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Timmer, Antje. "Publication bias in gastroenterological research." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp01/MQ38615.pdf.
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Williams, Gareth. "Predictors of publication in dental research." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2012. http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/9013/.
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Aims: 2005-2007 abstracts This study aimed to identify the: • number of clinical trials that were presented from 2005-2007 at the conferences of the: o American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), o European Orthodontic Society (EOS), o International Association for Dental Research (IADR), o European Organisation for Caries Research (ORCA) o Australian Society of Orthodontists Congress (ASO) • abstracts that went on to be published as a full paper in a peer reviewed journal. • time to publication for those abstracts that were subsequently published as a full paper in a peer reviewed journal. • following characteristics of the abstract and determine their influence on the rate of and time to publication: o Result significance: (Significant, Non-significant, or Unclear) o Mode of presentation (Oral or Poster) o Study design (RCT / CCT) o Sample Size: (Absolute number) o Funding disclosure: (Yes / No) o Continent of origin: (North America, South America, Europe, UK, Asia, Africa, Australasia). o Primary author: • Gender (Male / Female / Unclear) • Professional status: (Professor / Non-professor / Unclear) • Identify reasons why abstracts did not achieve publication. University Teachers Group (UTG) abstracts This study aimed to identify the: • number of abstracts presented at the University Teachers Group session, from 1999-2010, at the British Orthodontic Conference. • following characteristics of the abstract and determine their influence on rate of and time to publication: o Funding disclosure: (Yes / No) o Dental School of origin • abstracts that went on to be published as a full paper in a peer reviewed journal. Design: Retrospective, observational study. Subject and Setting: The sample frame included dental clinical trials presented at the conferences of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR), European Orthodontic Society (EOS), European Organisation for Caries Research (ORCA), The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and The Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO) from January 2005 to December 2007. The sample frame for the University Teachers Group (UTG) abstracts, included abstracts presented at the UTG session of the British Orthodontic Conference (BOC) 1999-2010. Sample size Spencer found a publication rate of 38% from abstracts of clinical trials presented at EOS, IADR, ORCA and a 50% increase would be give a publication rate of 57%. Using data from Spencer in Pocock’s formula, 210 abstracts would be required to give 80% power, at the 5% level, and enable me to detect a 50% rise in the proportion of clinical trial abstracts published. Method: Clinical trials presented at above conferences were identified from the associated journals or conference proceedings. Inter-examiner and intra-examiner reliability were assessed using a random 10% sample of abstracts. A MEDLINE search was undertaken to determine whether the abstract had been published in full. The date of publication was recorded. Authors of abstracts that did not reach publication were contacted to determine the reasons. Results: Seven thousand and sixty-nine abstracts presented from 2005-2007 were identified, including 215 clinical trials. 142 abstracts were identified from the UTG session from 1998 – 2008, and all were included. The publication rate for the 2005-2007 sample was 32.6% and the UTG sample 34.5%. There were no predictors of publication in either group studied. The median time to publication of the 2005 – 2007 group was 16.00 months, IQR (10, 26) and the mean time to publication for the UTG group was 18.3 months (95% CI 14.38, 22.19). For the unpublished 2005-2007 group, reasons given for failure to publish were lack of time (8.3%), language, culture, lack of teaching (1.4%), rejection (0.7%), motivation (0.7%), perceived editorial bias (0.7%) and length of review process (0.7%). For the UTG group, reasons given included lack of time (19.4%), lack of interest from SpR (9.7%) or in press (7.5%). Conclusions: No predictors of publication were found for either group studied. For the unpublished 2005-2007 group, main reasons given were lack of time (8.3%), language, culture and lack of teaching (1.4%). For the UTG group, reasons given included lack of time (19.4%), lack of interest from SpR (9.7%) or in press (7.5%). The qualitative results should be viewed with caution due to the low response rate (12.4% for the 2005 – 2007 sample, and 68.8% for UTG).
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Chandra, Vikas. "Patent and Publication Networks in Stem Cell Research." Thesis, Open University, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.518176.
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Falaster, Christian Daniel. "Research and publication challenges for brazilian management scholars." Universidade Nove de Julho, 2015. http://bibliotecadigital.uninove.br/handle/tede/1441.
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Os acadêmicos de Administração precisam pesquisar e publicar seus estudos para seguir as regras institucionais e avançar em suas carreiras, o que torna a publicação de artigos um assunto de grande importância para toda a academia. Esta dissertação traz múltiplos estudos que se destinam a investigar os fatores internos e externos que influenciam a publicação dos pesquisadores brasileiros na área da Administração. Para tanto, quatro etapas são traçadas, que consistem em quatro estudos distintos e interligados. Eu exploro a publicação de artigos, as competências essenciais para a publicação de artigos de alto nível, fatores de rejeição e as diferenças entre rankings de periódicos. Esta dissertação tem implicações para três públicos principais. Primeiro, para os pesquisadores que são capazes de entender melhor os fatores que influenciam sua produtividade. Em segundo lugar, os programas de doutorado são capazes de saber quais são os fatores mais importantes na formação de futuros pesquisadores. Em terceiro lugar, as agências institucionais podem repensar demandas institucionais de publicação e suas verdadeiras implicações.
Scholars need to conduct research and publish their studies to cope with institutional rules and advance in their career, which makes publishing a subject of great importance for all the academy. In this dissertation I conduct multiple studies that investigate a set of internal and external factors that influence research publication of Brazilian researchers in the field of Management. For this, four steps are used, consisting in four distinct and interconnected studies. Therefore, I explore the publication of articles, core competencies for top-level publication, rejection factors, differences between journal ranks. The studies contained in this dissertation have implications to three main audiences. First, scholars are able to better understand what influences their productivity. Second, doctoral programs are able to know what are the most important factors in the training of future researchers. Third, institutional agencies can rethink institutional demands for publication and their true implications.
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McGregor, Rowena. "Education higher degree research students writing for publication." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2012. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/63275/1/Rowena_McGregor_Thesis.pdf.
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Higher Degree Research (HDR) student publications are increasingly valued by students, by professional communities and by research institutions. Peer-reviewed publications form the HDR student writer's publication track record and increase competitiveness in employment and research funding opportunities. These publications also make the results of HDR student research available to the community in accessible formats. HDR student publications are also valued by universities because they provide evidence of institutional research activity within a field and attract a return on research performance. However, although publications are important to multiple stakeholders, many Education HDR students do not publish the results of their research. Hence, an investigation of Education HDR graduates who submitted work for publication during their candidacy was undertaken.
This multiple, explanatory case study investigated six recent Education HDR graduates who had submitted work to peer-reviewed outlets during their candidacy. The conceptual framework supported an analysis of the development of Education HDR student writing using Alexander's (2003, 2004) Model of Domain Learning which focuses on expertise, and Lave and Wenger's (1991) situated learning within a community of practice. Within this framework, the study investigated how these graduates were able to submit or publish their research despite their relative lack of writing expertise.
Case data were gathered through interviews and from graduate publication records. Contextual data were collected through graduate interviews, from Faculty and university documents, and through interviews with two Education HDR supervisors. Directed content analysis was applied to all data to ascertain the support available in the research training environment. Thematic analysis of graduate and supervisor interviews was then undertaken to reveal further information on training opportunities accessed by the HDR graduates. Pattern matching of all interview transcripts provided information on how the HDR graduates developed writing expertise. Finally, explanation building was used to determine causal links between the training accessed by the graduates and their writing expertise.
The results demonstrated that Education HDR graduates developed publications and some level of expertise simultaneously within communities of practice. Students were largely supported by supervisors who played a critical role. They facilitated communities of practice and largely mediated HDR engagement in other training opportunities. However, supervisor support alone did not ensure that the HDR graduates developed writing expertise. Graduates who appeared to develop the most expertise, and produce a number of publications reported experiencing both a sustained period of engagement within one community of practice, and participation in multiple communities of practice.
The implications for the MDL theory, as applied to academic writing, suggests that communities of practice can assist learners to progress from initial contact with a new domain of interest through to competence. The implications for research training include the suggestion that supervisors as potentially crucial supporters of HDR student writing for publication should themselves be active publishers. Also, Faculty or university sponsorship of communities of practice focussed on HDR student writing for publication could provide effective support for the development of HDR student writing expertise and potentially increase the number of their peer-reviewed publications.
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Tansey, Brian EuGene. "Development of a faculty research and publication database system." Thesis, Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10945/23635.
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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimitedThe Administrative Science (AS) Department of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) maintains a substantial amount of faculty research and publication data that is used to support its vast and varied informational needs. The data consists of all departmental publications that have been written by Administrative Science faculty members. This database requires constant maintenance to ensure accurate, up-to-date publications information that can be rapidly accessed at anytime. This thesis will define, design and implement a database application that the Administrative Sciences Department can use to systematically manage their faculty publication database for automatic retrieval and reporting. This new prototype software is called "Faculty Research and Publication Database System (FPDS)" version 1.0. This thesis provides an in depth outline covering software requirements analysis, design and implementation. The system was written using Dbase IV, version 1.1
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Iman, Sarah A. "Publication Bias and Graduate Students' Perceived Trust in the Literature." Xavier University / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1459413243.
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Prozesky, H. E. (Heidi Eileen). "Gender differences in the publication productivity of South African scientists." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/17330.
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Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation is aimed at describing gender difference in publication productivity among South African academic authors, and to develop an understanding of possible reasons for these differences. It is argued that the lack of empirical knowledge of publication productivity of academics in South Africa needs to be addressed, as scientific communication through publication is one of the most central social processes in science. Moreover, one form of scientific publication, the peer-reviewed article, has become the single most important aspect according to which academics in South Africa and abroad are rewarded. The focus on gender differences is motivated by the fact that women have been strengthening their representation in South African HEIs, but not their proportional contribution to our country’s output of accredited research articles. A review of the past four decades of empirical and theoretical work on the gender gap in publication productivity leads the author to identify three sets of factors that may account for its existence: gender-socialised differences between women and men, women’s greater family responsibilities, and gender-related deficits in the academic workplace. However, none of these sets of variables by themselves satisfactorily account for gender differences in publication productivity, and they should not be considered independent from each other. The literature review is followed by a review of methodological considerations that need to be taken into account when studying gender differences in publication productivity. Against this background, the advantages and limitations associated with the first empirical project of the dissertation - a secondary analysis of SA Knowledgebase, an existing bibliometric database - are identified. This analysis is aimed at quantifying gender differences in the publication productivity of South African academic authors; at controlling for relevant variables (race, age, highest qualification, rank, institutional affiliation and scientific domain); and at investigating gender differences in the tendency towards joint authorship. The results show that South African male authors publish almost twice as many articles in accredited journals than women authors do, but that the latter’s contribution to the total scientific publication output of South Africa has increased from 16 percent in 1990 to 24 percent in 2001. Part of the gender gap in publication productivity can be explained by women’s younger age, lower qualification level and lower rank as a gender group, but not by any tendency among women to co-author less than men do. This project was complemented by the analysis of primary data collected from the CVs of and qualitative interviews with sixteen highly productive South African academics. This second project contributes to the development of a more in-depth understanding of the way in which men and women’s publication productivity is differentially affected, in a predominantly male milieu and across the span of their careers, by their family responsibilities, non-research academic roles, and gender-socialisation. The dissertation concludes with an integration of the literature review with the main findings of the two projects, on the basis of which recommendations are made for future research, and proposals are made towards rendering the measurement of publication productivity more sensitive to the gender differences highlighted by the dissertation.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif het ten doel om genderverskille in publikasieproduktiwiteit van Suid-Afrikaanse akademiese outeurs te beskryf, en om ʼn begrip te ontwikkel van moontlike redes vir dié verskille. Daar word aangevoer dat ʼn gebrek aan empiriese kennis oor die publikasieproduktiwiteit van akademici in Suid-Afrika aangespreek behoort te word, aangesien wetenskaplike kommunikasie deur middel van publikasie een van die mees sentrale proses in die wetenskap is. Daarbenewens het een vorm van wetenskaplike publikasie, die eweknie-beoordeelde artikel, die enkele belangrikste aspek geword waarvolgens akademici in Suid-Afrika en oorsee beloon word. Die fokus op genderverskille word gemotiveer deur die feit dat vroue hul verteenwoordiging in Suid-Afrikaanse hoër-onderwysinstellings versterk het, maar nie hul proporsionele bydrae tot ons land se uitset van geakkrediteerde navorsings-artikels nie. ʼn Oorsig van die afgelope vier dekades se empiriese en teoretiese werk oor die gender-gaping in publikasieproduktiwiteit lei tot die identifisering van drie stelle faktore wat die bestaan daarvan sou kon verklaar: gender-gesosialiseerde verskille tussen vroue en mans, vroue se swaarder gesinsverantwoordelikheidslas, en gender-verbandhoudende tekortkominge in die akademiese werkplek. Opsigself verklaar geen enkele van hierdie stelle veranderlikes egter gender-verskille in publikasieproduktiwiteit op ʼn bevredigende wyse nie, en hulle behoort nie onafhanklik van mekaar beskou te word nie. Die literatuur-oorsig word gevolg deur ’n oorsig van metodologiese oorwegings wat in ag geneem behoort te word ter bestudering van gender-verskille in publikasieproduktiwiteit. Teen hierdie agtergrond word die voordele en beperkinge verbonde aan die eerste empiriese projek van die proefskrif – ʼn sekondêre ontleding van SA Knowledgebase, ’n bestaande bibliometriese databasis - geïdentifiseer. Hierdie ontleding van is daarop gemik om gender-verskille in die publikasieproduktiwiteit van Suid-Afrikaanse akademiese outeurs te kwantifiseer; om vir relevante veranderlikes te kontroleer (ras, ouderdom, hoogste kwalifikasie, rang, institusionele affiliasie en wetenskaplike domein); en om gender-verskille in mede-outeurskap te ondersoek. Die resultate toon dat Suid-Afrikaanse man-outeurs bykans twee maal soveel artikels in geakkrediteerde vaktydskrifte as vroue-outeurs publiseer, maar dat laasgenoemde se bydrae tot die totale wetenskaplike publikasie-uitset van Suid-Afrika vanaf 16 persent in 1990 tot 24 persent in 2001 toegeneem het. Deel van die gender-gaping in publikasieproduktiwiteit kan verklaar word aan die hand van vroue se jonger ouderdom, laer kwalifikasievlak, en laer rang as ʼn gender-groep, maar nie aan die hand van enige neiging by vroue om minder as mans met andere te publiseer nie. Hierdie projek is aangevul deur die ontleding van primêre data wat ingesamel is vanuit die CV’s van, en kwalitatiewe onderhoude met sestien hoogs-produktiewe Suid-Afrikaanse akademici. Hierdie tweede projek dra by tot die ontwikkeling van ’n meer in-diepte begrip van die wyse waarop mans en vroue se gesinsverantwoordelikhede, hul nie-navorsingsverbandhoudende akademiese rolle, en hul gendersosialisering in ’n oorwegend manlike milieu en oor die bestek van hul loopbane heen differensieel op hul publikasieproduktiwiteit inwerk. Die proefskrif sluit af met ’n integrasie van die literatuur-oorsig met die hoofbevindinge van die twee projekte, op grond waarvan aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing gemaak word, en voorstelle aan die hand gedoen word vir die meting van publikasieproduktiwiteit wat sensitief sou wees vir die genderverskille wat in hierdie proefskrif uitgelig is.
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Kattenbraker, Mark S. "Health education research and publication : ethical considerations and the response of health educators /." Available to subscribers only, 2007. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1481660811&sid=2&Fmt=2&clientId=1509&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Limare, Nicolas. "Reproducible research, software quality, online interfaces and publishing for image processing." Phd thesis, École normale supérieure de Cachan - ENS Cachan, 2012. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00752569.
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This thesis is based on a study of reproducibility issues in image processing research. We designed, created and developed a scientific journal, Image Processing On Line (IPOL), in which articles are published with a complete implementation of the algorithms described, validated by the rapporteurs. A demonstration web service is attached, allowing testing of the algorithms with freely submitted data and an archive of previous experiments. We also propose copyrights and license policy, suitable for manuscripts and research software software, and guidelines for the evaluation of software. The IPOL scientific project seems very beneficial to research in image processing. With the detailed examination of the implementations and extensive testing via the demonstration web service, we publish articles of better quality. IPOL usage shows that this journal is useful beyond the community of its authors, who are generally satisfied with their experience and appreciate the benefits in terms of understanding of the algorithms, quality of the software produced, and exposure of their works and opportunities for collaboration. With clear definitions of objects and methods, and validated implementations, complex image processing chains become possible.
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Lee, Injung. "Publication and editorial feedback experiences of doctoral students in counselor education: a phenomenological inquiry." Diss., University of Iowa, 2019. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/6788.
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research and publishing articles in refereed journals is one of the most critical objectives of counselor education programs. Despite this, the lack of scholarly productivity among counseling scholars, including counselor educators and doctoral students, continues to be a problem in the profession. Also, research on doctoral students’ research and publication has been scarce in counseling literature. Moreover, the current literature largely fails to communicate the perspectives of doctoral students, as it reflects only the counselor educators’ perspectives on research training.
This phenomenological study investigated the shared experiences of twelve doctoral students in CACREP-accredited programs, regarding research and publication, including the editorial feedback process. The research question that informed and guided this study was: What are the lived experiences of doctoral students in counselor education programs during the publication and editorial feedback process? This study specifically aimed to examine doctoral student researchers’ challenges, the support they received, critical incidents that occurred, as well as their meaning-making of those experiences during the entire process of research and publication.
Data collection included two rounds of semi-structured interviews, two online focus groups, and written responses to two open-ended questions. Data analysis followed the procedures of phenomenological data reduction, including open-coding and horizonalization. Through individual case summaries and the seven themes that were derived from the twelve participants’ stories, this study illustrated how doctoral students made meaning of their experience with regard to the publication and editorial feedback process. The findings that emerged included the research climate/culture of both the counselor education profession and counselor education programs, as well as the support and resources that doctoral students received or needed. The findings also indicated doctoral students’ motivations to conduct research, and their learning experiences that contributed to their development as independent researchers. Finally, the meaning making of being a doctoral student researcher was described. Based upon these research findings, implications were provided for doctoral students, counselor educators, counselor education programs, journal editorial boards, and future research.
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Hua, Fang. "Issues in the dissemination of dental/medical research : reporting quality, publication bias and open access." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2017. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/issues-in-the-dissemination-of-dental--medical-research-reporting-quality-publication-bias-and-open-access(392d8fa7-2f6a-4748-b21c-87944f86a0dd).html.
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Timely, effective and unrestricted dissemination of dental/medical research is critical for the translation of research findings into healthcare. During the past 30 years, problems in the reporting, publication and accessibility of medical research, as well as the resulting avoidable waste of resources, have gained increasing attention from researchers and other stakeholders. However, many gaps still remain in the literature. The aims of this thesis were to provide more insights into three aspects of the dental/medical research dissemination (reporting quality, publication bias and open access), and offer recommendations for further improvements. Five cross-sectional studies and one systematic review were carried out: (1) A survey of the instructions and editors-in-chief (EICs) of 109 dental journals regarding reporting guideline (RG) usage; (2) An assessment of the reporting of randomised controlled trial (RCT) abstracts (n=138) presented at the European Orthodontic Society (EOS) congresses; (3) A comparison of the methodology reporting of highly structured (HS) and IMRaD RCT abstracts (n=341); (4) A systematic review of studies on the publication fate of abstracts presented at dental conferences (10,365 abstracts from 16 studies); (5) A study regarding open access (OA) to recently published journal articles in dentistry (n=908); and (6) A study regarding OA to recent journal articles in oncology (n=912). Mainly, it was found that: (1) RGs were endorsed in the instructions of 51% dental journals, and known by 74% dental journal EICs; (2) On average, RCT abstracts presented at the EOS congresses reported less than 4.5 out of the 17 CONSORT for Abstracts checklist items; (3) The methodology reporting score (range, 0 to 9) of HS RCT abstracts were 0.5 (95% confidence interval, 0.1 to 1.0) higher than those in IMRaD; (4) Only 30% (95% confidence interval, 23% to 37%) of abstracts presented at dental conferences were published in full; (5) 46% of recent journal articles in dentistry were freely available online, with no evidence of a citation advantage associated with OA; and (6) 58% of recent journal articles in oncology were OA, which received significantly more citations than those non-OA articles. Joint efforts need to be made by researchers, reviewers, editors and other stakeholders to further improve the reporting, publication and accessibility of dental / medical studies, and thereby facilitate the translation of good research findings and reduce avoidable research waste.
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Müller, Moritz. "Formation of industrial research networks." Strasbourg, 2010. https://publication-theses.unistra.fr/public/theses_doctorat/2010/MULLER_Moritz_2010.pdf.
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La généralisation rapide des alliances d’entreprises a généré de nombreux travaux de recherche visant à comprendre les causes et les effets de ce phénomène, alors que l’étude théorique et empirique de la formation des réseaux ne s’est développée que récemment. Cette thèse s’intéresse au rôle de la dotation technologique et sociale des entreprises dans leurs décisions de formation d’alliances bilatérales, et étudie comment les connaissances actuelles sur la formation d’alliances bilatérales peuvent aider à expliquer la structure du réseau d’alliances. Notre modèle théorique apporte un éclairage sur la façon dont la dotation technologique des entreprises affecte à la fois la structure globale du réseau et la position relative des entreprises au sein du réseau. Notre analyse empirique s’attache à estimer les effets de réseau technologiques et sociaux sur la formation d’alliances. Le pouvoir prédictif du modèle estimé s’avère élevé concernant la position de l’entreprise dans le réseau mais relativement faible concernant la structure globale du réseauThe dramatic increase in alliances among firms has led to a large, and growing literature attempting to understand its causes and effects, whereas theoretical and empirical research on network formation is just at its beginnings. This thesis considers how the technological and social endowment of firms affect their decisions to form bilateral alliances, and investigates to what extent our knowledge on the formation of bilateral alliances helps to explain the structure of the alliance network. A theoretical model yields insights into how the technological endowment of firms may affect both the global network structure and the position of firms in the network. An empirical analysis estimates technological and social network effects on alliance formation. The estimated model is shown to be rather informative with respect to the firm’s position in the network but not very informative with respect to the global network structure
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Stefan, Catalin. "New journal for the promotion of Vietnamese environmental research." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2012. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-88127.
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The Vietnamese science and high education system plays a major role in the country’s social and economical development. Due to a mixed influence of international education systems, the contribution of the Vietnamese research to the international scientific landscape is still modest. Over the past decades, the most scientific programmes focused mostly on rather theoretical sciences and less on applied sciences. The results are reflected by a rather low rate of international publications on experimental science. Together with the country’s efforts on the efficient use of natural resources, there is an urgent demand for strengthening the scientific activity on environmental sciences. The new Journal of Vietnamese Environment was created to respond to the increasing interest in environmental research. The journal was founded as part of an academic network initiated by the Dresden University of Technology in the framework of Vietnamese-German cooperation programs on training and education. With multidisciplinary fields of interest and several types of manuscripts, the journal has a predominant academic character, the submission of manuscripts is open to students, graduates, researchers and staff members of research and academic institutions, as well as to any individual willing to disseminate the knowledge about the management of Vietnamese environmentHệ thống khoa học và giáo dục đại học Việt Nam đóng vai trò quan trọng trong sự phát triển kinh tế và xã hội của đất nước. Trong xu hướng giao thoa mạnh mẽ giữa các hệ thống giáo dục quốc tế, đóng góp của các nhà nghiên cứu ở Việt Nam cho cộng đồng khoa học quốc tế còn khiêm tốn. Trong những thập niên qua, hầu hết các hoạt động khoa học tập trung vào khoa học lý thuyết hơn là các lĩnh vực khoa học ứng dụng. Điều này đã được phản ánh qua tỷ lệ khá thấp các ấn phẩm quốc tế về khoa học thực nghiệm. Cùng với những nỗ lực của đất nước để sử dụng hiệu quả các nguồn tài nguyên thiên nhiên, một nhu cầu cấp bách đặt ra là tăng cường các hoạt động nghiên cứu về khoa học môi trường. Tạp chí Môi trường Việt Nam ra đời nhằm hưởng ứng sự quan tâm ngày một gia tăng trong nghiên cứu môi trường. Tạp chí được thành lập như một phần của mạng lưới học thuật được đề xuất bởi Trường Đại học Tổng hợp Kỹ Thuật Dresden trong khuôn khổ chương trình hợp tác Việt Nam - CHLB Đức về đào tạo và giáo dục. Với mối quan tâm đa ngành và đa dạng trong ấn phẩm, tạp chí chủ yếu mang tính học thuật, cơ hội gửi đăng bài viết mở rộng cho cả sinh viên, kỹ sư / cử nhân, nghiên cứu viên và các thành viên của Viện nghiên cứu và giáo dục, các cá nhân có mong muốn phổ biến kiến thức về quản lý môi trường ở Việt Nam
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Biernacka, Katarzyna, and Libio Huaroto. "Learning Analytics in Relation to Open Access to Research Data in Peru. An Interdisciplinary Comparison." Universidad de Cuenca, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10757/652923.
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Conferencia realizada en el marco de la "III Conferencia Latinoamericana de Analíticas de Aprendizaje LALA2020 Project", del 1 al 2 de Octubre de 2020 en Cuenca, Ecuador.The aim of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of learning analytics re-searchers in Peru about the barriers to publication of their research data. A review of the relevant legislation was done. Semi-structured interviews were used as a research method, the focus being on the presumed conflict between the publica-tion of research data and the protection of personal data. The results show a range of individual factors that influence the behaviour of scientists in relation to the publication of research data, emphasizing the barriers related to data protection in different disciplines.
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Rendina-Gobioff, Gianna. "Detecting publication bias in random effects meta-analysis : an empirical comparison of statistical methods." [Tampa, Fla] : University of South Florida, 2006. http://purl.fcla.edu/usf/dc/et/SFE0001494.
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Freeman, Georgina. "Publication bias and quality of reporting of Pharmacodynamic Studies utilizing invasive research procedures within early phase cancer trials." Thesis, McGill University, 2012. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=110657.
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Invasive research procedures, such as biopsy for pharmacodynamic study, often have no value for patient-volunteers in terms of diagnosis or clinical management. Accordingly, their burdens are generally justifiable only by appeal to knowledge value (that is, the benefit to future patients) rather than direct benefit. This thesis is an exploration of knowledge value production as a justification for invasive research biopsy in cancer research. The premise of this thesis is that human investigations can only enable knowledge value insofar as they are reported in ways that enable a broader scientific community to use their findings for planning new investigations. We studied the interruption of knowledge value accrual through two empirically evaluable proxies of knowledge value: publication and reporting quality.The focus of this thesis is on the publication and reporting quality of pharmacodynamic (PD) sub-studies embedded within early phase cancer clinical trials. Early phase cancer trials are designed to measure the safety and toxic effects of an investigational agent and tumor response (i.e. tumor shrinkage). PD sub-studies within them investigate the effects of a drug on its 'targets' (i.e. the inhibition of an enzyme or enzymatic pathway). We found that 37% of early phase cancer trials utilizing biopsy for PD study result in the complete publication of all PD data. A survey of study authors revealed that the most commonly cited barriers to publication were "strategic considerations in publication," which included studies where results were dismissed as uninteresting, uninformative, contradictory or difficult to interpret, and where "scientific disagreement" prevented the publication of pharmacodynamic results (59% of respondents). Quality of reporting varied widely within and across studies, with some important quality assurance practices being sporadically reported, including results of all planned tests (78% trials reporting), use of blinded outcome assessment (43% trials reporting), biopsy dimensions (38% trials reporting), and description of patient flow through the PD portion of the trial (62% trials reporting). PD analysis as a primary endpoint and the use of mandatory biopsy were significantly and positively associated with better quality reporting. A preponderance of positive results (61% of the studies described positive PD results) suggests the possibility of publication bias.Based on our research findings, we recommend that study investigators and IRB members critically evaluate targets for patient recruitment, tissue collection, and PD assay validation. Further, IRBs and investigators should ensure that any laboratories proposing the collection and assay of biopsied tissues have the requisite resources (financial, human, and physical) to complete a validated PD study. The major recommendation of this thesis is that a formalized reporting guideline, similar to CONSORT and REMARK, should be developed for PD investigations. We further recommend that study authors and journal editors consider separate PD publication or the inclusion of supplementary materials in order to provide space for richer methodologic description of PD research.Les procédés de recherche effractifs, tels que la biopsie dans le cadre d'études pharmacodynamiques, n'ont souvent aucun avantage pour le patient-bénévole en ce qui concerne le diagnostic ou la prise en charge clinique. Le recours à ces procédés n'est souvent fondé que sur l'idée de la valeur des connaissances (ce en quoi ils aideront d'éventuels patients futurs) plutôt que sur l'avantage direct pour le patient.Cette thèse propose d'étudier la justification du recours à des procédés de biopsie effractive dans la recherche sur le cancer par la production de connaissances. Nous proposons comme prémisse que la recherche sur les êtres humains ne peut produire de connaissances de valeur que dans la mesure où les résultats de la recherche sont présentés de manière à permettre à la communauté scientifique élargie de les utiliser à des fins de recherches ultérieures. Nous avons étudié l'interruption de l'accumulation de connaissances de valeur selon deux critères empiriques : la publication et la qualité des renseignements. Cette thèse se concentre particulièrement sur la publication et la qualité des renseignements dans les sous-études pharmacodynamiques contenues dans les essais cliniques de premières phases dans le domaine du cancer. Ces essais visent à mesurer l'innocuité et les effets toxiques potentiels d'un nouveau médicament de recherche, ainsi que la réaction de la tumeur. Les sous-études pharmacodynamiques évaluent les effets du médicament sur ses « cibles » (un enzyme ou une voie enzymatique). Nos résultats indiquent que pour 37% des essais cliniques de premières phases qui comprennent des sous-études pharmacodynamiques utilisant la biopsie, toutes les données pharmacodynamiques ont été publiées. À la suite d'une enquête auprès d'auteurs d'études, les obstacles les plus communs sont les « considérations d'ordre stratégique quant à la publication », dans le cas d'études où on juge que les résultats n'apportent rien de nouveau ou sont sans intérêt, contradictoires ou difficiles d'interprétation, et lorsque des « différends d'ordre scientifique » empêchent la publication de résultats pharmacodynamiques (59% des répondants). La qualité des renseignements varie grandement à travers les études et on remarque que certaines données importantes pour le contrôle de la qualité ne sont qu'irrégulièrement signalées, dont les résultats de tous les tests planifiés (78% des essais), l'évaluation des résultats à l'insu (43% des essais), les dimensions des tissus prélevés (38% des essais) et la description du cheminement du patient durant la section pharmacodynamique de l'étude (62% des essais). Lorsque l'analyse pharmacodynamique est le but premier de l'essai ou que celui-ci comprend un recours obligatoire à la biopsie, l'étude tend considérablement à être de meilleure qualité. La prépondérance de résultats positifs (61% des études) suggère peut-être un biais de publication. Compte tenu des résultats de notre recherche, nous proposons que les investigateurs d'études et les membres de comités d'éthique indépendants évaluent de manière critique les objectifs en matière de recrutement des patients, de prélèvement des tissus et de validation des essais pharmacodynamiques. De plus, les comités d'éthique indépendants et les investigateurs doivent s'assurer que tout laboratoire visant le prélèvement et l'analyse de tissus par la biopsie possèdent les ressources financières, humaines et matérielles nécéssaires pour compléter une étude pharmacodynamique validée. La recommandation principale de cette thèse consiste en l'élaboration d'une ligne directrice formalisée, comparable à CONSORT ou REMARK, pour la publication d'études pharmacodynamiques. Nous recommandons également que les auteurs d'études et les éditeurs de revues envisagent de publier indépendamment les résultats pharmacodynamiques ou d'inclure des matériaux supplémentaires afin de permettre une description méthodologique plus riche de la recherche pharmacodynamique.
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Dowdy, Arthur G. "EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF PUBLICATION BIAS IN SINGLE-CASE RESEARCH DESIGN FOR EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2018. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/489012.
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Special EducationEd.D.
In single-case research design (SCRD), experimental control is demonstrated when the researcher’s application of an intervention, known as the independent variable, reliably produces a change in behavior, known as the dependent variable, and the change is not otherwise explained by confounding or extraneous variables. SCRD studies that fail to demonstrate experimental control may not be published because researchers may be unwilling to submit these papers for publication due to null findings and journals may be unwilling and unlikely to publish null outcomes (i.e., publication bias). The lack of submission and publication of null findings, leading to a disproportion of positive studies in the published research literature, is known as the “file drawer effect” (Rosenthal, 1979; Ferguson & Heene, 2012). Recently, researchers and policy organizations have identified evidence-based practices (EBPs) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on systematic reviews of SCRD studies (Odom, Collet-Klingenberg, Rogers, & Hatton, 2010). However, if SCRD studies that do not demonstrate experimental control (i.e., null studies) are disproportionately unpublished due to the file drawer effect, this may result in a misrepresentation of positive findings, leading interventions to be deemed evidence-based that, actually, lack sufficient empirical support (Sham & Smith, 2014; Shadish, Zelinsky, Vevea, & Kratochwill, 2016). Social narratives, exercise, self-management, and response interruption/redirection are interventions for children with ASD that has been named EBPs according to the National Autism Standards (NAC; 2009) and National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC; 2010); however, these interventions have not yet been evaluated for potential publication bias. The study employed and extended methods similar to Sham and Smith (2014), comparing the procedures and results of published articles and unpublished dissertations and theses for interventions identified as EBPs to evaluate the methodological rigor and evaluate the possibility of publication bias, file drawer effect, and lack of replication. Specifically, the results of published and unpublished studies were compared to determine if published studies showed greater treatment effect, which would indicate the file drawer effect. Also, SCRD quality indicators were employed to evaluate whether studies that were published tend to be of higher quality, as this would mitigate possible publication bias shown by larger effect sizes (ES) in published studies. The outcome resulted in three out of four EBPs (social narratives, antecedent exercise, and response interruption and redirection), yielding different ES when published studies were compared to unpublished studies; in contrast, self-management yielded a similar ES for published and unpublished studies. For social narratives and antecedent exercise, unpublished studies presented at lower estimated ES than published studies; whereas for response interruption and redirection, unpublished studies presented at a higher estimated ES compared to published studies. Generally, study quality presented at similar levels for published and unpublished studies for each EBP, with the exception of antecedent exercise. Differences were identified for antecedent exercise study quality based upon visual and statistical analyses. Lastly, there do not appear to be observed differences in treatment outcomes between published and unpublished studies when study quality was considered in the analysis. Implications of the results are discussed with respect to the file drawer effect and publication bias in EBPs, and the call to increase publications in peer-reviewed journals of negative findings and replication studies, which leads to identifying and establishing boundary criteria for EBPs.
Temple University--Theses
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Bani-Ahmad, Sulieman Ahmad. "RESEARCH-PYRAMID BASED SEARCH TOOLS FOR ONLINE DIGITAL LIBRARIES." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1207228115.
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Seyed, Rasoli Haniyeh. "Recent evolutions in the funding of public research : theoretical and applied analyses." Strasbourg, 2011. https://publication-theses.unistra.fr/public/theses_doctorat/2011/SEYED_RASOLI_Haniyeh_2011.pdf.
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Cette thèse analyse les conséquences de certaines évolutions récentes de la structure de financement des acteurs de la recherche publique (université et organisme public de recherche) survenues dans les années 2000, et notamment la diversification des sources de financement et la création de l'Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (ANR). Elle est composée de quatre chapitres portant chacun sur une thématique spécifique. Le premier chapitre est une revue de littérature en économie de la science. Dans le deuxième chapitre, nous présentons un panorama au niveau des établissements français, appuyé par des indicateurs statistiques synthétiques, de l'évolution des financements contractuels ainsi que des outputs de la recherche (les publications et les brevets). L'analyse porte sur 28 universités françaises sur la période allant de 2000 à 2007 pour les financements et les brevets, et de 2003 à 2007 pour les publications. Dans le troisième chapitre, nous traitons la question de la complémentarité ou de la substituabilité des différents financements accordés aux acteurs de la recherche publique. Ce chapitre est constitué d'une partie théorique et d'une partie empirique. Le dernier chapitre est consacré spécifiquement aux fonds attribués par l'ANR. Après une présentation des principales caractéristiques du dispositif au niveau national, nous analysons de manière plus approfondie les comportements de candidature des chercheurs et le processus de sélection de l'agence. Une application est faite sur les données de l'Université Louis PasteurThis thesis analyses the ongoing evolutions of the funding of universities and public research organizations. We first document and analyse these evolutions. They point toward an increase in the mix of public and private funds, and the development of new external funding. We thus investigate theoretically how public and private funds are combined in the production of knowledge. We study thoroughly the questions of substitutability and complementarity between the different types of funds, and the consequences of shocks in the availability of those funding on the labs behaviour. We are also willing to assess the design of competitive public fund policies, through the set of incentives they create. We investigate this question in an empirical analysis on the Agence Nationale de la Recherche, where we portray the types of researchers who apply, as well as the selection made by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche
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Ribeiro, Diogo Miguel Machado Pinto. "Internship in medical writing at a clinical research organization." Master's thesis, Universidade de Aveiro, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10773/18777.
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Mestrado em Biomedicina FarmacêuticaThis report aims at describing my experience uring the 9 months of curricular internship at Eurotrials, Scientific Consultants, as part of the 2nd year of the Master’s in Pharmaceutical Medicine. The internship was mainly focused on the development of skills and acquiring experience in Medical Writing activities, trought actively participating in activities usually developed by medical writers: writing, preparation and submission of scientific articles, preparation of scientific posters, compilation of appendices for Clinical Study Reports, and writing of educational material. Throughout the internship, I had the opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge related to Medical Writing, as well as to clearly understand its role in clinical research, as an essential tool to interpret, describe and publish the data obtained.
Este relatório tem como objetivo descrever a minha experiência durante os 9 meses de estágio curricular na Eurotrials, Consultores Científicos, como parte do 2º ano do Mestrado de Biomedicina Farmacêutica. O estágio focou-se maioritariamente no desenvolvimento de competências e obtenção de experiência em atividades de Medical Writing, através da participação ativa em atividades usualmente desenvolvidas por medical writers: escrita, preparação e submissão de artigos científicos, preparação de pósters científicos, complilação de apêndices para Clinical Study Reports, e escrita de material educativo. Durante o estágio, tive a oportunidade de adquirir conhecimentos essenciais relacionados com a atividade de Medical Writing, e de perceber de forma clara o seu papel na investigação clínica, como ferramenta essencial na interpretação, descrição e divulgação dos dados obtidos.
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Craig, Ayshea Joanna. "Publishing practices and the role of publication in the work of academics in the mathematics education research community in England." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2012. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10020705/.
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This thesis explores the publishing practices of the mathematics education research community in England with the aim of better understanding the ways in which education research is shaped by its social, institutional and political context. This is of vital importance in debates about its goals, nature and future, particularly at a time of rapid change in the higher education sector, with changing funding patterns, a drive for research 'impact' and the association of publication with accountability through the Research Assessment Exercise and the Research Excellence Framework. Mathematics education research is explored on three levels: as a field, following Bourdieu; through its external relations with other areas of research, with institutions, government and society; and through the sense-making of individuals who are part of it. The focus on publications cuts an analytical cross-section/seam across these three levels since publication is intimately bound up in both internal and external struggles. Interviews with academics and social network analysis of publication data are brought together through an analysis of existing literature which examines the autonomy, boundaries, entry conditions and doxa of mathematics education research as a field. Semi-structured interviews with nine academics at English universities were used to reconstruct some of the narrative resources drawn on in making sense of publishing practices. These suggest that positive narratives around the value of publication to the research field itself are lacking. This finding is linked to the nature of education research as a field of study connected to professional practice, as well as to the link between publication and accountability. Exploratory social network analysis of publication data from fourteen mathematics education research journals over a ten-year period allowed a structural examination of the patterns that the ties formed by collaboration. This analysis was then linked with interview data on individual positioning within the field, suggesting the varied ways in which similar patterns of collaboration arise. Implications are drawn for mathematics education research in the UK and for the role of publication in social sciences research, particularly in a field of study connected with professional practice.
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Kitshoff, Michiel Casparus. "The Faculty of Theology of the University of Zululand: its contribution to vocational training, research and publication and spiritual support." Thesis, University of Zululand, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10530/1380.
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Submitted to the Faculty of Theology and Religion Studies in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Theology in the Department of Systematic Theology and History of
Christianity at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2000.The thesis commences by describing the establishment of ethnic university colleges, including the University College of Zululand, during 1959. In more detail the establishment of a department of Theological Studies in 1964, followed by a faculty of Theology in 1970, is discussed. Chapter 2 discusses the professional training activities of the Faculty of Theology in co-operation with accredited theological institutions. The thesis relates how the Faculty moved from co-operation with Dutch Reformed Church institutions to practising an open door policy. Chapter 3 records and discusses the contribution of the Faculty of Theology to vocational training at the main campus, Durban-Umlazi campus and at the accredited colleges. It discusses the history and content of theological degrees, the position and impact of Biblical Studies and Method of Biblical Studies, extramural and extracurricular training as well as student unrest. The chapter also supplies details of the staff of the Faculty of Theology and finally gives a list of graduandi of the various years. Chapter 4 discusses in detail the research and publication activities of the Faculty. The discussion also covers the impressive work done by NERMIC, the University research unit for the study of New Religious Movements and Independent/Indigenous Churches. Chapter 5 highlights the spiritual support supplied by the Faculty through the Council of Supervision for the Ministry to Students, interdenominational services, the University chaplaincy, commemorative services, student societies, prayer meetings and individual Faculty members. Chapter 6 looks at the crucial question of the viability of the Faculty of Theology from a historical perspective, while weighing up its chances of survival in the light of the present situation. Chapter 7 rounds off the study with a resume and some concluding remarks.
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van, der Heijden Anna M. H. "Creating an Environmental Education Website at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2002. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1019050512.
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Zheng, Jie-Han, and 鄭傑韓. "The Study of IS Research Topics and Publication Distribution." Thesis, 2011. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/31377578346732027587.
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碩士長榮大學
資訊管理學系碩士班
99
The domain of information management has developed for thirty years in Taiwan. Over the time, the information management topics are quite diverse. In order to understand the development of related issues in the realm of information management, we plan to classify the articles published in the Journal of Information Management The domain of information management has developed for forty years in Taiwan. Over the time, the information management topics are quite diverse. In order to understand the development of related issues in the realm of information management, we plan to classify the articles published in the Journal of Information Management (a journal published in Taiwan). Meanwhile, this study also focuses on the scholar publication in the field of information management by examining the degree of concentration of authors and affiliations. The research results reveal that the issues about information system applications dropped, while the issues about human increase in 2009. Besides, the analysis of concentration shows that Journal of Information Management is a competitive journal.
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Huang, Chien-Hsiu, and 黃千修. "The Publication Condition Research of Song Dynasty in Sichuan." Thesis, 2008. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/99657591980384536625.
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碩士淡江大學
漢語文化暨文獻資源研究所碩士班
96
This thesis documents the history of the Sichuan woodcut printing, including its origin, style, text and the impact on regional culture, through an inter-textual examination of diverse documents of the Dynasty Sung based on the primary as well as secondary sources of the fieldwork in Sichuan region. The first part of the thesis traces back to the ancient copy of “Shu” (the shorter name for the region Sichuan) woodcut printing from Dynasty Sung to Tang. It studies the development of the “Shu print” from its original form to varied versions of later periods. The second part of the thesis analyses the correlation between the external factors, economic and geographical, and the development of woodcut printing industry of Dynasty Sung in Sichuan region. The data is collected based on the sources of historical records, government documents, local chronicles and so on within the framework from Tung through to Five Generations and Sung Dynasties. It is believed the impact of such external social factors contributed to a flourishing printing industry which led to a distinctive gentry’s culture in the Sichuan region of these periods in particular. The third part of the thesis focuses on the documentation of publications on Shu print of Dynasty Sung. It covers, thanks to the hard work by academics in the past, a comprehensive list of printed works and bibliographies from both public and private collections in libraries of China and Taiwan. The fourth part of the thesis explores the historical background and some external factors, all of which characterize the Shu print of Dynasty Sung, for example, the active interactions between local and other people outside the region and the local support for the government printing policy. The fifth part of the thesis studies the historical aspect and correlation to the contemporary culture. It seeks to picture the distinctive Sichuan woodcut printing culture which indicates the impact and the role of printing industry to the contemporary society.
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Cai, Jianfeng. "Communication functions of publication programs of agricultural research institutes in China." 1990. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/23672663.html.
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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1990.Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 150-159).
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Gu, Xin. "Modelling the academic publishing system: a data-driven agent-based approach." Thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1354744.
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Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)Academic publication is used to disseminate and advance knowledge. It also provides a measure of individual research performance for career advancement and personal prestige. Furthermore, it is one measure of university performance and productivity for global rankings and government policy purposes. This research is motivated by the importance of academic publication to these various stakeholders, and aims to address the following research question: How can the academic publishing system be explained by modelling the strategic behaviours of scholars and academic journals? This research uses existing literature to define the strategic publishing behaviours of scholars and the strategic approaches of academic journals associated with publication. These investigations are then used to develop a conceptual model of the academic publishing system. The conceptual model is then operationalised using an agent-based modelling and simulation approach. Finally, real-world data is used to parameterise and validate this model. This research question is addressed through the empirical analysis of bibliometric data, and the implementation of the agent-based model. The analysis aims to fully understand the quantitative status of the academic publishing system, in order to calibrate and validate the agent-based model. Academic journals are characterised using 13 attributes that are captured across bibliographic data sources. The quantitative relationships among these journal characteristics are analysed over four impact-oriented journal quartiles to further characterise journal types. Cluster analysis of data collected for 11,427 scholars, and their 284,128 journal publications, identifies six types of scholars: singleton, small-team low performer, small-team high performer, big-team strategist, free-style follower, and life-time warrior. The empirical analysis identifies new, previously undescribed, growth patterns of academic journals and scholars, and contributes a characterisation of scholar types that provides a robust and holistic conceptualisation of academic publishing behaviours. A methodological approach of coupling the agent simulation with empirical research is introduced. It uses empirical data to set the parameters of the conceptual agent-based model that best reflects the scholars’ strategic publishing-decision processes. The simulation results validate independent historical data at both macro- (growth patterns of scholars and their publications, as well as the performance measures of scholars) and micro-levels (number of scholars and their publications for each calendar year). Thus, the thesis contributes a new typology of academic publishing strategy, and empirical journal characterisation. This informs a new understanding of the individual and collective behaviours that lead to a variability in research outcomes between scholar types. Importantly, it provides a framework that can be used to optimise the distribution of scholar types within teams and institutions, with the aim of maximising research outputs.
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Chen, Shu-Chun, and 陳淑純. "An Experimental Research on Integrating Information Technology into the Publication of School Newspaper." Thesis, 2004. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/20318127141296617314.
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碩士國立台北師範學院
教育傳播與科技研究所
92
Information education or IT in education has become an important issue of modern education. Meanwhile, integrating information technology into instruction (or technology integration) has especially become one of the trends and major practices in Taiwan. The purpose of this research is to investigate how it can be integrated into the primary school curriculums the activities of the senior graders’ participation in publishing school newspaper, and also to examine the students'' learning performances. The researcher put the course into practice in a primary school, and also produced multimedia teaching materials concerning about the know-how of editing newspapers as well as a website with an on-line news delivery system to assist learning. It took 11 weeks and 32 periods to lead the fifth grade students to learn how to plan, edit and publish a student''s newspaper in Integrative Activity classes. The case study is directed under the method of quasi-experimental research. The ways of collecting data include observing, interviewing, document collecting and questionnaire surveying. In addition to the researcher''s instruction in the classroom, the students had ever paid a visit to a press, watched a movie and also learned by computer and internet to get the knowledge and skills about publication. They worked as publishers, editors and writers to practice and experiment during a series of related classes. The results of the research indicate that the students have shown significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in knowledge and skills concerning about publishing. Those who were in experimental group have obtained the capabilities to plan, edit, write and publish the newspaper, and their media literacy had increased at the same time. Moreover, the finally published newspaper showed that the senior graders had been able to work as a team with each other to finish their publication tasks. Through the training, they also have gains in skills about writing, computer, communication, cooperation, planning, creating, problem-solving, and so on. At the same time, the learning process had promoted a harmonious relationship between the schoolmates and had developed their communication with teachers, other students and the parents. The study also showed that there were beneficial effects on learning outcomes to integrate information technology into teaching and to assist learning with websites, especially in such respects as communicating with classmates, sharing information, preparing for lessons before classes and reviewing learning contents. As for the on-line news delivery system, it had made it more convenient to deal with publishing affairs, and also the students had acquired more knowledge about the internet and thus had learned how to communicate through it. The curriculum of publishing school newspaper is directly related to the following learning areas as Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Technology, Integrative Activities, Arts and Humanities, and so on. Furthermore, with its topic-based orientation, it can broaden the learning scope by bringing in issues from Health and Physical Education, Mathematics, Information Technology Education, Career Development Education, and so on. Therefore, in the future, every primary school can have its own school-based design of newspaper publication curriculum, and the curriculum can be put into practice in single-class, joint-class, mixed-grade, cross-area, computer-integrated and many other cooperative ways. The study has obtained the supports of the students, the parents and the teachers. After the experiment has finished, the class that participated in this study still continued and broadened the scope to publish the second newspaper by the end of the semester.
30
Mulero, Portela Ana Leticia. "Research in pediatric physical therapy a comparison of publication trends from 1975 - 1988 /." 1989. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/20581653.html.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1989.Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-85).
31
Su, Hsin-yi, and 蘇新益. "Research on Cultural Meanings of Comic Publication and Its Industry Development Issues in Taiwan." Thesis, 2006. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/21780345984919176873.
Full textAbstract:
碩士南華大學
出版事業管理研究所
94
The comic publication is a media of graphic communication, and brings great pleasure to readers by texts and images that are carried with knowledge. Comics are play beyond time limits, so as to allow people to imagine and create their own fantasies. In a word, the comic publication is a virtual, reflecting what the real society may be like through various kinds of medium. That is to say, comics are a context full of icons, symbols, and narrations of the world. This study has adopted several cultural theories, such as semiology and narratology to discuss cultural meanings and social context of comics in text analysis. By combining different perspectives of cultural meanings and basic business management theories, this study has integrated these key points into the whole industry analyses. While using in-depth interview as the main method, triangulation is the core spirit of this thesis, accompanying factual materials and personal experiences. The results of the interviews are as listed: First, 70% of the interviewees (comic creators) think that the interpretations of cultural meanings in comics are necessary while the other 30% think that it depends on situations. Second, local comic writers are deeply influenced by Japanese comics in many ways, such as choice of topic, styles and narratives. However, the qualities of these Japanese comics vary a lot; many are full of blood, violence, and porn. Third, about 60% of the interviewees think that their works are related to Chinese culture while 20% of them are close to Taiwanese culture, 10% to western culture and the other 10% related to popular culture. Fourth, the main successful factor of fabulous, best-selling comics is scripting. Then, according to their importance, are marketing, skills, storyboard, creativity, topics, content structure, popular ability, scene setting, the speed of writing, and time table. Last but not least, the researcher has given some practical suggestions to the government, the comic industry, comic writers and the readers.
32
Elliott, David B., and N. Handley. "A historical review of optometry research and its publication: are optometry journals finally catching up?" Master's thesis, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/9341.
Full text
33
"Simulation study on the validity of methods for detecting publication bias in meta-analysis for binary outcomes." Thesis, 2006. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b6074247.
Full textAbstract:
Conclusions. The sensitivity and positive predictive value are generally more concerned than the specificity and negative predictive value in assessing and adjusting publication bias in meta-analyses. In this sense, Egger's regression can be recommended for its high sensitivity, while any positive result from Tang's method would suggest a probability of bias that should be taken seriously. Given the different patterns of the accuracy with the OR and the P1-P2 combination, a combination of Egger's regression and Tang's regression would be advisable. Further studies are needed to study the accuracy of methods used in combination.Due to sampling error and true heterogeneity, a single study cannot provide a comprehensive picture and a precise estimate of, say the effectiveness of a treatment. Systematic reviews that identify and integrate relevant studies have become the most important scientific, quantitative method to summarize scientific research. Meta-analysis is the statistical method used in systematic reviews to combine results from individual studies.
However, due to selective submission and publication, not all relevant studies conducted, especially those unpublished studies with an insignificant negative result, are easily accessible to those who conduct reviews. As a result, the truth, say, the effect of a treatment, would be overestimated. This phenomenon is known as publication bias. A few methods for detecting the bias have been developed and used in meta-analyses. Although their accuracy has been studied, some important issues remain to be answered, such as when would a method be good enough for practical use and is it similarly good for different definitions of the odds ratio?
Methods. We conducted a simulation study to examine the accuracy of four commonly used bias-detection methods with various ORs and P1-P2 combinations. In a simulation study, the true bias status can be predetermined and thus be compared with the results of the bias-detection methods. The four methods are Egger's regression, funnel plot regression, rank correlation regression, and Tang's regression. Realistic sample size was used for simulating individual studies and the numbers of studies in a meta-analysis was also varied. Both the sensitivity and specificity are examined against the magnitude of the OR and the P1-P 2 combination to identify the ORs and P1-P 2 combinations for which a method is sufficiently accurate. Predictive values are also examined for the same reason and in the same manner.
Results. The sensitivity and positive predictive value are generally low and in particular when the OR is close to one for which publication bias is of a particular concern. Egger's regression has the highest sensitivity among the four, in particular when the OR is neither close to one nor exceptionally large or small. Due to the relatively lower specificity, the positive predictive value of Egger's regression is not as high as that for Tang's regression and funnel plot regression. Tang's regression and funnel plot regression are very similar in sensitivity, specificity and predictive values, with the former being slightly better. Rank correlation seems the least accurate method overall. Tang's regression has in general the highest positive predictive value among the four methods in particular when the OR is below one.
Chung Chi-keung.
"June 2006."
Adviser: Tang Jin Ling.
Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-03, Section: B, page: 1588.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-124).
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Abstracts in English and Chinese.
School code: 1307.
34
Nemati, Mahdieh. "Development of optical microchip sensor for biomolecule detection." Thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/114272.
Full textAbstract:
Optical sensors play vital roles in many applications in today’s world. Photonic technologies used to design and engineer optical sensing platforms can provide distinctive advantages over conventional detection techniques. For instance, when compared to electronic and magnetic sensing systems, optical sensors require physically smaller equipment and have the capability for delivering more analytical information (e.g. spectroscopic signatures). In addition, demand for low-cost and portable bio-analyte detections is a growing area for applications in healthcare and environmental fields. Among other factors to achieve reliable results in terms of selectivity and sensitivity is key for the detection of bio-analytes with analytical relevance. Commonly used bio-analytical techniques (e. g. high performance liquid chromatography) have been appropriately designed based on qualitative and quantitative analysis. However, the requirement of expensive equipment, and complexity of procedures (e.g. biomolecule labelling, calibrations, etc.) restrict the board applicability and growth of these techniques in the field of biosensing. Optical sensors tackle these problems because they enable selective and sensitive detection of analytes of interest with label-free, real-time, and cost-effective processes. Among them, optical interferometry is increasingly popular due label-free detection, simple optical platforms and low-cost design. An ideal substrate with high surface area as well as biological/chemical stability against degradation can enable the development of advanced analytical tools with broad applicability. Nanoporous anodic alumina has been recently envisaged as a powerful platform to develop label-free optical sensors in combination with different optical techniques.
This thesis presents a high sensitive label-free biosensor design combining nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) photonic structures and reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIfS) for biomedical, food and agricultural applications. NAA is a suitable optical sensing platform due to its optical properties; a high surface area; its straightforward, scalable, and cost-competitive fabrication process, and its chemical and mechanical stability towards biological environments. Our biosensor enables real-time screening of any absorption and desorption event occurring inside the NAA pores. A proper selection of bio-analytes were able to be detected using this platform which offers unique feature in terms of simplicity and accuracy. The most relevant components of this thesis are categorised as below:
1. Self-ordered NAA fabrication and detection of an enzymatic analyte as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis: Fabrication of NAA photonic films using two step electrochemical anodization and chemical functionalisation. Detection of trace levels of analyte enzyme and its quantification by selective digestion. The NAA photonic film with the enzyme acts as a promising combination for a real-time point-of-care monitoring system for early stages of disease.
2. NAA rugate filters used to establish the binding affinity between blood proteins and drugs: Design, fabrication, and optimisation of NAA anodization parameters using sinusoidal pulse anodization approach (i.e. anodization offset and anodization period) to produce rugate filter photonic crystals that provide two comparative sensing parameters. Establishment of highly sensitive and selective device capable for drug binding assessments linked to treating a wide range of medical conditions.
3. NAA bilayers and food bioactive compound detection: Design, fabrication, and optimisation of NAA anodization parameters (i.e. anodization time and number of anodization steps) to obtain NAA bilayered photonic structures that display the effective response of NAA geometry with different types of nano-pore engineering. The photonic properties of the NAA bilayer were studied at each layer of nano-structure under specific binding of human serum albumin and quercetin as target agent. 4. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection: The design and implementation of a Ligation-Rolling Circle Amplification assay to detect a single nucleotide polymorphism associated with insecticide resistance in a pest beetle species, Tribolium castaneum. This proof-of-concept SNP detection assay has the potential to provide a method compatible with a biosensor platform such as NAA. This demonstrates the first step towards the potential development of a genotyping biosensor, and a real-world application of insect insecticide resistance monitoring.
The results presented in this thesis are expected to enable innovative developments on NAA sensing technology that could result in highly sensitive and selective detection systems for a broad range of bio-analytes detections.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemical Engineering, 2018
35
Munoz, Principe Henry Edinson. "Rock strength and deformability characterisation and assessment for drilling performance estimation." Thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/104725.
Full textAbstract:
Rock drilling and cutting is essential in the mining industry. Rock characterisation and classification methods have been proposed to assess drilling or cutting performance. However, a unique method to relate rock characteristics to rock cutting performance has not yet been developed. This is due to the complexity of interactions among the variables involved in the drilling process encompassing not only rock properties, but also the nature of drilling. Cost-effective drilling is achievable by allocating the available gross energy towards the drilling action and, at the same time, reducing systematically that energy consumed in frictional processes inherent to tool-rock interactions. Several attempts have been made to assess drilling performance by correlating different rock properties with the drilling rate. For instance, rock texture, grain size, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), Mohs hardness and rock mass structural parameters, and others have been used to build a number of drillability indices. However, not only rock properties, but also different sets of drilling parameters and drilling techniques have an impact on the drilling performance and efficiency of the process. On one hand, to predict rock drilling performance and optimisation of drilling operation, tool-rock interaction laws, i.e. the relations between forces acting on the tool in contact with rock, are essential. For instance, through tool-rock interaction laws, it was found that during rotary drilling, the energy consumed in pure cutting action of rock is measured by the intrinsic specific energy. In the case of percussive drilling, tool-rock interactions are focused mostly in the prediction of the penetration rate and the optimum thrust. On the other hand, rock failure characterised by rock brittleness is a concept yet to be investigated as there is not a unique criterion able to describe rock brittleness quantitatively nor consensus about the most suitable and reliable brittleness index to apply to different rock engineering works encountered in the field. A new brittleness index upon fracture strain-energy quantities extracted from the area under complete stress-strain curve of rocks in uniaxial compressive tests is proposed herein to study drilling performance by rock brittleness capacity. This brittleness index takes into account post-peak instability in uniaxial compression as post-peak instability of rock during compression can be treated as a manifestation of rock brittleness. That is, an increase in the post-peak energy indicates an increase of stability (i.e. a decrease in brittleness or increase in ductility). In the same manner, a dramatic decrease of post-peak energy indicates less stability of the failure process (i.e. an increase in brittleness). In this view, advanced laboratory experiments on strength and deformability of soft-to-hard rock types (UCS is ranging from 7 to 215 MPa) were carried out. The compressive tests complied with the application of a prescribed constant lateral strain-rate as a feedback signal to control the axial load which was found to be a suitable loading rate to measure the complete stress-strain response for the rocks. The new brittleness index developed herein describes a monotonic and unambiguous scale of brittleness with increasing pre-peak strength parameters such as crack damage stress and peak stress as well as deformation parameters such as the tangent Young’s modulus of rock. This outcome becomes relevant in order to better understand material brittleness associated with the progressive fracture process characterised by the typical threshold damage stresses, peak stress and the elasticity parameters. The brittleness index scale indicates that a higher brittleness index means that rock is more brittle which corresponds to higher strength rocks. In order to reliably estimate drilling performance both tool-rock interaction laws along with a proper rock brittleness index are required to be implemented. In this study the performance of a single PDC (Polycrystalline Diamond Compact) cutter cutting and different drilling methods including PDC rotary drilling, roller-cone rotary drilling and percussive drilling were investigated. To investigate drilling performance by rock strength properties, laboratory PDC cutting tests were performed on soft-to-hard rocks to obtain cutting parameters. In addition, results of laboratory and field drilling on different rocks found elsewhere in literature were used. Laboratory and field cutting and drilling test results were coupled with values of a new rock brittleness index proposed herein and developed upon energy dissipation extracted from the complete stress-strain curve in uniaxial compression. To quantify cutting and drilling performance, the intrinsic specific energy in rotary-cutting action, i.e. the energy consumed in pure cutting action, and drilling penetration rate values in percussive action were used. The results show that the new energy-based brittleness index successfully describes the performance of the studied cutting and drilling methods.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, 2017.
36
Wang, Qingqing. "MicroRNA mediated gene regulation in cancer." Thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/114506.
Full textAbstract:
Cancer, as the second cause of death worldwide, requires further understanding of its mechanism to improve patient survival and quality of life. MicroRNAs are important regulators of translation and play major roles in normal cellular functions as well as cancer pathobiology. The broad aim of my study was to provide new insight into microRNA-mediated gene regulation in cancer. Although miRNAs account for the posttranscriptional regulation of more than 60% of human protein-coding genes, this work is mainly focused on two molecular pathways: the p53 signalling pathway and the androgen receptor signalling pathway, each of which have been shown to be strongly connected to tumorigenesis. p53, a transcription factor that participates in multiple cellular functions, is considered the most important tumour suppressor and is mutated in ~50% of cancers. Previous evidence suggests that post-transcriptional deregulation of p53 by microRNAs contributes to tumorigenesis, tumour progression and therapeutic resistance. We found that the microRNA miR-766 was aberrantly expressed in breast cancer, and that overexpression of miR-766 caused accumulation of wild-type p53 protein in multiple cancer cell lines. Supporting its role in the p53 signalling pathway, miR-766 decreased cell proliferation and colony formation in several cancer cell lines, and cell cycle analyses revealed that miR-766 causes G2 arrest. At a mechanistic level, we demonstrate that miR- 766 enhances p53 signalling by directly targeting MDM4, an oncogene and negative regulator of p53. Analysis of clinical genomic data from multiple cancer types supports the relevance of miR-766 in p53 signalling. Collectively, our study demonstrates that miR-766 can function as a novel tumour suppressor by enhancing p53 signalling. Moreover, we have reported miR-9 as a novel miRNA that specifically downregulates the expression of misssense p53 R248Q and R273H in multiple cell lines, while the wild-type p53 is upregulated and other p53 mutations are unaffected. We also identified a potential binding site within TP53 ORF. A few potential mechanisms behind this unique observation are discussed. This part of my work provides novel evidence in the miRNA-mediated mutant p53 regulation and discusses the weakness of current miRNA target study. Androgen receptor (AR) is a transcription factor that is the key driver of prostate cancer growth and progression. As such, AR and its downstream pathways are a critical target for prostate cancer treatment. MiRNAs participate in the regulation of these pathways by targeting AR itself or downstream genes. In our study, we identified miR-375 as a direct negative regulator of androgen receptor and its signalling pathways. Overexpression of miR-375 results in down-regulation of AR protein and mRNA levels and AR target genes FKBP51 and KLK3, accompanied by growth inhibition of prostate cancer cells. Over-expression of AR rescued the effect of miR-375 over expression. Interestingly, AR binds the promoter region of the MIR375 gene and upregulates its expression. Thus, my work identifies a new feedback loop that balances the endogenous level of AR and miR-375 in prostate cells. Overall, this work provides further understanding of how miRNAs regulate important gene pathways in different cancers.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, Adelaide Medical School, 2017.
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Zhang, Fangrui. "Dynamic analysis of steel confined concrete tubular columns against blast loads." Thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/104727.
Full textAbstract:
The use of composite construction has drawn more and more attention in recent decades. This thesis contains a number of journal articles which aim to enrich the knowledge of the performance of concrete filled tubular columns when subjected to blast loading. Experimental investigations are used in conjunction with numerical analysis to provide a thorough assessment of the blast-resistance of concrete filled tubular columns. The first chapter mainly focuses on the experimental study on concrete filled tubular columns under blast loading. A large-scale blast experimental program is carried out on concrete filled double-skin steel tube (CFDST) columns. The blast experiment aims to examine the blast-resistance of ten CFDST specimens, including five with square cross-section and the other five with circular cross-section. The parameters that are investigated during the blast experiment include: cross-sectional geometry, explosive charge weight and magnitude of axial load. After the experiment, several damaged test specimens are then transported back to the laboratory for residual axial load-carrying capacity tests. The proposed CFDST columns are able to retain more than 60% of its axial load-carrying capacity even after being subjected to close-range explosion. As blast experiments are often costly and associated with potential safety concerns, numerical tools have been adopted by more and more researchers. In the second chapter of the thesis, numerical approaches in modelling the dynamic behaviour of concrete filled steel tube (CFST) columns and CFDST columns under blast loading are presented. The numerical models are validated against the results of the blast experiment as described in the first chapter and good agreement is achieved. Parametric studies on the effect of column dimensions and material properties are also discussed through intensive numerical simulations. In the last chapter, a numerical method to generate pressure-impulse diagrams for CFDST columns is proposed which uses a damage criterion involving the residual axial load-carrying capacity. Based on the numerical method, pressure-impulse diagrams for different column configurations are derived and analytical expressions of deriving pressure-impulse diagrams for CFDST columns are also developed through regression analysis.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Civil, Environmental & Mining Engineering, 2017.
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Saini, Rupinder Kaur. "Clethodim resistance in Lolium rigidum (annual ryegrass) and its management in broadleaf crops." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/106299.
Full textAbstract:
Lolium rigidum is one of the most troublesome herbicide resistant weeds in Australia, which has so far evolved resistance to eleven major herbicide groups. Clethodim, an inhibitor of acetyl–coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase), is a selective post-emergent herbicide used to control annual and perennial grasses in a wide variety of broadleaf crops and has been used by many farmers to manage L. rigidum in continuous cropping rotations. However, repeated use of this herbicide during the last two decades has resulted in the appearance of L. rigidum populations that are highly resistant to clethodim. Studies on the resistance mechanisms, genetics, and fitness of resistant alleles were undertaken to better understand the evolution of clethodim resistance in L. rigidum. Field studies were also undertaken to investigate the performance of alternative herbicides for the management of clethodim-resistant L. rigidum in faba bean and canola. Dose–response experiments were conducted on twelve populations of L. rigidum collected from different locations in Australia. All the populations were confirmed resistant to clethodim with resistance levels ranging from 3-34-fold as compared to the susceptible control. These resistant populations have also evolved cross-resistance to butroxydim. Sequencing of the target-site ACCase gene identified five known ACCase mutations (Leu-1781, Asn-2041, Gly-2078, Arg-2088, and Ala-2096) in these populations. In the highly clethodim-resistant populations, the level of clethodim resistance was influenced by the occurrence of frost close to herbicide application. A significant reduction in the level of clethodim efficacy was observed in resistant populations when plants were exposed to frost for three nights before or after clethodim application. However, there was no effect of frost on the response of the susceptible population suggesting that the mechanism present within the resistant populations interacts with frost to further reduce clethodim efficacy. The inheritance of clethodim resistance was investigated by cross pollinating the susceptible and five resistant populations. The results of the inheritance study showed different patterns of inheritance of clethodim resistance in L. rigidum; which included a single gene, partially dominant, nuclear encoded trait, two different patterns of two-gene inheritance and an example of maternal inheritance of the resistance trait. The fitness of three resistant alleles (Leu-1781, Asn-2041, and Gly-2078) was also studied by determining the change in the frequency of resistant alleles in two generations of L. rigidum in the absence of
clethodim use. The results of this experiment showed that there was no significant change in the frequency of Leu- 1781 and Asn-2041 alleles in L. rigidum populations from one generation to other but the frequency of Gly-2078 allele increased significantly (7 to 16%; P ≤ 0.05). Studies were also undertaken to identify alternative herbicides for the control of clethodim resistant L. rigidum with a range of pre-emergent herbicides in broadleaf crops. In both faba bean and canola crops, pre-emergent herbicides alone were insufficient to effectively manage clethodim-resistant L. rigidum. The application of effective soil residual herbicides followed by the post-emergent tank-mixture of clethodim and butroxydim provided acceptable control of some clethodim resistant L. rigidum populations.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2016.
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Peirce, Courtney Anna Emelia. "Foliar fertilisation of wheat plants with phosphorus." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/112583.
Full textAbstract:
Phosphorus (P) is an important macronutrient essential for plant growth. Broadacre cropping often requires additional inputs of mineral P fertiliser to grow profitable crops. Current management practice is to apply all fertiliser P at sowing. If the conditions under which foliar applied P could reliably increase grain yield are met, foliar application of P could be used as an in-season management strategy to top up P supply of wheat. This could be of significant benefit to farmers to reduce risk in regions with variable climate. Through a series of plant experiments under controlled environmental conditions, this thesis investigated plant physiological (leaf wettability and growth stage) and foliar formulation (form of P, P concentration, adjuvant choice and pH) factors affecting the efficacy of foliar P uptake and translocation. The first experiment investigated the influence of leaf side and its corresponding wettability on the uptake and translocation of foliar applied P. The second and third experiments examined the effect of adjuvants on the wettability of wheat leaves and the associated uptake and translocation of foliar applied P (from phosphoric acid) after a few days and when harvested at maturity. The last experiment investigated the effect of foliar formulations differing in pH, P source and adjuvant, on wheat growth and uptake and translocation of P. A number of methods and techniques were used throughout the thesis. Investigations on the effect of leaf morphology on uptake and wettability involved the use scanning electron microscopy. Wettability of leaves by both water and fertilisers was characterised using contact angle measurements with a combination of static, advancing, receding and spreading contact angles over time measured. Uptake and translocation of the foliar applied fertilisers was quantified through the use of dual or single labelling isotopic tracer techniques. Absorption and subsequent translocation of foliar applied P was higher for the adaxial (upper) leaf side despite it being more difficult to wet than the abaxial (lower) side. When the foliar P concentration was increased the contribution of foliar P to plant P uptake increased but was translocated away from the site of application at a lower efficiency, likely due to the higher scorch experienced by the leaves at higher concentrations. Importantly, the morphology of the wheat leaf influenced both the retention and contact angle of the fertiliser on the leaf surface and the uptake and subsequent translocation of the foliar applied P. Foliar application of P at ear emergence had higher absorption and subsequent translocation of P than when applied at anthesis. The inclusion of a surfactant in the foliar P formulation is essential because wheat leaves are difficult to wet. Application of foliar P without a surfactant resulted in lower levels of fertiliser retention on leaves. When applied with phosphoric acid the choice of adjuvant affected the spreading dynamics and leaf wetting area but did not affect the foliar uptake of P. The yield response to foliar applied phosphoric acid was inconsistent despite the uptake and translocation being the same for all formulations that included a surfactant. The timing of application was more important than surfactant choice with higher translocation of foliar applied P when it was applied at flag leaf emergence compared to tillering. While increases in P uptake by wheat plants with foliar application of phosphoric acid were consistent, increases in plant growth and yield were not. Although foliar P from phosphoric acid was absorbed, only a small proportion was translocated. Specific combinations of adjuvant and P sources other than phosphoric acid were able to increase both plant P uptake and peak biomass. These foliar fertilisers ranged in associated cations (potassium, sodium and ammonium phosphates) and pH (2.2, 4.3, 6.5 and 8.7). Increases in plant P uptake did not always translate to biomass increases with translocation of foliar applied P playing a more crucial role than foliar uptake of P. This thesis has made important progress in our understanding of the effects of wheat leaf morphology, leaf wettability and crop phenology on the recovery of foliar applied P fertilisers in wheat plants. The processes of retention, absorption and translocation of foliar-applied P have proven important for inducing positive biomass and grain yield responses and this has been achieved using several foliar P formulations. However, a single characteristic of the formulation that optimises these processes has not been identified and as a result prediction of the exact scenarios when positive responses of wheat to foliar-applied P should occur has not been achieved. It appears that there is some plasticity in the response by wheat plants to additional P supplied via the leaves and some remaining uncertainty about the effects of scorch that are influencing the predictability of the response. Field validation is required to ascertain whether the positive response found in controlled experiments can be replicated when environmental conditions are more varied and unpredictable.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2016.
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Wang, Houzhi. "Initiation of smouldering combustion in biomass." Thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/114254.
Full textAbstract:
Wildfires are naturally occurring phenomena that result in significant and catastrophic
damage. Due to climate change, there has been a significant increase in
the frequency, severity, and extent of wildfires. Therefore, there is a growing need
to mitigate wildfire risk. In order to help mitigate the risk of wildfires, greater
understanding is required. One particular gap in knowledge is the impact of smouldering
combustion of potential fuel on wildfires. This thesis focuses on combustion
of fuel beds in wildfires. Specifically, the thesis targets smouldering combustion.
Smouldering combustion is a common type of combustion regime in wildfires and
hazard reduction burning (a wildfire mitigation measure). Smouldering is a slow
and low-temperature form of combustion, which shows no
flame. Smouldering is a
serious hazard because of its low ignition temperature, which makes it particularly
relevant to fire initiation and spread. Smouldering plays a vital role in wildfires,
as many forest biomass fuels such as grass, leaves and coarse woody debris are
prone to smoulder. Most previous studies of smouldering combustion have only
been carried out on polyurethane foam, due to its importance for residential fires.
However, smouldering has been scarcely investigated from the point of view of
wildfires. For example, smouldering combustion of forest fuel is scarcely studied.
Hence, the project aims to develop a greater understanding of the initiation of
smouldering combustion in biomass under different conditions with an emphasis
on wildfire.
Locating smouldering combustion in wildfires and hazard reduction burning
is difficult and time-consuming, as there is no effective method to identify the
initiation of smouldering combustion in biomass fuel beds. It is critical to know when and where smouldering combustion in a biomass fuel bed starts, as smouldering
combustion could transition to
flaming combustion under certain conditions.
Radiation is one of the important heat transfer mechanisms in wildfires; however,
there are few studies on smouldering combustion in biomass fuel beds started by
external radiant heat
flux. Although oxidiser
flow rate and oxygen concentration
have significant in
influences on the propagation of smouldering front, their effects on
the initiation of smouldering combustion in biomass fuels are not well understood.
Hence, the effects of oxidiser
flow rate and oxygen concentration on the initiation
of smouldering combustion are investigated. Fuels in a forest are diverse, and it
is essential to have a better understanding of what effects forest fuels have on
smouldering combustion. Thus, the effects of plant species and plant parts on the
initiation of smouldering in biomass fuel beds are also investigated. Within this
framework, the work presented in this thesis can be split into two main topics:
1. Conditions required to initiate smouldering combustion in bio-
mass fuel beds
The required radiant heat
flux and air
flow rate for the initiation of smouldering
and
flaming combustion in a biomass fuel bed are investigated in an experimental
testing rig. This investigation identifies and quantifies smouldering and
flaming
combustion in a biomass fuel bed based on the measurements of temperature,
product gas concentration and mass change, and the required radiant heat
flux
and air
flow rate for the initiation of smouldering and
flaming combustion are
determined. The effects of heating time and oxygen concentration on the initiation
of radiation-aided and self-sustained smouldering combustion are investigated in
the same testing rig. In this experimental study, the differences between radiation-aided
and self-sustained smouldering combustion are characterised based on the
measurements of temperature, product gas concentration and mass change, and
the required heating time and oxygen concentration for radiation-aided and self-sustained
smouldering combustion are determined.
2. Factors that influence smouldering combustion in biomass fuel
beds
The results from the first topic reveal that oxygen availability has significant effects
on the initiation of smouldering combustion in a biomass fuel bed. The air
permeability of a biomass fuel bed determines oxygen availability in that fuel bed.
Hence, the air permeability of natural forest fuel beds is investigated in an air
permeability testing rig. In this study, the air permeability of natural forest fuel beds is determined using experimental and theoretical methods. A comparison
between the experimental and theoretical methods is made. The effects of Euca-
lyptus species and plant parts on smouldering combustion are also investigated.
In this study, the different plant parts from different Eucalyptus species are characterised
based on the results of the thermogravimetric and ultimate analyses.
The results of this study show that the differences among the different plant parts
from different Eucalyptus can be characterised and quantified based on the results
of the thermogravimetric and ultimate analyses. It is also found that Eucalyptus
species and plant parts have significant effects on smouldering combustion.
Although this thesis covers a series of experimental studies of the initiation
of smouldering combustion in biomass fuel beds. There are still many important
factors to be considered. For examples, the thesis focuses on small-scale laboratory
experiments to better understand the fundamental studies of smouldering combustion
of biomass. However, the real-world conditions could be much more complex.
For example, forest fuel beds are composed with fuel particles with various sizes
and shapes. These factors also have effects on smouldering combustion.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Mechanical Engineering, 2018
41
Prince, Melissa. "Assessing latent dimensionality in psychological research." Thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1037969.
Full textAbstract:
Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)Research in cognitive science and neuroscience has the shared goal of understanding how cognitive and neural representations and processes mediate the observed relationships between stimuli and responses in different experimental paradigms. The almost ubiquitous basis for inferences about the number of processes or latent dimensions involved, is the observation of a dissociation; an interaction due to an unequal or opposite effect of one independent variable on the levels of another independent variable. However, it has been clearly shown that dissociations do not provide strong evidence for the need of an extra dimension. In this thesis, which is a collection of published and submitted papers, we describe an extension of the dissociation methodology – state-trace analysis (Bamber, 1979) – that does provide a rigorous basis for this inference. In the first section, an informal introduction to state-trace analysis is provided. We also develop Bayesian methods suitable for quantifying state-trace evidence in favour of a one-dimensional or multi-dimensional explanation, as well as for refining state-trace experiments. In the second section of this thesis, an application of state-trace analysis is presented that examines the question of whether human face recognition is special in the sense that faces can be encoded in terms of a dimension or dimensions additional to those available to most other objects. Over a series of experiments, and using the new methods developed in Section One, we confirm that the encoding of unfamiliar faces is special and discuss the need to extend this type of analysis to other psychological phenomena.
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Kennedy, Lauren Ashlee. "The importance of incorporating researcher beliefs into statistical models." Thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/113117.
Full textAbstract:
In this thesis I consider how statistical assumptions are driven by the assumptions
the researcher makes about the data. I focus specifically on assumptions surrounding
data generation, namely: a) the shape of distribution expected, b) the process by
which data were obtained, c) the shape of the outcome distribution, and d) inferring
information about missing data.
Each chapter of this thesis will focus on one of these assumptions using a combination
of tools. I use existing methods and propose new models before exploring from a
cognitive perspective the types of inference people make. This allows us to explore
the concept of researcher assumptions, and to consider where building them in to
the statistical model might be beneficial. In three of the four main chapters of this
thesis, I use simulation methods to compare models. The models I consider are
both Bayesian and frequentist in framework. The aim of these simulations is not
to compare frameworks, but to compare different model structures to ascertain the
structure that allows the most accurate claims about the data to be made.
There are four main arguments presented in this thesis. First I argue that it is very
rare to conduct statistical tests without making some sort of assumption about the
data. Second, I demonstrate that for distributional assumptions in a particular type of data, models where the assumptions are not violated can improve the accuracy of
the claims made. Thirdly, I present two models that match the assumed generative
process of two types of data; contaminated data and data with a heterogeneous
effect. I demonstrate that these models are not only more accurate, they also allow
the researcher to make richer claims about their data. Finally I experimentally investigate
a well-known finding in cognitive psychology|a dislike for ambiguous or
missing data. I replicate this preference whilst demonstrating that people are still
sensitive to underlying distributional information. Together these findings suggest
that the researcher is both sensitive to and makes assumptions about the data. Creating
and using statistical models that do not violate the assumptions the researcher
makes is important, but building more complicated assumptions into the model can
give a richer and more accurate understanding of the data.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2018
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Erkelens, Mason. "Investigation of the closed loop processing systems developed for microalgal biofuels." Thesis, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/104680.
Full textAbstract:
The algal biofuels industry is under development and being investigated at large scale all around the world. To improve the viability of algal biofuels the ability to use closed loop systems that recycle waste and water thereby decreasing the overall waste produced while increasing profitability is being investigated. The aim of this work was to investigate closed loop systems associated with the algal biofuel production, focusing on its effects on the production of algal biomass and lipid and on the natural microbial community. The key areas of algal production that have been the focus of the research are the introduction of water, and the recycling of water and the recycling of waste produced during the biomass to biofuel stage of the microalgal biofuel process. Water is a key part of microalgal biofuel production; the source of water can contain many different microorganisms that can affect microalgal growth. Recycling waste streams back into the culture as a nutrient stream is an effective way to reduce the cost of production. Within this thesis I investigated two waste streams as a potential nutrient stream, microalgae digestate and the hydrothermal liquefaction aqueous phase (Chapter 3 and 4). I observed that high concentrations of either of the waste streams resulted in reduced growth in comparison to F/2 media. Negative growth was associated with high concentrations of ammonia, and the effect of the use of waste streams was species dependent. There is currently little known about the changes in the bacterial and algal communities during the harvesting/recycle process. Within chapter 5 and 7 I investigated the bacterial and algal diversity present during these processes. It was observed that while the electroflocculation stage had little impact on the bacterial community, the centrifuge stage was shown to have a much higher impact on the bacterial community. The recycling process also increased the dominance of Tetraselmis MUR233 over various recycle stages. A benefit of recycling is the prevention of undesired microorganisms entering into the culture. One microorganisms that is of interest is Protozoa, due to the potential damages to microalgae biomass production. Within chapter 6 I observed the effects of protozoa within the culture; it was observed that was no significant difference between the final total lipid or final total dry weight produced in the presence and absence of protozoa. This study shows the ability of Tetraselmis MUR233 to outgrow any potential damage caused by the presence of the protozoa. Developing further understanding of these processes can help improve potential outcomes when these processes are undertaken.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemical Engineering, 2015.
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Counts, John Waldon. "Sedimentology, provenance, and salt-sediment interaction in the Ediacaran Pound subgroup, Flinders Ranges, South Australia." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/105869.
Full textAbstract:
Much of our understanding of the sedimentary character and stratigraphic
architecture of subsurface sedimentary deposits is derived from field-based studies
of similar depositional systems exposed in outcrop. In South Australia, excellent
surface exposures in the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Adelaide Rift Complex provide a
unique opportunity to examine a series of clastic sediments deposited in an ancient
fluvial-deltaic to deep marine setting. Through extensive field and laboratory work,
this study documents the sedimentology, stratigraphy, provenance, facies
distribution and salt-sediment interaction of the upper Bonney Sandstone and Billy
Springs Formation. These sediments formed part of the margin of the Australian
subcontinent during the Ediacaran, a key time in Earth history just prior to the
development of multicellular life. Field investigations reveal that the Bonney
Sandstone is primarily comprised of sands and shales, often in progradational
parasequences that become progressively sand-dominated upward. The formation
thickens significantly to the north through the preservation of additional sediments
that contain abundant fluvial features, suggesting a northern depocentre in the
basin. Zircon data indicate that sediments may be sourced from the distant
Musgrave Province and enter the basin from a large deltaic system in the northwest.
These results provide substantial new information as to the palaeogeography of
South Australia during this time, and are the product of interpretation using multiple
lines of evidence and the study of numerous localities.
Throughout the Adelaide Rift Complex, salt diapirs penetrated the basin fill
and formed adjacent rim synclines (minibasins) due to withdrawal of underlying salt.
Salt-tectonized, passive-margin settings are significant components of hydrocarbon systems in some of the world’s most productive regions, yet these features are
rarely exposed in outcrop as they are here. In the far northern Flinders Ranges, the
Umberatana Syncline is interpreted as a salt-withdrawal minibasin that formed in a
deeper-water setting. The map-view exposure of the structure allows the
depositional processes and products in the minibasin interior to be studied in a way
not possible elsewhere; deepwater minibasins are very rarely exposed at the
surface. Field and petrographic work reveals a mud-dominated minibasin fill
containing mass-flow deposits of varying stages of maturity, ranging from clastbearing
convolute-laminated slumps to sandy turbidites. In a more proximal setting,
numerous measured sections along the margin of the Mt Frome minibasin clearly
show that sediment character is influenced by diapir activity and the shedding of
diapir-derived clasts. Lateral facies variability is controlled by growth faulting and
diapir topography, with increased abundance of diapiric material near faults and
highs, as well as thinning, onlap, and rotation of sediment blocks. These results, as
well as those from elsewhere in the basin, are highly applicable to the prediction of
reservoir, source, and seal quality in similar geologic settings in the subsurface.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, Australian School of Petroleum, 2016
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Seyfang, Jemma. "Birth litter sex ratio affects gilt behaviour, endocrine status and reproductive performance." Thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/115173.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis tested the hypothesis that females that developed in a male biased litter would be masculinised and therefore have impaired reproductive performance and be more aggressive than those born into female biased litters. One of the aims of this thesis was to investigate new tools for selection of gilts into the breeding herd. Current selection criteria are minimal, with genetics, weight, and body conformation as the main determinants. We investigated effects of the sex ratio of a gilt’s birth litter, as in other litter bearing species it affects reproduction, behaviour, and physiology. One of the mechanisms that may be involved is the transfer of androgens from male to female fetuses during development which can occur either to neighbouring fetuses or to the whole litter. Therefore, females from male biased litters may have impaired reproduction and be more aggressive due to masculinisation during fetal development. A literature review found evidence that this phenomenon may affect pigs. We defined a male biased litter having ≥60% males (including stillborns) and female biased as ≥60% female. We examined sex ratio effects on induction of ovulation prior to puberty, and the endocrine milieu before and during natural oestrus. We also investigated behaviour by applying anxiety and aggression tests. Phenotypic differences were also assessed by measuring the anogenital distance (AGD; distance from anus to the vulva), which is commonly elongated in females from male biased litters. Interestingly, we found, in contrast to findings from other species, that the AGD of gilts from female biased litters was longer than those from male biased litters at 16 weeks of age. The anogenital distance at 21 weeks of age was then employed in a commercial study to examine associations with gilt fertility through two parities. Gilts with longer anogenital distances reached puberty younger, were more likely to be mated, and had a higher total born alive litter size. Based on our earlier data, we suggest these gilts were likely from female biased litters. In our behavioural studies we found that gilts from male biased litters were bolder as they had a faster emergence time in an arena test, but they also showed trends towards increased aggression with increased scratch scores around weaning and greater likelihood to fight in a resident intruder test. We also found that when stimulated with exogenous gonadotrophins at 18 weeks of age, gilts from male biased litters has a higher ovulation rate. During second oestrus, gilts from male biased litters had impaired ovulatory luteinising hormone surges but no change in tonic luteinising hormone. These results highlight that gilts from male and female biased litters have different reproductive responses. Overall, our research shows that gilts from male biased litters are different to gilts from female biased litters in reproduction, behaviour, and physiology. Currently, it appears that gilts from female biased litters, or those with above average anogenital distances, are better suited to the breeding herd but further commercial work is required to assess the effect that this new selection tool has on overall performance.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2018
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Robertson, Kate Elizabeth. "Electrical resistivity structure of the Southeast Australian lithosphere." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/107378.
Full textAbstract:
In its ability to retain signatures of tectonic events that enrich or deplete its fertilization state, the lithosphere holds the key to the tectonic evolution and history of Earth. Dewatering of the subducting slab leads to released fluids and induced melt which act to fertilize the overlying mantle in incompatible elements such as hydrogen. Conversely, rifting events lead to partial melting with fertile elements entering the melt, leaving behind a depleted lithosphere. Signatures such as these can remain in the lithosphere for hundreds of millions of years in the absence of further high temperature/melt events. Magnetotellurics (MT) is a passive geophysical tool that images the physical property of electrical resistivity and is capable of penetrating the entire lithosphere. MT is highly sensitive to minor interconnected conducting mineralogy and fluids, and thus is ideal for distinguishing between lithosphere of different degrees of enrichment. Additionally, the sensitivity to these minor phases means that fossil fluid pathways associated with the ascent of mineralising fluids and metals are detectable with MT. This is the cornerstone on which one of the main directions of the UNCOVER (Australian Academy of Science, 2012) initiative is based on- increasing the detectable signature of ore deposits by imaging the underlying fluid pathways and lateral dispersion of deposits. With these capabilities in mind, MT surveys were undertaken across western Victoria, Australia and the Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Curnamona Province in South Australia, Australia. The collection, processing and modelling of new MT sites were conducted for this thesis, with many other existing MT sites utilised to expand the dataset. In Chapter 2, 74 broadband (period of 0.001-2000 s) MT sites along the 1.2-5 km spaced east-west Southern Delamerian transect were processed, modelled and interpreted across western Victoria. The crust beneath the Delamerian Orogen has a heterogeneous resistivity structure, with low-resistivity fossil-fluid pathways stemming from Moho depths, intersecting an otherwise resistive upper crust. Serpentinite with interconnected magnetite is known to occur within the vicinity of the survey region, and conductivity measurements of hand samples indicate substantially lower resistivities for the serpentinised rocks, leading to the interpretation that serpentinite contributed to the low resistivity zones. Chapter 3 expands on the Southern Delamerian transect of Chapter 2 by modelling the transect using a 3D inversion code, along with four other pre-existing datasets which, when combined, create a 500 km continuous east-west transect. Importantly, this transect traverses the transitional zone between the Delamerian and Lachlan Orogens. The elusive boundary between these Orogens has most recently been interpreted as a gradual boundary within the Stawell Zone. Results from modelling show that the lower crust and shallow upper mantle of the Delamerian Orogen are at least an order of magnitude more resistive than the adjacent Lachlan Orogen. If the location of this sharp gradient in resistivity is chosen as the Delamerian-Lachlan transition, then the boundary occurs about 20 km to the east of the Moyston Fault in a NNW-SSE orientation, in reasonable agreeance with seismologically and geochemically determined boundaries. Finally, Chapter 4 involved the collection of the first set of AusLAMP measurements across an array of 50 km spaced long-period (2-17,000 s) MT sites across the Ikara- Flinders Ranges and Curnamona Province in South Australia. This longer-period dataset was capable of imaging the entire lithosphere, and resulted in the imaging of a surprisingly low resistivity crust for the Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Curnamona Province, indicating either a long-lived retainment of enrichment from the Olarian Orogeny (over 1.5 Ga), a more widespread reworking of the province from the Delamerian Orogeny (540 Ma), or another unrelated more recent enrichment event. The Broken Hill Domain remains largely resistive, indicating that enrichment events associated with the emplacement of the word-class Broken Hill deposit may have been erased during a high temperature or melt event. Further, two conductivity anomalies were identified in the Nackara Arc of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges, and when combined with the Curnamona Conductor, can explain the phenomenon of induction vectors across eastern South Australia all pointing toward an anomalous zone spanning the Ikara-Flinders Ranges north to south in an arcuate fashion, which had previously been interpreted as one single continuous conductivity anomaly, the Flinders Conductivity Anomaly. Coincidence of the Nackara Arc Conductors with locations of discovered kimberlites give evidence for zones of lithospheric weakness, with pathways where CO₂-rich kimberlitic melts may have deposited graphite on ascent.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Physical Sciences, 2016.
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Hariyani, Ninuk. "Root caries over the generations." Thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/115871.
Full textAbstract:
Since the early 1980s root caries has become a subject of interest in dental research and practice.
Improved life expectancy and reduction of tooth loss have led to more natural teeth are being
retained for longer. While these are significant public health and dental health successes, it may
put the older population at a higher risk of root caries. The current international scientific
literature reports that root caries is observed in a significant proportion of older adults. Thus, it
was hypothesised that retaining more natural teeth in older adults would elevate root caries to
being a more prominent problem in the current generation than in the previous generation. This
presumption was congruent with the ‘failure of success’ and ‘more teeth, more disease’ theories
accepted in both the medical and dental fields. While this has been demonstrated in a cross-sectional
study of coronal and root caries, these theories have not yet been verified in studies
across the generations. This study aimed to contribute to the understanding of root caries and its
risk factors in the contemporary population of older adults. In particular, this study tested the
‘failure of success’ or ‘more teeth, more disease’ theories in relation to root caries among
Australian older adults by studying root caries across generations over a 22-year period.
This thesis combines a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression study, with three
empirical studies using the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06, the South Australian
Dental Longitudinal Study 1 (SADLS1) (started in 1991/1992) and the Intergenerational Change
in Oral Health Study in Australia (SADLS2) (started in 2013-2014).
This study found that there were a diverse range of root caries studies presented around the
world. There is a need to conduct and report root caries research in a globally consistent way to
be able to take advantage from a ‘pooled estimate’ of root caries in a future meta-analysis. This
study found that root caries has remained a dental public health problem among Australian adults
and older adults. The profile of risk indicators of root caries has remained stable across
generations. The risk indicators are slightly different between untreated root caries (root DS),
and treated related-root caries (root FS and root DFS). Root caries was also found to increase
continuously, even among healthier adults.
The most important finding of this study was that, despite a higher retention of natural teeth, and
a high prevalence of gingival recession in the current generation of Australians, they experienced
less root caries than the previous generation. Improvements in the upstream determinants of oral health such as living conditions, expansion of water fluoridation and wider use of dental services
might have played a role in protecting the oral health of the older population.
In conclusion, the ‘failure of success’ or ‘more teeth, more disease’ theories were not supported
in this study of root caries across generations of Australian older adults. The findings support the
current population-based program of water fluoridation, and the promotion of healthy lifestyle in
order to prevent root caries.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, Adelaide Dental School, 2018
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Williams, Nicole Marie. "Investigating the dynamics of interchromosomal interactions and CTCF site methylation at the IGF2 locus in mammalian evolution and human disease." Thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/112820.
Full textAbstract:
Long-range physical interactions between distant sections of DNA have been shown to form complex networks of loops controlling gene regulation and other nuclear functions, which are essential throughout development and disease. These chromatin interactions are remarkably frequent, with interaction patterns varying between cell types, developmental stage and in disease. The chromatin insulator CTCF mediates many of these interactions, and is also thought play a role in the definition of topological domains and preventing the spread of heterochromatin. Binding of the CTCF protein can be methylation sensitive, and few studies have investigated the impact of specific methylation changes at CTCF binding sites on long-range interactions at a particular locus. This form of regulation is particularly important to many imprinted genes, which are important for foetal growth and development, such as the growth factor IGF2. Altering the regulation at this locus can affect foetal development and has also been shown to be linked to poor prognosis in several cancers. The aim of this project was to investigate the important IGF2/H19 locus in relation to long-range interaction and CTCF binding site methylation, in both developmental and disease contexts. We investigated expression of IGF2 and H19 as well as the frequency of long range chromatin interactions at the locus in cattle embryos, comparing purebred and hybrid crosses with known differences in birthweight. This work identified different levels of H19 expression between the different crosses, although no significant difference was observed in the frequency of the IGF2/H19-WSB1 long-range chromatin interaction. We have suggested that a different mechanism of regulation at the IGF2/H19 locus may occurring at this early developmental stage. We also investigated the methylation status of seven CTCF binding sites in the Igf2/H19 imprinting control region in several ovarian cancer tumours and cell lines, as well as looking at expression of key genes and interaction frequency using DNA Fluorescence in situ hybridisation. We identified highly variable DNA methylation patterns at CTCF binding sites in serous ovarian cancer tumours at different disease stages and noted that methylation at each site responded with variable sensitivity to treatment with a common demethylating drug in ovarian cancer cell lines.Thesis (M.Phil.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Biological Sciences, 2017.
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Pasupathy, Sivabaskari. "Novel clinical insights into acute myocardial infarction." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/106343.
Full textAbstract:
Background and objectives: Acute myocardial infarction (Acute MI) reflects myocardial cell death due to prolonged myocardial ischaemia. At the turn of the 20th century, acute MI was a fatal condition and bed rest served as the principal management strategy. In the 1980’s, pivotal early angiography studies demonstrated that patients with acute MI presenting with ST elevation on ECG were associated with an acute coronary artery occlusion in over 90% of cases. This prompted the therapeutic strategy of the ‘open artery hypothesis’ where re-establishing coronary patency became paramount in acute MI management. Thrombolytic therapy, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and adjunctive pharmacologic strategies were all developed to re-open the occluded coronary artery and facilitate reperfusion of the myocardium. Despite these advances, acute MI remains a global issue and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The aim of this thesis is to examine contemporary clinical insights of acute MI, and in particular, to emphasize two novel aspects. The first component of this thesis focuses on the identification and understanding of a clinically intriguing acute MI group. Coronary angiographic innovations have primarily focused on alleviating atherothrombotic processes that obstruct coronary blood flow, evident in most acute MI patients. However, acute MI registries report that approximately 10% of patients do not reveal obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). The pathophysiological processes responsible for these presentations are not immediately evident at the time of angiography. These presentations are classified as “myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA)”, and are increasingly recognized as a clinical conundrum. In the absence of management guidelines, consequently, these patients are often discharged from hospital without secondary prevention therapies. The specific objectives of this component are: 1. To systematically review existing literature on MINOCA (Chapter 2) 2. To evaluate contemporary clinical characteristics of MINOCA in comparison to myocardial infarction with obstructive coronary artery disease (MI-CAD) (Chapter 3) 3. To examine the risk of thrombosis in MINOCA patients (Chapter 4). The second component of the thesis focuses on a novel management strategy for acute MI. Although timely reperfusion of the myocardium via restoration of the occluded coronary artery has evolved as the gold standard for the management of acute MI patients, reperfusion may be a double-edged sword, since the free radicals generated may also further damage myocardial tissue; a phenomenon referred to as ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through incomplete reduction of oxygen during reperfusion has been well described and can quickly overwhelm the cell’s endogenous free radical scavenging system. This, in turn, triggers additional cellular injury by reactions with intracellular components. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been established as a ROS scavenger, which also potentiates the vasodilator and anti-aggregatory effects of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN). The specific objective of this component is: 4. To examine the role of NAC together with GTN in acute MI patients undergoing primary PCI (Chapter 5). Methods: This thesis employs a number of methods to evaluate the two specific components. A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken to review the literature concerning MINOCA. Contemporary clinical characteristics of MINOCA were identified via a clinical registry. Risk of thrombosis in MINOCA was assessed using thrombin generation test and thrombophilia screening. The role of NAC in acute MI patients was analysed using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Summary of Major findings: 1. Chapter 2- Systematic review of the existing MINOCA literature provided the first comprehensive understanding of MINOCA and demonstrated that 6% of acute MI presentations fulfil the criteria for MINOCA. It also established that MINOCA patients are younger, more likely to be female, and have less cardiovascular risk factors compared to MI-CAD. In addition, MINOCA is associated with a guarded 12-month prognosis, and multiple aetiologies are implicated that require further evaluation. 2. Chapter 3- This is the first prospective comprehensive analysis of clinical characteristics, including chest pain features, amongst patients with MINOCA in comparison to MICAD. The results from this study demonstrate that MINOCA is a more common presentation (11% of acute MI) than reported from the systemic review. However consistent with the review findings, MINOCA patients were more likely to be female and present with fewer cardiovascular risk factors but the chest pain presentation is indistinguishable from MI-CAD. 3. Chapter 4- Spontaneous formation and lysis of coronary thrombosis is often hypothesised as a potential mechanism leading to MINOCA presentation. Overall thrombin generation potential, congenital thrombophilia states and acquired thrombophilia states were not different between MINOCA and MI-CAD. This suggests that despite the difference in coronary artery anatomy of the disease progression, acute MI patients generate thrombin in a similar manner in response to local stimuli. 4. Chapter 5- In acute MI patients with an occluded coronary artery, final infarct size is determined by duration of ischaemia, area at risk, and ischaemia-reperfusion injury among others. Existing research studies indicate limiting the infarct size improves long term clinical outcomes of MI patients. Utilising a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial design, it was demonstrated that for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), early administration of NAC together with glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) reduced the final infarct size compared to placebo and GTN, as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. NAC’s intrinsic ROS scavenging properties resulting in reduced oxidative stress and its potentiation of GTN resulting in increased reperfusion may have limited the infarct size. Conclusions: This thesis provides beneficial insights into two novel clinical aspects of acute MI in contemporary clinical practice. In regards to MINOCA, the systematic review (Chapter 2) presents the first comprehensive body of literature summarising MINOCA, especially in comparison to MI-CAD, identifying similar clinical features between these acute MI groups. Importantly, the systematic review implicates MINOCA as a working diagnosis given the role of multiple aetiologies. Subsequent to the systematic review, Chapter 3 and 4 provides contemporary clinical characteristics and mechanistic insights, in particular the risk of thrombosis, in MINOCA. Overall, this data highlights the need for optimal assessments in elucidating the underlying cause for the presentation and the requirement to generate diagnostic guidelines to inform appropriate management. In regards to MI-CAD, timely and effective myocardial reperfusion by PCI is the treatment of choice for limiting myocardial infarct size and improving clinical outcomes. However, reperfusion of the infarct artery leads to further myocardial damage via ischaemia reperfusion injury, highlighting the need for additional pharmacological strategies. Chapter 5 presents a significant observation in that limiting infarct size is possible via the utilisation of NAC/GTN in STEMI patients. Further exploration of each of these components may enhance the diagnosis and treatment of acute MI patients and substantially improve clinical outcomes.Thesis (Ph.D.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, Adelaide Medical School, 2016.
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Holman, Matthew Craig. "The effect of hyperglycaemia on experimental subacute ischaemic optic neuropathy and retinopathy." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/106417.
Full textAbstract:
The overarching aim of the work described in this thesis was to address perceived deficiencies in knowledge of the differences between retinal and brain metabolism in order to gain a greater understanding of the mechanisms involved in ischaemic retinal and optic nerve injury. Specifically, the aim of the project was to test the hypothesis that elevated blood and vitreal glucose levels induced by short-term diabetes would attenuate prolonged ischaemic retinal degeneration in the rat. Simultaneous retinal and cerebral hypoperfusion was achieved by 2-vessel occlusion (2VO; permanent ligation of both common carotid arteries). Prior to testing the stated hypothesis, it was necessary to fully characterize the 2VO model in order to establish the optimal endpoint for analysing neuroprotection. Thus, at various times after surgery, retinas and optic nerves were removed form RNA or Western blot analysis or to be processed for histology and immunohistochemistry. In the retina, 2VO induceda progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and horizontal cells, thinning of the inner retina, together with macroglial and microglial cell activation. One week was selected as the optimal time point at which to analyse neuroprotection. In the optic nerve, 2VO caused axonal transport disruption, followed by the loss of axonal cytoskeleton proteins, glial cell activation, infiltration of macrophages, upregulation of stress proteins by astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and finally extracellular matrix remodeling. To address the major aim of the thesis, rats were divided into 4 groups:
normoglycemic and hyperglycemic sham-operated rats; normoglycemic and hyperglycemic 2VO rats. Hyperglycemia was induced 3 days prior to 2VO by streptozotocin injection. Rats were killed one week after 2VO or sham surgery. The retina of one eye were collected for histology/immunohistochemistry, whilst the fellow retina was dissected for real-time RTPCR. Retinas were analysed for neuronal and glial markers and the inducible stress protein heat shock protein-27. Brains were processed for histology and immunohistochemistry. Retinas of normoglycemic 2VO animals showed a marked loss of retinal ganglion cells and horizontal cells, thinning of the inner retina, together with macroglial and microglial cell activation. Hyperglycemic 2VO rats displayed a remarkable protection of retinal structure and reduced glial cell activation compared to normoglycemic 2VO animals. There was a significantly greater number of heat shock protein-27-positive retinal ganglion cells in normoglycemic animals compared to hyperglycemic animals, indicating that a greater proportion of surviving retinal ganglion cells were stressed in normoglycemic animals as compared to hyperglycemic rats. Brains of both normoglycemic and hyperglycemic 2VO animals displayed scattered ischemic infarcts and mild white matter injury. In conclusion, short-term hyperglycemia afforded a robust protection against retinal hypoperfusion injury, but in the same animals brain injury was not ameliorated. The mechanism of this retinal hyperglycemia-induced neuroprotection requires further study.Thesis (M.S.) (Research by Publication) -- University of Adelaide, School of Medicine, 2016.