Locating poor livestock keepers at the global level for research and development targeting

P.K. Thornton, R.L. Kruska, P.M. Kristjanson, R.S. Reid and T.P. Robinson are ILRI authorsMany research and development agencies are committed to halving the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. Knowledge of where the poor are, and what characterises them, is patchy at best. Here we describe a global livestock and poverty mapping study designed to assist in targeting research and development activities concerning livestock. Estimates of the numbers of poor livestock keepers by production system and region are presented. While these estimates suffer from various problems, improvements in global databases are critical to improve the targeting of interventions that can meet the challenges posed by poverty and to chart progress against international development indicators

STEPS: a knowledge management maturity roadmap for corporate sustainability

Purpose The paper focuses on the role of knowledge management in promoting corporate in the construction industry context. It proposes a maturity roadmap – STEPS to facilitate the implementation of a knowledge management strategy. Design/methodology/approach Two research methods were used. The first consisted of a postal questionnaire sent to the top 170 UK construction firms consisting of engineering design and construction contractor firms. The organisations were selected because they were considered the most influential organisations in the UK construction sector. The second research method involved 28 case study interviews with eight construction firms to investigate their approach to knowledge management and performance improvement. The results of the questionnaire survey and the case studies were used to develop the STEPS Maturity Roadmap. Findings The paper found that knowledge management is inextricably linked to corporate sustainability, but a methodical approach is required for successful knowledge management implementation. With this is mind, the STEPS Maturity Roadmap was developed to provide a structured approach to implementing and benchmarking knowledge management efforts. Practical implications This will allow companies to understand were they fall within the STEPS Maturity Roadmap and to devise a strategy to be developed to attain higher levels of knowledge management maturity. Originality/value This paper provides a mechanism for organisations to benchmark their knowledge management activities and to develo

Review and implementation of performance management models in construction engineering organizations

Performance management is a key issue in the construction industry as a result of complex internal and external factors. Large construction organisations are implementing performance management models to improve business processes, products and management of people to facilitate continuous improvement. This study investigates the implementation of performance management models in large construction engineering organisations. Firstly, a brief review of the drive for performance improvement and the strategic considerations for the adoption of performance management models is carried out with specific reference to the Balanced Scorecard and the EFQM Excellence Model. Secondly, using case studies of large construction engineering organisations, the findings from the implementation of performance management models are analysed and discussed. It is shown that whilst progress has been made in the implementation of performance management models in large construction organisations, significant challenges remained at the planning, deployment and assessment and review stages. This includes the motivation for performance management, leadership and resources, communication mechanisms, measurement and data collection techniques, and the role of knowledge management. Performance management models provide a basis to develop strategy for sustaining long-term business objectives, and more construction organisations will adopt such innovative tools to facilitate continuous improvement, as the business benefits become clear

Business performance measurement practices in construction engineering organisations

Performance improvement has been the subject of recent initiatives in the UK construction industry as a result of complex internal and external factors. These include demands from clients, investors and stakeholders for improvement and changes in market conditions. The need for performance improvement has led to the implementation of industry-specific key performance indicators (KPIs) and greater awareness of the benefits of measurement in construction engineering organisations. This paper presents and discusses findings based on the practical experiences of leading construction engineering organisations in the UK. A significant proportion of organisations are now using a range of financial and non-financial measures to assess business performance, and a growing number are adopting the Excellence Model and the Balanced Scorecard to facilitate a structured approach to implementing continuous improvement strategies. The paper concludes with some practical considerations for implementing performance measurement models

Knowledge management practices in large construction organisations

This paper investigates how large UK construction organisations manage their knowledge assets. It then proposes STEPS, a mechanism for benchmarking organisation’s knowledge management maturity

The characteristics of cognitive neuroscience tests in a schizophrenia cognition clinical trial: Psychometric properties and correlations with standard measures.

In comparison to batteries of standard neuropsychological tests, cognitive neuroscience tests may offer a more specific assessment of discrete neurobiological processes that may be aberrant in schizophrenia. However, more information regarding psychometric properties and correlations with standard neuropsychological tests and functional measures is warranted to establish their validity as treatment outcome measures. The N-back and AX-Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT) are two promising cognitive neuroscience tests designed to measure specific components of working memory and contextual processing respectively. In the current study, we report the psychometric properties of multiple outcome measures from these two tests as well as their correlations with standard neuropsychological measures and functional capacity measures. The results suggest that while the AX-CPT and N-back display favorable psychometric properties, they do not exhibit greater sensitivity or specificity with functional measures than standard neurocognitive tests

Atmosphere-ocean linkages in the eastern equatorial Pacific over the early Pleistocene

Here we present a new set of high-resolution early Pleistocene records from the eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP). Sediment composition from Ocean Drilling Program Sites 1240 and 1238 is used to reconstruct past changes in the atmosphere-ocean system. Particularly remarkable is the presence of laminated diatom oozes (LDOs) during glacial periods between 1.85 and 2.25Ma coinciding with high fluxes of opal and total organic carbon. Relatively low lithic particles (coarse and poorly sorted) and iron fluxes during these glacial periods indicate that the increased diatom productivity did not result from dust-stimulated fertilization events. We argue that glacial fertilization occurred through the advection of nutrient-rich waters from the Southern Ocean. In contrast, glacial periods after 1.85Ma are characterized by enhanced dust transport of finer lithic particles acting as a new source of nutrients in the EEP. The benthic ecosystem shows dissimilar responses to the high productivity recorded during glacial periods before and after 1.85Ma, which suggests that the transport processes delivering organic matter to the deep sea also changed. Different depositional processes are interpreted to be the result of two distinct glacial positions of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Before 1.85Ma, the ITCZ was above the equator, with weak local winds and enhanced wet deposition of dust. After 1.85Ma, the glacial ITCZ was displaced northward, thus bringing stronger winds and stimulating upwelling in the EEP. The glacial period at 1.65Ma with the most intense LDOs supports a rapid southward migration of the ITCZ comparable to those glacial periods before 1.85Ma

Microarray patch for HIV prevention and as a multipurpose prevention technology to prevent HIV and unplanned pregnancy: an assessment of potential acceptability, usability, and programmatic fit in Kenya

BackgroundMicroarray patches (MAPs), a novel drug delivery system, are being developed for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery and as a multipurpose prevention technology (MPT) to protect from both HIV and unintended pregnancy. Prevention technologies must meet the needs of target audiences, be acceptable, easy to use, and fit health system requirements.MethodologyWe explored perceptions about MAP technology and assessed usability, hypothetical acceptability, and potential programmatic fit of MAP prototypes using focus group discussions (FGD), usability exercises, and key informant interviews (KII) among key populations in Kiambu County, Kenya. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), female sex workers (FSW), and men who have sex with men (MSM) assessed the usability and acceptability of a MAP prototype. Male partners of AGYW/FSW assessed MAP acceptability as partners of likely users. We analyzed data using NVivo, applying an inductive approach. Health service providers and policymakers assessed programmatic fit. Usability exercise participants applied a no-drug, no-microneedle MAP prototype and assessed MAP features.ResultsWe implemented 10 FGD (4 AGYW; 2 FSW; 2 MSM; 2 male partners); 47 mock use exercises (19 AGYW; 9 FSW; 8 MSM; 11 HSP); and 6 policymaker KII. Participants reported high interest in MAPs due to discreet and easy use, long-term protection, and potential for self-administration. MAP size and duration of protection were key characteristics influencing acceptability. Most AGYW preferred the MPT MAP over an HIV PrEP-only MAP. FSW saw value in both MAP indications and voiced need for MPTs that protect from other infections. Preferred duration of protection was 1–3 months. Some participants would accept a larger MAP if it provided longer protection. Participants suggested revisions to the feedback indicator to improve confidence. Policymakers described the MPT MAP as “killing two birds with one stone,” in addressing AGYW needs for both HIV protection and contraception. An MPT MAP is aligned with Kenya's policy of integrating health care programs.ConclusionsMAPs for HIV PrEP and as an MPT both were acceptable across participant groups. Some groups valued an MPT MAP over an HIV PrEP MAP. Prototype refinements will improve usability and confidence

Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 4 Years - Early Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, Seven Sites, United States, 2010, 2012, and 2014

Problem/Condition: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is estimated to affect up to 3% of children in the United States. Public health surveillance for ASD among children aged 4 years provides information about trends in prevalence, characteristics of children with ASD, and progress made toward decreasing the age of identification of ASD so that evidence-based interventions can begin as early as possible. Period Covered: 2010, 2012, and 2014. Description of System: The Early Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (Early ADDM) Network is an active surveillance system that provides biennial estimates of the prevalence and characteristics of ASD among children aged 4 years whose parents or guardians lived within designated sites. During surveillance years 2010, 2012, or 2014, data were collected in seven sites: Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin. The Early ADDM Network is a subset of the broader ADDM Network (which included 13 total sites over the same period) that has been conducting ASD surveillance among children aged 8 years since 2000. Each Early ADDM site covers a smaller geographic area than the broader ADDM Network. Early ADDM ASD surveillance is conducted in two phases using the same methods and project staff members as the ADDM Network. The first phase consists of reviewing and abstracting data from children's records, including comprehensive evaluations performed by community professionals. Sources for these evaluations include general pediatric health clinics and specialized programs for children with developmental disabilities. In addition, special education records (for children aged >= 3 years) were reviewed for Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Utah, and early intervention records (for children aged 0 to = 60% data on cognitive test scores (Arizona, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Utah), the frequency of co-occurring intellectual disabilities was significantly higher among children aged 4 years than among those aged 8 years for each site in each surveillance year except Arizona in 2010. The percentage of children with ASD who had a first evaluation by age 36 months ranged from 48.8% in Missouri in 2012 to 88.9% in Wisconsin in 2014. The percentage of children with a previous ASD diagnosis from a community provider varied by site, ranging from 43.0% for Arizona in 2012 to 86.5% for Missouri in 2012. The median age at earliest known ASD diagnosis varied from 28 months in North Carolina in 2014 to 39.0 months in Missouri and Wisconsin in 2012. In 2014, the ASD prevalence based on the DSM-IV-TR case definition was 20% higher than the prevalence based on the DSM-5 (17.0 versus 14.1 per 1,000, respectively). Trends in ASD prevalence and characteristics among children aged 4 years during the study period were assessed for the three sites with data for all 3 years and consistent data sources (Arizona, Missouri, and New Jersey) using the DSM-IV-TR case definition; prevalence was higher in 2014 than in 2010 among children aged 4 years in New Jersey and was stable in Arizona and Missouri. In Missouri, ASD prevalence was higher among children aged 8 years than among children aged 4 years. The percentage of children with ASD who had a comprehensive evaluation by age 36 months was stable in Arizona and Missouri and decreased in New Jersey. In the three sites, no change occurred in the age at earliest known ASD diagnosis during 2010-2014. Interpretation: The findings suggest that ASD prevalence among children aged 4 years was higher in 2014 than in 2010 in one site and remained stable in others. Among children with ASD, the frequency of cognitive impairment was higher among children aged 4 years than among those aged 8 years and suggests that surveillance at age 4 years might more often include children with more severe symptoms or those with co-occurring conditions such as intellectual disability. In the sites with data for all years and consistent data sources, no change in the age at earliest known ASD diagnosis was found, and children received their first developmental evaluation at the same or a later age in 2014 compared with 2010. Delays in the initiation of a first developmental evaluation might adversely affect children by delaying access to treatment and special services that can improve outcomes for children with ASD. Public Health Action: Efforts to increase awareness of ASD and improve the identification of ASD by community providers can facilitate early diagnosis of children with ASD. Heterogeneity of results across sites suggests that community-level differences in evaluation and diagnostic services as well as access to data sources might affect estimates of ASD prevalence and age of identification. Continuing improvements in providing developmental evaluations to children as soon as developmental concerns are identified might result in earlier ASD diagnoses and earlier receipt of services, which might improve developmental outcomes.This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]