Digital Commons Network^™

May You Stay Forever Young: Robert Sadoff And The History Of Mental Disability Law, Michael L. Perlin

Articles & Chapters

The path of mental disability law over the past 35 years bears the stamp of the work of Dr. Robert L. Sadoff, one of the leading forensic psychiatrists in the nation. This article tracks the development of civil commitment law, right to treatment law, and right to refuse treatment law, and demonstrates the crucial roles that Dr. Sadoff has played in each of these.

Perspectives On Brown: The South African Experience, Penelope Andrews

Articles & Chapters

In this paper the author examines the lessons of Brown v. Board of Education for the South African struggle for racial equality, South Africa's constitutional transition, and the significance of Brown in pursuing the right to education in South Africa. The author concludes that although Brown was of tremendous symbolic value to South Africans, the South African constitutional framework, negotiated in the early 1990s, reflected global human rights developments more substantially than it did the American civil rights struggle. This is demonstrated by the mandate of the South African Constitution to consider international law and by the limited references to …

Nurses' Perceptions Of The Pharmacological Management Of Acute Pain Experienced By Patients Hospitalised In The General Ward Setting, Susan Slatyer

Theses : Honours

This study explored and described the experiences and perceptions of nurses managing acute pain in a Western Australian public hospital. The focus was nurses practising in the general ward setting and using current prescribing guidelines. The aim of this research was to explore nurses' attitudes, beliefs and knowledge about pain and pain pharmacology and how this practice setting influences efficient pain management. Qualitative methodology was selected for its ability to explore complex issues in order to build nursing knowledge and guide nursing practice. This study used a descriptive, exploratory design based on a phenomenological approach. The sample comprised ten Registered …

A Qualitative Exploration Of The Transition Experience Of Students From A High School To A Senior High School In Rural Western Australia, Amiee-Jade Pereira

Theses : Honours

This review outlines literature on the normative high school transitions that occur during adolescence. Research examines factors affecting the school transition experience (e.g., school size, structure, feeder patterns, and the additive affect of multiple school transitions), student outcomes (e.g., academic performance, self-esteem and psychological symptomatology), and student perceptions of their transition experience. Research limitations include the focus on American, metropolitan schools undergoing the elementary to middle school transition, and the utilisation of quantitative methodologies. Future research needs to examine the experience of students from different countries, both metropolitan and rural, undergoing school transitions. Qualitative methodologies should also be utilised to …

Computer Security: Investigating The Impact That Security Specific Education Has On Users’ Behaviour, Samuel David Jones

Theses : Honours

A lack in end-user awareness in computer security issues provides the rationale for this investigation. The research considers whether or not the provision of an educational package addressing computer security issues will improve awareness and transform behaviour of end-users in assessing and enacting appropriate responses in computer security situations. A group of twenty participants was studied in detail using a mixed methods research approach. The participants were drawn from a cross section of computer end-users, from elementary to advanced levels of computer literacy. Outcomes include a positive response to the provision of material, however human factors were found to be …

Issues Faced In The Post-Tsunami Recovery Of Small And Medium Tourism Enterprises In Galle District, Sri Lanka : An Exploratory Study, Acushla M. Felix

Theses : Honours

This study identifies the issues faced in the post-tsunami recovery of the tourism industry by Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises in the Galle District of Sri Lanka. Similar to many other countries, Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises form a significant proportion of the Sri Lanka Tourism Industry. However, the significance of this sector of the industry was apparent only subsequent to the tsunami. While Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises account for a diverse range of businesses providing products or services for tourist consumption, this study includes only three such categories, namely; hospitality enterprises; souvenir providers and nature-based enterprises. Further, this …

The Inevitable Ageing Of The Population And The Implications Of Prolonging Employment For Older Adults, Monica Rose Cooper

Theses : Honours

One of the proposed solutions to Australia's ageing population (12% aged over 65 years in 1997 to 22% by 2031; Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS, 2000) and the perceived burden on the economy, is for older adults to remain in paid employment longer. The present study explored the perspectives of older adults concerning employment and working beyond the age of 65 years. A qualitative methodology was employed and data was collected through the use of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 11 participants aged between 60-75 years of age. Thematic content analysis was performed in order to identify core issues and themes. …

Artificial Neural Networks : A Comparative Study Of Implementations For Human Chromosome Classification, Nancy Akl

Theses : Honours

Artificial neural networks are a popular field of artificial intelligence and have commonly been applied to solve many prediction, classification and diagnostic tasks. One such task is the analysis of human chromosomes. This thesis investigates the use of artificial neural networks (ANNs) as automated chromosome classifiers. The investigation involves the thorough analysis of seven different implementation techniques. These include three techniques using artificial neural networks, two techniques using ANN s supported by another method and two techniques not using ANNs. These seven implementations are evaluated according to the classification accuracy achieved and according to their support of important system measures, …

The Recognition And Application Of Security Risk Management In Corporate Governance, Chris J. Cubbage

Theses : Honours

Security as a profession and discipline has emerged principally in the later half of the twentieth century and has developed to become a more defined, usual, respectable and visual part of management. This study aimed to determine the degree of recognition and application of security risk management to corporate governance practices in Australia. Formal research design used descriptive research methodology, consisting of a literature review, primary document analysis and a questionnaire survey to collect data. This research was contrasted to a Corporate Governance Security Model formulated to determine if the model is applicable to the recognition, or application, of a …

Lost Wisdom: An Exploration Of The Experiences Of Women Who Chose To Birth At Home, Lee-Anne Raeside

Theses : Honours

Childbirth literature was explored firstly to gain a historical understanding of childbirth practices over the last century and secondly to explore the influences that determine a woman's birth choice. A shift from midwife-based care to medical-based care has resulted in the majority of births occurring in hospital. This shift has promoted the perspective that childbirth is a risky pathological event to be feared. However, professional perspectives of childbirth vary from birth being seen as a natural and challenging process to birth as a risky event that requires medical intervention. Women's perspectives are shaped by both professional perspectives and a natural …

Does Alcohol Use Cause Intimate Partner Violence? The Role Of Alcohol In Intimate Partner Violence: Perspectives Of Women In Domestic Violence Refuges, Angeline C. Swan

Theses : Honours

Studies consistently find an association between alcohol use and intimate partner violence (IPV) and many explanations for this association have been offered. The purpose of this review was to examine the nature of this association and determine the extent to which it is understood. Two questions were addressed. Is there conclusive evidence that alcohol use plays a causal role in IPV? What evidence supports the various theories put forward to explain the association between alcohol use and IPV? The current research indicates that alcohol is a contributing factor to IPV that needs to be understood in terms of other interacting …

How To Play The Game: Constructing Australian Masculinities In An Increasingly Mediated World, Carl Broman

Theses : Honours

Increasing research into social constructions of gender, have begun focusing on the study of male behaviour, or masculinity. The study of hegemonic masculinities helps display the dominant forms of socialised acceptable behaviour and expose artificial constructions of gender difference. Concerning trends in destructive masculine behaviour may find relationships with other forms of social disconnection linked with late capitalism. I look at how direct localised contributions to constructing masculinities have been disempowered by the expansion of the Western corporate economy. The culture of popular sport has been transformed to create an individual identification with Australian Rules Football and its masculinities, that …

Healthcare Practitioners' Perspectives On The Use Of E-Health Applications To Support Overweight And Obese Adolescents, Rachel J. Mahncke

Theses : Honours

The aim of this research was to investigate, from an Australian healthcare practitioners' perspective, whether online and e-health applications could provide support for and be beneficial to overweight and obese adolescents. This research has investigated whether diet and exercise related environmental causes of obesity could be positively affected by using e-health applications to re-educate adolescents about healthy eating and exercise behaviours the research identified what online and electronic resources healthcare practitioners' recommended to their patients, in order to understand how information systems· solutions could better assist these patients in achieving healthier lifestyle outcomes. Additionally, the research investigated what content, features …

Dryland Salinity In Western Australia: A Local Government Perspective, Paul Scalzi

Theses : Honours

This study evaluated local government's response to the problem of dryland salinity in the Western Australian Wheatbelt, and to what extent local government has the capacity to meet its statutory obligations. Salinity is a significant environmental problem that has the potential to have a marked effect on Western Australia's economy, environment and social fabric. The problem has been the focus of much Commonwealth and State attention, but the same level of involvement is not apparent in the institution of local government. This is also reflected in the paucity of published literature in the area of local government and salinity. Local …

Performing Successfully In The Heat At The 2004 Olympic Games In Athens: Which Active Cooling Strategies Represent Best Practice For Endurance Athletes, Marc Quod

Theses : Honours

Previous research using athletes has documented that precooling can improve endurance performance, especially in warm conditions. However, research comparing performance following different cooling techniques which are incorporated into a prerace routine is rare. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two precooling techniques on cycling time trial performance in warm conditions. Methods: Six endurance trained, regionally competitive cyclists completed one maximal graded exercise test (V0_2peak 71.4 ±3.2 ml’kg^-1min^-1) and four ~40 min laboratory cycling time trials in a heat chamber (34.3 ± 1.1°C; 41.2 ± 3.0% relative humidity (rh)) using …

View Space Linking, Solid Node Compression And Binary Space Partitioning For Visibility Determination In 3d Walk-Throughs, Joel Anderson

Theses : Honours

Today's 3D games consumers are expecting more and more quality in their games. To enable high quality graphics at interactive rates, games programmers employ a technique known as hidden surface removal (HSR) or polygon culling. HSR is not just applicable to games; it may also be applied to any application that requires quality and interactive rates, including medical, military and building applications. One such commonly used technique for HSR is the binary space partition (BSP) tree, which is used for 3D ‘walk-throughs’, otherwise known as 3D static environments or first person shooters. Recent developments in 3D accelerated hardware technology do …

Predicting The Spatial Distribution Of Organic Rich Sediments On The Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia, David Blake

Theses : Honours

The Organic Rich Sediments (ORS) of the Swan Coastal Plain (SCP) are an important component of the ecosystem, an important source of habitat and refuge for many species of fauna and act as natural fire control mechanisms through edaphic measures within the landscape. There have been numerous impacts on ORS, with fire now rated as one of the imminent threats to the continued existence and functioning of these entities. Conversely fire is an important tool for land mangers in their efforts to promote biodiversity and manage fuel loads to prevent wildfires, at present many of these ORS are becoming victim …

A Study Of The Effects Of Probait On Chuditch, Dasyurus Geoffroii, Within The Julimar Conservation Park With Notes On The General Ecology, Melissa York

Theses : Honours

Broad scale fox baiting programs have been underway in Western Australia since 1996 when the Western Shield fauna recovery program commenced with the aim of recovering many fauna species that are under threat of extinction. Until recently, effective fox control for fauna recovery has been achieved with dried meat baits impregnated with the poison 1080. The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) has developed more readily available and cost effective sausage meat baits, termed Probait. As bait acceptability trials in the laboratory indicated a potential risk from Pro bait ingestion by chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), assessment of the likely risk …

Great Expectations: The Australian Greens At The 2004 Federal Election, Michael Beard

Theses : Honours

Prior to the 2004 federal election the Australian Greens were rising as the third force in the Australian political system. At the 2001 election they secured an increased share of the vote and returned a second Senator. Conversely the Australian Democrats, held to be the third force in Australian politics went backwards in 2001, losing a Senate seat. From 2001 to 2004 the Greens polled strongly and were buoyed by increased support for their anti-Iraq war and pro-refugee positions. As a party they appeared to be moving beyond single-issue status. Equally the Democrats were suffering from internal disunity and their …

An Investigation Of Network Security Management Methods, Shamila Anuranga Ratnayake

Theses : Honours

Network Management (NM) is concerned with reducing complexity and managing cost. The traditional NM tools and techniques are based on the Open System Interconnection (OSI) NM model. However, several drawbacks have been identified when managing a network using traditional NM tools (Sarkar & Verma, 2001). Network security is a major issue when managing a network. Even though the technology assists to reduce security risks, unless properly managed, the security measures may not do the job as expected. The State Model (SM) diagram is a new method, which may assists in managing the network. This new method may provide functionality not …

"The Ship Has Gone Down With The Captain" : A Study Of The Framing Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Commission (Atsic) Chairman Geoff Clark In The Australian, Lauren Heinritz

Theses : Honours

This study looks at the frames used in the Australian newspaper's coverage of Indigenous leader Geoff Clark, from his re-election as chairman of the Aboriginal and Tones Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) at the end of 2002 until the agency's demise in March 2004, and finds two divergent ways of reporting Indigenous issues. In summary, the Geoff Clark case study highlights the ideological divide between proponents of the so-called "tights-based agenda" in Indigenous affairs and those that favour the "responsibilities-based" agenda. When established in 1990, ATSIC was viewed as a significant step towards Indigenous self-determination. With official federal government policy shifting …

Girl Du Jour - Girl Of The Day, Sarah Perfrement

Theses : Honours

Girl du jour explores and discusses a select group of women's lives, as well as factors influencing the development of young women's identities. The project offers a personal and intimate insight into the women's lives through the use of documentary/photojournalism whilst also incorporating the choreographed image. Girl du jour explores the group of young women's lives both theoretically and visually, making reference to the performance of identity, women's issues, body image (including young women and the influence of the fashion industry) and motherhood. The women depicted are exposed in their intimate, public and social lives are depicted in an attempt …

Gay And Lesbian Psychological Well-Being: A Thesis Comprising; Psychological Health In Adults From Sexual Minorities (Literature Review); And, A Comparative Exploratory Study Of The Psychological Well-Being Of Gay Male, Lesbian, And Heterosexual Australian Metropolitan Adults (Research Project), Stephen D. Brown

Theses : Honours

Research into the psychological health of members of sexual minorities has been biased towards a medical model of illness and several methodological difficulties need to be considered to critically interpret findings in this area. This review presents relevant literature on sexual minority stressors, positive coping by sexual minority members, and the mixed findings of between-groups comparative research. The medical model bias is evident in an analysis of the measures of psychological health used in research involving sexual minorities. The thesis of considering psychological health of sexual minorities from the broader perspective that includes both well-being and pathology, and of using …

2d-Barcode For Mobile Devices, Hiroko Kato

Theses : Honours

2D-barcodes were designed to carry significantly more data than its 1D counterpart. These codes are often used in industrial information tagging applications where high data capacity, mobility, and data robustness are required. Wireless mobile devices such as camera phones and Portable Digital Assistants (PDAs) have evolved from just a mobile voice communication device to what is now a mobile multimedia computing platform. Recent integration of these two mobile technologies has sparked some interesting applications where 2D-barcodes work as visual tags and/or information source and camera phones performs image processing tasks on the device itself. One of such applications is hyperlink …

Upper Yilgarn Catchment Appraisal 2005, Keith Ohlsen, Susan Murphy-White

Resource management technical reports

Soil degradation on farmland reduces agricultural production and will often lead to damage to natural resources such as remnant vegetation and waterways, as well as to infrastructure, including roads and townsites. This report provides current information on the land degradation status for the Upper Yilgarn Catchment area in Western Australia by outlining: condition of the soils, hydrology, natural vegetation, farming systems and agricultural production and risks to natural resources.

Public Health Protection And The Commerce Clause: Controlling Tobacco In The Internet Age, Wendy E. Parmet, Christopher Banthin

New Mexico Law Review

No abstract provided.

Uncharted Territory - The Charter Forest Experiment On The Valles Caldera National Preserve: An Initial Economic And Policy Analysis, Joseph Little, Robert P. Berrens, Patricia A. Champ

Natural Resources Journal

No abstract provided.

Interim Measures In International Human Rights: Evolution And Harmonization, Jo M. Pasqualucci

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

In this Article, the Author undertakes a comprehensive study of interim measures ordered in human rights cases before six international enforcement bodies--the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the United Nations Committee against Torture, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. An order of interim measures may require that the State take positive action, such as providing protection for human rights activists or journalists, or it may call upon the State to refrain from taking action, such as not extraditing a person or delaying …

Rethinking Multinational Corporate Governance In Extractive Industries, Matthew Nick

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The oil and natural gas reserves under the Caspian Sea have sparked the interest of international investors and oil firms. The political, economic, and social turmoil in the five countries bordering the Caspian Sea, however, pose significant challenges for effective regulation of multinational interaction with the five Caspian states. A joint-effort approach to regulation involving the World Bank, multinational enterprises, and the individual Caspian states' governments poses the most functional and efficient means of instituting international oversight. Such a tripartite structure connects the fortunes of all the parties and provides safeguards against default by any single entity. A mutually beneficial …

Free Trade And Illegal Drugs: Will Nafta Transform The United States Into The Netherlands?, Taylor W. French

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

In the postwar era, the United States typically has taken an approach to dealing with illegal drugs different from Europe. Americans have favored prohibitionist measures to combat drug use, while Europeans have gradually relaxed many of their illicit substance laws. Recently, however, there has been a growing movement within the United States to decriminalize and legalize marijuana. Numerous states have already reformed their laws to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to patients. Moreover, many states are dramatically decriminalizing personal use of cannabis.

A review of postwar Europe's experience with drugs provides a useful paradigm to explain the U.S.'s shifting attitude. …