Showing papers by "Edith Cowan University published in 1997"

Common misconceptions about students from South‐East Asia studying in Australia

Abstract: International students from South‐East Asia who study in Australia are often portrayed negatively compared to local students in terms of learning and study practices. This article discusses some of the misconceptions held by university teachers and administrators about South‐East Asian students studying in Australia and examines them in the light of recent research. In particular, it challenges the views that students from South‐East Asia are surface learners, passive non‐participants in class who prefer the company of other Asian students. These findings challenge university teachers to reconsider accepted beliefs and practices when teaching all students, but particularly students from South‐East Asia.

Changes in corticomotor excitation and inhibition during prolonged submaximal muscle contractions

Abstract: Changes in motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, post-MEP silent period duration, and interpolated twitch torque were measured using transcranial magnetic (TMS) and electrical (TES) stimulation during a 20% maximum voluntary contraction of the elbow flexors sustained to exhaustion TMS- and TES-induced MEP amplitude increased progressively over the contraction period up until the point of exhaustion The TMS-induced silent period was prolonged only during the second half of the contraction period, the time course being different from that of the MEP responses, whereas the TES-induced silent period did not change The findings indicate that corticomotor excitability increases during a sustained submaximal voluntary contraction and that, as fatigue develops, there is a progressive buildup of intracortical inhibition This may represent a mechanism whereby corticomotor output is maintained at an appropriate level to preserve optimal motor unit firing frequencies during a fatiguing contraction

Exercise and bone mineral density in mature female athletes.

Abstract: An understanding of the relationship between weight-bearing activity and bone mineral density (BMD) is important in devising strategies to maximize and maintain skeletal strength in the female population, particularly those entering menopause. Three contrasting groups (N = 20) of mature female athletes (42-50 yr) with long-term (> 20 yr) histories of significant training and performance in their chosen sport were studied cross-sectionally. The groups were: (i) high impact sport (netball/basketball; HIGH), (ii) medium impact sport (running/field hockey; MED) and (iii) a nonimpact sport (swimming; NON) and (iv) a nonsport control group (CON; N = 20). Whole body and regional BMD and body composition (fat and lean mass) were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Isometric strength of dominant arm flexors and leg extensors was measured by a strain tensiometer. With an alpha level of significance of 0.05, HIGH showed significantly greater whole body and regional leg BMD than NON or CON. MED registered higher values than CON for whole body and regional leg BMD. Only HIGH had significantly greater leg strength than CON. Regional arm BMD was significantly greater in all exercising groups compared with CON, but no significant difference in arm strength was found between any groups. The athletic groups all had significantly lower body fat and higher height-corrected lean mass than CON. Height-corrected lean mass, height and leg extensor strength, but not calcium intake, arm flexor strength or body fat, were significant predictors of whole body and regional arm and leg BMD. Using the significant predictors as covariates, the impact groups (HIGH/MED) had significantly higher whole body BMD than CON. HIGH also had significantly higher whole body BMD than NON and both impact groups were greater than NON in regional leg BMD. Results suggest that females who participate regularly in the premenopausal years in high impact physical activity tend to have higher BMD than nonathletic controls.

The comparative role of consanguinity in infant and childhood mortality in Pakistan

Abstract: As part of the 1990/1991 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey, data were collected on the outcome of 26,408 births to 6,611 women, with mortality rates investigated at specific age intervals during the first 5 years of life. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the comparative roles of consanguineous marriage and a number of demographic and socioeconomic factors, including the sex of the child, maternal age, maternal education, birth interval and birth order, as determinants of early death. The results indicate that, even after controlling for these non-genetic variables, inbreeding at the level of first cousin exerted a significant adverse effect on survival in four of the five age intervals examined, neonatal, post-neonatal, infant and under 5 years.

Family members' care expectations, care perceptions, and satisfaction with advanced cancer care: results of a multi-site pilot study.

Abstract: Psychometric properties of assessment tools designed for use with English-speaking family members of advanced cancer patients in different care settings and different geographic locations were evaluated in this study. The robustness of the theoretical framework guiding the study and the factors identified with care satisfaction were also tested. Seventy-two family members drawn equally from medical hospital units, palliative care units, and home care programs in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba participated. Instruments used included the F-Care Expectations Scale, F-Care Perceptions Scale, FAMCARE Scale, and the General Functioning Scale of the Family Assessment Device. All four tools yielded acceptable reliability estimates. Discrepancy theory predicted family care satisfaction in a highly significant manner (p < 0.0001). Family members of patients who had been diagnosed for longer than two years had more positive perceptions of palliative care than did family members of patients diagnosed for less than two years (p = 0.05). Older family members reported better family functioning than younger family members (p < 0.001). Spouses reported less discrepancy between care expectations and perceptions than did other relatives (p < 0.05).

An international study of the gendered nature of academic work: Some cross-cultural explorations

Abstract: This study explores the gendered nature of academic work based on the Carnegie Foundation's International Survey of the Academic Profession. Characterisation of related yet discrete aspects of academic work describes commonalities between men and women, and in particular, highlights the aspects that discriminate between them. Responses by men and women from Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Mexico, Sweden, UK and USA were analysed within following themes: working conditions; professional activities of teaching, research, and service; issues of governance and management, and the international dimensions of academic work.

SSCP analysis: A blind sensitivity trial

Abstract: Studies of the sensitivity of SSCP analysis usually have been performed under conditions contrary to the rules of quality control trials and have produced widely different results. We have performed a blind trial of the sensitivity of SSCP analysis for the detection of mutations in fragments up to 500 bp in length under a fixed single set of electrophoretic conditions. The mutation detection rate was 84%. In addition, we have identified a second mutation in nine samples. All these mutations are polymorphisms, including a novel polymorphism 1248+52T/C first reported in the present work. Hum Mutat 10:65‐70, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Standard and Maximal Metabolic Rates of Goannas (Squamata: Varanidae)

Abstract: Standard metabolic rate and maximal metabolic rate during forced exercise are examined for nine species of goanna (genus Varanus), with body mass varying from 10 to 3,750 g. At 35°C, the common pooled mass exponent for standard metabolic rate is 0.97 and at 25°C it is 0.89, with considerable variation between species (0.43-1.20). Standard metabolic rate at 35°C scales interspecifically with body $mass^{0.92}$ and at 25°C with body $mass^{087}$. The $Q_{10}$ for standard metabolic rate is approximately 2.5 between 25° and 35°C. At 35°C, maximal metabolic rate scales intraspecifically with body $mass^{0.79}$ and scales interspecifically with body $mass^{0.72}$. Factorial metabolic scope ranges from nine for the larger species to 35 for the smaller species; it scales with body $mass^{-0.99}$ at 35°C. The maximal metabolic rate of 6.36 mL O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹ for Varanus caudolineatus is the highest recorded for any squamate. Variations from the interspecific regression line appear to have some ecological significance....

Developing programmes for violent offenders

Abstract: Purpose. The objectives of this paper are to review issues arising in the development of intervention and rehabilitative programmes for violent offenders. The scope of the paper is mainly restricted to programmes within prison and correctional settings. Argument. Relevant literature relating to the development of programmes for violent offenders is reviewed. We argue that a number of preconditions exist for well-founded programmes. These include an adequate theoretical basis, individual formulation, population needs analysis, breadth of approach, cultural relevance, systemic integration, targeting of programmes and evaluation of outcomes. Conclusions. We conclude that addressing these issues is likely to lead to improved effectiveness in violence prevention.

Development and testing of the ethical reasoning tool (ERT): an instrument to measure the ethical reasoning of nurses

Abstract: Ascertaining the thinking of professionals as they are confronted with ethical practice issues is a prerequisite to understanding ethical decision making. Before researchers or educators can examine the effectiveness of various approaches to ethics teaching and learning, there is a need for reliable and valid tools to assess practitioners' cognition. A potential problem with the few measuring instruments currently available is the fact that they ask subjects to rank order existing lists of issues. This says little about an individuals' own thinking about ethical issues and may prompt thinking or responses which would not otherwise have occurred. This paper reports the results of a study to test the psychometric properties of a new instrument, the Ethical Reasoning Tool (ERT) that measures ethical reasoning of nurses. The ERT demonstrates a promising way to reveal unprompted ethical thinking about a practice dilemma, thereby clarifying 'real' versus 'assumed' professional reasoning. The tool allows nurse educators to identify areas of student learning/reasoning deficiency that can be addressed by educational interventions. The ERT also allows nurse educators to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing ethics study units in a trustworthy way.

Problem-based Learning: An Appropriate Methodology for Technology Education.

Abstract: This article describes an innovative teaching project that has been implemented for training technology teachers. It is the purpose of the paper initially to present a rationale for using a problem‐based learning (PBL) collaborative methodology in technology teacher training. This includes a historical background, a description of the present situation and the identification of possible future trends. The methodology is described that was developed for the project, with the technological context to which the methodology is applied, namely solar energy as the source of power for a commercially viable product. A model has been developed for the project, including the strategies used in implementation, the stimuli used to sustain student interest, and methods of assessment. The evaluation of the programme examines the extent to which the objectives have been achieved and the potential role of the approach in technology education.

Negative Outcomes, Threats and Threat Appeals: Widening the Conceptual Framework for the Study of Fear and Other Emotions in Social Marketing Communications

Abstract: Social marketing communicators have frequently utilized scare tactics or fear appeals to persuade people to cease undesired behaviors and adopt desired alternatives. Although there is now a general consensus in the literature on the usefulness of such appeals under certain conditions, much of the literature contains contradictory findings. In this paper, we argue that use of the term fear appeal is inappropriate and recommend the term threat appeal instead. The term threat appeal is more inclusive, since perceived threat generates a variety of cognitive and emotional responses, not just fear. Furthermore, the term fear appeal confounds stimulus factors (i.e., message content) and response factors (i.e., the reaction of fear), and, with the emphasis on generating a fear response, has led to neglect of message factors and other emotional responses that could mediate persuasion. It is likely that these neglects have contributed significantly to conflicting findings in the area. This paper attempts to refocus...

Multimedia, magic and the way students respond to a situated learning environment

Abstract: Interactive multimedia is a relatively new educational innovation in primary, secondary and tertiary level classrooms. While the educational community has enthusiastically embraced its potential, relatively little is known about how students learn from multimedia, and the design features of the software itself that promote effective learning. This article describes results associated with a qualitative study into how students use an interactive multimedia program designed according to a situated learning model.

The interactive effect of budget emphasis, participation and task difficulty on managerial performance: a cross‐cultural study

Abstract: Examines the three‐way interaction between budget emphasis, participation and task difficulty affecting managerial performance within the framework suggested by Harrison (1992) with a sample of 197 functional heads from Singaporean and Australian manufacturing companies. The results support a three‐way interaction between budget emphasis, budgetary participation and task difficulty affecting managerial performance and second, cultural differences between Singapore and Australia (pertaining to power distance) which interact neither with budgetary participation nor budget emphasis. The results also suggest that high budgetary participation (regardless of budget emphasis) in high task difficulty situations and high budget emphasis (regardless of budgetary participation) in low task difficulty situations are associated with improved managerial performance in Singapore and Australia.

Contrasting memory for temporal-source and memory for content in children's discrimination of repeated events

Abstract: The current studies examined the separate roles that memory of temporal-source and memory of content play in children's discrimination of occurrences of a repeated event. The studies were also designed to determine the impact of age and retention interval on each of these components. In Experiment One, 4- to 5- versus 6- to 8-year-old children experienced six occurrences of a repeated event; each occurrence had the same underlying structure; however, a different version or instantiation of each item was included in each occurrence of the event. At either 1 or 6 week delay, the children were asked to recall which instantiation of the item was included in the final occurrence. In Experiment Two, children were required to recall as many instantiations as they could, prior to making a decision about which instantiation was included in the final occurrence. The results indicated that: (a) children's capacity to correctly identify the final instantiation declined over time and increased with age; (b) children's capacity to provide an instantiation that was temporally close to the final occurrence declined over time and increased with age; and (c) children's ability to remember the source of an instantiation decreased over time irrespective of any loss of memory for content. The results were discussed in relation to current theories of memory and children's eyewitness memory. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en

The host environment determines strain-specific differences in the timing of skeletal muscle regeneration: cross-transplantation studies between SJL/J and BALB/c mice

Abstract: The difference in the timing of the regeneration process of skeletal muscle between SJL/J and BALB/c mice was investigated using grafts of whole skeletal muscle (both autografts and allografts). Histological, autoradiographic and immunohistochemical techniques were used in the investigation. Infiltration of leucocytes into autografts, numbers of desmin-positive myogenic cells and myotube formation were all more advanced in the SJL/J compared with BALB/c mice. Furthermore, autoradiographic evidence showed that myoblasts in the SJL/J autografts were synthesising DNA 12 h earlier than myoblasts in BALB/c autografts. In allografts, where SJL/J host mice received BALB/c grafts, and vice versa, leucocyte infiltration and myotube formation occurred earlier in the BALB/c muscles grafted into SJL/J hosts, than in the reverse situation with BALB/c hosts. The results show that, at least for whole muscle grafts, it is the host environment which determines the speed and outcome of the regenerative process.

Comparative morphology of Western Australian varanid lizards (Squamata: Varanidae)

Abstract: Varanid lizards, which vary considerably in body mass both interspecifically and intraspecifically, are generally considered to be morpho- logically similar. However, significant and non-isometric variation in the relative appendage dimensions for 17 species of Western Australian goannas suggest that these lizards are not morphologically conservative. The first and second canonical variates clearly distinguish the two subgeneral Odatria and Varanus, and species are generally sexually dimorphic. The morphological variation observed among these 17 species of goanna is associated with foraging mode and ecology. However, no single or small group of morphological dimensions discriminates phylogenetic groups, sexes, or ecological groups, and body size is an important component in these analyses. J. Morphol. 233:127-152, 1997. r 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc. The morphology of a lizard is largely deter- mined by its ancestry, ecological niche, body size, and development (Peters, '83; Calder, '84; Schmidt-Nielsen, '84). In addition, some species of reptile are also sexually dimorphic in body shape or size (Vitt and Cooper, '85; Shine, '92). The lizard family Varanidae pro- vides an excellent opportunity to study the interrelationships of body size and shape with ecology. Varanidae consists of only a single extant genus, Varanus, and contains about 45 species. The mass range ofVaranus is more than three orders of magnitude, ranging from <20g(V. brevicauda; personal observations) to <54 kg (V. komodoensis; Auffenberg, '81). There are a variety of eco- logical specializations, including tree climb- ing, rock scampering, and swimming. Never- theless, a numbers of authors (Shine, '86; Greer, '89; King and Green, '93b; Pianka, '95) have suggested that their body form is conservative compared with the variation in other families of lizards. The genus Varanus is considered to be monophyletic (Baverstock et al., '93), and thus comparison of varanid species is not complicated by higher level phylogenetic dif- ferences. Baverstock et al. ('93) summarized the phylogeny ofVaranusand suggested four clades based on immunogenetic and karyo- typic studies: an Asian clade, an African clade, anAustralian/S.E.Asian clade of large goannas (subgenus Varanus), and a clade of Australian pygmy goanna (subgenus Odatria). Nearly all of the members of the Varanus clade (except V. komodoensis and V. salvadorii) and all of the members of the Odatria clade are found in Australia; V. er- emiusprobably belongs to theOdatriagroup, although it was initially placed outside these clades (Pianka, '95). Morphometric examina- tion of the 18 species/subspecies of goanna found in WesternAustralia allows a compari- son of theVaranusandOdatriasubgenera. Others (e.g., Snyder, '54; Collette, '61; Ball- inger, '73; Laerm, '74; Moermond, '79; Pianka, '86; Losos, '90a-c; Miles, '94) have suggested that there are morphological char- acteristics that can be associated with habi- tat and performance traits. Pianka ('68, '69, '70a,b, '71, '82, '86, '94) provides most of the limited ecological and behavioral data, and some additional general information on their ecology is provided by Storr et al. ('83) and Wilson and Knowles ('92). Greer ('89) groups all Australian goannas into four broad eco- logical categories (ground, rocky outcrop, ar- boreal, and aquatic/arboreal). The only obvi-

Evaluation of an interdisciplinary training program in palliative care: addressing the needs of rural and northern communities

Abstract: Our study was a pilot test of an interdisciplinary training program in palliative care to improve the quality of care to terminally ill cancer and AIDS patients in rural and northern communities in Manitoba. The program involved two weeks of intense palliative care training for nurses, social workers, physicians, and volunteers. Four teams were trained during a six-month period. A repeated measures design was used to assess the effectiveness of the program. Results indicated that health professionals' knowledge about care of the dying, care of individuals with HIV/AIDS, and attitudes toward care of the dying improved upon completion of the training program and remained improved three months following the program. Improvements in use of medications, increased attention to family care, increased discussion of DNR orders, and increased consultation related to symptom management were evident following the training program. The parallel training program for volunteers was also judged to be effective.

Effective action and motion of a cosmic string

Abstract: We examine the leading order corrections to the Nambu effective action for the motion of a cosmic string, which appear at fourth order in the ratio of the width to radius of curvature of the string. We determine the numerical coefficients of these extrinsic curvature corrections, and derive the equations of motion of the worldsheet. Using these equations, we calculate the corrections to the motion of a collapsing loop, a traveling wave, and a helical breather. From the numerical coefficients we have calculated, we discuss whether the string motion can be labeled as ``rigid'' or ``antirigid,'' and hence whether cusp or kink formation might be suppressed or enhanced.

Reforming Teachers Pay Systems: The Advanced Skills Teacher in Australia.

Abstract: Over the past five years, Australian education systems have attempted to establish a new career path for teachers called the Advanced Skills Teacher (AST) classification. The reform emanated from a historic and unique coming together of all teacher unions throughout the country to make a joint submission to the Industrial Relations Commission. Potentially, the AST constituted one of the most progressive educational initiatives ever adopted in Australia. In this article we review what happened in practice. Our findings point to a dilemma for those who might attempt to introduce professional career paths for teachers in the future. Fundamental improvements to teachers' pay systems and career structures undoubtedly depend on initiatives within the industrial relations arena. However, this arena proved to be an unsuitable context in which to develop the kind of teaching standards and performance assessments that are essential for career paths based on quality of practice. We concl ude that these tasks require instead the creation of stable, national, expert professional bodies that embrace all stakeholders.

Career transitions of dual‐career couples: an empirical study

Abstract: Presents findings from a study investigating the career transitions of a sample of dual‐career managerial couples within Australian organizations. Results confirm that job changes are complex processes, which are determined by biographical factors such as sex, age, parental status, stakeholder influence and career salience. However, they are very much influenced by work factors such as the culture of the employing organization. Recommends more flexible career paths, employment practices and managerial conventions, to facilitate the career development of the growing numbers of dual‐career couples, and to enhance labour retention and organizational productivity.

Fireball: a forensic ballistics imaging system

Abstract: Characteristic markings on the cartridge and projectile of a bullet are produced when a gun is fired. Over thirty different features within these markings can be distinguished, which in combination produce a "fingerprint" for identification of a firearm. This paper will describe an investigation into the development of an imaging system for Police Services which can store, analyse, retrieve, and match high resolution digital images of cartridge cases. A computerised imaging system for ballistics identification will produce efficiencies in time and personnel, and permit a more precise audit of firearms within a country. The project has produced good quality high resolution digitised images of cartridge cases for the identification function. The development of the optical system to optimise image quality has been crucial for the image identification phase. By classifying cartridge image attributes, it is possible to store the unique "signatures" of cartridge cases for identification. Appropriate image processing provides the signatures for the image library. The Fireball forensic ballistics interactive database incorporates a Graphics User Interface (GUI) to obtain precise ballistics metrics of cartridge case class characteristics. Features of the Fireball forensic ballistics database will be presented, together with a description of the major applications of this ballistics imaging system.

The effect of an intervening interview on children's ability to remember one occurrence of a repeated event

Abstract: The effect of an intervening interview on 4-5- and 6-8-year-old children's ability to remember an occurrence of a repeated event at six-weeks' delay was examined. The timing of the interpolated interview and the final test were also systematically examined. Children experienced six occurrences of an event which were highly similar; each occurrence had the same underlying structure but included unpredictable variations in the specific exemplars of items or 'instantiations' across the series. All children were required to recall the instantiation of each item that was included in the final occurrence in the series. The results indicated that inclusion of a one-week interpolated interview enhanced the number of correct instantiations that could be recalled about the occurrence in a six-week interview compared to when there was no interpolated interview. However, the effect of the interpolated interview on subsequent recall was reduced when the second interview was extended to three months. In fact, the decline in performance of children who were interviewed at a one-week delay and again at a three-month delay was such that these children received no more benefit from the initial interview than children who received their first interview at a six-week delay. Interestingly, the performance of the latter children improved rather than declined in the second interview. The implications of the findings for children's eyewitness testimony are discussed. Language: en

Stability and statistical properties of second-order bidirectional associative memory

Abstract: In this paper, a bidirectional associative memory (BAM) model with second-order connections, namely second-order bidirectional associative memory (SOBAM), is first reviewed. The stability and statistical properties of the SOBAM are then examined. We use an example to illustrate that the stability of the SOBAM is not guaranteed. For this result, we cannot use the conventional energy approach to estimate its memory capacity. Thus, we develop the statistical dynamics of the SOBAM. Given that a small number of errors appear in the initial input, the dynamics shows how the number of errors varies during recall. We use the dynamics to estimate the memory capacity, the attraction basin, and the number of errors in the retrieved items. Extension of the results to higher-order bidirectional associative memories is also discussed.

Gender issues in management education: a new teaching resource

Abstract: Discusses the gendered culture of management education and its role in perpetuating a gendered culture of management, which in turn inhibits the equitable progression of women through the ranks of management. Reports findings from a recent Australian survey which revealed a masculine bias in management education, which disadvantages both female and male learners. Perceived gender paradigms of male educators may result in women learners being more disadvantaged than men, and issues of concern to male students can cause much greater concern to their female counterparts. The research led to the production of an award‐winning video, Gender Issues in Management: Capitalising on Awareness of Diversity. This constitutes an additional teaching resource for management educators, trainers, consultants and others working on diversity issues.