This research focuses on the evaluation of temporal and spatial variability associated with radon airborne measurements and the predictive utility of surrogate measures to estimate radon concentrations within the same environment as well as in other environments. This dissertation consists of three components. In Chapter II, "Evaluation of agreement of time-integrated basement residential radon measurements and correctness of further radon testing indicators", we investigated the temporal variability between short-term and annual residential radon measurements collected on the lowest livable level and identified housing/occupant factors that influenced each measurement as well as their differences. The false negative rate of how often the short-term test incorrectly indicated that further radon testing was unnecessary based on an annual measurement was 12 percent at the action level of 148 Bq m-3, but dropped to two percent at a 74 Bq m-3 reference level. The foundation wall material of the basement was the only significant factor to have an impact on the absolute difference between both measurements. This study has the potential to significantly influence public health policy concerning radon testing protocols, specifically the need to re-assess the EPA's current radon mitigation guidance level of 148 Bq m-3. In Chapter III, "Temporal and spatial variation associated with residential airborne radon measurements", we investigated the temporal and spatial variability between basement winter short-term and annual radon measurements performed in upper floors (i.e., non-basement) of the home and identified housing/occupant factors that influenced each measurement as well as their differences. This study found that individuals would be falsely overestimating their potential exposure to radon half the time at the EPA's action level of 148 Bq m-3 based on basement short-term tests and much more frequently (80 percent of the time) at a lower reference level of 74 Bq m-3. The presence of a sump was the only factor that was significantly associated with the absolute difference between both these measurements. This study has the potential to influence public health policy in regard to exposure surrogate measures, specifically to encourage testing of radon in living areas of the home and not relying solely on a screening measurement to estimate the concentration of radon in the entire home. In Chapter IV, "Comparative survey of outdoor, residential, and workplace radon concentrations", we investigated occupational radon concentrations in above ground workplaces in Missouri and compared them to above ground radon concentrations in nearby homes and outdoor locations and evaluated the utility of above ground annual home and outdoor concentrations to predict above ground radon concentrations at a nearby workplace. Employees at county agencies, schools, and businesses were recruited to participate in the study. Annual above ground workplace radon concentrations were found to be similar to annual radon concentrations in the upper floor of homes. Annual non-basement first floor home and outdoor radon concentrations were poor predictors of annual above ground radon concentrations at a nearby workplace. This study provides insights into the potential for above-ground radon exposures in the workplace and the potential agreement between workplace and residential radon concentrations.

Short track speed skating has become popular all over the world. The demands of a computer-aided training (CAT) system are booming due to this fact. However, the existing commercial systems for sports are highly dependent on expensive equipment and complicated hardware calibration. This dissertation presents a novel CAT system for tracking multiple skaters in short track skating competitions. Aiming at the challenges, we utilize global rink information to compensate camera motion and obtain the global spatial information of skaters; apply Random Forest to fuse multiple cues and predict the blobs for each of the skaters; and finally develop a silhouette and edge-based template matching and blob growing method to allocate each blob to corresponding skaters. The proposed multiple skaters tracking algorithm organically integrates multi-cue fusion, dynamic appearance modeling, machine learning, etc. to form an efficient and robust CAT system. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method are presented through experiments.

Detta arbete handlar om att skriva text- och melodi till redan satta ackordbakgrunder. Jag undersöker hur min process av att skriva text- och melodi påverkas av att använda färdiga ackordvändor som skickats till mig istället för att utgå från egenskapade sådana. I bakgrunden till mitt arbete skriver jag om de faktorer som lett mig till att arbeta med denna undersökningen. Jag berättar om min relation till låtskrivande och hur jag tidigare arbetat med det. Här ryms också min inledning där jag skriver om anledningarna till mitt val av undersökning. Syftet med arbetet och mina frågeställningar handlar om vilka processer som uppstår när skriver låtar på det sätt jag dikterat i undersökningen. Under tidigare forskning tar jag upp tre andra konstnärliga examensarbeten som är tematisk lika mitt eget. Jag hämtar inspiration från deras slutsatser och förklarar vad deras arbeten gick ut på. Under metod staplar jag upp ramarna för mitt arbete och den metod jag valt att använda i min undersökning. I genomförandet berättar jag hur processen sett ut för varje ackordvända som jag utgått från i mitt melodi- och textskapande. Jag berättar också om hur jag dokumenterat mitt arbete; genom loggbok och inspelningar (loggboken är integrerad i arbetet och inte bifogad som en separat bilaga). I resultatet svarar jag på mina frågeställningar och hur mitt skapande påverkats av min undersökning, jag konstaterar att både för- och nackdelar med min arbetsmetod uppstått under arbetet. Vidare diskuterar jag resultatet och skriver mycket om de sociala faktorernas inverkan på att skapa musik ensam jämfört med att vara med andra musiker i samma rum och skapa tillsammans. Jag skriver om hur skapande-energi blev ett ämne att reflektera över i min undersökning och tar också upp kritik mot min metod. I min slutsats konstaterar jag att arbetet lärt mig mycket om min arbetsprocess och gett mig tankar och verktyg att ta med mig inför framtida skapande, ensam eller gemensamt.Under fortsatt undersökning kommer jag med tankar och idéer om hur arbetet kan inspirera till framtida forskning och vilka ämnen de kan tangera.

This study set out to examine and describe the experiences of undergraduate students from different cultural backgrounds studying nursing across three Australian states. The researcher chose to use the grounded theory method to analyse data collected from 40 undergraduate student nurses and 32 nurse teachers. Other data resources included field observations of student nurses in clinical practice and classroom settings. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and along with field notes and memos were analysed using the constant comparative method synonymous with grounded theory. This study was set in a sociopolitical climate of disharmony in which the basic social problem of sociocultural discord: being different and not fitting in (SD) was identified and developed as the core category. The basic social psychological problem existed for culturally and linguistically diverse nursing students because they were in some way different to the majority of their White western counterparts. Differences existed in, for example, religion, dress, skin colour, beliefs, behaviours, and ways of communicating. Because these students were different they experienced discord. Discord was characterised as sociocultural because differences causing discord were rooted in either a cultural or social domain or both. Those students who experienced SD lived with feelings of social and professional isolation, discrimination, and low self esteem to name a few. For the students, experiences of sociocultural discord were largely unpredictable and occurred episodically. The fear of embarrassment, discrimination, or some other form of inequitable treatment prevented students participating actively in classes or on clinical practice. / Students, however, were unable to determine when they were likely to experience inequitable treatment and for many when it had been identified it was too late; they were amidst the experience. Others were hesitant to interact with their Australian counterparts for fear of rejection. This study occurred during a particularly disharmonic climate which permeated all aspects of the students’ lives and had the propensity to impact upon individual levels of SD. As such this climate existed as the background in this study. One of the background issues identified as impacting upon students in this study was stereotyping. In this study stereotyping was often based upon perceived cultural, religious, and/or gender norms. The physical environments, that is, university campuses and clinical practice settings in which the students were required to participate, were also found to impact upon student participants and were therefore also considered as background. In these institutions there was an obvious lack of cultural role models and students’ behaviours were often misinterpreted. Whilst some students’ families were considered as immensely supportive others were identified as being the cause of much sociocultural discord. The politics of race and culture also acted to permeate the students’ existence and these issues were given wide media coverage at the time of this research. In an effort to deal with, or counter, episodes of sociocultural discord student participants engaged the process of seeking concord to get in the right track (SC). Some of these strategies worked to reduce SD whilst others did not. These strategies consisted of saving face, covert deception, and using the “yes syndrome”. / Other strategies included clustering, trying to form friendships, and trying to interact with members of the dominant group. Many students struggled to suppress their feeling of SD by being quiet and/or ignoring differential treatment and avoiding interaction with others. Some adopted other strategies to strengthen their communication abilities in an effort to reduce discordant episodes. Many of these strategies were learnt from other students or supportive nurse teachers. Other support was attained from student counselling services and supportive family members. These were considered the influencing conditions. Unlike many grounded theories this study was unable to identify the end of the process, that is, successful outcomes. Irrespective that students implemented strategies to decrease their discord they continued to experience other discordant events throughout their undergraduate degree program. Whilst many of the findings in this research support the existing literature, this study can be considered as one of the first attempts to study student nurses from different cultural backgrounds and their experiences of nursing education in Australian universities.

Tourism as an industry in the 20th and 21st Century has primarily been an international money-making industry which has attracted many governments of less developed countries as a fast mechanism for development. This has often involved a trade-off between the pursuit of economic wealth and support for the social, cultural and natural environments. The negative impacts of mass tourism in these economies are countless and well documented, especially as many of these countries are still trying to deal with impacts caused during colonial occupancy. Consequently, alternative tourism has been presented as a way to manage tourism development which is economically, social and ecologically sustainable. One manifestation of this trend is community-based tourism, which aims to be inclusive of the host communities as they plan for tourism and considers the socio cultural and natural resources and desires of tourists in a more equitable manner. The aim of this thesis is to determine how ecotrekking as a form of community-based tourism can provide a foundation for development for remote rural communities in developing countries. It was conceptually determined that if the needs of the community matched those of the tourists, then a sustainable ecotrekking industry can evolve. To explore this issue contextually, a case study of the Kokoda Track (KT) in Papua New Guinea is presented based around three research questions: 1. What role can market segmentation play in sustainable tourism development in remote rural communities? 2. What outcomes do the Kokoda Track communities envisage for the future of tourism on the Kokoda Track? 3. Do Kokoda tourists meet the outcomes envisaged by the community? A review of the literature found that market segmentation is a tool used in destination planning to assess visitor characteristics and match these to resource capabilities. It was employed in this study to determine the characteristics and needs of Kokoda tourists through a questionnaire survey distributed to trekkers via the tour operators. It was found that the Kokoda tourist is a university educated, middle-aged man who visits the KT for adventure and historical reasons. They have higher-order needs of personal development and knowledge and value the authenticity of the experience. The second research question was approached using secondary data analysis. Notes from Participatory Rural Appraisal workshops with community leaders in 2004 and 2005 were reinterpreted. The key themes to emerge were that the communities have a great need for basic facilities (education, transportation, telecommunications, medical infrastructure and water supplies) and they see tourism as an economic means to develop those facilities. They would like to build more guesthouses and provide food for tourists to increase revenue however, they are unsure of the extent to which this will be supported by trekkers. A comparative analysis of the findings from research questions 1 and 2 was employed to address the third research question. The quantitative needs of the tourist market segment were matched to the qualitative expectations of the communities. It was found that the current Kokoda tourist is in favour of many of the outcomes that the Kokoda communities envisage. These include the provision of locally made food and guesthouses. Further to this, the empirical results from the questionnaire found that ecotourists and cultural tourists are the tourist types that need to be targeted by operators. They indicated a strong match with the desires and needs of the Kokoda communities. For example, they indicated that the KT can cater for a much smaller number of trekkers than the other three pre-determined tourist types (adventure, organised and historic tourists). Additionally, the natural and cultural environments are more important to these tourist types inferring that the protection of these resources is of primary importance. Consequently, it was established that ecotrekking can play an important role in development in less developed countries, if the right market segment is targeted to meet the needs of the community. Generally this can then ensure a slower rate of development, which allows the communities to adjust to the changes that occur at both a socio-cultural level and also in the infrastructure within their communities. In the longer term it also allows them to see how tourism can provide long term benefits not offered in extractive industries such as forestry and mining.

The swimming track start is a complex motor skill that utilizes asymmetric lower limb action. The purpose of this study was to explore whether it could be optimized by applying the commonly accepted view that there are asymmetries in the function and behaviors of the lower limbs. Initially, the study aimed to examine the relationship between various measures of lower limb asymmetry and the swimmers' preferences for forward foot placement in the swimming track start. Participants underwent a 7 week training period whereby both the left foot forward (LFF) and the right foot forward (RFF) track starts were practiced. The philosophy behind this training protocol was to ensure that participants received equal practice with the preferred and non-preferred stance so that a dominant stance, if it existed, could emerge. Consequently, the relationships between the dominant track start stance and the lower limb asymmetry measures could be determined more accurately. Participants were male (N=11) and female (N=11) swimmers, aged 12-16 years, from the UWA-Uniswim National Age Squad. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected for the track start prior to and following the 7 week training intervention. The intervention was finished when a participant had completed approximately 14 dive sessions where both the LFF and RFF track starts were practiced. The performance criterion measure was time to 5 m. Despite significant differences in vertical force and velocity contributions following the intervention, time to 5 m did not improve for either the LFF or the RFF track start. Four different measures of lower limb asymmetry were collected, including footedness, the preferred track start stance, and the dominant take-off limb for the unilateral and bilateral counter-movement jump (CMJ). Sixteen of 22 participants displayed changes in their dominant track start stance. Eleven participants showed biases for one stance (6 for the LFF & 5 for the RFF), and 11 participants remained or became more symmetrical. Results indicated that the preferred track start stance was the only measure of asymmetry that was significantly related to track start performance (x2[2]= 6.71, p=.04 for pre-intervention & x2[2]=7.77, p=.02 for post-intervention). All other measures of lower limb asymmetry were shown to be unrelated to track start preference and performance. It was suggested that the 7 week training intervention did not provide a sufficient amount of time to see conclusive effects on 5 m time or to make conclusive comparisons between the dominant track start stance and measures of asymmetry. Since the preferred track start corresponded with better performance less than 50% of the time, it was suggested that swimmers and coaches experiment with different dive techniques to find the start which is most effective for them and spend more time on them during training.

This study wished to compare the same physiological responses of elite athletes to a typical intermediate term anaerobic capacity track running session with those of standing cycling of similar intensity and duration. Twelve well trained/elite male distance runners completed maximal running, standing cycling and strength testing sessions; and Intermediate Term Anaerobic Capacity Sessions (ITACS) in running and standing cycling; each comprising eight efforts of approximately 30 seconds duration at 90% maximal effort in each mode of activity, separated by 2 minutes rest. The experimental sessions took place from the end of November 1996 to the beginning of March 1997. The subjects were required to attend three maximal experimental sessions, which were performed on separate days and used for baseline data collection. On completing these they participated in both running and standing cycling ITACS, performed on separate days with at least 48 hours between each test protocol. There was complete randomisation of all test protocols. Descriptive statistics were determined for all the variables. Independent t-testing was used to determine if similar temperature and humidity readings were obtained during the maximal testing for each mode of activity. Paired t-testing was used to compare the differences in warmup heart rates between the maximal and ITACS, the differences in peak lactates obtained after each type of ITACS, draw comparisons between heart rate (HR) changes over time during the ITACS and determine if a difference existed between workloads for the two modes of activity. It was also used to draw a comparison between the peak BLa values and ascertain if pre-test creatine kinase (CK) levels were the same for each mode of activity. A repeated measures one way ANOVA was used to determine if workload reduced over time for each type of ITACS. A three way ANOVA with repeated measures on one factor (repetition) was performed on HR response. It was used to determine if there was a difference between the workload/recovery HR response; if workload/recovery HR values increased over the duration of each ITACS; and if the workload/recovery HR response over time was mode specific. A two way ANOVA with repeated measures on one factor (repetition) was performed on blood lactate (BLa) response. It was used to determine if there was a significant interaction between the mode of activity and time, if BLa increased over the duration of each ITACS and if there was an effect of mode on its own on the BLa response. A two way repeated measures ANOVA was used to ascertain whether there was a difference in CK levels between the two modes of activity, with Tukey's multiple comparison tests used in post hoc analyses to show the amount of difference. A linear regression analysis was performed to determine if BLa response was similar across the duration of each type of ITACS. The effects of temperature (22.3 ± 1.2 vs 21.1 ± 0.3 °C, run vs cycle, t = -0.94, n = 12, p = 0.36)) and humidity (57 ±4.2 vs 52 ± 1.7%, run versus cycle, t = -1.04, n = 12, p = 0.31) did not influence any of the results obtained during the ITACS. Nor did differing warmup intensities (as indicated by heart rate - HR) during the maximal (160 ± 5.7 vs 158 ± 3.1 beats per minute (bpm), run vs cycle, t = - 0.45, n = 9, p = 0.66) and ITACS (160 ± 3.6 vs 152 ± 3.1 bpm, run vs cycle, t = -2.81, n = 9, p = 0.02). An equal test preparation was confirmed by the warmup blood lactate (BLa) levels, which were not significantly different between the exercise modes for both the maximal (11.0 ±0.6 vs 11.8 ± 1.0 mmol-l1, run vs cycle, t = 2.26, ii n = 10, p =0.23) and ITACS (4.2 ± 0.7 vs 4.2 ± 0.6 mmol-1 ', run vs cycle, t = 0.27, n = 10, p = 0.796). A significantly higher workload was achieved during the running ITACS as compared to the standing cycling ITACS (105 ± 1.1 vs 89 ±2.9 %, run vs cycle, t = 10.45, n = 12, p<0.0005). The increase in workload/recovery HR response and their changes as each type of ITACS progressed was not mode specific [F(l,40) = 0.94, p > 0.05]. Those subjects who possessed high BLa concentrations performed less work on the cycle ergometer. There was a strong negative relationship for average workloads and BLa accumulation for the standing cycling exercise (Spearmans rho = -0.799, n = 11, p<0.005) suggesting that BLa accumulation was a limiting factor in work production. The increase in BLa levels was not mode specific F(l,20) = 1.36, p > 0.05]. The BLa response was comparatively similar because the rate of increase in BLa accumulation and peak BLa values (19.7 vs 16.9 mmol-l'1, cycle vs run, t = 2.1, n = 11, p = 0.06) were not significantly different between the modes of activity. Mode in conjunction with time affected standing cycling BLa response to a greater extent than running BLa levels [F(4.80) =3.929, p <. 0.05]. Standing cycling BLa concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with knee extension peak torque (Spearmans rho = - 0.771, n = 11, p < 0.01) and total work (Spearmans rho = - 0.802, n = 11, p < 0.01) measurements. In running they were negatively correlated with knee flexion total work measurements (Spearman rho = - 0.685, n = 11, p < 0.05) These findings suggest that BLa accumulation occurs from different muscle fibre recruitment patterns. Less work was performed in isokinetic knee extension following standing cycling as compared to running (2234 ± 68.4 vs 2462 ± 78.9 Nm, t = 2.23, n = 11, p < 0.05) suggesting that standing cycling is more fatiguing on the quadriceps than running. There was no difference in the knee flexion testing (1799 ± 89.6 vs 1785 ± 69.2, cycle vs run, t = 2.23, n = 11, p = 0.96). There was a significant difference in mean creatine kinase (CK) activity between the two modes 24 hours after completing the ITACS (450 ± 73.2 vs 320 ± 46.5 I/U, running vs cycle, F = 6.44, df = 1,17, p < 0.01). There was a significantly greater increase in CK activity and therefore muscle damage, following the running (mean increase of 190 I/U) as compared to the standing cycling session (mean increase of 44.0 I/U). In terms of reducing the risk of injury, achieving a similar cardiovascular response and achieving comparable BLa accumulation (even though mechanism/s of accumulation may be different) standing cycling appears to be is a satisfactory substitute for running during an ITACS. The results of this research strengthen the concept of utilising a simulated mode of activity as a substitute for the primary activity in order to maximise transfer effects, providing there is a careful balance between the specific training and the near specific training. The differing physiological responses between the exercise modes (ie- different muscle fibre recruitment patterns, different workload capacity, different CK measures) suggest that standing cycling cannot act as a total/comprehensive replacement for running. A training study is warranted to further investigate the findings of this research.

Tourism as an industry in the 20th and 21st Century has primarily been an international money-making industry which has attracted many governments of less developed countries as a fast mechanism for development. This has often involved a trade-off between the pursuit of economic wealth and support for the social, cultural and natural environments. The negative impacts of mass tourism in these economies are countless and well documented, especially as many of these countries are still trying to deal with impacts caused during colonial occupancy. Consequently, alternative tourism has been presented as a way to manage tourism development which is economically, social and ecologically sustainable. One manifestation of this trend is community-based tourism, which aims to be inclusive of the host communities as they plan for tourism and considers the socio cultural and natural resources and desires of tourists in a more equitable manner. The aim of this thesis is to determine how ecotrekking as a form of community-based tourism can provide a foundation for development for remote rural communities in developing countries. It was conceptually determined that if the needs of the community matched those of the tourists, then a sustainable ecotrekking industry can evolve. To explore this issue contextually, a case study of the Kokoda Track (KT) in Papua New Guinea is presented based around three research questions: 1. What role can market segmentation play in sustainable tourism development in remote rural communities? 2. What outcomes do the Kokoda Track communities envisage for the future of tourism on the Kokoda Track? 3. Do Kokoda tourists meet the outcomes envisaged by the community? A review of the literature found that market segmentation is a tool used in destination planning to assess visitor characteristics and match these to resource capabilities. It was employed in this study to determine the characteristics and needs of Kokoda tourists through a questionnaire survey distributed to trekkers via the tour operators. It was found that the Kokoda tourist is a university educated, middle-aged man who visits the KT for adventure and historical reasons. They have higher-order needs of personal development and knowledge and value the authenticity of the experience. The second research question was approached using secondary data analysis. Notes from Participatory Rural Appraisal workshops with community leaders in 2004 and 2005 were reinterpreted. The key themes to emerge were that the communities have a great need for basic facilities (education, transportation, telecommunications, medical infrastructure and water supplies) and they see tourism as an economic means to develop those facilities. They would like to build more guesthouses and provide food for tourists to increase revenue however, they are unsure of the extent to which this will be supported by trekkers. A comparative analysis of the findings from research questions 1 and 2 was employed to address the third research question. The quantitative needs of the tourist market segment were matched to the qualitative expectations of the communities. It was found that the current Kokoda tourist is in favour of many of the outcomes that the Kokoda communities envisage. These include the provision of locally made food and guesthouses. Further to this, the empirical results from the questionnaire found that ecotourists and cultural tourists are the tourist types that need to be targeted by operators. They indicated a strong match with the desires and needs of the Kokoda communities. For example, they indicated that the KT can cater for a much smaller number of trekkers than the other three pre-determined tourist types (adventure, organised and historic tourists). Additionally, the natural and cultural environments are more important to these tourist types inferring that the protection of these resources is of primary importance. Consequently, it was established that ecotrekking can play an important role in development in less developed countries, if the right market segment is targeted to meet the needs of the community. Generally this can then ensure a slower rate of development, which allows the communities to adjust to the changes that occur at both a socio-cultural level and also in the infrastructure within their communities. In the longer term it also allows them to see how tourism can provide long term benefits not offered in extractive industries such as forestry and mining.

<p>Today's radio frequency receivers for digital wireless communication are getting more and more complex. A single receiver unit should support multiple bands, have a wide bandwidth, be flexible and show good performance. To fulfil these requirements, new receiver architectures have to be developed and used. One possible alternative is the RF undersampling architecture. </p><p>This thesis evaluates the RF undersampling architecture, which make use of an undersampling track-and-hold circuit with very wide bandwidth to perform direct sampling of the RF carrier before the analogue-to-digital converter. The architecture’s main advantages and drawbacks are identified and analyzed. Also, techniques and improvements to solve or reduce the main problems of the RF undersampling receiver are proposed.</p>

<p>The <em>IceCube telescope</em> is built within the ice at the geographical South Pole in the middle of the Antarctica continent. The purpose of the telescope is to detect muon neutrinos, the muon neutrino being an elementary particle with minuscule mass coming from space.</p><p>The detector consists of some 5000 DOMs registering photon hits (light). A muon neutrino traveling through the detector might give rise to a track of photons making up a straight line, and by analyzing the hit output of the DOMs, looking for tracks, neutrinos and their direction can be detected.</p><p>When processing the output, triggers are used. Triggers are calculation- efficient algorithms used to tell if the hits seem to make up a track - if that is the case, all hits are processed more carefully to find the direction and other properties of the track.</p><p>The Track Engine is an additional trigger, specialized to trigger on low- energy events (few track hits), which are particularly difficult to detect. Low-energy events are of special interest in the search for Dark Matter.</p><p>An algorithm for triggering on low-energy events has been suggested. Its main idea is to divide time in overlapping time windows, find all possible pairs of hits in each time window, calculate the spherical coordinates θ and ϕ of the position vectors of the hits of the pairs, histogram the angles, and look for peaks in the resulting 2d-histogram. Such peaks would indicate a straight line of hits, and, hence, a track.</p><p>It is not believed that a software implementation of the algorithm would be fast enough. The Master's Thesis project has had the aim of developing an FPGA implementation of the algorithm.</p><p>Such an FPGA implementation has been developed. Extensive tests on the design has yielded positive results showing that it is fully functional. The design can be synthesized to about 180 MHz, making it possible to handle an incoming hit rate of about 6 MHz, giving a margin of more than twice to the expected average hit rate of 2.6 MHz.</p>