title: A paradigm sensitive perspective on the ranking of accounting journals: A web-based survey approach

authors: Lowe, Alan

subjects: perception study

abstract: This paper reports the result of a web-based perception study of the ranking of widely-held accounting journals in Australia. Journal ranking studies have generally adopted citation techniques or academic perceptions as the basis for assessing journal quality. The survey instrument was designed to take advantage of the capabilities of a web site to enable an interactive perception based survey. The research contributes to the existing literature in two main ways, (1) applying a web-based survey technique and (2) a new approach to journal ranking that allows respondents to classify the journals according to methodological perspective. The aim of our research is to address specific shortcomings in the existing literature and construct an alternative view of how we might more appropriately assess journal “quality” within a “paradigm” sensitive framework. The results of the survey indicate that journals that represent an ‘alternative’ approach to the mainstream U.S. journals are more highly ranked that in previous U.S. and U.K. studies. A comparison with a recent survey by Cassar & Holmes (1999) also suggests that the Australian rankings have changed over time.

text: A paradigm sensitive perspective on the ranking of accounting journals: A web-based survey approach This paper reports the result of a web-based perception study of the ranking of widely-held accounting journals in Australia. Journal ranking studies have generally adopted citation techniques or academic perceptions as the basis for assessing journal quality. The survey instrument was designed to take advantage of the capabilities of a web site to enable an interactive perception based survey. The research contributes to the existing literature in two main ways, (1) applying a web-based survey technique and (2) a new approach to journal ranking that allows respondents to classify the journals according to methodological perspective. The aim of our research is to address specific shortcomings in the existing literature and construct an alternative view of how we might more appropriately assess journal “quality” within a “paradigm” sensitive framework. The results of the survey indicate that journals that represent an ‘alternative’ approach to the mainstream U.S. journals are more highly ranked that in previous U.S. and U.K. studies. A comparison with a recent survey by Cassar & Holmes (1999) also suggests that the Australian rankings have changed over time.

year: 2002-05

title: Cortical entropy changes with general anaesthesia: theory and experiment

authors: Sleigh, James W.

subjects: electroencephalography

abstract: Commonly used general anaesthetics cause a decrease in the spectral entropy of the electroencephalogram as the patient transits from the conscious to the unconscious state. Although the spectral entropy is a configurational entropy, it is plausible that the spectral entropy may be acting as a reliable indicator of real changes in cortical neuronal interactions. Using a mean field theory, the activity of the cerebral cortex may be modelled as fluctuations in mean soma potential around equilibrium states. In the adiabatic limit, the stochastic differential equations take the form of an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process. It can be shown that spectral entropy is a logarithmic measure of the rate of synaptic interaction. This model predicts that the spectral entropy should decrease abruptly from values ~1.0 to values of ~0.7 as the patient becomes unconscious during induction of general anaesthesia, and then not decrease significantly on further deepening of anaesthesia. These predictions were compared with experimental results in which electrocorticograms and brain concentrations of propofol were recorded in seven sheep during induction of anaesthesia with intravenous propofol. The observed changes in spectral entropy agreed with the theoretical predictions. We conclude that spectral entropy may be a sensitive monitor of the consciousness–unconsciousness transition, rather than a progressive indicator of anaesthetic drug effect.

text: Cortical entropy changes with general anaesthesia: theory and experiment Commonly used general anaesthetics cause a decrease in the spectral entropy of the electroencephalogram as the patient transits from the conscious to the unconscious state. Although the spectral entropy is a configurational entropy, it is plausible that the spectral entropy may be acting as a reliable indicator of real changes in cortical neuronal interactions. Using a mean field theory, the activity of the cerebral cortex may be modelled as fluctuations in mean soma potential around equilibrium states. In the adiabatic limit, the stochastic differential equations take the form of an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process. It can be shown that spectral entropy is a logarithmic measure of the rate of synaptic interaction. This model predicts that the spectral entropy should decrease abruptly from values ~1.0 to values of ~0.7 as the patient becomes unconscious during induction of general anaesthesia, and then not decrease significantly on further deepening of anaesthesia. These predictions were compared with experimental results in which electrocorticograms and brain concentrations of propofol were recorded in seven sheep during induction of anaesthesia with intravenous propofol. The observed changes in spectral entropy agreed with the theoretical predictions. We conclude that spectral entropy may be a sensitive monitor of the consciousness–unconsciousness transition, rather than a progressive indicator of anaesthetic drug effect.

year: 2004

title: Integrating Maori perspectives into community resilience frameworks for the built environment

authors: Boston, Megan

abstract: Many governments and organisations have attempted to construct frameworks for improving community resilience, particularly as related to the built environment. Many frameworks, globally and locally, take a large overview of society and miss the potential to incorporate cultural, social, and engineering practices followed by indigenous people. However, there is much to learn from the traditional practices of Maori that could directly improve community resilience after a disaster. To date, little research has worked on integrating Maori cultural views into resilience frameworks. Using survey and interview data investigating Maori cultural views on resilience and aspects of the built environment, five Maori values were identified to strengthen resilience. These values are matauranga (knowledge), kotahitanga (unity), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), whakawhanaungatanga (relationships), and manakitanga (extending love). Further, communities can increase community cohesion and unity through adapting building and community layouts learned from observing traditional Maori practices, such as a central marae.

text: Integrating Maori perspectives into community resilience frameworks for the built environment Many governments and organisations have attempted to construct frameworks for improving community resilience, particularly as related to the built environment. Many frameworks, globally and locally, take a large overview of society and miss the potential to incorporate cultural, social, and engineering practices followed by indigenous people. However, there is much to learn from the traditional practices of Maori that could directly improve community resilience after a disaster. To date, little research has worked on integrating Maori cultural views into resilience frameworks. Using survey and interview data investigating Maori cultural views on resilience and aspects of the built environment, five Maori values were identified to strengthen resilience. These values are matauranga (knowledge), kotahitanga (unity), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), whakawhanaungatanga (relationships), and manakitanga (extending love). Further, communities can increase community cohesion and unity through adapting building and community layouts learned from observing traditional Maori practices, such as a central marae.

year: 2022