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The bright homunculus in our head: individual differences in intuitive sensitivity to logical validity
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 59-66.Chapter 1. Literature review -- Chapter 2. Experiment 1 - Liking and validity judgments -- Chapter 3. Experiment 2 - Brightness and liking judgments -- Chapter 4. General discussion -- References -- Appendices.Classical dual process theories of human reasoning attribute explicit reasoning to effortful, deliberative thinking. Lacking any access to the formal rules of logic and probability, according to these models, intuitive processes rely exclusively on superficial features of the problem. In recent years, however, researchers have demonstrated that reasoners are able to solve simple logical or probabilistic problems relatively automatically, a capability which has been called logical intuition. In two experiments, we examined the existence of this capability by instructing participants to rate their judgment of likeability (Experiment 1) and brightness (Experiment 2) of several reasoning problems. In order to investigate individual differences in these measures of logical intuition, participants were also asked to complete two scales of cognitive ability and cognitive style. The results showed that participants rated the conclusion to logically valid statements more likable and more physically bright. Although participants with higher cognitive ability showed greater logical intuition in their liking judgment, this effect, however, was absent when the brightness task, as another measure of logical intuition, was used. We discuss the implications of our findings for recent dual process theories of human reasoning.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (74 pages) diagrams, graphs, table
Developing a legal framework to govern forum shopping in transnational intellectual property litigation
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 65-75.I. Introduction -- II. Theoretical framework and literature review -- III. Identifying forum shopping in the case law between 1940-80 -- IV. Approaches to global forum shopping in case law from 1981 to the present -- V. Case study : Phillip Morris International's global forum shopping litigation strategy -- VI. Criteria to identify appropriate global forum shopping in transnational intellectual property litigation -- VII. Conclusion -- Bibliography.As globalisation facilitates transnational intellectual property litigation, the number of available forums has increased and led to the need to more effectively govern the practice of forum shopping. ‘Forum shopping’ refers to a litigant’s strategic choice of a court or tribunal which has the highest probability of achieving a favourable outcome. The term has traditionally been used in a derogatory manner as the practice can lead to inconvenience and inequity. However, an emerging group of scholars argue that forum shopping is a justifiable and rational choice by litigants which can advance the efficient administration of justice in transnational litigation. In such a context, the central research question to be addressed in the thesis is: what criteria should be utilised as a legal framework by the judiciary and policy makers to determine when global forum shopping can be appropriately used in transnational IP litigation? While there are many opportunities to forum shop in the intellectual property regime complex, there is limited literature on the use of the practice within transnational intellectual property litigation. This thesis seeks to address this gap by using rational choice theory as the foundation for an approach towards forum shopping that balances the interests of the litigants’ forum choices with the perceived risks caused by the practice to advance an effective legal framework for the governance of forum shopping. The central research question will be addressed by evaluating the key risks and benefits of forum shopping, undertaking a doctrinal analysis of the current factors the judiciary examine when assessing the practice and considering whether forum shopping can be appropriate in prescribed circumstances. This thesis will then present criteria, including jurisdiction rules, convenience, efficiency, motivations and policy relating to public interest, which can be applied by the judiciary to promote the administration of justice in this field.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (iv, 75 pages
Design and development of an access control architecture for the Internet of Things
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 263-311.1. Introduction -- 2. Background and related work -- 3. Developing an IoT access control architecture -- 4. System implementation and evaluation -- 5. Modeling and management of identity -- 6. Delegation of access rights -- 7. Integrating trust to IoT access control -- 8. Conclusion -- Appendices -- Bibliography.The emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) has already produced significant changes in our everyday lives, where everything and anything can be connected and communicated in the cyber-physical world. With the proliferation of smart mobile devices, intelligent sensors, wearable devices, and ubiquitous Internet and cloud computing, the use of the IoT is growing at an increasing rate. However, this growth poses numerous challenges for the designers and users of these systems. One significant challenge is the provision of security within the IoT. The high mobility of things, the potential scale of the systems in the number of things and users combined with dynamic network topology and wireless communication mediums create a challenging environment. This is only exacerbated by the limitations in device memory, battery-life and processing capacity, arguing against the use of ‘heavy-weight’ security architectures.In this thesis, we examine security mechanisms for large-scale IoT systems, in particular, the need for access control, identity management, delegation of access rights and the provision of trust within such systems. We propose an access control architecture for the IoT. Our policy-based approach provides fine-grained access for authorized users to services while protecting valuable resources from unauthorized access. We use a hybrid approach by employing attributes, roles and capabilities for our authorization design. We apply attributes for role membership assignment and in permission evaluation. Membership of roles grants capabilities. The capabilities which are issued may be parameterized based on further attributes of the user and are then used to access specific services provided by IoT devices. This significantly reduces the number of policies required for specifying access control settings. The proposed scheme is XACML driven.We also propose an identity-less, asynchronous and decentralized delegation model for the IoT leveraging the advantage of blockchain technology. We describe system components, architecture and key aspects related to the security of the system for both the access control and access control delegation models. One significant issue of this thesis is the use of attributes for identifying an entity rather than depending upon the unique concrete identity of that entity. That said, we use attributes to validate an entity rather than depending upon unique identities. We have implemented a proof of concept prototype of the proposed access control architecture and provide a detailed performance analysis of the implementation. Evaluation results show that our access control approach requires minimal additional overhead when compared to other proposals employing capabilities for access control in the IoT. For the delegation of access rights, we demonstrate the feasibility of the model through use-case examples and analyze the performance with a proof of concept testbed implementation using Ethereum private blockchain. To better understand IoT identity, we outline the foundations for building a formal model of IoT identity based on attributes. We take the approach of attribute-based identity and examine the notion of trust in an IoT context. We propose a trust model for the IoT by considering the uncertainty that exists in such systems. The contributions of the thesis shows that it is feasible to incorporate the use of attributes in all the cases including access control, delegation of access rights, management and modeling of identity and finally building the notion of trust to achieve both fine-grained and flexible system design in large-scale IoT systems.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (x, 311 pages) colour illustration
Synthesis of targeted probes for chemical proteomics studies of the EGFR signaling network
No full textEmpirical thesis.Includes bibliographcal references.Chapter 1. Introduction : EGFR signaling network and targeted therapies -- Chapter 2. Design and synthesis of chemical probes targeting EGFR -- Chapter 3. Reverse chemical proteomics with a non-covalent EGFR-directed proben -- Chapter 4. Forward chemical proteomics studies with covalent EGFR probes -- Chapter 5. Conclusions and future directions -- Appendices.The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase is a prototypical receptor kinase with critical function in normal homeostasis and disease progression. Eight EGFR inhibitors spanning three generations are FDA-approved for a few types of cancers and ultimately limited by resistance. Drug resistance has recently been associated to EGFR roles beyond its kinase activity and dependent on subcellular localization. Elucidating endogenous EGFR signaling characteristics may lead to more efficacious therapies.In this thesis work we report the design and synthesis of EGFR-directed probes for taking a chemical proteomics approach to finding potential protein partners of EGFR in the cell. The probes were based on selective EGFR inhibitors and designed to covalently label a lysine residue in the solvent-exposed region of EGFR. Several trifunctional linkers for the modification of other drugs were also obtained. In reverse chemical proteomics using human cDNA libraries from various cancer cells, DNA topoisomerase I was identified as a potential target of the EGFR inhibitor Gefitinib, supporting recent hypothesis of EGFR-topoisomerase crosstalk in drug resistance. In forward chemical proteomics studies in MDA-MB-468 cells, several ATP-utilizing enzymes were identified as potential EGFR interactors. These proteins may in the future be further investigated to validate their interactions with EGFR and understand the biological roles of these interactions to assist the development of new combination therapies.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xviii, 207 pages) illustrations (some colour
Understanding insurgent resilience: the comparative robustness of familial and meritocratic insurgent organizations
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 332-415.Part I. Chapter One. Introduction ; Chapter Two. Literature review -- Part II. Chapter Three. The Haqqani network ; Chapter Four. Lashkar‐e‐Toibas ; Chapter Five. Jemaah Islamiyahm ; Chapter Six. Abu Sayyaf -- Part III. Chapter Seven Findings and results ; Chapter Eight. Conclusion and the future of strategic counterintelligence -- Appendices -- Bibliography.This dissertation examines insurgent organizations and asks: are familial or meritocratic insurgencies more resilient to counterinsurgency pressures? It argues it is not the type of organization, per se, that determines resilience, but the efficiency functions of social capital and trust, which have different natures and forms in them. This is important because to date there has not been a comprehensive scholarly study of the resilience of familial and meritocratic insurgencies in the structural and social capital and trust contexts. It finds that while familial insurgencies can challenge incumbents from the start, they weaken over time, whereas meritocracies will generally strengthen.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (viii, 416 pages) colour map
Enabling drug-drug interaction alerts in an electronic medication management system: impact on prescriber alert burden
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 39-46.1. Introduction -- 2. Method -- 3. Results -- 4. Discussion -- 5. Conclusion -- 6. Appendix -- 7. References.The volume of clinical decision support (CDS) alerts encountered by prescribers (i.e. alert burden) within electronic medication management (EMM) systems is likely to influence whether CDS alerts are read and acted upon. This study aimed to determine the impact of introducing drug-drug interaction (DDI) alerts on the total alert burden experienced by prescribers.This was a simulated cohort study. Clinical data for a given study date were extracted from a ‘live’ EMM system in use at a tertiary teaching hospital. No DDI alerts were enabled in the hospital at the time (Alert Condition 1). The same medication orders were then replicated via manual entry into a simulated version of the EMM system where DDI alerts were enabled (Alert Condition 2). CDS alert data from Alert Condition 1 and 2 were extracted and compared.With DDI alerts in place, prescriber alert burden increased from 38% to 72% of a prescriber’s medication orders triggering at least one alert. Alerts were encountered by almost all doctors (91%), and each doctor received approximately four times more alerts (15 alerts vs 3.8 alerts per doctor) than in the absence of DDI alerts.DDI alerts, if enabled, would significantly increase the alert burden on prescribers and are likely to lead to alert fatigue. To reduce their impact on prescriber alert burden and improve alert effectiveness, DDI alerts should be refined prior to their implementation.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (iv, 46 pages) diagrams, table
Towards high-precision exoplanet photometry with the Huntsman telescope
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 55-59.1. Introduction -- 2. The Huntsman telescope -- 3. Methodology -- 4. Photometry results -- 5. Summary and discussion -- Appendix -- References.The Huntsman Telescope, situated at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia, is a cost-effective astronomical imaging system that makes use of an assembly of commercial off-the-shelf optics and detectors. In this thesis, I develop an appropriate set up of Huntsman for the future detection and subsequent follow-up observation of exoplanets around nearby stars, via the transit technique. I also investigate the optimal observational method to reach high-precision photometry when using an array of small lenses which point at the same target; discuss advantages and shortcomings; and ultimately demonstrate the achievable on-sky photometric precision of Huntsman. This includes comparing the precision achieved by combining data from multiple cameras, and for different focusing of the lenses. A key component of this thesis was the development of a photometry pipeline for processing Huntsman data and extracting light curves. Over the next few years, the Huntsman Telescope will become one of the facilities in the Southern Hemisphere using transit photometry to both discover exoplanets, and follow up on exoplanet candidates from ongoing space-based missions.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (x, 59 pages) colour illustration
Agent trading models, speed and market making incentives
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 121-126.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Literature review -- Chapter 3. Institutional settings and market participants’ classification -- Chapter 4. Tick size pilot and market participants’ business models -- Chapter 5. Tick size pilot and market participants’ intraday trading behaviour : does speed still matter? -- Chapter 6. Tick size pilot and heterogeneous high-frequency traders -- Chapter 7. Summary and future research -- Bibliography -- Appendix.This study analysed the effect of the tick size pilot program implemented by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on the trading behaviour of three market participant groups: proprietary trading companies, banks and agency firms. The purpose of the study was to provide an in-depth analysis of how the tick size pilot program affected those three groups, in order to infer the competitive advantages and liquidity preferences of each market participant category. First, this dissertation examined the effect of the policy change on market participants’ competition for order flow, liquidity provision and transaction costs. The empirical findings indicated that the program encouraged proprietary trading companies to increase their liquidity provision, induced banks to cross the spread more often and move their order flow from BX to Nasdaq and increased agency firms’ waiting costs. Second, the effect of the policy change on market participants’ intraday order submission strategies and ability to establish time priority was examined. The current literature suggests that tick size consolidations exacerbate the need for speed and allow proprietary trading companies to extract rents from other traders by establishing time priority. Conversely, this study’s empirical findings indicated that banks are as fast as proprietary trading companies but cross the spread more frequently to ensure full execution of their clients’ orders. Thus, differences in business models seem to be more important compared to speed in explaining the trading strategies of banks and proprietary trading companies. Finally, the study examined the effects of policy change on two groups of proprietary trading companies: (i) those specialised in using opportunistically marketable orders and (ii) market makers. The results indicated that opportunistic traders were specialised in predicting short-term price movement and minimising adverse selection risk, while market makers were specialised in establishing time priority to capture the bid–ask quoted spread as much as possible. Nevertheless, both classes of proprietary traders increased their liquidity provision and trading revenues on treatment stocks by leveraging their specific competitive advantages.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (133 pages) graphs, table
Software verification techniques for malware detection
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 51-571. Introduction -- 2. Background -- 3. Formal definitions for information leakage -- 4. Specifying leakages with program annotations -- 5. Software model checking for detecting leaks -- 6. Literature review -- 7. Conclusion -- Bibliography.Information leakage is the undesired output of information from a program that reveals the value or nature of a piece of private information that should not be shared. Detecting information leakage is a problem that has been approached using methods including taint tracking and analysis which deals with the marking of private data in a program and tracking its flow to detect if that flow is connected to an undesired output.In this thesis, a technique is presented to specify information leaks in programs with regard to assertions (program annotations) and demonstrate that this technique can be used to unveil common information leakage using current software verification tools.This method is then compared with information leakage examples from current publications and current taint analysis benchmarks for detecting information leakage to demonstrate its effectiveness.Motivation for this work is driven by a need for a formal method for defining and encoding leaks through program annotation, that leads to more effective future work into accurately detecting information leakage, both in malicious programs (malware) and unintentional leaking programs.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xvi, 57 pages
Documenting children's learning in early childhood settings in Singapore: parents' perspectives and teachers' reflections
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 60-70.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Literature review -- Chapter 3. Methodology -- Chapter 4. Findings -- Chapter 5. Discussion -- References -- List of appendices.Documentation within early childhood settings involves the process of recording children's learning and development and the product presenting this information. It is a key component of early childhood pedagogy and teacher accountability, with parents viewed as the main audience.In Singapore, documentation is a requirement specified under the legislative policies included in the national Pre-school Accreditation Framework. There is however little to no research conducted in Singapore to inform and support policies and practices on documentation. This mixed methods study addresses this gap by utilising Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1995), with a focus on the child's mesosystem, the interconnectedness between the child's development, family and early childhood setting. An electronic survey was used to ascertain parents' perspectives on documentation of their child's learning. Analysis of this data was used in individual interviews to attain five teachers' responses to the parents' perspectives. Findings of this study affirmed that documentation varied in process and product across early childhood settings. Commonalities between parents' and teachers' perceptions on documentation existed, however, the perception of parent-teacher partnerships differed. The findings offer professional learning on documentation as a process and product for key stakeholders-children, parents and teachers-and the wider early childhood sector.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xii, 101 pages) diagrams, graphs, table