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'Dust and Sweat' in Australian workers' Compensation Systems: Policy Challenges for the Gillard Labor Government
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Local infrastructure in Australian tourist destinations : modelling tourism demand and estimating costs of water provision and operation
No full textFamilial neonatal seizures with intellectual disability caused by a microduplication of chromosome 2q24.3
No full textA family with dominantly inherited neonatal seizures and intellectual disability was atypical for neonatal and infantile seizure syndromes associated with potassium (KCNQ2 and KCNQ3) and sodium (SCN2A) channel mutations. Microsatellite markers linked to KCNQ2, KCNQ3, and SCN2A were examined to exclude candidate locations, but instead revealed a duplication detected by observation of three alleles for two markers flanking SCN2A. Characterization revealed a 1.57 Mb duplication at 2q24.3 containing eight genes including SCN2A, SCN3A, and the 3′ end of SCN1A. The duplication was partially inverted and inserted within or near SCN1A, probably affecting the expression levels of associated genes, including sodium channels. Rare or unique microchromosomal copy number mutations might underlie familial epilepsies that do not fit within the clinical criteria for the established syndromes.
Reduced motor cortex plasticity following inhibitory rTMS in older adults
No full textObjective Ageing is accompanied by diminished practice-dependent plasticity. We investigated the effect of age on another plasticity inducing paradigm, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Methods Healthy young (n = 15; 25 ± 4 years) and old (n = 15; 67 ± 5 years) adults participated in two experiments. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured in the target muscle (first dorsal interosseus, FDI) and a remote muscle (abductor digiti minimi) during a set of single stimuli. Subjects then received real or sham inhibitory rTMS (intermittent subthreshold trains of 6 Hz stimulation for 10 min). MEPs were measured for 30 min after rTMS. Results In young adults, MEPs in the target FDI muscle were ~15% smaller in the real rTMS experiment than in the sham rTMS experiment (P < 0.026). In old adults, FDI MEP size did not differ between experiments. Conclusions Advancing age is associated with reduced efficacy of inhibitory rTMS. Significance Objective Ageing is accompanied by diminished practice-dependent plasticity. We investigated the effect of age on another plasticity inducing paradigm, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Methods Healthy young (n = 15; 25 ± 4 years) and old (n = 15; 67 ± 5 years) adults participated in two experiments. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured in the target muscle (first dorsal interosseus, FDI) and a remote muscle (abductor digiti minimi) during a set of single stimuli. Subjects then received real or sham inhibitory rTMS (intermittent subthreshold trains of 6 Hz stimulation for 10 min). MEPs were measured for 30 min after rTMS. Results In young adults, MEPs in the target FDI muscle were ~15% smaller in the real rTMS experiment than in the sham rTMS experiment (P < 0.026). In old adults, FDI MEP size did not differ between experiments. Conclusions Advancing age is associated with reduced efficacy of inhibitory rTMS. Significance This work has important implications for the potential therapeutic use of rTMS in stroke and neurological disease.
Behind ownership decision of Chinese outward FDI : resources and institutions
No full textThis paper examines ownership decision of Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI) with a focus on the choice between a wholly owned subsidiary and a joint venture entry mode. Based on literature review and findings from our case study of ten Chinese outward investing firms, we develop a conceptual framework that integrates the resource-based and institution-based views of international business strategy. The framework reflects special characteristics of Chinese outward FDI. On the resource side, Chinese outward FDI is both asset exploiting and asset augmenting, and accordingly, both transaction costs and strategic intents have an impact on the FDI ownership decision of Chinese firms. On the institution side, when investing overseas, Chinese firms adjust their entry strategies to attain regulative and normative institutional legitimacy in host countries. Meanwhile, they also need to comply with the rules set by the Chinese government, which provide incentives to and impose restrictions on Chinese firms’ FDI ownership decisions.