Independent Impact Evaluation for the Strengthening Protections of Internationally Recognized Labor Rights in Colombia Project

[Excerpt]This report presents the end-of-project impact evaluation for the project Strengthening Protections of Internationally Recognized Labor Rights in Colombia. The project is designed to address Colombian workers’ lack of access to safe mechanisms through which they can address workers’ rights violations. The main purpose of this evaluation was to estimate the impact of CAL services on workers’ labor-related complaints and their resolution and on CAL clients’ knowledge of their labor rights. Although the specificity of the population targeted by the program and by the evaluation means that the results of this study may not be readily applicable to other contexts, the issues raised are potentially relevant in many contexts

The Strongly Asynchronous Massive Access Channel

This paper considers a Strongly Asynchronous and Slotted Massive Access Channel (SAS-MAC) where $K_n:=e^{n\nu}$ different users transmit a randomly selected message among $M_n:=e^{nR}$ ones within a strong asynchronous window of length $A_n:=e^{n\alpha}$ blocks, where each block lasts $n$ channel uses. A global probability of error is enforced, ensuring that all the users' identities and messages are correctly identified and decoded. Achievability bounds are derived for the case that different users have similar channels, the case that users' channels can be chosen from a set which has polynomially many elements in the blocklength $n$, and the case with no restriction on the users' channels. A general converse bound on the capacity region and a converse bound on the maximum growth rate of the number of users are derived.Comment: under submissio

On Identifying a Massive Number of Distributions

Finding the underlying probability distributions of a set of observed sequences under the constraint that each sequence is generated i.i.d by a distinct distribution is considered. The number of distributions, and hence the number of observed sequences, are let to grow with the observation blocklength $n$. Asymptotically matching upper and lower bounds on the probability of error are derived.Comment: Under Submissio

<i>Mycobacterium avium</i> subspecies <i>paratuberculosis</i> bacteremia in type 1 diabetes mellitus: an infectious trigger?

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the established cause of paratuberculosis in ruminants (i.e., Johne disease). The bacterium is shed in the milk of infected cows and survives pasteurization. Recently, an association between MAP and Crohn disease has been suggested, wherein MAP has been found to persist in a cell wall–deficient form, escaping clearance by the host immune system

Design-Based Treatment of Unit Nonresponse by the Calibration Approach

The use of nonresponse calibration weighting is considered in a complete design-based frameworkto account for the cases in which nonresponse is a fixed characteristic of the units, just like the interest variable. Approximate expressions of design-based bias and variance of the calibration estimator are derived and some estimators of the sampling variance are proposed. The choice of auxiliary variables is discussed from theoretical and practical point of view. The results of an extensive simulation study demonstrate how the reliability of the procedure is mainly determined by the capability of selecting auxiliary variables in such a way that their relationship with the interest variable is similar for both the respondent and nonrespondent sub-populations.auxiliary variables, calibration estimator, variance estimator, simulation study.

Unusual skin metastasis due to adenocarcinoma of the stomach: a case report

Clinical Findings A 68- year-old man presented with a skin thickening of the anterior neck started few months earlier. Upper respiratory and digestive tract had already been examined which proved normal. On clinical examination a hyper pigmented massively indurated leathery plaque was seen on the anterior and lateral aspect of the neck from the submandibular region down to the jugular fossae. The plaque was firm, well demarcated and measured 15 by 12 cm in diameter. It had a cobblestone like appearance with exaggerated folds, and was non painful. Patient complained of a mild discomfort while swallowing saliva of recent onset, but was otherwise asymptomatic. All his routine blood test was normal. The full skin examination was otherwise unremarkable. Our main differential diagnosis at that stage included a reactive process such as a sclerodermatous process, a neoplastic reaction or a lymph proliferative disease.</br

‘Maybe we can turn the tide’ : an explanatory mixed-methods study to understand how knowledge brokers mobilise health evidence in low- and middle-income countries

Background: Little is known about how knowledge brokers (KBs) operate in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to translate evidence for health policy and practice. These intermediaries facilitate relationships between evidence producers and users to address public health issues. Aims and objectives: To increase understanding, a mixed-methods study collected data from KBs who had acted on evidence from the 2015 Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference in Mexico. Methods: Of the 1000 in-person participants, 252 plus 72 online participants (n=324) from 56 countries completed an online survey, and 20 participants from 15 countries were interviewed. Thematic analysis and application of knowledge translation (KT) theory explored factors influencing KB actions leading to evidence uptake. Descriptive statistics of respondent characteristics were used for cross-case comparison. Findings: Results suggest factors supporting the KB role in evidence uptake, which include active relationships with evidence users through embedded KB roles, targeted and tailored evidence communication to fit the context, user receptiveness to evidence from a similar country setting, adaptability in the KB role, and action orientation of KBs. Discussion and conclusions: Initiatives to increase evidence uptake in LMICs should work to establish supportive structures for embedded KT, identify processes for ongoing cross-country learning, and strengthen KBs already showing effectiveness in their roles

A importância das rotinas matinais no desenvolvimento da criança no jardim de infância

Relatório Final de Prática de Ensino Supervisionada do Mestrado em Educação Pré-escolar apresentado na Escola Superior de Educação do Instituto Politécnico de Viana do CasteloO presente relatório retrata um estudo que envolveu uma investigação no contexto da Educação Pré-Escolar, onde as rotinas matinais se apresentam como um elemento fundamental, promotor do desenvolvimento e aprendizagem infantil. Como tal, o objectivo central deste trabalho foi perceber de que forma as rotinas matinais desenvolviam este papel cimeiro na construção de uma aprendizagem mais enriquecedora. Nesta investigação, serviram como alvo de registo fotográfico as quatro salas do Jardim de Infância de Monserrate, a fim de se observar os diferentes materiais utilizados em cada uma das salas na fase das rotinas matinais, como também a forma como estes estão organizados. Foi feito também um questionamento directo ao grupo de crianças de uma das salas, com o objectivo de se dar a conhecer as preferências das mesmas face às diferentes tarefas que respeitam a esta parte matinal. Depois da análise e interpretação de dados realizada foi possível constatar que de facto as rotinas matinais contribuem de forma bastante positiva e transversal para o desenvolvimento da criança em várias áreas do saber.This particular report describes a study which involves an investigation on the kindergarten education context, where the morning routines present to be a great element of childish development and apprenticeship. Like so, the main reason of this report is to show how morning routines can be a potential engine on the child’s growth. On this investigation, the photographic focus point where the four classrooms of Jardim de Infância de Monserrate, in order to analyze the different materials used on each classroom during morning routines, also how they are organized. There was also a questioning directly to the children of one of the classrooms, with the aim to intimidate them to show their preferences concerning all the morning tasks. After the analyses and interpretation of the data we are able to find that morning routines in fact contribute positively for the development of children in several areas of knowledge

Why Do First and Second-Generation Young Migrants Volunteer? The Migrant Volunteerism Motivation Model (MVMM)

The following study aims at inquiring into the motivations behind young migrants' volunteerism in civic organizations in Italy, namely in starting and maintaining their engagement (preliminary vs. maintenance phase). The term "young migrants" refers to first and second generation of migrants who deal with two challenges: the transition to adulthood and the acquisition of a cultural identity. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 37 Sub-Saharan young migrants living in Italy (18-32 years old), 19 of first generation (1G) and 18 of second generation (2G). The Omoto and Snyder's Volunteer Process Model (VPM, 1995) was used as an underpinning theoretical framework and a guide for the interpretations of the results. The findings indicate that a) motivations included in the VPM are also found for young migrants, b) some of these motivations take particular meaning for young migrants, c) some motivations are not included in the VPM and are specific of this sample. We named these last motivations: social norms, advocacy and ethno-cultural. In addition, some considerations may be advanced regarding the generation and the phase of motivation: 1G migrants are particularly moved by the importance of integration in the Italian context and by the promotion of their ethnic group while 2G migrants reported mostly the desire to understand their roots. The values, the concern for the community and the longing to develop relationships are the motivations for which all young migrants continue to volunteer; however, 1G migrants are also sustained by advocacy and ethno-cultural motivations. Implications and future directions are discussed