Making Britain ‘Home’: Zimbabwean Social Workers’ Experiences of Migrating To and Working in a British City

Recruitment of overseas social workers is increasingly becoming popular with social workers migrating from developing countries to developed countries like the UK which suffer from chronic social worker shortages. Following the heavy recruitment of Zimbabwean social workers by UK local authorities in the early twenty first century, this study focuses on the migration experiences of Zimbabwean social workers recruited from Zimbabwe to come and work for a particular local authority in the UK. The general objective is to examine the forms of support utilised by the Zimbabwean social workers from arriving in the UK, integrating into the workplace and wider society and establishing a ‘home’ away from home. Considering how social capital has been said to bring about positive effects for individuals and society in previous research, social capital is assumed a key concept in this research. Semi-structured interviews were used as the primary data collection method to allow for deep exploration of the Zimbabwean social workers’ experiences together with questionnaires for triangulation. Findings from the study show that the Zimbabwean social workers were able to draw upon different forms of social capital to access as many resources as they could in an effort to develop themselves personally and professionally and eventually establishing themselves as UK citizens. The Zimbabwean social workers’ migration trajectories are far from being linear as most of them live dual lives participating socially, economically and politically back in Zimbabwe while living in the UK with plans to re-migrate for some, and to eventually return to Zimbabwe for others. Research findings may help to improve policy and practice for the recruitment and handling of overseas social workers in the UK and also help to raise awareness of the different types of networks that can be relied upon by these workers within and across borders

Longitudinal clinical covariates influence on CD4+ cell count after seroconversion.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic is a global challenge. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is notoriously known for weakening the immune system and opening channels for opportunistic infections. The Cluster of Difference 4 (CD4+) cells are mainly killed by the HIV and hence used as a health indicator for HIV infected patients. In the past, the CD4+ count diagnostics were very expensive and therefore beyond the reach of many in resource-limited settings. Accordingly, the CD4+ count’s clinical covariates were the potential diagnostic tools. From a different angle, it is essential to examine a trail of the clinical covariates effecting the CD4+ cell response. That is, inasmuch as the immune system regulates the CD4+ count fluctuations in reaction to the viral invasion, the body’s other complex functional systems are bound to adjust too. However, little is known about the corresponding adaptive behavioural patterns of the clinical covariates influence on the CD4+ cell count. The investigation in this study was carried out on data obtained from the Centre for the Programme of AIDS research in South Africa (CAPRISA), where initially, HIV negative patients were enrolled into different cohorts, for different objectives. These HIV negative patients were then followed up in their respective cohort studies. As soon as a patient seroconverted in any of the cohort studies, the patient was then enrolled again, into a new cohort of HIV positive patients only. The follow-up on the seroconvertants involved a simultaneous recording of repeated measurements of the CD4+ count and 46 clinical covariates. An extensive exploratory analysis was consequently performed with three variable reduction methods for high-dimensional longitudinal data to identify the strongest clinical covariates. The sparse partial least squares approach proved to be the most appropriate and a robust technique to adopt. It identified 18 strongest clinical covariates which were subsequently used to fit other sophisticated statistical models including the longitudinal multilevel models for assessing inter-individual variation in the CD4+ count due to each clinical covariate. Generalised additive mixed models were then used to gain insight into the CD4+ count trends and possible adaptive optimal set-points of the clinical covariates. To single out break-points in the change of linear relationships between the CD4+ count and the covariates, segmented regression models were employed. In getting to grips with the understanding of the highly complex and intertwined relationships between the CD4+ count, clinical covariates and the time lagged effects during the HIV disease progression, a Structural Equation Model (SEM) was constructed and fitted. The results showed that sodium consistently changed its effects at 132mEq/L and 140 mEq/L across all the post HIV infection phases. Generally, the covariate influence on the CD4+ count varied with infection phase and widely between individuals during the anti-retroviral therapy (ART). We conlude that there is evidence of covariate set-point adaptive behaviour to positively influence the CD4+ cell count during the HIV disease progression

Rabbit relinquishment to two UK rescue centres and beyond

Rabbits are a popular pet in the UK with an estimated one million being kept. Concern has been raised about the standards of care afforded to pet rabbits and a 2012 survey suggested that 67,000 rabbits are handed over to rescue centres each year, possibly due to owners losing interest. To determine reasons for rabbit relinquishment a survey was conducted of two UK rescue centres that take rabbits. For a one year period (2013) the centres reported information about the rabbits individual characterises (gender, age, neutered status, colour) and reasons that were given for relinquishing the rabbit. As rescue centres are not the only method used to relinquish rabbits, a public, online survey collected data from 1250 participants to determine how common it was for pets to be relinquished and what methods of relinquishment were used, (i.e. rescue centres, adverts, friends, family and colleagues etc.). A small sample of participants (n=20) were invited to answer further questions on their experiences in giving up rabbits specifically. Results show that rescue centres are not the most commonly used method to relinquish rabbits (or other pets) and common factors affecting relinquishment to rescue centres are different to reasons given by respondents to an anonymous online survey. Risk factors for pet rabbit relinquishment are also presented

Why and how should we assess pet rabbit personality?

Domestic rabbits have received relatively little attention for personality and temperament research to date, despite being a popular pet in the UK. The field of animal personality research is still in its infancy and there is much discussion around appropriate methods of assessing personality, due in part to the many reasons for exploring this phenomenon, for example, for cross species comparisons or assessing an animal’s suitability for a particular role or job. Domestic rabbits make an interesting candidate for personality studies due to their domestication being predominantly influenced by a desire for morphological or physical traits, rather than for behavioural characteristics, as with domestic dogs. Additionally, rabbits appear to be relinquished by their owners in high numbers and a recent survey suggested that one reason for this was difficultly in bonding a newly acquired rabbit to a current pet. Personality studies may help to raise owner awareness of a rabbit’s individual characteristics, which may support the formation of a human-animal bond which may reduce relinquishment, and support owners to select a suitable rabbit when acquiring a companion for a currently owned rabbit. In addition to making a case for personality assessments being needed at the point of acquiring pet rabbits, the presentation will review companion animal personality studies and describe methods currently being developed for the assessment of personality and temperament in pet rabbits

Development of methodologies for deploying and implementing local & medium area broadband PLC networks in office and residential electric grids

The use of electrical networks for telecommunications has a long history. It has been known since the beginning of the twentieth century [Ahola03]. The idea of using electrical networks for broadband communications arose in the 1990s [Hrasnica et al 04]. Recent and growing research interest has indicated that PowerLine Communications (PLC) is the threshold for achieving broadband delivery particularly in very dispersed and low teledensity areas. Currently, there are numerous PLC trials and commercial deployments underway inside and outside South Africa. Nevertheless, these PLC deployments are very isolated, done without clear methodology and performance remains bound to the physical layout of the electrical network. Because of that high bandwidth broadband PLC systems are prone to poor performance and this in turn limits the acceptance and deployment of this emerging alternative broadband technology. Though, PLC technical challenges are being addressed, there has been little analysis and research work that is focused on the “Development of Methodologies for Deploying and Implementing Local & Medium Area Broadband Power Line in Residential and Office Electric Grids” that would lead to broadband PLC being adopted and be of greater use to non-broadband communities of South Africa. PLC is a term describing several different systems using electrical grid distribution wires for simultaneous distribution of data by superimposing an analog signal [Hrasnica et al 04]. The research proposed and presented broadband PLC methodologies for typical medium voltage and local voltage PLC networks. These methodologieswere implemented and experimented with in configurations which closely mirrored residential and office settings through laboratory and multibuilding experiments using commercial 2nd Generation Mitsubishi Electric PLC technology. Research results presented not only serve to provide insight into broadband PLC but also how it handled broadband applications (communications), competed and compared with other technologies such as Ethernet LAN. In combination with networking communication theories, the research explored and analyzed the extent of PLC in providing broadband communication to residential and office electric grids at the University Fort Hare, Computer Science Department

Ontological Model for Xhosa Beadwork in Marginalised Rural Communities: A Case of the Eastern Cape

In South Africa, computational ontologies have gained traction and are increasingly viewed as one of the viable solutions to address the problem of fragmented and unstructured nature of indigenous knowledge (IK) particularly in the marginalized rural communities. The continual existence of IK in tacit form has impeded the use of IK as a potential resource that can catalyze socio-economic and cultural development in South Africa. This study was, therefore, designed to address part of this challenge by developing a Xhosa Beadwork Ontology (XBO) with the goal of structuring the domain knowledge into a reusable body of knowledge. Such a reusable body of knowledge promotes efficient sharing of a common understanding of Xhosa Beadwork in a computational form. The XBO is in OWL 2 DL. The development of the XBO was informed by the NeOn methodology and the iterativeincremental ontology development life cycle within the ambit of Action Research (AR). The XBO was developed around personal ornamentation Xhosa Beadwork consisting of Necklace, Headband, Armlet, Waistband, Bracelet, and Anklet. In this study, the XBO was evaluated focused on ascertaining that the created ontology is a comprehensive representation of the Xhosa Beadwork and is of the required standard. In addition, the XBO was documented into a human understandable and readable resource and was published. The outcome of the study has indicated that the XBO is an adequate, shareable and reusable semantic artifact that can indeed support the formalization and preservation of IK in the domain of Xhosa Beadwor

Decapods as food, companions and research animals: Legal impact of ascribing sentience

This commentary provides an overview of the practical implications of attributing sentience to protect decapods as food, companion and research animals in the UK context. Recognising their capacity to suffer has implications for humane slaughter in farming and fishing sectors. It should also place a greater duty of care on owners of captive decapods, considering their needs and avoiding unnecessary suffering. The recognition of decapod sentience should also have an impact on their protection as research animals, although research with a potential to cause suffering may be needed to better understand decapods’ capacity to suffer

The relationship between corruption and economic development : lessons from Zimbabwe’s public enterprises

Abstract: This research sought to understand the lessons that can be drawn from Zimbabwe’s public enterprises on the relationship between corruption and economic development. The researchers adopted a qualitative design based on purposively sampled state enterprises. Data were collected using focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews from the various stakeholders that included the government, civil society, academia and the private sector in Zimbabwe. Four FGDs were conducted while 14 key informant interviews were done face-to-face with the respondents. Data obtained from interviews and FGDs were analysed thematically. The paper affirms that, indeed, corruption does not only disadvantage the poor but strangles economic development, reduces social services and diverts investments in organisations important to the survival of the nation. In addition, the paper makes a valuable and unique contribution to the different stakeholders’ understanding of how their different concerns and interests are represented and negotiated for the sustainable economic transformation of any given country

Long-term temperature measurement: Biogas digesters fermenting slurry

This paper reports the results of the temperature profile of the unheated and unstirred continuous fermenting bio-slurry in a fixed-dome Deenbandhu 2000 model. The digester is a brick-built system of bulk size 6 m3. The digester was monitored for eight months, measuring internal bio-slurry temperature. A K-type nickel chromium-nickel temperature sensor with a sensitivity of approximately 41 µV  and response time of 0.8s in liquids was positioned at the centre of the digester to measure the slurry temperature. The sensor was connected to the data logger and programmed to record temperature readings every second for the entire study period. The study results reported give a clear indication about the reaction of bio-slurry temperature in the digester at a local level, particularly for the eight months’ period, which covered all seasons. The calculated values of the daily average temperature reveal that the digester was operating within the range of psychrophilic 10.32  and mesophilic 28.80 , although it sometimes operated at 35 and above during certain hours in summer. This study is useful for anaerobic digestion processes for biogas production. The results obtained can be used as a basis to estimate the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of digesters to reach an optimum temperature of mesophilic digesters

What do we know about transgender parenting?: Findings from a systematic review

Transgender issues are under‐explored and marginalised within mainstream social work and social care professional practice. The experience of gender transition has a profound impact on the individuals who have diverse gender identities and their family members. We present findings from a systematic review of studies concerning the experiences of transgender parenting conducted during January–September 2017. We took a life course approach, examining the research studies that investigated the experience of people identifying as transgender, who were already parents at the time of their transition or who wished to be parents following transition. The review evaluated existing findings from empirical research on transgender parenting and grandparenting to establish how trans people negotiate their relationships with children following transition, and sought to consider the implications for professional practice with trans people in relation to how best to support them with their family caring roles. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) method. Empirical studies published from 1 January 1990 to 31 April 2017 in the English language, and which had transgender parenting as a significant focus, were included in the review. Twenty‐six studies met the criteria. Key themes reported are: how trans people negotiate their relationships with children following disclosure and transition; the impact of parental transitioning on children; relationships with wider families; trans people's desires to be parents; and the role of professional practice to support trans families. We discuss how the material from the review can inform social work education and practice, including to help identify future research, education and practice priorities in this area