Corporate images of audit firms in a multilingual society.

The paper investigates the corporate images of the leading auditing firms in Belgium, focussing on the perceptions of the two language groupings in Belgium, the Dutch speaking Flemings and the French speaking Walloons. Our major objective is to assess whether there are differences in the corporate images of a company's audit firm that can be attributed to the differing self-images of Flemings and Walloons. The corporate image of the audit firms was ascertained by using a semantic differential measuring instrument, which contained a number of anthropomorphic dimensions. Based on a review of the literature concerning the images and cultures of the two language groupings, we develop hypotheses of an association between these anthropomorphic dimensions of corporate image and the images and culture of the two language groupings. We obtained an assessment of the dimensions of corporate image via a postal questionnaire to financial executives of leading Belgium companies. Our analysis of the data shows that there is a relationship between the images and culture of the two language groupings, but that the relationship is an inverse one, whereby an attribute that is associated more with one of the two language groups is assessed by a respondent from that language group to be less in his or her audit firm. The paper also shows that the Big Five are perceived differently to each other by the two language groupings and that the Walloons perceive bigger differences amongst the Big Five than do the Flemings.Image;

Monitoring international migration flows in Europe. Towards a statistical data base combining data from different sources

The paper reviews techniques developed in demography, geography and statistics that are useful for bridging the gap between available data on international migration flows and the information required for policy making and research. The basic idea of the paper is as follows: to establish a coherent and consistent data base that contains sufficiently detailed, up-to-date and accurate information, data from several sources should be combined. That raises issues of definition and measurement, and of how to combine data from different origins properly. The issues may be tackled more easily if the statistics that are being compiled are viewed as different outcomes or manifestations of underlying stochastic processes governing migration. The link between the processes and their outcomes is described by models, the parameters of which must be estimated from the available data. That may be done within the context of socio-demographic accounting. The paper discusses the experience of the U.S. Bureau of the Census in combining migration data from several sources. It also summarizes the many efforts in Europe to establish a coherent and consistent data base on international migration. The paper was written at IIASA. It is part of the Migration Estimation Study, which is a collaborative IIASA-University of Groningen project, funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). The project aims at developing techniques to obtain improved estimates of international migration flows by country of origin and country of destination

Comparing migration in Britain and Australia: Harmonisation through use of age-time plans

Differences in the way migration is measured impede cross-national comparisons of internal migration. In this paper we utilise age-time diagrams to elucidate these problems for Australia and the United Kingdom and present solutions which generate time series of interregional migration for the two countries, harmonised with respect to age-time plans. We achieve this through estimation of the numbers of migration transitions (Australia) or migration events (Britain) for common age-period-cohort (APC) spaces. We derive appropriate population stocks for computation of transition probabilities or occurrence-exposure rates. In the final section of the paper we present a series of migration-intensity calculations based on varying combinations of period-cohort, period-age, and age-period-cohort perspectives, to demonstrate the significance of the variations, and the errors that can arise without harmonisation

Multilevel use of image repository in the field of veterinary imaging and dissemination of training tools

[Extract] Until now the veterinary teaching environment is limited to static two dimensional materials. In order to improve the teaching experience we decided to adapt our educational PACS to build 2D and 3D viewing veterinary datasets. As entry level of education we setup a knowledge base consisting out of normal anatomy [1, 2]. The second step is the construction of an imaging atlas compared with the normal anatomy of every animal. The third step is the construction of a database containing a wide variety of radiopathology cases. The final level is the integration in an e-learning platform namely WikiVet [3] which is a collaborative initiative involving UK veterinary schools. The project is creating a comprehensive online knowledge base and will provide a reliable reference source to supersede Wikipedia for veterinary students, paramedics and graduates anywhere in the world, improving diagnostic skills using diagnostic imaging

Mechanisms of resistance to groundnut rosette

Rosette (caused by rosette assistor virus, groundnut rosette virus and satellite RNA) resistance in 3 groundnut genotypes (ICGV-SM 90704, ICG 12991 and JL 24) was evaluated, using a vector or mechanical transmission of the virus complex. Branches from rosette-infected plants (groundnut cv. Malimba) were grafted onto 23-day-old healthy stocks of the 3 genotypes, grown in pots in a greenhouse. Eighteen days after grafting, all the new shoots of ICG 12991 and JL 24 stocks showed severe rosette symptoms. The differences in rosette incidence recorded from the graft transmission and field observations may involve resistance to Aphis craccivora. Thus, an experiment was carried out to assess the vector performance on the 3 genotypes. Thirty days after sowing the 3 genotypes in pots in a greenhouse, young leaves were exposed to 5 viruliferous A. craccivora alatae (winged). Aphids were counted 10 days after infestation (DAI) on each plant. Exposed plants were left in a greenhouse up to 60 days after infestation to record rosette symptoms. Results indicated highly significant differences in aphid population counts between the 3 genotypes. At 10 DAI, increased numbers of aphids (alatae plus nymphs) were observed on ICGV-SM 90704 and JL 24, with an average of 93 and 96 aphids per plant, respectively. In contrast, aphid number on ICG 12991 fell from 5 to 3 per plant. There were also significant differences in disease expression at 60 DAI, since JL 24 showed 100% disease incidence, while no symptoms were noted on ICG 12991. Only mild symptoms were observed on ICGV-SM 90704

A universal anti-Xa assay for rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban measurements: method validation, diagnostic accuracy and external validation.

A universal anti-Xa assay for the determination of rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban drug concentrations would simplify laboratory procedures and facilitate widespread implementation. Following two pilot studies analysing spiked samples and material from 698 patients, we conducted a prospective multicentre cross-sectional study, including 867 patients treated with rivaroxaban, apixaban or edoxaban in clinical practice to comprehensively evaluate a simple, readily available anti-Xa assay that would accurately measure drug concentrations and correctly predict relevant levels in clinical practice. Anti-Xa activity was measured by an assay calibrated with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in addition to ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). As an external validation, LMWH-calibrated anti-Xa activity was also determined in nine external laboratories. The LMWH-calibrated anti-Xa activity correlated strongly with rivaroxaban, apixaban or edoxaban drug levels [r <sub>s</sub> = 0·98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·98-0·98]. The sensitivity for the clinically relevant cut-off levels of 30, 50 and 100 µg/l was 96·2% (95% CI 94·4-97·4), 96·4% (95% CI 94·4-97·7) and 96·7% (95% CI 94·3-98·1) respectively. Concordant results were obtained in the external validation study. In conclusion, a universal, LMWH-calibrated anti-Xa assay accurately measured rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban concentrations and correctly predicted relevant drug concentrations in clinical practice