Showing items 5441 - 5460 of 5523

Your selections:

What can we say about 112,000 taps on a Ndjebbana touch screen

  • Authors: Auld, Glenn
  • Date: 2002
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education Vol. 30, no. 1 (2002), p. 1-7
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: In a remote Aboriginal Australian (Kunibidji) community, three touch-screen computers containing 96 Ndjebbana-language talking books were made available to children in informal settings. The computers' popularity is explained by the touch screens' form and the talking books' intertextual and hybrid nature. The Kunibidji are transforming their culture by including new digital technologies that represent their social practice.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003000139

A brief internet-based treatment for panic disorder

  • Authors: Klein, Britt , Richards, Jeffrey
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy Vol. 29, no. 1 (2001), p. 113-117
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: This study investigated the effectiveness of an Internet-based intervention for people with panic disorder. Twenty-two participants met criteria for panic disorder and were randomly assigned to either the treatment or a self-monitoring control condition. The study took place over 3 weeks and consisted of one week of self-monitoring prior to the intervention group accessing the program for one week, followed by one week of post-intervention assessment. Participants were assessed on measures pertaining to panic, negative affect, body vigilance, anxiety sensitivity and self-efficacy in managing panic. The treatment condition was associated with significant reductions in all variables except anxiety sensitivity and depressive affect. This type of intervention for people with fearful panic attacks holds promise as an efficacious and economical method for treating spontaneous panic.

A global optimisation approach to classification in medical diagnosis and prognosis

  • Authors: Bagirov, Adil , Rubinov, Alex , Yearwood, John , Stranieri, Andrew
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Conference paper
  • Relation: Paper presented at 34th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS-34, Maui, Hawaii, USA : 3rd-6th January 2001
  • Full Text:
  • Description: In this paper global optimisation-based techniques are studied in order to increase the accuracy of medical diagnosis and prognosis with FNA image data from the Wisconsin Diagnostic and Prognostic Breast Cancer databases. First we discuss the problem of determining the most informative features for the classification of cancerous cases in the databases under consideration. Then we apply a technique based on convex and global optimisation to breast cancer diagnosis. It allows the classification of benign cases and malignant ones and the subsequent diagnosis of patients with very high accuracy. The third application of this technique is a method that calculates centres of clusters to predict when breast cancer is likely to recur in patients for which cancer has been removed. The technique achieves higher accuracy with these databases than reported elsewhere in the literature.
  • Description: 2003003950

A phi-model solution for the inverse position problem of calibrated robots using virtual elementary motions

  • Authors: Sultan, Ibrahim , Wager, John
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Inverse Problems in Engineering Vol. 9, no. 3 (2001), p. 261-285
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: It is central to the control of manipulators to calculate the set/sets of joint-displacements which correspond to a given spatial pose (position and orientation) of the end-effector. This problem, which is referred to as the inverse position problem, represents one of the most difficult mathematical challenges in the field of robotics, particularly when performed for calibrated robots (or robots with general structures). In such cases, closed form solutions are too impractical to implement and iterative solutions suffer from numerical singularities. In the present work a procedure is introduced to obtain multiple inverse position solutions for serial robotic structures. For calibrated robots, the procedure involves a simple iterative technique designed to ensure fast convergence and eliminate the occurrence of singularity. However, inverse position solutions for spherical-wrist manipulators will be obtained in a straight-forward non-iterative fashion. A published kinematic notation, referred to as the phi -model, was used to develop the system equations.

A study of effects of municipal landfill leachate on a basaltic clay soil

  • Authors: Jayasekera, Samudra , Mohajerani, Abbas
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australian Geomechanics Journal Vol. 36, no. 3 (2001), p.
  • Full Text:
  • Description: The performance of a landfill clay liner is generally evaluated using the hydraulic conductivity values obtained from laboratory tests during the design stage. Laboratory tests for the determination of hydraulic conductivity are frequently carried out either using water as the permeating liquid or some times using a chemical permeant to represent leachate. However, any investigations incorporating time as a variable in analysing the effects of leachate on various other soil properties that can influence the hydraulic conductivity are very limited. This study is aimed at investigating the effects of landfill leachate on the performance of a compacted basaltic clay soil, over a period of time. For this purpose, a typical Melbourne basaltic clay with varying percentages of montmorillonite clay was selected and a synthetic leachate was developed based on the composition of typical municipal waste landfill leachate reported in the literature. The clay -leachate interactions were allowed take place under controlled anaerobic laboratory conditions. Samples were then tested at different time periods to identify possible variations of engineering properties such as volume change, consistency and grain size distribution due to the effect ofleachate over time, since variation of these soil properties can affect the hydraulic conductivity of a clay soil. The analysis of test results suggests that the behaviour of a basaltic clay liner could be significantly affected by clay leachate interactions over time, due to possible alterations to physical and mineralogical properties of the clay.
  • Description: 2003004211

A technique for the independent-axis calibration of robot manipulators with experimental verification

  • Authors: Sultan, Ibrahim , Wager, John
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing Vol. 14, no. 5 (2001), p. 501-512
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Accurate use of robots in an off-line programming mode is only possible through a proper calibration procedure. In this procedure, the end-effector is made to move along a set of known spatial poses where the positional errors are to be measured and employed in mathematical models. The models are subsequently solved for the manipulator dimensions (geometric parameters) using suitable regression techniques. Calibration is usually performed using either aggregate or independent-axis models. While the aggregate models result in all the system parameters being worked out simultaneously, the independent-axis models are meant to work out the geometric particulars of each joint-axis individually. In the present work, the independent-axis technique is used for the analysis with new mathematical models proposed to overcome the drawbacks of the existing methods. Moreover, the techniques employed here result in the prediction of transmission error functions and the modelling of the joint motion dependencies. This is a new concept in the field of robot calibration. Finally, the models proposed have been used to calibrate an ASEA IRB/L6 robot and the results are reported at the end of the paper.

Argumentation structures that integrate dialectical and non-dialectical reasoning

  • Authors: Stranieri, Andrew , Zeleznikow, John , Yearwood, John
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Knowledge Engineering Review Vol. 16, no. 4 (Dec 2001), p. 331-348
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Argumentation concepts have been applied to numerous knowledge engineering endeavours in recent years. For example, a variety of logics have been developed to represent argumentation in the context of a dialectical situation such as a dialogue. In contrast to the dialectical approach, argumentation has also been used to structure knowledge. This can be seen as a non-dialectical approach. The Toulmin argument structure has often been used to structure knowledge non-dialectically yet most studies that apply the Toulmin structure do not use the original structure but vary one or more components. Variations to the Toulmin structure can be understood as different ways to integrate a dialectical perspective with a non-dialectical one. Drawing the dialectical/non-dialectical distinction enables the specification of a framework called the generic actual argument model that is expressly non-dialectical. The framework enables the development of knowledge-based systems that integrate a variety of inference procedures, combine information retrieval with reasoning and facilitate automated document drafting. Furthermore, the non-dialectical framework provides the foundation for simple dialectical models. Systems based on our approach have been developed in family law, refugee law, determining eligibility for government legal aid, copyright law and e-tourism.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003002516

Ballarat health consortium : A case study of influential factors in the development and maintenance of a health partnership

  • Authors: McDonald, John , Murphy, Angela , Payne, Warren
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 7, no. 2 (2001), p. 75-82
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Intersectoral partnerships in health have a central role in current policy and programs. Partnerships are seen to be an effective strategy for maximising health outcomes. However, theoretical models of health partnerships are underdeveloped. Moreover, the research literature contains inconsistent findings about their effectiveness, and there has been very little evaluative research on health partnerships in this country. This paper reports on a case study of an intersectoral consortium using a health promotion approach to cardiovascular disease. A model of partnership formation and development is presented. From this, a research strategy was devised and carried out. Results indicate that the health consortium was formed inresponse to a critical health issue, and as a separate legal entity without recurrent funding, it has been sustained through the commitment of individual members. Project funding has, in large part, dictated its operations. The case study reveals the strengths, vulnnerabilities and achievements of this consortium over five years. To produce sustainable health outcomes, the researchers conclude, partnerships require strategic management to capitalise on individual endeavours, organisational alignments, and government or funder priorities. Ideological zeal for intersectoral health partnerships must be balanced by rigorous evaluation; together with more sophisticated indicators for measuring success in partnerships in health promotion. Theoretical development of models of health partnerships will also contribute to their enhanced effectiveness.
  • Description: 2003004325

Building partnerships through discovery - collaborative online teaching and learning

Celebrating and commemorating nation and empire in Ballarat

Comparing levels of spiritual well-being in state, catholic and independent schools in Victoria, Australia

  • Authors: Fisher, John
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Beliefs & Values: Studies in Religion & Education Vol. 22, no. 1 (2001), p. 99-105
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: This article reports on a survey completed by Chaplains, Religious Education and Student Welfare Coordinators in State, Catholic and Independent schools in Victoria. Results from this survey support the model of spiritual well-being, which was seen to be reflected in the quality of relationships that people develop with themselves, others, the environment, and with a Transcendent Other. The staff surveyed generally reported positively on current practice and expressed high priorities for action in nurturing their students' spiritual well-being. School type contributed to significant differences in each of these four sets of relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fixity and flow in Garth Nix's Sabriel

Gall-inducing insects and biological control of Parthenium hysterophorus L. (Asteraceae)

Going beyond CSF II to nurture the head and heart of students in Victorian schools

  • Authors: Fisher, John
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Health Education Australia Vol. 1, no. 1 (2001), p. 6-9
  • Full Text:
  • Description: The foreword to the Victorian Curriculum and Standards Framework II notes the skills and knowledge that students now need to prepare them to work. The preface states that the curriculum standards framework (CSF) makes it clear what students should know and be able to do. Focusing on the essentials provides a rationalistic approach to humans doing, rather than humans being. At this point, one could well ask about attitudes, values and beliefs which lie at the heart of nurturing people. [Author abstract, ed]

Introducing OO concepts from a class user perspective

  • Authors: Smith, Philip , Boyd, Geoffrey
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges Vol. 17, no. 2 (2001), p. 152-158
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: The use of an object-oriented language as an introductory language is becoming more widespread (Biddle & Tempero, 1998). However, pedagogical issues relating to the incorporation of such a language are still not understood properly (Kolling, 2001). Approaches to incorporating an object-oriented language into a teaching program vary greatly. Some approaches avoid the issue of object-orientation by putting emphasis on the procedural aspects of the language (Koffman & Wolz, 1999). Others approach the subject from the perspective of a class developer, especially making use of the appeal graphical user interfaces and applets have for students. The approach that we take at the University of Ballarat is to introduce students to programming from the perspective of a class user. This approach is facilitated by the availability of BlueJ (Kolling & Rosenberg, 2001), a program development environment designed explicitly for teaching object-oriented principles using Java. This paper describes this approach and the students' reactions to it.

Investigation of the wear resistance and durability of high speed steel for use in sheep shearing comb construction

  • Authors: Creelman, Glenn
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
  • Full Text:
  • Description: "The goal of this thesis was to evaluate high speed steel for use in the construction of sheep shearing combs, to determine if its use can be justified on a performance basis."
  • Description: Master of Applied Science

Multivariate statistical analysis of songs of the male Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) : An example from western Victoria, Australia

  • Authors: Kentish, Barry , Harvey, Jack , Roberts, Lyn , Ross, Jason
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: EMU Vol. 101, no. 4 (2001), p. 335-340
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Variation in the song of the male Common Blackbird was investigated within and between two locations in western Victoria. Each of 400 phrases (100 phrases per male) was characterised by 61 measurements relating to 13 aspects of each phrase. Principal component and stepwise discriminant analyses were undertaken on these measurements. Classification of blackbird song for location and individuality was based on timing within the phrase of the loudest elements. Evidence was found for within-phrase variability, with the greatest variation in the middle of the phrase. Within- and between-site comparison found that blackbird song exhibited both individual and site-specific characteristics consistent with earlier suggestions of phrase sharing within local populations. The study demonstrated that an objective statistical approach to song analysis was able to disciminate between individual birds from different locations.

Nonsmooth optimisation approach to data classification

Organic matter dynamics in willow and eucalypt lined central Victorian streams

  • Authors: Wilson, Michael
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
  • Full Text:
  • Description: The spread of exotic willows (Salix spp.) in SE Australia, New Zealand and South Africa has provoked widespread debate in scientific, management and broader communities. In Australia, the extent of spread is unknown, but at least 30000 km of river frontage in Victoria are lined by willows. Management and research literature has identified the poor knowledge of willow impacts on Southern Hemisphere aquatic ecosystems. It has been speculated that the major distinction between deciduous willows and evergreen native vegetation will be the timing and quality of litterfall. This would have flow-on consequences for metabolic processes, stream biota and water quality at reach, stream and catchment scales. These two vegetation types were studied through the preparation of partial organic matter budgets for native and willow lined reaches in a central Victorian catchment. Organic matter inputs from litter, groundwater and gross primary production (GPP), organic matter standing crop . and respiratory output were quantified. Total inputs to willow and native reaches were similar (735 and 764 g ash free dry weight m•' yl, respectively). Inputs were dominated by litterfall (-60%) and there were no significant differences in annual litterfall between sites. GPP contributed -20% of total inputs and estimates suggested there were few significant differences in annual GPP, 24 h community respiration, ratio of GPP to community respiration (PIR) or net daily metabolism (NDM) between sites. Groundwater contributed -20% of total inputs with one third of the dissolved organic matter sourced during short flow paths through riparian sediments. Aggradation at willow sites appeared to increase the riparian flow path. Willow and native sites were heterotrophic and similarly dependent on allochthonous organic matter (P/R=O.2, NDM= -.6, and ratio of net primary production to total inputs -0.1). Willow research and management should also focus on retention capacity, including the recruitment and role of LWD and the structure and function of root systems. Removal of willows potentially facilitates native vegetation establishment but simultaneously decreases retention capacity and metabolic control by the canopy. Establishing native vegetation to fulfil broader biodiversity objectives whilst retaining willows for their potentially positive roles is a management challenge. In principle, establishing native species on the upland-sides of fringing willows and under willow canopies will direct succession toward a preferred outcome without destructive disturbance. Understanding of when benefits of willows outweigh their costs is a notable gap.
  • Description: School of Science & Engineering
  • Description: The spread of exotic willows (Salix spp.) in SE Australia, New Zealand and South Africa has provoked widespread debate in scientific, management and broader communities. In Australia, the extent of spread is unknown, but at least 30000 km of river frontage in Victoria are lined by willows. Management and research literature has identified the poor knowledge of willow impacts on Southern Hemisphere aquatic ecosystems. It has been speculated that the major distinction between deciduous willows and evergreen native vegetation will be the timing and quality of litterfall. This would have flow-on consequences for metabolic processes, stream biota and water quality at reach, stream and catchment scales. These two vegetation types were studied through the preparation of partial organic matter budgets for native and willow lined reaches in a central Victorian catchment. Organic matter inputs from litter, groundwater and gross primary production (GPP), organic matter standing crop . and respiratory output were quantified. Total inputs to willow and native reaches were similar (735 and 764 g ash free dry weight m•' yl, respectively). Inputs were dominated by litterfall (-60%) and there were no significant differences in annual litterfall between sites. GPP contributed -20% of total inputs and estimates suggested there were few significant differences in annual GPP, 24 h community respiration, ratio of GPP to community respiration (PIR) or net daily metabolism (NDM) between sites. Groundwater contributed -20% of total inputs with one third of the dissolved organic matter sourced during short flow paths through riparian sediments. Aggradation at willow sites appeared to increase the riparian flow path. Willow and native sites were heterotrophic and similarly dependent on allochthonous organic matter (P/R=O.2, NDM= -\.6, and ratio of net primary production to total inputs -0.1). Willow research and management should also focus on retention capacity, including the recruitment and role of LWD and the structure and function of root systems. Removal of willows potentially facilitates native vegetation establishment but simultaneously decreases retention capacity and metabolic control by the canopy. Establishing native vegetation to fulfil broader biodiversity objectives whilst retaining willows for their potentially positive roles is a management challenge. In principle, establishing native species on the upland-sides of fringing willows and under willow canopies will direct succession toward a preferred outcome without destructive disturbance. Understanding of when benefits of willows outweigh their costs is a notable gap.

Remembering Eureka

  • Authors: Beggs-Sunter, Anne
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australasian Journal of Victorian Studies Vol. 70, no. (2001), p. 49-56
  • Full Text:
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Analyses the memory practices associated with the commemoration of an important national event, the Eureka Stockade and examines how public commemoration exercises become an opportunity for contest and controversy, for the expression of nationalism, and an opportunity for cultural tourism and tourist promotion.
  • Description: C1
  • Description: 2003002498