Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Workshop | Body Worn Video Recorders: The Socio-Technical Implications Of Gathering Direct Evidence, Katina Michael, Alexander Hayes

Alexander Hayes Mr.

- From in-car video recording to body-worn video recording

- Exploring available technologies: how do they work, pros and cons

- Storing direct evidence in secure storage: factors to consider

- Citizens “shooting” back with POV tech – what are their rights?

- Crowdsourced sousveillance- harnessing public data for forensic profiling

- Police force policies and practices on the application of new media

The Essential Youth Friendly Gp Kit: An Evidence-Based Resource To Increase Gp Competencies For Dealing With Young People, Coralie Wilson, Frank Deane

Coralie J Wilson

No abstract provided.

Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior To Examine Residential Substance Abuse Workers' Intention To Use Evidence-Based Practices, Peter Kelly, Frank Deane, Megan Lovett

Peter Kelly

There is considerable discrepancy between what is considered evidence-based practice (EBP) and what is actually delivered in substance abuse treatment settings. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TpB) is a well-established model that may assist in better understanding clinician’s intentions to use EBPs. A total of 106 residential substance abuse workers employed by The Salvation Army participated in the current study. The workers completed an anonymous survey that assessed attitudes toward EBP and examined the constructs within the TpB. A linear regression analysis was used to predict clinicians’ intentions to use EBPs. Overall, the model accounted for 41% of the variance …

Concerted Ho2 Elimination From Alpha-Aminoalkylperoxyl Free Radicals: Experimental And Theoretical Evidence From The Gas-Phase Nh2 Chco2 - + O2 Reaction, Gabriel Da Silva, Benjamin Kirk, Celli Lloyd, Adam Trevitt, Stephen Blanksby

Adam Trevitt

We have investigated the gas-phase reaction of the α- aminoacetate (glycyl) radical anion (NH2 •CHCO2−) with O2 using ion trap mass spectrometry, quantum chemistry, and statistical reaction rate theory. This radical is found to undergo a remarkably rapid reaction with O2 to form the hydroperoxyl radical (HO2 •) and an even-electron imine (NHCHCO2−), with experiments and master equation simulations revealing that reaction proceeds at the ion−molecule collision rate. This reaction is facilitated by a low-energy concerted HO2 • elimination mechanism in the NH2CH(OO•)CO2− peroxyl radical. These findings can explain the widely observed free-radical-mediated oxidation of simple amino acids to amides …

Branching Fractions Of The Cn + C3h6 Reaction Using Synchrotron Photoionization Mass Spectrometry: Evidence For The 3-Cyanopropene Product, Adam Trevitt, Talitha Selby, Craig Taatjes, Satchin Soorkia, J Savee, D L Osborn, S R Leone

Adam Trevitt

The gas-phase CN + propene reaction is investigated using synchrotron photoionization mass spectrometry (SPIMS) over the 9.8 - 11.5 eV photon energy range. Experiments are conducted at room temperature in 4 Torr of He buffer gas. The CN + propene addition reaction produces two distinct product mass channels, C3H3N and C4H5N, corresponding to CH3 and H elimination, respectively. The CH3 and H elimination channels are measured to have branching fractions of 0.59 + 0.15 and 0.41 + 0.10, respectively. The absolute photoionization cross sections between 9.8 and 11.5 eV are measured for the three considered H-elimination coproducts: 1-, 2-, and …

Isolation And Characterization Of Charge-Tagged Phenylperoxyl Radicals In The Gas Phase: Direct Evidence For Products And Pathways In Low Temperature Benzene Oxidation, Benjamin Kirk, David Harman, Hilkka Kenttamaa, Adam Trevitt, Stephen Blanksby

Adam Trevitt

The phenylperoxyl radical has long been accepted as a critical intermediate in the oxidation of benzene and an archetype for arylperoxyl radicals in combustion and atmospheric chemistry. Despite being central to many contemporary mechanisms underpinning these chemistries, reports of the direct detection or isolation of phenylperoxyl radicals are rare and there is little experimental evidence connecting this intermediate with expected product channels. We have prepared and isolated two charge-tagged phenyl radical models in the gas phase [i.e., 4-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)phenyl radical cation and 4-carboxylatophenyl radical anion] and observed their reactions with dioxygen by ion-trap mass spectrometry. Measured reaction rates show good agreement …

Saving Lives Or Raising Revenue: Analysing Media Coverage Of The Alcopops Tax In Light Of The Evidence On Its Effects, Sandra C. Jones, Laura Robinson

Sandra Jones

The Australian Government increased the tax on ready-to-drink (RTD) alcohol beverages in 2008, in order to address concerns about increasing alcohol consumption among young people. This decision resulted in significant debate and discussion in the media, and in academic circles. The aim of the current study was to examine media coverage of the debate – and particularly the arguments posed in favour of and against the tax – now that we have objective evidence of its impact. We find that business owners and industry groups were vocal in the media, raising a number of arguments in opposition to the tax; …

Improving Sun Protection Behaviour Through Evidence-Based Campaigns, Anita Tang, Lyn J. Phillipson, Sandra C. Jones, Keryn M. Johnson

Sandra Jones

No abstract provided.

Macroeconomic Determinants Of Corporate Performance And Failure: Evidence From An Emerging Market The Case Of Jordan, Rami Zeitun, Gary Tian, Steve Keen

Gary Tian

This study investigates the impact of aggregate economic risk on a company’s performance and failure in a panel estimation using 167 Jordanian companies during 1989-2003. Our finding shows that unanticipated changes in interest rate negatively and significantly affect firms’ performance measured by ROA, which suggests that an interest rate rise increases the cost of borrowing and then further negatively affects a firm’s profit. We also found that both the production manufacturing index and Islamic credit facilities positively and significantly affect a firm’s performance. The positive and significant impact of Islamic credit facilities reflects the importance and the significance of the …

Do Migrants Rob Jobs?: New Evidence From Australia, Gary Gang Tian, Jordan Shan

Gary Tian

This study contributes to the recent debate on immigration and unemployment in Australia by investigating the causal linkage between immigration and unemployment. The question of whether `immigrants rob jobs' is examined by identifying the sources of unemployment through causal linkages between unemployment and other key variables such as immigration. The research finds no Granger causality between immigration and unemployment, but does run from industrial structural change to the high unemployment rate in Australia. This research also finds that both GDP growth and immigration inflow reinforce each other in the course of economic development in Australia.

Interactions Among China-Related Stocks: Evidence From A Causality Test With A New Procedure, Gary Gang Tian, Guang Hua Wan

Gary Tian

The purpose of this study is to investigate a causal relationship among five different indices of shares issued by Chinese firms, A-, B- and H-shares listed in China and Hong Kong. This paper re-examines the interactions among these China-related stocks using daily time series data by constructing a vector autoregresion (VAR) model. A new Granger no-causality testing procedure developed by Toda and Yamamoto (1995) was applied to test the causality link among these five stock indices. The results emerging from our research indicate that there are "closed" relations within A-share (as well as within B-share) between Shanghai and Shenzhen markets …

Gpr Surveys Of Vegetated Linear Dune Stratigraphy In Central Australia: Evidence For Linear Dune Extension With Vertical And Lateral Accretion, Gerald Nanson, Brian Jones, David Price, C Bristow, Cameron Hollands, Maria Coleman

B. G. Jones

No abstract provided.

Aeolian-Fluvial Interaction: Evidence For Late Quaternary Channel Change And Wind-Rift Linear Dune Formation In The Northwestern Simpson Desert, Australia, Gerald C. Nanson, Brian G. Jones, David M. Price, Tim Pietsch, C Bristow, Cameron B. Hollands

B. G. Jones

In central Australia the most easterly extent of the MacDonnell Ranges borders the northwestern Simpson Desert where widely spaced strike ridges intercept the regional linear dunefield. Topographic basins have disrupted regional drainage lines and isolated dune sets from the main dunefield. In the western part of Camel Flat basin large, red coloured linear dunes of fine sand, ~ 74 ka and older, are oriented almost due north. Through gaps in the ranges the Todd River traversed the eastern part of the basin until ~25 ka when it apparently avulsed ~25 km eastwards to its present position. Subsequently, linear dunes, smaller, …

Alluvial Evidence For Major Climate And Flow Regime Changes During The Middle And Late Quaternary For Eastern Central Australia, Gerald C. Nanson, David M. Price, B. G. Jones, Jerry C. Maroulis, Maria Coleman, Hugo Bowman, Timothy J. Cohen, Tim Pietsch, Joshua R. Larsen

B. G. Jones

As a low-gradient arid region spanning the tropics to the temperate zone, the Lake Eyre basin has undergone gentle late Cenozoic crustal warping leading to substantial alluvial deposition, thereby forming repositories of evidence for palaeoclimatic and palaeohydrological changes from the Late Tertiary to the Holocene. Auger holes and bank exposures at five locations along the lower 500 km of Cooper Creek, a major contributor to Lake Eyre in the eastern part of the basin, yielded 85 luminescence dates (TL and OSL) that, combined wit a further 142 luminescence dates from northeastern Australia, have established a chronology of multiple episodes of …

Ignoring A Level In A Multilevel Model: Evidence From Uk Census Data, Mark Tramner, David Steel

Professor David Steel

Because of the inherent multilevel nature of census data, it is often appropriate to use multilevel models to investigate relationships between census variables. For a local population, the data available from the census allow a three-level nested model to be assumed, with an individual level (level 1), an enumeration district (ED) level (level 2), and a ward level (level 3). The consequences of ignoring one of the three levels in this model are assessed here theoretically. Empirical results, based on 1991 UK Census data, are also provided, comparing the variance components estimated from the three-level model with analyses based on …

Controlling Shareholders Expropriation And Firms Leverage Decision: Evidence From Chinese Non-Tradable Share Reform, Qigui Liu, Gary Tian

Gary Tian

This paper examines the effect of excess control rights on the leverage decisions made by Chinese non-SOEs before and after the Non-tradable share reform (NTS reform). We find that firms with excess control rights have more excess leverage and their controlling shareholders use the resources for tunneling rather than investing in positive NPV projects. We also find that excess leverage in firms with excess control rights decreases and the market reaction to announcements of related party transactions are more positive after NTS reform. This confirms that tunneling by the controlling shareholders actually reduced. We argue that in emerging markets where …

Disproportional Ownership Structure And Pay-Performance Relationship: Evidence From China's Listed Firms, Jerry Cao, Xiaofei Pan, Gary G. Tian

Xiaofei Pan

This paper examines the impact of disproportional ownership structure on the pay-performance relationship in China’s listed firms. We find that the cash flow rights of the ultimate controlling shareholder have a positive effect on this relationship while a divergence between the control rights and cash flow rights has a significantly negative effect. By dividing our sample into state owned enterprises (SOE), state assets management bureaus (SAMB), and privately controlled firms, we find that cash flow rights in SOE controlled firms have a significant impact on accounting based pay performance and cash flow rights in privately controlled firms also affect the …

Older Rehabilitation Patients Are At High Risk Of Malnutrition: Evidence From A Large Australian Database, Karen Charlton, Clare Nichols, Steven Bowden, Kelly Lambert, Lilliana Barone, Michelle Mason, Marianna Milosavljevic

Karen E. Charlton

No abstract provided.

Are People Probabilistically Challenged? Book Review Of Daniel Kahneman, Thinking, Fast And Slow (2011), Alex Stein

Alex Stein

Daniel Kahneman’s recent book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, is a must-read for any scholar and policymaker interested in behavioral economics. Thus far, behavioral economists did predominantly experimental work that uncovered discrete manifestations of people’s bounded rationality: representativeness, availability, anchoring, overoptimism, base-rate neglect, hindsight bias, loss aversion, and other misevaluations of probability and utility. This work has developed no causal explanations for these misevaluations. Kahneman’s book takes the discipline to a different level by developing an integrated theory of bounded rationality’s causes and characteristics. This theory holds that humans use two distinct modes of reasoning, intuitive (System 1) and deliberative (System …

Further Evidence For Small-Bodied Hominins From The Late Pleistocene Of Flores Indonesia, Michael Morwood, P. Brown, Jatmiko, T. Sutikna, E.W. Saptomo, Kira Westaway, R. A. Due, Richard Roberts, T Maeda, S Wasisto, T Djubiantono

Richard G Roberts

Homo floresiensis was recovered from Late Pleistocene deposits on the island of Flores in eastern Indonesia, but has the stature, limb proportions and endocranial volume of African Pliocene Australopithecus ¹. The holotype of the species (LB1), excavated in 2003 from Liang Bua, consisted of a partial skeleton minus the arms. Here we describe additional H. floresiensis remains excavated from the cave in 2004. These include arm bones belonging to the holotype skeleton, a second adult mandible, and postcranial material from other individuals. We can now reconstruct the body proportions of H. floresiensis with some certainty. The finds further demonstrate …

Redating The Advance Of The New Zealand Franz Josef Glacier During The Last Termination: Evidence For Asynchronous Climate Change, Richard Roberts, Christian Turney, Matt Mcglone, J Cooper, J Wilmshurst, N De Jonge, C Prior

Richard G Roberts

No abstract provided.

A Southern Indian Middle Palaeolithic Occupation Surface Sealed By The 74 Ka Toba Eruption: Further Evidence From Jwalapuram Locality 22, Richard Roberts, Allan Chivas, Christopher Clarkson, Ravi Korisettar, Nicole Boivin, Michael Petraglia, Peter Ditchfield, Michael Haslam, Janardhana Bora, Sanjay Eksambekar, Victoria Smith, Anna Oh, Clair Harris

Richard G Roberts

No abstract provided.

Chronologies Of Carbon And Of Silica: Evidence Concerning The Dating Of The Earliest Human Presence In Northern Australia, Richard Roberts, Richard Jones

Richard G Roberts

No abstract provided.

Capital Structure And Its Implications: Empirical Evidence From An Emerging Market In South Asia, Athula Manawaduge, Anura De Zoysa, Palli Mulla K A Chandrakumara

Anil Chandrakumara

Using panel data regression analysis for a sample of 171 companies, this paper examines the implications of capital structure of corporate entities in an emerging market, Sri Lanka. The results demonstrate that most of the Sri Lankan firms finance their operations with short-term debt capital as against the long-term debt capital. It provides strong evidence to indicate that debt capital has a negative impact on firm performance. The study also found a significant negative relationship between tangibility and performance indicating inefficient utilization of non-current assets. The negative performance implications associated with over-utilization of short-term debts and the under-utilization non-current assets …

An Empirical Analysis Of Sustainability Of Trade Deficit: Evidence From South Asian Countries, Reetu Verma, Nelson Perera

Nelson Perera

In this paper, the long-run relationship between Sri Lankan exports and imports during the period 1950 to 2006 is examined using unit root tests and cointegration techniques that allow for an endogenously determined structural break. The results failed to support the existence of a long-run equilibrium between exports and imports in Sri Lanka. This finding questions the effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s current long-term macroeconomic policies and suggests that Sri Lanka is in violation of its international budget constraint.

The Effect Of Ownership Structure On Leverage Decision: New Evidence From Chinese Listed Firms, Qigui Liu, Gary Tian, Xiaoming Wang

Qigui Liu

This paper examines the effect of state control and ownership structure on the leverage decision of firms listed in the Chinese stock market. Our results show that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have higher leverage ratios than non-SOEs, and SOEs in regions with a poorer institutional environment have higher leverage ratios than SOEs in better regions. We also show that the largest shareholding (the percentage of shares held by the largest shareholder) in the SOEs has a negative relationship with the leverage ratio, while the largest shareholding in non-SOEs has a non-linear relationship with the short-term and long-term debt ratios. Finally, this …

Controlling Shareholders Expropriation And Firms Leverage Decision: Evidence From Chinese Non-Tradable Share Reform, Qigui Liu, Gary Tian

Qigui Liu

This paper examines the effect of excess control rights on the leverage decisions made by Chinese non-SOEs before and after the Non-tradable share reform (NTS reform). We find that firms with excess control rights have more excess leverage and their controlling shareholders use the resources for tunneling rather than investing in positive NPV projects. We also find that excess leverage in firms with excess control rights decreases and the market reaction to announcements of related party transactions are more positive after NTS reform. This confirms that tunneling by the controlling shareholders actually reduced. We argue that in emerging markets where …