Outcome Measurement in Nonprofit Organizations: Current Practices and Recommendations

This report provides a view of the state of outcome measurement as implemented in a number of private nonprofit service organizations engaged in outcome measurement. It provides examples of procedures that some organizations have been able to implement and use for outcome measurement.For this effort, we selected a sample of organizations that responded to INDEPENDENT SECTOR's 1998 Measures Survey, specifically those that reported collecting outcome information on a regular basis. Our sample included only nonprofit organizations that provided services directly to clients (end services), not those whose primary function was to provide services to other organizations. We included organizations that provided human services (including vocational rehabilitation, employment training, youth services, housing and homeless services, and meals/nutrition programs) and health and mental health services (excluding hospitals), as well as environmental and animal protection organizations. We conducted telephone interviews with, and reviewed documents from, thirty-six organizations

Effects of Different Types of Noise on Foreign Accent Adaptation

Understanding foreign-accented speech can be difficult. Comprehension can be further compromised by environmental noise. Previous research has shown that listeners are able to adapt rapidly to a foreign accent. The present study examines how foreign accent (FA) adaptation is affected by two kinds of noise: speech-shaped white noise and competing speech. Native English listeners heard blocks of sentences produced by native-accented or foreign-accented talkers (Korean, Spanish) mixed with either type of noise, and indicated if the word written on the screen and the last word they heard were the same by pressing a button. Results show that listener responses were more accurate (though slower) when sentences were mixed with competing speech than with speech-shaped white noise. These findings suggest that while competing speech made word recognition more effortful, ultimately it was less disruptive than white noise for FA adaptation.Linguistic

Integrating Community-Based Interventions to Reverse the Convergent TB/HIV Epidemics in Rural South Africa.

The WHO recommends integrating interventions to address the devastating TB/HIV co-epidemics in South Africa, yet integration has been poorly implemented and TB/HIV control efforts need strengthening. Identifying infected individuals is particularly difficult in rural settings. We used mathematical modeling to predict the impact of community-based, integrated TB/HIV case finding and additional control strategies on South Africa's TB/HIV epidemics. We developed a model incorporating TB and HIV transmission to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating TB and HIV interventions in rural South Africa over 10 years. We modeled the impact of a novel screening program that integrates case finding for TB and HIV in the community, comparing it to status quo and recommended TB/HIV control strategies, including GeneXpert, MDR-TB treatment decentralization, improved first-line TB treatment cure rate, isoniazid preventive therapy, and expanded ART. Combining recommended interventions averted 27% of expected TB cases (95% CI 18-40%) 18% HIV (95% CI 13-24%), 60% MDR-TB (95% CI 34-83%), 69% XDR-TB (95% CI 34-90%), and 16% TB/HIV deaths (95% CI 12-29). Supplementing these interventions with annual community-based TB/HIV case finding averted a further 17% of TB cases (44% total; 95% CI 31-56%), 5% HIV (23% total; 95% CI 17-29%), 8% MDR-TB (68% total; 95% CI 40-88%), 4% XDR-TB (73% total; 95% CI 38-91%), and 8% TB/HIV deaths (24% total; 95% CI 16-39%). In addition to increasing screening frequency, we found that improving TB symptom questionnaire sensitivity, second-line TB treatment delays, default before initiating TB treatment or ART, and second-line TB drug efficacy were significantly associated with even greater reductions in TB and HIV cases. TB/HIV epidemics in South Africa were most effectively curtailed by simultaneously implementing interventions that integrated community-based TB/HIV control strategies and targeted drug-resistant TB. Strengthening existing TB and HIV treatment programs is needed to further reduce disease incidence

SYNTHESIS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES USING MORINGA OLEIFERA SEEDS, GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA STEMS, AND ITS ANTI-METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ACTIVITY

Objective: The present study focused on synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNO3) using Moringa Oleifera seeds and Glycyrrhiza glabra stems. Methods: The synthesized AgNO3 were used to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by agar well diffusion method. AgNO3 were produced from silver nitrate using M. oleifera seeds and G. glabra stems. Results: AgNO3 were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy at a wavelength of 400–460 nm. AgNO3 from G. glabra stems showed high anti- MRSA activity with 32 mm zone of inhibition, and M. oleifera seed extract showed 30 mm inhibition zone of inhibition against MRSA. Conclusion: The biologically synthesized AgNO3 can be used against MRSA

Measuring Column Densities in Quasar Outflows: VLT Observations of QSO 2359-1241

We present high resolution spectroscopic VLT observations of the outflow seen in QSO 2359-1241. These data contain absorption troughs from five resonance Fe II lines with a resolution of ~7 km/s and signal-to-noise ratio per resolution element of order 100. We use this unprecedented high quality data set to investigate the physical distribution of the material in front of the source, and by that determine the column densities of the absorbed troughs. We find that the apparent optical depth model gives a very poor fit to the data and greatly underestimates the column density measurements. Power-law distributions and partial covering models give much better fits with some advantage to power-law models, while both models yield similar column density estimates. The better fit of the power-law model solves a long standing problem plaguing the partial covering model when applied to large distance scale outflow: How to obtain a velocity dependent covering factor for an outflow situated at distances thousands of time greater than the size of the AGN emission source. This problem does not affect power-law models. Therefore, based on the better fit and plausibility of the physical model, we conclude that in QSO 2359-1241, the outflow covers the full extent of the emission source but in a non-homogeneous way.Comment: 27 pages, 6 figures, to appear on ApJ Jul 10. The full (online) version of figure 2 can be obtained here: http://www.phys.vt.edu/~arav/f2_online_version.p

Polarographic behavior of the platinum group metals

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston UniversityIt has been reported in the literature that metals of the VIII group showed a catalytic effect on the discharge of hydrogen, giving rise to polarographic waves at less negative potentials. The case of platinum has been studied in detail and it was found that the waves were roughly proportional to the amount of the metal in solution. It was also observed that their heights depend on the concentration of the acid solution. Heyn found that if platinum was complexed with fluoride better waves were obtained that seemed to be linearly dependent on the concentration of the metal. West, Dean, and Breda showed the polarographic behavior of several ions including iridium and rhodium, using sodium fluoride as supporting electrolyte. No mention is made of the action of the other metals of the group. The aim of this research was to make a fundamental study of the polarographic behavior of the VIII b group metals, when complexed as fluorides. In the event that waves of analytical significance were obtained for any of the metals a quantitative method would be established. Only platinum and osmium gave waves of possible significance and an analytical method was developed for them, using the height of the catalytic waves obtained. Rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, and palladium showed erratic polarographic behavior under the conditions studied. The explanation for this failure in catalyzing the hydrogen evolution is attributed to formation of unreactive complexes of these metals with fluorides. The waves obtained for platinum in the preliminary experiments needed some improvements, in order to have analytical application. Three major drawbacks were observed: 1. the waves were not reproducible; 2. the wave heights were not linearly proportional to the concentration of platinum; 3. waves were characterized by erratic pen oscillations, making the accurate determination of the plateau very difficult. The variables that could have influence on the waves, such as effect of bubbling time of nitrogen, influence of the height of mercury column and concentration of fluoride were studied. The results led to a proposed method (see p. 23) which is much more sensitive than would be expected for a simple polarographic reduction due to the catalytic action of platinum. The presence of other platinum group metals which are not catalytically active masks the catalytic action of platinum and therefore interferes in its determination. Osmium in acid solution is known to react with the mercury of the cathode and therefore gives irreproducible waves. In an acetate buffer, Kolthoff and Perry reported that a quantitative method of restricted application was obtained. A special technique was employed to measure the current: a quick measurement was made at the potential corresponding to the maximum of the wave, and by comparison with a curve obtained with standard solutions the concentration at osmium was found. It was confirmed in this research that a reaction takes place between mercury and osmium tetroxyde in hydrochloric acid solution. But if osmium is complexed with fluoride, fairly good waves are obtained and a quantitative method could be set up. The polarograms have to be recorded as soon as the electrode is dipped into solution. If subsequent polarograms are run, with the same solution the height of the wave is found to be smaller. A precipitate appears in the solution after sometime and black specks, presumably osmium, are found on the surface of the mercury. The reaction mentioned above can be detected on the polarogram by an abrupt change on the shape of the wave. In view of these facts, a method was proposed (see pg. 36) which was again very sensitive, as in the case of platinum

Quasi-realistic heterotic-string models with vanishing one-loop cosmological constant and perturbatively broken supersymmetry?

Quasi-realistic string models in the free fermionic formulation typically contain an anomalous U(1), which gives rise to a Fayet-Iliopoulos D-term that breaks supersymmetry at the one--loop level in string perturbation theory. Supersymmetry is traditionally restored by imposing F- and D-flatness on the vacuum. By employing the standard analysis of flat directions we present a quasi--realistic three generation string model in which stringent F- and D-flat solution do not appear to exist to all orders in the superpotential. We speculate that this result is indicative of the non-existence of supersymmetric flat F- and D-solutions in this model. We provide some arguments in support of this scenario and discuss its potential implications. Bose-Fermi degeneracy of the string spectrum implies that the one--loop partition function and hence the one-loop cosmological constant vanishes in the model. If our assertion is correct, this model may represent the first known example with vanishing cosmological constant and perturbatively broken supersymmetry. We discuss the distinctive properties of the internal free fermion boundary conditions that may correspond to a large set of models that share these properties. The geometrical moduli in this class of models are fixed due to asymmetric boundary conditions, whereas absence of supersymmetric flat directions would imply that the supersymmetric moduli are fixed as well and the dilaton may be fixed by hidden sector nonperturbative effects.Comment: 37 pages, LaTeX. Added discussion on stringent flat directions. PRD published versio

Aromatherapy Ginger Use in Patients with Nausea & Vomiting on Post Cervical Cancer Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is an effective treatment for cancer. However, it causes some side effects which include nausea and vomiting. More than 70% of patients experience nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ginger aromatherapy in nausea, and vomiting patients on post cervical cancer chemotherapy. We used a pretest-posttest control group design, using purposive sampling of 60 respondents. We used anti-emetics measurement tool according to Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) to assessed patient's complaints. The result showed significant difference in nausea and vomiting group before and after given aromatherapy (p = 0.000); nausea score (p = 0.005) and vomiting score (p= 0.013) from intervention and control group. No significant difference was observed in nausea (p = 0.279), and vomiting (p = 0.276) on control group. Ginger aromatherapy can be used as alternative medication to reduce post-chemotherapy nausea and vomiting

Estudo comparativo entre a abordagem dorso-vertical e a incisão clássica no flanco para o tratamento dos cálculos renais altos.

Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Clínica Cirúrgica, Curso de Medicina, Florianópolis, 198

Investigating Remote Collaboration Over Time: The Case of a US Telemedicine Network

The aim of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence the continuous use of collaborative technologies over time. We conducted a case study on a major telemedicine network in the U.S. The analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data suggests that integration with the regular workflow, stable availability of professionals at remote locations, and the emergence of spontaneous knowledge diffusion are associated with the success of telemedicine practices over time. Moreover, it shows that the limited awareness of the coordinating staff about the activities performed remotely reduces the use of telemedicine. However, this effect is mitigatedby the activation of telemedicine collaborations with other organizations, which belong to the same subnetworks. Based on the findings, we derive theoretical and practical implications for telemedicine and work at distance