Misunderstanding corruption and community: comparative cultural politics of corruption regulation in the Pacific

This paper will take as its empirical foundation the author’s experience of corruption and regulation in small Pacific island states. The argument is that notions of corruption and strategies for its regulation suitable for modernized societies, which lack cultural specificity and community engagement, may in fact stimulate corruption relationships in transitional cultures. The other consequence of the imposition of inappropriate definitions and regulation strategies is a profound misunderstanding of communities of dependence. In fact, corruption control can misconstrue and exacerbate economic and political dependence environments, fostering the conditions for corruption which accompany socio-economic development. Two remedies are suggested. First, corruption requires an appreciation which is ‘community-centered’, while at the same time not being neutralized by disconnected cultural relativity. Second, an enterprise theory of corruption in modernized societies and international political/commercial entities may assist in the relevant translation of global anti-corruption policies in a way which advances good governance in traditional communities. This is so when corruption is conceived as dependant on phases of modernization, and the tensions which arise when the interests of societies at different phases intersect. Corporate citizenship and compliance with anti-corrupt business practices by major corporations with a commercial interest in these transitional economies may be more beneficial than deference to uniform international codes of governance

The evolution of electron density and temperature distributions in the topside ionosphere during magnetic storms

The latitudinal distributions of electron density and temperature during geomagnetic storms in the mid-latitude topside ionosphere are observed to change in a manner than can be related to the evolution of ring current particle populations. The region of auroral precipitation is characterized by correlated increases in electron temperature and density. Equatorwards of this region, there is a broad belt of elevated electron temperatures and depressed electron densities which is usually much broader than any stable auroral red arc distinguishable from the ground, but which is nevertheless the same basic physical phenomenon. The changes of position of this belt can be related to prior bursts of geomagnetic activity and injection of ring current particles into the magnetosphere

Bold colouration pattern in southern bottlenose whales, a preliminary assessment of external variation. Scientific Committee document SC/57/SM12, International Whaling Commission, May-June 2005, Ulsan, Korea

Insights in the variation in pigmentation patterns and other external features in Hyperoodon planifrons are few, in particular, variability contributed by each of individual, ontogenetic, sexual, and geographic factors. A preliminary assessment is based on two close-up sightings of juveniles during IWC-SOWER Cruises and stranded specimens from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Bold, cream-white facial fields separated by a distinct dark blowhole stripe are diagnostic of all juvenile/neonates examined and may persist in subadults. Dark eyepatches may be pronounced or almost absent, a light nuchal band behind the blowhole may be prominent or muted, and the dorsal aspect of flippers may be light or dark. A light flank patch on the tailstock is consistent in juveniles. With maturation the head pattern gradually blurs, apparently because facial fields and the nuchal band gain pigmentation. The slate-grey or dark brownish-grey spinal field in juveniles is appreciably darker than in most adults, in which it varies widely, ranging from brownish-grey (most common), bluish-black to yellowish. Diatoms have been blamed as cause for the brown hue, however the evidence is unclear. Large, almost-white animals have been reported but no such specimens were available for study. Much of the external variation seen may be individual and ontogenetic, however sexual dimorphism and geographic variation remain unassessed due to small samples. A comprehensive morphological study is indicated. The bold features in juvenile H. planifrons are diagnostically distinct from juvenile Tasmacetus shepherdi and Indopacetus pacificus. Non-priority status and long dive durations have allowed scant time for data collection on H. planifrons during Antarctic surveys. This study shows that maximizing opportunistic encounters through allowance for some flexibility in schedules, valuable data can be obtained. A rule-of-thumb is recommended for avoiding ziphiid species identification at distances exceeding 0.8 nmiles

Serum phosphate and social deprivation independently predict all-cause mortality in chronic kidney disease

Background: Hyperphosphataemia is linked to cardiovascular disease and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Outcome in CKD is also affected by socioeconomic status. The objective of this study was to assess the associations between serum phosphate, multiple deprivation and outcome in CKD patients. Methods: All adult patients currently not on renal replacement therapy (RRT), with first time attendance to the renal outpatient clinics in the Glasgow area between July 2010 and June 2014, were included in this prospective study. Area socioeconomic status was assessed as quintiles of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD). Outcomes were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and commencement of RRT. Results: The cohort included 2950 patients with a median (interquartile range) age 67.6 (53.6–76.9) years. Median (interquartile range) eGFR was 38.1 (26.3–63.5) ml/min/1.73 m 2 , mean (±standard deviation) phosphate was 1.13 (±0.24) mmol/L and 31.6 % belonged to the most deprived quintile (SIMD quintile I). During follow-up 375 patients died and 98 commenced RRT. Phosphate ≥1.50 mmol/L was associated with all-cause (hazard ratio (HR) 2.51; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.63-3.89) and cardiovascular (HR 5.05; 95 % CI 1.90–13.46) mortality when compared to phosphate 0.90–1.09 mmol/L in multivariable analyses. SIMD quintile I was independently associated with all-cause mortality. Phosphate did not weaken the association between deprivation index and mortality, and there was no interaction between phosphate and SIMD quintiles. Neither phosphate nor SIMD predicted commencement of RRT. Conclusions Multiple deprivation and serum phosphate were strong, independent predictors of all-cause mortality in CKD and showed no interaction. Phosphate also predicted cardiovascular mortality. The results suggest that phosphate lowering should be pursued regardless of socioeconomic status

Risk factors of ischemic stroke and subsequent outcome in hemodialysis patients

Background and purpose: End stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring hemodialysis (HD) carries up to a 10-fold greater risk of stroke than normal renal function. Knowledge concerning risk factors and management strategies derived from the general population may not be applicable to those with ESRD. We studied a large ESRD population to identify risk factors and outcomes for stroke. Methods: All adult patients receiving HD for ESRD from 01/01/2007 to 31/12/2012 were extracted from the electronic patient record. Variables associated with stroke were identified by survival analysis; demographic, clinical, imaging and dialysis related variables were assessed and case-fatality determined. Follow-up was until 31/12/2013. Results: 1382 patients were identified (mean age 60.5 years, 58.5% male). The prevalence of AF was 21.2% and 59.4% were incident HD patients. 160 (11.6%) experienced a stroke during 3471 patient-years of follow-up (95% ischemic). Stroke incidence was 41.5/1000 patient-years in prevalent and 50.1/1000 patient-years in incident HD patients. Factors associated with stroke on regression analysis were prior stroke, diabetes and age at starting renal replacement therapy. AF was not significantly associated with stroke and warfarin did not affect stroke risk in warfarin treated patients. Fatality was 18.8% at 7, 26.9% at 28 and 56.3% 365 days after stroke.<p></p> Conclusions: Incidence of stroke is high in patients with ESRD on HD with high case-fatality. Incident HD patients had the highest stroke incidence. Many, but not all, important risk factors commonly associated with stroke in the general population were not associated with stroke in patients receiving HD

Radical innovation and taboo : how to encourage the acceptance of a new menstrual product in South Africa through behavioural design

Abstract : The aim of this design research project was to develop a method of encouraging the acceptance of Nula, a new reusable menstrual pad in South Africa. This dissertation initially explored the complexity of trying to introduce a radical innovation and taboo product into the South African market. What makes radical innovations problematic is that they fall outside the frame of reference of potential product users, and therefore often do not reach their full potential when initially introduced. A radically innovative menstrual product adds the additional complexity of taboo to market acceptance. Methods that have been developed to introduce radical innovations are often post-design and product-centric and do not take the user or their context into account. Therefore, behavioural design was selected as a method for behaviour around menstruation to be unpacked in the South African context. In order to engage with the complexity of this behaviour, Activity Theory was used as a systemic theoretical framework. A behavioural hypothesis was formed through the exploration of literature and expert interviews, which was refined to a behavioural statement through interviews with participants. Three problematic themes were identified as encouraging menstrual taboos, namely: uncleanliness, concealment and sexuality. Young adult women were identified as the target audience for the introduction of the Nula pad...M.A. (Design