The Development of Gender-Responsive Indicators: Towards a Participatory Approach

There is an increasing level of importance around evidence-based policy making and a growing interest in big data in the field of gender equality. Most of the research has been about the amount of data, so much less is known about the quality of data that is needed to be transformative and which indicators should be selected. Poorly selected indicators often lead to the representation of simplified social realities and tend to reproduce gender stereotypes. Thus, one of the biggest challenges in big data is the development of quantitative and qualitative gender-responsive indicators that take into account the contextual interpretation of concepts such as wellbeing and the social realm of beneficiaries. Given this background, the aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of the indicator development and selection process as a crucial step towards gender equality. We argue that a participatory research approach, involving the social contexts of involved stakeholders and target groups, offers a promising way to collaboratively improve indicators. This approach allows the development of indicators, which measure policy impacts from an all-inclusive gendered perspective and consider the complexity of programme implications and social conditions

Evaluation of Pediatric Manual Wheelchair Mobility Using Advanced Biomechanical Methods

There is minimal research of upper extremity joint dynamics during pediatric wheelchair mobility despite the large number of children using manual wheelchairs. Special concern arises with the pediatric population, particularly in regard to the longer duration of wheelchair use, joint integrity, participation and community integration, and transitional care into adulthood. This study seeks to provide evaluation methods for characterizing the biomechanics of wheelchair use by children with spinal cord injury (SCI). Twelve subjects with SCI underwent motion analysis while they propelled their wheelchair at a self-selected speed and propulsion pattern. Upper extremity joint kinematics, forces, and moments were computed using inverse dynamics methods with our custom model. The glenohumeral joint displayed the largest average range of motion (ROM) at 47.1° in the sagittal plane and the largest average superiorly and anteriorly directed joint forces of 6.1% BW and 6.5% BW, respectively. The largest joint moments were 1.4% body weight times height (BW × H) of elbow flexion and 1.2% BW × H of glenohumeral joint extension. Pediatric manual wheelchair users demonstrating these high joint demands may be at risk for pain and upper limb injuries. These evaluation methods may be a useful tool for clinicians and therapists for pediatric wheelchair prescription and training

Written emotional disclosure: what are the benefits of expressive writing in psychotherapy?

Empirical evidence supports the idea that emotional expression enhances one’s ability to cope with stressful life events. In the past, research on emotional expression has focused on the verbal expression of thoughts and feelings, as found in most theories of traditional psychotherapy. However, more recently, research investigating the written expression of traumatic life experiences has been shown to produce both psychological and physical health benefits, with several studies finding written and oral expression to result in similar psychological health gains. The current study investigated the extent to which outpatient psychotherapy clients benefited from a writing homework intervention based on Pennebaker’s written emotional disclosure protocol. The study also examined the effects of the writing homework on psychotherapy process and outcome. Method: Forty-four outpatient psychotherapy clients were randomly assigned to the written emotional disclosure condition or writing control condition. Pre-and post-session outcome measures were collected for three consecutive therapy sessions. Results: Clients in the emotional disclosure writing group showed significantly greater declines in symptoms of anxiety and depression; as well as increased life functioning and greater satisfaction with treatment when compared to the writing control group. Both the emotional disclosure writing group and writing control showed significant declines in stress symptoms, however, there were no significant group differences. Conclusions: Results suggest emotional disclosure writing homework, in conjunction with outpatient psychotherapy, appears to facilitate therapeutic process and outcome in outpatient psychotherapy.Ph.D., Clinical Psychology -- Drexel University, 200

Secular trends in pregnancy weight gain in German women and their influences on foetal outcome: a hospital-based study

BACKGROUND: Increasing rates of overweight have been reported. In Germany, women of childbearing age are especially affected. Those women are at increased risks of several peri- and postnatal complications. The purpose of this study was to carry out Germany’s first study in terms of secular trends of overweight and weight gain during pregnancy related to foetal clinical outcomes (birth weight, Apgar score and umbilical blood pH). METHODS: A database maintained by a large regional university hospital in Cologne, Germany was used to evaluate clinical routine data from 1996 to 2012. 11771 women (23.5 ± 5.4 years; 18–48 years), who gave birth to a live singleton child (>2000 gram) were included. Recommended weight gain during pregnancy was based on IOM guidelines: Total weight gain range for underweight (initial BMI < 18.5 kg/m(2)) is 12.5 - 18 kg/ 28–40 lbs respectively, for normal-weight (initial BMI 18.5 -24.9 kg/m(2)) is 11.5 - 16 kg/ 25–35 lbs respectively, for overweight (initial BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)) is 7–11.5 kg/ 15–25 lbs respectively and for obese (initial BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m(2)) is 5–9 kg/ 11–20 lbs respectively. A one-way variance analysis was employed to test for differences in particular factors in various groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to model impact factors. RESULTS: Over the second analysed period (2005–2012), the number of women with high weight gain increased from 33.8% to 42.9% (p <0.001). 54.5% overweight and 57.7% obese women were affected (p <0.001). Women with high weight gain were 54.5% significantly more likely to give birth to an infant ≥ 4000 grams than women with normal (31.7%) or low weight gain (13.8%, p < 0.001). Women with normal weight gain had significantly better foetal outcomes in terms of the Apgar score at 5 min and umbilical cord blood pH. CONCLUSION: These data confirm an increase in maternal weight gain before and during pregnancy. An excessive weight gain is accompanied by macrosomia, lower Apgar scores and pH-value. Women should therefore be advised about the risks of obesity before and during pregnancy as well as excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy

Near-infrared exciton-polaritons in strongly coupled single-walled carbon nanotube microcavities

This research was financially supported by the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013)/ERC Grant Agreement No. 306298 (EN-LUMINATE) and under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (FP/2014-2020)/ERC Grant Agreement No. 640012 (ABLASE), by EPSRC through the CM-DTC (EP/L015110/1) and by the Scottish Funding Council through SUPA. J.Z. thanks the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung via the “Alfried Krupp Förderpreis für junge Hochschullehrer” for general support.Exciton-polaritons form upon strong coupling between electronic excitations of a material and photonic states of a surrounding microcavity. In organic semiconductors the special nature of excited states leads to particularly strong coupling and facilitates condensation of exciton-polaritons at room temperature, which may lead to electrically pumped organic polariton lasers. However, charge carrier mobility and photo-stability in currently used materials is limited and exciton-polariton emission so far has been restricted to visible wavelengths. Here, we demonstrate strong light-matter coupling in the near infrared using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in a polymer matrix in a planar metal-clad cavity. By exploiting the exceptional oscillator strength and sharp excitonic transition of (6,5) SWCNTs, we achieve large Rabi splitting (> 110 meV), efficient polariton relaxation and narrow band emission (< 15 meV). Given their high charge carrier mobility and excellent photostability, SWCNTs represent a promising new avenue towards practical exciton-polariton devices operating at telecommunication wavelengths. Publisher PDFPublisher PDFPeer reviewe

Mit Vielfalt punkten Jahresbericht 2009

Das erste Projektjahr „Mit Vielfalt punkten“ lief vielversprechend. Auf 48 Betrieben wurden die Biodiversität und sozio-ökonomische Werte erhoben. Die Hälfte aller Betriebsleiter erhielten eine gesamtbetriebliche Beratung, die andere Hälfte sind unsere Vergleichsbetriebe. Alle Methoden haben sich bewährt und führten zu keinen grösseren Problemen. Wie erwartet, fanden wir auf den 48 Betrieben zwar eine grosse Artenzahl, doch waren gefährdete und besondere Arten selten. Wir erwarten, dass diese Arten dank den Aufwertungen in den nächsten Jahren zunehmen werden. Die im Projekt entwickelten Werkzeuge Punktesystem und Leitartenkarten konnten fertiggestellt werden und finden bei den Anwendern guten Anklang

Mit Vielfalt punkten Jahresbericht 2010

Im zweiten Projektjahr „Mit Vielfalt punkten“ wurden wiederum auf 48 Betrieben Indikatoren für die Biodiversität in der Kulturlandschaft erhoben. Bei der Auswahl der Betriebe wurde 2010 vor allem darauf geachtet, dass die Bandbreite der Betriebe bezüglich Punktezahl vergrössert wurde. So wurden speziell Betriebe mit geringer oder sehr hoher Punktezahl ausgesucht. Die Feldaufnahmen erfolgten wiederum ohne wesentliche Probleme. Erste Auswertungen von den Aufnahmen 2009 und 2010 sind im Gang und werden demnächst zu Publikationen führen

Development of a species-specific RNA polymerase I-based shRNA expression vector

RNA interference (RNAi) can be induced in vitro either by application of synthetic short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), or by intracellular expression of siRNAs or short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) from transfected vectors. The most widely used promoters for siRNA/shRNA expression are based on polymerase III (Pol III)-dependent transcription. We developed an alternative vector for siRNA/shRNA expression, using a mouse RNA polymerase I (Pol I) promoter. Pol I-dependent transcription serves in cells for production of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and as such, is ubiquitously and stably active in different cell types. As Pol I-dependent transcription is highly species-specific, Pol I-based system provides an important biosafety advantage with respect to silencing of genes with unknown functions