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Showing papers by "Monash University published in 2006"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the mean absolute scaled error (MESEME) was proposed as the standard measure for comparing forecast accuracy across multiple time series across different time series types, and was used in the M-competition as well as the M3competition.

3,870 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors aim to locate the roots of constructivist grounded theory and then trace its development, and examine key grounded theory texts to discern their ontological and epistemological orientation.
Abstract: Constructivist grounded theory is a popular method for research studies primarily in the disciplines of psychology, education, and nursing. In this article, the authors aim to locate the roots of constructivist grounded theory and then trace its development. They examine key grounded theory texts to discern their ontological and epistemological orientation. They find Strauss and Corbin’s texts on grounded theory to possess a discernable thread of constructivism in their approach to inquiry. They also discuss Charmaz’s landmark work on constructivist grounded theory relative to her positioning of the researcher in relation to the participants, analysis of the data, and rendering of participants’ experiences into grounded theory. Grounded theory can be seen as a methodological spiral that begins with Glaser and Strauss’ original text and continues today. The variety of epistemological positions that grounded theorists adopt are located at various points on this spiral and are reflective of their underlying ontologies.

1,575 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review focuses on loneliness as a crucial marker of social relationship deficits and contends that loneliness should command clinicians' attention in its own right--not just as an adjunct to the treatment of other problems such as depression.

1,402 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the past 25 years of research into time series forecasting can be found in this paper, where the authors highlight results published in journals managed by the International Institute of Forecasters.

1,383 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a framework of seven fundamental principles to guide the development of responsive teacher education programs that make a difference, including the expectations, needs and practices of student teachers.

916 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A comprehensive review of all identified studies that investigated effects of low and/or high frequency rTMS on motor cortical excitability or inhibition concluded that more substantial effects may be obtained through the use of novel stimulation paradigms or innovative approaches to the stimulation of areas connected to a potential target site.

854 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the relationship between audit quality and long audit partner tenure and found a lower propensity to issue a going-concern opinion and some evidence of just beating (missing) earnings benchmarks.
Abstract: Rotation of audit partners is one of the main policy initiatives that has been implemented in many jurisdictions around the world to deal with concerns about audit quality. The basis of any requirement limiting the tenure of audit partners is that there is a reduction in audit quality associated with long periods of tenure. Using data from Australia, where the audit partner can be identified and for a period where partner rotation was not mandatory, we examine the association between audit quality and long audit partner tenure. The three measures of audit quality examined are the auditor's propensity to issue a going‐concern audit opinion for distressed companies, the direction and amount of abnormal working capital accruals, and just beating (missing) earnings benchmarks. For long tenure observations we find a lower propensity to issue a going‐concern opinion and some evidence of just beating (missing) earnings benchmarks, consistent with deterioration in audit quality associated with long audit partner ...

824 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 2006-Fuel
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used FT-Raman spectroscopy with a 1064nm laser to investigate chemical structural changes of char during pyrolysis of brown coal samples.

740 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The discovery, biochemistry, pharmacology and clinical potential of haem-dependent sGC stimulators andHaem-independent sGC activators are reviewed.
Abstract: Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is a key signal-transduction enzyme activated by nitric oxide (NO). Impaired bioavailability and/or responsiveness to endogenous NO has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and other diseases. Current therapies that involve the use of organic nitrates and other NO donors have limitations, including non-specific interactions of NO with various biomolecules, lack of response and the development of tolerance following prolonged administration. Compounds that activate sGC in an NO-independent manner might therefore provide considerable therapeutic advantages. Here we review the discovery, biochemistry, pharmacology and clinical potential of haem-dependent sGC stimulators (including YC-1, BAY 41-2272, BAY 41-8543, CFM-1571 and A-350619) and haem-independent sGC activators (including BAY 58-2667 and HMR-1766).

720 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The conclusions of the research are that both in-vehicle tasks impaired several aspects of driving performance, with the entertainment system distracter having the greatest negative impact on performance, and that these findings were relatively stable across different driver age groups and different environmental complexities.

700 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
15 Aug 2006-Proteins
TL;DR: A reliable and robust algorithm, MUSTANG (MUltiple STructural AligNment AlGorithm), for the alignment of multiple protein structures, based on the progressive pairwise heuristic, which performs comparably to popular pairwise and multiple structural alignment tools for closely related proteins.
Abstract: Multiple structural alignment is a fundamental problem in structural genomics. In this article, we define a reliable and robust algorithm, MUSTANG (MUltiple STructural AligNment AlGorithm), for the alignment of multiple protein structures. Given a set of protein structures, the program constructs a multiple alignment using the spatial information of the C(alpha) atoms in the set. Broadly based on the progressive pairwise heuristic, this algorithm gains accuracy through novel and effective refinement phases. MUSTANG reports the multiple sequence alignment and the corresponding superposition of structures. Alignments generated by MUSTANG are compared with several handcurated alignments in the literature as well as with the benchmark alignments of 1033 alignment families from the HOMSTRAD database. The performance of MUSTANG was compared with DALI at a pairwise level, and with other multiple structural alignment tools such as POSA, CE-MC, MALECON, and MultiProt. MUSTANG performs comparably to popular pairwise and multiple structural alignment tools for closely related proteins, and performs more reliably than other multiple structural alignment methods on hard data sets containing distantly related proteins or proteins that show conformational changes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: PVB and epidural analgesia provide comparable pain relief after thoracic surgery, but PVB has a better side-effect profile and is associated with a reduction in pulmonary complications.
Abstract: Epidural analgesia is considered by many to be the best method of pain relief after major surgery. It is used routinely in many thoracic surgery centres. Although effective, side-effects include hypotension, urinary retention, incomplete (or failed) block, and, in rare cases, paraplegia. Paravertebral block (PVB) is an alternative technique that may offer comparable analgesic effectiveness and a better side-effect profile. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of all relevant randomized trials comparing PVB with epidural analgesia in thoracic surgery. Data were abstracted and verified by both authors. Studies were tested for heterogeneity, and meta-analyses were done with random effects or fixed effects models. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was used for numerical outcomes and odds ratio (OR) for dichotomous outcomes, both with 95% CI. We identified 10 trials that had enrolled 520 thoracic surgery patients. All of the trials were small (n

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Key issues for constructivist grounded theorists to consider in designing their research studies are discussed in relation to developing a partnership with participants that enables a mutual construction of meaning during interviews and a meaningful reconstruction of their stories into a grounded theory model.
Abstract: Grounded theory is a popular research methodology that is evolving to account for a range of ontological and epistemological underpinnings. Constructivist grounded theory has its foundations in relativism and an appreciation of the multiple truths and realities of subjectivism. Undertaking a constructivist enquiry requires the adoption of a position of mutuality between researcher and participant in the research process, which necessitates a rethinking of the grounded theorist's traditional role of objective observer. Key issues for constructivist grounded theorists to consider in designing their research studies are discussed in relation to developing a partnership with participants that enables a mutual construction of meaning during interviews and a meaningful reconstruction of their stories into a grounded theory model.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Serpins are a broadly distributed family of protease inhibitors that use a conformational change to inhibit target enzymes, central in controlling many important proteolytic cascades, including the mammalian coagulation pathways.
Abstract: Serpins are a broadly distributed family of protease inhibitors that use a conformational change to inhibit target enzymes They are central in controlling many important proteolytic cascades, including the mammalian coagulation pathways Serpins are conformationally labile and many of the disease-linked mutations of serpins result in misfolding or in pathogenic, inactive polymers

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The need for early support and intervention for mothers, fathers and families in this context was evidenced and the importance of addressing emotional and behavioural problems in very young children with autism and/or developmental delay was highlighted.
Abstract: Background Behavioural and emotional problems occur at a high rate in children and adolescents with intellectual disability, often from a young age. Some studies have indicated that children and adolescents with autism present with even higher rates. Less is known about the presentation, development and family impact of these difficulties in young children with autism. This study aimed to explore these issues in toddlers with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs), those with delay without a PDD, and their families. Methods Participants were 123 children aged 20–51 months, referred to a developmental assessment clinic. Parents completed a checklist on child behavioural and emotional problems, and individual questionnaires on family functioning, their own mental health, and stress in relation to parenting their child. The child’s language and cognitive skills, adaptive functioning and behaviour were assessed by standardized measures. Measures were repeated 1 year postdiagnosis. Behavioural and emotional problems in young children with a PDD were compared with those in children with developmental delay without a PDD, and their impact on parental outcomes explored over time. Results Initial and follow-up measures of child behaviour and emotional problems, parent mental health problems, parent stress and family functioning were significantly correlated, providing some evidence of stability over time. Child emotional and behavioural problems contributed significantly more to mother stress, parent mental health problems, and perceived family dysfunction than child diagnosis (PDD/non-PDD), delay or gender. Compared with mothers, all fathers reported significantly less stress in relation to parenting their child. Conclusion Results highlighted the importance of addressing emotional and behavioural problems in very young children with autism and/or developmental delay. The need for early support and intervention for mothers, fathers and families in this context was also evidenced. As research has shown that behavioural and emotional problems persist into adolescence and young adulthood, understanding of these issues in very young children and their parents has important implications for intervention and long-term outcomes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the integration of the human and technological aspects of innovation management by modelling the innovation stimulus -innovation capacity relationship in determining innovation performance and found that the relationship between stimulus and innovation capacity is significant and strong.
Abstract: This paper examines the integration of the human and technological aspects of innovation management by modelling the innovation stimulus – innovation capacity relationship in determining innovation performance. The research framework developed in this study was tested amongst 194 managers of Australian firms. The survey responses indicate that both the relationships between innovation stimulus and innovation capacity and between innovation capacity and innovation performance are significant and strong. However, innovation stimulus does not show any direct effect on innovation performance, suggesting that its effect is mediated through innovation capacity. The overall practical implication that can be drawn from the findings is that to achieve high innovation performance, organizations first need to develop the behavioural and cultural context and practices for innovation (i.e. stimulus), and only within such conducive environments is it possible for organizations to develop innovative capacity in research and development and technology so as to more effectively deliver innovation outcomes and performance.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify the following key constraints that smaller born-global firms face: lack of economies of scale, lack of resources (financial and knowledge), and aversion to risk taking, and explore how such firms overcome these constraints by using technology to achieve competitive advantage and by networking competencies to develop a range of alliances and collaborative partnerships.
Abstract: The authors identify the following key constraints that smaller born-global firms face: lack of economies of scale, lack of resources (financial and knowledge), and aversion to risk taking The authors explore how such firms overcome these constraints by using technology to achieve competitive advantage and by networking competencies to develop a range of alliances and collaborative partnerships Thus, the article focuses on a particular aspect of business-to-business marketing, namely, how small firms achieve rapid growth internationally through alliances with suppliers, distributors, and joint-venture partners and how these relationships change over time to meet the changing needs of the partners

Journal ArticleDOI
02 Feb 2006-Nature
TL;DR: Demonstration that the snakes, iguanians and anguimorphs form a single clade provides overwhelming support for a single, early origin of the venom system in lizards and snakes.
Abstract: Among extant reptiles only two lineages are known to have evolved venom delivery systems, the advanced snakes and helodermatid lizards (Gila Monster and Beaded Lizard). Evolution of the venom system is thought to underlie the impressive radiation of the advanced snakes (2,500 of 3,000 snake species). In contrast, the lizard venom system is thought to be restricted to just two species and to have evolved independently from the snake venom system. Here we report the presence of venom toxins in two additional lizard lineages (Monitor Lizards and Iguania) and show that all lineages possessing toxin-secreting oral glands form a clade, demonstrating a single early origin of the venom system in lizards and snakes. Construction of gland complementary-DNA libraries and phylogenetic analysis of transcripts revealed that nine toxin types are shared between lizards and snakes. Toxinological analyses of venom components from the Lace Monitor Varanus varius showed potent effects on blood pressure and clotting ability, bioactivities associated with a rapid loss of consciousness and extensive bleeding in prey. The iguanian lizard Pogona barbata retains characteristics of the ancestral venom system, namely serial, lobular non-compound venom-secreting glands on both the upper and lower jaws, whereas the advanced snakes and anguimorph lizards (including Monitor Lizards, Gila Monster and Beaded Lizard) have more derived venom systems characterized by the loss of the mandibular (lower) or maxillary (upper) glands. Demonstration that the snakes, iguanians and anguimorphs form a single clade provides overwhelming support for a single, early origin of the venom system in lizards and snakes. These results provide new insights into the evolution of the venom system in squamate reptiles and open new avenues for biomedical research and drug design using hitherto unexplored venom proteins.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The findings suggest that amygdala activation to interpersonal threat can be specifically linked to the severity of social anxiety symptoms of individual GSP patients, and thus, may serve as a useful functional marker of disease severity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The advent of the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band has provided a new bariatric surgical option that has proved to be safe, minimally invasive in its application, gentle in its use through its adjustability and easy reversibility, and similarly effective to the other bariatric procedures.
Abstract: Background: Obesity is a major, growing health problem. Observational studies suggest that bariatric surgery is more effective than nonsurgical therapy, but no randomized, controlled trials have confirmed this. Objective: To ascertain whether surgical therapy for obesity achieves better weight loss, health, and quality of life than nonsurgical therapy. Design: Randomized, controlled trial. Setting: University departments of medicine and surgery and an affiliated private hospital. Patients: 80 adults with mild to moderate obesity (body mass index, 30 kg/m 2 to 35 kg/m 2 ) from the general community. Interventions: Patients were assigned to a program of very-low-calorie diets, pharmacotherapy, and lifestyle change for 24 months (nonsurgical group) or to placement of a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAP-BAND System, INAMED Health, Santa Barbara, California) (surgical group). Measurements: Outcome measures were weight change, presence of the metabolic syndrome, and change in quality of life at 2 years. Results: At 2 years, the surgical group had greater weight loss, with a mean of 21.6% (95% Cl, 19.3% to 23.9%) of initial weight lost and 87.2% (Cl, 77.7% to 96.6%) of excess weight lost, while the nonsurgical group had a loss of 5.5% (Cl, 3.2% to 7.9%) of initial weight and 21.8% (Cl, 11.9% to 31.6%) of excess weight (P< 0.001). The metabolic syndrome was initially present in 15 (38%) patients in each group and was present in 8 (24%) nonsurgical patients and 1 (3%) surgical patient at the completion of the study (P < 0.002). Quality of life improved statistically significantly more in the surgical group (8 of 8 subscores of Short Form-36) than in the nonsurgical group (3 of 8 subscores). Limitations: The study included mildly and moderately obese participants, was not powered for comparison of adverse events, and examined outcomes only for 24 months. Conclusions: Surgical treatment using laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding was statistically significantly more effective than nonsurgical therapy in reducing weight, resolving the metabolic syndrome, and improving quality of life during a 24-month treatment program.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a Cenozoic tectonic reconstruction is presented for the Southwest Pacific region located east of Australia, constrained by large geological and geophysical datasets and recalculated rotation parameters for Pacific-Australia and Lord Howe Rise-Pacific relative plate motion.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The durability of weight loss after bariatric surgery is studied based on a systematic review of the published literature to show that all current bariatric operations lead to major weight loss in the medium term.
Abstract: Background: Although bariatric surgery is known to be effective in the short term, the durability of that effect has not been convincingly demonstrated over the medium term (>3 years) and the long term (>10 years). The authors studied the durability of weight loss after bariatric surgery based on a systematic review of the published literature. Methods: All reports published up to September, 2005 were included if they were full papers in refereed journals published in English, of outcomes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), and its hybrid procedures of banded bypass (Banded RYGBP) and longlimb bypass (LL-RYGBP), biliopancreatic diversion with or without duodenal switch (BPD±DS) or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). All reports that had at least 100 patients at commencement, and provided ≥3 years of follow-up data were included. Results: From a total of 1,703 reports extracted, 43 reports fulfilled the entry criteria (18 RYGBP; 18 LAGB; 7 BPD). Pooled data from all the bariatric operations showed effective and durable weight loss to 10 years. Mean %EWL for standard RYGBP was higher than for LAGB at years 1 and 2 (67 vs 42; 67 vs 53) but not different at 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 years (62 vs 55; 58 vs 55; 58 vs 55; 53 vs 50; and 55 vs 51). There was 59 %EWL for LAGB at 8 years, and 52 %EWL for RYGBP at 10 years. Both the BPD±DS and the Banded RYGBP appeared to show better weight loss than standard RYGBP and LAGB, but with statistically significant differences present at year 5 alone. The LL-RYGBP was not associated with improved %EWL. Important limitations include lack of data on loss to follow-up, failure to identify numbers of patients measured at each data point and lack of data beyond 10 years. Conclusions: All current bariatric operations lead to major weight loss in the medium term. BPD and Banded RYGBP appear to be more effective than both RYGBP and LAGB which are equal in the medium term.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence from fundamental, epidemiological and clinical trial studies indicates that apo B is superior to any of the cholesterol indices to recognize those at increased risk of vascular disease and to judge the adequacy of lipid‐lowering therapy.
Abstract: There is abundant evidence that the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease is directly related to plasma cholesterol levels. Accordingly, all of the national and transnational screening and therapeutic guidelines are based on total or LDL cholesterol. This presumes that cholesterol is the most important lipoprotein-related proatherogenic risk variable. On the contrary, risk appears to be more directly related to the number of circulating atherogenic particles that contact and enter the arterial wall than to the measured concentration of cholesterol in these lipoprotein fractions. Each of the atherogenic lipoprotein particles contains a single molecule of apolipoprotein (apo) B and therefore the concentration of apo B provides a direct measure of the number of circulating atherogenic lipoproteins. Evidence from fundamental, epidemiological and clinical trial studies indicates that apo B is superior to any of the cholesterol indices to recognize those at increased risk of vascular disease and to judge the adequacy of lipid-lowering therapy. On the basis of this evidence, we believe that apo B should be included in all guidelines as an indicator of cardiovascular risk. In addition, the present target adopted by the Canadian guideline groups of an apo B <90 mg dL(-1) in high-risk patients should be reassessed in the light of the new clinical trial results and a new ultra-low target of <80 mg dL(-1) be considered. The evidence also indicates that the apo B/apo A-I ratio is superior to any of the conventional cholesterol ratios in patients without symptomatic vascular disease or diabetes to evaluate the lipoprotein-related risk of vascular disease.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors profile the background characteristics and teaching motivations for individuals entering teacher education across three major established urban teacher provider universities in the Australian States of New South Wales and Victoria.
Abstract: In this large‐scale Australian study, we profile the background characteristics and teaching motivations for individuals entering teacher education across three major established urban teacher provider universities in the Australian States of New South Wales and Victoria. Our recently developed and validated “FIT‐Choice” (Factors Influencing Teaching Choice) Scale determines the strength of influence for a range of motivations from individuals choosing teaching as a career. Findings build upon and extend previous literature relating to reasons for teaching as a career choice, which have not systematically applied current motivational models to developing explanations. Participants were the entire cohorts (N = 1,653) of first‐year pre‐service teacher education candidates at three universities in Sydney and Melbourne. Results provide a profile of a large sample of pre‐service teachers whose decision to enrol in a teacher education program has been made at a time when the mass media and the general public ha...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the investment role of precious metals in financial markets was investigated by analysis of daily data for gold, platinum, and silver from 1976 to 2004, which suggests that these metals may provide diversification within broad investment portfolios.
Abstract: The investment role of precious metals in financial markets is investigated by analysis of daily data for gold, platinum, and silver from 1976 to 2004. All three precious metals have low correlations with stock index returns, which suggests that these metals may provide diversification within broad investment portfolios. Moreover, the data reveal that all three precious metals have some hedging capability, particularly during periods of "abnormal" stock market volatility. Financial portfolios that contain precious metals perform significantly better than standard equity portfolios.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that the amygdala may have a more general-purpose function in processing salient information from faces and its response was not selective for any particular emotion category.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Ionic liquids which are (weak) Lewis bases have a number of interesting and useful properties different to those of traditional ionic liquids, including volatility and the possibility of being distillable in some cases and a base catalysis effect in others.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 2006-Blood
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used single-cell analysis of stromal cells to analyze extensive changes in the number and composition of thymic stroma throughout life, revealing a surprisingly dynamic population.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Cerebral necrosis is unlikely at doses below 50 Gy in 25 fractions and the risk increases significantly with increasing radiation dose, fraction size, and the subsequent administration of chemotherapy.
Abstract: Purpose: To investigate radiation necrosis in patients treated for glioma in terms of incidence, outcomes, predictive and prognostic factors. Methods and Materials: Records were reviewed for 426 patients followed up until death or for at least 3 years. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictive and prognostic factors. Multivariate survival analysis was conducted using Cox proportional hazards regression. Separate analyses were performed for the subset of 352 patients who received a biologically effective dose (BED) ≥85.5 Gy 2 (≥45 Gy/25 fractions) who were at highest risk for radionecrosis. Results: Twenty-one patients developed radionecrosis (4.9%). Actuarial incidence plateaued at 13.3% after 3 years. In the high-risk subset, radiation parameters confirmed as risk factors included total dose ( p p p p = 0.028), and the product of total dose and fraction size ( p = 0.001). No patient receiving a BED 2 developed radionecrosis. Subsequent chemotherapy significantly increased the risk of cerebral necrosis ( p = 0.001) even when adjusted for BED (odds ratio [OR], 5.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6–20.3) or length of follow-up (OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 1.5–19.3). Concurrent use of valproate appeared to delay the onset of necrosis ( p = 0.013). The development of radionecrosis did not affect survival ( p = 0.09). Conclusions: Cerebral necrosis is unlikely at doses below 50 Gy in 25 fractions. The risk increases significantly with increasing radiation dose, fraction size, and the subsequent administration of chemotherapy.