Digital Commons Network^™

Intensity-Based Skeletonization Of Cryoem Gray-Scale Images Using A True Segmentation-Free Algorithm, Kamal Al Nasr, Chunmei Liu, Mugizi Rwebangira, Legand Burge, Jing He

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Cryo-electron microscopy is an experimental technique that is able to produce 3D gray-scale images of protein molecules. In contrast to other experimental techniques, cryo-electron microscopy is capable of visualizing large molecular complexes such as viruses and ribosomes. At medium resolution, the positions of the atoms are not visible and the process cannot proceed. The medium-resolution images produced by cryo-electron microscopy are used to derive the atomic structure of the proteins in de novo modeling. The skeletons of the 3D gray-scale images are used to interpret important information that is helpful in de novo modeling. Unfortunately, not all features of the …

Undefined Genre, Or, A Study Into Work Reliant On Visual Art Mediums To Transform The Protagonist Function Of The Human Body In Performance, Tony Currie

Theses : Honours

This thesis is a study into performance art, specifically examples of work in which the artist engages with a physical object or visual arts medium to create a work of art in the presence of an audience. The subsequent work of art created can vary from works on paper, to living structures, or any other physical and tangible structure. I have addressed the audience demographic of performance art, the genre’s conceptual genesis, its ephemeral nature, and its commoditisation to analyse its relevance to the current artistic climate. During my study, an importance has been placed on live performance, not on …

Arrighi On Sino-Sudanese Relations : Trade, Investment And Diplomacy In The Twenty-First Century, Benjamin A. Hale

Theses : Honours

This research project will investigate the increasingly complex and dynamic relationship between China and Sudan from 1995 to the present within the context of Giovanni Arrighi’s understandings of World Systems Theory. In this project I will examine how the relationship between China and Sudan has manifested through trade, investment, and diplomacy since 1995. Further, this dissertation will situate Sino-Sudanese relations within the context of Giovanni Arrighi’s theories regarding the roles of China and Africa within the current world-system. As such, this study will ask how the relationship between China and Sudan reflects Arrighi’s arguments concerning coreperiphery relations, declining US hegemony, …

The Stigmatisation Of Alcohol And Other Drug Services, Kim Eaton

Theses : Honours

People who are dependent on alcohol and other drugs (AOD) are often stigmatised. Evidence suggests that the people who provide AOD users with health and welfare supports also feel the stigma experienced by users. However, the literature supporting this proposition consists of inadvertent findings and findings generalised from other populations. A systematic review of the limited research into stigma experienced by people working in the AOD field was conducted. This involved a multi-phase database, journal and website search, with additional hand searching of relevant referenced articles. Overall, 146 relevant studies were found, 38 of which were applicable to this review, …

Communication Disorders And Indigenous Australians : A Synthesis And Critique Of The Available Literature, Jasmyn Hall

Theses : Honours

Purpose: To synthesise and critique the available diverse literature related to communication disorders experienced by Indigenous Australians. This is in order to provide health professionals with a resource guide for evidence based decision making. The review has a specific focus on prevalence, assessment and effective treatment of communication disorders and explores these across the lifespan.

Method: A three phase systematic search process was adopted. A number of key databases, speech pathology journals and grey literature sources were searched to obtain articles relevant to the research aims. Two researchers independently rated articles for inclusion as well as methodological quality using the …

Self-Efficacy And Nutrition Knowledge Of Parents In Western Australia, Karen Lombardi

Theses : Honours

Background: Poor dietary choices and increasingly sedentary lifestyles mean childhood obesity is an increasing problem. Parents have the capacity to significantly affect the food choice of children; therefore by improving their self-efficacy, their nutrition knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, and by providing access to sound nutritional information, the health of children may be improved.

Purpose: This research sought to gather preliminary information required to inform the development of nutrition education materials for parents, which will parallel those currently under development for teaching children in schools as part of the Australian curriculum. Research has demonstrated that while educating children about healthy eating …

Improving Functional Outcomes For Children And Adolescents With Anxiety Related Disorders Through Occupational Thrapy : A Narrative Review ; Perceptions Of The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Community Child And Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs), Paula J. Anderson

Theses : Honours

Background/Aim: Children and adolescents experiencing anxiety find it challenging to maintain optimal occupational performance, thus the specific role of occupational therapy in the management of anxiety requires investigation. This narrative review examines the current available literature surrounding the use of occupational therapy approaches for children and adolescents experiencing anxiety.

Methods: Academic journals as well as a variety of sources were considered, due to the paucity of literature surrounding this topic. Articles were included if they discussed the occupational therapy role in treatment of children experiencing anxiety symptoms, including anxiety related disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive …

Singapore Malay Migrants' Concepts Of "Filial-Piety" And Its Support For Aged Parents To Age-In-Place In Australia, Nur Y. Mohd Ali

Theses : Honours

This study investigates the perceptions of first-generation Malay migrants from Singapore in Perth, Western Australia, who are caring for aged-parents at home. This research examines their interpretation of the Confucian concept of “filial piety” and how this influences their aged-caring. Using a social constructionism epistemology and interpretive phenomenological theoretical framework research methodology, data was collected through semi-structured indepth interviews, supplemented by observation of verbal and physical expressions. This research used purposive criterion sampling to achieve a culturally homogeneous sample. Results were analysed according to themes from previous findings, and newly identified themes. Among new themes discovered included a refined interpretation …

A Transcultural Journey : Integrating Elements Of Persian Classical Music With Jazz, Kate Pass

Theses : Honours

This study centres on the integration of Jazz with Persian classical music. In particular it documents the processes and the outcomes of a musical collaboration between myself—an Australian jazz double bass player—and a group of classically trained Persian musicians.

The study is in three parts. Part one serves as a backdrop to parts two and three and explores notable examples of collaborations between jazz musicians and musicians from other cultures. Part two provides a succinct exposition of the main features of Persian music, and part three documents my work in integrating Persian classical music with Jazz.

Recruitment Discrimination Against Middle Eastern People In Western Australia : The Case Of Accountants, Tiny Pinkerton

Theses : Honours

The population of all Western countries are ageing and humanitarian efforts saw increasing numbers of people from Middle Eastern origin settle in Australia. Whilst older people are encouraged to remain in paid employment longer, it is not clear whether Middle Eastern people and the older population are as readily hired as are Anglo Australians and the younger population. Pairs of fictitious, unsolicited job applications were used to test for age and racial discrimination of Middle Eastern people in the Western Australian labour market. The study employed a 2 x 2 between subjects design with race (Anglo Australian and Middle Eastern) …

Value-Based Analysis Of Routine Pathologic Septal And Inferior Turbinate Specimens., James J Daniero, Jaemi S Chu, Brian J O'Hara, Edmund A. Pribitkin

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

This article was presented at the 2012 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO; September 9-12, 2012; Washington, DC.

Objective To determine the frequency and clinical relevance of unanticipated histopathologic results in routine sinonasal surgery and evaluate the necessity for histologic processing of nasal septal cartilage, bone, and inferior turbinate specimens. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care academic medical center. Subjects and Methods A retrospective review of surgical pathology reports on adult patients undergoing sinonasal surgery during a 5-year period from 2005 to 2010 was performed. All cases with the preoperative diagnosis of sinonasal neoplasia, autoimmune disease, …

Intertemporal Substitution In Maternal Labor Supply: Evidence Using State School Entrance Age Laws, Rashmi Rekha Barua

Research Collection School Of Economics

I propose a new framework to study the intertemporal labor supply hypothesis. I use an exogenous source of variation in maternal net earning opportunities, generated through school entrance age of children, to study intertemporal labor supply behavior. Employing data from the 1980 US Census and the NLSY, I estimate the effect of a one year delay in school attendance on long run maternal labor supply. IV estimates imply that having a 5 year old enrolled in school increases labor supply measures for married women, with no younger children, by between 7 to 34 percent. Further, using a sample of 7 …

Can A Financial Conditions Index Guide Monetary Policy? The Case Of Singapore, Hwee Kwan Chow

Research Collection School Of Economics

In this study, we explore the issue of whether a financial conditions index can serve as a useful guide to monetary policy in the context of Singapore. To this end, we construct an index that comprises not only the usual monetary variables like interest rates, exchange rates and credit expansions but also asset prices such as stock prices and house prices. The choice of these constituent series is motivated by the role they play in the monetary transmission mechanism with consideration given to the key role leverage plays in modern business cycles and the risk-taking channel magnified by the prolonged …

Ex Post Destruction In The Hold-Up Problem, Huan Wang, Juyuan Zhang, Yi Zhang

Research Collection School Of Economics

We investigate whether or not ex post destruction can solve the hold-up problem. After clarifying the difference between ex post destruction and nontrade when negotiation breaks down, we show that the option of ex post destruction is not sufficient to enhance ex ante efficiency. In particular, only if the information about the spitefulness of the supplier is coarse enough, will the option of ex post destruction alleviate the inefficiency of underinvestment caused by the hold-up problem.

Financial Development, International Capital Flows, And Aggregate Output, Jürgen Von Hagen, Haiping Zhang

Research Collection School Of Economics

We develop a tractable two-country overlapping-generations model and show that cross-country differences in financial development can explain three recent empirical patterns of international capital flows: Financial capital flows from relatively poor to relatively rich countries, while foreign direct investment flows in the opposite direction; net capital flows go from poor to rich countries; despite its negative net international investment positions, the United States receives a positive net investment income. International capital mobility affects output in each country directly through the size of domestic investment and indirectly through the aggregate saving rate. Under certain conditions, the indirect effect may dominate the …

Demography, Development And The Origin Of Democracy: A Model With Case Studies Of Arachic Athens And Maritime England, Brishti Guha

Research Collection School Of Economics

No abstract provided.

Non-Normality And Heteroscedasticity Robust Lm Tests Of Spatial Dependence, Badi H. Baltagi, Zhenlin Yang

Research Collection School Of Economics

The standard LM tests for spatial dependence in linear and panel regressions are derived under the normality and homoskedasticity assumptions of the regression disturbances. Hence, they may not be robust against non-normality or heteroskedasticity of the disturbances. Following Born and Breitung (2011), we introduce general methods to modify the standard LM tests so that they become robust against heteroskedasticity and non-normality. The idea behind the robustification is to decompose the concentrated score function into a sum of uncorrelated terms so that the outer product of gradient (OPG) can be used to estimate its variance. We also provide methods for improving …

Improving Public Transit Accessibility For Blind Riders By Crowdsourcing Bus Stop Landmark Locations With Google Street View, Kotaro Hara, Shiri Azenkot, Megan Campbell, Cynthia L. Bennett, Vicki Le, Sean Pannella, Robert Moore, Kelly Minckler, Rochelle H. Ng, Jon E. Froehlich

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Low-vision and blind bus riders often rely on known physicallandmarks to help locate and verify bus stop locations (e.g., bysearching for a shelter, bench, newspaper bin). However, there arecurrently few, if any, methods to determine this information apriori via computational tools or services. In this paper, weintroduce and evaluate a new scalable method for collecting busstop location and landmark descriptions by combining onlinecrowdsourcing and Google Street View (GSV). We conduct andreport on three studies in particular: (i) a formative interviewstudy of 18 people with visual impairments to inform the designof our crowdsourcing tool; (ii) a comparative study examiningdifferences between physical …

Business Intelligence And Analytics: Research Directions, Ee Peng Lim, Hsinchun Chen, Guoqing Chen

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Business intelligence and analytics (BIA) is about the development of technologies, systems, practices, and applications to analyze critical business data so as to gain new insights about business and markets. The new insights can be used for improving products and services, achieving better operational efficiency, and fostering customer relationships. In this article, we will categorize BIA research activities into three broad research directions: (a) big data analytics, (b) text analytics, and (c) network analytics. The article aims to review the state-of-the-art techniques and models and to summarize their use in BIA applications. For each research direction, we will also determine …

Micro-Finance Competition: Motivated Micro-Lenders, Double-Dipping And Default, Brishti Guha, Prabal Roy Chowdhury

Research Collection School Of Economics

We develop a tractable model of competition among motivated MFIs. We find that equilibria may or may not involve double-dipping (and consequently default), with there being double-dipping whenever the MFIs are very profit-oriented. Moreover, in an equilibrium with double-dipping, borrowers who double-dip are actually worse off compared to those who do not. Further, for intermediate levels of motivation, there can be multiple equilibria, with a doubledipping equilibrium co-existing with a no default equilibrium. Interestingly, an increase in MFI competition can lower efficiency, as well as increase the extent of double-dipping and default. Further, the interest rates may go either way, …

Entropy-Based Analysis And Bioinformatics-Inspired Integration Of Global Economic Information Transfer, Jinkyu Kim, Gunn Kim, Sungbae An, Young-Kyun Kwon, Sungroh Yoon

Research Collection School Of Economics

The assessment of information transfer in the global economic network helps to understand the current environment and the outlook of an economy. Most approaches on global networks extract information transfer based mainly on a single variable. This paper establishes an entirely new bioinformatics-inspired approach to integrating information transfer derived from multiple variables and develops an international economic network accordingly. In the proposed methodology, we first construct the transfer entropies (TEs) between various intra- and inter-country pairs of economic time series variables, test their significances, and then use a weighted sum approach to aggregate information captured in each TE. Through a …

Corporate Social Responsibility As Corporate Soft Law: Mainstreaming Ethical And Responsible Conduct In Corporate Governance, Eugene K. B. Tan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This article explores corporate social responsibility ("CSR') as a viable mode of regulation and governance in the corporate arena. A starting premise is that good corporate governance must move resolutely beyond a compliance mindset to one which recognises that effective corporate governance must have an ethical backbone in which the dimensions of responsibility, transparency, and accountability are evident, recognised and supported. Regulatory endeavours and corporate governance reforms in the past decade have increasingly intersected with mainstream CSR motivations. CSR is increasingly inducted and mainstreamed into corporate governance thinking, characterised by the dual perspective ofrisk management and values-driven/principled governance and operations. …

Gut Modulator Effects Of Conyza Bonariensis Explain Its Traditional Use In Constipation And Diarrhea, I A. Bukhari, A J. Shah, R A. Khan, S A. Meo, A Khan, A H. Gilani

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

The current investigation was carried out to explore the pharmacological basis of the crude extract of Conyza bonariensis (Cb.Cr) for its use in constipation and diarrhea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The plant extract of Conyza bonariensis (C. bonariensis) was prepared, isolated guinea-pig ileum and rabbit jejunum preparations were used to evaluate its gut modulator effects.

RESULTS:

The Cb.Cr (0.3-10 mg/mL) exhibited spasmogenic effect in isolated guinea-pig ileum preparation, which was about 19-84% of the acetylcholine maximum. Pretreatment of the tissues with atropine (0.1 µM) abolished the contractile effect, similar to acetylcholine. Among the fractions, only the butanol fraction …

Jeffrey O'Connell And The Market In Tort Claims, Anthony J. Sebok

Articles

This article examines a transitional period in Jeffrey O'Connell's long and productive career as an observer and critic of the American civil justice system. By the early 1970's O'Connell had begun to abandon enterprise liability as a solution to the waste and undercompensation he saw in the tort system. Eventually O'Connell would develop solutions that focused on constraining plaintiffs' attorneys, and less on no-fault compensation. Before reaching this point, O'Connell proposed a no-fault insurance scheme that would be paid for by fault-based tort litigation. This proposal, which he called "elective first party no-fault insurance" ("EFPI") is the focus of this …

[Chapter 1 From] Welfare And Party Politics In Latin America, Jennifer Pribble

Bookshelf

Systems of social protection can provide crucial assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups in society, but not all systems are created equally. In Latin America, social policies have historically exhibited large gaps in coverage and high levels of inequality in benefit size. Since the late 1990s, countries in this region have begun to grapple with these challenges, enacting a series of reforms to healthcare, social assistance and education policy. While some of these initiatives have moved in a universal direction, others have maintained existing segmentation or moved in a regressive direction. Welfare and Party Politics in Latin America …

Moral Obligations Of Landowners: An Examination Of Doctrine, Stewart E. Sterk

Articles

Efficiency concerns generally take center stage in modern discussions of property's institutional foundations. But property's moral dimension has a far longer pedigree. Two of the ten commandments implicitly acknowledge the importance of property. "Thou shalt not steal" has no meaning in the absence of property ownership. Similarly, the command that "thou shalt not covet your neighbor's house" assumes that the house has an owner whose rights merit respect.

Nanopillar Array With A Λ/11 Diameter Fabricated By A Kind Of Visible Cw Laser Direct Lithography System, Chen Zhang, K. Wang, J. Bai, S. Wang, W. Zhao, F. Yang, C. Gu, Guiren Wang

Faculty Publications

Nanoscale functional structures are indispensable elements in many fields of modern science. In this paper, nanopillar array with a pillar diameter far smaller than Abbe's diffraction limit is realized by a new kind of continuous wave (CW) laser direct lithography technology. With atomic force microscopy technology, the average diameter of nanopillars on thin OIR906 photoresist film is about 65 nm and the smallest diameter is 48 nm, which is about 1/11 of the incident laser wavelength. Also, the influences of coma and astigmatism effects to the shape and size of nanopillar are numerically simulated by utilizing vector integral. As far …

Wave Propagation In Metamaterial Using Multiscale Resonators By Creating Local Anisotropy, Raiz U. Ahmed, Sourav Banerjee

Faculty Publications

Directional guiding, passing or stopping of elastic waves through engineered materials have many applications to the engineering fields. Recently, such engineered composite materials received great attention by the broader research community. In elastic waves, the longitudinal and transverse motion of material particles are coupled, which exhibits richer physics and demands greater attention than electromagnetic waves and acoustic waves in fluids. Waves in periodic media exhibit the property of Bragg scattering and create frequency band gaps in which the energy propagation is prohibited. However, in addition to the Bragg scattering, it has been found that local resonance of artificially designed resonators …

Affirmative Action Plan 2013, Office Of Equal Opportunity, Ethics, & Access

Affirmative Action Plans

Illinois State University Affirmative Action Plan

[Introduction To] Leadership And Elizabethan Culture, Peter Iver Kaufman

Bookshelf

Bringing together contributions from political, cultural, and literary historians, Leadership and Elizabethan Culture identifies distinctive problems confronting early modern English government during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

This diverse group of contributors examines local elites and church leadership, explores the queen, her councillors, as well as her struggles with Mary Stuart and Robert Devereux, earl of Essex, raises questions about Elizabeth's leadership, and the advice she received as well as the advice she rejected.

Selected, influential works by Shakespeare, Marlowe, Jonson, Sidney, and Bacon are put in their Elizabethan and contemporary critical contexts, rounding off the study of Elizabethan …