The Notional Legislator: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission's Role as a Law-Maker

Along with its power to exercise 'on the ground' discretion to alter the way in which legislative rules are applied (for example, by granting exemptions in particular cases), the executive agency that is charged with administering the corporations legislation in Australia has the power to re-write aspects of that legislation. It can, in effect, do the work of Parliament. This article examines the discretionary power of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to change the operation of the Corporations Act 2001 by issuing Class Orders that omit, modify or insert provisions into the Act. The existence and operation of ASIC's power has attracted little critical attention in the legal literature, be it academic, judicial, or professional. This article examines the scope of this power, its operation and history. The article is prompted by a concern that the system of statutory modification via Class Order, while beneficial to the flexible regulation of the corporate and finance sector, has developed into a substantial and complex body of 'notional legislation'

Like a Rolling Stone

How does it feel, how does it feel? To be without a home Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone… -Bob Dylan 1965 2016 was the Year of Italian Innovation, Architecture & Design and marked a collaboration between the Italian Cultural Institute (ICI) Edinburgh and Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) and The University of Edinburgh. Stephen Bottomley, the then Head of Department of Jewellery and Silversmithing at ECA, was approached by ICI with a view to organising a series of events focusing on and celebrating gemmology and contemporary jewellery with events taking place between them.   Stephen Bottomley + Susan Cross invited three Italian Jewellery artists: Maria Rosa Franzin, Gigi Mariani and Gabi Vietalong side seven UK artists to explore themes of relocation, transplantation, camouflage, identity and materiality through mixed media work in their jewellery, using geology and geophysics and fieldwork in North Berwick, an area frequently visited by the Geologist James Hutton, as a backdrop to the political themes surrounding population displacement.   In the year following the Edinburgh workshop, the project has been developed in the artists home countries and exhibitions planned in Munich and Edinburgh over 2018 with support from the School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University

Incidence, remission and mortality of convulsive epilepsy in rural northeast South Africa

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions globally, estimated to constitute 0.75% of the global burden of disease, with the majority of this burden found in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Few studies from LMICs, including much of sub-Saharan Africa, have described the incidence, remission or mortality rates due to epilepsy, which are needed to quantify the burden and inform policy. This study investigates the epidemiological parameters of convulsive epilepsy within a context of high HIV prevalence and an emerging burden of cardiovascular disease. Methods: A cross-sectional population survey of 82,818 individuals, in the Agincourt Health and Socio-demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS) in rural northeast South Africa was conducted in 2008, from which 296 people were identified with active convulsive epilepsy. A follow-up survey was conducted in 2012. Incidence and mortality rates were estimated, with duration and remission rates calculated using the DISMOD II software package. Results: The crude incidence for convulsive epilepsy was 17.4/100,000 per year (95%CI: 13.1-23.0). Remission was 4.6% and 3.9% per year for males and females, respectively. The standardized mortality ratio was 2.6 (95%CI: 1.7-3.5), with 33.3% of deaths directly related to epilepsy. Mortality was higher in men than women (adjusted rate ratio (aRR) 2.6 (95%CI: 1.2-5.4)), and was significantly associated with older ages (50+ years versus those 0-5 years old (RR 4.8 (95%CI: 0.6-36.4)). Conclusions: The crude incidence was lower whilst mortality rates were similar to other African studies; however, this study found higher mortality amongst older males. Efforts aimed at further understanding what causes epilepsy in older people and developing interventions to reduce prolonged seizures are likely to reduce the overall burden of ACE in rural South Africa