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Visual literacy instruction in Cambodian ELT: an action research study and a new pedagogical framework
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 282-313.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Literature review -- Chapter 3. Methodology -- Chapter 4. Results and discussion for Part One’s case study -- Chapter 5. Literature review for Part Two’s action research -- Chapter 6. Results and discussion for Part Two’s action research -- Chapter 7. Implications of the thesis : a new pedagogical framework and two approaches for visual literacy instruction -- Chapter 8. Conclusion -- References -- Appendices.Visual literacy complements verbal literacy (Braden, 2001; Dwyer, 1988; Stokes, 2002), and the synergy between the two enable language learners to effectively utilise visual resources that saturate their learning spaces. However, visual literacy along with multimodality is an underresearched area in ELT and TESOL (Early, Kendrick, & Potts, 2015; Kress, 2000).Guided by the social semiotics (Kress & van Leeuwen, 2006), multiliteracies pedagogy (Cope & Kalantzis, 2015), and socio-cultural theory of learning (Vygotsky, 1978), this thesis set out to address this gap through a qualitative study in two parts, conducted at a leading public university in Cambodia. Part One was a case study of visual teaching and learning practices among six EFL lecturers and four groups of learners, using classroom observations, document analyses, interviews, and a survey. Part Two probed the issue further by implementing action research in a class at the same research site, using the four instruments in Part One plus student focus groups and diaries. The action research entailed two cycles of interventions. The first cycle implicitly taught questions the students could use to approach a visual resource more critically. The second cycle explicitly taught visual literacy metalanguage and provided visual analysis practices through an adapted model of the Teaching and Learning Cycle (da Silva Joyce, 2014). Part One suggested that the lecturer and student participants had varying degrees of visual literacy, were better at interpreting than creating visual resources, and generally agreed on the facilitative potential of visual literacy instruction for language learning. Part Two revealed that the visual teaching interventions in both cycles ameliorated learning attitudes, engagement, motivation, memory, vocabulary and grammar learning, and critical thinking.A pedagogical framework and two visual literacy instructional approaches have been proposed for ELT researchers and practitioners who believe in the educational value of visual multimodal resources and seek practical ways to use visual literacy to help achieve language learning, educational, and professional goals.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xx, 374 pages) colour illustration
The prefrontal cortex and episodic memory in dementia syndromes
No full textThesis by publication.Includes bibliographical references.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. The prefrontal cortex and episodic memory in dysexecutive AD and bvFTD -- Chapter 3. Lateral and medial prefrontal cortex contributions to episodic memory in AD and bvFTD -- Chapter 4. The self-reference effect on memory in AD and bvFTD -- Chapter 5. Learning and memory of social interactions in AD and bvFTD -- Chapter 6. Strategic value-directed learning and memory in AD and bvFTD -- Chapter 7. General discussion -- References -- Appendices.Episodic memory impairment is commonly reported in neurodegenerative syndromes such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). These deficits have been attributed predominantly to medial temporal lobe atrophy and poor encoding/retrieval in AD, as opposed to prefrontal cortex (PFC) atrophy and impaired strategic retrieval processes in bvFTD. Evidence suggests, however, that the PFC contributes to episodic memory impairment across both patient groups, although it is unclear whethe rboth lateral and medial subregions of the PFC are involved. This thesis aims to clarify the PFC contributions to episodic memory in AD and bvFTD by comparing performance on both established and novel measures of episodic memory and patterns of PFC atrophy using voxel based morphometry.In a study comparing dysexecutive AD and bvFTD, the two patient groups showed significant overlap on measures of PFC atrophy, performance on standardised neuropsychological episodic memory tests, and correlations between PFC atrophy and memory performance. A second study contrasted the lateral and medial PFC contributions to episodic memory in AD and bvFTD, revealing that performance on standardised neuropsychological episodic memory tests correlated with lateral PFC atrophy across both groups, but correlated with medial PFC atrophy in bvFTD only. The next three studies employed novel experimental tasks to determine the role of the medial PFC in enhancing memory for 1) self-relevant, 2) socially relevant and 3) reward-related information. Collectively, these three studies revealed that value-related memory processes, which are mediated by the medial PFC, are disproportionately disrupted in bvFTD.The main findings of the thesis are that the impact of lateral PFC dysfunction on episodic memory is not specific to bvFTD, and that greater emphasis is needed to try to understand the value-related processes through which the medial PFC augments episodic memory encoding and retrieval. These findings stand to improve differential diagnosis of AD and bvFTD, and improve understanding of the role of the PFC in episodic memory.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (x, 257 pages) illustrations (some colour
An exploration of interactions in intercultural nurse-patient encounters
No full textThesis by publication.Bibliography: pages 179-198.Chapter 1. Introduction to the study -- Chapter 2. New perspectives on understanding cultural diversity in nurse-patient communication -- Chap[ter 3. “Are we on the same wavelength?” International nurses and the process of confronting and adjusting to clinical communication in Australia -- Chapter 4. The consequences of diverse empathic responses in intercultural nurse-patient interactions : a discourse analysis -- Chapter 5. Tracing the discursive development of rapport in intercultural nurse-patient interactions -- Chapter 6. The interactional consequences of ‘empowering discourse’ in intercultural patient education -- Chapter 7. Supporting patient education using schema theory : a discourse analysis -- Chapter 8. Conclusion -- References -- Appendices.This research explores interactions between registered nurses (RNs) from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and their patients in the Australian healthcare setting. Increasing migration of healthcare workers and patients to Australia has led to increasing language and cultural diversity in the workplace. This has led to concerns regarding the management of clinical communication in a second language, and the communicative competence of healthcare workers from CALD backgrounds which can impact on health outcomes and patient safety (Chiang & Crickmore, 2009; Hamilton & Woodward-Kron, 2010; Shen et al., 2012). Yet, rarely has linguistic analysis of intercultural communication between patients and health providers occurred (Collins, Peters, & Watt, 2011; Ulrey & Amason, 2001). The aim of this project is to explore communication between RNs from CALD backgrounds and their patients in the workplace, using the knowledge to contribute towards greater awareness of communication strategies that support communicative competence.Data is drawn from two phases. Phase one involved interviews of RNs from CALD backgrounds. Five themes emerged through thematic analysis of the data, with the central theme of ‘adjustment’ identified as fundamental to the experiences of the RNs. This theme interrelated with each of the other themes that emerged: professional experiences with communication, ways of showing respect, displaying empathy, and vulnerability. The second phase involved participant observations and audio-recording of interactions between the RNs and their patients. Interactional sociolinguistic (IS) and theme orientated discourse analysis of the second phase identified ‘Focal themes’ (Roberts & Sarangi, 2005) that include the display of empathy, building of rapport, and the provision of empowering patient education.Discourse analysis of this interactional data has made available the strategic, discursive choices that these RNs make. It also provides resources for communication training workshops that support the development of communicative competence of RNs who are new to the Australian healthcare environment, therefore supporting improved health outcomes and patient safety.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xvi, 207 pages
An examination of sales and marketing collaboration in a Western-headquartered Chinese subsidiary
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 193-206.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Literature review -- Chapter 3. Research methodology -- Chapter 4. Results -- Chapter 5. Discussion and conclusion -- Appendices -- Reference list.Previous research has variously argued that the Marketing and Sales functions within an organisation are ‘at war’ with each other (Kotler et al. 2006), or that the relationship between the two is healthy (Dawes & Massey 2005). However, there is general agreement that collaboration between Sales and Marketing is important for organisational effectiveness (e.g. Le Meunier-FitzHugh & Piercy 2011; Matthyssens & Johnston 2006). Nearly all research into Sales/Marketing collaboration (SMC) has been conducted in Western cultures (e.g. Dawes & Massey 2006; Troilo et al. 2009). However, cultural characteristics, such as avoidance of conflict, mean that SMC may be very different in organisations located in non-Western environments. Understanding how Sales and Marketing collaboration might vary in such environments is particularly important for Western multinational corporations, which will be influenced by the culture of their headquarters, and also by the national culture of the location of any subsidiary. Given the growing importance of the Chinese economy, and the increasing number of multinationals establishing subsidiaries in China, understanding the interaction between the headquarters and local cultures, and any association with SMC, is particularly important. As a result, this thesis investigates SMC within the Chinese subsidiary of a major American-headquartered multinational corporation.The research involved interviews with 20 organisational employees, including those from both Sales and Marketing, some with experience working in both functions, at management and non-managerial levels, with native Chinese or Western backgrounds, and Chinese and Western employees with work experience outside their home countries. Though small, the sample thus represents the most diverse group of participants of any study of SMC and the first examining SMC in China.In contrast with the diverse characterisation of SMC by previous authors as either poor or good, the interviewees revealed a variety of views on the level of SMC within the organisation. As a result, characterising SMC within this subsidiary as either good or poor would over-simplify the diversity of views within the organisation. All, however, agreed that SMC, in theory, is beneficial for the organisation, though different interviewees identified different potential benefits. There was also disagreement on the drivers of and barriers to SMC between Sales and Marketing staff, between managerial and non-managerial staff, and between Western and Chinese employees.Given the wide diversity of views expressed by interviewees, there are no easy answers for how multinationals operating in China can use SMC to increase organisational effectiveness. However, the results suggest that an emphasis on increasing behaviours directly linked to organisational effectiveness (such as encouraging Chinese employees to challenge ideas when appropriate), may be more effective and efficient than emphasis on a goal of increasing SMC, since that goal clearly means different things to different people.Understanding the interplay between SMC and organisational and national cultures will become increasingly important for multinationals as more Western businesses start operating in China, and as Chinese businesses establish operations in Western countries. While this study reports only on SMC within a single multinational, the results suggest that further research within foreign subsidiaries will be increasingly important for organisations to maximise the effectiveness of their Sales and Marketing functions.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (x, 206 pages
Running with fire: Catalan ethnic identity in 21st century Spain
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 319-347.Introduction -- Chapter One. Meanings, methods and musings -- Chapter Two. Ethnicity, ethnogenesis and human castles -- Chapter Three. “Language is non-negotiable” -- Chapter Four. Dragons, roses and four bars of blood : symbolism and the significance of place and space -- Chapter Five. History and memory on public display -- Chapter Six. A chant rings out across the crowd : nationalism and independence -- Chapter Seven. The narrative (comm)union of a oessebre vivent -- Chapter Eight. Being and feeling Catalan -- Conclusion. Running with fire -- Appendix -- Bibliography.Catalan ethnic identity is an ongoing process of transformation, negotiation and meaning-making that is set within and draws sustaining energies from a field of dynamic and ambiguous connections. Many social theorists label Catalan people as an ethnic group yet very little work has focused specifically on the ongoing formation of Catalan ethnic identity. Catalans are most often mentioned alongside Basque, Québécois, Scots, Celts and Flemish. That is, they are usually categorised with groups that exhibit strong nationalist sentiments or are considered as nations-without-states. As the vast majority of works on Catalan identity focus on nationalism and few on ethnicity, I saw an opportunity to utilise an ethnicity framework to better understand an ‘identity under construction’, an identity that is responding in novel ways to present conditions to assert difference and uniqueness. Catalan people are not, however, simply affirming existing difference, but forging a contemporary identity that draws on tensions and ambiguities, and resists reductive inclusion into a dominant Spanish identity. I argue that there is a foreshortening of the full significance of Catalan identity construction if the interpretive grid supplied only by nationalism is invoked. This thesis harnesses the potentials of ethnicity theory to propose that the Catalan struggle for identity embraces complexities and creativities that resist attempts to resolve their identity into particular scripted meanings or contained 'essences'. Ethnographic fieldwork has enabled engagement in the everyday worlds where Catalan ethnicity ‘happens’ to develop nuanced understandings of being and feeling Catalan within contemporary contexts of change and contestation.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (viii, 347 pages) colour illustration
The unity of metaphysics and ethics in Spinoza
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 56-58.Introduction -- Chapter 1. The key elements of Spinoza’s metaphysics -- Chapter 2. Ethical outcomes of Spinoza’s metaphysics -- Chapter 3. Spinoza and contemporary approaches to ethics -- Conclusion -- Bibliography.This thesis will give an exposition of Spinoza’s key metaphysical and ethical doctrines, with a view to clarifying their underlying unity. The importance of the unity for ethics is to support the case for a conception of ethical life that goes beyond a focus on the individual ethical subject, towards a view of ethical life that includes our strivings to understand the world around us. It is shown that Spinoza belongs to a tradition of philosophical thought in which ideas of a good life are inextricably bound up with the comprehension of the essential nature of our surroundings. To live ethically is to have one’s thoughts move away from the idea of a self in an endeavour to see how one is related to the environment one lives in. In developing this conception of the unity of metaphysics and ethics, Spinoza, like other philosophers in this tradition, draws on ideas of truth and perfection, which become the motivating force behind human action. In the final chapter of the thesis links are made between Spinoza’s attempt at unifying metaphysics and ethics and Iris Murdoch’s approach to ethics, and the project of unifying metaphysics and ethics is defended against approaches that are based on the separation of these branches of philosophy, such as that proposed by Christine Korsgaard.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (vi, 58 pages
Endoscope reprocessing and patient safety: evaluation of endoscopes and quality control
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 127-140.Chapter 1. Literature review -- Chapter 2. Temporal trends on endoscope reprocessing -- Chapter 3. Material and methods -- Chapter 4. Assessing manual cleaning of flexible endoscope by measuring soil and microbial contamination levels -- Chapter 5. Evaluation of endoscope reprocessing : high level disinfection -- Chapter 6. Assessing cleaning and bacterial load on endoscopy unit surfaces -- Chapter 7. Endoscope channel contamination evolution -- Chapter 8. A preliminary study on the contribution od endoscope channel damage to biofilm formation -- Chapter 9. General discussion and conclusion -- References.The difficulties in reprocessing gastrointestinal endoscopes and risk of patient to patient transmission of infectious organisms are recognized challenges in medicine. This thesis investigated gastrointestinal endoscope reprocessing both in the clinic and in the laboratory. Analysis of clinical data was performed for assessing soil level, contamination level and biofilm formation in four different settings: before and after manual cleaning, directly after endoscope reprocessing (12 to 48 hours after disinfection), following internal channels extraction for repair (clinically used endoscope from Australia and Brazil) and environmental sampling of endoscopy unit surfaces. Experimental analysis involved investigation of endoscope internal channels for surface damage and its relationship to frequency of use.The tests used for the analysis were adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence for presence of soil, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for bacterial load, microbial culture for viable bacterial numbers, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for biofilm presence and stylus profilometer for surface roughness. Statistical analysis was performed by descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and Spearman tests, p 100 RLU and were then samples for microbial load by culturing. The areas with more contamination were the procedure room´s pipe and nursing station chair´s lift. Some potential pathogenic microorganisms were isolated (i.e. Shigella spp. and E.coli).Endoscope biopsy channel analysis showed that samples from Brazil had higher contamination levels than Australian samples (p<0.001). All channels analyzed were contaminated with soil and biofilm and presented damaged surfaces, however Brazilian samples were also contaminated with blood cells, neutrophils and fungus.Clinically used endoscope channels (median=526.82 A) were significantly rougher than new (median=357.8 A) endoscope channels (p=0.03). The increased roughness in used endoscope channels could provide a good environment for bacteria and patients' soil attachment, making cleaning and disinfection harder and contributing for biofilm formation. On in vitro model, tubing damage was consistent and higher than new after 500 passages of biopsy forceps and bacteria attach to internal surface of the tube with 30 minutes of flow contact.We conclude that even with low microbial load on endoscopes there is a potential risk of cross-infection associated with biofilm formation, frequency and quantity of use and time for reprocessing, which can easily compromise the accomplishment of endoscope reprocessing and therefore, patient safety.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xvi, 140 pages) illustrations (some colour
Somewhere out there: Regional educators, professional learning and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 88-931. Introduction -- 2. Literature review -- 3. Research methods and design -- 4. Results -- 5. Discussion and conclusionEstablishing professional standards which reflect what teachers can do,and what they need to do,to maximise student achievement has long been associated with the educational reform agenda in Australia. The contextual setting of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (AITSL, 2011) emerged from competency driven policies in the late 1980s and 1990s which attempted to standardise teacher practice. Professional competencies as they emerged during this time,continued to be developed by professional groups and government agencies to establish greater understanding of standardised practice.The period between 1990-2011 is characterised as a time of scrutiny as associations and government agencies continued to challenge the purpose and development of standards of teaching practice. With the release of the 2011 Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, and January 1, 2018 set as the date when New South Wales teachers must engage with the Standards; many schools have begun the process of familiarisation. Given that all teachers are expected to apply the Standards to verify their professional accreditation, can the Standards mean the same thing to all teachers, irrespective of their context? This case study has investigated the ways regional teachers in New South Wales have engaged with the Standards as they work somewhere out there.1 online resource (108 pages
Release properties of melatonin loaded mesoporous silica materials
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages i-iv.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Materials and methods -- Chapter 3. Results -- Chapter 4. Conclusions -- Chapter 5. Future work -- References -- Supporting information.Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland and involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms (e.g. sleep/wake cycle). Exogenous melatonin is used in the treatment of circadian disorders (e.g. delayed sleep phase syndrome, jet-lag or shift-work). In currently available commercial formulations melatonin has low bioavailability. Tailored formulations are needed to treat diverse and specific circadian disorders. Mesoporous silica materials can be efficient drug carriers as they are non-toxic biodegradable materials possessing high surface area, large pore volume and pore dimensions in the mesoscale range.This study focused on the preparation of mesoporous silica formulations for controlling the release of melatonin. Mesoporous materials (MCM-41) were synthesised and characterized through different physicochemical techniques. They were loaded with melatonin and their release properties were investigated in simulated gastro and intestinal fluids under sink conditions. Results suggested that MCM-41 alone did not delay the release of melatonin significantly. Thus, the particles were coated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) to further slow the rate of release. Preliminary biological assays revealed that both uncoated and PAA-coated MCM-41 with melatonin did not significantly increase apoptosis nor ROS production compared to the control (no treatment) when added for 24 h to mouse microglial cells (BV2).Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (v, 47, i-iv, a-c pages) illustration
Multidimensionality of performance dynamics in microfinance institutions: evidence from emerging economies
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 98-115.Chapter One. Introduction -- Chapter Two. Literature review -- Chapter Three. Method and measurements -- Chapter Four. Results and discussion -- Chapter Five. Conclusion -- References -- Appendices.Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) have been proven to be an effective organizational channel to alleviate poverty and create social value in many countries. The cost-effective provision of financial services to underprivileged communities has caused the industry to grow over decades. However, the low performance of MFIs has hindered the industry from reaching its maximum. Moreover, studying the multidimensionality of MFIs is a recent topic, with limited attention to the environmental bottom line and dynamic evaluation. Therefore, this study aims to address these gaps by applying the Malmquist Index (MI), with further investigation of the source of performance dynamics. We apply an unbalance panel of 53 MFIs across three major emerging countries for the years 2009-2015 (214 observations). An approach for dealing with unbalanced data is also developed and used. The results suggest that the financial and environmental performance have slightly improved due to the progress in technical efficiency. Nonetheless, the dynamics of overall performance, represented by the change in overall productivity, has deteriorated in line with social performance deterioration. Unlike financial and environmental performance, technological advances have a positive impact on social and overall performance.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (x, 121 pages) graphs, table