Islamic Calendar Anomalies: Pakistani Practitioners' Perspective

Studies on Islamic calendar anomalies in financial markets tend to apply quantitative analysis to historic share prices. Surprisingly, there is a lack of research investigating whether the participants of such markets are aware of these anomalies and whether these anomalies affect their investment practice. Or is it a case that these practitioners are completely unaware of the anomalies present in these markets and are missing out on profitable opportunities? The purpose of this paper is to analyse the views of influential participants within the Pakistani stock market

The temporal nature of legitimation:the case of IFRS8

Legitimation can operate on an episodic or continual basis [Suchman, M.C. (1995). Managing legitimacy: Strategic and institutional approaches. Academy of Management Review, 20(3), 571-610]. We examine the temporal legitimation of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)'s actions during the adoption and review of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 8 Operating Segments. We conceptualise the controversy surrounding IFRS8 as an episode when the IASB sought segmental reporting convergence with the US standard, Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 131. Interpreting evidence from 15 (20) semi-structured interviews undertaken in 2009 (2011), before (after) entities reported under IFRS8, reveals its adoption precipitated an episodic legitimacy threat from selected audiences to the actions of the IASB. We discuss the IASB's attempt to influence legitimation for this episode through commitment to a post-implementation review [IFRS Foundation. (2011). Post implementation reviews: Plan for developing the framework for conducting post-implementation reviews. IASB Board meeting February 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011, from http://www.ifrs.org/NR/rdonlyres/ 3E1502E4-F1E8-4907-838B-FFB20C7268ED/0/PIR02111st2ndb04obs.pdf] of IFRS8. Interpreting legitimacy concerns across diverse audiences about specific actions of the IASB (the introduction of IFRS8) enables us to draw conclusions about the resilience of the IASB as a standard setting organisation, in itself

2017 Teaching and Learning Conference “Building an Academic community: engaging our students”

The 2017 Teaching and Learning Conference “Building an Academic community: engaging our students” at the University of Huddersfield brought together over 200 delegates from across the seven schools and services, to consider approaches that would support the development of an inclusive, high achieving academic community. The morning started with an overview of the University’s achievements and successes in Teaching and Learning since the 2016 conference “Bridging the Gaps: redefining excellence in Teaching and Learning”. The reflective summary noted the prestigious Gold Award in the recent Teaching Excellence Framework, our unbroken succession of National Teaching Fellowships, which spans ten years; the strong relationships between research and teaching and the University’s excellent employability record, which demonstrates the relevance of our teaching to industry, commerce, the public sector and the community. Colleagues, students and the wider network of partners and collaborators were thanked for their contribution, enthusiasm, and commitment to excellence and innovation in Learning and Teaching. The most recent acknowledgement from the sector in testimony to Huddersfield’s Excellence in Teaching and Learning (T&L) was received the week prior to the conference, when the University won the Higher Education Academy’s inaugural Global Teaching Excellence Award, beating 26 finalists from across the world

Active Learning on Center Stage: Theater as a Tool for Medical Education

Introduction: Knowledge and skill development related to communication must incorporate both affective and behavioral components, which are often difficult to deliver in a learning activity. Using theater techniques and principles can provide medical educators with tools to teach communication concepts. Methods: This 75-minute faculty development workshop presents a variety of techniques from theater and adapts them for use in medical education. Using examples related to diversity and inclusion, this session addresses general educational and theater principles, role-play, sociodrama, applied improvisation, and practical aspects of involving theater partners. The session materials include a PowerPoint presentation with facilitator notes, interactive activities to demonstrate each modality, and an evaluation. The sessions can be extended to longer formats as needed. Results: Forty-five participants at Learn Serve Lead 2016: The AAMC Annual Meeting attended the 75-minute session. We emailed 32 participants 5 months after the conference, and eight responded. Participants reported that their confidence level in using theater techniques as a tool for medical education increased from low-to-medium confidence presession to high confidence postsession. All survey respondents who were actively teaching said they had made changes to their teaching based on the workshop. All commented that they appreciated the active learning in the session. Many indicated they would appreciate video or other follow-up resources. Discussion: Principles and techniques from theater are effective tools to convey difficult-to-teach concepts related to communication. This workshop presents tools to implement activities in teaching these difficult concepts

An Aboriginal family and community healing program in metropolitan Adelaide: description and evaluation

This paper describes and evaluates the process, impacts and outcomes of an Aboriginal Family and Community Healing (AFCH) Program based in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia. The evaluation used participatory action oriented methodology, mixed methods and multiple data sources. The AFCH comprised complex and dynamic activities for Aboriginal men, women and youth built around community engagement, and hosted by the regional primary health care Aboriginal outreach service. The AFCH Program was designed to develop effective responses to family violence that took into account the complexities within Aboriginal families and communities. The evaluation identified strengths of the program including: evidence-based design, holistic approach, clinical focus, committed staff, intersectoral linkages, peer support, mentoring, Aboriginal cultural focus, strategic partnerships and creative use of resources. Clients and workers were unanimous in their enthusiastic support for the program; their stories highlight beneficial impacts on Aboriginal clients, families and community. Other services may be able to adapt strategies from this AFCH to address the needs of their Aboriginal communities

Evasins: Therapeutic Potential of a New Family of Chemokine-Binding Proteins from Ticks

Blood sucking parasites such as ticks remain attached to their hosts for relatively long periods of time in order to obtain their blood meal without eliciting an immune response. One mechanism used to avoid rejection is the inhibition of the recruitment of immune cells, which can be achieved by a class of chemokine binding proteins (CKBPs) known as Evasins. We have identified three distinct Evasins produced by the salivary glands of the common brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. They display different selectivities for chemokines, the first two identified show a narrow selectivity profile, whilst the third has a broader binding spectrum. The Evasins showed efficacy in several animal models of inflammatory disease. Here we will discuss the potential of their development for therapeutic use, addressing both the advantages and disadvantages that this entails

The effect of genotoxic compounds on the fidelity of DNA synthesis.

The fidelity with which DNA polymerases replicate the synthetic polynucleotide polydA. oligodT, can be determined in vitro by measuring the ratio of incorporation of non-complementary nucleotides and complementary nucleotides into polymeric material. In order to study the effect of in vivo or in vitro administration of various genotoxic agents on the activity and fidelity of DNA polymerases associated with DNA repair, adult rat liver nuclear extracts were used as a source of DNA polymerase activity. Endogenous DNA in nuclear extracts did not interfere with fidelity studies since no DNA polymerase activity was detectable in the absence of polydA. oligodT. Extracts were shown to contain almost exclusively DNA polymerase beta (the putative mammalian DNA repair enzyme) by the use of differential inhibitors of DNA polymerases. However, DNA polymerase beta fidelity in nuclear extracts was almost 10-fold lower than the fidelity measured for some purified DNA polymerases. In vitro modification of DNA polymerase beta activity in nuclear extracts by increasing concentrations of the alkylating agents, methyl methane sulphonate (1-400mM) beta-propiolactone (1-100mM) and N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (1-20mM) resulted in a gradual inactivation of the enzyme. A similar effect was observed upon treatment of the enzyme with anti(+/-)BPDE. The addition of these agents to nuclear extracts appeared to enhance the fidelity of DNA polymerase beta activity. In vivo administration of methyl methane sulphonate also resulted in an inhibition of DNA polymerase beta activity in nuclear extracts but no change in fidelity was observed. In vivo administration of a series of N,-N-dialkylnitrosamines generally resulted in an increase in the total DNA polymerase beta activity in rat liver nuclei. Dimethylnitrosamine and diethylnitrosamine appeared to induce an error-prone DNA polymerase activity whereas longer alkyl derivatives, dipropylnitrosamine and dibutylnitrosamine did not. Similarly in vivo administration of 2 toxic doses of benzo(a)pyrene to rats 48h and 24h before killing resulted in an increase in DNA polymerase B activity in rat liver nuclei. A single dose of benzo(a)pyrene depressed total DNA polymerase beta activity in nuclei for up to 14 days. The benzo(a)pyrene treatments used in these studies failed to induce an error-prone DNA polymerase activity in rat liver nuclei

Die Rolle von FGF21 in der hepatisch-zerebralen Kommunikation

Adipositas geht mit verschiedenen Komorbiditäten einher wie einer erhöhten Prävalenz für das metabolische Syndrom, der nichtalkoholischen Fettlebererkrankung und zentralnervösen Erkrankungen. Ein prominenter Kandidat in der hepatisch-neuronalen Kommunikation ist der Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21), der den Stoffwechsel bei gesunden und adipösen Individuen moduliert. Mit der vorgelegten Arbeit ist es gelungen, neurodegenerative und Adipositas-induzierte (neuro-)inflammatorische Prozesse durch verschiedene „Lifestyle“-Faktoren zu modulieren und mit FGF21 zu assoziieren