Research Reports

Research Review: Stretching for a good night's sleep?

Mike Climstein et al. — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:42:02 PST

Research Review: In the spa - Is the meat cooked yet?

Mike Climstein — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:31:47 PST

Research Review: Gestational diabetes … This won't hurt a bit, trust me

Mike Climstein et al. — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 19:55:31 PDT

Bond Padagogy Project

Jeffrey Brand et al. — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:39:47 PDT

Extract:

Background and Literature:

There are two components of the coupled term, mobile learning. Mobility refers to the untethered nature of the student experience. Devices such as smart phones, tablets, net-books, and iPads make learning materials light-weight and portable. Mobility also means that students can access the internet anywhere, anytime, provided that they also have access to a wireless or 3G network. "Mobile devices open up new opportunities for independent investigations, practical fieldwork, professional updating and on-the-spot access to knowledge" *Kukulska-Hulme & Traxler, (2005), p.26+. Mobile access to the internet affords the opportunity for the constructivist educator to engage students in hands-on inquiry (Cavus & Uzuboylu, 2009; Chao & Chen, 2009; Chen et al., 2008; David et al., 2009; Motiwalla, 2007). These tasks are part of the pedagogy of the higher educator and intended to promote learning.

Resistance training can improve fine manual dexterity in essential tremor patients: A preliminary study

Graeme Sequeira et al. — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:18:04 PDT

Objective: To determine if a short-term resistance training (RT) program of the upper limb can improve strength, fine manual dexterity, and quality of life in individuals with essential tremor (ET).

Design: Single group, dual pretest-posttest intervention study.

Setting: General community.

Participants: Participants (N 6; mean age SD, 74 7y) clinically diagnosed as having ET (mean years diagnosed SD, 19 7y) were recruited into the study.

Intervention: A 6-week RT program involving unilateral dumbbell bicep curls, wrist flexion, and wrist extension exercises twice a week.

Main Outcome Measures: Upper limb strength determined from five-repetition maximum; fine manual dexterity determined from the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) for the hand of the most affected limb, the hand of the least affected limb, both hands, and a bilateral assembly task; and quality of life determined from the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and the ET specific Quality of Life in Essential Tremor questionnaire.

Results: The RT program resulted in significant increases in 4 of the 6 upper limb strength measures. Significant improvements in the PPT were observed for the single hand components of this test. PPT performance improved immediately after RT when using the most affected limb, but these changes took longer to be observed for the least affected limb.

Conclusions: Overall, fine manual dexterity improved in ET patients after a simple RT program. The findings of this preliminary study provide clear evidence that RT is worthy of further investigation as a therapy for improving functionality in ET patients.

Strategic assessment of building adaptive reuse opportunities ARC Linkage Project LP0776579 Final report 2010

Craig Langston et al. — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 00:05:20 PDT

Research Review: Girevoy … not circus strongmen?

Mike Climstein et al. — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:58:44 PDT

Research Review: Don't forget to slip, slop, slap ... and salute?

Mike Climstein et al. — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:06:40 PST

Evaluating the environment for public-private partnerships in Asia-Pacific: The 2011 infrascope

Manisha Mirchandani et al. — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:57:40 PST

Preface

This document comprises a summary and analysis of a benchmark index and learning tool that assesses the capacity of countries in the Asia-Pacific region to carry out sustainable publicprivate infrastructure partnerships, as of June 2011. The methodology is based on a similar study of Latin America and the Caribbean published in 2009 and 2010. The index was built by the Economist Intelligence Unit and commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the Economist Intelligence Unit and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the ADB.

An Economist Intelligence Unit research team, led by Manisha Mirchandani, Vanesa Sanchez and Manoj Vohra conducted the study. Michael Regan, professor of Infrastructure at Bond University, Queensland, was research consultant and project adviser.

September 2011

Regulation of shale, coal seam and tight gas activities in Western Australia: An analysis of the capacity of the Petroleum and Geothermal Act 1967 (WA) to regulate onshore gas activities in Western Australia

Tina Hunter — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:21:44 PST

Extract:
Recent activities in the USA and eastern Australian States (particularly Queensland and NSW) have focused attention on the extraction of shale gas and coal seam gas (together known as unconventional gas resources). Public perception of the extraction of these sources of gas, particularly the process of fraccing, has been influenced by recent media attention. In particular, the movie Gasland and an episode of Four Corners that aired on 21 February 2011 has focused the public’s attention on shale gas extraction in WA.

This report examines the existing regulatory framework for the extraction of onshore Shale Gas Resources (SGR) in Western Australia. It has been commissioned by the WA Department of Mines and Petroleum (WADMP) in response to community concerns expressed regarding the process of fraccing for the production of shale gas. It assesses the capacity of the current legislation, the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (WA) (PAGERA), to regulate shale gas exploration and production activities. It also assesses other issues that the WADMP should consider when managing shale gas extraction.

The following assessment and conclusions represent an independent, unbiased assessment of the capacity of the WADMP to regulate present and future shale gas activities in this WA.