From dislocation to redefinition of home in Nadine Gordimer’s the pickup and Ishtiyaq Shukri’s the Silent Minaret : a postcolonial perspective of home.

Masters of Art Information Technology and Governance . University of KwaZulu-Natal. Durban, 2017.This study aims to investigate new understandings of ‘home’ as represented through the experiences of the migrant characters in Nadine Gordimer’s The Pickup and Ishtiyaq Shukri’s The Silent Minaret. I am interested in the connection between ‘home’ understood as a physical place of habitation and the novels’ portrayal of the migrant experience of border crossing. Migration is often traumatic and can result in feelings of alienation and emotional disconnectedness, experiences which are well documented within postcolonial literary studies. This study explores the complexity of emotional disconnectedness, whether during migration, or even before migration, in the characters’ home countries. Furthermore, there is the suggestion that the experience of emotional dislocation is an inescapable feature of modern society, characterised as it is by increased geographical and social movement. Finally, this study considers whether there is a typical trajectory that these characters follow once they have left home or have become otherwise displaced. How do they experience the liminal space and the emotional dislocation it involves? How does living on the boundaries of society affect their ability meaningfully to interact with the world around them? In both novels under scrutiny, there are some characters who grow out of emotional isolation and appear able to redefine their sense of home and belonging, while other characters remain unhomed, either by choice or as a result of external conditions imposed upon them. By analysing the experiences of these fictional characters from a postcolonial perspective, this study contributes towards the creation of a more encompassing definition of home and what it means to belong

Physical activity, obesity, and educational attainment in 50- to 70-year-old adults

Aim: The purpose of the study is to investigate, in subpopulations with varying levels of education, firstly, the extent to which older adults with an otherwise sedentary lifestyle perform simple everyday physical activities such as cycling for transport or taking a walk, and the extent to which older adults perform everyday physical activities in addition to exercise; and secondly, to explore correlations between physical activity and obesity. Methods: The study is based on a representative, Baden-Württemberg State Foundation-funded study in 50- to 70-year-old residents of Baden-Württemberg (n = 2,002). Results: Subjects who say they ride a bike for transport or take a walk are significantly more likely to exercise than subjects who do not walk or cycle regularly. This holds even after controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle-relevant variables. However, the correlation between walking and exercise, and the positive correlation between walking and obesity, is retained only for subjects with a low level of education. Both for subjects with a low level of education and for subjects with a high level of education, multivariate analysis discloses a negative correlation between regular cycling and obesity. Conclusions: People who do not exercise regularly are also less active on a day-to-day basis and are less likely to take a walk or ride a bike for transport. Given the health-preserving effects attributed to leisure-time physical activity from a biological and medical point of view, it is particularly important to encourage older adults and disadvantaged sectors of the population to be more physically active

Which sexual abuse victims receive a forensic medical examination? : The impact of Children\u27s Advocacy Centers

Abstract Objective This study examines the impact of Children\u27s Advocacy Centers (CAC) and other factors, such as the child\u27s age, alleged penetration, and injury on the use of forensic medical examinations as part of the response to reported child sexual abuse. Methods This analysis is part of a quasi-experimental study, the Multi-Site Evaluation of Children\u27s Advocacy Centers, which evaluated four CACs relative to within-state non-CAC comparison communities. Case abstractors collected data on forensic medical exams in 1,220 child sexual abuse cases through review of case records. Results Suspected sexual abuse victims at CACs were two times more likely to have forensic medical examinations than those seen at comparison communities, controlling for other variables. Girls, children with reported penetration, victims who were physically injured while being abused, White victims, and younger children were more likely to have exams, controlling for other variables. Non-penetration cases at CACs were four times more likely to receive exams as compared to those in comparison communities. About half of exams were conducted the same day as the reported abuse in both CAC and comparison communities. The majority of caregivers were very satisfied with the medical professional. Receipt of a medical exam was not associated with offenders being charged. Conclusions Results of this study suggest that CACs are an effective tool for furthering access to forensic medical examinations for child sexual abuse victims

Water management strategies for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) employing microchannel flowfields

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) represent a promising energy conversion technology for automotive and portable applications. In order to achieve the high power densities required for these applications, the fuel cell needs to be operated in the high current density region where the rate of water production is at a maximum. This typically leads to the build-up of liquid water in the porous media and flowfield compartments of the fuel cell. The build-up of liquid water inhibits reactant gas transport to the catalyst layer, leading to a phenomenon called flooding. Flooding causes a rapid drop in cell voltage and is detrimental to fuel cell performance and durability. Microchannel flowfield designs possess characteristics which could potentially improve water removal from the fuel cell and also reduce the fuel cell system complexity. There is limited knowledge on the use of microchannels flow field designs in PEFCs, specifically how different operating conditions and different membrane electrode assembly (MEA) designs affect the overall performance and water management of a fuel cell using microchannel flow fields. This study investigated two water management strategies for PEFCs employing microchannel flowfields, namely manipulation of operating conditions and modification to the design of components within the MEA. Four different gas diffusion layer (GDL) cases were tested in a single cell environment at four different cathode flowrates and stoichiometric ratios. The cases consisted of a carbon GDL and three variants of a uniform structured metal GDL. The three metal GDL designs varied in terms of the wettability of the microporous layer coated on the surface of the metal GDL. Several in-situ diagnostic tests, namely polarisation curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), pressure drop and voltage stability tests were conducted to determine the overall fuel cell performance and water management characteristics of the different GDL cases

Xenotoca eiseni (Cyprinodontiformes, Goodeidae) as a Potential New Model for Studies on Maternal Transfer of Environmental Contaminants

This thesis studies aspects of the reproductive physiology and embryogenesis in the viviparous fish Xenotoca eiseni with a view to increasing the knowledge on its basic biology and development of the species as a model for studying maternal transfer and embryo susceptibility to toxicants. The ontogeny of gonad development was studied via histology to identify sex, stage of gonadal development, structure of the gravid ovary and stage of embryonal development. In males, the testis was comprised of two lobes merged at the anterior end. Spermatogenesis started around four weeks after birth and spermatozeugmata were first seen at between four and eight weeks. In females, there was a single hollow ovary divided into two compartments by a highly folded septum. Oogenesis was first observed between two and four weeks after birth and females reached full sexual maturity at around twelve weeks, when their total body length was at least 3 cm. Fertilisation and gestation took place in the ovary. Two weeks after fertilisation, embryos hatched within the ovarian lumen, at which time part of the yolk reserve had been depleted and trophotaeniae (hindgut extensions) had started to grow in the fish larvae. The trophotaenial placenta is typical for goodeids, but there was also evidence of a branchial placenta in a number of the embryos studied. Gestation normally took around six weeks and under the appropriate conditions breeding was possible at any time of year, with an interval of less than two months between pregnancies for females. In a four-week exposure to 17α-ethinyloestradiol (EE2, nominal 1 ng/L and 5 ng/L) there were no discernible effects on morphological endpoints in the exposed female fish or on somatic growth, gonadal development or sex partitioning in their developing offspring. Exposures of the adult females to EE2 (at the highest exposure concentration) however, did induce a 10-fold up-regulation of hepatic vitellogenin (vtg B). The studies presented provide a foundation of data for the use of X. eiseni as a new model for studies on maternal transfer in ecotoxicology. However, further work is required to elucidate more about sensitivity and maternal transfer efficacy in this species

Exploring the Millennial’s Work Meaning and Job Engagement Experience: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study

The millennial generation is now most of the workforce population. This generation’s engagement behaviors, expectations, and mindsets differ from those of other generations, and directly impact organizational performance. Despite existing generalizations about Millennials, there is a gap in the literature relative to how this generation experiences meaning and engagement in the workplace. The overarching research question was developed to broaden the understanding of the work experiences across this cohort, and further inform solutions that affect Millennials’ meaning and engagement with their jobs. To address this transcendental phenomenological study’s research problem and purpose, qualitative data were collected from multiple sources of evidence including semistructured interviews, an engagement survey, and current literature. This study was framed using the concept of engagement and meaningful work across generational cohorts as defined by Khan, Hoole and Bonnema. The results of the data analysis revealed 6 themes that characterized meaningful work for Millennials: (a) making an impact, (b) displaying value for reward, (c) enjoying work/fun, (d) contentment with work team, (e) having a support system, and (f) physical/mental/creative exertion. The data analysis also revealed 12 themes that characterized Millennials’ engagement: (a) connection, (b) collaboration, (c) team focused, (d) direction, (e) tools, (f) limited distractions, (g) fun, (h) communication, (i) trust, (j) openness, (k) creativity, and (l) mentoring. Business leaders can use the results of this study to promote positive social change by developing policies and processes that improve Millennials’ engagement in meaningful work and enhance future business outcomes

Telepractice for children with complex disability: Guidelines for quality allied health services

Telepractice has the potential to spread allied health professionals’ (AHPs’) reach further into rural Australia. There are fewer AHPs in rural and remote Australia compared to metropolitan areas. This means that children with disabilities living in rural areas may not receive the therapy services they need. Providing therapy services via telepractice could reduce these inequities and ensure that all children receive the supports they need, regardless of where they live. Telepractice guidelines in allied health rightly insist that telepractice services should be equivalent in quality to those delivered in-person (Speech Pathology Australia [SPA], 2014). Therefore, telepractice services should not simply be an option of last resort, but should be a quality option for disability services. Yet, how can AHPs ensure that their telepractice services are equivalent in quality to those they deliver in-person? As a first step towards exploring this issue, we conducted a research study funded by the auDA Foundation in 2016-17, and in partnership with Therapy Connect, a private allied health practice. We collected information about the allied health telepractice services received by four children with complex disabilities and their families living in rural or remote Australia. We found that AHPs, despite being geographically remote from children and families, could deliver services consistent with contemporary practice and supported children to achieve positive, functional outcomes. We identified the essential components of successful telepractice models needed to achieve real outcomes for children with disabilities through this and other research conducted by the Wobbly Hub Rural Research Team. Our key learnings from this research informed the development of guidelines for telepractice delivery of allied health services to children with complex disability, as summarised in this document.auDA Foundation Grant, 2016-201

Telepractice for children with complex disability: Quality service delivery

Telepractice is the delivery of therapy services at a distance by linking clinicians to clients, carers, or others, via technology such as web-based videoconferencing. Funded by auDA Foundation in 2016-17, and in partnership with TherapyConnect, a private allied health practice, we collected information about the telepractice services received by four children with disability and their families living in rural or remote Australia. We found that quality allied health services can be provided via telepractice to children with complex disability and their families. We also identified essential components of successful telepractice models.auDA Foundation Grant, 2016-201

The biota of the Swartkops Solar Saltworks and their potential for producing biofuels

The Swartkops and Missionvale salinas in Port Elizabeth on the east coast of South Africa are surrounding by large informal settlements. The runoff from these settlements contributes largely to the eutrophication of the solar saltworks which in turn has an effect on the biotic functioning of the systems, ultimately affecting the quantity and quality of the salt produced. Inorganic nutrients and organic composition, as well as important biological groups were examined within the brine with the aim of comparing the current condition of the same salinas to their condition twelve years ago. Comparisons between inorganic nutrient concentrations and biological groups showed significantly higher inorganic nutrients, with chlorophyll a concentrations in the Swartkops salina in 2011 being significantly higher than in 2012 and the 1999 and 2011 chlorophyll a concentrations being significantly higher than 2012 in the Missionvale salina. Microalgae found in the salinas were cultured in four different growth media. Cells were stained with Nile Red fluorescent dye in order to estimate the extent of lipids production. Five of the most promising lipid producing species were isolated into a monoculture and grown at different salinities to establish the growth and lipid production in response to salinity. Halamphora coffeaeformis and Navicula sp. were found to be the best candidate species. They grew best at salinities between 50 and 70 psu and produced lipid vesicles consuming approximately 10 percent of the cell