What lessons can be learned from the perspective of the different actors in DM, especially from companies and social security organisations?

Background: In the context of demographic change and lack of qualified workers the preservation of the internal labour force gains importance for the companies. At the same time private and public income security organisations are increasingly interested in achieving better return to work out-comes in order to reduce their costs. Research shows that a functioning DM leads to more effective return to work in companies. Objectives: The interaction between the welfare state, the companies and private insurers is quite different in each county and highly depending and formed by the established welfare state scheme. In the presentation we will describe the interplay between the different stakeholders in DM for the situation in Switzerland and derive specific challenges and opportunities that arise from this set-ting. Methods: The presentation is based on findings from two studies (2008 and 20013) on disability management in private companies in Switzerland relying on qualitative and quantitative data. The results of these studies will be enriched with first findings from an ongoing international study that compares DM programmes in Switzerland, Australia, Canada and China (2013-2015). Findings: The cooperation between social insurances and the companies could be improved in various ways. Most important is the improvement of informal and institutional communication between the company and the social insurances representatives. But there is also a need to more effective and efficient cooperation in improving rehabilitation processes and the processes of work-place integration. In general the studies show not only that organisational development is needed but also the qualification of DMP's, as key factors in the processes, need to be improved. Discussion: We will present findings from a study on DM programmes in private companies from 2008, from a study on DM activities in small and medium sized companies 2013 and first results from an on-going international comparative research project mentioned above. What lessons can be learned from the perspective of the different actors in DM, especially from companies and social security organisations? Conclusion: Companies, private insurers and social security organizations will gain new insights into challenges and opportunities of DM. The findings will help to enhance collaboration between these different stakeholders and might provide important insight to improve and enhance existing DM programme

Franz Hamburger/Tarek Badawia/Merle Hummrich (Hrsg.): Migration und Bildung. Über das Verhältnis von Anerkennung und Zumutung in der Einwanderungsgesellschaft. Wiesbaden: Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften 2005. 344 S., EUR 29,90 [Rezension]

Rezension zu: Franz Hamburger/Tarek Badawia/Merle Hummrich (Hrsg.): Migration und Bildung. Über das Verhältnis von Anerkennung und Zumutung in der Einwanderungsgesellschaft. Wiesbaden: Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften 2005. 344 S., EUR 29,9

Migration Perspectives in Social Work Research: Local, National and International Contexts

Within social work, it is often assumed that migration is a signifier for social deprivation; however, closer examination of migrant populations in different European countries reveals tremendous heterogeneity. For example, recent migration patterns in Germany, Switzerland and the UK show that inward migration is characterised also by highly qualified migrant peoples. Against this background, the question arises as to what are the relevant issues which make migration a question for social work and what subjects should be addressed in social work research? This paper begins with conceptual considerations on the complexity of migration. Examining examples of social work research into migration, children and young people in the English and German languages from a cross-national systematic review, undertaken by the authors and spanning 2000-13, the authors identify the main foci of social work migration research thus far. Findings from the selected studies demonstrate a paucity and generality of social work research into migration and that the predominant focus is migration as a challenge for certain groups of migrant peoples, such as people seeking refuge or asylum. The authors argue that changes to practices in social work migration research, incorporating local, regional and international perspectives, are neede

Zugehörigkeit neu gestalten? Migration als Lern- und Handlungsprozess

Migration ist eine besondere Form der menschlichen Mobilität, die mit dem Wechsel des Lebensmittelpunktes verbunden ist. In diesem Beitrag wird die Debatte um das "Kulturelle" in der Migration aufgegriffen und dabei die These entfaltet, dass im Zusammenhang mit Migration und "Kultur" aktuell insbesondere Fragen von "Zugehörigkeit" artikuliert und (neu) verhandelt werden, die eng mit spezifischen Vorstellungen von Nationalstaat und Minderheiten verwoben sind. (DIPF/Orig.

Jugend, Kultur und Migration: zur Bedeutung kultureller Orientierungen

"Kultur wird in der neueren Forschung über Jugendliche im Kontext von Migration meist einer kritischen Betrachtung unterzogen. Sie wird vielfach als ein Distinktionsmerkmal angesehen, das zur Ausgrenzung von Jugendlichen mit Migrationshintergrund führt. Dabei werden Formen und Prozesse von Kulturalisierung und Ethnisierung kritisiert, denen Jugendliche im Kontext von Migration unterworfen werden. Kultur wird damit jedoch auf ihre hegemoniale Funktion reduziert und vor allem in dieser Perspektive betrachtet. Zugleich werden bei Jugendlichen im Kontext von Migration vielfältige Formen der kulturellen Aneignung, Neupositionierung und Neuerfindung innerhalb spezifischer gesellschaftlicher Verhältnisse sichtbar, die sich einer eindeutigen Zuordnung verweigern. Vor diesem Hintergrund setzt sich der vorliegende Beitrag mit der Frage nach der Bedeutung von Kultur für das Aufwachsen von Jugendlichen im Kontext von Migration auseinander. Dabei wird die These vertreten, dass Jugendliche erst über die in der Adoleszenz erworbenen und angeeigneten kulturellen Muster Autonomie erreichen können. Insgesamt zeigt sich, dass eine differenziertere Auseinandersetzung mit der Bedeutung von Kultur im Aufwachsen von Jugendlichen im Kontext von Migration erforderlich ist, die dem ambivalenten Charakter von Kultur Rechnung trägt." (Autorenreferat)"In recent research on youth in the context of migration, culture is generally looked at from a critical vantage point. It is largely viewed as a distinguishing feature that results in the exclusion of youth from a migrant background. There is critique of forms and processes of culturalization and ethnicization that youth are subject to in the context of migration. However, culture seen in this way is reduced to its hegemonic function and perceived principally from this perspective. Yet at the same time among youth in the context of migration, multifaceted forms of cultural appropriation, new positioning and new invention within specific social conditions become visible. Such forms resist a definitive classification. Against this backdrop, this essay examines the question of the importance and meaning of culture for youth growing up in the context of migration. It argues that youths can only achieve autonomy through the cultural patterns acquired and appropriated in adolescence. It becomes evident that a more differentiated examination of the importance of culture among youth in the context of migration is necessary, from a perspective that takes into account the ambivalent nature of culture." (author's abstract

A global database of soil nematode abundance and functional group composition

As the most abundant animals on earth, nematodes are a dominant component of the soil community. They play critical roles in regulating biogeochemical cycles and vegetation dynamics within and across landscapes and are an indicator of soil biological activity. Here, we present a comprehensive global dataset of soil nematode abundance and functional group composition. This dataset includes 6,825 georeferenced soil samples from all continents and biomes. For geospatial mapping purposes these samples are aggregated into 1,933 unique 1-km pixels, each of which is linked to 73 global environmental covariate data layers. Altogether, this dataset can help to gain insight into the spatial distribution patterns of soil nematode abundance and community composition, and the environmental drivers shaping these patterns

Longitudinal Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells in Colorectal Cancer Patients by a Cytological and Molecular Approach: Feasibility and Clinical Application

Introduction Liquid biopsies allowing for individualized risk stratification of cancer patients have become of high significance in individualized cancer diagnostics and treatment. The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) has proven to be highly relevant in risk prediction, e.g., in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. In this study, we investigate the clinical relevance of longitudinal CTC detection over a course of follow-up after surgical resection of the tumor and correlate these findings with clinico-pathological characteristics. Methods In total, 49 patients with histologically proven colorectal carcinoma were recruited for this prospective study. Blood samples were analyzed for CTC presence by two methods: first by marker-dependent immunofluorescence staining combined with automated microscopy with the NYONE® cell imager and additionally, indirectly, by semi-quantitative Cytokeratin-20 (CK20) RT-qPCR. CTC quantification data were compared and correlated with the clinico-pathological parameters. Results Detection of CTC over a post-operative time course was feasible with both applied methods. In patients who were pre-operatively negative for CTCs with the NYONE® method or below the cut-off for relative CK20 mRNA expression after analysis by PCR, a statistically significant rise in the immediate post-operative CTC detection could be demonstrated. Further, in the cohort analyzed by PCR, we detected a lower CTC load in patients who were adjuvantly treated with chemotherapy compared to patients in the follow-up subgroup. This finding was contrary to the same patient subset analyzed with the NYONE® for CTC detection. Conclusion Our study investigates the occurrence of CTC in CRC patients after surgical resection of the primary tumor and during postoperative follow-up. The resection of the tumor has an impact on the CTC quantity and the longitudinal CTC analysis supports the significance of CTC as a prognostic biomarker. Future investigations with an even more extended follow-up period and larger patient cohorts will have to validate our results and may help to define an optimal longitudinal sampling scheme for liquid biopsies in the post-operative monitoring of cancer patients to enable tailored therapy concepts for precision medicine

Immunological and mass spectrometry-based approaches to determine thresholds of the mutagenic DNA adduct O 6 -methylguanine in vivo

© 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. N-nitroso compounds are alkylating agents, which are widespread in our diet and the environment. They induce DNA alkylation adducts such as O 6 -methylguanine (O 6 -MeG), which is repaired by O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). Persistent O 6 -MeG lesions have detrimental biological consequences like mutagenicity and cytotoxicity. Due to its pivotal role in the etiology of cancer and in cytotoxic cancer therapy, it is important to detect and quantify O 6 -MeG in biological specimens in a sensitive and accurate manner. Here, we used immunological approaches and established an ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) to monitor O 6 -MeG adducts. First, colorectal cancer (CRC) cells were treated with the methylating anticancer drug temozolomide (TMZ). Immunofluorescence microscopy and an immuno-slot blot assay, both based on an adduct-specific antibody, allowed for the semi-quantitative, dose-dependent assessment of O 6 -MeG in CRC cells. Using the highly sensitive and specific UPLC–MS/MS, TMZ-induced O 6 -MeG adducts were quantified in CRC cells and even in peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to clinically relevant TMZ doses. Furthermore, all methodologies were used to detect O 6 -MeG in wildtype (WT) and MGMT-deficient mice challenged with the carcinogen azoxymethane. UPLC–MS/MS measurements and dose–response modeling revealed a non-linear formation of hepatic and colonic O 6 -MeG adducts in WT, whereas linear O 6 -MeG formation without a threshold was observed in MGMT-deficient mice. Collectively, the UPLC–MS/MS analysis is highly sensitive and specific for O 6 -MeG, thereby allowing for the first time for the determination of a genotoxic threshold upon exposure to O 6 -methylating agents. We envision that this method will be instrumental to monitor the efficacy of methylating chemotherapy and to assess dietary exposures