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Effectiveness of the circle of security intervention in an Australian community-based clinical population: a consecutive cohort study
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 256-301.Chapter 1. Overview -- Chapter 2. Background : developmental psychopathology and approaches to intervention -- Chapter 3. Attachment-based interventions : theory, empirical findings, and research -- Chapter 4. The circle of security intervention : theory, empirical support, and impetus for the current research -- Chapter 5. Efficacy of the 20 week circle of security intervention : changes in caregiver reflective functioning, representations and child attachment in an Australian clinical sample -- Chapter 6. Improved child behavioural and emotional functioning after circle of security 20-week intervention -- Chapter 7. Improved parental emotional functioning after circle of security parent-child relationship intervention -- Chapter 8. General discussion -- Chapter 9. References.The Circle of Security intensive intervention (COS) is based on attachment theory and aims to promote secure parent-child attachment relationships. Despite extensive uptake of the approach, there is still limited empirical evidence regarding its efficacy, or its effectiveness as a treatment approach with at risk and referred populations.The current research, consisting of three separate studies, seeks to fill a gap in this evidence by testing the use of the Circle of Security intervention with a sample of families referred to an Australian community clinical service with concerns about their young children's behaviour. Archived pre- and post-intervention data were analyzed from 83 clinically referred caregiver-child dyads (child age: 13-88 months) who completed the Circle of Security intervention in sequential cohorts and gave permission for their data to be included in the study.The first study considered questions about the efficacy of the intervention : specificallywhether participation in the 20-week Circle of Security intervention resulted in positive caregiver-child relationship change in four domains: caregiver reflective functioning; caregiver representations of the child and the relationship with the child; child attachment security, and attachment disorganization. Caregivers completed the Circle of Security Interview, and dyads were filmed in the Strange Situation Procedure before and after the intervention. Results supported all four hypotheses: caregiver reflective functioning, caregiving representations, and indices of child attachment security increased after the intervention, and indices of attachment disorganisation decreased for those with high baseline scores. Those whose scores were least optimal prior to intervention showed the greatest change in all domains. This study adds to the evidence suggesting that the 20-week Circle of Security intervention results in significant relationship improvements for caregivers and their children, in line with intervention aims.The next study examined the efficacy and effectiveness of intervention in improving child behavioural and emotional functioning in the referred sample of families who completed the intervention (n = 83). Parents (and teachers, when available) completed questionnaires assessing child protective factors, behavioural concerns, internalising and externalising problems, prior to and immediately after the intervention. The following were considered as potential moderators: child gender and age; parent representations; reflective functioning; child attachment indices; and severity of presenting problems prior to treatment. Results showed significant improvement for parent ratings of child protective factors, and fewer behavioural concerns (internalising and externalising symptoms); children with more severe problems showed most improvement. Teachers also reported improvements, but change was significant only for externalising problems. Findings suggest the intensive Circle of Security intervention is effective in improving child behavioural and emotional functioning in clinically referred children aged 1-7 years.The third study examined the effectiveness of the attachment-based Circle of Security 20-week intervention (COS) in improving parent emotional functioning in the referred population of families who completed the intervention (n = 83). Parenting stress and parent psychological symptoms were assessed pre and post intervention, and mixed design repeated measures (ANOVAs) were used to assess change. Severity of presenting problems was considered as a moderator. Results showed clinically significant improvements in both aspects of parent emotional functioning, with change explained by those with more severe problems at the outset. Improvements were associated with improvements in child behaviour and more positive parent representations of the child and of parenting capacity. Findings suggest the intensive COS intervention is effective in reducing parenting stress and psychological symptoms in parents of children aged 1-7 years. Questions remain about the mechanisms of change and the direction of effects.The findings of the current research add to evidence that the intensive Circle of Security intervention is efficacious in improving the parent-child relationship (achieving the primary aims of the intervention). The research also indicates that the intervention is effective in a real-world clinical context with moderate to high-risk families referred with child behavioural and emotional problems. Results show that the intervention approach was successful in engaging and retaining most families in the treatment, and resulted in statistically and clinically significant reductions in both child and parent symptoms of dysfunction.While there were some substantial limitations to this research, notably the absence of a control group, findings address a significant gap in evidence for the Circle of Security intensive intervention. Important questions are also raised that warrant further investigation, including whether parent behaviour also changes after the intervention, and what the mechanisms of change are.Other theoretical and clinical implications are also discussed, including questions about the construct and measurement of reflective functioning, the value of dimensional measures of attachment and caregiving representations and the likely (but unmeasured) contribution of the therapeutic process to outcomes seen. A novel contribution of the current research was the development of a coding tool to measure caregiving representations on the Circle of Security interview, with research and clinical application.The current research concludes that the Circle of Security Intervention is effective in a treatment context with moderate to high risk families of children aged 1 up to 7 years, referred with child behavioural and emotional difficulties not only in improving parent-child relationships, but also in reducing child and parent symptoms of distress, and that the most troubled families showed most benefit. Further research is needed, comparing outcomes from this version of the intervention with those of other child behaviour interventions, other attachment based interventions and other forms of the Circle of Security intervention to clarify what works for whom.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xxii, 315 pages) diagrams, graphs, table
Online acquisition of Cairene Arabic word stress patterns over time
No full textTheoretical thesis.Includes bibliographical references.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Longi : A simple automated system for conducting longitudinal studies on Amazon Mechanical Turk -- Chapter 3. Online acquisition of Cairene Arabic word stress patterns over time -- Chapter 4. Is less really more? Answers from L2 stress acquisition -- Chapter 5. Conclusion.Adult learners often experience difficulty in attaining fluency in all aspects of a second language (L2). The L2 acquisition of main word stress is especially challenging, and incorrect production may lead to significant miscommunication. Yet, relatively little research on L2 prosodic acquisition has been conducted. Additionally, most of this research focuses on English and other European languages, limiting our understanding of the acquisition of other stress systems.These studies contribute to this understanding by studying the L2 acquisition of the Cairene Arabic stress system.Artificial Language Learning research methodology was combined with real Cairene Arabic input. Adult American English speakers with no previous experience of any other Semitic language were taught the Cairene Arabic stress system. In Chapter 3, patterns of acquisition similar to prior studies were observed, such as L1 transfer and overgeneralization, confirming that this is a viable method for studying beginning L2 acquisition. The experiment in Chapter 4 aimed to test the 'less is more' hypothesis in the domain of prosodic acquisition. The results in this experiment demonstrated that participants performed better when presented with random stimuli, as compared to initially limited stimuli which gradually increased in complexity. This showed that the 'less is more' hypothesis does not hold for the narrow domain of main stress acquisition.These experiments were made possible by the use of Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT), allowing a large number of participants to be tested quickly and cheaply. The studies in this thesis were conducted over the course of 4 days. However, online longitudinal experiments are difficult to conduct. While designing the above studies, a software solution called Longi was developed (Chapter 2), which simplifies the process significantly. It is hoped that the development of this software will enable more online longitudinal studies to be conducted.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (223 pages colour illustration
Role of neopterin on inflammasome activation in the nervous system
No full textTheoretical thesis.Degree awarded jointly by Macquarie University, Australia and the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil.Bibliography: pages 88-122.Chapter 1. Literature review -- Chapter 2. Research objectives -- Chapter 3. Material and methods -- Chapter 4. Results -- Chapter 5. Discussion -- Chapter 6. Final conclusions -- Chapter 7. Future directions -- References -- AppendixThe inflammasome is a protein complex responsible for the maturation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18. It represents a key event in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases which can be triggered by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Neopterin, , an endogenous pteridin, is considered an early and sensitive biomarker of immune system activation. Although elevated neopterin levels have been associated with oxidative stress and inflammation for decades, the role of the pteridine in these conditions also remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated neopterin production in the central nervous system (CNS) under inflammatory conditions and the effect of neopterin preconditioning on inflammasome activation in nervous cells. A single lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (0.33 mg/kg; intraperitoneal) injection elicited an early hippocampal and serum increase of neopterin levels in adult Swiss mice, which occurred in parallel with inflammasome activation. It was also observed that rat cortical astrocytes produced and released neopterin under mitochondrial stress. In addition, extracellular neopterin (50 nM) inhibited ROS production and increased heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) content, an inducible antioxidant enzyme controlled by Nrf2 (nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2), which was also increased by the pteridine. Aiming to better understand the role of neopterin, we evaluated the effect of neopterin preconditioning on LPS-induced inflammasome activation in human primary nerve cells. Neopterin inhibited the inflammasome activation in astrocytes and neurons. Moreover, neopterin increased the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-1Ra astrocytic release. Finally, we analysed the levels of neopterin and cytokines in the serum of patients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a disease whose the pathophysiology remains virtually unknown. Higher neopterin and IL-10 and IL-1Ra levels were observed in ASD patients, while IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 did not change. In conclusion, neopterin appears to induce neuroprotective functions, when produced before or in parallel with the inflammatory stimulus in the CNS, by favoring oxidative stress resistance and inhibiting inflammasome assembly. The proposed molecular mechanism for this effect is through the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 cytoprotective pathway.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xx, 123 [6] pages) colour illustration
Transition metal complexes bearing hemilabile pincer ligands: towards enhanced catalytic activity
No full textEmpirical thesis.Includes bibliographical references.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Ru(II) complexes of hemilabile pincer ligands for catalysed transfer hydrogenation reactions -- Chapter 3. Ni(II) complexes of hemilabile pincer ligands for catalysed Kumada cross coupling reactions -- Chapter 4. Gold(I) and Gold(III) complexes of hemilabile pincer ligands for catalysed activation of alkynes -- Chapter 5. Conclusions and future work -- Chapter 6. Experimental -- Appendices.This thesis describes the synthesis of new Ag(I), Ru(II), Ni(II), Au(I) and Au(III) complexes containing an imidazolyl-pyrazolyl ligand motif (NCNMe- methylene linker, and NCNEt- ethylene linker). The synthesised complexes were tested as catalysts for a number of organic transformations.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xxvii, 381 pages) diagrams, table
Exploring the efficacy of cultural competence on service quality of outpatient care in Australia
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 178-216Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Literature on service quality -- Chapter 3. Quality of care and patient satisfaction amongst Caucasian and non Caucasian patients : a mixed method study in Australia -- Chapter 4. Cultural competence dimensions and outcomes: a systematic review of literature -- Chapter 5. The efficacy of cultural competence in the heath care context: a qualitative inquiry -- Chapter 6. The impacts of ethnic distance, cultural distance and cultural competence on the quality of outpatient care: a comparative study in Australia -- Chapter 7. Conclusion - References -- Appendix -- List of figuresGlobalisation and the growth in migration has shaped many multicultural societies where intercultural service encounters in the health care context have become commonplace. Today's health professionals encounter patients from different cultural backgrounds who need care from providers who are both knowledgeable in their work and aware of the role that culture plays in patient treatment. However, insufficient cultural competence among the health workforce has been widely stated as one of the factors contributing to the health disparities and misunderstandings that lead to medical errors among ethnically diverse patients. Unfortunately, cultural competence preparation and training have not received enough attention in medical and education sectors. The scarcity of empirical evidence on the efficacy of cultural competence has hindered the promotion of this phenomenon in service sectors such as the health sector. Particularly, in Australia yet there has been no systematic evaluation of the potential health benefits of culturally competent services. To investigate the impact of cultural competence on health care quality, various aspects of service quality in the health care context should first be identified. However, in Australia factors that patients may consider important in assessing the quality of care remain somewhat unexplored. This study contributes to the research of service quality within an intercultural health care framework and explores whether providers' cultural competence impacts patients' ratings of the quality of health services. Using a mixed methodology this research a) examines the primary dimensions of service quality in the health care context; and b) explores the impact of patient-provider cultural distance and providers' cultural competence on the quality of health care. In the qualitative phase, 40 patients were interviewed to identify how they evaluate the quality of health care and assess providers' cultural competence. Then research models were developed based on the qualitative results. In the quantitative phase, data were collected through surveying 447 patients to test the proposed models. Contrary to many previous studies where the technical aspect of service in measuring patients' perceptions of care was excluded, the research findings suggest that both functional and technical aspects of service quality are significant in assessing the quality of outpatient care in the Australian health care sector. Moreover, empirical findings supported the significant impact of patient-provider cultural distance and providers' cultural competence on the quality of health services. This research illustrates an inclusive instrument of patient-perceived health care quality and delineates its relationship with cultural competence. The instrument would enable outpatient clinics to comprehend patients' feedback regarding the quality of health care received by them. This feedback could be used to examine clinics' performance, measure patient satisfaction and benchmark the performance against competitive medical settings.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (238 pages) illustration
Robotic arm: a learning platform
No full textEmpirical thesis.Includes bibliographical references.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Background -- Chapter 3. Safety -- Chapter 4. Hardware -- Chapter 5. Crust Crawler robotic arm assembly -- Chapter 6. Software -- Chapter 7. Lab experiment procedure -- Chapter 8. Discussion -- Conclusion -- References.A good learning platform is an essential part of a student's learning outcome. In this document, study and research on a Crust Crawler AX-12A Smart Robotic Arm is stated. This includes the details of the hardware used, the assembly procedure, software used and experimental procedure. The project was conducted to develop a learning platform with laboratory instructions to help students learn how to control a robotic arm. The key component used in this project is the AX-12A Dynamixel motor which is a smart servo motor with its own microcontroller and memory. Nine laboratory experiments were developed based on LabVIEW which would allow students to learn from basic controls to performing a repetitive or conditional operation. Limitations and issues faced during the process are also shared.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (1 volume (unpaged) colour illustrations
Measuring radiation dose in the vicinity of prosthesis in cancer patients using a 3D radiation dosimeter
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 93-95.1. Introduction -- 2. Background and related work -- 3. Experimental process overview and fabrication of Flexydos3D gel -- 4. Evaluation of the ideal storage environment for Flexydos3D gel -- 5. Selection of an ideal element for the fabrication of Flexydos3D gel -- 6. Evaluation of the abnormal behaviour in Flexydos3D gel -- 7. Response measured in phantoms with and without metal disks -- 8. Conclusion and future work -- 8. Abbreviations -- Bibliography -- Appendices.With time new techniques have been developed to treat various diseases and new technologies have always played a big role in the better treatment of patients. This project focuses on cancer patients who are being treated with radiotherapy. So the question arises what would be the problem with this kind of treatment. The issue is that there are some cancer patients who already have a metal prosthesis in some part of their body prior to the treatment. Now, if the tumour is in the surrounding area of the implant, that would need to be treated with radiotherapy, then there is the chance of some deviation in the radiation dose delivered. This can affect the entire treatment for the patient and there are possibilities for the treatment to not be as efficient as desired. Therefore, this project aims to measure the radiation dose in the surroundings of the metal implant. So a radiation dosimeter, also called phantom, would be made of Flexydos3D. This was used for investigating the problem. Access to a linear accelerator was required for irradiating the phantom at Royal North Shore Hospital. The measurements were taken using an optical scanner. Another important investigation carried out in this project was regarding the effect of temperature on the Flexydos gel over time which shed some light on where to store the phantoms before and after irradiation.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xxi, 103 pages colour illustrations
Techno-economic analysis of PV/T hybrid system in Australia's domestic market
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 81-86.1. Introduction -- 2. Background and related work -- 3. Research methodology -- 4. Discussion -- 5. Future work -- 6. Conclusions -- 9. Abbreviations -- Appendix -- Bibliography.The techno-economic performance of a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal system depends heavily on local climate conditions, specifically the rise in module temperature of the solar panels. This study aims to quantify the impact current solar radiation data has on the overall performance of a domestic PV system., and compare it to the performance of a PV/T system. By using current solar radiation data collected by the Bureau of Meteorology Australia (BOM) via several solar ground stations, an accurate prediction of electrical energy collected for both systems is calculated. In order to compare the current economic viability, and the environmental impacts of both systems, the energy calculations are used alongside previous LCA study research of both PV and PV/T systems that estimates the carbon equivalent emissions of the two systems. The 200 W solar panel system is projected to have a payback period of 21.2 years, whilst for the 200 W solar panel and water based hybrid system, a projected payback period of 15.4 years. The GHG emissions saved ny the PV system is expected to be 837.98 g CO2 e/kWh, whilst for the PV/T system, a predicted 264.61 g CO2 e/kWh. This study has also provided the initial steps towards a lifecycle assessment for the small scale PV/T system.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xvi, 86 pages diagrams, graphs, tables
Verilog-A modelling of transistor
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 69-70.1. Introduction -- Literature review and theory -- 3. PDK development training -- 4. Create models in NI AWRDE PDK -- 5. Results and discussion -- 6. Conclusions and future work -- 7. Abbreviations -- Appendices -- Bibliography.Industry standard transistor models used for computer aided circuit design are not always accurately predicting transistor performance under all circuit conditions ,include RF and analog circuit behavior. Transistor model are expected not only circuit performance but also reliability and accuracy. Improved accuracy may need concern access to the internal currents and voltages of the transistor or add extra internal features such as low-frequency noise sources. Circuits that have very stringent accuracy requirements require modeling techniques with higher accuracy. In contrast, Verilog-A enables full control of transistor model and can be integrated with the circuit design software. This document report present show effective approach to investigate and implement our transistor model in two different environments - AWR and Verilog-A. This is useful for circuit-level design purposes to allow the designer manipulates transistor models have direct access to model equation sets and program structure. A comparison of results between simulation and measurements to transistor model has been illustrated in details.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xv, 70 pages diagrams, graphs
Clinical swept-source optical coherence tomography of the middle ear
No full textWe report the first clinical results from a swept-source optical coherence tomography system designed for clinical imaging of the middle ear. The system shows promise for a range of applications in otology including functional imaging of middle ear muscle contraction and postsurgical monitoring of prosthesis migration.3 page(s