1,886 research outputs found
Integrated Reporting decision usefulness: mainstream equity market views
The International Integrated Reporting () Framework (2013) identified providers of financial capital as its primary users. This research provides evidence from 22 mainstream equity market actors, employed by global investment houses, regarding the decision usefulness of and resistances to , as a reporting framework. Despite institutional-level support for , the interviews reveal that its usefulness to fund managers and equity analysts is low. Concerns are evident over the Framework design and its relevance to more structural issues pertaining to equity market culture. The implication of this is that may become a reporting fad, not embedded into mainstream investment thinking
The effect of corruption and culture on mandatory disclosure compliance levels: goodwill reporting in Europe
While responding to calls for research and regulatory concerns regarding the influence of country level characteristics on the completeness and quality of financial statements, we examine the simultaneous influences of corruption and culture on levels of compliance with mandatory disclosure requirements. We use a panel dataset of European companies, for 2008–2011, and measure compliance with IFRS goodwill disclosure requirements utilising a disclosure index. Corruption is measured using the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and Schwartz (2008) bipolar cultural dimensions are used as measures of culture. We find that compliance levels vary significantly across sample firms, countries and over time. The level of corruption and two of the three cultural dimensions (Hierarchy and Mastery) are significantly related to these levels of compliance. These findings also hold for the changes in compliance levels over time. On that basis, the paper makes original contributions to our understanding of determinants of compliance levels with IFRS mandatory disclosure requirements
An evaluation of a mental toughness education and training program for early-career English football league referees
The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a Mental Toughness Education and Training Program (MTETP) in elite football officiating. The MTETP consisted of four individual and two group-based workshops designed to develop Mental Toughness (MT) and enhance performance in three English Football League (EFL) referees. Adopting a single-subject, multiple-baseline-across-participants design, MT and referee-assessor reports were evaluated. Self and coach-ratings of MT highlighted an instant and continued improvement in all three referees during the intervention phases. Performance reports of all referees improved throughout the intervention phases compared to the baseline phase. Social validation data indicated that an array of strategies within the MTETP facilitated MT development. Discussions acknowledge theoretical and practical implications relating to the continued progression of MT interventions in elite sport
Glasslike vs. crystalline thermal conductivity in carrier-tuned Ba8Ga16X30 clathrates (X = Ge, Sn)
The present controversy over the origin of glasslike thermal conductivity
observed in certain crystalline materials is addressed by studies on
single-crystal x-ray diffraction, thermal conductivity k(T) and specific heat
Cp(T) of carrier-tuned Ba8Ga16X30 (X = Ge, Sn) clathrates. These crystals show
radically different low-temperature k(T) behaviors depending on whether their
charge carriers are electrons or holes, displaying the usual crystalline peak
in the former case and an anomalous glasslike plateau in the latter. In
contrast, Cp(T) above 4 K and the general structural properties are essentially
insensitive to carrier tuning. We analyze these combined results within the
framework of a Tunneling/Resonant/Rayleigh scatterings model, and conclude that
the evolution from crystalline to glasslike k(T) is accompanied by an increase
both in the effective density of tunnelling states and in the resonant
scattering level, while neither one of these contributions can solely account
for the observed changes in the full temperature range. This suggests that the
most relevant factor which determines crystalline or glasslike behavior is the
coupling strength between the guest vibrational modes and the frameworks with
different charge carriers.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Thermoelectric transport in strained Si and Si/Ge heterostructures
The anisotropic thermoelectric transport properties of bulk silicon strained
in [111]-direction were studied by detailed first-principles calculations
focussing on a possible enhancement of the power factor. Electron as well as
hole doping were examined in a broad doping and temperature range. At low
temperature and low doping an enhancement of the power factor was obtained for
compressive and tensile strain in the electron-doped case and for compressive
strain in the hole-doped case. For the thermoelectrically more important high
temperature and high doping regime a slight enhancement of the power factor was
only found under small compressive strain with the power factor overall being
robust against applied strain. To extend our findings the anisotropic
thermoelectric transport of an [111]-oriented Si/Ge superlattice was
investigated. Here, the cross-plane power factor under hole-doping was
drastically suppressed due to quantum-well effects, while under electron-doping
an enhanced power factor was found. With that, we state a figure of merit of
ZT and ZT at T=\unit[300]{K} and T=\unit[900]{K} for the
electron-doped [111]-oriented Si/Ge superlattice. All results are discussed in
terms of band structure features
Asymmetric localisation of Miranda and its cargo proteins during neuroblast division requires the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome
Asymmetric cell divisions generate cell fate diversity during both invertebrate and vertebrate development. Drosophila neural progenitors or neuroblasts (NBs) each divide asymmetrically to produce a larger neuroblast and a smaller ganglion mother cell (GMC). The asymmetric localisation of neural cell fate determinants and their adapter proteins to the neuroblast cortex during mitosis facilitates their preferential segregation to the GMC upon cytokinesis. In this study we report a novel role for the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) during this process. Attenuation of APC/C activity disrupts the asymmetric localisation of the adapter protein Miranda and its associated cargo proteins Staufen, Prospero and Brat, but not other components of the asymmetric division machinery. We demonstrate that Miranda is ubiquitylated via its C-terminal domain; removal of this domain disrupts Miranda localisation and replacement of this domain with a ubiquitin moiety restores normal asymmetric Miranda localisation. Our results demonstrate that APC/C activity and ubiquitylation of Miranda are required for the asymmetric localisation of Miranda and its cargo proteins to the NB cortex
Lattice dynamics and reduced thermal conductivity of filled skutterudites
The great reduction in thermal conductivity of skutterudites upon filling the
``void'' sites with Rare Earth (RE) ions is key to their favorable
thermoelectric properties but remains to be understood. Using lattice dynamic
models based on first principles calculations, we address the most popular
microscopic mechanism, reduction via rattling ions. The model withstands
inelastic neutron scattering and specific heat measurements, and refutes
hypotheses of an anharmonic RE potential and of two distinct localized RE
vibrations of disparate frequencies. It does indicate a strong hybridization
between bare La vibrations and certain Sb-like phonon branches, suggesting
anharmonic scattering by harmonic RE motions as an important mechanism for
suppression of heat conductivity.Comment: modified version resubmitted to PRB. Results unchanged, text changed
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Evolving robotic surgery training and improving patient safety, with the integration of novel technologies
INTRODUCTION: Robot-assisted surgery is becoming increasingly adopted by multiple surgical specialties. There is evidence of inherent risks of utilising new technologies that are unfamiliar early in the learning curve. The development of standardised and validated training programmes is crucial to deliver safe introduction. In this review, we aim to evaluate the current evidence and opportunities to integrate novel technologies into modern digitalised robotic training curricula. METHODS: A systematic literature review of the current evidence for novel technologies in surgical training was conducted online and relevant publications and information were identified. Evaluation was made on how these technologies could further enable digitalisation of training. RESULTS: Overall, the quality of available studies was found to be low with current available evidence consisting largely of expert opinion, consensus statements and small qualitative studies. The review identified that there are several novel technologies already being utilised in robotic surgery training. There is also a trend towards standardised validated robotic training curricula. Currently, the majority of the validated curricula do not incorporate novel technologies and training is delivered with more traditional methods that includes centralisation of training services with wet laboratories that have access to cadavers and dedicated training robots. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements to training standards and understanding performance data have good potential to significantly lower complications in patients. Digitalisation automates data collection and brings data together for analysis. Machine learning has potential to develop automated performance feedback for trainees. Digitalised training aims to build on the current gold standards and to further improve the 'continuum of training' by integrating PBP training, 3D-printed models, telementoring, telemetry and machine learning
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