The underpricing of gold mining initial public offerings

This study is motivated by How [How, J., 2000. The initial and long run performances of mining IPOs in Australia. Aust. J. Manage. 25, 95–118] who examined 100 Australian gold mining initial public offerings (IPOs) from 1979 to 1990 to report an average 119.51% underpricing return by those IPOs. This study updates that analysis by investigating 114 Australian gold mining IPOs from 1994 to 2004 and finds a significantly lower 13.3% average first day return. Options offered to underwriters can in part explain these returns as can the change in either the Gold Index or the All Ordinaries Index from the date of the prospectus to the date of listing.

Total arsenic accumulation in yabbies (Cherax Destructor Clark) exposed to elevated arsenic levels in Victorian gold mining areas, Australia

Arsenic is a proven carcinogen often found at high concentrations in association with gold and other heavy metals. The freshwater yabby, Cherax destructor Clark (Decapoda, Parastacidae), is a ubiquitous species native to Australia's central and eastern regions, with a growing international commercial market. However, in this region of Australia, yabby farmers often harvest organisms from old mine tailings dams with elevated environmental arsenic levels. Yabbies exposed to elevated environmental arsenic were found to accumulate and store as much as 100 μg/g arsenic in their tissues. The accumulation is proportional to the concentration of arsenic in the sediment and is high enough to be of concern for people who eat the yabbies. A comparison of arsenic levels in wild and lab-fed animals also was performed. Although there was no significant difference in the level of arsenic in the various organs of the wild animals, the animals purchased from a yabby farm showed a significantly higher arsenic concentration in their hepatopancreas (3.7 ± 0.9 μg/g) compared to other organs (0.6–1.8 μg/g). Furthermore, after a 40-d exposure to food containing 200 to 300 μg/g inorganic arsenic, arsenate (As[V])-exposed animals showed a significant increase in tissue-specific arsenic accumulation, whereas arsenite (As[III])-exposed animals showed a lower, nonsignificant increase in As uptake, primarily in the hepatopancreas. These results have important implications for yabby growers and consumers alike.

Electroless synthesis of nano-structured gold particles using conducting polymer nanoparticles

In this study, gold nanoparticles were synthesized by electroless recovery of [AuCl4]− from an acidic aqueous solution using nano-structured conducting polymer, polypyrrole nanoparticles, as active surface. The formation of gold nanoparticles was confirmed by TEM, SEM and EDX measurements. The effects of the initial Au(III) concentration on the gold uptake was examined. The recovery capability and gold particle morphology prepared from polypyrrole nanoparticle were compared to that from cast PPy film counterpart.

An examination of the 'gold standard' diagnosis of major depression in aged-care settings

Objectives: Individual clinical interviews are typically viewed as the “gold standard” when diagnosing major depressive disorder (MDD) and when examining the validity of self-rated questionnaires. However, this approach may be problematic with older people, who are known to underreport depressive symptomatology. This study examined the effect of including an informant interview on prevalence estimations of MDD in an aged-care sample.

Design: The results of an individual clinical interview for MDD were compared with those obtained when an informant interview was incorporated into the assessment. Results from each diagnostic approach were compared with scores on a self-rated depression instrument.

Setting: Low-level aged-care residential facilities in Melbourne (equivalent to “residential homes,” “homes for the elderly,” or “assisted living facilities” in other countries).

Participants: One hundred and sixty-eight aged-care residents (mean age: 84.68 years; SD: 6.16 years) with normal cognitive functioning.

Measurements: Individual clinical interviews were conducted using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Axis I Disorders. This interview was modified for use with staff informants. Self-reported depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15).

Results: The estimated point prevalence of MDD rose from 16% to 22% by including an informant clinical interview in the diagnostic procedure. Overall, 27% of depressed residents failed to disclose symptoms in the clinical interview. The concordance of the GDS-15 with a diagnosis of MDD was substantially lower when an informant source was included in the diagnostic procedure.

Conclusion: Individual interviews and self-report questionnaires may be insufficient to detect depression among older adults. This study supports the use of an informant interview as an adjunct when diagnosing MDD among cognitively intact aged-care residents.

Japanese investment on the Gold Coast : the interface of globalization and locality

This study explored the interface between the forces of globalization and a given place, at a given time, the Gold Coast during the 1980s. The global economic boom of the 1980s was one in which the role of Japan was particularly important. In less than half a decade capital flows from Japan surged to make it the world's largest investor. Locations in the Pacific Basin were favoured destinations for Japanese investment, one of the most significant was the Gold Coast. Japanese capital and tourism helped transform its urban area from a national resort to an international tourist destination and resort centre, The surge of capital arriving to the Gold Coast was a function of economic conditions in Japan, as was its steep reduction after November 1989, Thus the Gold Coast became integrated into global capital flows and so dependent on decisions made in Tokyo, one of the main financial centres of the world. However this study has also sought to explore a more complex reality; namely, that this place also became the interface of complex cultural forces and perceptions. The wealth of the Japanese investors on the Gold Coast enabled them to realize their dream of developing projects in the most fashionable global styles. These styles were essentially Western, and it was onto these that their Japanese owners ascribed their own meanings; meanings that reflected the cultural baggage that they had brought from Japan, and through which were filtered the economic and environmental realities of the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast as locality also included residents. Hence it became an interface between two different groups of people, the Japanese and the strongly Anglo-Celtic local community. Some in the local community perceived the Japanese presence as a threat to their perception of the Gold Coast, in fact, a threat to their perception of Australia's national identity. A campaign based on the politics of memory of the Japanese developed on the Gold Coast. Within weeks it became a national debate in which isolationalist, if not xenophobic traditionalists, concentrated on the Gold Coast challenged the economic rationalism and multicultural tolerance of the self-interested and ideologically convinced advocates of globalization. Governments at all levels sought to arbitrate, to legitimize standpoints, but more often than not were seen to move into positions of ineffectual flexibility. The forces of globalization on the Gold Coast were catalysts for change that in turn provoked local opposition which rapidly became a debate about national identity and direction. It is in the exploration of the complex and contradictory economic, cultural and political forces engendered by globalization that this study has sought to make a distinctive contribution.

Superhydrophobic modification of polyimide films based on gold-coated porous silver nanostructures and self-assembled monolayers

We present a facile and effective method for controlling the surface hydrophobicity of polyimide films from sticky to superhydrophobic properties by tailoring their topographies. Nanostructured silver layers were produced on polyimide films by treatment with aqueous KOH and AgNO3, followed by thermal treatment at 200 degrees C or higher temperatures. Further modification of the gold-coated silver layers with n-dodecanethiol led to hydrophobic surfaces. Different morphologies of the silver layers at the micro- and nano-meter scales, which result in the variety of hydrophobicity, can be tailored by controlling the thermal treatment temperature. Surfaces prepared at 320 degrees C showed a sticky property that water drops did not slide off even when the sample was held upside down. Superhydrophobic surfaces were obtained when the temperature was above 340 degrees C. A remarkable superhydrophobicity, as evidenced by a very large water contact angle of 162 degrees and a very small sliding angle of 7 degrees, was achieved by heating the modified polyimide films at 360 degrees C. This is also the first example for superhydrophobic modification of polyimide films.

Metamorphosis of a gold town : Stawell 1900-1940 : a study in local history

Examines the experience of the Wimmera town of Stawell as being representative of the early settlements created by gold rushes, and then threatened with extinction as the industry declined. Attention is paid to the role of community in Stawell's struggle to survive in the period between Federation and the Second World War. Reviews the economic and social processes involved in the eventual recovery. Argues that the forces of Stawell's historical legacy can be detected in the town's reaction to adversity after the closure of the last major mine in 1920.

Event effectiveness : analysing the perceptions of key stakeholders of the Lexmark Indy 300/champ car event, Gold Coast.

The present study assessed the perceptions of the Lexmark Indy 300/Champ Car Event’s key stakeholders namely, spectators, volunteers and paid workers, as part of an evaluation tool for its managers. We developed a model, which included visible, interaction and management elements that we proposed influenced the perceptions and experiences of stakeholders relating to the event effectiveness, strengths, weaknesses and improvements. Specifically, we used a modified version of Preble’s (2005) six-step multi-stakeholder assessment approach to examining the perceived overall effectiveness of the event. Fifty stakeholder interviews were conducted on-site and their opinions were content analysed. The key findings of the study were that the majority of the stakeholders perceived the event to be effective. Spectators perceived the strengths to be interaction components, and weaknesses and improvements to be visible elements such as track layout. Volunteers perceived strengths to be management related, but also noted that these were weaknesses and needed improvement. Lastly, Paid workers perceived interaction elements to be both strengths and weaknesses, and suggested that management elements could be improved. Important implications for similar motoring events were suggested.

Ionic liquid-assisted synthesis of polyaniline/gold nanocomposite and its biocatalytic application

In this report, a novel chemical synthesis of polyaniline/gold nanocomposite is explored using ionic liquid (IL) 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate. The direct chemical synthesis of polyaniline/gold nanocomposite was initiated via the spontaneous oxidation of aniline by AuCl4 − in IL. A nearly uniform dispersion of polyaniline/Au particles with a diameter of 450 ± 80 nm was produced by this method, which indicates that this method is more suitable for controlling particle dimensions. It was also found that the electrical conductivity of the polyaniline/gold nanocomposite was more than 100 times higher than that of the pure polyaniline nanoparticles. The polyaniline/gold nanocomposite displays superior function in the biocatalytic activation of microperoxidase-11 because of the high surface area of the assembly and the enhanced charge transport properties of the composite material. We also report the possible application of polyaniline/gold nanocomposite as a H2O2 biosensor.

Stepwise synthesis of Gly−Gly−His on gold surfaces modified with mixed self-assembled monolayers

Peptide-modified electrode surfaces have been shown to have excellent recognition properties for metal ions. An efficient method of screening a potential peptide for its selectivity for a given metal would involve the synthesis of the peptide directly on the electrode surface. This paper outlines a procedure in which the tripeptide Gly−Gly−His was synthesized one amino acid at a time on a gold surface modified with a self-assembled monolayer of the mixed alkanethiolates 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) and 3-mercaptopropane (MP). Electrochemistry and high-resolution mass spectrometry were used to elucidate the structure of the adsorbed species and follow the synthesis. The amino acids can be attached only to MPA, but the presence of a diluting unreactive molecule of MP reduces steric crowding about the reaction center. The maximum coverage of synthesized tripeptide occurs at a ratio of MPA/MP of 1:1.

Characterisation of gold electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayers of l-cysteine for the adsorptive stripping analysis of copper

Electrochemical sensors for copper ions in environmental samples were prepared by modifying gold electrodes with l-cysteine by self-assembly. The adsorption of l-cysteine on gold electrodes was studied by electrochemical reductive desorption in 0.5 M KOH, and the interaction of l-cysteine with copper ions was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. At low concentrations the ratio of l-cysteine to bound Cu(II) is 2:1. At higher concentrations (0.1 M) copper reacts with adsorbed cysteine forming copper sulfide on the electrode surface. On a modified l-cysteine gold electrode, Osteryoung square wave voltammetric determination of Cu(II) with a detection limit below 5 ppb has been demonstrated.