Signalling, cell cycle and pluripotency in embryonic stem cells

International audienc

Summary of Research Findings From AIIA/UTS Innovation Online Survey

The main research objective was to explore the innovation culture of organisations from the perspective of their employees and competitors. Measuring these two factors has demonstrated a strong correlation between the organisation’s ability to establish a successful innovation culture, and gaining competitive advantage and financial success. In Q4 2013, UTS academics designed an online survey that would be sent to the AIIA commercial members’ executives. We received 244 responses from 102 organisations. In addition, each respondent was asked to nominate the top three most innovative organisations, listing the reasons why they were the best, and comparing their own organisations with those factors. When the survey results were analysed, percentage ratings were compared for various segments. A 5% - 9% difference was deemed to be significant, and a 10%+ difference was deemed major. Our research partner was Aon Hewitt, currently global leaders in human capital consulting and outsourcing solutions. Their database was invaluable to our project

Free entry in infrastructure

With a policy of free entry, individuals, firms, or community groups who wish to supply power, water, and sanitation services can do so with minimal legal restrictions. Free entry is the opposite of"exclusivity"or"legal monopoly". Free entry is allowed in most industries, but governments usually allow only one provider of power, water, and sanitation in any given area. This is supposed to prevent wasteful duplication and ensure a supply of essential services to poor and marginal areas. But monopoly water and power utilities often operate at high cost, lack funds to invest, and provide low-quality, unreliable service. Worse, poor and marginal areas are often unserved. When the monopoly model doesn't work, it is time to look at alternatives. The authors provide examples of alternative solutions in developing countries: *In Karachi, Pakistan, the Orangi Pilot Project provides sanitation in an unplanned settlement. Roughly 800,000 working class people lived in an area where sanitary conditions were medievaland a long-hoped-for sewerage system never came. Starting in 1980, a charitable group developed a low-cost approach to piped sanitation, explained the technology to the community, and catalyzed community action. Householders and neighborhoods funded the construction of household pourflush latrines and sewerage lines. * In Paraguay, 300 to 400 private individuals and aguateros supply good quality piped water to areas unserved by the public water company. Unlike the public company, the aguateros allow payment of connection fees on installment, making it easier for low-income consumers to connect. * In Yemen, small-scale electricity providers innovatively meet the rural and village demand for electricity that the public utility does not meet. These entrants seldom duplicate investments, although some government intervention to ensure interconnection could improve efficiency. Limitations on entry may sometimes be justified for environmental reasons or to promote private sector investment, but those cases are rare. Legalizing alternative providers will allow them to expand and meet new needs. Limits on their entry may be needed sometimes, but limits should be the exception, not the rule, the authors argue. Generally, free entry should be allowed in power, water, and sanitation.Health Economics&Finance,Decentralization,Water and Industry,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Town Water Supply and Sanitation,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Economics&Finance,Water and Industry,Economic Theory&Research

Mass mortalities in bivalve populations: A review of the edible cockle Cerastoderma edule (L.)

Mass mortalities in bivalve populations have long been of particular concern, especially when the species supports a commercial fishery or is of conservation interest. Here we consider the evidence of mass mortalities of the edible cockle, Cerastoderma edule (L.). Through the construction of a conceptual model eight potential factors (or groups of factors) which may cause mass mortalities are identified and reviewed. These include: food limitation; density; oxygen depletion and organic loadings; temperature and salinity; parasites, pathogens and commensals; toxicants and other persistent pollutants; predation, and changes in sediment, suspended solids, topography and bathymetry. The interplay between factors in recognized and discussed based on evidence mainly from the published literature relating to temperate edible cockle beds. Anecdotal evidence is also reported from a structured survey of site-specific evidence provided by fisheries managers in England and Wales. Case studies from the UK and Europe indicate that there is often no single, clear generic cause of mass mortalities in cockle populations. The importance of linked site-specific scientific investigations and laboratory-based experiments to fill the gaps in our current understanding of mass mortalities in bivalve species is highlighted as necessary to take account of both local extrinsic and intrinsic factors

Legal responses to non-consensual smartphone recordings in the context of domestic and family violence

The increasingly ubiquitous use of smartphones is further complicating the legal response to domestic and family violence (‘DFV’). Perpetrators can now use smartphone recording facilities to record private conversations and activities of their (ex-)partners. Such behaviour may be a criminal offence of breach of a domestic and family violence protection order or stalking. On the other hand, those who have experienced DFV can record perpetrators and use the recordings in legal proceedings. The use of non-consensual smartphone recordings as evidence in DFV related cases is increasing and courts must determine when recordings are admissible. A key factor in making such determinations is whether the recording contravenes state-based criminal laws and listening and surveillance devices law. Drawing on reported experiences of the use of smartphone recordings in the context of DFV we show why further consideration and legal reform is needed if the law is to keep pace with this issue

Simulation – is it all worth it? The impact of simulation from the perspective of accounting students

Module and programme leaders within higher education strive to improve module materials to enhance engagement and learning outcomes. However, questions remain whether these improvements are seen as a benefit by the student cohorts. Simulations have been discussed within the literature, and a number of institutions have implemented a range of business games and simulations as enhancement initiatives. The audit simulation that has been developed in this case, is not a game, but has been designed to simulate the environment of a working audit. This research evaluates the perceptions of student using the simulation. Data has been collected across two student cohorts (final year accounting students): the first cohort having access to basic audit documentation materials, and the second cohort experiencing full access to an enhanced simulation model. Both cohorts are asked to comment on their use of the learning material, and perceived benefits and drawbacks of using simulations. The research will make a valuable contribution to the existing literature by offering a student perspective of the benefits (or drawbacks) of implementing simulation to the practical topic of audit. This will be of interest to other universities and professional training providers who are considering the adoption of simulation within teaching practice

A problem structuring method for ecosystem-based management : the DPSIR modelling process

The purpose of this paper is to learn from Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory to inform the development of Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) both in general and in the specific context of marine management. The focus on marine management is important because it is concerned with a CAS (formed through the interconnection between natural systems, designed systems and social systems) which exemplifies their particularly ‘wicked' nature. Recognition of this compels us to take seriously the need to develop tools for knowledge elicitation and structuring which meet the demands of CAS. In marine management, chief among those tools is the DPSIR (Drivers - Pressures - State Changes - Impacts - Responses) model and, although widely applied, the extent to which it is appropriate for dealing with the demands of a CAS is questionable. Such questioning is particularly pertinent in the context of the marine environment where there is a need to not only recognise a broad range of stakeholders (a question of boundary critique) but also to manage competing knowledge (economic, local and scientific) and value claims. Hence this paper emphasises how a CAS perspective might add impetus to the development of a critical perspective on DPSIR and PSM theory and practice to promote a more systemic view of decision-making and policy development

System and method for the adaptive mapping of matrix data to sets of polygons

A system and method for converting bitmapped data, for example, weather data or thermal imaging data, to polygons is disclosed. The conversion of the data into polygons creates smaller data files. The invention is adaptive in that it allows for a variable degree of fidelity of the polygons. Matrix data is obtained. A color value is obtained. The color value is a variable used in the creation of the polygons. A list of cells to check is determined based on the color value. The list of cells to check is examined in order to determine a boundary list. The boundary list is then examined to determine vertices. The determination of the vertices is based on a prescribed maximum distance. When drawn, the ordered list of vertices create polygons which depict the cell data. The data files which include the vertices for the polygons are much smaller than the corresponding cell data files. The fidelity of the polygon representation can be adjusted by repeating the logic with varying fidelity values to achieve a given maximum file size or a maximum number of vertices per polygon

The outsourcing debate: Theories and findings

This paper addresses the issue of services outsourcing by looking at both theoretical and empirical arguments. Previous debates have often concentrated on the motives for adopting the practice rather than the outcomes. These various themes can be discussed under the twin concepts of the cost and efficiency argument and the fashion and isomorphism approach. Our research provides strong evidence to support the cost efficiency argument. On average, significant cost advantages were sought and delivered, as well as improvements in service levels and systems. Many organisations in the current environment in Australia look at outsourcing not only as a method of increasing efficiency but also as gaining competitive advantage through harnessing the superior specialist skills and experience of the outsourcing provider who takes someone's back office function and transforms them into their front office. A 10% net cost saving was considered necessary by an organisation before embarking on an organisational change that was disruptive and in some cases involved downside risks. Even if other efficiency gains such as service levels or systems improvements were required, so were 10%+ cost savings. A number of the organisations thought their skills in managing outsourcing had improved considerably such that they were in a position to move from a client/server relationship to a partnership model (i.e. an alliance)