Struktur und Organisation berufsbegleitender MINT Studiengänge

Die Autorin berichtet über eine Studie zur Analyse der Struktur und Organisation berufsbegleitender MINT-Studiengänge. Auf Basis von Interviews mit 16 Lehrenden und Studiengangskoordinatoren geht sie Forschungsfragen auf der Mikroebene (Herausforderungen für Lehrende und Studiengangskoordinatoren), der Mesoebene (Rolle der Kooperationen mit Unternehmen und Bildungsanbietern) sowie der Makroebene (Analyse der Bildungsstruktur und Bildungsorganisation) nach und arbeitet für jede Ebene Veränderungs- und Weiterentwicklungsbedarfe heraus. (DIPF/Orig.

Impact of a multi-level intervention on facility-based births and skilled birth attendance in Kalomo District, Zambia: a mixed-methods evaluation

Problem: Zambia has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. Risks of serious complications during childbirth and associated maternal morbidity and mortality can be mitigated by improving access to skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC) in facilities when complications arise. In 2012, the Saving Mothers Giving Life (SMGL) initiative was launched in Kalomo District, Zambia, to reduce maternal deaths. Methods: This study assessed the impact of SMGL in Kalomo District on rates of facility delivery, delivery with a skilled birth attendant, and facility-level changes in the provision of maternity and newborn care during the first learning phase, 2012–2013. Changes in neonatal mortality were also assessed. A mixed-methods approach utilized a quasi-experimental pre-post nonequivalent comparison group design using household data (n=21,680 women) and health facility assessments (n=77) including EmONC signal functions. Data were collected from February 2011–October 2013, before and during SMGL program implementation, in the intervention district and a comparison area. A qualitative inquiry with key informants (n=26) was then conducted in September 2014. Results: There was a 49% relative increase in the odds of facility-based birth during SMGL in Kalomo relative to comparison districts (OR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.21–1.77), controlling for covariates. There was no significant change in delivery with a skilled birth attendant. Newborn mortality in Kalomo decreased significantly (4.3% to 2.6%, p<0.01), even when controlling for covariates, with no change in comparison. EmONC signal functions increased from a mean of 2.7 to 3.9 (p=0.003) per facility in Kalomo, with no change in the comparison area. Most facility-level changes related to newborn care. Informants attributed impacts primarily to community mobilization by Safe Motherhood Action Group volunteers and clinical mentorship. Conclusion: SMGL positively influenced demand for facility deliveries. Data indicate a limited measurable change in supply-side indicators of provision of intra-partum maternity care, while improving neonatal survival. Interviews suggested that mentoring existing staff might be responsible for improved care and referrals. Phase 2 should focus on strengthening human resources to increase access to skilled delivery and strategies to improve communication and transport to facilitate timely referral of emergency cases

In vitro Untersuchungen zur Wirkung von Saccharidmimetika auf verschiedene Schritte der Metastasierung von malignen Melanomzellen

In dieser Arbeit sollte das Potential synthetischer Saccharidmimetika getestet werden, verschiedene Schritte der metastatischen Kaskade in vitro zu hemmen. Dabei wurden an Melanomzellen einige ausgewählte Strukturen zweier Substanzbibliotheken auf ihre Wirkung gegenüber der Zell-Adhäsion und -Migration sowie der Aktivierung von Matrix-Metalloproteinasen untersucht. Erste Versuche mit galactosylierten Cyclohexan-Derivaten haben gezeigt, daß sich die Adhäsion von B16F10-Mausmelanom-Zellen an Fibronectin in Anwesenheit von 40 mM 1,3-Bis-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-oxymethyl-5-hydroxymethyl-cyclohexan um 80 % inhibieren läßt. Die Wirksamkeit von Galactose als aktives Element bestätigten Adhäsionsversuche mit digalactosylierten Furan-Derivaten, welche in äquivalenter Konzentration in der Lage waren die Adhäsion der B16F10-Zellen an Fibronectin (40 %), Vitronectin (50 %) und Laminin (50 %) signifikant zu reduzieren. Der Furanring als Grundgerüst der Saccharidbibliothek bietet dabei den Vorteil, daß das Saccharidmimetikum über eine Diels-Alder-Reaktion an Fluoreszenz-Farbstoffe gekoppelt werden kann. Auf diese Weise lassen sich Moleküle erzeugen, die als Marker zuckerbindender Strukturen zur Aufklärung des Wirkmechanismus der Saccharidmimetika genutzt werden können. Die Substitution eines Galactoserestes am Furan-Ring gegen eine Fucoseeinheit ergab keine Verbesserung der inhibitorischen Eigenschaften. Auch eine Übertragung der Ergebnisse auf die humane Melanom-Zellinie WM-115 ergab für 40 mM 3,4-Bis-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-oxymethyl-furan nur noch einen geringen Rückgang der Adhäsion an Fibronectin (26 %) bzw. Fibrinogen (30 % ab 5mM). Ein Effekt der Substanz auf die Aktivität der Matrix-Metalloproteinase-2 bzw. das Migrationspotential der Zellen war nicht zu erkennen. Die Addition einer geladenen Sulfatgruppe an den Furanring ergab schließlich die gewünschte Optimierung der Wirksamkeit des Saccharidmimetikums. 3-beta-D-Galactopyranosyl-oxymethyl-4-sulfatomethyl-furan (GSF) ist in der Lage die Adhäsion des B16F10 Maus-Melanoms und der humanen WM-115-Linie an Fibronectin (40 mM) und Fibrinogen (20 bzw. 10 mM) vollständig zu unterdrücken. Es verminderte die Aktivierung der MMP-2 und inhibierte die Migration von Zellen in einer Konzentration von 5 mM. Ein Rückgang der Zellzahl um 50 % aufgrund cytotoxischer Effekte ist bei dieser Konzentration erst nach mehr als 60 h erkennbar und daher für die beschriebenen Versuche nicht relevant. Die vollständige Inhibition der Adhäsion, sowie die signifikanten Auswirkungen auf die Aktivierung von MMP-2 und die Zell-Migration deuten auf eine Interaktion von GSF mit einem oder mehreren Mitgliedern der Integrinfamilie hin. Anhand der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es gelungen zu zeigen, daß insbesondere geladene Saccharidmimetika das Potential besitzen die metastasierenden Eigenschaften von Melanomzellen in vitro zu unterdrücken. Das Screening nach weiteren geladenen Saccharidmimetika auf Furanbasis, deren vergleichbare Wirkung in geringeren Konzentrationen vorhanden sein sollte, scheint erfolgsversprechend und die Substanzen sollten durch die Möglichkeit einer kombinatorischen Synthese zugänglich sein

Business Improvement Districts in the Twin Cities: Opportunities and Challenges

Business Improvement Districts are a form of public/private partnership in which property and business owners elect to pay an additional assessment to be used for maintenance, development, and promotion of their commercial area. The have gained popularity across the United States over the past thirty years as a powerful means for neighborhoods and commercial districts to invest in and revitalize their commercial and residential interests. West Broadway Business and Area Coalition is part of a larger group, the Great Cities Collaborative, whose main objective is testing the feasibility of implementing BIDs in Minneapolis and St. Paul with the eventual goal of establishing neighborhood BIDs where appropriate. In order to accomplish these goals, a better understanding of how national economically comparable neighborhood BIDs operate was necessary. Secondly, understanding local economic development policies that support or impede BID establishment was also crucial. Finally, taking a closer look at Minneapolis’ Downtown Improvement District allowed us to identify opportunities and challenges in replicating its success. My research indicates that a wide range of neighborhood BIDs can be very successful. One of the benefits of the BID model is how flexible it is, and this flexibility supports many types of urban development, including low and median-income commercial corridors. The primary challenge in Minneapolis is a pattern of misinformation and lack of education of the differences between Special Service Districts (the current model) and Business Improvement Districts by many, if not most, relevant stakeholders. In order to move forward while addressing these challenges, I have four recommendations: Begin a continued education campaign to inform stakeholders and clarify key concepts. Work with West Bank Business Coalition to assist in making Cedar-Riverside BID a success. Continue to prioritize dialogue with relevant organizations and city partners. Establish timeline to accomplish monthly and yearly goals. By focusing on education, awareness, and meeting individual and collaborative goals, Minneapolis can prove hospitable to BIDs, and commercial corridors such as West Broadway Avenue in North Minneapolis will benefit from their implementation.Conducted on behalf of West Broadway Business and Area Coalition. Supported by Neighborhood Partnerships for Community Research (NPCR), a program of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of Minnesota

West Bank Improvement District: A Technical Report

This report seeks to provide the results of continued efforts by the West Bank Business Association (WBBA) to establish a Business Improvement District in the West Bank Neighborhood. As a technical report, it outlines the process steps the WBBA has taken in conjunction with the Cedar Riverside Partnership, the African Development Center, and with the support of research assistance provided by the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, to research and implement a working BID model. Additionally, it provides the documentation utilized in these process steps. This work is ongoing as the West Bank Business Association continues to work with the City of Minneapolis to find the most applicable model of success for the neighborhood.Conducted on behalf of West Bank Business Association. Supported by Neighborhood Partnerships for Community Research (NPCR), a program of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of Minnesota

Business Improvement Districts: An Introduction

This report is a media kit and timeline to accompany CURA report NPCR-1363 titled Business Improvement Districts in the Twin Cities: Opportunities and Challenges also by Sara Groneweld.Conducted on behalf of West Broadway Business and Area Coalition. Supported by Neighborhood Partnerships for Community Research (NPCR), a program of the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of Minnesota

To What Extent Are Changes in Flood Magnitude Related to Changes in Precipitation Extremes?

Despite increasing evidence of intensification of extreme precipitation events associated with a warming climate, the magnitude of peak river flows is decreasing in many parts of the world. To better understand the range of relationships between precipitation extremes and floods, we analyzed annual precipitation extremes and flood events over the contiguous United States from 1980 to 2014. A low correlation (less than 0.2) between changes in precipitation extremes and changes in floods was found, attributable to a small fraction of co‐occurrence. The covariation between precipitation extremes and floods is also substantially low, with a majority of catchments having a coefficient of determination of less than 0.5, even among the catchments with a relatively high fraction of annual maxima precipitation that can be linked to floods. The findings indicate a need for more investigations into causal mechanisms driving a nonlinear response of floods to intensified precipitation extremes in a warming climate.Key PointsWe assess co‐occurrence and covariation between precipitation extremes and floods to explore the range of their relationshipsThe spatial pattern of changes in precipitation extremes explains less than 20% of the spatial pattern of changes in floodsMost catchments have a covariation of less than 0.5 between annual precipitation extremes and annual floodsPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162716/2/grl61247_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162716/1/grl61247.pd

The compartment bag test (CBT) for enumerating fecal indicator bacteria: Basis for design and interpretation of results

For the past several years, the compartment bag test (CBT) has been employed in water quality monitoring and public health protection around the world. To date, however, the statistical basis for the design and recommended procedures for enumerating fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations from CBT results have not been formally documented. Here, we provide that documentation following protocols for communicating the evolution of similar water quality testing procedures. We begin with an overview of the statistical theory behind the CBT, followed by a description of how that theory was applied to determine an optimal CBT design. We then provide recommendations for interpreting CBT results, including procedures for estimating quantiles of the FIB concentration probability distribution, and the confidence of compliance with recognized water quality guidelines. We synthesize these values in custom user-oriented 'look-up' tables similar to those developed for other FIB water quality testing methods. Modified versions of our tables are currently distributed commercially as part of the CBT testing kit