Designing a technology assessment post-graduation programme: experiences, limits and needs

IET Working Papers Series No. WPS09/2010

An assessment of the social and economic cohesion aspects of the development of the information society in Europe

Neste trabalho pretende consolidar-se a contribui����o portuguesa para o estudo comunit��rio ���Na Assessment of the Social and Economic Cohesion Aspects of the Development of the Information Society in Europe��� elaborado por um cons��rcio europeu liderado pela Nexus Europe e em que interv��m o ISEGI- Instituto Superior de Estat��stica e Gest��o de Informa����o, da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, como parceiro nacional portugu��s.

Program Catapultas: Education for development in Bairro Padre Cruz

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Economics from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

Development of a fuzzy qualitative risk assessment model applied to construction industry

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Industrial

Programas de cuidados integrados para pessoas com esquizofrenia ou perturba����o esquizoafetiva : estudo sobre a exequibilidade, implementa����o e resultados de um programa de cuidados integrados para pessoas com esquizofrenia ou perturba����o esquizoafectiva em Portugal

RESUMO: De acordo com o estado da arte, existem interven����es psicofarmacol��gicas, psicol��gicas e psicossocias, com evid��ncia cient��fica dos seus resultados, no tratamento de pessoas com esquizofrenia e perturba����o esquizoafectiva. No entanto, muitos destes doentes, n��o procuram ajuda dos servi��os de sa��de mental, n��o recebem os referidos cuidados ou n��o s��o detectados nem seguidos por estes. Esta realidade levou ao desenvolvimento de programas integrados, interven����es e estudos mais espec��ficos, nomeadamente para tentar ultrapassar os obst��culos na acessibilidade aos cuidados de sa��de e na continuidade de seguimento destes doentes. No conjunto das dificuldades apuradas, as quest��es da exequibilidade (feasibility) e da implementa����o, t��m tido particular relevo na literatura cient��fica recente, bem como a melhor forma de vencer as respectivas barreiras e adaptar essas interven����es ��s varias realidades, culturas e recursos. Objectivos: Objectivos gerais:1) Avaliar a exequibilidade e a implementa����o inicial de um programa de cuidados integrados, para pessoas com esquizofrenia ou perturba����o esquizoafectiva, no contexto cl��nico das equipas de sa��de mental comunit��rias de um departamento de psiquiatria do Servi��o Nacional de Sa��de, em Portugal, com os recursos materiais e humanos existentes; 2) Avaliar o impacto deste programa, nestes doentes e na respectiva presta����o de cuidados de sa��de mental. Metodologia. Elabor��mos um programa de cuidados integrados (Programa Integrar) com base no modelo cl��nico de case management, com seguimento mantido e integrado. Cada doente passou a ter um terapeuta de refer��ncia, um plano individual de cuidados e manteve o seguimento com o seu psiquiatra assistente. Foram seleccionadas interven����es, nomeadamente, psicoeducativas, familiares, estrat��gias para lidar com os sintomas e a doen��a, preven����o de reca��das e interven����es para melhorar o funcionamento social e ocupacional. A estas interven����es foi sempre associado o tratamento psicofarmacol��gico. O estudo delineado incluiu dois componentes: avalia����o da exequibilidade e implementa����o inicial do programa de cuidados integrados (componente A) e avalia����o do impacto deste programa (componente B), atrav��s de um estudo de interven����o, prospectivo, naturalista, n��o aleatorizado e n��o ontrolado. A amostra do estudo resultou das sucessivas referencia����es, para o Programa Integrar, de pessoas com os diagn��sticos de esquizofrenia ou perturba����o esquizoafectiva, seguidas nas cinco equipas de sa��de mental comunit��rias do Departamento de Psiquiatria do Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, com uma ��rea assistencial correspondente a uma popula����o de, aproximadamente, 400 000 pessoas. Definimos etapas, estrat��gias, par��metros e indicadores para o estudo da exequibilidade do programa. Efectu��mos a monitoriza����o e a avalia����o de tarefas, procedimentos e interven����es recomendadas aos terapeutas de refer��ncia. Realiz��mos duas avalia����es, uma no in��cio do programa e outra ap��s um ano de interven����o. Foram avaliadas as seguintes dimens��es (com indica����o do acr��nimo do instrumento de avalia����o utilizado entre par��ntesis): psicopatologia (BPRS), depress��o (MADRS), necessidades (CAN), incapacidade (DAS), actividade social e ocupacional (SOFAS), atitude em rela����o �� medica����o (DAI), insight (SAI), qualidade de vida (WHOQOL-S) e satisfa����o (POCS). Resultados: Dos 146 doentes que foram inclu��dos no estudo, 97 (66%) eram do sexo masculino e 49 (34%) do sexo feminino, com uma idade m��dia de 36 anos. Destes oentes,116 (79,4%)tinham o diagn��stico (ICD10) de esquizofrenia e 30 (20,6%) de perturba����o esquizoafectiva. Os restantes dados sociodemogr��ficos eram t��picos de popula����es afins em servi��os de sa��de mental nacionais. Do total de doentes (146) que iniciaram o estudo, 26 (18%) abandonaram o seguimento neste programa. Para o componente A da investiga����o (estudo de exequibilidade) salientamos: exerceram fun����es a totalidade (15) dos terapeutas de refer��ncia que receberam forma����o, 76 % efectuaram o n��mero m��nimo recomendado de sess��es / ano por doente (���18), 44,9 fizeram o n��mero m��nimo de sess��es familiares pretendido (��� 3). Nas interven����es mais espec��ficas foram atingidos os objectivos em mais de 75% dos doentes, �� excep����o das interven����es domicili��rias (19,4%), preven����o do abuso de subst��ncias (45,4%) e do risco de suic��dio (34,3%). O plano individual de cuidados foi realizado em 98 % dos doentes e em 38,9 % dos casos ocorreu a participa����o da fam��lia. Neste plano, a m��dia de objectivos definidos foi de 5 e a m��dia de objectivos atingidos correspondeu a 3 (p= 0,001). Na primeira avalia����o, estavam a frequentar estruturas de reabilita����o psicossocial 42 doentes (28,8%) e,12 meses ap��s, esse n��mero passou para 80 (74,1%).Tamb��m aumentou o n��mero de doentes com actividade profissional a tempo completo, de 8 (7,4%) para 18 (16,7%). No componente B do estudo (avalia����o do impacto do programa), em termos de psicopatologia, e para as pontua����es m��dias globais do BPRS, ocorreu uma diminui����o entre a primeira e a segunda avalia����o (p=0,001), tal como nas subescalas: sintomas positivos (p=0,003), sintomas negativos (p=0,002), sintomas de mania (p=0,002) e sintomas de depress��o/ansiedade (p=0,001). Na avalia����o da depress��o (p= 0,001) e da incapacidade (p=0,003), as diferen��as foram significativas e favor��veis. O mesmo n��o sucedeu na atitude em rela����o �� medica����o (p=0,690) nem na escala de avalia����o do insight (p=0,079). Em rela����o ao funcionamento social e ocupacional, qualidade de vida e satisfa����o dos doentes, ocorreu uma melhoria significativa da primeira para a segunda avalia����o As necessidades sem resposta mais frequentes, na primeira avalia����o, corresponderam aos itens: actividades di��rias, contactos sociais, rela����es ��ntimas, relacionamento sexual, benef��cios sociais, sintomas psic��ticos, sofrimento psicol��gico, informa����o sobre a doen��a / tratamento e gest��o/problemas de dinheiro. Para todos estes ��ltimos nove itens, verificou-se uma diferen��a estatisticamente significativa, entre a primeira e a segunda avalia����o, com diminui����o destas necessidades, excepto nas rela����es ��ntimas, relacionamento sexual e nos problemas de dinheiro. Na distribui����o dos tr��s estados de necessidades, para todos os itens, diminu��ram as necessidades sem resposta e as necessidades com resposta parcial e aumentaram as situa����es em que deixaram de se verificar necessidades relevantes. Dos resultados obtidos para outros indicadores cl��nicos e de utiliza����o dos cuidados, ser�� importante referir que na compara����o do ano anterior com o ano em que decorreu o programa, o n��mero de doentes da amostra internados diminuiu 64,1%, bem como a m��dia do n��mero de internamentos (p=0,001). Em rela����o �� dura����o dos internamentos, no ano anterior ao programa, os 39 doentes internados, tiveram um total de dias de internamento de 1522, sendo que, no ano do programa, para os 14 doentes internados, o total foi de 523 dias. Em termos absolutos, ocorreu uma redu����o de 999 dias (menos 65,6% dias). Tamb��m se verificou uma diminui����o de 45,6 % de reca��das (p=0,001).Discuss��o e conclus��es A exequibilidade do programa de cuidados integrados permitiu a aplica����o do modelo cl��nico de case management, com seguimento mantido e integrado, atrav��s do qual cada doente passou a ter um terapeuta de refer��ncia assim como, em 98% casos, um plano individual de cuidados. As fam��lias continuaram a ser o principal suporte para os doentes, mas surgiram dificuldades quando se pretendeu uma participa����o mais activa destas no tratamento.A diminui����o do n��mero e da dura����o dos internamentos constitu��ram importantes resultados com implica����es n��o s�� em termos cl��nicos mas tamb��m econ��micos. Os valores obtidos, para as diferentes vari��veis, tamb��m sugerem o impacto favor��vel do Programa Integrar a n��vel da psicopatologia, das necessidades, da incapacidade, do funcionamento social e ocupacional, da qualidade de vida e da satisfa����o dos doentes. O mesmo n��o sucedeu para o insight e para a mudan��a de atitudes dos doentes em rela����o �� medica����o, resultados que devem ser igualmente considerados em futuros reajustamentos deste programa ou no desenvolvimento de novos programas. Como principais conclus��es podemos referir que: 1) Foi poss��vel a exequibilidade de um programa de cuidados integrados inovador e a implementa����o inicial desse programa, para doentes com esquizofrenia ou perturba����o esquizoafectiva, com os recursos humanos e materiais existentes, no contexto cl��nico das equipas de sa��de mental comunit��rias, de um departamento de psiquiatria e sa��de mental, em Portugal; 2) Na avalia����o do impacto do programa, os resultados obtidos indiciam potencialidades de aplica����o, deste programa de cuidados integrados, com vista �� melhoria cl��nica e psicossocial destes doentes. Devem ser realizados estudos de replica����o, ou complementares �� presente investiga����o, no entanto, os dados obtidos s��o encorajadores para o desenvolvimento de programas similares, a n��vel nacional e internacional, que possam beneficiar um grupo mais alargado de doentes.------------ABSTRACT: Although there are psychological and psychosocial interventions well supported by scientific evidence, which show benefit when combined with psychopharmacological treatments, we know that a significant number of people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders, do not seek help from mental health services, do not receive the care mentioned and are not detected or followed-up by them. This reality led to the development of integrated programs, interventions and more specific studies, to try to overcome the obstacles in the accessibility to the health services and on the follow-up of these patients. Amongst the barriers identified, feasibility and implementation of those programs have been of special relevance in recent scientific literature, as well as the best way to overcome such difficulties and adapt the interventions to the various realities, cultures and resources. Objectives: General objectives were defined: 1) Assessment of the feasibility and initial implementation of an integrated care program, for people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, in the clinical setting of community mental health teams, in a psychiatric department from the national health service in Portugal; 2) Impact evaluation of the integrated care program, for these patients and their mental health care delivery. Methods: We drew up an integrated care program (Program Integrar) based on the clinical case management model, with continuous and integrated follow-up. Each patient got one case manager, an individual care plan and kept the same psychiatrist. Were selected the appropriated interventions, namely: psycho-educative, family-based interventions, strategies for dealing with the symptoms and the disorder, relapse prevention and interventions to improve social and occupational functioning. These interventions were always associated with psychopharmacological treatment. The investigation was outline with two parts: assessment of the feasibility and initial implementation of the Program Integrar (part A of the study) and impact evaluation of the program (part B of the study). We designed a naturalistic, prospective, intervention study, non-randomized and without control group. Our chosen sample was made with successive referrals of patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, followedup in one of the five community mental health teams of the Psychiatric Department of Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental, with a catchment area for a population of about 400 000 people. Different stages, strategies, criteria and indicators for studying the feasibility of the program and its implementation were set and the tasks, procedures and recommended interventions of the case managers were monitored and evaluated. We did two assessments with an interval of one year and we evaluated the following dimensions (the acronym of the assessment instrument used in brackets): psychopathology (BPRS), depression (MADRS), needs (CAN), disability (DAS), social and occupational functioning (SOFAS), attitude toward medication (DAI), insight (SAI), quality of life (WHOQOL-S) and satisfaction (POCS). Results: Of the 146 patients who started the study, 97 (66%) were male and 49 (34%) females with a mean age of 36 years. Of these, 116 (79,4%) were diagnosed (ICD10) with schizophrenia and 30 (20,6%) with schizoaffective disorder. The other socio-demographic data were typical of populations within Portuguese mental health services. Of all patients (146), who started the program, 26 (18%) of patients left the program (program dropout rate). Of the regarding part A of the study, which focused on feasibility, the following is of note: all professionals who had been trained for this purpose (15) acted as case manager, 76% did the recommended minimum number of sessions / year per patient (���18) and 44,9% did the minimum number of family sessions desired (��� 3). For the more specific interventions the parameters set out were met for more than 75% of patients, with the exception of domiciliar interventions (19.4%), prevention of substance abuse (45.4%) and suicide risk prevention(34.3%). The individual care plan was done for 98% of patients and in 38,9% of cases this involved family participation. For this plan the mean objectives defined were 5 and in average was achieved 3 (p=0,001). On the first assessment, 42 patients (28.8%) were attending psychosocial rehabilitation structures and 12 months later that number rose up to 80 (74,1%). Regarding their employment status, in the first assessment 8 (7,4%) were in full time employment and in the second evaluation the number rise to 18 (16,7%). For part B of the study (impact program evaluation), in terms of psychopathology, global mean scores for the BPRS, decreased (p=0,001), as did the four sub scales: positive symptoms (p=0,003); negative symptoms (p=0,002); manic symptoms (p=0,002) and symptoms of depression/anxiety (p=0,001). Both in the evaluation of depression (p=0,001), as in the assessment of disability (p=0,003), the differences were significant. However, this was not the case with attitudes towards medication (p=0,690) and with insight evaluation (p=0,079). In relation to social and occupational functioning, quality of life and patient satisfaction there was a statistically significant improvement from the first to the second assessment. The most commonly unmet needs in the first assessment were daily activities, social contacts, intimate relationships, sexual relations, social benefits, psychotic symptoms,psychological distress, information about the disorder / treatment and money problems money management. Of these, in the second assessment, all of those nine unmet needs showed significant improvement, excepted intimate relationships, sexual relations and Money problems / money management. In the distribution of the three states of needs for all items, it happened a decreased in unmet needs and partially met needs and increased in the situations where relevant needs were no longer found. For other clinical indicators it is important to note, when we compared the year prior to this program and the year after, there were fewer hospitalizations (reduction of 64,1% of admissions) and in the mean number of admissions (p=0,001). Regarding the length of hospitalization in the year prior to the program, the 39 patients admitted had a total of 1522 hospital days, and in the year of the program for the 14 hospitalized patients, the total was 523 days. In absolute terms, there was a reduction of 999 days (65,6%). There was also a 45,6% reduction of relapses (p = 0,001). Discussion and Conclusions: The feasibility of the integrated care program allowed the application of the clinical case management model, with continuous follow-up. Each patient got a case manager and in 98% of the cases they also got an individual plan of care. Families continued to be the main support for patients but, difficulties occurred when it was claimed a more active participation. The decrease in the number and duration of admissions were important findings with implications not only in clinical terms but also in economic field. The achieved results for the different variables can also indicate the favorable impact of this program, at the level of psychopathology, needs, disability, social and occupationa functioning, quality of life and patient satisfaction. The same did not happen for the evaluation of insight and in the changes of attitudes towards medication. These data should also be considered for future readjustments of this program and for the developing of new programs.Finally, the two-overview conclusions are: 1) It was possible the feasibility of an integrated care program and initial implementation of this innovative program, for patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, with the human and material resources available in the clinical context of the community mental health teams, in a psychiatry and mental health department of the national health service in Portugal; 2) In assessing the impact of the program, the results suggest potential application of this integrated care program, to improve clinical state and psychosocial variables for these patients. There should be done studies to replicate these results, however the results obtained are promising for the development of similar programs at nationally and internationally level, that could benefit a wider group of patients.

Transparency in project bond ratings: Assessment of rating methodologies and development of a proven rating simulator

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Finance from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

How training evaluation can be used to potentiate employee development in an organization

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

Development of population-specific function assessment intrument in Lebanon

RESUMO: Contexto: O funcionamento tem sido reconhecido como um dos principais indicadores de resultados para avaliar se as pessoas beneficiam das interven����es destinadas a melhorar a sua sa��de mental. O funcionamento refere-se �� forma como um indiv��duo consegue responder ��s suas tarefas e solicita����es, dos seus familiares e da sua comunidade, de acordo com os requisitos do local e a cultura em que vive (eg, tarefa de cozinhar e limpar para as mulheres em algumas culturas ). O funcionamento �� altamente dependente da cultura - por isso, tem sido recomendado o desenvolvimento de medidas de funcionamento espec��ficas de cada cultura. Desenvolver localmente os instrumentos de medida evita problemas de adequa����o, associados com a adapta����o de instrumentos ocidentais. Embora os instrumentos criados desta forma sejam espec��ficos de um meio cultural, eles s��o simultaneamente "transculturais", no sentido em que cada um se refere ��s tarefas mais importantes para a popula����o local . Esta abordagem mostrou-se ��til para investigadores e ag��ncias de ajuda (eg, ONGs) que trabalham em pa��ses n��o-ocidentais . Este estudo descreve o trabalho da ag��ncia International Medical Corps (IMC) na cria����o e valida����o de um question��rio de funcionamento espec��fico nas dimens��es cultura e g��nero, no L��bano, destinado a avaliar eventuais melhorias em pessoas que receberam interven����es de para problemas de sa��de mental, a n��vel dos cuidados prim��rios de sa��de. M��todo: O instrumento foi desenvolvido usando um m��todo que �� uma alternativa �� abordagem existente de adapta����o de instrumentos ocidentais a outras culturas e situa����es; esta abordagem �� r��pida e exequ��vel, tendo j�� demonstrado ser ��til no desenvolvimento de instrumentos v��lidos e fidedignos. Inicialmente, foi solicitado que as pessoas identificassem, de uma lista livre, as tarefas mais importantes para cuidar de si pr��prias, da sua fam��lia e da sua comunidade; as tarefas identificadas foram posteriormente usadas como base para um instrumento de avalia����o de funcionamento culturalmente v��lido. A partir daqui, foram desenvolvidos question��rios espec��ficos da comunidade em quest��o, posteriormente testados no terreno nas vertentes da validade (de conte��do, facial e de constructo) e da fiabilidade (teste-reste e inter-entrevistadores). Resultados. O estudo resultou na cria����o e valida����o de um question��rio de funcionamento espec��fico de cultura e g��nero capaz de medir efectivamente a capacidade de execu����o de tarefas importantes do quotidiano,como parte da avalia����o de resultados levada a cabo por profissionais da CSP previamente treinados na identifica����o, suporte e encaminhamento de pessoas com problemas de sa��de mental no L��bano. Conclus��o. Neste trabalho descreve-se o desenvolvimento de um question��rio de funcionamento espec��fico de cultura e g��nero, orientado para a avalia����o de resultados, num contexto mais lato de um sistema abrangente de avalia����o e monitoriza����o de um servi��o comunit��rio. --------------ABSTRACT: Background. Functioning has been recognized as one of the most important key outcomes to assess whether people benefit from interventions aimed to improve their mental health. Functioning refers to how well na individual can complete the tasks and demands for themselves, their family, and their community which are required by them depending on the setting and the culture they live in (e.g. task of cooking and cleaning for women in some cultures). Functioning is highly dependent on culture. Therefore, it has been recommended to develop culture-specific measures of function. Developing instruments locally avoids the problems of limited local relevance and appropriateness associate with adapting western instruments. Although each instrument created in this way is culturally bound, they are ���cross cultural��� in the sense that each refers to the tasks most important to local people. This approach proves useful for both researchers and aid agencies working in non-western countries. This study describes International Medical Corps��� (IMC) work in Lebanon to create and validate a culture and gender specific functioning questionnaire to assess improvements in people who received treatment interventions for mental health problems at the primary health care (PHC) level. Method. The measure was developed using a method that is an alternative to the existing approach of adapting western function instruments to other cultures and situations; an approach which has been demonstrated as rapid, feasible and which can yield valid and reliable instruments. Function was assessed by first asking local people what tasks are important to care for themselves, their family and their community using free listing, then using these tasks as the basis for a culturally valid function assessment instrument. Community specific function questionnaires based on these tasks were then created, and field-tested for validity using content, face and construct validity methods, and also field tested for reliability using inter-rater and test retest reliability methods. Results. The study resulted in the creation and validation of a culture and gender specific functioning questionnaire that would effectively measure the ability to do tasks important to daily existence, as part of assessing client level outcomes where PHC providers were trained in the identification, management and referral of people with mental health problems in Lebanon. Conclusion. The paper describes a successful pilot for developing culture and gender specific functioning questionnaires that evaluate client level outcomes as part of a more comprehensive system for monitoring and evaluation of community based case management supports and services.

Development of a satellite based PM10 concentration product for urban areas

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia do Ambiente

A CMMI-compliant requirements management and development process

Requirements Engineering has been acknowledged an essential discipline for Software Quality. Poorly-defined processes for eliciting, analyzing, specifying and validating requirements can lead to unclear issues or misunderstandings on business needs and project���s scope. These typically result in customers��� non-satisfaction with either the products��� quality or the increase of the project���s budget and duration. Maturity models allow an organization to measure the quality of its processes and improve them according to an evolutionary path based on levels. The Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) addresses the aforementioned Requirements Engineering issues. CMMI defines a set of best practices for process improvement that are divided into several process areas. Requirements Management and Requirements Development are the process areas concerned with Requirements Engineering maturity. Altran Portugal is a consulting company concerned with the quality of its software. In 2012, the Solution Center department has developed and applied successfully a set of processes aligned with CMMI-DEV v1.3, what granted them a Level 2 maturity certification. For 2015, they defined an organizational goal of addressing CMMI-DEV maturity level 3. This MSc dissertation is part of this organization effort. In particular, it is concerned with the required process areas that address the activities of Requirements Engineering. Our main goal is to contribute for the development of Altran���s internal engineering processes to conform to the guidelines of the Requirements Development process area. Throughout this dissertation, we started with an evaluation method based on CMMI and conducted a compliance assessment of Altran���s current processes. This allowed demonstrating their alignment with the CMMI Requirements Management process area and to highlight the improvements needed to conform to the Requirements Development process area. Based on the study of alternative solutions for the gaps found, we proposed a new Requirements Management and Development process that was later validated using three different approaches. The main contribution of this dissertation is the new process developed for Altran Portugal. However, given that studies on these topics are not abundant in the literature, we also expect to contribute with useful evidences to the existing body of knowledge with a survey on CMMI and requirements engineering trends. Most importantly, we hope that the implementation of the proposed processes��� improvements will minimize the risks of mishandled requirements, increasing Altran���s performance and taking them one step further to the desired maturity level.

Groundwater quality, vulnerability and potential assessment in Kobo Valley development project, Ethiopia

This study deals with investigating the groundwater quality for irrigation purpose, the vulnerability of the aquifer system to pollution and also the aquifer potential for sustainable water resources development in Kobo Valley development project. The groundwater quality is evaluated up on predicting the best possible distribution of hydrogeochemicals using geostatistical method and comparing them with the water quality guidelines given for the purpose of irrigation. The hydro geochemical parameters considered are SAR, EC, TDS, Cl-, Na+, Ca++, SO4 2- and HCO3 -. The spatial variability map reveals that these parameters falls under safe, moderate and severe or increasing problems. In order to present it clearly, the aggregated Water Quality Index (WQI) map is constructed using Weighted Arithmetic Mean method. It is found that Kobo-Gerbi sub basin is suffered from bad water quality for the irrigation purpose. Waja Golesha sub-basin has moderate and Hormat Golena is the better sub basin in terms of water quality. The groundwater vulnerability assessment of the study area is made using the GOD rating system. It is found that the whole area is experiencing moderate to high risk of vulnerability and it is a good warning for proper management of the resource. The high risks of vulnerability are noticed in Hormat Golena and Waja Golesha sub basins. The aquifer potential of the study area is obtained using weighted overlay analysis and 73.3% of the total area is a good site for future water well development. The rest 26.7% of the area is not considered as a good site for spotting groundwater wells. Most of this area fall under Kobo-Gerbi sub basin.

Rehabilitation and reintegration needs of female inmates and promotion mental health in Georgian prison

RESUMO: As mulheres presas encontram-se num sistema essencialmente dirigido por e concebido para homens. As mulheres que entram na pris��o geralmente v��m de ambientes marginalizados e desfavorecidos e muitas vezes t��m hist��rias de viol��ncia e abuso f��sico e sexual. As mulheres presas s��o um grupo particularmente vulner��vel, uma vez que dentro do sistema prisional as suas necessidades de sa��de e higiene s��o muitas vezes negligenciadas. O primeiro passo para o desenvolvimento de programas e pr��ticas sens��veis ao g��nero �� compreender as caracter��sticas das mulheres delinquentes e definir fatores de vida espec��ficos que contribuem para a forma����o do comportamento criminoso de mulheres. Em junho de 2012 foi realizada uma investiga����o na ��nica pris��o feminina da Ge��rgia, para estudar as necessidades mentais e psicossociais das mulheres presas. O objetivo da pesquisa foi o desenvolvimento de programas de apoio pertinentes para a reabilita����o, ressocializa����o e reintegra����o, e a elabora����o de recomenda����es pr��ticas para a gest��o das pris��es. Foi desenvolvido um instrumento de pesquisa (inqu��rito) com uma fundamenta����o conceptual baseada em quatro principais teorias: Teoria dos Caminhos (Pathways Theory), teoria do desenvolvimento psicol��gico da mulher (Theory of Women���s Psychological Development), Trauma e Teorias da Depend��ncia (Trauma and Addiction Theories). Foram inquiridas 120 mulheres presas. Os resultados deste estudo mostram que muitas das necessidades das mulheres presas s��o diferentes das dos homens e requerem estrat��gias adaptadas ��s suas caracter��sticas e situa����es psicossociais espec��ficas. A maioria das mulheres encarceradas �� jovem, en��rgica, pode trabalhar, tem profiss��o e fam��lia. As presas sofrem de problemas psicol��gicos e muitas vezes s��o rejeitadas pelas suas fam��lias. Uma parte substancial das mulheres presas tem m��ltiplos problemas de sa��de f��sica e mental. A maioria delas tem filhos e sofre com o facto das crian��as estarem a crescer longe da m��e. Com base nos resultados desta investiga����o �� poss��vel elaborar um contexto promotor do planeamento e desenvolvimento de servi��os com um enfoque de g��nero na pris��o. Na perspetiva de longo prazo, o conhecimento das necessidades b��sicas e a introdu����o de programas e servi��os com necessidades espec��ficas pertinentes ir�� beneficiar as presas e as suas fam��lias, e melhorar a efic��cia do sistema de justi��a criminal.----------ABSTRACT: Female inmates find themselves in a system essentially run by men for men. Women who enter prison usually come from marginalized and disadvantaged backgrounds and are often characterized by histories of violence, physical and sexual abuse. Female prisoners constitute an especially vulnerable group given their specific health and hygienic needs within the system are often neglected. The first step in developing gender-sensitive program and practice is to understand female offenders��� characteristics and the specific life factors that shape women���s patterns of offending. In June 2012 a research was carried out in the Georgian only female prison facility to assess the mental and psychosocial needs of women prisoners, aiming to develop effective support programs for their rehabilitation, re-socialization and reintegration, as well as to elaborate new recommendations concerning prison management. A survey instrument (questionnaire) was developed within a theoretical framework based on four fundamental theories: Pathways Theory, Theory of Women���s Psychological Development and Trauma and Addiction Theories. Sample size was defined to be 120 surveyed persons. The study showed that needs of incarcerated women were different from those of men, thus requiring approaches tailored to their specific psychosocial characteristics and situations. The basic population of imprisoned women consisted of young, energetic, working-age females, most often with a professional qualification. Female prisoners suffered from psychological problems and are were more likely to be rejected by their families. Most of them had children and suffered that the children were growing without mothers. A substantial proportion of women offenders had multiple physical and mental health problems. Based on the study findings a conceptual framework can be elaborated towards planning and developing gender-sensitive services in prison. In the long-term perspective, acknowledgement of baseline needs and introduction of the relevant needs-specific programs and services may benefit women prisoners as well as their families, improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system.

Public perspective towards social impact of chang e lunar probe program

The present article is based on the MA thesis of Hou Bowen (Ph.D candidate) and on the presentation made at the ISA World Congress of Sociology held in Yokohama (Japan) on July 2014 at the Session on ���Assessing Technologies: Global Patterns of Trust and Distrust��� of RC23-Sociology of Science and Technology.