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Working PaperPublication Amalgamation of Clarence Valley Councils, 1998-2004(2010-04)Between 1997 and 2004, first voluntary and then later forced amalgamation occurred in respect of the five general purpose councils and two specific purpose county councils in the Clarence Valley region of northern NSW. This paper describes the historic evolution of the Clarence Valley Council, which replaced all existing councils in February 2004. The 1998-2000 voluntary structural reform process was a wasted 'one-off' opportunity to secure a better local government structure for the Clarence Valley. In 2003-04, the State Government engineered a forced merger of the six local government entities in the Clarence Valley and forever changed the structure and nature of local government in the Clarence Valley Local Government Area. However, the resulting single entity has achieved significant early success.2351 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication An Annotated Bibliography on Justice and Legal Pluralism in Mindanao Briefing Paper No. 1: Ways for Women to Participate in Peacebuilding (Philippines)(Regulatory Institutions Network, Australian National University, 2015-01-01); Taylor, Veronica LLegal pluralism is a lived reality in Mindanao yet there are very few scholarly and practice-oriented works on the subject. The discourse on plural legal orders is a site of contestation among political interests both in Mindanao and within the Philippine state. The interests on 'alternative' modes of justice have been driven by both domestic and international initiatives on legal reform and access to justice. There is a need to deepen studies on legal pluralism in Mindanao, including more empirical studies on the functional administration of justice, the roles, backgrounds and motivations of justice providers and users, and the interaction or interdependency among the various normative orders within the local level and between the local and central state justice systems. The provision of effective justice among the people in Mindanao is a crucial task of post-conflict reconstruction that includes careful balancing and management of these complex plural legal systems.
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Publication Open AccessWorking PaperAntenatal Depression and the Impact of COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts in Australia(Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science and the Center for Open Science, 2021-02-10); ; The mitigation efforts of COVID-19 have led to significant changes to the delivery of routine healthcare globally. In Australia, the way maternal health services have been delivered since the beginning of the pandemic has also changed. Maternity care and support are known to influence maternal mental health. One hundred and eighty-eight English speaking pregnant women residing in Australia were recruited using social media advertising between September and November 2020 as part of a larger study. Participants were aged between 19 and 42 (M = 31.05, SD = 4.68). Compared with previous Australian prevalence rates of around 7% for antenatal depression, rates in this study were 15.9% overall and 19% for those in Melbourne. It is suggested that increased vigilance with screening and assessment will be required to identify and support this cohort of mothers who are not coping.1557 8 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Assessing the tactical and strategic flexibility of farms(2010) ;Kaine, Geoffrey ;Cowan, LisaClimate change has the potential to increase the variability of water supply to farms. The impact of this on farmers will depend on their capacity to absorb greater variability, or adapt to it, with no material impact on farm financial performance. The capacity of farmers to absorb an increase in the variability of water supply will depend in the first instance on the adequacy of the tactical responses available to them. Where this capacity is too low to match the increase in variability they will need to adapt to the increase. Farmers' capacity to adapt to an increase in the variability of water supply will depend on their ability to change strategy to suppress the effects of the increased variability. The lower the capacity of farmers to absorb, or adapt to, an increase in the variability of water supplies, the greater the extent to which any increase in variability will translate into greater financial volatility. Greater financial volatility may, in turn, create pressure for government to intervene to assist farmers. In this report we classify farms into types according to their capacity to absorb, or adapt to, greater variability in critical inputs like water supply. We then analyse the relative exposure of each type to increases in the variability of water supply. Finally, we identify logically-useful interventions that government might contemplate, consistent with maintaining the efficiency of Victorian agriculture.2676 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Can ICT improve education outcomes? An Experimental Study in a Singapore Primary School(2013-06) ;Reyes, VicenteTan, Dennis Kai HaiReading is an important outcome leading to academic success in life. Young children with undetected phonological processing deficits; difficulties in naming letters, poor vocabulary and poor recognition of sight words and who do not benefit from early literacy intervention are disadvantaged. Recent developments see the rapid rise in using technology as a powerful tool in helping early literacy learners in reading and writing skills. The authors find it timely thus to undertake a localized investigation on the effects of using computer-based intervention to support young children identified with reading difficulties. This exploratory study included the selection of thirty (30) participants from the Learning Support Programme (LSP) especially designed to cater to students with reading difficulties. The experimental intervention uses Earobics©; an interactive software programme in addition to the current LSP programme.2278 3 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Civic Capital Models: Comparison of Primary and Secondary Students in the Singapore Education System(2015) ;Reyes, Vicente ;Kang, TrivinaHogan, DavidThis inquiry interrogates linkages between civic capital broken down into beliefs, dispositions and agency with the notion of the school as a civic community. Using data generated from a longitudinal study on a stratified random sample of two cohorts of students belonging to the primary and secondary levels of the Singapore education system, this paper attempts to establish meaningful relationships between the students' conceptions and practices of civic capital with their perceptions of an active civic community in school.2519 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Codes of Conduct for Private Military and Security Companies: The State of Self-Regulation in the Industry(2009) ;Hoppe, CarstenThe present paper aims to assess the state of self-regulatory initiatives, often identified under the heading of "corporate social responsibility", in the Private Military and Security industry. It takes into account substantive regulation and its implementation. The analysis focuses on Codes of Conduct (CoC), including best practices and ethics declarations initiated by firms, designed to apply to the provision of coercive services in contexts of armed conflict.2238 2 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessWorking PaperCommunities of Practice, Supporting Research Administration in Australia using web 2.0 technologies(2009) ;Lewis, Rod KPearson, Grahame BCollaboration is the catch-cry of the modern research effort. Researchers are encouraged to collaborate to build research teams of critical mass that successfully leverage knowledge expertise and resources and improve the chances of funding success. As facilitators of the research and innovation chain, research administrators encourage collaborative that increasingly transcends disciplinary and national boundaries. The 'publish or perish' mantra has a new parallel: 'collaborate or perish'. The challenge for research administrators is to consider how the principles of collaboration equally apply to our community. We operate in an environment where resources are scarce, compliance and reporting demands are increasing, measures of quality and international ranking are paramount and managing the true cost of research is a key business driver. Working across boundaries is becoming an everyday reality for the research services professional. The question now, is collaboration the answer for the research administrator and, if so, how will the collaborative process be supported?2513 266 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Construction of Political Society and Political Interest in Secondary Students in Singapore(2015-07) ;Reyes, Vicente ;Kang, TrivinaHogan, DavidThis article discusses initial findings from the Panel 6 Life Pathways Study of the Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice, National Institute of Education-Nanyang Technological University. Particular focus is aimed at measuring initial results using Mixed Model Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the longitudinal panel studies conducted on a stratified random sample of Secondary School students in Singapore. Three constructs are analyzed, namely: Existential Aspirations, Construction of Political Society and Political Interest. Implications on policy and practice are outlined in the article.2526 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication The Controversies Over America's Last Civil War Veterans(The Writings of... Garry Victor Hill, 2014)Hill, Garry VictorAuthor's Note: This is Version One of a work in progress. Much more research is needed on several individuals: unfortunately this looks like months of work, not only to find and collate primary source material, but to assess its veracity, and worth. Secondary sources are also needed, they clarify much. Another more detailed version should be posted in a few months. The verdict on the last surviving veterans is not set in stone, I'm looking forward to evidence that will verify them. ... I am expecting corrections, differing viewpoints, fallacies exposed and extra information. All are welcome: they will make for a better VERSION 2. This work examines the claims of those twenty-one people still alive in 1952 who said they were survivors of the American Civil War. One by one their claims are assessed. This book also assesses (and ultimately changed) several influential Wikipedia entries on this matter, notably "The Last Surviving Confederate Veterans." Although all but one of the Union veterans have a verified status and Albert Woolson of the Union remains the last proven survivor of the Civil War, two Confederates are also now verified as having served. All the others have had their claim raised in some way, if not yet fully proven.2714 3 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Corporate Governance in China: An Analysis of Ownership Changes after the 1997 Announcement(2005)Ownership changes in state owned enterprises (SOEs) alter the ownership structure and in turn impact upon the corporate governance of the enterprises. Combined, these have been important considerations within the SOE reform process, particularly since the 1997 zhuada fangxiao commitment. The successful reform of SOEs is a significant factor in China's future economic prosperity and ability to contend with unemployment and social justice issues. Thus, the focus of this paper is firstly, the structure of ownership of publicly listed firms and secondly, the impact of ownership changes on SOEs in China immediately after the 1997 announcement. The study found that there were no dramatic ownership changes or state divestment of listed SOE firms immediately after the 1997 announcement, in the years 1997 to 2000. The ownership structures of publicly listed companies slowly changed as state holdings reduced and private ownership increased. The finding is that the state continues to hold a supermajority and is not relinquishing control of the publicly listed enterprises with any haste or priority, despite the announcement. The trend appears to be in the direction of decreasing state holdings, though at a relatively slow rate. There were very few fully privately owned publicly listed firms in China. The study identified 211 significant changes in the ownership structure of listed firms in the years 1997 to 2000. All of these changes involved the reduction of state holdings. The event study conducted in this analysis found that the market response to these changes is significant and positive. The results suggest that the market deems ownership change which reduces state holdings favorably and expects these changes to improve firm performance. Given that changes in ownership structure are found to be a decrease in state ownership, it is further posited that the market regards any ownership change that reduces state influence to be positive.2492 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Corporate Governance in China: An Empirical Study of the Ownership Structures of Listed Firms(2006)This study investigates whether ownership structure has a significant effect on the performance of listed firms in China. It also investigates what level of Chinese institutional ownership may be the most advantageous. The results of the empirical analysis of firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges are reported in this paper. The most significant findings are that institutional ownership, through Legal Person holding companies, is found to have a positive bearing on listed firm performance. Similar results are found for individual investors, offshore ownership and foreign institutions, but to a lesser extent. Also of significance is that Legal Person holdings are found to have a non-linear relationship to performance in that the levels of Legal Person ownership are found to be a significant factor. Significantly, the findings suggest that Medium levels of Legal Person ownership are the most effective in improving firm performance. Other issues that are identified in the empirical analysis are that size is relevant, in that large firms are found not to perform as well as smaller firms. Leverage carries some weight also, as highly leveraged firms are found not to perform as well.2335 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Country Lifers and the Meaning of Community: Parsing Community in the Text of the Report of Theodore Roosevelt's 1908 Commission on Country Life(2010)In August 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt wrote to Liberty Hyde Bailey of Cornell University and offered him the chairmanship of the Commission on Country Life. This special commission was charged with investigating the deficiencies of contemporary rural living, as well as potential remedies for such deficiencies. Roosevelt believed that upon the farmer rested the heavy responsibility for "feeding a world which is never more than a year away from starvation," while also preserving the fertility of the soil, preventing erosion, and properly using irrigation water. After an inquiry lasting five months and involving a prodigious effort to gather data through questionnaires, public meetings, and solicited correspondence, the Report of the Country Life Commission ("the report") was submitted to the president on January 23, 1909. The burden on the farmer, the commission found, was not being met with commensurate earnings or adequate "desirability, comfort and standing of the farmer's life." While the report may be flawed in some ways, its vision of an ecologically based agriculture and a country life that could be both remunerative and richly fulfilling is regarded by present-day historians as "deeply democratic and forward looking, even prophetic." In fact, as 21st-century communities seek to foster democratic participation, to heighten understanding of the relation of people to their environment, and to build on practices that make communities more sustainable places to live, the commission's recommendations have a fresh cogency and relevance.2219 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Death Penalty in the Philippines: Evidence on Economics and Efficacy(Ateneo School of Government, University of Manila, 2021-01); ;Mendoza, Ronald U ;Pizarro, Angelika Lourdes JSantiago, Ray Paolo JIn his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 27, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte called on Congress to swiftly pass the bill reinstating the death penalty, specifically for heinous drug-related crimes specified under the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002. Pro-death penalty lawmakers and advocates in the Philippines have long argued that the death penalty will deter criminality. However, the literature suggests that there is still no clear and credible empirical evidence to back the argument that the death penalty is a crime deterrent. Furthermore, this paper examined the potential drivers of the growing death penalty support in the Philippines and the possible implications of reinstating the death penalty in the current state of the country's justice system and economy.
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Working PaperPublication Defining Practical Guidelines for Evaluating Long-Term Smallholder Decision-Making in Developing Countries(2010) ;Winters, Paul ;Hardaker, John Brian; Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)Upon developing a new agricultural technology, national agricultural research services (NARSs) and international agricultural research centres (IARCs) need to determine whether the innovation will provide long-term, sustainable benefits to their targeted stakeholders, usually smallholder farmers in developing countries. To determine this, researchers employ private investment analysis to assess the net benefits to smallholders of adopting the new technology. Private investment analysis often concludes that investments with distant future benefits, such as resource conservation, pasture improvement and livestock breeding programs, are not profitable because the short-term costs outweigh the long-run benefits. Yet, it is not uncommon to find smallholders making long-term investments of this type. This apparent contradiction between investment analysis and investment behaviour suggests there may be flaws in the methods used to assess private investment decisions in such contexts. The problem with the standard method of investment analysis is that it may not properly account for how smallholders in developing countries value their own (non-monetary) labour and capital costs and how they value future outcomes. In standard investment analysis, non-monetary benefits and costs are converted into monetary (cash) terms using a seemingly appropriate measure, such as market wage or rental rate. In developing countries, however, the opportunity costs of labour and capital, such as bullocks or tractors, may be near zero, unobservable, or simply difficult to estimate due to the presence of imperfect or failed labour and capital markets. Opportunity costs may also vary significantly through the year due to the seasonality of production. Using costs associated with a harvest period may not be appropriate for the off-season. Furthermore, in these circumstances a premium is placed on cash since market imperfections make cash a scarce commodity. In this context, using the market wage or rental rate for non-monetary costs and putting a cash value on these inputs may overestimate the costs of projects. Additionally, by assuming that all activities can be directly converted to cash assumes that the value of these activities may be discounted in a manner similar to cash, which for standard analysis is done using the interest rate on borrowed funds. However, given the premium placed on cash in these economies, such an assumption may be incorrect. Future outcomes from these activities may need to be evaluated using an alternative method.2738 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessWorking PaperDepression, anxiety, and stress in partners of Australian combat veterans and military personnel: A comparison with Australian population normsPartners of Australian combat veterans are at an increased risk of experiencing mental health problems. For a comparative analysis of mental health of partners of veterans with that of their non-military counterparts, the study sample comprised female partners of (a) Australian combat veterans (Sample 1: n = 282, age M = 60.79, SD = 5.05), (b) a random sub-sample of partners of Australian combat veterans from the previous sample (Sample 2: n = 50; M = 60.06, SD = 4.80), (c) partners of Special Air Services Regiment (SASR) personnel (Sample 3: n = 41, age M = 34.39 SD = 7.01), and (d) partners of current serving military (non-SASR) personnel (Sample 4: n = 38, age M = 32.37, SD= [i]6.20). Respondents completed measures to assess their reported levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The two samples (Samples 1 and 2) for partners of Australian combat veterans reported significantly poorer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress than the comparative population norms. The sample of SASR personnel partners reported significantly greater levels of depression and anxiety, while the sample with non‑SASR personnel partners reported a significantly poorer symptomatology in stress than the comparative norms. Lessons and protective factors can be learnt from groups within the current military as to what may assist partners and families to maintain a better level of psychosocial health.1483 150 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication The Determinants of Australian Household Debt: A Macro-level Study(2011); ; Household debt in Australia has grown at an astonishing rate since the 1990s. This paper employs a cointegrated Vector Autoregression (VAR) model to explore the determinants of Australian household debt. The results show that GDP is the most important determinant, followed by the housing prices and the number of new dwellings. Meanwhile, interest rates, unemployment rate and inflation are found to have a negative effect on Australian household debt; of these, interest rates are the most significant. Based on these results, it is judicious to rein in household debt in the economic booms through reforms to the financial system, standardizing lending market, monitoring and intervening in assets market, and using the monetary policy timely, comprehensively, and carefully.2576 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Does IPO Underpricing in China Explain a Firm's Long-Term Performance?: An Empirical Study of IPOs in China with Corporate Governance Perspectives(2009) ;Li, LarryIn excess of 1,500 firms have listed publicly on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges in China since 1990. With close to 20 years of unique IPO activity, China represents a rich source of data to explore the IPO aftermarket performance. The sample of this study includes 311 IPOs issued from 1999 to 2001. The period is studied because it was the most dynamic phase of IPO issues in the Chinese market in recent times after which the market subsequently became extremely volatile. The results of the study show that firms with higher initial IPO returns are valued more highly by investors, and are expected to provide superior returns in the long-run. The ownership structure has a bearing on the corporate governance of the firm and its objectives. Accordingly, the market in China values legal person and foreign ownership more than other forms of ownership and expect these to enhance performance long-term. Management ownership has a positive influence on performance as it related to State ownership, but not to legal person ownership. On the other hand, State ownership was negatively related to performance. The findings also show that the growth potential of a firm has a significant bearing on the long run performance of IPOs in China. Larger firms are considered more highly by the market in IPOs in China. A number of other variables, including aspects of corporate governance, are applied to the study and their results are reported.2729 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Economic Rationales for Government Intervention(2009)The only rationale for considering intervention in the operation of an entity is that it is functioning poorly. Poor functioning may be defined as wrong or insufficient output or excessive wastefulness in the way the output is produced. Justified belief that some aspect of the functioning of an organisation or economy is deficient is a necessary, but not sufficient, rationale for intervention. The scarcity of management time means that the deficiency must be "material", must be "of significant magnitude", to warrant attention. It must also be the case that (a) interventions are available that address the cause of the deficiency, unless symptomatic relief completely eliminates the deficiency, and (b) the intervention selected contributes at least as much to performance as it costs. The rationale for government intervention in an economy may concern the efficiency of the economy (the focus here) or the social outcomes of the economy. Efficiency rationales exist when the poor functioning of the economy is due to some inherent feature of the economy itself. Social rationales are choices society makes which indicate a rejection, to some degree, of the effects of the otherwise good functioning of the economy. These are choices to privilege members of society, and resources, differently to the way the economy does at a point in time. Economic theory has useful analytical tools for distinguishing problems from non-problems in the functioning of the economy, diagnosing causes of problems and identifying useful interventions. This is particularly helpful given the complexity of economies and the characteristic of all complex systems that intuitively-appealing understandings of their internal functioning are often wrong. Tools have also been developed which can assist in the structuring of the analysis of problems with the outcomes of economies; this is the domain of welfare economics.5239 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessWorking PaperElection-Related Violence in the Philippines: Trends, Targets, and Perpetrators(Ateneo School of Government, 2022-02-17); ;Ballar, Kier Jesse ;Refani, Renner PaulYap, JurelElection-related violence (ERV) is a recurring concern in the Philippines — one that strikes deep into the hearts of the country's democratic institutions. As such, a thorough analysis on the nature of ERVs in the country is necessary for the development of policies that combat such violence. While there has been a number of ERV studies post-Marcos, this is the first that looks at electoral violence data at both the individual and aggregate levels. This study examines incidences of Election-Related Violence (ERV) in the Philippines from 2013 to 2019 using a novel dataset, the ASOG ERV Database, constructed from online media reports. The findings highlight key characteristics of ERV in the Philippines from 2013 to 2019.
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Publication Open AccessWorking PaperEvaluating Effects of Resting-State Electroencephalography Data Pre-Processing on a Machine Learning Task for Parkinson's Disease(medRxiv, 2023-03-06); ;Daskalaki, Elena; ;Lueck, Christian JSuominen, HannaResting-state electroencephalography (RSEEG) is a method under consideration as a potential biomarker that could support early and accurate diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). RSEEG data is often contaminated by signals arising from other electrophysiological sources and the environment, necessitating pre-processing of the data prior to applying machine learning methods for classification. Importantly, using differing degrees of pre-processing will lead to different classification results. This study aimed to examine this by evaluating the difference in experimental results when using re-referenced data, data that had undergone filtering and artefact rejection, and data without muscle artefact. The results demonstrated that, using a Random Forest Classifier for feature selection and a Support Vector Machine for disease classification, different levels of pre-processing led to markedly different classification results. In particular, the presence of muscle artefact was associated with inflated classification accuracy, emphasising the importance of its removal as part of pre-processing.
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Working PaperPublication An Exploratory Analysis of TPACK Perceptions of Pre-Service Science Teachers: A Regional Australian Perspective(2015) ;Reyes, Vicente ;Doyle, Helen; ; Four distinct constructs were identified from a survey of a sample of pre-service science teachers at a regional Australian University. The constructs emerged after employing Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) on respondents' perceptions of pedagogical practices incorporating the use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT). The key components of the survey were derived from a Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) survey developed for a national project. For future investigations of TPACK application in university contexts, a four-construct configuration of pre-service teacher TPACK perceptions is proposed that requires empirical confirmation. This inquiry depicts a portrait of the emerging domains of TPACK from our sample. The relevance of the findings of the inquiry and their implications for universities that rely heavily on ICT in the delivery of are discussed, especially in relation to improving teaching practices.2795 6 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Extra-territorial Application of the EU Emission Trading System: Critical Divergences between the EU and the US(2013)By means of Directive 2008/101 the EU extended its Emission Trading System to airline companies whose aircraft arrive at or depart from the territory of the EU Member States. Requested to provide a preliminary opinion on the validity of the Directive - especially in light of its extraterritorial application - the CJEU confirmed its effectiveness, arguably based mainly on the principle of sovereignty and only subsidiarily on the principle of environmental protection. In light of the interpretation provided by the CJEU, this paper critically assesses Directive 2008/101 and concludes that its consistency with international law should be considered in the light of the secondary consequences of the duty to protect the environment rather than territorial sovereignty.2182 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Foreign-Specific Agglomerations and the Location of Taiwanese Direct Investment in China(2011)This study investigates the interactions between provincial characteristics and foreign-specific agglomerations on Taiwanese investors' location choice in China. Using firm-level data, we find that nationality agglomeration and Asian agglomeration have non-negligible impacts on these investors. Furthermore, we find that their location choice follows a sequential selection process. These findings suggest that a region-wide development strategy is a more effective means of attracting these investors than province-specific fiscal concessions and preferential treatment.2493 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication A Formal Prescriptive Approach to General Principles of (International) Law(2007)From the analytical viewpoint a norm can formally be regarded as a right-duty (or claim-obligation) relation (1) that regulates behaviour (action/inaction) (2) among subjects (3) in definite space (4) and time (5). In normative terms, general principles (the 'basis') of (international) law can be conceived of as general obligations, i.e. obligations erga omnes (towards everyone). Obligations erga omnes, indivisible or divisible because of their content, link a subject to every other subject of international law, endowed with a correlative claim, so that the whole obligations erga omnes are matched by the whole claims erga omnes of all the subjects of international law. Indivisible obligations erga omnes are unavailable from the viewpoint of the power, so cogentes, breaches violate necessarily all the correlative claims, possibly enabling every subject to invoke the responsibility and impose sanctions. Correspondingly, sanctions should be regarded as indivisible obligations erga omnes, the violation of which allows universal enforcement. Nevertheless, specifically by reason of the gravity of the breach, it is possible to split primary and secondary norms, conceiving of the sanction as a bilateral relation allowing solely reciprocal enforcement in the case of an infringement. Divisible obligations erga omnes are available from the viewpoint of the power, so dispositivae, breaches must be seen as relative, enabling only the subject(s) injured to invoke the responsibility and impose sanctions. Correspondingly, sanctions should be regarded as bilateral obligations, the infringement of which gives rise to reciprocal enforcement. Nevertheless, it is possible to figure out that specifically the gravity of the breach 'unifies' the primary divisible obligation, allowing universal invocation of the responsibility, so that the secondary obligation could be either bilateral or a general indivisible one, respectively permitting relative or absolute enforcement in the case of a breach.2188 1 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Health System Relationships - A Paradigm Shift for Safety and Quality in Healthcare(2014-03) ;MacLeod, HughOnce more, I find myself standing on the balcony of personal reflection. But I am not alone today: I am joined by Mary Ditton from Australia. Together, we begin to digest the insights and discoveries recently shared by previous guests, along with the feedback provided by readers. I am grateful for the honest dialogue shared and for their optimism within each personal vision. Reflecting back on these conversations, we cannot help but recite once again Tommy Douglas' quote: "Courage, my friends; 'tis not too late to build a better world." Expectedly, the Ghost of Healthcare Consciousness joins us...2483 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Historical Evolution of Local Government Amalgamation in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia(2010-03); Australian local government has been forced in recent decades to engage in 'amalgamation wars'. State governments have been the primary initiators for reducing numbers of local authorities, usually on the premise that there were too many authorities. States have pursued amalgamations often on the pretext of the perceived need for greater efficiency and better service delivery to local communities. However, numerous scholars, as well as practitioners in the local government sector, have argued that amalgamations on their own have not necessarily generated efficiencies. In addition, communities have often strongly opposed mergers and appealed against the perceived loss of local identity and local democracy. In the second of two comparative papers, we provide an account of the processes of amalgamation in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.2419 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Historical Evolution of Local Government Amalgamation in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia(2010-03); Australian local government has been forced in recent decades to engage in 'amalgamation wars'. State governments have been the primary initiators for reducing numbers of local authorities, usually on the premise that there were too many authorities. States have pursued amalgamations often on the pretext of the perceived need for greater efficiency and better service delivery to local communities. However, numerous scholars, as well as practitioners in the local government sector, have argued that amalgamations on their own have not necessarily generated efficiencies. In addition, communities have often strongly opposed mergers and appealed against the perceived loss of local identity and local democracy. In the first of two comparative papers, we provide an account of the processes of amalgamation in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.2414 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessWorking PaperHoarding to the heart's content: a case series and detailed case report of hoarding treatment in heart failureHoarding disorder (HD) is characterized by an accumulation of possessions due to excessive acquisition of, or difficulty discarding possessions. Evidence demonstrates an increased cardiovascular response in patients with HD. Cognitive-behavioral therapy modifications are described for HD patients with heart failure to compensate for fatigability, syncope and falls risk.498 6 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication ICT Teaching Practices from a TPACK Perspective - A View from a Regional Australian University(2014-08) ;Reyes, Vicente; ; Doyle, HelenThree distinct clusters were identified from a survey study of a sample of 127 unit coordinators from a regional Australian University. The clusters emerged after a survey that explored perceptions of pedagogical practices that incorporated the use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT). The key components of the survey were based on seven constructs derived from the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK). For future investigations of TPACK application in university contexts, a three-cluster configuration of teacher-practitioners is proposed that requires empirical confirmation. The relevance of the findings of the inquiry and their implications on universities that conduct ICT intensive courses were also discussed, especially in relation to improving teaching practices.2887 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Implications for natural resource management of restructuring organisations: protecting community involvement(2011); ;Keeble, BrigetteHigson, MeganAt many levels of government there is regular consideration of the appropriateness of structures for engaging with communities in regard to the design and delivery of policy. Consideration of such matters naturally raises the issue of the appropriateness of more centralised management strategies. The purpose of the analysis in this paper was to identify, using economic and organisational analysis, predictable consequences for natural resource management (NRM) in Victoria of the centralisation of agencies and decision making. These consequences are of particular interest to the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Sustainable Irrigation Program (DSE SIP) and the Goulburn-Broken Catchment Management Authority's (GB CMA) Shepparton Irrigation Region Program because the Victorian Government has, since the establishment of catchment and land protection boards in 1994, followed a decentralised approach to NRM. Both Programs' value the role of regional and local knowledge in NRM which is demonstrated through partnerships with regional agencies and community representation on advisory bodies. The specific purpose of this analysis was to identify the potential strategic risks that a shift to a more centralised agency structure could pose to programs such as DSE SIP so that any such risks might be managed effectively. In the next section we briefly describe the motivation for considering the centralisation of NRM. We then analyse the challenges centralisation poses for maintaining community involvement in NRM, particularly in terms of information sharing and the motivation of landholders to change their behaviour so as to give effect to NRM policies. The analysis draws on economic, organisational and strategic management literatures. The implications of centralising agency structures in NRM are then discussed.2639 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Inescapable violence: Cyber bullying and electronic violence against young people in South AfricaInternet, cellular and cyber technologies have opened up a wealth of opportunities for learning, exploration, and social and public engagement by children and young people. However, such benefits are not without their dangers, and much has been made of the extant and potential hazards of such technologies.
Most commonly relating to young people, these dangers take the form of what is commonly known as cyber bullying.
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Publication Open AccessWorking PaperInvestigating the Effectiveness of the Open Data Badge Policy at Psychological Science Through Computational Reproducibility(PsyArXiv Preprints, 2022-04-01) ;Crüwell, Sophia; ;Baker, Bradley J ;Colling, Lincoln J ;Elson, Malte ;Geiger, Sandra J ;Lobentanzer, Sebastian ;Monéger, Jean ;Patterson, Alex ;Schwarzkopf, D Samuel ;Zaneva, MirelaBrown, Nicholas J LIn April 2019, Psychological Science published its first issue in which all research articles received the Open Data badge. We used that issue to investigate the effectiveness of this badge, focusing on the adherence to its stated aim at Psychological Science: ensuring reproducibility of results. Twelve researchers of varying experience levels attempted to reproduce the results of the empirical articles in the target issue (at least three researchers per article). We found that all articles provided at least some data, 6/14 articles provided analysis code or scripts, only 1/14 articles was rated to be exactly reproducible, and 3/14 essentially reproducible with minor deviations. We recommend that Psychological Science require a check of reproducibility at the peer review stage before awarding badges, and that the Open Data badge be renamed "Open Data and Code" to avoid confusion and encourage researchers to adhere to this higher standard.
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Working PaperPublication Invisible Colleges and International Consortia in Higher EducationThere are various dimensions of international university co-operation, specifically international consortia in higher education. Although opinions vary as to why they were developed, the majority of international consortia began positioning themselves after World War II have increased greatly since then. Regardless of their mission or purpose, international consortia have arguably supplemented higher educational institutions as 'invisible colleges', so characterised because the physical infrastructure of institutions has been complemented by cooperative relationships established in order to provide adequate quality and variety instruction, to monitor worldwide educational trends, and to further promote the dissemination and advancement of knowledge. The specific study encompasses 500 + such international university organisations worldwide, with particular survey data directed toward international consortia. Analysis of the data collected details the role they play in the internationalisation of higher education and their possible applications and benefits to participatory institutions.1663 157 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Labelling Issues of Organic and GM Foods in AustraliaGrowth in the demand for organic foods has been phenomenal in the past decade both in Australia and overseas because organic production is seen to be beneficial to both human health and the environment. In general, organic products commend a price premium over conventional products. Since organic attributes cannot be verified easily and there is no control over the use of the word 'organic' in the Australian market, the organic label has been subject to abuse. Over ten years, the Australian organic industry has called for a domestic regulation, claiming that any incidence of consumer deception and product misrepresentation can result in the loss of consumer confidence and sales, and more importantly, hinder future industry growth. However, the Government has rejected the calls. On the other hand, despite its recent history, the labelling of GM foods has become mandatory since 2001. This paper examines the arguments for and against the mandatory labelling of organic foods in Australia, compares the political and marketing environments in which organic and GMO foods operate, and assesses the appropriateness of the differing regulatory responses.1518 17 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Leverage, Profitability and the Ownership Structures of Listed Firms in China(2007-08)The relationship between leverage, profitability and a firm's ownership structure in China is investigated in this paper. It is an exploratory study based on all firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 1999 to 2005. The results of the empirical analysis are reported in this paper. The most significant result is that foreign holdings are found to have a significant relationship with the leverage of listed firms in China. Whereas, somewhat unexpectedly, institutional ownership, through legal person holding companies, state ownership and private holdings are not found to have a significant relationship with the capital structure choices of firms in China. The results also suggest that some firm-specific factors that are relevant for explaining firm leverage generally referred to in studies in developed economies, such as profitability, growth opportunities, size and tax shields, are also relevant in China. The age of the firms and the industry to which they principally belong also has significant bearing. Yet direct government grants and the use of an internationally renowned auditing firm do not show a significant relationship.2352 3 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Local Democracy and Structural Reform in Australian Local Government(2010-07)Since the early 1990s, as a consequence of almost invariably forced amalgamations of local government in all Australian state and territory jurisdictions, there has been a substantial reduction in the number of elected representatives. Fewer councillors now serve typically substantially enlarged local government areas and populations, which has created the capacity for adverse impacts on local democracy and democratic practice. This paper considers conceptual perspectives on local democracy; outlines representative, participatory, deliberative, direct and electronic democracy as modes of local democracy; addresses local government amalgamation and its effects on local democracy; and suggests options for retention and augmentation of local democratic practice.2428 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Local Government Amalgamation in New South Wales(2010); Australian local government has been forced in recent decades to engage in 'amalgamation wars'. State governments have been the primary initiators for reducing numbers of local authorities, usually on the premise that there were too many authorities. States have pursued amalgamations often on the pretext of the perceived need for greater efficiency and better service delivery to local communities. However, numerous scholars, as well as practitioners in the local government sector, have argued that amalgamations on their own have not necessarily generated efficiencies. In addition, communities have often strongly opposed mergers and appealed against the perceived loss of local identity and local democracy. This paper examines the recent history of amalgamations of New South Wales councils and other structural reform initiatives in local government in that state.2499 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Working PaperPublication Local Government Structural Reform in Anglosphere and OECD Countries(2010-09)Structural reform has transformed the landscape of Australian local government activity. The meaning and nature of structural reform in the context of local government amalgamation is investigated in this paper. Examples of overseas experience of local government amalgamation as a preferred structural reform mechanism used by governments to reduce council numbers are considered. Local government reform experience in the Anglosphere nations of the United Kingdom, United States of America (USA), Canada and New Zealand and OECD countries Germany, France, Italy and Spain is examined. Amalgamation of local government units occurred in most of these countries for largely the same reason; to improve the operational efficiency of local government. Despite the very large numbers of local government units in some jurisdictions, strong community attachment to locality and the virtues of localism had meant that, in recent decades, higher spheres of government had not been prepared to attempt to impose local government mergers.2506 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Open AccessWorking PaperManaging Armed Groups in Myanmar's Peace Process: Security Sector Governance as a Way Forward(2017)This paper explores the dilemmas around the management of armed groups in the peace process in Myanmar, with a focus on the future of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform. The paper also argues that a clear conceptual understanding and consensus between ethnic armed organizations and the Union government on how to disarm, demobilize and reintegrate armed groups must be embedded in the framework of political dialogue and peace negotiation.2825 3
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