Reconciliation in the transformation of conflict: an analysis of the South African experience and implications for its application in international conflict resolution from a peace theoretical perspective

When violence has ceased it is often assumed that from this very moment peace has been restored. Definitions of peace and war have influenced earlier peace building interventions which in turn constituted the simple act of putting the weapons down as sufficient. Only recently have attempts to incorporate wider angles of facilitating peace and development been utilised. Critical approaches enhancing the perception of peace are put forward by Peace Theory scholars such as Johan Galtung and actual lessons learned serve to counter prevailing criticsm from Realist perspectives on peace. This paper demonstrates a rationale and case for supporting a more promising as well as more realistic view of peace and conflict management offered by peace theoretical considerations and approaches

Reconciliation in the Transformation of Conflict. An Analysis of the South African Experience and Implications for its Application in International Conflict Resolution from a Peace Theoretical Perspective

When violence has ceased it is often assumed that from this very moment peace has been restored. Definitions of peace and war have influenced earlier peace building interventions which in turn constituted the simple act of putting the weapons down as sufficient. Only recently have attempts to incorporate wider angles of facilitating peace and development been utilised. Critical approaches enhancing the perception of peace are put forward by Peace Theory scholars such as Johan Galtung and actual lessons learned serve to counter prevailing criticsm from Realist perspectives on peace. This paper demonstrates a rationale and case for supporting a more promising as well as more realistic view of peace and conflict management offered by peace theoretical considerations and approaches. Transformation of conflicts appears as preliminary requirement for lasting peace in the view of Peace Theory. Upholding this presumption, reconciliation is presented here as an essential process and likewise applicable method for transformation of conflict. The paper examines the advantages of reconciliation against Realist claims about power politics and international relations. After introducing the aim and outline of the paper, a theoretical framework will be established in the second chapter, acknowledging the Christian concept of reconciliation yet evolving towards modern interpretations within socio-political contexts. Scrutinising the applicability of reconciliation for conflict transformation, the third chapter presents reconciliation in practice drawing on the South African expample. Along this case study is highlighted how transitional justice is measured to default standards, what contextual constraints shape structure, mandate and process of applied reconciliation and why success is clearly visible in terms of socio-political reach. The model of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) also serves to elaborate the feasibility of institutionalising reconciliation in conflict transformation on international level. This paper stresses that conditions and design of the TRC resemble the setting of current international conflict transformation processes. Consequently chapter four discusses the specific impediments for applied peace theory in international context before the last chapter concludes the significance of applied reconciliation and non-retributive justice models for international conflict transformation.

Learning Arbitrary Statistical Mixtures of Discrete Distributions

We study the problem of learning from unlabeled samples very general statistical mixture models on large finite sets. Specifically, the model to be learned, $\vartheta$, is a probability distribution over probability distributions $p$, where each such $p$ is a probability distribution over $[n] = \{1,2,\dots,n\}$. When we sample from $\vartheta$, we do not observe $p$ directly, but only indirectly and in very noisy fashion, by sampling from $[n]$ repeatedly, independently $K$ times from the distribution $p$. The problem is to infer $\vartheta$ to high accuracy in transportation (earthmover) distance. We give the first efficient algorithms for learning this mixture model without making any restricting assumptions on the structure of the distribution $\vartheta$. We bound the quality of the solution as a function of the size of the samples $K$ and the number of samples used. Our model and results have applications to a variety of unsupervised learning scenarios, including learning topic models and collaborative filtering.Comment: 23 pages. Preliminary version in the Proceeding of the 47th ACM Symposium on the Theory of Computing (STOC15

Micron‐Sized Pored Membranes Based on Polyvinylidene Difluoride Hexafluoropropylene Prepared by Phase Inversion Techniques

In this study, micron‐sized pored membranes, based on the co‐polymer polyvinylidene difluoride hexafluoropropylene (PVdF‐HFP) were prepared via phase inversion techniques. The aim of the approach was to find less harmful and less toxic solvents to fabricate such films. Therefore, the Hansen solubility approach was used to identify safer and less toxic organic solvents for the phase inversion process, relative to present solvent mixtures, based on acetone, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl acetamide or methanol. With this approach, it was possible to identify cyclopentanone, ethylene glycol and benzyl alcohol as suitable solvents for the membrane preparation process. Physicochemical and mechanical properties were analyzed and compared, which revealed a uniform membrane structure through the cross section. Differences were observed at the top surface, in dependence of both preparation approaches, which are described in detail

Analysis of the Proteolytic Processing of ABCA3: Identification of Cleavage Site and Involved Proteases

Rationale ABCA3 is a lipid transporter in the limiting membrane of lamellar bodies in alveolar type II cells. Mutations in the ABCA3 gene cause respiratory distress syndrome in new-borns and childhood interstitial lung disease. ABCA3 is N-terminally cleaved by an as yet unknown protease, a process believed to regulate ABCA3 activity. Methods The exact site where ABCA3 is cleaved was localized using mass spectrometry (MS). Proteases involved in ABCA3 processing were identified using small molecule inhibitors and siRNA mediated gene knockdown. Results were verified by in vitro digestion of a synthetic peptide substrate mimicking ABCA3's cleavage region, followed by MS analysis. Results We found that cleavage of ABCA3 occurs after Lys174 which is located in the proteins' first luminal loop. Inhibition of cathepsin L and, to a lesser extent, cathepsin B resulted in attenuation of ABCA3 cleavage. Both enzymes showed activity against the ABCA3 peptide in vitro with cathepsin L being more active. Conclusion We show here that, like some other proteins of the lysosomal membrane, ABCA3 is a substrate of cathepsin L. Therefore, cathepsin L may represent a potential target to therapeutically influence ABCA3 activity in ABCA3-associated lung disease

Assessment of liver fibrosis and associated risk factors in HIV-infected individuals using transient elastography and serum biomarkers

Background: Liver fibrosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals is mostly attributable to co-infection with hepatitis B or C. The impact of other risk factors, including prolonged exposure to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) is poorly understood. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of liver fibrosis and associated risk factors in HIV-infected individuals based on non-invasive fibrosis assessment using transient elastography (TE) and serum biomarkers (Fibrotest [FT]). Methods: In 202 consecutive HIV-infected individuals (159 men; mean age 47 ± 9 years; 35 with hepatitis-C-virus [HCV] co-infection), TE and FT were performed. Repeat TE examinations were conducted 1 and 2 years after study inclusion. Results: Significant liver fibrosis was present in 16% and 29% of patients, respectively, when assessed by TE (≥ 7.1 kPa) and FT (> 0.48). A combination of TE and FT predicted significant fibrosis in 8% of all patients (31% in HIV/HCV co-infected and 3% in HIV mono-infected individuals). Chronic ALT, AST and γ-GT elevation was present in 29%, 20% and 51% of all cART-exposed patients and in 19%, 8% and 45.5% of HIV mono-infected individuals. Overall, factors independently associated with significant fibrosis as assessed by TE (OR, 95% CI) were co-infection with HCV (7.29, 1.95-27.34), chronic AST (6.58, 1.30-33.25) and γ-GT (5.17, 1.56-17.08) elevation and time on dideoxynucleoside therapy (1.01, 1.00-1.02). In 68 HIV mono-infected individuals who had repeat TE examinations, TE values did not differ significantly during a median follow-up time of 24 months (median intra-patient changes at last TE examination relative to baseline: -0.2 kPa, p = 0.20). Conclusions: Chronic elevation of liver enzymes was observed in up to 45.5% of HIV mono-infected patients on cART. However, only a small subset had significant fibrosis as predicted by TE and FT. There was no evidence for fibrosis progression during follow-up TE examinations

A small molecule screen identifies novel inhibitors of mechanosensory nematocyst discharge in Hydra

Cnidarians are characterized by the possession of stinging organelles, called nematocysts, which they use for prey capture and defense. Nematocyst discharge is controlled by a mechanosensory apparatus with analogies to vertebrate hair cells. Members of the transient receptor potential (TRPN) ion channel family are supposed to be involved in the transduction of the mechanical stimulus. A small molecule screen was performed to identify compounds that affect nematocyst discharge in Hydra. We identified several [2.2]paracyclophanes that cause inhibition of nematocyst discharge in the low micro-molar range. Further structure–activity analyses within the compound class of [2.2]paracyclophanes showed common features that are required for the inhibitory activity of the [2.2]paracyclophane core motif. This study demonstrates that Hydra can serve as a model for small molecule screens targeting the mechanosensory apparatus in native tissues

Sprachförderung im Vorschulalter: Evaluation dreier Sprachförderkonzepte

'In Deutschland lebende Kinder mit Migrationshintergrund und mangelnder Sprachkompetenz können Bildungschancen häufig nur unzureichend nutzen. Um diesen sprachlichen Defiziten frühzeitig zu begegnen, werden Sprachfördermaßnahmen bereits im Elementarbereich durchgeführt. Die Wirksamkeit solcher Sprachfördermaßnahmen wurde bisher allerdings selten überprüft. Die Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg hat mit der hier vorgestellten Studie EVAS die Effektivität von durch die Landesstiftung geförderten gezielten Sprachfördermaßnahmen im Vergleich zu unspezifischen Förderaktivitäten im Kindergarten evaluieren lassen. Zusätzlich wurden in dieser Studie die Sprachleistungen geförderter Kinder mit denjenigen von Kindern ohne Förderbedarf verglichen (N=490). Die Ergebnisse der Studie zeigen, dass unmittelbare Effekte der spezifischen Sprachfördermaßnahmen ausbleiben. Dieser unerwartete Befund legt nahe, die Bedingungen erfolgreicher Sprachförderung zu diskutieren und abzuwägen.' (Autorenreferat)'Children with an immigrant background and a lack of language proficiency living in Germany frequently fail to benefit from educational opportunities. To cope with these language impairments at an early stage, language programs are already implemented in preschool. The effectiveness of these programs, though, has rarely been evaluated. On behalf of the 'Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg', the efficiency of specific language programs sponsored by the 'Landesstiftung' in comparison to unspecific supportive measures at preschool level was evaluated as part of the EVAS longitudinal study. Additionally, the language proficiency of children participating in a specific language program was compared to that of children without language difficulties (N=490). The results of the study show that there are no significant effects immediately after the completion of the specific language development measures. Due to these unexpected outcomes, conditions for successful supportive measures have to be discussed and reconsidered.' (author's abstract)

Haemotrophic mycoplasmas in South American camelids in Switzerland

The red blood cell parasite 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae', formerly Eperythrozoon, is known to be widespread in South American camelids in the USA, causing anaemia in affected animals. Up to now, haemotrophic mycoplasmas were not observed in South American camelids in Europe; however, they were known in a herd of alpacas in Switzerland and to identify them as 'Candidatus M. haemolamae'. Possible ways of transmission are discussed