Digital Commons Network^™

Metaphors, Yibo Liu

Theses

Based on the student's growth background, the thesis paper compares the historical development of Shanghai and Rochester and explores their social status, as it may be defined within discarded objects in the urban landscape. The student believes that the traces contained by those abandoned objects bear witness to the transformations in the city as time has evolved. Inspired by the expressive mode of the "Internet Celebrity Exhibition," a popular artistic form in recent years, the student created three sculptures as a complete thesis show: "Cyber-revelry," "Dumpster," and "Waltz" These sculptures have an interactive relationship through the use of mechanical operations …

An Integrated Framework For Video-Based Deepfake Forensic Analysis, Bashaer Mohamed Alsalami

Theses

Deepfakes are AI-generated synthetic media that use AI algorithms to mimic human faces, voices, and actions with high levels of realism. They utilize advanced machine learning and deep learning techniques to generate realistic synthetic media, making the distinction between real and fake content increasingly difficult. Deepfakes were initially developed for entertainment and creative applications. However, they are currently being misused in various domains, posing significant security and ethical challenges. These risks necessitate effective deepfake detection systems to mitigate potential harm and preserve the integrity of digital communication. Nonetheless, the existing detection methods are inadequate and lack a holistic detection mechanism, …

Characterisation Of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (Abu) Isolates And Their Antimicrobial Activity Against Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli (Upec), Ciara Kenneally

Theses

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common aetiological agent of community and hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs caused by E. coli result in considerable morbidity, mortality, and economic loss worldwide due to increasing resistance to antibiotics. Substantial efforts are being made to develop novel alternatives to conventional antibiotic therapies. One approach is the principle of bacterial interference; using low-virulence, or commensal, bacteria to prevent colonisation of pathogens by competing for nutrients, or producing antimicrobial compounds such as bacteriocins. E. coli isolates inducing asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) have been proposed as a therapeutic alternative for UPEC infection. ABU is a …

3d Co-Culture Of Human B Lymphocytes With Cd40l-Expressing Fibroblasts Using An Ultra-Hydrophilic Surface For In-Vitro Mimicry Of Secondary Lymphoid Organs, Ananta Kumar

Theses

B cells are critical components of the adaptive immune system that proliferate and differentiate within the secondary lymphoid organs. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures fall short of replicating the intricate structures and dynamic evolution of 3D tissue environments, prompting more physiologically pertinent in vitro models. Our approach employs ultra-hydrophilic surfaces engineered from methacrylated N-hexanoyl glycol chitosan to cultivate a three-dimensional (3D) co-culture of CD40L-expressing MS5 stromal cells and naive B cells derived from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy human donors. This novel system aims to mirror the structural and cellular intricacies of germinal centers within the secondary …

Impact Of The Substrate Stiffness On Macrophage Function, Aaron Newchurch

Theses

This study explores macrophage cell function in healthy and diseased tissue that alters the synovial membrane housing fibroblasts and macrophages by examining how substrate stiffness impacts macrophage function. Current research suggests macrophages adapt, becoming more inflammatory in this environment. Divalent ions (CaCl2 or SrCl2) are used to adjust alginate hydrogel stiffness. The monocyte cell line THP-1 is transformed into macrophages through PMA, LPS, and IFNγ treatment within hydrogels, then cultured for 12 days. Divalent ions affect macrophage functionality; Sr2+ crosslinked hydrogels show higher viability, as well as an increased expression of M1 markers CD197 and IL1β, while M2 marker expression …

Multilabel Defect Classification Using Graph Neural Networks For Autonomous Visual Inspections, Md Sazzad Hossen

Theses

Visual inspections of safety-critical systems are crucial in reducing the risk of equipment failures, downtime, and loss of life. This nondestructive testing (NDT) method uses a portable borescope or camera along with other sensors directly or mounted on robotic platforms to inspect difficult-to-access areas with ease, minimum time, and cost. Although state-of-the-art visual inspection platforms are equipped with sensors from multiple modalities, the inspection tasks still require human subject matter experts to identify defects and analyze them. This jeopardizes human safety in a hazardous work environment in energy industries, as well as the extended time for inspection and human error. …

A Comparative Study Of Tin Anodes In Carbonate And Glyme Electrolytes, Ameya Tushar Khirwadkar

Theses

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are a focus of novel energy research as they present a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to the abundance of sodium and anode materials. Tin is a promising option for anodes in SIBs because of its ability to be used independently or with other metal alloys. The advantage of using styrene butadiene rubber in tin anodes is a source of intrigue for potentially improving the shelf life of anodes and reducing the electrical fatigue on the battery. The study of glyme electrolytes compared to widely used carbonate electrolytes can potentially improve cycling life and the …

Cougars And Lambs, Lonna Adams

Theses

"Cougars and Lambs is an original novella written for my Master of Arts thesis in Creative Writing. The heroine of the story has escaped an abusive relationship and chooses to hide out in a small Northern Californian town. She opens a cafe and gets to know the locals in this tightly knot community. Unfortunately, her abuser tracks her down and is hell-bent on destroying her new life and possessing her once more. This story deals with crimes against women and the lives it affects.(This novella is actually 115 pages and just under 30,000 words. However, in order to fit the …

Reclaiming Fantasy: The Female Protagonist In Works Of Visual Art, Literature And Film, Siobhán O'Connor

Theses

‘Reclaiming Fantasy: The Female Protagonist in Works of Visual Art, Literature and Film’ charts representations of the female protagonist through the media in which the archetype is most prominent. From fairy tales to the slasher film, the female protagonist’s representation has been consistent with narratives that pertain to patriarchal constructions of gender. This is particularly true of genres that work on a level of ‘suspension of disbelief’, such as fantasy. This thesis presents findings on the reclamation of the female protagonist by female voices using a multidisciplinary approach, combining feminist theory, literary criticism, and visual art studies. From the 17th …

A Portfolio In Creative Writing, Cooper Golden

Theses

When I began writing my thesis project, it was difficult to figure out which stories I had written during my time at UNA would fit. Before, during, and even between semesters, I wrote several stories that might have been good selections, but as they weren’t school assignments, I couldn’t include them. However, making my project has allowed me to go back to three stories and not only revise but improve on what I had written. Something else that I’ve noticed in my project is how diverse the genres of my stories have been. For example, in two stories I focus …

A Comparative Analysis Of The American Revolution And The Jacobite Rebellions As “Civil Conflicts” Against Great Britain, Mandi Nash

Theses

British history consists of a large number of armed conflicts engaged against almost every country and continent in the world. While British history has a history rich with conflicts, two particular conflicts feature front and center when one is thinking in terms of a civil conflict– the American Revolution and the Jacobite Rebellions. A civil conflict is any conflict that takes place between citizens of the same country. Both the Jacobite Rebellions and the American Revolution were conflicts against Great Britain when Scotland and America were under British rule. Despite being two separate civil conflicts that differed in many ways, …

Fetishized Portraits In Victorian Literature, Rachel Smith

Theses

No abstract provided.

Cybersecurity Awareness And Risks Among Students, Staff & Faculty At The University Of North Alabama, Jerry Lwamba

Theses

As individuals and organizations become significantly connected to the internet, cybercriminals find an increasing number of ways to exploit their targets (Broadhurst, 2018). This study explores the world of cybersecurity awareness of risks associated with online activities within the University of North Alabama (UNA). This research aims to assess the level of cybersecurity awareness of risks university stakeholders face, and to also understand behaviors that expose them to cybercrime and emphasize the urge for comprehensive cybersecurity best practices. When cybercriminals employ tactics such as spam, phishing, or spear phishing in their attempts to break into network systems, distribute malware, or …

Low Energy Availability, Disordered Eating, Exercise Dependence, Injury Prevalence, And Fueling Habits In Female Crossfit® Participants, Alyssum Reno-Smith

Theses

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Experiences Of A South Asian Client And Facilitators Of Men's Behaviour Change Programs In Western Australia, Madhuri Mathisen

Theses

This study explores the experiences of male perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) attending men’s behaviour change programs in Western Australia from the perspective of program facilitators and a South Asian client. Informed by social and contextual constructionism with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study examines the experience of 10 mixed culture facilitators who worked with South Asian intimate partner violence perpetrators in men’s behaviour change programs and one South Asian client of an intervention. The participants’ experiences were contextualised through a semi-structured interview. The facilitators’ findings revealed that South Asian clients demonstrated patriarchal beliefs with a victim-blaming tendency and …

The Philosophy Behind The Vatican's Approach To Relations With China, John Ogilvie

Theses

The Vatican has always played a significant role in global politics, and it continues to do so in the contemporary World. The Vatican’s relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have drawn considerable attention in recent years, especially following the signing of the 2018 Vatican-China Agreement. Some scholars and commentators suggest that the 2018 Agreement and its terms represent a significant deviation from the norm in Vatican diplomacy. In light of that controversy, the present thesis provides an introductory examination of the philosophy that possibly guides the Vatican’s relations with the PRC and the implications this holds for an …

Consumer Acceptance And Sensory Evaluation Of 3d Printed Dairy Snacks, Laura Davis

Theses

3D printing technology has been established since the early 1980s by the inventor Charles Hull, with its initial applications in the moulding of plastic veneers for furniture. More recently, 3D printing has been gaining popularity as a food technology due to its potential benefits, such as personalised nutrition and reduced environmental impact. This study explored the consumer acceptability of 3D printed dairy snacks across participants in the UK and Ireland, through an online survey and sensory trials. The online survey was designed and distributed across 402 UK participants and 400 Irish participants. The sensory trial was conducted with a group …

Radio Propagation Characteristics For In-Car Wireless Communications, Stefan Reis

Theses

Over the past number of years, more and more autonomous functions have been introduced into the newest car models by the automotive industry. These functions include electronic stability control, lane centring, left-turn assist, blind-spot monitoring, etc. The primary purpose of these functions is to increase road safety and, to some extent, the driver's comfort. With the increasing number of functions, more and more sensor devices are being installed in cars, increasing the complexity of the intra-vehicle network. Wireless sensor communication oers promising features that can reduce this complexity, provide more exibility in the sensor placement, and allow for more sensor …

Atoms And Bits, Exploring The Use Of Data Physicalization And Augmented Reality To Learn-Through-Data In The Classroom, Rebecca Noonan

Theses

In today’s world we interact with data daily, whether it is on our phones, smart watches, websites, newspapers, or paper bills. Some have even proclaimed, ‘Data as the new gold.’ As data is an ever growing and important part of adult lives, this study was motivated to initiate the research presented here by questioning how we can expose children to data, in a way that will excite their early education, With this in mind, the aim of this research is to explore how we can make ‘learning through data’ a more interactive, engaging and positive activity by using modalities beyond …

The Impact Of Data Quality On Beef Genetics, Shauna Walsh

Theses

Efficiency and profitability in the beef industry are driven by cattle live-weight, therefore, to optimise live-weight data it is essential to maintain consistency across data collection methods. Data for this thesis was collected from 97,780 Irish suckler herds across the years 2019 to 2022, inclusive, with a total of 1,311,870 calf and dam live-weight records available. Live-weight data originated from five different sources including: professionally-recorded, producer recorded using either owned, borrowed or hired weighing scales, or from an unknown recording source. The objectives of this thesis were to: i) identify anomalies within cattle live-weight data for both calf and dam, …

Screening And Analysis Of The Urobiome For The Production Of Antimicrobial Peptides To Target Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli, Jennifer Jones

Theses

Urobiome research is currently at a nascent stage, due to a previously incorrect assumption that the bladder is a sterile environment. Improvements in bacterial culturing and DNA sequencing techniques have revealed a diverse resident bacterial community within the urinary tract (urobiome). As global incidences of multidrug- resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs) continue to increase, so too does the demand for novel antimicrobial therapies. Due to its relatively understudied nature, the urobiome represents a reservoir that could be mined as a potential source of novel antimicrobial compounds (e.g., bacteriocins). The aim of this thesis was to identify urobiome bacteriocins that could …

Establishing A Seven-Stage Iterative Framework And Card-Based Toolkit For The Facilitation And Sustainment Of Communities Of Practice, Michelle O'Keeffe

Theses

This thesis explores the establishment of a framework and card-based toolkit to support the facilitation and sustainment of Communities of Practice (COPs), with a particular focus on COPs in the education domain. COPs have been present in various sectors, such as healthcare, business, finance, and education, for over three decades. These communities bring together individuals who share common problems, concerns, or areas of expertise, aiming to improve their practices collectively. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the best approaches to facilitating, developing, and sustaining COPs over time. To address this gap, four empirical studies were conducted. These studies …

What Are Munster Technological University Students’ Experiences Of Menstruation And Reusable Period Products?, Kate Dolan Crowley

Theses

This study examines the attitudes of students in Munster Technological University (MTU) towards menstruation and period products. It is estimated that in Ireland, between 53,000 and 85,000 Irish menstruators may be at risk of period poverty (Government of Ireland, 2021). There is also evidence to suggest that some students have experienced period poverty (Ministry of Education, 2023; Brinkley and Niebuhr, 2022; Munro et. al., 2021). Period poverty has an impact on the physical, mental, and social well-being of menstruators, ultimately affecting their quality of life.

A mixed-method study was undertaken, consisting of questionnaires (n=319) and one-toone semi-structured interviews (n=10) to …

Forced Family Separation At The U.S.-Mexico Border Examined Through Narrative Theory, Emily Ulhman

Theses

An essential argument in grasping the negative impacts of forced family separation, a border policy upheld during the Trump Administration, follows this idea: to better understand the damage of the approaches taken during the Trump Administration's zero-tolerance policy, scholars must look at the narratives of those who experienced it.In my thesis, I use narratology to examine 18 nonfictional personal narratives of family separation enforced throughout the Trump Administration.

The Educational Development And Political Activism Of The Washington D.C. Black Elite 1877-1954, Chason Shackelford

Theses

This thesis seeks to explore how the Black elite impacted their spheres of influence in terms of education and civil rights activism. Were they trying to first and foremost retain their elite status in relation to the “black masses” or was their more nuance to their views? This work provides a detailed introduction to the Black elite and focuses on three representative historical figures, their families and inner circles: Blanche Kelso Bruce (1841- 1898), Daniel Alexander Payne Murray (1852- 1925), and Mary Church Terrell (1863- 1954). They were all born in different locations but exercised significant influence in Washington D.C. …

Beginnings: Nsw Teachers' Views On The Early Stages Of Implementing A New National Curriculum, Julie-Anne Seach

Theses

This PhD study researched NSW teachers’ conceptions of curriculum change after the introduction of a new Australian national curriculum. One key rationale for the development of a national curriculum in Australia was to raise the standard of education by providing excellent curriculum to students in all Australian states and territories. However, educational standards improve through a combination of many factors, including quality teaching.

A curriculum’s success is dependent on the teachers who implement it. While the curriculum itself garnered considerable attention, how classroom teachers responded to it was likely to be a contributing factor to its overall success. Yet, there …

Young Children's 21st Century Mathematical Skills And The Role Of The Early Childhood Environment In Developing These Skills, Mistelle Moore

Theses

This research examined the preparation of young children in an Early Years school environment in the development of 21st Century mathematical skills including critical thinking, problem-solving, innovation, collaboration, creativity, and communication. The research used a field-based case study using qualitative data collection methods, and the data were reviewed using thematic analysis. The research explores the pedagogical strategies employed by an Early Years teacher and the interplay of various stakeholders in nurturing 21st Century mathematics competencies among young learners. Key findings of the research indicated that there were eight elements that Early Years teachers should apply in their mathematics lessons as …

Pandemic Paradox: A Mixed Methods Study Unmasking The Impact Of Covid-19 On Australia's Nursing And Midwifery Workforce Job Satisfaction And Retention, Laura Lillian Hynes

Theses

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an outpouring of attention focusing on the global nursing and midwifery shortage and its damaging impact on healthcare systems worldwide. However, there is limited research, both globally and in Australia, on its impact on nurses’ and midwives’ job satisfaction and their associated intentions to stay or leave their job and/or profession, as a result. The lack of extensive research in this area highlights the importance of this Doctoral thesis. My research aimed to fill this gap by conducting a detailed study of the personal experiences of nurses and midwives who worked during the pandemic …

The Light Of Hope: Representations Of Salvation In The Great North Window Of St Mary’S Cathedral, Sydney, Carolyn Amy Lewis Flynn

Theses

St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney is considered to be the Mother Church of Australia. Yet, the rich architectural and artistic heritage contained therein has been little studied. This is an interdisciplinary study of John Hardman Powell’s Great North Window in that cathedral. It draws on theological and art historical research methods to interrogate the window’s underlying meanings, and the aims of its patrons. An examination of the doctrinal, devotional, and theological writings of the nineteenth century shows that this stained-glass window reflects the period’s understanding of salvation history. The window, firstly, tells the story of salvation through the stories about …

Deterring The Digital Dragon, Bryn Lacey

Theses

Australia’s 21st century has been heavily influenced by a growing number of cyber incidents ranging from individuals causing extraordinary damage to state-based attacks from adversary states such as China. Focusing on state actors in the cyber domain, this thesis investigates Martin Libicki’s cyber-deterrence framework, with a specific emphasis on the employment of deterrence by punishment, and applies this concept to the case study of the relationship between Australia and China.

In recent years, Australia has been consistently targeted by sophisticated state-based cyber actors and the Australian Government has appeared increasingly prepared to publicly criticise Beijing as a key security challenge. …