The LifeStories project: Empowering voices and avoiding harm-Ethics protocol of a long-term follow-up study of individuals placed in infant care institutions in Switzerland

Little empirical data exist to guide ethical decisions when conducting research with vulnerable populations. The current study assesses a protocol designed to mitigate risks in a population-based cohort of 246 individuals placed in care institutions as infants in a non-selective 60-year follow-up. In total, 116 (47%) individuals chose to participate, of whom 53 (55%) reported positive effects of participation such as the opportunity to fill some gaps in their life stories, to better deal with their past, and to understand previous family dynamics. Only three individuals (2.5%) explicitly reported negative short-term consequences such as feeling upset as a result of thinking about stressful times, but they nonetheless rated the usefulness of the study as high. For six participants (5%), psychological counseling sessions were initiated as a support measure. Our findings suggest that risk of harm can be managed with a rigorous ethics protocol when conducting research with a vulnerable cohort and therefore enable the voices of survivors to be heard. A step wise approach in which increasing amounts of information were presented at each step, clearly operationalized passive decline, and direct and consistent contact with highly trained staff were considered key to mitigating distress. Keywords: deprivation; ethics; institutionalization; long-term follow-up; vulnerable cohor

Hollow-Core-Fiber Placement in Latency-Constrained Metro Networks with edgeDCs

We investigate the optimal placement of Hollow-Core Fibers (HCF) in latency-constrained metro networks with edgeDCs, performing physical-layer validation. Upgrading 24% of links to HCF reduces edgeDCs number by 29% compared to a network without HCFs

Selective Hybrid EDFA/Raman Amplifier Placement to Avoid Lightpath Degradation in (C+L) Networks

We investigate optimized placement of hybrid EDFA/Raman amplifiers in (C+L) networks to avoid lightpath degradation due to ISRS. We numerically compare eight strategies for amplifier deployment showing that an optimized placement of Raman amplification can lead to 40% fewer amplifiers compared to baseline deployment practices

Development and Health of Adults Formerly Placed in Infant Care Institutions – Study Protocol of the LifeStories Project

A growing volume of research from global data demonstrates that institutional care under conditions of deprivation is profoundly damaging to children, particularly during the critical early years of development. However, how these individuals develop over a life course remains unclear. This study uses data from a survey on the health and development of 420 children mostly under the age of three, placed in 12 infant care institutions between 1958 and 1961 in Zurich, Switzerland. The children exhibited significant delays in cognitive, social, and motor development in the first years of life. Moreover, a follow-up of a subsample of 143 children about 10 years later revealed persistent difficulties, including depression, school related-problems, and stereotypies. Between 2019 and 2021, these formerly institutionalized study participants were located through the Swiss population registry and invited to participate once again in the research project. Now in their early sixties, they are studied for their health, further development, and life-course trajectories. A mixed-methods approach using questionnaires, neuropsychological assessments, and narrative biographical interviews was implemented by a multidisciplinary team. Combining prospective and retrospective data with standardized quantitative and biographical qualitative data allows a rich reconstruction of life histories. The availability of a community sample from the same geographic location, the 1954–1961 cohort of the Zurich Longitudinal Studies, described in detail in a paper in this issue (Wehrle et al., 2020), enables comparison with an unaffected cohort. This article describes the study design and study participants in detail and discusses the potential and limitations of a comparison with a community sample. It outlines a set of challenges and solutions encountered in the process of a lifespan longitudinal study from early childhood into the cusp of old age with a potentially vulnerable sample and summarizes the lessons learned along the way

Combined antiretroviral therapy reduces hyperimmunoglobulinemia in HIV-1 infected children

Objective: To evaluate the effect of combined antiretroviral therapy on serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in HIV-1 perinatally infected children. Methods: Data from 1250 children recorded by the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children from 1985 to 2002 were analysed. Since Ig levels physiologically vary with age, differences at different age periods were evaluated as differences in z-scores calculated using means and standard deviations of normal population for each age period. Combined antiretroviral therapy has become widespread in Italy since 1996, thus differences in Ig z-scores between the periods 1985-1995 and 1996-2002 were analysed. Data according to type of therapeutic regimen were also analysed. Results: Between the two periods 1985-1995 and 1996-2002, significant (P < 0.0001) decreases in IgG (6.29 ± 4.72 versus 4.44 ± 4.33), IgM (9.25 ± 13.32 versus 5.61 ± 7.93), and IgA (10.25 ± 15.68 versus 6.48 ± 11.56) z-scores, together with a parallel significant (P < 0.0001) increase in CD4 T-lymphocyte percentages, were found. These decreases were confirmed regardless of whether the children were receiving intravenous Ig or not. Ig z-scores were significantly higher in children receiving mono-therapy than in those receiving double-combined therapy (IgC, P < 0.0001; IgM, P = 0.003; IgA, P = 0.031) and in the latter children than in those receiving three or more drugs (P < 0.0001 for all z-scores). Ig z-scores correlated inversely with CD4 T-lymphocyte percentages and, directly, with viral loads. Conclusions: Our data show that in HIV-1 infected children combined antiretroviral therapy leads to reduction of hyperimmunoglobulinemia which parallels restoration of CD4 T-lymphocyte percentage and viral load decrease, which it turn probably reflects improved B-lymphocyte functions. © 2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Could lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy provide oncological providence for local resectional techniques for colon cancer? A review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endoscopic resectional techniques for colon cancer are undermined by their inability to determine lymph node status. This limits their application to only those lesions at the most minimal risk of lymphatic dissemination whereas their technical capacity could allow intraluminal or even transluminal address of larger lesions. Sentinel node biopsy may theoretically address this breach although the variability of its reported results for this disease is worrisome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were interrogated back to 1999 to identify all publications concerning lymphatic mapping for colon cancer with reference cross-checking for completeness. All reports were examined from the perspective of in vivo technique accuracy selectively in early stage disease (i.e. lesions potentially within the technical capacity of endoscopic resection).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-two studies detailing the experiences of 3390 patients were identified. Considerable variation in patient characteristics as well as in surgical and histological quality assurances were however evident among the studies identified. In addition, considerable contamination of the studies by inclusion of rectal cancer without subgroup separation was frequent. Indeed such is the heterogeneity of the publications to date, formal meta-analysis to pool patient cohorts in order to definitively ascertain technique accuracy in those with T1 and/or T2 cancer is not possible. Although lymphatic mapping in early stage neoplasia alone has rarely been specifically studied, those studies that included examination of false negative rates identified high T3/4 patient proportions and larger tumor size as being important confounders. Under selected circumstances however the technique seems to perform sufficiently reliably to allow it prompt consideration of its use to tailor operative extent.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The specific question of whether sentinel node biopsy can augment the oncological propriety for endoscopic resective techniques (including Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery [NOTES]) cannot be definitively answered at present. Study heterogeneity may account for the variability evident in the results from different centers. Enhanced capacity (perhaps to the level necessary to consider selective avoidance of en bloc mesenteric resection) by its confinement to only early stage disease is plausible although not proven. Specific study of the technique in early stage tumors is clearly essential before proffering this approach.</p

Comparing early adolescents’ positive bystander responses to cyberbullying and traditional bullying: the impact of severity and gender

Young people are frequently exposed to bullying events in the offline and online domain. Witnesses to these incidents act as bystanders and play a pivotal role in reducing or encouraging bullying behaviour. The present study examined 868 (47.2% female) 11-13-year-old early adolescent pupils’ bystander responses across a series of hypothetical vignettes based on traditional and cyberbullying events. The vignettes experimentally controlled for severity across mild, moderate, and severe scenarios. The findings showed positive bystander responses (PBRs) were higher in cyberbullying than traditional bullying incidents. Bullying severity impacted on PBRs, in that PBRs increased across mild, moderate, and severe incidents, consistent across traditional and cyberbullying. Females exhibited more PBRs across both types of bullying. Findings are discussed in relation to practical applications within the school. Strategies to encourage PBRs to all forms of bullying should be at the forefront of bullying intervention methods

El Derecho Argentino frente a la pandemia y post-pandemia COVID-19. TOMO II

La Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba no podía permanecer indolente frente a la conmoción que, durante este año 2020, ha provocado en el mundo la pandemia de COVID-19. Como comunidad educativa advertíamos que la prioridad máxima era lograr la continuidad de la labor de nuestra Casa de Estudios, para garantizar a nuestros alumnos del grado y del posgrado, el ejercicio de su derecho a estudiar, continuando y en algunos casos iniciando sus estudios, a pesar de las condiciones adversas que se vivían. Con esa finalidad convocamos a los profesores titulares de todas las cátedras y eméritos y consultos que quisieran hacerlo, a sumarse con sus aportes a esta construcción colectiva, que aborda los temas que nos ocupan desde las diversas perspectivas de las distintas áreas del mundo jurídico. Y la desinteresada respuesta positiva no se hizo esperar. Prueba de ello es este libro cuyas dimensiones, tanto en lo cuantitativo como en lo cualitativo, superaron las expectativas iniciales. La jerarquía de los autores que generosamente han participado con sus contribuciones, en algunos casos en forma individual y en otros acompañados por sus equipos de colaboradores, permiten prever que esta obra ha de brindar elementos de juicio de gran utilidad para continuar construyendo el mundo jurídico, dentro de la pandemia y después de ella.ÍNDICE GENERAL. TOMO II. DERECHO CONSTITUCIONAL. "Emergencias, orden constitucional y COVID-19 en Argentina" por Antonio María Hernández. "Una constitución para todas las épocas. Algunas notas sobre el Derecho Constitucional en tiempo de pandemia" por Guillermo E. Barrera Buteler, Magdalena I. Álvarez, José M. Pérez Corti y Victorino Solá. Pandemia y constitución en la Argentina actual. Reflexiones desde la Cátedra “B” de Derecho Constitucional Facultad de Derecho. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. I. Introducción. Breves comentarios sobre este texto y “lo constitucional” en los tiempos actuales en Argentina por Andrés Rossetti. II. Nociones sobre el Cuidado y el Modo de Ser en el Mundo por Marta Faur. III. Impacto de la pandemia en la dicotomía público/privado en Argentina por Claudio E. Guiñazú. IV. Preocupaciones constitucionales en tiempos de pandemia: desigualdad y emergencia. La necesidad de repensar los mecanismos decisorios por Romina Verri. V. Derechos laborales y gremiales de los trabajadores estatales durante la emergencia sanitaria por Félix A. López Amaya. VI. La coordinación intergubernamental frente al COVID-19 en experiencias de países federales por Marcelo Bernal. "Cuando el centro está afuera de la figura. -República, desequilibrio de poderes y emergencia-" por Pablo Riberi. "Pandemia y estado de excepción" por Miguel Ángel Ortiz Pellegrini. DERECHO PENAL. "La emergencia sanitaria en contextos de encierro carcelario" por Carlos Julio Lascano. "COVID-19 y cárceles argentinas" por Gustavo A. Arocena. DERECHO INTERNACIONAL PUBLICO. "La confrontación entre Estados Unidos de América y China en tiempos de COVID-19 y el Derecho Internacional Público" por Zlata Drnas de Clément. "El rol del principio de cooperación internacional durante la pandemia y en el período post-COVID 19" por María Alejandra Sticca. "COVID-19, crímenes internacionales y amenazas a la paz: ¿integran las pandemias el ámbito material de la responsabilidad de proteger?" por Luciano Pezzano. "Incidencia de la pandemia covid 19 en derechos fundamentales. Las organizaciones internacionales y la seguridad de los estados" por Christian G. Sommer, María Pilar Llorens, Oscar Benítez y Guillermo Costilla. DERECHO INTERNACIONAL PRIVADO. "El COVID-19 y la cooperación jurídica internacional" por Adriana Dreyzin de Klor. "El COVID-19 y las nuevas formas de celebración del matrimonio" por Carlos E. Echegaray de Maussion. "Pandemia y solicitudes de retorno de menores por traslados ilícitos en sustracción de niños: ¿es la COVID-19 una excepción de riesgo grave?" por Myriam Diana Lucero. "Justicia, aislamiento y videoconferencia la experiencia del Derecho Internacional Privado en desandar barreras: guía de buenas prácticas de la conferencia de La Haya 2019" por Carolina Harrington. "Restitución internacional de niños. La excepción de grave riesgo y COVID-19" por Laura Martina Jeifetz. "El Derecho Internacional Privado y el desafío frente a los grupos más vulnerables en el marco del COVID-19" por Cristina Britos. "La responsabilidad social empresaria de las empresas multinacionales como herramienta para enfrentar la pandemia COVID-19" por Candela Noelia Villegas. DERECHO ADMINISTRATIVO. "Los deberes cívicos frente a la pandemia COVID 19" por José Luis Palazzo. "Importancia del rol y la gestión del Poder Judicial en tiempos de coronavirus – COVID-19" por Domingo J. Sesin y Daniela S. Sosa. DERECHO DEL TRABAJO Y DE LA SEGURIDAD SOCIAL. "Las relaciones laborales en la emergencia" por Carlos Alberto Toselli.Fil: Hernández, Antonio María. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Barrera Buteler, Guillermo Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Álvarez, Magdalena I. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Pérez Corti, José M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Solá, Victorino. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Rossetti, Andrés. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Faur, Marta. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Guiñazú, Claudio E. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Verri, Romina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: López Amaya, Félix A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Bernal, Marcelo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Bernal, Marcelo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Centro de Estudios Avanzados; Argentina.Fil: Riberi, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Ortiz Pellegrini, Miguel Ángel. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Lascano, Carlos Julio. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Arocena, Gustavo A. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Drnas de Clément, Zlata. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Sticca, María Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Pezzano, Luciano. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Sommer, Christian G. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Sommer, Christian G. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho. Instituto de Derechos Humanos; Argentina.Fil: Llorens, María Pilar. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Benítez, Oscar. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Costilla, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Salas, Graciela R. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Mortarotti, Pablo César. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Mortarotti, Pablo César. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Mortarotti, Pablo César. Universidad Siglo 21; Argentina.Fil: Dreyzin de Klor, Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Dreyzin de Klor, Adriana. Universidad Blas Pascal; Argentina.Fil: Lucero, Myriam Diana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Harrington, Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Jeifetz, Laura Martina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Britos, Cristina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Villegas, Candela Noelia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Villegas, Candela Noelia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba; Argentina.Fil: Zavatti, Adriana M. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Bottiglieri, María G. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Fernández, Flavia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Gordillo Reinalde, Laura Andrea. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Palazzo, José Luis. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Sesin, Domingo J. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Sosa, Daniela S. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Giménez, Laura E. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Tello Roldan, María Cecilia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Toselli, Carlos Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina.Fil: Echegaray de Maussion, Carlos E. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Derecho; Argentina