Beyond sexy is what’s needed: The experiences of women employed in a luxury VIP nightclub in Cape Town

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Interactive service industries are categorised by the extensive performance of emotional and aesthetic labour, and bodywork performed by employees. Establishments capitalize on the bodies and minds of employees to provide quality service and drive business profits. Research has shown that women employed in interactive service industries are under a disproportionate amount of pressure, to act and look „the part‟, particularly in VIP Nightclubs (Warhurst & Nickson, 2009). This study aims to develop an understanding of how party starters employed in one of Cape Town‟s VIP nightclubs, Sky Nightclub, experience their work. Theories on emotional and aesthetic labour, as well as bodywork, were examined in relation to issues on gender, sexuality, power and control. Foucault‟s work on power and control, as well as Butler‟s work on performativity, were applied to theories on aesthetic and emotional labour and bodywork, to provide a detailed review of the literature. This study adopted a qualitative approach to develop context-rich research through a series of semi-structured interviews, as well as in-depth participant observation. The interviews were structured around understanding the role that party starters play, how they perform their gender and sexuality, the type of labour they perform and the consequences/risks involved in their line of work. Participant observation increased the credibility of the interview findings and ensured that an in-depth account of the work that party starters do, was provided. In addition, a case study was provided to give an account of the nature of Sky Nightclub and how party starters fit into the space. The study‟s findings reveal that being a party starter goes „beyond being sexy‟. Their role is multi-faceted and involves the hyper-performance of both their gender and sexuality. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, being a party starter revolves around capitalizing on social skills, performing emotional management and the use of the body as a way to attract customers and encourage them to spend money. In addition, this study looks at the consequences and dangers associated with nightclub work and how party starters navigate the risks and handle instances of harassment. Overall, this study is aimed at showing how party starters have agency and despite the consequences associated with their jobs, they should not be seen as victims. Party starters have developed the ability to use their appearance, body and emotional capacity to manipulate men into spending money, which is financially beneficial to themselves, and increases the club‟s profits. However, this study also points out, which this work can lead to risky behaviour that affects the health, well-being, and lives of women party starters. This aspect is highlighted as part of the findings, but requires further study to understand the long-terms risks associated with this type of work.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Interaktiewe diensbedrywe word gekategoriseer volgens die uitgebreide prestasie van emosionele en estetiese arbeid, en liggaamswerk wat deur werknemers verrig word. Instellings kapitaliseer op die liggame en verstand van werknemers om kwaliteit diens te lewer en besigheidswinste te bevorder. Navorsing het getoon dat vroue wat in interaktiewe diensbedrywe werk 'n buitensporige mate van druk beleef om verwagtings te vervul ten opsigte van hoe iemand in hulle rol moet optree en voorkom, veral in BBP (sogenaamde “VIP”) nagklubs (Warhurst & Nickson, 2009). Hierdie studie het ten doel om 'n begrip te ontwikkel van hoe partytjiebeginners in een van Kaapstad se BBP-nagklubs, Sky Nightclub, hul werk ervaar. Teoriee oor emosionele en estetiese arbeid, sowel as liggaamswerk, is ondersoek in verband met kwessies wat verband hou met geslag, seksualiteit, mag en beheer. Foucault se werk oor mag en beheer, sowel as Butler se werk oor performatiwiteit, is toegepas op teoriee oor estetiese en emosionele arbeid en liggaamswerk, om 'n gedetailleerde oorsig van die literatuur te verskaf. Hierdie studie het 'n kwalitatiewe benadering gevolg om konteksryke navorsing te ontwikkel deur middel van 'n reeks semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude, sowel as in-diepte deelnemer waarneming. Die onderhoude is gestruktureer rondom die begrip van die rol wat partytjiebeginners speel, hoe hulle hul geslag en seksualiteit uitbeeld, die tipe arbeid wat hulle verrig en die nagevolge/risiko's verbonde aan hul werk. Deelnemerswaarneming het die geloofwaardigheid van die onderhoudsbevindinge verhoog en verseker dat 'n in-diepte weergawe van die werk wat party beginners doen, verskaf is. Daarbenewens is 'n gevallestudie verskaf om die aard van Sky Nightclub en hoe partytjiebeginners daar inpas te illustreer. Die studie se bevindinge toon dat om 'n partytjiebeginner te wees meer behels as om “sexy” te wees. Hul rol is veelsydig en behels die hiper-uitbeelding van beide hul geslag en seksualiteit. Behalwe dat dit esteties aangenaam is, slaan die rol van partytjiebeginne munt uit sosiale vaardighede, die uitvoering van emosionele beheer en die gebruik van die liggaam om kliente te lok en hulle aan te moedig om geld te spandeer. Daarbenewens kyk hierdie studie na die gevolge en gevare verbonde aan nagklubwerk en hoe partytjiebeginners die risiko's navigeer en gevalle van teistering hanteer. Oor die algemeen is hierdie studie daarop gemik om te wys hoe partytjiebeginners agentskap het, en nie as slagoffers beskou moet word nie, ten spyte van die gevolge verbonde aan hul werk. Partytjiebeginners het die vermoe ontwikkel om hul voorkoms, liggaam en emosionele vermoens te gebruik om mans te manipuleer om geld te spandeer, wat finansieel voordelig is vir hulself, en die klub se wins verhoog. Hierdie studie wys egter ook daarop dat hierdie werk kan lei tot riskante gedrag wat die gesondheid, welstand en lewens van vroue partytjiebeginners beinvloed. Hierdie aspek word beklemtoon as deel van die bevindinge, maar vereis verdere studie om die langtermynrisiko's wat met hierdie tipe werk verband hou, te verstaan.Master

Unveiling the potential of prohibitin in cancer

Recently, research has shed new light on the role of Prohibitin (PHB) in cancer pathogenesis across an array of cancer types. Important mechanisms for PHB have been unveiled in several cancers, especially with regard to the androgen independent state of prostate cancer (PC) and oestrogen dependent breast cancer. However, PHB is often overlooked due to its complex but subtle roles within the cell. Having gathered both historical and current research exploring PHB's role in different cancer types including prostate and breast, here we aim to pair this information with its molecular properties in the hope of translating this information into a clinical perspective, thus discussing its possible use in future cancer therapy

HIV-associated anemia after 96 weeks on therapy: determinants across age ranges in Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Given the detrimental effects of HIV-associated anemia on morbidity, we determined factors associated with anemia after 96 weeks of antiretroviral therapy (ART) across age groups. An HIV-positive cohort (n=3,580) of children age 5-14, reproductive age adults 18-49, and older adults ≥50 from two randomized trials in Uganda and Zimbabwe were evaluated from initiation of therapy through 96 weeks. We conducted logistic and multinomial regression to evaluate common and differential determinants for anemia at 96 weeks on therapy. Prior to initiation of ART, the prevalence of anemia (age 5-11 <10.5 g/dl, 12-14 <11 g/dl, adult females <11 g/dl, adult males <12 g/dl) was 43%, which decreased to 13% at week 96 (p<0.001). Older adults had a significantly higher likelihood of anemia compared to reproductive age adults (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.44-4.70, p=0.002). Reproductive age females had a significantly higher odds of anemia compared to men at week 96 (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.92-3.40, p<0.001), and particularly a greater odds for microcytic anemia compared to males in the same age group (p=0.001). Other common factors associated with anemia included low body mass index (BMI) and microcytosis; greater increases in CD4 count to week 96 were protective. Thus, while ART significantly reduced the prevalence of anemia at 96 weeks, 13% of the population continued to be anemic. Specific groups, such as reproductive age females and older adults, have a greater odds of anemia and may guide clinicians to pursue further evaluation and management

Cost effectiveness analysis of clinically driven versus routine laboratory monitoring of antiretroviral therapy in Uganda and Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND: Despite funding constraints for treatment programmes in Africa, the costs and economic consequences of routine laboratory monitoring for efficacy and toxicity of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have rarely been evaluated. METHODS: Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted in the DART trial (ISRCTN13968779). Adults in Uganda/Zimbabwe starting ART were randomised to clinically-driven monitoring (CDM) or laboratory and clinical monitoring (LCM); individual patient data on healthcare resource utilisation and outcomes were valued with primary economic costs and utilities. Total costs of first/second-line ART, routine 12-weekly CD4 and biochemistry/haematology tests, additional diagnostic investigations, clinic visits, concomitant medications and hospitalisations were considered from the public healthcare sector perspective. A Markov model was used to extrapolate costs and benefits 20 years beyond the trial. RESULTS: 3316 (1660LCM;1656CDM) symptomatic, immunosuppressed ART-naive adults (median (IQR) age 37 (32,42); CD4 86 (31,139) cells/mm(3)) were followed for median 4.9 years. LCM had a mean 0.112 year (41 days) survival benefit at an additional mean cost of $765 [95$7386 [3277,dominated] per life-year gained and $7793 [4442,39179] per quality-adjusted life year gained. Routine toxicity tests were prominent cost-drivers and had no benefit. With 12-weekly CD4 monitoring from year 2 on ART, low-cost second-line ART, but without toxicity monitoring, CD4 test costs need to fall below$3.78 to become cost-effective (<3xper-capita GDP, following WHO benchmarks). CD4 monitoring at current costs as undertaken in DART was not cost-effective in the long-term. CONCLUSIONS: There is no rationale for routine toxicity monitoring, which did not affect outcomes and was costly. Even though beneficial, there is little justification for routine 12-weekly CD4 monitoring of ART at current test costs in low-income African countries. CD4 monitoring, restricted to the second year on ART onwards, could be cost-effective with lower cost second-line therapy and development of a cheaper, ideally point-of-care, CD4 test

The impact of different CD4 monitoring and switching strategies on mortality in HIV-infected African adults on antiretroviral therapy; an application of dynamic marginal structural models

In Africa, antiretroviral therapy (ART) is delivered with limited laboratory monitoring, often none. In 2003–2004, investigators in the Development of Antiretroviral Therapy in Africa (DART) Trial randomized persons initiating ART in Uganda and Zimbabwe to either laboratory and clinical monitoring (LCM) or clinically driven monitoring (CDM). CD4 cell counts were measured every 12 weeks in both groups but were only returned to treating clinicians for management in the LCM group. Follow-up continued through 2008. In observational analyses, dynamic marginal structural models on pooled randomized groups were used to estimate survival under different monitoring-frequency and clinical/immunological switching strategies. Assumptions included no direct effect of randomized group on mortality or confounders and no unmeasured confounders which influenced treatment switch and mortality or treatment switch and time-dependent covariates. After 48 weeks of first-line ART, 2,946 individuals contributed 11,351 person-years of follow-up, 625 switches, and 179 deaths. The estimated survival probability after a further 240 weeks for post-48-week switch at the first CD4 cell count less than 100 cells/mm3 or non-Candida World Health Organization stage 4 event (with CD4 count <250) was 0.96 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94, 0.97) with 12-weekly CD4 testing, 0.96 (95% CI: 0.95, 0.97) with 24-weekly CD4 testing, 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93, 0.96) with a single CD4 test at 48 weeks (baseline), and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.94) with no CD4 testing. Comparing randomized groups by 48-week CD4 count, the mortality risk associated with CDM versus LCM was greater in persons with CD4 counts of <100 (hazard ratio = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.3, 4.3) than in those with CD4 counts of ≥100 (hazard ratio = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.8, 1.7; interaction P = 0.04). These findings support a benefit from identifying patients immunologically failing first-line ART at 48 weeks

Research design considerations for clinical studies of abuse-deterrent opioid analgesics: IMMPACT recommendations

Opioids are essential to the management of pain in many patients, but they also are associated with potential risks for abuse, overdose, and diversion. A number of efforts have been devoted to the development of abuse-deterrent formulations of opioids to reduce these risks. This article summarizes a consensus meeting that was organized to propose recommendations for the types of clinical studies that can be used to assess the abuse deterrence of different opioid formulations. Due to the many types of individuals who may be exposed to opioids, an opioid formulation will need to be studied in several populations using various study designs in order to determine its abuse-deterrent capabilities. It is recommended that the research conducted to evaluate abuse deterrence should include studies assessing: (1) abuse liability; (2) the likelihood that opioid abusers will find methods to circumvent the deterrent properties of the formulation; (3) measures of misuse and abuse in randomized clinical trials involving pain patients with both low risk and high risk of abuse; and (4) post-marketing epidemiological studies

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements