We describe the design background of the mathematics game Fingu for iPad aimed at 4 to 8 year old children. We first describe how Fingu theoretically can support children's development of fundamental arithmetic skills, focusing on conceptual subitizing, the embodiment of numerosity, and finger gnosis. Then we present the results of an exploratory micro-longitudinal study of the game with 11 5- and 6-year old children playing the game for several weeks and being filmed at three occasions. We discuss how their behavior with the game develops over time and can be related to the development of arithmetic skills. Finally we discuss how we will proceed testing the effectiveness of Fingu in a larger controlled study.

In the design of all marine craft the prediction of a vessel??s resistance characteristics is a major consideration. The accurate prediction of resistance is particularly important in the design of modern high-speed vessels where the primary contractual obligation placed upon the builder is the vessel??s achievable speed. Investigation was made of the methods of Doctors and Day, whereby the traditional Michell wave-resistance theory, published in 1898, is improved on through a better understanding of the hydrodynamics of transom sterns and the application of statistically determined form factors. One of the difficulties with the Michell theory is how to account for the hollow that forms behind a transom stern, a feature prevalent in high-speed vessels. A common approach in the numerical prediction of wave resistance for transom-stern vessels is to discretize the hollow as a geometrically-smooth addition to the vessel. Therefore, of great importance in accurate prediction of wave resistance is the hydrodynamics of, and in particular, the length and depth of the hollow formed behind the transom stern. Accordingly, a systematic series of transom-stern models were tank tested at various drafts and speeds in order to determine experimentally the length and depth of the hollow as a function of vessel speed, draft and beam. From the experimental data, algorithms for the determination of the length and depth of the transom hollow, have been developed and utilised in the discretization of the transom hollow for prediction of resistance using the Michell wave- resistance theory. Application of the developed hollow algorithms produced significant improvements in correlation of the experimental and theoretical predictions of total resistance, particularly in the lower Froude range. In addition to the transom-hollow investigation, form factors were obtained using least-squares regression of existing experimental data. The form factors were based on the major geometric parameters of the models used. In the research presented here, the method was applied to a large range of published resistance data for high-speed displacement vessels. Considerable improvement in correlation, between theoretical and experimental predictions of total resistance, was obtained by incorporating the calculated form-factors into the total resistance formulation.

In title, [beta] is represented by the Greek letter. / Copies of author's previously published articles inserted. / Errata pages pasted onto back end-paper. / Bibliography: leaves 104-137. / viii, 137, [22] leaves, [1] leaf of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Studies milk TGF-[beta] and its receptors in the post-natal gut using a rat model to investigate a link between milk TGF-[beta] and the development of the infant gut and gut mucosal immune system. Finds maternal milk may be a major source of TGF-[beta] to the immature gut and may react with receptors on the cells of the mucosal immune system along the gastro-intestinal tract, modulating infant mucosal immune responses in the transition to the post-natal enteral feeding. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Paediatrics, 2000

CRTR-1 is a member of the CP2 family of transcription factors. Unlike other CP2 family members, CRTR-1 expression is regulated developmentally. Major sites of expression in the embryo include the pluripotent inner cell mass (ICM) of the pre-implantation blastocyst and the developing kidney. It is also expressed in embryonic stem (ES) cells, which are derived from the ICM of blastocysts, and is downregulated as these cells differentiate into early primitive ectoderm-like (EPL) cells. This expression pattern suggests that CRTR-1 plays a role in early pluripotent populations. This thesis aims to characterize the transcription factor CRTR-1 at the molecular level and analyses the role of sumoylation on CRTR-1 function to develop a better understanding of the molecular role of CRTR-1 in ES cells. Luciferase reporter assays show that CRTR-1 is able to regulate the activities of other CP2 family members: CP2, NF2d9 and altNF2d9. It enhances CP2- and NF2d9-mediated activation but suppresses altNF2d9-mediated activation. To map the functional domains in the CRTR-1 protein, transactivation studies using CRTR-1 deletion mutants fused to the GAL4 DNA binding domain and a GAL4-responsive reporter system were performed. These studies map repressor activity to amino acids 48-200, but fail to identify a transactivation domain within the CRTR-1 protein. In order to understand the mechanisms by which CRTR-1 regulates the transcriptional activities of CP2 family members, a number of approaches are taken, including co-immunoprecipitation to show that CRTR-1 interacts with other CP2-like proteins, EMSA which demonstrate that CRTR-1 forms DNA binding complexes with CP2 family members, and subcellular protein localisation studies which reveal the ability of CRTR-1 and other family members to shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm via a CRM1-dependent pathway. In addition, the subcellular localisation of CRTR-1 appears to be cell type specific, with an exclusively nuclear localisation pattern in ES cells, a predominantly cytoplasmic localisation pattern in HEK293T cells, and a cytoplasmic and nuclear speckle localisation pattern in COS-1 cells. Co-expression of CRTR-1 with CP2 or NF2d9 results in the re-localisation of CRTR-1 to the cytoplasm in ES cells. The sumoylation enzymes Ubc9 and PIAS1 have previously been identified as CP2-interacting proteins (Kang et al., 2005a). Given the identification of two potential sumoylation sites within CRTR-1, FK³⁰ QE and LK⁴⁶ ⁴AE, and the ability for sumoylation to regulate transcription factor function, the possibility that CRTR-1 is regulated by sumoylation is investigated in this thesis. Immunoprecipitation experiments show that CRTR-1 is modified by SUMO-1 and that lysine 30 is the critical residue for this modification. Mutation of lysine 30 to alanine, which abolishes CRTR-1 sumoylation, results in enhancement of transactivation by CRTR-1, suggesting that sumoylation of CRTR-1 blocks maximal activation. Unexpectedly, however, overexpression of Ubc9, PIAS1, or SUMO-1 results in enhancement of CRTR-1 transcriptional activity, indicating that a more complex mechanism of regulation of CRTR-1 activity is likely. This thesis presents several novel properties of CRTR-1 and other CP2 family members, including the ability of CRTR-1, previously characterized as a repressor, to activate transcription. It is also the first demonstration that CP2 proteins are regulated by sumoylation and that they shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm via a CRM1-dependent mechanism. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1374290 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2009

CRTR-1 is a member of the CP2 family of transcription factors. Unlike other CP2 family members, CRTR-1 expression is regulated developmentally. Major sites of expression in the embryo include the pluripotent inner cell mass (ICM) of the pre-implantation blastocyst and the developing kidney. It is also expressed in embryonic stem (ES) cells, which are derived from the ICM of blastocysts, and is downregulated as these cells differentiate into early primitive ectoderm-like (EPL) cells. This expression pattern suggests that CRTR-1 plays a role in early pluripotent populations. This thesis aims to characterize the transcription factor CRTR-1 at the molecular level and analyses the role of sumoylation on CRTR-1 function to develop a better understanding of the molecular role of CRTR-1 in ES cells. Luciferase reporter assays show that CRTR-1 is able to regulate the activities of other CP2 family members: CP2, NF2d9 and altNF2d9. It enhances CP2- and NF2d9-mediated activation but suppresses altNF2d9-mediated activation. To map the functional domains in the CRTR-1 protein, transactivation studies using CRTR-1 deletion mutants fused to the GAL4 DNA binding domain and a GAL4-responsive reporter system were performed. These studies map repressor activity to amino acids 48-200, but fail to identify a transactivation domain within the CRTR-1 protein. In order to understand the mechanisms by which CRTR-1 regulates the transcriptional activities of CP2 family members, a number of approaches are taken, including co-immunoprecipitation to show that CRTR-1 interacts with other CP2-like proteins, EMSA which demonstrate that CRTR-1 forms DNA binding complexes with CP2 family members, and subcellular protein localisation studies which reveal the ability of CRTR-1 and other family members to shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm via a CRM1-dependent pathway. In addition, the subcellular localisation of CRTR-1 appears to be cell type specific, with an exclusively nuclear localisation pattern in ES cells, a predominantly cytoplasmic localisation pattern in HEK293T cells, and a cytoplasmic and nuclear speckle localisation pattern in COS-1 cells. Co-expression of CRTR-1 with CP2 or NF2d9 results in the re-localisation of CRTR-1 to the cytoplasm in ES cells. The sumoylation enzymes Ubc9 and PIAS1 have previously been identified as CP2-interacting proteins (Kang et al., 2005a). Given the identification of two potential sumoylation sites within CRTR-1, FK³⁰ QE and LK⁴⁶ ⁴AE, and the ability for sumoylation to regulate transcription factor function, the possibility that CRTR-1 is regulated by sumoylation is investigated in this thesis. Immunoprecipitation experiments show that CRTR-1 is modified by SUMO-1 and that lysine 30 is the critical residue for this modification. Mutation of lysine 30 to alanine, which abolishes CRTR-1 sumoylation, results in enhancement of transactivation by CRTR-1, suggesting that sumoylation of CRTR-1 blocks maximal activation. Unexpectedly, however, overexpression of Ubc9, PIAS1, or SUMO-1 results in enhancement of CRTR-1 transcriptional activity, indicating that a more complex mechanism of regulation of CRTR-1 activity is likely. This thesis presents several novel properties of CRTR-1 and other CP2 family members, including the ability of CRTR-1, previously characterized as a repressor, to activate transcription. It is also the first demonstration that CP2 proteins are regulated by sumoylation and that they shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm via a CRM1-dependent mechanism. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1374290 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2009

The work described in this thesis was concerned with identifying the prevalence and risk factors associated with colonisation by the intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira pilosicoli in: humans: long term residents of Perth, Western Australia (WA) and Indonesians either living temporarily in Perth or as long term residents in urban and rural areas of Bali, Indonesia, animals: domestic animals including alpacas, birds, cattle, cats, chickens, dogs, doves, ducks, goats, horses, pigs, and sheep (housed at a wide variety of places around Perth), and a range of wild animals housed in various Zoos and wildlife centres in WA. This study shows that for humans: • Brachyspira pilosicoli was significantly more prevalent in Indonesians of all sub groups, be they temporary residents of Perth (9.4% - 216 faecal samples from 180 individuals), or long term residents of Indonesia (12.6% - 992 faecal samples from 617 individuals) compared with long term residents of Australia living mainly in Perth (0.2% of 766 sampled), even in those with gastrointestinal complaints. This suggests a relationship between a high prevalence of B. pilosicoli and living in Indonesia; • In Bali, B. pilosicoli was significantly more prevalent in the impoverished urban area of Sesetan (20.3-23.4%) where the husbandry of pigs is poor and effluent treatment is non-existent compared to four traditional farming villages (Badung, Karang Suwung, Melinggih, Payangan Desa) (3.3-22.6%). In the latter villages effluent and drainage is better and there is less likely to be contamination of drinking water • There was no significant association between the presence of B. pilosicoli and the presence of clinical symptoms including headaches, abdominal pains, diarrhoea, joint/muscular pain and constipation. • Amongst Indonesians living in Indonesia, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of B. pilosicoli between people with and without contact with animals and between farmers and other occupational groups. • Indonesians visiting Perth who were positive for B. pilosicoli originated from nine cities and five main islands in Indonesia. This suggests that B. pilosicoli is endemic throughout Indonesia. • Strain typing of isolates of B. pilosicoli showed that they were genetically heterogenous and did not show any consistent pattern with respect to geographical location, family of origin or disease status. Isolates from the same individual were sometimes unrelated, suggesting the probability of re-infection with another strain between the samplings. • Some households (~7%) had more than one member positive for B. pilosicoli. Strain analysis suggested transmission between family members, and this could be due to either faecal-oral transmission, or from a common external source, such as contaminated water. • B. pilosicoli was cultured from only 0.2% of Australians. This low prevalence may be a result of little or no exposure to B. pilosicoli due to good personal hygiene and environmental sanitation. • B. pilosicoli strain H1b and H171 that were isolated from healthy Indonesians were able to colonise mice and day-old chickens, and induced clinical signs of pasty faeces in the latter. Histological sections showed mild typhlitis and typical end-on attachment of B. pilosicoli to the caecal epithelial mucosa of the chickens. This finding suggests that the human isolates had pathogenic potential. This study showed that for animals investigated: • Intestinal spirochaetes were cultured from 46.4% (13/28) of bilbies with 14.3% (4/28) positive for B. pilosicoli. Spirochaetes were also cultured from the faeces of two Western Barred bandicoots and one (1.2%) kangaroo. • Intestinal spirochaetes were not isolated from any alpacas, cattle, goats, horses, pigs, and sheep but were detected in 40.5% of ducks, 14.3% of chickens, 14.9% of ostriches and 1.5% of cats. • Few pets that are commonly kept in households (dogs, cats and aviary birds) were colonised, suggesting that they are not an important focus of B. pilosicoli infection in Australia.

Despite the effectiveness of brief lifestyle interventions delivered in primary health care (PHC), implementation in routine practice remains suboptimal. Previous research suggests that there are many barriers to PHC clinicians addressing lifestyle risk factors, however few studies have identified the importance of various factors and how they shape practices. This thesis aimed to develop and describe a theoretical model to explain the lifestyle risk factor management practices of PHC clinicians and to identify critical leverage points for intervention. The study analysed data collected as part of a larger feasibility project of risk factor management in three community health teams in NSW, Australia, involving 48 PHC providers working outside of general practice. Grounded theory principles were used to inductively develop a model, involving three main stages of analysis: 1) an initial model was developed based on quantitative analysis of clinician survey and audit data, and qualitative analysis of a purposeful sample of participant interviews (n=18) and journal notes; 2) the model was then refined through additional qualitative analysis of participant interviews (n=30) and journal notes; and 3) the usefulness of the model was examined through a mixed methods and case study analysis. The model suggests that implementation of lifestyle risk factor management reflects clinicians??? beliefs about commitment and capacity. Commitment represents the priority placed on risk factor management and reflects beliefs about role congruence, client receptiveness and the likely impact of intervening. Capacity beliefs reflect clinician views about self efficacy, role support and the fit between risk factor management and ways of working. The model suggests that clinicians formulate different intervention expectations based on these beliefs and their philosophical views about appropriate ways to intervene. These expectations then provide a cognitive framework guiding their risk factor management practices. Finally, clinicians??? appraisal of the overall benefits and costs of addressing lifestyle issues acts to positively reinforce or to diminish their commitment to implementing these practices. The model extends previous research by outlining a process by which clinicians??? perceptions shape implementation of lifestyle risk factor management in routine practice. This provides new insights to inform the development of effective strategies to improve such practices.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D. - Plant sciences)--University of Arizona. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Cancer Biology)--Vanderbilt University, May 2008. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.