Gender und Diversity lehren und lernen - Ein Praxisbericht aus dem Kompetenzzentrum Hochschuldidaktik für Niedersachsen

Was heißt eigentlich genderbewusste Lehre? Der Aufsatz trägt die aktuellen Überlegungen hierzu aus Sicht der Hochschuldidaktik zusammen. Im zweiten Teil werden theoretische Überlegungen sowie praktische Erfahrungen mit der Veranstaltung "Gender & Diversity in der Lehre" beschrieben, die als Qualifizierung für Lehrende am Kompetenzzentrum Hochschuldidaktik für Niedersachsen angeboten wird. 01.12.2008 | Sabine Marx (Braunschweig

The children of occupations born during the Second World War and beyond - an overview

'Dieser Beitrag ist ein Überblick über einen Teilaspekt des Forschungsfeldes 'Kinder des Krieges', nämlich über Kinder ausländischer Soldaten und einheimischer Mütter während und nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg. Während dieses Konfliktes waren Millionen von Soldaten, oftmals für einen erheblichen Zeitraum, in unterschiedlichen Ländern - weltweit - stationiert. Dies geschah manchmal zur Kriegsvorbereitung, (z.B. US-Amerikaner und Kanadier in Großbritannien), während einer Militäraktion im Feindesland (deutsche Soldaten in Osteuropa, Frankreich, Norwegen, Dänemark, den Niederlanden, Griechenland etc.), oder nach dem Ende einer militärischen Operation als Teil der Friedenssicherung nach der Kapitulation eines besiegten Landes (z.B. amerikanische, britische, französische und sowjetische Soldaten in Deutschland oder Österreich). In einem zweiten Schritt wird diskutiert werden, wie zusätzliches Wissen über die Situation der Kinder des Zweiten Weltkrieges unser Verständnis der Situation der Kinder des Krieges allgemein und speziell auch in gegenwärtigen Konflikten verbessern kann. Schließlich werden einige methodische Überlegungen eingeführt, die für das Forschungsfeld der Kinder des Krieges unabhängig von Raum und Zeit von Bedeutung sind, bevor eine Forschungsagenda für zukünftige Schwerpunkte vorgeschlagen wird.' (Autorenreferat)'This paper will give an overview of one facet of the large research field of children born of war, namely children fathered by foreign soldiers and local mothers in different European countries during and after the Second World War. During this particular conflict, millions of soldiers of different nationalities were stationed in different countries - world wide - often for a considerable amount of time either in preparation of warfare (e.g. Americans and Canadians soldiers in Britain), during military operations in the enemy country (Germans soldiers in Eastern Europe, France, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Greece etc.) or after the defeated countries' surrenders (e.g. American, Soviet, French and British soldiers in Germany and Austria). In a second step, the authors will discuss how knowledge obtained through the analysis of children born of WWII may contribute to their understanding of specific problems of children born of war generally, and in recent and present day conflicts in particular. Finally, they will introduce some methodological considerations of relevance for the research field of children born of war across time and nations and define issues for future research agendas.' (author's abstract

The Role of Climate Perceptions, Expectations, and Forecasts in Farmer Decision Making: The Argentine Pampas and South Florida: Final Report of an IRI Seed Grant Project

This project sought to extend previous research efforts with both a “front end” – mental models that influence climatic expectations and forecast applications – and a “back end” – the decision processes in response to climate expectations derived from farmers’ mental models and externally-provided information. Research in this report was motivated by three lines of social science inquiry: (a) the importance of subjective perception of risk, (b) differences in the impact of small-probability events when information about them is learned by personal experience over time as opposed to being provided as a statistical summary, and (c) the role of both material and nonmaterial (including cognitive and affective) goals and processes in risky decision making. This study provided multiple insights into determinants of use of climate information related to perception and communication, and some evidence that improved presentation may overcome some of the barriers and enhance utility. We see several avenues for extending results and addressing limitations of the project’s scope and study design

Atroposelective Synthesis of Isoriccardin C through a C−H Activated Heck Type Macrocyclization

Macrocyclization is typically the key step in syntheses of cyclophane‐type natural products. Considering compounds with axially chiral biaryl moieties, the control of atroposelectivity is essential for biological activity and is synthetically challenging. Herein we report on atroposelective macrocyclization involving an oxidative Heck type process and enabling the first atropo‐enantiopure synthesis of isoriccardin C. A chiral sulfinyl auxiliary in the ortho‐position of a biaryl axis (still flexible) was used to induce a C−H activated atropodiastereoselective oxidative Heck coupling (>98 % de). The traceless character of the sulfinyl auxiliary enables the introduction of a hydroxy group to give the target molecule with >98 % ee as well

The Psychology of Climate Change Communication: A Guide for Scientists, Journalists, Educators, Political Aides, and the Interested Public

“The ultimate solutions to climate change are workable, cost-effective technologies which permit society to improve living standards while limiting and adapting to changes in the climate. Yet scientific, engineering, and organizational solutions are not enough. Societies must be motivated and empowered to adopt the needed changes. For that, the public must be able to interpret and respond to often bewildering scientific, technological, and economic information. Social psychologists are aware, through their painstaking scientific research, of the difficulties that individuals and groups have in processing and responding effectively to the information surrounding long-term and complex societal challenges. This guide powerfully details many of the biases and barriers to scientific communication and information processing. It offers a tool—in combination with rigorous science, innovative engineering, and effective policy design—to help our societies take the pivotal actions needed to respond with urgency and accuracy to one of the greatest challenges ever faced by humanity: global-scale, human-induced environmental threats, of which the most complex and far-reaching is climate change.

Improving epidemic malaria planning, preparedness and response in Southern Africa

Malaria is a major public health problem for countries in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). While the endemicity of malaria varies enormously across this region, many of the countries have districts that are prone to periodic epidemics, which can be regional in their extent, and to resurgent outbreaks that are much more localized. These epidemics are frequently triggered by climate anomalies and often follow periods of drought. Many parts of Southern Africa have suffered rainfall deficit over the past three years and countries expect to see increased levels of malaria when the rains return to more 'normal' levels. Problems with drug and insecticide resistance are documented widely and the region contains countries with the highest rates of HIV prevalence to be found anywhere in the world. Consequently, many communities are vulnerable to severe disease outcomes should epidemics occur. The SADC countries have adopted the Abuja targets for Roll Back Malaria in Africa, which include improved epidemic detection and response, i.e., that 60% of epidemics will be detected within two weeks of onset, and 60% of epidemics will be responded to within two weeks of detection. The SADC countries recognize that to achieve these targets they need improved information on where and when to look for epidemics. The WHO integrated framework for improved early warning and early detection of malaria epidemics has been recognized as a potentially useful tool for epidemic preparedness and response planning. Following evidence of successful adoption and implementation of this approach in Botswana, the SADC countries, the WHO Southern Africa Inter-Country Programme on Malaria Control, and the SADC Drought Monitoring Centre decided to organize a regional meeting where countries could gather to assess their current control status and community vulnerability, consider changes in epidemic risk, and develop a detailed plan of action for the forthcoming 2004–2005 season. The following is a report on the 1(st )Southern African Regional Epidemic Outlook Forum, which was held in Harare, Zimbabwe, 26(th)–29(th )September, 2004

Corticosteroids reverse cytokine-induced block of survival and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a frequent complication of preterm delivery. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) released from astrocytes and microglia activated by infection or ischemia have previously been shown to impair survival and maturation of oligodendrocyte progenitors and could thus be considered as potential factors contributing to the generation of this disease. The first goal of the present study was to investigate whether exposure of oligodendrocyte precursors to these cytokines arrests the maturation of ion currents in parallel to its effects on myelin proteins and morphological maturation. Secondly, in the search for agents, that can protect differentiating oligodendrocyte precursor cells from cytokine-induced damage we investigated effects of coapplications of corticosteroids with proinflammatory cytokines on the subsequent survival and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To exclude influences from factors released from other cell types purified cultures of oligodendrocyte precursors were exposed to cytokines and/or steroids and allowed to differentiate for further 6 days in culture. Changes in membrane surface were investigated with capacitance recordings and Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy. Na⁺- and K⁺- currents were investigated using whole cell patch clamp recordings. The expression of myelin specific proteins was investigated using western blots and the precursor cells were identified using immunostaining with A2B5 antibodies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Surviving IFN-γ and TNF-α treated cells continued to maintain voltage-activated Na⁺- and K⁺currents characteristic for the immature cells after 6 days in differentiation medium. Corticosterone, dihydrocorticosterone and, most prominently dexamethasone, counteracted the deleterious effects of IFN-γ and TNF-α on cell survival, A2B5-immunostaining and expression of myelin basic protein. The most potent corticosteroid tested, dexamethasone, was shown to counteract cytokine effects on membrane surface extension and capacitance. Furthermore, coapplication of dexamethasone blocked the cytokine-induced downregulation of the inwardly rectifying potassium current in 80% of the precursor cells and restored the cytokine-blocked down-regulation of the voltage activated Na⁺- and K⁺currents during subsequent differentiation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results show that treatment of oligodendrocyte precursors with the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ block the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursors at the level of the differentiation of the voltage-gated ion currents. Co-treatment with corticosteroids at the time of cytokine application restores to a considerable extent survival and differentiation of oligodendrocytes at the level of morphological, myelin protein as well as ion current maturation suggesting the option for a functional restoration of cytokine-damaged immature oligodendrocytes.</p

Topodiagnostic implications of hemiataxia: An MRI-based brainstem mapping analysis

The topodiagnostic implications of hemiataxia following lesions of the human brainstem are only incompletely understood. We performed a voxel-based statistical analysis of lesions documented on standardised MRI in 49 prospectively recruited patients with acute hemiataxia due to isolated unilateral brainstem infarction. For statistical analysis individual MRI lesions were normalised and imported in a three-dimensional voxel-based anatomical model of the human brainstem. Statistical analysis revealed hemiataxia to be associated with lesions of three distinct brainstem areas. The strongest correlation referred to ipsilateral rostral and dorsolateral medullary infarcts affecting the inferior cerebellar peduncle, and the dorsal and ventral spinocerebellar tracts. Secondly, lesions of the ventral pontine base resulted in contralateral limb ataxia, especially when ataxia was accompanied by motor hemiparesis. In patients with bilateral hemiataxia, lesions were located in a paramedian region between the upper pons and lower midbrain, involving the decussation of dentato-rubro-thalamic tracts. We conclude that ataxia following brainstem infarction may reflect three different pathophysiological mechanisms. (1) Ipsilateral hemiataxia following dorsolateral medullary infarctions results from a lesion of the dorsal spinocerebellar tract and the inferior cerebellar peduncle conveying afferent information from the ipsilateral arm and leg. (2) Pontine lesions cause contralateral and not bilateral ataxia presumably due to major damage to the descending corticopontine projections and pontine base nuclei, while already crossed pontocerebellar fibres are not completely interrupted. (3) Finally, bilateral ataxia probably reflects a lesion of cerebellar outflow on a central, rostral pontomesencephalic level. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved