What Do Complex Adaptive Systems Look Like and What Are the Implications for Innovation Policy?

This paper explores the use of complex adaptive systems theory in development policy analysis using a case study drawn from recent events in Uganda. It documents the changes that took place in the farming system in Soroti district during an outbreak of African cassava mosaic virus disease (ACMVD) and the subsequent decline in cassava production - the main staple food in the area. Resultant adaptation impacts are analysed across cropping, biological, economic and social systems each of which operate as an interlinked sub-system. The policy implications of this story suggest a policy agenda that recognises adaptation capacity as the life blood of complex adaptive systems. Since these types of systems are found in all realms of human activity, it follows that strengthening this capacity is a key developmental priority that requires linking together new configurations of actors and resources to tackle an ever-changing set of contexts.Complex Adaptive Systems, Innovation Policy, Uganda, Cassava, Adaptation Capacity, Smallholder Production, Policy

Technology Supply Chain or Innovation Capacity?: Contrasting Experiences of Promoting Small Scale Irrigation Technology in South Asia

The most effective approach to agricultural technology promotion and innovation is still a source of considerable debate, and nowhere more so than in the context of agricultural engineering hardware. Contemporary perspective on agricultural innovation stress the importance of institutional change and give emphasis to the need to develop innovation capacity in systems terms rather address limitations of technology transfer mechanisms. This paper illustrates using the case of manual irrigation technology - treadle pumps -- in Bangladesh and India. It identifies 5 elements of this capacity: (i) A sector coordination mechanism; (ii) a developmental rather than technical organising principle for sector development; (iii) habits and practices (institutions) of key organisations; (iv) Interaction as a learning and knowledge transmission mechanism (v) Market demand as key an incentive for innovation; and (vi) Policies and institutional innovations to ensure adequate stakeholder participation. The paper concludes by suggesting that identifying new sources of institutional innovation is the most presses task for initiatives that seek to make more effective use of knowledge and technology in development.Agricultural Technology, Innovation Systems, Innovation Capacity, Agricultural Research, Poverty Reduction, Small Scale Irrigation, Supply Chains

Successful Downstaging of High Rectal and Recto-Sigmoid Cancer by Neo-Adjuvant Chemo-Radiotherapy

© 2008 Libertas Academica Ltd. All rights reserved.Purpose: The benefit of neoadjuvant therapy for tumours above the peritoneal reflection is not clear. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility and downstaging of treating locally advanced tumours from high rectum to distal sigmoid with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT).Methods and Materials: Seventeen patients with high rectal, rectosigmoid or distal sigmoid tumours above the peritoneal reflection received neoadjuvant CRT, selected on MRI findings indicating T4 disease or threatened circumferential resection margin. All patients were administered neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with Oxaliplatin or Mitomycin C and a Fluoropyrimidine. The pelvis received long-course CT-planned conformal RT, 45 Gy in 25 fractions, with a boost of 5.4–9 Gy in 3–5 fractions. Thirteen patients were treated with concomitant oral or intravenous Fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy.Results: Median follow-up was 37 months. Overall survival was 82.35% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 54.7–93.9) and disease free survival 81.25% (95% CI 52.5–93.5). Only 1 patient suffered loco-regional relapse. Chemotherapy regimens were well tolerated, though some patients required dose reductions. Nine patients (52.9%) lowered pathologic disease AJCC stage, i.e. ‘downstaged’. Six patients (35.3%) achieved complete pathological response. Clear margins were attained in all but 1 patient. Three patients were converted from cT4 to ypT3. No patient required a gap during CRT. One patient suffered a grade III acute toxicity, but no grade IV (RTOG). There were 3 grade III and 3 grade IV late toxicities (LENT-SOMA).Conclusions: Locally advanced high rectal and recto-sigmoid tumours may be treated with pre-operative CRT with acceptable toxicity, impressive down-staging, and clear surgical margins

Developing the research infrastructure for design and technology education in England (and beyond)

This paper summarises initiatives taken by a partnership of Loughborough University and the Design and Technology Association in order to support action research by teachers in England. The theoretical and international contexts surrounding these initiatives as well as the initiatives themselves are described. These included an open access online journal, conference, archive and hub (www.dater.org.uk), specialist publications, a poster and conferences/workshops for tutors in Initial Teacher Education. Data is presented from Google Analytics monitoring of the online resources from July 2008 to July 2009, from a pilot questionnaire (N=33) and follow-up interviews. Research into this infrastructure continues, but the initial findings reported suggest the need for improved marketing and internet linking and the redesign of the IDATER Online home page. The online journal in particular has found much international use, having been accessed from 112 countries during the year. The on-going research will consider the quality of the resources themselves, as well as the infrastructure and its further development, of which they are part

The evolution of stable silicon isotopes in a coastal carbonate aquifer on Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Dissolved silicon (dSi) is a key nutrient in the oceans, but data regarding Si isotopes in coastal aquifers are not widely available. Here we investigate the Si isotopic composition of 12 fresh and 16 saline groundwater samples from Rottnest Island, Western Australia, which forms part of the world's most extensive aeolianite deposit (the Tamala Limestone formation). In total, two bedrock samples were also collected from Rottnest Island for Si isotope analysis. The δ30Si values of groundwater samples ranged from −0.4 ‰ to +3.6 ‰ with an average +1.6 ‰, and the rock samples were −0.8 ‰ and −0.1 ‰. The increase in δ30Si values in fresh groundwater is attributed to the removal of the lighter Si isotopes into secondary minerals and potentially also adsorption onto Fe (oxy)hydroxides. The positive correlations between δ30Si values and dSi concentrations (ρ = 0.59; p = 0.02) and δ30Si values and Cl, but not dSi and Cl concentrations, are consistent with vertical mixing between the younger fresh groundwater and the deeper groundwater, which have undergone a greater degree of water–rock interactions. This has produced a spatial pattern in δ30Si across the aquifer due to the local hydrogeology, resulting in a correlation between δ30Si and tritium activities when considering all groundwater types (ρ = −0.68; p = 0.0002). In the deeper aquifer, the inverse correlation between dSi and Cl concentrations (ρ = −0.79; p = 0.04) for the more saline groundwater is attributed to groundwater mixing with local seawater that is depleted in dSi (< 3.6 µM). Our results from this well-constrained island aquifer system demonstrate that stable Si isotopes usefully reflect the degree of water–aquifer interactions, which is related to groundwater residence time and local hydrogeology. Our finding that lithogenic Si dissolution occurs in the freshwater lens and the freshwater–seawater transition zone on Rottnest Island appears to supports the recent inclusion of a marine–submarine groundwater discharge term in the global dSi mass balance. Geologically young carbonate aquifers, such as Rottnest Island, may be an important source of dSi in coastal regions with low riverine input and low oceanic dSi concentrations

Social workers and acquired brain injury: A systematic review of the current evidence-base

Social work plays an important role in the assessment and treatment of people with acquired brain injury. Acquired brain injury is a complex and highly prevalent condition which can impact on cognitive, emotional and social domains. As acquired brain injury is a hidden disability it can be misdiagnosed or classified as another condition entirely. We sought to systematically explore the evidence base to examine how social workers have been prepared to work with their clients with brain injury. Employing six electronic databases (Social Policy & Practice, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus) we reviewed 1071 papers. After applying eligibility criteria 17 papers were included in this review. We utilised standardised data extraction and quality appraisal tools to assess all included papers. Following appraisal, 9 papers were judged as possessing high methodological quality whilst 8 were judged as medium. Employing narrative synthesis, we identified four themes which captured the key findings of these papers. Themes were named as (i) advocacy and social work (ii) training and multidisciplinary team working (iii) inclusion of social networks and (iv) societal barriers. In order to meet their statutory responsibilities to practice safely, social workers must receive training in how to identify ABI and develop understanding of its consequences and subsequent need for provision. Social workers are also in a unique position to advocate for their clients and should make every effort to ensure their needs are met

Council tax valuation band predicts breast feeding and socio-economic status in the ALSPAC study population

BACKGROUND: Breast-feeding rates in the UK are known to vary by maternal socio-economic status but the latter function is imperfectly defined. We test if CTVB (Council Tax Valuation Band – a categorical assessment of UK property values and amenities governing local tax levies) of maternal address predicts, in a large UK regional sample of births, (a) breast-feeding (b) personal and socio-economic attributes of the mothers. METHODS: Retrospective study of a subset (n.1390 selected at random) of the ALSPAC sample (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children), a large, geographically defined cohort of mothers followed from early pregnancy to 8 weeks post-delivery. Outcome measures are attitudes to breast-feeding prior to delivery, breast-feeding intention and uptake, demographic and socio-economic attributes of the mothers, CTVB of maternal home address at the time of each birth. Logistic regression analysis, categorical tests. RESULTS: Study sample: 1360 women divided across the CTVBs – at least 155 in any band or band aggregation. CTVB predicted only one belief or attitude – that bottle-feeding was more convenient for the mother. However only 31% of 'CTVB A infants' are fully breast fed at 4 weeks of life whereas for 'CTVB E+ infants' the rate is 57%. CTVB is also strongly associated with maternal social class, home conditions, parental educational attainment, family income and smoking habit. CONCLUSION: CTVB predicts breast-feeding rates and links them with social circumstances. CTVB could be used as the basis for accurate resource allocation for community paediatric services: UK breast-feeding rates are low and merit targeted promotion

Dizziness, but not falls rate, improves after routine cataract surgery: the role of refractive and spectacle changes

YesPurpose To determine whether dizziness and falls rates change due to routine cataract surgery and to determine the influence of spectacle type and refractive factors. Methods Self-reported dizziness and falls were determined in 287 patients (mean age of 76.5 ± 6.3 years, 55% females) before and after routine cataract surgery for the first (81, 28%), second (109, 38%) and both eyes (97, 34%). Dizziness was determined using the short-form of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Six-month falls rates were determined using self-reported retrospective data. Results The number of patients with dizziness reduced significantly after cataract surgery (52% vs 38%; χ2 = 19.14, p < 0.001), but the reduction in the number of patients who fell in the 6-months post surgery was not significant (23% vs 20%; χ2 = 0.87, p = 0.35). Dizziness improved after first eye surgery (49% vs 33%, p = 0.01) and surgery on both eyes (58% vs 35%, p < 0.001), but not after second eye surgery (52% vs 45%, p = 0.68). Multivariate logistic regression analyses found significant links between post-operative falls and change in spectacle type (increased risk if switched into multifocal spectacles). Post-operative dizziness was associated with changes in best eye visual acuity and changes in oblique astigmatic correction. Conclusions Dizziness is significantly reduced by first (or both) eye cataract surgery and this is linked with improvements in best eye visual acuity, although changes in oblique astigmatic correction increased dizziness. The lack of improvement in falls rate may be associated with switching into multifocal spectacle wear after surgery.This work was supported by The Dunhill Medical Trust(grant number SA14/0711)

The evolution of stable silicon isotopes in a coastal carbonate aquifer on Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Dissolved silicon (dSi) is a key nutrient in the oceans, but data regarding Si isotopes in coastal aquifers are not widely available. Here we investigate the Si isotopic composition of 12 fresh and 16 saline groundwater samples from Rottnest Island, Western Australia, which forms part of the world's most extensive aeolianite deposit (the Tamala Limestone formation). In total, two bedrock samples were also collected from Rottnest Island for Si isotope analysis. The δ30Si values of groundwater samples ranged from-0.4‰ to C3.6‰ with an average C1.6 ‰, and the rock samples were-0.8‰ and-0.1 ‰. The increase in δ30Si values in fresh groundwater is attributed to the removal of the lighter Si isotopes into secondary minerals and potentially also adsorption onto Fe (oxy)hydroxides. The positive correlations between δ30Si values and dSi concentrations (ρ = 0.59; p = 0.02) and δ30Si values and Cl, but not dSi and Cl concentrations, are consistent with vertical mixing between the younger fresh groundwater and the deeper groundwater, which have undergone a greater degree of water rock interactions. This has produced a spatial pattern in δ30 Si across the aquifer due to the local hydrogeology, resulting in a correlation between δ30 Si and tritium activities when considering all groundwater types (ρ = 0.68; p = 0.0002). In the deeper aquifer, the inverse correlation between dSi and Cl concentrations (ρ = 0.79; p = 0.04) for the more saline groundwater is attributed to groundwater mixing with local seawater that is depleted in dSi (< 3.6 μM). Our results from this wellconstrained island aquifer system demonstrate that stable Si isotopes usefully reflect the degree of water aquifer interactions, which is related to groundwater residence time and local hydrogeology. Our finding that lithogenic Si dissolution occurs in the freshwater lens and the freshwater seawater transition zone on Rottnest Island appears to supports the recent inclusion of a marine submarine groundwater discharge term in the global dSi mass balance. Geologically young carbonate aquifers, such as Rottnest Island, may be an important source of dSi in coastal regions with low riverine input and low oceanic dSi concentrations.This research has been supported by the Australian Research Council (grant no. LP150100144)