Evaluating the competitiveness of the tourism industry in Cambodia : self-assessment from professionals

The annual tourism growth rate in Cambodia is among the highest in the world; however, tourist industry impact on Cambodian's economy is quite low. The purpose of our study is to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the Cambodian tourism market so that a framework can be established to help the country's policy-makers formulate strategies to use its resources effectively to create sustainable tourism competitiveness. This study used the perspective of tourism experts in the industry and Ministry of Tourism in Cambodia, and academia in the tourism field to evaluate Cambodian tourism competitiveness relative to its major competitors in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) based on nine categories: endowed resources, created resources, supporting factors, destination management, situational conditions, demand condition, technology, openness and market performance indicators benchmarked from previous research. The results showed that Cambodia has a lot of endowed resources, but lacks supporting resources and factors to achieve tourism competitiveness.

Using collaborative and activity-based learning for engaging IT students

Active and collaborative learning are becoming essential strategies to attract, engage and retain students. These methods have been adopted within the Science and Engineering Faculty of Queensland University of Technology for use in its Science, Information Technology and Engineering degrees. This paper describes the adoption and application of these techniques in a specific first year unit in a new Bachelor of Information Technology degree which has majors in Computer Science and Information Systems. The paper reports on the design, development and implementation of this foundation subject and discusses how it uses active and collaborative learning to teach design thinking through a series of design challenges, and how it uses critiquing and reflection to ensure that students become more aware of design and team processes.

Telomerase activity : detection and clinical implications in human cancer

Telomerase is an extremely important enzyme required for the immortalisation of tumour cells. Because the gene is activated in the vast majority of tumour tissues and remains unused in most somatic cells, it represents a marker with huge diagnostic, prognostic and treatment implications in cancer. This article summarises the basic structure and functions of telomerase and considers its clinical implications in colorectal and other cancers.

Quantitative analysis of survivin in colorectal adenocarcinoma : increased expression and correlation with telomerase activity

The aims of the present study are to quantitatively analyze survivin expression, its clinicopathologic roles, and correlation with telomerase activity in a large cohort of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantitate expression level of survivin messenger RNA and human telomerase reverse transcriptase messenger RNA (telomerase activity) in 51 patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas. The findings were correlated with the clinicopathologic features of patients, which were prospectively collected into a computerized database. Survivin messenger RNA was expressed in all tumor samples. The level of expression in tumor tissues was increased in comparison with matched nontumor mucosa in the same patient (P = .01). The level of expression of survivin was significantly correlated with the level of human telomerase reverse transcriptase expression (P = .008) and size of the colorectal adenocarcinomas (P = .004). Survival of the patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma was associated with the TNM stages (P = .001) and not with the level of expression of survivin. Thus, survivin activity was altered in colorectal adenocarcinoma. The high prevalence of survivin expression and correlation with telomerase activity are important factors for consideration in gene targeting therapy for colorectal adenocarcinoma.

The benefits and challenges of conducting an overview of systematic reviews in public health: a focus on physical activity

Introduction The ultimate aim of Cochrane systematic reviews is to inform policy and practice decisions for better health outcomes. However, due to the increasing numbers of scientific publications, wading through the available evidence of both individual studies and systematic reviews can be challenging and overwhelming even for avid authors and readers. This paper briefly describes the first overview (a systematic review of reviews) of the Cochrane Public Health Group (CPHG) in development and proposes a way forward for the methodologies under consideration.

Physical activity, walking and quality of life in women with depressive symptoms

Background Physical activity (PA) has a positive association with health-related quality of life (HRQL) in the general population. The association between PA and HRQL in those with poor mental health is less clear. Purpose To examine the concurrent and prospective dose-response relationships between total physical activity (TPA) and walking only with HRQL in women aged 50-55 with depressive symptoms in 2001. Methods Participants were 1904 women born in 1946-1951 who completed mailed surveys for the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010 and who, in 2001, reported depressive symptoms. At each time point, they reported their weekly minutes of walking, moderate PA, and vigorous PA. A summary TPA score was created that accounted for differences in energy expenditure among the three PA types. Mixed models were used to examine associations between TPA and HRQL (SF-36 component and subscale scores) and between walking and HRQL, for women who reported walking as their only PA. Analyses were conducted in 2013-2014. Results Concurrently, higher levels of TPA and walking were associated with better HRQL (p<0.05). The strongest associations were found for physical functioning, vitality, and social functioning subscales. In prospective models, associations were attenuated, yet compared with women doing no TPA or walking, women doing “sufficient” TPA or walking had significantly better HRQL over time for most SF-36 scales. Conclusions This study extends previous work by demonstrating trends between both TPA and walking and HRQL in women reporting depressive symptoms.

The corporate governance effects of audit committees

Arguments associated with the promotion of audit committees in many countries are premised on their potential for alleviating weaknesses in corporate governance. This paper provides a synthesis and evaluation of empirical research on the governance effects associated with audit committees. Given recent policy recommendations in several countries aimed at strengthening these committees, it is important to establish what research evidence demonstrates about their existing governance contribution. A framework for analyzing the impact of audit committees is described, identifying potential perceived effects which may have led to their adoption and documented effects on aspects of the audit function, on financial reporting quality and on corporate performance. It is argued that there is only limited and mixed evidence of effects to support claims and perceptions about the value of audit committees for these elements of governance. It is also shown that most of the existing research has focused on factors associated with audit committee existence, characteristics and measures of activity and there is very little evidence on the processes associated with the operation of audit committees and the manner in which they influence organizational behaviour. It is clear that there is no automatic relationship between the adoption of audit committee structures or characteristics and the achievement of particular governance effects, and caution may be needed over expectations that greater codification around factors such as audit committee members’ independence and expertise as the means of ‘‘correcting’’ past weaknesses in the arrangements for audit committees. The most fundamental question concerning what difference audit committees make in practice continues to be an important area for research development. For future research we suggest: (i) greater consideration of the organizational and institutional contexts in which audit committees operate; (ii) explicit theorization of the processes associated with audit committee operation; (iii) complementing extant research methods with field studie, and; (iv) investigation of unintended (behavioural) as well as expected consequences of audit committees.

Influence of visible work activity on drivers’ speed choice at roadworks

Vehicle traffic through roadwork sites creates a hazardous work environment, with speed limit noncompliance a major contributor to the high risk and high severity of roadwork crashes. This paper examines responses to an online survey to better understand the factors underlying drivers’ work zone speed choices. Drivers’ stated speed choice was compared between two photographs of the same work zone section – one with workers and machinery present and another with no visible activity. Drivers also provided comments on any aspect of roadwork safety they thought was important. A paired t-test of stated speed choice revealed that significantly lower mean speeds were nominated when workers and machinery were clearly present and active (41.7 vs 53.5 km/h, p<0.01). Participants expressed concern about roadwork signage and reduced speed limits being left in place when there was no apparent work activity. Driver perceptions, and thus compliance, may be improved through technological and operational changes.

Practices of literary tourism : an Australian case study

Purpose To present the results of tests for the development of literary trails for domestic visitors and tourists in Brisbane, Queensland, and to situate these findings in the context of recent state government policy changes in relation to culture, community engagement and the environment. Design Broadly cultural studies: the article analyses changes in international and national cultural tourism and Queensland based issues before presenting the research findings. Findings a gap in tourist and cultural development models exists for the implementation of a network of sustainable literary trails in Brisbane--this model can be extended to regions around the state to meet the demands of the new tourist. Limitations Queensland weather and Australian distance which will require a regional approach that networks with transport and community hubs. Practical implications the research has produced new software for the use of self-guided walks; the locations for two specific area trails; and the involvement of the State Library of Queensland as a “hub” for the trails. Substantial support exists for further development in advanced locative media and gaming. Social implications the research demonstrates the importance of developing a sense of place that relates to culture, literary history and community for tourists, as well as the potential for community engagement.

Comparative analysis of FimB and FimE recombinase activity

FimB and FimE are site-specific recombinases, part of the λ integrase family, and invert a 314 bp DNA switch that controls the expression of type 1 fimbriae in Escherichia coli. FimB and FimE differ in their activity towards the fim switch, with FimB catalysing inversion in both directions in comparison to the higher-frequency but unidirectional on-to-off recombination catalysed by FimE. Previous work has demonstrated that FimB, but not FimE, recombination is completely inhibited in vitro and in vivo by a regulator, PapB, expressed from a distinct fimbrial locus. The aim of this work was to investigate differences between FimB and FimE activity by exploiting the differential inhibition demonstrated by PapB. The research focused on genetic changes to the fim switch that alter recombinase binding and its structural context. FimB and FimE still recombined a switch in which the majority of fimS DNA was replaced with a larger region of non-fim DNA. This demonstrated a minimal requirement for FimB and FimE recombination of the Fim binding sites and associated inverted repeats. With the original leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) and integration host factor (IHF)-dependent structure removed, PapB was now able to inhibit both recombinases. The relative affinities of FimB and FimE were determined for the four ‘half sites’. This analysis, along with the effect of extensive swaps and duplications of the half sites on recombination frequency, demonstrated that FimB recruitment and therefore subsequent activity was dependent on a single half site and its context, whereas FimE recombination was less stringent, being able to interact initially with two half sites with equally high affinity. While increasing FimB recombination frequencies failed to overcome PapB repression, mutations made in recombinase binding sites resulted in inhibition of FimE recombination by PapB. Overall, the data support a model in which the recombinases differ in loading order and co-operative interactions. PapB exploits this difference and FimE becomes susceptible when its normal loading is restricted or changed.