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Big Dreams on the Small Screen: The Cultural Politics of the CCTV Spring Festival Gala (1983-2024)
No full textThis thesis examines the CCTV Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan, 春晚), one of the mostwatched live television broadcasts globally, with a focus on its role as an ideological and cultural phenomenon that interpellates its audience as members of a national community. As a state-produced variety show broadcast annually on Chinese New Year’s Eve, the Gala blends entertainment with state ideology, reinforcing notions of national unity, familial kinship, and collective belonging. While its propagandistic tone is often critiqued, the Gala remains a deeply embedded tradition in contemporary Chinese society. This thesis investigates why audiences continue to watch, respond to, and interact with the Gala, even as they simultaneously critique its overt political messaging. It argues that the Gala is more than a top-down ideological tool; rather, it is a dynamic cultural event that channels and negotiates viewers’ desires for connection, recognition, and participation in an imagined national community.Drawing on Louis Althusser’s concept of interpellation, this study explores the ways in which the Gala “hails” its viewers as “Chinese brothers and sisters”, inviting them to recognise themselves as part of a larger collective. The thesis questions whether this interpellation is effective, whether it functions in a straightforward manner, or whether it operates ironically—through rejection, negotiation, or passive engagement, as evidenced by the phenomenon of ambient watching (where viewers keep the Gala on as background noise) and the widespread online culture of “roasting” the Gala. By critically examining audience reception, this study challenges the conventional notion of the Gala as a purely didactic tool of state propaganda and instead positions it as a complex site of negotiation between authority, entertainment, and collective identity formation.This research is structured around six thematic chapters. The first chapter, “Introduction”, presents what the Gala is as my research object, and outlines the thesis’s theoretical framework and methodology. The second chapter, “The Invention of the Gala: Imagining a New Chinese Community”, situates the Gala within Eric Hobsbawm’s framework of “invented traditions”, arguing that the Gala manufactures cultural rituals and symbols that project a sense of continuity between past, present, and future. The third chapter, “Coding Familial Desires: The Filiative Machine in the Gala’s China”, applies Deleuze and Guattari’s discussions on family and capitalism to examine how the Gala constructs an interpellative family-state, reinforcing both small-scale (nuclear family) and large-scale (nation-state) kinship ties to strengthen national cohesion.The fourth and fifth chapters shift focus to the aesthetic mechanisms that make the Gala watchable and memorable. Chapter Four, “Panda Power: Cuteness in the Gala”, engages with Sianne Ngai’s theorisation of cuteness to investigate how the Gala’s representation of children, animals, and women fosters feelings of protection and ownership, reflecting broader social dynamics of gender and consumer culture. Chapter Five, “China Intensified: The Zany Skits in the Gala”, explores the role of zaniness—another of Ngai’s aesthetic categories—as a key mechanism for ideological messaging. Through humour, the Gala’s comedy skits create a shared cultural experience, reinforcing identity through collective laughter while subtly accommodating state narratives.The final chapter concludes by arguing that the Gala is more than a cultural artefact or a propaganda tool; it is a dynamic ideological apparatus that interpellates viewers into a modern Chinese national identity that is built around nostalgia, familial love, consumer aesthetics, and labour intensity.Ultimately, this thesis argues that the Gala’s power lies not simply in its ability to indoctrinate but in its capacity to act as a mirror of contemporary Chinese society, capturing its transformations, contradictions, and desires. By rethinking the Gala as both an ideological machine and a space of cultural negotiation, this thesis provides a fresh lens for understanding the intersection of media, nationalism, and identity in contemporary China.</p
Performance and stability assessment of small square steel tubes under axial tension and compression
No full textSteel tubes with small cross-sectional dimensions have extensive applications in civil engineering. This study focuses on understanding the effect of the unsupported length-to-width (L/B) ratio on the structural stability of square steel tubes with small cross-sectional dimensions (small square steel tubes) subjected to axial compression and tension. Sixty-three small square steel tube specimens with three different cross-sectional dimensions (25 mm × 25 mm, 30 mm × 30 mm, and 35 mm × 35 mm) were tested under compression and tension. Specimens with varying L/B ratios ranging from 2 to 12 were tested under axial compression. The ultimate compressive strength of the specimens was compared with the ultimate tensile strength of the corresponding specimens. The experimental findings revealed that the L/B ratio significantly influenced the failure mechanism, stress-strain behaviour, stability, and ultimate to yield stress ratios of small square steel tubes. The results also highlighted the importance of using controlled length and cross-sectional dimensions of the small square steel tubes to ensure stability in engineering applications.</p
The Undeclared Wars: <i>Journalism, fiction and the untold story of Australia’s involvement </i><i>in the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation</i>
No full textThe abstract for this item has not been populated.</p
Efficient Computational Statistical Approaches for Local and Regional Flux Inversions
No full textFlux inversion is a statistical procedure through which sources and sinks of a gas are estimated from observations of atmospheric composition, in the form of gas mole fraction. It often involves running a Lagrangian particle dispersion model (LPDM) to generate sensitivities between observations and fluxes over a spatial domain. This can be computationally prohibitive for large areas or long data records. In this thesis, we explore several ways in which the associated computational time can be improved. For flux inversions over regional scales, we develop a novel spatiotemporal emulator for LPDM sensitivities, built using a convolutional variational autoencoder (CVAE), and a spatio-temporal Gaussian Process emulator. We show that our CVAE-based emulator outperforms the more traditional emulator built using empirical orthogonal functions, and that it can be used with different LPDMs. For local scale flux inversions, we explore the use of a surrogate model in place of the full-blown LPDM, namely, the Gaussian plume dispersion model. We propose integrating the Gaussian plume model within a fully Bayesian framework, to account for uncertainty in the measurements, the meteorological data, and the atmospheric model itself. Using data collected from a controlled-release experiment, we show that the inversion framework is robust to instrument type and meteorological conditions. The worst median emission-rate estimate we obtain from all the inversions is within 36% of the true value, while the worst posterior 95% credible interval has a limit within 11% of the true value. We conclude that the use of emulators or surrogate models in place of the full-blown LPDM can reliably reduce the computing time needed for high-resolution flux inversions.</p
Design and Research of a Low-Cost Gesture Recognition System Based on Electrical Impedance Tomography and Pressure-based Force Myography
No full textThis study aims to develop a low-cost hand gesture recognition system that combines Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) and pressure-based Force Myography (pFMG), with machine learning methods to enhance recognition accuracy. EIT, as a non-invasive imaging technique, offers advantages such as simple structure, easy implementation, and suitability for wearable devices. However, the high cost of most accurate EIT systems limits their use in affordable applications.To address this, we built a low-cost EIT system using Arduino Due, AD5934, a custom amplifier, and a multiplexer. We compared two common EIT measurement methods (2-pole and 4-pole) under this setup. In an experiment involving the recognition of five different hand gestures, results showed that the 4-pole method provided more stable signals and a higher recognition accuracy, achieving about 85% accuracy compared to 74% for the 2-pole method. To further improve performance while keeping the cost low, we integrated a pressure-based force myography (pFMG) system into the EIT system. Pressure signals from the pFMG system because of the muscle deformation were collected using a 3D-printed air chamber and pressure sensor, serving as a complementary input to the EIT data. We used Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) to classify these multimodal signals. After the fusion of the pFMG and EIT signals, the recognition accuracy improved to about 90% with SVM and RF, along with better signal stability for the 4-pole system and the same hand gestures.These results demonstrate that low-cost EIT systems are feasible for gesture recognition, with the 4-pole method showing clear advantages. Combining the EIT with the pFMG further enhances accuracy and robustness while maintaining low hardware costs, offering strong potential for applications in human-machine interface, rehabilitation, and smart prosthetics.</p
Cognitive function in people who use cannabis and in those who endorse a cannabis use disorder
No full textCannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) are highly prevalent and can be characterised by persistent, compulsive use despite stress and impairment. The negative outcomes of cannabis use and CUD have partly been ascribed to altered cognition as posited by models of addiction. Yet to date, there is a paucity of research that has comprehensively examined cognition in young adults who consume cannabis and endorse a CUD. The first two studies of this thesis aim to address this knowledge gap by: (i) comparing performance in a range of cognitive domains between regular cannabis users who endorse a CUD and non-using controls, and (ii) examining associations between level of problematic cannabis use (Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test – Revised; CUDIT-R), cannabis dosage (cannabis grams/past month), and cognitive outcomes, accounting for confounds (alcohol/nicotine use, anxiety symptoms, hours since last cannabis use). The sample comprised 115 participants (83 CUD vs 32 controls) aged 18.5 to 32.5 years which I recruited from the general community with a research team.Study 1 examined a broad range of cognitive domains: executive function, working memory, episodic memory, verbal reasoning, attention, IQ. Results indicated that IQ was lower in the CUD group compared to controls (p A substantial number of people who use cannabis continue consumption over time. Yet, there is a knowledge gap regarding how continued cannabis use affects cognition over time. The longitudinal evidence on cannabis use and cognition needs to be summarised as past reviews are outdated and focus on select ages. Study 3 is a narrative review of the longitudinal evidence to date on cannabis use and cognition across the lifespan. 21 studies were identified that examined ~21,371 participants (8,107 cannabis users, 13,264 controls) aged 5-to-42 years at baseline and followed up 2-to-9 times. Eight studies compared ~2,304 cannabis naïve individuals before they commenced using cannabis at follow-up and ~3,995 controls. Findings were summarised per cognitive domain: working/episodic memory, executive function, verbal fluency/comprehension, IQ, processing speed, perceptual reasoning, verbal learning and memory, attention.There was mixed evidence (40%-to-60% significant) that reduced IQ predated cannabis use, and insufficient evidence that other cognitive domains (e.g., working memory, executive function) were altered prior to cannabis use onset. There was consistent evidence ( 65% significant) for: (i) decreased IQ in cannabis users vs controls over time, (ii) associations between patterns of use (e.g., persistent use/dependence, greater dosage/frequency) and lower IQ at distinct timepoints/IQ decline over time, and (iii) associations between greater frequency at individual timepoints/increased frequency over time and decreased executive function. The evidence was mixed regarding cognitive decline over time in cannabis users compared to controls for: verbal learning and memory and perceptual reasoning and minimal ( 35% significant) or insufficient (Overall, the findings from this thesis indicate that verbal IQ may be a feature of CUD and IQ decline may be associated with continued cannabis use and with continued, greater chronicity of use. Future work is required to confirm whether the findings from this thesis generalise to CUD samples across the lifespan, including the most vulnerable individuals with a CUD who are seeking/receiving treatment and that endorse comorbid psychopathologies.</p
Experimental and Numerical Modelling of Helical Pile Foundation
No full textThe abstract for this item has not been populated.</p
Contributions to Group-oriented Anonymous Signatures
No full textDigital signatures play a crucial role in ensuring the authenticity and integrity of information in various applications. While they offer a means to verify the honest sender and guarantee content integrity, there are situations where maintaining the signer’s identity is undesirable. Examples include whistle-blowing or anonymous reporting systems and cryptocurrency transactions where individuals seek to unlink their real identities from their activities.To address these privacy concerns, group-oriented anonymous signatures emerge as a significant solution. This variant of digital signatures introduces the property of anonymity, allowing a signer to generate signatures on behalf of a group of members without revealing the actual signer among them. Two prominent types of group-oriented anonymous signatures are group signatures and ring signatures. In group signatures, a group manager forms a group, and any member can produce a signature representing the entire group. On the other hand, ring signatures enable a signer to arbitrarily create a set of users and sign on behalf of them, providing a higher degree of flexibility.Despite the extensive body of work related to group signatures and ring signatures, there remain areas that warrant improvement. This thesis focuses on contributing novel and practical constructions to enhance group-oriented anonymous signatures. We briefly outline the advancements made in this thesis below.• Firstly, we construct the first quantum-safe unique ring signature, a variant of ring signature, based on lattices. The scheme boasts a logarithmic signature size, providing an efficient and secure solution for post-quantum cryptographic settings.• Secondly, we demonstrate a generic construction that converts any existential unforgeability under a chosen message attack (EUF-CMA) signature into a blind-unforgeability (BU) signature. We also design a generic framework transforming any BU signature into a compact post-quantum ring signature. Based on our contribution, anyone can obtain a compact post-quantum ring signature directly from an EUF-CMA signature.• Thirdly, we introduce a novel variant of ring signatures called “shrinkable ring signatures” which allows a signer to exclude non-signers from a previously signed signature making the signature represent fewer members. We also introduce a logarithmic-size generic construction and a concrete instantiation based on lattices for SRS.• Finally, we propose a fault-tolerant content moderation mechanism for secure messaging systems based on a novel primitive called “Set Pre-constrained Group Signatures with Threshold on Tracing illegal content”. We also construct a generic construction and a pairing-based instantiation for this mechanism.These contributions collectively address various aspects of group-oriented anonymous signatures, introducing quantum-safe solutions, short signature size constructions and novel group-oriented anonymous signature variants.</p
The Endocannabinoidome in Major Depressive Disorder: From Gene Expression and Neuroinflammation to Potential Novel Therapeutics
No full textMajor depressive disorder (MDD) affects approximately 5% of adults worldwide, causing substantial personal and societal costs. Current treatments like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) show limited effectiveness, with only 20% of patients demonstrating meaningful improvement over non-pharmacological interventions. The complex pathophysiology of depression involves multiple interconnected mechanisms, including monoamine dysfunction, neurotransmitter dysregulation, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. The endocannabinoidome (eCBome), a complex lipid signalling system, regulates many of these pathways, yet its role in depression remains poorly understood. Through systematic post-mortem human brain analysis, animal studies, and cellular and plant characterisation work, this thesis investigated eCBome alterations in MDD and explored novel therapeutic approaches targeting this system.</p
Identifying and Translating Intention of Prosthetic Hand Users into Control Signals using Machine Learning Techniques
No full textThe abstract for this item has not been populated.</p