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A Perspectival Account of the Flow of Time
No full textThis aim of this thesis is to provide an account of our experience of the flow of time. I will be employing a naturalistic approach to this philosophical question, which chiefly involves being heavily influenced by the natural sciences. I explore ways of incorporating the flow of time in our fundamental physical theories and end up defending a view that is consistent with there being no flow of time present in our fundamental physical theories. Instead, the flow of time arises from the adoption of a particular perspective that an embedded agent with a particular cognitive architecture possesses. I go on to describe such an agent in detail and show how this account sheds light on a variety of philosophical and scientific issues.
I argue that this account of temporal flow naturally lends itself to a variety of scientific and philosophical applications. From explaining disparate sets of psychological phenomena under a unified mechanism, to providing insights into how to build better artificial intelligence systems, to addressing long-standing debates within the philosophy of time surrounding the relationship between our experiences of time and the metaphysics of time, and finally pointing to new directions for empirical work into our experience of time.
I believe that the account presented in this thesis does justice to our experience of the flow of time, its ubiquity, and its seeming intangibility. While other accounts have argued that such an experience is a mere illusion or cognitive error, I argue it can (and should) be thought of as veridical and that it arises from the core of what
it means to be an embodied agent
Rebuilding Hegemony: State Responses to Fake News in Thailand
No full textFake news leads to various social costs. During the pandemic, it undermined public health measures, making state intervention appear justified. However, in many countries, anti-fake news measures have resulted in restricted freedom of expression. This raises important questions about the underlying motivations of such efforts: are they driven by genuine concerns for public interests or a desire to suppress dissent and consolidate political control? Adapting the strategic-relational approach (SRA) developed in Jessop (1990, 2016), this thesis develops a conceptual framework to argue that, in authoritarian regimes, state responses to fake news serve to legitimise mechanisms of state control over information flow on social media in an effort to rebuild state hegemony. Using Thailand as a case study, this thesis contends that the Thai state seeks to rebuild hegemony because of the rise of social media as an increasingly contested domain for the state, and a hegemonic crisis that has unfolded in the country over the past two decades.
The findings reveal that each state response to fake news, implemented through different institutional and organisational mechanisms, fulfils a distinct function in controlling the flow of information: censorship, surveillance, and propaganda. These institutional and organisational mechanisms, which contribute to structural determination of hegemony, are central to the Thai state’s efforts to rebuild hegemony. At the same time, the state constructs hegemonic visions by legitimising the necessity of these mechanisms to combat fake news—invoking claims of public interest that are ultimately illusory. This illustrates constructed consent as a means of reinforcing coercive state power
The 2026 Skills Horizon
No full textThe 2026 Skills Horizon maps the capabilities leaders need to navigate the 'decade of disorientation'—a period of unprecedented complexity and change. This report identifies five fundamental Shifts reshaping business and society (Values, Technology, Accountability, Trust, Energy) and four critical Clashes leaders must balance (Policy vs People, Efficiency vs Expertise, Capability vs Control, Abundance vs Attention). Drawing on interviews with over 150 global leaders—from CEOs to airline captains—the report classifies essential skills into three categories (Amplifiers, Movers, Unexpected Emergers) and four areas of convergence: Speaking the language of tech, Solving problems of scale, Working across difference, and Thinking through complexity. The report concludes with the archetype of the Grounded Leader, offering practical guidance for building resilience and effectiveness in uncertain times. Designed as a strategic tool for leadership development, the Skills Horizon helps organisations prioritise upskilling initiatives and maintain competitive advantage through continuous learning
The Significance of Emerging Electroencephalographic Patterns in Critically Ill Patients
No full textA large proportion of critically ill patients have altered mental state or coma, and the electroencephalogram (EEG) is the only way of adequate monitoring for seizures and status epilepticus (SE). As continuous EEG monitoring (cEEG) expanded there were many EEG patterns where the clinical relevance remained uncertain.
The thesis utilized the Critical Care EEG Monitoring Research Consortium (CCEMRC) publicly available database to study the associations of Rhythmic and Periodic Patterns with seizures and SE. Bilateral asymmetric lateralized rhythmic delta activity (LRDA-ba), burst suppression with highly epileptiform bursts (HEBs), and burst suppression with identical bursts (IBs) were identified as specific cohorts to describe or confirm the clinical significance.
The cEEG from 12,450 adult patients showed the overall rate of seizures was 9.8% with 3.5% qualifying as SE. Clinical etiologies and EEG patterns with the greatest associations were described. The cohort with LRDA-ba was statistically distinct from Generalized Rhythmic Delta Activity (GRDA), with greater acute focal structural brain injuries and focal EEG features of cortical excitability.
For BS patterns, the presence of HEBs was a major determinant of seizure recurrence in patients with refractory status epilepticus (RSE). This could not determined by conventional measures of BS, such as duration or amplitude of bursts or interburst intervals. For adult survivors of cardiac arrest, identical bursts (IBs) were validated as a very poor prognostic indicator, also demonstrating that how “identical” bursts were strengthened these associations.
The thesis overall makes significant headway in our understanding of cEEG and it provides clinicians with robust data to be able to make decisions at the patient level. This sets the stage for future work using well-designed prospective trials to determine reversible factors that improve patient outcomes
A systems approach to improving healthy eating in early childhood
No full textDespite public health efforts, children continue to fall short of meeting dietary guidelines. A systems-based approach is needed to address the complex network of determinants that influence the diets of young children. Centre-based childcare is an important setting to shape children’s diets. However, implementation challenges may inhibit the success of healthy eating interventions. The aim of this thesis was to identify key leverage points to intervene in the food system and inform recommendations for strengthening action in the early childhood education and care setting to improve children’s diets.
A scoping review was conducted to determine: (i) what determinants have been addressed by existing early childhood nutrition interventions, and (ii) which determinants respond to intervention to improve dietary intake. A total of 193 studies were included in the review. Findings highlighted the need for policy level action to enhance home food availability and accessibility, strengthen implementation in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) setting and regulate food marketing directed at children.
Two qualitative studies were conducted to understand how system-level factors influence implementation of healthy eating policies and practices in the ECEC setting from the perspectives of directors and educators and cooks. Findings highlighted the need to strengthen systems-level action to support implementation and ensure success of healthy eating policies and practices. There remain opportunities to strengthen multisectoral partnerships to address fragmented systems of support, foster partnerships with parents and the community, improve access to professional development and industry networks for educators and cooks, and increase investment in the ECEC sector to address current staffing and funding challenges. Together, this research informed recommendations for policy and practice as part of a systems approach to improve the diets of young children
The Effect of Covariance in Fluid Model Uncertainties on Robust Aerodynamic Design Optimisation
No full textRobust aerodynamic design optimisation aims to combat drops in performance due to variation in design conditions. Uncertainty in Mach number is commonly used to represent variation in design flight conditions and Reynolds number is fixed. However, the Mach and Reynolds numbers share dependencies on fluid continuum parameters, such as velocity.
No studies have investigated whether treating the Mach and Reynolds numbers as independent, when they are covariant, has an effect on the development of robustly optimised airfoil designs.
The difference between independent and covariant uncertainty treatments is established mathematically and differences in boundary layer both viscosity, friction, and transition from laminar to turbulent flow are identified as theoretical sources of difference.
Testing at eight different design conditions, incompressible and compressible, viscous and near-inviscid, was conducted using deterministic and robust aerodynamic optimisations. The performance of the deterministic optimum was examined under the three sources of uncertainty: independent Mach, independent Reynolds, and covariant-by-velocity. Three populations were optimised under each of the three uncertainties for each flight condition; the resulting shapes of these robust optimisations were compared using statistical methods for differences in shape and differences in performance when re-tested under the three uncertainties.
The deterministic analysis performed at each design condition shows different degrees of variation between the independent Mach, independent Reynolds and covariant velocity uncertainties across the tested flight conditions. A difference in the shapes of the three robust populations was found for the eight flight conditions. Compressible flight conditions at more viscous Reynolds numbers showed significant performance differences.
This work found that treating Mach and Reynolds numbers as independent can lead to unexpected performance variation
Clever Creatures: Exploring Key Traits and Problem-Solving in the Common Brushtail Possum
No full textThe ability to solve problems is useful for animal survival, particularly when foraging. In urban
environments, animals must adapt to novel challenges, including accessing new food sources.
Studying problem-solving in urban species helps us understand how they approach real-world
problems. This study examined the drivers of problem-solving performance in a free-ranging urban
marsupial, the Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). I investigated how intrinsic
traits—sex, body weight, body condition, personality, and parasite carriage—influence problemsolving.
Prior to testing their effects, I assessed associations among these traits in the study
population. Males were slightly heavier than females, and all individuals were healthy but varied in
personality. While few carried the pathogen, Cryptosporidium parvum, more exploratory individuals
were more likely to be carriers. Problem-solving performance was measured by the likelihood of
solving a puzzle and the time taken to do so. Boldness indirectly influenced the likelihood of solving,
while vigilance and body condition affected the time taken, both directly and indirectly. Selectivity had
a direct effect on both likelihood and time to solve. Possums showed evidence of short-term learning
by improving performance over repeated trials, and long-term memory by recalling the solution over a year later. Overall, individuals differed in their problem-solving approach and ability. These findings
show that possums can solve, learn, and remember novel problems, offering insight into the cognitive
abilities of this marsupial. The variation in problem-solving linked to personality highlights its
ecological relevance in accessing novel resources. Whether such traits influence fitness, or reflect
different strategies for exploiting urban environments, remains an open question
The potential of isometric electrical stimulation exercise for muscle and aerobic fitness
No full textFunctional Electrical Stimulation (FES) improves aerobic capacity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscle health in individuals with limited voluntary movement. However, the relative effectiveness of isometric FES versus FES cycling for oxygen consumption and physiological adaptation remains unclear, as do optimal stimulation parameters such as contractions per minute (CPM) and Duty Cycle. This thesis systematically examined FES exercises through literature review and experimental studies.
A systematic review and meta-analysis examined cardiorespiratory responses of FES exercise in individuals with lower limb paralysis. Both modalities yielded substantial benefits for aerobic capacity and peripheral health. FES cycling produced greater immediate aerobic responses and long-term cardiovascular outcomes, while isometric FES provided comparable oxygen consumption and muscle health benefits. Long-term isometric FES benefits require further investigation.
Three controlled experiments in able-bodied participants examined physiological mechanisms and stimulation parameters. Experiment 1 demonstrated similar overall aerobic responses between FES exercises, with FES cycling producing more oxygen uptake. Experiment 2 revealed lower CPM settings (5-10) maximized peak force and reduced fatigue, while higher CPM (20-40) increased aerobic responses but reduced fatigue. Experiment 3 demonstrated higher Duty Cycles (10-40%) enhanced force retention but decreased discomfort, while lower Duty Cycles facilitated consistent, sustainable aerobic responses.
These findings demonstrate that isometric FES is a clinically viable alternative to FES cycling for individuals who are unable to perform dynamic exercise. Parameter optimization, particularly CPM and Duty Cycle, significantly determines exercise effectiveness. This research enhances understanding of FES-induced physiological adaptations and provides evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for neuromuscular impairments
Investigating the psychosocial aspects of lung cancer screening: a focus on smoking-related stigma
No full textRecent landmark trials have demonstrated that lung cancer screening (LCS) using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20–24%. In response, many LCS programs globally are in active design or early implementation, including in Australia where the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) commenced on 1 July 2025. Psychosocial aspects of LCS are important considerations for screening services, both in terms of harm to participants and barriers to appropriate uptake. Current evidence suggests that psychosocial harms for LCS participants are minimal and/or short-term. However, these findings are primarily from clinical effectiveness trials, undertaken in motivated trial participants, and limited to use of standard outcome measures/constructs and measurement timepoints that are not reflective of the entire screening and assessment pathway. Increasingly, qualitative literature and studies outside of clinical trial environments highlight the complexity of psychosocial outcomes in LCS, and the influence of moderating factors. LCS also differs from other types of cancer screening in multiple ways, including its screening modality (LDCT of the chest), presentation and management of lung nodules, and eligibility criteria based on smoking status and history. Smoking-related stigma can create or compound psychosocial harms. While there is a substantial body of work around stigma for those with a diagnosis of lung cancer or other respiratory diseases, there is limited evidence on stigma in the screening context.
Recognising these evidence gaps, this thesis synthesised the current literature and took a qualitative and participatory methods approach to investigate the psychosocial impacts and determinants of LCS, with a particular focus on smoking-related stigma. This program of work was conducted alongside development of the Australian NLCSP, offering a unique opportunity to directly impact program design
Event classification datasets for the Cairns, Trevett, and Graham paper "Statistical Investigation of Langmuir Waves in Type III and II Sources"
No full textStored here are files that describe the events studied in the paper. Both text and CSV formats are used.The files contain column headings and other headings that describe the contents, including variously the observing spacecraft, date and time of a STEREO Time Domain Sampler (TDS) waveform capture event, the analysed spectral and field statistical properties, and the various classifications of the event.Prepared by analyzing STEREO spacecraft data and classifying the results