7440 research outputs found
Sort by
Collaborative memory: the role of closeness, cognitive need and strategies
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 195-212.1. Introduction -- 2. Experiment 1. Closeness, cognitive need and strategies: a laboratory examination of strangers' collaborative recall -- 3. Experiment 2. Closeness, cognitive need and strategies: a laboratory examination of romantic couples' and close friends' collaborative recall -- 4. Experiment 3. Getting on the same page: a laboratory experiment of explicit strategy agreement at retrieval on strangers' collaborative recall -- 5. Experiment 4. Starting on the same page: a laboratory examination of explicit strategy agreement at encoding on strangers' collaborative recall -- 6. General discussion -- Appendices.We remember with others frequently throughout our daily lives. Given how often we remember with others, it is important to understand how such collaboration influences memory performance. Laboratory studies typically find a counter intuitive phenomenon known as collaborative inhibition: collaborative groups recall less than the same number of individuals whose recall has been pooled (nominal groups). Collaborative groups, however,also typically produce fewer intrusions than nominal groups, and individuals who previously collaborated subsequently recall more than individuals who previously recalled alone. Despite having a good understanding of individual cognitive processes that may underlie these findings, we know less about conditions in which collaborative memory costs can be minimised and benefits maximised. In this thesis, I examine if closeness between group members, the cognitive need of group members, and explicit group memory strategies influence the amount recalled and the accuracy of what is recalled both during collaboration and following collaboration. A sense of closeness may make group members more sensitive and responsive to each other, reducing costs and increasing benefits of collaboration (Experiment 1). But this increased coordination may only be possible when they have shared knowledge and experiences (Experiment 2). Young adults also may be most likely to offer help to another person if they perceive that the other person requires memory assistance; for example, due to a temporary demand on the cognitive resources of one group member(Experiments 1 and 2). Finally, rather than leaving strategy development to chance, instructing dyads to explicitly agree on a strategy at retrieval (Experiment 3) or encoding (Experiment 4) may ensure all groups coordinate their recall. Contrary to my hypotheses I found that none of my manipulations changed the typical costs and benefits of collaboration. I discuss the implications of my findings for educational settings, workplaces, and remembering with our family and friends.1 online resource (xiii, 221 pages
Impact of gender and culture on audit judgements
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 67-78Chapter 1 Introduction -- Chapter 2 Overview and Relevant Literature -- Chapter 3 Theory and Hypotheses Development -- Chapter 4 Research Methods -- Chapter 5 Results -- Chapter 6 Conclusions, Implications, Limitations and Avenues for Future ResearchNew mandates issued by international auditing regulators call for an all-inclusive approach in making materiality judgements, which need to take into account both quantitative and qualitative information. Auditors are being directed away from the tendency to perform 'check-the-box' audits to more circumstance oriented audit judgements. This study examines the impact of the inherent factors of gender and national culture of auditors and how they affect audit judgements on materiality. In particular, this study provides an understanding of whether auditors are using both qualitative and quantitative evidence in their audit judgements regarding materiality, instead of solely using prescribed materiality percentages. A survey was conducted among final year undergraduate and postgraduate accounting students enrolled at Macquarie University. The results indicate substantial differences in the judgements made by male and female students. Males exhibit a higher preference for quantitative information as a primary basis for making materiality judgements while females show a greater preference for qualitative information. Furthermore, the results also provide strong support for the notion that materiality judgements vary due to culture. Differences in judgements between Chinese and Australian students were found, with Chinese students exhibiting higher preference for quantitative information as a primary basis for making materiality judgements and Australian students preferring more qualitative information. Lastly, Chinese students exhibited more conservatism in their materiality judgements than their Australian counterparts. Overall, our findings have implications for standard-setters, regulatory bodies, other policy makers and audit firms in their efforts to achieve improved audit quality through consistency in audit judgements.1 online resource (viii, 78, [16] pages
Factors influencing CO2 and CH4 fluxes in Tomago wetland
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 50-55.1. Introduction -- 2. Literature review -- 3. Materials and methods -- 4. Results -- 5. Discussion -- 6. Conclusion and recommendations -- Appendix.The Tomago wetland, Newcastle, is undergoing wetland rehabilitation by restoring tidal inundation to a previously leveed floodplain. It was hypothesised that the restoration of tidal inundation would convert a methane source into a sink as a consequence of soil salinization. A one year experimental design study was instituted to measure the impact of tidal reinstatement on CO2 and CH4 fluxes. Prior to tidal reinstatement, eddy covariance towers were installed to measure CO2 and CH4 fluxes. Micrometeorological energy balance and environmental variables such as soil water salinity and inundation regime, were undertaken. The highest average diurnal emissions were 2.54 µg m-2 s-1 CH4 during the day and 0.45 mg m-2 s-1 CO2 at night. Monthly average fluxes peaked in February (0.365 µg m-2 s-1 CH4 and 0.137 mg m-2 s-1 CO2).There was a significant negative relationship between CO2 flux and water level (p < 0.001), tidal height (p = 0.02) and positive relationship with water temperature (p = 0.002). CH4 flux showed positive correlation with water level and negative correlation with EC although not statistically significant. Although tidal flooding did not demonstrate clearly carbon sequestration before and after tidal reinstatement, freshwater events (rainfall) were seen to influence the wetland carbon balance.1 online resource (vii, 59 pages : illustrations, maps
Female iridescent colour ornamentation in a butterfly that displays mutual ornamentation : is it a sexual signal?
No full textIn species wherein males display elaborate sexually selected traits or ornaments, conspecific females may also express these traits in full or partial form. This is called mutual ornamentation, and the co-occurrence of such traits in males and females remains poorly understood. In many sulphur butterflies (subfamily Coliadinae), males have a brilliant ultraviolet (UV) iridescence on their dorsal wing surfaces that functions as a sexual signal in courtship. In some of these sulphurs, such as the large grass yellow, Eurema hecabe, females also display dorsal iridescent patches, albeit smaller, restricted to the forewings and less bright than the male's, but the reasons for its occurrence in females are unknown. Here we present a study testing two functional hypotheses for the female UV-reflecting patch: an antiharassment hypothesis and a male mate choice hypothesis. The daily activity pattern of this species suggests that males are most likely to harass or choose among females from midday on. Observations made at this time of day on the characteristics of females related to male courtship duration suggest that males may preferentially court females with a large UV patch. Experiments with colour-manipulated models also suggest that males court with equal intensity females with and without a basal UV patch. Taken altogether the results provide no support for the antiharassment hypothesis. Because support for the male mate choice hypothesis was relatively weak and because of the limited potential for selection on female coloration due to male choice in these butterflies, the nonfunctional sexual correlation hypothesis remains a viable explanation for the female ornament.7 page(s
Anticipatory processing, maladaptive attentional focus, and postevent processing for interactional and performance situations : treatment response and relationships with symptom change for individuals with social anxiety disorder
No full textAnticipatory processing, maladaptive attentional focus, and postevent processing are key cognitive constructs implicated in the maintenance of social anxiety disorder (SAD). The current study examined how treatment for SAD concurrently affects these three cognitive maintaining processes and how these processes are associated with each other as well as with symptom change from pre- to posttreatment. The sample consisted of 116 participants with SAD receiving group cognitive behavioral therapy. All three cognitive maintaining processes were measured relative to a speech task and again relative to a conversation task. Across both tasks, the three cognitive process variables demonstrated decreases from pre- to posttreatment. Within the same task, a slower rate of decrease in a specific cognitive process variable from pre- to posttreatment was predicted from higher pretreatment levels of either one or both of the other cognitive process variables. Additionally, higher levels of pretreatment conversation-related anticipatory processing and maladaptive attentional focus predicted a slower rate of decrease in social anxiety symptoms from pre- to posttreatment. Results are consistent with cognitive models of SAD and have important implications for enhancing existing treatments.13 page(s
Delivering Chinese voices to Australian audiences: CCTV's search for congruence between its frames and those of audiences
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 229-253.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Literature review -- Chapter 3. Theoretical framework -- Chapter 4. Methodology -- Chapter 5. Research findings one: Framing China -- Chapter 6. Research findings two: One Belt One Road in the framing process -- Chapter 7. Discussion and conclusion.This project explored firstly how China’s image is framed by public diplomacy (PD) elites in China and Australia and their views on the role of media in soft power generation and projection; and secondly, with the case of One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR), China’s most recent comprehensive strategy to generate wider cooperation and prosperity in a wide arc of countries; how China’s discourse is framed comparatively by its own media channel CCTV NEWS (now CGTN) and intended target audiences to examine congruence. CCTV NEWS has adopted the multinational formula exemplified by CNN by incorporating Western anchors and Western news production values. The practice culture as an index of framing culture had also been discussed to make sense of the frame construction under China’s current institution and possible frame reception among audiences The research is situated under symbolic interactionism and the constructivist approach to analyse the information flow under the constructivist international relations. It is ideographic, interpretive and qualitative and does not seek to prove causality, though it does recognise that Chinese PD elites have an intention to influence and treat audiences as targets. In-depth interviews, observation and online focus group discussion have been used as data-collecting methods and framing analysis was used for the analysis of the collected data, plus the state documents and CCTV NEWS features on OBOR. Frames from CCTV programs about OBOR were found to have limited congruence with those of Australian stakeholders in China-Australia relations despite the program format and quality being rendered similar to Western models through the use of Western anchors, journalists and production values. There is the obstacle of stereotypical frames of China that needs to be carefully studied and addressed. In networked society wherein public diplomacy prevails, media as a channel of projection shows its limitation in leading discourse; but the mobilisation among media practitioners grant media outlets a dual role, as both a tool and a network hub.1 online resource (xxii, 269 pages
Donor conception and the search for information : from secrecy and anonymity to openness
No full textThis book examines donor conception and the search for information by donor-conceived people. It details differing regulatory approaches across the globe, including those that provide for ‘open-identity’ or anonymous donation, or that take a ‘dual-track’ approach. In doing so, it identifies models regarding the recording and release of information about donors that may assist in the further development of the law, policy and associated practices. Arguments for and against donor anonymity are considered, and specifically critiqued. The study highlights contrasting reasoning and emphasis upon various interests and factors that may underpin secrecy, anonymity or openness. The book will be of value to academics, students and legal practitioners involved with this area. It is also relevant to policy makers, health practitioners and anyone with an interest in the subject.253 page(s
Radiocarbon-calibrated amino acid racemization ages from Holocene sand dollars (Peronella peronii)
No full textAmino acid racemization (AAR) is widely used as a cost-effective method to date molluscs in time-averaging and taphonomic studies, but it has not been attempted for echinoderms despite their paleobiological importance and distinct biomineralization. Here we demonstrate the applicability of AAR geochronology for dating Holocene Peronella peronii (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) collected from Sydney Harbour (Australia). Using standard HPLC methods we determined the extent of AAR in 74 Peronella tests and performed replicate analyses on 23 tests. Replicate analyses from the outer edge of 23 tests spanning the observed range of D/L values yielded median coefficients of variation <4% for Asp, Glu, and Phe D/L values, which is comparable to the analytical precision. Correlations between THAA D/L values across 178 independently prepared subsamples of 74 individuals are also very high (Spearman ρ ≥ 0.95) for these three amino acids. The ages of 20 individuals spanning the observed range of D/L values were determined using ¹⁴C analyses, and Bayesian model averaging was used to determine the best AAR age model. Only three models fit to Glu D/L contributed to the final averaged age model. Modeled ages ranged from 14 to 5496 years, and the median 95% confidence interval for the 54 AAR ages was ±29% of the modelled age. In comparison, the median 2σ confidence interval for nine graphite target ¹⁴C ages was ±8% of the median age estimate and the median 2σ confidence interval for 20 carbonate target ¹⁴C ages was ±26% of the median age estimate. Overall Peronella yield high-quality D/L values and appear to be a good target for AAR geochronology.15 page(s
The Fire Modeling Intercomparison Project (FireMIP), phase 1 : experimental and analytical protocols with detailed model descriptions
No full textThe important role of fire in regulating vegetation community composition and contributions to emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols make it a critical component of dynamic global vegetation models and Earth system models. Over 2 decades of development, a wide variety of model structures and mechanisms have been designed and incorporated into global fire models, which have been linked to different vegetation models. However, there has not yet been a systematic examination of how these different strategies contribute to model performance. Here we describe the structure of the first phase of the Fire Model Intercomparison Project (FireMIP), which for the first time seeks to systematically compare a number of models. By combining a standardized set of input data and model experiments with a rigorous comparison of model outputs to each other and to observations, we will improve the understanding of what drives vegetation fire, how it can best be simulated, and what new or improved observational data could allow better constraints on model behavior. In this paper, we introduce the fire models used in the first phase of FireMIP, the simulation protocols applied, and the benchmarking system used to evaluate the models. We have also created supplementary tables that describe, in thorough mathematical detail, the structure of each model.23 page(s
Changes in biomass allocation buffer low CO₂ effects on tree growth during the last glaciation
No full textIsotopic measurements on junipers growing in southern California during the last glacial, when the ambient atmospheric [CO₂] (cₐ) was ~180 ppm, show the leaf-internal [CO₂] (cᵢ) was approaching the modern CO₂ compensation point for C₃ plants. Despite this, stem growth rates were similar to today. Using a coupled light-use efficiency and tree growth model, we show that it is possible to maintain a stable cᵢ/cₐ ratio because both vapour pressure deficit and temperature were decreased under glacial conditions at La Brea, and these have compensating effects on the cᵢ/cₐ ratio. Reduced photorespiration at lower temperatures would partly mitigate the effect of low cᵢ on gross primary production, but maintenance of present-day radial growth also requires a ~27% reduction in the ratio of fine root mass to leaf area. Such a shift was possible due to reduced drought stress under glacial conditions at La Brea. The necessity for changes in allocation in response to changes in [CO₂] is consistent with increased below-ground allocation, and the apparent homoeostasis of radial growth, as cₐ increases today.9 page(s