Demystifying Outcome Measurement in Community Development

This study aims to describe outcome measurement and to explore to whom outcomes matter, how outcomes are measured, and the costs and benefits of undertaking outcome measurement at the level of a community development organization (CDO). Several funders in community development began requiring outcome reporting in 2005. Outcome measurement is a way to produce important evidence about long-term outcomes in a manner that may be useful both for funders and CDOs. Its process includes articulating an organization's longterm goals, identifying indicators to evaluate progress toward those goals, implementing a system to track the indicators, analyzing the findings, and reporting results to stakeholders. Outcome measurement is distinguished from performance measurement, which focuses on immediate outputs or short-term outcomes. Also, outcome measurement does not aim to meet the standards of academic research.This study found consensus among funders and CDOs that the benefits of outcome measurement are well worth its costs. Implementing outcome measurement provides the most value to CDOs if the process allows sufficient flexibility and if CDOs are committed to the effort required. Primary benefits for CDOs consist of enhanced strategic planning and management, better positioning with respect to competition for funding, and better communication and community relations. The study recommends that funders and intermediaries increase transparency about their objectives to CDOs in order to mitigate confusion and mistrust. Funders are also cautioned against valuing outcome information ahead of other considerations. The study further recommends collaboration among outcome measurement experts and funders to create consensus around terminology and reporting requirements

Sirenomelia-the mermaid syndrome: a rare invariably fatal congenital anomaly in a term unsupervised pregnancy

Sirenomelia is a rare congenital anomaly with an incidence of 0.8 to 1 case per 1,00,000 births. The prognosis is grim due to associated genitourinary and gastrointestinal anomalies. Antenatal registration in the first trimester and timely ultrasound go a long way in detection of the anamoly when termination can be still be offered and the mental agony of giving birth to a term neonate with a fatal congenital anomaly can be avoided.

Activities of sucrose to starch metabolizing enzymes during grain filling in late sown wheat under water stress

Tolerance to water deficit in relation to activities of sucrose-to- starch metabolizing enzymes and starch accumulation was studied in the grains of contrasting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes (WH1021 and WH1080; tolerant) and (WH711 and HD2687; susceptible) under late planting conditions. The activities of starch metabolizing enzymes i.e. sucrose synthase (SuSase), ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), soluble starch synthase (SSS) and starch branching enzymes (SBE) were substantially enhanced by water deficit in all genotypes at early to mid-grain filling stage showing peaks at 14 to 21 days after anthesis (DAA); while decreased significantly at mid-late grain filling stage with maximum decline at 35 DAA. Activities of all the enzymes under study showed maximum decline in activity (28.4–60%) in susceptible genotype WH711; whereas WH1021 proved to be most tolerant one with minimum decline in enzyme activity (14.9–32.8%). Starch content was also markedly reduced (21%) in WH711 due to drought while WH1021 reported 12% decline corresponding well with enzyme activity. A faster pre-mature cessation of starch deposition occurred in susceptible wheat genotypes compared to tolerant ones. A significant and positive correlation of the enzyme activities with starch accumulation (r = 0.491–0.555 at P0.05 for SuSase, AGPase, SSS and r = 0.638 at P0.01 for SBE) under well watered conditions indicated that enhancing the activities of the enzymes would lead to increase in starch accumulation and thus faster grain filling. Genotype WH1021 proved to be most efficient based on comparatively higher enzyme activity and least yield penalty under late planting conditions combined with water scarcity

Utajony fosfaturyczny guz mezenchymalny kory kości udowej powodujący osteomalację onkogenną — problemy diagnostyczne i skutki kliniczne

Background: Tumor induced osteomalacia (TIO) are extremely rare paraneoplastic syndrome with less than 300 reported cases. This report highlights the pitfalls and challenges in diagnosing and localizing TIO in patients with refractory and resistant osteomalacia. Patient and methods: 41- year gentleman with 4-year history of musculoskeletal weakness and pathologic fractures presented in wheelchair bound incapacitated state of 1-year duration. Investigations were significant for severe hypophosphatemia, severe phosphaturia, normal serum calcium, reduced 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin-D, elevated ALP, elevated intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and pseudo-fractures involving pelvis and bilateral femur. Whole body MRI and 99mTc methylene diphosphonate bone-scan were also normal. Whole body FDG-PET scan involving all 4 limbs revealed a small FDG avid lesion at lateral border of lower end of left femur (SUV max 3.9), which was well characterized on 3-dimensional CT reconstruction. Plasma C-terminal fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 was 698 RU/ mL (normal < 150 RU/ml). Wide surgical excision of the tumor was done. Histopathology confirmed mesenchymal tumor of mixed connective tissue variant. Serum phosphorous normalized post-surgery day-1. High dose oral calcium and vitamin-D was continued. FGF-23 normalized post surgery (73RU/ml). Physical strength improved significantly and now he is able to walk independently. Conclusion: TIO is frequently confused with normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism and vitamin-D resistant rickets/osteomalacia, which increases patient morbidity. Imaging for tumor localization should involve whole body from head to tip of digits, cause these tumors are notoriously small and frequently involve digits of hands and legs. Complete surgical removal of the localized tumor is key to good clinical outcomes.Wstęp: Osteomalacja wywołana obecnością guza (tumor-induced osteomalacia, TIO) to niezwykle rzadki zespół paraneoplastyczny. Opisano dotąd tylko niecałe 300 przypadków tego zespołu. W niniejszej pracy zwrócono uwagę na błędy i problemy przy diagnozowaniu i lokalizowaniu TIO u chorych z oporną na leczenie osteomalacją. Materiał i metody: W pracy przedstawiono przypadek chorego w wieku 41 lat, u którego od 4 lat występowały złamania patologiczne i osłabienie układu mięśniowo-szkieletowego prowadzące do niepełnosprawności, w wyniku czego chory od roku korzystał z wózka inwalidzkiego. W badaniach stwierdzono ciężką hipofosfatemię, ciężką fosfaturię, prawidłowe stężenie wapnia w surowicy, zmniejszo­ne stężenie witaminy 1,25-dihydroksy D, podwyższoną aktywność fosfatazy zasadowej, zwiększone stężenie parathormonu w postaci całkowitej cząsteczki (intact parathyroid hormone, iPTH) oraz złamania rzekome w obrębie miednicy i obu kości udowych. W badaniu MRI całego ciała oraz scyntygrafii kości z użyciem difosforanu metylenu znakowanego technetem 99mTc nie stwierdzono nieprawidłowości. W obrazie badania FDG-PET obejmującego wszystkie 4 kończyny zauważono niewielką zmianę o zwiększonym wychwycie FDG na bocznej powierzchni dolnego końca lewej kości udowej (SUV maks. 3,9), którą dobrze scharakteryzowano w trójwymiarowej rekon­strukcji CT. Stężenie C-końcowego peptydu czynnika wzrostu fibroblastów-23 (fibroblast growth factor-23, FGF-23) wynosiło 698 RU/ml (norma &lt; 150 RU/ml). Guz usunięto chirurgicznie z szerokim marginesem. W badaniu histopatologicznym potwierdzono rozpoznanie guza mezenchymalnego — wariant mieszanej tkanki łącznej. W pierwszym dniu po operacji stwierdzono normalizację stężenia fosforu w surowicy. Kontynuowano stosowanie dużych doustnych dawek wapnia i witaminy D. Również stężenie FGF-23 unormowało się po zabiegu (73 RU/ml). U chorego zwiększyła się siła fizycznej i obecnie może on chodzić samodzielnie. Wnioski: Osteomalacja wywołana obecnością guza (TIO) jest często mylona z normokalcemiczną nadczynnością przytarczyc i krzywicą/ osteomalacją oporną na leczenie witaminą D, co powoduje zwiększoną chorobowość pacjentów. Badania obrazowe w celu zlokalizowa­nia guza powinny obejmować całe ciało od czubka głowy po palce u stóp, ponieważ guzy te są zwykle małe i często umiejscawiają się w obrębie palców dłoni i stóp. Całkowite chirurgiczne usunięcie guza warunkuje uzyskanie dobrego efektu leczenia

Karakterizacija solvatomorfa metotreksata pomoću termoanalitičkih i drugih metoda

Identification and characterization of different forms of methotrexate were carried out by crystallization from different solvents. Five different forms of the drug were obtained. Appearance of a desolvation endotherm in the DSC accompanied by mass loss in TGA for forms I, II, IV and V showed these forms to be acetonitrile solvate hydrate (form I), trihydrate (forms II and IV) and dimethylformamide solvate (form V), respectively. However, the desolvation peak was absent in form III (obtained from methanol) indicating the absence of any solvent of crystallization. This form was found to be partially crystalline by its XRPD pattern. Solution calorimetry was further used to differentiate between the forms as they differ in lattice energy, resulting in different enthalpies of solution. The dissolution and solubility profiles were correlated with the enthalpy of solution and subsequently with crystallinity of all the forms; the least endothermic form (form III) had the highest dissolution rate.U radu je provedena identifikacija i karakterizacija pet različitih formi metotreksata dobivenih kristalizacijom iz različitih otapala. Desolvatacijska izoterma u DSC popraćena gubitkom mase u TGA za forme I, II, IV i V ukazuje da su te forme solvati s acetonitrilom: hidrat (forma I), trihidrat (forma II i IV) i solvat s dimetilformamidom (forma V). Međutim, desolvatacijski pik je odsutan u formi III (dobivenoj iz metanola) što ukazuje na odsutnost otapala u kristalnoj formi. Ta forma je parcijalno kristalna i pokazuje odgovarajući XRPD uzorak. Energija kristalne ćelije je za različite forme različita, što ima za posljedicu različite entalpije otapanja te omogućava primjenu kalorimetrije otopine za diferencijaciju formi. Topljivost je korelirana s entalpijom otopine i kristaliničnosti svih formi. Najmanje endotermna forma (forma III) je najbolje topljiva

Azimuthal anisotropy of charged jet production in root s(NN)=2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions

We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as nu(ch)(2) (jet). Jet finding is performed employing the anti-k(T) algorithm with a resolution parameter R = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero nu(ch)(2) (jet) is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50% centrality) for 20 <p(T)(ch) (jet) <90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the nu(2) of single charged particles at high p(T). Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Production of He-4 and (4) in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV at the LHC

Results on the production of He-4 and (4) nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S = 2.76 TeV in the rapidity range vertical bar y vertical bar <1, using the ALICE detector, are presented in this paper. The rapidity densities corresponding to 0-10% central events are found to be dN/dy4(He) = (0.8 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) x 10(-6) and dN/dy4 = (1.1 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.2 (syst)) x 10(-6), respectively. This is in agreement with the statistical thermal model expectation assuming the same chemical freeze-out temperature (T-chem = 156 MeV) as for light hadrons. The measured ratio of (4)/He-4 is 1.4 +/- 0.8 (stat) +/- 0.5 (syst). (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Forward-central two-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations between trigger particles in the forward pseudorapidity range (2.5 2GeV/c. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B. V.Peer reviewe

Event-shape engineering for inclusive spectra and elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV

Peer reviewe