Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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 …

Advances In Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery: Management And Diagnostic Techniques, Gregory L. Falk

Theses

Upper gastrointestinal surgery has progressively moved from the surgically open abdomen to minimally invasive surgery, largely due to technological improvements in instrumentation. A direct result of this Gestalt has been improved patient comfort, rapid recovery and significantly less length of stay in the hospital and therefore significant cost-savings. This was the key impetus to my development of many of the skills in minimally invasive surgery and the subsequent dissemination to other surgeons in an organized and well-recognized teaching system. Many of the novel techniques of this type of surgery led to several publications both in the English and French oncological …

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 …

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 …

At The Heart Of Leviathan: A Hobbesian Reading Of Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness, Bethany Lilleyman

Theses

This thesis demonstrates how a historical-philosophical reading of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (1899) through the lens of Thomas Hobbes’ thought can provide new understandings of Conrad’s critique of empire, by extending existing literature on the novella’s historical and politico-philosophical ideas. As Conrad’s use of a literary-impressionistic style has often left readers debating the text’s meaning, the once-canonical novella has come under the intense scrutiny of both readers and scholars alike. This scrutiny intensified with the rise of postcolonialism in the late 1970s, which focused on the novella’s controversial representations of race and imperialism. Tensions surrounding the text have also …

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 …

Outlier State: Elite Rhetoric As A Window To Western Australian Regionalism, David Jones

Theses

Western Australia was the last of the Australian self-governing British colonies to agree to join the Australian Federation in 1900 and voted to secede, by a significant electoral margin, in a referendum held in 1933. Some have even argued the State has been a reluctant member of the Federation since this momentous vote. If this is the case, what evidence is there that can justify this perception, and possibly point to enduring underlying factors supporting this Western Australian regionalism sentiment and identity? Many of the drivers which led to the successful secession referendum in 1933 still exist today. The State …

Charting And Navigating The "Scylla And Charybdis" Conundrum Of Our Ageing Hearts - Heart Failure & Atrial Fibrillation, Simon Stewart

Theses

Residing on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria, Scylla and Charybdis were mythical sea monsters (one a fearsome creature, the other a deadly whirlpool) described by Homer. For anyone seeking to navigate that narrow and treacherous passage, avoid one of these lethal threats and you would be devoured by the other. For many populations around the world, the conundrum of successfully preventing and/or treating heart failure (HF) to increase longevity, only to increase the probability that it will increase the number of people living with and dying from atrial fibrillation (AF), represents a conundrum of …

Resistance Training Methods And Repeated-Sprint Ability: A Meta-Analysis, Jemma Bassi

Theses

Objectives: This study sought to review and meta-analyse the effect of resistance training methods on RSA, in particular we explored different resistance training methods on specific repeated-sprint ability (RSA) associated outcomes. A secondary aim was to assess the influencing variables, namely training background, type, intensity and frequency of intervention, age and gender.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Science Direct databases were searched for original research articles. Search terms included ‘Strength-training’, ‘resistance-training’, ‘power-training’, ‘repeat-sprint-ability’, ‘repeated-sprints’ and ‘repeat-speed’. Inclusion criteria included (1) involve resistance training intervention consisting of a range of body weight and/or loaded resistance training (40-100% 1 repetition max [1-RM]) at …

Early Movement Matters: Examining The Influence Of Early Postnatal Caregiving Experiences Of Term Infants On Motor And Head Shape Outcomes Across Infancy, Helen E. Beaton

Theses

The nurturing, handling and positioning exposures infants experience during daily caregiving contribute to their physical, motor, cognitive and social–emotional development. A relationship exists between infant sleep and wake-time positioning, the emergence of motor skills and the development of head shape deformities diagnosed as non-synostotic plagiocephaly (NSP). However, the underlying causal mechanism of the specific caregiving behaviours that may play a role remains unclear.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between maternal caregiving behaviours and the developmental outcomes of ‘low-risk’ term infants in the first 10 months of life. The first phase of the research involved the …

Exploration Of The Effects Of Developmental Coordination Disorder On Skeletal Development From Childhood Through To Early Adulthood, Jocelyn Tan

Theses

This thesis examined bone development from childhood into early adulthood in individuals with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) using a life course health development framework. One systematic review was conducted, and four original research studies produced with retrospective data from four unique cohorts in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Physical activity was assessed via accelerometry in Finnish child and adult populations and via self-reporting in an Australian population at 17 and 20 years. Bone was assessed via peripheral quantitative computed tomography in adolescents and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in adults at age 20 years in two Australian cohorts. Bone was assessed cross-sectionally …

Advance Care Planning In Cancer Patient - Caregiver Dyads, Natasha Michael

Theses

For many, a cancer diagnosis signals death's inevitability and elicits much existential concern. In the quest for life prolongation, many are offered or seek life-sustaining treatments, fail to appreciate a declining trajectory and lack the opportunity to seek information or plan meaningfully for their future.

Advance care planning (ACP) provides an avenue for patients and their caregivers to plan for future care. ACP is defined ‘as a process that supports adults at any age or stage of health in understanding and sharing their personal values, life goals and preferences regarding future medical care’ and is a key quality indicator in …

The Characteristics Of Senior Leadership Teams In High Performing Western Australian Catholic Composite And Secondary Schools, Daniel Michael Groenewald

Theses

The purpose of this research was to explore the perceptions of principals, senior leadership team members, and middle leaders regarding the characteristics of senior leadership teams (SLTs) in high-performing Catholic Education Western Australian composite and secondary schools (CCSS). The study investigated the characteristics that enhanced and inhibited SLTs. It explored the resources and professional learning that could improve SLTs and the role of the principal in the SLT. This research is the first study of SLTs in CCSS.

The study's literature review identified six areas of literature that formed the conceptual framework of this thesis. These six areas were: the …

The Temporal Development Of Breastfed Infants' Gut Microbiome At 1 Week And 3 Months Of Age, Faith Mhembere

Theses

No abstract provided.

The Other Beginning Of Thinking: Heidegger And Neoplatonism, Emile Alexandrov

Theses

This thesis establishes an “other beginning” for thinking by repositioning Plato and Neoplatonism in Heidegger’s history of metaphysics. The thesis achieves this by revising Heidegger’s interpretation of Plato and retrieving Neoplatonist approaches to non-discursive thinking, corresponding to some of Heidegger’s post-turn concerns. The thesis begins by justifying the adoption of Heidegger’s “two beginnings” idea and illustrating what I label the “fundamentals of truth of the first beginning,” which Heidegger used to envision the other beginning of thinking. The fundamentals of truth inform Heidegger’s reading of Hölderlin and the later writings that emerged from the 1950s onwards. The second part re-thinks …

Household Recycling Behaviour In Metropolitan Australia: A Social Practice Theory Perspective, Susann Noe

Theses

Australians generate almost 545kg of annual kerbside waste per capita, one of the highest amounts compared to other OECD countries (Blue Environment, 2022). Although kerbside systems in Australian metropolitan areas are well-developed and the recycling practice is considered a social norm, residents' inaccurate handling of recyclable items send as much as 35% of valuable recyclable materials to landfill, contributing to environmental harm (Cleanaway Waste Management Limited, 2021). Furthermore, newly established recycling schemes in Australian jurisdictions are not used to their full potential.

In the context of both issues, the current thesis aims to understand the underperforming nature of recycling practices …

Professional Standards: Regulating Behaviours And Values In Nursing - Intentions Versus Outcomes, Sally Robertson

Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the Registered nurse standards for practice in relation to the policy intentions for the profession and implications for the recipients of care.

Case study methodology with Bourdieu’s field theory and theory of practice as a philosophical lens and interpretive description were used to provide a framework for data collection, analysis, and reporting. There were four units of analysis: document analysis; feedback from senior leaders; nurses working in higher education; and nurses working in clinical practice. Through both historical and contemporary document analysis, the intentions underpinning the development of the Standards policy were …

The Perceptions Of Year 5 And 6 Students, Their Teachers And The School Principal Of Their Australian Identity And The School's Role In Developing Students' Australian Identity., Renae Nahajski

Theses

The aim of this qualitative research was to investigate the perceptions of Year 5 and 6 students, their teachers and the school principal of their Australian identity and the school’s role in the development of Australian identity. The study explores participants’ perceptions of their own identity and investigates where and when students feel they are taught about Australian identity.

The research also investigates where and when the principal and teachers feel the school develops students’ Australian identity. The review of the literature highlighted three areas that formed the conceptual framework for the study. The three areas were national identity; curriculum; …

Wellbeing In The Outdoors: Exploring The Impact Of An Outdoor Adventure Education Program For The Social And Emotional Wellbeing Of Western Australian Adolescents From Selected Independent Schools, Michael Down

Theses

Outdoor adventure education (OAE) programs encompass practical outdoor activities, such as hiking or canoeing, and activities promoting interpersonal and intrapersonal development. Participants are challenged in a manner that appeals to typical risk-taking behaviours common in adolescents, resulting in benefits such as resilience development, personal growth, individual empowerment, and self-efficacy. OAE is commonly used to support positive physical, emotional, and psychological changes among adolescents.

This research aimed to determine the most impactful OAE activities for adolescent wellbeing. A sequential mixed-methods research design using a pragmatic approach was undertaken to identify the most impactful OAE elements for participant wellbeing. This research involved …

Contralateral Acl Rupture Is More Common Than Acl Graft Rupture In Australian Netballers After Acl Reconstruction, Conor Honeywill

Theses

Background: Netball is a popular sport worldwide, particularly in females. The nature of the sport makes it high-risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Purpose: The primary outcome was to determine the prevalence of ACL graft rupture and contralateral ACL (CACL) rupture in Australian female netballers following ACL Reconstruction (ACLR). Additionally, this study aimed to determine the rate of return to sport and psychological readiness.

Study Design: Cross-Sectional Study

Methods: From a prospective database, 332 consecutive ACLR with hamstring autograft conducted between the years 2007-2015 performed by 2 surgeons in female netball players were identified. Patients were retrospectively surveyed at …

Sustaining Development Through Biodiversity Offsets, Linda Abdo

Theses

Biodiversity offsets, also called “environmental offsets”, are actions used to compensate for the loss of biodiversity and social values associated with development projects. They are commonly used by governments to contribute to ecologically sustainable development (ESD); however, offsets have been criticised for inappropriate use, poor implementation, and inadequate monitoring, reporting and enforcement. Regardless, use of offsets is likely to increase due to regulatory convenience in easing community discomfort with development impacts. This thesis investigated how biodiversity offsets in Australia can be enhanced to align with ESD principles. Analyses of peer-reviewed journal articles, published reports, media articles and legislative instruments for …

Exploring Shear Wave Elastography And B-Mode Ultrasound Measurements As Potential Biomarkers In The Diagnosis And Monitoring Of Patients With Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: A Novel Approach, Shereen Paramalingam

Theses

Background

Ultrasound (US) modalities, shear wave elastography (SWE), B mode US and power Doppler (PD) show great potential as imaging tools in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), but their utility requires further validation, reliability, and discrimination studies. This data are presented in five result chapters.

Methods

The initial literature review chapters set the foundation for the study. Chapter four assessed the face validity of US by comparing IIM patients and healthy controls. Chapter five aimed to establish criterion validity by comparing US with gold standard techniques. Chapter six and seven were longitudinal studies examining a non-inclusion body myositis (IBM) and IBM …

Improving Care In End-Stage Dementia With The End Of Life Care Assessment Tool For Advanced Dementia: A Multi Method Study, Carolyn Heather Bourke

Theses

Introduction

Often people living with advanced dementia do not receive person-centred palliative care until they are terminal. Two common barriers preventing provision of person-centred palliative care is staff’s uncertainty of dementia severity/stage and insufficient staff training in dementia symptom assessment. Evidence suggests that residential aged care nurses would benefit from gaining access to a measure that can build essential knowledge and skills in identifying advanced dementia symptoms, to ensure that planned care and support is responsive to the needs of the individual. The aims of this project were to develop and validate an advanced dementia symptom measure for use in …

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 …

Development Of Novel Anticancer Agents Targeting Glioblastoma, Kate Byrne

Theses

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant grade IV brain tumour. It remains an incurable disease whereby the median survival rate is 15 months and 5.5 % of all patients survive five years post diagnosis. The current therapeutic strategies include the use of maximal safe surgical resection, radiotherapy, and the use of the gold standard chemotherapeutic, Temozolomide (TMZ), which is referred to as the “Stupp Protocol”. Earlier research identified two compounds, which are structurally different but exhibit a similar biological effect to Metformin, the first in-line treatment for type II diabetes. Combining drugs which target cell metabolism such …

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 …

Towards The Synthesis Of Poly(L-Glutamine) Study Of The Deprotection Of Poly(Benzyl-L-Glutamate), Andrew Sentell

Theses

Polyglutamine segments of higher chain lengths are at the core of Huntington’s disease. The synthesis of poly(L-glutamine), including the deprotection and polymer analogous conversion of poly(L-glutamate) were investigated. First, the synthesis of hex-poly(benzyl-L-glutamate) was investigated and analyzed through ¹H NMR techniques. This research concentrated on the conversion from hex-poly(benzyl-L-glutamate) to hex-poly(L-glutamic acid) through deprotection of its benzyl functional group by the following deprotection methods: trimethylsilyl iodide (TMSI), NaOH, K₂CO₃, and HBr/CH₃COOH. The resulting polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and the …

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 -/- …