An exploratory case study analysis of a restorative justice intervention project that mediated domestic violence cases in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Master of Social Science in Criminology and Forensic Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal. Durban, 2017.Domestic violence has been an ongoing phenomenon in South Africa. This form of violence has been exacerbated by the culture of violence that has existed in traditional gendered societies and that was exacerbated by the social injustices of the apartheid era. In this context, restorative justice is considered an alternative to the criminal justice system. Various legislations have been put in place to address domestic violence; however, it has remained a problematic social issue in South Africa. This study was based on exploring a restorative justice intervention that use mediation to assist in domestic violence cases in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study focused on the Khulisa Justice and Restoration Project (KJARP) that was piloted in Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal. This programme was later replicated in other communities within this province. The study endeavoured to determine whether the KJARP was able to implement restorative justice in domestic violence cases. This study made use of quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods in order to determine whether KJARP achieved the objectives that it had set out to achieve. The study found that Khulisa’s restorative mediation project had achieved its objectives, although it had to close its doors in 2013. Some recommendations regarding mediation processes for victims and offenders that should be implemented in domestic violence mediation are offered. For example, agreements need to be proportionate to the offence and involve others who were involved in or who are knowledgeable about the incident. Cultural values and norms should also be considered in mediation processes, while persons who support both victims and offenders should be present during mediation sessions, with stringent rules for their involvement. Although Khulisa terminated its mediation project for domestic violence cases in 2013, an investigation into this project was deemed important as valuable lessons could be learnt for future intervention programmes that deal with domestic violence

A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating olipudase alfa enzyme replacement therapy for chronic acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) in adults : one-year results

Purpose: This trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of olipudase alfa enzyme replacement therapy for non–central nervous system manifestations of acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) in adults. Methods: A phase 2/3, 52 week, international, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (ASCEND; NCT02004691/EudraCT 2015-000371-26) enrolled 36 adults with ASMD randomized 1:1 to receive olipudase alfa or placebo intravenously every 2 weeks with intrapatient dose escalation to 3 mg/kg. Primary efficacy endpoints were percent change from baseline to week 52 in percent predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide and spleen volume (combined with splenomegaly-related score in the United States). Other outcomes included liver volume/function/sphingomyelin content, pulmonary imaging/function, platelet levels, lipid profiles, and pharmacodynamics. Results: Least square mean percent change from baseline to week 52 favored olipudase alfa over placebo for percent predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (22% vs 3.0% increases, P = .0004), spleen volume (39% decrease vs 0.5% increase, P < .0001), and liver volume (28% vs 1.5% decreases, P < .0001). Splenomegaly-related score decreased in both groups (P = .64). Other clinical outcomes improved in the olipudase alfa group compared with the placebo group. There were no treatment-related serious adverse events or adverse event–related discontinuations. Most adverse events were mild. Conclusion: Olipudase alfa was well tolerated and associated with significant and comprehensive improvements in disease pathology and clinically relevant endpoints compared with placebo in adults with ASMD

Embracing Resiliency: Practical Strategies to Minimize Teacher Burnout and Elevate Retention

Abstract Teacher shortage constitutes a crisis in the U.S. and the education system at-large. In light of the crisis of teacher shortage and the severity of turnover rate, the purpose of this paper is to join in the dialogue to further the conversation regarding how believing or reinforcing stereotypes can contribute to burnout and unrealistic expectations teachers face in education. Suggestions for pre-service and in-service teachers to acquire a more realistic and resilient lens for themselves as educators and the profession is presented. The following themes will be explored: collaboration, embracing vulnerability, empowerment and agency, support and mentoring, and self-care and resiliency

Weighted Content Based untuk Rekomendasi Pertemanan pada Jejaring Sosial Twitter

Jejaring sosial saat ini memiliki peran yang sangat penting bagi jutaan pengguna internet aktif yang ada di dunia ini, salah satunya Twitter. Dengan adanya jejaring sosial Twitter membuat pengguna saling berinteraksi dengan pengguna lain dan tanpa harus melakukan hubungan timbal balik. Untuk alasan ini, rekomendasi pertemanan pada Twitter menjadi lebih kompleks. Pada Tugas Akhir ini membuat sistem rekomendasi pertemanan berdasarkan preferensi pengguna dengan cara mengidentifikasi alasan dari terciptanya suatu hubungan dengan melihat bagaimana tingkat kepopularan seorang pengguna, aktivitasnya, dan lokasi keberadaan jarak antar pengguna. Ketiga fitur tersebut dinamakan fitur popularitas, aktivitas, dan lokasi[11]. Ketiga fitur ini dihitung pembobotannya dengan menggunakan metode Weighted Content Based untuk menghasilkan rekomendasi pertemanan baru[11]. Untuk menghasilkan rekomendasi pertemanan baru yang relevan maka digunakan threshold untuk filtering fitur popularitas, filtering fitur aktivitas dan filtering total bobot fitur tertentu. Pengaruh penggunaan nilai threshold yang rendah akan menghasil jumlah rekomendasi pertemanan relevan baru yang lebih banyak dan jika nilai threshold yang digunakan tinggi akan menghasil jumlah rekomendasi pertemanan relevan baru yang lebih sedikit. rekomendasi pertemanan, Weighted Content Based, fitur popularitas, fitur aktivitas, fitur lokasi, threshol

Interventions Combining Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavior to Promote Medication Adherence: A Literature Review

Aims and objectives: The World Health Organization has indicated medication adherence is a global problem. Both motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions alone have been found to be effective at improving medication adherence. This article summarizes research that has combined motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy to improve medication adherence. Background: Projections indicate that by 2015, 33% of cancer treatment will be in pill form, shifting responsibility for managing medication adherence to patients. These regimens are often complex, with multiple doses, drugs, or cycling, and patients often experience side effects from symptoms, making adherence difficult. Patients taking cancer treatment in pill form must strictly adhere to their regimen to achieve a therapeutically effective level for cancer treatment. Design: Literature review. Methods: Data were obtained from six studies that combined MI and CBT in an intervention to promote medication adherence. Analysis was performed based on an integrative review process. Results: Five studies on medication adherence rates using combined MI and CBT reported improved medication adherence rates; and one was trending toward improved medication adherence rates. Conclusions: Combined MI/CBT interventions improved medication adherence in various conditions; and may be effective in challenging clinical conditions, such as when cancer treatment is prescribed in pill form. Relevance to clinical practice: This review focused on interventions that combined motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote medication adherence. Findings provide nurses with an overview of interventions that may be used in developing programs to help patients manage adherence to cancer treatment in pill form; as well as in other challenging conditions where medication adherence is crucial. A detailed description of the interventions found to be effective is provided to assist nurses in translating evidence into practice

What Happens to Adopted Youth and Families after Adoption? Resutls of a Follow Up Study Conducted for Ampersand Families

Wilder Research worked with staff from Ampersand Families to design a post-adoption follow-up study that focused on the outcomes of youth adopted as older children and the families who adopt. This report presents the results of interviews with youth adoptees and adoptive parents

The Implementation of Ignatian Pedagogy in a Jesuit University in Indonesia: Students’ Perspectives

The goal of Jesuit Education is to grow a whole person through its signature Ignatian Pedagogy. When entering Indonesia, it surely has its own uniqueness. Thus, this study aims at exploring how the Ignatian Pedagogy is implemented in teaching and learning process in a Jesuit University in Indonesia. This qualitative study used questionnaires to collect the data from 613 students. The results revealed some significant findings related to each element. In Context, the lecturers have made some efforts to understand the students’ backgrounds through direct interaction in and outside the classroom as well as through social media. In Experience, the lecturers mostly used discussions to trigger students’ engagement. Moreover, the way the lecturers asked the students to do the Reflection was quite varied, ranging from giving written guiding questions to spontaneously inviting the students to do it. In Action, the lecturers asked the students to make some plans, do positive activities and express individual intent. The Evaluation done includes cognitive, affective and psychomotor ones. Suggesting holistic collaborative and contextual education, the findings also reflect the characteristics of education as outlined in the Regulation from the Minister of Education and Culture of Indonesia. Yet, cura personalis seems to be challenging to be implemented in Indonesia

Antigen Delivery by Lipid-Enveloped PLGA Microparticle Vaccines Mediated by in Situ Vesicle Shedding

Lipid-coated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles (LCMPs) consist of a solid polymer core wrapped by a surface lipid bilayer. Previous studies demonstrated that immunization with LCMPs surface-decorated with nanograms of antigen elicit potent humoral immune responses in mice. However, the mechanism of action for these vaccines remained unclear, as LCMPs are too large to drain efficiently to lymph nodes from the vaccination site. Here, we characterized the stability of the lipid envelope of LCMPs and discovered that in the presence of serum the lipid coating of the particles spontaneously delaminates, shedding antigen-displaying vesicles. Lipid delamination generated 180 nm liposomes in a temperature- and lipid/serum-dependent manner. Vesicle shedding was restricted by inclusion of high-T[subscript M] lipids or cholesterol in the LCMP coating. Administration of LCMPs bearing stabilized lipid envelopes generated weaker antibody responses than those of shedding-competent LCMPs, suggesting that in situ release of antigen-loaded vesicles plays a key role in the remarkable potency of LCMPs as vaccine adjuvants.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (AI091693)Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvar

Post-transcriptional regulation of satellite cell quiescence by TTP-mediated mRNA decay.

Skeletal muscle satellite cells in their niche are quiescent and upon muscle injury, exit quiescence, proliferate to repair muscle tissue, and self-renew to replenish the satellite cell population. To understand the mechanisms involved in maintaining satellite cell quiescence, we identified gene transcripts that were differentially expressed during satellite cell activation following muscle injury. Transcripts encoding RNA binding proteins were among the most significantly changed and included the mRNA decay factor Tristetraprolin. Tristetraprolin promotes the decay of MyoD mRNA, which encodes a transcriptional regulator of myogenic commitment, via binding to the MyoD mRNA 3' untranslated region. Upon satellite cell activation, p38α/β MAPK phosphorylates MAPKAP2 and inactivates Tristetraprolin, stabilizing MyoD mRNA. Satellite cell specific knockdown of Tristetraprolin precociously activates satellite cells in vivo, enabling MyoD accumulation, differentiation and cell fusion into myofibers. Regulation of mRNAs by Tristetraprolin appears to function as one of several critical post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling satellite cell homeostasis