Issue addressed: The fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) models of mining in Au... more Issue addressed: The fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) models of mining in Australia have led to concerns about adverse health and psychosocial impacts. Despite speculation that increased levels of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Australia, including HIV, are associated with FIFO/DIDO work, we know little about sexual risk-taking behaviours in mining populations. This study explores differences in sexual risk taking and perceptions of risk between FIFO/DIDO miners and residential miners.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to a sample (n = 444) of male miners working in Queensland, Australia. The self-completed survey contained 49 questions relating to knowledge, attitudes and behaviour and included demographic information and specific items related to sex and relationships.Results: FIFO/DIDO status was not associated with any differential sexual risk-taking behaviours, except for an increased probability of reporting 'ever being diagnosed with an STI'; 10.8% of FIFO/DIDO respondents versus 3.6% of others (x2 (1) = 4.43, P = 0.35).Conclusions: Our results appear to counter anecdotal evidence that FIFO/DIDO miners engage in higher sexual risk behaviours when compared with residential miners.So what?: Anecdotal evidence linking the rise of sexually transmitted infections with the FIFO/DIDO mining workforce could drive costly and unnecessary approaches to prevention. Further research, surveillance and monitoring are required to inform health promotion interventions.
Background and aims
Impulsivity has consistently been associated with over-consumption and addict... more Background and aims Impulsivity has consistently been associated with over-consumption and addiction. Recent research has reconceptualised impulsivity as a two- dimensional construct (Dawe, Gullo & Loxton, 2004). The present study explores the relationship of the two components of impulsivity, reward drive (RD) and rash impulsivity (RI), on a broad group of 23 hedonic consumption behaviours (e.g., gambling, substance use, eating, media use). We tentatively grouped the behaviours into three descriptive classes: entertainment, foodstuffs, and illicit activities and substances. Results RD and RI positively predicted elevated levels of consumption in a community sample (N = 5391; 51% female), for the vast majority of the behaviours considered. However, the effect sizes for RD and RI varied significantly depending on the behaviour; a pattern that appeared to be at least partially attributable to the class of consumption. Results support the view that RD is related more strongly to the consumption of products that provide social engagement or a sense of increased status; whereas RI better reflects an approach \ toward illicit or restricted products that are intensely rewarding with clear negative consequences. Conclusions Results support the utility of the two-factor model of impulsivity in explaining individual differences in patterns of hedonic consumption in the general population. We discuss findings in terms of strengthening current conceptualisations of RI and RD as having distinct implications with respect to health-related behaviours.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2016
Under controlled laboratory conditions, neurobehavioral assays such as the Psychomotor Vigilance ... more Under controlled laboratory conditions, neurobehavioral assays such as the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) are sensitive to increasing levels of fatigue, and in general, tend to correlate with subjective ratings. However, laboratory studies specifically curtail physical activity, potentially limiting the applicability of such findings to field settings that involve physical work. In addition, laboratory studies typically involve healthy young male participants that are not always representative of a typical working population. In order to determine whether these findings extend to field-like conditions, we put 88 Australian volunteer firefighters through a multi-day firefighting simulation. Participants were required to perform real-world physical and cognitive tasks under conditions of elevated temperature and moderate sleep restriction. We aimed to examine changes in fatigue in an effort to determine the optimum objective and subjective measures. Objective and subjective tests were sensitive to fatigue outside laboratory conditions. The PVT was the most sensitive assay of objective fatigue, with the Samn-Perelli fatigue scale the most sensitive of the subjective measures. The Samn-Perilli fatigue scale correlated best with PVT performance, but explained a small amount of variance. Although the Samn-Perelli scale can be easily administered in the field, the wide range of individual variance limits its efficacy as a once-off assessment tool. Rather, fatigue measures should be applied as a component of a broader fatigue risk management system. Findings provide firefighting agencies, and other occupations involving physical work, guidance as to the most sensitive and specific measures for assessing fatigue in their personnel.
This article examines gambling harms from both gamblers and affected others&a... more This article examines gambling harms from both gamblers and affected others' perspectives. Participants (3076 gamblers and 2129 affected others) completed a retrospective survey that elicited information on harms they experienced from gambling across their lifetime. Their responses were analyzed through testing measurement invariance, estimating item-response theoretic parameters, calculating percentages, confidence intervals, and correlations, as well as regressions. The results indicated large commonalities in the experience of harms reported by gamblers and affected others. Further, gamblers appeared to 'export' about half of the harms they experienced to those around them. The findings also provided detailed profiles of evolving harms as problem gambling severity varies.
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2015
The physical health of people with serious mental illness (SMI) has become a focal area of resear... more The physical health of people with serious mental illness (SMI) has become a focal area of research. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the attention and distribution of research from within Australia on physical illness and SMI co-occurrence, and to identify gaps. A scoping review of peer-reviewed research literature from Australia, published between January 2000 and March 2014, was undertaken through an electronic literature search and coding of papers to chart trends. Four trends are highlighted: (i) an almost threefold increase in publications per year from 2000-2006 to 2007-2013; (ii) a steady release of literature reviews, especially from 2010; (iii) health-related behaviours, smoking, integrated-care programmes, and antipsychotic side-effects as the most common topics presented; and (iv) paucity of randomized, controlled trials on integrated-care models. Despite a marked increase in research attention to poorer physical health, there remains a large gap between research and the scale of the problem previously identified. More papers were descriptive or reviews, rather than evaluations of interventions. To foster more research, 12 research gaps are outlined. Addressing these gaps will facilitate the reduction of inequalities in physical health for people with SMI. Mental health nurses are well placed to lead multidisciplinary, consumer-informed research in this area.
EGMs are a form of entertainment, and the gambling environment is an important contributor to the... more EGMs are a form of entertainment, and the gambling environment is an important contributor to the overall experience. Logically, to select a play-environment, EGM gamblers must choose the platform through which to access the EGM (e.g., internet, mobile application or land-based venue), a particular provider (e.g., specific website, app vendor or branded casino), and the game itself (e.g., based on graphical theme or bonus features; Thorne et al. in J Gambl Stud, 2016. doi: 10.1007/s10899-016-9601-2 ). A discrete choice experiment was conducted to identify the features of the platform, provider and game that are most strongly preferred by EGM gamblers. Participants were 245 EGM gamblers from clubs in Victoria, Australia and 7516 EGM gamblers from an Australian online panel. Results indicate that the ideal environment for the average gambler consists of: gambling at a club that is close to home; with a group of friends; in a relatively quiet place that has air conditioning, cheap food and a large space to play in; on a classic game with quality animations and small bet sizes; where you feel safe and secure; and where there is a wide variety of other games to play when you are done. Segmenting these results by problem-gambler status highlights important differences in preferences between problem and non-problem gamblers. Problem gamblers are less likely to give weight to the company they share and have a preference for larger venues. Using a powerful paradigm from marketing research, the present study was able to determine the relative value of different features of the EGM gambling environment, and also contributes important insight towards what constitutes a safer environment for recreational play.
Remote monitoring of coastal conditions in locations of high public usage is a fast growing appli... more Remote monitoring of coastal conditions in locations of high public usage is a fast growing application of information technology. Remote mounted CCD camera systems provide a relatively cheap and potentially rich source of information on the state of the near-shore beach zone. The present paper presents a non-technical overview of a system for appropriate feature extraction and integration with other sources of weather and wave data for the purpose of assessing and predicting beach safety conditions using neural network based models. The feasibility of combined image processing and feature extraction routines for providing real-time input to neural network models of beach safety is demonstrated.
This paper describes the use of a novel method of feature extraction for visual sensor processing... more This paper describes the use of a novel method of feature extraction for visual sensor processing. An application to crack detection by a sewer maintenance robot equipped with an infra-red camera is described. A spacefrequency distribution 'signature' is generated via a ...
This paper describes the use of wavelet entropy as a feature extractor for robust classification ... more This paper describes the use of wavelet entropy as a feature extractor for robust classification of cracks in sewer pipe structures. Video image data was ac- quired using an infrared camera in an experimen- tal sewer pipe setup. Video frames were partitioned into 64 64 pixel sections. 1,885 'crack' and 1,675 'clean' (non-crack) sections were manually classified. Each section was
This paper demonstrates the successful autonomous classification of rotary laser scanner data ret... more This paper demonstrates the successful autonomous classification of rotary laser scanner data retrieved by an autonomous robot traversing a sewer pipe system. Rotary laser scanner serve dual purposes of fault detection and navigation. The present aim was to devise a robust landmark detection method for use in the robot's navigation system. A standard feed forward neural network with 6 hidden neurons was trained on the first 15 principle components of the combined amplitudes of the reflected signal and distance values data. The overall system shows a 89% performance for the classification for the validation data as opposed to 79% of a linear neural network. These results demonstrate that the appropriate application of conventional sensor feature extraction, and classification methods may be used to quickly build an effective and computationally efficient landmark detection system for a mobile robot.
Journal of gambling studies / co-sponsored by the National Council on Problem Gambling and Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming, Jan 23, 2015
Understanding the impact of EGM Jackpots on gambling intensity may allow targeted strategies to b... more Understanding the impact of EGM Jackpots on gambling intensity may allow targeted strategies to be implemented that facilitate harm minimisation by acting to reduce losses of gamblers who play frequently, while maintaining the enjoyment and excitement of potential jackpots. The current study investigated the influences of Hidden and Mystery Jackpots on EGM gambling intensity. In a Hidden Jackpot, the prize value is not shown to the player, although the existence of a jackpot prize is advertised. In a Mystery Jackpot, the jackpot triggering state of the machine is unknown to players. One hundred and seven volunteers (males = 49, females = 58) played a laptop-simulated EGM with a starting $20 real-money stake and a chance to win a Jackpot ($500). Participants played for either a Hidden or Known Jackpot Value, with either a Mystery or Known winning symbol combination in a crossed design. Lastly, a control condition with no jackpot was included. Gambling intensity (speed of bets, persis...
A diverse class of stimuli, including certain foods, substances, media, and economic behaviours, ... more A diverse class of stimuli, including certain foods, substances, media, and economic behaviours, may be described as 'reward-oriented' in that they provide immediate reinforcement with little initial investment. Neurophysiological and personality concepts, including dopaminergic dysfunction, reward sensitivity and rash impulsivity, each predict the existence of a latent behavioural trait that leads to increased consumption of all stimuli in this class. Whilst bivariate relationships (co-morbidities) are often reported in the literature, to our knowledge, a multivariate investigation of this possible trait has not been done. We surveyed 1,194 participants (550 male) on their typical weekly consumption of 11 types of reward-oriented stimuli, including fast food, salt, caffeine, television, gambling products, and illicit drugs. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare models in a 3×3 structure, based on the definition of a single latent factor (none, fixed loadings, or estimated loadings), and assumed residual covariance structure (none, a-priori / literature based, or post-hoc / data-driven). The inclusion of a single latent behavioural 'consumption' factor significantly improved model fit in all cases. Also confirming theoretical predictions, estimated factor loadings on reward-oriented indicators were uniformly positive, regardless of assumptions regarding residual covariances. Additionally, the latent trait was found to be negatively correlated with the non-reward-oriented indicators of fruit and vegetable consumption. The findings support the notion of a single behavioural trait leading to increased consumption of reward-oriented stimuli across multiple modalities. We discuss implications regarding the concentration of negative lifestyle-related health behaviours.
This paper describes the use of a novel method of feature extraction for visual sensor processing... more This paper describes the use of a novel method of feature extraction for visual sensor processing. An application to crack detection by a sewer maintenance robot equipped with an infra-red camera is described. A spacefrequency distribution signature is generated via a three step process involving; 1. space-frequency decomposition, 2. density function estimation, and 3. parameter extraction. These steps are achieved, respectively via; the wavelet transform, empirical density estimation, and principle components analysis. Extraction of wavelet distribution features is shown to be superior to conventional methods for classification. Performance was assessed using both linear (logistic regression) and non-linear (ANN) classifiers in a crack discrimination task.
By far the most common strategy used in the attempt to modify negative attitudes toward vaccinati... more By far the most common strategy used in the attempt to modify negative attitudes toward vaccination is to appeal to evidence-based reasoning. We argue, however, that focusing on science comprehension is inconsistent with one of the key facts of cognitive psychology: Humans are biased information processors and often engage in motivated reasoning. On this basis, we hypothesised that negative attitudes can be explained primarily by factors unrelated to the empirical evidence for vaccination; including some shared attitudes that also attract people to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In particular, we tested psychosocial factors associated with CAM endorsement in past research; including aspects of spirituality, intuitive (vs analytic) thinking styles, and the personality trait of openness to experience. These relationships were tested in a cross-sectional, stratified CATI survey (N = 1256, 624 Females). Whilst educational level and thinking style did not predict vaccination rejection, psychosocial factors including: preferring CAM to conventional medicine (OR .49, 95% CI .36-.66), endorsement of spirituality as a source of knowledge (OR .83, 95% CI .71-.96), and openness (OR .86, 95% CI .74-.99), all predicted negative attitudes to vaccination. Furthermore, for 9 of the 12 CAMs surveyed, utilisation in the last 12 months was associated with lower levels of vaccination endorsement. From this we suggest that vaccination scepticism appears to be the outcome of a particular cultural and psychological orientation leading to unwillingness to engage with the scientific evidence. Vaccination compliance might be increased either by building general confidence and understanding of evidence-based medicine, or by appealing to features usually associated with CAM, e.g. 'strengthening your natural resistance to disease'.
Remote sensing using terrestrial optical CCD cameras is a useful data-collection method for geoph... more Remote sensing using terrestrial optical CCD cameras is a useful data-collection method for geophysical measurement in the near-shore zone, where in situ measurement is difficult and time consuming. In particular, optical video sensing of the variability in the visible spectrum from the sea surface due to the near-shore incident wave field is becoming an established method for distal measurement of near-shore subtidal morphology. We report on the use of a low-mounted shorenormal camera for gathering data on cross-shore dissipative characteristics of a dynamic, open beach. Data is analysed for the purposes of classifying three of Wright and Shorts' intermediate classes of morphological beach state, as determined by expert raters. Although these beach states are usually thought of as being distinctive in terms of their longshore bar variability, theory predicts that differences should also be observed in cross-shore dissipative characteristics. Three methods of generating features from statistical features from the archived optical data are described and compared, in terms of their ability to discriminate between the beach states. The best performance was obtained using an pixel intensity percentile representation (which does not assume a Gaussian intensity distribution), which classified 85% of the 284 cases correctly. Class centre moment profiles for each beach state were constructed, and results indicate that crossshore wave dissipation becomes more disorganized as linear bars devolve into more complex transverse structures.
Issue addressed: The fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) models of mining in Au... more Issue addressed: The fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) models of mining in Australia have led to concerns about adverse health and psychosocial impacts. Despite speculation that increased levels of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Australia, including HIV, are associated with FIFO/DIDO work, we know little about sexual risk-taking behaviours in mining populations. This study explores differences in sexual risk taking and perceptions of risk between FIFO/DIDO miners and residential miners.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to a sample (n = 444) of male miners working in Queensland, Australia. The self-completed survey contained 49 questions relating to knowledge, attitudes and behaviour and included demographic information and specific items related to sex and relationships.Results: FIFO/DIDO status was not associated with any differential sexual risk-taking behaviours, except for an increased probability of reporting 'ever being diagnosed with an STI'; 10.8% of FIFO/DIDO respondents versus 3.6% of others (x2 (1) = 4.43, P = 0.35).Conclusions: Our results appear to counter anecdotal evidence that FIFO/DIDO miners engage in higher sexual risk behaviours when compared with residential miners.So what?: Anecdotal evidence linking the rise of sexually transmitted infections with the FIFO/DIDO mining workforce could drive costly and unnecessary approaches to prevention. Further research, surveillance and monitoring are required to inform health promotion interventions.
Background and aims
Impulsivity has consistently been associated with over-consumption and addict... more Background and aims Impulsivity has consistently been associated with over-consumption and addiction. Recent research has reconceptualised impulsivity as a two- dimensional construct (Dawe, Gullo & Loxton, 2004). The present study explores the relationship of the two components of impulsivity, reward drive (RD) and rash impulsivity (RI), on a broad group of 23 hedonic consumption behaviours (e.g., gambling, substance use, eating, media use). We tentatively grouped the behaviours into three descriptive classes: entertainment, foodstuffs, and illicit activities and substances. Results RD and RI positively predicted elevated levels of consumption in a community sample (N = 5391; 51% female), for the vast majority of the behaviours considered. However, the effect sizes for RD and RI varied significantly depending on the behaviour; a pattern that appeared to be at least partially attributable to the class of consumption. Results support the view that RD is related more strongly to the consumption of products that provide social engagement or a sense of increased status; whereas RI better reflects an approach \ toward illicit or restricted products that are intensely rewarding with clear negative consequences. Conclusions Results support the utility of the two-factor model of impulsivity in explaining individual differences in patterns of hedonic consumption in the general population. We discuss findings in terms of strengthening current conceptualisations of RI and RD as having distinct implications with respect to health-related behaviours.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2016
Under controlled laboratory conditions, neurobehavioral assays such as the Psychomotor Vigilance ... more Under controlled laboratory conditions, neurobehavioral assays such as the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) are sensitive to increasing levels of fatigue, and in general, tend to correlate with subjective ratings. However, laboratory studies specifically curtail physical activity, potentially limiting the applicability of such findings to field settings that involve physical work. In addition, laboratory studies typically involve healthy young male participants that are not always representative of a typical working population. In order to determine whether these findings extend to field-like conditions, we put 88 Australian volunteer firefighters through a multi-day firefighting simulation. Participants were required to perform real-world physical and cognitive tasks under conditions of elevated temperature and moderate sleep restriction. We aimed to examine changes in fatigue in an effort to determine the optimum objective and subjective measures. Objective and subjective tests were sensitive to fatigue outside laboratory conditions. The PVT was the most sensitive assay of objective fatigue, with the Samn-Perelli fatigue scale the most sensitive of the subjective measures. The Samn-Perilli fatigue scale correlated best with PVT performance, but explained a small amount of variance. Although the Samn-Perelli scale can be easily administered in the field, the wide range of individual variance limits its efficacy as a once-off assessment tool. Rather, fatigue measures should be applied as a component of a broader fatigue risk management system. Findings provide firefighting agencies, and other occupations involving physical work, guidance as to the most sensitive and specific measures for assessing fatigue in their personnel.
This article examines gambling harms from both gamblers and affected others&a... more This article examines gambling harms from both gamblers and affected others' perspectives. Participants (3076 gamblers and 2129 affected others) completed a retrospective survey that elicited information on harms they experienced from gambling across their lifetime. Their responses were analyzed through testing measurement invariance, estimating item-response theoretic parameters, calculating percentages, confidence intervals, and correlations, as well as regressions. The results indicated large commonalities in the experience of harms reported by gamblers and affected others. Further, gamblers appeared to 'export' about half of the harms they experienced to those around them. The findings also provided detailed profiles of evolving harms as problem gambling severity varies.
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2015
The physical health of people with serious mental illness (SMI) has become a focal area of resear... more The physical health of people with serious mental illness (SMI) has become a focal area of research. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the attention and distribution of research from within Australia on physical illness and SMI co-occurrence, and to identify gaps. A scoping review of peer-reviewed research literature from Australia, published between January 2000 and March 2014, was undertaken through an electronic literature search and coding of papers to chart trends. Four trends are highlighted: (i) an almost threefold increase in publications per year from 2000-2006 to 2007-2013; (ii) a steady release of literature reviews, especially from 2010; (iii) health-related behaviours, smoking, integrated-care programmes, and antipsychotic side-effects as the most common topics presented; and (iv) paucity of randomized, controlled trials on integrated-care models. Despite a marked increase in research attention to poorer physical health, there remains a large gap between research and the scale of the problem previously identified. More papers were descriptive or reviews, rather than evaluations of interventions. To foster more research, 12 research gaps are outlined. Addressing these gaps will facilitate the reduction of inequalities in physical health for people with SMI. Mental health nurses are well placed to lead multidisciplinary, consumer-informed research in this area.
EGMs are a form of entertainment, and the gambling environment is an important contributor to the... more EGMs are a form of entertainment, and the gambling environment is an important contributor to the overall experience. Logically, to select a play-environment, EGM gamblers must choose the platform through which to access the EGM (e.g., internet, mobile application or land-based venue), a particular provider (e.g., specific website, app vendor or branded casino), and the game itself (e.g., based on graphical theme or bonus features; Thorne et al. in J Gambl Stud, 2016. doi: 10.1007/s10899-016-9601-2 ). A discrete choice experiment was conducted to identify the features of the platform, provider and game that are most strongly preferred by EGM gamblers. Participants were 245 EGM gamblers from clubs in Victoria, Australia and 7516 EGM gamblers from an Australian online panel. Results indicate that the ideal environment for the average gambler consists of: gambling at a club that is close to home; with a group of friends; in a relatively quiet place that has air conditioning, cheap food and a large space to play in; on a classic game with quality animations and small bet sizes; where you feel safe and secure; and where there is a wide variety of other games to play when you are done. Segmenting these results by problem-gambler status highlights important differences in preferences between problem and non-problem gamblers. Problem gamblers are less likely to give weight to the company they share and have a preference for larger venues. Using a powerful paradigm from marketing research, the present study was able to determine the relative value of different features of the EGM gambling environment, and also contributes important insight towards what constitutes a safer environment for recreational play.
Remote monitoring of coastal conditions in locations of high public usage is a fast growing appli... more Remote monitoring of coastal conditions in locations of high public usage is a fast growing application of information technology. Remote mounted CCD camera systems provide a relatively cheap and potentially rich source of information on the state of the near-shore beach zone. The present paper presents a non-technical overview of a system for appropriate feature extraction and integration with other sources of weather and wave data for the purpose of assessing and predicting beach safety conditions using neural network based models. The feasibility of combined image processing and feature extraction routines for providing real-time input to neural network models of beach safety is demonstrated.
This paper describes the use of a novel method of feature extraction for visual sensor processing... more This paper describes the use of a novel method of feature extraction for visual sensor processing. An application to crack detection by a sewer maintenance robot equipped with an infra-red camera is described. A spacefrequency distribution 'signature' is generated via a ...
This paper describes the use of wavelet entropy as a feature extractor for robust classification ... more This paper describes the use of wavelet entropy as a feature extractor for robust classification of cracks in sewer pipe structures. Video image data was ac- quired using an infrared camera in an experimen- tal sewer pipe setup. Video frames were partitioned into 64 64 pixel sections. 1,885 'crack' and 1,675 'clean' (non-crack) sections were manually classified. Each section was
This paper demonstrates the successful autonomous classification of rotary laser scanner data ret... more This paper demonstrates the successful autonomous classification of rotary laser scanner data retrieved by an autonomous robot traversing a sewer pipe system. Rotary laser scanner serve dual purposes of fault detection and navigation. The present aim was to devise a robust landmark detection method for use in the robot's navigation system. A standard feed forward neural network with 6 hidden neurons was trained on the first 15 principle components of the combined amplitudes of the reflected signal and distance values data. The overall system shows a 89% performance for the classification for the validation data as opposed to 79% of a linear neural network. These results demonstrate that the appropriate application of conventional sensor feature extraction, and classification methods may be used to quickly build an effective and computationally efficient landmark detection system for a mobile robot.
Journal of gambling studies / co-sponsored by the National Council on Problem Gambling and Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming, Jan 23, 2015
Understanding the impact of EGM Jackpots on gambling intensity may allow targeted strategies to b... more Understanding the impact of EGM Jackpots on gambling intensity may allow targeted strategies to be implemented that facilitate harm minimisation by acting to reduce losses of gamblers who play frequently, while maintaining the enjoyment and excitement of potential jackpots. The current study investigated the influences of Hidden and Mystery Jackpots on EGM gambling intensity. In a Hidden Jackpot, the prize value is not shown to the player, although the existence of a jackpot prize is advertised. In a Mystery Jackpot, the jackpot triggering state of the machine is unknown to players. One hundred and seven volunteers (males = 49, females = 58) played a laptop-simulated EGM with a starting $20 real-money stake and a chance to win a Jackpot ($500). Participants played for either a Hidden or Known Jackpot Value, with either a Mystery or Known winning symbol combination in a crossed design. Lastly, a control condition with no jackpot was included. Gambling intensity (speed of bets, persis...
A diverse class of stimuli, including certain foods, substances, media, and economic behaviours, ... more A diverse class of stimuli, including certain foods, substances, media, and economic behaviours, may be described as 'reward-oriented' in that they provide immediate reinforcement with little initial investment. Neurophysiological and personality concepts, including dopaminergic dysfunction, reward sensitivity and rash impulsivity, each predict the existence of a latent behavioural trait that leads to increased consumption of all stimuli in this class. Whilst bivariate relationships (co-morbidities) are often reported in the literature, to our knowledge, a multivariate investigation of this possible trait has not been done. We surveyed 1,194 participants (550 male) on their typical weekly consumption of 11 types of reward-oriented stimuli, including fast food, salt, caffeine, television, gambling products, and illicit drugs. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare models in a 3×3 structure, based on the definition of a single latent factor (none, fixed loadings, or estimated loadings), and assumed residual covariance structure (none, a-priori / literature based, or post-hoc / data-driven). The inclusion of a single latent behavioural 'consumption' factor significantly improved model fit in all cases. Also confirming theoretical predictions, estimated factor loadings on reward-oriented indicators were uniformly positive, regardless of assumptions regarding residual covariances. Additionally, the latent trait was found to be negatively correlated with the non-reward-oriented indicators of fruit and vegetable consumption. The findings support the notion of a single behavioural trait leading to increased consumption of reward-oriented stimuli across multiple modalities. We discuss implications regarding the concentration of negative lifestyle-related health behaviours.
This paper describes the use of a novel method of feature extraction for visual sensor processing... more This paper describes the use of a novel method of feature extraction for visual sensor processing. An application to crack detection by a sewer maintenance robot equipped with an infra-red camera is described. A spacefrequency distribution signature is generated via a three step process involving; 1. space-frequency decomposition, 2. density function estimation, and 3. parameter extraction. These steps are achieved, respectively via; the wavelet transform, empirical density estimation, and principle components analysis. Extraction of wavelet distribution features is shown to be superior to conventional methods for classification. Performance was assessed using both linear (logistic regression) and non-linear (ANN) classifiers in a crack discrimination task.
By far the most common strategy used in the attempt to modify negative attitudes toward vaccinati... more By far the most common strategy used in the attempt to modify negative attitudes toward vaccination is to appeal to evidence-based reasoning. We argue, however, that focusing on science comprehension is inconsistent with one of the key facts of cognitive psychology: Humans are biased information processors and often engage in motivated reasoning. On this basis, we hypothesised that negative attitudes can be explained primarily by factors unrelated to the empirical evidence for vaccination; including some shared attitudes that also attract people to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In particular, we tested psychosocial factors associated with CAM endorsement in past research; including aspects of spirituality, intuitive (vs analytic) thinking styles, and the personality trait of openness to experience. These relationships were tested in a cross-sectional, stratified CATI survey (N = 1256, 624 Females). Whilst educational level and thinking style did not predict vaccination rejection, psychosocial factors including: preferring CAM to conventional medicine (OR .49, 95% CI .36-.66), endorsement of spirituality as a source of knowledge (OR .83, 95% CI .71-.96), and openness (OR .86, 95% CI .74-.99), all predicted negative attitudes to vaccination. Furthermore, for 9 of the 12 CAMs surveyed, utilisation in the last 12 months was associated with lower levels of vaccination endorsement. From this we suggest that vaccination scepticism appears to be the outcome of a particular cultural and psychological orientation leading to unwillingness to engage with the scientific evidence. Vaccination compliance might be increased either by building general confidence and understanding of evidence-based medicine, or by appealing to features usually associated with CAM, e.g. 'strengthening your natural resistance to disease'.
Remote sensing using terrestrial optical CCD cameras is a useful data-collection method for geoph... more Remote sensing using terrestrial optical CCD cameras is a useful data-collection method for geophysical measurement in the near-shore zone, where in situ measurement is difficult and time consuming. In particular, optical video sensing of the variability in the visible spectrum from the sea surface due to the near-shore incident wave field is becoming an established method for distal measurement of near-shore subtidal morphology. We report on the use of a low-mounted shorenormal camera for gathering data on cross-shore dissipative characteristics of a dynamic, open beach. Data is analysed for the purposes of classifying three of Wright and Shorts' intermediate classes of morphological beach state, as determined by expert raters. Although these beach states are usually thought of as being distinctive in terms of their longshore bar variability, theory predicts that differences should also be observed in cross-shore dissipative characteristics. Three methods of generating features from statistical features from the archived optical data are described and compared, in terms of their ability to discriminate between the beach states. The best performance was obtained using an pixel intensity percentile representation (which does not assume a Gaussian intensity distribution), which classified 85% of the 284 cases correctly. Class centre moment profiles for each beach state were constructed, and results indicate that crossshore wave dissipation becomes more disorganized as linear bars devolve into more complex transverse structures.
Tales of strange alien worlds, fantastic future technologies and bowls of sentient petunias have ... more Tales of strange alien worlds, fantastic future technologies and bowls of sentient petunias have long captivated audiences worldwide. But science fiction is more than just fantasy in space; it can educate, inspire and expand our imaginations to conceive of the universe as it might be.
We invited scientists to highlight their favourite science fiction novel or film and tell us what it was that captivated their imagination – and, for some, how it started their career.
While the PGSI is indeed an established index of problem-gambling symptoms, it nevertheless does ... more While the PGSI is indeed an established index of problem-gambling symptoms, it nevertheless does not quantify the degree of harm experienced by individuals at different points on the spectrum of gambling problems. The purpose of the present study was to establish the relationship between the PGSI category and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) decrements using a population health (PH) method. Harms reported by gamblers and affected others across the PGSI spectrums were transformed into 798 vignettes. A general population panel (N=786) and experts who work with gamblers (N=51) rated the impact of these vignette descriptions on quality of life using the Time Trade-Off task, and a Visual Analogue Scale incorporating 27 comparison conditions. Disability weights (DW) were then estimated for different levels of gambling symptoms. A DW of 0.44 was estimated for problem gamblers (PG), suggesting a reduction in the effective enjoyment of life by over 4 years for every 10 years in lifespan. Lower—but non-negligible—DWs of .14 and .29 were determined for low-and moderate-risk gamblers. Gambling is compared with a number of other conditions with respect to HRQoL impact. On average, PG harm appears to be similar to that of a manic episode of bipolar disorder and severe alcohol abuse disorder. We discuss advantages, and methodological challenges, in applying PH methods to measuring the severity of gambling problems in terms of HRQoL. Résumé Bien que l'indice du jeu excessif (PGSI) soit en effet un indice établi des symptômes liés aux problèmes de jeu, il ne quantifie pas le niveau de préjudice subi par les personnes situées à différents points sur le spectre des problèmes de jeu. Le but de l'étude a été d'établir la relation entre la catégorie PGSI et les écarts à la baisse en lien avec la qualité de vie liée à la santé (QVLS) en utilisant une méthode de santé de la population. Les torts signalés par les joueurs et les personnes touchées dans le spectre PGSI ont été transformés en 798 vignettes. Un groupe de population en général (N = 786) et des experts qui travaillent avec des joueurs compulsifs (N = 51) ont évalué l'incidence de ces descriptions de vignette sur la qualité de vie à l'aide de la tâche Time Trade-Off (marchandage de temps) et une échelle visuelle analogue intégrant 27 conditions de comparaison. Les poids d'incapacité (DW) ont ensuite été estimés pour différents niveaux de symptômes du jeu. Un DW de 0,44 a été estimé pour les joueurs compulsifs, ce qui laisse supposer une diminution de la jouissance réelle de la vie de plus de 4 ans pour chaque tranche de vie de 10 ans. Les DW inférieurs, mais non négligeables, de 0,14 et 0,29 ont été déterminés pour les joueurs à risque faible et modéré. Le jeu est comparé à un certain nombre d'autres conditions en ce qui concerne l'incidence de la qualité de vie liée à la santé (QVLS). En moyenne, le préjudice causé par un joueur compulsif s'apparente à celui d'un épisode maniaque de trouble bipolaire et d'un trouble sévère d'abus d'alcool. Nous discutons des avantages et des défis méthodologiques, en appliquant des méthodes de santé de la population pour mesurer la gravité des problèmes de jeu en termes de QVLS.
It is common for jurisdictions tasked with minimising gambling-related harm to conduct problem ga... more It is common for jurisdictions tasked with minimising gambling-related harm to conduct problem gambling prevalence studies for the purpose of monitoring the impact of gambling to the community. However, given that both public health theory and empirical findings suggest that harms can occur without individuals satisfying clinical criteria of addiction, there is a recognized conceptual disconnect between the prevalence of clinical problem gamblers, and aggregate harm to the community. Starting with an initial item pool of 72 specific harms caused by problematic gambling, our aim was to develop a short gambling harms scale (SGHS) to screen for the presence and degree of harm caused by gambling. An Internet panel of 1524 individuals who had gambled in the last year completed a 72-item checklist, along with the Personal Wellbeing Index, the PGSI, and other measures. We selected 10 items for the SGHS, with the goals of maximising sensitivity and construct coverage. Psychometric analysis suggests very strong reliability, homogeneity and unidimensionality. Non-zero responses on the SGHS were associated with a large decrease in personal wellbeing, with wellbeing decreasing linearly with the number of harms indicated. We conclude that weighted SGHS scores can be aggregated at the population level to yield a sensitive and valid measure of gambling harm.
While the financial and psychological burden on problem gamblers can be severe, at least some of ... more While the financial and psychological burden on problem gamblers can be severe, at least some of the ill effects are also passed on to family or other close social ties. The present study estimated the number of affected-others for the typical problem gambler. Australian members of an online panel with gambling problems (N = 3076) and panel members who indicated that they had been affected by someone else’s gambling (N = 2129) were asked to estimate the number of other people who were negatively affected by their gambling. Using robust statistics to analyse this data, the study found lower estimates made by problem gamblers (four affected people) compared to estimates made by affected others (six affected people, including the respondent). It was concluded that a point-estimate of six people affected is a more accurate figure since it does not suffer from self-presentation effects of problem gamblers. Low-risk and moderate-risk gamblers, unsurprisingly, affected far fewer other people (one and three, respectively). Both gamblers and affected-others most often identified close family members, including spouses and children, as the people impacted by others’ gambling problems. These results provide an approximate measure of the number of people affected, per problem gambler, to facilitate accurate accounting of the harms accruing from gambling problems.
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Papers by Matthew Browne
Impulsivity has consistently been associated with over-consumption and addiction. Recent research has reconceptualised impulsivity as a two- dimensional construct (Dawe, Gullo & Loxton, 2004). The present study explores the relationship of the two components of impulsivity, reward drive (RD) and rash impulsivity (RI), on a broad group of 23 hedonic consumption behaviours (e.g., gambling, substance use, eating, media use). We tentatively grouped the behaviours into three descriptive classes: entertainment, foodstuffs, and illicit activities and substances.
Results
RD and RI positively predicted elevated levels of consumption in a community sample (N = 5391; 51% female), for the vast majority of the behaviours considered. However, the effect sizes for RD and RI varied significantly depending on the behaviour; a pattern that appeared to be at least partially attributable to the class of consumption. Results support the view that RD is related more strongly to the consumption of products that provide social engagement or a sense of increased status; whereas RI better reflects an approach \ toward illicit or restricted products that are intensely rewarding with clear negative consequences.
Conclusions
Results support the utility of the two-factor model of impulsivity in explaining individual differences in patterns of hedonic consumption in the general population. We discuss findings in terms of strengthening current conceptualisations of RI and RD as having distinct implications with respect to health-related behaviours.
Impulsivity has consistently been associated with over-consumption and addiction. Recent research has reconceptualised impulsivity as a two- dimensional construct (Dawe, Gullo & Loxton, 2004). The present study explores the relationship of the two components of impulsivity, reward drive (RD) and rash impulsivity (RI), on a broad group of 23 hedonic consumption behaviours (e.g., gambling, substance use, eating, media use). We tentatively grouped the behaviours into three descriptive classes: entertainment, foodstuffs, and illicit activities and substances.
Results
RD and RI positively predicted elevated levels of consumption in a community sample (N = 5391; 51% female), for the vast majority of the behaviours considered. However, the effect sizes for RD and RI varied significantly depending on the behaviour; a pattern that appeared to be at least partially attributable to the class of consumption. Results support the view that RD is related more strongly to the consumption of products that provide social engagement or a sense of increased status; whereas RI better reflects an approach \ toward illicit or restricted products that are intensely rewarding with clear negative consequences.
Conclusions
Results support the utility of the two-factor model of impulsivity in explaining individual differences in patterns of hedonic consumption in the general population. We discuss findings in terms of strengthening current conceptualisations of RI and RD as having distinct implications with respect to health-related behaviours.
We invited scientists to highlight their favourite science fiction novel or film and tell us what it was that captivated their imagination – and, for some, how it started their career.