(Re)thinking sexual access for adolescents with disabilities in South Africa : balancing rights and protection

Abstract: The subject of sexual rights and disability is a largely underdeveloped sphere in relation to African rights discourse. This subject becomes even more contested and unacceptable when discussing access in relation to sexual expression or relationships amongst adolescents with disabilities. Most commonly, adolescents with disabilities are often denied their sexual autonomy and are generally depicted as being nonsexual and incapable of sexual agency. In view of this, while adolescents with disabilities continue to gain recognition as citizens with the same equal opportunities as their non-disabled peers, they have not as yet truly emerged as sexual citizens within the African context. This article aims to (re)position discourses of sexual access in relation to adolescents with disabilities in South Africa. In particular, the article outlines the importance of supporting and nurturing the sexual autonomy of adolescents with disabilities. The article also outlines the way in which international rights conventions and national legislation may impact sexual encounters amongst adolescents with disabilities and what this means for significant adults working with adolescents with disabilities

Secret languages of sex: disabled youth’s experiences of sexual and hiv communication with their parents/caregivers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract: Various health promotion strategies have been implemented in South Africa aiming to encourage young people to talk about issues of sexuality and HIV with their parents/caregivers. Although parent/caregiver sexual communication may be an effective method of influencing sexual behaviour and curbing the incidence of HIV, very little is known about how young people with disabilities in South Africa communicate about these traditionally difficult subjects with their parents/caregivers. Based on findings from a participatory study conducted amongst 15 to 20-year-old Zulu-speaking youth with physical and visual disabilities, this paper explores how they perceive youthparent/ caregiver communication about sexuality and HIV. Using Foucauldian discourse analysis, the paper outlines how disabled youth-parent/caregiver sexual communication is governed by cultural customs, sexual secrecy and constructs of innocence. It also argues that the experiences and perceptions of young people with disabilities are critical to the development of future interventions to assist parents/caregivers develop communication strategies that help disabled young people make sense of sexual behaviour

The Organic Synthesis of Anthranilic Acid Derivatives as Potential Active Antibiotics

The objective of this research project was to synthesize multiple derivatives of anthranilic acid. These derivatives will then be tested for antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (E. coli). As bacteria become more resistant to penicillin-based antibiotics, the exploration of anthranilic acid-based antibiotics could serve an important role for future medical use. This research project included data collection via 1H-NMR, 12C-NMR, TLC, MP, and IR to determine purity for biological testing

Constant angular velocity of the wrist during the lifting of a sphere.

The primary objective of the experiments was to investigate the wrist motion of a person while they were carrying out a prehensile task from a clinical hand function test. A sixcamera movement system was used to observe the wrist motion of 10 participants. A very light sphere and a heavy sphere were used in the experiments to study any mass effects. While seated at a table, a participant moved a sphere over a small obstacle using their dominant hand. The participants were observed to move their wrist at a constant angular velocity. This phenomenon has not been reported previously. Theoretically, the muscles of the wrist provide an impulse of force at the start of the rotation while the forearm maintains a constant vertical force on a sphere. Light–heavy mean differences for the velocities, absolute velocities, angles and times taken showed no significant differences (p¼0.05)

Paul A. Cheatham and Dwayne Chappell in a Joint Recital

This is the program for the joint recital of tenor Paul A. Cheatham and baritone Dwayne Chappell. Pianist David Coad assisted Cheatham; pianist Steve Bullock assisted Chappell. The recital took place on March 5, 1982, in the Mabee Fine Arts Center Recital Hall

Rapid response pipeline for stabilized subunit vaccines

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) have recently put out a call for proposals aimed at platform technologies that can enable rapid vaccine development for novel or previously unrecognized viruses. We have proposed a streamlined process for the generation of stabilized subunit vaccines. This project brings together unique proprietary recombinant technology for generating stabilized subunit vaccines (the molecular clamp), a highly skilled team from some of Australia’s leading scientific organizations and world-class facilities. Molecular clamp is a broadly applicable platform technology that facilitates expression of recombinant viral glycoproteins in subunit form without loss of native antigenicity. The molecular clamp imparts superior stability over alternative trimerization domains, efficiently stabilizing soluble viral fusion proteins in their native trimeric \u27pre-fusion\u27 form. This form is equivalent to that expressed on the virion surface and the principle target for a protective neutralizing antibody response. Through stabilization of the pre-fusion form, the molecular clamp promotes the production of highly neutralizing and broadly cross-reactive antibodies. Importantly, the molecular clamp does not required prior knowledge of a proteins quaternary structure. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

A Transportation Alliance of Environmental Horticulture Producers in Georgia: Issues and Feasibility

Transportation and shipping costs of ornamental horticulture are 10% of total cost of production in Georgia. With many small to medium sized producers using their own independent transportation system, methods to optimize vehicle operations are desired. Will a transportation alliance reduce shipping costs, increase distribution efficiencies, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions among ornamental plants producers in Georgia? The study shows alliances are not only feasible, they have average total cost savings of 9%, average total miles driven savings of 8%, average number of trucks savings of 8%, average driving hours savings of 15%, and average carbon dioxide emissions savings of 8%.transportation, logistics, efficiencies, savings, environmental horticulture, Agribusiness,

Does organic farming present greater opportunities for employment and community development than conventional farming?:A survey-based investigation in California and Washington

Organic farming may present opportunities for job creation over and above those provided by conventional agriculture; this study is one of a small number to have empirically examined this proposition. We compared countywide averages of hired farm labor from the USDA’s 2007 Agricultural Census with data collected through a mirrored survey of organic farmers in the same counties in Washington and California. Based on mixed-effects linear models to estimate differences (if any) in employment between organic farms and countywide farm averages, our analysis indicated that organic farms employed more workers per acre (95% CI: 2–12% more). Further, a greater proportion (95% CI: 13–43% more) of hired labor on organic farms worked 150 days or more compared to the average farm, suggesting increased labor requirements—and potentially more secure employment—on organic farms. We conclude the present study by considering possible policy implications of our findings with regard to organic agriculture as part of regional economic development strategies