Community preferences for digital futures: regional perspectives

The purpose of the study was to understand community preferences for digital futures in the Southern Downs Region in Queensland, Australia. This study examined the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the digital future in the regional context. The methodology applied in this study included three focus group discussions (FGDs) along with a structured questionnaire survey for the participants. Some key suggestions which evolved from the FGDs are that digital services need to be cost-effective and people from low socio-economic backgrounds may require specific supportive measures. A consensus emerged that the provision of this vital digital education needs to be at low or subsidised cost at remote areas. It is therefore important to have a comprehensive understanding of community needs, demands and barriers to adoption to come up with a digital economy strategy for the future. While the FGDs provide an avenue for basic understanding of the broad range of issues at the community level, further micro-level analyses that shed light on the adoption and effects of digital technology on households and businesses are clearly warranted

Development of Non Bank Financial Institutions to Strengthen the Financial System of Bangladesh

Non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) represent one of the most important parts of a financial system. In Bangladesh, NBFIs are new in the financial system as compared to banking financial institutions (BFIs). Starting from the IPDC in 1981, a total of 25 NBFIs are now working in the country. As on June 30, 2001 the total amount of paid up capital and reserve of 24 NBFIs stood Tk.6901.8 million (BB, 2002). The NBFIs sector in Bangladesh consisting primarily of the development financial institutions, leasing enterprises, investment companies, merchant bankers etc. The financing modes of the NBFIs are long term in nature. Traditionally, our banking financial institutions are involved in term lending activities, which are mostly unfamiliar products for them. Inefficiency of BFIs in long-term loan management has already leaded an enormous volume of outstanding loan in our country. At this backdrop, in order to ensure flow of term loans and to meet the credit gap, NBFIs have immense importance in the economy. In addition, non-bank financial sector is important to increase the mobilization of term savings and for the sake of providing support services to the capital market. The focus of this paper is to highlight the necessity and importance of NBFIs to strengthen the financial system for rapid economic development of the country.Non-bank financial institutions, banking financial institutions, financial system of Bangladesh

Development of Non Bank Financial Institutions to Strengthen the Financial System of Bangladesh

Non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) represent one of the most important parts of a financial system. In Bangladesh, NBFIs are new in the financial system as compared to banking financial institutions (BFIs). Starting from the IPDC in 1981, a total of 25 NBFIs are now working in the country. As on June 30, 2001 the total amount of paid up capital and reserve of 24 NBFIs stood Tk.6901.8 million (BB, 2002). The NBFIs sector in Bangladesh consisting primarily of the development financial institutions, leasing enterprises, investment companies, merchant bankers etc. The financing modes of the NBFIs are long term in nature. Traditionally our banking financial institutions are involved in term lending activities, which are mostly unfamiliar products for them. Inefficiency of BFIs in long-term loan management has already leaded an enormous volume of outstanding loan in our country. At this backdrop, in order to ensure flow of term loans and to meet the credit gap, NBFIs have immense importance in the economy. In addition, non-bank financial sector is important to increase the mobilization of term savings and for the sake of providing support services to the capital market. The focus of this paper is to highlight the necessity and importance of NBFIs to strengthen the financial system for rapid economic development of the country.Non-Banks, Bangladesh

A reassessment of energy and GDP relationship: A case of Australia

This paper investigates the long-run and short-run relationships between energy consumption and economic growth in Australia using the bound testing and the ARDL approach. For the first time in the literature we employ both production and demand side models and a unified model comprising both production and demand side variables for a single set of data. The relationships are investigated at aggregate as well as several disaggregated energy categories, such as coal, oil, gas and electricity. The possibilities of one or more structural break(s) in the data series are examined by applying the recent advances in techniques. We find that the results of the cointegration tests could be affected by the structural break(s) in the data. It is, therefore, crucial to incorporate the information on structural break(s) in the subsequent modelling and inferences. Moreover, neither the production side nor the demand side framework alone can provide sufficient information to draw an ultimate conclusion on the cointegration and causal direction between energy and output. When alternative frameworks and structural break(s) in time-series are explored properly, strong evidence of a bidirectional relationship between energy and output can be observed. The finding is true both at aggregate and disaggregate levels of energy consumption.Energy consumption; Economic growth; Cointegration; Causality

Determinants of Japanese aid allocation: an econometric analysis

Economic self-interest and politico-strategic and humanitarian concerns motivate donor countries in their development assistance policies. A large amount of literature has pointed out that either economic self-interest or political self-interest played a pivotal role in the early phases of foreign aid programmes of many donors. Currently, almost all donors include humanitarian assistance in explaining their aid motives. We investigate how Japanese aid allocation policies have changed over the time and also identify empirically the major determinants of aid allocation. It is found from the empirical evidence that Japan takes national interest as well as recipient country needs into account in allocating their aid. The nature of Asian biasness in Japanese aid may continue given the high emphasis on national economic and security interests. Given the historical trend one can conclude that the same determinant factors may keep on playing vital roles in aid allocation decision-making at least for some years to come even though there has been an increased call for more assistance to poor region

Changes in energy efficiency in Australia: A decomposition of aggregate energy intensity using Logarithmic Mean Divisia approach

This paper provides an empirical estimation of energy efficiency and other proximate factors that explain energy intensity in Australia for the period 1978-2009. The analysis is performed by decomposing the changes in energy intensity by means of energy efficiency, fuel mix and structural changes both at sectoral and sub-sectoral levels of the economy. Results show that the driving forces behind the decrease in energy intensity in Australia are efficiency effect and sectoral composition effect, where the former is found to be more prominent than the latter. Moreover, the favourable impact of the composition effect has been consistently slowed down in the recent past. A perfect positive association characterizes the relationship between energy intensity and carbon intensity in Australia. Given the trends in decomposition factors, it is necessary to boost energy efficiency further to reduce Australia’s overall contribution to energy intensity and carbon emissions in the future.Energy intensity; Energy efficiency; Index decomposition analysis

Combination of cell culture and quantitative PCR (cc-qPCR) for assessment of efficacy of drugs and disinfectants against Cryptosporidium parvum

Cryptosporidium parvum is an obligatory intracellular parasitic protist that belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa. Cryptosporidiosis is an infection for which no satisfactory efficient curative treatment is known, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Furthermore, the parasite oocysts show considerable tenacity in the environment. Therefore, new potent drugs along with a simple and reliable experimental model for evaluation of anticryptosporidial measures are urgently needed. The present studies were undertaken to establish a combined cell culture and quantitative PCR assay (cc-qPCR) to assess efficacy of pharmacological compounds against C. parvum. Human ileocecal adenocarcinoma cells (HCT-8) were selected for culture of C. parvum. Oocysts were excysted directly on confluent monolayers for infection. After 3 h of incubation the non invasive parasite remains were removed by washing. At the end of the incubation period the cells were harvested and subjected to DNA extraction. Real time PCR was performed to quantify the target parasite DNA (fragments of 70 kDa heat shock protein gene) copy numbers. Each reaction was run in triplicate. A standard curve calculated on the basis of serial dilutions of plasmid DNA or infected control culture DNA was run in each experiment. A series of oocyst suspensions were applied to cell cultures to determine the sensitivity of the cc-qPCR assay and also to generate a calibration curve to calculate the infectivity of oocysts. A dilution series of heat inactivated oocysts (70°C for 1 h) were used to determine the size of the oocyst inoculum at which complete elimination of extracellular parasite material by washing is reliably achieved. The results obtained by the assays were reproducible and the method sensitive with a detection limit of infection with 10 oocysts 48 h post infection (p.i.) and with 100 oocysts 24 h p.i. Percent effects of drugs and disinfectants were enumerated by comparing DNA copies between treated and non treated samples. The suitability of cc-qPCR for screening of pharmacological compounds was validated by confirming the in vitro efficacy of monensin (98.15% ± 1.09 at 0.144 µM) and halofuginone (98.05% ± 0.59 at 25 µM) over the entire incubation period with a dose dependent reduction of parasite multiplication demonstrated 27 h p.i. The inhibition of parasite proliferation by 0.144 µM monensin in the period from 3 h p.i (time defined to represent the initial level of parasite development before drug application) to 27 h p.i. or 45 h p.i. was 97 and 99% respectively, and by 25 µM halofuginone 99% (27 h p.i.). Hexadecylphosphocholine (miltefosine), a new anti-leishmanial compound, was tested against cryptosporidia and provided a maximum of 98% reduction of parasite multiplication at 45 h p.i. The potential activity of curcumin (extract from the herb Curcuma longa) against C. parvum was also evaluated by cc-qPCR. Curcumin appeared to be sensitive to degradation after prolonged incubation and the observed inhibition of multiplication of C. parvum was significantly increased when medium was replaced by fresh medicated medium after 12 h of exposure. The effects on parasite multiplication (>95% inhibition with IC50 value of 13 µM) and on sporozoite invasion (assessed 3 h p.i.; 65% inhibition at 200 µM) suggest that further exploration of anticryptosporidial efficacy of curcumin may be rewarding. The cc-qPCR was further optimized to analyse inactivation measures directed against oocysts of C. parvum. The suitability of the assay for assessment of inactivation measures was confirmed by the reproducible demonstration of effectiveness of cresolic disinfectants at the recommended concentration of 4% and incubation period of 2 h (Neopredisan® 135-1, Menno Chemie, Norderstedt, Germany: 99.91% ± 0.08; Aldecoc® TGE, EWABO Chemikalien GmbH & Co. KG, Wietmarschen, Germany: 99.91± 0.05) and by using thermally inactivated oocysts (complete inactivation by 56°C and 70°C for 20 min). Based on the in vitro results and previously obtained data from the chicken infection model 99.5% inactivation is proposed as a suitable threshold value that needs to be consistently exceeded by a product to be considered efficient. Application of Neopredisan® 135- 1 and Aldecoc® TGE (4% for 2h) consistently inactivated more than 99.5% of oocysts while other disinfectants that are not certified as anticoccidial products like Aldecoc® XD (EWABO Chemikalien GmbH & Co. KG, Wietmarschen, Germany) and IGAVET® FF spezial (COS OHLSEN Chemie & Gerätevertrieb GmbH, Geltorf-Esprehm, Germany) and bleach (sodium hypochlorite) did not. It can be concluded that the cc-qPCR method is suited to easily and reliably assess anticryptosporidials in vitro. The method demonstrated that miltefosine and curcumin display anticryptosporidial efficacy under the applied conditions. The cc-qPCR is a highly standardized method supposedly appropriate to replace the chicken infection model for Eimeria tenella as currently practised for certification of anticoccidial disinfectants according to the guidelines of DVG (German Veterinary Society)

Shaping our economic future: an e-impact study of small and medium enterprises in the Western Downs region, Queensland

This research examines the use and the effects of information and communication technology (ICT) on business performance and innovation in the Western Downs region in Queensland, Australia. There has been little research on the use of ICT by small and medium enterprises(SMEs) in remote and regional areas in Australia. This study therefore improves our understanding of that by using a unique dataset for approximately 300 SMEs collected through a field survey conducted in the Western Downs region during March to June 2014

Assessing regional digital competence: Digital futures and strategic planning implications

Understanding strategic decisions aimed at addressing regional economic issues is of increasing interest among scholars and policy makers today. Thus, studies that proffer effective strategies to address digital futures concerns from social and policy perspectives are timely. In light of this, this research uses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis tool to frame a regional strategy for digital futures to enhance place-specific digital connectivity and socio-economic progress. Focus group discussions and a structured questionnaire were conducted to examine a SWOT for a digital economy strategy in the Southern Downs Region in Queensland, Australia. The findings show that while the proposed regional strategies for digital futures are susceptible to internal and external forces, strategic planning makes them manageable. The study’s findings also reveal that adaptive strategic planning can help regulate the effects of internal and external factors that shape individual and organisational responses to digital transformation, and that these factors promote regional competitiveness

EdgeFall: a promising cloud-edge-end architecture for elderly fall care

Elder citizens face sudden fall, which can lead to injuries of both destructive and non-virulent. These sudden falls are later more precarious than diseases like heart attack, blood sugar, blood pressure because these can be untreated for a lengthy time which can lead to death. Elder citizen who experiences a precipitous fall, carry out their communal life narrowed. Therefore, a shrewd and adequate anti-fallen system is required for aiding elderly health care, specifically to those who live individually. So, it can identify and anticipate a precipitous fall through appropriate human activity recognition. In this study, we have suggested an end-edge-cloud based wearable EdgeFall architecture for elderly care. We have performed simulation setups to clarify the query of why we need such a strategy, and its validity. We have achieved maximum 91.87% accuracy with 1.6% false alarm rate (FAR). These empirical results indicate the superiority of using tightly couple multiple information for recognizing human activity. We can accomplish a low FAR with an enhanced accuracy. We can observe that our proposed end-edge-cloud based architecture can reduce the execution time to millisecond range (ms) of 14.16 to 15.74. This work serves as the starting mark for future related research activities