Monash University

About: Monash University is a education organization based out in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 35920 authors who have published 100681 publications receiving 3027002 citations.

Discretionary-Accruals Models and Audit Qualifications

Abstract: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate empirically the ability of two cross-sectional models, the Cross-Sectional Jones Model and the Cross-Sectional Modified Jones Model, to detect earnings management vis-a-vis their time-series counterparts. The motivation follows because these two cross-sectional models have not been formally evaluated by prior research, and because their use offers substantial advantages to investors and researchers over their time-series counterparts. A secondary objective is to assess the robustness of findings of prior studies assessing discretionary-accruals models using our new sample and research method, which controls for potential research confounds. The evaluation involves examining the association between discretionary accruals and audit qualifications, using a sample of 166 distinct firms with qualified audit reports and a matched-pair control sample with clean audit reports. An association between large discretionary accruals generated by a model and an audit qualification provides evidence on the ability of the model to detect earnings management. Results from univariate tests that do not control for potential research confounds show that all models, except the DeAngelo Model, are consistently successful in discriminating between firms that manage earnings. Once potential research confounds are controlled, however, only the two cross-sectional models are able to detect earnings management. This last result, which highlights the importance of controlling for research confounds in earnings management studies using carefully selected samples, implies that the cross-sectional models are superior to their time-series counterparts. This finding is particularly important for future earnings management research because using a cross-sectional model rather than its time-series counterpart should result in a larger sample size that is less subject to a survivorship bias, and will also allow examining samples of firms with short history.

A cross-level perspective on employee creativity: goal orientation, team learning behavior, and individual creativity

Abstract: We developed and tested a cross-level model of individual creativity, integrating goal orientation theory and team learning research. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we found cross-level interactions between individuals’ goal orientation and team learning behavior in a cross-national sample of 25 R&D teams comprising 198 employees. We hypothesized and found a nonlinear interaction between individual learning orientation and team learning behavior: in teams higher in team learning behavior, the positive relationship between learning orientation and creativity was attenuated at higher levels of learning orientation. An individual approach orientation was positively related to creativity only when team learning behavior was high.

Beyond national states, markets, and systems of higher education: A glonacal agency heuristic

Abstract: This paper offers an overarching analytical heuristic that takes us beyond current research, anchored in conceptions of national states, markets, and systems of higher education institutions. We seek to shape comparative higher education research with regard to globaliza- tion in much the same way that Clark's (1983) "triangle" heuristic has framed comparative higher education research in the study of national policies and higher education systems. Our "glonacal agency heuristic" points to three intersecting planes of existence, emphasizing the simultaneous significance of global, national, and local dimensions and forces. It com- bines the meaning of "agency" as an established organization with its meaning as individual or collective action. Our paper critiques the prevailing framework in cross-national higher education research, addressing the liberal theory that underpins this framework, the ways scholars address the rise of neo-liberal policies internationally, conceptual shortcomings of this work, and emergent discourse about "academic capitalism". We then discuss globalization and our heuristic. Finally, we provide examples of how states, markets, and institutions can be reconceptualized in terms of global, national, regional, and local agencies and agency.

Expression of heterologous proteins in Pichia pastoris: a useful experimental tool in protein engineering and production

Abstract: The use of the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, as a cellular host for the expression of recombinant proteins has become increasing popular in recent times. P. pastoris is easier to genetically manipulate and culture than mammalian cells and can be grown to high cell densities. Equally important, P. pastoris is also a eukaryote, and thereby provides the potential for producing soluble, correctly folded recombinant proteins that have undergone all the post-translational modifications required for functionality. Additionally, linearized foreign DNA can be inserted in high efficiency via homologous recombination procedures to generate stable cell lines whilst expression vectors can be readily prepared that allow multiple copies of the target protein, multimeric proteins with different subunit structures, or alternatively the target protein and its cognate binding partners, to be expressed. A further benefit of the P. pastoris system is that strong promoters are available to drive the expression of a foreign gene(s) of interest, thus enabling production of large amounts of the target protein(s) with relative technical ease and at a lower cost than most other eukaryotic systems. The purpose of this review is to summarize important developments and features of this expression system and, in particular, to examine from an experimental perspective the genetic engineering, protein chemical and molecular design considerations that have to be taken into account for the successful expression of the target recombinant protein. Included in these considerations are the influences of P. pastoris strain selection; the choice of expression vectors and promoters; procedures for the transformation and integration of the vectors into the P. pastoris genome; the consequences of rare codon usage and truncated transcripts; and techniques employed to achieve multi-copy integration numbers. The impact of the alcohol oxidase (AOX) pathways in terms of the mut+ and muts phenotypes, intracellular expression and folding pathways is examined. The roles of pre–pro signal sequences such as the alpha mating factor (α-MF) and the Glu–Ala repeats at the kex2p cleavage site on the processing of the protein translate(s) have also been considered. Protocols for the generation of protein variants and mutants for screening for orphan cognate binding partners and the use of experimental platforms addressing the molecular recognition behaviour of recombinant proteins such as the extracellular domains of transmembrane receptors with their physiological ligands are also described. Finally, the palindromic patterns of glycosylation that can occur with these expression systems, in terms of the role and location of the sequon in the primary structure, the number of mannose units and the types of oligosaccharides incorporated as Asn- or O-linkages and their impact on the thermostability and immunogenicity of the recombinant protein are considered. Procedures to prevent glycosylation through manipulation of cell culture conditions or via enzymatic and site-directed mutagenesis methods are also discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.