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The magnet effect of price limits on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the impact of the Shanghai - Hong Kong connect
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 63-67.Abstract -- Introduction -- Institutional details -- Literature review -- Hypothesis development -- Data and descriptive statistics -- Methodology -- Results -- Robustness tests and additional analysis -- Conclusion.This paper tests for the existence of the magnet effect linked to price limits imposed in China’s equity markets and how a market liberalization event affects trading in securities that are bound by price limits vis-à-vis those that are not. The magnet effect of price limits theorises that, instead of stabilising markets, price limits act as a magnet and their existence causes trading to accelerate towards the limits, increasing the likelihood of the limit being reached. This study provides evidence of the magnet effect in China and that the effect increases in magnitude following the opening of China’s capital markets via the Shanghai-Hong Kong Connect (SHHK Connect). The increased magnitude of the magnet effect of price limits is due to the new inflow of capital from global markets via Hong Kong, as stronger results are found for those firms that experience the largest increase in capital inflow vis-à-vis those that do not.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (68 pages
"Created for our convenience": Human use of animals in the novels of Anne Brontë
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 53-79Introduction -- Chapter One: "Sport for Me in that Nest" -- Chapter Two: "The Sense to Know its own Mistress" -- Chapter Three: "All Kinds of Birds and Beasts" -- Conclusion.Depictions of human use of animals form an important aspect of Anne Brontë's broader critique of structures of control and domination in her society. From working horses to lap dogs to hunted prey, her representations of animals dominated by human characters reveal an underlying critique of a society governed by an instrumental attitude to animals. Harriet Ritvo has noted the general Victorian understanding that animals "had been created for human use" ("Learning" 37). This thesis explores how Brontë critically engages with the idea that animals exist in order to be used by people and her examination of how the otherness of animal experience is used to justify practices of domination. Beginning with Brontë's scenes of overt violence against animals, I draw out how these scenes expose the position of animals within human society. In the second chapter I consider Brontë's interrogation of contrasting structures of control that inform relationships between humans and domestic animals. Finally, I examine her exploration of alternative ways of relating to animals, and her positive engagement with both relations of use and understandings of difference between human and animal experience. In all three chapters, I examine her representations of physical use of animals, as well as how she interrogates the conceptual use of animals within figurative language. This discussion focuses on both Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.1 online resource ([3], 79 pages
Anatomy knowledge retention in the Macquarie University Chiropractic Program: a cross-sectional study
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 52-561 Introduction -- 2 The research question -- 3 Hypotheses -- 4 Aims and objectives -- 5 Literature review -- 6 The research -- 7 The results -- 8 Discussion - 9 Conclusion -- 10 References -- 11 IndexAnatomy education has undergone major reforms in recent years raising concerns for anatomy knowledge retention rates within health-related professions. Chiropractic is one profession that relies heavily on knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy. This study aimed to test the anatomy knowledge retention rates, at low and high cognitive levels, of the students in the chiropractic program at Macquarie University. It is hypothesised that retention levels will change throughout the program, with an overall increase measured. A 20 MCQ test was developed applying Bloom's Taxonomy categorising the questions into low and high cognitive ability and a survey asking students to rate their units for importance to their musculoskeletal knowledge retention. Students enrolled in the chiropractic program at Macquarie University were asked to participate in both the test and survey. The results showed an increase in anatomy knowledge retention throughout the program. The most significant difference was found between the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the high order questions. This main finding demonstrates successful vertical integration of anatomy throughout the program leading to enhanced ability to apply anatomy knowledge and increased retention. In addition, students perceived a high-level of integration of anatomy within the program. Testing anatomy knowledge retention at different cognitive levels is a more accurate assessment of retention rates and should be considered for use in future anatomy educational research.1 online resource (ix, 66 pages) illustrations, graphs, and table
The artifice of dialogic exchange in film: “The sunset limited” as a test case for the application of systemic functional description
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 63-67.1. Introduction -- 2. The problem -- 3. Why The sunset limited? -- 4. Field, tenor and mode -- 5. Conversation analysis in The sunset limited -- 6. Theme analysis in The sunset limited -- 7. Conclusion -- 8. References -- Appendices.The play by Cormac McCarthy, "The Sunset Limited" (later turned to a film) is investigated as an unusual opportunity to test the efficacy of linguistic and pragmatic theories about interpersonal dimensions of deep dialogic exchanges. There is the authenticity of the exchange that needs to be examined; but the enquiry is centered on the question of linguistic tools for representing adequately the ebb and flow of meanings between real 'persons'. The role of personality studies in the human sciences has been debated by linguists (e.g. Firth), anthropologists (e.g. Douglas), and leading psychologists (e.g. Kagan). The thesis evaluates the power of descriptions in a functional linguistics, and looks to the future elaboration of the tools of an interpersonally oriented linguistics.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (133 pages) diagrams, graphs, table
Ultra low-cost infrared laser fibre system
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 78-80.1. Introduction -- 2. Background & related work -- 3. System model and development -- 4. Conclusions and future work -- 5. Appendix -- 6. Bibliography.Mid-IR phototonics is an upcoming research field driven by the useful wavelength range from 2-20μm in the electromagnetic spectrum. In this range there are many important absorption wavelengths that are created and manipulated and which are crucial in various applications relating to spectroscopy; some of these applications include security, chemical sensing, biological sensing and material processing. In particular, the atmospheric transmission window from 3-5μm is what bedrock phototonics has mainly focused its project ideas around. This project aims to develop a compact electro-optical system with low cost, commercial off-the-shelf subsystems which will power, cool and and combine the narrow band visible light of a 520nm 1 W green laser diode and a 660nm 500 mW red laser diode, These beams of light will be combined Using spectral beam combining techniques to increase beam output efficiency, and then will focused and sent through fibre optic cable which has been doped by some rare earth elements to achieve some form of superluminescence. The document will provide concepts and techniques used to accomplish the end product, background information relating to the project, procedures of the project's development and details on the potential of future development.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (80 pages colour illustrations
Diffuse optical tomography for 3D imaging in breast cancer and lymphoedema
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 73-78.1. Introduction -- 2. Other related works and scientific research -- 3. Project procedures -- 4. Electrical impedance tomography and diffuse optical tomography reconstruction software (EIDORS) 3D image construction -- 5. Results -- 6. Discussion -= 7. Conclusions -- 8. Abbreviations -- Appendices -- Bibliography.Diffuse optimal tomography (DOT) is an emerging non-invasive and inexpensive medical imaging modality which utilises near infrared light in certain spectral ranges to examine the tissues, and reconstructs the distribution of intensity of optical parameters of internal organs through the measurement of optical intensity distribution on the tissue surface. In order to produce high quality imaging, we need to build a mathematical model which can accurately describe the photon transmission in biological tissue. In present research, diffusion equation is commonly used as the forward model in DOT, where the diffusion equation is a diffusion approximation of the radiative transfer equation that states the transmission of photons in the tissue. In order to solve the mathematics efficiently and to finalise the quality DOT images, this report studies the mathematical models and the image reconstruction algorithms.In this project, we have constructed a laboratory DOT prototype which has a 633 nm laser and a photondiode circuit. Moreover, this project presents mathematical expressions of forward problems, which is a photon transmission model in diffusion equation that is based on radiative equation, and solves the inverse problem which is DOT image reconstruction via Gauss-Newton and Levenberg-Marquardt models.The reconstruction results of an Electrical impedance tomography and diffuse optical tomography reconstruction software EIDORS) simulation under a 2 dimensional model with different optical coefficients and the validity of the image reconstruction algorithm are presented.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xv, 79 pages colour illustrations
Low-cost 4-DOF robotic arm using ROS: collision-free path planning
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 39-40.1. Introduction -- 2. Literature review -- 3. Background -- 4. Implementation -- 5. Results -- 6. Discussion -- 7. Conclusions -- Appendix -- 9. Bibliography.Robotic arm control and path planning is a highly important aspect of research due to the rise in robotic arm applications and advancements in their capacity to work accurately and safely. ROS software has been used to achieve this collision-free path planning and robotic arm control in previous research, however these robotic arms are often expensive and supply ready made SDK packages that function within ROS. In this project, ROS software is used to simulate the "AX-12A Smart Robotic Arm" from CrustCrawler. This low-cost robotic arm has limited open-source ROS software associated with it, in addition to no accessible simulations of the robotic arm. The aim of this project is to form a collision-free static path planning model within ROS, similar to packages available for more expensive robotic arms.The ROS software generates a random goal state and plans a collision-free path for the robotic arm to follow, achieving the desired state. This is achieved through a MoveIt! configuration generated from SRDF and URDF files created for the robotic arm. The results show that the URDF functions correctly and the MoveIt! configuration path plans successfully. The simulation is able to identify configurations that include self-collision and will not path plan to this collision. This research is significant for the use of low-cost robotic arms within both research and and industrial industries while accurately executing path planning to a goal state and operating without collision.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xvii, 40 pages colour illustrations
Casting and characterising novel high entropy alloys
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: page 59.1. Introduction -- 2. Literature review -- 3. Experimental procedures -- 4. Casting results and discussion -- 5. Struers results and discussion -- 6. Light microscopy results and discussion -- 7. SEM results and discussion -- 8. Conclusions -- 9. Future work -- 10. Abbreviations -- Appendices -- References.The progression of materials has furthered the progression of human civilisation, as with the advent of alloys, the discovery and experimentation into high entropy alloys has developed. This document will demonstrate that a previously novel high entropy alloy can be effectively cast and characterised with the resources available to Macquarie University. Casting is achieved through the use of an induction furnace. Prior to analysis the samples must be mounted and polished. Characterisation involves hardness testing to determine the Vickers Hardness, wet chemical etching and use of a scanning electron microscope, to determins phase structure and grain size. Based on this information, the concept of future production of varied, and experimental, novel high entropy alloys is explored.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xvi, 59 pages illustrations (some colour)
Study of smoke protection measures within high rise apartments
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 77-79.1. Introduction -- 2. Background and related work -- 3. Methodology -- 4. Verification -- 5. Results and discussion -- 6. Conclusions -- 7. Future work -- Appendices -- Bibliography.This thesis intends to develop an understanding of stair pressurisation systems in high-rise residential buildings, to provide information regarding the performance of such systems in a credible evacuation scenario. Stair pressurisation systems are designed to create a smoke-proof barrier, preventing the ingress of smoke into staircases within buildings over 25m tall. Currently, all stair pressurisation systems are designed with the same commissioning requirements in mind, regardless of other factors such as height or evacuation strategies. In tall buildings, evacuation strategies can utilise phased or simultaneous evaluation of of numerous storeys at once. Given that the number of doors open into a stair in a credible evacuation of a building exceeds the the number required to be open during system commissioning, it is possible that such a system may not perform as intended when it is required the most. This report examines the performance of a stair pressurisation with a differing number of doors open into the shaft in order to determine performance as the number of doors open at once increases. Simulations using FDS have shown that a system that would pass commissioning requirements allows smoke in the shaft if there are more than 4 doors open simultaneously, signifying the evacuation of three storeys simultaneously. Past this limit, the amount of smoke which leaks into the staircases continues to increase as more door open. Overall, the simulations conducted show a disconnect between the Australian legislation for the commissioning of smoke control systems and the evacuation methodology used in taller buildings, signifying a need to create an interface between the commissioning of systems and credible scenarios in an emergency.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xv, 79 pages colour illustrations
A biomechanic comparison of knees: healthy vs medial pivot total knee arthroplasty
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 99-103.1. Abbreviations -- 2. Introduction -- 3. Literature review -- 4. Methodology -- 5. Results -- 6. Discussion -- 7. Conclusions and future work -- Appendix -- Bibliography.The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyse the biomechanical differences between a healthy knee and a post total knee arthroplasty (TKA) knee.The aim of undertaking such an analysis is to identify areas of design or performance deficiencies of TKA implants which can, in future, be improved upon to reduce patient dissatisfaction, pain and failure rates and to further improve the function and longevity of the joint.This was achieved by performing 3D gait analysis on a healthy cohort of participants and a patient cohort 6 months after knee replacement surgery. A medial pivot knee TKA implant was applied to the patient cohort. The gait observed included both level walking and stair ascent/descent performed at a self-paced speed. This was done using an array of infrared motion tracking cameras and ground embedded force plates which allowed for a kinematic and kinetic analysis of motion, respectively. The study found that medial pivot TKA does allow for certain biomechanics and gait patterns to replicate those of healthy knees. This study faced time constraints and sample size limitations. These were remedied with process automation and revising methodological protocols to increase the efficiency of data acquisition. Future works can aim to improve on the findings of this report by testing a larger sample size and investigating with a broader scope to compile a more comprehensive analysis of healthy and TKA gait.Mode of access: World wide web.1 online resource (xiii, 103 pages colour illustrations