Academic Services and Registrar - Research Publications

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    "One country, two systems": Sociopolitical implications for female migrant sex workers in Hong Kong.
    Wong, WCW ; Holroyd, E ; Chan, EY ; Griffiths, S ; Bingham, A (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2008-12-12)
    BACKGROUND: Under the "two countries, one system" policy implemented by China to manage the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty, Hong Kong has maintained a comparatively prosperous economy within the Asian region. This has resulted in an environment which fosters migration from the mainland to Hong Kong, due largely to proximity, higher earning potential, common language, and a relaxing of border control measures. However not all mainland China citizens are equally able to access these new migration schemes and indeed a number of women such as sex workers are either migrating and/or working illegally and without occupational, legal and health protection within Hong Kong. DISCUSSION: Female migrant sex workers are exposed to a number of significant threats to their health, however their illegal status contributes to even greater vulnerability. The prevailing discourses which view these women as either "trafficked women" or as "illegal immigrants" do not adequately account for the complex situations which result in such women's employment in Hong Kong's sex industry. Rather, their position can best be understood within the broader frameworks provided by migration literature and the concept of "structural violence". This allows for a greater understanding of the socio-political issues which are systematically denying migrant sex workers adequate access to health care and other opportunities for social advancement. When these issues are taken into account, it becomes clear that the current relevant legislation regarding both immigration and sex work is perpetuating the marginalised and vulnerable status of migrant sex workers. Unless changes are made, structural barriers will remain in place which impede the ability of migrant sex workers to manage their own health needs and status. CONCLUSION: Female migrant sex workers in Hong Kong are extremely vulnerable to a number of occupational health and safety hazards which have significantly detrimental effects on their health. These risks can best be understood within a broad framework of socio-political factors contributing to their vulnerability. Ensuring that migrant sex workers have adequate support for their health and legal rights requires require structural interventions such as decriminalisation and providing open and inclusive access to health service to counteract such factors.
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    A novel BH3 ligand that selectively targets Mcl-1 reveals that apoptosis can proceed without Mcl-1 degradation
    Lee, EF ; Czabotar, PE ; Van Delft, MF ; Michalak, EM ; Boyle, MJ ; Willis, SN ; Puthalakath, H ; Bouillet, P ; Colman, PM ; Huang, DCS ; Fairlie, WD (ROCKEFELLER UNIV PRESS, 2008-01-28)
    Like Bcl-2, Mcl-1 is an important survival factor for many cancers, its expression contributing to chemoresistance and disease relapse. However, unlike other prosurvival Bcl-2-like proteins, Mcl-1 stability is acutely regulated. For example, the Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3)-only protein Noxa, which preferentially binds to Mcl-1, also targets it for proteasomal degradation. In this paper, we describe the discovery and characterization of a novel BH3-like ligand derived from Bim, Bim(S)2A, which is highly selective for Mcl-1. Unlike Noxa, Bim(S)2A is unable to trigger Mcl-1 degradation, yet, like Noxa, Bim(S)2A promotes cell killing only when Bcl-x(L) is absent or neutralized. Furthermore, killing by endogenous Bim is not associated with Mcl-1 degradation. Thus, functional inactivation of Mcl-1 does not always require its elimination. Rather, it can be efficiently antagonized by a BH3-like ligand tightly engaging its binding groove, which is confirmed here with a structural study. Our data have important implications for the discovery of compounds that might kill cells whose survival depends on Mcl-1.
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    Ouidah. The social history of a West African slaving 'port'. 1727-1892, by Robin Law
    Counsel, G (The African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific, 2008)
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    The polemics of making fire in Tasmania: the historical evidence revisited
    Taylor, R (AUSTRALIAN NATL UNIV, DEPT HISTORY, 2008)
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    Place as acoustic space: Hearing Australian Identity
    BANDT, R ; Vanclay, ; Higgins, ; Blackshaw, (National Museum of Australia Press, 2008)
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    Simulated Talking Machines: Stelarc's Prosthetic Head
    CLARKE, J ; Kroker, A ; Kroker, M (University of Toronto Press, 2008)
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    Distributed Downlink Beamforming With Cooperative Base Stations
    Ng, BL ; Evans, JS ; Hanly, SV ; Aktas, D (IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC, 2008-12)
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    Isobue
    BANDT, R ( 2008)