Building trust? Conditional cash transfers and social capital

In this paper we propose a measure of social capital based on the behaviour in a public good game. We play the public good game within 28 groups in two similar neighborhoods in Cartagena, Colombia, one of which had been targeted for over two years by a conditional cash transfer program that has an important social component. The level of cooperation we observe in the ‘treatment’ community is considerably higher than in the ‘control’ community. The two neighborhoods, however, although similar in many dimensions, turned out to be significantly different in other observable variables. The result we obtain in terms of cooperation, however, is robust to controls for these observable differences. In the last part of the paper we also compare our measure of social capital with other more traditional measures that have been used in the literature

Does “soft conditionality” increase the impact of cash transfers on desired outcomes? Evidence from a randomized control trial in Lesotho

Cash transfers programs have been shown to have positive effects on a variety of outcomes. While much of the literature focuses on the role of conditionality in achieving desired impact, this paper focuses on the role of ‘soft conditionality’ implemented through both ‘labeling’ and ‘messaging’ in evaluating the impact of the Child Grants Program in Lesotho, an unconditional cash transfer targeting poor households with orphans and vulnerable children. Beneficiary households received a clear message that the transfer should be spent on the interest and needs of children. Our findings are based on a randomized experiment and suggest that ‘soft conditionality’ does play a strong role in increasing expenditure for children, especially on education, clothing and footwear. Results indicate in fact that transfer income is spent differently from general income as it exerts both an income and a substitution effect. This behavioral change is confirmed by comparing the ex-ante expected behaviors with the ex-post actual response to the program. We find that for expenditure categories linked to the wellbeing of children the ex-post response was much higher than the ex-ante expected behavior

Efecto de diferentes variables sobre la preñez en búfalas sometidas a sincronización del celo e inseminación artificial a tiempo fijo

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto de diferentes variables sobre la tasa de preñez de búfalas sometidas a un protocolo de sincronización del celo y ovulación e inseminación artificial a tiempo fijo (IATF). A partir de los 50 días posparto, 235 búfalas fueron sometidas al siguiente esquema de sincronización: 10 µg de GnRH (día 0); 15 mg de PGF2α (día 7); 10 µg de GnRH (día 9); IATF (día 10, dieciséis horas después de la segunda aplicación de GnRH). Las variables consideradas fueron condición corporal, cantidad de partos previos, presencia o ausencia de mucus genital y dificultad a la inseminación. La preñez total lograda fue del 53%. La ausencia o presencia de mucus se tradujo en tasas de preñez de 50 y 89% respectivamente. Según el número de partos (primíparas, 2 y 3 o más partos) los resultados fueron de 40, 50 y 58% respectivamente (p<0,05). Las condiciones corporales (><3, 3 a 4 y >4) obtuvieron 45, 55 y 56% de preñez respectivamente. Cuando se evaluó la preñez de acuerdo a la dificultad en la inseminación (sin dificultad, dificultad media y dificultad severa) los resultados fueron de 63, 50 y 0% respectivamente. Se concluye que al optimizar las variables estudiadas, la inseminación a tiempo fijo se convierte en una herramienta capaz mejorar el desempeño reproductivo en búfalos.

7-Chloro-4-[(E)-N′-(4-fluoro­benzyl­idene)hydrazin­yl]quinoline monohydrate

The mol­ecule of the title hydrate, C16H11ClFN3·H2O, is slightly twisted, as indicated by the dihedral angle of 9.55 (10)° formed between the quinoline ring system and the benzene ring. The conformation about the C=N double bond is E, and the amine-H atom is oriented towards the quinoline residue. In the crystal structure, the water mol­ecule accepts an N—H⋯O and makes two O—H⋯Nquinoline hydrogen bonds, generating a two-dimensional array in the ab plane, which is further stabilized by C—H⋯O inter­actions. The most significant contacts between layers are of the type C—H⋯F

The impact of the Lesotho Child Grant Programme in the lives of children and adults with disabilities: Disaggregated analysis of a community randomized controlled trial

Globally, people with disabilities are disproportionally affected by poverty. Social protection policies, including cash transfers, are key strategies to address poverty “in all its forms”, but it is currently unclear how such programmes affect people with disabilities. This study examines differences in the impact of the Lesotho Child Grant Programme (CGP) on food security, health, education and livelihoods between people with and without disabilities using data from a community randomized control trial. Overall, this study finds the CGP had significant and differential impacts for people with disabilities across multiple health indicators (e.g. increased health expenditures, self-rated health, likelihood of seeking healthcare). The CGP also had an impact on food security, decreasing the number of months households with and without members with disabilities faced extreme food shortages. There was also a modest but significant and differential impact of the CGP on the engagement of people with disabilities in paid work. The CGP only had an impact on school enrolment for children without disabilities, however the difference in impact was non-significant and likely due to underpowered sample sizes. Overall, people with disabilities receiving the CGP still experienced high levels of absolute deprivation, and were generally still worse off compared to people without disabilities, indicating a need for adapted or complementary social protection and other poverty alleviation programmes

Suplementos dietarios: ¿Cuánto sabemos para poder usarlos correctamente?

Este proyecto aborda la problemática actual sobre el consumo indiscriminado de suplementos dietarios, que en general son percibidos como productos seguros y que sin embargo frente a un uso inadecuado pueden causar serias contraindicaciones. Las actividades planteadas buscan promover la reflexión, investigación y búsqueda de información relevante con respecto a los efectos beneficiosos y riesgos asumidos al consumir estos alimentos, a nivel de las comunidades involucradas (población objetivo): los alumnos de las instituciones educativas de nivel medio de la Ciudad de Corrientes en las que se desarrollará el proyecto. La metodología propuesta para alcanzar los objetivos propuestos, propone la realización de actividades que permitan la interacción entre los alumnos de la universidad y los distintos integrantes de la comunidad educativa, principalmente los alumnos del nivel medio hacia quienes está destinado el proyecto de manera directa, mediante la realización de seminarios de difusión y actualización de los conocimientos disponibles a realizarse en el colegio junto a los alumnos

Theory and practice of social norms interventions: eight common pitfalls.

BACKGROUND: Recently, Global Health practitioners, scholars, and donors have expressed increased interest in "changing social norms" as a strategy to promote health and well-being in low and mid-income countries (LMIC). Despite this burgeoning interest, the ability of practitioners to use social norm theory to inform health interventions varies widely. MAIN BODY: Here, we identify eight pitfalls that practitioners must avoid as they plan to integrate a social norms perspective in their interventions, as well as eight learnings. These learnings are: 1) Social norms and attitudes are different; 2) Social norms and attitudes can coincide; 3) Protective norms can offer important resources for achieving effective social improvement in people's health-related practices; 4) Harmful practices are sustained by a matrix of factors that need to be understood in their interactions; 5) The prevalence of a norm is not necessarily a sign of its strength; 6) Social norms can exert both direct and indirect influence; 7) Publicising the prevalence of a harmful practice can make things worse; 8) People-led social norm change is both the right and the smart thing to do. CONCLUSIONS: As the understanding of how norms evolve in LMIC advances, practitioners will develop greater understanding of what works to help people lead change in harmful norms within their contexts. Awareness of these pitfalls has helped several of them increase the effectiveness of their interventions addressing social norms in the field. We are confident that others will benefit from these reflections as well

Epidemiology, practice of ventilation and outcome for patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications

BACKGROUND Limited information exists about the epidemiology and outcome of surgical patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and how intraoperative ventilation was managed in these patients. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of surgical patients at increased risk of PPCs, and to compare the intraoperative ventilation management and postoperative outcomes with patients at low risk of PPCs. DESIGN This was a prospective international 1-week observational study using the ‘Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score’ (ARISCAT score) for PPC for risk stratification. PATIENTS AND SETTING Adult patients requiring intraoperative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of patients at increased risk of PPCs based on the ARISCAT score. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative ventilatory management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 9864 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of patients at increased risk was 28.4%. The most frequently chosen tidal volume (VT) size was 500 ml, or 7 to 9 ml kg1 predicted body weight, slightly lower in patients at increased risk of PPCs. Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were slightly higher in patients at increased risk of PPCs, with 14.3% receiving more than 5 cmH2O PEEP compared with 7.6% in patients at low risk of PPCs (P < 0.001). Patients with a predicted preoperative increased risk of PPCs developed PPCs more frequently: 19 versus 7%, relative risk (RR) 3.16 (95% confidence interval 2.76 to 3.61), P < 0.001) and had longer hospital stays. The only ventilatory factor associated with the occurrence of PPCs was the peak pressure. CONCLUSION The incidence of patients with a predicted increased risk of PPCs is high. A large proportion of patients receive high VT and low PEEP levels. PPCs occur frequently in patients at increased risk, with worse clinical outcome

Epidemiology, practice of ventilation and outcome for patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications: LAS VEGAS - An observational study in 29 countries

BACKGROUND Limited information exists about the epidemiology and outcome of surgical patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and how intraoperative ventilation was managed in these patients. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of surgical patients at increased risk of PPCs, and to compare the intraoperative ventilation management and postoperative outcomes with patients at low risk of PPCs. DESIGN This was a prospective international 1-week observational study using the ‘Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score’ (ARISCAT score) for PPC for risk stratification. PATIENTS AND SETTING Adult patients requiring intraoperative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of patients at increased risk of PPCs based on the ARISCAT score. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative ventilatory management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 9864 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of patients at increased risk was 28.4%. The most frequently chosen tidal volume (V T) size was 500 ml, or 7 to 9 ml kg−1 predicted body weight, slightly lower in patients at increased risk of PPCs. Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were slightly higher in patients at increased risk of PPCs, with 14.3% receiving more than 5 cmH2O PEEP compared with 7.6% in patients at low risk of PPCs (P ˂ 0.001). Patients with a predicted preoperative increased risk of PPCs developed PPCs more frequently: 19 versus 7%, relative risk (RR) 3.16 (95% confidence interval 2.76 to 3.61), P ˂ 0.001) and had longer hospital stays. The only ventilatory factor associated with the occurrence of PPCs was the peak pressure. CONCLUSION The incidence of patients with a predicted increased risk of PPCs is high. A large proportion of patients receive high V T and low PEEP levels. PPCs occur frequently in patients at increased risk, with worse clinical outcome.</p

Psoríase e o impacto na sexualidade

Psoriasis is a skin disease, not contagious, chronic, serious and considered limiting, resulting prejudice, stigma and social exclusion providing loss in quality of life.Mostly affects self-image of affected people, as well as self-esteem and self-concept.These disease characteristics bring great losses in occupational areas, damaging interpersonal relationships of individuals, which may cause impact on various occupational areas, including sexuality, which translates not only as sex itself, but also as identity, social roles, pleasure, reproduction and other. The aim of this study was to investigate the self-image of individuals with psoriasis and their influence on sexuality. This is a qualitative study of a case study with seven patients in the Reference Center, Support and Treatment Paraíba State Psoriasis installed in the clinic of the University Hospital LauroWanderley – Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Data were collected through semi-structured interview, categorized and treated according to the Content Analysis. The results show that psoriasis affects the sexuality of individuals, more significantly in women's fashion, as attribute different meanings to the body, for reasons of aesthetics and beauty.Men also feel affected, but in view of the achievement, caring companionship, and seek to clarify their partners or future partners and their relationships, about the disease. We note here the influence of culture to gender conditions.A Psoríase é uma doença dermatológica, não contagiosa, crônica, considerada grave e limitante, acarretando preconceito, estigma e exclusão social proporcionando prejuízos na qualidade de vida. Na sua grande maioria, afeta a autoimagem das pessoas acometidas, assim como a autoestima e autoconceito. Estas características da doença trazem grandes prejuízos nas áreas ocupacionais, prejudicando as relações interpessoais dos indivíduos, podendo ocasionar impacto em várias áreas ocupacionais, incluindo a sexualidade, que se traduz não só como o sexo em si, mas também como identidade, papéis sociais, prazer, reprodução entre outros. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar sobre a autoimagem dos indivíduos com psoríase e sua influência na sexualidade. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo do tipo estudo de caso, com sete pacientes do Centro de Referência, Apoio e Tratamento em Psoríase do Estado da Paraíba instalado no ambulatório do Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley – Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, categorizados e tratados de acordo com a Análise de Conteúdo. Os resultados encontrados mostram que a psoríase afeta a sexualidade dos indivíduos, de forma mais significativa nas mulheres, pois atribuem significados diferentes ao corpo, por razões de estética e beleza. Os homens também se sentem afetados, mas na perspectiva da conquista, se importando com o companheirismo, e procuram esclarecer para suas companheiras ou futuras companheiras e em seus relacionamentos, sobre a doença. Observamos aqui a influência da cultura às condições de gêner