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"Don’t worry, it’s just a girl!" : negotiating and challenging gendered assumptions in Sydney's breakdancing scene
No full textIn this article, I analyse how bodily potential is culturally regulated in Sydney's breakdancing (breaking) scene through drawing both on my breakdancing practice and interviews conducted with prominent figures in this scene. I critically examine my lived experiences as one of only a few female breakdancers ("b-girls") in Sydney through analytic autoethnography, and use the theoretical tools of Deleuze and Guattari to unpack and challenge normative gendered narratives. With breakdancing culturally inscribed as masculine ("b-boying") and its conventions interlocking with broader patriarchal restrictions that inhibit female participation and bodily expression, I argue that the Sydney breaking scene is both a site of transgression and regression for the female body. This paradox confronting the b-girl sees her participation as "othered", while also challenging normative assumptions of gender. Through situating specific practices of breaking within broader Australian culture and gender norms, I examine how the performances of b-girls and b-boys in Australia disrupt the stability of binary logic on which the organization of bodies is so heavily reliant and, in doing so, allow for the experience of breaking as a site of "pure" difference.21 page(s
Effect of vitamin D supplementation on tibial cartilage volume and knee pain among patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis : a randomized clinical trial
No full textImportance: Observational studies suggest that vitamin D supplementation is associated with benefits for knee osteoarthritis, but current trial evidence is contradictory. Objective: To compare the effects of vitamin D supplementation vs placebo on knee pain and knee cartilage volume in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and low vitamin D levels. Design, setting and participants: A multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in Tasmania and Victoria, Australia. Participants with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (12.5-60 nmol/L) were enrolled from June 2010 to December 2011. The trial was completed in December 2013. Interventions: Participants were randomly assigned to receive monthly treatment with oral vitamin D₃(50,000 IU; n = 209) or an identical placebo (n = 204) for 2 years. Main outcomes and measures: Primary outcomes were change in tibial cartilage volume (assessed using magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score (0 [no pain] to 500 [worst pain]) from baseline to month 24. Secondary outcomes were cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions (assessed using MRI).Of 413 enrolled participants (mean age, 63.2 years; 50% women), 340 (82.3%) completed the study. The level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased more in the vitamin D group (40.6 nmol/L) than in the placebo group (6.7 nmol/L) (P < .001) over 2 years. There were no significant differences in annual change of tibial cartilage volume or WOMAC pain score. There were no significant differences in change of tibiofemoral cartilage defects or change in tibiofemoral bone marrow lesions. Adverse events (≥ 1 per patient) occurred in 56 participants in the vitamin D group and in 37 participants in the placebo group (P = .04). [table: see text]. Conclusions and relevance: Among patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, vitamin D supplementation, compared with placebo, did not result in significant differences in change in MRI-measured tibial cartilage volume or WOMAC knee pain score over 2 years. These findings do not support the use of vitamin D supplementation for preventing tibial cartilage loss or improving WOMAC knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis.9 page(s
Exploring English pronunciation teaching in Vietnam: time for a new approach?
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 73-80.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Review of the literature -- Chapter 3. Research methodology -- Chapter 4. Data analysis -- Chapter 5. Discussion -- Chapter 6. Conclusion.This thesis explores the issue of Vietnamese learners’ pronunciation of English and why, despite great effort, it seems such an intractable problem. The study is inspired by the argument made by Saraceni (2015) that takes a critical approach to World Englishes and the central dilemma of reconciling language as system with language as social practice.Because the examination system in Vietnam’s public education sector favours written over spoken work, English speaking skills, including English pronunciation, have become marginalised in the school curriculum. Paradoxically, driven by globalisation, there has been an increasing need for Vietnamese to be able to function (i.e. communicate) in English with a variety of English speakers from around the world. To meet the demand for learning communicative English, the private sector in Vietnam has created hundreds of ‘English Language Centres’ (ELCs) nation-wide. These centres have become crucial sites for the teaching and learning of English speaking and pronunciation, however, virtually none has been investigated as a site of research into teaching and learning practices.This thesis is a case study that investigates the teaching and learning of English pronunciation at one ELC in Hanoi. Rather than add to the already substantial existing literature on comparative phonology between English and Vietnamese, (i.e. language as system) (such as Cunningham, 2009, 2010; Tweedy, 2012; Nguyen, 2015; Nguyen, 2007; Ha, 2007 etc.), the study focuses on social, psychological and cultural aspects impacting Vietnamese learners of English (i.e. language as social practice). A mixed-methods qualitative approach is followed investigating attitudes, perceptions and beliefs of three key stakeholder groups: learners, teachers and ELC administrators. The findings show how the language as system versus language as social practice dilemma plays out in conflicted responses regarding goals, difficulties and possible solutions.11, 154 pages graphs, tables 30 c
Physiological functions of multidrug efflux pumps in the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages i-viii.1. Introduction -- 2. Methods -- 3. Results -- 4. Discussion -- 5. Conclusion and future directions.The success of A. baumannii as a pathogen may be attributed to its broad resistance capabilities, and its ability to persist in the clinical setting and infect new hosts. Multidrug efflux pumps may play important roles in each of these factors. The role of multidrug efflux pumps in conferring resistance to antibiotics is of clinical relevance and has been well studied. However it is becoming increasingly apparent that these efflux pumps may have physiological roles such as colonisation of the bacterium in hosts; maintaining cellular homeostasis by mediating extrusion of endogenous polyamines and playing a role in cell-to-cell signalling which ultimately controls biofilm formation.To determine if multidrug efflux pumps have physiological roles in biofilm formation and resistance to host produced factors a mutant library from strain AB5075-UW was screened. Disruption of several chromosomally encoded efflux pump genes resulted in either significantly higher or lower biofilm formation. Efflux pumps which showed significant differences in biofilm were screened for polyamine transport. It was found that MATE efflux pump mutant ABUW_0109-152::T26, which displayed a loss of biofilm formation, was sensitive to the polyamine spermine. Therefore, spermine may be a native substrate of this efflux pump and play a role in biofilm regulation.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (vi, 50, viii pages) illustrations (some colour
Using game theoretic approaches to implement smart grids
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 41-42.1. Introduction -- 2. Game theory used in designing a smart grid -- 3. Algorithm to form coalition group -- 4. Experimental results -- 5. Conclusion.The smart grid is a user system that will elevate the conventional electrical grid system to one that functions more cooperatively, responsively and economically. One of the most important features of smart grid technology that makes it smart or smarter than the current grid is the integration of bi-directional flow of information along with electricity, which can be used to provide effective and controlled power generation and consumption. In this project, first we investigate how game theory can be used in smart grid communication due to its proven efficiency in wireless and wireline communication. And then to implement algorithms using cooperative game theory to solve the problem of the power loss during power transfer process. We have applied the game theoretic coalition formulation strategy and explain how the micro-grid action as to form coalition group to minimize the power loss when power is transmitted from a micro-grid to another micro-grid or the macro station. To maximizethe profit of coalition, a micro-grid will find partners which are able to maximize the payoff function value. In this project we focused in particular on using cooperative game theory to solve the problem of power loss.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xiv, 42 pages) diagrams, graphs, table
Is international accounting education delivering pedagogical value?
No full textThis paper examines whether universities are delivering pedagogical value to international accounting students commensurate with the costs of studying abroad. The paper uses survey and interview methods to explore the extent to which Chinese Learners (CLs) in an Australian postgraduate accounting subject have distinct learning needs. The paper then reviews universities’ responses to these needs, especially in light of funding and resource pressures. The paper reinforces findings that CLs have different learning approaches to local students, but not inferior or ‘shallow’ approaches. However, since CLs face distinctive financial and social pressures to achieve high results, their learning practices may be more sensitive to changes in teaching and assessment, such that cost constraints on educational resources might disproportionately affect their learning. This suggests that a paradoxical result of the funding pressures on many universities may be to encourage large international student cohorts while constraining available resources to meet their learning needs.16 page(s
Joint traffic splitting, rate control, routing, and scheduling algorithm for maximizing network utility in wireless mesh networks
No full textThe existence of multiple gateways, as is a common case in wireless mesh networks (WMNs), brings the possibility to improve network performance. However, previous studies, including both heuristic-based works and theory-driven cross-layer design works, cannot guarantee an optimal exploitation of multiple gateways. In this paper, we focus on exploiting multiple gateways optimally to achieve maximum network utility. We first extend the current framework of cross-layer design and formulate a network utility maximization (NUM) problem under WMNs with multiple gateways as a constrained optimization problem. Then, by solving this optimization problem, we propose a novel joint traffic splitting, rate control, routing, and scheduling algorithm called cross-layer control with dynamic gateway selection (CLC_DGS), which splits and distributes network traffic into multiple gateways in an optimal way. We prove that CLC_DGS can achieve maximum network utility. Finally, we run extensive simulations to demonstrate that, compared with the previous methods, CLC_DGS significantly improves the performance of WMNs under various network environments, including gateway heterogeneity, link heterogeneity, and different interference models.15 page(s
An Interview with Damian Wright : flamenco and the discourse of world music in contemporary Australia
No full textIn this Riff article, Brent Keogh speaks to Sydney-based flamenco guitarist and ARIA award nominee, Damian Wright. The interview discusses Wright's experiences and perspectives on world music in Australia. Where much of the academic discourse on world music focuses on broader theorization and systemic critiques, the following interview presents experiences and insights from a musician contributing to, and working in, the complex discursive space of world music in Australia. In doing so, Wright's perspectives contribute to broader discussions concerning the politics of otherness, musical patronage and cultural diversity in Australian music.12 page(s
Victims’ responses to bullying : the gap between students’ evaluations and reported responses
No full textVictims’ responses to bullying have the potential to impact bullying outcomes. This study examined students’ evaluations of and reported likelihood of adopting four different victim responses (angry, sad, confident, and ignoring). Fifth- and seventh-grade students (N = 206; mean age = 11.13 and 13.18 years, respectively) viewed hypothetical videotaped scenarios portraying either physical or verbal bullying among same-sex peers and completed online questionnaires. While students rated the confident and ignoring victim responses as more effective overall, they reported a greater likelihood of adopting sad and angry responses to bullying. This pattern suggests a gap between what students “know” and what students report they would actually “do” if faced with bullying themselves. Some gender and age variations were also identified. Qualitative data exploring participants’ responses to bullying and their associated motivations provided further insights into how students approach bullying problems. These findings may inform interventions designed to train and empower students to adopt more effective responses to bullying.15 page(s
What methods are used to apply positive deviance within healthcare organisations? A systematic review
No full textBackground: The positive deviance approach focuses on those who demonstrate exceptional performance, despite facing the same constraints as others. 'Positive deviants' are identified and hypotheses about how they succeed are generated. These hypotheses are tested and then disseminated within the wider community. The positive deviance approach is being increasingly applied within healthcare organisations, although limited guidance exists and different methods, of varying quality, are used. This paper systematically reviews healthcare applications of the positive deviance approach to explore how positive deviance is defined, the quality of existing applications and the methods used within them, including the extent to which staff and patients are involved. Methods: Peer-reviewed articles, published prior to September 2014, reporting empirical research on the use of the positive deviance approach within healthcare, were identified from seven electronic databases. A previously defined four-stage process for positive deviance in healthcare was used as the basis for data extraction. Quality assessments were conducted using a validated tool, and a narrative synthesis approach was followed. Results: 37 of 818 articles met the inclusion criteria. The positive deviance approach was most frequently applied within North America, in secondary care, and to address healthcare-associated infections. Research predominantly identified positive deviants and generated hypotheses about how they succeeded. The approach and processes followed were poorly defined. Research quality was low, articles lacked detail and comparison groups were rarely included. Applications of positive deviance typically lacked staff and/or patient involvement, and the methods used often required extensive resources. Conclusion: Further research is required to develop high quality yet practical methods which involve staff and patients in all stages of the positive deviance approach. The efficacy and efficiency of positive deviance must be assessed and compared with other quality improvement approaches.12 page(s