Motherhood and Desistance: The Influence of Children in Women\u27s Offending

An increasing number of women are being incarcerated, of which almost 80% are mothers. Many of these women have children who they wish to reconnect with upon release. Desistance research, which has focused on male populations, finds that conventional social bonds increase odds of desistance. However, there are few studies of womens desistance and it is unclear if social bonds exhibit the same affect for females. Using desistance literature, social control, and strain theories, I examine the Glueck Women\u27s Reformatory Study data from the 1920\u27s. I focus on two key questions: Is motherhood important to desistance? And under what conditions does motherhood affect desistance for mothers? Specifically I address how custody of children, the mother-child bond, and financial and social resources affect desistance among mothers. I develop and test a set of hypotheses based on these three conditions to determine the role of children in mother\u27s lives. Findings indicate that motherhood is important to desistance; mothers are more likely to desist than non-mothers. Furthermore, mothers with regular employment, strong mother-child bonds, and full time custody of children are more likely to desist than mothers without these factors. These findings suggest that mother-child relationships act as a social control for mothers\u27 behavior but only when the relationship is strong and positive

Unschuldig schuldig? Zur Schuldfrage und Vermittlung von Schlinks Der Vorleser im DaF-Unterricht

Mit seinem Roman Der Vorleser ist Bernhard Schlink auf internationaler Ebene bekannt geworden, aber neben einem außerordentlichen Publikumserfolg und einer überwiegend positiven Kritik kam es gerade in letzter Zeit wiederholt auch zu negativen Besprechungen, die eine vermeintliche Gleichsetzung von Tätern und Opfern moniert haben. Die vorliegende Studie argumentiert gegen eine solche Kritik, und versucht Wege aufzuweisen, in denen das Potential des Romans auf Hochschulebene effizient erarbeitet werden kann. Grundlage der didaktischen Ausführungen sind Unterrichtsversuche mit internationalen Studierenden in Düsseldorf und Cambridge

CMOS x-rays detector array based on scintillating light guides

This paper describes a pixel imaging array consisting in 400µm x 400µm photodiodes fabricated in CMOS technology. An array of scintillating CsI:Tl crystals is placed above the photodiodes. These crystals are encapsulated in aluminum walls, forming a light path that guides the visible light produced by the scintillating crystal into the photodiodes. In This way, the x-ray energy is first converted into visible light which is then detected by the photodiode at the end of each light guide. The scintillator is 800 µm thick, absorbing almost all 20keV x-ray photons. Usually, the spatial resolution of the scintillating x-ray detectors is identical to the scintillator thickness. By using the light guides, the scintillator thickness can be increased without decreasing the spatial resolution. The increase of the scintillator thickness is desirable in order to increase the x-rays absorption efficiency. Tests carried out on the system show very promising results near 20keV

Qualitätssicherung in medizinischen Laboratorien – Eine Unentbehrlichkeit mit Nutzen und Risiken

Der Stellenwert von Qualitätssicherung (QS) und Qualitätsmanagement (QM) in medizinischen Laboratorien ist gerade seit Beginn der SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie ein Thema in vielen politischen und öffentlichen Diskussionen. Einheitliche Standards werden benötigt, um Vergleichbarkeit nicht nur in Deutschland unter den medizinischen Laboratorien zu schaffen, sondern auch über die Landesgrenze hinaus. Dafür gibt es in Deutschland zwei federführende Systeme: die Richtlinie der Bundesärztekammer zur Qualitätssicherung laboratoriumsmedizinischer Untersuchungen (Rili-BÄK) und die Akkreditierung nach der Norm DIN EN ISO 15189. Der Artikel dient der Sensibilisierung für Qualität in medizinischen Laboren zur Gewährleistung der Patientensicherheit durch eine kompetente Diagnostik am Patienten. Es wurde eine Literaturrecherche u. a. von Gesetzestexten, Normen sowie weiterführenden Dokumenten und Veröffentlichungen des QM durchgeführt sowie Erfahrungswerte von Vertretern unterschiedlicher Institutionen berücksichtigt. Ein umfassendes QM-System unterstützt die Arbeit in der medizinischen Laboratoriumsdiagnostik maßgeblich. Die Wahrung des Vertrauens in die Leistungsfähigkeit von medizinischen Laboratorien und die jeweils tragenden Einrichtungen ist für eine bestmögliche Versorgung der Bevölkerung von großer Bedeutung. Auch der Mehraufwand, der mit einer Akkreditierung einhergeht, ist mit Blick auf die Patientensicherheit gerechtfertigt, sollte jedoch keine zusätzliche Bürokratie erfahren.The importance of quality assurance (QA) and quality management (QM) in medical laboratories has been a topic in many political and public discussions, especially since the beginning of the SARS-CoV‑2 pandemic. Uniform standards are required in order to create comparability not only among medical laboratories in Germany, but also across national borders. There are two leading systems in Germany: The Guideline of the German Medical Association (Rili-BÄK) and accreditation according to DIN EN ISO 15189. This article is intended to raise awareness of quality in medical laboratories to ensure patient safety through competent diagnostics on the patient. A literature search was carried out, including legal texts, standards, and further QM documents and publications. Furthermore, empirical values from representatives of various institutions are considered. A comprehensive QM system significantly supports work in medical laboratory diagnostics. Maintaining trust in the efficiency of medical laboratories and the facilities that support them is of great importance for the best possible care for the population. The additional effort associated with accreditation is justified with regard to patient safety but should not experience any additional bureaucracy.Peer Reviewe

Polygenetic risk scores and phenotypic constellations of obsessive–compulsive disorder in clozapine-treated schizophrenia

Obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCS) are frequently observed in individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ) treated with clo- zapine (CLZ). This study aimed to analyze prevalence of OCS and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in this subgroup and find possible correlations with different phenotypes. Additionally, this is the first study to examine polygenetic risk scores (PRS) in individuals with SCZ and OCS. A multicenter cohort of 91 individuals with SCZ who were treated with CLZ was recruited and clinically and genetically assessed. Symptom severity was examined using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) and Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Participants were divided into subgroups based on phenotypic OCS or OCD using Y-BOCS scores. Genomic-wide data were generated, and PRS analyses were performed to evaluate the association between either phenotypic OCD or OCS severity and genotype-predicted predisposition for OCD, SCZ, cross-disorder, and CLZ/norclozapine (NorCLZ) ratio, CLZ metabolism and NorCLZ metabo- lism. OCS and OCD were frequent comorbidities in our sample of CLZ-treated SCZ individuals, with a prevalence of 39.6% and 27.5%, respectively. Furthermore, the Y-BOCS total score correlated positively with the duration of CLZ treatment in years (r = 0.28; p = 0.008) and the PANSS general psychopathology subscale score (r = 0.23; p = 0.028). A significant cor- relation was found between OCD occurrence and PRS for CLZ metabolism. We found no correlation between OCS severity and PRS for CLZ metabolism. We found no correlation for either OCD or OCS and PRS for OCD, cross-disorder, SCZ, CLZ/NorCLZ ratio or NorCLZ metabolism. Our study was able to replicate previous findings on clinical characteristics of CLZ-treated SCZ individuals. OCS is a frequent comorbidity in this cohort and is correlated with CLZ treatment dura- tion in years and PANSS general psychopathology subscale score. We found a correlation between OCD and PRS for CLZ metabolism, which should be interpreted as incidental for now. Future research is necessary to replicate significant findings and to assess possible genetic predisposition of CLZ-treated individuals with SCZ to OCS/OCD. Limitations attributed to the small sample size or the inclusion of subjects on co-medication must be considered. If the association between OCD and PRS for CLZ metabolism can be replicated, it should be further evaluated if CYP1A2 alteration, respectively lower CLZ plasma level, is relevant for OCD development

Africa’s single aviation market: The progress so far

To promote the development of air transport at the continental level, several policies were introduced, leading to the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) in late 1999, which had the liberalisation of the intra-African aviation spaces as its main objective. Even though notable progress has been achieved towards more market-oriented aviation policies, at the pan-African level some markets are still restrictive and inconsistent with the YD, particularly with respect to the granting of 5th freedom rights. This paper aims to examine recent developments in the aviation sector in Africa, with a focus on the implementation of the YD. The obstacles to liberalisation are discussed and several measures for facilitating Africa’s move towards multilateral open skies are investigated. These include, among others, a greater collaboration and co-operation among African airlines, as well as between African airlines and foreign ones; redefinition of the role and responsibilities of different institutions which are instrumental in implementing the YD and some further issues such as ownership guidelines

Scientists as Midwives to Cluster Emergence: An Institutional Work Framework

The question of how embedded actors can create institutions that support cluster emergence remains unsolved in the cluster and national innovation systems literature. The present paper extends the recent literature on institutional entrepreneurship and institutional work to solve this paradox of embedded agency in the context of science-based clusters. Building on a longitudinal single case study of a functional foods cluster in Finland, we present an institutional work framework for cluster formation. We argue that, in addition to ideational, material and bridging work, authentic leadership work is critical for cluster emergence. The results of the study highlight the opportunities that scientists have to act as midwives to cluster formation, but they also show that well-functioning clusters need a broader support base.Peer reviewe

One Gene, Many Facets: Multiple Immune Pathway Dysregulation in SOCS1 Haploinsufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) present with a large phenotypic spectrum of disease, which can pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) is a key negative regulator of cytokine signaling, and has recently been associated with a novel IEI. Of patients described to date, it is apparent that SOCS1 haploinsufficiency has a pleiotropic effect in humans. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate whether dysregulation of immune pathways, in addition to STAT1, play a role in the broad clinical manifestations of SOCS1 haploinsufficiency. METHODS: We assessed impacts of reduced SOCS1 expression across multiple immune cell pathways utilizing patient cells and CRISPR/Cas9 edited primary human T cells. RESULTS: SOCS1 haploinsufficiency phenotypes straddled across the International Union of Immunological Societies classifications of IEI. We found that reduced SOCS1 expression led to dysregulation of multiple intracellular pathways in immune cells. STAT1 phosphorylation is enhanced, comparably with STAT1 gain-of-function mutations, and STAT3 phosphorylation is similarly reduced with concurrent reduction of Th17 cells. Furthermore, reduced SOCS1 E3 ligase function was associated with increased FAK1 in immune cells, and increased AKT and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase phosphorylation. We also found Toll-like receptor responses are increased in SOCS1 haploinsufficiency patients. CONCLUSIONS: SOCS1 haploinsufficiency is a pleiotropic monogenic IEI. Dysregulation of multiple immune cell pathways may explain the variable clinical phenotype associated with this new condition. Knowledge of these additional dysregulated immune pathways is important when considering the optimum management for SOCS1 haploinsufficient patients

Evaluation of the in vitro skin permeation of antiviral drugs from penciclovir 1% cream and acyclovir 5% cream used to treat herpes simplex virus infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Herpes simplex virus infection (HSV) is a common and ubiquitous infection of the skin which causes mucocutaneous lesions called cold sores (herpes labialis) or fever blisters. It is estimated that approximately 80% of the population worldwide are carriers of the Herpes simplex virus, approximately 40% suffer from recurrent recurrent infections. This study evaluates the <it>in vitro </it>skin permeation and penetration of penciclovir and acyclovir from commercialized creams for the treatment of herpes labialis (cold sores), using non viable excised human abdominal skin samples, which were exposed to 5 mg/cm²of acyclovir 5% cream or penciclovir 1% cream.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>After 24 h of cream application, excess cream was washed off and layers of stratum corneum were removed by successive tape stripping. Amounts of active ingredients having penetrated through the skin were measured, as well as the amounts in the washed-off cream, in skin strips and creams remaining in the skin. Molecular modelling was used to evaluate physico-chemical differences between the drugs. Western blot analysis enabled to determine whether the marker of basal cells keratin 5 could be detected in the various tape strips.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Application of penciclovir 1% cream yielded higher concentration of drug in the deeper layers of the epidermis as well as a higher drug flux through the skin. Molecular modelling showed two higher hydrophobic moieties for acyclovir. Presence of the basal cell marker keratin 5 was underscored in the deeper tape strips from the skin, giving evidence that both drugs can reach their target cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Penciclovir 1% cream has the tendency to facilitate the diffusion of the drug through the stratum corneum into the deeper epidermis layers, in which it could reach the target basal cells at effective therapeutical concentration. The small difference in the surface properties between both molecules might also contribute to favour the passage of penciclovir through the epidermis into the deeper basal cells.</p