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The Portland Metropolitan region, a single economic and ecological region with a bifurcated state and local governance structure, provides an opportunity to compare governance models and state policy environments in a single region. Using stakeholder interviews and secondary sources, we examine the role of state government policy in shaping and supporting different regimes. We find that Portland exhibits a stable, “smart-growth” regime that we characterized as a metropolitan eco-regime whereas Vancouver is in a period of fragmentation without a stable metropolitan regime. This is best explained by the differing state-level regulatory contexts and the different forms of polycentricity influenced by state action. Differences in regime and governance structure result in differently drawn and expanded urban growth boundaries with subsequent differences in land-use outcomes. We conclude with observations about state-level action and subsequent forms of polycentricity to support metropolitan eco-regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, cross-task interactions between number order and sound intensity judgments were assessed using a dual-task paradigm. Participants first categorized numerical sequences composed of Arabic digits as either ordered (ascending, descending) or non-ordered. Following each number sequence, participants then had to judge the intensity level of a target sound. Experiment 1 emphasized processing the two tasks independently (serialprocessing), while Experiments 2 and 3 emphasized processing the two tasks simultaneously (parallelprocessing). Cross-task interference occurred only when the task required parallel processing and was specific to ascending numerical sequences, which led to a higher proportion ofloudersound intensity judgments. In Experiment 4 we examined whether this unidirectional interaction was the result of participants misattributing enhanced processing fluency experienced on ascending sequences as indicating a louder target sound. The unidirectional finding could not be entirely attributed to misattributed processing fluency, and may also be connected to experientially derived conceptual associations between ascending number sequences and greater magnitude, consistent with conceptual mapping theory. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the current study, we examined how the contextual repetition of magnitude information presented in either symbolic (Arabic digits) or nonsymbolic (numerosities) formats impacted on the perceived duration of a later occurring target number. The results of the current study demonstrated a time-magnitude bias in which, on average, large magnitude target numbers were judged to last for longer durations relative to small magnitude target numbers, regardless of notation (symbolic number and numerosity). Furthermore, context effects were found, in which a greater discrepancy in the target’s magnitude from the initial context led to longer perceived duration ratings. However, this was found to be asymmetrical, occurring only for large magnitude targets. Additionally, the type of context effect was shown to be determined by whether the context was presented in the same notation as the target or a different notation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the early 1900s, African populations in South Africa were subject to very widespread infections which especially affected the young. This resulted in high mortality rates and a low life expectancy of 20-25 years. By the mid-century, mortality rates from infections had decreased considerably. Moreover, the occurrences of non-communicable diseases, even in urban areas, remained very low. In the 1970s, the proportion of Africans aged 50 or over that reached 70 years was 38.5%, higher than that in the juxtaposed white population, which was 35.5%. And by 1985, the life expectancy of Africans reached 61 years for males and 63 years for females, probably the highest in sub-Saharan African populations. Since then, however, the African continent has been devastated by the AIDS epidemic. In 2001, HIV was responsible for the death of a third of the African population in South Africa, but even higher proportions prevailed in Botswana and in Tanzania. The calamitous advent of the HIV infection has caused major falls in life expectancy, in the case of Africans in South Africa reducing this to just 43 years. With little hope of meaningful changes occurring in sexual habits or of an early vaccine becoming available, the infectionís high morbidity/mortality burden is likely to continue. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Black African women in rural South Africa have a very low incidence rate of breast cancer, 5-10 per 100,000. The rate, however, is rising in the considerably increasing urban population. During the period 1994 to 1999 in Durban, enquiries revealed an average of 57 urban patients admitted to hospital each year, from a population of about 600,000 African women, indicating an age-adjusted annual incidence rate of 15.1 per 100,000. This incidence rate is very low in comparison with those in developed populations, which range from 40 to 89 per 100,000.In the African patients studied, the mean age on admission was relatively young, 54.1±10.9 years, almost a decade earlier than patients of developed populations. Moreover, the disease was very far advanced; 21.1% were at Stage III and 63.1% at Stage IV. As to exposure to risk factors, African women in general are characterised by certain protective factors. These factors, which closely resemble those of importance in patients in developed populations are, late menarche, early age at birth of first child, high parity (with usually prolonged lactation), and being physically active. However, with ongoing changes in the lifestyle of urban African women, the protective factors are decreasing in their intensity. Changes in these respects have been associated with rises in the disease’s incidence rate. Clearly, because of the late stage of the disease at the time of the patients’ admission to hospital, and hence their poor survival rate, intensive efforts should be made to educate women to seek help at an early stage of their disease. For its avoidance, feasible protective or restraining measures are primarily to adopt a ‘prudent’ lifestyle, in respect of both dietary and non-dietary components. However, the chances of these measures being meaningfully adopted in African urban communities, unfortunately, are negligible. In consequence, further increases in incidence rate would seem inevitable. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ROTEIN-ENERGY-malnutrition (PEM) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in young children in Africa. In South Africa, in 1987, to help combating and preventing PEM in the rural black population, the Gold Fields Nutrition Unit was inaugu rated at the Medical University of Southern Africa. In 1987-9, 442 patients (rural/peri-urban) plus their mothers or child carers were admitted, and 406 attended as outpatients. Average age was 15.4 ± 7.6 months, weight 7.0 ± 1.6kg, stay in hospital, 12 ± 10.8 days, and daily weight gain during treatment was 31 ± 48g. Mothers mainly were young and unmarried. Primary causative factors were infections, ignorance, and insufficiency of food. Since results from rehabili tation are usually poor, mothers and carers were taught how best to prepare meals using local foodstuffs. The interventions included teaching and demonstrations of how to grow vegetables, maintain an orchard, a fowl-run, and improve kitchen and laundry facilities. In 1990, in a follow-up of 73 patients, no deaths had occurred within a 12 month period. This far better than usual outcome is being furthered by setting up satellite nutrition clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses an African perspective for appendicitis. This paper examines the incidence of appendicitis in the western populations and the disparities in South Africa between whites and Africans. Past and present epidemiology are presented along with hypotheses of causation and a future outlook for the disease.

There has been much controversy concerning the value of efforts to reduce blood cholesterol levels. In this contribution, the risks and benefits of interventions are discussed. Lowering cholesterol level by drugs is not recommended except in a small minority of subjects at very high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), since it causes an excess of non-CHD deaths. Dietary intervention, by contrast, is safe. However, for it to be effective it must be sufficiently vigorous to achieve a drop in blood cholesterol of at least 6%, though considerably more is preferable. This action should be part of a more general effort aimed at the prevention of all Western diseases based on changes in lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reflects on the several medical research projects that should be taken into consideration for South Africa. A research could be conducted to get accurate information on the causes of death in African population. A pragmatic assessment of malnutrition in schoolchildren is required in the nation. A research to get more information on the least degenerative sequelae of ageing is important.

Navigating social systems efficiently is critical to our species. Humans appear endowed with a cognitive system that has formed to meet the unique challenges that emerge for highly social species. Bullshitting, communication characterised by an intent to be convincing or impressive without concern for truth, is ubiquitous within human societies. Across two studies (N = 1,017), we assess participants' ability to produce satisfying and seemingly accurate bullshit as an honest signal of their intelligence. We find that bullshit ability is associated with an individual's intelligence and individuals capable of producing more satisfying bullshit are judged by second-hand observers to be more intelligent. We interpret these results as adding evidence for intelligence being geared towards the navigation of social systems. The ability to produce satisfying bullshit may serve to assist individuals in negotiating their social world, both as an energetically efficient strategy for impressing others and as an honest signal of intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]