Workers' techniques with street corner gangs: a comparative study of three detached workers in the Roxbury Special Youth Project.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Non-functional immunoglobulin G transcripts in a case of hyper-immunoglobulin M syndrome similar to type 4

86% of immunoglobulin G (IgG) heavy-chain gene transcripts were found to be non-functional in the peripheral blood B cells of a patient initially diagnosed with common variable immunodeficiency, who later developed raised IgM, whereas no non-functionally rearranged transcripts were found in the cells of seven healthy control subjects. All the patient's IgM heavy-chain and κ light-chain transcripts were functional, suggesting that either non-functional rearrangements were being selectively class-switched to IgG, or that receptor editing was rendering genes non-functional after class-switching. The functional γ-chain sequences showed a normal rate of somatic hypermutation while non-functional sequences contained few somatic mutations, suggesting that most came from cells that had no functional gene and therefore were not receiving signals for hypermutation. However, apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes was not impaired. No defects have been found in any of the genes currently known to be responsible for hyper-IgM syndrome but the phenotype fits best to type 4

Die voorkoms en profiel van pasiënte wat by ’n plattelandse praktyk presenteer met psigosomatiese klagtes

The prevalence and profile of patients presenting with psychosomatic complaints at a rural practice Introduction: The general practitioner is often consulted by patients with complaints in which psychological factors have a significant influence on the origin, continuation or course of a disease. It is important to identify the condition as a psychosomatic disorder, since the patient can be treated more effectively if he or she gains insight into the underlying problem and the causal factor can be addressed. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychosomatic complaints in patients visiting a general practice. It was also investigated whether variables such as gender, age and population group play a role with regard to the prevalence of the complaints. In addition, it was determined which types of complaints and stressors occur.Methods: The sample for this cross-sectional study consisted of all patients who visited the two general practitioners in a rural practice in the Northern Cape during a six-week period.Results: Of the 466 patients seen, 78 (16.7%; 95% CI 13.3% to 20.1%) presented with psychosomatic complaints. There were no significant differences between genders or population groups. In patients with psychosomatic complaints the digestive system was themost common organ system with complaints and the greatest stressor wasthe family.Discussion: The study indicates that a significant percentage of patients present with a psychosomatic complaint and insight into the causal stressors. The study thus confirms the importance of a holistic and preventative approach to patient care in a general practice.SA Fam Pract 2005;47(4): 51-5

Leveraging Technology and Innovation for Disaster Risk Management and Financing

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region is highly exposed to disaster and climate risks, accounting for more than 80% of global economic losses from disaster events in the last 20 years. The destruction and disruption that usually follow disaster events pose an important challenge to economic development and can perpetuate vulnerability. Despite substantial investment in reducing risk across the region, economic losses from disaster events continue to increase at a much faster rate than gross domestic product, implying that the relative economic burden is increasing over time. Efforts to enhance the reach of insurance and other financial protection tools have not significantly reduced the share of economic losses borne by households, businesses, and governments, which often lack the capacity to absorb these impacts. A changing climate as well as continued population growth and asset accumulation in areas exposed to disaster and climate risks is expected to exacerbate these challenges—with particular implications for vulnerable groups with limited economic resources. Enhancing resilience in the face of increasing natural hazards, exposure, and vulnerability will require investments in reducing the economic, social, and financial impacts of disasters by improving risk and impact assessment and leveraging those improvements to invest in risk reduction, preparedness, and response. APEC finance ministers have long recognized the need to build financial resilience to disaster risks and have included this objective in their work for a number of years. The Cebu Action Plan, approved by APEC finance ministers in 2015, aims to enhance financial resilience against economic shocks, including by “developing innovative disaster risk financing and insurance mechanisms (including micro insurance) to enable APEC economies exposed to natural hazards to increase their financial response to disasters and reduce their fiscal burden” (APEC 2015). Referenced by APEC finance ministers in their 2019 Joint Ministerial Statement, this report aims to contribute to this objective by supporting efforts to reduce underlying risk and develop tools to manage the financial consequences

The rise of China and regional integration in east Asia

Over the past decades, East Asia has achieved one of the most profound economic transformations in recorded history, and has become the most dynamic economic region and one of the most integrated areas in the world. However, regional and economic integration in East Asia is a relatively new phenomenon and cooperation is lightly institutionalized (ADB, 2008). Largely reflecting the diversity of the economies, the East Asian regionalism follows a markedly different pattern from that in Europe and other regions. In the absence of a formal institutional framework, the regional integration in East Asia has been driven by market forces and by the development of increasingly sophisticated production sharing and intra‐regional network trade, in which China's rapid growth has been instrumental. It is the international firms that are creating linkages across borders in their search for profitable opportunities through trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and other arrangements in accordance with changes in comparative advantage, industrial upgrading, and unilateral liberalization of goods and capital markets in the region (Dobson, 1997; Zhang, 2003; De Grauwe and Zhang, 2012). Policies such as preferential trading arrangements have traditionally not played much of a role in the integration of the region

Use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by university freshmen: With special reference to the University of Moratuwa

New coming students for universities are fundamentally different than in the past, because they have been spending their entire lives surrounded by and using ICTs. These students belong to the net generation and always looking for ICTs in each and every activity of their life. However, it is questioned whether all students are in the same level since they should be very fluent with ICTs to move in this 21st century confidently. This study is an attempt made to investigate the level of using ICTs by new coming undergraduates to the University of Moratuwa by examining the frequency of using ICT tools, self rated skill levels and finally their perceptions of the impact of ICT on academic experiences in the university. Twenty two (22) different ICT related activities under 4 main skill domains; basic computer usage, computer applications, Internet/E-mail use and use of technologies for research/academic activities were used for the study. The study is compiled with data from questionnaires of 338 first year students in three faculties; Architecture, Engineering and Information Technology. The study reveals that there is a rapid trend towards a higher ICT usage of university freshmen as digital natives. Majority of the first year students more frequently use computer applications such as word processing, Spreadsheets and Presentation packages, and they have rated themselves as highly skilled in computer applications. The male students reported to be in front in terms of usage of ICTs and level of computer literacy skills than female students. Freshmen from urban communities always believe that they are more skillful in this aspect. Architecture students are somewhat below than others in using ICTs as well as the level of ICT skills. Majority of freshmen believe that using ICTs may help them to improve their learning in the university and they are willing to use ICTs to find information on academic purposes. Recommendations have been made to enhance ICT facilities and programs for freshmen at university