Intellectual heritages of post-1990 public sector accounting research: An exploration

PURPOSE: The article’s aim is to refine prospects for theorising in public sector accounting (PSA) research in order to capture the methodological benefits promised by its multi-disciplinarity. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study primarily employs a bibliometric analysis of research outputs invoking New Public Management (NPM). Applying a content analysis to Hood (1991), as the most cited NPM source, bibliographic methods and citation/co-citation analysis for the period 1991 to 2018 are mobilised to identify the disciplinary evolution of the NPM knowledge base from a structural and longitudinal perspective. FINDINGS: The analysis exhibits disciplinary branching of NPM over time and its imprints on post-1990 PSA research. Given the discourse about origins of NPM-based accounting research, there are research domains behind the obvious that indicate disciplinary fragmentations. For instance, novelty of PSA research is found in Public Value Accounting, continuity is evidenced by transcending contextual antecedents. Interestingly, these domains are loosely coupled. Exploring the role of disciplinary imprints designates prospects for post-NPM PSA research that acknowledges multi-disciplinarity and branching in order to deploy insularity as a building block for its inquiries. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Criteria for assessing the limitations and credibility of an explorative inquiry are used, especially on how the proposal to develop cumulative knowledge from post-1990 PSA research can be further developed. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: A matrix suggesting a method of ordering disciplinary references enables positioning of research inquiries within PSA research. SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS: ORIGINALITY: By extending common taxonomies of PSA intellectual heritages, the study proposes the ‘inquiry-heritage’ matrix as a typology that displays patterns of theorisation for positioning an inquiry within PSA disciplinary groundings

An OLAP Application for Group Support Systems Empirical Research

OLAP technology is extending the analytical capabilities of business managers and researchers by allowing them to manipulate their data models across many dimensions. A Group Support Systems (GSS) OLAP model is presented which permits the GSS researcher to organize the data into 20 or more dimensions. The OLAP model permits drilling down to the author level with nested cross-tab analysis

Caveolin-1 implicated as a pro-invasive gene in high-grade glioma cell models: implementation of a 3d spheroid matrix invasion assay

INTRODUCTION: The poor prognosis associated with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is multifactorial but includes the capacity of residual tumour cells not removed by surgery and resistant to radio-/chemo-therapy undergoing diffuse invasion into the surrounding brain tissue. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is the major structural and functional component of caveolae. In a number of tumour types Cav-1 is recognised to participate in cytoskeletal rearrangement, integrin-mediated adhesion and/or matrix remodelling. We proposed Cav-1 serves to promote invasion of GBM cells. To investigate this we have employed in an in-vitro 3D cellular invasion assay. METHOD: The human GBM cell lines, UP007 and UP029 established from primary cultures of biopsy-derived brain tumours (University of Portsmouth), U-87 MG (ECACC) and U-373 MG (ECACC) were genetically modified to stably knock-out Cav-1 using a Lentiviral Cav-1 shRNA approach; corresponding stably transfected non-target (NT) shRNA cell lines were generated as controls. Neuropheres were formed and embedded within an extracellular matrix (Matrigel™). Over a two-/four-day period (depending on cell line) the migration of cells away from the neurophere core (CORE) was quantified by image capture and processing (Image J) using a custom-developed MatLab script for pixel density analysis indicative of the density of migrating cellular material. RESULTS: Cav-1 knockout resulted in significant (P0.05) towards reduced invasion. Depending upon the cell line the Cav-1 knockdown also resulted in reduced size and cellular density of the neurosphere core (UP007 and UP029) indicative of reduced proliferation and/or cell survival capacity. CONCLUSION: Using an in-vitro 3D cellular invasion assay we have found Cav-1 expression in a series of three GBM cell lines to promote cellular invasion capacity. Ongoing studies are addressing signalling mechanisms and the influence of the microenvironment

Clarissa: a laboratory for the modelling of collaboration

Abstract. There is a continuing debate about how to organise collaborative activities for them to be educationally valuable. This organisation can be analysed both in terms of how to set up the situation and how to arrange the interactions between participants. Here, we are interested in the different ways in which to organise the interaction, and in the consequences for effective collaboration. For example, what constraints might be usefully applied to 'unconstrained' collaboration? The work described here uses computational modelling to provide the tools for a systematic investigation. The approach taken is based on the assumption that students should learn through the adoption of different ways of using dialogue (dialogue roles). Very few, however, have sought to examine this assumption through the computational modelling of explicit dialogue role assignment within collaborative situations. The Clarissa (Collaborative Learning As Realised In Simple Simulated Agents) system allows the exploration of collaboration with respect to dialogue roles and different policies used for their allocation. A simple problem solving domain context is used, which exhibits many of the properties of more complex situations. The system is described, and selected results obtained from modelling a range of types of collaboration are presented. Findings from the analysis of a set of different collaborative arrangements indicate that there are more effective ways of organising collaborative situations than the free adoption of dialogue roles. In this paper, a pair of such policies are used to explore this issue using a baseline policy chosen as a representative of a commonly accepted form of collaboration. Clarissa itself provides a novel laboratory which has some implications for a new range of software agents capable of plausible collaborative behaviour

A human co‐culture cell model incorporating microglia supports glioblastoma growth and migration, and confers resistance to cytotoxics

Despite the importance of the tumor microenvironment in regulating tumor progression, few in vitro models have been developed to understand the effects of non‐neoplastic cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) on drug resistance in glioblastoma (GBM) cells. Using CellTrace‐labeled human GBM and microglial (MG) cells, we established a 2D co‐culture including various ratios of the two cell types. Viability, proliferation, migration, and drug response assays were carried out to assess the role of MG. A 3D model was then established using a hyaluronic acid‐gelatin hydrogel to culture a mixture of GBM and MG and evaluate drug resistance. A contact co‐culture of fluorescently labeled GBM and MG demonstrated that MG cells modestly promoted tumor cell proliferation (17%‐30% increase) and greater migration of GBM cells (>1.5‐fold increase). Notably, the presence of MG elicited drug resistance even when in a low ratio (10%‐20%) relative to co‐cultured tumor cells. The protective effect of MG on GBM was greater in the 3D model (>100% survival of GBM when challenged with cytotoxics). This new 3D human model demonstrated the influence of non‐neoplastic cells and matrix on chemoresistance of GBM cells to three agents with different mechanisms of action suggesting that such sophisticated in vitro approaches may facilitate improved preclinical testing

Synthesis, Structural, Magnetic and Computational Studies of a One-Dimensional Ferromagnetic Cu(II) Chain Assembled from a New Schiff Base Ligand

A new asymmetrically substituted ONOO Schiff base ligand N-(2′-hydroxy-1′-naphthylidene)-3-amino-2-naphthoic acid (nancH2) was prepared from the condensation of 2–hydroxy–1–naphthaldehyde and 3–amino–2–naphthoic acid. nancH2 reacts with Cu2(O2CMe)4·2H2O in the presence of Gd(O2CMe)3·6H2O to afford a uniform one-dimensional homometallic chain, [CuII(nanc)]n (1). The structure of 1 was elucidated via single crystal X-ray diffraction studies, which revealed that the Cu(II) ions adopt distorted square planar geometries and are coordinated in a tridentate manner by an [ONO] donor set from one nanc2− ligand and an O− of a bridging carboxylate group from a second ligand. The bridging carboxylato group of the nanc2− ligand adopts a syn, anti-η1:η1:μ conformation linking neighboring Cu(II) ions, forming a 1D chain. The magnetic susceptibility of 1 follows Curie–Weiss law in the range 45–300 K (C = 0.474(1) emu K mol-1, θ = +7.9(3) K), consistent with ferromagnetic interactions between S = ½ Cu(II) ions with g = 2.248. Subsequently, the data fit well to the 1D quantum Heisenberg ferromagnetic (QHFM) chain model with g = 2.271, and J = +12.3 K. DFT calculations, implementing the broken symmetry approach, were also carried out on a model dimeric unit extracted from the polymeric chain structure. The calculated exchange coupling via the carboxylate bridge (J = +13.8 K) is consistent with the observed ferromagnetic exchange between neighbouring Cu(II) centres. © 2023 by the authors. This article belongs to the Special Issue Coordination Chemistry: Current Developments and Future Perspectives — a Themed Issue in Honor of Professor Spyros P. Perlepes on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday) This article contains supplementary material. It is available for download as a supplementary file

INSIDIA:a FIJI macro delivering high-throughput and high-content spheroid invasion analysis

Time-series image capture of in vitro 3D spheroidal cancer models embedded within an extracellular matrix affords examination of spheroid growth and cancer cell invasion. However, a customizable, comprehensive and open source solution for the quantitative analysis of such spheroid images is lacking. Here, the authors describe INSIDIA (INvasion SpheroID ImageJ Analysis), an open-source macro implemented as a customizable software algorithm running on the FIJI platform, that enables high-throughput high-content quantitative analysis of spheroid images (both bright-field gray and fluorescent images) with the output of a range of parameters defining the spheroid “tumor” core and its invasive characteristics

Interfacial structuring of non-halogenated imidazolium ionic liquids at charged surfaces : effect of alkyl chain length

Control of the interfacial structures of ionic liquids (ILs) at charged interfaces is important to many of their applications, including in energy storage solutions, sensors and advanced lubrication technologies utilising electric fields. In the case of the latter, there is an increasing demand for the study of non-halogenated ILs, as many fluorinated anions have been found to produce corrosive and toxic halides under tribological conditions. Here, the interfacial structuring of a series of four imidazolium ILs ([C(n)C(1)Im]) of varying alkyl chain lengths (n = 5, 6, 7, 10), with a non-halogenated borate-based anion ([BOB]), have been studied at charged interfaces using sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy and neutron reflectivity (NR). For all alkyl chain lengths, the SFG spectra show that the cation imidazolium ring responds to the surface charge by modifying its orientation with respect to the surface normal. In addition, the combination of SFG spectra with electrochemical NR measurements reveals that the longest alkyl chain length (n = 10) forms a bilayer structure at all charged interfaces, independent of the ring orientation. These results demonstrate the tunability of IL interfacial layers through the use of surface charge, as well as effect of the cation alkyl chain length, and provide valuable insight into the charge compensation mechanisms of ILs

Caveolin-1, a key mediator across multiple pathways in glioblastoma and an independent negative biomarker of patient survival

Glioblastoma (GB) remains an aggressive malignancy with an extremely poor prognosis. Discovering new candidate drug targets for GB remains an unmet medical need. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) has been shown to act variously as both a tumour suppressor and tumour promoter in many cancers. The implications of Cav-1 expression in GB remains poorly understood. Using clinical and genomic databases we examined the relationship between tumour Cav-1 gene expression (including its spatial distribution) and clinical pathological parameters of the GB tumour and survival probability in a TCGA cohort (n=155) and CGGA cohort (n=220) of GB patients. High expression of Cav-1 represented a significant independent predictor of shortened survival (HR = 2.985, 5.1 vs 14.9 months) with a greater statistically significant impact in female patients and in the Proneural and Mesenchymal GB subtypes. High Cav-1 expression correlated with other factors associated with poor prognosis: IDH w/t status, high histological tumour grade and low KPS score. A total of 4879 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the GB tumour were found to correlate with Cav-1 expression (either positively or negatively). Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted an over-representation of these DEGs to certain biological pathways. Focusing on those that lie within a framework of epithelial to mesenchymal transition and tumour cell migration and invasion we identified 27 of these DEGs. We then examined the prognostic value of Cav-1 when used in combination with any of these 27 genes and identified a subset of combinations (with Cav-1) indicative of co-operative synergistic mechanisms of action. Overall, the work has confirmed Cav-1 can serve as an independent prognostic marker in GB, but also augment prognosis when used in combination with a panel of biomarkers or clinicopathologic parameters. Moreover, Cav-1 appears to be linked to many signalling entities within the GB tumour and as such this work begins to substantiate Cav-1 or its associated signalling partners as candidate target for GB new drug discovery

Developmental vulnerability at age five among children who enter and progress through the child protection system in New South Wales, Australia: a cross-sectoral data linkage study

Introduction A recent independent review of the child protection system in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, highlighted the need for whole-of-government reform to improve outcomes for children at risk of, or experiencing, maltreatment. Population-level evidence on outcomes of children who enter and progress through the child protection system is currently lacking. Objectives and Approach We aimed to quantify developmental vulnerability at age five among children who enter and progress through the child protection system during early childhood to demonstrate the value of cross-sectoral data linkage to inform and evaluate policy at a population-level. We used Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data linked to cross-sectoral population datasets in NSW, including birth registrations, perinatal, and child protection notification and out-of-home care (OOHC) placement data. Linked AEDC data, collected in 2009 and 2012, are available for 153,670 NSW children. Socio-demographic and perinatal characteristics available in the linked data were used to characterise the population. Results 21,179 (13.9%) children had ≥1 ‘screened in’ notification, 4927 (3.2%) had ≥1 substantiated abuse and neglect notification, and 2177 (1.4%) had ≥1 OOHC placement before their fifth birthday. Indicators of disadvantage and adverse birth outcomes were more common among children who progressed to higher levels of the child protection system. The proportion developmentally vulnerable on ≥1 domains of the AEDC increased for children who entered and progressed through the child protection system; from 21% of children with no contact with child protection before age five, to 39% of children with ≥1 ‘screened in’ notification, 50% with ≥1 substantiated notification, and 54% with ≥1 OOHC placement before their fifth birthday. Comparison of findings from other Australian jurisdictions with similar data will be discussed. Conclusion/Implications This study demonstrates there is scope to improve developmental outcomes through targeted interventions among children who become known to child protection during early childhood in NSW. Moreover, it illustrates that cross-sectoral data linkage can be used to inform and evaluate policy reforms to drive better outcomes for vulnerable children