18397 research outputs found
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Development and Implementation of a Group-Based Compassion Focused Therapy Intervention to Treat Adults with Comorbid Eating Disorders and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms
No full textThis thesis explored how experiences of trauma may affect people with eating disorders, and whether compassion-focused group therapy could support recovery. A systematic review and meta-analysis found that many people with eating disorders also experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. Two pilot studies evaluated a 10-week compassion-focused group therapy intervention that had been adapted for individuals experiencing eating and trauma-related symptoms concurrently. The therapy was feasible to deliver both in-person and online, and participants reported positive outcomes. This research highlights the importance of trauma-informed care for individuals experiencing eating disorders and contributes to the burgeoning area of intervention research that seeks to develop more effective treatments for people living with both trauma and eating disorders.</p
Crushing behaviours and impact resistance of skeletal muscle-inspired hierarchical structures
No full textThis research explores novel structures inspired by human skeleton muscle tissue to enhance impact resistance and energy absorption. Through experiments and simulations, both single-cell and multi-layered muscle-inspired designs were shown to absorb more energy and provide better impact resistance than conventional structures. Lightweight prototypes were fabricated using aluminium and 3D printing to validate performance under various loading conditions. The results highlight how structural hierarchy improves crashworthiness. This work lays the foundation for safer, more efficient designs in transport, sports, and infrastructure, benefiting society through improved protection, reduced material use, and the advancement of sustainable, bio-inspired engineering solutions.</p
Employing 100. Evaluation, Final Report
No full textEmploying 100 is an initiative of the Australian Disability Network (AusDN) that aimed to successfully place 100 talented and suitably skilled jobseekers with disability into roles within four major employers. The Employing 100 project used an employer-led model to build organisational capability focused on building an inclusive workforce before linking organisations with selected talent providers who matched and supported applicants with disability through the recruitment processes. At the end of the two-year project, the Employing 100 project had exceeded its original goals, with 240 people with disability employed across the four organisations. Most importantly, the average retention rate for these employees across the partner organisations was 83 per cent.</p
From Québec to Arrakis: Denis Villeneuve, an ‘impure auteur’
No full textThis project presents the first comprehensive analysis of acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve’s entire oeuvre, from his early films made in Québec to his Hollywood blockbusters. Examining how Villeneuve combines distinctive artistic vision with professional collaborations, genre hybridity, and intercultural influences, the research introduces the concept of the “impure auteur” to conceptualise his unique filmmaking style. This project enables audiences to better understand how global filmmakers shape contemporary popular cinema. It revises scholarly frameworks for examining film authorship, collaboration, and cultural exchange, showing that meaningful art can emerge within commercial film industries and reach diverse international audiences.</p
The Single and Combination Treatment of Vorinostat and BI-2536 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Lines
No full textNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a cancer that starts in the nasopharynx, common in Southeast Asia and linked to the Epstein-Barr virus. Standard treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be effective but often cause severe side effects and lead to drug resistance. Our study explored a new approach by combining two agents, vorinostat and BI-2536, which target proteins that promote cancer growth. Using NPC cell models, we found that this combination worked better than either drug alone, killing more cancer cells by inducing cell death and DNA damage. These findings suggest a potential new treatment strategy for NPC.</p
Social Enterprise Startups: A Living Lab Study of Entrepreneurial Processes and Decision-Making
No full textSocial enterprises are businesses that create social value. The social enterprise model is an attractive option for a society faced with a growing list of social and environmental challenges and insufficient government resources to fund their resolution. This research enhances our understanding of how new social enterprises are developed; answering questions about what decisions are made, how they are made, and why they are made in the way that they are. </p
Understanding Australia’s Strategic Relationship with Papua New Guinea and the Implications of China’s Rise: An Examination of the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper
No full textThis thesis investigates Australia’s 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper to understand how Australia’s engagement with Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a response to China’s expanding influence in the Pacific, a perceived national security concern. Employing thematic analysis, the research examines economic (PACER Plus), security, and defence (PMSP) policies, assessing their capacity to strengthen Australia’s regional foothold. Findings indicate that while economic and security initiatives achieved limited success, defence engagement proved positive as of 2019. The benefit of this research is clarifying Australia’s evolving strategic interests and informing future international engagement frameworks in the strategically vital Pacific Islands region.</p
Digital Leadership Capability and Environmental Performance: The Role of Digital Technology Alignment and Digital Innovation
No full textEnvironmental sustainability has become a critical global concern, prompting firms to explore digital solutions. Despite the recognized potential of digital technologies to mitigate environmental impact, organizations continue to face challenges in achieving the intended outcomes. This study draws on resource orchestration theory (ROT) to investigate the role of digital leadership capability (DLC) in enhancing environmental performance, with particular focus on the mediating roles of digital technology alignment (DTA) and digital innovation. Using survey data from 183 healthcare organizations engaged in digital transformation initiatives, our findings provide empirical support for the proposed model. The results indicate that DLC positively influences environmental performance through both direct and indirect pathways, reinforcing the importance of leadership in digital sustainability initiatives. Additionally, DTA serves as a critical enabler, facilitating the effective integration of digital technologies with existing organizational resources, while digital innovation acts as a key mechanism for translating leadership‐driven digital initiatives into tangible environmental benefits. A serial mediation effect is observed, demonstrating that the combined impact of DTA and digital innovation significantly enhances the environmental performance outcomes associated with DLC.</p
The Development of an Empathic Conversational Agent Designed for a Mental Health Helpline Service
No full textThis PhD thesis develops a comprehensive framework for an empathic conversational agent (CA) tailored to mental health helpline services. It investigates how empathy can be recognised and expressed through voice, using co-design workshops with stakeholders and evaluation by users. A voice analysis algorithms was developed to classify empathy in both human and CA voices, highlighting challenges in detecting this complex, subjective construct. The findings show that empathy can be computationally detected and perceived by users, while emphasising the importance of diverse annotators, co-design principles, and careful implementation. This work provides practical and theoretical contributions to the design of empathic CAs in mental health care and open avenues for further research.</p
Cosmological studies with galaxy clusters and strong gravitational lensing systems
No full textThis thesis discusses various cosmological applications of galaxy clusters and strong gravitational lensing systems, including testing fundamental physics and also delves into searching for such strong gravitational lensing systems using optical and infrared photometric data.</p