http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/services/Feed ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10022 We use methods from convex analysis, relying on an ingenious function of Simon Fitzpatrick, to prove maximality of the sum of two maximal monotone operators on reflexive Banach space under weak transversality conditions. 2013-05-21T01:48:29.602Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12867 Objective: To identify sources of food eaten during the school day, the types of foods and frequency of purchases from the canteen and association with SES and weight status in primary school-aged children. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Primary schools were randomly selected from a list of government schools and 5,206 students in years 1–6 from the 16 participating schools were invited to participate in the study. Results: Findings show the majority of children in the study bring their recess snack and lunch from home. However, the majority of children do use the school canteen and less healthy foods and highsugar drinks are commonly purchased. Conclusions: This study confirms the relevance of the school canteen as a means of affecting children's eating habits. Implications: Improvement in the foods sold through schools provides an important contribution to model supportive environments for healthy food choices. Strategies should also be directed towards affecting the content of lunchboxes and the home environment. 2013-05-09T06:17:14.378Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12864 Objective: To describe wellbeing and nutrition-related side effects in a group of paediatric oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy, and to examine associations with nutritional status, disease and treatment-related factors. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of patients attending the Sydney (n = 41) or John Hunter Children’s Hospitals (n = 13). Wellbeing was assessed using the Multi-attribute Health Status Classification Scheme (MHSCS) and the Play Performance Scale (PPS). Disease and treatment details were obtained through patient and parent interviews and audit of medical records. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric and biochemical measurements. Results: Twenty-four per cent and 33% scored maximum points on the MHSCS and PPS, respectively. Advanced stage of solid tumour or lymphoma was associated with worse MHSCS scores, P = 0.008. Longer time on treatment correlated negatively with PPS scores (r = −0.35; P = 0.030). The most frequent side effects were nausea, decreased appetite, vomiting and changes in taste. While 67% experienced five or more side effects concurrently, the number increased with length of time on treatment (r = 0.38; P = 0.006). Of the 23 patients experiencing five or more side effects, only two had been seen by a dietitian in the previous two months. Conclusion: Nutrition-related side effects are common in children undergoing chemotherapy, with the number of side effects not decreasing over time. While wellbeing scores were generally satisfactory, those with advanced stage of solid tumour or lymphoma, or with longer time on treatment, reported lower scores. We recommend that all paediatric oncology patients are referred for dietetic review, even those in the later stages of treatment, in order to optimise nutritional status and wellbeing. 2013-05-09T06:13:59.330Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12856 Nonparametric analysis for general block designs can be given by using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel (CMH) statistics. We demonstrate this with four examples and note that several well-known nonparametric statistics are special cases of CMH statistics. 2013-05-09T03:24:17.486Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12852 Little has been published which analyses the performance of a workforce after the announcement that their organisation is to be closed. Of the few published cases analysing closure, in a small number of instances it has been reported that substantial improvements occurred in the organisation’s performance during the period from the announcement until the final day. Such improvements were generally contrary to the predictions of the downsizing literature and the instinctive expectations of the managers who were involved. Using a case study analysis of the closure of a steelworks in Australia in which very significant improvements in performance were recorded, this paper examines the role of the company’s human resource management interventions as an explanatory factor for these improvements. 2013-05-07T03:42:23.535Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12797 A label setting algorithm for solving the Elementary Resource Constrained Shortest Path Problem, using node resources to forbid repetition of nodes on the path, is implemented. A state-space augmenting approach for accelerating run times is considered. Several augmentation strategies are suggested and compared numerically. 2013-04-30T06:55:20.626Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12807 We consider the optimization problem defined on a connected undirected graph with given root vertex and a parameter s̅, in which we seek a spanning tree with the smallest number of special (amplifying) vertices such that each vertex in the tree is preceded on its unique path from the root vertex by an amplifying vertex no more than s̅ edges distant. This problem, which we called the amplified spanning tree (AST) problem, is motivated by a practical problem in local access television cable networks. We show that even restricted to planar graphs with no vertex degree exceeding four, AST is NP-complete for every fixed s̅ ≥ 1. Making use of a connection with distance domination problems, we show that two related problems, including total distance domination, are also NP-complete and we derive an approximately upper bound for AST. 2013-04-26T01:01:33.029Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12796 The Asymmetric Travelling Salesman Problem with Replenishment Arcs (RATSP) is a new class of problems arising from work related to aircraft routing. Given a digraph with cost on the arcs, a solution of the RATSP, like that of the Asymmetric Travelling Salesman Problem, induces a directed tour in the graph which minimises total cost. However the tour must satisfy additional constraints: the arc set is partitioned into replenishment arcs and ordinary arcs, each node has a non-negative weight associated with it, and the tour cannot accumulate more than some weight limit before a replenishment arc must be used. To enforce this requirement, constraints are needed. We refer to these as replenishment constraints. In this paper, we review previous polyhedral results for the RATSP and related problems, then prove that two classes of constraints developed in V. Mak and N. Boland [Polyhedral results and exact algorithms for the asymmetric travelling salesman problem with replenishment arcs, Technical Report TR M05/03, School of Information Technology, Deakin University, 2005] are, under appropriate conditions, facet-defining for the RATS polytope. 2013-04-19T04:44:23.159Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12795 The discrete ordered median problem (DOMP) integrates classical discrete location problems, such as the N-median, N-center and Uncapacitated Facility Location problems. It was introduced by Nickel (In: Fleischmann B, Lasch R, Derigs U, Domschke W, Rieder U, editors. Operations Research Proceedings 2000, Berlin: Springer, 2001. p. 71–76), who formulated it as both a nonlinear and a linear integer program. We propose an alternative integer linear programming formulation for the DOMP, discuss relationships between both integer linear programming formulations, and show how properties of optimal solutions can be used to strengthen these formulations. Moreover, we present a specific branch and bound procedure to solve the DOMP more efficiently. We test the integer linear programming formulations and this branch and bound method computationally on randomly generated test problems. 2013-04-19T04:43:29.609Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12760 We present a method to automatically outline the optic disc in a retinal image. Our method for finding the optic disc is based on the properties of the optic disc using simple image processing algorithms which include thresholding, detection of object roundness and circle detection by Hough transformation. Our method is able to recognize the retinal images with general properties and the retinal images with variance of unusual properties since the parameters of our method can be flexibly changed by the unusual properties. 2013-04-16T00:50:16.743Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10203 There is growing interest worldwide in the nature of Honours programs including those that serve the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate research courses. This is at a time when there is also intense interest in the effectiveness of research training, timely research candidate completion, and in the contribution of research students to university research status. In Australia prior to the 1980s Honours programs were primarily intended to provide the link between undergraduate and postgraduate research work, but this situation changed and Honours programs evolved into a variety of forms to meet new needs. With this diversity we have lost sight of whether or not Honours research projects prove effective in attracting future postgraduate research students and in preparing them for research. In this paper the authors report research that suggests that for PhD students who have completed their thesis, having an Honours qualification does not predict examination outcome, but another highly relevant question is whether or not preparation through Honours increases the likelihood of research degree completion. The first section of the paper provides an overview of the literature on research about Honours degrees, the second section presents data on doctoral outcomes for those who obtained Honours, and the third illustrates the type of information currently being collected to explore to what extent honours students are ‘prepared’ for the expectations associated with, and the intensity of, a research higher degree. 2013-04-15T07:39:04.600Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2858 We consider the possibility of biological control of the invasive cane toad by application of a sterile male release program. Our approach was initiated by two primary observations, 1) sterile male release programs (commonly called the sterile insect technique) have been successful in controlling a number of insect pests in area wide programs, and 2) sterility occurs naturally in frogs under certain circumstances indicating that there are methods to produce sterile cane toads. Sterile male release as a form of biological control is a species specific and environmentally non-polluting method of population control that relies on the mass rearing, sterilization and release of a large number of individuals with fitness equivalent to wild type animals. Released sterile males compete for and mate with wild females, reducing their reproductive output and, ultimately, if enough sterile males are released for a sufficient length of time, eradication of the population is achieved. Sterile adult frogs have been detected in nature and indicate that there are means by which sterility can be induced in the cane toad. Specific cases involve the occurrence of chromosomal variants in the number of haploid genome complements. The majority of animals are diploid (2n) having two of each chromosome per nuclei. In a small number of cases species have evolved by duplication of entire genomes (polyploidization) which persist because the level of duplication is even (usually 4n) and therefore meiosis is balanced. Where even numbered polyploid taxa (4n) interact with their diploid progenitors (2n) they form triploid hybrids (4n x 2n = 3n) which are sterile due to uneven chromosome numbers. In other situations rare sterile triploids occur within diploid species. Triploids grow and develop similar to diploids and display normal fitness, however the occurrence of uneven numbered chromosome complements means that meiosis is disrupted and the animal sterile. We have investigated the development of a genetically modified stock of cane toads that would be ideal for a male-only sterile release program. To that end we have developed a method for making sterile male via triploid and tetraploidy. We outline the methods that would be necessary to produce only sterile males for a control program. 2013-04-15T07:19:19.302Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:3078 1) Background: The Socio-Economic Indexes For Areas (SEIFA) is published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) after every 5 yearly census. The most commonly used SEIFA is the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD), which ranks geographic areas based on their socio-economic disadvantage. This tool is used by government departments to identify areas of need for programs that target interventions in disadvantaged areas. The University of Newcastle formed a partnership with key New South Wales (NSW) Government departments that deliver human services in the Hunter region. This collaboration was facilitated by the Families First Initiative (FFI) to assist the targeting and delivery of services to children and vulnerable families. One of the aims of the partnership is to improve the targeting of services to areas of disadvantage. 2) Aims of the Paper: The paper’s first aim is to replicate the IRSD SEIFA for the Hunter Region, a Statistical Subdivision in NSW. A principal components analysis was performed on the identified variables used in the SEIFA, following the process detailed in the ABS technical paper as closely as possible. There was a high correlation between the ABS SEIFA and the Hunter Disadvantage scores as expected with the correlation being >0.95 [Figure 1. Comparison of ABS SEIFA and Hunter Disadvantage Scores] The Hunter disadvantage index accounted for 31.5% of the overall variance, which is comparable to the 32.5% accounted for by the ABS SEIFA. Both indexes indicated a large overall disadvantage factor, however the Hunter Disadvantage scores had a relatively higher loading from the variables of One Parent with Dependent Children and Government Rent. The paper’s second aim is to create an index of disadvantage for children. The Australian Census does not collect sufficient items to allow direct assessment of childhood disadvantage. The paper therefore assesses the proprietary of combining the Hunter Disadvantage scores (which is an estimate of the proportion of disadvantage borne by people in the area) with the proportion of children (aged 0-8 years old) as a targeting measure. The third aim for the paper is to include information available outside the census on disadvantage such as health data and crime rates. Finally, the paper examines the different geographical regions that are available for targeting, by proposing a hierarchical structure to combine the data available at different levels. 2013-04-15T01:39:45.621Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2888 This study has analysed the reductions in operational costs and greenhouse gas emissions from regional water supplies that include installation of rainwater tanks used to supply domestic laundry, toilet and outdoor water uses across New South Wales. A considerable reduction in operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions of regional water supplies was observed. In addition, significant improvement in the security of regional water supplies was observed for coastal regions. These benefits were seen to be dependent on the average annual rainfall depth, distance from the coast, and availability of reliable operational and augmentation data of a regional water system. This study reveals the importance of including rainwater tanks in analysis of the operation of regional water supplies. 2013-04-15T01:30:36.665Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2928 Australia is a generally dry continent that experiences highly variable rainfall. Since colonisation urban settlements have been regularly subjected to droughts, floods and water shortages. Rapid population growth with subsequent economic growth in industry and commerce resulted in dramatic increases in demand for water. The traditional approach to urban water supply largely focused on developing external water sources to meet growing water demands. Concurrently, urban stormwater and wastewater infrastructure is designed on a philosophy of rapid conveyance to receiving environments with reliance on "dilution" in those waters to assimilate wastes. These concepts have limited the capacity of upstream environments to meet urban water demand and of receiving environments to assimilate contaminant loads. As shown in this chapter, the 'big pipe' and 'end of pipe' solutions to water management are gradually being replaced by new integrated water cycle management approaches that aim to be more sustainable and may include small scale and decentralised infrastructure for managing the urban water streams. This chapter discusses the potential for utilising roofwater, stormwater, greywater and treated wastewater to improve management of the urban water cycle. 2013-04-15T01:26:06.305Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2932 Stepwise discriminant function analysis was used to compare the morphological traits of 15 exotic and 35 native herbaceous species occuring within an area of long-grazed grassland on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Exotic graminoids were shorter, had less persistent litter and a shorter flowering period than native graminoids. Exotic forbs had deeper leaf litter and a longer flowering period than native forbs. Most exotic forbs had a rosette or a prostrate habit, with oblanceolate or lanceolate leaves, and undefined dispersal or pappus. For graminoids, trait differences reflected the predominance of the annual life-history within exotics, while differences between exotic and native forbs were realted to habit. There were two main groups of exotics at the site: (i) annual graminoids and (ii) forbs with a rosette or prostrate habit. Exotics possessing low growing habits and mechanisms to either avoid or tolerate nutrient and moisture stress were able to invade and persist under the grazed resource-poor conditions investigated in this study. 2013-04-10T06:57:36.291Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:964 This paper introduces an automated medical image segmentation algorithm which can be used to locate volumetric objects such as brain tumor in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) images. The algorithm is novel in that it deals with MRI slices (or images) as a three dimension (3D) object as a whole. All the processes of segmentation are done in 3D space. First, it removes noisy voxels with 3D nonlinear anisotropic filtering. The filtering well preserves the intensity distribution continuity in all three directions as well as smoothes noisy voxels. Second, it uses a novel deformable surface model to segment an object from the MRI. A dynamic gradient vector flow is used in forming the surface model. Experiments have been done on segmenting tumors from real MRI data of human head. Accurate 3D tumor segmentation has been achieved. 2013-04-03T03:37:41.261Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2946 As the most populous country in the world, the Chinese labour market has several distinctive characteristics that other countries do not share. One of these characteristics is the rapid expansion in employment in non-state owned enterprises (NSEs) which emerged in the early 1980s. In spite of the remarkable success of the NSEs, questions are raised as to how and to what extent the development of NSEs has eroded the dominance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), particularly with regard to industrial production, employment and international trade. Also, questions regarding how the reforms in China’s labour market have affected the world economy, particularly in the labour intensive industries, remain unsolved. This paper attempts to answer these questions and generate policy implications for the rest of the world. 2013-03-27T23:27:22.465Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2974 This paper presents an industrial case study to reduce dust emissions from a grain handling ship loader. The primary objective of the study was to reduce dust emissions to within acceptable environmental levels during ship loading. Several constraints were imposed on the solution due to time and budgetary restrictions, and the inability to add a dust suppression agent to the grain for quality reasons. A number of alternative loading chute configurations and delivery spoon profiles were examined in a pilot-scale test facility. This paper will discuss a number of alternative solutions which were investigated during the course of the study and the critical parameters of the final design. Tests showed that it was not beneficial to decelerate the product stream to keep the relative velocity of the air stream over the grain below the minimum pickup velocity. Instead, it was found that concentrating the product stream and keeping the product velocity high was more beneficial in reducing dust emissions. A reduction of 50% in dust emission was achieved through the use of specifically designed constant radius and parabolic profile loading spoons. The product stream exiting the curved spoons was found to be concentrated and stream-lined, resulting in the dust being contained within the product stream. 2013-03-27T05:52:33.836Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2776 This paper presents a method exploiting Object Oriented (O-O) model concepts to build a Knowledge Base System (KBS) in empirical domains such as the Human Sciences. The method relies on a particular model whose specific features are: a twin conceptual level (internal and external level); a multiple ascending inner inheritance based on object composition; evaluation and dynamical functions; and a zoom operator providing an adapted perception of the expert’s domain. Model, method, and automated tools yield the design of a KBS for the diagnostic aid of intoxications with antidepressive drugs. It relies on fuzzy functions and time modelling, and takes a case based reasoning approach. 2013-03-27T05:30:47.392Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2777 This paper describes some temporal constructs that can be used in modelling temporal relationships of objects involved in medical scenarios. The paper proposes that the temporal constructs are useful and can be applied to general Object-Orientated (O-O) models used in clinical applications. 2013-03-27T05:30:26.368Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2153 This paper further develops a new approach to optimal experiment design for dynamical systems by introducing and comparing different robust optimal experiment design criteria. Until recently, solutions to the optimal experiment design problem were paradoxical in so far that the optimal experiment depended on the system parameters, i.e. the optimal experiment depended on the very thing that the experiment was aimed at finding. In a recent paper, we proposed an alternative approach, robust in nature, to the experiment design problem which, inter-alia, allowed for the possibility that the true parameters lay in a convex set. Here we further explore this robust solution. In particular, we examine the role played by different design criteria. 2013-03-27T02:04:19.337Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2870 Although the widespread deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was once thought likely to address construction industry ills, it is now becoming apparent that the surrounding contextual issues hinder the successful use of ICT in a project setting. This paper identifies and illuminates the theoretical concepts of softer cultural dimensions that influence the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for ICT engagement in construction projects. The paper concludes that the commonly held view of a total integration of project teams, an idealistic functionalist paradigm, in which culture is seen as providing cohesion and direction (characterising cultural metaphors of 'glue' or 'compass') is unlikely to be achieved. Rather, construction project environments are inherently fragmented where culture is more likely to be adversarial and clannish (characterising cultural metaphors of 'disorder' and 'clan'). Failure to recognise these cultural dimensions during ICT deployment results in sub optimal outcomes. It is contended that a cultural analysis approach that identifies the underlying 'root working assumptions' of a project team is essential prior to ICT deployment. 2013-03-22T05:09:02.209Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:4166 This paper describes the triggers for the (re)design of a delivery and assessment mechanism for student reflection in a first year construction technology course at the University of Newcastle, Australia. The paper relates the implemented design to the underpinning theoretical concepts, explaining the subsequent multi-perspective evaluation of its effectiveness. It further discusses the results obtained from the evaluation metrics and concludes with reflections on possible refinements for future implementation. 2013-03-22T05:05:15.411Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:9338 In this paper, we investigate communication strategies for the multiple access channel with feedback and correlated sources (MACFCS). The MACFCS models a wireless sensor network scenario in which sensors distributed throughout an arbitrary random field collect correlated measurements and transmit them to a common sink. We derive achievable rate regions for the three-node MACFCS. First, we study the strategy when source coding and channel coding are combined, which we term full decoding at sources. Second, we look at several strategies when source coding and channel coding are separated, which we term full decoding at destination. From numerical computations on Gaussian channels, we see that different strategies perform better under certain source correlations and channel setups. 2013-03-18T05:15:53.567Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:9339 In this paper, we derive the capacity of a special class of mesh networks. A mesh network is defined as a heterogeneous wireless network in which the transmission among power limited nodes is assisted by powerful relays, which use the same wireless medium. We find the capacity of the mesh network when there is one source, one destination, and multiple relays. We call this channel the single source multiple relay single destination (SSMRSD) mesh network. Our approach is as follows. We first look at an upper bound on the information theoretic capacity of these networks in the Gaussian setting. We then show that the bound is achievable asymptotically using the compress-forward strategy for the multiple relay channel. Theoretically, the results indicate the value of cooperation and the utility of carefully deployed relays in wireless ad-hoc and sensor networks. The capacity characterization quantifies how the relays can be used to either conserve node energy or to increase transmission rate. 2013-03-18T05:02:31.011Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2255 This study examines the applicability of the assumption in flood frequency analysis that flood peaks are independent and identically distributed. It investigates the effect and extent of multidecadal variability for mainly coastal, eastern Australian flood data. The Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) is a climate index which describes this long-term variability. The flood data were stratified by IPO value and flood frequency analyses performed. Analysis of the stratified flood distributions revealed that the IPO modulated the flood risk in New South Wales and southern Queensland, with flood quantiles being increased by a factor of approximately 1.7 during IPO negative periods, whereas little effect was detected for sites in north-east Queensland located approximately north of the Tropic of Capricorn. This IPO modulation of flood risk may be explained by multidecadal movements of regional convergence zones. Neglect of the IPO dependence on flood risk can lead to significant bias in long-run flood risk. 2013-03-12T05:39:15.564Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2887 Recent studies have shown that flood data from eastern Australian catchments may demonstrate variability in flood risk over multidecadal time scales, characterised by crossings of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) climate index. This nonhomogeneity of flood risk may lead to a significant prospect of biased long-run flood risk from at-site flood data with insufficient coverage of both IPO epochs. This paper develops a Bayesian hierarchical regional model, implemented using the Gibbs sampler, to overcome this possible bias in flood risk. The hierarchical model proposes that the parameters of the flood frequency distribution at any site are random samples from a regional probability model, allowing for intersite variability, while also permitting spatial correlation between concurrent floods. An outcome is that the predictive uncertainty at an ungauged or gauged site may be quantified. 2013-03-12T03:35:35.170Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:6474 We study the arithmetic properties of q-analogues of values ζ(s) of the Riemann zeta function, in particular of the values of the functions ζq(s)=Σ∞ k=₁ qkΣ dk d s⁻¹, s= 1,2,..., where q is a complex number with |q|<1 (these functions are also connected with the automorphic world). The main theorem of this article is that, if 1/q is an integer different from ±1, and if M is a sufficiently large odd integer, then the dimension of the vector space over ℚ which is spanned by 1,ζq(3),ζq(5),...,ζq(M) is at least c₁√M}, where c₁=0.3358. This result can be regarded as a q-analogue of the result of Rivoal and of Ball and Rivoal that the dimension of the vector space over ℚ which is spanned by 1,ζ(3),ζ(5),...,ζ(M) is at least c₂log M, with c₂=0.5906. For the same values of q, a similar lower bound for the values ζq(s) at even integers s provides a new proof of a special case of a result of Bertrand saying that one of the two Eisenstein series E₄(q) and E₆(q) is transcendental over ℚ for any complex number q such that 0<|q|<1. 2013-03-11T00:46:30.258Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:3103 With the Kyoto protocol coming into force we can expect media attention to focus on governments’ efforts to reduce global warming. While some have questioned how effective such efforts will be due to the number of countries who have not signed on (notably the USA), the potential effectiveness of efforts to combat climate change, and more generally to achieve a sustainable society, can better be understood in the light of ideological and socio-political contexts. This paper argues that ideology and socio-political structure are essential considerations in the path toward a sustainable society. Four models are discussed in terms of their potential to achieve sustainability. 2013-03-08T02:31:12.501Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2063 This article examines the foster care (referred to as out-of-home care) of Aboriginal children in Australia. It discusses the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle (ACPP), the role of indigenous kinship care, and the self determination of Aboriginal people. Given the history of Australia’s stolen generations (generations of Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their families), the primary concern is to keep Aboriginal children at home within their families, communities, and culture. All Australian jurisdictions support the concept of Aboriginal self-determination and the ACPP. However, they do so from within a framework informed by non-Aboriginal values. As a consequence, Aboriginal people are frustrated about mainstream understanding of self-determination and the ACPP. The authors argue that for both of these objectives to be achieved culturally appropriate policies and practices are needed. 2013-03-04T23:30:04.381Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2876 INTRODUCTION: To achieve high precision prostate radiotherapy requires accurate delineation of the prostate combined with accurate targeting of treatment with image-guided techniques. MRI scans have been shown to have lower inter-observer variability in prostate contouring than CT scans. If dose planning could also be performed on MRI scans then uncertainties due to registration to a CT scan would be reduced, as well as the resources required to use two imaging modalities. The feasibility of dose planning directly on MRI scans is investigated in this study. METHODS: Ten patients treated at the Newcastle Mater Hospital had three 0.9 × 7 mm gold markers implanted by a urologist under trans-rectal guidance. Each patient then underwent a planning CT with urethral contrast. The prostate was delineated on the CT for field definition as per our normal protocol. Patients were treated with daily on-line corrections using electronic portal images of the implanted markers. The patients also received a MRI scan in the treatment position following their planning CT. Several MRI sequences were utilized; a T2 whole pelvis scan, a T2 small field-of-view scan to visualise prostate borders, and a T2* gradient echo scan to visualise implanted markers. All scans were transferred to the Pinnacle treatment planning system. The CT and MRI scans were registered using bony anatomy. Dose plans were produced on both sets of scans. For the CT scans, plans were produced with full electron density information, a bulk uniform density of 1, and bulk density plus a density of 1.3 assigned to the bone regions. For the MRI plans, uniform and uniform+bone densities were assigned to the scans and dose plans using the same beam arrangements produced. The doses to the ICRU point for the dose plans were then compared. RESULTS: Dose plans for two patients have been analyzed to date. Assigning a bulk uniform density to the CT scan was found to give average dose errors of 2.7% to the ICRU point compared to the full density plan. When the bulk density of bony anatomy was added, this was reduced to within 1%. Bulk density MRI plans gave average dose errors of 3.7%, which was reduced to 2.3% with bulk density of bone added. [Figure 1. Example of bulk density CT and MRI dose plans.] DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS: The CT results suggest that scans with bulk densities assigned produce reasonably accurate dose plans for prostate. By optimizing the densities used, further improvements may be achieved. However the errors when bulk densities were assigned to MRI scans were greater. This is due to differences in patient contour due to both MRI spatial uniformity and patient positioning differences. Futher work is required to quantify the errors due to spatial unformity differences with a rigid phantom. 2013-03-01T05:00:06.459Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2863 In 2006 the Sony Corporation announced that production of the Aibo robot, which is the standard robot platform of the four-legged league of RoboCup, would be discontinued. This paper describes a prototype robot kit which could lead to a new standard platform for the four-legged league. The aims for development of the new platform can be summarized as follows: 1.) Continue and improve the concepts behind the Sony Aibo robot. 2.) Allow research into sophisticated quadruped soccer skills. 3.) Build an open systems robot to advance low level features and to support high level strategy planning and learning. 4.) Achieve faster and more exciting soccer games. 5.) Contribute to progress of the four-legged league, which to date has been a very successful league. 6.) Determine kit style hardware for year to year upgrades of selected modules. The robot kit allows for substantial new flexibility in hardware design in associated scientific challenges and research projects. The present paper addresses two possible versions of the proposed kit: terrier and bear. 2013-02-27T01:44:23.275Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2989 The expanding integration of control and communication networks in recent years has generated an increasing interest in control problems with feedback over a communication channel. Significant research activity has concentrated on stabilisation in face of channel effects such as quantisation and data-rate limits. In a recent paper, the authors have studied the problem of feedback stabilisation over a communication channel with a constraint on the admissible signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). It has been shown therein that for a delay-free, linear time-invariant feedback loop, a SNR constraint in the feedback channel imposes fundamental limitations in the ability to achieve closed-loop stability. The present paper extends these results by introducing a time-delay in the loop, and shows that the lowest SNR required for closed-loop stability increases by a factor that may grow exponentially with the time-delay and the unstable open loop poles of the system. This result contributes to the quantification of performance tradeoffs in integrated control and communication environments. 2013-02-21T03:20:07.254Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:4103 This paper will explore tbe relationship between Canetti's idea of migration and its relationship to the modern spectacle. By defining the sensation of being in a crowd as a reaersal of the fear of being touched, Canetti establishes a framework for rethinking conventional discourses on the relationship between power and space which focus almost exclusively on vision as the model through which individuals are controlled in space. Using Canetti's work on crowds as a framework, the paper will consider the role of "touching" and its relationship to architectural space, power and movement. By exploring the architectural dimensions of Canetti's theory of crowds, the paper will show how the spatial archetypes that Canetti uses to categorize crowd behavior delineate deep-seated power structures that have influenced urban planning throughout the modern era. 2013-02-20T22:50:07.778Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2152 This paper investigates the use of an imaginary power based speed estimation algorithm for induction machines. The algorithm investigated was first proposed by Peng and Fukao in 1994, and has some very desirable characteristics such as insensitivity to knowledge of stator resistance, and does not use pure integrations. However, it has been shown that the algorithm does not operate stably under regeneration conditions, which has been the main reason that it has not seen much application. This paper investigates the reasons behind this instability, and then develops a solution approach. 2013-02-19T02:20:08.474Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2849 Maslow's (1954) theory of human motivation has frequently been applied to the work place despite a lack of empirical validation. Hence, the primary aim of the present study is to determine whether each of Maslow's needs are relevant and unique predictors of job satisfaction. Results from a sample of 120 working undergraduates found physical needs to be the only need category that was significantly correlated with work satisfaction, although further analyses suggested that these results may be dependent on job level. However, further research is necessary to confirm the reliability and validity of the instrument used to measure Maslow's needs. 2013-02-15T03:40:06.270Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2397 2013-02-15T03:30:06.602Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2988 There exists a substantial literature dealing with the problem of errors-in-variables identification. It is known, for example, that there is an equivalence class of models that give compatible descriptions of the input-output data. In the current paper, we impose a mild restriction so as to avoid certain singular possibilities. This leads to a parameterization of the equivalence class of models via a single real parameter. We then use this result to show that there exists a model which is optimal in the sense that minimizes the maximal weighted infinity norm of the error between the chosen model and all members of the equivalence class. This model is unique and is independent of the weighting function used in the infinity norm. It is thus the natural choice to be used in applications such as robust control. The result is also compared with more conventional estimates provided by prediction error methods. 2013-02-06T23:57:08.800Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2157 In this paper we analyse the strong optimality of open and closed loop experiments. In particular, we establish that when there is a constraint on the system input, then open loop experiments are optimal for a wide class of design criteria. Conversely, we show that when there is a constraint on the output power, then closed loop experiments are optimal for a class of systems and for a wide class of design criteria. Our analysis uses the non-asymptotic (in model order) variance expressions for dynamic systems. 2013-02-06T23:55:23.199Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2857 The Australian Building and Construction Industry Security of Payments Act 1999 (updated 27 November 2003) provides a statutory framework governing compulsory progress payments for those who undertake construction works or provide goods or services as part of a construction contract. The onerous administrative processes of the Act are claimed to disadvantage the respondents. This paper reports research investigating the use of two recent innovations that could assist all parties in the administration of the Act. The first is the Society of Construction Law’s Delay and Disruption Protocol's "model clauses" for the recording of project information and the monitoring of project progress, and the second is the use of Web based technology as a project administrative tool for the efficient and effective recording and communication of that information. 2013-02-05T04:50:12.621Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2224 This book provides a comprehensive account of the modern Australian legal aid system. It charts the twists and turns of policy and practice over the past 30 years with a particular focus on: * the reaction of the legal profession to conflicts and debates about legal aid policy and services and the way in which this has both reflected and accentuated major shifts in the social and political structure of the profession itself; * the development of community legal centres from radical fringe organisations to accepted legal practices, which provide a ‘value for money’ service and work in alliance with the big city firms; * the constancy of government calls for fiscal restraint and the recurrent lack of clear objectives despite widely varying approaches by different administrations 2013-01-11T01:40:03.674Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12143 Review of: Barber, Richard, The Reign of Chivalry (Woodbridge, Boydell, 2005) hardback; 184 pages; 177 black and white illustrations; 24 coloured plates; RRP £20; ISBN 1 84383 182 1. 2012-11-28T23:41:01.354Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12142 Review of: Russell, Jeffrey Barton and Douglas W Lumsden, A History of Medieval Christianity: Prophecy & Order (New York, Peter Lang, 2005) paperback; 205 pages; RRP £19; ISBN 0-8204-4511-8. 2012-11-28T23:40:04.382Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:12093 With an ageing population and an increasing incidence of disability, the demand for informal care is increasing when the Federal Government is trying to raise labour force participation. In 2003 16% of the adult population provided informal care. However, ‘Caregiving and receiving is a relationship, providing worth and value to all participants’, so that public policy designed to support caring should not view it merely as a marketable service if not available informally. In this paper, we employ econometric techniques to explore the impact of different specifications of informal care on labour force participation behaviour. The paper then focuses on the interdependence of participation behaviour and the provision of informal co-residential care and how these decisions are conditioned by socioeconomic factors. Finally the implications of the results for the (re)design of public policy are explored. 2012-11-22T02:53:54.331Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10331 The aim of the paper is to relate computational and arithmetic questions about Euler’s constant γ with properties of the values of the q-logarithm function, with natural choice of~q. By these means, we generalize a classical formula for γ due to Ramanujan, together with Vacca’s and Gosper’s series for γ, as well as deduce irrationality criteria and tests and new asymptotic formulas for computing Euler’s constant. The main tools are Euler-type integrals and hypergeometric series. 2012-11-05T23:57:58.935Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10010 We prove that, for z ∈ {1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5}, at least one of the two numbers [[unable to be reproduced here]] is irrational. 2012-11-05T23:22:37.617Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:11927 The three main methods used in diophantine analysis of q-series are combined to obtain new upper bounds for irrationality measures of the values of the q-logarithm function ln_q(1-z) = [formula could not be replicated], |z| ≤ 1, when p = 1/q ∈ℤ{0,±1} and z∈ℚ. 2012-11-05T03:15:55.948Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:11926 We construct simultaneous rational approximations to q-series L₁(x₁; q) and L1(x₂; q) and, if x = x₁ = x₂, to series L₁(x; q) and L₂(x; q), where [formula could not be replicated], [formula could not be replicated]. Applying the construction, we obtain quantitative linear independence over ℚ of the numbers in the following collections: 1, ζ_q(1) = L₁(1; q), ζ_q+00B2(1) and 1, ζ_q(1), ζ_q(2) = L₂(1; q) for q = 1/p, p ε ℤ {0,±1}. 2012-11-05T02:18:26.799Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:11808 Pearl oysters (Pinctada imbricata) were held in the laboratory and exposed to various levels of the heavy metals lead and zinc and the aliphatic hydrocarbons hexadecane and octacosane for 2 months. Individual oysters were followed over the course of the experiment, allowing specific calculation of total oyster growth (wet weight) and shell growth. Significant reductions in total oyster growth were observed when oysters were exposed to high concentrations (270μg L^-1) of either zinc or lead. Exposure to the aliphatic hydrocarbons had no effect on total oyster growth. High concentrations of lead completely halted shell growth, the first demonstration of pollutant induced cessation of biomineralization in pearl oysters. Conversely, exposure to moderate levels of lead and the long-chain hydrocarbon octacosane resulted in significant increases in shell width growth. The results from this study indicate that P. imbricata is relatively tolerant of the selected pollutants and could be deployed within a remediative context in moderately polluted coastal areas. 2012-10-30T00:32:49.163Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:11784 Electronic communication is proliferating throughout industry and academia. Its use is not limited to communications between individuals. Evolving technologies support and facilitate collaboration where individuals and / or team members work in geographically different locations to their colleagues. The challenges of working in such environments are briefly reported in this paper based on work completed by the authors and others. The impact of such approaches is then explored in the context of the delivery of a course to third year distance learning students in the School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle, Australia. This paper outlines the implementation of assessment strategies for students working in a virtual environment. The assessment strategy adopted uses meeting logs as well as peer and self-assessment to provide a multiple perspective assessment. The assessment regime also provides comprehensive formative feedback to assist student participation as effective group members. If facilitates a clear understanding of student’s teamwork performance as well as the individual contributions they have made to the outcome achieved by the group. Finally the paper reports on a student evaluation of virtual teamwork. Student reaction to virtual teamwork was generally positive, and several benefits and challenges were identified. 2012-10-22T06:44:00.648Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:11785 An important yardstick by which any innovation may be judged is that of uptake by users. In the context of teaching and learning, innovative approaches do not necessarily need to involve a high level of technology. Indeed, there are robust arguments that support the use of tried and tested approaches and tools that are used in novel ways. Staff hesitancy to innovate may be alleviated if they do not need to be continually retrained (e.g. in the use of new software). An approach that is being adopted successfully at The University of Newcastle is the use of a customised Microsoft Word template as a course-authoring environment, which is distributed to students as PDF files via Blackboard or CD. This paper explores the challenges presented by this approach and contrasts these with the benefits that accrue. It provides evaluation of stage one of the University of Newcastle’s Course Template pilot project, and discussion of the current work in progress on stage two of the project. 2012-10-22T06:42:20.137Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:4060 Research has indicated that in order to function efficiently and effectively in a team environment, irrespective of whether it is a traditional or virtual team, team members require ‘appropriate skills’ (i.e. awareness, understanding, and abilities to apply). One cannot ‘assume’ that all team members automatically possess all of the necessary skills for virtual teaming. Previous research has identified that the introduction of new technologies can impact, both positively and negatively, upon the performance of teams. This paper describes the impact the introduction virtual technologies may have on the generic skills of design teams. It examines each of concepts at hand: Design collaboration, virtual teams, and generic skills, using this literature to form a framework for the analysis of design collaboration. 2012-10-21T23:00:18.080Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:4086 The Building and Construction Industry Security of Payments Act 1999—updated 27 November 2003, New South Wales, Australia provides a statutory framework which governs compulsory progress payments for those who undertake works or provide goods or services as part of a construction contract. Respondents to the process are being disadvantaged as a result of complying with the Act. Claimants are purported to be taking months to prepare detailed and comprehensive payment claims, prior to serving them on the respondents, who, under the Act, have limited time to compile a detailed payment schedule in response. This research investigates the use of two recent innovations that could assist in the administration of the process. The first is the Society of Construction Law’s Delay and Disruption Protocol’s model clauses, and the second is the use of web-based technology as a project administrative tool. A literature search was carried out, together with semi-structured qualitative interviews, to determine opinions of their use and effectiveness. Results indicate a recognition and appreciation of the likely benefits of transparency, efficiency and improved cost effectiveness of the project administrative processes, possibly resulting in potential savings and improved cost recovery opportunities, with the potential to reduce and/or avoid disputes. 2012-10-21T23:00:14.683Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:11709 We firstly review the constant term method (CTM), illustrating its combinatorial connections and show how it can be used to solve a certain class of lattice path problems. We show the connection between the CTM, the transfer matrix method (eigenvectors and eigenvalues), partial difference equations, the Bethe Ansatz and orthogonal polynomials. Secondly, we solve a lattice path problem first posed in 1971. The model stated in 1971 was only solved for a special case - we solve the full model. 2012-10-12T02:41:30.043Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1067 In this paper, a hybrid resource management system for the uplink in Universal Mobile Telecommunications System wideband code-division multiple access (WCDMA) with components in the Node-B and user equipment (UE) has been proposed. A rate scheduler in the client focuses on average packet delays as a means of abstracting application-specific requirements from the rest of the resource management scheme. It controls uplink transmission through variable spreading gain to optimize resource usage while meeting target delays. Service change requests from the distributed rate schedulers are collectively processed through interservice and intraservice priority queuing in a manner that is shown to exhibit fairness in allocation of resources when cumulative load exceeds system capacity. The performance of the proposed algorithm is explored through discrete-event simulations for three classes of traffic, namely voice, video, and data, over the WCDMA uplink in the presence of short-term Rayleigh fading, automatic repeat request, forward error correction, target transmission delays to meet the respective quality of service, and frame error rate targets in a "multicell" environment. The authors analyze two alternatives for distributed resource management with the UE or Node-B in control of rate scheduling and observe the fairness in resource allocation of both systems. Priority of speech, video, and data traffic is respected and reflected in 95th percentile transmission delays for heavily loaded systems. 2012-10-07T23:00:02.775Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1279 Motion characterization plays a critical role in video indexing. An effective way of characterizing camera motion facilitates the video representation, indexing and retrieval tasks. This paper describes a novel nonparametric motion representation to achieve an effective and robust recognition of parts of the video in which camera is static, or panning, or tilting, or zooming, etc. This representation employs the mean shift filtering and the vector histograms to produce a compact description of a motion field. The basic idea is to perform spatio-temporal mode-seeking in the motion feature space and use the histograms-based spatial distributions of dominant motion modes to represent a motion field. Unlike most existing approaches, which focus on the estimation of a parametric motion model from a dense optical flow field (OFF) or a block matching-based motion vector field (MVF), the proposed method combines the motion representation and machine learning techniques (e.g., support vector machines) to perform camera motion analysis from the classification point of view. The main motivation lies in the impossibility of uniformly securing a proper parametric assumption in a wide range of video scenarios. The diverse camera shot sizes and frequent occurrences of bad OFF/MVF necessitates a learning mechanism, which can not only capture the domain-independent parametric constraints, but also acquire the domain-dependent knowledge to tolerate the influence of bad OFF/MVF. In order to improve performance, we can use this learning-based method to train enhanced classifiers aiming at a certain context (i.e., shot size, neighbor OFF/MVFs, and video genre). Other visual cues (e.g., dominant color) can also be incorporated for further motion analysis. Our main aim is to use a generic feature space analysis method to explore a flexible OFF/MVF representation in a nonparametric technique, which could be fed into a learning framework to robustly capture the global motion by incorporating the context information. Results on videos with various types of content (23 191 MVFs culled from MPEG-7 dataset, and 20 000 MVFs culled from broadcast tennis, soccer, and basketball videos) are reported to validate the proposed approach. 2012-10-07T22:50:03.098Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:6397 We consider locally compact groups G admitting a topologically transitive ℤd-action by automorphisms. It is shown that such a group G has a compact normal subgroup K of G, invariant under the action, such that G/K is a product of (finitely many) locally compact fields of characteristic zero; moreover, the totally disconnected fields in the decomposition can be chosen to be invariant under the ℤd-action and such that the ℤd-action is via scalar multiplication by non-zero elements of the field. Under the additional conditions that G be finite dimensional and ‘locally finitely generated’ we conclude that K as above is connected and contained in the center of G. We describe some examples to point out the significance of the conditions involved. 2012-06-29T05:20:04.814Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2410 We describe the asymptotic behavior of automorphisms of totally disconnected locally compact groups in terms of a set of ‘directions’ which comes equipped with a natural pseudo-metric. The structure at infinity obtained by completing the induced metric quotient space of the set of directions recovers familiar objects such as: the set of ends of the tree for the group of inner automorphisms of the group of isometries of a regular locally finite tree; and the spherical Bruhat-Tits building for the group of inner automorphisms of the set of rational points of a semisimple group over a local field. 2012-06-28T03:20:05.086Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2409 We construct a compactly generated, totally disconnected, locally compact group whose Hecke algebra with respect to any compact open subgroup does not have a C*-enveloping algebra. 2012-06-28T03:05:57.910Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10977 We prove that the set of permutations generated by a stack of depth two and an infinite stack in series has a basis (defining set of forbidden patterns) consisting of 20 permutations of length 5, 6, 7 and 8. We prove this via a "canonical" generating algorithm. 2012-06-25T23:32:51.180Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:9976 We study languages of geodesics in lamplighter groups and Thompson's group F. We show that the lamplighter groups Ln have infinitely many cone types, have no regular geodesic languages, and have 1-counter, context-free and counter geodesic languages with respect to certain generating sets. We show that the full language of geodesics with respect to one generating set for the lamplighter group is not counter but is context-free, while with respect to another generating set the full language of geodesics is counter and context-free. In Thompson's group F with respect to the standard finite generating set, we show there are infinitely many cone types and that there is no regular language of geodesics. We show that the existence of families of “seesaw” elements with respect to a given generating set in a finitely generated infinite group precludes a regular language of geodesics and guarantees infinitely many cone types with respect to that generating set. 2012-06-25T02:51:26.085Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10341 We show that the Stanley–Wilf limit for the class of 4231-avoiding permutations is at least by 9.47. This bound shows that this class has the largest such limit among all classes of permutations avoiding a single permutation of length 4 and refutes the conjecture that the Stanley–Wilf limit of a class of permutations avoiding a single permutation of length k cannot exceed (k−1)2. The result is established by constructing a sequence of finite automata that accept subclasses of the class of 4231-avoiding permutations and analysing their transition matrices. 2012-06-25T02:36:43.121Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:5806 Review of: Isabel Flick: The Many Lives of an Extraordinary Aboriginal Woman. By Isabel Flick and Heather Goodall. Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 2004. Pp. xviii + 270. 2012-06-18T01:50:02.100Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:4202 Alessandro Scarlatti's setting of Lucretia Romana (Hanley 377) has been dated to 16 September, 1688. The following detail is given by Edwin Hanley: “On the basis of documents in the Doria-Pamfili archives, Montalto…reports that Benedetto Pamfili is the author of the text of this cantata and that a copy was presented to Cardinal Giovanni Francesco Maria de’ Medici in the winter of 1690.” Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili, author of the text, was one of the principal ecclesiastical patrons of music in late seventeenthcentury Rome, and his poetry was set on numerous occasions by Alessandro Scarlatti. A manuscript in the Vatican Library, Rome, of cantata and other texts for musical settings by Pamphili (I-Rvat Vat. lat. 10206) gives an idea of the range and involvement of the cardinal's literary interests as librettist. 2012-06-05T01:10:06.463Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1132 Slow waves are rhythmic depolarizations that underlie mechanical activity of many smooth muscles. Slow waves result through rhythmic Ca^sup 2+^ release from intracellular Ca^sup 2+^ stores through inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP^sub 3^) sensitive receptors and Ca^sup 2+^-induced Ca^sup 2+^ release. Ca^sup 2+^ oscillations are transformed into membrane depolarizations by generation of a Ca^sup 2+^-activated inward current. Importantly, the store Ca^sup 2+^ oscillations that underlie slow waves are entrained across many cells over large distances. It has been shown that IP^sub 3^ receptor-mediated Ca^sup 2+^ release is enhanced by membrane depolarization. Previous studies have implicated diffusion of Ca^sup 2+^ or the second messenger IP^sub 3^ across gap junctions in synchronization of Ca^sup 2+^ oscillations. In this study, a novel mechanism of Ca^sup 2+^ store entrainment through depolarization-induced IP^sub 3^ receptor-mediated Ca^sup 2+^ release is investigated. This mechanism is significantly different from chemical coupling-based mechanisms, as membrane potential has a coupling effect over distances several orders of magnitude greater than either diffusion of Ca^sup 2+^ or IP^sub 3^ through gap junctions. It is shown that electrical coupling acting through voltage-dependent modulation of store Ca^sup 2+^ release is able to synchronize oscillations of cells even when cells are widely separated and have different intrinsic frequencies of oscillation. 2012-05-29T02:30:04.111Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:3306 The Birkeland currents, J||, electrically couple the high latitude ionosphere with the near Earth space environment. Approximating the spatial distribution of the Birkeland currents may be achieved using the divergence of the ionospheric electric field, E⊥, assuming zero conductance gradients such that J||≈Σp∇·E⊥. In this paper, electric field data derived from the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) are used to calculate Σp∇·E⊥, which is compared with the Birkeland current distribution derived globally from the constellation of Iridium satellites poleward of 60° magnetic latitude. We find that the assumption of zero conductance gradients is often a poor approximation. On the dayside, in regions where the SuperDARN electric field is constrained by radar returns, the agreement in the locations of regions of upward and downward current between Σp∇·E⊥ and J|| obtained from Iridium data is reasonable with differences of less than 3° in the latitudinal location of major current features. It is also shown that away from noon, currents arising from conductance gradients can be larger than the Σp∇·E⊥ component. By combining the Σp∇·E⊥ estimate in regions of radar coverage with in-situ estimates of conductance gradients from DMSP satellite particle data, the agreement with the Iridium derived J|| is considerably improved. However, using an empirical model of ionospheric conductance did not account for the conductance gradient current terms. In regions where radar data are sparse or non-existent and therefore constrained by the statistical potential model the Σp∇·E⊥ approximation does not agree with J|| calculated from Iridium data. 2012-05-29T00:40:32.693Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1085 Practice placement education is an essential component of health professional programmes. The number of students with a disability entering health professional education programmes is anticipated to rise, yet research about the perspectives of students with a disability is limited, especially related to practice placement education. Therefore, the need to investigate student experiences has intensified. In this study, qualitative research methodology was used to investigate the perceptions, feelings and experiences of health professional students with a disability during practice placement education. Five health professional students, recruited from a regional university in New South Wales, Australia, participated in semi-structured, individual interviews. A phenomenological approach was used. Following inductive analysis of the data, three themes reflecting the students' experience of practice placement education emerged: the impact of disability, including the barriers and the strategies used to overcome these; the experiences of practice placement education, including the feelings of the participants; and support, which came from the practice placement educator, the university staff, family and friends. This pilot study provides valuable insight into the perspectives of these students about practice placement education. The findings reinforce the need for further exploration of the unique experiences of students with a disability to ensure success within their university programme and future profession. 2012-05-28T23:10:50.107Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:3013 Pre-employment assessments must accurately simulate job tasks and demands and select appropriate personnel to be considered effective. This study focussed on the perception of NSW fire-fighters in relation to the validity of the NSW Fire Brigade's pre-employment assessment, the Physical Aptitude Test. A qualitative method was used to gain a precise understanding of fire fighters' opinions of the accuracy of the Physical Aptitude Test. Information letters and consent forms were sent to an urban fire station with interested participants replying via the university. Six participants, who met the inclusion criteria were randomly selected for the study and in-depth, ethnographic, semi-structured interviews were conducted. The fire fighters believed in order for the Physical Aptitude Test to accurately simulate job demands and select the most capable fire fighters', it needed to be more physically demanding. However, participants believed that the "work-simulating" nature of the Physical Aptitude Test provided an accurate indication of the job tasks. 2012-05-28T23:10:14.491Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2670 Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems are of significant interest due to their ability to increase the capacity of wireless communications systems, but for these to be useful they must also be practical for implementation in VLSI circuits. A particularly difficult part of these systems is the decoder, where the optimal maximum-likelihood (ML)solution is desirable, but cannot be directly implemented due to its exponential complexity. The paper presents the first published 8 x 8 MIMO detection engine with an integrated channel preprocessing unit, achieving near-ML BER results at 57.6Mbps, using QPSK in an extended HSDPA application. Other novelties include the high speed sorting mechanism and power saving features. 2012-05-28T22:58:48.288Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1053 Estes and Maddox (2002) suggested that the word frequency mirror effect in episodic recognition memory might be due to word likeness rather than to the frequency of experience with a word per se. We examined their suggestion using a factorial manipulation of frequency and neighborhood density, a measure used in lexical memory research to measure orthographic word likeness. For study with no specified task, main effects of density and frequency were in the mirror order, confirming the hypothesized mirror effect of word likeness but not its role in producing the frequency mirror effect. Lexical decision study increased the size of both mirror effects, even though the density manipulation had a negligible effect on lexical decision performance for words. Post hoc analyses showed that neither mirror effect could be explained by differences in lower order measures of word likeness (letter and bigram frequency). The joint orders of frequency and density results were mirrored across new and old conditions in accordance with attention likelihood theory (ALT), but density effects on z-ROC slope suggest that ALT may require extension to accommodate the effect of word likeness on response confidence. 2012-05-28T04:14:36.589Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1062 Does recognition memory rely on discrete recollection, continuous evidence, or both? Is continuous evidence sensitive to only the recency and duration of study (familiarity), or is it also sensitive to details of the study episode? Dual process theories assume recognition is based on recollection and familiarity, with only recollection providing knowledge about study details. Single process theories assume a single continuous evidence dimension that can provide information about familiarity and details. We replicated list (Yonelinas, 1994) and plural (Rotello, Macmillan, & Van Tassel, 2000) discrimination experiments requiring knowledge of details to discriminate targets from similar non-targets. We also ran modified versions of these experiments aiming to increase recollection by removing non-targets that could be discriminated by familiarity alone. Single process models provided the best trade-off between goodness-of-fit and model complexity and dual process models were able to account for the data only when they incorporated continuous evidence sensitive to details. 2012-05-28T04:14:01.156Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10783 The article is the first of two describing the contingencies that drive and influence the operations of multidisciplinary palliative care teams. Australian research into the management of multidisciplinary palliative care teams is introduced and appropriate elements of a wide-ranging literature review are reported. A model of the management and operation of multidisciplinary palliative care teams is presented to provide a context and to indicate the scope of the research completed so far. 2012-05-25T05:40:57.072Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10781 Previous research on the management competences and organisational capabilities necessary for continuous innovation in complex and dynamic environments and evidence emerging from a study of innovation in palliative care are compared. A range of research on the management of different types of innovation within changing contexts is presented along with research on the relationships between management competence, organisational capabilities and innovation choices. Evidence is presented from research into innovation management in palliative care that enables a relationship between some elements of the theory and practice of innovation management in complex and dynamic environments to be established. 2012-05-25T05:36:17.153Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10780 The article is the second of two describing the contingencies that drive and influence the operations of multidisciplinary palliative care teams. The results of analysis reported here are drawn from data gathered in a total of 11 interviews that took place with management teams and multidisciplinary care delivery teams in three palliative care case study organisations in Sydney, Australia, over a period of some 13 months. A model of the management and operation of multidisciplinary palliative care teams is presented to provide a context and to indicate the scope of the research completed so far. 2012-05-25T05:34:11.397Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:3743 When I embarked on my postgraduate studies, with an enthusiasm for finding out more about the history of white and Aboriginal women's relationships, the issue of white women and complicity became very personally pointed. I was enthusiastically attending all sorts of Aboriginal protest rallies and meetings, getting active in an Aboriginal neighbourhood centre, and talking politics with Kooris at the pub. Meanwhile, in my studies I was digesting a tremendous amount of literature about the position and role of white women in colonization – all with a growing sense of confusion. My own position as a privileged white woman seemed to invalidate any attempt by me to write this history. Writing from such a perspective, it seemed, constituted little more than an exercise in redemptive apologia at best and, at worst, it was a reiteration of colonial domination. As my sense of disconnection intensified, I went back to the town where I had lived as a child in the East Kimberley, accompanied by my childhood friend, an Aboriginal woman, who had also moved away as an adult. But my return visit in her company did not achieve my hoped-for sense of purpose. I became only more uneasy – 'unsettled' if you like – as I realised this was her place and her history, so much more than mine. I decided then to defer my studies, and headed up the Far North Coast of New South Wales to live with my aunt and grandmother. While I was there, reluctantly promising to 'do' some family history for my Gran, I uncovered the remarkable story of my great-grandmother Joan Kingsley-Strack, and it changed my outlook on Australian history, on women's history, and on history in general. 2012-05-16T04:10:05.944Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10150 Where is your mobile telephone? Is it turned on? For most of us the mobile telephone has quietly become the technology that is always with us, and is always on. The mobile telephone is suddenly no longer simply about voice or text communication; the latest models are a portable digital media production and delivery system in their own right. This paper describes the diffusion of mobile phones around the world, and focuses on their use by younger people as a media and social management tool. The paper also describes some of the new media content forms developing around mobile phones, and considers the features of mobile media in terms of their capacity to deliver, produce and share content. 2012-04-19T05:42:20.213Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10597 Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide the results from empirically testing the effects of different combinations of organizational forms and combinative capabilities on the efficiency, scope and flexibility of firm-level knowledge integration, given the influence of knowledge types and forms. Design/methodology/approach: The research is based on a case-study methodology employed to collect data from ten firms of low, medium and high knowledge complexity environs; manual and automated data mining techniques were employed. Findings: The findings suggest that organizational form and combinative capabilities explain the effects of efficiency, scope and flexibility on firm-level knowledge integration. In turn, differences in knowledge types and forms necessitate the use of secondary combinative capabilities. Research limitations/implications: While the study provides a coherent and detailed understanding of firm-level knowledge integration and explain the development of a firm’s knowledge architecture through organizational structures and synthesize existing literature contributing to an emergent understanding of the ambiguities surrounding combinative capabilities, further research identifying the effects of and relationship with the deep knowledge in combinative capabilities on strategic capabilities and a firm’s knowledge vision would be beneficial. Practical implications: Of practical relevance is the strategic and operational management implications detailing the specific organizational structures to achieve desired firm-level knowledge integration capacity and manage particular integration efficiency, scope and flexibility requirements to enhance the development of architectural knowledge and, thus, firm capabilities. Originality/value: The original contribution of this paper is reflected in providing empiric and theoretic insights, which directly address the specific combinations of organizational structures that influence integration process characteristics and thus accommodate differences in knowledge types and forms. 2012-04-16T01:32:23.530Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10596 This paper contributes to our understanding of knowledge creation by developing a comprehensive model of the knowledge creating process in organisational work teams. It subsequently synthesises contemporary theory across research streams to develop hypotheses relating to three factors capable of facilitating the knowledge development process - cognitive diversity, transactional memory and open-mindedness norms. In combination, the conceptual ration-ale and empirical support act to substantiate three key relationships in the knowledge creation process. 2012-04-16T01:28:51.037Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10598 This chapter has two main aims. First, it seeks to describe the changing pattern of labour regulation in Australia at the national level over the past 15 years or so, specifically from 1990 to 2005. This is important in two ways. On the one hand, as Chapter 1 showed, the national level of regulation is likely to be a central factor in explaining the pattern of labour regulation in different industries, especially the changes over time in the pattern of regulation. Knowing the national changes helps to explain industry changes. On the other hand, because the national system of labour regulation is likely to be important in every industry reported in the subsequent chapters of this book, it is more efficient to describe these national changes in one place at the beginning of the book- this information is common to all chapters and its presentation here reduces repetition. The second aim of this chapter is to demonstrate the importance of industry as a unit of analysis in the study of labour regulation. Aggregated analysis at the national level, as important as it is, obscures profound differences between industries in the practice of employment relations. At the same time, more 'micro' studies of enterprises and workplaces, which have clearly become essential in recent times, neglect both key industry-level forms of regulation and vital trends that are common across individual enterprises. Industry-level studies, like those presented in this book, offer significant theoretical, policy and pedagogic opportunities. Before presenting the industry-level studies in the subsequent chapters, these opportunities will be surveyed in more detail. 2012-04-12T00:04:14.564Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10586 Case studies on three diverse cultural groups are used to investigate how culture influences entrepreneurial networks. The concept of a national culture inevitably refers to the dominant culture which fails to address the sub and minority cultures. A resultant void in literature exists that does not provide understanding of the relationship between culture and social networks within entrepreneurial activity. This paper explores social networking across three cultures, (one dominant culture and two minority) allowing the researcher an insight into the cultural differences within three very different entrepreneurial networks. The empirical results reveal that entrepreneurial networking is non-universal, rather it varies among cultures suggesting that entrepreneurial networking differs between entrepreneurs embedded into a dominating culture and entrepreneurs embedded within minority cultures. 2012-04-05T04:00:02.343Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1365 Design: Group randomised trial. Setting: 22 antenatal clinics in New South Wales, Australia. Intervention: Clinics were allocated to a simple dissemination (SD) condition (11 clinics) which received a mail-out of programme resources or to an intensive dissemination (ID) condition (11 clinics) which included the mail-out plus feedback, training, and ongoing support with midwife facilitator. Main outcome measures: Independent cross sectional surveys of women on a second or subsequent visit undertaken pre-dissemination and 18 months after dissemination. Outcomes were: (1) levels of smoking status assessment by clinic staff; (2) proportion of women identifying as having been smokers at their first visit who reported receiving cessation advice; (3) proportion of these women who had quit (self report and expired air carbon monoxide (CO)); and (4) smoking prevalence among all women (self report and CO). Subjects: 5849 women pre-dissemination (2374 SD, 3475 ID) and weighted sample of 5145 women post-dissemination (2302 SD, 2843 ID). Results: There were no significant differences between the groups on change on any outcome. Change in either group was minimal. In the post-dissemination survey, the cessation proportions were 6.4% (SD) and 10.5% (ID). Conclusions: Relatively modest strategies for encouraging incorporation of smoking cessation activities into antenatal care were not effective in the long term. Alternative strategies should be implemented and evaluated. The findings reinforce the importance of a whole population approach to tobacco control. 2012-04-02T00:52:55.476Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:976 By applying Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's systems model of creativity, evidence can be presented to claim that despite ‘Yesterday’s promotion as a Romantic piece of creative activity, perpetuating the myth of the mystically inspired freely expressive artist, the creation of ‘Yesterday’ can be seen as a more considered and rational process than otherwise mythologised. The definition of creativity assumes an activity whereby products, processes and ideas are generated from antecedent conditions by the agency of someone, whose knowledge to do so comes from somewhere and the resultant novel variation is seen as a valued addition to the store of human knowledge. As an example of a system at work, the song's creation satisfies more closely the characteristics ascribed to the rationalist approach to creativity. From the evidence, it can be argued that creativity is a dynamic system that works on a larger scale than that of the sole individual posited by the Romantic conception and concomitant understandings. It, instead, incorporates the actions of the person, in this case Paul McCartney, within the systemic relationships of the field and domain. These three components, person, domain and field, comprise a system with circular causality where the individual, the social organisation they create within, and the symbol system they use are all equally important and interdependent in producing creative products. ‘Yesterday’ is but one creative product of this system at work. 2012-04-02T00:50:17.270Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:974 The Biblical earthly paradise is a garden, the Garden of Eden. The Garden of Eden was watered by four rivers; the Pison, the Gihon, the Hiddekel and the Euphrates. The rivers meander though Eden in no fixed pattern; Eden appears to be an asymmetric, bountiful wildness where nature prevails. This is in contrast to the celestial Jerusalem, described in the Revelation of John the Divine, which is symmetrical in its shape and design. It is described as being cubic in shape with entrances on the north, south, east and west; all these sides are symmetric and identical. The foundations of the city were gems; the streets were made of gold and the gates carved from massive pearls. The garden of the celestial Jerusalem is the tree of life symmetrical place within the city – symmetry prevails. However, the celestial city of Revelation is not the only architecture for Paradise in the Christian tradition. In early Irish literature there are seven Heavens, but the city of God is still highly planned, with its architecture described in Gaelic verse, such as 'Saltair na Rann'. In the 'Divine Comedy' Dante does not describe a city but his Paradise is housed in a closed, symmetric and fourth-dimensional universe. This paper examines some of the differences and similarities of the architectures of Paradise. 2012-04-02T00:50:08.959Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2673 Physical inactivity (PI), a leading modifiable cause of disease and injury, is endemic in industrialised nations. Although considerable research has been undertaken in this field, we lack a system to synthesise the research literature to inform policy and identify research needs. The aims of this study were to (1) develop a system to classify physical inactivity intervention studies, (2) examine the distribution of PI interventions published in the peer-reviewed health literature using the system, and (3) consider implications for future research. We developed the Physical Inactivity Matrix (PIM), with 12 intervention points, created by the intersection of two dimensions: the intervention target (individual, physical environment and social/cultural environment) and the activity focus (transport, work/school, leisure and consumer). A formal search of the health research literature identified 529 eligible studies and each was classified into one of the 12 cells of the PIM. Most studies were categorised as: individual-leisure (68%), individual-work/school (12%) or social/cultural environment-leisure (13%). Only 4% targeted the physical environment. The findings of this initial application of the PIM support the call for greater investment in policies, interventions and research that focus on the relationship between the environment and PI, and transportation in particular. There would be merit in establishing the inter-rater reliability of the PIM and applying it to a wider variety of studies, including those published in the transportation and urban planning literatures. The PIM could be a useful tool for monitoring trends in research directions and funding levels over time and across countries. 2012-04-02T00:49:16.898Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:825 This paper evaluates the effectiveness of disability employment policy in assisting people with psychiatric disability to find, or return to, paid work. We argue that the poor employment outcomes from current programs establish the need for a paradigmatic shift in the form of a state-provided Job Guarantee (JG) for people with psychiatric disability. In the absence of measures to generate suitable jobs, forthcoming changes to the eligibility criteria for Disability Support Pension will create risks rather than opportunities. Under the JG, the Federal Government would maintain a 'buffer stock' of minimum wage, public sector jobs to provide secure paid employment for this highly disadvantaged group. The role of the state in this alternative model is two fold. First, the state must provide the quantum of JG jobs required. Second, the state must ensure the design of jobs is flexible enough to meet the heterogeneous and variable support needs of workers. This will require effective integration of the JG scheme with mental health, rehabilitation and employment support services. 2012-04-02T00:45:56.142Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:824 This paper employs the Labour Market Accounts framework to explore how employment growth and commuting patterns interacted to determine changes in the spatial distribution of unemployment in Statistical Local Areas within the NSW GMR over the period 1996-2001. Separate regression models (Including control variables) for men and women provide estimates of the relative strength of the relationships between these labour market adjustment responses and the percentage local employment change. The results show that employment growth between 1996 and 2001 has elicited substantial changes in commuting behaviour. Men reveal greater in-commuting and migration responsiveness to employment growth. Unemployment changes in local areas of the Greater Metropolitan Sydney region have been swamped by commuting responses, potentially posing problems for locally targeted employment strategies. 2012-04-02T00:45:51.408Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:875 Involving community in decision making process is an integral part of environmental and social impact assessment(EIA and SIA) in developed countries. While EIA and SIA have now been firmly established in planning process in developing countries, community participation in project inception, implementation and monitoring remains a contentious issue. Recently, we have seen the adoption of Vroom-Yetton normative decision model in developing guidelines for managers that allow them to determine the level of public involvement in natural resource decision making. This paper examines the adaptability of Vroom-Yetton model in EIA and SIA processes in Bangladesh. Based on thorough examinations of major EIA guidelines and a number of recent EIAs and SIAs, and discussions with EIA practitioners in Bangladesh, this paper, firstly, explores the status of community participation in EIA and SIA in Bangladesh, and, secondly, it examines if Vroom-Yetton model can make any meaningful contribution to deciding the extent to which local communities may be incorporated in environmental assessment process. This article argues that there is no substitute for wide community consultation and participation in a densely populated country like Bangladesh where any development interventions are likely to have significant impacts on people and the natural environment. 2012-04-02T00:45:35.540Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:3551 The idealisation of the city as a symmetrical motif, both in art and literature, has endured through the millennia. In Plato’s Critas the city is depicted as five concentric rings of land and water surrounding the citadel. Roman mosaics portray the labyrinth as a city and these labyrinths have a relatively perfect, four-fold symmetry. Town planning and religious traditions of Rome were expressed symbolically in this geometric layout of the Roman labyrinth. Both the earthly and heavenly city were reflected in this motif since the microcosm reflected the macrocosm. In Revelations, the Heavenly Jerusalem has four-fold symmetry, the design of its gates, foundations, and measurements reflect the use of Pythagorean numerology. Utopian visions of the city from the Renaissance through to those of James Silk Buckingham in the nineteenth century involved planned cities with strict symmetrical designs. With this symmetrical geometry order would prevail, improving not only the aesthetics of the city but also improving the way of life of the population who lived in the city. Jung used the image of the symmetrical city as a Mandela, a symbol of contemplation. The motif of the symmetrical city crosses time, cultures and religions. This paper traces this conception of the city through its development and presentation in art and literature. 2012-04-02T00:15:18.912Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:4623 My study of the vibrant, internationalist, and prolific entertainments presented in New Zealand by the FitzGerald Brothers’ Circus in the years 1887-1904, from which this essay is derived, challenges the historic relegation of circus to the frontier settlements or to the periphery of colonial society. The FitzGeralds were part of a group of elite entertainment organizations that employed advanced marketing and management strategies to entrepreneur major tours of the colony in this period. This essay aims, in some measure, to reclaim the position circus entertainment acquired in the cultural fabric of late colonial life, and in the cultural imaginary of the public of New Zealand during this era. 2012-04-02T00:11:02.840Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10495 This paper discusses various modelling platforms that can be applied to describe complex systems embedded in economics, as well as the role of modelling in the context of three main functions of scientific research: description. explanation and prediction. Qualitative modelling (non-quantitative) is characterized as an initial s1age of any modelling approaches, including the one represented by econometrics. The requirement to begin the modelling process from a non-quantitative perspective represents the vital precondition to satisfy the "isomorphism" function of modelling in relation to real live systems being modelled. Qualilalive as well as quantitative description models create the foundation for explanatory model development. These, in turn, can be used for prediction purposes satisfying the third main scientific function of research. 2012-03-23T03:20:02.283Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10426 From the 1850s through to the 1870s the discovery of gold around the Pacific Rim at various sites in California, New Zealand, and the eastern colonies of Australia, gave rise to an itinerant performance culture which induced an assortment of troupes to travel in the wake of the moving labour force of miners and camp followers. Historical accounts of the circus in colonial Australia have shown that out of the itinerant circus troupes that provided entertainment to gold rush settlements the genre developed to become, arguably, the most popular form of entertainment throughout the colonies of Australasia during the latter years of the nineteenth and early years of the twentieth centuries. To date, a broad historical retrieval of the circus in New Zealand has yet to be undertaken. Consideration of the cultural recreations of colonial New Zealand society has tended to relegate circus to a subset of entertainments termed 'gold rush culture', a grouping that includes opera, vaudeville, theatre, and circus shows. However, my study of the vibrant, internationalist, and prolific entertainments presented in New Zealand by the FitzGerald Brothers' Circus in the years from 1887 to 1904, from which this essay is derived, challenges the historic relegation of circus to the frontier settlements or to the periphery of colonial society. The FitzGeralds were part of a group of elite entertainment entrepreneurs employing advanced marketing and management strategies to undertake major tours of the colony in this period. This essay aims, in some measure, to reconsider the position occupied by circus entertainment in late colonial life. 2012-03-19T00:00:07.929Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10220 Background: To determine patterns of childhood lead exposure in a community living near a lead and zinc smelter in North Lake Macquarie, Australia between 1991 and 2002. Methods: An analysis of serial blood lead levels (BLL) of children less than 13 years of age in North Lake Macquarie participating in voluntary blood lead screening. Distance to the smelter and soil lead concentration of the child's place of residence was calculated. Categorical analysis of BLL by residential distance from smelter, residential soil lead concentration, age and year of sample was calculated. Linear regression models were fit for blood lead levels against residential distance from smelter, the log of residential soil lead concentration, age and year of BLL sample. Results: Geometric mean BLLs were statistically significantly higher for distances less than 1.5 kilometres from the smelter and for residential soil lead concentrations greater than 300 ppm. Yearly BLLs since 1995 were statistically significantly lower than for preceding years, with an average decrease of 0.575 μg/dL per year since 1991. BLLs are statistically significantly higher for children whose age is 1 to 3 years old. Linear regression modelling of BLL predicted a statistically significant decrease in BLL of 3.0831 μg/dL per kilometre from the smelter and a statistically significant increase in BLL of 0.25 μg/dL per log of lead in residential soil. The model explained 28.2% of the variation in BLL. Conclusion: Residential distance to the smelter, log of residential soil lead concentration, child's age and year of BLL sample are statistically significant factors for predicting elevated BLLs in children living near a North Lake Macquarie lead smelter. 2012-03-14T22:40:07.245Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:10395 Some of the most complicated issues about knowledge are its acquisition and its conversion into explicit knowledge. Nevertheless, among all knowledge forms, storing formal decision events in a knowledge-explicit way becomes an important advance. The set of experience knowledge structure can help in achieving this purpose. Explicit knowledge offormal decision events emerges to help managers in decision-making because, usually, they use previous similar or equal decisions to help themselves in new decision-making processes. The Knowledge Supply Chain System (KSCS) is a platform proposed to administer formal decision events in a knowledge-explicit way. It is supported by Sets of Experience Knowledge Structure in the effective process of transforming information into knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to show how the set of experience knowledge structure is implemented into the KSCS. Fully developed, KSCS certainly would improve the quality ofdecision-making and could advance the notion of administering knowledge in the current decision-making environment. 2012-03-13T02:00:02.297Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:9928 Background: Accreditation has become ubiquitous across the international health care landscape. Award of full accreditation status in health care is viewed, as it is in other sectors, as a valid indicator of high quality organisational performance. However, few studies have empirically demonstrated this assertion. The value of accreditation, therefore, remains uncertain, and this persists as a central legitimacy problem for accreditation providers, policymakers and researchers. The question arises as to how best to research the validity, impact and value of accreditation processes in health care. Most health care organisations participate in some sort of accreditation process and thus it is not possible to study its merits using a randomised controlled strategy. Further, tools and processes for accreditation and organisational performance are multifaceted. Methods/design: To understand the relationship between them a multi-method research approach is required which incorporates both quantitative and qualitative data. The generic nature of accreditation standard development and inspection within different sectors enhances the extent to which the findings of in-depth study of accreditation process in one industry can be generalised to other industries. This paper presents a research design which comprises a prospective, multi-method, multi-level, multi-disciplinary approach to assess the validity, impact and value of accreditation. Discussion: The accreditation program which assesses over 1,000 health services in Australia is used as an exemplar for testing this design. The paper proposes this design as a framework suitable for application to future international research into accreditation. Our aim is to stimulate debate on the role of accreditation and how to research it. 2012-03-12T07:48:33.362Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1276 Parameter estimation in rainfall-runoff models is affected by uncertainties in the measured input/output data (typically, rainfall and runoff, respectively), as well as model error. Despite advances in data collection and model construction, we expect input uncertainty to be particularly significant (because of the high spatial and temporal variability of precipitation) and to remain considerable in the foreseeable future. Ignoring this uncertainty compromises hydrological modeling, potentially yielding biased and misleading results. This paper develops a Bayesian total error analysis methodology for hydrological models that allows (indeed, requires) the modeler to directly and transparently incorporate, test, and refine existing understanding of all sources of data uncertainty in a specific application, including both rainfall and runoff uncertainties. The methodology employs additional (latent) variables to filter out the input corruption given the model hypothesis and the observed data. In this study, the input uncertainty is assumed to be multiplicative Gaussian and independent for each storm, but the general framework allows alternative uncertainty models. Several ways of incorporating vague prior knowledge of input corruption are discussed, contrasting Gaussian and inverse gamma assumptions; the latter method avoids degeneracies in the objective function. Although the general methodology is computationally intensive because of the additional latent variables, a range of modern numerical methods, particularly Monte Carlo analysis combined with fast Newton-type optimization methods and Hessian-based covariance analysis, can be employed to obtain practical solutions. 2012-03-12T07:33:42.738Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1002 Purpose of review: Melanoma has proven resistant to most available chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Despite a range of different biochemical targets, most agents kill cancer cells by induction of apoptosis. Recent findings: Investigation of this process has provided insights into the resistance mechanisms in cancer cells and to development of a range of new agents that target apoptosis pathways. These include agents which inhibit antiapoptotic B cell lymphoma-2 family proteins and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. In addition, a range of signal pathway inhibitors have become available that are able to inhibit signal pathways known to be associated with resistance to apoptosis. Summary: Evaluation of most of these reagents are at a preclinical level but studies on some pathway inhibitors have passed from phase II into phase III studies. Similarly, evaluation of antisense reagents are at an advanced stage. These early trials show much promise and suggest this approach to development of new therapies will lead to much needed advances in treatment of this disease. 2012-03-12T07:29:38.825Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:2828 The 402-405 MHz MICS (medical implant communication service) band has recently been allocated by the US Federal Communication Commissions (FCC) with the potential to replace the low frequency inductive coupling techniques in implantable devices. This paper investigates the designs of VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) architectures that will be essential building blocks of such wireless implantable devices. Three different integrated quadrature VCOs that meet the requirements of the MICS standard are designed in 0.18 mum TSMC CMOS process to propose an optimum choice. The fabricated VCO's are a four stage differential ring VCO, an LC tank VCO directly loaded with a poly-phase filter and an 800 MHz LC tank VCO with a high frequency master-slave divider. All three architectures target a VCO gain of KVCO = 15 MHz/V with 3 calibration control and 2 FSK (frequency-shift keying) control signals and are designed for 1.5 V supply voltage 2012-03-12T07:16:03.366Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:1137 Plasmaspheric ducts may execute Doppler oscillations driven by propagating ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves. We examined about 100 such events recorded over 1 year under magnetically quiet conditions at L = 2.5 using artificially generated whistler-mode VLF signals and ground magnetometers. Joint peaks in the VLF Doppler and magnetometer spectra occurred at the frequency expected for ULF waves generated by the ion-cyclotron instability in the upstream solar wind. The VLF Doppler shifts are most likely due to radial motion of flux tubes of a few kilometers, driven by the east-west electric field of propagating ULF waves. When the frequencies match, the incoming wave energy also couples to standing poloidal and azimuthal field line oscillations, producing field line resonance signatures in both the D and H components on ground-based magnetometers. The phases of the VLF and ULF oscillations are consistent with ionospheric rotation of the downgoing ULF wave field. Since the scale size of VLF flux tubes is significantly smaller than for ULF flux tubes, VLF Doppler observations can provide more precise spatial information on ULF wave fields in the plasmasphere. Furthermore, it should be possible to use ULF oscillations to monitor the formation of quarter wavelength mode standing field line oscillations when the conjugate ionospheres have different conductivities. 2012-03-12T07:14:30.762Z ]]> http://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/uon:3663 Objective: To explore differences in decision making between rural health researchers and managers on the publication of research from small identifiable populations. Method: A survey that investigated the attitudes of Australian rural general practitioners (GPs) to nurse practitioners was explored. Decisions on the study’s publication were analysed with bioethical principles and health service management ethical decision-making models. Results: Response rate was 78.5% (62/79 GPs). 84–94% of GP responders considered it to be undesirable for nurse practitioners to initiate referrals to medical specialists (n = 58), to initiate diagnostic imaging (n = 56) and to prescribe medication (n = 52). Bioethical analysis: It was concluded that the principle of beneficence outweighed the principle of non-maleficence and that a valid justification for the publication of these results existed. Decision-making models of health service managers: On the basis of models of ethical decision making in health service management, the decisions of the area’s health managers resulted in approval to publish this project’s results being denied. This was because the perceived risks to the health service outweighed benefits. Confidentiality could not be ensured by publication under a regional nom de plume. Conclusions: A conflict of interests between rural researchers and health managers on publication of results is shown by this case study. Researchers and managers at times owe competing duties to key stakeholders. Both weigh the estimated risks and benefits of the effect of research findings. This is particularly true in a rural area, where identification of the subjects becomes more likely. 2012-03-12T06:59:50.973Z ]]>