SACM - Australia

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9648

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 364

Restricted
Language Teacher Cognition of Academic Literacies: Narrative Case Studies of Female EFL Teachers in Saudi Universities
(Victoria University, 2024-05) Allehaby, Eshraq; Razoumova, Oksana; Henderson, Fiona
The educational system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has undergone significant transformations since 2016, driven by the Human Capability Development Program of Saudi Vision 2030 (SV2030). The primary aim of this program is to enhance the country’s global competitiveness through education. In this context, English education becomes pivotal, and specifically English as a foreign language (EFL) in higher education. In KSA, students enrolling at university must complete the preparatory year program where they learn EFL alongside academic literacies (AcLits) including critical thinking, database searching, synthesising, academic conventions, formal and informal registers, and proficiency in various genres of communication. This means that EFL teachers are expected to possess both subject matter expertise and AcLits skills to teach these to their students. By guiding students through language mediation and facilitating their acquisition of AcLits, EFL teachers contribute to helping students navigate the challenges of their disciplines and to academic and professional success. Hence the question: How can Saudi’s MOE ensure that EFL teachers are adequately prepared for the task? The study employs cultural-historical activity theory to examine language teacher cognition, aiming to uncover their knowledge, beliefs, and teaching practices regarding AcLits. The research uses contradiction as a historically accumulated structural system to highlight the tensions, absence, or conflicts in the AcLits phenomenon. Narrative case studies involving six female EFL teachers at two Saudi universities were conducted. Qualitative data collection methods, such as reflective accounts, semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and relevant AcLits documents were used to examine the connection between teachers’ cognition and its impact on teaching practices. The findings from this study indicate that participating EFL teachers demonstrated a vague understanding of AcLits, primarily equating them with basic study skills. Consequently, EFL teachers face challenges in effectively and consistently integrating these literacies into their instructional practices. The lack of sufficient pre-service training, education, and professional development are factors. Teachers’ primary focus was on facilitating students’ academic success without negatively impacting their iv grade point average, resulting in an emphasis on exam-oriented skills. When attempting to incorporate AcLits aspects into the classroom, the instruction often lacked a systematic and sustained scaffolded approach. Moreover, teacher-led discussions relied mainly on lecturing, limiting interaction in a highly structured classroom setting. The study identified significant gaps in students’ prior English preparation, particularly in secondary schools. Furthermore, the constrained time available for language instruction during the preparatory year program and the challenges in implementing the latest advancements in language teaching methodology, specifically the communicative approach, led teachers to prioritise developing only students’ English language proficiency. By nurturing teachers’ AcLits skills, KSA can bolster its education system and incorporate the SV2030 goals. The significance of teachers dedicated to fostering AcLits in KSA cannot be understated, emphasising the urgent need for high-quality, sustainable professional development programs. Policymakers and language teacher-training providers share a responsibility to ensure the successful implementation of AcLits. Whether through pre-service training or ongoing career development, comprehensive programs are required to equip teachers with a profound understanding of AcLits principles and effective integration strategies, thereby cultivating a generation of internationally competitive students.
61 0
Restricted
Parallel Rectifiers in Adjustable Speed Drive Systems: Analysis, Modelling and Control
(The University of Queensland, 2024) Sunbul, Ali Nabil; Zare, Firuz; Sharma, Rahul; Ghosh, Arindam
Although power electronic converters are widely spread in industrial, commercial, and residential applications, they may be a major harmonics source due to their switching behaviour. Utilising power electronic converters introduces new challenges such as the generation of harmonic distortions, which can negatively impact the grid's power quality and harm other loads connected to the same grid. One of the major consumers in the global electrical market are motor drives systems; improving these systems contributes to a large savings of electrical energy and a healthier grid. Power electronic converters can control the speed of motors, depending on the demand, which increases the efficiency of motor drive systems known as Adjustable-Speed Drive (ASD) or Variable-Speed Drive (VSD). In industrial applications, ASD or VSD generally consists of the AC/DC rectifier and DC/AC inverter stages. A conventional 3-phase Diode rectifier is utilised as the first stage (AC/DC rectifier) due to its reliability and low cost. This rectifier's drawbacks are the limitation of its current conduction period, the generation of high harmonic distortions, and the load's dependence on performance. To overcome these issues, parallel rectifiers are proposed. In this thesis, two solutions have been proposed to reduce the current harmonics in industrial or commercial power networks. The first solution is employing a hybrid active harmonic filter (HAHF) at the point of common coupling (PPC). The aim of the HAHF is to improve the grid’s power quality at a relatively low cost using a new shifted-pulse current modulation method. The HAHF utilises a Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) algorithm to optimise the modulation parameters. In other words, the HAHF solves an optimisation problem by reading the harmonics profile at the PCC and generating an optimised opposite harmonic that minimises the overall current harmonics. The second solution is employing a parallel rectifier topology as a first stage for the ASD system to minimise the harmonics generated by motor drive systems. The parallel rectifiers system with a shared DC link employed in this thesis is known as Modular Multi-parallel Rectifiers (MMR). The MMR system consists of a diode rectifier and parallel Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCRs); each rectifier is connected to an electronic inductor. The utilisation of parallel SCRs increases the current conduction period while the electronic inductors smooth the current and remove the load performance's dependency. Hence, the power quality of the grid is improved since the generated harmonic distortion is significantly reduced. Although parallel rectifiers' employment increases power quality, reliability, flexibility, power rating, control dynamics, reduced cost, filtering effort, current-voltage ripple, and current stress, it introduces new challenges such as circulating and unbalanced current, which may cause overloading and damage components. Deep insight into the MMR system is needed to comprehend the system’s capability and limitations. In this research, precise mathematical representations of the MMR system with n number of parallel units are proposed. The MMR is analysed for both Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM) and Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM). In addition, the CCM and DCM boundary of the MMR is identified mathematically. The impact of parasitic elements and the firing angle on the system’s performance is investigated. Moreover, the impact of different ASD scenarios on the mode of operation. A proper current sharing controller is essential prior to the implementation of the MMR in industrial applications. In this thesis, a mathematical control-oriented model for the MMR comprising n parallel units is proposed through a generalised small-signal AC model of the parallel configuration. The control-oriented model is used to develop coordinated control for the overall system to ensure that the rectifiers' currents are balanced equally. In addition, this thesis proposes a multivariable Model Predictive Control (MPC) for the MMR. The proposed systems and methods are modelled in MATLAB/Simulink, and a 1 kW experimental setup is constructed to validate the proposed Hybrid Active Harmonic Filter (HAHF), mathematical representations, and cascaded current-sharing controller. The experimental validations demonstrate the effectiveness of the harmonic mitigation method, the accuracy of the mathematical representations, and the stability of the current-sharing controller despite abrupt disturbances.
11 0
Restricted
The Impact of Religious Cultural and Traditional Beliefs and Superstitions in Shaping the Understanding of Mental Disorders and Mental Health Treatment among Arab Muslims
(Victoria University, 2024-06) Alqasir, Abdulaziz; Ohtsuka, Keis
This research explored the impact of religious, cultural, and traditional beliefs on Arab Muslims' understanding of mental disorders and their treatment, with a particular emphasis on the role of Islamic theology. Employing an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, the study first conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 12 Arab Muslim participants (6 men and 6 women) to examine their mental health perspectives. Thematic analysis of these interviews informed the development of a quantitative survey, which was administered to 169 Arab Muslim participants using Qualtrics. The quantitative data were analysed using SPSS 29. The integration of qualitative and quantitative findings revealed that Arab Muslim participants exhibited moderate to high levels of religiosity, which, along with their cultural and traditional beliefs influenced their mental health perceptions and treatment approaches. Notably, a discrepancy between participants' self-identification as religious and their actual religious practices suggests a cultural value placed on modesty. The preference for traditional healing practices and supernatural explanations for mental disorders indicates a strategic approach to navigating mental health stigma. Furthermore, education was identified as a crucial element in dispelling mental health misconceptions, with higher levels of education associated with a more accurate understanding of mental disorders and an increased likelihood of utilising formal mental health services. These insights highlight the challenges of integrating cultural, religious, and educational factors in shaping mental health perceptions and underscore the need for culturally and religiously sensitive mental health interventions and education. This study advocates for bridging the gap between traditional beliefs and formal mental health services to improve access and attitudes towards mental health care among Arab Muslims in Australia.
4 0
Restricted
New Insights on Polymyxin Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii
(Monash University, 2024-11) Alsaadi, Yasser; Li, Jian
The global health landscape is increasingly threatened by the rapid emergence of multidrug- resistant (MDR) Gram-negative ‘superbugs’, including Acinetobacter baumannii. Polymyxins, namely polymyxin B and colistin, stand as critical last-line therapeutic options. However, resistance to polymyxins continues to rise worldwide. Polymyxin resistance in A. baumannii primarily involves modifications to lipid A in the outer membrane mediated by the PmrAB two-component system. Additionally, the development of polymyxin-dependence during exposure to these antibiotics also contributes to this resistance phenotype. The overall objective of this thesis is to generate new mechanistic insights into polymyxin resistance in MDR A. baumannii. In Chapter 2, we developed an effective genome manipulation method for MDR A. baumannii, facilitating an in-frame pmrB deletion to explore the role of PmrAB in polymyxin resistance. We also reconstructed new genetic tools, crucial for phenotypic screening post homologous recombination and complementation/overexpression experiments in MDR A. baumannii. Overall, our method and genetic tools are critical for molecular research on the functions of antibiotic resistance genes in MDR A. baumannii strains. Chapter 3 investigated the role of PmrAB in the polymyxin resistance of AB5075. Deletion of pmrB resulted in increased tolerance to higher concentrations of polymyxin B (16 mg/L and 32 mg/L), without any observed modifications in lipid A. Further, a missense mutation in the gene ABUW_1353 was identified in the polymyxin-resistant AB06-32 strain. This gene is homologous to the response regulator of the QseBC system, known to be associated with polymyxin resistance in other bacterial species, but not previously reported in A. baumannii. Chapter 4 explored the effect of pmrB deletion on the A. baumannii transcriptome in the absence and presence of 4 mg/L polymyxin B. RNA sequencing showed 467 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in AB06 (ΔpmrB) relative to AB5075. COG enrichment analysis indicated the regulatory role of PmrAB extends to various pathways, including energy production, virulence, stress responses, cell membrane structure and TCSs. Additionally, we examined the initial (1 h) and later (4 h) responses to polymyxin B, identifying a reduced number of DEGs in AB06 compared to AB5075 at both time points. Notably, the paa operon was downregulated in AB5075 post-polymyxin B exposure but upregulated in AB06 (ΔpmrB) before and unaffected afterwards. Our results are the first to implicate the PAA pathway in responding to polymyxin exposure and its potential connection to the PmrAB system in A. baumannii. In Chapter 5, we employed the mutagenesis method developed in Chapter 2 to achieve an in- frame deletion of the astA gene in the polymyxin-dependent AB5075D strain. Our results demonstrated that deletion of astA improved growth, increased polymyxin resistance, and reduced dependency. Our findings highlight the link between ast operon and arginine metabolism in A. baumannii polymyxin resistance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to make a gene knockout in a polymyxin-dependent A. baumannii strain to investigate the mechanism of polymyxin dependence. In conclusion, this thesis developed a new molecular approach to investigate mechanisms underlying polymyxin resistance in A. baumannii. These mechanistic findings provide new insights into polymyxin resistance in A. baumannii and will aid in optimising the clinical use of this critical class of last-line antibiotics against MDR A. baumannii.
4 0
Restricted
APPLICATION OF STEREOTYPE CONTENT MODEL TO INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION IMAGE: AN INVESTIGATION OF ANTECEDENTS, CONSEQUENCES AND MODERATORS
(Queensland University of Technology, 2024) Khayyat, Abrar; Beatson, Amanda; Wang, Di
Since its inception, destination image has been the most popular research construct in the tourism literature due to its influence on destination choice and tourist behavioural intentions. Several researchers have employed different methods to capture tourist destination image and explain its consequences. Recently, the stereotype content model (SCM) emerged as an effective approach to capturing destination image and explaining tourists’ intentions to visit. The SCM offers a valuable framework for assessing destination image in the tourism sector. Although tourism researchers have applied SCM to study destination stereotypes, a thorough literature review reveals only one study applying the model to capture destination image in the context of domestic destinations. No research has applied SCM for studying international destination image, which poses a gap in the literature. Applying SCM to international destinations is important because they differ fundamentally from domestic destinations. In a highly competitive tourism industry, people’s perceptions and mental images of a particular place become just as crucial as the actual, tangible attributes and attractions the destination offers. This study aims to address this gap by applying and extending the SCM to destination image in the context of international destinations to explain tourists’ intentions to visit, identify key antecedents and outcomes of the SCM, and test the causal effect of the most salient antecedents on attitudes towards the destination through the mediating role of the SCM. This research utilised a multi-method quantitative research design consisting of three sequential studies to achieve the research aims. Study One analysed the perception of international destinations regarding the SCM dimensions and tested the moderating effect of perceived self-competence and warmth on the relationship between SCM dimensions and intention to visit. Data were collected from 352 United Kingdom residents intending to travel overseas within the next 12 months through a self-administered online survey hosted and distributed through Prolific. The findings confirm that SCM captures destination image through warmth and competence and extends to international destinations. Additionally, the cluster analysis confirms that these 20 international destinations could be organised into four categories according to the respondents’ evaluations of their warmth and competence. This indicates that the SCM can be used for destination positioning. Finally, this study demonstrates that self-congruency is a moderator, positively influencing visit intention when aligned with destination perceptions. The findings reveal that perceived self-warmth positively moderates the relationship between perceived destination warmth and visit intention. That is, for tourists who perceive themselves at a higher level of warmth, the perceived warmth of a destination has a stronger impact on their intention to visit. Similarly, perceived self-competence positively moderates the relationship between perceived destination competence and visit intention. For tourists who perceive themselves as highly competent, the perceived destination competence plays a more significant role in shaping their intention to visit. Study Two extended the SCM model in the context of international destinations by testing the perceived gross domestic product of the location, the perceived destination’s logo shape, perceived population density, perceived risk, and perceived status of the destination as antecedents and attitude towards the destination as a consequence. Data were collected from 292 respondents using a sampling procedure and data collection instrument similar to that used in Study One. The findings of this study focus on four destinations representing different stereotype clusters. This study revealed perceived population density as the salient and diagnostic antecedent of attitude towards the destination through perceived destination competence. The mediation role of perceived destination warmth was insignificant. Consequently, together, Study One and Study Two draw a correlational picture of perceived destination warmth and perceived destination competence in the context of international destinations. In Study Three, building on Study Two, an experimental design was employed to test the causal relation between the most salient antecedent, perceived population density, and attitude towards the destination through perceived destination competence. The causal design was used to confirm the relationship that emerged from the findings of Study Two. This study also tested the robustness of this effect across different travel settings, such as business and leisure travel. This study collected data from 270 United Kingdom residents interested in travel and intending to travel internationally within the next 12 months. The Study Three findings show that perceived population density significantly affects attitude towards the destination and perceived destination competence, whereas travel purpose shows no significant impact. This insignificance indicates that the perceived population density’s effect is robust across different travel settings. Further, the relationship between perceived population density and attitude towards the destination is mediated by perceived destination competence but not by perceived destination warmth. The results suggest that managing perceived population density could enhance tourist perceptions and attitudes through perceived destination competence. This thesis makes significant theoretical contributions to destination image research by pioneering the application of the SCM to the international destination context. It reveals that the SCM dimensions of warmth and competence effectively capture tourists’ perceptions and significantly influence their intention to visit, filling a notable gap in the literature. The research also extends the theory of self-congruity to the SCM, confirming that tourists’ perceptions of their own warmth and competence moderate the relationship between destination warmth and competence and visit intention. Further, the thesis identifies and assesses five unique antecedents of the SCM in the context of international destinations: perceived risk, perceived destination logo shape, perceived destination status, perceived GDP of the location, and perceived population density. By incorporating these antecedents into an extended SCM model, along with the mediating effects of perceived destination warmth and competence and attitudinal outcomes, this research provides a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing tourists’ perceptions, attitudes and decision-making processes. The experimental study conducted as part of this thesis provides empirical evidence for the underlying processes that drive the effects of these antecedents on tourist attitudes: the mediating role of perceived destination competence in the relationship between perceived population density and attitude towards a destination. From a practical standpoint, this thesis underscores the direct applicability of the SCM as a robust diagnostic tool for destinations. It enables destination marketing organisations to identify their strengths, weaknesses and key competitors and adapt their strategies effectively. The findings offer valuable guidance for destination marketing organisations in developing effective segmentation, risk mitigation and marketing communication strategies. By understanding the moderating effects of self-congruity and the key antecedents of the SCM, marketers can tailor their efforts to align with tourists’ self-perceptions and proactively address factors such as perceived risk, ultimately maximising their impact and enhancing the success of their destination marketing strategies. In sum, this thesis makes significant contributions to destination image literature and holds the potential to revolutionise destination marketing strategies. By applying and extending the SCM to the international destination context, identifying key antecedents and outcomes of the SCM, and providing empirical evidence for the underlying processes that shape tourist attitudes and intentions, this research offers valuable theoretical insights and practical implications for destination managers, marketers and researchers. The findings of this thesis pave the way for further studies in this area, promising a brighter future for the tourism industry.
13 0
Restricted
Effectiveness of prevent, detect, escape E-module
(the university of Sydney, 2024-05) Alanazi, Maram; Cook, Angela
This research project investigated the effectiveness of the CFA and FRV's "Prevent, Detect, Escape" e-learning module designed to improve fire safety awareness among high-risk populations in Victoria. The study analyzed immediate feedback surveys, follow-up surveys, and phone interviews with participants who completed the online training. Key findings reveal that 80% of contacted care organizations have mandated the e-learning module, primarily due to new NDIS policies and the module's valuable knowledge. The research identified several critical insights for improving the e-module, including: Incorporating scenario-based content Adding knowledge-testing questions Making technological improvements Developing an in-person course access option The project's primary objectives were to understand barriers to implementing fire safety behaviors, gather participant suggestions for course improvement, and provide evidence to enhance educational tools for people at higher risk of residential fires. The long-term goal is to reduce preventable residential fires and fire-related fatalities, particularly among vulnerable populations in Victoria
10 0
Restricted
Developing and Assessing the Effectiveness of a Web-based Breastfeeding Educational Resource on Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate among Saudi Women
(University of Wollongong, 2024-09) Alahmed, Salma; Frost, Steve; Meedya, Shahla; Fernanadez, Ritin; Win, Khin; Almutair, Abbas
Background Breastfeeding is not only a very cost-effective way of feeding a baby, but it is also associated with multiple health benefits for both mothers and infants. Henceforth, the World Health Organization highly recommends early initiation of breastfeeding within an hour after birth, followed by exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months. However, the rates of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding vary around the world, and in some countries, they are well below the WHO targets. Similarly, in Saudi Arabia, the rate of early initiation of breastfeeding ranges from 26.3% in the Northern region to 62.7% in the Southern region. Furthermore, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at six months after birth varies from 19.2% to 28%. Despite national efforts to promote breastfeeding, a decline in breastfeeding practices has been recorded, coinciding with increased use of infant formula. Introducing formula milk during hospital stays in Saudi Arabia is common practice. Several misconceptions about body shape, the safety of colostrum, and breastmilk insufficiency, coupled with rapid economic growth, have contributed to this decline and early breastfeeding cessation, even though Saudi women are offered breastfeeding education during pregnancy. Therefore, there was a need to develop an online educational intervention to motivate Saudi women to breastfeed for a longer duration. Saudi Arabia has a deep-rooted cultural heritage based on the Islamic religion, and its main language is Arabic. Hence, the cultural and linguistic aspects of the educational intervention were considered important determinants of its successful implementation. Aim The aim of this program of Higher Degree Research (HDR) was to develop and assess the effectiveness of a Web-based Breastfeeding Educational Resource (WEBBER) on exclusive breastfeeding rate during the hospital stay until one month after birth. Method The multi-method study was carried out in three phases to address the research aim. In the first phase, a systematic review was conducted to collect evidence-based information. The content of the website was based on the knowledge gaps identified in the systematic review, the WHO recommendation and the Milky Way app. In the second phase, the content of the website was finalised through a consensus development conference involving local stakeholders from the participating hospital in Saudi Arabia and university researchers. Participants of the Consensus Development Conference were asked to give feedback before the meeting, and changes were made to the content accordingly. The meeting was conducted on Zoom, and polling was used to indicate whether consensus was reached about the content, images and layout. The Persuasive System Design model informed the framework of the website development phase. The third phase was divided into two stages. In the first stage, a quasi-experimental study with a before and after intervention design was used to assess the effectiveness of the Web-based breastfeeding educational resource in promoting breastfeeding practices. An online survey was conducted to collect information about the breastfeeding practices during a hospital stay and at one month after birth before (Standard Care group) and after (Intervention group) giving access to the website. In the second stage, a semi-structured interview was undertaken to explore women’s experiences using the website. The interview was digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim using the Otter application before translating into English. The quantitative data was analysed using R language for statistical computing. A log-binomial regression model was used to adjust for any confounding factors that were identified. The qualitative data was analysed using content and thematic analysis. Results A total of sixteen studies were included in the systematic review. Data from ten studies that reported on breastfeeding knowledge demonstrated that 42.3% to 82.3% of Saudi women had good knowledge. However, several gaps in knowledge were identified including managing breastfeeding challenges. A meta-analysis of seven studies that reported on attitudes showed that most Saudi women hold positive attitudes towards breastfeeding. However, around 40% of women believed that formula milk was as healthy as breastmilk, and 59.4% believed that formula feeding was more convenient. The literature review was crucial in developing the content of the website. After making changes to the content based on feedback received from the members of the Consensus Development Conference, 100% agreement about the content, layout and images was achieved during the meeting. This confirmed the cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the content of the website, which was successfully developed using the Persuasive Systems Design model. Findings from the quasi-experimental experimental demonstrated an almost three times increase in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at one month after birth in the intervention group that was given access to the website. Several predictors of exclusive breastfeeding were identified, including intention to breastfeed for six months or more, baby not receiving pre-made infant formula, and unemployment status of the women. Thematic analysis of the data from the semi-structured interview revealed three themes, including “Satisfying,” “Helpful,” and “Motivational.” Participants found the website “satisfying” due to its “Accessibility,” “Visual attraction,” “User-friendliness,” “Informative content,” “Trustworthiness,” and “Uniqueness.” They qualified the website as being helpful because it was perceived as a “Problem solver,” “Supportive,” and “Confidence booster.” The four sub-themes associated with “Motivational” were “Motivation to continue breastfeeding,” “Preparedness for managing breastfeeding challenges,” “Facilitating the continuation of breastfeeding,” and “Enhancement of intention to Breastfeed for a longer period.” Overall, the women’s experience of using the website was very positive. Conclusion This program of Higher Degree Research (HDR) has demonstrated the effectiveness of the Web-based Breastfeeding Education Resource in improving the exclusive breastfeeding rate during the hospital stay until one month after birth in Saudi Arabia. The Consensus Development Conference facilitated the engagement with local stakeholders, who ensured the cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the evidence-based content derived from the systematic review, WHO and Milky Way App. The Persuasive Systems Design model was successfully employed in developing the website, which was confirmed by the positive feedback from breastfeeding women who felt more motivated to breastfeed. This study has demonstrated that a women-centred online breastfeeding educational intervention can improve breastfeeding practices in Saudi Arabia.
6 0
Restricted
Computational Intelligence Approaches for Energy-Aware Microservice Based SaaS Deployment in a Data Centre
(Qeensland University of Technology, 2024) Alzahrani, Amal Saleh; Tang, Maolin
Microservice-based Software as a Service (SaaS) entails a software delivery approach in which software is constructed as a set of loosely coupled, independently deployable services known as microservices. Microservices are autonomous, small-scale services that collaborate to create a more extensive application. The microservice-based SaaS deployment problem refers to the challenge of efficiently deploying microservices within a SaaS to compute servers in a cloud data centre. This deployment leads to a significant increase in overall energy consumption, primarily due to the increased energy usage of the compute servers hosting the microservices. Moreover, the energy consumption of network devices that facilitate connections between in terconnected microservices also contributes to the overall energy usage. This increase in energy consumption raises concerns regarding sustainability, environmental impact and operational costs. In contrast to traditional SaaS deployment approaches, where energy considerations are frequently disregarded, this thesis addresses the energy increase associated with the deployment of microservice-based SaaS, focusing specifically on reducing the increase in energy consump tion in compute servers and network devices. To address this new microservice-based SaaS deployment problem, three Computational Intelligence (CI) approaches are designed and developed. First, an Adaptive Hybrid Genetic Algorithm (GA) is developed to tackle the problem. It achieves this by dynamically balancing the exploration-exploitation trade-off through an adaptive crossover rate. Furthermore, the adaptive hybrid GA incorporates a local optimiser, which refines the best solutions by improving the exploitation capacity of the adaptive hybrid GA. Second, a Hybrid Particle Swarm optimi sation (HPSO) approach is developed to address the new SaaS deployment problem. HPSO also integrates a local optimiser to enhance its exploitation capacity, thus further refining the best solutions. Additionally, HPSO has the capability to dynamically adjust the inertia weight and its cognitive and social parameters throughout the optimisation process. Third, an Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO) approach, equipped with new heuristic information, is developed to solve the new SaaS deployment problem. During the search for a compute server to host a microservice, this heuristic information aids the ants in selecting a compute server that will result in a lower increase in the energy consumption of both compute servers and network devices. In this thesis, a comparative study is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency and scalability of the adaptive hybrid GA, HPSO and ACO approaches in solving the new SaaS deployment problem. The findings reveal that the adaptive hybrid GA is the most effective approach for minimising both total energy increase and the energy increase specifically in the compute servers. Its ability to provide energy-efficient solutions while maintaining good scala bility and fast execution times makes it the optimal choice for addressing the new microservice based SaaS deployment problem. The HPSO is identified as the second most effective and efficient approach, after the adap tive hybrid GA. It also demonstrates good scalability and faster execution times compared to ACO, efficiently generating optimal or near-optimal solutions as the problem size grows despite increasing complexity. Although the ACO is effective at minimising the increase in the energy consumption of network devices, it is the least effective approach for reducing the overall increase in total energy consumption. The cubic or quadratic increases observed in ACO’s execution times highlight its poor performance in scaling effectively with larger problem instances. The ACO’s poor scalability renders it impractical for handling larger problem sizes.
13 0
Restricted
A Systematic Review of User Consent, Transparency, and Secure Data Transmission and Storage
(University of Technology Sydney (UTS), 2024-11-03) Alharbi, Sultanah; Hussain, Farookh Khadeer
Smart home technology is revolutionizing residential environments by connecting devices to enhance comfort, safety, and energy efficiency. However, these advancements raise significant privacy concerns, particularly in data collection, transmission, and storage. This systematic review examines user consent, transparency, and secure data handling in smart homes, identifying challenges and innovative solutions such as blockchain and AI integration. The review highlights deficiencies in current consent mechanisms, the complexity of GDPR compliance, and practical barriers to implementation, offering insights for future research and practical privacy frameworks.
19 0
Restricted
AI in Telehealth for Cardiac Care: A Literature Review
(University of technology sydney, 2024-03) Alzahrani, Amwaj; Li, lifu
This literature review investigates the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in telehealth, with a specific focus on its applications in cardiac care. The review explores how AI enhances remote patient monitoring, facilitates personalized treatment plans, and improves healthcare accessibility for patients with cardiac conditions. AI-driven tools, such as wearable devices and implantable medical devices, have demonstrated significant potential in tracking critical health parameters, enabling timely interventions, and fostering proactive patient care. Additionally, AI-powered chatbots and telehealth platforms provide patients with real-time support and guidance, enhancing engagement and adherence to treatment regimens. The findings reveal that AI contributes to improving healthcare outcomes by enabling early detection of cardiac events, tailoring treatment plans to individual patient needs, and expanding access to care for underserved populations. However, the integration of AI in telehealth is not without challenges. Ethical considerations, such as ensuring data privacy, managing biases in AI algorithms, and addressing regulatory complexities, emerge as critical areas requiring attention. Furthermore, technological limitations, including the need for robust validation and patient acceptance of AI technologies, underscore the importance of bridging the gap between research and real-world implementation. This review also examines future trends, including the integration of blockchain technology with AI to enhance data security and privacy in telehealth systems. Advancements in machine learning and the Internet of Things (IoT) are paving the way for innovative solutions, such as secure remote monitoring and personalized rehabilitation programs. While AI holds transformative potential in revolutionizing telehealth services for cardiac patients, addressing these challenges is imperative to ensure equitable, effective, and patient-centered care. This review underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and regulatory oversight to unlock the full potential of AI in telehealth and improve outcomes for cardiac patients globally.
19 0

SACM - Australia

Browse

Filters

Settings

Sort By

Results per page

Search Results