Can We Operate in a Shared Economy: Insights from Global Logistics Sector

The current global environment requires to continue improvement for innovative methods and practices of the business process management to be sustainable performance including three-pillars (economic, social and environment) [1]. The term sharing generally defined as non- ownership and less tangible assets [2]. This paper presents the interconnection of “Sharing Economy” & “Sharing Logistics”. The paper aims to address the understanding of success factors towards sharing economy and development in global logistics and supply chain management. Its achievement is based on a two-research methodology design that consists of the secondary sources review and case studies analysis. The study identifies that share economy logistics has opportunities and benefits from rising costs of warehousing, transportation, and last-mile delivery to create customer value. Such as the omnichannel (customer focus) to increase customer expectation and improve customer experience. Beside generate value to the customer it has driven supply chain sustainability with blockchain as well.Keyword: Shared Economy, Shared Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Procurement and Transportatio

Investigation of the proteins SPARC and HMGB1 in chronic airways disease

University of Technology Sydney. Graduate School of Health.The matricellular protein, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), mediates the interaction between cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) but does not contribute structurally to the matrix. It regulates basic cellular functions such as cell adhesion and proliferation, as well as the processing and deposition of ECM proteins. SPARC is overexpressed in many fibrotic tissues including the lung. SPARC also serves as a down-stream mediator of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), a key driver of airway remodeling in chronic airways disease, and demonstrates context-dependent immunoregulatory functions. Although airway inflammation and remodeling are prominent features of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the role of SPARC in these conditions has not been studied. In this thesis, we investigated the expression of SPARC in airway structural cells including airway epithelial cells (AECs) and airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells, and also determined if its expression is altered in cells derived from subjects with asthma or COPD. We demonstrated that TGF-β increases SPARC expression and release in AECs and ASM cells, although to a lesser extent in the former. We observed that type 1 and type 2 cytokines tend to suppress basal and TGF-β-mediated SPARC expression in AECs, and showed that TGF-β-induced SPARC expression in ASM cells is regulated by the unfolded protein response (UPR). Notably, we observed distinct abnormalities in SPARC expression in asthma and COPD. Our preliminary studies suggest SPARC is overexpressed in AECs from subjects with asthma. In contrast, there was a trend for reduced SPARC expression in ASM cells from COPD subjects, compared to those from non-COPD subjects. Functional studies indicate SPARC does not impart immunoregulatory functions or regulate changes in airway epithelial cell phenotype, although this requires further validation. Our studies herein also explored the potential homeostatic role of extracellular high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in AECs. HMGB1 is a danger-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) that normally resides in the intracellular compartment, and is released into the extracellular space upon cellular injury, stress or death to orchestrate inflammatory responses. Although it is implicated as a mediator of the airway inflammatory response, its physiological role in lung homeostasis has received little attention. Interestingly, we detected HMGB1 in the culture supernatant of AECs under basal conditions, and found that it presents exclusively as a constituent of protein complexes. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomic approaches, we generated an unbiased profile of HMGB1-binding proteins in the extracellular space of unstimulated AECs. Protein network analysis of identified binding proteins indicates a role for extracellular HMGB1 in epithelial cell homeostasis and airway mucosal immunity. In summary, findings in this thesis suggest aberrant regulation of SPARC expression in airway structural cells may be a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of chronic airways disease. Our studies also provide a new understanding of the extracellular functions of HMGB1 in AECs and opens new research directions for its use as a therapeutic target

A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION OF CERAMICS IN HONG KONG DURING THE SONG-YUAN PERIOD

Preliminary study of unearthed Song-Yuan ceramics (AD 907-1368) from controlled excavations in Hong Kong suggests that celadon and brown ware are the largest categories of ceramic types. Bowls, dishes and utilitarian storage vessels such as jars and basins are the major forms of ceramics. Export ceramics from Guangdong Province, such as Xicun, Chaozhou and Qishi wares, were popular in Hong Kong. Inhabitants also acquired ceramics from other provinces such as Fujian, Jiangxi and Zhejiang for daily use. Most of the ceramics were distributed as ordinary commodities in the local market

Tracey Lie-dan Lu (20 September 1959 – 21 March 2016)

Professor Tracey Lie-dan Lu died in Melbourne on 21 March 2016 after a distinguished career at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, teaching and researching Chinese archaeology, museum studies, and cultural heritage. Tracey was born in Guangzhou. She commenced her archaeological career with a bachelor’s degree from Zhongshan University in 1983. In 1987, she obtained her M.Phil. in Archaeology from Beijing University. Between 1985 and 1989, she joined a large archaeological team in Guangzhou excavating the Western Han dynasty tomb of the Nanyue king Zhao Mo (d. 122 b.c.); wrote a popular book on this discovery, Nanyuewangmu yu nanyuewangguo (1990); and contributed several chapters to the two-volume Chinese report, Xihan Nanyuewangmu (1991)

Sexual Health

Health Issue: Much attention is devoted to women's reproductive health, but the formative and mature stages of women's sexual lives are often overlooked. We have analyzed cross-sectional data from the Sexual Behaviour module of the 2000/2001 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), and reviewed the literature and available indicators of the sexual health of Canadian women. Key Findings: Contemporary Canadian adolescents are becoming sexually active at younger ages than in previous generations. The gender gap between young males and females in age at first intercourse has virtually disappeared. The mean age at first intercourse for CCHS respondents aged 15–24 years was between 16 and 17. Canadian-born respondents are significantly younger at first intercourse than those who were born outside of Canada. Few adolescents recognize important risks to their sexual health. Older Canadians are sexually active, and continue to fin

Enhancing Student Learning with Podcasting, a Newly Emergent Social Technology

The complement between pull and push learning modes is believed to be contributable to enriching students\u27 learning experiences. Podcasting, a push technology, can be used to push teaching materials to the students\u27 handheld devices, allowing them to study without any geographical and temporal constraints. The students can then revise the materials according to their own preferences. This explicit push technology together with students\u27 implicit pull motivation can encourage the students to learn in a more efficient way. As the students have the autonomy to choose their preferred media to access learning materials, it is believed to be able to increase students\u27 satisfaction in the learning process. We implemented this idea in one of the courses taught in a university in Hong Kong. The encouraging findings confirmed with our belief that podcasting can help students to learn better by increasing their learning satisfaction

Understanding how and why quality circles improve standards of practice, enhance professional development and increase psychological well-being of general practitioners: a realist synthesis.

OBJECTIVES To understand how and why participation in quality circles (QCs) improves general practitioners' (GPs) psychological well-being and the quality of their clinical practice. To provide evidence-informed and practical guidance to maintain QCs at local and policy levels. DESIGN A theory-driven mixed method. SETTING Primary healthcare. METHOD We collected data in four stages to develop and refine the programme theory of QCs: (1) coinquiry with Swiss and European expert stakeholders to develop a preliminary programme theory; (2) realist review with systematic searches in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and CINHAL (1980-2020) to inform the preliminary programme theory; (3) programme refinement through interviews with participants, facilitators, tutors and managers of QCs and (4) consolidation of theory through interviews with QC experts across Europe and examining existing theories. SOURCES OF DATA The coinquiry comprised 4 interviews and 3 focus groups with 50 European experts. From the literature search, we included 108 papers to develop the literature-based programme theory. In stage 3, we used data from 40 participants gathered in 6 interviews and 2 focus groups to refine the programme theory. In stage 4, five interviewees from different healthcare systems consolidated our programme theory. RESULT Requirements for successful QCs are governmental trust in GPs' abilities to deliver quality improvement, training, access to educational material and performance data, protected time and financial resources. Group dynamics strongly influence success; facilitators should ensure participants exchange knowledge and generate new concepts in a safe environment. Peer interaction promotes professional development and psychological well-being. With repetition, participants gain confidence to put their new concepts into practice. CONCLUSION With expert facilitation, clinical review and practice opportunities, QCs can improve the quality of standard practice, enhance professional development and increase psychological well-being in the context of adequate professional and administrative support. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42013004826