Can we meet the needs? Auditor views on assurance and management commentary: Summary Report

This short publication provides an accessible and non-technical summary of the second stage of a major research project supported by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) on the future of external assurance. Those interested can obtain a fuller account of the research from the ICAS monograph (Fraser and Pierpoint, 2011) which is published concurrently with this summary (download at www.icas.org. uk/fraser-auditors). The major concerns of the research are to investigate, first, the desirability and feasibility of providing external assurance on management commentary and, second, the usefulness of current audit reporting and ways of enhancing that reporting. The first research stage covered the views of professional and private investors, and other users, on the issues and the complete results may be accessed in the published research monograph (Fraser et al., 2010). A short summary report is also available (Fraser and Henry, 2010). This second stage investigates the views of auditors, and to a lesser extent, those of regulators

We need to talk – a meander

Dr Ian Fraser reminds us, that despite modern cultural assumptions to the contrary, the Book of Genesis states that human beings are expressly forbidden ‘to work their own will on the world’. We are to fulfil God’s will, not ours, for the development of the world. On the basis of Genesis, he argues, human beings are not simply to subdue the Earth, but to take care of it and cultivate it. This cherishing of the Earth and its living beings is, therefore, our human responsibility. Referring to the development of the universe, Fraser explores the meaning of ‘creation’, and argues for the importance of dialogue between the disciplines. He returns to the text of the first chapters of Genesis which presages the history contained in the Old and New Testaments and concludes by offering a further five cosmological points for further consideration.Publisher PD

Affective labour and alienation in Up in the Air

Affective labour and alienation in Up in the Ai

Pituitary, ovarian and uterine function in dysfunctional uterine bleeding

This thesis describes a series of investigations of a rather poorly defined group of menstrual disturbances known as dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB). This condition is charact¬ erised by excessively heavy menstrual bleeding and, although commoner at ages 30-50 years, may occur at any time during rep¬ roductive life. The large published literature has been thorough ly reviewed and areas of ignorance highlighted. The investigations described have been devised to elucidate several aspects of pituitary, ovarian and uterine function in women of different ages with ovulatory and anovulatory DUB and compare these with normal women. All have raised questions req¬ uiring future study. The first section describes the use of a combination of isotope dilution techniques and direct sampling of ovarian venous blood and follicular fluid to study the ovar¬ ian blood flow and the ovarian secretion and metabolism of oestra diol and oestrone in women with normal menstrual function or DUB. In normal women 95% of circulating oestradiol was secreted by the developing follicle or corpus luteum. In women with DUB oestro¬ gen metabolism was normal but the dynamics of oestrogen secretion was sometimes disturbed. In some cases multiple follicle growth and inappropriately high oestradiol secretion was observed. In the follicular phase most large follicles were functionally active and contained very high concentrations of oestradiol (>1250 ng/ml). Most adolescents with DUB are anovulatory and a very small proportion develop the more extreme endometrial changes of cys¬ tic glandular hyperplasia (CGH). Follow up of the group of 17 of these adolescents over 10 years revealed a high incidence of long term menstrual and reproductive disturbances. Detailed endocrine assessment over 3 cycles in 4 young women with DUB & CGH,and dynamic testing with oestrogen provocation and gonadotrophin- releasing hormone stimulation in a further 9 young women revealed a failure of positive oestrogen feedback as a cause of the anovulation. All exhibited prolonged follicular activity with, excessive oestradiol secretion. A careful study of perception of menstrual bleeding indi¬ cated that many women perceived their menstrual blood loss to be much heavier than objective measurements demonstrated. Only 38% of women with a convincing clinical history of menorrhagia had a measured blood loss of greater than 80 mis. These women also demonstrated some difficulty in assessing month to month and even day to day changes in blood loss volume. In a differ¬ ent group of 28 women it was found that only 36% of the menstr¬ ual discharge (range 1.6-81.7%) consisted of blood, and the remainder of the fluid is probably an endometrial transudate. This may contribute to difficulties in perception. The final section describes the development and application of two inert gas clearance techniques (with Krypton-85 and Kenon-J.33) for the measurement of endometrial blood flow (EBF) in women. The techniques have been validated by comparison with radioactive-labelled microspheres in sheep. Cyclical fluctua¬ tions in EBF were seen during the menstrual cycle with a pre¬ ovulatory peak, early luteal fall and gradual sustained rise up to the onset of menses. The pattern was similar in ovulatory DUB, while anovulatory women showed variable rates

Sen, Marx and justice: a critique

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a critique of Sen’s utilisation of aspects of Marx’s thought that inform his idea of justice. Marx’s ideas appear in four main areas of discussion: Sen’s positioning of Marx in relation to the other thinkers in his approach to justice; Marx’s fluid notion of identity and its relation to social choice; the problem of going beyond a subjective perspective to consider objective concerns by considering the impact of what Sen calls “objective illusion”; and the issue of just redistribution. Design/methodology/approach – The author utilises a Marxian framework of analysis that engages in immanent critique of Sen’s use of Marx in relation to his theory of justice. This is accomplished through textual analysis and by critical assessment of the analytical Marxist tradition that Sen can be seen as using in his own theories with all their inherent weaknesses. Findings – Sen’s attempt to use Marx’s ideas to inform his theory of justice founder because: he groups Marx with thinkers that would not accept his desire for the abolition of capitalism and a more just society beyond it. He reduces Marx to the analytical tradition with all its inherent weaknesses. He resorts to a methodological individualist approach of choice that Marx rejects. His search for positional objectivity is undermined by the power of capitalist ideology and ruling class interest. His discussion of just redistribution ignores how Marx’s approach can overcome the arbitrariness that Sen thinks is inevitable when making just decisions. Research limitations/implications – Theoretically, the paper suggests that, based on immanent critique and textual analysis, Sen’s use of Marx’s idea of justice is problematic most notably because Sen keeps his analysis within the framework of capitalism that Marx would reject. The implication for further research is the development of Marx’s own arguments on what constitutes a just society. Practical implications – Practically, the paper raises questions about the capacity for justice to be achieved within the capitalist system for the reasons discussed in relation to Sen. Social implications – Socially, the paper implies that far greater measures to tackle the injustices of the world are necessary than seem to be admitted to by justice theorists such as Sen. Originality/value – The author shows that the use of Marx’s theories to inform Sen’s notion of justice, while to be welcomed, lose their efficacious power to expose the full injustice of capitalism and the need for its transcendence

Ware v. Ware and the Presumption of Undue Influence in Confidential Relationships

Alaska law has long recognized that a presumption of undue influence arises as a matter of law when a will’s primary beneficiary participates in its drafting and has a fiduciary or confidential relationship with the testator. In its 2007 decision Ware v. Ware, the Alaska Supreme Court extended this principle beyond testamentary scenarios to any situation in which the principal in a confidential relationship benefits from the relationship. But the decision stated the law incorrectly. The court’s analysis, cited precedents, and common sense all demonstrate that the court meant to say that the presumption of undue influence arises when a fiduciary in a confidential relationship benefits from the relationship, not when a principal benefits