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Long-term land subsidence and strata compression in Changzhou, China

- Wang, Guang-ya, You, Greg, Shi, Bin, Yu, Jun, Tuck, Michael

  • Authors: Wang, Guang-ya , You, Greg , Shi, Bin , Yu, Jun , Tuck, Michael
  • Date: 1999
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Engineering Geology Vol. 104, no. (1999), p. 109–118
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  • Description: Changzhou City, underlain by a multi-layered aquifer system in Quaternary sediments in the Great Yangtze River Delta region, experienced a maximum land subsidence rate of 147 mm/year in the early 1980s due to excessive groundwater extraction. A large-scale monitoring station of 11 borehole extensometerswas established in the city in 1983 to investigate land subsidence. Nine stratawere predetermined in the Quaternary depth interval andmonitored by borehole extensometers. Presented in this paper are the long-term observations of land subsidence, strata compression and groundwater level in four aquifers from 1984 to 2002, and discussion on strata compression based on the measured data with reference to the stratigraphy, soil properties, groundwater withdrawn and literature of similar situations. The compression of strata varies significantly and is strongly influenced by groundwater drawdown in the second confined aquifer, or CA2. The groundwater level in CA2 declined from −55 m in 1981 to −76 m in 1994 and the land subsidence rate remained high. After the city government enforced restrictions on groundwater extraction in 1995, the extraction rate sharply reduced, the groundwater level in CA2 steadily recovered to −56 m until 2003, and the land subsidence rate declined to 10 mm/year in 2002. From 1984 to 2002, the land subsidence was mainly attributed to the consolidation of the thick aquitard overlying CA2. In the future, to prevent the subsidence rate from rising, it is vital to stop groundwater drawdown in aquifers.

Assessing spiritual health via four domains of spiritual wellbeing : The SH4DI

- Fisher, John, Francis, L. J., Johnson, Peter

  • Authors: Fisher, John , Francis, L. J. , Johnson, Peter
  • Date: 2000
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Pastoral Psychology Vol. 49, no. 2 (2000), p. 133-145
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  • Description: This study argues for the assessment of spiritual health in terms of four domains of wellbeing concerned with self, community, environment, and God. This view of spiritual health is supported by data from 311 teachers in the UK. The Spiritual Health in Four Domains Index (SH4DI) developed from these data both provides an overall index of spiritual health and distinguishes among six different spiritual health perspectives represented by personalists, communalists, environmentalists, religionists, existentialists, and globalists. © 2000 Human Sciences Press, Inc.

Being human, becoming whole : Understanding spiritual health and well- being

- Fisher, John

  • Authors: Fisher, John
  • Date: 2000
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Christian Education Vol. 43, no. 3 (2000), p. 37-52
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  • Description: This chapter discusses what spirituality is and its place in education. Topics discussed are interest in spirituality, the nature of spirituality, dimensions of health, spiritual health and well being, and a model of spiritual health. Spirituality is innate, emotive, subjective, dynamic and not religion. Spiritual health and well being are reflected in the quality of relationships in four domains of human existence - people with themselves, with others, with the environment, and with a transcendent other. The model embraces the divergence of world views, beliefs and lived experiences of humanity, as expressed in the knowledge and inspirational aspects of spiritual well being in each of the domains.

Salinity on the southeastern Dundas Tableland, Victoria

- Dahlhaus, Peter, MacEwan, Richard, Nathan, Erica, Morand, Vincent J

  • Authors: Dahlhaus, Peter , MacEwan, Richard , Nathan, Erica , Morand, Vincent J
  • Date: 2000
  • Type: Journal article
  • Relation: Australian Journal of Earth Sciences Vol. 47, no. 1 (2000), p. 3-11
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  • Description: Historical evidence of early salinity, vegetation and landuse changes, and pedological studies have been used in formulating a new model for salinity processes acting on the Dundas Tableland in southwestern Victoria. Contrary to previous assumptions, salinity in this area was a feature of the pre-European landscape and was noted in the earliest surveys and journals. Analysis of historical records show an initial post-settlement increase in the tree numbers, followed by a rapid decline much later than previously assumed. Accumulation of salts in the regolith may be attributed to marine incursions during the Miocene and Pliocene, the extensive weathering to develop a deep regolith, and wind-blown and cyclic salt accumulation. A trend analysis of historical streamflow and bore hydrograph records does not indicate rising groundwater levels. The pedological features of duplex and sodic soil profiles support a history of prolonged seasonal waterlogging. A model with seasonal lateral flow of water through the upper regolith can better account for the spread of salinity than the rising groundwater hypothesis. By control of waterlogging, land managers could improve soil structure, enhance root growth and soil water use, as well as inhibit the spread of salinity.

Student poverty at the University of Ballarat

- Newton, Janice, Turale, Sue

  • Authors: Newton, Janice , Turale, Sue
  • Date: 2000
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australian Journal of Social Issues Vol. 35, no. 3 (2000), p. 251-265
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  • Description: This article draws together the findings of two recent studies at the University of Ballarat which suggest that poverty is experienced among a considerable minority of students. In a pilot study of 54 students and a phenomenological study of 17 students. different ways of measuring poverty were considered: the Poverty Line, dependence on a government allowance, cultural criteria and self-perception. It was found that undertaking part-time work failed to protect students from poverty, with significant indebtedness affecting all. Those under the Poverty Line were more likely to he young and male and less likely to he living in a family. Poor students saw their well-being and self-worth affected by poverty as they struggled to escape a cycle of indebtedness and risked academic standards by working longer hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Australian Journal of Social Issues is the property of Australian Council of Social Service and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

'Voiced' research as a sociology for understanding 'dropping out' of school

- Smyth, John, Hattam, Robert

  • Authors: Smyth, John , Hattam, Robert
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: British Journal of Sociology of Education Vol. 22, no. 3 (Spetember 2001 2001), p. 402-415
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  • Description: How people obtain more complex understandings of the phenomenon of 'dropping out' of school is one of the most urgent policy and practice issues facing educational practitioners, policy-makers and sociological researchers at the moment. Smyth and Hattam argue that a different 'sociological imagination' is required--one that is simultaneously more attentive to the lifeworlds of young people and more reflexive of its own agenda.

A brief internet-based treatment for panic disorder

- Klein, Britt, Richards, Jeffrey

  • Authors: Klein, Britt , Richards, Jeffrey
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy Vol. 29, no. 1 (2001), p. 113-117
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  • 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 dispersed refuge model for women escaping domestic violence : A regional case study

- McDonald, John, Green, Rosemary

  • Authors: McDonald, John , Green, Rosemary
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 7, no. 1 (2001), p. 85-89
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  • Description: Refuges for women escaping domestic violence have traditionally been communal residences located in metropolitan areas. More recently, alternative service models have been funded to provide for clients with multiple and complex needs. This paper evaluates the first year of operation of an innovative refuge model for women and their children. "Marg's Place" is a statewide, high security, dispersed accommodation support model located in a regional setting. Evaluation methods included interviews, surveys, and analysis of client databases and program documents. Thirty-five women and 42 children used the service for an average stay of 20 days during the first 12 months. The main findings were that the dispersed model can cater for a wide range of service users, including those with multiple and complex needs, who would be unlikely to be successfully accommodated in a communal refuge. There was little evidence that the dispersed model contributes to feelings of isolation or loneliness for women or children. The regional setting presented both advantages and disadvantages for women wanting to resettle in the area. Women reported significantly enhanced levels of empowerment, and the high security provisions met their needs for safety. Overall, this refuge model provides an accessible, responsive and effective service.
  • Description: 2003004475

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

- Sultan, Ibrahim, Wager, John

  • Authors: Sultan, Ibrahim , Wager, John
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Inverse Problems in Engineering Vol. 9, no. 3 (2001), p. 261-285
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  • 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 problem of modal control in a linear neutral system

- Ivanov, Anatoli, Khusainov, D. Ya

A prospective study of injuries in basketball : A total profile and comparison by gender and standard of competition

- McKay, Gaylene, Goldie, P. A., Payne, Warren, Oakes, B. W., Watson, L. F.

  • Authors: McKay, Gaylene , Goldie, P. A. , Payne, Warren , Oakes, B. W. , Watson, L. F.
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 4, no. 2 (2001), p. 196-211
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  • Description: The study aimed to determine prospectively a basketball injury profile, including severity of injury, and to compare the injury profile by gender and standard of competition. Trained observers viewed basketball games, noting the occurrence of injuries, and confirmed injuries by questioning all players on site after the game. Injured players completed a questionnaire and the progress of their injury was monitored by telephone interview. A total of 10,393 basketball participations were observed. An overall injury rate was documented of 18.3 per 1,000 participations (24.7 per 1,000 playing hours), and was comparable by gender and standard of competition. Serious injuries (missing one or more weeks of play) occurred at a rate of 2.89/1,000 participations; with the ankle joint the most common serious injury (1.25/1,000 participations), followed by the calf/anterior leg (0.48/1,000 participations) and knee joint (0.29/1,000 participations). The severity of the injury was significantly associated with the body region injured, with more serious injuries incurred to the lower limb than other body regions (p <.05). The severity of the injury incurred was not related to the standard of competition, gender, age, height, number of games played per week, amount of training undertaken, type of injury, or the mechanism of injury (p> .05).
  • Description: 2003002666

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

- Jayasekera, Samudra, Mohajerani, Abbas

  • Authors: Jayasekera, Samudra , Mohajerani, Abbas
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australian Geomechanics Journal Vol. 36, no. 3 (2001), p.
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  • 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

- Sultan, Ibrahim, Wager, John

  • 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
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  • 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.

Acute effects of static stretching, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching, and maximum voluntary contractions on explosive force production and jumping performance

- Young, Warren, Elliott, Simon

An algorithm for monotonic global optimization problems

- Rubinov, Alex, Tuy, Hoang, Mays, Heather

  • Authors: Rubinov, Alex , Tuy, Hoang , Mays, Heather
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Optimization Vol. 49, no. 3 (2001), p. 205-221
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  • Description: We propose an algorithm to locate a global maximum of an increasing function subject to an increasing constraint on the cone of vectors with nonnegative coordinates. The algorithm is based on the outer approximation of the feasible set. We establish the convergence of the algorithm and provide a number of numerical experiments. We also discuss the types of constraints and objective functions for which the algorithm is best suited. © 2001 OPA (Overseas Publishers Association) N.V. Published by license under the Gordon and Breach Science Publishers imprint.

An eminent Victorian : James Oddie and his contribution to Ballarat

- Beggs-Sunter, Anne

Ankle injuries in basketball : Injury rate and risk factors

- McKay, Gaylene, Goldie, P. A., Payne, Warren, Oakes, B. W.

  • Authors: McKay, Gaylene , Goldie, P. A. , Payne, Warren , Oakes, B. W.
  • Date: 2001
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 35, no. 2 (Apr 2001), p. 103-108
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  • Description: Objectives-To determine the rate of ankle injury and examine risk factors of ankle injuries in mainly recreational basketball players. Methods-Injury observers sat courtside to determine the occurrence of ankle injuries in basketball. Ankle injured players and a group of non-injured basketball players completed a questionnaire. Results-A total of 10 393 basketball participations were observed and 40 ankle injuries documented. A group of noninjured players formed the control group (n = 360). The rate of ankle injury was 3.85 per 1000 participations, with almost half (45.9%) missing one week or more of competition and the most common mechanism being landing (45%). Over half (56.8%) of the ankle injured basketball players did not seek professional treatment. Three risk factors for ankle injury were identified: (1) players with a history of ankle injury were almost five times more likely to sustain an ankle injury (odds ratio (OR) 4.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.95 to 12.48); (2) players wearing shoes with air cells in the heel were 4.3 times more likely to injure an ankle than those wearing shoes without air cells (OR 4.34, 95% CI 1.51 to 12.40); (3) players who did not stretch before the game were 2.6 times more likely to injure an ankle than players who did (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.01 to 6.34). There was also a trend toward ankle tape decreasing the risk of ankle injury in players with a history of ankle injury (p = 0.06). Conclusions-Ankle injuries occurred at a rate of 3.85 per 1000 participations. The three identified risk factors, and landing, should all be considered when preventive strategies for ankle injuries in basketball are being formulated.
  • Description: 2003002663

Argumentation structures that integrate dialectical and non-dialectical reasoning

- Stranieri, Andrew, Zeleznikow, John, Yearwood, John

  • 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
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  • 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

Attitudinal gender bias : Individual differences in implicit self-esteem and gender identity override gender differences in implicit same-sex favouring

- Carroll, Steve, Aidman, Eugene

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

- McDonald, John, Murphy, Angela, Payne, Warren

  • 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
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  • 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