Digital Commons Network^™

A Fast Neural-Based Eye Detection System, Fok Hing Chi Tivive, Abdesselam Bouzerdoum

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

This paper presents a fast eye detection system which is based on an artificial neural network known as the shunting inhibitory convolutional neural network, or SICoNNet for short. With its two-dimensional network architecture and the use of convolution operators, the eye detection system processes an entire input image and generates the location map of the detected eyes at the output. The network consists of 479 trainable parameters which are adapted by a modified Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm in conjunction with a bootstrap procedure. Tested on 180 real images, with 186 faces, the accuracy of the eye detector reaches 96.8% with only …

Living With Trees – Perspectives From The Suburbs, Lesley M. Head, Pat Muir

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

A study of suburban backyards and backyarders in Sydney and Wollongong revealed evidence of attitudes and behaviours in relation to trees. Attitudes are characterised under themes that indicate conditions of tolerance and belonging. They include attachment/risk, order/freedom and nativeness/alienness. While love is common, high levels of suspicion and intolerance towards trees in the suburban context are more common. Our findings confirm and throw further light on previous work indicating that many Australians have very partitioned views of the world in relationto where humans and nonhuman lifeforms belong. This partitioning must be understood in conceptual as well as spatial terms.

Scientists, Career Choices And Organisational Change: Managing Human Resources In Cross-Sector R&D Organisations, T. Turpin, Samuel Garrett-Jones, Kieren Diment

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The resource-based view of the firm has drawn attention to the role of human resources in building innovative capacity within firms. In 'high technology' firms, scientific capability is a critical factor in achieving international competitiveness. Science, however, is a costly business and many firms are entering into cross-sector R&D partnerships in order to gain access to leading edge scientific capability. The Australian Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) program is typical of the ways many governments are seeking to promote such cross-sector R&D collaboration. Scientists are key resources in these organisational arrangemation available about why and when scientists choose to work in …

Reviewing Workplace Bullying: Strengthening Approaches To A Complex Phenomenon, Diana J. Kelly

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

Workplace bullying is a growing problem which is costly for organisations and individual targets. The costs for organisations include loss of productivity and increased insurance costs, as rising stress claims generate rises in premiums. Measuring the costs to individuals or the ethical capital of an organisation is much more difficult but just as important. This paper seeks to understand the research practices in bullying in order to identify potential needs for research and practice. After examining the nature and extent of workplace bullying, approaches to bullying are surveyed, revealing how different disciplines and professions investigate workplace bullying. The importance of …

Unbounded Rationality: The Role Of Connectedness In Right Decision-Making, Mario Fernando, Scott Burrows

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper reports the preliminary findings of a study examining the role of connection in right decision-making of managers operating in Australia. The key aims of the study are to identify the influence of connectedness in the ethical outcomes of right decision-making, to identify barriers to right decision-making and lastly, to examine the nature of any relationship/s between connectedness and unbounded rationality in right decision-making. The study compares and contrasts eight case studies of middle and senior managers drawn from information technology, service and manufacturing sectors. The primary data for the study are in-depth interviews. The findings suggest that connection …

Coverage Of The Central Asian Political, Press, And Speech Rights Issues By Independent News Websites, E. Freedman

Asia Pacific Media Educator

Since independence in 1991, the Central Asian republics to varying degrees have given lip service to democratization and the recognition of free press and political rights. However, the reality has been dramatically different under all five authoritarian regimes. That reality includes limits or bans on opposition parties, as well as elections that are neither fair nor free. Most mass media entities remain state-owned or tightly controlled, and there is pervasive censorship, self-censorship, harassment, and intimidation of individual journalists and their media organizations. One result is inadequate, shallow reporting about political, press, and speech rights and controversies. Western-based Web news sites …

Launching Research: Experiences With And Achievements Of A Research Mentoring Platform For Academic Women, M. Barrett, Sara Dolnicar, M. Kaidonis, L. C. Moerman, Melanie J. Randle, C. Wood

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Due to the continuing under-representation of women in academic positions of higher rank, the Faculty of Commerce at the University of Wollongong tested a mentoring platform for female researchers. This article reviews the first eight months of the platform’s lifetime and analyses experiences, achievements and failures in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. The quantitative analysis is based on a benchmark survey at the first research platform meeting and a second follow-up survey after the eight-month test period. The majority of female researchers participating in the Women in Commerce Research Platform (WICRP) were already interested in the research component of …

Salarymen Doing Queer: Gay Men And The Heterosexual Public Sphere In Japan, Mark J. Mclelland

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

This paper looks at the difficulties gay men in Japan experience in discussing their sexuality in the Japanese workplace.

Inside Out: Queer Theory And Popular Culture, Mark J. Mclelland

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

This paper looks at the proliferation of gay characters and subtexts in late 1990s media.

The World Of Yaoi: The Internet, Censorship And The Global “Boys’ Love” Fandom, Mark J. Mclelland

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

This paper looks at the recent explosion of cultural concern over child sexual abuse and child pornography, particularly as it relates to the trading of such images via the internet. It is noted that legislation originally enacted to prohibit the sexualized representation of actual children has recently been extended to include fictional representations and in Australia includes text as well as graphics. Taking the online global fandom dedicated to ‘boys’ love’ (also known as yaoi) as an example, I argue that legislation prohibiting fictional accounts of ‘child’ sex-abuse is ill-conceived and potentially damaging to human rights and freedom of expression. …

Simmel, Ninotchka And The Revolving Door, Jon Cockburn

Faculty of Creative Arts - Papers (Archive)

In this paper, Jon Cockburn examines the device of the revolving door employed by Ernst Lubitsch in the opening scene to the film "Ninotchka" (1939), in which the operation of this architectural mechanism metaphorically prefigures several key themes in the film. Specifically, these themes are first, the complementary necessity of coupling efficiency with desire and second, that firmly held principles should be balanced with mutual pleasure. In the late 1930s, in articulating these contrasting attributes the film described the balancing act that confronted self-sufficient modern women, who faced expectations that they be industrially efficient yet noticeably sensual. However, while recognising …

Worker Commitment In The Australian Film Industry, M. L. Jones, George K. Kriflik, M. Zanko

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Worker commitment in the Australian Film Industry is examined in this paper. Workers express a perceived inequity with regard to the inputs versus their outcomes. However, their continued engagement and persistent hard work in the industry would indicate a state of equity. Adams’ Equity Theory has been used in this research as a tool to help uncover the various factors which work to implicitly return equity to film workers. The commitment factors that have emerged through the research are discussed, and are considered in light of the factors which have surfaced through a preliminary literature review.

Technological Efficacy: A New Identity Category, N. F. Johnson

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Debates continue about the relative benefits, costs and risks of the diffusion of computer-based technologies throughout society and schooling. One area that has received considerable attention is gender equity. Early work on gender and computers focused on differences between male and female access and use (e.g. Huff, Fleming & Cooper, 1992; Kirkman, 1993; Morritt, 1997; Nelson & Cooper, 1997; Sofia, 1993), with concerns focused on the potential for girls to be disadvantaged. In some respects, it is arguable that problems of gender equity in schools with respect to computers have been overcome. For example, in a small study I conducted …

Transient Workers Count Too? The Intersection Of Citizenship And Gender In Singapore’S Civil Society, Lenore T. Lyons

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

In November 2002, a group of Singaporean activists established a group called The Working Committee 2 (TWC2) to advocate for the rights of foreign domestic workers in Singapore. By limiting both its lifespan and the scope of its activities the TWC2 avoided the requirement that all NGOs formally register under the Singapore Registrar of Societies. At the end of its year-long campaign, however, the group signalled its intention to continue with its advocacy work. The new TWC2 (now called Transient Workers Count Too) was registered in August 2004. For some commentators, the TWC2 represents a new phase in the People’s …

Moving Beyond The Ob Markers: Rethinking The Space Of Civil Society In Singapore, Lenore T. Lyons, J. Gomez

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

In January 2004, prior to his appointment as Singapore’s third Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong gave a landmark speech to the Harvard Club of Singapore in which he outlined a new style of statesociety relations. Claiming that “I have no doubt that our society must open up further”, Lee emphasized that one of the important tasks facing the government was to “promote further civic participation, and continue to progressively widen the limits of openness” (Lee 2004). In his comments, Lee sought to signal a break between the ruling style of former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, and himself.1 In light …

Patients With Metabolic Syndrome: A Study Using Automated Dietary Assessment In Primary Care, Y. C. Probst

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

An automated dietary assessment website has been developed for patients with metabolic syndrome. Computers have been set up in local GP practices to which the GP may refer their patients. These patients enter their dietary information into the website and receive an individualised dietary prescription put together by a dietitian. This study outlines the profile of patients using the website and their rates of completion of the assessment. Recruited patients were primarily female(66%). Ranging between 22 and 75 years of age patients reported to be overweight(77%), have high cholesterol (53%), elevated blood pressure (54%) and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus (35%). …

Do Students Benefit From Supplemental Education? Evidence From A First-Year Statistics Subject In Economics And Business, D. Lewis, Martin O'Brien, S. Rogan, B. Shorten

Faculty of Business - Economics Working Papers

Peer assisted study sessions (PASS) are a type of supplemental instruction (SI) that provide students with out-of-class study review sessions with a group of peers. A student, who has successfully completed the subject and acts as a mentor, facilitates the voluntary sessions. Results of the PASS program at the University of Wollongong have been quite positive in that students, on average, who attend more PASS, achieve higher marks. However, a simple comparison does not control for self-selection bias. We control for self-selection in two ways. Firstly, we use Heckman’s two-stage correction technique to analyze the 2002 cohort. Secondly, students in …

Consumer Understanding And Use Of Health Claims For Foods, P. G. Williams

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Health claims for foods are permitted in an increasing number of countries but there are very few studies evaluating the effect of such claims on purchase behavior and consumer health. There are significant differences between countries, but in general consumers see health claims as useful, they prefer short succinct wording rather than long and complex claims, and they believe claims should be approved by government. Consumers view a food as healthier if it carries a health claim and this “halo” effect may discourage them seeking further nutrition information. Consumers do not clearly distinguish between nutrient content, structure-function and health claims. …

Australian Consumers Are Sceptical About But Influenced By Claims About Fat On Food Labels, C. Chan, C. Patch, P. G. Williams

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objectives: To explore the beliefs and attitudes of Australian consumers to claims about fat made on the labels of packaged food.

Design: Content analysis of transcripts from focus group discussions.

Subjects: 26 females and 10 males aged 20-80y, recruited by advertisement into six focus groups, stratified by age, sex and health status.

Results: Awareness of claims about fat was high in this sample of Australians and participants admitted that they influenced their purchase decisions. The most preferred form of claim was “X% fat free”. Claims were considered most useful on foods that were high in fat. There was considerable scepticism …

Breakfast And The Diets Of Australian Adults: An Analysis Of Data From The 1995 National Nutrition Survey, P. G. Williams

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The aim of this study was to describe the nutrients provided to Australian adults by the breakfast meal and compare the food and nutrient intakes and health of regular breakfast eaters and skippers. The Australian Bureau of Statistics was commissioned to undertake additional analysis of data collected in the 1995 Australian National Nutrition Survey (NNS). The survey included 24 hour recalls, physical measurements and a food habits questionnaire collected during the period February 1995 to March 1996, with a nationally representative sample of 10851 Australians aged nineteen years and older. The median nutrient intakes at breakfast and the proportion of …

Our Retirement In Their Hands: A User Perspective, C. L. Cortese, D. K. Aylward, J. Glynn

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Superannuation has become a key policy issue for the Australian government as the population continues to age at an increasing rate. Government policy has focussed on shifting the major financial burden retirement back on individuals with legislation and schemes aimed at encouraging self-funded retirement. The Financial Services Reform Act 2001 is the most recent legislative reform to affect the booming superannuation industry, with the objective of enhancing consumer confidence in the financial services markets, thereby increasing reliance on financial advisors and boosting superannuation savings. This paper reports on the results of a survey which demonstrate that despite government initiatives, most …

A Politics Of Accommodation: Women And The People’S Action Party In Singapore, Lenore T. Lyons

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

For the first time since achieving Independence in 1965, women now make up more than 10% of parliamentary representatives in Singapore. While this figure still lags behind international benchmarks, it is a significant improvement on the last election in which women made up less than 5% of MPs. This article explores the factors that led to the increase in women’s parliamentary representation. I examine the attitudes of senior leaders within the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), as well as recent constitutional reforms, including the introduction of the Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) scheme, and the creation of a Group Representative …

Instrument Review - Sf-12® Health Survey (Version 1.0) For Use In Australia, N. Marosszeky, J. Sansoni

Australian Health Outcomes Collaboration - AHOC

The SF-12® Health Survey is a suitable measure for large group epidemiological studies (greater than n = 500) where information on the SF-36® Health Survey Summary Scores (PCS + MCS) is required.

Instrument Review - Sf-36® Health Survey (Version 1.0) For Use In Australia, N. Marosszeky, J. Sansoni

Australian Health Outcomes Collaboration - AHOC

Summary: The SF-36 is a highly recommended measure with superior psychometric properties. It has been used extensively in Australia for both population health and clinical research.

The Disruptive Impact Of Attribute Information On The Effectiveness Of Analogies In Print Advertising As A Means To Enhance Consumer Learning Of New Product Benefits, A. Ait El Houssi, K. P. Morel, E. J. Hultink

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The presented study had two purposes. First, it pursued to demonstrate that it is more effective to use analogies in advertisements for really new products to increase consumers’ comprehension of the new product’s benefits than not to use analogies. Second, it aimed to test the (counterintuitive) assumption that inclusion of product attribute information in the advertisement in addition to the analogy would actually frustrate benefit comprehension. The results of the experiment showed that advertisements with an analogy lead to greater benefit comprehension than advertisements without an analogy. Further, it is more effective in print advertising in managing consumer learning of …

Clothing The Soviet Mechanical-Flâneuse, Jon Cockburn

Faculty of Creative Arts - Papers (Archive)

Jon Cockburn looks at fashion trends on both sides of the Atlantic to examine images of and ideals for the modern woman. At the center of his analysis is a history of the Soviet “mechanical-flâneuse,” a distinctive twentieth-century variation upon the nineteenth-century European metropolitan “flâneuse” (or intelligent idler), that emerged through Soviet interpretations of the American efficiency movement. Cockburn traces the efforts of three avant-garde designers who tried to realize the mechanical-flâneuse in the Soviet Union, but shows that as Stalin rose to power, production of the mechanical-flâneuse was restricted to an increasingly theoretical realm. Politics eventually trumped the efficient …

Snakes And Leaders: Hegemonic Masculinity In Ruling-Class Boys’ Boarding Schools, S. Poynting, Mike Donaldson

Faculty of Arts - Papers (Archive)

Recent events in a ruling-class boys’ boarding school college in Sydney prompted public discussion about “bullying.” Debate ranged between those seeing an endemic problem to be cured and those who saw minor, unfortunate, and atypical incidents in a system where bullying is under control. It is argued here that such a practice is inherent in ruling-class boys’ education. It is an important part of making ruling-class men. Using life-history methods with available biographical material, the article shows that ruling-class schooling of boys in boarding schools involves “sending away” and initial loneliness, bonding in groups demanding allegiance, attachment to tradition, subjection …

Marketing Recycled Water: Review Of Past Studies And Research Agenda, Sara Dolnicar, C. Saunders

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

A review of past marketing-related research in the area of recycled water has been conducted. Findings are reported within the main areas of past research: willingness to adopt different forms of usage of recycled water, concerns of the general public towards the use of recycled water, the socio-demographic profile of early adopters, strategies to increase acceptance and adoption of recycled water in communities, perceived benefits among users of recycled water. The limitations of prior studies are reviewed and gaps identified, leading to recommendations for a future marketing-related research agenda to support public acceptance of recycled water in communities

Distance Education Teaching And Tutoring: Two Evolving Australian Models, A. Fuller, Penelope Mcfarlane, Patricia Cretchley, Christine Mcdonald, Cam Le Lam

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

Many Australian universities have entered the distance education market, offering degree programs throughout South East Asia. Although each university offers their programs in a variety of styles, the common factor is the use of computer and web based technologies to not only support the subject’s content, but to facilitate the communication between the students and their academics. Students have accepted this mode of delivery through the presence of their local academics, who have facilitated their use of the technology. Without their local input, both academically and culturally, it can be seen that student use of computer based technology would be …

An Eye Feature Detector Based On Convolutional Neural Network, Fok Hing Chi Tivive, Abdesselam Bouzerdoum

Faculty of Informatics - Papers (Archive)

One of the main problems when developing an eye detection and tracking system is to build a robust eye classifier that can detect the true eye patterns in complex scenes. This classi fication task is very challenging as the eye can appear in different locations with varying orientations and scales. Furthermore, the eye pattern varies intrinsically between ethnic groups, and with age and gender of a person. To cope better with these variations, we propose to use a bio-inspired convolutional neural network, based on the mechanism of shunting inhibition, for the detection of eye patterns in unconstrained environments. A learning …