Management skills for the successful operations of mining and associated industries, with reference to marketing, investment and industrial relations

The Australian economy in the post second world war period heralded a golden age of expansion with the returned servicemen assured of jobs. The employment was based upon a historically sound agriculture culture with markets for wool and grain available in a hungry world and the potentially Insatiable demand of the Japanese Industry for coal and Iron ore. Labour shortages which threatened the rate of expansion were eased by a favourable immigration policy. This policy sought to provide skilled labour for Industry and a potential local demand for domestic products. Government investment in capital programmes such as the Snowy Mountain scheme could take a high proportion of service skilled labour and at the same time open up areas for the development of satellite industrial areas to decentralise Industry

Groundwater Conservation Policy in Agriculture

Transboundary water conflicts between urban and rural populations often center on water use in the agricultural sector. Public officials may select a water conservation policy as the primary tool for reducing agricultural water use with the goal to improve water availability to urban areas and future generations. The Groundwater Management Act of 1980 (GMA) in Arizona was designed, in part, to induce water conservation in irrigated agriculture to sustain economic growth in an arid climate. Our mixed-method evaluation design merges qualitative, interview-based information with an estimated water demand function using panel data. We find that the GMA began with a flawed design and evolved through political circumstances into a ineffective water conservation tool. We explain nearly all water use in Arizona's agricultural sector from 1984-2002 using prices and weather data. We found no statistical evidence that the management plans of the GMA directly contributed to reduced water demand in Arizona's agricultural sector over the study period.Impact assessment, public policy, irrigation, water conservation, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The results and implications of a formal and functional grammar test in grade eight

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Using body language indicators for assessing the effects of soundscape quality on individuals

“Sounding Brighton” is a collaborative project exploring practical approaches towards better soundscapes focusing on soundscape issues related to health, quality of life and restorative functions of the environment. The project is part of a citywide engagement process working to provide opportunities to demonstrate how an applied soundscape approach might: tackle conventional noise problems, contribute to local planning and improve the environment in areas including urban green spaces, the built environment and traffic noise. So far, a soundscape map of the city has been developed, and a public outreach exhibition and conferences have taken place. One preliminary, experimental soundscape intervention in night noise has been analysed. This paper reports on further work to develop a better understanding of the effects of soundscapes on individual and community responses to soundscape through the use of body language indicators. Two-minute excerpts of aversive and preferred music were presented to 11 healthy volunteers in a motion-capture laboratory setting. Their responses were quantified computationally using motion-capture-derived parameters for position, absolute movement speed, and stillness. The prevalence of stillness of the head height (based on a 2 cm cut-off during 2-second sectors) was significantly lower when volunteers were exposed to unpleasant music compared to preferred music. This experiment provides proof in principle that changes in soundscape can be associated with subsequent, objective and statistically significant changes in body language that can be detected computationally

What does not happen: quantifying embodied engagement using NIMI and self-adaptors

Previous research into the quantification of embodied intellectual and emotional engagement using non-verbal movement parameters has not yielded consistent results across different studies. Our research introduces NIMI (Non-Instrumental Movement Inhibition) as an alternative parameter. We propose that the absence of certain types of possible movements can be a more holistic proxy for cognitive engagement with media (in seated persons) than searching for the presence of other movements. Rather than analyzing total movement as an indicator of engagement, our research team distinguishes between instrumental movements (i.e. physical movement serving a direct purpose in the given situation) and non-instrumental movements, and investigates them in the context of the narrative rhythm of the stimulus. We demonstrate that NIMI occurs by showing viewers’ movement levels entrained (i.e. synchronised) to the repeating narrative rhythm of a timed computer-presented quiz. Finally, we discuss the role of objective metrics of engagement in future context-aware analysis of human behaviour in audience research, interactive media and responsive system and interface design

THE EFFECT OF SUBMAXIMAL LOADS ON TRUNK POSTURE DURING THE CLEAN IN COMPETITIVE WEIGHTLIFTERS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of submaximal loads on trunk posture during the clean in the aid of improving the technical and physical training of weightlifters. Weightlifters (n=10) with at least two years of training experience in weightlifting participated the study. Each participant performed 3 cleans at 65, 75, 85% of one repetition maximum (1RM). The results of this study highlighted the importance of a controlled trunk motion during the first pull followed by a maximal extension of the trunk in the second pull in relation to weightlifting performance. This study provided novel information about important technical aspects in weightlifting

Three-dimensional kinematics of the lumbar spine during gait using marker-based systems: a systematic review.

To review the current scientific literature on the assessment of three-dimensional movement of the lumbar spine with a focus on the utilisation of a 3D cluster. Electronic databases PubMed, OVID, CINAHL, The Cochrance Library, ScienceDirect, ProQuest and Web of Knowledge were searched between 1966 and March 2015. The reference lists of the articles that met the inclusion criteria were also searched. From the 1530 articles identified through an initial search, 16 articles met the inclusion criteria. All information relating to methodology and kinematic modelling of the lumbar segment along with the outcome measures were extracted from the studies identified for synthesis. Guidelines detailing 3D cluster construction were limited in the identified articles and the lack of information presented makes it difficult to assess the external validity of this technique. Scarce information was presented detailing time-series angle data of the lumbar spine during gait. Further developments of the 3D cluster technique are required and it is essential that the authors provide clear instruction, definitions and standards in their manuscript to improve clarity and reproducibility

Multi-segment kinematic model to assess three-dimensional movement of the spine and back during gait.

BACKGROUND Relatively little is known about spine during gait compared to movement analysis of the lower extremities. The trunk is often regarded and analysed as a single rigid segment and there is a paucity of information on inter-segmental movement within the spine and its relationship to pelvis and lower limbs. OBJECTIVES To develop and validate a new multi-segment kinematic model to assess regional three-dimensional movement of the lumbar, lower thoracic and upper thoracic spine during gait. STUDY DESIGN Observational study. METHODS The study was conducted in two parts: (1) to provide validation measures on the kinematic model built in commercially available software and (2) to apply the marker configuration to the spine at T3, T8 and L3 during gait analysis on 10 healthy male volunteers. RESULTS Proposed model revealed excellent concurrent validation measures between an applied input angle to the recorded output angle from the kinematic model. A high reliability was observed during gait analysis, both during a single session and between sessions for all participants. CONCLUSION The thoracic region of the spine should not be modelled as a single rigid segment and the proposed three-dimensional cluster is reliable and repeatable to assess the inter-segmental movement of the spine. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Reliable kinematic data can be collected using the three-dimensional cluster technique, thus, allowing researchers to accurately distinguish between movement patterns of healthy individuals to those with a clinical condition, and provide confidence in data acquisition during the monitoring process of an implemented rehabilitation intervention programme

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE COORDINATION AND COORDINATION VARIABILITY BETWEEN THE THORAX AND PELVIS DURING A MAXIMAL INSTEP KICK

The purpose of study was to assess coordination and coordination variability between the pelvis and thorax during a maximal instep kick (MIK) with the use of a modified vector coding technique. Nine university football players participated in this study. An optoelectronic motion capture system collected kinematic data on the dominant (DOM) and non-dominant (ND) side. The output from the vector coding technique was assigned to a coordination pattern classification that details the phase relationship between two segments, quantifies segmental dominancy, and provides information on segmental angle rotations. The results of this study and the reported coordination patterns of a MIK expands on current understanding of the tension arc (TA). Coordination variability was greater for the ND trials compared to the DOM trials. Overall, pelvis-thorax coordination and trunk angle kinematics are extremely influential when producing a high quality MIK