Involvement and Impact of External Actors on Constitution Making in South Sudan and Somaliland: A Comparative Study

In order to examine the implications different forms and degrees of internationalised constitution making have on ideas of statehood and the legitimacy of a constitution, the study compares two cases - South Sudan and Somaliland - to explore contrasting patterns of international involvement in constitution making. South Sudan is the one 'extreme' case with strong international intervention, with Somaliland at the other 'extreme'. This paper demonstrates that the actual process matters and once again reinforces scepticism about the ways in which internationalised constitution making is conducted in war-torn settings. In Somaliland the societal consensus production, which included negotiating a governmental structure, was in the hands of the local elites for the constitution making period, which lasted a decade. In South Sudan the consensus production has so far been framed and guided by powerful international actors who had a seat at the local negotiating table. Not only does path dependence seem to prevent the production of a broader consensus on the mode of statehood, but the local translations of international 'models' also seem to be contrary to intended Rule of Law ideas. The study indicates that even though a locally driven and owned process supports the production of a legitimate constitution, international support is not generally denied. Inherent tensions between 'local ownership' and 'external intervention' may open space for re-negotiations on different normative perceptions and may support a redefinition of exclusion/inclusion dynamics. Nevertheless, to avoid these tensions becoming un-negotiable as a result of the imposition of international assistance which may lead to international 'models' simply being rejected or manipulated in line with internal power relations, constitution making needs to be conducted in an open manner by the local actors themselves

Quilted Floer Cohomology

We generalize Lagrangian Floer cohomology to sequences of Lagrangian correspondences. For sequences related by the geometric composition of Lagrangian correspondences we establish an isomorphism of the Floer cohomologies. We give applications to calculations of Floer cohomology, displaceability of Lagrangian correspondences, and transfer of displaceability under geometric composition.Comment: minor corrections and updated reference

ProfilPASS für junge Menschen: Einsatz in der Schule

ProfilPASS for young adults is a scientifically supported tool for determining and documenting personal competences. The students can effectively utilise the competences determined with the ProfilPASS for young adults for choosing a profession, provided the system has been integrated in the scholastic counselling and guidance concept and is sufficiently supported by qualified ProfilPASS advisory personnel. ProfilPASS has to date been implemented at schools in the Saarland region and as part of a model project across the Federal Republic in support of vocational orientation. The practical handbook contains theoretical and conceptional basics for working with ProfilPASS at schools. Successful implementation examples demonstrate the concept. Specific recommendations for action aimed at teachers for vocational orientation at secondary schools.Der ProfilPASS für junge Menschen ist ein wissenschaftlich begleitetes Instrument zur Kompetenzermittlung und -dokumentation. Die Schülerinnen und Schüler können die Kompetenzermittlung mit dem ProfilPASS für junge Menschen effektiv für ihre Berufswahl nutzen, wenn das System in das schulische Berufsorientierungskonzept eingebettet ist und durch qualifiziertes ProfilPASS-Beratungspersonal begleitet wird. Der ProfilPASS wird bereits an den Schulen im Saarland und bundesweit in Modellprojekten bei der Berufsorientierung eingesetzt. Das Praxisbuch enthält die theoretischen und konzeptionellen Grundlagen für die Arbeit mit dem ProfilPASS an Schulen. Erprobte Umsetzungsbeispiele veranschaulichen das Konzept. Konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen für den Einsatz richten sich an Lehrerinnen und Lehrer für Berufsvorbereitung an allgemeinbildenden Schulen

Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy for a Phosphaturic Mesenchymal Tumor.

Tumor-induced osteomalacia is a very rare paraneoplastic syndrome. It can be caused by phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor (PMT), a generally benign tumor that produces fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), which can cause a severe renal phosphate wasting syndrome. Upon complete surgical removal of the tumor, FGF-23 normalizes and the osteomalacia is cured. In cases in which surgery is not feasible, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the treatment of choice. We describe a case with a PMT situated in the sacrum, in close proximity to the sacral plexus. Both surgery and RFA were considered potentially nerve damaging. Since the tumor showed expression of somatostatin receptors, we opted for a peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with 177Lu-DOTATOC. However, the therapy did not show the expected success, since the FGF-23 level had even temporarily increased. The patient was then successfully treated with RFA. A partial remission of the tumor was achieved and FGF-23 levels nearly normalized. Despite some severe neurological side effects, the patient showed a remarkable clinical improvement, with no symptoms of osteomalacia within a few weeks

Original Contribution 2 PGD 2 and PGE 2 regulate gene expression of Prx 6 in primary macrophages via Nrf2

Prostaglandin 26 Free radicals 27 Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx 6) is a bifunctional enzyme with both glutathione peroxidase and acidic Ca 2+ -28 independent phospholipase A 2 activities. We have recently shown that exposure of murine bone marrow-29 derived macrophages to LPS and IFN-γ leads to induction of COX-2 expression and secretion of PGE 2 , up-30 regulating Prx 6 mRNA levels. This study was designed to investigate various prostaglandins (PGs) for their 31 ability to induce gene expression of Prx's, in particular Prx 6, and to determine the underlying regulatory 32 mechanisms. We provide evidence that both conventional and cyclopentenone PGs enhance Prx 6 mRNA 33 expression. Treatment with either activators or inhibitors of adenylate cyclase as well as cAMP analogs 34 indicated that Prx 6 gene expression is regulated by adenylate cyclase in response to PGD 2 or PGE 2 . 35 Furthermore, our study revealed that JAK2, PI3K, PKC, and p38 MAPK contribute to the PGD 2 -or PGE 2 -36 dependent Prx 6 induction. Using stimulated macrophages from Nrf2-deficient mice or activators of Nrf2 and 37 PPARγ, we found that Nrf2, but not PPARγ, is involved in the PG-dependent increase in Prx 6 mRNA 38 expression. In summary, our data suggest multiple signaling pathways of Prx 6 regulation by PGs and 39 identified Nrf2 as a critical player mediating transcriptional induction. 40 © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Novel Mutations in the Asparagine Synthetase Gene (ASNS) Associated With Microcephaly

Microcephaly is a devastating condition defined by a small head and small brain compared to the age- and sex-matched population. Mutations in a number of different genes causative for microcephaly have been identified, e.g., MCPH1, WDR62, and ASPM. Recently, mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme asparagine synthetase (ASNS) were associated to microcephaly and so far 24 different mutations in ASNS causing microcephaly have been described. In a family with two affected girls, we identified novel compound heterozygous variants in ASNS (c.1165G > C, p.E389Q and c.601delA, p.M201Wfs∗28). The first mutation (E389Q) is a missense mutation resulting in the replacement of a glutamate residue evolutionary conserved from Escherichia coli to Homo sapiens by glutamine. Protein modeling based on the known crystal structure of ASNS of E. coli predicted a destabilization of the protein by E389Q. The second mutation (p.M201Wfs∗28) results in a premature stop codon after amino acid 227, thereby truncating more than half of the protein. The novel variants expand the growing list of microcephaly causing mutations in ASNS

Das digitale Ich. Zwischen Gemeinschaft und Abgrenzung - drei Fallstudien

Dieses E-Book enthält drei sozialwissenschaftliche Fallstudien, die Studierende der Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart im Wintersemester 2015/16 in einem Master-Kurs erstellt haben. Die Projekte behandelten neue Trends in der zunehmend digitalisierten Gesellschaft. Thematisch umfassen die drei Teilstudien das "Vertrauen in der Sharing Economy", die "digitale Diaspora" am Beispiel polnischstämmiger Migranten und die "Ethik der Privatheit"