title: Democratization, Press Freedom and Corruption Scandals in Vietnam: Causal Relations?

authors: Pham, Nam Hoai

subjects: Democratization

abstract: Vietnam started a renewal process named “Doi moi” in 1986 to liberalize its economy and improve its status in the world. This process has resulted in the country’s fast economic development with GDP growth of between 6 and 8 per cent in recent years. 
However, the rapid economic progress and social changes have brought about corruption, threatening the country’s growth and sustainability. Top leaders have therefore declared corruption as a national threat. Before the year of 2010, just two corruption scandals were reported. During the current period of 2010-2014, more than 10 corruption scandals have been investigated, revealed and re-ported in the mass media. Of them, 5 key scandals will be discussed. This thesis seeks to explore the central question: “Is Vietnam democratizing, and, if so, does the democratic transition explain the increasing number of corruption scandals to-day in the country?” The thesis starts with the political base to look into the origins of the issue.
The thesis examines aspects of democracy, democratization, corruption and media described by scholars and then studies whether the country is really in a democratization process and whether there is a relationship between democratization, press freedom and perceptions of corruption. Reported corruption scandals between 2010 and 2014, surveys and reports on corruptions by local and international NGOs and newspapers will be analyzed.
The thesis concludes that Vietnam is now democratizing with successes in mitigation of oppression and amplification of civil liberties, while in the nation’s government this process has seen a growing schism among top-ranking leaders. In particular, it is this democratization that reduces the levels of perceptions of corruption. This finding is totally different from previous findings made for other democratizing countries. The thesis also reveals that the democratic transition in Vietnam has increased press freedom. Vietnamese media now enjoy the right to spread news and information although some international watchdogs insist that the government is overly censoring the media. In turn, higher levels of press freedom, created by more democratization, heighten the number of corruption scandals revealed. The thesis concludes that there are causal relations between democratization, perceptions of corruption, press freedom and the number of corruption scandals in Vietnam.

text: Democratization, Press Freedom and Corruption Scandals in Vietnam: Causal Relations? Vietnam started a renewal process named “Doi moi” in 1986 to liberalize its economy and improve its status in the world. This process has resulted in the country’s fast economic development with GDP growth of between 6 and 8 per cent in recent years. 
However, the rapid economic progress and social changes have brought about corruption, threatening the country’s growth and sustainability. Top leaders have therefore declared corruption as a national threat. Before the year of 2010, just two corruption scandals were reported. During the current period of 2010-2014, more than 10 corruption scandals have been investigated, revealed and re-ported in the mass media. Of them, 5 key scandals will be discussed. This thesis seeks to explore the central question: “Is Vietnam democratizing, and, if so, does the democratic transition explain the increasing number of corruption scandals to-day in the country?” The thesis starts with the political base to look into the origins of the issue.
The thesis examines aspects of democracy, democratization, corruption and media described by scholars and then studies whether the country is really in a democratization process and whether there is a relationship between democratization, press freedom and perceptions of corruption. Reported corruption scandals between 2010 and 2014, surveys and reports on corruptions by local and international NGOs and newspapers will be analyzed.
The thesis concludes that Vietnam is now democratizing with successes in mitigation of oppression and amplification of civil liberties, while in the nation’s government this process has seen a growing schism among top-ranking leaders. In particular, it is this democratization that reduces the levels of perceptions of corruption. This finding is totally different from previous findings made for other democratizing countries. The thesis also reveals that the democratic transition in Vietnam has increased press freedom. Vietnamese media now enjoy the right to spread news and information although some international watchdogs insist that the government is overly censoring the media. In turn, higher levels of press freedom, created by more democratization, heighten the number of corruption scandals revealed. The thesis concludes that there are causal relations between democratization, perceptions of corruption, press freedom and the number of corruption scandals in Vietnam.

year: 2015

title: Characterisation of VMO1 in Human Tissues

authors: Crossan, Hannah Caitlin

subjects: VMO1

abstract: The Vitelline membrane outer layer protein 1 (VMO1) was first identified in
the Vitelline membrane of the chicken egg. This membrane almost entirely
protein that separates the egg white from the yolk in amniotic eggs and
acts as the last defensive barrier between pathogens and the egg yolk
with the developing embryo. Since its discovery in the vitelline membrane,
VMO1 has been isolated from a number of different tissues and animals.
The one that would appear to have the largest impact on human health
would be its discovery in the Reissner’s membrane of mice, whose
auditory system has high structural homology to humans. The Reissner’s
membrane maintains the electrolyte level in the compartments of the inner
ear as well as the resting electrochemical potential which are both critical
for correct hearing function.
The main aims of the research undertaken in this thesis was to 1)
determine the tissues in which VMO1 is or is not expressed in humans
and 2) create a genetically modified expression clone of human VMO1 to
use in further downstream protein-protein interaction studies. Our
hypothesis is that we can amplify VMO1 from human cell lines based on
available bioinformatics data.
The first objective was to determine the gene expression of VMO1 in
multiple human cell lines. RNA was extracted from three commercial cell
lines (list) and the integrity of RNA was confirmed by agarose gel
electrophoresis by the observation of two rRNA bands. From this cDNA
Abstract
iii
was made, and PCR analysis performed to identify the expression, or not, of VMO1 in these tissues. Successful amplification of VMO1 from lung cells (A549) lead to the creation of a human VMO1 expression clone, by transforming competent Escherichia coli cells with ligated VMO-1 insert/pPLUG vector. White colonies were selected for DNA extraction and confirmed as positive using colony PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA seuqencing of the positive clone confirmed the nucleotide sequence as VMO1.
The second objective was to validate the commercial antibody for human VMO1 using physiological and immunohistochemical methodology. The immunohistochemistry data suggests that the VMO1 protein is a secreted protein since signal was detected in the P5 mouse inner ear and mouse adult lung. However, multiple bands were observed in the western blot. Futher investigation is required to validate the VMO1 antibody to demonstrate that it is indeed specific to recognising its target epitope. The production of recombinant VMO1 protein would be benefical to address this question.

text: Characterisation of VMO1 in Human Tissues The Vitelline membrane outer layer protein 1 (VMO1) was first identified in
the Vitelline membrane of the chicken egg. This membrane almost entirely
protein that separates the egg white from the yolk in amniotic eggs and
acts as the last defensive barrier between pathogens and the egg yolk
with the developing embryo. Since its discovery in the vitelline membrane,
VMO1 has been isolated from a number of different tissues and animals.
The one that would appear to have the largest impact on human health
would be its discovery in the Reissner’s membrane of mice, whose
auditory system has high structural homology to humans. The Reissner’s
membrane maintains the electrolyte level in the compartments of the inner
ear as well as the resting electrochemical potential which are both critical
for correct hearing function.
The main aims of the research undertaken in this thesis was to 1)
determine the tissues in which VMO1 is or is not expressed in humans
and 2) create a genetically modified expression clone of human VMO1 to
use in further downstream protein-protein interaction studies. Our
hypothesis is that we can amplify VMO1 from human cell lines based on
available bioinformatics data.
The first objective was to determine the gene expression of VMO1 in
multiple human cell lines. RNA was extracted from three commercial cell
lines (list) and the integrity of RNA was confirmed by agarose gel
electrophoresis by the observation of two rRNA bands. From this cDNA
Abstract
iii
was made, and PCR analysis performed to identify the expression, or not, of VMO1 in these tissues. Successful amplification of VMO1 from lung cells (A549) lead to the creation of a human VMO1 expression clone, by transforming competent Escherichia coli cells with ligated VMO-1 insert/pPLUG vector. White colonies were selected for DNA extraction and confirmed as positive using colony PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA seuqencing of the positive clone confirmed the nucleotide sequence as VMO1.
The second objective was to validate the commercial antibody for human VMO1 using physiological and immunohistochemical methodology. The immunohistochemistry data suggests that the VMO1 protein is a secreted protein since signal was detected in the P5 mouse inner ear and mouse adult lung. However, multiple bands were observed in the western blot. Futher investigation is required to validate the VMO1 antibody to demonstrate that it is indeed specific to recognising its target epitope. The production of recombinant VMO1 protein would be benefical to address this question.

year: 2014

title: Applying Kaupapa Māori Processes to Documentary Film.

authors: Waititi, Kahurangi Rora

subjects: Maori documentary

abstract: This thesis explores the application of Kaupapa Māori processes to documentary filmmaking through practiced-led research. The need for this research came to light through the experience of witnessing unacceptable behaviour shown by film crews towards kaumātua who were attending the 2006 28th Māori Battalion Reunion. In reflecting on this experience and considering my own filming experience as a person with a Te Ao Māori background, the basis for this argument was conceived. This thesis argues that there are alternative ways in which filming can be conducted by considering processes that already exist within Māori practices and philosophies.          

This Thesis, therefore, investigates alternative processes of filming that have developed from a Kaupapa Māori perspective through practical filming experience.  An historical overview of the relationship between Māori, media and filming practices have been provided to give context to this discussion.  The application of Kaupapa Māori processes to film was considered through the use of Marae protocol and philosophies. The application of these concepts was supported by the creative research which was utilised by referencing specific examples. The reader is, therefore, instructed to refer to the DVD in the front of the thesis as referenced in the written text.

text: Applying Kaupapa Māori Processes to Documentary Film. This thesis explores the application of Kaupapa Māori processes to documentary filmmaking through practiced-led research. The need for this research came to light through the experience of witnessing unacceptable behaviour shown by film crews towards kaumātua who were attending the 2006 28th Māori Battalion Reunion. In reflecting on this experience and considering my own filming experience as a person with a Te Ao Māori background, the basis for this argument was conceived. This thesis argues that there are alternative ways in which filming can be conducted by considering processes that already exist within Māori practices and philosophies.          

This Thesis, therefore, investigates alternative processes of filming that have developed from a Kaupapa Māori perspective through practical filming experience.  An historical overview of the relationship between Māori, media and filming practices have been provided to give context to this discussion.  The application of Kaupapa Māori processes to film was considered through the use of Marae protocol and philosophies. The application of these concepts was supported by the creative research which was utilised by referencing specific examples. The reader is, therefore, instructed to refer to the DVD in the front of the thesis as referenced in the written text.

year: 2007