Single-preference consensus measures based on models of ecological evenness

We investigate the relationship between consensus measures used in different settings depending on how voters or experts express their preferences. We propose some new models for single-preference voting, which we derive from the evenness concept in ecology, and show that some of these can be placed within the framework of existing consensus measures using the discrete distance. Finally, we suggest some generalizations of the single-preference consensus measures allowing the incorporation of more general notions of distance.

Race lines and spaces of political action among migrant youth

Recently proposed Anti-Racism Strategy established within a framework of the Australian Government's multicultural policy, People of Australia, identifies ‘youth engagement’ as one of the key areas that needs to be promoted and supported. Young people have been invited to join youth councils and youth forums and work with national, state and local policy-makers. Some have taken up this challenge and became public faces and active members of anti-racism campaigns. Others, however, either remained silent about the discrimination they face, or organised their own grassroots youth-based and youth-led initiatives. This paper discusses individual and collective responses to racism among young people in Australia, focusing on Melbourne, and examines possibilities in which racism, as a common experience among migrant youth, can be utilised to form alternative spaces for political action, challenging not only interpersonal, but also systemic forms of racism. By drawing attention towards institutional and systemic forms of racism, and the historical perpetuation of racist practices, these youth initiatives rely on legal measures, and argue that racism should be discussed in the context of the broader Australian society, not only in relation to minority groups.

Assessing outcomes for cost-utility analysis in depression : comparison of five multi-attribute utility instruments with two depression-specific outcome measures

Many mental health surveys and clinical studies do not include a multi-attribute utility instrument (MAUI) that produces quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). There is also some question about the sensitivity of the existing utility instruments to mental health.

What makes a difference? Building a foundation for nationally consistent outcome measures

This project sought a solid, credible basis for measuring the effectiveness of homelessness services. It assumed that an effective service creates successful results for people experiencing homelessness, results which make a difference. To identify which results, which 'client outcomes', make a difference, the project used the international research evidence base and input from experienced practitioners and policy-makers.

Selection of the right risk measures for portfolio allocation

 An optimisation framework is proposed to enable investors to select the right risk measures in portfolio selection. Verification is deployed by performing experiments in developed markets (e.g., the US stock market), emerging markets (e.g., the South Korean stock market) and global investments. A preselection procedure dealing with large datasets is also introduced to eliminate stocks that have low diversification potential before running the portfolio optimisation model. Portfolios are evaluated by four performance indices, i.e., the Sortino ratio, the Sharpe ratio, the Stutzer performance index, and the Omega measure. Experimental results demonstrate that high performance and also well-diversified portfolios are obtained if modified value-at-risk, variance, or semi-variance is concerned whereas emphasising only skewness, kurtosis or higher moments in general produces low performance and poorly diversified portfolios. In addition, the preselection applied to large datasets results in portfolios that have not only high performance but also high diversification degree.

Consensus guidelines for implementation of quality processes to prevent invasive fungal disease and enhanced surveillance measures during hospital building works, 2014

Healthcare-associated fungal outbreaks impose a substantial economic burden on the health system and typically result in high patient morbidity and mortality, particularly in the immunocompromised host. As the population at risk of invasive fungal infection continues to grow due to the increased burden of cancer and related factors, the need for hospitals to employ preventative measures has become increasingly important. These guidelines outline the standard quality processes hospitals need to accommodate into everyday practice and at times of healthcare-associated outbreak, including the role of antifungal stewardship programmes and best practice environmental sampling. Specific recommendations are also provided to help guide the planning and implementation of quality processes and enhanced surveillance before, during and after high-risk activities, such as hospital building works. Areas in which information is still lacking and further research is required are also highlighted.

Is there an interaction between socioeconomic status and FRAX 10-year fracture probability determined with and without bone density measures? Data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study of female cohort.

FRAX(©) evaluates 10-year fracture probabilities and can be calculated with and without bone mineral density (BMD). Low socioeconomic status (SES) may affect BMD, and is associated with increased fracture risk. Clinical risk factors differ by SES; however, it is unknown whether aninteraction exists between SES and FRAX determined with and without the BMD. From the Geelong Osteoporosis Study, we drew 819 females aged ≥50 years. Clinical data were collected during 1993-1997. SES was determined by cross-referencing residential addresses with Australian Bureau of Statistics census data and categorized in quintiles. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at the same time as other clinical data were collected. Ten-year fracture probabilities were calculated using FRAX (Australia). Using multivariable regression analyses, we examined whether interactions existed between SES and 10-year probability for hip and any major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) defined by use of FRAX with and without BMD. We observed a trend for a SES * FRAX(no-BMD) interaction term for 10-year hip fracture probability (p = 0.09); however, not for MOF (p = 0.42). In women without prior fracture (n = 518), we observed a significant SES * FRAX(no-BMD) interaction term for hip fracture (p = 0.03) and MOF (p = 0.04). SES does not appear to have an interaction with 10-year fracture probabilities determined by FRAX with and without BMD in women with previous fracture; however, it does appear to exist for those without previous fracture.

Measures of anger and hostility in adults

This chapter consists of psychometrically-oriented reviews of 16 self-report tests of anger or hostility in adults. We begin with the historic Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI: Buss & Durkee, 1957), but focus more importantly on its factor analytically improved and updated revision, the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ: Buss & Perry, 1992). Next we turn our attention to scales utilizing hypothetical anger-provoking scenarios: the Anger Self-Report Questionnaire (ASR: Reynolds et al., 1994), the Reaction Inventory (RI; version by Cho et al., 2009) and the Novaco Anger Scale and Provocation Inventory (NAS-PI: Novaco, 1994, 2003). This is followed by the Multidimensional Anger Inventory (MAI: Siegel, 1986) and the widely-used State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI: Spielberger, 1988, 1999). In the second section, nine additional self-report tests are reviewed. These are generally newer and less embellished with psychometric details, and hence they are reviewed relatively briefly. Together, the reviews enable comparisons of the 16 self-report instruments in terms of various aspects of reliability and validity.

Supplier integrity due diligence in public procurement: limiting the criminal risk to Australia

The potential for criminals and terrorism financiers to secure lucrativegovernment contracts poses a risk to Australia’s anti-money laundering,anti-corruption and counter-terrorism financing objectives. This articlecompares the customer due diligence measures that banks are required to implement to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing with the general supplier due diligence practices and processes of key Australian government departments and agencies. It identifies various weaknesses in current procurement practices relating to standard contracts and argues that these render Australian public procurement vulnerable to criminal abuse, threaten compliance with its sanctions regime and potentially undermine the crime combating objectives of its money laundering and terrorism financinglaws. The article recommends that the national interest calls for awhole-of-government approach to improve supplier due diligence in public procurement.