In this article, I investigate the video game BioShock for its political and cultural work and argue that it offers a popular platform to discuss the politically charged question of choice, both inside and outside the realm of video games. In a first section, I introduce the game’s basic plot and setting, propose a way to study how video games operate narratively, and briefly discuss the ‘political’ dimension of games in general. Afterwards, I look at how BioShock is influenced by Ayn Rand’s philosophy of objectivism, a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of individual choice and self-interest, and I trace this influence specifically in the game’s main antagonist, Andrew Ryan, and its setting, the underwater city of Rapture. With these elements as a basis, I analyze how BioShock engages with the politics of choice, focusing on a major twist scene in the game to demonstrate how BioShock deals with the question of choice on a metatextual level. Reading this scene in the context of the game’s overall narrative, specifically of moral choices in the game that lead to different endings, I argue that the game metatextually connects the political question of choice inherent in objectivism to the narrative and the playing of the game, pointing to the ambivalences inherent in questions of choice, agency, and free will.

M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This study aims to uncover the relationship of the objectivist philosophy of Ayn Rand with architecture. After examining the philosophical bases of Randian objectivism, and how the philosophy is related to architecture via contemporary modernism, especially the modern architectural understanding of Frank Lloyd Wright, the study concentrates on how objectivism interprets architecture. The aim here is to describe what kind of an architectural aspect inspired Rand and how Rand used architecture in order to propagate her philosophy. Objectivist interpretations of architecture simply means how objectivism&rsquo / s basic assumptions perceive and respond to architecture as revealed in Rand&rsquo / s writings. In order to understan the architectural interpretations, the focus of analysis is the objectivist literature by Rand such as fictions, movies and articles. The resultant emphasis of the analysis on the relationship between Rand&rsquo / s objectivism and architecture, is on the tension in architectural relations between the individual and the state, the individual and the society, and the individual and history, which are defined as against settled social and traditional values

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Die vorliegende retrospektive Studie untersuchte die lokale Rezidiv- und Überlebensrate von Patienten mit Plattenepithelkarzinomen in Abhängigkeit vom Randstatus und Resektionsabstand der Tumorresektion sowie von der postoperativen Therapie. Dabei wurden Daten von 351 Patienten mit Plattenepithelkarzinomen des Oropharynx, Hypopharynx und Larynx ausgewertet, welche zwischen 2005 und 2009 reseziert wurden. Der gesundheitliche Zustand der Patienten wurde anschließend bis Dezember 2011 beobachtet. Im Ergebnis konnte kein Einfluss des Randstatus und des Resektionsabstandes auf die lokale Rezidivrate nachgewiesen werden. Beide Faktoren hatten jedoch einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Letalitätsrate. Die postoperative Therapie zeigte einen positiven Einfluss auf die lokale Rezidivrate. Sie konnte aber die negativen Prognosefaktoren, die eine Indikation dieser Therapie darstellen, bezüglich der Letalitätsrate nicht ausgleichen. Weiterhin war ein positiver Einfluss der postoperativen Therapie auf das rezidivfreie Überleben (DFS-disease-free survival) sowohl uni- als auch multivariat nachweisbar. Die Gesamtüberlebensrate (OS-overall survival) wurde signifikant positiv durch einen geringeren Randstatus und einen zunehmenden Resektionsabstand (ASR Klassifikation) beeinflusst. Das krankheitsspezifische Überleben (DSS-disease-specific survival) sank bei Auftreten eines lokalen Rezidivs. Aus diesen Ergebnissen kann geschlussfolgert werden, dass eine postoperative Therapie zur Kontrolle lokaler Rezidive von hoher Bedeutung ist. Da lokale Rezidive die Überlebensrate signifikant senken, hat die postoperative Therapie indirekt einen positiven Effekt auf das Überleben. Des Weiteren zeigt sich bei Patienten mit freien Resektionsrändern die höchste Überlebensrate, wobei diese mit zunehmendem Abstand des Karzinoms vom Resektionsrand steigt.

Marknadsföring och kontakt med kunder utformas på ett sätt som ska vara fördelaktigt för företagsryktet. Ryktet skapar sedan en bild av företaget. Den bild är det som blir det förmedlade varumärket och i längden även en viktig framgångsfaktor. Förutom reklam, logotyp och slogans lyfter företag i servicebranschen in inredning och arkitektur som en del av detta varumärkesarbete. Där har lokalen betydelse för att kunderna ska lockas till butiken eller restaurangen, öka köpintentionen samt för att kommunicera företagets värdeord. I servicebranschen ses interiör som en självklar del i den varumärkesbyggande processen. Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka hur en interiör kan påverka uppfattningen av ett företag och vad detta kan göra för företagets varumärke. Uppsatsen vill även belysa det faktum att allt kommunicerar och signalerar något även om det finns en tanke bakom kommunikationen eller ej. Utifrån syftet har tre frågeställningar formulerats. Den övergripande frågeställningen är: vad kan en interiör göra för ett företags varumärke? Delfrågor som utformats är: hur uppfattas en interiör på ett företag, före respektive efter ett designarbete samt hur ser en inredare på företagsinteriörer? Studien är en fallstudie på Kafferosteriet Löfbergs lokaler som har designats för att stärka varumärket. En enkätundersökning har använts för att undersöka vad interiören återspeglar. Även en intervju har genomförts med designern som står bakom Kafferosteriet Löfbergs lokaler för att få en professionell bild av företagets interiörer. Den sammanfattande slutsatsen är att interiören har betydelse för hur ett företag uppfattas samt att en interiör kommunicerar något även då det inte finns en tanke bakom den. Genom en genomtänkt interiör är det möjligt att framkalla önskvärda intryck samt positiva uppfattningar som i det långa loppet skulle kunna påverka varumärket. / Marketing and contact with costumers are styled in a way that is beneficial for the company’s reputation. The reputation creates an impression of the company. That impression is later what becomes the transmitted brand and in the long round even an important success factor. In addition to commercial, logotype and slogans, the businesses of services companies have taken furnishing, architecture and premises designs as a part of what can reflect the desired brand. The space and the premises here have a meaning to get the costumers to the store or the restaurant, increase the intentions of buying and reflecting its words of value. In the businesses of services the interior is an obvious part in the building process of a brand. The aim of this study is to examine the meaning of the interior design and the effect it may have on the company brand. The study will also illuminate the fact that everything communicates, no matter if it’s intended to or not. Three formulations of questions have been examined, framed to reach an understanding for the essay’s purpose. The general question is: what can interior design do for a company brand? Further questions are: how is the interior of a company perceived, before and after the interior has been redesigned, and what view has a decorator of the interior design at the company?   The study is a case study at the company and coffee roaster Kafferosteriet Löfbergs. Their premises have been decorated with awareness aiming to improve the brand. The method that has been used, to test what this interior reflects, is a survey. In addition to the survey an interview was held with the decorator of Kafferosteriet Löfberg’s premises, this to get a professional view of interior design in office environments. The brief conclusion is that interiors have a meaning for how a company perceives and that even though an interior isn’t designed with premeditation, the interior reflects something. An interior that is well thought-out can produce desirable impressions and positive perceptions that in the long run can affect the brand.

The thesis assesses the costs and benefits of Namibia's membership of the CMA to determine whether the CMA is an optimal currency area at least from the perspective of Namibia. This issue is examined from two main perspectives: (a) whether real exchange rate (RER) adjustment is frustrated by the inability to use the nominal exchange rate as an instrument of adjustment. Evidence of persistent RER misalignment may be seen as a necessary condition for an independent nominal exchange rate regime, however, it is not sufficient.(b) In this case, we examine whether nominal devaluations will have sustained effects on RER adjustment, given Namibia's structural features, such as the high degree of openness and a small nontradable sector. An equilibrium RER for Namibia is estimated using a single equation model of RER determination. The model is used to compute RER misalignments to determine whether there are sustained long periods of misalignments. To test whether nominal exchange rates can be effective in changing relative prices, a simple model was developed to measure pass-through of foreign price and exchange rate changes to domestic prices and wages. This provides useful information regarding whether nominal devaluations can be sustained. The results show that RER misalignments have been small, while the extent and speed of pass-through is complete and instantaneous for most items, suggesting that nominal devaluations in Namibia are not likely to have real effects. Even if it was the case that monetary autonomy cannot be supported on grounds of affecting relative prices, it may nevertheless be important for Namibia to pursue an independent exchange rate strategy. To examine this possibility, the analysis was extended by looking at costs and benefits of OCAs which do not rely on the ability to change relative prices. Benefits arising from savings on transactions costs and on foreign exchange reserves amounted to 3.8% and 2.4% of GDP, respectively. Further, we demonstrated that past "shocks" between Namibia and South Africa were highly correlated. The findings of the thesis suggest that the CMA is an optimal exchange regime for Namibia.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Competitive pressures in every company worldwide always have, and probably always will, drive leading institutions to adopt smarter, faster and more cost effective ways of providing customers with feature-rich products and outstanding service, in order to differentiate specific offerings to local and global markets. This approach is both inevitable and laudable. At the same time, communications (physical and electronic) have made the world a smaller place and presented a larger target audience for each company's goods and services. However, customers have become better educated, more sophisticated and more demanding, whilst competitors have raised standards and the fight for customer loyalty has intensified. As these pressures increased, the appropriate level of corporate governance has not always been applied, as evidenced by the well publicised failure of Enron in the USA, and many others worldwide. The typical reaction has been to produce an increasing raft of legislation and regulation, designed to protect the consumer against 'cavalier' corporate behaviour, and an equally increasing demand for more and better information. The Banking Industry has not escaped this trend. Its failures have not been as dramatic as Enron and the consequences not as severe. Nevertheless, the potential impact of failure through poor corporate governance is huge and legislation and regulation has become highly visible through acts such as the 'Financial Advisory and Intermediary Service Act' (FAIS), the 'Financial Intelligence Centre Act' (FICA) and the Basel II Committee, - all emphasising integrity, authenticity, completeness, transparency, security, retention, protection, and eventual disposal of information. This assignment examines the relationship between the concepts information management, content management and records management and their importance as enablers of corporate governance. It highlights the current records management capability- maturity within the FirstRand Banking Group and presents a future solution and a practical approach to migration. Whilst understanding the challenges associated with implementing a records management strategy and programme, it emphasises the needs and the huge benefits for the FirstRand Group in meeting its corporate obligations, improving customer service and reducing operating costs. The future solution is set within a Records Management Capability Framework which encompasses how records must be managed by a consistent set of rules. It presents a typical records management life cycle from creation to disposal; it examines how practical systems design can balance the need for structure and stability whilst providing flexibility for operational use; it documents design principles and critical standards; it outlines implementation guidelines; and it recommends policies, ownership, organisational structures and roles, and governance mechanisms within the FirstRand Business Model. FirstRand's records management competency was audited and measured against a capability maturity model (the Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute's approach). The results indicated significant cultural and operational challenges in building a records management capability, but it was concluded that knowledge management and sharing of information and intellectual assets (facilitating faster access to better quality and up-to-date information and building corporate memory and business agility) could be delivered only by a well conceived and carefully implemented Records Management Capability Framework. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kompetisie noop suksesvolle besighede, organisasies en soortgelyke instellings om kwaliteit produkte, goedere en dienste teen mededingende pryse aan verbruikers of kliënte te lewer. Koste-effektiwiteit speel 'n groot rol, in ag genome dat die kwaliteit en verskeidenheid van produkte en goedere nie mag taan nie. Die spoed en gehalte van kliëntediens kan die maatskappy 'n voorspsrong gee, in ag genome die toenemende kompetisie met ander maatskappye in dieselfde industrie of mark. Kompetisie met ander maatskappye of instansies in dieselfde mark of industrie, en differensiasie van beide produkte en dienste is onvermydelik. Grootskaalse ontwikkeling in die kommunikasie-industrie dra by tot die bereikbaarheid van ander wêrelddele. Die mark (voorheen onbereikbaar) vir produkte, goedere en dienste, is skielik soveel groter en soveel meer bereikbaar. Die hedendaagse verbruiker en kliënt is meer gesofistikeerd en meer ingelig ten opsigte van produkeienskappe, -variasies, -verskeidenheid, voordele, nadele, ensovoorts, en dring daarop aan dat voorkeure en verwagtinge konstant aan voldoen sal word en selfs met gereelde tussenposes sal verbeter. Kompetisie dryf standaarde vir hoë gehalte produkte en kliëntediens tot die hoogste vlakke. Maatskappye kompeteer toenemend vir kliëntelojaliteit en markbesit op 'n daagliske basis. Met die fokus op kompetisie, klientediens en lojaliteit, en gehalte produkte en dienste, is goeie korporatiewe beheer en bestuursbeginsels nie konstant en deurlopend toegepas nie, soos blyk uit die gebeure met Enron in die Verenige State van Amerika. Deur middel van toenemende wetgewing en regulasies poog regerings wêreldwyd om die belange van die verbuiker / kliënt te beskerm. Inligting het 'n mededingende faktor geword, terwyl die aanvraag na relevante en akkurate inligting steeds toeneem. Die Finansiële Industrie, en meer spesifiek die Bankwese, het nie begonoemde vereiste vir spoed, gehalte en relevansie vrygespring nie, aangesien finansiële instellings soos die 'Federated Bank' in die Verenigde State van Amerika en die Suid Afrikaanse Reserwe Bank, dit ten doel het om na die belange van die verbruiker om te sien. Goeie korporatiewe bestuurstandaarde en riglyne is egter ook van toepassing op die bankwese in Suid Afrika, soos gemanifesteer deur wetgewing en industrie riglyne en standaarde, byvoorbeeld, FAIS en FICA en die 'Basel II Committee'. Hierdie instellings het ten doel om die verbuiker / kliënt te beskerm deur riglyne en standaarde te stel wat die integriteit, geloofwaardigheid, regswetlikheid, volledigheid, deursigtigheid, sekuriteit, retensie van, en toegang tot inligting verseker. Die werkstuk bespreek die verband tussen die konsepte inligtingbestuur, inhoudbestuur en rekordsbestuur en die doel daarvan ter ondersteuning van goeie korporatiewe bestuur. Dit belig die huidige rekordsbestuur bekwaamheid van die 'FirstRand Banking Group', die tekortkominge, en motiveer 'n toekomsgerigte rekordsbestuurmodel, riglyne vir implementering en 'n praktiese benadering tot migrasie. 'n Strategiese benadering tot rekordsbestuur belig vele uitdagings. Tog kan die langtermyn voordele, soos byvoorbeeld die toepassing van goeie inligtings- of rekords- en korporatiewe bestuurbeginsels, uitmuntende kliëntediens en koste-effektiwiteit nie geignoreer word nie, aangesien dit die 'FirstRand Banking Group' 'n voorsprong kan gee op ander banke in die industrie asook kliënte-besit. Die model vereis 'n vernuwende benadering tot inligting- en rekordsbestuur as 'n katalisator ter ondersteuning van goeie inligtings- en korporatiwe bestuursbeginsels in belang van die kliënt.

The shortage of nurses is a global problem and the selection and education of nursing students is of primary concern. At present, nurse educators at some nursing colleges in Gauteng Province experience problems with the type of students accepted for training and education. The situation is exacerbated by the difference in selection criteria applied for the acceptance of nurse students. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to explore nurse educators’ perceptions of the current selection criteria and describe the criteria that they would recommend for better selection, retention and training of nurses. The study was conducted at a nursing college in the West Rand Region, Johannesburg. The college trains first-year nursing students before promotion to second-year level at Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College, where they complete their training. The researcher selected a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research design and data was collected from 19 participants, aged between 35 and 60, in three focus group discussions. A grand tour question and probing questions were asked to elicit deep, rich discussion and data. The researcher took field notes during the interviews. The findings of the study revealed discrepancies between the selection criteria applied by the Gauteng Department of Health, the Department of Labour, the SANC and the nursing college management; nurse educators’ feeling of disempowerment related to non-participation as stakeholders in student nurses’ selection; students’ inability to cope with course content revealed that there is a gap between Gauteng Department of Health, Gauteng nursing college management, nurse educators and labour department and a need for review of selection criteria for nursing students, and lack of support from management. The study makes recommendations for practice and nursing education which should assist all the stakeholders in developing selection criteria for nursing students and course content. / Health Studies / M. A. (Nursing Science)

Abstract The repair of degenerative mitral valve regurgitation has been shown to be an effective procedure with durable results. The techniques for mitral valve repair are not completely risk-free for late failure, and the identification of factors associated with this increased risk is of clinical relevance as it permits an appropriate selection of patients for whom mitral valve surgery should be offered and by which technique. The European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation score (EuroSCORE) has been used and demonstrated worldwide to be a valid tool for the prediction of immediate postoperative outcome after coronary artery bypass surgery. There are only a few studies which examine its value in heart valve surgery. Mitral valve repair has been shown to be associated with significant improvement in terms of functional capacity, but the late quality of life in these patients has not been adequately assessed, and there is no data on the quality of life of long-term survivors. The study population consisted of two groups of patients operated on at our institution. The first group included 164 patients who underwent isolated or combined mitral valve repair for mitral valve regurgitation during the period 1993 to 2000, while the second group consisted of 207 patients who underwent mitral valve repair (164 patients) or replacement (43 patients) for isolated mitral valve regurgitation during the same time-period. The first study aimed to identify preoperative variables which may have impact on the 30-day postoperative outcome. In the second study, the long-term outcome after mitral valve repair was evaluated in order to identify the risk factors associated with late failures. The third study analyzed quality of life after valve repair and compared it to that of an age- and gender-adjusted Finnish general population. In the fourth study, the validity of EuroSCORE was tested in predicting the immediate and late outcome of patients who had undergone mitral valve repair or replacement for isolated valve regurgitation. Patient age, a history of prior cardiac surgery and NYHA functional class were independent predictors of poor outcome. A residual regurgitation grade of more than one immediately after primary repair and chronic pulmonary disease were independent predictors of mitral valve reoperation. After valve repair, quality of life was similar to the age- and sex-adjusted general Finnish population. Both additive and logistic EuroSCOREs were predictors of the immediate and late outcomes of patients after surgery for mitral valve regurgitation.