Mikrokredite für Frauen: Instrument zur Akkumulation von symbolischem Kapital?! Empowermentmaßnahmen als Basis für genderspezifischen sozialen Wandel am Beispiel des Mikrokreditsektors in Mittelägypten

Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird die Möglichkeit diskutiert, genderspezifischen sozialen Wandel in Schwellen- und Entwicklungsländern über Mikrokreditvergabesysteme anzustoßen. Anhand einer in Mittelägypten durchgeführten Studie mit mehrfach diskriminierten Frauen wird gezeigt, wie Mikrokredite die Akkumulation nicht nur von ökonomischem, sondern vor allem auch von kulturellem und sozialem Kapital im Bourdieu'schen Sinne unterstützen können. Wenn in diesem Kontext eine Veränderung des symbolischen Kapitals gelingt, kann dies zu neuen Wahrnehmungs-, Denk- und Handlungsschemata der Beteiligten und zu Strukturveränderungen auf der Makroebene führen. Die theoretische Modellierung von genderspezifischem sozialem Wandel erfolgt in diesem Artikel entlang empirischer Daten, die von den Autorinnen in Mittelägypten erhoben wurden

Understanding European Regional Diversity - Lessons learned from Case Studies

The content of this report is a deliverable to the FP 7 project RUFUS (Rural future Networks) concerning the case studies made within the project. As a deliverable in a EU framework project it reports extensively on the methods and empirical data collected in the project’s case studies. The work has as an overarching motive to translate research findings into implications that are relevant for policy makers in the EU. The conclusions from the case studies are therefore of two types – the findings made and the implications they might give for policy making within the field of rural development

Tbx3 fosters pancreatic cancer growth by increased angiogenesis and activin/nodal-dependent induction of stemness

AbstractCell fate decisions and pluripotency, but also malignancy depend on networks of key transcriptional regulators. The T-box transcription factor TBX3 has been implicated in the regulation of embryonic stem cell self-renewal and cardiogenesis. We have recently discovered that forced TBX3 expression in embryonic stem cells promotes mesendoderm specification directly by activating key lineage specification factors and indirectly by enhancing paracrine NODAL signalling. Interestingly, aberrant TBX3 expression is associated with breast cancer and melanoma formation. In other cancers, loss of TBX3 expression is associated with a more aggressive phenotype e.g. in gastric and cervical cancer. The precise function of TBX3 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains to be determined. In the current study we provide conclusive evidence for TBX3 overexpression in pancreatic cancer samples as compared to healthy tissue. While proliferation remains unaltered, forced TBX3 expression strongly increases migration and invasion, but also angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we describe the TBX3-dependency of cancer stem cells that perpetuate themselves through an autocrine TBX3–ACTIVIN/NODAL signalling loop to sustain stemness. Thus, TBX3 is a new key player among pluripotency-related genes driving cancer formation

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived acinar/ductal organoids generate human pancreas upon orthotopic transplantation and allow disease modelling

Objective The generation of acinar and ductal cells from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is a poorly studied process, although various diseases arise from this compartment. Design We designed a straightforward approach to direct human PSCs towards pancreatic organoids resembling acinar and ductal progeny. Results Extensive phenotyping of the organoids not only shows the appropriate marker profile but also ultrastructural, global gene expression and functional hallmarks of the human pancreas in the dish. Upon orthotopic transplantation into immunodeficient mice, these organoids form normal pancreatic ducts and acinar tissue resembling fetal human pancreas without evidence of tumour formation or transformation. Finally, we implemented this unique phenotyping tool as a model to study the pancreatic facets of cystic fibrosis (CF). For the first time, we provide evidence that in vitro, but also in our xenograft transplantation assay, pancreatic commitment occurs generally unhindered in CF. Importantly, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activation in mutated pancreatic organoids not only mirrors the CF phenotype in functional assays but also at a global expression level. We also conducted a scalable proof-of-concept screen in CF pancreatic organoids using a set of CFTR correctors and activators, and established an mRNA-mediated gene therapy approach in CF organoids. Conclusions Taken together, our platform provides novel opportunities to model pancreatic disease and development, screen for disease-rescuing agents and to test therapeutic procedures.This study was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, K.L. 2544/1-1 and 1-2), the Forschungskern SyStaR to AK, BIU (Böhringer Ingelheim Ulm to AK), the Fritz-Thyssen Foundation (Az. 10.15.2.040), the German Cancer Aid (111879) and the Else-Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (2011_A200). AK is indebted to the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung for the financial support of this research project by the Eliteprogramme for Postdocs. AK is also an Else-Kröner-Fresenius Memorial Fellow. LP is supported by a research fellowship of the Else-Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung. MH was supported by the International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine and the Bausteinprogramme (L.SBN. 110), Ulm University. MM is supported by a grant of Ulm University (Baustein for Senior Clinician Scientists). IGC is funded by the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF Aachen) and Start Program, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Aachen, German

The German National Registry of Primary Immunodeficiencies (2012-2017)

Introduction: The German PID-NET registry was founded in 2009, serving as the first national registry of patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in Germany. It is part of the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) registry. The primary purpose of the registry is to gather data on the epidemiology, diagnostic delay, diagnosis, and treatment of PIDs. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data was collected from 2,453 patients from 36 German PID centres in an online registry. Data was analysed with the software Stata® and Excel. Results: The minimum prevalence of PID in Germany is 2.72 per 100,000 inhabitants. Among patients aged 1–25, there was a clear predominance of males. The median age of living patients ranged between 7 and 40 years, depending on the respective PID. Predominantly antibody disorders were the most prevalent group with 57% of all 2,453 PID patients (including 728 CVID patients). A gene defect was identified in 36% of patients. Familial cases were observed in 21% of patients. The age of onset for presenting symptoms ranged from birth to late adulthood (range 0–88 years). Presenting symptoms comprised infections (74%) and immune dysregulation (22%). Ninety-three patients were diagnosed without prior clinical symptoms. Regarding the general and clinical diagnostic delay, no PID had undergone a slight decrease within the last decade. However, both, SCID and hyper IgE- syndrome showed a substantial improvement in shortening the time between onset of symptoms and genetic diagnosis. Regarding treatment, 49% of all patients received immunoglobulin G (IgG) substitution (70%—subcutaneous; 29%—intravenous; 1%—unknown). Three-hundred patients underwent at least one hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Five patients had gene therapy. Conclusion: The German PID-NET registry is a precious tool for physicians, researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, politicians, and ultimately the patients, for whom the outcomes will eventually lead to a more timely diagnosis and better treatment

Berufliche Chancengleichheit von Frauen und Maennern. Eine empirische Untersuchung zum Gender Pay Gap (Equal Opportunities for Women and Men at Work. An Empirical Investigation of the Gender Pay Gap)

In der Diskussion um die berufliche Gleichstellung der Geschlechter spielt die bedingte Chancengleichheit eine wichtige Rolle. Bei gleichen Ausgangsbedingungen sollten Frauen wie Maennern die gleichen Karrieremoeglichkeiten offen stehen. Die Analyse der Karrieren von 43 Absolventinnen und 51 Absolventen wirtschaftswissenschaftlicher Studiengaenge der Wirtschaftsuniversitaet Wien zeigt dramatische Gehaltsunterschiede, obwohl die beiden Gruppen sich in Hinblick auf 26 karriererelevante Variablen nicht unterscheiden. Als potentiell erklaerende Variablen wurden zudem Karenzzeiten, geleistete Wochenarbeitszeit im Karriereverlauf und die Organisationsgroesse zum Berufseinstieg herangezogen. Auch diese Groessen koennen den gender pay gap nicht erklaeren.gender pay gap, gender studies, career, Austria

Sustainable infrastructure for the integration of research software in data repositories

Complex research software often has high barriers to entry: Installation requires knowledge of the operating system; moreover, even simple changes, e.g. of parameters, often require programming skills. Architecture-dependent installation scripts, which often also assume special package versions, make it difficult to reproduce research results. The project "Sustainable infrastructure for the improved usability and archivability of research software on the example of the porous-media-simulator DuMux" aims at increasing the usability of the free research software DuMux. The target groups are scientists working with the software for the first time as well as experienced developers. In addition, the archivability of software applications with a link to a publication is to be made possible. The sustainable solution approach consists of extending and networking already existing services of the university (ViPLab, data repository) in such a way that an infrastructure solution is created that is independent of the research software used. ViPLab is a virtual programming environment with a JavaScript-based editor for programming and development. Code written in the browser is sent to a server, executed there and results returned. Previously used primarily in teaching, ViPLab for research software would have the advantage that researchers can use and configure the software, initially without having to install it locally. The installation on the server can be realized robustly by container virtualization. Generalized from the experience with DuMux, guidelines for containerizing software should be developed so that it can be executed automatically in ViPLab. The central point of interaction for gaining knowledge from research data is a repository. Here, data can be searched for and its processing can be traced and understood. Therefore, it is obvious to integrate research software into a repository as well. This is planned in the form of a ViPLab plugin for the repository software Dataverse. The web frontend for ViPLab will be extended according to the needs of the researchers. In addition to the editor, there will be further GUI elements that can be specified by the researcher, which will specifically allow the complexity of the interaction options to be reduced. This also allows the configuration of simple GUIs for research software that does not provide a GUI itself. The repository should ensure permanent availability and unambiguous citation. The description of the published software in the repository will be supported by appropriate metadata. In summary, the research software DuMux gains usability, also by facilitated access. At the same time, the reproducibility of research data is facilitated and sustainably guaranteed.</p

Gender and diversity in management education at Europe's largest university of economics and business: An evaluation of 12 years of teaching diversity management at the WU Vienna

This chapter explores the specific challenges of teaching diversity management courses in management education. It constitutes a critical reflection on the establishment of innovative course work and challenges stemming from the contradicting professional self-understandings of those employed as researchers and faculty members at established educational institutions. The chapter provides some lessons learned regarding the development of a curriculum of gender- and diversity-relevant courses in management education within the context of a university economics and business. One element in the decision-making process of students when choosing a degree course is the perception of subsequent "employability". For the business specializations (SBWL) in Diversity Management this means that the potential course participants consider closely whether the acquired competencies will improve their chances of finding employment and whether a formal certification of qualification gives a positive signal to potential employers. Each evaluation examines in detail the extent to which the educational goals and expectations of students have been realized by the SBWL