Current U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resources planning guidance directs the planners to consider all design alternatives with economic efficiency as the primary criterion. Recent criticism of the flood loss reduction planning is directed at the Corps. One criticism is that the traditional design practices of the Corps address only large flood events. The emphasis on large flood events precludes the use of nonstructural methods, whose economically feasible range is at smaller scales. However, the advantage of having nonstructural measures available to federal water resources planners is widely recognized. This study seeks to demonstrate that nonstructural means are at a disadvantage in the Corps planning process. It examines the institutional framework that directs the planning of these projects. Using data from Corps reports, the economically feasible ranges and optimal sizes are determined for selected nonstructural measures through a series of case studies. The resulting optimal sizes are compared to those recommended in the Corps reports. The optimal sizes of the nonstructural alternatives developed for this study are smaller than the recommended levels. In the current budget climate, the implementation of flood loss reduction projects may occur more frequently with the increased use of nonstructura1 measures since they require less investment. / Master of Science

Countries world-over have thousands of critical structures and bridges which have been built decades back when strength-based designs were the order of the day. Over the years, magnitude and frequency of loadings on these have increased. Also, these structures have been exposed to environmental degradation during their service life. Hence, structural health monitoring (SHM) has attracted the attention of researchers, world over. Structural health monitoring is recommended both for vulnerable old bridges and structures as well as for new important structures. Structural health monitoring as a principle is derived from condition monitoring of machinery, where the day-to-day recordings of sound and vibration from machinery is compared and sudden changes in their features is reported for inspection and trouble-shooting. With the availability of funds for repair and retrofitting being limited, it has become imperative to rank buildings and bridges that require rehabilitation for prioritization. Visual inspection and expert judgment continues to rule the roost. Non-destructive testing techniques though have come of age and are providing excellent inputs for judgment cannot be carried out indiscriminately. They are best suited for evaluating local damage when restricted areas are investigated in detail. A few modern bridges, particularly long-span bridges have been provided with sophisticated instrumentation for health monitoring. It is necessary to identify local damages existing in normal bridges. The methodology adopted for such identification should be simple, both in terms of investigations involved and the instrumentation. Researchers have proposed various methodologies including damage identification from mode shapes, wavelet-based formulations and optimization-based damage identification and instrumentation schemes and so on. These are technically involved but may be difficult to be applied for all critical bridges, where the sheer volume of number of bridges to be investigated is enormous. Ideally, structural health monitoring has to be carried out in two stages: (a) Stage-1: Remote monitoring of global damage indicators and inference of the health of the structure. Instrumentation for this stage should be less, simple, but at critical locations to capture the global damage in a reasonable sense. (b) Stage -2: If global indicators show deviation beyond a specified threshold, then a detailed and localized instrumentation and monitoring, with controlled application of static and dynamic loads is to be carried out to infer the health of the structure and take a decision on the repair and retrofit strategies. The thesis proposes the first stage structural health monitoring methodology using natural frequencies and static deflections as damage indicators. The idea is that the stage-1 monitoring has to be done for a large number of bridges and vulnerable structures in a remote and wire-less way and a centralized control and processing unit should be able to number-crunch the in-coming data automatically and the features extracted from the data should help in determining whether any particular bridge warrants second stage detailed investigation. Hence, simple and robust strategies are required for estimating the health of the structure using some of the globally available response data. Identification methodology developed in this thesis is applicable to distributed smeared damage, which is typical of reinforced concrete structures. Simplified expressions and methodologies are proposed in the thesis and numerically and experimentally validated towards damage estimation of typical structures and elements from measured natural frequencies and static deflections. The first-order perturbation equation for a dynamical system is used to derive the relevant expressions for damage identification. The sensitivity of Eigen-value-cumvector pair to damage, modeled as reduction in flexural rigidity (EI for beams, AE for axial rods and Et 12(1 2 )3− μ for plates) is derived. The forward equation relating the changes in EI to changes in frequencies is derived for typical structural elements like simply-supported beams, plates and axial rods (along with position and extent of damage as the other controlling parameters). A distributed damage is uniquely defined with its position, extent and magnitude of EI reduction. A methodology is proposed for the inverse problem, making use of the linear relationship between the reductions in EI (in a smeared sense) to Eigen-values, such that multiple damages could be estimated using changes in natural frequencies. The methodology is applied to beams, plates and axial rods. The performance of this inverse methodology under influence of measurement errors is investigated for typical error profiles. For a discrete three dimensional structure, computationally derived sensitivity matrix is used to solve the damages in each floor levels, simulating the post-earthquake damage scenario. An artificial neural network (ANN) based Radial basis function network (RBFN) is also used to solve the multivariate interpolation problem, with appropriate training sets involving a number of pairs of damage and Eigen-value-change vectors. The acclaimed Cawley-Adams criteria (1979) states that, “the ratio of changes in natural frequencies between two modes is independent of the damage magnitude” and is governed only by the position (or location) and extent of damage. This criterion is applied to a multiple damage problem and contours with equal frequency change ratios, termed as Iso_Eigen_value_change contours are developed. Intersection of these contours for different pairs of frequencies shows the position and extent of damage. Experimental and analytical verification of damage identification methodology using Cawley-Adams criteria is successfully demonstrated. Sensitivity expressions relating the damages to changes in static deflections are derived and numerically and experimentally proved. It is seen that this process of damage identification from static deflections is prone to more errors if not cautiously exercised. Engineering and physics based intuition is adopted in setting the guidelines for efficient damage detection using static deflections. In lines of Cawley-Adams criteria for frequencies, an invariant factor based on static deflections measured at pairs of symmetrical points on a simply supported beam is developed and established. The power of the factor is such that it is governed only by the position of damage and invariant with reference to extent and magnitude of damage. Such a revelation is one step ahead of Caddemi and Morassi’s (2007) recent paper, dealing with static deflection based damage identification for concentrated damage. The invariant factor makes it an ideal candidate for base-line-free measurement, if the quality and resolution of instrumentation is good. A moving damage problem is innovatively introduced in the experiment. An attempt is made to examine wave-propagation techniques for damage identification and a guideline for modeling wave propagation as a transient dynamic problem is done. The reflected-wave response velocity (peak particle velocity) as a ratio of incident wave response is proposed as a damage indicator for an axial rod (representing an end-supported pile foundation). Suitable modifications are incorporated in the classical expressions to correct for damping and partial-enveloping of advancing wave in the damage zone. The experimental results on axial dynamic response of free-free beams suggest that vibration frequency based damage identification is a viable complementary tool to wave propagation. Wavelet-multi-resolution analysis as a feature extraction tool for damage identification is also investigated and structural slope (rotation) and curvatures are found to be the better indicators of damage coupled with wavelet analysis. An adaptive excitation scheme for maximizing the curvature at any arbitrary point of interest is also proposed. However more work is to be done to establish the efficiency of wavelets on experimentally derived parameters, where large noise-ingression may affect the analysis. The application of time-period based damage identification methodology for post-seismic damage estimation is investigated. Seismic damage is postulated by an index based on its plastic displacement excursion and the cumulative energy dissipated. Damage index is a convenient tool for decision making on immediate-occupancy, life-safety after repair and demolition of the structure. Damage sensitive soft storey structure and a weak story structure are used in the non-linear dynamic analysis and the DiPasquale-Cakmak (1987) damage index is calibrated with Park-Ang (1985) damage index. The exponent of the time-period ratio of DiPasquale-Cakmak model is modified to have consistency of damage index with Park-Ang (1985) model.

No description available.

The homologous recombination (HR) pathway contributes to genome integrity by mediating double strand break (DSB) repair using a homologous DNA sequence as a template. In mammals Rad51 and Brca2 are molecules central to this process. Little is known about HR repair in Dictyostelium. However, research previously conducted on DSB repair using this organism has shown that DSB repair pathways are highly conserved when compared to humans. This encouraged study of HR in this organism. In this study, through a bioinformatics search I have identified putative orthologues of most human HR proteins and most interestingly of BRCA2, which cannot be found in other lower eukaryotes used as models for DSB repair, such as the budding yeast S.cerevisiae. Brcp, the Dictyostelium BRCA2 ortholog, shows similar domain structure when compared to BRCA2-related proteins identified in other organisms. To verify the implication of HR proteins in DSB repair, I developed a method to monitor recruitment of DNA repair proteins on chromatin upon DSB induction. Findings of this study suggest that both Brcp and Rad51 get recruited to chromatin upon DSB induction and are therefore implicated in DSB repair in Dictyostelium. To further study Brcp function and based on findings suggesting that disruption of brcp might be lethal, I developed a novel system for specific and conditional depletion of endogenous Dictyostelium proteins. Utilizing this system, I conducted phenotypic studies in a strain depleted of Brcp to examine its role in DNA repair. Overall this study shows that the HR pathway in Dictyostelium shows great similarity to vertebrates, making Dictyostelium an appealing model for the study of DSB repair and specifically HR.

Protein structure models obtained from X-ray crystallography are subject to radiation damage. The resulting specific alterations to protein structures can be mistaken for biological features, or may obscure actual protein mechanisms, leading to misidentification or obscuration of biological insight. The radiation chemistry behind this site-specific damage is not well understood. Radiation damage processes progress in proportion to the dose absorbed by the crystal in the diffraction experiment. Doses can be estimated using existing software, but these assume idealised experimental conditions. To simulate complex diffraction experiments, including treatment of imperfect X-ray beam profiles and inhomogeneous dose distributions, a new program, RADDOSE-3D, was developed. RADDOSE-3D can be integrated into beamline software to provide convenient, more accurate, comparative, and publishable dose figures, also facilitating informed data collection decisions. There is currently no method to automatically detect specific radiation damage in protein structure models in the absence of an 'undamaged' reference model. Radiation damage research therefore generally relies on detailed observation of a few model proteins. A new metric, B_Damage, is designed and used to identify and quantify specific radiation damage in the first large-scale statistical survey of 2,704 published protein models, which are examined for the effects of local environments on site-specific radiation damage susceptibility. A significant positive correlation between susceptibility and solvent accessibility is identified. Current understanding of radiation damage progression is mostly based on a few consecutive structure model 'snapshots' at coarse dose intervals. The low sampling rate considerably limits the ability to identify varying site susceptibility and its causes. Real space electron density data are obtained for crystals of different mutants of a RhoGDI protein with very high sequence identity, to determine sensitising and stabilising factors for radiation induced structural changes. Utilising a newly developed data collection and analysis protocol, these changes could be tracked with unprecedented time resolution.

Introdução: A avaliação do dano ou prejuízo estético na área forense tornou-se um tema de grande importância nos últimos anos, principalmente devido à atenção que a sociedade de hoje dedica à estética, a harmonia do corpo, ou à \"beleza\" do ser humano. A aparência estética tem influência nas esferas sociais, no trabalho, bem como nas relações interpessoais. Cotidianamente, um grande número de pessoas são vítimas de acidentes de trânsito e de trabalho, violência urbana, traumas pela prática desportiva, e também do erro profissional, as quais apresentam sequelas de ferimentos sediados na região maxilo-facial, e oriundos destas ocorrências. Com o aumento dessas lesões, aumentaram também a preocupação com o conteúdo dos laudos e a justa avaliação destas lesões em consequência da perda estética. Uma dificuldade para os peritos nesse tipo de avaliação são os múltiplos detalhes no exame pericial, e muito em razão da carência de padronização de protocolos e de uma metodologia adequada capaz de abordar o dano estético de maneira objetiva. Objetivo: Valendo-se de metodologia analítica específica de impressão do impacto de prejuízo estético (método AIPE adaptado transculturalmente para o Brasil - Fernandes et al, 2016) o presente trabalho voltou-se ao estudo comparativo da percepção de dano estético em quatro grupos distintos de profissionais sendo eles: Profissionais da área do Direito, médicos, cirurgiões-dentistas, e outros profissionais que não das áreas da saúde e do Direito, representando as pessoas comuns da sociedade, com intuito de verificar a homogeneidade ou não de impressões, e assim fomentar e proporcionar uma melhor aplicabilidade na Justiça. Metodologia: Os profissionais voluntários receberam presencialmente do pesquisador o método AIPE que foi aplicado numa série de casos de prejuízo estético facial simulado. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 391 pessoas, sendo elas 93 do Direito, 93 da Medicina, 107 da Odontologia e 98 de outras áreas profissionais. Os grupos mostraram diferenças de opinião, onde os grupos Direito e Medicina, próximos entre si nas valorações, exprimiram mensurações significativamente menores comparativamente aos grupos Odontologia e Outros profissionais, que também foram próximos entre si nas valorações. Os profissionais com mais de 35 anos valoraram mais que os de menos de 35 anos de idade (p<0.05). Não houve variação de opinião significante entre homens e mulheres. Conclusão: O estudo demonstrou ser possível a análise da impressão do impacto do dano estético pelo método AIPE por grupos de profissionais de diferentes formações onde foram evidenciadas as diferenças de percepção entre eles. O trabalho incorporou o tema, com intuito de unificar o entendimento de conceitos e também propiciar discussões no âmbito do Poder Judiciário e demais envolvidos, como a sociedade, pacientes e peritos na busca das melhores formas da ciência, bom senso e justiça nas avaliações do dano estético facial. O estudo demonstrou que a percepção do dano estético facial dos cirurgiões-dentistas alinha-se ao senso comum da sociedade (outros profissionais), contemplando assim a perspectiva de laudos mais condizentes, quando redigidos por estes profissionais. / Introduction: In the field of forensics, the evaluation of the aesthetic damage has become a subject of great importance in recent years. This is mainly due to the attention that the today\'s society dedicates to esthetics, the harmony of the body, or the \"beauty\" of the human being. Aesthetic appearance has an influence in social, professional, as well as interpersonal relationships. Every day, a significant number of people are victims of traffic and work-related accidents, urban violence, sports traumas, and also medical errors, which result in disfigurement and residual scarring in the maxillofacial region. With an increasing number of incidents and resulting lesions, there has a been a rising concern with the content of the reports and the whether correct evaluation of these lesions was performed regarding the consequential aesthetic loss from these lesions. Some of the difficulties for experts in this type of assessment are the quantity of details needed, combined with the lack of standardized protocols and adequate methodology capable of addressing the aesthetic damage objectively. Objective: Using the specific analytical methodology of impression of the impact of aesthetic damage (AIPE method cross-culturally adapted for Brazil - Fernandes et al., 2016) the work focuses on the comparative study of the perception of aesthetic damage in four distinct groups of professionals: law professionals, doctors, dentists, and others no Health and no Law professionals who represent a miscellaneous group in society with a view to verify the homogeneity or otherwise of impressions, and thus fostering and providing greater applicability in court. Methodology: The volunteer professionals were presented by the researcher with the AIPE method, which they applied to a series of simulated facial aesthetic damage cases. Results: In total, 391 people participated in the study; 93 in Law, 93 in Medicine, 107 in Dentistry and 98 were \"Other areas Professionals\". The groups showed differences in theirs opinion where the Law and Medicine groups were similar to each other in theirs evaluations, expressing significantly smaller measurements compared to the Dentistry group and Other professionals group, who also similar to each other. Evaluations by the professionals who were older than 35 were closer in range than those by the professionals less than 35 years of age (p <0.05). There was no significant difference in opinion between men and women. Conclusion: The study showed that it is possible to analyze the impression of the impact of aesthetic damage by the AIPE method by groups of professionals from different fields where the differences of perception between them were evidenced. The work regarding the assessment of facial aesthetic damage, was done in order to unify the understanding of concepts and also to foster discussions within the judiciary system (including society, patients, and experts) in the search of fairness, optimal use of science, and common sense. The study showed that the perception of facial aesthetic damage by dentists is aligned with the common sense of society (other professionals), thus suggesting a more appropriate perspective in reports drafted by these professionals.

The future of the aerospace industry in large part relies on two factors: (i) development of advanced damage tolerant materials and (ii) development of advanced smart sensors with the ability to detect and evaluate defects at very early stages of component service life. Laminated composite materials, such as carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP), have emerged as the materials of choice for increasing the performance and reducing the cost and weight of aircrafts, which leads to less fuel consumption and therefore lower CO2 emissions. However, it is well known that these materials exhibit fragile behaviour, poor resistance to impact damage caused by foreign objects and require a relatively slow and labour intensive manufacturing process. These factors prevent the rapid expansion of composite materials in several industrial sectors at the current time. Inspired by the use of rope throughout history and driven by the necessity of creating a lean manufacturing process for composites and enhancing their impact properties, the first part of this work has shown that enhanced damage tolerance and pseudo-ductile behaviour can be achieved with standard CFRP by creatively arranging the fibres into a 3D twisted helical configuration. Through an extensive experimental campaign a new method to arrange fibre reinforcement was presented and its effect investigated. The second part of this PhD work focused on developing a new smart sensor. A spiral passive electromagnetic sensor (SPES) for damage detection on CFRP and glass fibre reinforced plastics (GFRP) is presented in this work. A range of defect types in glass and carbon composite has been considered, such as delamination, perforated holes and cracks. Furthermore, throughout this work, the SPES has been exploited as a multi-sensing device allowing the ability to detect temperature and humidity variation, presence of ice and act as an anti/de-icing device.

Introdução: A avaliação do dano ou prejuízo estético na área forense tornou-se um tema de grande importância nos últimos anos, principalmente devido à atenção que a sociedade de hoje dedica à estética, a harmonia do corpo, ou à \"beleza\" do ser humano. A aparência estética tem influência nas esferas sociais, no trabalho, bem como nas relações interpessoais. Cotidianamente, um grande número de pessoas são vítimas de acidentes de trânsito e de trabalho, violência urbana, traumas pela prática desportiva, e também do erro profissional, as quais apresentam sequelas de ferimentos sediados na região maxilo-facial, e oriundos destas ocorrências. Com o aumento dessas lesões, aumentaram também a preocupação com o conteúdo dos laudos e a justa avaliação destas lesões em consequência da perda estética. Uma dificuldade para os peritos nesse tipo de avaliação são os múltiplos detalhes no exame pericial, e muito em razão da carência de padronização de protocolos e de uma metodologia adequada capaz de abordar o dano estético de maneira objetiva. Objetivo: Valendo-se de metodologia analítica específica de impressão do impacto de prejuízo estético (método AIPE adaptado transculturalmente para o Brasil - Fernandes et al, 2016) o presente trabalho voltou-se ao estudo comparativo da percepção de dano estético em quatro grupos distintos de profissionais sendo eles: Profissionais da área do Direito, médicos, cirurgiões-dentistas, e outros profissionais que não das áreas da saúde e do Direito, representando as pessoas comuns da sociedade, com intuito de verificar a homogeneidade ou não de impressões, e assim fomentar e proporcionar uma melhor aplicabilidade na Justiça. Metodologia: Os profissionais voluntários receberam presencialmente do pesquisador o método AIPE que foi aplicado numa série de casos de prejuízo estético facial simulado. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 391 pessoas, sendo elas 93 do Direito, 93 da Medicina, 107 da Odontologia e 98 de outras áreas profissionais. Os grupos mostraram diferenças de opinião, onde os grupos Direito e Medicina, próximos entre si nas valorações, exprimiram mensurações significativamente menores comparativamente aos grupos Odontologia e Outros profissionais, que também foram próximos entre si nas valorações. Os profissionais com mais de 35 anos valoraram mais que os de menos de 35 anos de idade (p<0.05). Não houve variação de opinião significante entre homens e mulheres. Conclusão: O estudo demonstrou ser possível a análise da impressão do impacto do dano estético pelo método AIPE por grupos de profissionais de diferentes formações onde foram evidenciadas as diferenças de percepção entre eles. O trabalho incorporou o tema, com intuito de unificar o entendimento de conceitos e também propiciar discussões no âmbito do Poder Judiciário e demais envolvidos, como a sociedade, pacientes e peritos na busca das melhores formas da ciência, bom senso e justiça nas avaliações do dano estético facial. O estudo demonstrou que a percepção do dano estético facial dos cirurgiões-dentistas alinha-se ao senso comum da sociedade (outros profissionais), contemplando assim a perspectiva de laudos mais condizentes, quando redigidos por estes profissionais. / Introduction: In the field of forensics, the evaluation of the aesthetic damage has become a subject of great importance in recent years. This is mainly due to the attention that the today\'s society dedicates to esthetics, the harmony of the body, or the \"beauty\" of the human being. Aesthetic appearance has an influence in social, professional, as well as interpersonal relationships. Every day, a significant number of people are victims of traffic and work-related accidents, urban violence, sports traumas, and also medical errors, which result in disfigurement and residual scarring in the maxillofacial region. With an increasing number of incidents and resulting lesions, there has a been a rising concern with the content of the reports and the whether correct evaluation of these lesions was performed regarding the consequential aesthetic loss from these lesions. Some of the difficulties for experts in this type of assessment are the quantity of details needed, combined with the lack of standardized protocols and adequate methodology capable of addressing the aesthetic damage objectively. Objective: Using the specific analytical methodology of impression of the impact of aesthetic damage (AIPE method cross-culturally adapted for Brazil - Fernandes et al., 2016) the work focuses on the comparative study of the perception of aesthetic damage in four distinct groups of professionals: law professionals, doctors, dentists, and others no Health and no Law professionals who represent a miscellaneous group in society with a view to verify the homogeneity or otherwise of impressions, and thus fostering and providing greater applicability in court. Methodology: The volunteer professionals were presented by the researcher with the AIPE method, which they applied to a series of simulated facial aesthetic damage cases. Results: In total, 391 people participated in the study; 93 in Law, 93 in Medicine, 107 in Dentistry and 98 were \"Other areas Professionals\". The groups showed differences in theirs opinion where the Law and Medicine groups were similar to each other in theirs evaluations, expressing significantly smaller measurements compared to the Dentistry group and Other professionals group, who also similar to each other. Evaluations by the professionals who were older than 35 were closer in range than those by the professionals less than 35 years of age (p <0.05). There was no significant difference in opinion between men and women. Conclusion: The study showed that it is possible to analyze the impression of the impact of aesthetic damage by the AIPE method by groups of professionals from different fields where the differences of perception between them were evidenced. The work regarding the assessment of facial aesthetic damage, was done in order to unify the understanding of concepts and also to foster discussions within the judiciary system (including society, patients, and experts) in the search of fairness, optimal use of science, and common sense. The study showed that the perception of facial aesthetic damage by dentists is aligned with the common sense of society (other professionals), thus suggesting a more appropriate perspective in reports drafted by these professionals.

Doctor of Philosophy / Persons with acquired brain injury require continuing support and care in various aspects of their lives many years post-injury. Their care and support are mainly provided by family members. While respite is one of a range of critical support systems for carers and people with life-long disability, very little is known about respite in the area of acquired brain injury. The majority of the research on respite has been undertaken in developmental disability, mental health and in aged care, but there is no research to date about respite from the perspectives of the person with a disability, the carer and respite provider. There is also no research that examines these perspectives in the acquired brain injury literature. This study was aimed to address this gap in the literature by investigating respite from the perspectives of the person with acquired brain injury, the carer and the respite provider. It also examined the profile of respite services being provided in the Australian state of New South Wales as there had not been a comprehensive mapping of respite before. Survey methodology was used to gather information from persons with acquired brain injury and their carers who were members of the New South Wales Brain Injury Association, which is the peak advocacy association of people with brain injury. The same methodology was used to gather similar information from members of Interchange Respite Care New South Wales, which is a peak association representing respite providers in the state. The survey questionnaires were developed and designed after an extensive review of the literature, and were reviewed by experts in the fields of respite, disability and acquired brain injury. The survey questionnaire was also trialled on a sample of families. The survey questionnaires for the three participant groups shared several common sections, such as demographic information; factors influencing respite use; expectations of respite; and satisfaction with respite services used by persons or carers. The responses from the three participant groups were analysed and compared using logistic regression and descriptive statistics. The key findings of the study are (a) several characteristics or factors of the person with acquired brain injury and their carer were significantly associated with the use of respite, (b) there were several common factors that all three participant groups reported to influence respite use, and (c) there were several common expectations of respite among the three participant groups. Some of the characteristics or factors that were significantly associated with respite use included the severity of disability, the high level of dependency of the person with acquired brain injury, and the number of days spent in a coma. Common factors reported by all three participant groups to influence respite use included the stress level of the carer and the severity of disability. Factors reported to influence respite use appear to be consistent with the literature in developmental disability. There were common perspectives regarding the expectations of respite among all three participant groups, such as the need for trained and qualified respite staff; a wider range of respite services and more flexibility of respite service provision. The study also indicated a reported lack of sufficient respite for persons with acquired brain injury and their carers. Some of the findings of the study appeared to be consistent with the research literature on acquired brain injury; such as the majority of carers being mainly female; there is a reliance on informal networks for the care and support of the person with acquired brain injury; and the majority of the persons with acquired brain injury being male. The study also found that many respite providers in New South Wales had extensive experience in running a respite service. The findings of the study have important implications for policy direction and development, practice and service delivery, and research. In terms of policy direction and development, implications explored included: a flexible funding model that is responsive to the needs of carer and person with acquired brain injury, and adequately trained and qualified staff and volunteers play an important role in respite provision. Further research is required to understand empirically the benefits and quality of life outcomes over a period of time, such as what types and extent of respite are more beneficial for certain demographic profiles. The study highlights the perspectives of persons with acquired brain injury, their carers and respite providers. Respite is an important support system to enable persons with acquired brain injury to receive the continuing care and support from their carers. Respite in acquired brain injury is a new field that merits further research as it holds the potential for addressing the needs of people with acquired brain injury and their carers.

Doctor of Philosophy / Persons with acquired brain injury require continuing support and care in various aspects of their lives many years post-injury. Their care and support are mainly provided by family members. While respite is one of a range of critical support systems for carers and people with life-long disability, very little is known about respite in the area of acquired brain injury. The majority of the research on respite has been undertaken in developmental disability, mental health and in aged care, but there is no research to date about respite from the perspectives of the person with a disability, the carer and respite provider. There is also no research that examines these perspectives in the acquired brain injury literature. This study was aimed to address this gap in the literature by investigating respite from the perspectives of the person with acquired brain injury, the carer and the respite provider. It also examined the profile of respite services being provided in the Australian state of New South Wales as there had not been a comprehensive mapping of respite before. Survey methodology was used to gather information from persons with acquired brain injury and their carers who were members of the New South Wales Brain Injury Association, which is the peak advocacy association of people with brain injury. The same methodology was used to gather similar information from members of Interchange Respite Care New South Wales, which is a peak association representing respite providers in the state. The survey questionnaires were developed and designed after an extensive review of the literature, and were reviewed by experts in the fields of respite, disability and acquired brain injury. The survey questionnaire was also trialled on a sample of families. The survey questionnaires for the three participant groups shared several common sections, such as demographic information; factors influencing respite use; expectations of respite; and satisfaction with respite services used by persons or carers. The responses from the three participant groups were analysed and compared using logistic regression and descriptive statistics. The key findings of the study are (a) several characteristics or factors of the person with acquired brain injury and their carer were significantly associated with the use of respite, (b) there were several common factors that all three participant groups reported to influence respite use, and (c) there were several common expectations of respite among the three participant groups. Some of the characteristics or factors that were significantly associated with respite use included the severity of disability, the high level of dependency of the person with acquired brain injury, and the number of days spent in a coma. Common factors reported by all three participant groups to influence respite use included the stress level of the carer and the severity of disability. Factors reported to influence respite use appear to be consistent with the literature in developmental disability. There were common perspectives regarding the expectations of respite among all three participant groups, such as the need for trained and qualified respite staff; a wider range of respite services and more flexibility of respite service provision. The study also indicated a reported lack of sufficient respite for persons with acquired brain injury and their carers. Some of the findings of the study appeared to be consistent with the research literature on acquired brain injury; such as the majority of carers being mainly female; there is a reliance on informal networks for the care and support of the person with acquired brain injury; and the majority of the persons with acquired brain injury being male. The study also found that many respite providers in New South Wales had extensive experience in running a respite service. The findings of the study have important implications for policy direction and development, practice and service delivery, and research. In terms of policy direction and development, implications explored included: a flexible funding model that is responsive to the needs of carer and person with acquired brain injury, and adequately trained and qualified staff and volunteers play an important role in respite provision. Further research is required to understand empirically the benefits and quality of life outcomes over a period of time, such as what types and extent of respite are more beneficial for certain demographic profiles. The study highlights the perspectives of persons with acquired brain injury, their carers and respite providers. Respite is an important support system to enable persons with acquired brain injury to receive the continuing care and support from their carers. Respite in acquired brain injury is a new field that merits further research as it holds the potential for addressing the needs of people with acquired brain injury and their carers.