Das Aufnahmeverfahren in der öffentlichen Sozialhilfe: Schlussbericht der Pilotstudie ; Projekt-Nr. F04-100

"Die Sozialhilfe hat als unterstes Netz der sozialen Sicherheit im letzten Jahrzehnt zunehmend an Bedeutung gewonnen und entsprechend sind die Ausgaben und die Fallzahlen angestiegen. Die Sozialdienste reagieren auf die steigende Arbeitslast unter anderem damit, dass sie das Aufnahmeverfahren neu konzipieren mit dem Ziel, dieses effizienter zu gestalten. In dem vorliegenden Pilotprojekt werden die institutionellen Voraussetzungen und Problemstellungen sondiert, um im Rahmen eines Folgeprojektes die konkreten Auswirkungen verschieden konzipierter Aufnahmeverfahren untersuchen zu können. Die vorhandene internationale Literatur zur konzeptionellen Begründung und zur Praxis des Aufnahmeverfahrens zeigt, dass diesem ein Stellenwert zukommt, der über die Bedeutung eines einfachen Verwaltungsvorgangs weit hinausreicht. Die Ausgestaltung des Aufnahmeverfahrens beeinflusst die (Nicht)Inanspruchnahme der Leistungen des Sozialdienstes und die Art und Weise des Erstkontaktes wirkt sich auf die Qualität des gesamten Hilfsprozesses aus. Auf der Grundlage vorhandener 'grauer Literatur' wurden sieben Sozialdienste ausgewählt, um deren Aufnahmeverfahren näher zu untersuchen. In diesen Sozialdiensten wurden je ein Experteninterview sowie je drei Fallanalysen durchgeführt, um deren Aufnahmeverfahren nachzuvollziehen und systematisch beschreiben zu können. Auf der Basis dieser Interviews sowie der untersuchten Literatur wird ein idealtypischer Ablauf des Aufnahmeverfahrens in der öffentlichen Sozialhilfe skizziert mit den drei Phasen Vorabklärung, Prüfen des Anspruchs auf finanzielle Leistungen und Aushandeln der persönlichen Hilfe. Die Ergebnisse der Experteninterviews werden anhand dieses idealtypischen Ablaufs dargestellt und diskutiert. Zusammenfassend lässt sich feststellen, dass sich die Aufnahmeverfahren auf die Prüfung der Anspruchsberechtigung auf finanzielle Leistungen der Sozialhilfe fokussieren: Mittels Standardisierung wird angestrebt, die grosse Nachfrage bewältigen und ungerechtfertigte Bezüge verhindern zu können. Die vorhandenen Daten lassen vermuten, dass im Aufnahmeverfahren der persönlichen Hilfe – das Kernstück der modernen Sozialhilfe und der Kernauftrag der Sozialarbeit in der Sozialhilfe – hingegen in den meisten Sozialdiensten weniger Bedeutung zugemessen wird. Daraufhin deuten auch die Ergebnisse der Fallanalysen: Im Gegensatz zu den sozioökonomischen Angaben über die Klientel wird die persönliche Hilfe von Ausnahmen abgesehen sehr rudimentär in den Dossiers dokumentiert. Weiter zeigt sich, dass die Datenqualität in grossem Mass von den einzelnen Sozialarbeiterinnen und Sozialarbeitern abhängt." (Autorenreferat

Lithium Depletion in Pre-Mainsequence Solar-Like Stars

We examine the internal structure of solar-like stars in detail between 0.8 and 1.4M Sun and during pre-main sequence phase. Recent opacity computations of OPAL along with a new hydrodynamical mixing process have been considered. We also introduce up-to-date nuclear reaction rates and explore the impact of accretion, mixing-length parameter, non-solar distributions among metals and realistic rotation history. We compare models predictions of lithium depletion to the $^7Li$ content observations of the Sun and to 4 young clusters of different metallicities and ages. We show that we can distinguish two phases in lithium depletion: 1- a rapid nuclear destruction in the T-Tauri phase before 20 Myrs : this is independent of the mass used within our range but largely dependent on the extension and temperature of the convective zone, 2- a second phase where the destruction is slow and moderate and which is largely dependent on the (magneto)hydrodynamic instability located at the base of the convective zone. In terms of composition, we show the interest on considering helium and especially the mixture of heavy elements : carbon, oxygen, silicium and iron. We outline the importance of O/Fe ratio. We note a reasonable agreement on lithium depletion for the two best known cases, the Sun and the Hyades cluster for solar-like stars. Other clusters suggest that processes which may partly inhibit the predicted premainsequence depletion cannot be excluded, in particular for stars below ~ 0.9M Sun. Finally we suggest different research areas such as initial stellar models and more realistic atmospheres which could contribute to a better understanding of this early phase of evolution and which should become the object of subsequent research.Comment: Astrophysical Journal, in pres

Child Sponsorship as Development Education in the Northern Classroom

This chapter explores the ethical dilemmas, and potential harm done when child sponsorship NGOs market sponsorship to children in school settings. Arguing that child sponsorship functions as a form of development education in the northern classroom, this chapter points to the potential for CS marketing strategies to infantalise and demean the poor, through a well-intentioned lens of paternalism. The chapter calls for greater commitment to global citizenship education in the crowded curriculum of secondary education and provides key questions (after Andreotti, 2012) for NGO marketing staff to consider in their public communication

Measurements and computations of flow in an urban street system

We present results from laboratory and computational experiments on the turbulent flow over an array of rectangular blocks modelling a typical, asymmetric urban canopy at various orientations to the approach flow. The work forms part of a larger study on dispersion within such arrays (project DIPLOS) and concentrates on the nature of the mean flow and turbulence fields within the canopy region, recognising that unless the flow field is adequately represented in computationalmodels there is no reason to expect realistic simulations of the nature of the dispersion of pollutants emitted within the canopy. Comparisons between the experimental data and those obtained from both large-eddy simulation (LES) and direct numerical simulation (DNS) are shown and it is concluded that careful use of LES can produce generally excellent agreement with laboratory and DNS results, lending further confidence in the use of LES for such situations. Various crucial issues are discussed and advice offered to both experimentalists and those seeking to compute canopy flows with turbulence resolving models

Clinically relevant mutations in the ABCG2 transporter uncovered by genetic analysis linked to erythrocyte membrane protein expression

The ABCG2 membrane protein is a key xeno- and endobiotic transporter, modulating the absorption and metabolism of pharmacological agents and causing multidrug resistance in cancer. ABCG2 is also involved in uric acid elimination and its impaired function is causative in gout. Analysis of ABCG2 expression in the erythrocyte membranes of healthy volunteers and gout patients showed an enrichment of lower expression levels in the patients. By genetic screening based on protein expression, we found a relatively frequent, novel ABCG2 mutation (ABCG2-M71V), which, according to cellular expression studies, causes reduced protein expression, although with preserved transporter capability. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated a stumbled dynamics of the mutant protein, while ABCG2-M71V expression in vitro could be corrected by therapeutically relevant small molecules. These results suggest that personalized medicine should consider this newly discovered ABCG2 mutation, and genetic analysis linked to protein expression provides a new tool to uncover clinically important mutations in membrane proteins. © 2018 The Author(s)

Identification of Extracellular Segments by Mass Spectrometry Improves Topology Prediction of Transmembrane Proteins

Transmembrane proteins play crucial role in signaling, ion transport, nutrient uptake, as well as in maintaining the dynamic equilibrium between the internal and external environment of cells. Despite their important biological functions and abundance, less than 2% of all determined structures are transmembrane proteins. Given the persisting technical difficulties associated with high resolution structure determination of transmembrane proteins, additional methods, including computational and experimental techniques remain vital in promoting our understanding of their topologies, 3D structures, functions and interactions. Here we report a method for the high-throughput determination of extracellular segments of transmembrane proteins based on the identification of surface labeled and biotin captured peptide fragments by LC/MS/MS. We show that reliable identification of extracellular protein segments increases the accuracy and reliability of existing topology prediction algorithms. Using the experimental topology data as constraints, our improved prediction tool provides accurate and reliable topology models for hundreds of human transmembrane proteins

Viscoelastic adaptation of tendon graft material to compression: biomechanical quantification of graft preconditioning

PURPOSE: The tensile viscoelastic behaviour of tendon tissue is of central biomechanical importance and well examined. However, the viscoelastic tendon adaptation to external compression, such as when a tendon graft is fixated with an interference screw, has not been investigated before. Here, we quantify this adaptive behaviour in order to develop a new method to mechanically precondition tendon grafts and to better understand volumetric changes of tendinous tissue. The hypothesis of this study was that under compressive loads, tendon grafts will undergo a temporary volumetric (and therefore diametric) reduction, due to the extrusion of water from the tendon. METHODS: Compressive testing was performed on a material testing machine and load applied through the use of a custom-made mould, with a semi-circular cross section to accommodate the tendon graft. The effects of different compressive forces on the length, diameter and weight of tendon grafts were measured by calipers and a weighing scale, respectively. Further, different strain rates (1 vs. 10 mm/min) (n = 6, per rate), compression method (steady compression vs. creep) (n = 15 for each method) and different compression durations (1, 5, 10 min) (n = 5 for each duration) were tested to identify the most effective combination to reduce graft size by preserving its macroscopic structure. RESULTS: The effect of compression on volume reduction (75 % of initial volume and weight) reached a plateau at 6,000 N on an 8-mm tendon bundle. Length thereby increased by approximately 10 %. Both steady compression and creeping were able to reduce dimensions of the graft; however, creeping was more effective. There was no difference in effect with different durations for compression (p > 0.05) in both methods. CONCLUSION: The viscoelastic behaviour of hamstring tendon grafts under pressure allows preconditioning of the grafts for reduction of volume and diameter and therefore to drill a smaller bone tunnel, retaining more of the original bone. At the same time, the collagen content of the transplant is preserved and a tight fit of the transplant in the bone tunnel achieved

Lithium abundances and extra mixing processes in evolved stars of M67

Aims. We present a spectroscopic analysis of a sample of evolved stars in M67 (turn-off, subgiant and giant stars) in order to bring observational constraints to evolutionary models taking into account non-standard transport processes. Methods. We determined the stellar parameters (Teff, log g, [Fe/H]), microturbulent and rotational velocities and, Lithium abundances (ALi) for 27 evolved stars of M67 with the spectral synthesis method based on MARCS model atmospheres. We also computed non-standard stellar evolution models, taking into account atomic diffusion and rotation-induced transport of angular momentum and chemicals that were compared with this set of homogeneous data. Results. The lithium abundances that we derive for the 27 stars in our sample follow a clear evolutionary pattern ranging from the turn-off to the Red Giant Branch. Our abundance determination confirms the well known decrease of lithium content for evolved stars. For the first time, we provide a consistent interpretation of both the surface rotation velocity and of the lithium abundance patterns observed in an homogeneous sample of TO and evolved stars of M67. We show that the lithium evolution is determined by the evolution of the angular momentum through rotation-induced mixing in low-mass stars, in particular for those with initial masses larger than 1.30 M_\odot at solar metallicity.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure