On the design of education conditional cash transfer programs and non education outcomes: the case of teenage pregnancy

We investigate the effect of education Conditional Cash Transfer programs (CCTs) on teenage pregnancy. Our main concern is with how the size and sign of the effect may depend on the design of the program. Using a simple model we show that an education CCT that conditions renewal on school performance reduces teenage pregnancy; the program can increase teenage pregnancy if it does not condition on school performance. Then, using an original data base, we estimate the causal impact on teenage pregnancy of two education CCTs implemented in Bogot´a (Subsidio Educativo, SE, and Familias en Acci´on, FA); both programs differ particularly on whether school success is a condition for renewal or not. We show that SE has negative average effect on teenage pregnancy while FA has a null average effect. We also find that SE has either null or no effect for adolescents in all age and grade groups while FA has positive, null or negative effects for adolescents in different age and grade groups. Since SE conditions renewal on school success and FA does not, we can argue that the empirical results are consistent with the predictions of our model and that conditioning renewal of the subsidy on school success crucially determines the effect of the subsidy on teenage pregnancy

Anàlisi d'escenaris i tendències en l'àmbit de la gestió mediambiental a la indústria catalana

Actualment, la indústria afronta el repte d'integrar les consideracions mediambientals en els seus plans de negoci. I no tan sols pel compromís ètic vers una correcta actuació mediambiental, sinó pel fet de que els clients i la societat en general estan cada cop més sensibilitzats per aquesta problemàtica i comencen a valorar a les empreses que realment tenen en compta els aspectes ambientals en els seu funcionament, i aquest comportament pot ésser també la base d'un bon negoci. És en aquest context on s'explica el gran interès empresarial per l'àrea de la gestió mediambiental en la indústria experimentat en l'última dècada del segle XX. Les consideracions ambientals són una font de profunds canvis en les pràctiques empresarials, i un primer pas que pot ajudar a les organitzacions a afrontar aquests nous reptes és el reconeixement de l'avantatge competitiu que la gestió mediambiental pot aportar, pel fet d'assegurar que el compromís amb la millora ambiental existeix en l'empresa. En el centre de tot aquest procés cap a un nou paradigma de gestió empresarial, els sistemes de gestió mediambiental tracten d'ajudar a les empreses a millorar l'impacte ambiental del seu procés productiu, activitats i productes, a través de procediments específics, així com a minimitzar el risc d'accidents. Aquests procediments possibiliten, d'una manera sistemàtica i a través d'una estructura organitzativa, assolir compromisos de gestió ambiental. L'objectiu general que es persegueix amb aquest treball de tesi doctoral es centra en l'anàlisi del desenvolupament de la gestió mediambiental a la indústria catalana. Així, s'estudia com es percep la dimensió ambiental en la gestió d'empresa. També s'identifiquen els factors impulsors i limitadors de la introducció de la gestió ambiental a la indústria, a través de la implantació de sistemes de gestió mediambientals (Norma ISO 14001 o Reglament EMAS) i s'analitzen les inversions i despeses mediambientals que està realitzant el teixit industrial català en l'actualitat. Aquest treball també estudia el nivell de coneixement de les empreses quant a polítiques, normatives i eines associades a la gestió ambiental.

Design factors affecting the success of settlement upgrading projects. Favela Bairro Program, Rio de Janeiro

One of the main stated objectives of the Favela Bairro program was to allow squatter settlements to become part of the formal city. The focus of the study is to assess how different project solutions in the Favela Bairro program have used urban design tools to achieve this objective. A subsequent question concerns the extent to which urban design factors helped to improve the social integration of the settlements, and specifically to overcome poverty and exclusion conditions.This bring us to a another group of problems related to indicators to measure the attainment of these objectives from four perspectives: Spatial, Social, Economical and Political (citizenship and participation)This analysis highlights the major difficulties confronted by the design teams, and allows pinpointing the positive and negative impacts of the interventions on the communities and the city

Projeto eco : análise da influência da atividade física na ansiedade e depressão em indivíduos com obesidade severa

A obesidade é, hoje em dia, considerada um transtorno multifatorial, ou seja, resultante de diversos fatores: bio-psico-sociais. Sendo que os fatores psiquiátricos tais como a ansiedade e a depressão, têm vindo a ter cada vez mais importância, existindo fortes evidências em como a obesidade não é só um transtorno orgânico. Deste modo, torna-se fundamental perceber qual o efeito que a Atividade Física (AF) e o exercício podem ter em transtornos tais com a depressão e a ansiedade, em indivíduos com obesidade severa. Com a realização deste estágio pretendeu-se desenvolver diferentes estratégias de intervenção com este tipo de população, no que diz respeito à prescrição e planeamento de sessões teórico-práticas, consultas de prescrição de exercício e também averiguar qual a influência que a Atividade Física pode ter nos sintomas de Ansiedade e Depressão, em indivíduos com obesidade severa. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura na qual se investigou o efeito que o exercício e a AF podem ter na saúde mental, mais concretamente nos sintomas de ansiedade e depressão neste tipo de população. Dos estudos analisados foi possível concluir que indivíduos que são sujeitos a um programa multidisciplinar que inclui atividade física apresentam melhorias quer no que diz respeito à qualidade de vida (2 estudos) como no que diz respeito à saúde mental (4 estudos). Apesar das diferenças metodológicas entre os estudos, concluiu-se que, de uma forma geral, os programas que incluem atividade física, mais especificamente 2 a 3 horas por semana de exercício aeróbio de intensidade moderada a vigorosa, levam a melhorias consideráveis na saúde mental, nos níveis de depressão e de ansiedade. Relativamente às sessões teórico-práticas realizadas, os resultados obtidos com a intervenção realizada não foram significativos tanto no que diz respeito aos sintomas de ansiedade tanto como os de depressão. No que diz respeito às consultas realizadas no Hospital de Santa Maria, foi possível concluir que os utentes avaliados apresentavam na sua maioria comportamentos sedentários. No entanto, apenas um utente foi avaliado pela segunda vez tendo sido reportadas algumas melhorias no que diz respeito à capacidade cardiovascular do primeiro para o segundo momento de avaliação.

Stopping clinical trials because of treatment ineffectiveness: a comparison of a futility design with a method of stochastic curtailment

This paper introduces a simple futility design that allows a comparative clinical trial to be stopped due to lack of effect at any of a series of planned interim analyses. Stopping due to apparent benefit is not permitted. The design is for use when any positive claim should be based on the maximum sample size, for example to allow subgroup analyses or the evaluation of safety or secondary efficacy responses. A final frequentist analysis can be performed that is valid for the type of design employed. Here the design is described and its properties are presented. Its advantages and disadvantages relative to the use of stochastic curtailment are discussed. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Mapping antimalarial pharmacophores as a useful tool for the rapid discovery of drugs effective in vivo: design, construction, characterization, and pharmacology of metaquine

Resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum and the unavailability of useful antimalarial vaccines reinforce the need to develop new efficacious antimalarials. This study details a pharmacophore model that has been used to identify a potent, soluble, orally bioavailable antimalarial bisquinoline, metaquine (N,N'-bis(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)benzene-1,3-diamine) (dihydrochloride), which is active against Plasmodium berghei in vivo (oral ID50 of 25 mu mol/kg) and multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum K1 in vitro (0.17 mu M). Metaquine shows strong affinity for the putative antimalarial receptor, heme at pH 7.4 in aqueous DMSO. Both crystallographic analyses and quantum mechanical calculations (HF/6-31+G*) reveal important regions of protonation and bonding thought to persist at parasitic vacuolar pH concordant with our receptor model. Formation of drug-heme adduct in solution was confirmed using high-resolution positive ion electrospray mass spectrometry. Metaquine showed strong binding with the receptor in a 1: 1 ratio (log K = 5.7 +/- 0.1) that was predicted by molecular mechanics calculations. This study illustrates a rational multidisciplinary approach for the development of new 4-aminoquinoline antimalarials, with efficacy superior to chloroquine, based on the use of a pharmacophore model.

Design and evaluation of intelligent classifier based intrusion detection system

We have discovered a novel approach of intrusion detection system using an intelligent data classifier based on a self organizing map (SOM). We have surveyed all other unsupervised intrusion detection methods, different alternative SOM based techniques and KDD winner IDS methods. This paper provides a robust designed and implemented intelligent data classifier technique based on a single large size (30x30) self organizing map (SOM) having the capability to detect all types of attacks given in the DARPA Archive 1999 the lowest false positive rate being 0.04 % and higher detection rate being 99.73% tested using full KDD data sets and 89.54% comparable detection rate and 0.18% lowest false positive rate tested using corrected data sets.

Taking the LEED? Analyzing spatial variations in market penetration rates of eco-labeled properties

This paper investigates the impact of policies to promote the adoption of LEED-certified buildings across CBSA in the United States. Drawing upon a unique database that combines data from a large number of sources and using a number of regression procedures, the determinants of the proportion LEED-certified space for more than 170 CBSA in the US is modeled. LEED-certified space still accounts for a relatively small proportion of commercial stock in all markets. The average proportion is less than 1%. There is no conclusive evidence of a positive impact of policy intervention on the levels of LEED-certified space. However, after accounting for bias introduced by non-random assignment of policies, we find preliminary evidence of a positive impact of city-level green building incentives. There is a significant positive association between market size and indicators of economic vitality on proportions of LEED-certified space.

Eco-labeling, rents, sales prices and occupancy rates: do LEED and Energy Star labeled offices obtain multiple premiums?

Drawing upon an updated and expanded dataset of Energy Star and LEED labeled commercial offices, this paper investigates the effect of eco-labeling on rental rates, sale prices and occupancy rates. Using OLS and robust regression procedures, hedonic modeling is used to test whether the presence of an eco-label has a significant positive effect on rental rates, sale prices and occupancy rates. The study suggests that estimated coefficients can be sensitive to outlier treatment. For sale prices and occupancy rates, there are notable differences between estimated coefficients for OLS and robust regressions. The results suggest that both Energy Star and LEED offices obtain rental premiums of approximately 3%. A 17% sale price premium is estimated for Energy Star labeled offices but no significant sale price premium is estimated for LEED labeled offices. Surprisingly, no significant occupancy premium is estimated for Energy Star labeled offices and a negative occupancy premium is estimated for LEED labeled offices.

Passive and active hybrid approach to buildings design in Saudi Arabia

The building sector is one of the highest consumers of energy in the world. This has led to high dependency on using fossil fuel to supply energy without due consideration to its environmental impact. Saudi Arabia has been through rapid development accompanied by population growth, which in turn has increased the demand for construction. However, this fast development has been met without considering sustainable building design. General design practices rely on using international design approaches and features without considering the local climate and aspects of traditional passive design. This is by constructing buildings with a large amount of glass fully exposed to solar radiation. The aim of this paper is to investigate the development of sustainability in passive design and vernacular architecture. Furthermore, it compares them with current building in Saudi Arabia in terms of making the most of the climate. Moreover, it will explore the most sustainable renewable energy that can be used to reduce the environmental impact on modern building in Saudi Arabia. This will be carried out using case studies demonstrating the performance of vernacular design in Saudi Arabia and thus its benefits in terms of environmental, economic and social sustainability. It argues that the adoption of a hybrid approach can improve the energy efficiency as well as reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. This is by combining passive design, learning from the vernacular architecture and implementing innovative sustainable technologies.

Mapping the trickle out benefits of social and environmental enterprises: a pilot study of an East African eco business

• Objectives The objective of this paper is to propose a framework for mapping the sustainable development and poverty alleviation impacts of social and environmental enterprises in Africa. This framework is then piloted with reference to an East African Ecobusiness. • Prior Work This paper is based on data collected as part of a wider research project examining social and environmental enterprises across the 19 countries of Southern and Eastern Africa. In total, the sustainable development and poverty alleviation impacts of 20 in-depth case studies in 4 countries are being examined. • Approach Data was collected using in-depth interviews with multiple stakeholders associated with the case study business. Secondary materials were also analysed and a quantitative survey of customers undertaken. • Results In addition to their impacts on the environment, African eco businesses can also have substantial social, economic and wider poverty alleviation impacts. This paper maps the impacts of a case study East African ecobusiness, as part of developing a social and environmental enterprise impact framework for Africa and the wider developing world. In our case study, positive and negative impacts are identified, while questions are raised in relation to tradeoffs between social and environmental objectives and temporal dimensions of impact. The usefulness of existing frameworks for understanding the social, environmental and development impacts of these kinds of organisations are also considered. • Implications This paper outlines the necessity of building an African-centric impact map to capture the multi-level poverty alleviation and sustainable development impacts of social and environmental enterprise activity in developing world environments. The framework proposed also offers guidance to businesses operating in Africa about the factors that might be considered as part of their wider social and environmental responsibilities. • Value Assessing the impact of social and environmental enterprises, especially as a route to development within low income countries, is receiving increasing attention in academia and beyond. This paper presents a useful contribution to the scarce literature on social and environmental enterprises in Africa.

A MATLAB GUI for learning controller design in the frequency domain

A MATLAB GUI is presented which is used to help students learn to design controllers in the frequency domain. It complements the author’s two previous GUIs for plotting and identification of systems in the frequency domain. It also incorporates the concept used in the “electronic calculator that makes students think” to assist learning. Positive student feedback affirms that the GUI has helped their understanding.

A randomised controlled trial of positive memory training for the treatment of depression within schizophrenia

Abstract Background: Depression is highly prevalent within individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, and is associated with an increased risk of suicide. There are no current evidence based treatments for low mood within this group. The specific targeting of co-morbid conditions within complex mental health problems lends itself to the development of short-term structured interventions which are relatively easy to disseminate within health services. A brief cognitive intervention based on a competitive memory theory of depression, is being evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in reducing depression within this group. Methods/Design: This is a single blind, intention-to-treat, multi-site, randomized controlled trial comparing Positive Memory Training plus Treatment as Usual with Treatment as Usual alone. Participants will be recruited from two NHS Trusts in Southern England. In order to be eligible, participants must have a DSM-V diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder and exhibit at least a mild level of depression. Following baseline assessment eligible participants will be randomly allocated to either the Positive Memory Training plus Treatment as Usual group or the Treatment as Usual group. Outcome will be assessed at the end of treatment (3-months) and at 6-month and 9-month post randomization by assessors blind to group allocation. The primary outcome will be levels of depression and secondary outcomes will be severity of psychotic symptoms and cost-effectiveness. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with all participants who are allocated to the treatment group so as to explore the acceptability of the intervention. Discussion: Cognitive behaviour therapy is recommended for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, the number of sessions and length of training required to deliver this intervention has caused a limit in availability. The current trial will evaluate a short-term structured protocol which targets a co-morbid condition often considered of primary importance by service users. If successful the intervention will be an important addition to current initiatives aimed at increasing access to psychological therapies for people diagnosed with severe mental health problems. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials. ISRCTN99485756. Registered 13 March 2014.

Using the Technology Acceptance Model to explore community dwelling older adults’ perceptions of a 3D interior design application to facilitate pre-discharge home adaptations

Background In the UK occupational therapy pre-discharge home visits are routinely carried out as a means of facilitating safe transfer from the hospital to home. Whilst they are an integral part of practice, there is little evidence to demonstrate they have a positive outcome on the discharge process. Current issues for patients are around the speed of home visits and the lack of shared decision making in the process, resulting in less than 50 % of the specialist equipment installed actually being used by patients on follow-up. To improve practice there is an urgent need to examine other ways of conducting home visits to facilitate safe discharge. We believe that Computerised 3D Interior Design Applications (CIDAs) could be a means to support more efficient, effective and collaborative practice. A previous study explored practitioners perceptions of using CIDAs; however it is important to ascertain older adult’s views about the usability of technology and to compare findings. This study explores the perceptions of community dwelling older adults with regards to adopting and using CIDAs as an assistive tool for the home adaptations process. Methods Ten community dwelling older adults participated in individual interactive task-focused usability sessions with a customised CIDA, utilising the think-aloud protocol and individual semi-structured interviews. Template analysis was used to carry out both deductive and inductive analysis of the think-aloud and interview data. Initially, a deductive stance was adopted, using the three pre-determined high-level themes of the technology acceptance model (TAM): Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Actual Use (AU). Inductive template analysis was then carried out on the data within these themes, from which a number of sub-thmes emerged. Results Regarding PU, participants believed CIDAs served as a useful visual tool and saw clear potential to facilitate shared understanding and partnership in care delivery. For PEOU, participants were able to create 3D home environments however a number of usability issues must still be addressed. The AU theme revealed the most likely usage scenario would be collaborative involving both patient and practitioner, as many participants did not feel confident or see sufficient value in using the application autonomously. Conclusions This research found that older adults perceived that CIDAs were likely to serve as a valuable tool which facilitates and enhances levels of patient/practitioner collaboration and empowerment. Older adults also suggested a redesign of the interface so that less sophisticated dexterity and motor functions are required. However, older adults were not confident, or did not see sufficient value in using the application autonomously. Future research is needed to further customise the CIDA software, in line with the outcomes of this study, and to explore the potential of collaborative application patient/practitioner-based deployment.

Compensation and Rewards for Environmental Services (CRES) and efficient design of contracts in developing countries. Behavioral insights from a natural field experiment

The use of economic incentives for biodiversity (mostly Compensation and Reward for Environmental Services including Payment for ES) has been widely supported in the past decades and became the main innovative policy tools for biodiversity conservation worldwide. These policy tools are often based on the insight that rational actors perfectly weigh the costs and benefits of adopting certain behaviors and well-crafted economic incentives and disincentives will lead to socially desirable development scenarios. This rationalist mode of thought has provided interesting insights and results, but it also misestimates the context by which ‘real individuals’ come to decisions, and the multitude of factors influencing development sequences. In this study, our goal is to examine how these policies can take advantage of some unintended behavioral reactions that might in return impact, either positively or negatively, general policy performances. We test the effect of income's origin (‘Low effort’ based money vs. ‘High effort’ based money) on spending decisions (Necessity vs. Superior goods) and subsequent pro social preferences (Future pro-environmental behavior) within Madagascar rural areas, using a natural field experiment. Our results show that money obtained under low effort leads to different consumption patterns than money obtained under high efforts: superior goods are more salient in the case of low effort money. In parallel, money obtained under low effort leads to subsequent higher pro social behavior. Compensation and rewards policies for ecosystem services may mobilize knowledge on behavioral biases to improve their design and foster positive spillovers on their development goals.