Postgraduate Theses

Estimating Output Gaps in Open Economies

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Estimating Output Gaps in Open Economies De Gorostiza, Gilliane Angela Estimating the output gap remains a critical challenge for macroeconomic policy due to data limits, reporting lags, and global shocks. This dissertation extends the Beveridge-Nelson (BN) decomposition framework across three chapters to provide more reliable, informative, and timely indicators of economic slack for emerging Asian economies and Australia, demonstrating that multivariate and mixed-frequency BN frameworks improve real-time policy decision-making. The first chapter shows that the BN filter provides more reliable estimates for emerging Asian economies than Hodrick-Prescott, Christiano-Fitzgerald, or Hamilton filters. Cyclical consumption is more volatile than the output gap, and less than one-third of GDP growth fluctuations stem from trend shocks, countering the "cycle is the trend" view. Crucially, BN estimates suffer from smaller, less frequent revisions during major economic shifts. The second chapter reveals that while traditional domestic slack measures are uninformative for Southeast Asian economies due to structural issues and informal employment, financial and external variables are highly relevant. Financial factors dominated during the Asian and Global Financial Crises, with external variables often explaining a larger share of cyclical fluctuations than domestic output. The third chapter applies a mixed-frequency framework to Australia. It finds that the labor market's intensive margin (aggregate hours worked) offers a more significant informational contribution than headline unemployment. Furthermore, the Trade Weighted Index (TWI) provides informational value nearly equivalent to the entire financial or macroeconomic sectors combined. While domestic shocks drive most Australian fluctuations, the Global Financial Crisis was largely driven by foreign shocks. Finally, a weekly TWI indicator allows for more timely updates but does not improve nowcast accuracy relative to a monthly frequency.

Writing a Migrant Body: Identity Predicament and Resistance in Sinophone Fiction by Chinese Migrant Women in Australia 1996-2004

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Writing a Migrant Body: Identity Predicament and Resistance in Sinophone Fiction by Chinese Migrant Women in Australia 1996-2004 Ye, Su This thesis examines the migrant identities of mainland Chinese women in 1990s Australia through Sinophone fictional works by migrant women writers, centring the migrant body as a core site of gendered, racialized, and transnational power negotiation, exploitation, and resistance. Spanning five interwoven chapters, the study traces a thematic progression from male migrants’ socio-economic precarity and bodily marginalization to female migrants’ layered quests for belonging, sexual subjectivity, marital agency, and cross-cultural solidarity. Chapter One establishes an analytical baseline via metamorphosis and gaze subversion, highlighting the vulnerable male migrant body in women’s writing. Chapter Two explores “return” as a response to rootlessness, revealing the psychological un-recoverability of the homeland and an alternative return to Eastern Buddhist-Taoist philosophy. Chapter Three examines female sexual subjectivity as emerging not through linear Western emancipation but via imitation, sacrifice, rupture, and utilitarian coping. Chapter Four analyses migrant marriages as sites of power imbalance, where the female body becomes a locus of gendered labour displacement, exploitation, and resistance. Chapter Five explores “sisterhood” from internalized misogyny to cross-racial, cross-class solidarity. The thesis reveals that the conflicting roles of the literary “body” align with the complexity of Chinese women’s migrant identities, and that “writing a migrant body” is a unique tool to expose and resist multiple pressures. It argues that Sinophone fiction by 1990s migrant women reclaims the female body from Western Orientalist stereotypes and redefines migrant identity through nuanced portrayals of resistance and agency, revealing female solidarity as a vital form of empowerment. Migrant identity and feminist consciousness are iterative processes, forged through repeated engagement with marginalization across all spheres of migrant life.

Turning the gaze towards the monstrous: Alternative visions of humanity in the works of Virginie Despentes, Julia Ducournau and Paul B. Preciado

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Turning the gaze towards the monstrous: Alternative visions of humanity in the works of Virginie Despentes, Julia Ducournau and Paul B. Preciado Smith-Davies, Beaudicea This thesis examines the work of three contemporary Francophone artists: Virginie Despentes, Julia Ducournau, and Paul B. Preciado. It uses the monster of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as a model to analyse the monsters in the texts and films of these three artists. It argues for an all encompassing and universal monstrosity, which transcends binary oppositions and speaks to the whole of humanity.

The Unrealised Potential of AI Solutions for Pasture-based Dairy Systems

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Unrealised Potential of AI Solutions for Pasture-based Dairy Systems Azubuike, Blessing Nnenna Efficient management of pasture-based dairy systems can benefit substantially from integrating individual cow supplementation, real-time pasture monitoring, and grazing event detection, but traditional herd-level approaches cannot address the biological variation and dynamic pasture growth inherent in commercial operations. This thesis developed and validated AI and machine learning methods across three interconnected domains, establishing empirical foundations for integrated precision management. Feeding optimisation was addressed through two studies. A Random Forest model combined with Differential Evolution reallocated concentrate to 81 cows across 91 days, achieving an 8% theoretical milk yield increase without additional feed cost (Chapter 3). Four evolutionary algorithms applied to 1,053 training cows and 165 optimised cows over 30 days achieved 6.63 to 8.64% theoretical yield improvements, with NSGA-II outperforming all others across 10 runs (Chapter 4). These gains are predictive estimates; controlled field validation remains necessary. Pasture biomass estimation was addressed through satellite and smartphone-based approaches, both validated against rising plate meter ground truth. An XGBoost model trained on Sentinel-2 imagery from 16 farms achieved R² = 0.70 and MAE = 216 kg DM/ha, outperforming the commercial Pasture.io platform (Chapter 5). These estimates supported automated grazing event detection across 12 farms, where Random Forest achieved within-year F1 = 0.878 and One-Class Support Vector Machine achieved cross-year F1 = 0.692, outperforming supervised models by 7.6% on Year 2 data despite average 24.2% supervised degradation (Chapter 6). Smartphone imagery achieved R² = 0.561 as a low-cost complement sensitive across high-biomass ranges where satellite indices saturate (Chapter 7). Each domain functions independently on commercial farms, though the integrated system linking all three in real time remains the frontier for future research.

Linguistic Landscapes, Assemblages, and Affective Regimes in Chongqing’s Public Transport Hubs: From Transit Spaces to Meaningful Places

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Linguistic Landscapes, Assemblages, and Affective Regimes in Chongqing’s Public Transport Hubs: From Transit Spaces to Meaningful Places Liao, Ke This thesis examines how the linguistic landscape (LL) shapes the social functions of public transport hubs and generates patterned affective experiences in Chongqing, a megacity in Southwestern China. Responding to the largely quantitative focus of prior LL research in China, this thesis advances an interpretive and theoretical informed analysis of how signage mediates relations among people, space, affect, and mobility. Drawing on three rounds of large-scale data collection, this thesis first maps the categories, spatial distribution, and linguistic composition of signage across six major transport modes. This quantitative overview identifies key semiotic features and notes changes in the institutional and social functions of these transport hubs. Building on this foundation, an in-depth qualitative analysis of Chongqing North High-Speed Railway Station employs Pennycook’s (2017) assemblage and Scollon and Scollon’s (2003) geosemiotics framework to examine the dynamic interactions among linguistic and semiotic resources, passengers, and differentiated spatial zones. The analysis is further extended to Jiangbei International Airport, where Wee and Goh’s (2019) concept of affective regimes is integrated with Bourdieusian notions of affect and capital to elucidate how passengers’ emotions are structured, circulated, and rendered socially productive across interconnected online and offline contexts. Overall, this thesis demonstrates how LL transforms transport hubs from sites of transit into multifunctional and meaningful places through co-constitutive sign–people–space relations. It also shows how affect is institutionally organised and implicated in the production of social functions within regimes of mobility. Empirically, this thesis contributes a rich and systematic corpus to LL research on China and transport infrastructures; theoretically, it advances the integration of assemblage and affect in LL scholarship.

Towards a Framework for Community Stakeholder Engagement with Infrastructure Projects Through Social Media

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Towards a Framework for Community Stakeholder Engagement with Infrastructure Projects Through Social Media Zhang, Jingbo In infrastructure projects, systematic engagement with the perspectives and positions of community stakeholders is usually challenging. In this study, social media is introduced as a platform for observing and gathering the voices and attitudes of community stakeholders. Based on traditional stakeholder engagement theory, this research employs naturalistic inquiry to collect data on the organic interactions between stakeholders and projects on social media. It analyses and summarises stakeholder engagement patterns on social media, introducing a novel framework of stakeholder sentiment and emotion analysis. This theoretical framework includes a new social media dialogue model. It employs two main analytical tools: categorical grouping of online community stakeholders and a stakeholder emotion matrix based on social media data. The model also categorises the online response strategies for projects based on the output of these tools. This study supplements current stakeholder engagement theory by providing a framework to guide online stakeholder engagement. The theoretical framework outlines the general environment for online stakeholder engagement, offers essential elements and steps for project stakeholder dialogues, and provides appropriate theories and methods for different dialogue stages and steps. It offers new perspectives and theories for future research on online stakeholder engagement. The novel social media stakeholder framework proposed in this study can be applied to project stakeholder engagement practices, providing new analytical tools and response strategies for studying community stakeholder engagement via social media, which will enable practitioners to use social media to carry out community stakeholder engagement for projects more efficiently.

Young active galaxies across the radio spectrum

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Young active galaxies across the radio spectrum Kerrison, Emily Florence The lifecycle of active galaxies is a puzzles of modern astronomy. Already some pieces of this puzzle have fallen into place; however, not all active galaxies are active radio galaxies, in possession of synchrotron-emitting jets, and it is not obvious why. This thesis was completed as part of the First Large Absorption Survey in HI, conducted with the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP-FLASH). Early on, we realised many HI detections in ASKAPFLASH were made towards so-called 'Peaked Spectrum' sources, in which the synchrotron jets are still embedded in the dense, nuclear gas of their host galaxy. This prompted the present study into the nature of peaked spectrum sources. This thesis presents a new Bayesian framework for identifying these sources using pre-existing radio survey data, RadioSED. Applying RadioSED to a test field, we increase the number of known peaked spectrum sources by more than an order of magnitude in that area through careful treatment of pre-existing datasets. We investigate the multiwavelength properties of this sample, and identify that many of them are distant, making them interesting probes of the physical conditions at cosmic noon and beyond. We then take early results from the ASKAP-FLASH Pilot Surveys and use a new pipeline for mock observations, SANGRiA, to determine whether we can recover this high detection rate towards compact jets in simulations, under the assumption that it is a purely geometrical effect. Finally, this thesis presents a multiwavelength study of a different type of radio AGN detected in HI with ASKAP-FLASH, demonstrates the gains to be made by mutli-wavelength follow up of HI detections, and reveals at least three intervening galaxies along our line of sight, one of which is the likely host of the HI. Overall, this thesis reinforces the key role of peaked spectrum sources in studies of active galaxy evolution, jet-gas interactions, and the changing distribution of gas across the different ages of our Universe. Includes publication

Critical point network-based organizational principle of cortical spatiotemporal dynamics

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Critical point network-based organizational principle of cortical spatiotemporal dynamics Xu, Yiben Inspired by the field of turbulence and vector field topology in neural activities, this thesis introduces a novel and generalizable organizational principle of cortical spatiotemporal dynamics based on a global network of interacting critical points. Starting from the analysis of human fMRI signals, this thesis highlights the discovery of travelling cortical spiral waves (termed ‘brain spirals’) during both the resting and task states, emphasizing the mechanistic and functional relevance of a novel spiralbased organizational principle of large-scale brain activities. Next, based on human high-density electroencephalography (HdEEG) recordings, this thesis extends the spiral-based organizational principle from wakefulness to non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep, revealing that this spiralbased organizational principle is also a defining feature of human N2 sleep, which is associated with sleep-dependent-memory-consolidation and aging-related memory decline. Finally, this thesis further expands the spiral-based organizational principle to include other types of critical points (i.e., sinks, sources and saddles), two new recording modalities (Magnetoencephalography/MEG and Electrocorticography/ECoG), and intracranial recordings of non-human primates (marmoset). In two distinct datasets, a global network of interacting critical points can be consistently observed regardless of species, recording modalities and cognitive states. Acting like an organizational skeleton, this network of critical points collectively enables the task-dependent organizations of largescale brain activities, supporting the universal presence of a critical point network-based organizational principle of large-scale brain activities across species.

Greenwashing: Regulatory Enforcement, Prevention and Detection

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Greenwashing: Regulatory Enforcement, Prevention and Detection Peng, Shiyao The prevalence of sustainability disclosures is rapidly increasing, with many such disclosures becoming mandatory across major jurisdictions. At the same time, greenwashing – defined as misleading sustainability claims exaggerating or misrepresenting environmental or other sustainability performance – has proliferated. This has attracted intensified global regulatory scrutiny. Despite academic interest, there is limited knowledge about how regulators identify, assess, and sanction greenwashing claims in practice. The thesis addresses this gap, examining greenwashing through a regulatory lens. In so doing, unique greenwashing datasets are systematically constructed, including a dataset of global greenwashing regulatory enforcement cases between 2015-2024, as well as a greenwashing taxonomy consolidated from eight regulatory guidelines. These datasets provide the thesis’ conceptual and empirical foundation, clarifying how greenwashing is characterised in academic research and regulatory action. Building on this foundation, the thesis comprises three interconnected studies investigating: (1) how regulators define, interpret, and act against greenwashing; (2) whether sustainability assurance potentially reduces greenwashing by addressing regulator-relevant subject matters; and (3) how generative large language models (LLMs) can support large-scale automated detection of greenwashing based on regulatory indicators. Includes publication

Carbonate sequestration in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans over the Cenozoic

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Carbonate sequestration in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans over the Cenozoic Dalvand, Faranak This thesis reconstructs the regional evolution of the carbonate compensation depth (CCD) across the Pacific and Indian oceans during the Cenozoic. Using lithological, carbonate, and paleo-depth data from DSDP, ODP, and IODP drill sites, regional CCD variability was modelled through time. The results reveal strong spatial differences linked to ocean circulation, tectonic gateway changes, Antarctic glaciation, atmospheric CO₂ fluctuations, and climate transitions. The Pacific Ocean records major Neogene CCD fluctuations associated with gateway reorganisations and the late Miocene biogenic bloom, while the Indian Ocean shows significant variability related to Indo-Pacific circulation and monsoon intensification. This thesis also presents the first basin-specific synthesis of carbonate accumulation rates across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans since the Cretaceous, highlighting major inter-basin differences in pelagic carbonate burial. The findings demonstrate that long-term carbonate preservation and oceanic carbon storage were strongly controlled by tectonic evolution, deep-water circulation, and global climate change, providing new insights into the evolution of Earth’s carbon cycle and climate system through geological time. Includes publication

Rebuilding Public Trust in Social Media Platforms? A Case Study of Meta’s Oversight Board

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Rebuilding Public Trust in Social Media Platforms? A Case Study of Meta’s Oversight Board Cao, Rumeng Social media platforms have become an integral part of everyday life. Power within the digital environment has become concentrated in a few dominant platforms because of user behaviour and platform design. This concentration allows these platforms to exert a strong influence on civic discourse and the public sphere. However, the growing prevalence of misinformation has transformed how public discussions unfold online. Companies, such as Meta, have faced ongoing criticism for permitting harmful content to spread and for their misuse of user data. These companies’ ineffective responses to these issues have further undermined public trust. Trust plays a crucial role in the digital era. It determines whether users remain active and engaged on social media platforms. To restore public trust, Meta established the Oversight Board as an independent body to review user appeals for removing their content and to enhance transparency and accountability in content moderation. This thesis investigates the effectiveness of Meta’s Oversight Board and examines its decision-making processes. Following the platform regulation triangle theory, this study employs the methodology of document analysis and semi-structured interviews. This study analyses Facebook’s regulatory history from 2010 to 2020 and evaluates Meta’s current strategies for addressing misinformation. This study’s findings contribute to broader debates on platform regulation and offer practical insights for other social media platforms seeking to improve content governance.

Investigating the use of steroids in children with Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome: A multi-omics evaluation of gene and epigenetic regulation

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Investigating the use of steroids in children with Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome: A multi-omics evaluation of gene and epigenetic regulation Innes, Emily Amy Objectives: Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy of infancy. High-dose oral prednisolone may induce epileptic spasm remission yet long-term outcomes remain poor and it remains unclear whether steroids are targeting disease mechanisms. We investigated the biological pathways underlying IESS and how prednisolone treatment exerts an effect in IESS. Methods: A multi-omics analyses compared blood samples from infants with IESS at baseline (n=11) to controls (n=11) and IESS pre-post prednisolone treatment (n=11). Analyses included bulk RNA sequencing, proteomics, phosphoproteomics and neuroinflammation panel testing. Pathway enrichment analysis using GSEA and ORA identified significantly enriched pathways based on FDR-adjusted p-values. Results: Infants with unknown aetiology had better developmental outcomes than infants with structural aetiologies. Prednisolone induced significant leukophilia, neutrophilia and lymphopenia (all adjusted p-value <0.05). BDNF was significantly elevated at baseline, and prednisolone caused significant increase in nerve growth factor, and significant decrease in the chemokine CCL2. Using RNA seq, prednisolone reversed baseline upregulated ribosomal and mitochondrial pathways, and reversed baseline downregulated immune and membrane transport pathways. Using concordance of quantitative RNA and protein to explore the effects of prednisolone, the most upregulated pathway was 'secretory granule membrane' and the most downregulated pathway was 'ribonucleoprotein complex biogenesis'. Phosphoproteomics revealed the most dysregulated pathway at baseline and after prednisolone was 'chromatin binding'. Significance: Altered gene and epigenetic regulation may be an aetiological mechanism underlying IESS. Prednisolone treatment may control epileptic spasms by altering gene expression through immune-mediated, ribosomal and chromatin pathways.

Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue in Australian Rural and Remote Rehabilitation Healthcare Workers

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue in Australian Rural and Remote Rehabilitation Healthcare Workers McGrath, Kelly Lucinda Background. Australian rural and remote rehabilitation healthcare workers operate within insurance-based frameworks with standardised KPIs that do not consider the complexities of rural and remote practice. They face isolation, travel, limited resources, and hazardous conditions that affect professional quality of life, including compassion satisfaction (CS) and compassion fatigue (CF), which comprises burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS). Aim. To examine, for the first time, levels, experiences, risk and protective factors of CS and CF in this work cohort. Methods. The Professional Quality of life (ProQOL) model guided three studies: a scoping review (n=12 studies), semi‑structured interviews (n=16), and a national mixed‑methods survey that included the ProQoL5 scale (n=29). Each informed the next study. Volunteer participants were rural and remote rehabilitation healthcare workers and registered members of their professional body. Results. No studies specific to rural and remote rehabilitation healthcare workers were found by the scoping review; research focused on medicine and nursing, where CS, CF, and burnout were linked to negative work and environmental factors. Interviews revealed that poor support and safety cultures normalised WHS risks. Survey findings showed lower CS, higher burnout and worse STS than mostly urban Australian healthcare workers Organisational impacts included poor work-life balance and work culture. Conclusions. Rural and remote rehabilitation healthcare workers may experience lower CS and higher CF than urban colleagues. Reported organisational factors align with psychosocial hazards identified in Safe Work Australia legislative updates. The ProQOL5 scale may not fully capture these hazards and therefore needs to be validated in this cohort. Addressing organisational conditions through supervision and workload management is important for workforce sustainability. Includes publication

Memory, Perception & the Art of Seeing Double

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Memory, Perception & the Art of Seeing Double Brollo, Deidre This project seeks to examine the role of memory in the viewing of art, in a thesis, ‘Memory, Perception & the Art of Seeing Double’, and an exhibition, ‘the return room’. Drawing on the writings of Henri Bergson and Marcel Proust, the discussion argues for the interrelationship of perception and memory. In contending that perception is inherently bound up with memory, it argues that all artworks have the potential to elicit acts of recollection in the viewer. These acts of recollection should not be understood as an individual reverie detached from the world, but rather as a sort of introspective engagement, an act of viewing that encompasses both the present moment and a past one, in which individual recollection is brought to bear upon the artwork. It is therefore a process of seeing double. Subsequent chapters investigate the use of forms of memory technology in art, looking firstly at the privileged though problematic forms of the photograph and the public memorial. This is followed by an examination of text, maps, and books. The exhibition ‘the return room’ consists of an installation of artists’ books in a specially constructed room reminiscent of both a domestic and a gallery space. It draws on the idea of the palimpsest as a site in which other traces are visible, while also having the potential to be read as a form of memory theatre. The exhibition employs the forms of memory technology discussed in the thesis, with text, maps, and photographs, used within the books. This project, then, claims to be original in the following ways. It claims that Proust and Bergson’s demonstration of the interrelation of memory and perception has important implications for the role of memory in the viewing of all artworks. Secondly, this project draws attention to the possibilities of other forms of memory technology (text and maps) which have not been previously discussed in an art context with regard to their mnemonic potential in relation to the viewer. Thirdly, emphasising that memory is about the juxtaposition of past and present moments, the discussion here offers the models of the palimpsest and the stereoscope as useful conceptual models to describe the ‘art of seeing double.’ Finally, in taking a broad approach to the concept of the artist’s book, the project suggests that the idea of the book may move beyond its boundaries, and that the idea of the palimpsest can be applied in an extended sense to installation space. Includes publication

Mathematical Models for Immune Checkpoint Blockade and Delayed Responses

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Mathematical Models for Immune Checkpoint Blockade and Delayed Responses Zheng, Collin Yarmeng Immune checkpoint blockades have transformed oncology, yet a persistent clinical puzzle remains: Why do some patients exhibit delayed responses, with tumours that initially grow or plateau before abruptly regressing? This thesis tackles that question with a multi-scale mathematical study that couples analytically tractable ordinary differential equation (ODE) models with a spatial, stochastic agent-based model (ABM). In ODE form, we show that delayed responses can arise intrinsically, without imposed time lags, via costimulation bottlenecks and slow passages near tipping points associated with special saddle-node bifurcations. We map delayed responses to a statistically-thin part of the model parameter space, suggesting their rarity. Our ODE results enable us to propose an immune profile framework that maps patient prognosis to the natural strength of their immune system---an idea that has become increasingly popular in clinical research since COVID-19. To move beyond mean-field assumptions, we develop an ABM tracking cancer cells, dendritic cells (DCs), CD8+ T cells, and Tregs at single-cell resolution, with molecular attributes and cell-level rules. Mechanistically, our ABM explains why combination therapy outperforms monotherapy: anti-CTLA-4 'reopens the gate' while anti-PD-1 'lifts the brake', yielding a larger and fitter effector CD8+ T cell pool. Our results supports two hypothesised mechanisms of action underlying CTLA-4 blockades---Treg depletion in humans and Treg-driven stripping of B7 ligands---highlighting how depleting suppressors and protecting strategically-important ligands reopen the costimulatory pathway. We characterise delayed responses as an alignment of a multitude of immune events, followed by a fast cascade of killing. This suggests that DC therapies prioritising net DC recruitment and T cell therapies that prioritise tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) survivability synergise well with immune checkpoint blockades.

Animating the “Outside”: a Tripartite Model of Analysing 1960s Jazz

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Animating the “Outside”: a Tripartite Model of Analysing 1960s Jazz Clarkson, Timothy Nicholas Garrett The revolutionary change in jazz improvisation of the 1960s featured a sudden increase in the degree and duration of departure from pre-composed forms. This practice, commonly known as “outside” playing, has generally been interpreted in musicology and music theory through the lens of “dissonance.” Black radical scholars claim a different, Afrological ontology of dissonance, distinct from the Eurological ontology and philosophy that underpins most mainstream music theory. In this thesis, I argue that a music-theoretical focus on outside playing’s technical dimension has produced a Eurological attunement in discussions of 1960s jazz, neglecting its interactive dimension and cultural practice. Benjamin Givan’s alternative conception of “apart” playing foregrounds interactivity through layers of relationships between musicians working in a group dialogue with composed materials (the “referent”). Black radical discourse more strongly foregrounds the cooperative togetherness that “apart” playing requires, and resists the necessity for resolution and unity. I adopt Fred Moten’s use of “appositional” playing to reflect both these dimensions of improvisational practice and its cultural resonances. I develop new animated music-theoretical tools that innovatively redeploy the Neo-Riemannian Tonnetz to illuminate the dynamic nature of “appositional” playing outlined above. My rationale is anchored in Eric Isaacson’s argument for advantages of animation over still images in engaging temporal relationships. Two case studies investigate strategies within John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman’s ensembles for problematising the referent, developing evidence supporting the sonic phenomena listeners have regularly identified as “transcendence” and “freedom” in their music. These case studies demonstrate the unique advantage of animated tools for investigating the technical and interactive layers of “appositional” playing, and for tying this evidence to the music’s socio-cultural moment.

A multi-point maximum principle to prove global parabolic Harnack inequalities

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A multi-point maximum principle to prove global parabolic Harnack inequalities Slegers, Jessica Rachel In this work, we introduce a novel methodology for proving global pointwise Harnack inequalities for parabolic partial differential equations on a Riemannian manifold. The main idea of our approach is to apply a multi-point maximum principle. We demonstrate our techniques by studying the Harnack inequalities satisfied by positive solutions of the linear Schrödinger equation and the doubly nonlinear heat equation. In Chapter 1, we recount the history of parabolic Harnack inequalities, before reviewing the existence of solutions to our aforementioned equations of interest in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, we present the first proofs of the Harnack inequality using our multi-point maximum principle approach, focusing on classical solutions. In Section 3.1, we analyse the Schrödinger equation, first in Euclidean space and then on a Riemannian manifold with nonnegative Ricci curvature. This section contains applications to Schrödinger equations with a gradient drift term, including the heat equation governed by the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck operator. In addition, we use our Harnack inequality to recover a differential Harnack inequality comparable to the famous result of Li and Yau. In Section 3.2, we demonstrate how our techniques can be extended to prove the Harnack inequality for positive classical solutions of the doubly nonlinear heat equation. However, since solutions of this equation do not in general possess sufficient regularity to be treated as classical solutions, we dedicate Chapter 4 to adapting our proof techniques to viscosity solutions. After reviewing the basic notions associated with viscosity solutions, we develop a modified version of the parabolic theorem on sums by Crandall and Ishii, which is crucial in our methodology. Finally, we present a new proof of the Harnack inequality satisfied by positive viscosity solutions of the doubly nonlinear heat equation.

Efficient and Robust Self-Supervised Learning for Deep Learning-Based Healthcare Applications

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Efficient and Robust Self-Supervised Learning for Deep Learning-Based Healthcare Applications Wang, Hao As healthcare increasingly relies on deep learning for medical imaging, a critical challenge arises: the scarcity of labeled data due to expensive and time-consuming manual clinical annotation. This thesis addresses the mismatch between deep learning's heavy data demands and clinical data scarcity by exploring Self-Supervised Learning (SSL). SSL learns meaningful representations from unlabeled data, significantly reducing dependency on extensive annotations by leveraging inherent data structures and relationships. The primary objective of this research is to develop novel SSL methodologies tailored to distinct healthcare analysis tasks, maximizing the efficient use of limited data across multiple scales and modalities. This is demonstrated through three domain-specific innovations: 1. Histopathology: A novel SSL framework leverages the multi-resolution nature of whole-slide images to enable hierarchical representation learning. This effectively captures both global tissue organization and fine-grained cellular details. 2. Dermatology: To mirror clinical workflows, SSL is customized with pretext tasks that align multi-modal representations (clinical and dermoscopic images) and encode inter-label dependencies for complex diagnostic predictions. 3. Remote Physiological Measurement: To extract subtle spatiotemporal signals from facial videos, SSL is extended with physiology-aware temporal and spatial augmentations. This preserves periodic signal integrity while efficiently suppressing noise. Through these investigations, this thesis demonstrates that SSL can be successfully adapted to exploit domain-specific data characteristics—such as multi-resolution hierarchies, multi-modal complementarity, and spatiotemporal dynamics. Ultimately, this research introduces a robust, general SSL framework that significantly reduces annotation requirements while consistently achieving state-of-the-art predictive performance across diverse healthcare applications. Includes publication

Contact and non-contact non-destructive detection of debonding of tiles

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Contact and non-contact non-destructive detection of debonding of tiles Zhao, Yu Debonding of tiles in high-rise buildings poses safety threats, making reliable non-destructive inspection (NDI) essential. This study systematically investigates contact and non-contact acoustic NDI methods for detecting tile debonding or loose fixings, elaborating on their mechanisms and procedures. It also provides algorithms applicable to practice, such as identifying loose slot wedges in hydropower generator stators. First, a non-contact acoustic method using a directional sound source and Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV) is established. A numerical model simulates acoustic interaction with tiles. The debonding area is identified by plotting the out-of-surface velocity map based on vibration amplitudes at resonance frequency. Numerical simulations agree with experiments, confirming accuracy for various debonding shapes. To enhance efficiency, a deep learning (DL) method is proposed. Continuous wavelet transform converts signals into time-frequency scalograms to build a signature database. Two DL networks are trained: the first classifies debonding types (100% accuracy with a single scalogram), and the second identifies unknown shapes (errors 1–31%). This two-stage method offers a fast, effective solution. The non-contact approach is extended to inspect slot wedges in hydropower generators. Wedges are classified as loose, intermediate, or normal. Using a directional sound source and analyzing frequency peaks (900–2100 Hz), loose and normal conditions achieve 100% accuracy; with DL, all three reach 100%. This method reduces operation time compared to contact techniques. Finally, a contact inspection method using a hammer and microphone mimics human hearing. Debonded areas produce distinct acoustic waveforms. A Fast Fourier Transform-based approach identifies resonance frequencies, and the Digital Damage Fingerprints method maps debonding. This eliminates subjectivity inherent in worker-dependent methods, yielding more reliable results

Computational modelling of spatial contagion dynamics: epidemics, infodemics and socio-economic turbulence

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Computational modelling of spatial contagion dynamics: epidemics, infodemics and socio-economic turbulence Jamerlan, Ma Christina Contagions, ranging from epidemics to infodemics and socio-economic turbulence, are often studied in isolation despite exhibiting analogous spatiotemporal transmission dynamics. In this thesis, we develop a unifying multi-city framework for modelling spatial contagions, integrating contagion dynamics, risk disposition, population mobility, and resource distribution. By extending classical multi-city epidemic models, we introduce dynamically adaptive risk-driven mobility flows and examine how population mobility, susceptibility acquisition, risk disposition and effectiveness of distributed resources jointly shape contagion severity and resultant spatial patterns across multiple contagion types. Our results show that small changes in risk disposition or resource effectiveness parameters can lead to substantial shifts in contagion dynamics, revealing phase transitions and tipping points in resultant contagion patterns. We introduce a novel metric, the average cluster intensity, to quantify mean contagion cluster intensity and measure emergent phenomena, such as shield immunity. In some contagion types, altruistic interactions between inoculated and affected individuals reduce overall contagion severity and fragment spatial spread. This shielding effect is most pronounced in socio-economic turbulence, moderate in epidemics, limited in social myth spreading, and not observed in polarisation dynamics. Our case studies using Australian data on COVID-19 incidence, crime records, conflict exposure during protests, and real estate activity confirm that Turing-like patterns are observed empirically in concordance with our model's predictions. Overall, this thesis provides a robust framework for understanding how risk disposition, susceptibility, mobility, and resource distribution collectively drive spatial contagion dynamics. Findings may guide policymakers in designing interventions, allocating resources, and mitigating contagion impacts across diverse societal domains.

Automatic Privacy Compliance Checks for Mobile Apps Using Natural Language Processing

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Automatic Privacy Compliance Checks for Mobile Apps Using Natural Language Processing Pinchahewage, Bhanuka Malith Silva The rapid growth of the mobile app ecosystem has intensified concerns about how user data is collected, shared, and communicated through privacy disclosures. Privacy compliance in app marketplaces relies heavily on developer self-reporting and user awareness. As a result, privacy information, whether in detailed policy documents or in summarised forms, often fails to accurately reflect intended data practices. This thesis explores how recent advances in NLP can enable automated and scalable privacy compliance checks in the Google Play Store. It identifies key factors that limit the transparency and usability of privacy policies and proposes enhanced parsing and structuring techniques to improve comprehension and support more effective regulatory oversight. Existing encoder-based models provide accurate predictions but lack interpretability, while decoder-based LLMs provide meaningful explanations, yet they lack verifiability. To address this gap, this thesis first introduces an entailment-driven LLM framework that couples generative reasoning and re-evaluation strategies with embedding-based verification, improving both the interpretability and factual consistency of privacy policy classification. It then presents PrivPRISM, a novel language-modelling framework that leverages both encoder and decoder architectures for large-scale compliance analysis, which cross-examines privacy policies, Play Store disclosures, and installation artefacts to detect inconsistencies. Findings reveal that 53% of analysed apps exhibit discrepancies, highlighting the need for evidence-driven auditing. Finally, this thesis details PrivSTRUCT, a structured modelling approach that leverages developer-defined structural cues to disentangle complex privacy disclosures by linking data items to their stated or implied purposes. The findings reveal a persistent transparency gap in which broadly defined purpose disclosures obscure sensitive first- and third-party data practices in mobile apps.

Automated Mobile Content Compliance Verification Using Multimodal Learning

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Automated Mobile Content Compliance Verification Using Multimodal Learning Denipitiyage, Dishanika Dewani The rapid expansion of the mobile app ecosystem has intensified concerns about exposure to inappropriate or misleading content, particularly for children. Although regulatory frameworks such as the GDPR, and app store policies aim to standardise age-appropriate content, mobile marketplaces still rely heavily on developer-declared ratings. Consequently, content rating compliance remains largely underexplored compared to privacy, security, and malware detection. Investigating the detection of content rating non-compliance in mobile apps, this thesis first introduces a multimodal similarity search pipeline to identify app metamorphosis, capturing substantial app evolution over five years. By combining text and visual embeddings with a majority-voting correspondence strategy, the study quantifies app progression and reveals the prevalence of rating inconsistencies in the Google Play. Second, the thesis proposes a vision–language representation learning framework that jointly analyses app descriptions and visual creatives to detect rating violations, leveraging a cross-attention module to align textual and visual semantics, while ListMLE loss models the ordinal structure of content ratings. Next, addresses cross-platform rating inconsistencies by leveraging the Apple App Store as a reference. A content-descriptor-driven data generation pipeline converts app creatives and descriptions into structured question–answer pairs, enabling interpretable descriptor-level prediction using a vision–language model. A two-stage training strategy combining supervised fine-tuning and mistake-driven preference optimisation significantly improves recall over baseline models, enabling cross-platform content compliance auditing in mobile app ecosystems. Building on this ordinal modelling, the thesis concludes with RankOOD, a unified framework that detects out-of-distribution samples by analysing class-wise ranking violations in model outputs, achieving state-of-the-art performance.

Targeted evidence-based care in bronchiectasis in a regional centre: a treatable traits approach to improving clinical and implementation outcomes

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Targeted evidence-based care in bronchiectasis in a regional centre: a treatable traits approach to improving clinical and implementation outcomes Krieg, Kirsty Elise Bronchiectasis is a syndrome that develops from a complex interaction of pathophysiological mechanisms, where permanent, abnormal airway dilation is the defining feature. Symptoms, recurrent exacerbations and hospitalisation are key factors determining the severity of bronchiectasis. Exacerbations impact health-related quality of life and disease progression, with frequent exacerbations associated with a higher risk of hospitalisation and mortality. National and international guidelines in bronchiectasis outline the current evidence-based interventions for bronchiectasis. However, it is increasingly recognised that the co-existence of bronchiectasis with other respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, along with the large number of possible comorbid conditions, adds further complexity to management. It is difficult for management guidelines to address the individualised application required, in the presence of complex and unique clinical presentations. Perhaps due to these factors, adherence to guideline recommendations is reported as low in bronchiectasis, resulting in sub-optimal treatment outcomes. New treatment approaches have been proposed in other chronic respiratory diseases, which account for the heterogeneity of clinical presentations. Such approaches are focused on identifying treatable targets or traits of respiratory disease through a structured assessment, and the prioritisation of traits for treatment together with the patient. While treatable traits have been described in bronchiectasis, the approach has not yet been implemented and evaluated in clinical practice. With the known clinical heterogeneity and reported low adherence to guideline-informed care, it is important to test approaches that further individualise care. The treatable traits approach may offer a model that can improve health outcomes in people with bronchiectasis, with interventions that are guided by the patients’ priorities. Includes publication

Advancing Additive Manufacturing of Copper Alloys: Processing, Microstructure, and Property Optimisation

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Advancing Additive Manufacturing of Copper Alloys: Processing, Microstructure, and Property Optimisation Chen, Kangwei Copper (Cu) and its alloys are indispensable to modern society due to their exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity, mechanical performance, and corrosion resistance. The transition towards Industry 4.0 and beyond has intensified demand for advanced Cu-based materials. Additive manufacturing (AM) offers the potential to realise these requirements through design flexibility, reduced material waste, and component customisation. However, its application to Cu alloys remains hindered by challenges intrinsic to Cu, such as high reflectivity and rapid heat dissipation. AM imposes cyclic, spatially localised energy inputs that generate steep thermal and stress transients, producing microstructural phenomena not predicted by steady-state metallurgy. Consequently, the fundamental links between powder feedstock, processing conditions, microstructural evolution, post-processing and the resulting mechanical and functional properties are not yet well understood, limiting the widespread adoption of AM Cu alloys. This thesis systematically investigates how AM process parameters, alloying strategies, and powder feedstock characteristics govern the microstructure and performance of three representative Cu alloys—Cu-10Sn, Cu-1Ti, and Cu30Ni. Through a combination of advanced microscopy, mechanical and electrical testing, computational fluid dynamics simulations, thermodynamic simulations, and density functional theory calculations, this thesis establishes quantitative links between processing conditions, microstructural features, and macroscopic properties. Collectively, the findings provide new insights into the solidification pathways, microstructural evolution, and strengthening mechanisms unique to AM Cu-based alloys and deliver practical guidelines for optimising alloy and process design. By bridging fundamental metallurgy with AM-specific processing, the thesis contributes to enabling Cu alloys as next-generation functional and structural materials.

Use of the Sonomat for Evaluating Nocturnal Body Movements in Children.

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Use of the Sonomat for Evaluating Nocturnal Body Movements in Children. Lu, Mimi Han Qing Movements during sleep are routinely observed but not consistently quantified in paediatric sleep assessment. This thesis evaluates the Sonomat (MAT) alongside polysomnography (PSG) for measuring sleep-related body movements. In a retrospective cohort of children with concurrent Sonomat and PSG studies, movements were scored using event-duration thresholds (≥1s, ≥3s, ≥5s, ≥7s). Movement index (MI, events/h) and movement duration (MD, % of time) were determined. Analyses examined inter-system agreement, automated scoring, and whether movement burden differed by obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) status, including within children with McGill oximetry scores of 1. The Sonomat consistently measured higher MI and MD than PSG, detecting more brief movements. This difference lost statistical significance for MI when restricted to movements ≥7s. MD remained statistically significant, though the clinical relevance of a 0.9% difference (~4.5 min of median total sleep period) is unclear. At the 3s threshold, inter-system agreement reached 88%. MD emerged as the preferred burden metric, being less sensitive to event-splitting or merging than MI. Automated MAT scoring showed asymmetry, with MD most closely approximating manual scoring. Movement burden, especially MD, strongly correlated with wakefulness. No discrimination by OSA status was found in overall or sleep-restricted analyses. Small cohort size and retrospective design limited power for sub-analyses, including within the McGill score 1 group. Snoring and stertor are captured by Sonomat but not by the mixed obstructive apnoea-hypopnoea index (MOAHI). In summary, the Sonomat is viable for measuring sleep-related body movements, detecting more brief events than PSG but converging for events ≥7s. MD provides a more robust burden measure than MI. Movement metrics tracked wakefulness but did not differentiate OSA status by MOAHI. Future work should examine larger cohorts and broader sleep-disordered breathing criteria.

Understanding treatment needs to improve care and outcomes for children and adults with rheumatic conditions and their caregivers.

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Understanding treatment needs to improve care and outcomes for children and adults with rheumatic conditions and their caregivers. Kelly, Amy Helen The importance of involving the patient in making decisions about their health care and in turn for clinicians to understand the patient’s perspective is recognised. Building on the existing literature, within this thesis a systematic review of outcome measures reported in myositis randomised control trials was conducted and identified that the majority of outcomes reported were surrogate markers and there were few patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). It was also identified that there was very limited data about patient and caregiver experiences in Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) research and to further investigate this, two qualitative research projects were conducted. The first explains the experiences and perspectives of parents who have children diagnosed with JDM and the second study examines parents’ perspectives on the outcome measures important to them. Part 2 of this thesis evolved after the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate the current landscape of telemedicine in Australia and the patient’s perspective of utilising these services. A narrative review was conducted examining how telemedicine is utilised in health care in Australia and the benefits and the disadvantages, in the management of chronic disease and more specifically rheumatic diseases. A qualitative study was then carried out, investigating the experiences of rheumatic disease patients in a metropolitan centre, that provides insights into the patient’s perspective when using telemedicine, to help inform clinicians and administrators as to how to best use this modality to improve health outcomes. Includes publication

Psychological injury: A quantitative assessment of natural justice and the optimum management of psychological factors in compensations systems

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Psychological injury: A quantitative assessment of natural justice and the optimum management of psychological factors in compensations systems McMahon, John Edward This thesis documents the creation of psychosocial support program and interdisciplinary clinics for people with insured injuries. Applying machine learning and artificial intelligence, insights are derived from eight single arm studies, including recovery pathways, feigning spectrum behaviour, and the impact of interventions for different insured injuries. A comprehensive narrative review shows the evolution of language from an instrument for cooperation, the means of incorporation, trauma, and the recent development of Generative Artificial Intelligence as language incarnate. Psychological injuries are elucidated. There is a review of literature showing how stakeholder interactions can impact recovery from injury and the need for a trauma informed care approach. The predictive value of verbal and non-verbal expressions of psychological distress on recovery are demonstrated through the application of the Manchester Colour Wheel to a cohort of 1098 injured workers. Machine learning models to compare recovery from work related shoulder injury and motor crash related whiplash, demonstrates the diverse factors in recovery from insured injury. Machine learning models were used to identify the significant psychosocial factors important to the vexing and costly problem of clinical non-attendance. Cut scores for simulation were determined for some common psychometric measures. Large Language Models were used to derive insights from more than 7472 injured workers using a new approach called "persona generation". So called "thinking" large language models generated recovery personas in 711 motor accident injured people. Time series analysis was used to show the locus of natural justice is not with laws per se but at the case manager or business unit level within compensation systems. Detailed recommendations were made for applying trauma informed care and artificial intelligence to maximise natural justice and improve the recovery journeys of people with insured injuries. Includes publication

Using Multi-omics To Study 2-Hydroxyglutarate (Patho)Biology

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Using Multi-omics To Study 2-Hydroxyglutarate (Patho)Biology Vigder, Niv The term 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) is often used broadly in the biomedical literature, yet it overlooks a key biochemical nuance: chirality. 2HG exists as two enantiomers, L2HG and D2HG, which are structurally identical except for the configuration around the chiral hydroxyl-bearing carbon at the C2 position. This enantioselectivity is biologically consequential as the two forms arise from distinct metabolic pathways engaged under different physiological and pathological stresses. L2HG, but not D2HG, accumulates robustly under conditions of hypoxia, acidosis, and myocardial ischemia. This thesis begins with an introduction (Chapter 1) tracing the evolution of 2HG research from its early chemical characterization to its recognition as a signaling metabolite. Building on this conceptual framework, the first results chapter (Chapter 2) investigates the relationship between L2HG and triglyceride / fatty acid metabolism and demonstrates that conditions promoting L2HG accumulation are accompanied by coordinated remodeling of neutral lipid pools, consistent with altered fatty acid handling and energy storage pathways. The second results chapter (Chapter 3) focuses on phosphatidylethanolamine metabolism, implicating L2HG in regulation of glycerophospholipids. The final results chapter (Chapter 4) moves beyond reductionist analysis by applying a holistic, network medicine–based framework to integrate proteomics data, leading to the identification of major vault protein (MVP), the principal structural component of vault nanoparticles, as a previously unrecognized molecular target of L2HG-associated metabolic stress. Finally, Chapter 5 integrates the findings of this thesis and highlights future directions for the field. Collectively, this thesis defines a connection between L2HG metabolism and lipid and protein remodeling, establishing an integrated framework for understanding how L2HG functions as a metabolic signal in (patho)biology. Includes publication

Mobilising Social Capital and Participation: Deaf Organisations and Access in Disasters

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Mobilising Social Capital and Participation: Deaf Organisations and Access in Disasters Craig, Leyla Disasters expose inequities in how information and support are designed, delivered, and accessed, particularly for groups whose linguistic, cultural, and access needs are overlooked. Deaf people, at the intersection of disability and cultural-linguistic minority status, remain underserved in disaster risk reduction (DRR) research and practice despite barriers to lifesaving information. Taking Deaf support organisations as its starting point, this thesis examines how they mobilise alongside health and emergency services, challenges in delivering accessible disaster information, and systemic gaps that leave deaf people at heightened risk. It investigates how mobilisation strategies shape access and participation in DRR. Drawing on qualitative case studies from nine countries (Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Haiti, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Nepal, the Philippines, and the USA), this research explores how organisational strategies shape access, participation, and social capital for resilience. Grounded in Deaf ways of knowing, critical intersectionality, and Bourdieu’s concepts of capital, field, and habitus, I use reflexivity to examine my positionality as a deaf researcher and how it shaped the study. Findings show Deaf support organisations play a critical undervalued role in enabling accessible communication during disasters. Despite limited resources, they bridge communication gaps and support resilience, though their role remains under-recognised in emergency management. Exclusion is shaped by systemic barriers and internal hierarchies within Deaf communities, disproportionately affecting deaf people who are further marginalised. Building on this, the thesis develops a relational framework integrating social capital and participatory inclusion to explain how power, recognition, and access shape participation in DRR. It argues that strengthening Deaf support organisations is essential for inclusive disaster preparedness and response. Includes publication

Deep-time reconstructions of Earth's surface environments and elevations

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Deep-time reconstructions of Earth's surface environments and elevations Singh, Satyam Pratap Reconstructing Earth's ancient surface topography in deep geological time demands the synthesis of plate tectonic reconstructions, geodynamic simulations, paleoclimate modelling, and advanced computational methodologies. This thesis pioneers an integrated computational framework bridging geological observations with numerical models for paleotopographic reconstruction. A novel deformable plate tectonic reconstruction is developed incorporating time-evolving deforming meshes within rift zones, applied to the Gulf of Mexico. Systematic optimisation across 32,400 mesh configurations reduced crustal-thickness RMSE from 14.8 km to 5.6 km against the GEMMA model. The resulting subsidence histories illuminate key depositional enigmas, including ~1.5 km of pre-drift subsidence during the Sinemurian (193–183 Ma), southward migration of red-bed deposition beneath Jurassic salt, and the westward deflection of Cenomanian–Turonian clastic systems. Transitioning to active margins, the Python Deep Time Data Mining (pyDTDM) library is introduced within an Explainable AI (XAI) framework, integrating plate reconstructions, mantle convection simulations, and paleoclimate outputs. The XAI model identifies subduction flux as the dominant orogenic driver, with trench-advance episodes intensifying crustal thickening, while mantle temperature anomalies and long-term precipitation exert secondary but significant influences. Leveraging these insights, a deep neural network reconstructs active-margin paleotopography at 1 Myr resolution throughout the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Validated against geochemical paleoelevation proxies and regional studies, the model reveals the East Asian Cordillera exceeding 3 km during the mid-Cretaceous and reproduces established Andean uplift phases. All workflows are disseminated as open-source tools under GPL/LGPL licences, with broader implications extending to mineral exploration, paleoclimate modelling, and biodiversity evolution studies.

Assessing Executive Function Beyond Motor Challenges: Understanding Planning in Cerebral Palsy through a Metacognitive Lens

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Assessing Executive Function Beyond Motor Challenges: Understanding Planning in Cerebral Palsy through a Metacognitive Lens Zhan, Yueting Planning entails the ability to formulate and execute goal-directed actions. Difficulties with planning are increasingly recognised in people with cerebral palsy (CP), alongside broader executive function vulnerabilities that affect self-regulation. However, characterising these difficulties in CP remains challenging because many standardised clinical measures embed motor, speech, or perceptual demands that can complicate valid interpretation of ability. Planning also relies on metacognitive monitoring, which supports evaluation of progress and strategic adjustment, yet this process is rarely made explicit in assessment. This thesis examined planning in CP through a validity-focused and metacognitive lens. First, a meta-analysis of executive function assessment in children with CP showed that the validity of cognitive assessment is closely tied to the alignment between task demands and CP-related functional profiles. Second, experimental studies in neurotypical adults examined metacognitive reactivity, whereby eliciting self-evaluations alters ongoing cognition and performance. Across two planning paradigms, explicit monitoring had task-dependent effects. Specifically, prompting metacognitive reflection impaired the acquisition of explicit structural knowledge in Complex Problem Solving, whereas optimality-focused evaluations in the Tower of Hanoi supported reflection and strategic adjustment. Finally, the Tower of Hanoi paradigm was translated to adults with CP, providing novel evidence that monitoring is engaged during planning and that explicit monitoring may support adaptive action selection. Overall, this thesis highlights the need for valid and accessible executive function assessment in CP. It also suggests that explicit monitoring warrants further investigation as a potential compensatory support for planning difficulties, with future work needed to link metacognitive indices to functional outcomes that support independence and autonomy in people with CP.

Assessment of molasses-based additives for methane mitigation in beef cattle

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Assessment of molasses-based additives for methane mitigation in beef cattle Nikoloric, Maria Enteric methane (CH₄) mitigation is a priority for pasture-based beef systems, where practical delivery of antimethanogenic additives to grazing cattle remains challenging. Molasses lick blocks (MLBs) have been proposed as a practical strategy to regulate intake and improve additive delivery in extensive systems. This thesis evaluated novel molasses-based formulations intended for incorporation into MLBs by (i) screening their in vitro antimethanogenic effects and (ii) assessing in vivo responses in growing beef cattle over 70 days. Due to commercial confidentiality and pending intellectual property protection, ingredient identities are not disclosed. In vitro, four formulations were assessed for effects on rumen fermentation and methane production. One formulation (“Product 3”) showed the strongest response. At 6% inclusion, CH₄ production was reduced by >90%, although digestibility declined. At 4% inclusion, Product 3 reduced CH₄ production by 62% without impairing digestibility, demonstrating the importance of dose optimisation. The in vivo experiment evaluated Product 3 delivered as a grain-based pellet to growing steers at target intakes of 0, 100, or 200 g/head/day. Methane emissions were measured using a GreenFeed system. Compared with control pellets, CH₄ yield was reduced (P < 0.01) by up to 11.7%, with no adverse effects on dry matter intake, liveweight gain, or feed efficiency. Overall, Product 3 demonstrated a dose-dependent antimethanogenic effect, achieving substantial methane reductions without compromising animal performance. These findings highlight its potential as a dietary strategy for low-emission beef production and support further evaluation in grazing systems using final MLB formulations. Includes publication

Modelling the mechanisms underlying variable spatiotemporal cortical response dynamics

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Modelling the mechanisms underlying variable spatiotemporal cortical response dynamics Maran, Rishikesan Elucidating how the brain's diverse repertoire of neural dynamics emerges from its fixed anatomical structure, known as the `structure--function relationship', remains a challenge in macroscale neuroscience. While progress has been made in predicting resting-state (spontaneous) functional connectivity from structural connectivity, this static paradigm often fails to capture the mechanisms that shape dynamics over faster (sub-second) timescales, or how the spatiotemporal properties of brain dynamics can reconfigure over time under a fixed structural connectome. Accordingly, this thesis investigates the mechanisms that underlie spatiotemporal variability in stimulus-evoked cortical dynamics over fast (sub-second) timescales. Its main contribution is a timely investigation into the open question of why the geometry of brain anatomy can successfully capture key statistical properties of spontaneous brain dynamics, while ignoring the highly specific arrangements of the various long-distance inter-regional fibres that support global brain communication. Specifically, this thesis demonstrates, through newly constructed models, that long-distance connectivity is essential for capturing fast-timescale interactions between specific remote populations, but these interactions are obscured in slower order-of-seconds fluctuations of spontaneous activity. Furthermore, these fast dynamics are shown to be contingent on the spatial proximity of the driving stimulus, and critically gated by the simultaneous burst-like firing of subcortical arousal nuclei, which is often ignored in the modelling literature. Collectively, this thesis challenges the notion of a fixed structure--function relationship, showing that brain dynamics over fast timescales, despite evolving on a static anatomical backbone, can exhibit a diverse range of spatiotemporal patterns, mediated by variations in the spatial profile of driving stimuli, and fluctuations in internal arousal.

Poisonings with Paracetamol: Improving Understanding to Guide Medication Safety Initiatives

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Poisonings with Paracetamol: Improving Understanding to Guide Medication Safety Initiatives Chidiac, Annabelle Suzan Paracetamol poisoning is a leading cause of acute liver failure in developed countries and a leading substance reported in calls to Australian Poisons Information Centres (PICs). Paracetamol poisoning is often intentional and higher doses taken in these poisonings carry a greater risk of severe liver injury. However, liver injury and death can also occur from unintentional poisonings. This thesis aims to characterise the nature of paracetamol poisoning in Australia using data from PICs and hospital admissions (with data linkage). Chapter 1 - Introduction on Australian paracetamol access, Australian PICs and data linkage. Chapter 2 - Narrative literature review encompassing paracetamol toxicity, treatments, prevention measures and an estimate of global burden from paracetamol poisoning. We estimated that paracetamol was involved in 6% of poisonings worldwide, 56% of severe acute liver injury and acute liver failure and 7% of drug-induced liver injury. Chapter 3 - Study focusing on therapeutic (dosing) errors with paracetamol in Australians aged ≥12 years old reported to Australia’s largest PIC. Our analysis found that exposures requiring hospitalisation were associated with paracetamol use for dental pain and that these individuals used paracetamol at greater doses for longer durations. Chapter 4 - Study focusing on therapeutic (dosing) errors with paracetamol in Australians aged <12 years old reported to Australia’s largest PIC. Our analysis found that high strength liquid dosage forms were frequently implicated however exposures in children were unlikely to cause severe outcomes such as liver injury and death. Chapter 5 - Data linkage study of hospitalised cases of paracetamol poisoning that explores poisoning intent, patient demographics and outcomes. Our analysis found that intentional poisonings had the lowest rates of liver injury compared to other types of poisoning but had a high risk of repeated poisoning and eventual death during the follow up period. Includes publication

From the Cosmic Web to the Bar: The Multiscale Drivers of Galaxy Spin Evolution

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

From the Cosmic Web to the Bar: The Multiscale Drivers of Galaxy Spin Evolution Rutherford, Tomas Hamish The assembly and evolution of angular momentum in galaxies is shaped by a combination of internal and external processes. Integral field spectroscopy has revolutionised our ability to study stellar kinematics across thousands of systems. In this thesis, we investigate the physical drivers of galaxy spin evolution. We use marked correlation functions to find an anti-correlation of \lre\ with environment, and show it is not driven by stellar mass or slow rotators, and agrees with results from the EAGLE simulations. We examine how mergers drive galaxy spin-down. From deep HSC SAMI galaxy images, we identify low surface brightness tidal features. Younger galaxies with tidal shells exhibit lower spin and higher slow rotator fractions. We conclude that radial major mergers are the primary driver of spin-down in young early-type SAMI galaxies, with the lack of shells in older systems reflecting early Universe. We derive orbital distributions for a subsample of SAMI early-types, using Schwarzschild models. We find that the orbital fractions correlate strongly with \lre, with the strongest relation arising from the merger-generated hot + counter-rotating fraction. Hot and cold orbits correlate with stellar age and tidal shells, while warm orbits do not, implying mergers cause stars to transition directly from cold to hot orbits. These results indicate that merger-driven heating dominates the spin-down of massive galaxies. We next extend this to late-type galaxies. We use GECKOS-MUSE observations of edge-on discs to assess how the presence of dust affects JAM modelling. When dust is masked, we find discs are fit well. Analysis of residual velocity fields reveals coherent excesses in two galaxies that are aligned with bar orbits and supported by photometric bar signatures. Collectively, this research contributes to a multiscale understanding of angular momentum evolution, connecting cosmological environment, mergers, age and the internal orbital structure of galaxies. Includes publication

Picturing Identity: An Investigation into Culturally Inclusive Literacy Practice with Secondary EAL/D Students Using Multimodal Texts

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Picturing Identity: An Investigation into Culturally Inclusive Literacy Practice with Secondary EAL/D Students Using Multimodal Texts Allaou, Sussan This Australian study investigates how multimodal literacy activities may support culturally inclusive literacy practices with secondary students for whom English is an additional language or dialect (EAL/D). The cultural inclusion of EAL/D youth is viewed as a process through the lens of education justice (Kalantzis & Cope, 2025), arguing for teaching pedagogy that acknowledges students’ personal and cultural background in the learning process. The study focusses on the potential for multimodal identity texts to give voice to EAL/D students and facilitate their participation in communities, increasing connections between teaching practices that support recently arrived English language learners and mandated inclusivity policies. This research project adopted an iterative case-study approach to investigate the experiences of EAL/D student participants in Years 9 and 11, before and after the creation of multimodal identity texts in the form of digital video diaries. Drawing on an analytical framing that combines principles of multiliteracies pedagogy (New London Group, 1996) and social semiotics (Callow, 2023; Kress & Van Leeuwen, 2006), my adaptation of Callow’s social semiotic framework (Callow, 2023) includes the analysis of ‘voice’ as an additional element to the visual and written modes in the framework. The case study builds upon previous research with multimodal identity texts to propose that visual and written elements combine with features of audio during students’ creation of digital identity texts, portraying powerful multimodal meanings that support EAL/D student representations of identity and culturally inclusive literacy practice. The findings indicate that EAL/D youth’s digital representations of identity are influenced by the complexity of adolescent identity formation and characterised by both intrapersonal and interpersonal connections with themselves and others.

Carbonate Platform and Coral Reef Response to Environmental Perturbations: Insights from Scott Reef North West Shelf Australia

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Carbonate Platform and Coral Reef Response to Environmental Perturbations: Insights from Scott Reef North West Shelf Australia Williams, Carra Georgina Coral reefs preserve important archives of past sea-level and climatic change due to their depth-dependent growth, good preservation potential, and ability to be precisely dated using U–series techniques. Isolated carbonate platforms along rapidly subsiding continental margins record expanded sea-level histories because sustained subsidence maintains accommodation within euphotic–mesophotic zones, enabling long-term reef accretion and stratigraphic preservation. However, fossil reef cores from such settings are rare, diagenetically altered, and limited by poor spatial and temporal sampling, leaving uncertainties in reef responses to environmental change over millennial timescales. Scott Reef, on Australia’s Northwest Shelf, preserves one of the most continuous Quaternary reef archives in the Indo-Pacific. However, uncertainties remain regarding reef initiation and demise, the impact of the Middle Pleistocene Transition, and controls on long-term reef resilience. This thesis investigates environmental and eustatic controls on carbonate platform evolution across Neogene–Quaternary climate transitions, with relevance to future reef response under changing climate conditions. High-resolution geological models of Scott Reef are developed to assess responses to orbital forcing, sea-level change, and oceanographic variability. The approach integrates forward stratigraphic modelling with multi-scale datasets, including 3D seismic, multibeam bathymetry, reef cores, well logs, U–series geochronology, and modern ecological observations. Methods combine core logging, hyperspectral scanning, neutron computed tomography, and facies analysis to refine lithological interpretation and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. Coralgal assemblages are used within a chronostratigraphic framework spanning 500 kyr. This integrated approach provides new constraints on Scott Reefs evolution and improves understanding of carbonate platform responses to climatic and oceanographic forcing. Includes publication

Supporting Education for All: The Role of Multicultural Creative Arts Curriculum in Addressing the Principles of Anti-Bias Education

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Supporting Education for All: The Role of Multicultural Creative Arts Curriculum in Addressing the Principles of Anti-Bias Education Zhu, Dan This qualitative study investigated how Multicultural Creative Arts Curricula (MCAC) can foster children's identities as part of anti-bias practice in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). Although the Arts are widely used in ECEC, limited research has explored how Anti-Bias Education (ABE) principles are enacted through MCAC or how children make sense of identity through creative arts experiences. The study examined how Australian educators incorporated diverse identities and enacted ABE using MCAC, and how children expressed understandings of identity across artforms. It was informed by sociocultural and ecological systems theories, culturally responsive pedagogy, and ABE. An ethnographic multiple-case study was employed across two Australian ECEC settings, with children's perspectives sought alongside educators' through participatory approaches within everyday activities. Data were collected through observations, focus group interviews, and curriculum documentation. Findings showed that teacher beliefs, pedagogical responsiveness, institutional conditions, and artform affordances shaped MCAC enactment. When the Arts functioned as open-ended and dialogic experiences, children transformed identity-related meanings across modes; event-based practices constrained deeper inquiry and multimodal expression. Children expressed identity and belonging diversely, though shaped by educators' confidence with cultural and linguistic diversity and institutional routines. The study advances understanding of how MCAC can move beyond symbolic multiculturalism to support identity, fairness, and empathetic action in everyday pedagogy. Findings highlight the need for professional learning, institutional support, and responsive pedagogy to ensure the Arts operate as a vehicle for culturally responsive and socially just ECEC.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in heart failure

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The diagnostic and prognostic value of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in heart failure Iyer, Nithin Ramesh Heart failure (HF) is a highly prevalent clinical syndrome with significant morbidity. There remain several unmet needs in HF, including delayed diagnosis, and knowledge gaps in risk stratification, monitoring of disease progression and determining response to treatment. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has become the non-invasive reference standard for evaluating HF due to its ability to accurately assess cardiac volumes, function, and myocardial tissue characteristics. As a result, CMR imaging in HF has been endorsed in multiple HF guidelines. The aim of this thesis was to investigate whether novel CMR techniques could improve upon current diagnostic algorithms, provide accurate risk stratification in HF and assess response to treatment. Chapter 2 reports on the study of a novel CMR sequence to quantify lung water density (LWD) in patients at risk of HF and in healthy volunteers. LWD was increased in patients at risk of heart failure from healthy volunteers, indicating a potential role for CMR in the early diagnosis of HF. Chapter 3 reports on the findings of a CMR study in a large cohort of patients with hypertensive heart disease, which showed that markers of focal and diffuse myocardial fibrosis predict cardiovascular outcomes in this group. Chapter 4 reports on the findings of a CMR and biomarkers study in patients with HF and DM, which showed that CMR-derived global longitudinal strain and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), a novel HF biomarker, are prognostic in this group. Finally, chapter 5 reports on the findings of a longitudinal CMR study assessing response to treatment in patients with OSA. This study showed that markers of diffuse myocardial fibrosis reduced following treatment. Overall, this thesis highlights the potential for CMR to be better integrated into contemporary HF guidelines, from a role in diagnosis, to risk stratification and prognostication, and assessment of treatment response. Includes publication

Increasing access to pulmonary rehabilitation through utilising primary care

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Increasing access to pulmonary rehabilitation through utilising primary care Walsh, Jessica Anne Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) improves exercise capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for people with chronic respiratory disease (CRD), yet only 5-10% of eligible patients access a program. PR is predominantly delivered in hospital outpatient settings, with accessibility a key barrier. Most physiotherapists and accredited exercise physiologists (AEPs) work in private practice (PP), an untapped workforce that could deliver PR in primary care, but no funding model currently supports this. This thesis investigated whether upskilling PP physiotherapists and AEPs to deliver PR in primary care is feasible, acceptable and effective. Methods: A two-phase mixed-methods feasibility study comprised: a prospective cohort study of a PR training program for PP clinicians; a randomised controlled feasibility trial comparing an 8-week twice-weekly PR program in PP to usual care for people with COPD and interstitial lung disease; and a qualitative study of patient experiences and acceptability. In addition, a national cross-sectional survey of PP clinician interest and resources was conducted. Results: Training improved clinician knowledge, with 82% achieving the competency threshold post-training compared to 13% pre-training. The feasibility trial randomised 52 participants; 72% completed the intervention. Within-group changes in exercise capacity and HRQoL exceeded minimally important differences, with only one minor adverse event. Qualitative analysis identified high acceptability and a shift away from a passive illness-identity. The survey received 245 eligible responses; 91% of clinicians were interested in delivering PR and most practices had suitable resources, though current funding limited business sustainability. Conclusion: PP physiotherapists and AEPs upskilled in PR can feasibly deliver PR programs with promising clinical outcomes. A full-scale trial with longer-term follow-up is warranted to support advocacy for a funding model. Includes publication

The economics of targeting systemic drivers of mental health using dynamic simulation modelling

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The economics of targeting systemic drivers of mental health using dynamic simulation modelling Crosland, Paul The objective of this PhD research project was to use system dynamics modelling (SDM) to conduct economic evaluation of mental health interventions through the application of the approach to three case studies. A literature review conducted for this thesis did not find any studies that used a SDM approach for economic evaluation of mental health interventions. Modelling Study 1 was a cost-utility analysis of eight interventions for youth mental health. It found that Technology-enabled integrated care, Family education, an Online parenting programme and Multi-cultural informed care were cost effective. Methodological insights included the identification of synergistic effects, identification of emergent outcomes in the form of unintended consequences, and the influence of mental health service capacity on the cost effectiveness of some interventions. Modelling Study 2 estimated the health benefits and economic value of improving the social determinants of mental health in the Brisbane South region. Even modest improvements in determinants resulted in material increases in health outcomes and reduction in costs. Modelling Study 3 used constrained optimisation analysis with a SDM framework to systematically test the cost effectiveness of seven scenarios varying existing mental health services capacity growth, new interventions targeted at youths, and budget constraints on the amount of investment funds available for new interventions. The analysis demonstrated there is health and economic value in expanding existing services and implementing new interventions concurrently to capitalise on synergistic effects; the combination of interventions that is most cost effective can be identified using systematic methods in response to changes in the budget constraint; and there are health and economic consequences to attenuated levels of investment in new interventions. Includes publication

Characteristics for successful implementation of professional services in Australian community pharmacies

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Characteristics for successful implementation of professional services in Australian community pharmacies Seda, Veronika Community pharmacy in Australia has expanded beyond dispensing to include patient‑centred and public health services. Despite strong evidence of effectiveness, these services are often inconsistently implemented and not sustained once external support ends. Existing research has focused on service models or strategies in controlled settings, offering limited insight into everyday practice. This thesis investigates how pharmacists implement and sustain services in real-world settings, focusing on their role as implementation leads and identifying pharmacist implementer archetypes. A multi method approach informed by implementation science and psychology was used. Four studies were conducted: (1) a systematic review of implementation strategies and effectiveness; (2) a national survey of service delivery and implementation practices; (3) qualitative interviews exploring factors supporting successful implementation; and (4) Q methodology to identify archetypal roles and practices. Limited comparative evidence was identified via systematic review, although higher intensity training was linked to better outcomes. Survey results showed pharmacists prioritised internal operational factors, with more experienced pharmacists placing less emphasis on external influences. Interviews highlighted key elements supporting sustained implementation. Q methodology identified four distinct pharmacist archetypes reflecting different approaches to successful service delivery. Successful implementation depends not only on strategies but on how they are applied in practice. Experience, operational priorities, and adaptive behaviours shape long term success. The four archetypes show implementation is not one size fits all, highlighting the need to align strategies with those leading implementation, and informing future research, policy, and workforce development. Includes publication

Manipulation of Natural Deformables: Simulation, Inference, and Learning

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Manipulation of Natural Deformables: Simulation, Inference, and Learning Jacob, Jayadeep Over the past decades, machine learning has transformed robotic manipulation, enabling autonomous systems to perform complex rigid body tasks. Yet, this progress has not translated to deformable objects, characterised by high-dimensional state spaces and non-linear dynamics. Handling natural variants of deformables, such as tree branches and plant stems, is an even greater challenge, exacerbated by their non-uniform geometry and asymmetric dynamics. Viable solutions must quantify uncertainties from imperfect sensors and inaccurate models to account for the probabilistic nature of the world. To address these challenges, we present an ensemble of frameworks to model the intricate plant topology, estimate dynamic parameters, and learn efficient control strategies. First, we present a simulation-driven inverse inference approach to model the uncertain dynamics of plant stems under deformation, in a real-to-sim context. Framing system identification as a Bayesian inference problem, we estimate the multi-modal, spring parameter posterior density. Our non-parametric method can incorporate biological assumptions, quantify the estimation uncertainty, and tolerate contact instabilities. Next, we train a non-prehensile, contact-sensitive, reinforcement learning policy to interact with tree branches, in a sim-to-real setting. The spring abstractions are integrated with a parametric L-system model to build a procedural forest. The novel proprioceptive approach transfers zero-shot from simulation to real, manipulating stems with unseen geometry and dynamics, exhibiting unique contact strategies. Finally, we expand the sim-to-real strategy, emphasising manipulation with the whole arm, treating the deformables as a collection. To learn a computationally efficient policy, we leverage a distributional state representation. Our blank slate policy learning approach can autonomously discover creative de-occlusion strategies for clearing electrical power lines of overhanging foliage.

Methods to include environmental impacts in health technology assessments

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Methods to include environmental impacts in health technology assessments Williams, Jake Thomas Warton In the Australian health system, Government reimbursement decisions are often made on the basis of opportunity costs. The methods used to inform these decisions are health economic evaluation and health technology assessment. These consider the costs and consequences of alternative courses of action and have not traditionally considered environmental impacts. There is interest in Australia and elsewhere in understanding methods to include environmental impacts in health technology assessment in the pursuit of minimising the environmental and climate change impact of health technologies. The thesis found that economic evaluation frameworks are a useful way to estimate and present the environmental impact of health technologies. Further work is needed to understand how these can most usefully be implemented to inform HTA decisions in Australia and globally. Includes publication

A Culturally Appropriate and Linguistically Understandable Translation Approach: For Dementia-related Public Health Information

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A Culturally Appropriate and Linguistically Understandable Translation Approach: For Dementia-related Public Health Information He, Zihan Dementia is a leading cause of death in Australia. As Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) ageing population grows, dementia-related public health information must be scientifically accurate, culturally appropriate and linguistically understandable. However, many existing translations rely on literal translation, which can misrepresent dementia, reduce accessibility and reinforce stigma. In Chinese, the common term 痴呆症 (chī dāi zhèng, Stupidity and Idiocy Syndrome) is especially problematic because it associates dementia with stupidity and contributes to shame, fear and avoidance. This thesis proposes the Culturally Appropriate and Linguistically Understandable (CALU) Translation Model for translating dementia-related public health information. It develops and demonstrates CALU through Chinese translations of English dementia resources, with a focus on renaming dementia in Chinese. Drawing on interviews with twenty-one Chinese-speaking dementia experts across the Asia-Pacific region, the thesis identifies 认知障碍症 (rèn zhī zhàng ài zhèng, Cognitive Impairment Syndrome) as a scientifically accurate and culturally appropriate alternative to 痴呆症. It further evaluates CALU translations with Chinese-speaking community readers and applies the model in two Australian dementia campaigns: Face Dementia and Facing Dementia Together. The thesis argues that effective health translation requires more than semantic equivalence. It must address stigma, cultural meaning, reader comprehension and community trust. By integrating expert consultation, community feedback and iterative translation strategies, CALU offers a practical framework for improving multilingual public health communication. The study contributes to translation studies, dementia communication and CALD health promotion by showing how culturally responsive translation can reduce stigma, improve accessibility and support equitable dementia awareness among Chinese-speaking communities. Includes publication

Digital Discharge Education and Secondary Prevention of Heart Disease following Acute Coronary Syndrome

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Digital Discharge Education and Secondary Prevention of Heart Disease following Acute Coronary Syndrome Ellis, Tiffany Bianca Background: For people diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), education on secondary prevention should commence prior to discharge from hospital, however there are many barriers to engagement and its delivery. This thesis aims to investigate if digitally delivered discharge education on secondary prevention is effective, acceptable, and feasible for improving knowledge, quality of life (QOL), and cardiovascular risk factors, and for reducing readmissions, in people following ACS. Methods: A systematic review with meta-analyses of RCTs of secondary prevention education interventions commencing in hospital; RCT examining the effectiveness of an avatar-based discharge education smartphone application in people with ACS; and qualitative study exploring perspectives of people who declined or were ineligible to receive digitally delivered education. Results: Discharge education on secondary prevention, compared with usual care, improves knowledge and QOL and reduces hospital readmissions in people with CHD. An RCT of the aforementioned app found it to score highly on ease of use and satisfaction, was cost-effective, but did not elicit additional improvements in knowledge compared with usual care. This lack of benefit may be explained by high rates of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) attendance and low app engagement. Digital modes of education may be more suitable for people with low disease knowledge and low intentions to attend CR. People following ACS with sound disease knowledge and intentions to attend CR, or who have competing life stressors, may benefit from non-digital modes of education. Conclusions: This thesis provides evidence that digitally delivered discharge education on secondary prevention is acceptable and may improve outcomes. Future studies should evaluate whole models of care in which education is provided. Clinicians should tailor the mode and timing of education to the individual’s preferences, sociocultural context, and personal circumstances. Includes publication

Strategies to Ensure Intersectional Fairness in Vision-Language Models for Clinical Decision Support

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Strategies to Ensure Intersectional Fairness in Vision-Language Models for Clinical Decision Support Zhang, Yupeng Rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly Vision-Language Models (VLMs), as decision support system for medical diagnosis promises to enhance healthcare outcomes. However, these models can inherit and amplify societal biases, leading to significant performance disparities across diverse patient subgroups. This thesis addresses a critical and often overlooked challenge: intersectional fairness, where compounded disadvantages emerge for individuals with multiple demographic attributes (e.g., by race and gender). Existing fairness interventions, which typically focus on single demographic attributes, often fail to mitigate these compounded biases and can inadvertently degrade overall model performance or mask subtle but clinically significant disparities in diagnostic certainty. This thesis introduces a novel regularisation framework, Cross-Modal Alignment Consistency Maximum Mean Discrepancy (CMAC-MMD), to specifically address intersectional fairness at the decision level of models' architecture. This approach represents a conceptual shift from image and text feature-level manipulation to directly equalizing the model's diagnostic confidence across all intersectional subgroups. By defining a scalar "cross-modal alignment score" that serves as a proxy for the model's certainty, the CMAC-MMD method leverages a unique fairness loss to align the statistical distributions of these scores. This process compels the model to produce predictions with equitable confidence and decisiveness for all patient subgroups, regardless of their demographic profile, without requiring sensitive data during inference time. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is comprehensively evaluated through benchmarking on dermatology and ophthalmology datasets for disease classification. The results demonstrate that CMAC-MMD reduces intersectional performance disparities across multiple fairness metrics while maintaining overall diagnostic accuracy as baseline models.

Second Time Around: A critical re-evaluation of Julio Cortázar’s position in the Latin American literary canon

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Second Time Around: A critical re-evaluation of Julio Cortázar’s position in the Latin American literary canon Bayer, Fernando Rafael Arnaud Jallis Valentin This PhD thesis considers the various reasons for the decline in critical and commercial attention towards Julio Cortázar in the English-speaking world in the years following since his death in 1984. In acknowledging that Julio Cortázar is still considered to be and referenced as one of the ‘Big Four’ authors of the Latin American literary Boom of the 1960s, I argue that his current state of obscurity within the popular culture of the English-speaking world especially relative to other writers from Latin America such as Jorge Luis Borges and Gabriel García Márquez, who were first translated into English at a similar point, has broader implications for the discipline of Latin American studies. This is especially important when considering that the situation is vastly different in Latin America itself, and in particular his native Argentina, where he has instead remained one of the most celebrated authors of the 20th century. In this way, I propose that the irregular treatment of Cortázar as a representative of the Latin American literary canon is evidence of a broader schism in the field concerning the way that Latin America and its literature are conceived and thus that the revaluation of Cortázar’s reception in English-language criticism is a necessary step to better understanding of the literary and critical currents of the continent, and to address reductive streaks in the current field.

Investigation of Mechanical Field Effect on Liquid Metals

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Investigation of Mechanical Field Effect on Liquid Metals Azman, Nur Adania Binti Nor Gallium-based liquid metals exhibit unique mechanical and interfacial properties, including low viscosity, high surface tension, and dynamic surface reactivity, enabling significant deformation, fragmentation, and transport under external stimuli. Despite their potential in particle synthesis and functional applications, the role of mechanical fields in governing their interfacial dynamics remains poorly understood. This thesis investigates the influence of mechanical fields on liquid metal behaviour, focusing on ultrasonication and electrically induced effects. Ultrasonication is shown to drive efficient fragmentation and particle formation, with alloy composition playing a critical role in modulating surface tension and cavitation dynamics. Minor alloying additions reduce interfacial energy, enhancing cavitation–interface interactions and producing smaller, more uniform particles. High-speed imaging reveals cavitation-driven surface eruptions and fragmentation as key mechanisms. The introduction of an external electric field during sonication further modifies liquid metal behaviour. Voltage-assisted sonication demonstrates that electrical bias alters interfacial tension, oxidation, and surface activity, leading to polarity-dependent fragmentation and distinct particle size distributions. These results highlight the role of electrochemical effects in tuning the mechanical response under dynamic excitation. Under static electric fields, liquid metals exhibit composition-dependent deformation, motion, and fragmentation governed by electrocapillarity and oxidation-induced interfacial gradients. The strong coupling between alloy composition and interfacial stresses dictates macroscopic behaviour. Overall, this work establishes a unified framework linking mechanical fields and interfacial phenomena in liquid metals, providing new insights for controlling particle generation and liquid metal dynamics in advanced material systems. Includes publication

“To Feed Such Hunger”: Proposing a Women’s Gastronomic Literature

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

“To Feed Such Hunger”: Proposing a Women’s Gastronomic Literature O'Connor, Lucy My project “To Feed Such Hunger”: Proposing a Women’s Gastronomic Literature is a close reading of texts that examines the writing of four authors producing narrative non-fiction food writing in twentieth-century America. Feminist scholarship has established the importance of women’s life writing as historical, political and productive, but food writing, particularly by women, has often been categorised as a separate generic entity. Similarly, the relationship between women and food is rife with existing presuppositions about gender and class dynamics: wherein women cook in a domestic rather than a professional sphere; wherein the way that they eat is always mediated by body-consciousness; where women cook in service of and to provide nourishment for others. If we understand both foodways and life writing as gendered spaces, it follows that food writing is a gendered domain. Historically, women’s food writing has been the domestic cookbook; by comparison, men are gastronomes whose writing showcases their knowledge and taste. My project recognises women’s food writing as a complex arena with no easy or monolithic definitions, in an attempt to ensure that such writing is afforded the attention and nuance so easily applied to men’s writing. I argue that the work of M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, and later Nora Ephron and Laurie Colwin can and should be understood within the context of the gastronomic tradition: each writer brings her own unique contributions to the category. By opening up this space to include women, we can better understand the ways that gender has impacted the aesthetics of pleasure, taste, hospitality and eating.