Valuing capabilities in later life

This research report examines, from the perspective of the Brotherhood’s aged service users, what they value in life, what enables them to live fulfilled and meaningful lives, and what Brotherhood aged services can contribute to this. With its accent on freedoms, opportunities and human rights, the capability approach provides a conceptual framework in which to consider a new model of aged services in which will enhance older adults’ human rights and capabilities, especially for those who have been disadvantaged, and ensure that their views continue to inform and shape ageing policies, services and models of practice. The central concern of the capability approach, first articulated by Amartya Sen (1979) and developed by Martha Nussbaum within a social justice and human rights framework, is the opportunities people have for being and doing what, for them, constitutes a good life. Taking this as the starting point, this research represents the first part of a larger study which will examine what users of Brotherhood aged services value in life, what capabilities they aspire to, how current services enhance capabilities and how the capability approach might be integrated into service provision. Image: Report Cove

Mobile Process Landscaping by Example of Residential Trade and Industry

This case study describes the method of process landscaping by example of a project in which the business processes of a company from the residential trade and industry were analyzed regarding their mobile potential. This analysis was conducted with the aim to organize these processes more efficiently in order to realize cost savings. Therefore a verification was required, whether the use of mobility supporting technology is suitable to obtain this goal and which professional requirements such a solution needs to fulfil. For that purpose, it is shown how the initial situation was analyzed, which alternative solutions on the basis of mobility supporting technology were developed and how these alternatives were economically evaluated. Furthermore, it is shown how first restrictions for the software and system design were made on the basis of one alternative. The method of Mobile Process Landscaping refers to the stage of requirements engineering in the software process

Aspects of Lyee Configuration Management

Based on the static structure of Lyee programs, a configuration management concept for Lyee software projects is presented. After describing a modularization concept which is vital for configuration management, the configuration management concept itself is elaborated by showing the involved elements and procedures. Finally, the structure of the actual configuration management tool is presented and discussed

Targeted DamID reveals differential binding of mammalian pluripotency factors.

The precise control of gene expression by transcription factor networks is crucial to organismal development. The predominant approach for mapping transcription factor-chromatin interactions has been chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). However, ChIP requires a large number of homogeneous cells and antisera with high specificity. A second approach, DamID, has the drawback that high levels of Dam methylase are toxic. Here, we modify our targeted DamID approach (TaDa) to enable cell type-specific expression in mammalian systems, generating an inducible system (mammalian TaDa or MaTaDa) to identify genome-wide protein/DNA interactions in 100 to 1000 times fewer cells than ChIP-based approaches. We mapped the binding sites of two key pluripotency factors, OCT4 and PRDM14, in mouse embryonic stem cells, epiblast-like cells and primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). PGCLCs are an important system for elucidating primordial germ cell development in mice. We monitored PRDM14 binding during the specification of PGCLCs, identifying direct targets of PRDM14 that are key to understanding its crucial role in PGCLC development. We show that MaTaDa is a sensitive and accurate method for assessing cell type-specific transcription factor binding in limited numbers of cells

Table of Contents

Chromosome errors, or aneuploidy, affect an exceptionally high number of human conceptions, causing pregnancy loss and congenital disorders. Here, we have followed chromosome segregation in human oocytes from females aged 9 to 43 years and report that aneuploidy follows a U-curve. Specific segregation error types show different age dependencies, providing a quantitative explanation for the U-curve. Whole-chromosome nondisjunction events are preferentially associated with increased aneuploidy in young girls, whereas centromeric and more extensive cohesion loss limit fertility as women age. Our findings suggest that chromosomal errors originating in oocytes determine the curve of natural fertility in humans. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2019 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for adolescents and adults with inborn errors of immunity: an EBMT IEWP study.

peer reviewedAllogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the gold standard curative therapy for infants and children with many inborn errors of immunity (IEI), but adolescents and adults with IEI are rarely referred for transplant. Lack of published HSCT outcome data outside small, single-center studies and perceived high risk of transplant-related mortality have delayed the adoption of HSCT for IEI patients presenting or developing significant organ damage later in life. This large retrospective, multicenter HSCT outcome study reports on 329 IEI patients (age range, 15-62.5 years at HSCT). Patients underwent first HSCT between 2000 and 2019. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS). We also evaluated the influence of IEI-subgroup and IEI-specific risk factors at HSCT, including infections, bronchiectasis, colitis, malignancy, inflammatory lung disease, splenectomy, hepatic dysfunction, and systemic immunosuppression. At a median follow-up of 44.3 months, the estimated OS at 1 and 5 years post-HSCT for all patients was 78% and 71%, and EFS was 65% and 62%, respectively, with low rates of severe acute (8%) or extensive chronic (7%) graft-versus-host disease. On univariate analysis, OS and EFS were inferior in patients with primary antibody deficiency, bronchiectasis, prior splenectomy, hepatic comorbidity, and higher hematopoietic cell transplant comorbidity index scores. On multivariable analysis, EFS was inferior in those with a higher number of IEI-associated complications. Neither age nor donor had a significant effect on OS or EFS. We have identified age-independent risk factors for adverse outcome, providing much needed evidence to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from HSCT

"Can you please help me? How can we live?": UnitingCare’s emergency relief and crisis support for asylum seekers living in the community

Asylum seekers living in the community are at serious risk of disadvantage, isolation and marginalisation, argues this report, which outlines the emergency relief services and other related support to asylum seekers provided by UnitingCare agencies. Summary Recent research conducted by UnitingCare Victoria and Tasmania Unit (UCVT) identified asylum seekers living in the community as a major community group at serious risk of disadvantage, isolation and marginalisation.    The report provides in particular a summary of the emergency relief services and other related support to asylum seekers provided by UnitingCare agencies. Current demand for UnitingCare services has increased considerably and far outstrips the capacity by the UCVT agencies to provide adequate support.The report also finds that participating UnitingCare agencies are under-resourced to provide ER and other services to a level that sufficiently addresses the complex spectrum of needs. Another finding is that many agencies are keen to be able to offer programs and services they see as critical to the target group but due to lack of funding they are unable to provide them. The report therefore makes the following key recommendations: Provide adequate funding for ER and material aid; Provide adequate funding for meaningful engagement programs; Provide additional funding for specialist staff; Address communication, language and cultural barriers; Provide opportunities for education, training and volunteering; Grant all asylum seekers in the community the right to work and assist agencies to help with job search; Build and strengthen local networks to effectively respond to emerging needs; More support to find and maintain adequate and affordable housing

Review of the Physical Properties of Liquid Ionization Chamber Media

Those physical properties of liquid methane, argon, krypton, and xenon important in the design, construction, and operation of liquid ionization chambers are reviewed. The thermodynamic properties, electrical and optical properties, effects of impurities, and atomic and nuclear properties are summarized

Mobile Process Landscaping by Example of Residential Trade and Industry

This case study describes the method of process landscaping by example of a project in which the business processes of a company from the residential trade and industry were analyzed regarding their mobile potential. This analysis was conducted with the aim to organize these processes more efficiently in order to realize cost savings. Therefore a verification was required, whether the use of mobility supporting technology is suitable to obtain this goal and which professional requirements such a solution needs to fulfil. For that purpose, it is shown how the initial situation was analyzed, which alternative solutions on the basis of mobility supporting technology were developed and how these alternatives were economically evaluated. Furthermore, it is shown how first restrictions for the software and system design were made on the basis of one alternative. The method of Mobile Process Landscaping refers to the stage of requirements engineering in the software process

Valuing capabilities in later life: the capability approach and the Brotherhood of St Laurence aged services

This study examined what the Brotherhood’s aged service users value in life, what enables them to live meaningful lives and what the services can contribute to this. The capability approach is used as a conceptual framework in which to consider a new model of aged services which will affirm older adults’ human rights and capabilities, especially for those who have been disadvantaged, and ensure that their views shape policies, services and practice