Evaluation and social impact measurement amongst small to medium social enterprises : process, purpose and value

In recent years, the imperative to communicate organisational impacts to a variety of stakeholders has gained increasing importance within all sectors. Despite growing external demands for evaluation and social impact measurement, there has been limited critically informed analysis about the presumed importance of these activities to organisational success and the practical challenges faced by organisations in undertaking such assessment. In this paper, we present the findings from an action research study of five Australian small to medium social enterprises’ practices and use of evaluation and social impact analysis. Our findings have implications for social enterprise operators, policy makers and social investors regarding when, why and at what level these activities contribute to organisational performance and the fulfilment of mission.

The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for cognitive dysfunction in cancer patients who have received chemotherapy : a systematic review

Background: Chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction (CRCD) refers to problems with memory,attention span, or concentration, experienced by patients with cancer who have had chemotherapy. CRCD can have a significant negative effect on a patient’s quality of life. The exact cause of CRCD is unknown but is presumed to be multifactorial. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions designed to treat CRCD. Methods: Participants of interest to the review were over 18 years of age, diagnosed with cancer, and receiving chemotherapy or had received chemotherapy in the past. Interventions of interest were methods to improve cognitive function. Included study designs were randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental trials, and quantitative observational studies. The primary outcome of interest was level of cognitive function. A three-step search strategy was utilized to identify studies published from 1985 to 2011 from a wide range of databases. Joanna Briggs Institute systematic review methods were used but findings were analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager 5.1 program.Weightedmean differences with 95% confidence intervals were calculated from the continuous data. Results: Searching identified 3,109 potentially relevant articles and 120 full-text articles were retrieved. Two further papers were sourced from reference lists of retrieved articles. From 122 papers, six were suitable for critical appraisal and six were included in the analysis. Meta-analysis was conducted on two cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) trials for the outcome of inability to concentrate. Significant effect was seen for one CBT intervention at 20 weeks (p = .004). Significant effect from CBT on quality of life was seen at 6-month follow-up (p < .05). Conclusions: Despite some evidence of an effect, there is insufficient evidence at this stage to strongly recommend any of the interventions to assist in decreasing the effects of CRCD, except in terms of improving quality of life.

用于波导放大器的Er^3＋／Yb^3＋共掺磷酸盐玻璃的性能研究

通过优化熔融条件和玻璃组份，成功开发出一种新的Er^3+／Yb^3+共掺磷酸盐玻璃，其在沸水和熔盐中均表现出很好的化学稳定性。通过分析室温下Er^3+／Yb^3+共掺磷酸盐玻璃的吸收光谱，计算得到了Er^3+离子在波长1533nm处的峰值发射截面和杜得-奥菲而特强度参数；其中Er^3+离子在波长1533nm处的峰值发射截面为0．72×10^20cm^2，大于Schott的IOG1玻璃中Er^3+离子的峰值发射截面0．67×10^-20cm^2。通过改变离子交换的条件，获得了1．55μm单模光波导的制作条件

Habitar la periferia "postindustrial". Imaginarios, narrativas y prácticas espaciales desde la Margen Izquierda del Nervión en el Bilbao metropolitano.

424 p.

A geometrical model of GaN morphology in initial growth stage

Based on morphology observed by atomic force microscopy, a geometrical model was proposed in order to explain the statistical results obtained from morphology observation on GaN in initial growth stage. Four parameters were introduced to describe the morphology characteristics in this model. Least-square fitting of height distribution was performed. The height distribution derived from the model agreed well with that obtained from experimental records. It was also found that the model should be further advanced to understand the growth of GaN in initial growth stage. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science BY. All rights reserved.

Comparing the morphology and phase diagram of H-shaped ABC block copolymers and linear ABC block copolymers

By using a combinatorial screening method based on the self-consistent field theory (SCFT) for polymers, we have investigated the morphology of H-shaped ABC block copolymers (A(2)BC(2)) and compared them with those of the linear ABC block copolymers. By changing the ratios of the volume fractions of two A arms and two C arms, one can obtain block copolymers with different architectures ranging from linear block copolymer to H-shaped block copolymer. By systematically varying the volume fractions of block A, B, and C, the triangle phase diagrams of the H-shaped ABC block copolymer with equal interactions among the three species are constructed. In this study, we find four different morphologies ( lamellar phase ( LAM), hexagonal lattice phase ( HEX), core-shell hexagonal lattice phase (CSH), and two interpenetrating tetragonal lattice (TET2)). Furthermore, the order-order transitions driven by architectural change are discussed.

Estudio de factibilidad para la creación de una empresa productora y exportadora de tomate de árbol, hacia Alemania, ubicada en la parroquia de San José de Minas, al noroccidente de Pichincha

El presente proyecto lo hemos realizado con la finalidad de determinar la factibilidad de la creación de una empresa productora y exportadora de tomate de árbol hacia Alemania. Empezamos con un Estudio de Mercado, en el cual determinamos que existe un mercado potencial, pese a que la demanda del tomate de árbol en los últimos cinco años ha sido variable, en su proyección se ha establecido que será creciente para los próximos años, esto nos da un primer indicio de que sería favorable el proyecto; los datos obtenidos de la oferta de esta fruta nos indican que las importaciones de tomate de árbol por parte de Alemania no presentan un gran volumen y los principales proveedores son Colombia y España. Con los datos anteriormente establecidos hemos determinado que la demanda insatisfecha presenta un volumen considerable y que pese a que nuestros principales competidores y nosotros presentemos un gran volumen de exportaciones futuras no se llegaría a cubrir en su totalidad dicha demanda, lo cual quiere decir que tenemos la oportunidad de llegar a este mercado y tener la posibilidad de aumentar nuestras exportaciones. Por las cualidades nutricionales del tomate de árbol hemos estimado que es un producto exportable; y que con los cuidados y controles necesarios podremos ingresar a un mercado exigente como es el de Alemania. Para su exportación se utilizarán cajas de cartón corrugado, que completamente empacadas tienen un peso de 2.5 kg.; y su precio de exportación será de 6,25 dólares el kg. Para dar a conocer nuestro producto participaremos en ferias promocionales. El canal de distribución que vamos a utilizar para nuestro producto es productor-importador.

Currículo no ensino fundamental de nove anos: uma análise das possíveis mudanças curriculares nas séries iniciais da rede estadual de ensino de Santa Catarina - Brasil

Diante da medida política, de cunho educativo, de ampliação do Ensino Fundamental brasileiro de oito para nove anos de escolaridade obrigatória, esta investigação propôs-se analisar os reflexos desta deliberação na proposta curricular oficialmente prescrita. A questão da qual se ocupou este estudo, é portanto: Quais as mudanças de natureza curricular, nas Séries Iniciais da Rede Estadual de Ensino de Santa Catarina, decorrentes das alterações estabelecidas pela Lei n. 11.274? Este estudo caracteriza-se por uma pesquisa documental, de abordagem histórica e qualitativa, cujo método de investigação é a técnica de análise de conteúdo. A análise dos Documentos Preliminares de Seleção e Organização Curricular para as Séries Iniciais do Ensino Fundamental de Nove Anos, permitiu-nos inferir que não houve mudanças significativas na organização curricular quando comparada com a Proposta Curricular de Santa Catarina elaborada anteriormente; ### ABSTRACT: NINE YEARS ELEMENTARY EDUCATION CURRICULUM: An analysis of the possible curriculum changes in the Elementary School first grades in Santa Catarina State – Brazil This investigation purposes to examine the policy measure, in a educative way, of the brazilian Elementary Education extension, from eight to nine required years, as also this decision´s consequences in the officially prescribed curriculum proposal. The question which this study has engaged is, therefor: what are the results of the first grade of elementary school curricular changes in Santa Catarina, according with the law n. 11.274? This study describes a documentary research, with a historical and qualitative approach, which investigation method is a content analysis technique. The analysis of the Curricular Preliminary Selection and Organization Documents to the Nine Years Elementary Education allowed us to conclude that no meaning changes have occurred in the curricular organizaton, when compared with the previous proposal.

L'Écho de Paris

1917/08/05 (Numéro 12042).