Digital Commons Network^™

Desarrollo Y Acceso A Telecomunicaciones, Rodrigo Garcia-Verdu

Rodrigo Garcia-Verdu

No abstract provided.

Benchmarking Structural Transformation Across The World, Era Dabla-Norris, Alun H. Thomas, Rodrigo Garcia-Verdu, Yingyuan Chen

Rodrigo Garcia-Verdu

Presentation given at the IMF's Jobs and Growth Seminar on December 13, 2013, based on the IMF Working Paper No. 13/176 with the same name

Neutron Dosimeter Development Based On Medipix2, Mohd Amir R. Othman, Marco Petasecca, Susanna Guatelli, J. Uher, Damion Marinaro, Dale A. Prokopovich, Mark I. Reinhard, Michael L. F. Lerch, J. Jakubek, S. Pospisil, Anatoly B. Rosenfeld

Michael L.F. Lerch

A novel neutron dosimetry system for avionics and space applications is described. The new dosimetric system is based on Medipix2, a high density silicon based pixilated detector with integrated readout and digital interface circuitry. Real time dose equivalent response to fast neutron fields with flattened energy response is achieved through the coupling of a structured variable thickness polyethylene (PE) over layer with the high density pixilated detector. Experimental results obtained to 14 MeV D-T and Am-Be neutron fields are described along with a comparison to results obtained with GEANT4 simulations.

La Croissance Élevée Récente De L’Afrique Subsaharienne Est-Elle Soutenable?, Rodrigo Garcia-Verdu

Rodrigo Garcia-Verdu

No abstract provided.

Zebrafish: An In Vivo Model For The Study Of Human Diseases, Bibhas Kar, Sivamani Subbiah

Emily Scott

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a powerful model organism for the study of vertebrate biology, being well suited to both developmental and genetic analysis. More recently, the rapid progress of various zebrafish genomics infrastructure initiatives is facilitating the development of zebrafish models of human disease. Genome organization and the pathways involved into control of signal transduction appear to be highly conserved between zebrafish and humans and therefore zebrafish may be used for modeling of human diseases. This review will highlight and describe the utility of zebrafish in the study of human diseases.

Recent Highlights In The Development Of Isatin-Based Anticancer Agents, Kara L. Vine, Lidia Matesic, Julie M. Locke, Danielle Skropeta

Danielle Skropeta

Isatin (1H-indole-2,3-dione) and its derivatives are responsible for a broad spectrum of biological activities. Among these the cytotoxic and antineoplastic properties have been the most widely reported. The synthetic versatility of the isatin, due to its privileged scaffold, has led to the generation of a large number of structurally diverse derivatives which include analogues derived from either mono-, di-, and trisubstitution of the aryl ring A, and/or those obtained by derivatisation of the isatin nitrogen and C2/C3 carbonyl moieties. These compounds inhibit cancer cell proliferation and tumour growth via interaction with a variety of intracellular targets such as DNA, telomerase, …

Development Of A Dc-Lsnd Welding Process For Gmaw On Dh-36 Steel, Raymond Holder, Nathan Larkin, Huijun Li, Lenka Kuzmikova, Zengxi Pan, John Norrish

zengxi pan

Weld induced distortion correction is a major cost within the shipbuilding industry. This paper investigates the use of an active cooling process known as Dynamically Controlled - Low Stress No Distortion (DC-LSND) Welding on DH-36 steel. Thermal profiles are obtained and distortion measurements are also achieved. Results show that the application of a localised cryogenic cooling source trailing the welding arc can significantly reduce weld induced distortion using the GMAW process. The effect of forced cooling on the weld microstructure is also observed.

Development Of Safe Optimized Welding Procedures For High Strength Q&T Steel Welded With Austenitic Consumables, Lenka Kuzmikova, Huijun Li, John Norrish, Zengxi Stephen Pan, Nathan Larkin

zengxi pan

High strength quenched and tempered (Q&T) steels offer obvious economic benefits originating from their advantageous strength to price and weight ratios. These steels are usually welded using ferritic consumables and for this combination the risk of hydrogen assisted cold cracking (HACC) is high. The use of austenitic stainless steel (ASS) consumables has great potential to significantly improve this issue. Yet, there are no guidelines for determination of safe level of preheat for welding ferritic steels with ASS consumables. For this reason manufacturers adopt this parameter from procedures developed for conventional ferritic consumables thus significantly limiting the benefits ASS consumables are …

Turning Water Into Wine: The Political Economy Of The Environment In Southern California's Wine Country, Jason Simms

Jason L Simms

This dissertation examines questions of water sustainability in contexts of wine production and state-led neoliberal development in the Temecula Valley, southern California, where wine tourism is at present being harnessed as an engine of economic growth. Natural and anthropogenic forces, such as global climate change, desertification, urban development, and the marketization and commodification of natural resources, affect the distribution and availability of water throughout the globe. As a result, the use of water, and associated political and environmental processes and consequences, in the production of global commodities, including wheat, citrus, and coffee, recently have come under increased scrutiny. Given wine's …

The Cost Of Conscience: Quantifying Our Charitable Burden In An Era Of Globalization, Frank A. Pasquale

Frank A. Pasquale

Development economists have long debated the proper targets for foreign aid contributions from wealthy countries. Philosophers like Peter Singer and Peter Unger now suggest that these countries' citizens have a parallel moral responsibility to tithe a portion of their income directly for the relief of the suffering of the poorest. These thinkers would prefer a systematic global redistribution of income - some public mechanism for accomplishing worldwide what the tax systems of egalitarian social democratic states accomplish. But they all realize that such global governance is unlikely to come about in any of our lifetimes. So they turn their attention …

Interactions Between Trade Policy And Labor Market Policy And Their Effects On Development, Gary S. Fields

Gary S Fields

[Excerpt] Studies of various countries show that those which have emphasized an export-led growth strategy have, in general, outperformed those which have followed an import substitution orientation. Accordingly, AID is currently focusing on export promotion as a means to stimulate economic growth and development. An effective export-led strategy requires an integrated overall policy setting. In particular, trade and foreign sector policies must be related to labor market policies. Because labor market policy might reinforce or nullify trade policy, and because labor market issues merit attention per se, AID has an interest in research on how trade policies and labor market …

Assessing Progress Toward Greater Equality Of Income Distribution, Gary S. Fields

Gary S Fields

This paper examines the suitability of increases in income equality as a criterion for assessing "commitment" and "progress" of countries, and hence, for allocating development assistance in accordance with the 1975 amendments to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The principal conclusions are:

1. Income distribution is a useful concept; the usual figures on income in the current month or year, although not ideal, provide a reasonable approximation to economic well-being.
   
2. Reliable and timely data for measuring changes in income distribution are regularly available in only a handful of A.I.D.-recipient countries.
   
3. Since the concern of the development community appears to be …

Poverty, Inequality, And The Measurement Of Development Performance, Gary S. Fields

Gary S Fields

[Excerpt] U.S. law requires that foreign assistance be directed increasingly toward countries which are committed to and are making progress toward "greater equality of income distribution" so as to "help the poor toward a better life." This paper presents evidence on the extent of improvement in economic position of the poor in six less developed countries and explores the reasons for the differential performances.

Project Evaluation: Consulting Assistance On Economic Reform, David Callihan, Gary S. Fields, Joan Parker

Gary S Fields

[Excerpt] The Consulting Assistance on Economic Reform Project (CAER) was designed to help AID and developing country governments to design, implement, monitor and evaluate economic policy reform. The project has provided AID access to economists and social scientists with extensive practical experience and outstanding educational credentials. CAER has been implemented by the Harvard Institute of International Development (HIID) since its inception in July 1989 and is scheduled to operate through June 25, 1994, with total authorized funding of up to $10.5 million. The CAER contract presents the project's objective as follows:

AID is increasingly involved in assisting developing nations to …

Wage Floors And Economic Development, Gary S. Fields

Gary S Fields

[Excerpt] I shall refer to minimum wages and other wage-increasing institutions collectively as "wage floors." Throughout the paper, they are assumed to be set in real terms, therefore not be eroded by inflation or devaluation. These wage floors typically are sector-specific: unions are stronger in some firms and industries than in others, minimum wage laws apply to some establishments and localities but not to others and are enforced with different degrees of diligence, and so on. As a stylized version of the differential applicability of wage floors, economists from such disparate fields as development economics, labor economics, and international trade …

Social Returns To Education: Central Planning And Local Planning Perspectives, Gary S. Fields

Gary S Fields

[Excerpt] This paper is written for educationists and development planners. Its purposes are to familiarize policy makers, advisors, and analysts with the most important approaches to the economics of education and to evaluate the various approaches critically in the context of developing countries. Three topics are developed: How social returns to education typically are calculated. An evaluation of the conventional social return to education approach. A comparison of central planning and local planning. Before embarking on these topics, an important preliminary issue arises: Why conduct economic analysis of education at all? After all, might it not be crass to think …

Development Of A Clinician-Led Research Agenda For General Practice Nurses, Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Louise Hickman

Elizabeth Jane Halcomb Professor

Objective: This study sought to identify and prioritise research issues as perceived by Australian general practice nurses. In this context, a research priority refers to the most pressing research problems that necessitate exploration to improve clinical practice. Design: This paper reports the findings of a two-round Delphi study. Initially, focus groups identified research issues. Subsequently, an online survey facilitated ranking of these issues on a 5-point Likert scale. Setting: Australian general practices. Subjects: Twenty-five practice nurses participated in the focus groups and 145 practice nurses responded to an online survey. Main outcome measure(s): The main outcome measure was the prioritisation …

Development And Validation Of A Concept Inventory For Introductory-Level Climate Change Science, Lorna Jarrett, Brian Ferry, George Takacs

George Takacs

This paper follows on from Jarrett, Takacs and Ferry (2011) which reported the first stage in development of a high school level concept inventory (CI) for the science of climate change: the climate change concept inventory (CCCI). In order to develop a reliable and valid instrument, it is necessary to follow appropriate procedures. This paper details the process of CI item development; reports statistical results of initial field trials and outlines how these will be used to further refine the CCCI. Item difficulty, discrimination, and point biserial coefficient were calculated for each item. Cronbach's alpha and test-retest data were used …

Strategic Leadership Capacity Development For Ict: Moving Beyond Learning On The Job, Geraldine Lefoe, Dominique Parrish

Geraldine Lefoe

Leadership for change is a key component for universities striving to find new ways to meet the needs of their future students. This paper discusses an innovative framework for leadership capacity development which has been implemented in a number of Australian universities. The framework, underpinned by a distributive approach to leadership, prepares a new generation of leaders for formal positions of leadership in all aspects of teaching and learning. Through the Faculty Scholars Program a number of teaching and learning innovations were implemented, including a number using innovative technologies, to establish strategic change within their faculties. The Scholars shared their …

Subject Coordinators: Leading Professional Development For Sessional Staff, Geraldine Lefoe, Dominique Parrish, Janne Malfroy, Jo Mckenzie

Geraldine Lefoe

The Coordinators Leading and Advancing Sessional Staff (CLASS) project, as it became known, explored a leadership capacity development framework that included targeted professional development as a means of improving academic leadership and management of sessional teaching teams. There were four partner universities: the University of Wollongong (lead), the University of Technology, Sydney, the University of Western Sydney and the Australian Catholic University. This report presents the details and findings from a two-year ALTC leadership project to enhance the quality of teaching through the development of subject coordinators' leadership capacity in four institutions. It also demonstrates a strategy for embedded dissemination …

Evaluating Action-Learning And Professional Networking As A Framework For Educational Leadership Capacity Development, Cathy Gunn, Geraldine Lefoe

Geraldine Lefoe

This article describes the responsive evaluation component of an educational leadership capacity-building initiative developed at one Australian university and implemented by three others. The project aimed to develop, implement and disseminate an innovative framework to address the national strategic goal to increase the pool of qualified educational leaders. The framework reflected principles of distributive leadership, featured individual action-learning plans and fostered engagement in a supportive, scholarly community. Evaluation was challenging on many fronts, which the qualitative and responsive approach of design-based research was used to address. An external evaluator joined the project team and adjustments based on feedback were implemented …

The Development Of An On-Line Learning Community Of Physical And Health Education Professionals, Lori Lockyer, Gregg S. Rowland, John W. Patterson

Professor Lori Lockyer

While ad hoc, course-specific projects have allowed early adopters to explore possible innovations in the use of information and communication technologies in facilitating flexible learning situations, educational institutions are now exploring more integrated strategies to such developments. This paper describes the development of one such strategy that attempts to foster a community-wide approach for a group of professionals coming to terms with the most effective way to utilise technologies -- physical and health educators. The Faculty of Education at University of Wollongong is developing an on-line learning community to facilitate the pre-service education and continuing professional development of students, faculty …

The Development Of An Industry Specific Performance Measurement Model For Service Organisations Within The Small Business Sector, Vicki Baard, Edmund W. Watts

Ted Watts

The role of small business, as part of the value adding chain in any economy, should never be understated. In Australia small business represents 96% of all private sector business, accounts for 47% of all private sector employment and the majority fail within three to five years of establishment. Despite this contribution the small business sector, and in particular the service sector component, appear to be underrepresented in the development of specific performance measurement models, which, within the academic and professional literature appear to focus on their larger firm counterparts. Given the unique position of small business service organisations the …

Leadership Competencies: A Reference Point For Development And Evaluation, Margie Jantti, Nick Greenhalgh

Margie Jantti

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish a transparent, integrated approach to leadership competency development and succession management to respond to drivers associated with an ageing workforce, leadership drain and the enticement of people into leadership roles. Design/methodology/approach – A consultant was engaged to facilitate a review of the UOW Library’s leadership situation. Key to this process and subsequent activities was the use of the Lominger Leadership competencies; measurable characteristics related to success in the workplace to establish the desired leadership profile. Career interviews, professional coaching and targeted assignments were integral to the development of needed competencies. …

Development Of A Metallurgical Coke Analogue To Investigate The Effects Of Coke Mineralogy On Coke Reactivity, Raymond Longbottom, Brian J. Monaghan, Oliver Scholes, Merrick R. Mahoney

Raymond Longbottom

In this study the suitability of a laboratory analogue for coke for studying the effects of minerals on the reactivity of coke was evaluated. In addition to this, the effects of different physical properties and production conditions on the reactivity of the coke analogue were also tested. The coke analogue was used for control testing of specific mineral, and to some degree maceral, effects on reactivity. Such information would improve our fundamental understanding of coke reactivity behaviour and could be used to develop more accurate predictive models of coke strength after reaction (CSR) or associated indices and coke properties. The …

Breathlessness Is Not A Normal Part Of Aging: Development And Testing Of Asthma Awareness Messages For Older Australians, Sandra C. Jones, Uwana Evers, Donald C. Iverson, Peter Caputi, Sara Morgan, Michele Goldman

Sandra Jones

At least 420,000 Australian adults aged 55 years and over, or one in 10, currently have asthma (Australian Centre for Asthma Monitoring 2008). Asthma is under-diagnosed, often misdiagnosed, and undertreated in the older adult population in Australia (Gibson, McDonald and Marks 2010, Marks and Poulos 2005, Wilson et al 2001) as it is overseas. Contrary to the perception that asthma is a childhood disease, asthma can develop in older adults (Adams and Ruffin 2005). The risk of dying from asthma increases with age (AIHW 2010). While the overall mortality rate has decreased by almost 70% since 1989, much of this …

Development Of A Metallurgical Coke Analogue To Investigate The Effects Of Coke Mineralogy On Coke Reactivity, Raymond Longbottom, Brian J. Monaghan, Oliver Scholes, Merrick R. Mahoney

Brian Monaghan

In this study the suitability of a laboratory analogue for coke for studying the effects of minerals on the reactivity of coke was evaluated. In addition to this, the effects of different physical properties and production conditions on the reactivity of the coke analogue were also tested. The coke analogue was used for control testing of specific mineral, and to some degree maceral, effects on reactivity. Such information would improve our fundamental understanding of coke reactivity behaviour and could be used to develop more accurate predictive models of coke strength after reaction (CSR) or associated indices and coke properties. The …

Neutron Dosimeter Development Based On Medipix2, Mohd Amir R. Othman, Marco Petasecca, Susanna Guatelli, J. Uher, Damion Marinaro, Dale A. Prokopovich, Mark I. Reinhard, Michael L. F. Lerch, J. Jakubek, S. Pospisil, Anatoly B. Rosenfeld

Anatoly Rozenfeld

A novel neutron dosimetry system for avionics and space applications is described. The new dosimetric system is based on Medipix2, a high density silicon based pixilated detector with integrated readout and digital interface circuitry. Real time dose equivalent response to fast neutron fields with flattened energy response is achieved through the coupling of a structured variable thickness polyethylene (PE) over layer with the high density pixilated detector. Experimental results obtained to 14 MeV D-T and Am-Be neutron fields are described along with a comparison to results obtained with GEANT4 simulations.

Development And Performance Evaluation Of A Flexible, Low Cost Manet, Mehran Abolhasan, Brett Hagelstein, Jerry Chun-Ping Wang, D. Franklin, Farzad Safaei, Tadeusz A. Wysocki

Professor Farzad Safaei

Performance evaluations of multi-hop ad hoc network routing protocols have been primarily conducted through analytic and simulation-based studies, which frequently fail to accurately predict real-world performance and behaviour. One reason for this is the challenge in developing low cost, representative test beds with the degree of flexibility and mobility required. We have developed a Portable Wireless Ad hoc Node (PWAN) device which establishes multi-hop routes using the OLSR routing protocol. The PWAN’s performance has been investigated using two test bed configurations to evaluate its capacity under conditions of high node density in a short-range, multi-hop environment. Our results illustrate that …

Raising Daughters To Become Leaders, Susan R. Madsen

Susan R. Madsen

The purpose of this six-minute message is to share, in an engaging way, some key highlights from a variety of studies on how high profile women were raised to become leaders. It will focus on what influencers (e.g., parents, siblings, and relatives) did to rear their daughters, granddaughters, nieces, etc. to become the influential women they are today.