Dominance in the Telecommunications Services Industry

Inthispaper,weanalyzethetelecommunications servicesmarket. Thisisafast-expandingmarket,withMicrosoft\u27s announced entry into it providing additional impetus, and raising policy issues. We look for the market structure that will arise from the decisions of the service providers (in terms of product characteristics and pricing) and the customers, all acting in their own interests. We derive sufficient conditions for restricting the number of possible outcomes to three out of several potential ones. These conditions are satisfied by the common assumptions. We also show that when positive externalities are dominant, we will have only market-cornering at equilibrium. This result holds even when the products are differentiated. (We are already seeing near-complete market-cornering in the similar market for operating systems). That does not deter any of the competitors from entering the fray inthefirstplace,sinceallhavepositiveexpectedprofits. Wederivetheprobabilitythateachwillbetheplayer to comer the market. We also show the non-intuitive result that when externalities are dominant, the providers do not have to worry about externalities at all in taking their decisions. We have also introduced a new solution concept called odds of dominance in analyzing our game

Australian Transnational Educational Leadership Roles: Challenges, Opportunities and Experiences

The establishment of higher educational hubs in Malaysia and Singapore has spurred the growth of transnational education (TNE) offerings in Asia, and attracted several Australian higher education providers to set up branch campuses in these countries. In Malaysia, TNE is seen as contributing to economic targets by helping to decrease the outflow of students and currency, and by attracting international students to Malaysian shores (British Council 2012). The provision of higher education through TNE raises issues somewhat distinct from those arising with local provision of higher education. These include the balance of local and foreign educational decision making and its implications for academic staff and for the learning experiences of students. This paper is informed by ‘Learning without Borders: Leadership in transnational education and internationalization of curriculum’, an Australian Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT) funded project undertaken at Curtin University and Swinburne University of Technology, involving Australian campuses and branch campuses. The project investigated staff experiences, expectations and preferences on TNE issues including career path opportunities, teaching and learning implications. The project focused particularly on the development of recognition and support for leadership roles in transnational education and on internationalization of curriculum. The paper highlights some of the TNE and internationalization measures that might enhance staff experiences and student learning

Your place or mine: transnational education and the locus of control

In transnational education the place – in both an organisational and a geographic sense – in which educational decisions are made impacts on the academics involved and on student learning. The subject of this paper is learning and accreditation that takes place outside a home university through offshore branch campuses. A case study of two Australian Universities with offshore campuses in Sarawak, Malaysia was undertaken. Policies and procedures were reviewed and an empirical study of the experiences of academics involved was conducted. The study focused on who makes decisions about curriculum content, learning and teaching activities, design and provision of educational resources, and the assessment of student work. Consequences of the organisational relationships for academics involved and for student learning are examined in this paper. On the basis of the study a high degree of local control is recommended, at least for units of study that have operated transnationally several times

Performance of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cultivars in open and partially shaded conditions under coconut

The performance of 15 turmeric (Curcuma longa) cultivars grown under open and partially shaded conditions (25-30 per cent shade intensity) as an intercrop in a coconut (Cocos nucifera) garden was evaluated at Pilicode (Kerala State, India). Plant height, number of secondary fingers and total weight of fresh rhizomes were higher in all the cultivars under partially shaded conditions. However, curing percentage was higher under open conditions. The cultivar Chayapasupu recorded the highest yield (43.73 t ha-1 of fresh rhizomes) followed by VK-.31 (42.42 t ha-1) under partially shaded conditions. The yield of cured rhizomes was highest in VK-116 (5.74 t ha-1) followed by VK-77 (5.63 t ha-1) under the same conditions. As pure crop, VK-31 (35.06 t ha-1) and VK-55 (34.66 t ha-1) were the high yielders in terms of fresh yield and VK-77 recorded the highest yield (6.96 t ha-1) of cured rhizomes followed by VK-114 (6.87 t ha-1). The study indicated the need for standardising optimum light requirement for each cultivar for maximum production of cured rhizomes. &nbsp

Study experiences and the post-study intentions of female international undergraduate students

The number of female international students is increasing exponentially, and whilst international study may engender many benefits and challenges, little is known about their intentions once they complete their studies. This article reviews the literature on female international students with specific focus on exploring post-study intentions. A scoping review of four electronic databases was completed. After applying criteria to determine suitability, 30 publications were included in the final review. Analysis revealed three key foci: (1) the rationale for studying internationally; (2) the study experience; and (3) post-study intentions. The literature illustrates that an international study experience has the potential to be a powerful transformative opportunity if positive experiences outweigh the negatives. The findings also indicate that the post-study intentions of female international students are under-researched. The article contends that attention should be given to supporting the needs of this group, with a view to maximizing post-study opportunities

Optimum dose of nitrogen and potassium for ginger in Wynad, Kerala

Study on nutrient requirement of ginger in Wynad, Kerala showed the positive effect of higher, doses of Nand K on the yield. Among the 16 levels of Nand K, 3 combinations viz., 150 kg N, 50 kg K; 150 kg N, 100 kg K and 75 kg N, 150 kg K ha-1 were found to be significantly superior with respect to yield. Among the vegetative characters, plant height was found to be significantly influenced by nitrogen. The optimum dose of Nand K derived from the quadratic equation was 144 kg and 109 kg ha-1 respectively. &nbsp

Vitamin A decreases pre-receptor amplification of glucocorticoids in obesity: study on the effect of vitamin A on 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity in liver and visceral fat of WNIN/Ob obese rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) catalyzes the conversion of inactive glucocorticoids to active glucocorticoids and its inhibition ameliorates obesity and metabolic syndrome. So far, no studies have reported the effect of dietary vitamin A on 11β-HSD1 activity in visceral fat and liver under normal and obese conditions. Here, we studied the effect of chronic feeding of vitamin A-enriched diet (129 mg/kg diet) on 11β-HSD1 activity in liver and visceral fat of WNIN/Ob lean and obese rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male, 5-month-old, lean and obese rats of WNIN/Ob strain (n = 16 for each phenotype) were divided into two subgroups consisting of 8 rats of each phenotype. Control groups received stock diet containing 2.6 mg vitamin A/kg diet, where as experimental groups received diet containing 129 mg vitamin A/Kg diet for 20 weeks. Food and water were provided <it>ad libitum</it>. At the end of the experiment, tissues were collected and 11β-HSD1 activity was assayed in liver and visceral fat.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Vitamin A supplementation significantly decreased body weight, visceral fat mass and 11β-HSD1 activity in visceral fat of WNIN/Ob obese rats. Hepatic 11β-HSD1 activity and gene expression were significantly reduced by vitamin A supplementation in both the phenotypes. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), the main transcription factor essential for the expression of 11β-HSD1, decreased in liver of vitamin A fed-obese rats, but not in lean rats. Liver × receptor α (LXRα), a nuclear transcription factor which is known to downregulate 11β-HSD1 gene expression was significantly increased by vitamin A supplementation in both the phenotypes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study suggests that chronic consumption of vitamin A-enriched diet decreases 11β-HSD1 activity in liver and visceral fat of WNIN/Ob obese rats. Decreased 11β-HSD1 activity by vitamin A may result in decreased levels of active glucocorticoids in adipose tissue and possibly contribute to visceral fat loss in these obese rats. Studying the role of various nutrients on the regulation of 11β-HSD1 activity and expression will help in the evolving of dietary approaches to treat obesity and insulin resistance.</p