Faculty of Science 1

Doctor of Philosophy

ALBQMI, Aisha Rashed M

Thesis Title

Integrating Three-Way Decisions Framework with Multiple Support Vector Machines for Text Classification

Supervisors

• Professor Wageeh W Boles (Associate Supervisor)
• Professor Yuefeng Li (Principal Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Yue Xu (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

Identifying the boundary between relevant and irrelevant objects in text classification is a significant challenge due to the numerous uncertainties in text documents. Most existing binary text classifiers cannot deal effectively with this problem due to the issue of over-fitting. This thesis proposes a three-way decision model for dealing with the uncertain boundary to improve the binary text classification performance by integrating the distinct aspects of three-way decisions theory and the capacities of the Support Vector Machine. The experimental results show that the proposed models outperform baseline models on the RCV1, Reuters-21578, and R65CO datasets.

BIRCANIN, Filip

Thesis Title

Co-Designing with Adults with Moderate to Severe Intellectual Disabilities to Enable Active Communication Technology Use

Supervisors

• Professor Margot Brereton (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Bernd Ploderer (Associate Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Laurianne Julie Sitbon (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis describes a series of studies examining the role of technologies in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities to have their voices heard and express their competencies and interests in a day centre for people with intellectual disabilities. It offers insights on how communication unfolds through complex relations between adults with intellectual disabilities and their carers. This thesis also describes several working prototypes and shows new pathways for design of Alternative and Augmentative Communication devices. Overall, the research articulates a number of methodological contributions on how to operationalize co-design activities in a group care setting for people with intellectual disabilities.

BUCKINGHAM, Lawrence Irving

Thesis Title

K-Mer Based Algorithms for Biological Sequence Comparison and Search

Supervisors

• Adjunct Professor Shlomo Geva (Associate Supervisor)
• Associate Professor James Michael Hogan (Principal Supervisor)

Citation

The present thesis develops novel algorithms for biological sequence comparison and accelerated sequence database search, motivated by the need to work effectively with the rapidly expanding volume of sequence data which is available as the result of continuing advances in sequencing technology. Empirical tests using datasets of realistic size and content demonstrate that these algorithms are approximately an order of magnitude faster than standard sequence database search tools, while attaining higher precision. While the algorithms have been developed and tested in a biological context, they are applicable to any problem involving comparison of sequential data series.

DASANAYAKA MUDIYANSELAGE, Nishanthi Kumari Dasanayaka

Thesis Title

Mobile Broadband Enabled Cooperative-ITS Approaches for Vulnerable Road User Safety

Supervisors

• Professor Yanming Feng (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Dhammika Jayalath (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This PhD work investigates the communication and positioning technologies for realizing vehicle to Vulnerable Road User (V2VRU) safety interactions. The thesis presents a design of a software-defined VRU safety solution based on smartphone hardware, allowing for the incorporation of emerging technologies such as Internet-of-Things (IoT) protocols, real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning techniques, and 4G/5G mobile broadband (MBB) services. Experimental results also demonstrate the feasibility and performance of 4G internet connection and RTK positioning to meet the key technical requirements for V2VRU safety applications.

HUSSAIN, Mukhtar

Thesis Title

Data-Driven Discovery of Mode Switching Conditions to Create Hybrid Models of Cyber-Physical Systems

Supervisors

• Professor Colin John Fidge (Principal Supervisor)
• Adjunct Associate Professor Ernest Foo (External Supervisor)
• Dr Zahra Jadidi (External Supervisor)
• Dr Md Tanvir Ishtaique Ul Huque (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

Models are essential tools for evaluating a system’s behaviour under different scenarios. However, in industrial practice pre-existing models of cyber-physical systems (CPSs) are not always available because CPSs can be legacy systems which are subject to changes and upgrades over time that may not be well documented. System identification addresses the problem by creating models from the external observation of a system. This research is concerned with hybrid system identification of CPSs, i.e., building models of dynamic systems switching between different operating modes. This thesis presents methods for discovering data-driven mode switching conditions essential for building such models.

JAYARATHNA, Lakmali Chandani Herath

Thesis Title

Effective Use of Social Media Networks for Collaborative Learning in Higher Education

Supervisors

• Dr Rebekah Gillian Eden (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Erwin Johannes Fielt (Mentoring Supervisor)
• Dr Alireza Nili (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

With the continual rise of online and hybrid modes of learning, students collaborating through social media networks (SMN) is becoming increasingly important. Yet, students are struggling to unleash the potential of SMN to support their learning. This study investigated how SMN can be effectively used for collaborative learning in higher education through using a mixed methodology. Findings showed that SMN's effective use influenced students’ collaborative learning goal attainment and was facilitated by perception of SMN affordances and social capital. This thesis extends the theory of effective use by proposing an approach for contextualizing effective use of SMN for collaborative learning.

KALMA, Anna Danielle

Thesis Title

Crafting and Connecting: Co-Designing Technologies with Older Adult Crafters to Promote Family Connections

Supervisors

• Professor Margot Brereton (Associate Supervisor)
• Dr Bernd Ploderer (Principal Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Laurianne Julie Sitbon (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis presents research with older adults to design digital technologies that are accessible and support meaningful social connections. In collaboration with older adults who are passionate about fiber crafts like knitting and crochet, this research presents new insights on how to integrate craft and digital technology design. It presents new interaction design methods that harness craft materials and skills and a theoretical framework that illustrates key themes for technology designs that connect older adults with family members and fit with their routines and interests.

KAMALPOUR, Mostafa

Thesis Title

How Does the Resilience of Older Adults Emerge in Online Communities

Supervisors

• Adjunct Professor Elinor Laurie Refsland Buys (External Supervisor)
• Dr Rebekah Gillian Eden (Principal Supervisor)
• Dr Rehan Abbas Syed (Associate Supervisor)
• Associate Professor Amina Tariq (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

Resilience is an important element for the wellbeing of older adults. This study investigated how the resilience process among older adults emerges in online communities. Through analysing the Reddit online forum, and performing interviews with older adults, this work proposed a digital resilience model explaining different stages of the resilience process in online communities. Findings showed that in OCs, the process of resilience starts with older adults sharing a certain group of stressors through several practices. This can result in either developing or declining their resilience factors through different scenarios.

LEE, Christopher Patrick

Thesis Title

Player Experience During Interdependent and Cooperative Gameplay

Supervisors

• Professor Daniel McCarthy Johnson (Associate Supervisor)
• Professor Peta Wyeth (Principal Supervisor)

Citation

This thesis aimed to further research in the field of video games by examining player experience (PX) during interdependent and cooperative gameplay. Overall, results suggested that co-located interdependent gameplay may improve aspects of the player experience, particularly enjoyment, flow and social connectedness, but has little effect on group dynamics and the way in which people interact in the real world. These benefits seem to plateau or diminish when playing online with strangers or in large groups. These findings may allow game developers to make more informed design decisions when creating social games.

PALANISWAMY, Basker

Thesis Title

Improving Authentication and Key Management for Intra and Inter Vehicular Communication

Supervisors

• Dr Matthew Edmund McKague (Associate Supervisor)
• Leonie Ruth Simpson (Principal Supervisor)

Citation

There are two types of vehicular communications: intra-vehicular and inter-vehicular. Widely used intra-vehicular communications protocols include Controller Area Network (CAN) 2.0B and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1939. Neither CAN 2.0B or SAE J1939 have included security mechanisms to prevent adversarial attacks. Adversaries may modify messages without detection. Inter-vehicular communications includes both vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle communications. These are also vulnerable to attack. Manipulation of vehicular communications can have physical consequences endangering human life. This work aims to address this by analysing existing authentication protocols and designing secure authentication mechanisms for inter-vehicular and intra-vehicular communications to prevent certain adversarial attacks.

SANDERCOCK, Patricia Alice

Thesis Title

Libraries as Bastions of Truth? How Technical College Students Ascertain Truthfulness in Information

Supervisors

• Dr Mary K Bolin (External Supervisor)
• Dr Andrew Edward Demasson (Principal Supervisor)
• Adjunct Professor Sylvia Lauretta Edwards (Associate Supervisor)

Citation

This study examined how a group of first year technical college students ascertained the truthfulness of information retrieved from their college library’s catalogue. This study revealed a strong, passive dependence by first year students on those individuals and institutions perceived to be in positions of authority, who concurrently conferred not just truth, but beliefs, and understandings; while other students, displaying interface fuzziness, confused library information sources with those found on the internet. It is recommended that those instructing technical college students encourage greater levels of reflection and cognitive engagement with information selected for use by students.