A Study of the Investment Policies and Practices of California Social Service and Advocacy Organizations

This research examines the investment policies and practices of California social service and advocacy organizations by investigating the level of complexity of their investment activities and whether the mission of their organization is taken under consideration, as a social investment screen, when making investment decisions. The nonprofit sector is an essential and influential part of our society as well as our economy. The management of this sector\u27s growing assets is of key importance to its long-term financial stability. With the growing popularity of social investment and the increasing diversity of social investment strategies, it is also a valuable time to examine whether the organization\u27s own social purpose is being incorporated into its investment strategy. The study concludes that among California advocacy and social service organizations, the majority are seeking a return on their investments and a large portion have fairly complex investment portfolios. The research also concludes that approximately half of California social service agencies and approximately 63 percent of advocacy organizations considered the organization\u27s social mission when making investment decisions. However, the majority of these organizations were investing their funds in money market accounts, certificates of deposits and checking accounts. Only 28.5 percent of California social service agencies and only 40 percent of advocacy organizations which indicated that they considered the organization\u27s social mission when making investment decisions were using more complex vehicles of investment, such as mutual funds, individual stocks or bonds. The study also identified an area of deficiency in the financial management of investments for these organizations. Written investment policies were infrequent among advocacy organizations and social service organizations, even among those organizations which reported having very sophisticated investment strategies. An appendix to this study includes sample policies from several organizations which did have investment policies, and is offered here as a source of information and inspiration for financial managers

Impak penyertaan peserta orang asli dalam program tanaman semula komersil di Temerloh, Pahang

The level of poverty among the Orang Asli household heads are still at a high level of almost 80 per cent live below the poverty line. Although there are various programs organized and implemented by the government, especially in the economic aspect, but socio-economic status of the Orang Asli still low. The main objective of this study was to identify criteria of success of participants (indigenous people) in the project of Tanam Semula Komersil and level of their socio-economic changes before and after joining the project. Sampling is the percentage and collecting data using a survey of 245 respondents in six projects of Tanam Semula Komersial in Temerloh. Meanwhile, data analysis technique is descriptive of frequency, percentage and mean. Results of the study found that of the six participants in the project success criteria of Tanam Semula Komersil measured, mean value recorded in the category is medium-high in Scale 4. For example, the first criterion, namely the implementation of agricultural innovations in the project of Tanam Semula Komersil (mean 4.59). The second criterion, the quality of ideas (knowledge) in agricultural projects of Tanam Semula Komersil (mean 4.67). The third criterion, the implementation of investment and financial records in agricultural projects of Tanam Semula Komersil (mean 4.70). The fourth criterion, the implementation of quality culture in agricultural work on the project of Tanam Semula Komersil (mean 4.77). The fifth criteria, to farmers in the face of the current economic projects of Tanam Semula Komersil (mean 4.67). Final, sixth criteria namely the intelligent use of existing resources in agriculture (mean 4.65). Next, for the socio-economic changes also shows an increase in the time period before and after participating in the project of Tanam Semula Komersil namely to construct income, house ownership, spending trends, nutrition trends, asset ownership and health services for indigenous peoples. In conclusion, the implementation of Tanam Semula Komersil is a good thing and should be continued and implemented by the Department of Orang Asli Malaysia in line with Vision 2020 and the New Economic Policy towards improving the socio-economic status of indigenous peoples while preserving their culture

A flexibilização de requisitos brasileiros de Boas Práticas de Fabricação durante a pandemia da COVID-19 sob uma perspectiva comparada

Introduction: The risk of drug shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic required from national health authorities to take quick actions in order to avoid it and, at the same time, preserve the maintenance of a minimum standard of quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, as National Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) did by publishing RDC nº 392/2020. Objective: To carry out a comparative analysis between the exceptionalities listed in article 7 of RDC nº 392/2020 with the requirements of good manufacturing practices (GMP) exceptionally relaxed by foreign health authorities due to COVID-19, showing, whenever necessary, the impact of these requirements on the quality of medicines made available to the population. Method: A selective search was made for documents related to the temporary flexibility of GMP requirements for medicines and pharmaceutical ingredients during the COVID-19 pandemic at the electronic addresses on the internet of some health authorities. Such requirements were critically compared with those listed in article 7 of RDC nº 392/2020. Results: Exceptionalities were presented in a Table, detailing the topics and subtopics found in the analyzed documents of MHRA, EMA and Anvisa. More similarities were verified than differences between the flexible requirements, perhaps because RDC nº 392/2020 was prepared considering the documents referenced here from MHRA and EMA. Conclusions: Despite the mistakes pointed out and the criticisms made to RDC nº 392/2020, the merit of Anvisa cannot be diminished, as it was shown that regardless of the territory in which the regulatory agencies are located, there is considerable convergence among Brazilian expectations and those of the other health authorities consulted.Introdução: O risco de desabastecimento de medicamentos em razão da pandemia da COVID-19 exigiu das autoridades sanitárias de alguns países medidas rápidas para tentar evitá-lo e, ao mesmo tempo, preservar a manutenção de um padrão mínimo de qualidade, segurança e eficácia dos medicamentos, como fez a Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa), ao publicar a Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada (RDC) nº 392, de 26 de maio de 2020. Objetivo: Realizar análise comparativa entre as excepcionalidades elencadas no artigo 7º da RDC nº 392/2020 com os requisitos de boas práticas de fabricação (BPF) excepcionalmente flexibilizados por autoridades sanitárias estrangeiras em razão da COVID-19, evidenciando, sempre que necessário, o impacto desses requisitos para a qualidade dos medicamentos disponibilizados à população. Método: Foi feita a busca seletiva por documentos relacionados à flexibilização transitória de requisitos de BPF de medicamentos e de insumos farmacêuticos durante a pandemia da COVID-19 nos endereços eletrônicos existentes na internet de algumas autoridades sanitárias. Tais requisitos foram criticamente comparados com aqueles elencados no artigo 7º da RDC nº 392/2020. Resultados: As excepcionalidades foram discriminadas em tópicos e subtópicos encontrados nos documentos analisados da MHRA, EMA e Anvisa. Foram verificadas mais semelhanças do que diferenças entre os requisitos flexibilizados, talvez porque a RDC nº 392/2020 tenha sido elaborada considerando os documentos aqui referenciados da MHRA e EMA. Conclusões: Em que pese os equívocos apontados e as críticas realizadas à RDC nº 392/2020, o mérito da atuação da Anvisa em nada pode ser diminuído, pois foi evidenciado que, independentemente do território em que estejam localizadas as agências reguladoras, há considerável convergência das expectativas brasileiras com as das demais autoridades sanitárias consultadas

Flexibilization of Brazilian Good Manufacturing Practices requirements during COVID-19 outbreak in a comparative perspective

Introdução: O risco de desabastecimento de medicamentos em razão da pandemia da COVID-19 exigiu das autoridades sanitárias de alguns países medidas rápidas para tentar evitá-lo e, ao mesmo tempo, preservar a manutenção de um padrão mínimo de qualidade, segurança e eficácia dos medicamentos, como fez a Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa), ao publicar a Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada (RDC) nº 392, de 26 de maio de 2020. Objetivo: Realizar análise comparativa entre as excepcionalidades elencadas no artigo 7º da RDC nº 392/2020 com os requisitos de boas práticas de fabricação (BPF) excepcionalmente flexibilizados por autoridades sanitárias estrangeiras em razão da COVID-19, evidenciando, sempre que necessário, o impacto desses requisitos para a qualidade dos medicamentos disponibilizados à população. Método: Foi feita a busca seletiva por documentos relacionados à flexibilização transitória de requisitos de BPF de medicamentos e de insumos farmacêuticos durante a pandemia da COVID-19 nos endereços eletrônicos existentes na internet de algumas autoridades sanitárias. Tais requisitos foram criticamente comparados com aqueles elencados no artigo 7º da RDC nº 392/2020. Resultados: As excepcionalidades foram discriminadas em tópicos e subtópicos encontrados nos documentos analisados da MHRA, EMA e Anvisa. Foram verificadas mais semelhanças do que diferenças entre os requisitos flexibilizados, talvez porque a RDC nº 392/2020 tenha sido elaborada considerando os documentos aqui referenciados da MHRA e EMA. Conclusões: Em que pese os equívocos apontados e as críticas realizadas à RDC nº 392/2020, o mérito da atuação da Anvisa em nada pode ser diminuído, pois foi evidenciado que, independentemente do território em que estejam localizadas as agências reguladoras, há considerável convergência das expectativas brasileiras com as das demais autoridades sanitárias consultadas.Introduction: The risk of drug shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic required from national health authorities to take quick actions in order to avoid it and, at the same time, preserve the maintenance of a minimum standard of quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, as National Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) did by publishing RDC nº 392/2020. Objective: To carry out a comparative analysis between the exceptionalities listed in article 7 of RDC nº 392/2020 with the requirements of good manufacturing practices (GMP) exceptionally relaxed by foreign health authorities due to COVID-19, showing, whenever necessary, the impact of these requirements on the quality of medicines made available to the population. Method: A selective search was made for documents related to the temporary flexibility of GMP requirements for medicines and pharmaceutical ingredients during the COVID-19 pandemic at the electronic addresses on the internet of some health authorities. Such requirements were critically compared with those listed in article 7 of RDC nº 392/2020. Results: Exceptionalities were presented in a Table, detailing the topics and subtopics found in the analyzed documents of MHRA, EMA and Anvisa. More similarities were verified than differences between the flexible requirements, perhaps because RDC nº 392/2020 was prepared considering the documents referenced here from MHRA and EMA. Conclusions: Despite the mistakes pointed out and the criticisms made to RDC nº 392/2020, the merit of Anvisa cannot be diminished, as it was shown that regardless of the territory in which the regulatory agencies are located, there is considerable convergence among Brazilian expectations and those of the other health authorities consulted

Kandidatų ir vertintojų lyties įtaka sprendimo priėmimui tariamoje įdarbinimo situacijoje

Gender stereotypes have determined that the concepts of management and leadership are more associated with men than women. There are more men working in management positions than women in various countries, including Lithuania. The most widely discussed cause for that is discrimination against women in the labor market. The aim of the study was to examine evaluation differences between personnel specialists and comparison group, depending on their own and candidate‘s gender. Study was based on quasi-experimental strategy which included a hiring simulation. Participants had to evaluate potential candidates, a man and a woman, seeking for a job in management position. Data was collected from 128 people (age range - 19 to 56 years): 48 personnel specialists (M=29,38; SD=7,48), 49 women, who represented other specialties (M=26,29; SD=7,36) and 31 men, who represented other specialties (M=25,39; SD=5,05). Both personnel specialists and comparison group evaluated man and woman-candidate as similar. There were no significant differences between the two candidates on their hireability, reliability, competence, potential salary and promotability. However, results also indicate that personnel specialists and women, representing other specialties, suggested that man was more capable to work in teams than woman. The study gives an insight about the possibility of gender stereotype change.Lyčių stereotipai paprastai apsprendžia, kad vadovavimas ir lyderystė yra labiau siejami su vyrais nei moterimis. Įvairiose pasaulio šalyse, tarp jų ir Lietuvoje, mažesnė dalis moterų dirba vadovaujamose pozicijose lyginant su vyrais. Tokį skirtumą galėtų lemti daugybė priežasčių, tačiau dažniausiai aptariama - moterų diskriminacija darbo rinkoje. Pirmasis žingsnis, kurį atliekame besidarbindami, yra personalo atranka, todėl būtų galima daryti prielaidą, kad moterų diskriminacija atsiranda jau šiame etape. Šio tyrimo metu buvo naudota kvazieksperimentinė tyrimo strategija. Įdarbinimo simuliacijos metu tyrimo dalyviai (personalo specialistai ir palyginamoji grupė) turėjo vertinti potencialius kandidatus vyrą ir moterį, siekiančius įsidarbinti vadovaujamai pozicijai. Tyrimo tikslas buvo nustatyti, kaip skiriasi personalo specialistų ir palyginamosios grupės vertinimai, priklausomai nuo pačių vertintojų ir kandidato lyties, įdarbinant kandidatus vadovaujamai pozicijai. Pagrindiniame tyrime dalyvavo 128 asmenys. Nustatyta, jog tiek personalo specialistės, tiek palyginamoji grupė potencialaus kandidato vyro ir moters įdarbinimo tikimybę, patikimumą, kompetenciją, skiriamą algą bei paaukštinimo tikimybę vertino panašiai.  Rasti skirtumai tarp suvokto kandidatų gebėjimo dirbti komandoje - personalo specialistės ir kitų specialybių atstovės moterys manė, kad vyrui geriau pavyks dirbti komandoje. Tyrimo rezultatai leidžia daryti išvadą, kad lytis neturi  reikšmingos įtakos darbinantis vidutinio lygio vadovo pareigoms

Annexin-A1 peptide down-regulates the leukocyte recruitment and up-regulates interleukin-10 release into lung after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion in mice

BACKGROUND: \ud Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is a serious and triggering event in the development of remote organ dysfunction, from which the lung is the main target. This condition is characterized by intense neutrophil recruitment, increased microvascular permeability. Intestinal IR is also responsible for induction of adult respiratory distress syndrome, the most serious and life-threatening form of acute lung injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of annexin-A1 protein as an endogenous regulator of the organ remote injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion. Male C57bl/6 mice were subjected to intestinal ischemia, induced by 45 min occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery, followed by reperfusion.\ud RESULTS: \ud The intestinal ischemia/reperfusion evoked a high intensity lung inflammation as indicated by the number of neutrophils as compared to control group. Treatment with annexin-A1 peptidomimetic Ac2-26, reduced the number of neutrophils in the lung tissue and increased its number in the blood vessels, which suggests a regulatory effect of the peptide Ac2-26 in the neutrophil migration. Moreover, the peptide Ac2-26 treatment was associated with higher levels of plasma IL-10.\ud CONCLUSION: \ud Our data suggest that the annexin-A1 peptidomimetic Ac2-26 treatment has a regulatory and protective effect in the intestinal ischemia/reperfusion by attenuation of the leukocyte migration to the lung and induction of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 release into the plasma. The anti-inflammatory action of annexin-A1 and its peptidomimetic described here may serve as a basis for future therapeutic approach in mitigating inflammatory processes due to intestinalFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, 05/56855-8)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, 2007/01874-3)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, 100.042/2008-2)CNPq (302768/2010-6

The Current State of Performance Appraisal Research and Practice: Concerns, Directions, and Implications

On the surface, it is not readily apparent how some performance appraisal research issues inform performance appraisal practice. Because performance appraisal is an applied topic, it is useful to periodically consider the current state of performance research and its relation to performance appraisal practice. This review examines the performance appraisal literature published in both academic and practitioner outlets between 1985 and 1990, briefly discusses the current state of performance appraisal practice, highlights the juxtaposition of research and practice, and suggests directions for further research

What is known about the patient's experience of medical tourism? A scoping review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Medical tourism is understood as travel abroad with the intention of obtaining non-emergency medical services. This practice is the subject of increasing interest, but little is known about its scope.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A comprehensive scoping review of published academic articles, media sources, and grey literature reports was performed to answer the question: what is known about the patient's experience of medical tourism? The review was accomplished in three steps: (1) identifying the question and relevant literature; (2) selecting the literature; (3) charting, collating, and summarizing the information. Overall themes were identified from this process.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>291 sources were identified for review from the databases searched, the majority of which were media pieces (<it>n </it>= 176). A further 57 sources were included for review after hand searching reference lists. Of the 348 sources that were gathered, 216 were ultimately included in this scoping review. Only a small minority of sources reported on empirical studies that involved the collection of primary data (<it>n </it>= 5). The four themes identified via the review were: (1) decision-making (e.g., push and pull factors that operate to shape patients' decisions); (2) motivations (e.g., procedure-, cost-, and travel-based factors motivating patients to seek care abroad); (3) risks (e.g., health and travel risks); and (4) first-hand accounts (e.g., patients' experiential accounts of having gone abroad for medical care). These themes represent the most discussed issues about the patient's experience of medical tourism in the English-language academic, media, and grey literatures.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This review demonstrates the need for additional research on numerous issues, including: (1) understanding how multiple information sources are consulted and evaluated by patients before deciding upon medical tourism; (2) examining how patients understand the risks of care abroad; (3) gathering patients' prospective and retrospective accounts; and (4) the push and pull factors, as well as the motives of patients to participate in medical tourism. The findings from this scoping review and the knowledge gaps it uncovered also demonstrate that there is great potential for new contributions to our understanding of the patient's experience of medical tourism.</p