Global optimization of marginal functions with applications to economic equilibrium
- Authors: Bagirov, Adil , Rubinov, Alex
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Global Optimization Vol. 20, no. 3-4 (Aug 2001), p. 215-237
- Full Text: false
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- Description: We discuss the applicability of the cutting angle method to global minimization of marginal functions. The search of equilibrium prices in the exchange model can be reduced to the global minimization of certain functions, which include marginal functions. This problem has been approximately solved by the cutting angle method. Results of numerical experiments are presented and discussed.
A method of truncated codifferential with application to some problems of cluster analysis
- Authors: Demyanov, Vladimir , Bagirov, Adil , Rubinov, Alex
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Global Optimization Vol. 23, no. 1 (May 2002), p. 63-80
- Full Text: false
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- Description: A method of truncated codifferential descent for minimizing continuously codifferentiable functions is suggested. The convergence of the method is studied. Results of numerical experiments are presented. Application of the suggested method for the solution of some problems of cluster analysis are discussed. In numerical experiments Wisconsin Diagnostic Breast Cancer database was used.
- Description: 2003000062
Downward sets and their separation and approximation properties
- Authors: Martinez-Legaz, Juan , Rubinov, Alex , Singer, Ivan
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Global Optimization Vol. 23, no. 2 (Jun 2002), p. 111-137
- Full Text: false
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- Description: We develop a theory of downward subsets of the space R-I, where I is a finite index set. Downward sets arise as the set of all solutions of a system of inequalities x is an element of R-I, f(t)(x) less than or equal to 0 (t is an element of T), where T is an arbitrary index set and each f(t) (t is an element of T) is an increasing function defined on R-I. These sets play an important role in some parts of mathematical economics and game theory. We examine some functions related to a downward set (the distance to this set and the plus-Minkowski gauge of this set, which we introduce here) and study lattices of closed downward sets and of corresponding distance functions. We discuss two kinds of duality for downward sets, based on multiplicative and additive min-type functions, respectively, and corresponding separation properties, and we give some characterizations of best approximations by downward sets. Some links between the multiplicative and additive cases are established.
- Description: 2003000119
Globalisation and the reshaping of teacher professional culture : Do we train competent technicians or informed players in the policy process?
- Authors: Angus, Lawrence
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Handbook of Teacher Education Chapter p. 141-156
- Full Text: false
Epistemological approach to the process of practice
- Authors: Dazeley, Richard , Kang, Byeongho
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Minds and Machines Vol. 18, no. 4 (2008), p. 547-567
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- Description: Systems based on symbolic knowledge have performed extremely well in processing reason, yet, remain beset with problems of brittleness in many domains. Connectionist approaches do similarly well in emulating interactive domains, however, have struggled when modelling higher brain functions. Neither of these dichotomous approaches, however, have provided many inroads into the area of human reasoning that psychology and sociology refer to as the process of practice. This paper argues that the absence of a model for the process of practise in current approaches is a significant contributor to brittleness. This paper will investigate how the process of practise relates to deeper forms of contextual representations of knowledge. While researchers and developers of knowledge based systems have often incorporated the notion of context they treat context as a static entity, neglecting many connectionists' work in learning hidden and dynamic contexts. This paper argues that the omission of these higher forms of context is one of the fundamental problems in the application and interpretation of symbolic knowledge. Finally, these ideas for modelling context will lead to the reinterpretation of situation cognition which makes a significant step towards a philosophy of knowledge that could lead to the modelling of the process of practice. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
- Description: C1
Group structured reasoning for coalescing group decisions
- Authors: Yearwood, John , Stranieri, Andrew
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Group Decision and Negotiation Vol. , no. (2009), p. 1-29
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- Description: In this paper we present the notion of structured reasoning through a model, called the Generic/Actual Argument Model (GAAM). The model which has been used as a computational representation for machine modelling of reasoning and for hybrid combinations of human and machine reasoning can be used as a coalescent framework for decision making. Whilst the notion of structuring reasoning is not new, structured reasoning is advanced as a technique where group consensus on reasoning structures at various levels can be used to facilitate the comprehension of complex reasoning particularly where there are multiple perspectives. For an issue, the approach provides a scaffolding structure for cognitive co-operation and a normative reasoning structure against which group participants can identify points of difference and points in common as well as the nature of the differences and similarities. Intra-group transparency characterized by the ability to recognise points in common and understand the nature of differences is important to the process of coalescing group decisions that carry maximum group support. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Understanding and assessing spiritual health
- Authors: Fisher, John
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: International Handbook of Education for Spirituality, Care and Wellbeing Chapter 4 p. 69-88
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- Description: This chapter explores awareness and compassion as essential elements in spiritual cultivation. Of the education of awareness, it describes the ideas of Aldous Huxley and J. Krishnamurthi as well as the Buddha’s teachings on mindfulness. The practice of awareness would reveal a holistic experience and multiple dimensions of reality. This chapter briefly describes the author’s view of “the five dimensions of reality” that include dimensions from the surface to the deepest, infinite reality. Drawing on Eastern perspectives, it explains that “pure awareness” is identical with infinite reality and that “great compassion” emerges as a manifestation of pure awareness. In addition, as for cultivating compassion, this chapter explores such concepts as the Four Immeasurable Minds, bodhichitta, bodhisattva, and also the mind training called lojong in Tibetan Buddhism. Finally, it suggests a vision of “the education of enlightenment,” in which both awareness and compassion are of central importance.
- Description: 2003007949
The palaeolimnological record from lake Cullulleraine, lower Murray River (south-east Australia) : Implications for understanding riverine histories
- Authors: Fluin, J. , Tibby, John , Gell, Peter
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Paleolimnology Vol. , no. (2009), p. 1-14
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- Description: Australia's largest river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, is the focus of scientific and political attention, due mainly to the competing issues of economic productivity versus environmental flows. Central to this dialogue is the need to know about the Basin's natural condition and the degree to which the system has deviated from this pre-disturbance, baseline status. This study examines the patterns of ecological change in Lake Cullulleraine, a permanently connected artificial wetland adjacent to Lock Nine on the Murray River, south-east Australia. A 43-cm sediment core was collected in January 1998 and diatoms were analysed at 1-cm intervals for use as aquatic ecological indicators. The sediment core was dated using 210Pb. Changes in the diatom community have occurred since the time of lake formation in 1926, particularly shifts between Aulacoseira subborealis, Staurosira construens var. venter, Aulacoseira granulata, Staurosirella pinnata and Pseudostaurosira brevistriata. An electrical conductivity (EC) transfer function was applied to the fossil diatom assemblages and inferred EC values were compared to long-term, historical EC data from the River. Despite the presence of good analogues between fossil and modern diatom assemblages, inferred EC did not reflect measured EC accurately. In recent decades, patterns in the two data sets were reversed. Despite clear changes in the fossil record, quantitative palaeo-environmental interpretation was limited because the dominant taxa occupy broad ecological niches. Despite these limitations, changes in the Lake Cullulleraine record, particularly in the planktonic taxa, can be interpreted in terms of landscape change. Furthermore, because of the good chronology from the site, the record may be useful for dating changes observed in sites with poor chronological control. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Images of a new sub-culture in the Australian university : Perceptions of non-nurse academics of the discipline of nursing
- Authors: Sellers, Eileen
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Higher Education Vol. 43, no. 2 (2002), p. 157-172
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- Description: It is crucial to the development and credibility of the nursing profession that its knowledge base be recognised as legitimate scholarly endeavour by established members of academia. For that reason, this report concerns examination of the attitudes and values of a group of non-nurse academics employed in universities in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and the degree to which they view nursing as an epistemic entity. Perceptions are considered within the dual contexts of recent major changes in nursing education and in academia. Naturalistic Inquiry, informed by a hermeneutic attitude, is employed as a heuristic to examine the sub-culture of nursing within the broad culture of academia. Analysis of extensive interview data provided by the contemplation of study participants provides emergent themes. Several metaphors are chosen to explicate the findings that nursing is largely perceived to be nebulous, atheoretical, and subservient to the medical profession, Implications are discussed and recommendations are made with the view to encourage modernisation of the university through improving internal communication and challenging traditional models of operations within the tertiary sector.
Sufficient global optimality conditions for non-convex quadratic minimization problems with box constraints
- Authors: Jeyakumar, Vaithilingam , Rubinov, Alex , Wu, Zhiyou
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Global Optimization Vol. 36, no. 3 (2006), p. 471-481
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: In this paper we establish conditions which ensure that a feasible point is a global minimizer of a quadratic minimization problem subject to box constraints or binary constraints. In particular, we show that our conditions provide a complete characterization of global optimality for non-convex weighted least squares minimization problems. We present a new approach which makes use of a global subdifferential. It is formed by a set of functions which are not necessarily linear functions, and it enjoys explicit descriptions for quadratic functions. We also provide numerical examples to illustrate our optimality conditions.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001538
A non-invasive tool for assessing pathogen prevalence in koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations: detection of Chlamydia pecorum and koala retrovirus (KoRV) DNA in genetic material sourced from scats
- Authors: Wedrowicz, Faye , Saxton, Tom , Mosse, Jennifer , Wright, Wendy , Hogan, Fiona
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Conservation Genetics Resources Vol. 8, no. 4 (2016), p. 511-521
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Pathogenic diseases may threaten the viability of wild animal populations, especially when already vulnerable. The mitigation of risks associated with pathogenic infections in populations is an important factor in conservation strategies. Koalas are of conservation concern across the north of their range and are affected by two main pathogens; Chlamydia pecorum and the koala retrovirus (KoRV). This study tested whether DNA from C. pecorum and KoRV could be detected in genetic material isolated from koala scats. Detection of C. pecorum in scat isolated DNA samples was compared with results obtained from urogenital swabs collected from the same individuals as part of an independent study. The ability to detect KoRV in scats from both northern and southern regions of the koala’s range was also assessed. There was a high level of concordance (5/6) between the detection of C. pecorum in DNA isolated from scats and urogenital swabs from the same individual. In positive samples, C. pecorumompA genotypes were identical between DNA from scats and urogenital swabs in two out of three cases. In samples from the south of the koala’s range, KoRV copy number was higher in DNA isolated from scats compared to DNA isolated from ear tissue, potentially indicating the detection of horizontally acquired infections. Our results demonstrate the ability to detect C. pecorum and KoRV in DNA isolated from koala scats. This method will be useful for studying the prevalence, transmission and impact of these pathogens in wild populations which may subsequently inform conservation management strategies. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Unsupervised color textured image segmentation using cluster ensembles and MRF mdel
- Authors: Islam, Mofakharul , Yearwood, John , Vamplew, Peter
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Advances in computer and information sciences and engineering p. 323-328
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: We propose a novel approach to implement robust unsupervised color image content understanding approach that segments a color image into its constituent parts automatically. The aim of this work is to produce precise segmentation of color images using color and texture information along with neighborhood relationships among image pixels which will provide more accuracy in segmentation. Here, unsupervised means automatic discovery of classes or clusters in images rather than generating the class or cluster descriptions from training image sets. As a whole, in this particular work, the problem we want to investigate is to implement a robust unsupervised SVFM model based color medical image segmentation tool using Cluster Ensembles and MRF model along with wavelet transforms for increasing the content sensitivity of the segmentation model. In addition, Cluster Ensemble has been utilized for introducing a robust technique for finding the number of components in an image automatically. The experimental results reveal that the proposed tool is able to find the accurate number of objects or components in a color image and eventually capable of producing more accurate and faithful segmentation and can. A statistical model based approach has been developed to estimate the Maximum a posteriori (MAP) to identify the different objects/components in a color image. The approach utilizes a Markov Random Field model to capture the relationships among the neighboring pixels and integrate that information into the Expectation Maximization (EM) model fitting MAP algorithm. The algorithm simultaneously calculates the model parameters and segments the pixels iteratively in an interleaved manner. Finally, it converges to a solution where the model parameters and pixel labels are stabilized within a specified criterion. Finally, we have compared our results with another well-known segmentation approach.
Governing with ignorance : Understanding the Australian food regulator’s response to nano food
- Authors: Lyons, Kristen , Smith, Naomi
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: NanoEthics Vol. 12, no. 1 (2018), p. 27-38
- Full Text: false
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- Description: This paper examines regulatory responses to the presence of previously undetected and unlabelled nanoparticles in the Australian food system. Until 2015, the Australian regulatory body Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) denied that nanoparticles were present in Australian food. However, and despite repeated claims from Australia’s food regulator, research commissioned by civil society group Friends of the Earth has demonstrated that nanoparticles are deliberately included as ingredients in an array of food available for sale in Australia. This paper critically examines how nanoparticles have come to be integrated into Australia’s food system under the radar of Australia’s food regulator. Our case study of FSANZ—including its responses to the civil society-led science that determined the existence of nanoparticles in Australian food—raises a number of important questions about the governance of risk in relation to emerging technologies such as nanotechnology. In this paper, we argue that FSANZ’ response to the presence of nanotechnology in Australia’s food system is an example of ‘governing with ignorance’. This is demonstrated via the denial and dismissal of science claims as a basis for limited regulatory intervention. FSANZ’ response intersects with the centrality of commercial interests in shaping science research and commercialisation, alongside the ‘hands off’ approach to regulation that is characteristic of neoliberal governance approaches. We conclude by arguing that in the current food governance framework, and alongside a paucity of impact science, civil society plays a vital role in attempts to democratise the Australian food system. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature.
About intrinsic transversality of pairs of sets
- Authors: Kruger, Alexander
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Set-Valued and Variational Analysis Vol. 26, no. 1 (2018), p. 111-142
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP160100854
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- Description: The article continues the study of the ‘regular’ arrangement of a collection of sets near a point in their intersection. Such regular intersection or, in other words, transversality properties are crucial for the validity of qualification conditions in optimization as well as subdifferential, normal cone and coderivative calculus, and convergence analysis of computational algorithms. One of the main motivations for the development of the transversality theory of collections of sets comes from the convergence analysis of alternating projections for solving feasibility problems. This article targets infinite dimensional extensions of the intrinsic transversality property introduced recently by Drusvyatskiy, Ioffe and Lewis as a sufficient condition for local linear convergence of alternating projections. Several characterizations of this property are established involving new limiting objects defined for pairs of sets. Special attention is given to the convex case.
Crack propagation modelling in concrete using the scaled boundary finite element method with hybrid polygon-quadtree meshes
- Authors: Ooi, Ean Tat , Natarajan, Sundararajan , Song, Chongmin , Ooi, Ean Hin
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Fracture Vol. 203, no. 1-2 (2017), p. 135-157
- Full Text: false
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- Description: This manuscript presents an extension of the recently-developed hybrid polygon-quadtree-based scaled boundary finite element method to model crack propagation in concrete. This hybrid approach combines the use of quadtree cells with arbitrary sided polygons for domain discretization. The scaled boundary finite element formulation does not distinguish between quadtree cells and arbitrary sided polygons in the mesh. A single formulation is applicable to all types of cells and polygons in the mesh. This eliminates the need to develop transitional elements to bridge the cells belonging to different levels in the quadtree hierarchy. Further to this, the use of arbitrary sided polygons facilitate the accurate discretization of curved boundaries that may result during crack propagation. The fracture process zone that is characteristic in concrete fracture is modelled using zero-thickness interface elements that are coupled to the scaled boundary finite element method using a shadow domain procedure. The scaled boundary finite element method can accurately model the asymptotic stress field in the vicinity of the crack tip with cohesive tractions. This leads to the accurate computation of the stress intensity factors, which is used to determine the condition for crack propagation and the resulting direction. Crack growth can be efficiently resolved using an efficient remeshing algorithm that employs a combination of quadtree decomposition functions and simple Booleans operations. The flexibility of the scaled boundary finite element method to be formulated on arbitrary sided polygons also result in a flexible remeshing algorithm for modelling crack propagation. The developed method is validated using three laboratory experiments of notched concrete beams subjected to different loading conditions.
An additive subfamily of enlargements of a maximally monotone operator
- Authors: Burachik, Regina , Martinez-Legaz, Juan , Rezaie, Mahboubeh , Thera, Michel
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Set-Valued and Variational Analysis Vol. 23, no. 4 (2015), p. 643-665
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- Description: We introduce a subfamily of additive enlargements of a maximally monotone operator. Our definition is inspired by the early work of Simon Fitzpatrick. These enlargements constitute a subfamily of the family of enlargements introduced by Svaiter. When the operator under consideration is the subdifferential of a convex lower semicontinuous proper function, we prove that some members of the subfamily are smaller than the classical epsilon-subdifferential enlargement widely used in convex analysis. We also recover the epsilon-subdifferential within the subfamily. Since they are all additive, the enlargements in our subfamily can be seen as structurally closer to the epsilon-subdifferential enlargement.
Thinking dispositions as a resource for resilience in the gritty reality of learning to teach
- Authors: McGraw, Amanda , McDonough, Sharon
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Educational Researcher Vol. 46, no. 4 (2019), p. 589-605
- Full Text: false
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- Description: While there is agreement that dispositions and resilience enable teachers to negotiate the complexities of teaching, how we support pre-service teachers (PSTs) to activate and understand the nature of dispositions and resilience is less clear. This narrative inquiry, conducted at a regional university in Australia, examines ways thinking dispositions act as personal resources to enable PSTs to develop resilience and negotiate the reality of teaching. In this paper, we examine a teaching and learning experience in an initial teacher education program where PSTs engage with complexities associated with planning, teaching and assessment. Drawing from semi-structured interviews, we construct and examine PSTs’ narratives and identify the foundational influence of people-centred thinking. We also identify the central role of reflective and strategic thinking in enabling resilience. Finally, we argue that school/university partnership initiatives in teacher education provide opportunities to focus on dispositions associated with resilience.
Application of fuzzy risk analysis for selecting critical processes in implementation of SPC with a case study
- Authors: Khorshidi, Hadi , Gunawan, Indra , Nikfalazar, Sanaz
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Group Decision and Negotiation Vol. 25, no. 1 (2016), p. 203-220
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- Description: Fuzzy risk analysis is widely used in risk assessment of components by linguistic terms. Fuzzy numbers are used to quantify the associated uncertainty. This study employs fuzzy risk analysis to evaluate processes for implementing statistical process control (SPC) in a specified manufacturing system. To reach this goal, fuzzy risk analysis has been applied based on both ranking and similarity of generalized trapezoidal fuzzy numbers in a stepwise procedure. Therefore, a new approach has been introduced for fuzzy risk analysis of processes to overcome the shortcomings of previous fuzzy risk analysis approaches. As a result, fuzzy risk analysis is used as a decision making technique to select critical processes under uncertainty. Also, the application of the proposed SPC implementation algorithm is illustrated in the manufacturing line of a car battery factory. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Latent scrutiny : Personal archives as perpetual mementos of the official gaze
- Authors: Wilson, Jacqueline , Golding, Frank
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Archival Science Vol. 16, no. 1 (2016), p. 93-109
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- Description: This article examines the significance, in the lives of those who experienced out-of-home care as children, of the archived records of their institutionalisation. The affective ramifications of accessing the records as adults are discussed, with especial focus on the records' capacity to revive past suffering. Drawing on the work of Bruner (Crit Inq Autumn 1-21,1991, Consumption and everyday life, Sage, London, 1997) and MacIntyre (After virtue: a study in moral theory, University of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, 1981), a 'narrative' model of the self is utilised to account for the negative effect of systemic flaws in the records' original composition. Such flaws, it is argued, have the potential to disrupt the individual's sense of self. Both the authors, who experienced out-of-home care as children, present their own experiences of accessing the records, as case studies. The records' manifold inaccuracies and inadequacies are interpreted in the light of prevailing welfare practices, in particular a highly damaging judgemental paradigm of gendered and moralistic assumptions of the inferior character of those in care. The authors conclude by arguing that research into the archives should involve the direct participation, as 'insider researchers', of those who experienced the matters contained in the records. Such participation is essential if the process of revealing and interpreting the archives is to maintain the dignity of the records' subject individuals, and ensure the integrity of the research. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
On Cournot-Nash-Walras equilibria and their computation
- Authors: Outrata, Jiri , Ferris, Michael , Červinka, Michal , Outrata, Michal
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Set-Valued and Variational Analysis Vol. 24, no. 3 (2016), p. 387-402
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- Description: This paper concerns a model of Cournot-Nash-Walras (CNW) equilibrium where the Cournot-Nash concept is used to capture equilibrium of an oligopolistic market with non-cooperative players/firms who share a certain amount of a so-called rare resource needed for their production, and the Walras equilibrium determines the price of that rare resource. We prove the existence of CNW equilibria under reasonable conditions and examine their local stability with respect to small perturbations of problem data. In this way we show the uniqueness of CNW equilibria under mild additional requirements. Finally, we suggest some efficient numerical approaches and compute several instances of an illustrative test example. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.