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A study was carried out to investigate future sustainability of organic vegetable production in the UK based on perception of the vegetable growers. The objectives were to determine the economic and social sustainability of organic vegetables production and to examine whether there are any relationships between economic and social indicators. Data and opinions were collected by interviewing and through a postal questionnaire. Only 14% growers (26 out of 175) had replied by post. About 61% of the respondents had been farming in the conventional way before switching to organic and 39% growers started organic farming straightway. Those who started organic farming directly has significantly lower farm size (p<0.01). About 70% growers grew cereals in the conventional way but about 70% grew vegetables in the organic farming system. The respondent growers who switched from conventional to organic farming stated that they had given up conventional farming due to both economic and social related reasons but placed higher emphasis on economic reasons. However, social and environmental factors drove the growers much more than economic factors in switching to organic farming. Most of the growers were found to be satisfied with the productivity level of their organic vegetable production, profitability of their total farm business and the condition of market for their organic vegetables which was either increasing or staying the same. The respondent growers were asked to rank their opinions (1-very low and 5-very high) regarding threats to sustainability of organic vegetable production in the UK. A highly significant correlation (p<0.01) was found between economic and socio-environmental related threats. The interviewed growers will not give up organic farming and were not worried about a fall in price premium because of the assurance and larger size of the market for organic vegetables. The study reveals that organic vegetable production in the UK has the potential to be sustainable. This conclusion drawn here is solely based on growers own perceptions who in turn are limited in numbers. Therefore, to improve reliability and validity of the study of this nature, the sample need to be expanded to include more growers and other stakeholders such as by interviewing economists, government policy makers and non-governmental experts and incorporating their views along with growers’ perceptions.

A dissertation presented to The Department of Social Work School of Human and Community Development Faculty of Humanities University of Witwatersrand In fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Arts in Social Work March 2016 / Child disability has not been addressed holistically in Namibia. The absence of policies and programmes has exacerbated the challenges faced by primary caregivers and children with physical disabilities. There is paucity of literature on the experiences faced by the caregivers of children with physical disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of primary caregivers of children with physical disabilities in Hardap region, Namibia. The study population consisted of primary caregivers of children with physical disabilities from Hardap region and purposive sampling was used to select 20 participants. A qualitative research approach was used to collect data using a semi-structured interview schedule. The study was descriptive and exploratory in nature. The study was based on a case study of Hardap region, Namibia where it sought to bring an understanding of complex issues to add strength to what is already known through previous researches. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data. The study revealed that participants played important roles in providing care as they were involved in feeding, carrying, turning and lifting of the children as well as taking the children for medical check-ups. The study also revealed that participants experienced challenges in the care continuum which included carrying the children around due to lack of special equipment, financial challenges and lack of psychosocial support from the family. The study also noted that the participants used religion as a means of coping for their wellbeing. The Government of Namibia needs to set policies on disability issues to ensure the wellbeing of the primary caregivers. The caregivers need training that will help them to improve the quality of care offered to children with physical disabilities as well as improve the psychosocial functioning of the primary caregivers. It is thus anticipated that the results of the study will help in designing interventions that will help the primary caregivers and reduce their burdens. The study will also contribute to knowledge on disability and caregiving

Articles regarding perceptual-motor deficiencies of adults are beginning to be published in the literature (Saunders and Barker, 1972). It seems that, even though many children are now being treated for this disorder at or before school-going age, many people had perceptual-motor problems years ago when there was no knowledge of the disorder or its treatment. More than likely, as children, these people were considered to be simply low in intelligence. Now, however, those children have grown up and, with the information we have, it is possible to ascertain from their symptoms, even as adults, that perceptual-motor problems exist. Once it can be established that such difficulties exist, measures can be taken to alleviate them. Saunders and Barker (1972) used a remedial reading technique to help their subjects learn to read, and psychotropic drugs to help them over their emotional problems related to the perceptual dysfunction. The drugs helped the adults, the remedial reading programme did not. This present study was concerned with improving perceptual-motor deficiencies in adults using a behaviour modification approach. A largo sample of adult subjects was available in the population of Malawian males, novices to the mining industry, who were to undergo a three-week training programme in preparation for work underground. Perceptual-motor testing and discussions with the mine personnel assured the author that most of these subjects did suffer from perceptual-motor problems.

Thesis advisor: Mary Jo Iozzio / Thesis advisor: Kenneth Himes / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

Compliant Actuators are much safer than traditional stiff joint actuators, but at the cost of high overshoot, positional accuracy, and speed. A damper that varies its damping torque during motion is introduced to alleviate these downsides. The equations of motion for the system are derived and simulated. The simulations demonstrated a decrease in the overshoot and ringing time. A physical proof of concept was manufactured and tested. The results from the physical model were inconclusive due to a fault in the physical model. A more accurate physical test model is proposed, and is simulated.

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