The purpose was to verify ego states as objectively identifiable phenomena and the influence of early parent-child relationships on their identification using an audio tape of recorded examples of ego states, Thompson's Ego State Tape (EST), and the Roe-Siegleman Parent-Child Relations Questionaire (PCR). No relationship was found between SAT scores and scores on the EST, nor between PCR and EST scores. It was concluded that possibly (1) no relationship existed between how children perceive their parents and the identification of ego states, and (2) that the PCR might not be sampling child rearing practices relevant to the identification of ego states.

Postural stability is necessary for all human activities. Management od postural control is provided especially by central nervous system. For management are essential afferent information from vestibular, visual and somatosensory system. Modification of any of these inputs could have influence postural stability. Changes of exteroceptive perception can be achieved by the application of kinesio tape. Kinesiotaping is currently very popular therapeutic method, which is attributed to the wide range of effects. In the theoretical part of this thesis are described these effects, including the results of scientific studies that are engaged in verify the effects. Experimental part of this thesis was focused on the objectification of any changes of postural stability after application of kinesio tape on dorsal and ventral side of the trunk in healthy individuals without injury or other disorders. For the examination were used two tests of Balance Master® System, the modified clinical test of sensory interaction on balance and the test limits of stability. The results were satistically evaluated at the level α = 0.05. Due to kinesio tape were observed no siginificant changes in the mean sway velocity of center of gravity. There were also found no significant changes of parameters that evaluate the transmission of...

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have attracted much interest as the most efficient electrochemical device to directly convert chemical energy to usable electrical energy. The porous Ni-YSZ anode known as the state-of-the-art cermet anode material is found to show serious degradation when using hydrocarbon as fuel due to carbon deposition, sulphur poisoning, and nickel sintering. In order to overcome these problems, doped strontium titanate has been investigated as a potential anode material due to its high electronic conductivity and stability in reducing atmosphere. In this work, A-site deficient strontium titanate co-doped with lanthanum and calcium, La₀.₂Sr₀.₂₅Ca₀.₄₅TiO₃ (LSCT[sub](A-)), was examined. Flat multilayer ceramics have been produced using the aqueous tape casting technique by controlling the sintering behaviour of LSCT[sub](A-), resulting in a 450µm thick porous LSCT[sub](A-) scaffold with a well adhered 40µm dense YSZ electrolyte. Impregnation of CeO₂ and Ni results in a maximum power density of 0.96Wcm⁻² at 800°C, higher than those of without impregnation (0.124Wcm⁻²) and with impregnation of Ni alone (0.37Wcm⁻²). The addition of catalysts into LSCT[sub](A-) anode significantly reduces the polarization resistance of the cells, suggesting an insufficient electrocatalytic activity of the LSCT[sub](A-) backbone for hydrogen oxidation, but LSCT[sub](A-) can provide the electronic conductivity required for anode. Later, the cells with the configuration of LSCT[sub](A-)/YSZ/LSCF-YSZ were prepared by the organic tape casting and impregnation techniques with only 300-m thick anode as support. The effects of metallic catalysts in the anode supports on the initial performance and stability in humidified hydrogen were discussed. The nickel and iron impregnated LSCT[sub](A-) cell exhibits a maximum powder density of 272mW/cm² at 700°C, much larger than 43mW/cm² for the cell without impregnation and 112mW/cm² for the cell with nickel impregnation. Simultaneously, the bimetal Ni-Fe impregnates have significantly reduced the degradation rates in humidified hydrogen (3% H₂O) at 700°C. The enhancement from impregnation of the bi-metal can possibly be the result of the presence of ionic conducting Wustite Fe₁₋ₓO that resides underneath the Ni-Fe metallic particles and better microstructure. Third, in order to improve the ionic conductivity of the anode support and increase the effective TPBs, ionic conducting ceria was impregnated into the LSCT[sub](A-) anode, along with the metallic catalysts. The CeO₂-LSCT[sub](A-) cell shows a poor performance upon operation in hydrogen atmosphere containing 3% H₂O; and with addition of metallic catalysts, the cell performance increases drastically by almost three-fold. However, the infiltrated Ni particles on the top of ceria layer cause the deposition of carbon filament leading to cell cracking when exposure to humidified methane (3% H₂O). No such behaviour was observed on the CeO₂-NiFe impregnated anode. The microstructure images of the impregnated anodes at different times during stability testing demonstrate that the grain growth of catalysts, the interaction between the anode backbone and infiltrates, and the spalling of the agglomerated catalysts are the main reasons for the performance degradation. Fourth, the YSZ-LSCT[sub](A-) composites including the YSZ contents of 5-80wt.% were investigated to determine the percolation threshold concentration of YSZ to achieve electronic and ionic conducting pathways when using the composite as SOFC anode backbone. The microstructure and dilatometric curves show that when the YSZ content is below 30%, the milled sample has a lower shrinkage than the unmilled one due to the blocking effect from the well distributed YSZ grains within LSCT[sub](A-) bulk. However, at the YSZ above 30% where two phases start to form the individual and interconnected bulk, the composites without ball milling process show a lower densification. The impact of YSZ concentration and ball milling process on the electrical properties of the composites reveals that the percolation threshold concentration is not only dependant on the actual concentration, but also related to the local arrangement of two phases. In Napier University, the electroless nickel-ceramic co-depositon process was investigated as a manufacturing technique for the anodes of planar SOFCs, which entails reduced costs and reduced high-temperature induced defects, compared with conventional fabrication techniques. The Ni-YSZ anodes prepared by the electroless co-deposition technique without the addition of surfactant adhere well to the YSZ electrolyte before and after testing at 800°C in humidified hydrogen. Ni-YSZ anodes co-deposited with pore-forming starch showed twice the maximum power density compared with those without the starch. It has therefore been demonstrated that a porous Ni-YSZ cermet structure was successfully manufactured by means of an electroless plating technique incorporating pore formers followed by firing at 450°C in air. Although the use of surfactant (CTAB) increases the plating thickness, it induces the formation of a Ni-rich layer on the electrolyte/anode interface, leading to the delamination of anode most likely due to the mismatched TECs with the adjacent YSZ electrolyte.

It has been shown that prolonged systemic presence of a drug can cause a build up of that drug in the skin. This drug ‘reservoir’, if properly understood, could provide useful and important information about the recent drug-taking history of a patient. In this thesis we create three mathematical models which combine to explore the potential for a drug reservoir to form in the skin and be collected as a method of monitoring compliance. The first model is used to characterise timedependent drug concentrations in plasma and tissue following a customisable drug regimen. Outputs from this model provide boundary conditions for the second, spatio-temporal model of drug build-up and concentration profile in the skin. This then provides initial conditions for the final model which predicts the extraction. These models are then used to identify the scenarios which have the greatest potential for successfully monitoring patient compliance via the skin. We focus in particular on drugs that are highly bound as this will restrict their potential to move freely into the skin but which are lipophilic so that, in the unbound form, they would demonstrate an affinity to the outer layers of the skin (which are built around a lipid matrix). We highlight how this study might be used to inform future experimental design and data collection in order to provide relevant parameter estimates for reservoir formation and its potential to contribute to enhanced drug monitoring techniques.

"Many assembly machines for consumer products suffer from the fact that the mechanisms used to impart the necessary assembly motions to the product are orders of magnitude more massive than the product payloads that they carry. This characteristic subsequently limits the operating speed of the machine. If the follower train could be made less massive without sacrificing accuracy and control, it would therefore allow higher speeds. It is well-known that structures that carry only tensile loads can be much less massive than those that must also carry compressive loads. This concept is demonstrated in many structures, such as the suspension bridge. This master’s project set out to investigate the feasibility of a tension-member follower train for a generic cam-driven pick and place mechanism. This system was first dynamically simulated using a computer model, and then tested by constructing a proof of concept prototype. A cam-driven, low-mass tension member (in this case a spring steel strip over pulleys) under spring preload was used to replace the bellcranks and connecting rods typical of a conventional follower train. The system was determined to be feasible and will allow for increased operating speeds at potentially lower costs as an additional benefit."

The world demand for energy is estimated to increase by up to 70% from 2016 to 2040. To meet this demand in a sustainable way, the power density of electric motors and generators can be increased by using superconducting materials. In particular, trapped field superconducting magnets, where the field is generated by a circulating persistent current in the sample, can create magnetic fields an order of magnitude higher than possible using conventional ferromagnets, thus increasing the power density of motors and generators. This is of great interest where added weight comes at a premium, such as for naval propulsion motors, wind generators and motors/generators for future electric aircraft. This work investigates the suitability of stacked tape layers of second generation high temperature superconductors (HTS), such as YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) for trapped field applications. The present limits for trapped field magnitude have been determined, which provide a basis for the optimization of pulsed field magnetization techniques for in-situ magnetization in motors and generators. Trapped fields were increased by optimising the magnetic pulse sequence, using thermally conductive material to reduce temperature rise during pulse and changing the duration of the magnetic field pulse. Finite element method computer modelling was used to model and predict the behaviour of the trapped field magnets made of HTS tape with good agreement to experiment for both field cooling and pulsed field magnetisation. The models rely on critical current data for the HTS tape and its dependence on magnetic field and temperature. For this reason, a critical current testing facility was developed and constructed as a part of this work capable of measuring critical current up to 900 A, magnetic field of 1.5 T and down to temperatures of ~10 K in forced and dynamically controlled helium vapour flow. Lastly, first steps into scaling up by pulse magnetising an array of HTS tape stacks were made, allowing for larger overall trapped flux values. Such an array exhibits geometry, similar to what is going to be used in a functional motor prototype being developed in our research group (Applied Superconductivity and Cryoscience Group, ASCG). The work done culminated in the highest trapped field achieved to date using both field cooling (13.4 T between two stacks) and pulsed field magnetization (2.1 T above a single stack), for this type of trapped field magnet.

The problem of the study was to discover whether the selfconcepts of selected children in the primary grades could be enhanced. The purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility of using tape-recorded stories to enhance the self-concepts of selected primary grade children. A treatment of the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale for sex differences showed no significant differences for either the experimental or control groups. Some enhancement of the self-concepts of primary grade children may be possible by means of auditory non-teacher directed activities under properly controlled conditions. Several areas should be further investigated. A regular school year study should be designed to produce results applicable to a more general population. Such a study might answer questions regarding peer influences, the relationship between self-concept and academic achievement, the tolerance of primary grade children for prolonged treatment, and teacher attitude toward conducting such activities. Studies should be conducted to determine the relative value of simultaneous visual and auditory presentations for the enhancement of self-concept.

The main objective of the Cedar High School (C.H.S.) Study was to develop a curriculum that would be useful to the social studies educator interested in teaching critical thinking skills to high school students. The model for teaching critical thinking that was followed during the C.H.S. study included three requirements. The first was to identify those critical thinking skills that would be useful to students during discussion of controversial issues. The second requirement of the critical thinking model was to teach these context specific critical thinking skills to students. This requirement was met by using a variety of materials, including a demonstration video tape that provided a written and verbal description of each of the critical thinking skills taught in the C.H.S. study followed by a demonstration of the skill. The third requirement of the model was that students who have been taught the critical thinking skills be given the opportunity to use the skills in realistic situations. This requirement was met by having students meet in small groups to discuss controversial issues using the critical thinking skills which had been taught to them via the demonstration video tape. An important part of the study was to record students on video tape during their discussions and then to have students view the video tapes and perform a self-evaluation as to how often they had used each of the previously identified critical thinking skills. This self-evaluation was performed using a Seminar Discussion Check List (S.D.C.L.) prepared as part of the C.H.S. study. The S.D.C.L. identified each of the critical thinking categories, and gave a verbal description of the skill, as well as providing an example of the skill in a conversational setting. Students from a social issues and an American history class at C.H.S. were randomly assigned to three treatment classifications. The classifications included video, audio, and non-media groups. The video and audio groups were recorded on video or audio tape for later self-evaluation by students using the S.D.C.L. the non-media group, which was designated the control group, was not recorded but carried out its self-evaluation from memory. The effectiveness of the video tape procedures was assessed with a posttest-only control group design, using analysis of covariance as the statistical technique with students' overall grade point average (G.P.A.) as the covariate for the first series of posttest given in November, 1972, and with G.P.A. and November posttest scores as additional covariates for a second posttest given in December, 1972. The second series of posttest were given to assess any variability in the critical thinking retention rates among students in the three treatment classifications. The dependent variables were the Social Issues Analysis Test No. 1, (SIAT No. 1) and the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (W.G.C.T.A.). The S.D.C.L. was also used as a dependent variable. Inasmuch as it was impossible to get individual scores from the audio tapes of student discussions, an analysis of variance using group means on the S.D.C.L. was performed. The hypotheses were that students in the experimental video discussion groups in the social issues and American history classes would have higher November and December posttest mean critical thinking scores on all three dependent variables than would students in the audio and non-media discussion groups. The null hypothesis, however, was accepted for each hypothesis. It was recommended that social studies educators continued to investigate the effectiveness of the three-step model for teaching the critical thinking process. It was also recommended that additional research be conducted to assess the relative effectiveness of video and audio tape feedback as part of the minicourse model for teaching. A final recommendation was that additional research be conducted concerning the effectiveness of an observational system such as the S.D.C.L. as an instrument for self-evaluation and as a device for collecting research data.

This research project examined the diffusion of change within one Victorian TAPE Institute by engaging action research to facilitate implementation of e-mail technology. The theoretical framework involving the concepts of technology innovation and action research was enhanced with the aid of Rogers's (1983) model of the diffusion of the innovation process. Political and cultural factors made up the initiation phase of innovation, enabling the research to concentrate on the implementation phase of e-mail Roger's (1983) model also provided adopter categories that related to the findings of a Computer Attitude Survey that was conducted at The School of Mines and Industries Ballarat (SMB), now the University of Ballarat—TAPE Division since amalgamation on 1st January 1998. Despite management rhetoric about the need to utilise e-mail, Institute teaching staff lacked individual computers in their work areas and most were waiting to become connected to the Internet as late as 1997. According to the action research reports, many staff were resistant to the new e-mail facilities despite having access to personal computers whose numbers doubled annually. The action research project became focussed when action researchers realised that e-mail workshop training was ineffective and that staff required improved access. Improvement to processes within education through collaborative action research had earlier been achieved (McTaggart 1994), and this project actively engaged practitioners to facilitate decentralised e-mail training in the workplace through the action research spiral of planning, acting, observing and reflecting, before replanning. The action researchers * task was to find ways to improve the diffusion of e-mail throughout the Institute and to develop theoretical constructs. My research task was to determine whether action research could successfully facilitate e-mail throughout the Institute. A rich literature existed about technology use in education, technology teaching, gender issues, less about computerphobia, and none about 'e-mailphobia \ It seemed appropriate to pursue the issue of e-mailphobia since it was marginalised, or ignored in the literature. The major political and cultural influences on the technologising of SMB and e-mail introduction were complex, making it impossible to ascertain the relative degrees of influence held by Federal and State Governments, SMB's leadership or the local community, Nonetheless, with the implementation of e-mail, traditional ways were challenged as SMB's culture changed. E-mail training was identified as a staff professional development activity that had been largely unsuccessful. Action research is critical collaborative inquiry by reflective practitioners who are accountable for making the results of their inquiry public and who are self-evaluating of their practice while engaging participative problem-solving and continuing professional development (Zuber-Skerritt 1992, 1993). Action research was the methodology employed in researching e-mail implementation into SMB because it involved collaborative inquiry with colleagues as reflective practitioners. Thoughtful questions could best be explored using deconstructivist philosophy, in asking about the noise of silence, which issues were not addressed, what were the contradictions and who was being marginalised with e-mail usage within SMB. Reviewing literature on action research was complicated by its broad definition and by the variability of research (King & Lonnquist 1992), and yet action research as a research methodology was well represented in educational research literature, and provided a systematic and recognisable way for practitioners to conduct their research. On the basis of this study, it could be stated that action research facilitated the diffusion of e-mail technology into one TAPE Institute, despite the process being disappointingly slow. While the process in establishing the action research group was problematic, action researchers showed that a window of opportunity existed for decentralised diffusion of e-mail training,in preference to bureaucratically motivated 'workshops. Eight major findings, grouped under two broad headings were identified: the process of diffusion (planning, nature of the process, culture, politics) and outcomes of diffusion (categorising, e-mailphobia, the survey device and technology in education). The findings indicated that staff had little experience with e-mail and appeared not to recognise its benefits. While 54.1% did not agree that electronic means could be the preferred way to receive Institute memost some 13.7% admitted to problems with using the voice answering service on telephones. Some 43.3% thought e-mail would not improve their connectedness (how they related) to the Institute. A small percentage of staff had trouble with telephone voice-mail and a number of these were anxious computer users. Individualised tuition and peer support proved helpful to individual staff whom action researchers believed to be 'at risk', as determined from the results of a Computer Attitude Survey. An instructional strategy that fostered the development of self-regulation and peer support was valuable, but there was no measure of the effects of this action research program, other than in qualitative terms. Nevertheless, action research gave space to reflect on the nature of the underlying processes in adopting e-mail. Challenges faced by TAPE action researchers are integrally affected by the values within TAPE, which change constantly and have recently been extensive enough to be considered as a 'new paradigm'. The influence of competition policy, the training reform agenda and technologisation of training have challenged traditional TAPE values. Action research reported that many staff had little immediate professional reason to use e-mail Theoretical answers were submerged beneath practical professional concerns, which related back to how much time teachers had and whether they could benefit from e-mail. A need for the development of principles for the sound educational uses of e-mail increases with the internationalisation of education and an increasing awareness of cultural differences. The implications for conducting action research in TAPE are addressed under the two broad issues of power and pedagogy. Issues of power included gaining access, management's inability to overcome staff resistance to technology, changing TAPE values and using technology for conducting action research. Pedagogical issues included the recognition of educational above technological issues and training staff in action research. Finally, seventeen steps are suggested to overcome power and pedagogical impediments to the conduct of action research within TAPE. This action research project has provided greater insight into the difficulties of successfully introducing one culture-specific technology into one TAPE Institute. TAPE Institutes need to encourage more action research into their operations, and it is only then that -we can expect to answer the unanswered questions raised in this research project.

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