University of New South Wales

About: University of New South Wales is a education organization based out in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 51197 authors who have published 153634 publications receiving 4880608 citations. The organization is also known as: UNSW & UNSW Australia.

Should we stay or should we go: mechanisms and ecological consequences for biofilm dispersal.

Abstract: In most environments, bacteria reside primarily in biofilms, which are social consortia of cells that are embedded in an extracellular matrix and undergo developmental programmes resulting in a predictable biofilm 'life cycle'. Recent research on many different bacterial species has now shown that the final stage in this life cycle includes the production and release of differentiated dispersal cells. The formation of these cells and their eventual dispersal is initiated through diverse and remarkably sophisticated mechanisms, suggesting that there are strong evolutionary pressures for dispersal from an otherwise largely sessile biofilm. The evolutionary aspect of biofilm dispersal is now being explored through the integration of molecular microbiology with eukaryotic ecological and evolutionary theory, which provides a broad conceptual framework for the diversity of specific mechanisms underlying biofilm dispersal. Here, we review recent progress in this emerging field and suggest that the merging of detailed molecular mechanisms with ecological theory will significantly advance our understanding of biofilm biology and ecology.

Stewardship Theory and Board Structure: a contingency approach

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of several theoretical frameworks which make different predictions about the effect of board structures on firm performance. The choice of theories was based on recognition of their prominence in governance research. The empirical analysis first tested board independence hypotheses based on two competing theories: agency and stewardship. Agency theory, with its origins in finance and economics, has received much support in academic circles. However, recently it has been challenged by stewardship theory (Donaldson & Davis 1991), which is derived from the disciplines of sociology and psychology. Stewardship predictions regarding board independence are directly opposed to those of agency theory.

Accelerometry: providing an integrated, practical method for long-term, ambulatory monitoring of human movement.

Abstract: Accelerometry offers a practical and low cost method of objectively monitoring human movements, and has particular applicability to the monitoring of free-living subjects. Accelerometers have been used to monitor a range of different movements, including gait, sit-to-stand transfers, postural sway and falls. They have also been used to measure physical activity levels and to identify and classify movements performed by subjects. This paper reviews the use of accelerometer-based systems in each of these areas. The scope and applicability of such systems in unsupervised monitoring of human movement are considered. The different systems and monitoring techniques can be integrated to provide a more comprehensive system that is suitable for measuring a range of different parameters in an unsupervised monitoring context with free-living subjects. An integrated approach is described in which a single, waist-mounted accelerometry system is used to monitor a range of different parameters of human movement in an unsupervised setting.