impact on profitability and sustainability. Long-term gains in dairy cow production efficiency have already been delivered through genetic selection. Nonetheless, achieving further improvements in production efficiency could cement the economic and environmental efficiency of the dairy industry, globally. To date, several components contributing to production efficiency have been overlooked, with many studies focusing on dairy cow production efficiency over short periods rather than lifetime efficiency. Therefore, the objectives of this thesis were to quantify the genetic variance components of complementary dairy cow efficiency metrics; including dry matter intake, …

Graph Neural Networks For Ethereum Fraud Detection, Charity Mwanza

Theses

Detecting fraudulent transactions on the Ethereum network can help cryptocurrency companies that operate on the Ethereum platform protect their users from exposure to fraudsters. The most common fraudulent activities in the cryptocurrency network include phishing and smart Ponzi schemes. Since cryptocurrency technology is still young, most investors lack knowledge of how the smart contacts used in the Ethereum platform operate; hence, they cannot evaluate the risks they are exposed to when carrying out cryptocurrency transactions. The key role that this paper looks at is the application of graph neural networks in the extraction of features of users in the Ethereum …

Software Defined Radio (Sdr) With Applications In Radar Systems, Makenzie Fogle

Theses

This research tests the validity of using a cost-effective SDR to implement a pulsed radar system. This cost-effective system would enable students to build and utilize this system to learn more about radar engineering and possibly pursue a career in radar engineering. Also, this system would enable a university to build a teaching laboratory for university students learning Radar principles. An adalm-pluto SDR is used along with the MIT “cantennas”. The software used to implement the system is discussed. The results from both indoor and outdoor tests are shown and validated. This research could have applications in education, industry, and …

The Role Of The Anthropogenic Fire Regime In Protected Areas In Kenya : A Case Study In The Mau Forest Region, Stefanie Mehlich

Theses

Kenya is frequently subject to fire activity. Natural fire occurrence is part of and beneficial to most of the country’s ecosystems. However, anthropogenic activities associated with agricultural practices increasingly introduce fire activity to ecosystems that are not fire adapted, such as forest systems. Registration of small-size burned areas below an extent of 1 square kilometer, especially from fires in mixed agricultural-forest interfaces, is a substantial gap in currently available products. Addressing this issue, an improved spatial resolution fire burned area product was generated, based on VIIRS Active Fire Detections and Landsat Surface Reflectance data products, and used to characterize fire …

Evaluation Of Atmospheric Land Exchange Inverse Model Evaporative Stress Index Utilizing Soil Climate Analysis Network Stations In Alabama, Corey Walker

Theses

The Atmospheric Land Exchange Inverse (ALEXI) model uses Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) thermal bands to derive daily evapotranspiration estimates at the continental scale. These data are used to derive a weekly Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) representing standardized anomalies of the actual to potential evapotranspiration ratio (AET/PET). ESI is functionally related to the root zone soil moisture content. As the AET/PET ratio approaches unity, the greater the available water at the root zone is for agricultural fields, whereas the opposite is true during periods of drought. However, the relationship between ALEXI ESI and root zone soil moisture may not be …

Assessment Of Public Transit And Access To Essential Services And Facilities In Huntsville, Alabama, Sachin Shivashankar

Theses

This study aims to investigate the accessibility of public transit within the City of Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. Accessibility, in this context, refers to the distance between the residents in a certain census tract to essential amenities such as hospitals, schools, parks, workplaces, and other necessary services using public transportation. Data were obtained from the US Census Bureau and the City of Huntsville's Data Depot, focusing on aspects such as population socio-demographic attributes, and the distribution of essential amenities within the Huntsville city. Utilizing a range of Geographic Information System (GIS) methodologies and tools, including proximity analysis, random forest …

Design Of A High Altitude Simulation Apparatus For The Uah Solid Fuel Ramjet, Joseph Agnew

Theses

A modular high altitude simulation apparatus is designed and incorporated into the UAH connected-pipe flow facility for solid fuel ramjet studies. A literature review is conducted on solid fuel ramjets, high altitude simulation approaches, and parameters of gas ejectors. Next, a system-wide design process is detailed with validating calculations as well as high-level CFD simulations. Finally, a compilation of relevant test data is provided along with relevant analysis. The eductor system achieved 11 psia at 0.054 lbm/s of heated air flow rate, well short of the desired 8 psia at 0.062 lbm/s flow rate. Ejector efficiency was between 43 and …

A Scaling Relationship Between The Whim Density And The Luminosity Density Along Filament Regions Inside Of The Illustris Tng Simulation, Benjamin Byrd

Theses

This thesis presents the current progress towards deriving a scaling relation between the Luminosity density and the density of the Warm Hot Intergalactic Medium (WHIM) located inside of filaments of the Illustris The Next Generation simulation 300-1 at redshift z=0. The filaments are located using the DisPerSE algorithm. This paper also presents a memory-efficient manner of performing nearest neighbor searches for large data sets for small dimensionality via the K Dimensional Tree, which enabled the limitation of the WHIM exterior to halos of the full simulation. The limited WHIM was binned into 6003 cells with a side length of .505 …

The Spiral Generator : Theory And Methods For Modeling And Fabrication, Jacob Kinsey

Theses

This thesis attempts to confront shortcomings of spiral generator knowledge of testing at low voltages, design techniques of spiral generators, and fabrication methods. To achieve this, basic fabrication methods were employed for generators to be tested at low and high voltage. This effort allowed development of a simple two-frequency model and winding machine. This two-frequency model depicts output waveform amplitude as a scaler of charging voltage and has been found to be adequate for using the model in comparison to less trivial models which can be less accurate in time-domain behavior. An updated winding machine was proposed as a result …

Solar Flare Forecasting : A Study Of Flare Coincidence, Christian W. Hall

Theses

Data mining techniques that can support the forecasting of solar flares are explored. The main focus is to investigate the effects of flare coincidence on the evaluation of forecasts. Coincident flares are solar flares in a region of the Sun in which another flare has occurred recently, whereas other flares are denoted as non-coincident flares. Dimensionality reduction and classification are two of the types of techniques examined, where binary classification is used to issue yes/no forecasts of major solar flares. Five algorithms are considered as binary classifiers: k-nearest neighbors (k-NN), logistic regression (LR), support vector machines (SVM), random forest classifiers …

The Effectiveness Of System-Wide Trust Repair Strategies, J. Andrew Atchley

Theses

This study considered whether contagion effects for trust extend to an interactive task that includes tasks that are visually incongruent and perform dissimilar task functions, and if trust repair strategies operate on a system-wide basis. Participants supervised three automated tasks over three blocks. The animal task decreased in reliability in block 2, and a trust repair strategy was issued prior to block 3. The findings indicated that there was a decrease in trust for the animal task only. The trust repair strategies were also ineffective for restoring trust. This study supported the idea that contagion effects do not extend to …

A Comprehensive Study Of Algorithmic Bias : Fairness In Ai, Ethical And Social Implications In Real World Applications, Lakshitha Rikhab Chand Jain

Theses

Algorithmic bias, also known as algorithmic discrimination or AI bias, is a pervasive phenomenon marked by the systematic and unjust treatment of specific demographic groups based on attributes like race, gender, age or other distinguishing characteristics. The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms across various domains has amplified concerns surrounding algorithmic bias, which has the potential to perpetuate discrimination and deepen societal inequalities. This thesis embarks on a comprehensive exploration of algorithmic bias, delving into its multifaceted nature. It dissects various forms of bias, including selection bias, confirmation bias, and measurement bias, shedding light on the …

Deciphering The Salivary Microbiome In Crohn’S Disease Patients With Different Factors Contributing To Dysbiosis, Hala Elzayat

Theses

Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), common in the UAE. Microbiota is necessary to maintain a balanced gut environment which is essential for good health. Dysbiosis can predispose to many diseases including CD. The oral cavity has the second largest and most diverse microbiota after the gut harboring over 700 species of bacteria. This study aims to investigate the alterations in the salivary microbiome in patients with CD compared to Healthy controls (HC). It also aims to compare CD patients for salivary microbiome complexity and diversity according to different factors that can contribute to dysbiosis, including …

Automated Loan Approval System For Banks, Abdulrahman Saeed Almheiri

Theses

Machine learning and deep learning have revolutionized industries. Businesses have seen a boost in revenue through the use of these techniques, including the multibillion-dollar loan and credit industry. This study aims to develop a machine learning model to approve or disapprove loan applications based on customer characteristics, using algorithms such as statistical models, tree- based models, boosting models, and voting/stacking models. An exploratory analysis was conducted to understand customer characteristics, and the decision tree model proved to have the best performance with high precision in loan approval prediction.

A Three-Dimensional Cfd Analysis For The Hydrodynamics Of The Direct Contact Heat Transfer In The Oxygen Production Slurry Bubble Column Reactor Of The Cu-Cl Cycle Of Hydrogen Production, Nibras Ibrahim Nassar

Theses

Hydrogen is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative fuel. As such it is important to investigate different methods of hydrogen production. This thesis examines the thermochemical process of splitting water using the three stage CuCl Cycle. In particular it examines the hydrodynamics of a direct heat contact, CuCl’s oxygen reactor for a two-phase system, using a three dimensional, Eulerian-Eulerian Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model. The model was first verified using experimental results and compared to a two-dimensional CFD model by examining the gas holdup (αg) using a Helium-Water-Alumina system for different reactor heights (H) (45,55,65 cm), different superficial gas velocities (Ugs) …

Comparison Of Qt And Qtc Interval Measurements From Bedside Electrocardiograms Between Expert Nurses, Bedside Nurses, And Computerized Measurements: A Pilot Study, Karolina Ho

Theses

Prolongation of the QT/QTc (heart rate corrected) >500 milliseconds (msec) measured on the electrocardiogram (ECG) in hospitalized patients is associated with torsade de pointes (TdP). While some bedside ECG monitors now offer continuous QT/QTc software, agreement of these measurements to bedside and/or expert nurses has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare QT/QTc measurements between expert nurses, bedside nurses, both using electronic calipers, and continuous computerized measurements.

Establishing Parameters For Selecting Eligible Neutral Current Neutrino-Proton Elastic Scattering Events Using Minerνa Detector Samples, Amelia Genus

Theses

The neutrino has been a theorized particle since the early 1900’s but its elusive nature has made detecting, understanding, and characterizing it particularly difficult. Experiments to detect neutrinos aim to better discern how this Standard Model particle interacts with matter, its own unique properties, and its ties to the history of our universe. The MINVERvA collaboration studies scattering cross sections by using five different nuclear targets (water, carbon, iron, helium, and lead) to gain a wide array of data involving a range of interaction types. These precision measurements directly reduce the systematic uncertainties for larger neutrino experiments that search for …