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Testing effective strategies for reducing problem behavior among children with ADHD: An evaluation of the 1-2-3 magic parenting program
No full textTheoretical thesis.Includes bibliographic referencesChapter 1 : General introduction -- Chapter 2 : Literature review -- Chapter 3 : Introduction to empirical studies -- Chapter 4 : Testing effective strategies for reducing problem behavior among children with ADHD : A pilot study evaluation of the 1-2-3 Magic Parenting Program -- Chapter 5 : Testing effective strategies for reducing problem behavior among children with ADHD : An evaluation of the 1-2-3 Magic Parenting Program -- Chapter 6 : General discussionResearch indicates that behavioral parent training is an effective treatment for children with ADHD. A review of the literature revealed limited evidence of brief parenting programs for child behavioral difficulties, and scarce evidence of brief, parent-only programs for parents of children with ADHD. The aim of this research was to address this gap in the literature by examining whether a brief parenting program would improve outcomes for children with ADHD and their parents. This aim was addressed by evaluating the group-based version of the parenting program, 1-2-3 Magic, among parents of children aged 6-12 years with ADHD. The 1-2-3 Magic program has not previously been evaluated among parents of children with ADHD. This thesis presents two empirical studies, preceded by a general introduction, a literature review, and an introduction to the empirical studies, followed by a general discussion. The first empirical study evaluated the effectiveness of the 1-2-3 Magic program in reducing problematic child behavior and ADHD symptoms in children with ADHD, and dysfunctional parenting in their caregivers. The study used a randomized experimental design with a waitlist-control (treatment group, n = 17; waitlist-control group, n = 14). Child problem behavior, ADHD symptoms, and dysfunctional parenting were the primary outcome variables. Results at postintervention and six-month follow-up were mixed, but suggestive of improvement; several design-related limitations were identified (notably, power, group assignment procedure, and providing adequate implementation time). The aim of Study II was to use a similar design to Study 1 while overcoming its limitations (treatment group, n = 28; waitlist-control group, n = 29). Results from Study II suggest that the 1-2-3 Magic parenting program is effective at reducing disruptive behavior and ADHD symptoms in children with ADHD, as well as dysfunctional parenting in their caregivers. 2 Overall, the findings provide support for the effectiveness of the 1-2-3 Magic parenting program in treating behavioral problems among school-aged children with ADHD, as evidenced by improvements in child and parental functioning.1 online resource (viii, 193 pages) illustration
Deep learning of algorithmic trading strategies & limit order book dynamics
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 320-331.1. Introduction -- 2. Market microstructure & algorithmic trading -- 3. Modelling algorithmic trading using deep neural networks -- 4. Algorithmic trading strategy identification & market quality impact using unsupervised learning & axiomatic feature attribution -- 5. Predicting limit order book dynamics using deep recurrent reinforcement learning -- 6. Conclusion -- Appendix -- Bibliography.The transcendental advancements over the past decade in automated trading systems and theoretical models of deep learning have led to the rise of machines as the primordial arbiter of decision making in financial markets. Consequently, markets organised around limit order books (LOB) have come to be dominated by algorithmic trading strategies based on objective rules derived form the market microstructure. Traders are increasingly capable of wielding deep learning tools to extract complex abstract hierarchical representations from the plethora of high-frequency financial data available. Despite these manifest changes to the trader ecosystem driven by significant investment in automated technology and algorithms, there remain only fractured frameworks through which regulators, practitioners and academics view this new complex and intricate trader environment. The objective of this thesis is to develop deep learning models capable of defining algorithmic traders in this new environment by the type of strategy the firm is conducting, analysing the impact of these strategies on UL equity market quality and modelling the nexus between algorithmic trading strategies and LOB dynamics.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (x, 331 pages) diagrams, graphs, table
The recognition of quartz grown from a melt during static and dynamic conditions
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 53-64.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Methods -- Chapter 3. Sample location and description -- Chapter 4. Results -- Chapter 5. Discussion -- Chapter 6. Conclusions -- References.Quartz microstructures are routinely used to establish the nature of solid-state deformation mechanisms. However, it is unclear which microstructures are typically developed in a melt present environment compared to a solid state, and how to distinguish between these two. The microstructural features of quartz crystallising from a silicate melt are investigated in a) slowly cooled granite, b-c) statically heated and cooled, and actively deforming migmatites, and d) in a melt-fluxed high strain zone. This study takes a holistic approach integrating microscopic observation along with electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) and weighted burgers vector (WBV) analysis. Results show quartz pseudomorphing melts pockets forms sub-grain boundaries and shows crystal bending, and change in orientation very similar to a solid-state deformaion. EBSD and WBV analyses identify dislocations on both basal plane and non-basal plane, and identify slip and [c] slip, and sometimes a combination of both. Existence of slip-systems, though without a crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO), suggests the features are dependent on local stresses rather than regional differential stress, and are interpreted to be a result of mineral growth in pore spaces when the melt crystallises. Differences to solid-state deformation microstructures include well connected grains in 3D, lack of CPO, lack of grain shape preferred orientation, and high dauphine twin frequency at grain boundaries.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (vi, 64 pages) colour illustration
Terrorism and the Australian media: from the Hilton bombing to the eve of 9/11
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 65-73.Introduction -- Chapter 1. "Things will never be the same again : the late 70s and the Hilton bombing -- Chapter 2. "Is our period of immunity coming to an end?" : terrorism in the 80s -- Chapter 3. "If you can't live in peace here, go" : terrorism in the 90s -- Conclusion.This thesis seeks to fill a gap in scholarly literature on both terrorism and Australian history by examining the reporting and reactions of a selection of Australian newspapers regarding a set of terrorist incidents, from the 1978 Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing to an attack allegedly planned for the Sydney 2000 Olympics against the Lucas Heights Reactor. Newspaper material is also employed to further explore attitudes towards terrorism throughout the examined period, and how terrorism coverage was framed. In addition to examining reports and editorials, this thesis also examines printed letters to the editor, feature articles, and the response (within reportage) from major figures within the Australian political and security fields. This examination finds that, in reporting on and discussing terrorism, the selected newspapers frequently emphasised the facets of ethnicity, geographic distance, and 'otherness'. Terrorism was framed as an activity carried out by foreign agents in response to events occurring outside of and distant from Australia, and coverage frequently conflated terror with 'ethnic violence', a trend which grew in prevalence from the 1980s onwards. Additionally, major political and security sources were rarely questioned on their claims regarding terrorism, with newspapers often reporting their statements uncritically.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (73 pages
An examination of the effectiveness of estuarine conservation management tools and their theoretical underpinnings
No full textTheoretical thesis.Includes bibliographical references.1, Introduction -- 2. Application of island biogeography theory in estuarine and coastal seascapes varies with inhabitant group and environmental setting -- 3. Epifaunal and infaunal invertebrate communities in estuarine vegetation patches vary according to the identity of adjacent habitat -- 4. Assessing risk of estuarine ecosystem collapse -- 5. Are geomorphological typologies for estuaries also useful for classifying their ecosystems? -- 6. A test of zeta - diversity as a metric for assessing habitat loss in estuarine habitat mosaics -- 7. Discussion.Estuarine ecosystems provide a wide range of valuable ecosystem services including the provision of food and raw materials, shoreline protection, carbon sequestration and recreational opportunities. These ecosystem services are underpinned by local biodiversity, which determines resistance and resilience in the face of environmental perturbations. However, estuarine biodiversity is under increasing pressure from coastal development and anthropogenic climate change . The protection of estuarine ecosystem services requires conservation measures that ensure the persistence of biodiversity. This thesis examines: 1) the utility of key ecological theories in informing estuarine conservation planning ; 2) the applicability of ecosystem - level risk assessment s to estuaries ; and 3 ) the applicability of existing estuarine typologies and ecological metrics of community structure to the implementation and monitoring of conservation interventions in estuaries. Using meta - analysis of existing literature, I show qualified support for the application of island biogeographic theory to estuarine habitats. However, field studies reveal that the spatial arrangement of habitat patches in estuarine mosaics affect community structure in ways that extend beyond the covarying effects of habitat patch size and isolation . The proximity of different habitats to one another may facilitate greater abundance in habitat patches through the addition of nutrients or allowing mutualist relationships that would otherwise not exist. These effects are not currently incorporated in estuarine conservation planning. Through a retrospective risk analysis of Chesapeake Bay, U SA, I show that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature 's Red List of Ecosystems may in some instances overestimate the risk of collapse in estuarine ecosystems and that criteria based on abiotic and biotic change, rather than ecosystem area, may be more appropriate for such systems.I use existing data to demonstrate that an Australian estuarine typology for estuaries, based on geomorphological and hydrological factors, is effective at describing the habitat mosaics present. Such typologies, may therefore, be of use to estuarine conservation planners in identifying groups of estuaries across ecological processes may be similar. Finally, I test the ability of zeta diversity, a recently developed metric of community structure, to provide a simple and low - cost method of monitoring estuarine seascapes for habitat homogenisation. Overall, these results show that existing conservation tools are effective in the management of estuarine ecosystems but could be made more effective through adaptation.1 online resource (xxviii, 263 pages
Modulation and control of power converters in solid-state transformers
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 134-142.Chapter 1. Introduction and motivation -- Chapter 2. An overview of the Internet of Energy and solid-state transformer -- Chapter 3. Impedance-source-based unidirectional DC-DC converters in solid-state transformers -- Chapter 4. Impedance-source-based bidirectional DC-DC converter -- Chapter 5. Control of dual-active-bridge based cascaded single-phase inverters -- Chapter 6. Power ripple control of SST -- Chapter 7. Conclusion and future work --Appendices -- Bibliography.Due to the increased penetration of distributed generation, the existing power-distribution network needs to be transformed. so, there is a strong desire to have intelligent solid-state transformers (SST)wich is essential component in future grid called Internet of Energy (IoE) to enhance power quality, have light weight, provide fault isolation and offer additional features such as voltage regulation, VAR compensation, voltage-sag compensation, renewable energy sources and energy storage integration, bidirectional power and communication flow capability. The SST is regarded as a revolutionary technology in power-distribution systems. However,the involvement of different stages (AC-DC, DC-DC, DC-AC) of an SST makes the topology selection, hardware design, modulation techniques and controller design to become more challenging. This dissertation mainly focuses on a comprehensive study of the DC-DC and DC-AC stages of a three-stage SST configuration to address the abovementioned research challenges.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xxiv, 142 pages) 1 colour illustratio
Business angels: academic, practice and policy contexts
No full textThesis by publication.Includes bibliographical references.1. Introduction -- 2. A brief overview of the literature -- 3. The importance of business angels -- 4. Research methodology -- 5. The three papers -- 6. The tasks of critical management research -- 7. Limitations -- 8. References.Researchers have been investigating the phenomenon of angel financing for almost 40 years, however, few studies investigate business angels in the Australian context. This thesis presents an examination of business angels through three research papers focusing on academic, practice, and policy. This triumvirate identifies what we know about business angels - the academic - how they make decisions - the practice - and, finally, the interaction of government and business angels - the policy. This 'academic, practice, policy' model is formed into a coherent piece of work using a critical research perspective framework, providing insight, critique, and transformative redefinition.The first paper, the academic, provides a structured literature review of 84 business angel articles published between 2000 and 2013. The paper identifies what scholars know about angel financing and provides a new research agenda. This agenda calls for future research to focus on six key areas of angel financing - policy, crowd sourced investing, the changing nature of angel markets, gender issues, entrepreneurs, and emerging markets.The second paper, the practice, investigates the decision-making process of business angels using the Australian context to identify the underlying motivating factors of the investment decision. The paper uses qualitative research interviews with angels which are corroborated by interviews with other actors in the ecosystem. Using an analytical framework that combines the decision-making process with investment criteria, the paper identifies four key drivers motivating the investment decision - personal experience, trust, the need to contribute, and realistic expectations.The third paper, the policy, examines the perspectives of both investors and policy makers in the Australian context. The paper introduces policy theory to frame the analysis - adopting a problematisation approach - allowing for a critique of the implementation and effectiveness of government intervention. In adopting this approach, a disconnect between investors and government is clearly identified. Alongside this theme, the paper identifies a number of new behaviours not seen in the literature. These include the use of diversification to manage risk, and the provision of human and social capital without financial capital - 'sweat equity'.This thesis aims to stimulate a wider discourse about angel financing and the behaviour of angel markets more broadly. It encourages the reader to think about what they know from a new perspective. Using the three empirical papers, and adopting a view of research as a process, this thesis discusses three interwoven spheres of insight - the changing nature of angels and angel markets (academic), micro issues - human and social capital (practice), and, macro issues - actor engagement (or market organisation) (policy). The subsequent critique of these spheres gives rise to new investor archetypes, questions the extent of angel human and social capital, and discusses the fragmentation of the Australian angel finance market.The thesis concludes with transformative redefinition to identify ways of rethinking angel financing. This concluding section motivates a broader discourse on angel financing, identifies hidden complexities, opportunities for alternative understandings, and prompts a rethinking of what we know about angel financing. Rethinking our understanding of what exists enables us, as scholars, to build on what we know and refine our understanding even when this is a continuing struggle that includes much practice and frequent false starts.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (x, 92 pages
Multidrug resistance mechanisms in the human pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii
No full textThesis by publication.Includes bibliographical references.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Rapid multiplexed phenotypic screening identifies drug resistance functions for three novel efflux pumps in Acinetobacter baumannii -- Chapter 3. An ace up their sleeve : a transcriptomic approach exposes the AceI efflux protein of Acinetobacter baumannii and reveals the drug efflux potential hidden in many microbial pathogens -- Chapter 4. Fluorescence-based flow sorting in parallel with transposon insertion site sequencing identifies multidrug efflux systems in Acinetobacter baumannii -- Chapter 5. Tigecycline translation inhibitive effects on Acinetobacter baumannii, a transcriptomics view -- Chapter 6. Transposon Directed Insertion-site Sequencing reveals potential modes of action and resistance determinants of ten biocides in Acinetobacter baumannii -- Chapter 7. General discussion and future perspective.Infections caused by the nosocomial multidrug resistant human pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii are a global public health issue. Without new and potent antibiotics or alternative therapies for infectious diseases caused by A. baumannii and other drug resistant pathogens, the World Health Organization has predicted there will be a return of the pre-antibiotic era in the near future. This thesis investigates the effects of antimicrobial agents on A. baumannii, using two global approaches: RNA-Seq and TraDIS (transposon directed insertion site sequencing). Another novel high throughput technique, which combines Biolog phenotype microarrays and qPCR, was developed for the characterization of drug resistance phenotypes of putative drug efflux pumps.Drug efflux pumps are cytoplasmic membrane transport proteins. They confer antimicrobial resistance through exporting the chemical agents out of the host cell. High expression levels of these proteins are frequently associated with increased bacterial drug resistance. More than 50 genes were annotated as putative drug efflux pumps in A. baumannii ATCC17978 strain. In this study, seventeen of these genes were heterologously cloned and highly expressed in Escherichia coli, and the drug susceptibility changes of the E. coli clones were screened through the combination of Biolog Phenotype Microarrays and qPCR. This multiplexed phenotype analysis approach identified potential drug resistance phenotypes of three novel drug efflux genes.A protein synthesis inhibitor, tigecycline, is one of the last line therapeutic options for A. baumannii infection. RNA-Seq was used to analyse how A. baumannii physiologically responds to subinhibitory concentrations of tigecycline. The transcriptomic data showed an increase in expression of many genes involved in ribosome biosynthesis and assembly, and decrease in expression of genes involved in peptide synthesis, consistent with tigecycline-induced ribosomal stalling after translational initiation. Decreased expression of genes involved tricarboxylic cycle, cell respiration and cell division was observed, which is consistent with tigecycline's bacteriostatic effect. Tigecycline induced increased expression of genes involved in exogenous DNA uptake, mobile genetic element translocation, and DNA mismatch repair, suggesting this antibiotic may promote gene mutation and lateral gene transfer.Biocides are critical for disinfection in hospitals and are commonly used in personal hygiene products. Antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens has been intensively studied, but comparatively little is known about resistance to biocides or the mode of action of biocides. The potential modes of action and resistance mechanisms of ten clinically important biocides were assessed with TraDIS using a highly-saturated transposon Tn5 mutant library. Like the tigecycline data, the TraDIS analysis suggested that these biocides have pleiotropic effects on the bacterial host. Lipooligosaccharide and capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis genes, and drug efflux genes appear to be important fitness factors in A. baumannii against biocides. Collapse of the cytoplasmic membrane proton motive force is likely to be a downstream antibacterial effect of multiple biocides including silver nitrate, which could potentially cause malfunction of membrane transport, cell division and various pleiotropic physiological effects.Antimicrobial drug resistance in pathogenic bacteria, such as A. baumannii, is a multifactorial phenomenon. The contemporary high throughput technologies, for example the ones that were used in this thesis, has enabled us to decipher this problem at a global scale. Knowledge of finer details of antimicrobial mode of actions and bacterial drug resistance will further shed light on finding appropriate solutions for multidrug resistance infections.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (181, 2 pages) illustration
Energy prices and economic activity in the US
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 29-33.1. Introduction -- 2. Literature review -- 3. Methodology -- 4. Empirical results -- 5. Conclusion -- References -- Appendix.At least since the oil price shocks and the subsequent recessions of the 1970s, economists have been interested in the relationship between energy prices and economic activity. Economic theory and empirical literature over the last 40 years have suggested that this relationship has evolved over time. Controversy has arisen over the direction of causality, and even whether it is bidirectional or a decoupled relationship. The findings over the years have been equivocal. This thesis therefore strives to shed new light on the energy price–economic activity nexus through a time-varying Granger causality test, which is known to outperform other methods and to therefore provide a more credible conclusion.The results of this study show that the crude oil price and industrial production have a bidirectional causal relationship between August 1998 and August 2005, and from November 2014 to September 2016. Both periods are initiated by innovations in economic activity. A causality running from economic activity to oil price is also detected from October 2008 to April 2010. These results confirm the literature findings that oil price is predominantly demand-driven post-1985. Since evidence in the literature for natural gas and coal prices is very limited, the finding of unidirectional causality running from industrial production to prices for natural gas in the late 80’s, 90’s and mid-2017, as well as a causality running in the opposite direction for coal in 2009 and more recently, advances our understanding of the overall energy price–economy nexus. In light of these findings, policy implications to promote alternative energy sources and extend energy price insurance markets are discussed.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (vi, 55 pages) graph
Exploring the relationship between content and placement: a case study of the coffin set of Meruah NMR.27
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 73-77.Chapter I. Introduction -- Chapter 2. The lid of Meruah NMR.27.2 -- Chapter 3. The trough of Meruah NMR.27.4 -- Chapter 4. The mummy-cover of Meruah NMR.27.2 -- Chapter 5. Concluding remarks -- Bibliography.The 21st Dynasty was a time of intrigue and change, not only politically but economically and archaeologically. Funerary practices, including the production of coffins and their decoration altered producing some of the most beautiful and densely decorated material. The coffin set of Meruah NMR.27 housed in the Nicholson Museum, Sydney University is one such example. Through an analysis of the decoration on the coffin set of Meruah an understanding is gained on the relationship between the content of the scenes and their placement on the coffin. This thesis will explore the symbolism and meaning tied to the decoration in order to understand why the ancient Egyptians decorated their coffins in this manner.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xi, 77 pages) colour illustration