The potential effects of IFRS for SMEs on New Zealand SME financial reporting

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Sparse reduced-rank regression for imaging genetics studies: models and applications

We present a novel statistical technique; the sparse reduced rank regression (sRRR) model which is a strategy for multivariate modelling of high-dimensional imaging responses and genetic predictors. By adopting penalisation techniques, the model is able to enforce sparsity in the regression coefficients, identifying subsets of genetic markers that best explain the variability observed in subsets of the phenotypes. To properly exploit the rich structure present in each of the imaging and genetics domains, we additionally propose the use of several structured penalties within the sRRR model. Using simulation procedures that accurately reflect realistic imaging genetics data, we present detailed evaluations of the sRRR method in comparison with the more traditional univariate linear modelling approach. In all settings considered, we show that sRRR possesses better power to detect the deleterious genetic variants. Moreover, using a simple genetic model, we demonstrate the potential benefits, in terms of statistical power, of carrying out voxel-wise searches as opposed to extracting averages over regions of interest in the brain. Since this entails the use of phenotypic vectors of enormous dimensionality, we suggest the use of a sparse classification model as a de-noising step, prior to the imaging genetics study. Finally, we present the application of a data re-sampling technique within the sRRR model for model selection. Using this approach we are able to rank the genetic markers in order of importance of association to the phenotypes, and similarly rank the phenotypes in order of importance to the genetic markers. In the very end, we illustrate the application perspective of the proposed statistical models in three real imaging genetics datasets and highlight some potential associations

American Families, Punished for Poverty: The Criminalization of Homelessness in the United States

Criminalization takes a toll, not only on adults, but also on the growing numbers of families, children and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness. This issue of Making the Link reviews the increase in families, children and youth experiencing homelessness, describes the criminalization measures increasingly being enacted and enforced against homeless persons and the severe consequences of these measures, and provides policy recommendations

"Developing and Sustaining Organic Growth - Austrian Example"

Austria always was on the forefront of countries concerning the development of the organic farming. Pioneer farmers developed together with Rudolf Steiner, scientist and founder of anthroposophy, the organic-dynamic production between 1920 and 1930. Austria was the first country in the world to set official guideline for organic farming. In 1983, the first decrees in this respect were issued by the Federal Ministry for Health and Environmental Protection. In 1989, thee were included as Chapter A 8 in the Codex Alimentarius (Austrian food codex), and in 1991, Austria was the first nation to define regulations for the organic production of animal products

Cartography and iconography as diachronic analysis tools of the urban fabric ─ Évora and Setúbal

The evolution of cities can be interpreted through graphic elements, such as that recommended by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (1st century bC.) (Maciel, 2006), whose forms of expression were plans, elevations and perspectives, which prove to be precious and reliable instruments for the reading of cities. It is important to establish these elements, which appear as representations of cities, in various stages of construction of their urban fabrics, in documents such as cartography or iconography. These are relevant testimonies in the analysis and allow a careful reading of the "reality" of cities at different times. In addition to understanding them as representations of a certain period, they allow the current reinterpretation of the urban fabric, and should be considered dynamic instruments in the understanding of the reading of the cities. Considering cartography and iconography from several epochs, we will make a comparative analysis of the historical urban fabric of two cities, using differentiated urban implantation and development (Évora and Setúbal). To reach these objectives, we will read and interpret morphological elements of the Medieval City (fortifications, squares, streets, blocks, markets, singular buildings among others) and these respective witness documents, to understand the diachronic evolution in their similarities and differences

Modeling Strategy for Injectivity in SWAG Processes

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“All roads lead to Fatima”: Religious tourism at the sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary

In the centennial of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, this chapter analyzes the religious tourism at Cova da Iria: historical and anthropological contextualization of the religious phenomenon; the initial stages of the pilgrimage as spontaneous occurrences without organized touristic facilities; tourism development while the rural landscape was being transformed by the construction of buildings and structures to the religious cult and host facilities appropriating icons and symbols related to the apparitions; the consolidation of the cult with the papal devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, the seers beatifcation, and canonization and the centennial celebrations imposing a complex management of the sanctuary activities and spaces; as well as a challenging communication of its religious meanings. Conceived as a case study, this research is based on a qualitative methodology involving a bibliographic research towards a theoretical framework, as well as anthropological methods such as direct observation

Exploration of the Association Between Professional Interactions and Emotional Distress of Intensive Care Unit Nursing Personnel

Several studies provide evidence for the association between the quality of collaboration among intensive care unit (ICU) professionals and patients' outcomes, as well as nurses' moral distress and professional satisfaction. However, potential associations between collaboration and nurses' mental health indices have not been explored. The aim of this descriptive correlational study was to investigate the degree of satisfaction from interaction among ICU nursing personnel, as well as between ICU nursing personnel and physicians, and potential associations with ICU nursing personnel's anxiety symptoms. The sample consisted of ICU nursing personnel from 11 adult general hospitals in Greece (n = 229). Hamilton's Anxiety scale was applied for the quantitative assessment of anxiety symptoms and Stamps' Index of Work Satisfaction for the appraisal of nursing personnel's satisfaction from professional interactions. Demographic, vocational, and educational data were also recorded. Descriptive statistics were explored, and group comparisons, correlation, and regression analysis were used. The average satisfaction score from interaction among nursing personnel was moderate to high (5.3 [SD, 1.0]) and from nurse-to-physician interaction was moderate (4.0 [SD, 1.4]) (scale range, 1-7). The score of satisfaction from nurse-to-physician interaction was negatively mildly correlated with participants' (a) total anxiety score ( = ?0.160, P = .001), (b) tension ( = ?0.125, P = .015), and (c) depressive symptoms ( = ?0.148, P = .005). Weak negative correlations were detected between satisfaction from interaction among nursing personnel and participants' (a) total anxiety state ( = ?0.139, P = .003), (b) tension ( = ?0.137, P = .008), and (c) sleep disturbances ( = ? 0.150, P = .003). Overall, female respondents had higher levels of anxiety symptoms than male respondents (Mann-Whitney U, P = .007). Satisfaction from professional interaction was not a strong predictor of anxiety symptoms among ICU nursing personnel (R2 = 0.046, ?0.15). Nursing personnel in Greek ICUs seem to be satisfied with the quality of relationships among them, as well as with physicians. Despite that anxiety symptoms associate with the degree of satisfaction from professional interaction, the latter may not be a significant indicator of ICU nurses' well-being. Further qualitative research is needed to identify mediating factor

Phenolic content and radical scavenging properties of natural extracts for traditional care of domestic animals in Mediterranean areas

Extracts of plants traditionally used for treatments on animals were tested for total phenolic, non tannic phenolic, condensed tannins and total flavonoid content. Antioxidant properties were determined using 2,2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) chemical assays following DMSO extraction. We also assessed the toxicity of extracts on cell viability and determined their ability to modulate the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species