Griffith University

About: Griffith University is a education organization based out in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 13830 authors who have published 49318 publications receiving 1420865 citations.

Do autism spectrum disorders differ from each other and from non-spectrum disorders on emotion recognition tests?

Abstract: We tested whether dimensional measures of empathic ability, theory of mind, and intelligence would differentiate autism spectrum disorders from each other and from non-spectrum disorders. Tests were administered to children with a diagnosis of Autistic Disorder (AutD; n = 20), Asperger's Disorder (AspD; n = 28), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Inattentive Type) (ADHD; n = 35), Mental Retardation (Mild) (MR; n = 34), Anxiety Disorder (AnxD; n = 14), or No Psychological Disorder (NPD; n = 36). Results showed that empathic ability discriminated among groups on the autism spectrum (AutD < AspD < NPD). Because empathic ability is not independent of intelligence (AutD < AspD < NPD on intelligence; MR < ADHD < NPD on empathic ability), both dimensions are necessary to discriminate autism spectrum from non-spectrum disorders. When intelligence is covaried, empathic ability discriminated AutD, but not AspD, from other disorders (AutD < MR < ADHD < NPD = AnxD = AspD).

Mutual fund performance appraisals: a multi-horizon perspective with endogenous benchmarking

Abstract: With over 6500 mutual funds available to investors, industry data show that consumers pay a great deal of attention to the ratings of mutual funds. In spite of this attention, however, much controversy surrounds the various industry approaches to the rating of mutual funds. Many industry rating approaches use subjective weights to integrate fund performances over different time horizons; this can give rise to quite different ratings, depending upon the relative importances assigned to different horizons. In this paper, we present two basic quadratic programming approaches for identifying those funds that are strictly dominated, regardless of the weightings on the different time horizons being considered, relative to their mean returns and risks. This effort can be viewed as a novel application of the philosophy of data envelopment analysis, a relatively new, non-parametric frontier estimation technique which focuses on estimating `radial' contraction/expansion potentials. These approaches eliminate any need for subjective tradeoffs, vis-a-vis the importance or meaningfulness of performances over the different horizons. Finally, much useful sensitivity information is automatically provided. Also, in contrast to many studies of mutual fund performance, our approaches endogenously determine a custom-tailored benchmark portfolio to which each mutual fund's performance is compared. All of our approaches are illustrated on a sample of twenty-six actual mutual funds.

Long-term nutrient inputs shift soil microbial functional profiles of phosphorus cycling in diverse agroecosystems.

Abstract: Microorganisms play an important role in soil phosphorus (P) cycling and regulation of P availability in agroecosystems. However, the responses of the functional and ecological traits of P-transformation microorganisms to long-term nutrient inputs are largely unknown. This study used metagenomics to investigate changes in the relative abundance of microbial P-transformation genes at four long-term experimental sites that received various inputs of N and P nutrients (up to 39 years). Long-term P input increased microbial P immobilization by decreasing the relative abundance of the P-starvation response gene (phoR) and increasing that of the low-affinity inorganic phosphate transporter gene (pit). This contrasts with previous findings that low-P conditions facilitate P immobilization in culturable microorganisms in short-term studies. In comparison, long-term nitrogen (N) input significantly decreased soil pH, and consequently decreased the relative abundances of total microbial P-solubilizing genes and the abundances of Actinobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria containing genes coding for alkaline phosphatase, and weakened the connection of relevant key genes. This challenges the concept that microbial P-solubilization capacity is mainly regulated by N:P stoichiometry. It is concluded that long-term N inputs decreased microbial P-solubilizing and mineralizing capacity while P inputs favored microbial immobilization via altering the microbial functional profiles, providing a novel insight into the regulation of P cycling in sustainable agroecosystems from a microbial perspective.

Market competition, computer-aided manufacturing and use of multiple performance measures: an empirical study

Abstract: This paper reports the results of an empirical investigation into use of multiple measures of performance in manufacturing organisations. More specifically, it examines how a multiple performance measurement system is associated with the intensity of market competition and the application of computer-aided manufacturing processes. To test this association, data were collected from 71 New Zealand-based manufacturing units. The results suggest that greater emphasis on multiple measures for performance evaluation is associated with businesses facing high competition and making greater use of computer-aided manufacturing processes.

Parenting and Conduct Problems in Children: Australian Data and Psychometric Properties of the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire

Abstract: A wealth of research has shown links between parenting style and child behaviour, and the development of conduct problems in young children Unfortunately, the most common and well-researched measures of parenting do not tap specific dimensions of parenting clearly related to risk for conduct problems in children Recently, the development of the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) appears to have overcome this problem It has several subscales that were designed to correspond to empirically identified aspects of positive and negative parenting styles important to conduct problems The current study evaluated the APO with a large community sample of 4- to 9-year-old Australian children The results showed good internal consistency, validity, and test-retest reliability for the measure Means, standard deviations, and proposed cut-off scores are presented These data indicate the APQ is potentially a useful measure for clinicians and researchers working with Australian samples of children with conduct problems and their families