Human factors evaluation of a novel Australian approach for activating railway level crossings

There are currently 23,500 level crossings in Australia, broadly divided active level crossings with flashing lights; and passive level crossings controlled by stop and give way signs. The current strategy is to annually upgrade passive level crossings with active controls within a given budget, but the 5,900 public passive crossings are too numerous to be upgraded all. The rail industry is considering alternative options to treat more crossings. One of them is to use lower cost equipment with reduced safety integrity level, but with a design that would fail to a safe state: in case of the impossibility for the system to know whether a train is approaching, the crossing changes to a passive crossing. This is implemented by having a STOP sign coming in front of the flashing lights. While such design is considered safe in terms of engineering design, questions remain on human factors. In order to evaluate whether such approach is safe, we conducted a driving simulator study where participants were familiarized with the new active crossing, before changing the signage to a passive crossing. Our results show that drivers treated the new crossing as an active crossing after the novelty effect had passed. While most participants did not experience difficulties with the crossing being turned back to a passive crossing, a number of participants experienced difficulties stopping in time at the first encounter of such passive crossing. Worse, a number of drivers never realized the signage had changed, highlighting the link between the decision to brake and stop at an active crossing to the lights flashing. Such results show the potential human factor issues of changing an active crossing to a passive crossing in case of failure of the detection of the train.

Evaluation of Australian Performing Arts Market 2014-2018: APAM inter-year report 2015

In the awarding of the tender for APAM by the Australia Council to Brisbane Powerhouse for the delivery of the market in 2014-2018, a requirement is that a formal evaluation of the three iterations of APAM be undertaken by the Queensland University of Technology, Creative Industries Faculty, under the leadership of Associate Professor Sandra Gattenhof. The agreed research model delivers reporting on outcomes not only in the year in which APAM is delivered (2014, 2016, 2018) but also in the years between (2015, 2017). This inter-year report focuses on the domestic and international touring outcomes resulting from engagement in the 2014 Market and responds two of the three key research foci for the evaluation that are articulated in the Brisbane Powerhouse Tender (2011) document as: • Evaluation of international market development outcomes through showcasing work to targeted international presenters and agents • Evaluation of national market development outcomes through showcasing work to national presenters and producers. The reporting for mid-year 2015, a non-APAM year, collects data from two key sources – six identified case study productions that have been tracked for eighteen months, and an online survey delivered to all APAM 2014 delegates. This inter-year report is a six month follow-up with delegates and identified case studies companies that track the ongoing progress of market outcomes and levers for ongoing improvement of the APAM delivery model that was tabled in the Year One Report delivered to Brisbane Powerhouse in October 2014.

Hampson type heat-exchanger technology and economic evaluation for LNG re- gasification and power generation At LNG receiving terminals

The system for high utilization of LNG cold energy is proposed by use of process simulator. The proposed design is a closed loop system, and composed by a Hampson type heat exchanger, turbines, pumps and advanced humid air turbine (AHAT) or Gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC). Its heat sources are Boil-off gas and cooling water for AHAT or GTCC. The higher cold exergy recovery to power can be about 38 to 56% as compared to the existing cold power generation of about 20% with a Rankine cycle of a single component. The advantage of the proposed system is to reduce the number of heat exchangers. Furthermore, the environmental impact is minimized because the proposed design is a closed loop system. A life cycle comparative cost is calculated to demonstrate feasibility of the proposed design. The development of the Hampson type exchangers is expected to meet the key functional requirements and will result in much higher LNG cold exergy recovery and the overall system performance i.e. re-gasification. Additionally, the proposed design is expected to provide flexibility to meet different gas pressure suited for the deregulation of energy system in Japan and higher reliability for an integrated boil-off gas system.

Evaluation of a mobile phone image-based dietary assessment method in adults with type 2 diabetes

Photographic and image-based dietary records have limited evidence evaluating their performance and use among adults with a chronic disease. This study evaluated the performance of a mobile phone image-based dietary record, the Nutricam Dietary Assessment Method (NuDAM), in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Criterion validity was determined by comparing energy intake (EI) with total energy expenditure (TEE) measured by the doubly-labelled water technique. Relative validity was established by comparison to a weighed food record (WFR). Inter-rater reliability was assessed by comparing estimates of intake from three dietitians. Ten adults (6 males, age=61.2±6.9 years, BMI=31.0±4.5 kg/m2) participated. Compared to TEE, mean EI was under-reported using both methods, with a mean ratio of EI:TEE 0.76±0.20 for the NuDAM and 0.76±0.17 for the WFR. There was moderate to high correlations between the NuDAM and WFR for energy (r=0.57), carbohydrate (r=0.63, p<0.05), protein (r=0.78, p<0.01) and alcohol (rs=0.85, p<0.01), with a weaker relationship for fat (r=0.24). Agreement between dietitians for nutrient intake for the 3-day NuDAM (ICC = 0.77-0.99) was marginally lower when compared with the 3-day WFR (ICC=0.82-0.99). All subjects preferred using the NuDAM and were willing to use it again for longer recording periods.

Can’t see the trees for the forest? Why IS-ServQual items matter

Despite longstanding concern with the dimensionality of the service quality construct as measured by ServQual and IS-ServQual instruments, variations on the IS-ServQual instrument have been enduringly prominent in both academic research and practice in the field of IS. We explain the continuing popularity of the instrument based on the salience of the item set for predicting overall customer satisfaction, suggesting that the preoccupation with the dimensions has been a distraction. The implicit mutual exclusivity of the items suggests a more appropriate conceptualization of IS-ServQual as a formative index. This conceptualization resolves the paradox in IS-ServQual research, that of how an instrument with such well-known and well-documented weaknesses continue to be very influential and widely used by academics and practitioners. A formative conceptualization acknowledges and addresses the criticisms of IS-ServQual, while simultaneously explaining its enduring salience by focusing on the items rather than the “dimensions.” By employing an opportunistic sample and adopting the most recent IS-ServQual instrument published in a leading IS journal (virtually, any valid IS- ServQual sample in combination with a previously tested instrument variant would suffice for study purposes), we demonstrate that when re-specified as both first-order and second-order formatives, IS-ServQual has good model quality metrics and high predictive power on customer satisfaction. We conclude that this formative specification has higher practical use and is more defensible theoretically.

Measuring impact: Positioning evaluation in the Australian arts and culture landscape

Arts culture organisations and funding authorities increasingly need to evaluate the impact of festivals, events and performances. Economic impacts are often privileged over 'soft data' about community experience and engagement. This new book offers a timely and scholarly demonstration of how cultural value and impact can be evaluated. It offers an innovative approach whereby the relationship developed between the researchers/evaluator and the commissioning arts and cultural producer provides an opportunity to rethink the traditional process of reporting back on value and impact through the singular entity of funds acquittal. Using three commissioned evaluations undertaken at an Australian university as an extended case study, the book investigates the two positions most often adopted by researchers/evaluators - embedded and collaborative, or external and distanced - and argues the merits and deficiencies of the two approaches. Offering an examination of how arts evaluation 'works' in theory and practice and more importantly, why it is needed now and in the future to demonstrate the reach and cultural gains from arts and cultural projects, this will be essential reading for students in arts management, professionals working in arts and cultural organisations, scholars working in association with creative industries and cultural development.

The role of institutional pressures and top management support in the intention to adopt cloud computing solutions

Purpose – While many studies have predominantly looked at the benefits and risks of cloud computing, little is known whether and to what extent institutional forces play a role in cloud computing adoption. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of institutional factors in top management team’s (TMT’s) decision to adopt cloud computing services. Design/methodology/approach – A model is developed and tested with data from an Australian survey using the partial least squares modeling technique. Findings – The results suggest that mimetic and coercive pressures influence TMT’s beliefs in the benefits of cloud computing. The results also show that TMT’s beliefs drive TMT’s participation, which in turn affects the intention to increase the adoption of cloud computing solutions. Research limitations/implications – Future studies could incorporate the influences of local actors who might also press for innovation. Practical implications – Given the influence of institutional forces and the plethora of cloud-based solutions on the market, it is recommended that TMTs exercise a high degree of caution when deciding for the types of applications to be outsourced as organizational requirements in terms of performance and security will differ. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the growing empirical literature on cloud computing adoption and offers the institutional framework as an alternative lens with which to interpret cloud-based information technology outsourcing.

Economic evaluation of the upselling prevention pilot

The aim of this report was to present findings of an economic evaluation of the UP Pilot. A decision analytic model was used to examine the monetary cost of offering each of the four interventions in the UP Pilot against success measures. The evaluation also included subgroup analysis by demographic groups to offer insights into groups that are more resistant to undertaking preventive actions, with the possibility of further research to better understand client motivation for undertaking preventive behaviour. Based on the evaluation, this report makes recommendations for further investment and implementation of the UP Pilot.

BPMVM Evaluation Experiment Materials

All the materials used for our two experimental studies for evaluating the BPMVM modeller.

Moving from evaluation to trial: The case of cloud ERP adoption in SMEs

This study proposes that the adoption process of complex-wide systems (e.g. cloud ERP) should be observed as multi-stage actions. Two theoretical lenses were utilised for this study with critical adoption factors identified through the theory of planned behaviour and the progression of each adoption factor observed through Ettlie's (1980) multi-stage adoption model. Together with a survey method, this study has employed data gathered from 162 decision-makers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using both linear and non-linear approaches for the data analysis, the study findings have shown that the level of importance for adoption factors changes across different adoption stages.

Acquaintance or partner? Social economy organisations, institutional logics and regional development in Australia

The social economy as a regional development actor is gaining greater attention given its purported ability to address social and environmental problems. This growth in interest is occurring within a global environment that is calling for a more holistic understanding of development compared to traditionally economic-centric conceptions. While regional development policies and practices have long considered for-profit businesses as agents for regional growth, there is a relatively limited understanding of the role of the social economy as a development actor. The institutional environment is a large determinant of all kinds of entrepreneurial activity, and therefore understanding the relationships between the social economy and broader regional development processes is warranted. This paper moves beyond suggestions of an economic-centric focus of regional development by utilising institutional logics as a theoretical framework for understanding the role of social enterprise in regional development. A multiple case study of ten social enterprises in two regional locations in Australia suggests that social enterprise can represent competing logics to economic-centric institutional values and systems. The paper argues that dominant institutional logics can constrain or promote the inter-play between the social and the economic aspects of development, in the context of social enterprise.

Evaluation of immune responses to influenza vaccination in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Given that viral infections are common triggers for exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), current clinical guidelines recommend that all patients receive annual influenza vaccinations. A detailed examination of the immune response to vaccination in COPD has not previously been undertaken, so this study aimed to compare immune responses to influenza vaccination between COPD patients and healthy subjects. Methods: Twenty one COPD patients and fourteen healthy subjects were recruited and cellular immune function was assessed pre- and post- vaccination with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine. Results: One month after vaccination, H1N1 specific antibody titres were significantly lower in COPD patients than in healthy controls (p=0.02). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that post vaccination antibody titres were independently associated with COPD, but not with age or smoking status. Innate immune responses to the vaccine preparation did not differ between the two populations. Serum concentrations of IL-21, a cytokine that is important for B cell development and antibody synthesis, were also lower in COPD patients than in healthy subjects (p<0.01). In vitro functional differences were also observed, with fewer proliferating B cells expressing CD27 (p=0.04) and reduced T-cell IFN-γ synthesis (p<0.01) in COPD patients, relative to healthy subjects. Conclusions: In conclusion, COPD was associated with altered immune responses to influenza vaccination compared to healthy controls with reductions in both T-cell and B-cell function. These findings provide a foundation for future research aimed at optimising the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in COPD.

Evaluation of a school-based creative arts therapy programme for adolescents from refugee backgrounds

Creative arts therapy programs have been identified as effective interventions with adolescents affected by adversity. The current study provided a controlled trial of creative arts therapy to address the psychosocial needs of students from refugee backgrounds. Forty-two students participated in a therapy trial, comprising an intervention and control group. Mental health and behavioural difficulties were assessed pre and post intervention. Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were used to assess wellbeing. Findings suggested an effect for a reduction in behavioural difficulties for the treatment group. A significant reduction in emotional symptoms was found for the treatment group. Findings provide empirical support for school-based creative arts therapy interventions specific to refugee young people.

Comprehensive evaluation of dehydration impact on ocular tissue during Ramadan fasting

Purpose The present study aimed to review the effect of dehydration during Ramadan fasting on the health and ocular parameters leading to changes in eye function. Methods Articles included in the study were taken from PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science and Google Scholar up to 2014. Related articles were also obtained from scientific journals on fasting and vision system. Results Dehydration and nutrition changes in Ramadan cause an increase in tear osmolarity, ocular aberration, anterior chamber depth, IOL measurement, central corneal thickness, retinal and choroidal thicknesses, and also a decrease in IOP, tear secretion, and vitreous thickness. Conclusion Much research related to the effect of dehydration on ocular parameters during Ramadan fasting exists. The findings reveal association with significant changes on ocular parameters. Thus, it seems requisite to have a comprehensive study on "fasting and ocular parameters”, which will be helpful in making decisions and giving plan to the patients.