Legibility of mathematical tables.

How do variables such as type size, arrangement of numerals in columns, and space vs. space affect the readability of mathematical tables? 4 simulated pages of powers and roots were used with 246 university student Ss. The results of the 9 studies are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Sustainable Decision Support Framework for Urban Water Management

This paper develops a decision support framework that assists managers in the urban water industry to analyse a mix of water service options, at the whole-of-city scale. The decision support framework moves decision-making in urban water systems from traditional command and control approaches that tend to focus on an outcome at a point in time to a more sustainable, inclusive and dynamic decision-making process driven by social learning and engagement. While available models and evaluation techniques provide valuable input to decision-making, the complex nature of urban water systems requires more than just social and economic criteria to be considered as part of decision support frameworks. The authors believe that current decision support frameworks need to be presented in a way that incorporates adaptive management and integrated urban water management strengths at the strategic and operational level. The inclusion of social learning and engagement is necessary to achieving this end.     

Assessment and development of procedures and apparatus to reduce contamination of lamb carcasses during pelt removal in low-throughput abattoirs.

Two series of experiments were carried out to investigate methods of reducing contamination of lamb carcasses in low-throughput abattoirs, where cradle dressing is normally employed. In the first series, cradle design and pelt removal procedure were investigated, and a method was developed for assessing gross visible contamination. Significant improvements in microbiological and gross visible contamination (P < 0.01) were achieved by procedural changes only; modifications to the cradle design had no effect. In the second series of experiments, two improved methods of pelt removal and the effect of hand washing prior to carcass contact during the pelt removal procedure were investigated. The improved methods comprised a Frame system, in which the pelt was removed in a manner similar to that in a high-throughput inverted line, and a Hybrid system, in which the pelt was removed from the forequarters on a conventional cradle before the carcass was suspended in an "inverted" vertical position for removal of the pelt from the abdomen and hindquarters. The results of microbiological and gross visible contamination from these methods, with and without hand washing, were compared with the conventional Cradle method of pelt removal. Both the Hybrid and Frame systems had significantly less microbiological and gross visible contamination (P < 0.01). However, hand washing had no significant effect on the level of carcass contamination for all three methods of pelt removal. Greatest reductions in microbiological and gross visible contamination were achieved using techniques that minimized hand contact with the carcass during pelt removal by adoption of inverted dressing procedures. Equipment redesign did not reduce carcass contamination.     

Cascade control of a distributed parameter process

The application of cascade control to the regulation of outlet concentration of an isothermal, plug flow, tubular reactor, with first order reaction is considered. The optimum controller parameters and measurement point for the inner loop have been determined for distributed control and initial condition disturbance and vice versa. Optimum performance in both cases occurred with half the distributed lag in the inner loop. Cascade control showed considerable improvement in performance over that obtainable with a single loop system.     

A comparison of the performance of techniques for direct,on-line optimization

The performance of a number of well known optimization techniques has been compared with that of recently developed weighted-mean random techniques, in the context of on-line process control applications. It was found that one variation of the random technique compared favorably with the well known pattern search technique of Hooke and Jeeves in finding the maximum on simulated process response functions. The study was performed by representing the processes by mathematical expressions. The effects of multidimen-sionality, irregular response surfaces, scaling errors, and process noise were simulated in the tests that were performed for the comparisons.     

Kangaroos Avoid Eating Seedlings with or Near Others with Volatile Essential Oils

Preliminary studies indicate that western grey kangaroos browse seedlings of non-Myrtaceae species rather than Myrtaceae. Seven morphologically-matched species pairs of Myrtaceae/non-Myrtaceae placed at three field sites showed that kangaroos avoided the essential-oil-containing Myrtaceae, but readily consumed the matched essential-oil-lacking non-Myrtaceae. The one exception (Pittosporaceae) had limited herbivory and was later found to possess two essential oils in its leaves. Gas chromatography and mass-spectra showed the seven Myrtaceae plants contain between 2 and 9 essential oils in their leaves, particularly the highly volatile monoterpene, 2,5-dimethyl-3-methylene-1,5-heptadine. Three of the above species pairs were used to gauge their effectiveness as nurse plants for a highly palatable legume. Plants placed beside Myrtaceae nurse plants were less browsed than those placed beside non-Myrtaceae nurse plants. We conclude that western grey kangaroos use olfactory cues to avoid foliage containing potentially toxic essential oils, and that this also has implications for seedling recruitment patterns in regenerating communities.     

High-Performance Work Systems and Occupational Safety.

Two studies were conducted investigating the relationship between high-performance work systems (HPWS) and occupational safety. In Study 1, data were obtained from company human resource and safety directors across 138 organizations. LISREL VIII results showed that an HPWS was positively related to occupational safety at the organizational level. Study 2 used data from 189 front-line employees in 2 organizations. Trust in management and perceived safety climate were found to mediate the relationship between an HPWS and safety performance measured in terms of personal-safety orientation (i.e., safety knowledge, safety motivation, safety compliance, and safety initiative) and safety incidents (i.e., injuries requiring first aid and near misses). These 2 studies provide confirmation of the important role organizational factors play in ensuring worker safety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

In Vitro Effects of Papaverine on Cell Migration and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Cancer Cell Lines

Papaverine (PPV) is a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Papaver somniferum that exerts antiproliferative activity. However, several questions remain regarding the biochemical pathways affected by PPV in tumourigenic cells. In this study, the influence of PPV on cell migration (light microscopy), expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) B, VEGF R1, VEGF R2, and phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (pFAK) were investigated using spectrophotometry in MDA-MB-231-, A549- and DU145 cell lines. The migration assay revealed that, after 48 h, PPV (100 µM) reduced cell migration to 81%, 91%, and 71% in MDA-MB-231-, A549-, and DU145 cells, respectively. VEGF B expression was reduced to 0.79-, 0.71-, and 0.73-fold after 48 h of exposure to PPV in MDA-MB-231-, A549- and DU145 cells, while PPV exposure of 48 h increased VEGF R1 expression in MDA-MB-231- and DU145 cells to 1.38 and 1.46. A fold decrease in VEGF R1 expression was observed in A549 cells to 0.90 after exposure to 150 µM. No statistically significant effects were observed on VEGF R2- and FAK expression after exposure to PPV. This study contributes to the understanding of the effects of a phytomedicinal alkaloid compound in cancer cells and may provide novel approaches to the application of non-addictive alkaloids.