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'Fighting them every single step of the way’ : the struggle for reproductive rights in the Republic of Ireland
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 88-93.Introduction -- Chapter One. Niamh -- Chapter Two. Not the church, not the state, women must decide their fate -- Chapter Three. See no, hear no, speak of no abortions -- Chapter Four. Making the personal political -- Chapter Five. Social and political events influencing Ireland’s pro-choice movement -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Glossary of Irish terms.Abortion was criminalised throughout the Republic of Ireland from 1983, when the 8th Amendment was introduced to the constitution. The 8th Amendment recognises that the unborn child holds an equal right to life as the mother, and so abortion became punishable by up to 14 years’ imprisonment. Continuing to this day, the 8th Amendment forces women to either travel outside of the Republic for terminations or to take the medical abortion pill illegally in their own homes. Women who seek abortions have become invisible and are kept in silence under the 8th Amendment, despite it ensuring Ireland’s status as a prolife nation. Since 2012 there has been a surge in pro-choice activism in Ireland and a renewed push to repeal the 8th Amendment. Through an examination of the new wave of pro-choice activism, this thesis considers how activists draw on current political and social events to break the silence on abortion and push to repeal the 8th Amendment.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (96 pages
Between discovery and deep time: a study of the cultural representations of Mungo Man
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 90-98.Introduction -- Chapter One: Discovery -- Chapter Two: Deep Time -- Chapter Three: The Meaning of Mungo Man -- Conclusion.After decades of sub-disciplines that have moved away from grand narratives and long-term trends, some of Australia's leading historians are now embracing frameworks that look beyond traditional history in big ways: through the geological concept of 'deep time', historians can place narratives within deeper histories of the human species, the earth, and even the universe. This interest in deep history has not been limited to academia, with a similar explosion in public interest around Australia's deep human past and its potential to re-shape national narratives.At the heart of deep time in Australia is Mungo Man: the 50,000-year-old Pleistocene skeleton found in 1974. Yet, despite his prominent role in both academic history and public discussion, there has been no examinationof Mungo Man's image and narrative function. This study seeks to unpack the representations of Mungo Man in history and public discourse. How is Mungo Man represented by academics and the general public? How have these representations varied since his discovery in 1974? And why is it only now that he has begun to be integrated into historical research and public discussion? This study will provide essential context on the recent surge of interest in Mungo Man, deep time, and the powerful resonance they lend Australian history today and in the future.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (iii, 98 pages
Risk factors for potentially preventable readmissions: a case study of diseases of the circulatory system
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: Pages 79-85.1 Introduction -- 2 Literature review -- 3 Applied methods -- 4 Data and hypothesis development -- 5 Empirical analysis -- 6 Conclusion.Potentially preventable hospital readmission rates are considered an important indicator of quality of health care. These re-hospitalisations are likely to be harmful, costly and potentially avoidable. This research identifies the risk factors that cause potentially preventable readmissions. We analysed admissions to hospital of 7,044 patients with a circulatory system disease as principal diagnosis using a health insurance claim database collected between 2010 and 2016. We developed an algorithm that identifies preventable readmissions from the insurance claim records and subsequently a logistic regression model that allows us to identify the risk factors of these potentially preventable readmissions. The analysis gives a specific focus on examining whether cost-based measures can help explain the risk for patients readmit to hospital with preventable reasons. Our findings suggest that patients with circulatory system diseases were more likely to have a potentially preventable hospital readmission if they had one or more of the following factors at the time of the initial admission: being male, more complications (comorbidities) apart from the main diagnosis, stroke conditions, and having procedures of digital subtraction angiography of aorta and lower limb. Importantly, the more doctors charged over the schcduled fees for the medical service associated with a patient's initial admission, the less likely the patient would be readmitted for a preventable reason.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (vii, 85 pages) graphs and table
Heterologous expression of human ST6GAL1 in trichoderma reesei
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 205-251.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Material and methods -- Chapter 3. Preparation of expression vectors and generation of trichoderma reesei transformants -- Chapter 4. Expression of human sialyltransferase ST6Gal1 in trichoderma reesei RUT-C30 -- Chapter 5. Degradation of the recombinant ST6Gal1 and determination of functionality of rST6Gal1 produced in trichoderma reesei -- Chapter 6. Summary, future directions and conclusions -- References -- AppendicesSialyltransferases can be used to add sialic acid to glycoproteins to study and modify the effects of sialylation on, for example, the metastatic potential of cancer cells, drug resistance, differentiation of stem cells and the half-life and in vivo bioactivity of therapeutic proteins. A functional human sialyltransferase, ST6Gal1, was expressed in the high protein secreting filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei with a view of improving availability of the enzyme. Two expression cassettes were designed (i) a cassette with the mCherry gene which encodes a fluorescent protein to enable initial screening of transformants as well as tracking of secretion (ST6Gal1 produced as a fusion protein), and (ii) a cassette without mCherry where the ST6Gal1 production was monitored using ST6Gal1 specific antibodies. Both constructs also contained a Strep-tag™ II and an enterokinase cleavage site to facilitate the purification of recombinant ST6Gal1 (rST6Gal1) and to cleave the rST6Gal1 from the fusion protein respectively.A truncated and codon optimised ST6Gal1 cDNA was expressed under the T. reesei cbh1 promoter. Recombinant ST6Gal1 was found to be secreted into the culture medium at 48 h, established by Western blotting with ST6Gal1 specific antibodies. Two main forms, 40 kDa and 60 kDa of the secreted rST6Ga11 were observed indicating processing of the fusion protein.The secreted rST6Gal1 was eventually degraded during cultivation. A total protease activity assay revealed an increase in the extracellular protease activity over a period of 120 h of cultivation. The transformants exhibited a higher protease activity compared to the non-transformant RUT-C30 host. Subsequent analysis of the intracellular fraction by Western blotting revealed that processing of the fusion protein occurred inside the cells. Transcriptional analysis of the ST6Gal1 gene by qRT-PCR revealed that the gene was expressed at 24 h, 48 h and 96 h.Confocal microscopy suggested co-localisation of mCherry in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) possibly indicating the activity of ER associated quality control mechanism. Further analysis of the RNA levels by qRT-PCR revealed an increase in the transcription levels of genes encoding proteins associated with the unfolded protein response (UPR) and ER associated degradation (ERAD) pathways, such as BiP1, PDI, calnexin, Sec61, ubiquitin and proteasome subunits RPN8 and beta3. This indicated the cellular stress that might have led to the disintegration of rST6Gal1 resulting in lower secretionSouthern blot analysis revealed integration of multiple copies of the ST6Gal1 gene into the fungal genomic DNA, with at least one of the transformants having the expression cassette integrated in the cbh1 locus. A lectin based enzyme activity assay was developed and established to be functioning with commercially available recombinant human ST6Gal1. The results were further validated using mass spectrometry. As a summary, this project serves as a proof of concept for the successful expression of a recombinant human sialyltransferase ST6Gal1 in Trichoderma reesei.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xiv, 265 pages) illustrations (some colour
Tunable x-band voltage controlled oscillator using planar resonators
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 87-88.1. Introduction -- 2. Fundamentals of microwave oscillators -- 3. X-band VCO design -- 4. Implementation -- 5. Conclusion and future work 6. Abbreviations -- Appendices.Oscillators are an essential component for all radio communication and radar systems. Presented here is a design for a tunable oscillator that operates from 10-12 GHz. The required background theory is presented to establish an understanding of oscillators. An award winning design of a tunable microwave oscillator is reverse engineered in an in depth manner to gain insight into the various considerations that take place in the design of a tunable microwave oscillator. The design is simulated in an Electronic Design Automation (EDA) package. The simulated results are observed and discussed. A printed circuit board (PCB) is produced and tested. The simulated results are compared against the measure results of the PCB. The reults are discussed and a conclusion is drawn.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xiii, 88 pages colour illustrations
Solar thermal material processing
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 57-58.1. Introduction -- 2. Background and related work -- 3. Design and construction of a trough reflector -- 4. Construction and setbacks -- 5. Testing and results -- 6. Conclusions and future work -- Appendices -- Bibliography.The use of fossil fuels for the processing of materials and other fuels is a challenge like no other affecting the world we live in. The creation of solar fuels is a way that could help curb emissions from fossil fuels through the use of concentrated solar power systems, creating clean energy and materials. This document provides a background into concentrated solar power systems as well as solar fuels, and details the design process of this project to create a concentrated solar power system. Simulations and results are presented to explain the design decisions taken in the project. A CSP system is then constructed and tested with the aim of reaching 500°C. This temperature sets a good base temperature for future work on processing solar fuels. In order to reach the desired temperature, different strategies were tested to try and raise the temperature. Due to losses to convection and problems with the tracking system, the desired temperature was not reached. There is however scope to reach 500°C in the future by upgrading parts of the system.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xvi, 58 pages colour illustrations
Breast image classification using machine learning techniques
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 59-60.1. Introduction -- 2. Literature review -- 3. Mammographic images -- 4. Tamura's features -- 5. Feature data -- 6. Support vector machines -- 7. Results & discussion -- 8. Conclusion -- 9. Future work -- 10. Abbreviations -- Appendix -- Bibliography.Proper diagnosis of breast images may be performed through a combination of image processing and machine learning techniques. Provided an accurate diagnosis, the time in which a doctor would personally analyse the images is reduced.Practically, speaking, the diagnosis process consists of feature detection and classification. This research project investigates the performance of Tamura's texture analysis in combination with support vector machines (SVM) as a means to carry out this process. As the provided data consists of three classes, normal, benign and cancer, multiclass SVM techniques will be investigated.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xiii, 60 pages illustrations
Compact high voltage low power ionizing power supply
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 55-57.1. Introduction -- 2. Background theory and context -- 3. Simulation -- 4. Current progress -- 5. Future work -- Appendices.At high velocities, drag is the dominating factor in fuel consumption by a vehicle moving through air. Strategic design chief at Volvo's Monitoring & Concept Center, Doug Frasher describes the drag coefficient as having decreased miles per gallon (mpg) by 1 mpg for every 0.1 increase in drag coefficient. Plasma actuators serve as an attractive solution to this problem, as they can control the flow of air around the body they are applied to, while maintaining a relatively light-weight, quick response time and require no moving parts in their construction.Limited knowledge is available in the application of these plasma actuators on smaller scale modes of transport. In these instances the plasma actuators must be able to sustain a glow discharge plasma in an environment inherent to car, functioning at an ambient pressure of one atmosphere as well as having a compact and light enough build. The devices should not substantially impede the functioning of the vehicle's performance and should be of actual benefit to the vehicle. Further, the plasma actuator's power consumption must be efficient. As batteries are the primary way in which vehicles receive electric power, the compact high voltage low power ionizing power supply should be designed to fulfil these requirements.In the undertaking of the project, the design decisions made for the power supply closely follow existing knowledge on John R. Roth's patented "one atmosphere uniform glow discharge plasma ( OAUGDP)", as well as the works of Jean-Louis Naudin and Thomas C. Corke et al. in their efforts to explain and optimize the details of Roth's work. Here their techniques will be assessed and evaluated through simulation and experimentation. If they are deemed favourable in fulfilling the requirements of the compact high voltage ionizing power supply, they will be incorporated into the design (CHVLPIPS).The CHVLPIPS, though far from complete, is proceeding well. What has been achieved is the generation of plasma using a battery that at a visual standpoint is comparable to works published in regards to plasma actuators. The CHVLPIPS' form factor and weight is far less cumbersome than the laboratory power supplies generally used. What has been contributed as a result of this undertaking are the first few steps towards a potential streamlined use of plasma actuators.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xviii, 62 pages colour illustrations
The law of proportionality and the sentencing of environmental crimes in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 324-337.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. What does "proportionality" mean in the context of the Land and Environment Court? -- Chapter 3. Empirical method -- Chapter 4. Sentences under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) which involve environmental harm -- Chapter 5. Sentences for offences under sections 118A and 118D of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) -- Chapter 6. Sentences for offences under the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997 (NSW) and the Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NSW) -- Chapter 7. Sentences for offences under section 120 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) -- Chapter 8. Addressing the causes of disproportionality -- References.Proportionality in criminal sentencing is a deceptively simple concept, so deeply embedded within modern notions of justice that it can be seen as mere common sense: the punishment should fit the crime. The superficial simplicity of the concept masks the complex definitional, statutory and practical challenges of implementing proportionate sentencing in a specialist environmental court. This thesis analyses criminal sentencing carried out by the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales ("LEC") from 2004-2013. A critical examination of written sentence judgments from this period forms the basis of this study. A new test for proportionality in the sentencing of environmental crimes is presented, created by synthesising the common law definitions of proportionality developed by the High Court of Australia, the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the LEC itself. This thesis then applies that test to evaluate the proportionality of the penalties imposed for four of the most frequently occurring offence types over the ten-year period. The findings reveal that, whilst sentencing is reasonably proportionate in the majority of cases, there are numerous and diverse causes of disproportionality in the LEC's sentencing. Further, the inherent characteristics of environmental crimes can lead to difficulties with evaluating the harm to the victim of the crime, the environment, thereby jeopardising proportionality. On the basis of these findings the thesis concludes by outlining a range of possible reforms to environmental statutes and LEC practice to address the causes of disproportionality in the LEC's sentencing of environmental crimes.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (337 pages
Fire regimes and fauna in Montane forests in the Northern Australian Alps
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 48-541. The management of conservation lands in fire prone landscapes across the globe has set up a tension between the conservation of biodiversity and protection of human life and property. Compounding this tension is a lack of knowledge around fauna specific impacts potentially linked to fire management activities such as prescribed burning. 2. To determine if fire frequency and prior fire intensity had an influence on mammal assemblages, wet sclerophyll forests across gradients of these explanatory variables, were surveyed for mammals using camera traps. Univariate and multivariate analysis were applied to investigate relationships between mammal faunal phylogenetic diversity, functional diversity and habitat variable. 3. Species data were analysed to determine the relative phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity of fauna across the fire variable gradients at the site scale and the regional (beta) scale. 4. While the impact of increased fire severity appeared to reduce the occurrence of some taxa, functional diversity was maintained at the scales examined. 5. Policy implications. The findings of this study indicate that the phylogenetic measures and functional diversity measures can be applied to better understand mammal fauna community dynamics in relation to the impacts deterministic and stochastic fire events. In turn, fire management can be better informed to ensure biodiversity assets are maximised across ecological communities1 online resource (54,10 pages) illustrations (some colour), cartographic image