The prevalence and characteristics of sexting behaviours among adolescents and adults in Cape Town, South Africa

Includes bibliographical references.'Sexting' is defined as the act of sending sexually suggestive text messages (SSTMs), or the self-generation of nude or semi-nude images (NSNIs) and sending them to others via digital devices. It has recently emerged as a risk behaviour, particularly as it relates to adolescent sexuality. The consequences of sexting may include humiliation, ostracism, depression, anxiety, suicide and criminal or legal action. As such, research into the practice is vital in order to mitigate the risk to adolescents. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of sexting among a sample of adolescents and adults in Cape Town, South Africa

Dancing between diversity and consistency: Refining assessment in postgraduate degrees in dance

Guidelines for best practice in Australian Doctoral and Masters by Research Examination, enc;ompassing the two primary modes of investigation, written and multi-modal theses, their distinctiveness and their potential interplay

A Simulated Microgravity Environment Causes a Sustained Defect in Epithelial Barrier Function.

Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) junctions constitute a robust barrier to invasion by viruses, bacteria and exposure to ingested agents. Previous studies showed that microgravity compromises the human immune system and increases enteropathogen virulence. However, the effects of microgravity on epithelial barrier function are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to identify if simulated microgravity alters intestinal epithelial barrier function (permeability), and susceptibility to barrier-disrupting agents. IECs (HT-29.cl19a) were cultured on microcarrier beads in simulated microgravity using a rotating wall vessel (RWV) for 18 days prior to seeding on semipermeable supports to measure ion flux (transepithelial electrical resistance (TER)) and FITC-dextran (FD4) permeability over 14 days. RWV cells showed delayed apical junction localization of the tight junction proteins, occludin and ZO-1. The alcohol metabolite, acetaldehyde, significantly decreased TER and reduced junctional ZO-1 localization, while increasing FD4 permeability in RWV cells compared with static, motion and flask control cells. In conclusion, simulated microgravity induced an underlying and sustained susceptibility to epithelial barrier disruption upon removal from the microgravity environment. This has implications for gastrointestinal homeostasis of astronauts in space, as well as their capability to withstand the effects of agents that compromise intestinal epithelial barrier function following return to Earth

Relationships between nurses’ experiences of workplace violence, emotional exhaustion and patient safety

Background The rising rate of workplace violence in hospitals is a serious concern. While leading organisations recommend implementing interventions to address workplace violence, little is known about the workplace violence relationship between patients and visitors, and how it affects nurses’ emotional exhaustion and their perceptions of patient safety. Aims The study’s purpose was to understand the status of workplace violence in hospitals and the relationships between nurses’ experiences of workplace violence, emotional exhaustion, and perceptions of patient safety. Methods This cross-sectional analysis used data from a survey conducted at a large academic medical centre using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture plus additional measures of workplace violence and emotional exhaustion. Results Nurses reported more occurrences of verbal violence than physical violence. Nurses’ experiences of workplace violence negatively affect nurses’ emotional exhaustion and patient-safety perceptions. Moreover, nurses’ emotional exhaustion mediated the relationship between verbal abuse and patient-safety perceptions. Conclusions Interventions to reduce nurses’ emotional exhaustion and strengthen resilience can mitigate the negative effects of verbal abuse and to some extent the effects of physical violence

Dyslexia and other reading problems: An optometric perspective

As vision care specialists, optometrists are often consulted when a child shows signs of reading difficulties which cannot be improved with standard remedial reading techniques. In many instances the child may have already been labeled as having dyslexia . Since this term is often abused, the optometrist should explore the problem and formulate his/her own diagnosis. This paper will give optometrists a working knowledge of how to help these children and how other professionals deal with reading difficulties. The role of the optometrist as a possible coordinator for this difficult diagnostic process which often involves many other professionals will be also be described

Colonic Absorption of Antiepileptic Agents

Purpose: To evaluate a canine intestinal access-port model to study colonic absorption of drugs. The antiepileptic drugs phenytoin and gabapentin were chosen to study absorption of a lipophilic and hydrophilic compound, respectively. Methods: Drug plasma level—time plots were generated subsequent to small intestinal and colonic drug administration of both drugs. The poorly water-soluble phenytoin was administered in two doses to evaluate the impact of dissolution rate limits on colonic absorption. Maximal plasma concentration (C max ) and area under the plasma level-time curve (AUC) were used to assess the relative contribution of colonic absorption to plasma levels. Results: Whereas colonic gabapentin AUC and C max were only 0.25 and 0.15 of those seen after small intestinal administration, colonic phenytoin AUC and C max were one half and equivalent to, respectively, those observed for small intestinal administration. Furthermore, colonic administration of a higher phenytoin dose showed secondary maxima and continued increases in drug plasma levels with time. Conclusions: Colonic gabapentin absorption is poor compared with upper intestinal absorption, consistent with membrane transport rate limits to the absorption of this hydrophilic AED. Peak phenytoin plasma levels from colonic and small intestinal administration are comparable, indicating membrane transport does not limit absorption of this lipophilic agent. Continued plasma-level increases from higher phenytoin doses are consistent with dissolution-rate control of drug absorption in the colon. We suggest that colonic absorption provides a greater potential for toxicity from phenytoin overdose as a function of continued drug dissolution than for gabapentin overdose.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66069/1/j.1528-1157.1997.tb01078.x.pd

SEDSAT 1 Advanced Photovoltaic Power System Technology Demonstration Flight

The University of Alabama in Huntsville Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, in cooperation with the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Boeing Defense & Space, and the Kopin Corporation, are designing an advanced electrical power system for a small satellite. This system incorporates recent advances in three areas: photovoltaic cell design, battery energy storage design, and DC·DC power conversion technology. Introducing these advances into a flight power system will produce a satellite power system with double the capability of similar systems utilizing current technology

Lost conversations: finding new ways for black and white Australians to lead together

It\u27s time for a game-changer in how black and white Australians relate.   The difficulties we have in coming together—to talk, to work, to lead change—are core to our challenge to reconcile, as a country. But if we want to shift the status quo, if we want to lead change on entrenched Indigenous disadvantage, we don\u27t need another program, initiative or money to try and \u27fix\u27 the problem. We need to start having a different conversation.  The result of two years experience working together as part of a Social Leadership Australia initiative, Lost Conversations brings together the diverse perspectives and personal stories of five Aboriginal and four non-Indigenous authors, all with first-hand knowledge of what happens when black and white Australians come together to try and work on change.  Lost Conversations asks the questions and starts the conversations that we daren\u27t have in Australia ... until now:  What is \u27black\u27 power? What is \u27white\u27 power?  What qualifies someone to lead in this cross-cultural space?  Why is this so hard to talk about?  Can we start to name these things and try to shift the status quo?  Can we change?  Should we?  &nbsp

Communicating with Patients and Their Families About Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Comfort and Educational Needs of Nurses

Introduction: Effectively discussing palliative care with patients and families requires knowledge and skill. The purpose of this study was to determine perceived needs of inpatient nurses for communicating with patients and families about palliative and end-of-life (EoL) care. Method: A non-experimental design was used. In total, 60 inpatient nurses from one hospital in Idaho completed the End of Life Professional Caregiver Survey (EPCS), which examines three domains: patient and family-centered communication, cultural and ethical values, and effective care delivery. Results: The number of years’ experience nurses had (F(9,131.57)=2.22, p=0.0246; Wilk\u27s ^=0.709) and the unit they worked on (F(6,110)=2.49, p=0.0269; Wilk\u27s ^=0.775) had a significant effect on their comfort discussing EoL and palliative care with patients and their families. For all three domains, years of nursing experience was positively associated with comfort in communicating about EoL care. Oncology nurses were most comfortable with regard to patient and family-centered communication. Discussion: The success and sustainability of this service is dependent on education for health-care providers. Studies are needed to determine the most effective ways to meet this educational challenge