Description:
We derive some Moore-like bounds for multipartite digraphs, which extend those of bipartite digraphs, under the assumption that every vertex of a given partite set is adjacent to the same number δ of vertices in each of the other independent sets. We determine when a multipartite Moore digraph is weakly distance-regular. Within this framework, some necessary conditions for the existence of a r-partite Moore digraph with interpartite outdegree δ > 1 and diameter k = 2m are obtained. In the case δ = 1, which corresponds to almost Moore digraphs, a necessary condition in terms of the permutation cycle structure is derived. Additionally, we present some constructions of dense multipartite digraphs of diameter two that are vertex-transitive.
Description:
"Improved survival rates for premature infants have resulted in extended hospital stays in neonatal nurseries with consequent challenges for mothers assuming a parental role. Additionally, maternal medical complications associated with surgical birth, and a need to locate themselves in unfamiliar clinical environments, exacerbate women's experiences and transition to a maternal role competes with other roles at this time. For women living in rural and regional areas, who experience premature birth, there is additional hardship due to isolation, distance and limited support services. There has been little research on women's experiences with infants in special care nurseries in regional Australia."--(leaf ii).
Description:
"Improved survival rates for premature infants have resulted in extended hospital stays in neonatal nurseries with consequent challenges for mothers assuming a parental role. Additionally, maternal medical complications associated with surgical birth, and a need to locate themselves in unfamiliar clinical environments, exacerbate women's experiences and transition to a maternal role competes with other roles at this time. For women living in rural and regional areas, who experience premature birth, there is additional hardship due to isolation, distance and limited support services. There has been little research on women's experiences with infants in special care nurseries in regional Australia."--(leaf ii).
Description:
The conjugate duality, which states that infx∈X φ(x, 0) = maxv∈Y ' −φ∗(0,v), whenever a regularity condition on φ is satisfied, is a key result in convex anal¬ysis and optimization, where φ : X × Y → IR ∪{+∞} is a convex function, X and Y are Banach spaces, Y ' is the continuous dual space of Y and φ∗ is the Fenchel-Moreau conjugate of φ. In this paper, we establish a necessary and sufficient condition for the stable conjugate duality, ∗ ∗ ∈ X' inf {φ(x, 0) + x ∗(x)} = max {−φ ∗(−x ,v)}, ∀x, x∈Xv∈Y ' and obtain a new global dual regularity condition, which is much more general than the popularly known interior-point type conditions, for the conjugate duality. As a consequence we present an epigraph closure condition which is necessary and sufficient for a stable Fenchel-Rockafellar duality theorem. In the case where one of the functions involved in the duality is a polyhedral convex function, we also provide generalized interior-point conditions for the epigraph closure condition. Moreover, we show that a stable Fenchel’s duality for sublinear functions holds whenever a subdifferential sum formula for the functions holds. As applications, we give general sufficient conditions for a minimax theorem, a subdifferential composition formula and for duality results of convex programming problems.
Description:
The conjugate duality, which states that infx∈X φ(x, 0) = maxv∈Y ' −φ∗(0,v), whenever a regularity condition on φ is satisfied, is a key result in convex anal¬ysis and optimization, where φ : X × Y → IR ∪{+∞} is a convex function, X and Y are Banach spaces, Y ' is the continuous dual space of Y and φ∗ is the Fenchel-Moreau conjugate of φ. In this paper, we establish a necessary and sufficient condition for the stable conjugate duality, ∗ ∗ ∈ X' inf {φ(x, 0) + x ∗(x)} = max {−φ ∗(−x ,v)}, ∀x, x∈Xv∈Y ' and obtain a new global dual regularity condition, which is much more general than the popularly known interior-point type conditions, for the conjugate duality. As a consequence we present an epigraph closure condition which is necessary and sufficient for a stable Fenchel-Rockafellar duality theorem. In the case where one of the functions involved in the duality is a polyhedral convex function, we also provide generalized interior-point conditions for the epigraph closure condition. Moreover, we show that a stable Fenchel’s duality for sublinear functions holds whenever a subdifferential sum formula for the functions holds. As applications, we give general sufficient conditions for a minimax theorem, a subdifferential composition formula and for duality results of convex programming problems.
Description:
I completed my Master of Dramatic Art (Direction) at VCA, by Research, over two and a half years, ending with a Performance season supported by an exegesis. In this presentation I will briefly touch on the stages involved in that project, with a view to raising key issues: the set up of the research environment; issues of interpretation: the process of creating research - the necklace theory; supervision; and what actually happened.
Description:
With age, gait functions reflected in the walking patterns degenerate and threaten the balance control mechanisms of the locomotor system. The aim of this paper is to explore applications of artificial neural networks for automated recognition of gait changes due to ageing from their respective gait-pattern characteristics. The ability of such discrimination has many advantages including the identification of at-risk or faulty gait. Various gait features (e.g., temporal-spatial, footground reaction forces and lower limb joint angular data) were extracted from 12 young and 12 elderly participants during normal walking and these were utilized for training and testing on three neural network algorithms (Standard Backpropagation; Scaled Conjugate Gradient; and Backpropagation with Bayesian Regularization, BR). Receiver operating characteristics plots, sensitivity and specificity results as well as accuracy rates were used to evaluate performance of the three classifiers. Cross-validation test results indicate a maximum generalization performance of 83.3% in the recognition of the young and elderly gait patterns. Out of the three neural network algorithms, BR performed superiorly in the test results with best sensitivity, selectivity and detection rates. With the help of a feature selection technique, the maximum classification accuracy of the BR attained 100%, when trained with a small subset of selected gait features. The results of this study demonstrate the capability of neural networks in the detection of gait changes with ageing and their potentials for future applications as gait diagnostics.
Description:
In the pursuit of obtaining largest graphs of given degree and diameter, many construction techniques have arisen. Compounding of graphs is one such technique. In this paper, by means of the compounding of complete graphs into the bipartite Moore graph of diameter 6, we obtain two families of (
Description:
Looking for Alibrandi (Australia, 2000) is significant not only because it is the financially most successful Australian teen film and winner of five AFI awards. This film has also played an important role in increasing the cinematic profile of Italo-Australians. It has attracted audiences that exceed the hitherto limited markets for most Italo-Australians films and expanded the source novel's predominantly teenage readership. Looking for Alibrandi can be linked to Italo-Australian cinema's shift away from social realism and towards market-driven entertainment. The film presents a utopian and revisionist view of Australian society, challenging monolithic characterisations of Australian society in terms of a patriarchal, Anglo-Celtic, middle-class mainstream. The dissolution of this monolithic mythology is implicit in Josie Alibrandi's dawning recognition that Australian society involves complex intersections of class, generation, gender, ethnicity and locality. The film thus alludes to a coming of age that is both social and subjective, encompassing the increased cinematic profile of Italo-Australians in general and Italo-Australian femininity in particular. Josie's social and subjective coming-of-age culminates in the question of reconciliation with Anglo-Australian masculinity.
Description:
Looking for Alibrandi (Australia, 2000) is significant not only because it is the financially most successful Australian teen film and winner of five AFI awards. This film has also played an important role in increasing the cinematic profile of Italo-Australians. It has attracted audiences that exceed the hitherto limited markets for most Italo-Australians films and expanded the source novel's predominantly teenage readership. Looking for Alibrandi can be linked to Italo-Australian cinema's shift away from social realism and towards market-driven entertainment. The film presents a utopian and revisionist view of Australian society, challenging monolithic characterisations of Australian society in terms of a patriarchal, Anglo-Celtic, middle-class mainstream. The dissolution of this monolithic mythology is implicit in Josie Alibrandi's dawning recognition that Australian society involves complex intersections of class, generation, gender, ethnicity and locality. The film thus alludes to a coming of age that is both social and subjective, encompassing the increased cinematic profile of Italo-Australians in general and Italo-Australian femininity in particular. Josie's social and subjective coming-of-age culminates in the question of reconciliation with Anglo-Australian masculinity.
Description:
Military operational tasks are physically demanding and incur the risk of injury. In order to address the issues and costs associated with the high injury rates and focus on ways to reduce the risk of injury to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, the ADF Chiefs of Service Committee (COSC) has endorsed a number of injury prevention strategies aimed at examining, analysing and evaluating injury-related risks and hazards within the ADF. In line with those strategies, COSC has affirmed that ADF employment policy is to be competency based and agreed that physical employment standards should be developed for combat arms trades. The purpose of the Defence Physical Employment Standards Project (DPESP) is to develop these performance-based competency standards. The ADF has employed the services of the University of Ballarat (UB) to undertake the DPESP. This involves reviewing combat arms trade tasks (CATTs), establishing a set of criterion CATTs, developing a battery of simulation and predictive tests based on the criterion CATTs to be used to assess the physical competency of ADF combat personnel, and making recommendations for associated physical employment standards.
Description:
Military operational tasks are physically demanding and incur the risk of injury. In order to address the issues and costs associated with the high injury rates and focus on ways to reduce the risk of injury to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, the ADF Chiefs of Service Committee (COSC) has endorsed a number of injury prevention strategies aimed at examining, analysing and evaluating injury-related risks and hazards within the ADF. In line with those strategies, COSC has affirmed that ADF employment policy is to be competency based and agreed that physical employment standards should be developed for combat arms trades. The purpose of the Defence Physical Employment Standards Project (DPESP) is to develop these performance-based competency standards. The ADF has employed the services of the University of Ballarat (UB) to undertake the DPESP. This involves reviewing combat arms trade tasks (CATTs), establishing a set of criterion CATTs, developing a battery of simulation and predictive tests based on the criterion CATTs to be used to assess the physical competency of ADF combat personnel, and making recommendations for associated physical employment standards.
Description:
Losses resulting from traumatic injuries and occupational disease are prevalent in the small business sector of Australian industry. Although the true size of the problem is unclear, it is estimated that the losses amount to more than $8 billion annually. The hazard control measures to counter these losses are largely known and are available to small businesses but they are not widely adopted. Regulators and other bodies have employed a range of intervention strategies to influence decision-makers in small businesses but most have focussed on the dissemination of printed materials or broadbased advertising campaigns with limited success......... The research concludes that the listening processes at the heart of social marketing add to the methods already used in the OHS discipline by forcing the marketer to listen to the subjective assessment of risk as perceived by targets as well as to question the evidence base that supports the legitimacy and efficacy of the proposed intervention. The TTM was found to be a useful means of categorising small business decision-maker behaviour and assessing the readiness for change of individuals and therefore the messages that are needed to unfreeze behaviour. The TTM also provides a tool for evaluation of the impact of an intervention.As a result of this research it is suggested that opinion leaders, who are employed within a social marketing model to diffuse information, multiply the effort of those wishing to increase the adoption of an innovation. Thus engagement of opinion leaders by an OHS authority for the communication of risk control messages may be more cost-effective than attempting to visit every workplace within an industry group. Thus, although social marketing is not in the general repertoire of OHS interventions, it appears to be extremely useful as a framework for interventions and, when used in concert with a stages of change model, provides natural lead indicators for evaluating the impact of OHS interventions. Application of social marketing to people who have the responsibility for the health and safety of others was unique.
Description:
Losses resulting from traumatic injuries and occupational disease are prevalent in the small business sector of Australian industry. Although the true size of the problem is unclear, it is estimated that the losses amount to more than $8 billion annually. The hazard control measures to counter these losses are largely known and are available to small businesses but they are not widely adopted. Regulators and other bodies have employed a range of intervention strategies to influence decision-makers in small businesses but most have focussed on the dissemination of printed materials or broadbased advertising campaigns with limited success......... The research concludes that the listening processes at the heart of social marketing add to the methods already used in the OHS discipline by forcing the marketer to listen to the subjective assessment of risk as perceived by targets as well as to question the evidence base that supports the legitimacy and efficacy of the proposed intervention. The TTM was found to be a useful means of categorising small business decision-maker behaviour and assessing the readiness for change of individuals and therefore the messages that are needed to unfreeze behaviour. The TTM also provides a tool for evaluation of the impact of an intervention.As a result of this research it is suggested that opinion leaders, who are employed within a social marketing model to diffuse information, multiply the effort of those wishing to increase the adoption of an innovation. Thus engagement of opinion leaders by an OHS authority for the communication of risk control messages may be more cost-effective than attempting to visit every workplace within an industry group. Thus, although social marketing is not in the general repertoire of OHS interventions, it appears to be extremely useful as a framework for interventions and, when used in concert with a stages of change model, provides natural lead indicators for evaluating the impact of OHS interventions. Application of social marketing to people who have the responsibility for the health and safety of others was unique.
Description:
Victorians aged 65 years and over are classified as ‘old’, yet many are able to remain living at home in a rural area, maintain health, retain a sense of wellbeing, and lead productive lives without requiring extraordinary assistance to do so. As such, these older people are exemplars of healthy ageing. This qualitative study examined the stories of older people who were living in that moment to answer questions about the meaning of ageing and living at home in a rural community for older people and the measures used to sustain that lifestyle. Rich descriptions were gathered through face-to-face interviews with ten older people living at home in various rural areas of Victoria. Their stories describe personal perceptions and philosophies of ageing and ‘being old’, life as a rural living older person and individual means of meeting declining physical dexterity. This study describes the acumen of a small group of rural living older people from whom much can be learnt. However, further research with larger populations of older people would enhance learning opportunities for other Australians who similarly wish to achieve positive healthy ageing whilst living at home in a rural community.
Description:
Victorians aged 65 years and over are classified as ‘old’, yet many are able to remain living at home in a rural area, maintain health, retain a sense of wellbeing, and lead productive lives without requiring extraordinary assistance to do so. As such, these older people are exemplars of healthy ageing. This qualitative study examined the stories of older people who were living in that moment to answer questions about the meaning of ageing and living at home in a rural community for older people and the measures used to sustain that lifestyle. Rich descriptions were gathered through face-to-face interviews with ten older people living at home in various rural areas of Victoria. Their stories describe personal perceptions and philosophies of ageing and ‘being old’, life as a rural living older person and individual means of meeting declining physical dexterity. This study describes the acumen of a small group of rural living older people from whom much can be learnt. However, further research with larger populations of older people would enhance learning opportunities for other Australians who similarly wish to achieve positive healthy ageing whilst living at home in a rural community.
Description:
We study convergence properties of a modified subgradient algorithm, applied to the dual problem defined by the sharp augmented Lagrangian. The primal problem we consider is nonconvex and nondifferentiable, with equality constraints. We obtain primal and dual convergence results, as well as a condition for existence of a dual solution. Using a practical selection of the step-size parameters, we demonstrate the algorithm and its advantages on test problems, including an integer programming and an optimal control problem
Description:
The benefits of vibrant and active open source communities have been enjoyed in both commercial and non-commercial activities within many and varied domains. Previously the domain of altruists and enthusiasts, recent times have seen the uptake of free software grow at a significant pace. As commercial enterprises have come to accept open source software as potentially delivering numerous and substantial benefits to the products and services they provide, the number and momentum of open source efforts continues to build. While many commercial options fill the development, infrastructure and support needs that surround the HLA, the prevalence of open source software is minimal at best. Although commercial products can satisfy many needs, licensing costs remain prohibitive for small-to-medium enterprises and academic institutions. Of particular importance is the impact this can have on research activities within the domain. Where a vibrant open source community would provide a pool of resources on which research efforts could build, the current situation often requires significant effort be expended developing an environment in which the primary research can be conducted. This lack of such a resource has been conspicuous to many, and discussions surrounding community support for initiatives such as open source HLA Run-Time Infrastructures have been witnessed. Not totally devoid of any open source influence, those projects that do exist in the domain have as yet failed to reach the prevalence such endeavours often aspire to. This paper is a discussion of the current circumstances, the effect they can have and some of the efforts underway to begin addressing the problems, presented from the point of view of a research student within an academic institution.