Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Honourable Intentions? Analysing the Interests of Private Equity in the Aged Care Sector

The Australian aged care industry was once dominated by non-profit organisations but recently ownership has changed significantly with the entry of for profit and, in particular, private equity investment vehicles. This paper provides an overview of the main players in the Australian aged care sector. The analysis is framed within the literature on the relationship between ownership type and the quality of community services. We then present results which suggest that a change of ownership from non-profit to private equity may have significant consequences for the quality of service provision. In this context, we argue that several potential issues arise as a result of this change in ownership. First, is that by creating attractive investment opportunities for investment funds looking for a low risk venture, government has come to heavily subsidise the private players in the aged care sector. Second, are the effects this private ownership may have on the quality of service provision with the likelihood that private business will value maximizing profit above investing in the quality of care. Third, are the implications for the access and cost of aged care if the industry becomes dominated by businesses with short term investment horizons and early exit strategies and that rely on highly volatile financial markets.
Nuclear localization of foamy virus Gag precursor protein

All foamy viruses give rise to a strong nuclear staining when infected cells are reacted with sera from infected hosts. This nuclear fluorescence distinguishes foamy viruses from all other retroviruses. The experiments reported here indicate that the foamy virus Gag precursor protein is transiently located in the nuclei of infected cells and this is the likely reason for the typical foamy virus nuclear fluorescence. By using the vaccinia virus expression system, a conserved basic sequence motif in the nucleocapsid domain of foamy virus Gag proteins was identified to be responsible for the nuclear transport of the gag precursor molecule. This motif was also found to be able to direct a heterologous protein, the Gag protein of human immunodeficiency virus, into the nucleus.
EXPOSURE TO MAGNETIC FIELD HARMONICS IN THE VICINITY OF INDOOR DISTRIBUTION SUBSTATIONS

Due to possible health effects of electric and magnetic fields, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) published in 1998 guidelines in which upper limits for public and occupational exposure were established. The guidelines are widely referenced by the EU directive of 2004. Thus, in Europe we have passed the time for discussion about the possible biological effects of magnetic fields and the duration of exposure to be allowed. Furthermore, in 2003, ICNIRP expanded their guidelines by taking into account the harmonic components of the magnetic field with phase angles. This statement has not been referenced widely. The aim of this study was to investigate magnetic fields, especially the harmonic components, in electric distribution (20/0.4 kV) substations from the public and occupational exposure point of view. The main finding is that the harmonic content of the magnetic field can dominate the exposure. The harmonic contents analyzed following the original ICNIRP guidelines varied between 49 and 74%. When taking into account the magnetic field phase angles, the harmonic content was only between 16 and 62%. By taking into account only the amplitudes of the harmonic components, ignoring their phase angles, the content of harmonic components is overestimated, on the average, by 30%.
Contemporary Management Accounting Practices in UK Manufacturing

Contemporary Management Accounting Practices in UK Manufacturing - a CIMA research project - reveals methods currently used for reporting financial information in UK manufacturing companies. Based on a study of 41 companies, it shows a rich diversity of reporting practices that are constrained neither by the financial accounting requirements of SSAP9 nor by any sense of general management accounting trends. Instead, Financial Directors choose from a toolkit of 'traditional' and 'contemporary' practices in constructing reporting systems appropriate to their varied commerical needs, but with a strong leaning towards contribution margin approaches. From this book readers will discover how different companies develop a wide range of reporting practices in relation to contribution, margin, profit, variances, budgets and forecasts. It is accompanied by an Appendix on CD that supplies and organizational outline, summary of financial reporting practices, and the Profit & Loss pro-forma of each of the companies studied. The book is an important resource for both academics and practitioners reflecting on current developments in managemen accounting in UK manufacturing. David Dugdale is Professor of Management Accounting, University of Bristol. T Colwyn Jones is Professor of Sociology of Accounting, University of the West of England. Stephen Green is Regional Finance Manager, Home Group Limited.
Proteasome inhibitors as new anticancer drugs

The targeted degradation of key regulatory proteins is an essential element of cell cycle control. The proteasome plays a central role in the degradation of such proteins and has therefore become an important therapeutic target for diseases involving cell proliferation, notably cancer. This review summarizes numerous studies demonstrating that proteasome inhibition induces apoptosis and sensitizes cancer cells to traditional tumoricidal agents both in vitro and in vivo. The potent and selective proteasome inhibitor, PS-341, is particularly promising from a therapeutic perspective, and it is the only such inhibitor that has progressed to clinical trials. Preliminary data indicate that the drug is well tolerated by patients with cancer, and further trials are underway to assess the safety and efficacy of proteasome inhibition in hematologic and solid tumors, both as a monotherapy and in combination with other chemotherapeutics.
Stock and Bond Relationships in Asia

This paper analyzes the relationship between stocks and bonds in nine Asian countries. Using a bivariate stochastic volatility model, we show that there are significant volatility spillover effects between stock and bond markets in several of the countries. Furthermore, dynamic correlation patterns show that the relationship between stock and bond markets changes considerably over time in all countries. Stock-bond correlation increases during periods of turmoil in several countries, indicating that there is a cross-asset contagion effect. Therefore, if there is a flight to quality effect in Asian markets, it seems to occur across countries or regions rather than across domestic assets. The results have direct and important implications for regional policy makers as well as domestic and international investors that invest in multiple asset classes.
Small-signal analysis of a low-cost power control for LCC series-parallel inverters with resonant current mode control for HID lamps

In this paper, a low-cost power control for LCC series-parallel inverters with resonant current mode control for high intensity discharge (HID) lamps is presented. These resonant inverters require controlling the power supplied to the lamp in order to avoid exceeding the maximum lamp power recommended by the lamp manufacturer. The classical control method measures the lamp voltage and current and they are multiplied analogically, obtaining the lamp power consumption measure. This control circuitry results very complex due to the lamp voltage and current wide variations range during ignition and discharge processes. Assuming a regulated input dc voltage (bus voltage) provided by the power factor correction (PFC) pre-regulator and an inverter constant efficiency along the lamp aging, the lamp power consumption may be estimated and regulated properly measuring the inverter average input current. Also, the small-signal analysis performed allows obtaining the small-signal resonant inverter input impedance and studying the connection stability between PFC pre-regulator and inverter. The inverter small-signal analysis has been performed and an electronic ballast prototype for 250-W HPS lamps has been implemented and tested verifying the low-cost lamp power control method proposed.
Block-level Deduplication with Encrypted Data

Deduplication is a storage saving technique which has been adopted by many cloud storage providers such as Dropbox. The simple principle of deduplication is that duplicate data uploaded by different users are stored only once. Unfortunately, deduplication is not compatible with encryption. As a scheme that allows deduplication of encrypted data segments, we propose ClouDedup, a secure and efficient storage service which guarantees blocklevel deduplication and data confidentiality at the same time. ClouDedup strengthens convergent encryption by employing a component that implements an additional encryption operation and an access control mechanism. We also propose to introduce an additional component which is in charge of providing a key management system for data blocks together with the actual deduplication operation. We show that the overhead introduced by these new components is minimal and does not impact the overall storage and computational costs. TYPE OF PAPER AND
Foodgrain market integration under market reforms in Egypt

Using urban price data for the period 1976 to 1992 and rural price data for the period 1982 to 1992, the study assesses the degree of market integration for wheat, maize and rice. The study finds that i) reforms have not destabilized foodgrain prices; ii) there is some indication that the degree of segmentation among food grain markets has decreased during the reform period, especially for rural wheat and maize markets; iii) urban markets exhibit a much higher degree of market segmentation, particularly for wheat; and iv) the extent of market integration in terms of the magnitude of market interdependence and speed of price transmission was until 1992 very limited. Urban markets seemed to have a lower magnitude of integration than those of rural areas and the speed of adjustment was higher among these markets, reflecting the better communication and infrastructure network in urban areas.
A Procedure for Making Optimal Selection of Input Variables for Multivariate Environmental Classifications

Abstract: Multivariate classifications of environmental factors are used as frameworks for conservation management. Although classification performance is likely to be sensitive to choice of input variables, these choices have been subjective in most previous studies. We used the Mantel test on a limited set of sites for which biological data were available to iteratively seek a definition of environmental space (i.e., intersite distances calculated with a set of appropriately transformed and weighted environmental variables) that had maximal correlation with the same sites described in a biological space. The procedure was used to select input variables for a classification of New Zealand's rivers that discriminates variation in fish communities for biodiversity management. The classification performed (i.e., discriminated biological variation) better than classifications with subjectively chosen variables. The inherently linear measures of environmental distance that underlie multivariate environmental classifications mean that they will perform best if they are defined based on variables for which there is a linear variation in the biological community throughout the entire range of the variable. Classification performance will therefore be improved when variables that have nonlinear relationships with biological variation are transformed to make their relationship with biological turnover more linear and when the contributions of environmental factors that have particularly strong relationships with biological variation are increased by weighting. Our results indicate that attention to the manner in which environmental space is defined improves the efficacy of multivariate classification and other techniques in which the environment is used as a surrogate for biological variation.
ADAM12 in human liver cancers: TGF‐β‐regulated expression in stellate cells is associated with matrix remodeling

“A disintegrin and metalloproteinases” (ADAMs) form a family of cell‐surface glycoproteins with potential protease and cell‐adhesion activities. We have investigated ADAM expression in human liver cancers and their regulation by several cytokines involved in liver injury. Using degenerative RT‐PCR, cDNA encoding sequences for ADAM9 and ADAM12 were identified in human activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Northern blot analyses showed that HSCs, but not hepatocytes, expressed transcripts for ADAM9 messenger RNA (mRNA) and both the long and short forms of ADAM12. This expression was associated with the transition from quiescent to activated state of rat HSCs and markedly increased in human livers with cirrhosis. ADAM12 but not ADAM9 expression was up‐regulated by transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) in human activated HSCs. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and the mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor UO126 prevented ADAM12 induction by TGF‐β, suggesting the involvement of PI3K and MEK activities. In vivo, the steady‐state of both ADAM9 and ADAM12 mRNA levels was nearly undetectable in both normal livers and benign tumors and increased in hepatocellular carcinomas (up to 3‐ and 6‐fold, respectively) and liver metastases from colonic carcinomas (up to 40‐ and 60‐fold, respectively). The up‐regulation of both ADAM9 and ADAM12 was correlated with an increase in matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression and activity. In conclusion, in liver cancers ADAM9 and ADAM12 expression is associated with tumor aggressiveness and progression.
Granzyme A Deficiency Breaks Immune Tolerance and Promotes Autoimmune Diabetes Through a Type I Interferon–Dependent Pathway

Granzyme A is a protease implicated in the degradation of intracellular DNA. Nucleotide complexes are known triggers of systemic autoimmunity, but a role in organ-specific autoimmune disease has not been demonstrated. To investigate whether such a mechanism could be an endogenous trigger for autoimmunity, we examined the impact of granzyme A deficiency in the NOD mouse model of autoimmune diabetes. Granzyme A deficiency resulted in an increased incidence in diabetes associated with accumulation of ssDNA in immune cells and induction of an interferon response in pancreatic islets. Central tolerance to proinsulin in transgenic NOD mice was broken on a granzyme A–deficient background. We have identified a novel endogenous trigger for autoimmune diabetes and an in vivo role for granzyme A in maintaining immune tolerance.
Elite European universities and the R&D subsidiaries of multinational enterprises

This book addresses the critical issue of how and why European universities are changing and learning to compete. Anglo-Saxon universities particularly in the US, the UK and Australia have long been subject to, and responded to, market-based competition in higher education. The authors argue that Continental and Nordic universities and higher education institutes are now facing similar pressures that are leading to a structural transformation of the university sector.
Simple constrained‐optimization view of acetate overflow in E. coli

The production of acetate by aerobically growing E. coli is examined. The problem is formulated in terms of a flow network that has as its objective maximal ATP synthesis. It is found that when loads are imposed and flux constraints exist either at the level of NADH turnover rate or the activity of a key Krebs cycle enzyme, switching to acetate overflow is predicted. Moreover, the result found for the latter constraint can be shown to be formally equivalent to a correlation experimentally determined for the specific rate of acetate production by E. coli K‐12.
THE INFLUENCE OF ADVERTISING APPROACH IN A TRIAL PURCHASE CONTEXT

Research investigating the development of trial purchase has recognised that the chosen advertising approach is a key influence in the trial process. This thesis describes a critique of the central and related literature surrounding the influence of advertising approach in a trial purchase context, with particular emphasis on the concept of disruptive advertising. This concept can be described as an overturning of convention for commercial benefit, and has been introduced to deal with change. Whilst it is clear that many brands achieve success via a consistent approach to advertising, it is also true that successful advertising is often rooted in 'doing something different'. The literature reveals that there is a lack of empirical work to date on brand/market situations in which a disruptive approach to advertising will be more appropriate and successful than a conventional approach at stimulating purchase or perhaps increasing awareness of a brand. In which situations should a disruptive advertising approach be applied? Phase I of the research investigates the possible link between a brand situation, the advertising strategy adopted and the brand success using existing advertising case materials. Focus group interviews are then utilised in phase 2 to gain some understanding of consumer attitudes towards different advertising approaches in different product markets and also to explore brand usage and brand choices in these markets. Content analysis is applied to the results of phases I and 2. Finally. phase 3 of the research more specifically investigates the influence of advertising approach on purchase intention within different product markets compared with other primary influencing factors. A questionnaire survey was administered to undergraduate students at the University of Plymouth for phase 3 and the results were analysed using individual item analysis and multiple regression. A generic model of 'The Influence of Advertising Approach in a Trial Purchase Context' is constructed from the literature and a modified version is used to discuss the results of the study. The results indicate that the choice of a disruptive or conventional advertising approach does affect intention to purchase a brand and that the nature of product involvement does influence intention to purchase a brand. However, the research has not been able to provide conclusive evidence as to the situations in which a disruptive advertising approach should be applied and consequently little can be recommended to managers regarding disruption on an operational basis. In addition, the study has provided little evidence to support the concept of disruption other than as an elaborate repackaging of positioning theory. Additional research using non-student populations and a greater selection of low involvement and high involvement markets is recommended, however, in order to validate the relationships found.
A new iris recognition method based on PCA and sparse representation towards occlusion

Regarding the problem of iris recognition under occlusions which will greatly degrade the recognition results, this paper proposes a robust iris recognition method based on sparse representation and principal component analysis (PCA). The experimental results show that the correct recognition rate of the proposed method is encouraging. Moreover, the proposed method is robust to real occlusions or simulative occlusions. The experimental results on the CASIA iris database which is the largest publicly available iris image data sets show that the performance of the proposed method is encouraging and comparable to the best iris recognition algorithm found in the current literature.
Interchange Fees in Card Payments

The present paper explores issues surrounding multilateral interchange fees (MIFs) in payment card markets from various angles. The Eurosystem’s public stance on interchange fees is neutral. However, the Eurosystem takes a keen interest in facilitating a constructive dialogue among the stakeholders involved in this debate. Transparency and clarity with respect to the real costs and benefi ts of different payment instruments are indispensable for a modern and harmonised European retail payments market. Interchange fees (if any) should be set at a reasonable level so as to promote overall economic effi ciency in compliance with competition rules. JEL Classification: C43, E31
Whole-Genome Sequences of 13 Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Shrub Willow (Salix) Grown in Geneva, New York

ABSTRACT Shrub willow, Salix spp. and hybrids, is an important bioenergy crop. Here we report the whole-genome sequences and annotation of 13 endophytic bacteria from stem tissues of Salix purpurea grown in nature and from commercial cultivars and Salix viminalis × Salix miyabeana grown in bioenergy fields in Geneva, New York.
Correlation analysis for clinical and gingival crevicular fluid parameters at anatomically related gingival sites.

This study was designed to evaluate the relationship of certain clinical and biochemical measures of periodontal pathology at anatomically related gingival sites. The maxillary first molar--second bicuspid region was studied in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis. The mesiobuccal site on the first molar was compared to the mesiopalatal and direct buccal sites on the molar and the distobuccal site on the second bicuspid. Probing depth, attachment level, gingival index, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) volume, and GCF levels of the lysosomal enzyme B-glucuronidase (BG), the cytoplasmic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase, IgG and the protease-inhibitor alpha-2-macroglobulin were studied. For the 3 anatomical pairs that were analyzed, the correlation coefficients for the GCF constituents were generally higher than the correlations for the clinical parameters. The mean correlations for the GCF constituents were higher for the periodontitis patients as compared to the gingivitis patients. For the periodontitis patients, BG activity was correlated at adjacent proximal sites, approached significance at adjacent papillary sites, but was not significantly correlated at adjacent facial-proximal sites. This data suggests that sampling of BG activity from a mesiobuccal site provides information about the anterior papillary unit. In contrast, IgG in GCF collected from the mesiobuccal site on the first molar was significantly correlated with the total IgG in the 3 other sites. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Factors affecting the normal perimetric profile derived by automated static threshold LED perimetry. I. Pupil size

The relationship between pupil size and perimetric sensitivity was investigated in group of clinically normal emmetropic subjects using the Dicon AP3000 computer‐assisted perimeter at bowl luminances of 10 asb and 45 asb. Pupil size was modified with the motic thymoxamine 0.5% and the mydriatic phenylephrine 10%; saline was used as the control. Perimetric sensitivity increased with an increase in pupil size. The effect was greatest for peripheral locations for both bowl luminances. The fluctuations in perimetric sensitivity increased with peripheral angle and with decrease in pupil size for both bowl luminances.