Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The ERA: A Brave New World of Accountability for Australian University Accounting Schools

This study examines the potential impact of Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) on Australian university accounting schools through a series of in-depth interviews with Heads of Schools. Using an institutional theory framework we find that the pending introduction of the ERA has brought about changes in school structures, processes and systems. A creeping isomorphism is apparent as evidenced by a sector-wide movement towards targeting publications in highly ranked North American journals. While participants were generally positive about the overall aims of the ERA many felt that it would marginalise non-mainstream research. Furthermore, they were of the opinion that the ERA would lead to a reduction in the standing of accounting schools within Australian universities relative to other disciplines.
Infected Phonemes: How a Cold Impairs Speech on a Phonetic Level

The realization of language through vocal sounds involves a complex interplay between the lungs, the vocal cords, and a series of resonant chambers (e.g. mouth and nasal cavities). Due to their connection to the outside world, these body parts are popular spots for viruses and bacteria to enter the human organism. Affected people may suffer from an upper respiratory tract infection (URTIC) and consequently their voice often sounds breathy, raspy or sniffly. In this paper, we investigate the audible effects of a cold on a phonetic level. Results on a German corpus show that the articulation of consonants is more impaired than that of vowels. Surprisingly, nasal sounds do not follow this trend in our experiments. We finally try to predict a speaker’s health condition by fusing decisions we derive from single phonemes. The presented work is part of the INTERSPEECH 2017 Computational Paralinguistics Challenge.
Financing policy, executive stock options and cash flow forecasts

This article investigates the relationship between management voluntary disclosures of cash flow forecasts and external financing policy, earnings management, earnings forecasts and executive stock option compensation. We find that management is more likely to issue cash flow forecasts when a firm has external financing needs or when a firm has more executive stock option compensation. However, management is less likely to disclose cash flow forecasts when a firm has more earnings management. Consistent with the prior research, we document that a firm with high dividend payout, large asset value and high profitability tends to disclose cash flow information to convey good news. Further, if analysts have released earning forecasts, management is likely to issue cash flow forecasts to complement those analyst earnings forecasts. If analysts release cash flow forecasts, management is less likely to disclose cash flow forecasts to avoid issuing repeat forecasts. Our results, therefore, suggest that different incentives drive management disclosure decisions regarding cash flow forecasts in actual practice.
Botulinum neurotoxin injection after total laryngectomy

One of several causes of tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) speech failure after total laryngectomy is disturbance in relaxation of the pharyngoesophageal (PE) segment. We introduce the use of chemical denervation of the PE segment through botulinum neurotoxin (Botox®) injection to improve TEP speech.
miR‐146a and miR‐370 coordinate enterovirus 71‐induced cell apoptosis through targeting SOS1 and GADD45β

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is an emerging life‐threatening pathogen particularly in the Asia‐Pacific region. The major pathogenic feature in EV71‐infected cells is apoptosis. However, which molecular mechanism mainly contributes to EV71‐induced apoptosis is not investigated thoroughly. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs), the newly discovered molecules, govern a wide range of biological functions through post‐transcriptional regulation including viral pathogenesis. Whether miRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) coordinate to trigger host cell apoptosis in EV71 infection was investigated in this study. We conducted an apoptosis‐oriented approach using both mRNA and miRNA profiling and bioinformatic analysis. We identified two major apoptosis‐associated signalling pathways, Bcl2 antagonist of cell death (BAD) phosphorylation and p53‐dependent apoptosis pathways, in which Son of sevenless homolog 1 (SOS1) and Growth arrest and DNA damage‐inducible protein 45β (GADD45β) were predicted as targets of miR‐146a and miR‐370 respectively. Luciferase reporter assays and Western blots demonstrated the negative regulation between miR‐146a and SOS1 and between miR‐370 and GADD45β. Silencing of miR‐146a restored SOS1 expression and partially attenuated EV71 infection‐induced apoptosis. Conversely, ectopic expression of miR‐370 decreased virus infection‐induced GADD45β expression and also diminished apoptosis. Finally, the transfection of antagomiR‐146a and miR‐370 contributed to attenuating EV71 infection‐induced apoptosis. Herein we clearly demonstrate that EV71‐induced cell apoptosis is partly governed by altered miRNAs.
Kinetics of Salicylate-Mediated Suppression of Jasmonate Signaling Reveal a Role for Redox Modulation1[OA]

Cross talk between salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways plays an important role in the regulation and fine tuning of induced defenses that are activated upon pathogen or insect attack. Pharmacological experiments revealed that transcription of JA-responsive marker genes, such as PDF1.2 and VSP2, is highly sensitive to suppression by SA. This antagonistic effect of SA on JA signaling was also observed when the JA pathway was biologically activated by necrotrophic pathogens or insect herbivores, and when the SA pathway was triggered by a biotrophic pathogen. Furthermore, all 18 Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) accessions tested displayed SA-mediated suppression of JA-responsive gene expression, highlighting the potential significance of this phenomenon in induced plant defenses in nature. During plant-attacker interactions, the kinetics of SA and JA signaling are highly dynamic. Mimicking this dynamic response by applying SA and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) at different concentrations and time intervals revealed that PDF1.2 transcription is readily suppressed when the SA response was activated at or after the onset of the JA response, and that this SA-JA antagonism is long lasting. However, when SA was applied more than 30 h prior to the onset of the JA response, the suppressive effect of SA was completely absent. The window of opportunity of SA to suppress MeJA-induced PDF1.2 transcription coincided with a transient increase in glutathione levels. The glutathione biosynthesis inhibitor l-buthionine-sulfoximine strongly reduced PDF1.2 suppression by SA, suggesting that SA-mediated redox modulation plays an important role in the SA-mediated attenuation of the JA signaling pathway.
The effects of real exchange rate, external finance and economic integration on employment and trade

This thesis focuses on three issues. First, it investigates the impact of fluctuations in international trade competitiveness on employment in the UK manufacturing sector over the period 1999 to 2010. We find statistically significant effects of a shock to international trade competitiveness on the level of employment. We suggest that the adjustment process in employment mainly works through job creation. We also find that compared to large firms, small firms contribute more towards job creation than job destruction. Our results show that changes in GDP growth rate and average wages are significantly related to employment, suggesting that the UK labor market responds significantly to market forces. Finally, we find that the effect of changes in the real exchange rate on both job creation and job destruction differs for exporting and non-exporting firms. Second, the thesis empirically examines the impact the financial dependence, specifically during the 2007-2009 financial crisis, on the UK exports using monthly data over the period January 2002 to September 2011. We find that the UK exports are highly sensitive to the fluctuations in the cost of capital. The UK tends to export relatively less in the sectors which depend more on external finance than the sectors which are less dependent of external finance. These effects became stronger during the 2007-2009 financial crisis. We also find that adverse credit conditions affect both the supply and demand sides of exports and play a significant role in determining the supply and demand for UK exports. We find that along with the financial conditions in the trading partners, the volume of GDP and capital labor ratios of the importing countries are the main factors in determining the demand for the UK exports, whereas the supply of the UK exports is driven by financial conditions, GDP and the capital-labor ratio of the UK. The third issue examined in the thesis is the impact of the 4th and 5th extensions in European Union (EU) on the trade flows of member and non-member countries. Specifically, the thesis tests whether 4th and 5th extensions EU causes trade diversion or trade creation. Moreover, we test that whether the trade creation and trade diversion effects of these extensions are same across the extensions and across the new members joining in these two extensions. Applying the correctly specified fixed effect gravity model on the data of imports and exports of the EU countries spanning from 1988 to 2008, our results show that in most of commodity groups, the EU boosts trade among member countries at the cost of lowering the trade with non-member countries. However, the increase in trade with member countries is more than the decrease in the trade with non-member countries. Moreover, we found that trade creation and trade effects vary across the extensions in the EU, across the commodity groups and across the members joining the EU in 4th and 5th extensions of the EU.
Exploring cultural dimensions of gender and management in the Middle East

This study analyzes the experiences of female professionals working in three case study countries in the Middle East: Bahrain, Jordan, and Oman. Data were gleaned while conducting management and cultural training for female managers. Results highlight the importance of women to economic development and the complexity of the interrelations between gender, organization, and Islamic values. The study reveals that women have advanced in management in the Middle East but have career and development constraints due to strong gender roles in Islamic culture. The study suggests strategies for HR and for gender and development to support international business. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MEK1 mutations confer resistance to MEK and B-RAF inhibition

Genetic alterations that activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) pathway occur commonly in cancer. For example, the majority of melanomas harbor mutations in the BRAF oncogene, which are predicted to confer enhanced sensitivity to pharmacologic MAP kinase inhibition (e.g., RAF or MEK inhibitors). We investigated the clinical relevance of MEK dependency in melanoma by massively parallel sequencing of resistant clones generated from a MEK1 random mutagenesis screen in vitro, as well as tumors obtained from relapsed patients following treatment with AZD6244, an allosteric MEK inhibitor. Most mutations conferring resistance to MEK inhibition in vitro populated the allosteric drug binding pocket or α-helix C and showed robust (≈100-fold) resistance to allosteric MEK inhibition. Other mutations affected MEK1 codons located within or abutting the N-terminal negative regulatory helix (helix A), which also undergo gain-of-function germline mutations in cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome. One such mutation, MEK1(P124L), was identified in a resistant metastatic focus that emerged in a melanoma patient treated with AZD6244. Both MEK1(P124L) and MEK1(Q56P), which disrupts helix A, conferred cross-resistance to PLX4720, a selective B-RAF inhibitor. However, exposing BRAF-mutant melanoma cells to AZD6244 and PLX4720 in combination prevented emergence of resistant clones. These results affirm the importance of MEK dependency in BRAF-mutant melanoma and suggest novel mechanisms of resistance to MEK and B-RAF inhibitors that may have important clinical implications.
Clinical and microbiological features of shewanella bacteremia in patients with hepatobiliary disease.

OBJECTIVE Shewanella bacteremia is an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Although hepatobiliary diseases have been proposed to be risk factors for various Shewanella infections, little is known about the features of Shewanella bacteremia in patients with hepatobiliary diseases. This study aims to characterize the presentation and risk factors of Shewanella bacteremia in patients with hepatobiliary diseases. METHODS We retrospectively investigated the clinical features, microbiology and outcomes of patients with Shewanella bacteremia who were admitted to a tertiary medical center between January 2001 and December 2010. All isolates were confirmed to the species level using 16S rRNA sequencing analyses. The English language medical literature was searched for previously published reports. RESULTS Fifty-nine cases of Shewanella bacteremia, including nine at the hospital, were identified, 28 (47.4%) of which involved underlying hepatobiliary diseases, representing an important risk factor. In 12 of the 28 cases, the infections involved the hepatobiliary system; with a tendency towards an Asian origin. In our case series of nine patients, Shewanella haliotis was isolated in five patients. The majority of our patients lived in coastal areas, consumed seafood regularly and developed bacteremia during the summer season. CONCLUSION It is recommended that the possibility for Shewanella infection be considered in patients with bacteremia and also underlying hepatobiliary diseases, particularly if patients present with hepatobiliary infections, a history of seafood, or development of the disease during the summer.
Healthcare Needs of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: Study of the Patient Perspective

Background:More than 90% of infants born with congenital heart disease reach adulthood. International medical recommendations outline patient care needs in an effort to optimize patient health. There are, however, limited data focusing on the patient perspective. Objectives:This study investigated adult congenital heart disease patient-reported (1) barriers to medical care, (2) healthcare behaviors, and (3) concerns regarding medical, psychosocial, and lifestyle matters. Methods:In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was distributed to all patients who attended a patient education conference. Results:There were 123 adult congenital heart disease participants (58% female; mean age, 37 [SD, 13] years). The most common self-reported cardiac diagnoses were tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great arteries. Most patients did not report transportation or financial barriers to care, but did report the following: not wanting further surgery even if it was recommended (18%), not liking to think or talk about one's heart (17%), and not understanding doctors' information; 8% of patients inaccurately considered themselves to be "cured. " With regard to healthcare behaviors, more than 80% of patients reported annual family physician and dentist visits, but 34% of patients were unaware when to seek urgent medical attention. Patients reported moderate to extreme concern about the following medical topics: heart rhythm problems (82%), infections (74%), and understanding treatment options (71%). Patients most often reported moderate to extreme concern about the following lifestyle and psychosocial topics: physical activity (77%), insurance (72%), assuming increased health responsibility (73%), diet (71%), mental health (60%), and death and dying (57%). Conclusions:This study provides important information about 3 specific areas. First, there are potential barriers to care beyond financial and transportation challenges. Second, many patients require education regarding when to seek urgent medical attention. Third, the concerns of this patient population are not limited to medical information. A patient-centered educational program is recommended.
SlrA/SinR/SlrR inhibits motility gene expression upstream of a hypersensitive and hysteretic switch at the level of σD in Bacillus subtilis

Exponentially growing Bacillus subtilis cultures are epigenetically differentiated into two subpopulations in which cells are either ON or OFF for σd‐dependent gene expression: a pattern suggestive of bistability. The gene encoding σD, sigD, is part of the 31‐gene fla/che operon where its location at the 3′ end, 25 kb away from the strong Pfla/che promoter, determines its expression level relative to a threshold. Here we show that addition of a single extra copy of the slrA gene in the chromosome inhibited σd‐dependent gene expression. SlrA together with SinR and SlrR reduced sigD transcript by potentiating a distance‐dependent decrease in fla/che operon transcript abundance that was not mediated by changes in expression from the Pfla/che promoter. Consistent with acting upstream of σD, SlrA/SinR/SlrR was bypassed by artificial ectopic expression of sigD and hysteretically maintained for 20 generations by engaging the sigD gene at the native locus. SlrA/SinR/SlrR was also bypassed by increasing fla/che transcription and resulted in a hypersensitive output in flagellin expression. Thus, flagellin gene expression demonstrated hypersensitivity and hysteresis and we conclude that σd‐dependent gene expression is bistable.
Optimal Pricing of Nondurables when Demand is Dynamic and Stochastic

Abstract This paper derives optimal pricing strategies for nondurables if demand is sluggish and stochastic. The puzzling result is that moving from a static demand to a dynamic relation alters the marketing strategy dramatically if the equilibrium demand is convex (in price): the profit maximizing price policy is to switch between a low and a high price depending on current demand while a continuous price policy is optimal for concave demand relations. However, the formal existence of such a price switching policy is restricted to the anyway more realistic stochastic version of the model. The clear cut implications of the model provide also a criterion to test empirically the characteristics and the optimality of actual price strategies.
Late Changes in Refraction, Pachymetry, Visual Acuity, and Corneal Topography After Penetrating Keratoplasty

Purpose: To analyze the late changes in refraction, corneal topography, and pachymetry after penetrating keratoplasty. Methods: We have retrospectively analyzed data of 64 eyes of 56 patients with a clear corneal graft and no other ocular diseases. The eyes were examined soon and several years after all sutures were removed, at 19.5 ± 3.1 months and 76.8 ± 25.2 months, respectively, after keratoplasty. All eyes were examined using the EyeSys 2000 videokeratograph and the Tomey SP2000 ultrasonic pachymeter. Corneal surface regularity was studied using the indices provided by the Holladay Diagnostic Summary (ie, asphericity coefficient Q; corneal uniformity index CU; predicted corneal acuity PCA). Irregular astigmatism was quantified using semimeridian data from videokeratographs (refractive power symmetry index). Results: Visual acuity increased by an average of 0.35 ± 0.93 lines (P = 0.002) between the 2 examinations, whereas no significant changes in refraction and videokeratoscopy (ie, power, indices, and irregular astigmatism) were observed (P ≥ 0.08). Central corneal thickness significantly increased from 542 ± 31 μm to 572 ± 38 μm (P < 0.001). Change in BSCVA did not significantly correlate with the change in refraction, in topographic indices, or in irregular astigmatism (rs ≤ 0.13; P ≥ 0.16). Conclusion: Late after penetrating keratoplasty, best corrected visual acuity shows a small but statistically significant improvement, whereas refraction and corneal surface regularity are stable. This late improvement in visual acuity is not explained by current techniques.
An Empirical Comparison of Internal and External Audit Supervision

Carries out a study which empirically examines both internal and external auditors in New Zealand to determine the extent to which 21 audit supervisory tools were used in audit practice. In addition to determining how frequently each of the supervisory techniques was used, the study tested two hypotheses. The first hypothesis was that the statistical variance for the number of audit supervisory techniques used on internal audits is greater than that for external audits. The second hypothesis was that the average number of audit supervisory techniques used on external audits is greater than that for internal audits, suggesting that external audits are more closely supervised than are internal audits. Both hypotheses were supported by the study data. In addition, supervisory profiles were constructed for both internal and external audits. The profiles indicated that while external audits appear to use more supervisory techniques during the course of the audit due to greater liability and competitive pressur.
Streptozotocin diabetes and insulin resistance impairment of spermatogenesis in adult rat testis: central vs. local mechanism.

Mammalian reproduction is dynamically regulated by the pituitary gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These hormones are synthesized in the pituitary gland following stimulation by the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and act by stimulating steroid production and gametogenesis in both males and females. Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats (120 - 140 g) were randomly divided into 7 groups. Group 1 > Control group; fed on normal rat pellets. Group 2 > Streptozotocin group; received a single dose IP injection of streptozotocin 45 mg/kg BW in Na+ citrate buffer pH 4.5. Group 3 > Streptozotocin-insulin treated group; received a single dose IP injection of streptozotocin as in group 2 above and treated with insulin sub-cutaneously. Group 4 > Streptozotocin-ginger treated group; received a single dose IP injection of streptozotocin as in group 2 above and treated with 500 mg/Kg Ginger extract orally. Group 5 > Insulin resistant group; fed ad libitum on a special diet containing 25% fructose mixed with 75% normal rat chow (w/w). Group 6 > Insulin resistant-pioglitazone treated group; fed ad libitum on a special diet as in group 5 above and treated with Pioglitazone 15 mg/kg orally. Group 7 > Insulin resistant-ginger treated group; fed ad libitum on a special diet as in group 4 above, and also treated with 500 mg/Kg Ginger extract orally. Hormonal and tissue biochemistry analyses revealed that both central and local mechanisms are implicated in the impairment of spermatogenesis by diabetes but the hypothalamo-pituitary testicular axis alteration might not likely have a major impact as the local defect on steroidogenesis in the testis. This local defect could also predispose to male hypogonadism, i.e. failure of gonadal function.