Showing papers by "Monash University published in 1994"

Concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor Air – A Review

Abstract: A review is presented of investigations of volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in indoor air of buildings of different classifications (dwellings, offices, schools, hospitals) and categories (established, new and complaint buildings). Measured concentrations obtained from the published literature and from research in progress overseas were pooled so that VOC concentration profiles could be derived for each building classification/category. Mean concentrations of individual compounds in established buildings were found to be generally below 50 μg/m3, with most below 5 μg/m3. Concentrations in new buildings were much greater, often by an order of magnitude or more, and appeared to arise from construction materials and building contents. The nature of these sources and approaches to reduce indoor air concentrations by limiting source VOC emissions is discussed. Total VOC (TVOC) concentrations were substantially higher than concentrations of any individual VOCs in all situations, reflecting the large number of compounds present, but interpretation of such measurements was limited by the lack of a common definition for TVOC relevant to occupant exposure.

Latent Autoimmune Diabetes Mellitus in Adults (LADA): the Role of Antibodies to Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase in Diagnosis and Prediction of Insulin Dependency

Abstract: Type 1 diabetes mellitus in adults may present in a manner similar to that of Type 2 diabetes but with a late development of insulin dependency. We studied 65 patients who presented with ‘adult-onset’ diabetes after the age of 30 years. Of these patients, 19 required insulin therapy. The insulin-treated patients were significantly younger, their onset of diabetes was at an earlier age, and their postprandial serum C-peptide levels were lower than those of the non-insulin-treated group. Moreover, the insulin-treated subjects had a higher mean concentration of antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) (66.8 ± 10.2 units) than the patients who did not require insulin (9.9 ± 1.9 units) (p < 0.001) and their frequency of anti-GAD positivity was 73.7% versus 4.3% (p < 0.001). Thus, among patients attending a diabetes clinic, the majority (73.7%) of subjects who presented with diabetes after 30 years of age and who subsequently required therapy with insulin, actually have the islet cell lesion of Type 1 diabetes which progresses at a slower tempo than in children. We conclude that testing for anti-GAD in adult-onset non-obese diabetic patients should be a routine procedure in order to detect latent insulin-dependency at the earliest possible stage, since this assay can assist in the correct classification of diabetes, and more appropriate therapy.

Deciding to trust, coming to believe

Abstract: (1994). Deciding to trust, coming to believe. Australasian Journal of Philosophy: Vol. 72, No. 1, pp. 63-76.

Macromolecular bioactivity: is it resonant interaction between macromolecules?-theory and applications

Abstract: Biological processes in any living organism are based on selective interactions between particular biomolecules. In most cases, these interactions involve and are driven by proteins which are the main conductors of any living process within the organism. The physical nature of these interactions is still not well known. The authors represent a whole new view to biomolecular interactions, in particular protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, based on the assumption that these interactions are electromagnetic in their nature. This new approach is incorporated in the Resonant Recognition Model (RRM), which was developed over the last 10 years. It has been shown initially that certain periodicities within the distribution of energies of delocalized electrons along a protein molecule are critical for protein biological function, i.e., interaction with its target. If protein conductivity was introduced, then a charge moving through protein backbone can produce electromagnetic irradiation or absorption with spectral characteristics corresponding to energy distribution along the protein. The RRM enables these spectral characteristics, which were found to be in the range of infrared and visible light, to be calculated. These theoretically calculated spectra were proved using experimentally obtained frequency characteristics of some light-induced biological processes. Furthermore, completely new peptides with desired spectral characteristics, and consequently corresponding biological activities, were designed. >

The effect of child sexual abuse on social, interpersonal and sexual function in adult life.

Abstract: Background The association was examined between reporting child sexual abuse (CSA) and a range of social, interpersonal and sexual difficulties in adult life. Method A random sample of 2250 women were posted a questionnaire exploring a range of abuse experiences. All 248 reporting CSA were invited for interview, together with an equal number of controls. At interview a detailed inquiry was made into the CSA and into current interpersonal, social and sexual function. Results Significant associations emerged between reporting CSA and a decline in socioeconomic status, increased sexual problems, and the disruption of intimate relationships by difficulties with trust as well as a propensity to perceive their partners as uncaring and overcontrolling. CSA was more common in those from disturbed and disrupted families and in those who also reported physical and emotional abuse. This explained part, but not all, of the apparent association between CSA and negative outcomes. Conclusions Those reporting CSA are more likely to suffer social, interpersonal and sexual difficulties in adult life.

The usefulness of management accounting systems, functional differentiation and managerial effectiveness☆

Abstract: This study examines the role of broad scope information, made available by management accounting systems (MAS), in enhancing managerial performance. It is proposed that differentiation of activities into areas such as marketing and production is an organizational response to manage uncertainty. The paper argues that such differentiation of activities moderates the association between the extent to which managers use broad scope MAS information and performance. A study of 75 managers indicated that the association between the extent of use of broad scope MAS information and performance was stronger for managers of marketing than production activities.

Satisfaction with care in labor and birth: a survey of 790 Australian women.

Abstract: Data on satisfaction with care in labor and birth were gathered in a survey conducted in conjunction with a review of maternity services in Victoria, Australia. All women who gave birth in one week in 1989 (> 1000) were mailed questionnaires eight to nine months after the birth, with a response rate of 790 (71.4%). When adjusted for parity in a logistic regression model, the following factors were highly related to dissatisfaction with intrapartum care: lack of involvement in decision making (p < 0.001), insufficient information (p < 0.001), a higher score for obstetric intervention (p = 0.015), and perception that caregivers were unhelpful (p = 0.04). No association was found between satisfaction and maternal age, marital status, total family income, country of birth, or health insurance status. The survey results were influential in shaping final recommendations of the Ministerial Review of Birthing Services by countering stereotypes about women who become dissatisfied with their care, providing evidence of far greater dissatisfaction with intrapartum than antenatal care, and demonstrating the importance of information, participation in decision making, and relationships with caregivers to women's overall satisfaction with intrapartum care.

Lean body mass as a predictor of drug dosage. Implications for drug therapy.

Abstract: There is mounting evidence to suggest that lean body mass (LBM) may be a better predictor of drug dosage than either total bodyweight (TBW) or body surface area (BSA), although the rationale for this is not clear. LBM, which is similar but not identical to fat-free mass, can be determined by many different methods. A simple equation based on TBW and height, or determination by bioelectrical impedance are probably the most suitable for use in drug disposition studies. Volume of distribution of relatively hydrophilic drugs correlates very well with LBM, with correlation coefficients of up to 0.9. LBM can be used to accurately predict the loading dose required for these drugs to attain a target peak plasma concentration. For lipophilic drugs, volume of distribution correlates better with TBW than with LBM. Investigation of the relationship between renal drug clearance and LBM has received little attention, probably because creatinine clearance is a useful and readily available marker of renal function. However, limited data suggest that creatinine clearance and LBM together may account function. However, limited data suggest that creatinine clearance and LBM together may account for more variability in renal clearance than creatinine clearance alone. For many drugs eliminated predominantly by the liver, there is a good correlation between systemic clearance and LBM. Such a correlation could be due to a correlation between systemic clearance and liver size or liver blood flow, which has been demonstrated for a few drugs, and a correlation between LBM and liver size and blood flow. The presence of a relationship between LBM and organ size and blood flow has, however, not been investigated to date. A good correlation between drug clearance and LBM indicates that LBM may be an accurate predictor of maintenance dosage, especially in obese patients, in whom there is a large discrepancy between LBM and TBW. BSA is an accurate predictor of drug dosage in infants and children, but whether LBM is superior to BSA in this population remains to be determined. In most studies in adults in which dosage based on LBM has been evaluated prospectively, LBM has been shown to be superior to other measures of body size as a predictor of drug dosage.

GAD Antibody Negative NIDDM in Adult Black Subjects with Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Increased Frequency of Human Leukocyte Antigen DR3 and DR4: Flatbush Diabetes

Abstract: The objective of this study is to understand the metabolic and immunologic basis of diabetes in adult blacks with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Twenty-one black adults presenting with DKA ([mean ± SD] blood pH = 7.18 ± 0.09, plasma glucose = 693 ± 208 mg/dl, and positive serum ketones) had a subsequent clinical course of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) DR and DQ and antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and islet cell cytoplasmic proteins (ICP) were measured to assess autoimmunity. Insulin action was evaluated by the euglycemic insulin clamp, and insulin secretion was measured by C-peptide responses to oral glucose. Ketoacidosis was treated with insulin. Two subjects had a precipitating illness; four had a history of NIDDM. At the time of study, subjects' glycemic control was good (HbA1c = 5.7 ± 1.6%). Nine subjects were treated with insulin, and 12 were on either sulfonylurea treatment or diet alone. Men ( n = 12) were younger than women ( n = 9) (40.8 ± 9.8 and 51.1 ± 6.3 years of age, respectively, P < 0.05) but similar in body mass index (27.8 ± 2.7 and 29.98 ± 4.1 kg/m2, respectively). Antibodies to GAD and ICP were absent. All but one subject was insulin resistant compared with normal subjects (glucose disposal 3.56 ± 0.04 vs. 6.86 ± 0.02 mg.kg−1 · min−1), and insulin secretion was lower. HLA DR3 and DR4 frequency was higher than in nondiabetic black control subjects (65 vs. 30%, P < 0.012).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Foreign Market Servicing: Beyond Choice of Entry Mode:

Abstract: This article focuses on the operation method (or entry mode) that a company utilizes in developing its involvement in a foreign market. An overview and critique of ‘economics’ and ‘process’ approac...

Priority rendering with a virtual reality address recalculation pipeline

Abstract: Virtual reality systems are placing never before seen demands on computer graphics hardware, yet few graphics systems are designed specifically for virtural reality. An address recalculation pipeline is a graphics display controller specifically designed for use with head mounted virtual reality systems, it performs orientation viewport mapping after rendering which means the users head orientation does not need to be known accurately until less than a microsecond before the first pixel of an update frame is actually sent to the head mounted display device. As a result the user perceived latency to head rotations is minimal.Using such a controller with image composition it is possible to render different objects within the world at different rate, thus it is possible to concentrate the available rendering power on the sections of the scene that change the most. The concentration of rendering power is known as priority rendering. Reductions of one order of magnitude in the number of objects rendered for an entire scene have been observed when using priority rendering. When non interactive background scenes which are rendered with a high quality rendering algorithm such as ray tracing are added to the world, highly realistic virtual worlds are possible with little or no latency.

Lean Production: Experience among Australian Organizations

Abstract: Presents the findings of a study which investigated the adoption of lean production methods in Australian manufacturing industry. Data were gathered through a telephone survey from 51 companies representing a range of industry sectors. The study found that a large majority of the companies were practising lean production methods. Discusses the organizational changes which had occurred in the organizations as a result of the introduction of lean production. Discusses the change drivers of the lean production programme, benefits achieved, difficulties experienced and future trends.

Women's reproductive cancers in evolutionary context

Abstract: Reproductive experiences for women in today's affluent Western nations differ from those of women in hunting and gathering societies, who continue the ancestral human pattern. These differences parallel commonly accepted reproductive risk factors for cancers of the breast, endometrium and ovary. Nutritional practices, exercise requirements, and body composition are nonreproductive influences that have been proposed as additional factors affecting the incidence of women's cancers. In each case, these would further increase risk for women in industrialized countries relative to forager women. Lifestyles and reproductive patterns new from an evolutionary perspective may promote women's cancer. Calculations based on a theoretical model suggest that, to age 60, modern Western women have a breast cancer risk as much as 100 times that of preagricultural women.

Prospective study of factors predicting outcome of transdermal nicotine treatment in smoking cessation.

Abstract: Objective: To assess the factors associated with cessation of smoking with transdermal nicotine and brief behavioural counselling. Design: Interviews, treatment, and follow up for 26 weeks. Subjects: 1481 subjects recruited by mass media publicity who smoked >=15 cigarettes a day and were motivated to stop smoking. Interventions - Twelve weeks9 treatment with transdermal nicotine and brief behavioural counselling at monthly visits. Main outcome measure: Sustained smoking cessation for the 28 days before the visit at week 26 verified by expired carbon monoxide concentrations. The logistic regression analysis included all subjects. Results: Most subjects were dependent on nicotine, and the mean (SD) number of cigarettes smoked a day was 32 (12). Overall, 316/1481 subjects (21.3%) stopped smoking. Factors associated with stopping were being male (adjusted odds ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval 1.5 to 2.7), age >=40 years (1.5; 1.1 to 2.0), living with a spouse or partner (1.5; 1.1 to 2.1), motivation (“want to quit” 1.7; 1.2 to 2.3), and concern about weight gain (1.7; 1.3 to 2.2). Negative associations were smoking marijuana (0.4; 0.2 to 0.8) and the presence of other smokers in the household (0.8; 0.6 to 0.9). Almost all subjects who smoked three or more cigarettes in the first four weeks of treatment resumed smoking in the long term (525/547, 96%). Conclusions: Age, sex, marital status (living with a spouse or partner), motivation, concern about weight gain, recent marijuana smoking, and other smokers in the household were baseline factors associated with differences in outcome of smoking cessation attempts. Smoking three or more cigarettes in the first few weeks after stopping strongly predicted long term relapse.

Validity Studies the Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale (Comqol): Instrument Development and Psychometric Evaluation on College Staff and Students

Abstract: This article describes the development and validation of a new 35-item, multidimensional Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale (ComQol). Psychometric properties of the scale are described. Consistenc...

What Makes a Good Data Model? Evaluating the Quality of Entity Relationship Models

Abstract: This paper develops a framework for evaluating the quality of data models and choosing between alternative representations of requirements. For any particular set of user requirements there are many possible models, each of which has drastically different implications for database and systems design. In the absence of formally defined and agreed criteria, the choice of an appropriate representation is usually made in an ad hoc way, based on personal opinion. The evaluation framework proposed consists of four major constructs: qualities (desirable properties of a data model), metrics (ways of measuring each quality), weightings (relative importance of each quality) and strategies (ways of improving data models). Using this framework, any two data models may be compared in an objective and comprehensive manner. The evaluation framework also builds commitment to the model by involving all stakeholders in the process: end users, management, the data administrator and application developers.

Determinants of International Human Resource Management Approaches and Activities: A Suggested Framework*

Abstract: The following article reports on the results of a qualitative, comparative case study of the management of expatriates by four Australian companies. International Human Resource Management (IHRM) is a field in its infancy and the study aims to contribute to theory-building by examining the IHRM activities of selection, predeparture training, compensation and repatriation in the context of the organization in which these activities take place. The purpose was to extend our understanding of IHRM beyond the descriptive studies of earlier research, though existing knowledge in the area was the starting point. Thus, while the initial focus of the investigation was on the IHRM activities, the use of an exploratory qualitative methodological approach allowed the examination of the process of expatriate management. This approach also assisted in identifying underlying relationships, patterns and trends which could be interpreted as linkages or interrelationships between IHRM activities and other organizational factors, such as stage in internationalization, type of industry, strategy and structure. It was possible to identify linkages between the four major IHRM activities, and what were defined as firm-specific and situation-specific variables. These linkages were then conceptualized into a suggested framework.

Species Richness of Stream Stones: An Investigation of the Mechanisms Generating the Species-Area Relationship

Abstract: In an upland fourth-order stream, the fauna dwelling on both natural and artificial stones was found to be highly correlated with stone surface area. The power function model provided a good description of the species-area relationship of the stones. For both types of stones, passive sampling was rejected as an explanation for the species-area relationship. The compilation of cumulative species richness, proceeding in order from the smallest area to the largest area and vice versa revealed a negative fragmentation effect. Groups of small stones harboured an impoverished fauna compared with large stones of the same surface area. Small stones did not harbour a distinctive fauna, but simply a sub-set of the species found on larger stones

Plants, mites and mutualism: leaf domatia and the abundance and reproduction of mites on Viburnum tinus (Caprifoliaceae).

Abstract: Associations between mites and leaf domatia have been widely reported, but little is known about their consequences for either plants or mites. By excising domatia from leaves of the laureltinus, Viburnum tinus L. (Caprifoliaceae), in the garden and laboratory, we showed that domatia alter the abundance, distribution, and reproduction of potential plant mutualists. Over 4 months, leaves with domatia on six garden shrubs had 2–36 times more predatory and microbivorous mites, and more mite eggs than leaves without domatia. However, this effect varied among plants and was weaker on one shrub with few mites on its leaves. Domatia also influenced the distribution of mites on leaves. A significantly higher fraction of mites, representing all life stages, was found in vein axils of leaves with domatia than in vein axils on leaves without domatia. Single-leaf experiments in the laboratory showed that domatia enhanced reproduction by the predatory mite, Metaseiulus occidentalis, especially at low relative humidity (30–38%). When domatia were removed, oviposition was reduced significantly only at low relative humidity, suggesting that domatia provide mites with refuge from environmental extremes on the leaf surface. Moreover, the use of domatia by predatory mites may reduce the impact of some plant enemies. In two experiments where prey consumption was measured, M. occidentalis ate significantly higher percentages of the eggs of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Our results are consistent with the viewpoint that mite-domatia associations are mutualistic. By directly aiding and abetting the third trophic level, plants with leaf domatia may increase the efficiency of some predaceous and microbivorous mites in consuming plant enemies.

Metacognition and learning to teach

Abstract: We argue a particular approach in which developing greater metacognition (understanding and controlling one's own learning) is central to the changes appropriate to teacher development. The article is organized around three issues: our conceptions of metacognition and learning about teaching as conceptual change; our approaches to promoting metacognition and conceptual change; data examples regarding the consequences of these approaches. These issues are elaborated in the context of pre‐service education although there is evidence for the relevance of the arguments in in‐service contexts. This evidence is considered briefly, in the conclusion to the article.

Mechanisms of acquired thymic unresponsiveness to renal allografts. Thymic recognition of immunodominant allo-MHC peptides induces peripheral T cell anergy.

Abstract: We have recently shown that a single intrathymic injection of synthetic 25mer peptides, representing full sequences of the hypervariable domain of RT1.BuB (4 peptides) and RT1.Du beta (4 peptides) WF class II MHC molecules, 48 hr before transplantation induces donor-specific unresponsiveness to WF rat renal allografts in adult LEW recipients. The induction of unresponsiveness was abrogated by the recipient's thymectomy within the first week after intrathymic injection. Peripheral T cells of long-term survivors exhibited antigen-specific hyporesponsiveness in the LEW x WF MLR. Studies on the mechanisms of induction of acquired thymic unresponsiveness to alloantigen in vivo and in vitro are now reported. First, since we have previously demonstrated in LEW responders that only 4 of the 8 synthetic 25mer peptides, 2 RT1.Du beta and 2 RT1.Bu beta sequences, were immunogenic in vitro and in vivo, we compared the tolerogenicity of the immunogenic versus the nonimmunogenic peptides. While LEW rats intrathymically injected with the nonimmunogenic peptides acutely rejected their renal allografts within 6-10 days, animals injected with the immunogenic peptides did not reject their grafts and are surviving > 100 days with normal allograft function. In vitro studies established that peripheral T cells from intrathymically tolerized animals exhibited antigen-specific hyporesponsiveness in the LEW x WF MLR starting as early as 1 week posttransplant. Immunohistological evaluation of renal allografts from intrathymically tolerized animals 1 week postengraftment showed marked reduction in mononuclear cell infiltrates with no evidence of tubulitis, and marked reduction in intragraft staining for activation and inflammatory cytokines and alloantibodies, as compared with acutely rejecting controls. Systemic administration of 1000 U of rIL-2 daily for 5 days starting on the day of transplantation abrogated the tolerogenic effect of intrathymic MHC allopeptides. Injection of 100 micrograms of a single immunogenic peptide, RT1.Du beta 2 (residues 20-44), into the thymus of responder LEW rats 48 hrs before immunization with RT1.Du beta 2 effected significant reduction of in vitro proliferation of primed lymphocytes to RT1.Du beta 2, an effect that was abrogated by addition of rIL-2 in vitro. In contrast, thymectomy beyond 2 weeks and administration of rIL-2 at 4-6 weeks after transplantation failed to cause rejection. These observations indicate that thymic recognition of immunodominant class II MHC allopeptides leads to peripheral T cell anergy that mediates the induction phase of systemic unresponsiveness to renal allografts. The maintenance phase appears to be mediated by dense anergy or clonal deletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Pricing to Market Behaviour and Exchange Rate Pass-Through in Japanese Exports

Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between exchange rate changes and Japanese export pricing behavior employing a methodology which permits the separate measurement of pricing to market behavior and the cost impact of exchange rate changes. The results suggest that incomplete pass-through of exchange rate changes is a pervasive phenomenon, but rejects the widely held view that Japanese export firms have relied more heavily on pricing to market strategies during the period of yen appreciation in order to maintain market shares. There is also evidence that estimates which capture only pricing to market behavior may over-emphasise the degree of pass-through to the extent that cost of production is sensitive to exchange rate changes. Copyright 1994 by Royal Economic Society.

Choosing and using educational software: a teachers' guide

Abstract: Educational Software Selecting Educational Software Checklists for Software Assessment Examination of the Checklist Approach in Software Selection Problems with the Checklist Approach to Software Selection Frameworks for Studying Educational Software A Perspectives Interactions Paradigm for Studying Educational Software The Teacher and Student Perspectives Interaction The Designer and Student Perspectives Interaction The Designer and Teacher Perspectives Interaction Choosing and Using Educational Software.