Improving matching process in social network using implicit and explicit user information

Personalised social matching systems can be seen as recommender systems that recommend people to others in the social networks. However, with the rapid growth of users in social networks and the information that a social matching system requires about the users, recommender system techniques have become insufficiently adept at matching users in social networks. This paper presents a hybrid social matching system that takes advantage of both collaborative and content-based concepts of recommendation. The clustering technique is used to reduce the number of users that the matching system needs to consider and to overcome other problems from which social matching systems suffer, such as cold start problem due to the absence of implicit information about a new user. The proposed system has been evaluated on a dataset obtained from an online dating website. Empirical analysis shows that accuracy of the matching process is increased, using both user information (explicit data) and user behavior (implicit data).

Obesity screening for young Japanese males and females using skin fold measurements : the classification revisited

Anthropometric assessment is a simple, safe, and cost-efficient method to examine the health status of individu-als. The Japanese obesity classification based on the sum of two skin folds (Σ2SF) was proposed nearly 40 years ago therefore its applicability to Japanese living today is unknown. The current study aimed to determine Σ2SF cut-off values that correspond to percent body fat (%BF) and BMI values using two datasets from young Japa-nese adults (233 males and 139 females). Using regression analysis, Σ2SF and height-corrected Σ2SF (HtΣ2SF) values that correspond to %BF of 20, 25, and 30% for males and 30, 35, and 40% for females were determined. In addition, cut-off values of both Σ2SF and HtΣ2SF that correspond to BMI values of 23 kg/m2, 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2 were determined. In comparison with the original Σ2SF values, the proposed values are smaller by about 10 mm at maximum. The proposed values show an improvement in sensitivity from about 25% to above 90% to identify individuals with ≥20% body fat in males and ≥30% body fat in females with high specificity of about 95% in both genders. The results indicate that the original Σ2SF cut-off values to screen obese individuals cannot be applied to young Japanese adults living today and modification is required. Application of the pro-posed values may assist screening in the clinical setting.

A qualitative investigation of socio-cultural factors influencing binge-drinking : a multi-country study

Despite substantial investment by governments in social marketing campaigns and the introduction of various legislative and supply controls on alcohol, the binge drinking phenomenon amongst young people continues unabated in many countries and appears to be spreading to others. This paper examines drinking behaviour amongst university students from 50 countries across Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region and argues that more needs to be done in understanding socio-cultural factors. To date, little is known of the specific socio-cultural factors that are common in countries that have high drinking behaviour compared to countries that have moderate bingedrinking behaviour. Using a marketing systems approach, this exploratory study identifies two key themes that distinguish these countries, namely family influences and peer influences.

The Blair Witch Project : Forming strong attitudes, beliefs and consumer intentions from a myth

This brief consumer marketing case study was published in a consumer marketing text book.

Development of a workplace wellness promotion pilot framework : a case study of the Blue Care Staff Wellness Program

Workplace wellness initiatives are currently unreflective of the multidimensional and holistic nature of the wellness construct. There exists an opportunity for promoters of health to move toward models of workplace wellness promotion that more fully appreciate the interconnected nature of health dimensions and promote them even-handedly. The Blue Care Staff Wellness Program framework was developed in response to a recognised need for consistent and wellness-focused constructs for workplace wellness promotion and dissemination. The framework promotes and supports the individual and organisational wellness of the Blue Care employee population by providing a comprehensive and sustainable employee wellness program. This has been achieved by the adoption of consistent wellness principles to guide the framework conception and theory based development. The use of the framework in a pilot program will provide insight into the frameworks effectiveness in promoting a comprehensive workplace wellness program, and go further to establish the relationship between wellness and productivity in the workplace.

Towards a classification of criterion referenced assessment models in mathematics courses : student and academic perspectives

We present the findings of a study into the implementation of explicitly criterion- referenced assessment in undergraduate courses in mathematics. We discuss students' concepts of criterion referencing and also the various interpretations that this concept has among mathematics educators. Our primary goal was to move towards a classification of criterion referencing models in quantitative courses. A secondary goal was to investigate whether explicitly presenting assessment criteria to students was useful to them and guided them in responding to assessment tasks. The data and feedback from students indicates that while students found the criteria easy to understand and useful in informing them as to how they would be graded, it did not alter the way the actually approached the assessment activity.

The potential of critical race theory in decolonizing university curricula

This paper critiques our experiences as non-Indigenous Australian educators of working with numerous embedding Indigenous perspectives curricular projects at an Australian university. Reporting on these project outcomes alone, while useful in identifying limitations, does not illustrate ways in which future embedding and decolonising projects can persist and evolve. Deeper analysis is required of the ways in which Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are perceived, and what ‘embedding’ IK in university curricula truly means to various educational stakeholders. To achieve a deeper analysis and propose ways to invigorate the continuing decolonisation of Australian university curricula, this paper critically interrogates the methodology and conceptualisation of Indigenous knowledge in embedding Indigenous perspectives (EIP) in the university curriculum using tenets of critical race theory. Accordingly, we conduct this analysis from the standpoint that EIP should not subscribe to the luxury of independence of scholarship from politics and activism. The learning objective is to create a space to legitimise politics in the intellectual / academic realm (Dei, 2008, p. 10). We conclude by arguing that critical race theory’s emancipatory, future and action-oriented goals for curricula (Dei, 2008) would enhance effective and sustainable embedding initiatives, and ultimately, preventing such initiatives from returning to the status quo (McLaughlin & Whatman, 2008).

GCAP 2010 presentation : jams, jellybeans and the fruits of passion

In 2010 we realised that our fifth 48 hour game making competition was more than a mere event but that we were actually watching our local games industry enact a very intense process of community making and reflective practice. This presentation of our early research on the event was an invited spectacle at the Games Connect Australia Pacific Conference 2010 held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, 14-15 October 2010. Abstract: Jams, Jellybeans and the fruit of passion: if games are about creating innovative player experience, then the place to start is how we set up game design education as an experience Authors: truna aka j.turner – Brisbane IGDA & Lubi Thomas, Mt Nebo Studios The 48 hour game making challenge has grown since it started in 2007 to accommodate 20 teams, some of the teams are professionals, some are made of people who are working in other industries, most are made of students from the various tertiary institutes around town. We still don’t quite understand why these mad people sign up for 48 hours of intense creativity just for the jelly beans we hand out as prizes but we do suspect that the space we give them and the passion they bring to the event offers those of us involved in the education side of the games industry really vital insights into what is critical and important in terms of education. The Australian games industry really needs these people, they are bright and ingenious and they make the most amazing games. But you won't get them by telling tertiary institutions what you fancy this year in terms of skills and criteria; you will get them by fostering their creativity and passion. If games are about creating innovative player experience, then the place to start is how we set up game design education as an experience.

Molecular dynamics study of dynamic buckling properties of nanowires with defects

Based on the embedded atom method (EAM) and molecular dynamics (MD) method, the deformation properties of Cu nanowires with different single defects under dynamic compression have been studied. The mechanical behaviours of the perfect nanowire are first studied, and the critical stress decreases with the increase of the nanowire’s length, which is well agreed with the modified Euler theory. We then consider the effects to the buckling phenomenon resulted from different defects. It is found that obvious decrease of the critical stress is resulted from different defects, and the largest decrease is found in nanowire with the surface vertical defect. Surface defects are found exerting larger influence than internal defects. The buckling duration is found shortened due to different defects except the nanowire with surface horizon defect, which is also found possessing the largest deflection. Different deflections are also observed for different defected nanowires. It is find that due to surface defects, only deflection in one direction is happened, but for internal defects, more complex deflection circumstances are observed.

Advanced numerical study of impact forces on railway sleepers under wheel flat

Wheel-rail interaction is one of the most important research topics in railway engineering. It includes track vibration, track impact response and safety of the track. Track structure failures caused by impact forces can lead to significant economic loss for track owners through damage to rails and to the sleepers beneath. The wheel-rail impact forces occur because of imperfections on the wheels or rails such as wheel flats, irregular wheel profile, rail corrugation and differences in the height of rails connected at a welded joint. In this paper, a finite element model for the wheel flat study is developed by use of the FEA software package ANSYS. The effect of the wheel flat to impact force on sleepers is investigated. It has found that the wheel flat significantly increases impact forces and maximum Von Mises stress, and also delays the peak position of dynamic variation for impact forces on both rail and sleeper.

The Chronic Heart-Failure Assistance by Telephone (CHAT) Study: Assessment of Telephone Support for Vulnerable Patients with Chronic Disease

Aim: To determine whether telephone support using an evidence-based protocol for chronic heart failure (CHF) management will improve patient outcomes and will reduce hospital readmission rates in patients without access to hospital-based management programs. Methods: The rationale and protocol for a cluster-design randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a semi-automated telephone intervention for the management of CHF, the Chronic Heart-failure Assistance by Telephone (CHAT) Study is described. Care is coordinated by trained cardiac nurses located in Heartline, the national call center of the National Heart Foundation of Australia in partnership with patients’ general practitioners (GPs). Conclusions: The CHAT Study model represents a potentially cost-effective and accessible model for the Australian health system in caring for CHF patients in rural and remote areas. The system of care could also be readily adapted for a range of chronic diseases and health systems. Key words: chronic disease management; chronic heart failure; integrated health care systems; nursing care, rural health services; telemedicine; telenursing