Digital Commons Network^™

"You'd Better Get In There And Be The Advocate": Parents Of Gender Nonconforming Children's Perspectives On Support, Samantha Schofield

Human Development and Family Science

In this project parents of gender nonconforming children shared their perspectives on finding emotional support for themselves and their family. Ten women-identified mothers participated in semi-structured interviews via online chat or phone. Three research questions produced eight categories, each with multiple themes which illustrate these parents' experience. Main findings include the centrality of the internet in a parent's search for support, the importance of community, advocacy efforts of parents to support their child and other families, and both personal and professional qualities that are characteristic of supportive people. From reflections on what has been most helpful to these participants, clinical …

Identity And Daily Experience In Queer Emerging Adults, Sarah Catherine Rogers

Human Development and Family Science

This study examined possible links between aspects of sexual orientation identity and daily experiences of queer emerging adults ages 18-24 in a sample of 20 college students and non-college students in the Midwest, using the experience sampling method (ESM). Participants reported momentary experiences on approximately 49 occasions across one week, with a total number of 796 moments of experience in the data set. Participants also completed a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Identity Scale (LGBIS). The study examined associations among momentary identity variables, momentary contextual variables, and global assessments of identity. Results indicated that positive experience (more positive mood, less negative moods, …

None But The Bravest Of Men: Violence And Popular Sovereignty In Revolutionary War Veteran Narratives., James M. Greene

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Starting with Ethan Allen's 1778 captivity narrative, the Revolutionary War veteran narrative became a small, but popular, subgenre of early American life writing. In this project, I argue that the genre encouraged a myth of the republican citizen-soldier in the early United States that supported the delegation of popular sovereignty toward the institutional management of a strong central government. As a synecdoche for a continental body politic, the Revolutionary veteran appeared as both the source of sovereignty as a citizen and an agent of this authority as a soldier. The genre has typically been understood as one that appeals for …

Comparing U.S. And International Medical Graduates' Treatment Of Chronic Diseases: Utilization Of Psychosocial Interventions., Susan E. Jarquin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Chronic disease care places significant pressure on healthcare provider resources, often requiring the hiring of physicians trained abroad to meet these demands. International medical graduates are on trend to become the primary suppliers of chronic disease care in the U.S. Consequently, there is a need to assess how physicians trained abroad care for patients with chronic diseases. The purpose of this exploratory survey study was to determine whether international and U.S. medical graduates differ in their use of three specific psychosocial interventions when caring for patients suffering from chronic diseases. Medical residents in U.S. allopathic family medicine and internal medicine …

Assessing Microbial Stability And Quality Of Green Beans Using Various Home Canning Methods, Jenny Kuchynski

Food Safety

Today many consumers follow processing methods recommended either from family members or the internet, which they interpret as being safe. Processing temperature profiles, survival of B. stearothermophilus spores, texture, and color of green beans processed under four home canning methods were assessed. The products were processed using pressure, boiling water bath, steam, or oven canning methods. Pressure canning produced the greatest microbial reductions but this method resulted in the lowest bean quality. The boiling water bath, steam, and oven canning were found to be less safe because the product temperature never achieved 100°C and the resulting microbial counts, >1.7 log …

Synthesis And Antioxidant, Anticancer, And Antimicrobial Activities Of Palmityl Ester Derivative Of Carnosic Acid, Asharani Prasad

Food Safety

Carnosic acid (CA) along with carnosol (CAR) is the strongest phenolic diterpene antioxidants (PDAs) present in rosemary plant. However, CA has low antioxidant activity in emulsion-type food system due to its polar nature. The identification and characterization of the anticancer and antimicrobial properties of natural products and their semisynthetic derivative such as that of CA and CAR have received significant interest over the years. The goals of this research were to synthesize lipophilic palmityl derivative (PE) of CA and study its antioxidant activity in bulk and emulsified corn oil. Anticancer properties against CCRF-CEM, K-562 and P388D1 leukemia cell lines and …

Development Of Hg1-Xcd Xse For 3rd Generation Focal Plane Arrays Using Molecular Beam Epitaxy., Kevin Doyle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Hg1-xCd xSe grown on nearly lattice-matched GaSb substrates could serve as a new basis for infrared detector development. The preparation of the GaSb substrate surfaces and the growth of ZnTe1-xSex buffer layers via molecular beam epitaxy were investigated. ZnTe and ZnTe1- xSex layers were grown on GaSb substrates prepared with atomic hydrogen cleaning. The lattice constant of ZnTe1-xSex was tuned by controlling the ratio of Se/Te beam equivalent pressures, and ZnTe1- xSex was found to be lattice-matched to GaSb for x=0.01. Confocal photoluminescence measurements indicated that ZnTe0.99Se0.01 layers grown on GaSb have dislocation densities ∼7x104 cm-2, indicating that ZnTe0.99Se0.01/GaSb provides …

Which Felonies Pose A "Serious Potential Risk Of Injury" Under The Acca Residual Clause?, Evan Tsen Lee, Lynn A. Addington, Stephen Rushin

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of External Loading And Speed Of Movement On Muscle-Tendon Unit Behaviour And Its Implications For Training, Jacob Earp

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In this thesis great emphasis has been placed on vastus lateralis (VL) muscle-tendon unit (MTU) structure, behaviour/movement and adaptation. Of particular interest was how external loading and movement speed influence these variables. In the first study (Chapter 3) we developed a new methodology by which electromyography (EMG) could be normalised during large range of motion knee extensions. This methodology was then used as part of a larger study, which investigated how external loading influenced the interaction of muscle and tendon (MTU behaviour) during stretch shortening cycle isoinertial knee extensions, and how muscle activity and intrinsic tendon force (Ft) influenced MTU …

Effect Of Thermal Annealing And Carbon Implantation On The Functional Properties Of Nanocomposite Tisin Coatings On Steel, Mohammad Shoeb Ahmed

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This PhD research contributes to the part of advanced materials technology. The machining industry currently faces tremendous pressures with the need for durable cutting tools suitable for eco-friendly high speed machining operations becoming acute. In this thesis innovative design and synthesis strategies are explored to tailor the properties of nanocomposite coatings. Advanced characterisation techniques are applied to identify the mechanisms that control the mechanical, tribological, and corrosion behaviours of these coatings. Cutting tools protected by these coatings are anticipated to exhibit a unique combination of superior toughness and greater resistance to wear and corrosion, providing significant economic and environmental benefits. …

The Making Of Disgrace Kelly: Dragging The Diva Through Cabarets, Pubs And Into The Recital Hall, Caitlin Cassidy

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research project investigates the synthesis of cabaret and recital performance as a way to re-invigorate the recital as a performance platform. As a curious classical singer with a passion for cabaret, I have explored cabaret in my own creative practice as a classically trained opera singer through the employment of practice-led research methodologies. This project includes research manifested in rehearsals, performance and exegetical writing, including a unique self-reflexive voice in the writing style, to encompass a practice-led research methodology. The culmination of these approaches was a final performance program entitled Diva Bites the Dust. A study of the diva …

An Integrated Computer-Aided Modular Fixture Design System For Machining Semi-Circular Parts, Uday H. Farhan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Productivity is one of the most important factors in manufacturing processes because of the high level of market competition. In this regard, modular fixtures (MFs) play an important role in practically improving productivity in flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) due to this technology using highly productive computer numerical control (CNC) machines. MFs consist of devices called jigs and fixtures for accurately holding the workpiece during different machining operations. The design process is complex, and traditional methods of MF design were not sufficiently productive.

Computer-aided design (CAD) software has rapidly improved as a result of the development of computer technology, and has …

Secondary Victims' Perceptions Of Justice : Implications For Forensic Psychology, Benjamin Bannister

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

An emerging area of study has begun to look at the perceptions of justice of the family and friends of crime victims – or, secondary victims. It is important to improve understanding of secondary victims’ experiences of justice, partly because knowledge about how they perceive justice may help forensic psychologists assist them more effectively. This research attempted to assess how well existing justice theories could account for secondary victims’ perceptions of justice, and also help determine what is important to them. Using the largely ignored group of secondary victims of non-sexual violent crime, the research consisted of two interrelated stages. …

Sources And Supply Of Kelp Detritus : Quantifying Mechanisms Of Production, Thibaut De Bettignies

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In temperate waters, rocky reefs dominated by extremely productive kelp beds export considerable primary production. Despite the extensive body of work on kelp detritus as a trophic subsidy, many questions remain about the production of this detritus. The aim of this thesis was to determine the rate and mechanisms of kelp detritus production, for Ecklonia radiata, the dominant kelp species in temperate Australia. Most of the work was conducted in Marmion Lagoon located 20 km North of Perth, south-western Western Australia, a region strongly influenced by oceanic swell and winter storms. The study comprised of four major components: the impact …

An Analysis Of Treatment Retention And Attrition In An Australian Therapeutic Community For Substance Abuse Treatment, Mark Robert Porter

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Research undertaken in the last three decades has consistently reported that the length of time spent in inpatient and outpatient alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment programs predicts treatment success (De Leon, Melnick, Kressel, & Jainchill, 1994; Hubbard, Craddock, & Anderson, 2003; Simpson, Joe, Fletcher, Hubbard, & Anglin, 1999). However, treatment attrition rates are high and present a major problem for improving treatment outcomes. Various factors that have been reportedly associated with increased AOD treatment attrition rates include being female, younger clients, clients using methamphetamines, and clients with elevated psychopathology scores. The aim of this thesis is to improve understanding …

Characterising The Deformation Behaviour Of Human Tooth Enamel At The Microscale, Simona O'Brien

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Enamel plays an important role in tooth function. Optimal combinations of composition and structure endow enamel with unique mechanical properties that remain largely unexplored. Specifically, more detailed understanding of the loadbearing ability of enamel is needed to mimic it synthetically and to design next generation biocomposite materials. This research investigates the variables that influence deformation behaviour of tooth enamel in relation to its hierarchical structure. Initially, a new method was developed for preparing flat, finely polished tooth samples that were maintained in their normal hydrated state for nanoindentation testing. In contrast to conventional methods, which commonly utilise either inappropriate or …

Framing Anorexia : A Play Script And Multidimensional Investigation Of Anorexia : A Play And Critical Essay, Louise Helfgott

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis explores anorexia nervosa in young people. It comprises two components: a play script, "Frames", about 16-year-old Elizabeth who is combating the disorder, her troubled friend Ben, and their families, and a critical essay that reviews qualitative and quantitative literature about anorexia and contextualises the play in relation to selected narratives, plays and films. In my field research, I interviewed a number of professionals working in the field of anorexia and the essay also discusses their views and insights.

Few plays deal with anorexia in an in-depth manner to explore the onset and development of the illness. "Frames" addresses …

Portraits Of Middle Eastern Gulf Female Students In Australian Universities, Susan Delahunty

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research explores the experiences and insights of ten Middle Eastern Gulf women as they cross international borders to study in Australian universities. The literature indicates that international students in Australia establish their identity within the context of their overseas existence. This is particularly important as Muslims may feel they are being placed in a precarious situation due to, more often than not, terrorism being linked to Islam. Also, when Muslim women wear Islamic or traditional attire, the general public tends to look upon them with curiosity. With this in mind, the complex and changed contexts faced by ten Middle …

Human Factors And Cultural Influences In Implementing Agile Philosophy And Agility In Global Software Development, Anuradha Sutharshan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

As software becomes increasingly important to all aspects of industry, developers should be encouraged to adopt best practice and hence improve the quality of the processes used, and achieve targets relating to time, budget and quality. In the software industry, several software methodologies have been used to address software development problems; however some of these processes may be too bureaucratic. The Agile Alliance formed in 2001, sought to address this problem; accordingly, they developed a manifesto and twelve principles, to which all agile software methods adhere. The purpose of the manifesto and its principles is to uncover better ways of …

On A Joint Physical Layer And Medium Access Control Sublayer Design For Efficient Wireless Sensor Networks And Applications, Mahir Lumumba Meghji

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are distributed networks comprising small sensing devices equipped with a processor, memory, power source, and often with the capability for short range wireless communication. These networks are used in various applications, and have created interest in WSN research and commercial uses, including industrial, scientific, household, military, medical and environmental domains. These initiatives have also been stimulated by the finalisation of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, which defines the medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) for low-rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPAN).

Future applications may require large WSNs consisting of huge numbers of inexpensive wireless sensor …

Approach-Iron Play In High Performance Golf: From Testing To Tournament Play, Samuel John Robertson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The capability of a golfer to record a low score depends upon well-developed abilities in each of the recognised on-course skill components (driving the ball off the tee, hitting approach-iron shots, hitting short-iron shots and putting). Despite approach-iron play being considered perhaps the most important and definitely the most practiced skill in the game, the ability to quantify the golfer’s ability to hit approach-iron shots in a controlled, off-course environment (eg. training) cannot yet be undertaken due to the lack of appropriate assessments. Such tools have considerable potential for use in both the field and in research for implementation in …

Managing Constipation In The Pediatric Population, Brandy Warmsbecker

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Teaching Excellence : An Illusive Goal In Higher Education Teaching And Learning, Heather Sparrow

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In the last decades of the 20th Century, and through the first decade of the 21st Century, both the natural world and human society have experienced dramatic change. Contemporary society world-wide has high expectations of the contribution that universities can make in helping people learn to live with change, to lead change, to manage change, and to support improvement in all spheres of life. The global community seeks ‘excellence’ across all higher education roles: community engagement and leadership, research and innovation, and teaching and learning. However, universities are not always regarded as effective in fulfilling the needs of students, business …

Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Technical, Vocational Education And Training : The Case Of Kenyan Micro And Small Enterprises In The Motor Vehicle Service And Repair Industry, Susan W. Ngure

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Technical, vocational education and training (TVET) in Kenya has undergone major changes since colonialists introduced it at the beginning of the twentieth century. Since then, TVET has evolved in the areas of science, technology and innovation to provide skills that will propel the country to middle-level industrialised status by the year 2030. However, current training and development (T&D) processes in Kenya have been criticised for being rigid and irrelevant to industry, creating a mismatch of skills produced by the training institutions and those demanded by the industry; it is upon this criticism that this research is built. The focus of …

The Relationship Between The Meaning Of Water And Sense Of Place : A Grounded Theory Study From Northern Thailand, Katesuda Sitthisuntikul

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The literature suggests that a subtle relationship exists for communities between the meaning of water and sense of place, making fertile ground for systematic investigation. The relationship has obvious importance in today’s world, where people’s reliance on water, and the need for reliable supplies, form part of a common discourse in natural resource management. Yet, there has been much less discussion of what water means to people, how it connects with peoples’ sense of place, and what that might mean for the way people interact with their surroundings. The methodology of constructivist grounded theory was therefore appropriate to investigate this …

Verticordia Micropropagation Through Direct Ex Vitro Rooting, Belinda Delaney

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The objective of this study was to improve the existing shoot multiplication protocol for Verticordia grandis (McComb, Arthur & Newll, 1986; Newell, Growns & McComb, 2005) and to investigate and establish reliable root induction and acclimatisation protocols to enhance survival of micropropagated plantlets. It was envisaged that these protocols would be successful in micropropagation, growth and survival of different V. grandis clones and possibly applicable to other Verticordia species.

The elongation of in vitro Verticordia shoots on multiplication media was improved by reducing the concentration of BAP from 1μM to 0.25 μM, which resulted in a more uniform shoot length …

Creating And Performing New Australian Works On The Hungarian Concert Cimbalom, Joshua Webster

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis explores the creation and performance of five new Western Australian works for the Hungarian concert cimbalom. These include four solo works, and one duet, which were scored, analysed, performed, and recorded. This thesis is in two parts: this exegetical component, which details the background, development, and findings of the research, including the scores created, and the manual that was developed for composers’ use; and a practical component, which is an active representation of the research, included as video recordings. To assist the composition of the new works, a manual was developed for the composers’ use. This manual began …

Experiences Of Adult Siblings Of Illicit Drug Users, Amy Mcalpine

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The sibling relationship is unique in that it is relatively egalitarian, ascribed, and can be the longest-lasting across the lifespan. Siblings can act as supports for one another during major life events, both in childhood and adulthood. Siblings can also be a source of significant stress. The literature on family coping indicates that there are significant impacts to family members’ well-being from dealing with stress and strain that result from a family member’s drug use problem. However, researchers have not investigated the impacts on adult siblings despite the importance and uniqueness of sibling relationships. The broad aim of this research …

Lichens As A Biomonitoring Tool For Detecting Heavy Metal Air Pollution Associated With Industrial Activities In Collie, South-Western Australia, Meenu Chathurika Vitarana

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

During the last few decades, various techniques for using lichens as biomonitors have been developed for monitoring air pollution and forest ecosystem health. Lichens have been used effectively to determine the dispersion of heavy metals emitted by industrial point-sources; however the approach has not been commonly used in Australia. This thesis aimed to determine the effectiveness of using a lichen biomonitoring approach to measure the heavy metal pollutants emitted from coal-fired power stations and related industries in Collie, south-western Australia, an area with concern over poor air quality. Three different approaches to lichen biomonitoring were investigated. The first explored lichen …

Institutional Experiences Of Female Child Migrants In Western Australia Between 1947 - 1955, Diane Parker

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In this qualitative study I investigated the institutional experiences of former female child migrants who were placed in the care of the Sisters of Mercy in St Joseph’s Catholic Orphanage, Subiaco, Western Australia. My study was guided by the theoretical orientations of Symbolic Interaction and Constructivism. Data were gathered through a series of individual and group interviews with the Female Child Migrants, who are now in their seventies and had spent at least three years in the orphanage between the years 1947 and 1955. Documents were also obtained from the archives of the Catholic Church, the Sisters of Mercy and …