scholarly journals Grand Corruption in the Contracting Out of Public Services: Lessons from a Pilot Study in Colombia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Keefer ◽  
Benjamin Roseth
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
The Political ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Corrupt Behavior ◽  
High Level ◽  
And Control ◽  
Operator Behavior

Do targeted transparency interventions reduce corrupt behavior when corrupt actors are few and politically influential; their behavior imposes small costs on numerous individuals; and corrupt behavior is difficult to observe? Results from a study of informal audits and text messages to parents, meant to curb corruption in the School Meals Program of Colombia, suggests that they can. Theory is pessimistic that transparency interventions can change the behavior of actors who exert significant influence over supervisory authorities. Moreover, inherent methodological obstacles impede the identification of treatment effects. Results substantiate the presence of these obstacles, especially considerable spillovers from treated to control groups. Despite spillovers, we find that parental and operator behavior are significantly different between treatment and control groups. Additional evidence explains why operator behavior changed: out of concern that systematic evidence of corrupt behavior would trigger enforcement actions by high-level enforcement agencies outside of the political jurisdictions where they are most influential.

scholarly journals Does Gamifying Homework Influence Performance and Perceived Gameful Experience?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4829
Author(s):  
Ahmed Hosny Saleh Metwally ◽  
Maiga Chang ◽  
Yining Wang ◽  
Ahmed Mohamed Fahmy Yousef
Keyword(s):  
Learning Analytics ◽  
Educational Settings ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
High Level ◽  
And Control

There is a growing body of literature that recognizes the importance of applying gamification in educational settings. This research developed an application to gamify students’ homework to address the concern of the students’ inability to complete their homework. This research aims to investigate students’ performance in doing their homework, and reflections and perceptions of the gameful experience in gamified homework exercises. Based on the data gathered from experimental and control groups (N = 84) via learning analytics, survey, and interview, the results show a high level of satisfaction according to students’ feedback. The most noticeable finding to extract from the analysis is that students can take on a persona, earn points, and experience a deeper sense of achievement through doing the gamified homework. Moreover, the students, on the whole, are likely to be intrinsically motivated whenever the homework is attributed to factors under their own control, when they consider that they have the expertise to be successful learners to achieve their desired objectives, and when they are interested in dealing with the homework for learning, not just achieving high grades.

4. Repeal

2020 ◽  
pp. 96-114
Author(s):  
W. J. Rorabaugh
Keyword(s):  
Great Depression ◽  
First Amendment ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Alcohol Policy ◽  
The Political ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
National Crisis ◽  
The Great Depression ◽  
And Control

By the late Twenties, Americans increasingly recognized that prohibition could not work, but getting the political system to tackle the issue was hard. ‘Repeal’ explains that it would take another national crisis, the Great Depression, to end prohibition. As the economy declined in the early Thirties, government officials faced falling revenues while the demand for public services increased. This appetite for revenue, along with changing public opinion, forced reconsideration of alcohol policy. The Twenty-first Amendment was ratified in December 1933. Alcohol became widely available, but high taxes kept the price high enough to reduce consumption, state governments determined where alcohol was sold or consumed, and control boards decided the circumstances under which it was drunk.

scholarly journals Measurement of Plasma Glutathione S-Transferase in Hepatocellular Damage in Pre-Eclampsia

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 483-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Kumtepe ◽  
B Börekçi ◽  
H Aksoy ◽  
K Altinkaynak ◽  
M Ingeç ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Function Tests ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Glutathione S Transferase ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Hepatocellular Damage ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Plasma Glutathione ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
High Level ◽  
And Control

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a cytosolic enzyme found in high concentrations in the liver. We investigated the value of plasma GST measurements in pre-eclamptic patients. A total of 80 patients (40 in the pre-eclampsia group and 40 in the control group) were recruited. All patients were evaluated for GST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. Pre-eclampsia was defined as the occurrence, after 20 weeks' gestation, of a diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mmHg on two or more occasions at least 4 h apart, and concomitant proteinuria greater than 0.3 g/l over a 24-h urine collection period. There was no statistical difference between the pre-eclampsia and control groups in terms of ALT, gestational age, maternal age or number of previous pregnancies; a significant difference was found between the pre-eclampsia and control groups in terms of GST. Pre-eclampsia represents a significant cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Accurate assessment of hepatocellular damage is essential in the clinical management of these patients. GST levels in pre-eclamptic patients were found to be much higher (131.98 IU/l) than in control patients (68.67 IU/l), and this high level suggests hepatocellular damage. We concluded that measurement of plasma GST might provide an earlier and much more sensitive indicator of hepatocellular damage than other liver-function tests.

Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration: A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Utility of the ProCore Biopsy Needle for Lymph Node Sampling

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Xing ◽  
Steven Manos ◽  
Sara E. Monaco ◽  
David O. Wilson ◽  
Liron Pantanowitz
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Lymph Nodes ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Endobronchial Ultrasound ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Ultrasound Guided ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Transbronchial Needle Aspiration ◽  
Biopsy Needle ◽  
And Control

Objective: The ProCore ultrasound biopsy needle, used primarily to obtain intra-abdominal tissue core biopsies, has not been widely used for endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). In this pilot study we evaluated the utility of the ProCore needle for sampling mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes during EBUS-TBNA. Design: Thirty-two patients were identified using both ProCore and conventional fine-needle aspiration (FNA) needles for sampling mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes (the study group). Another 33 patients underwent EBUS-TBNA using an FNA needle only (the control group). Specimen satisfactory rates were compared between the study and control groups. Aspirate smears and cell blocks were evaluated for the cellularity of lesional cells and bronchial contamination in a subset of patients in the study group. Results: Overall, the ProCore needle did not show additive value to specimen adequacy when comparing the satisfactory rates of the study and control groups (94 vs. 89%). The ProCore needle also did not procure significantly more lesional cells than the FNA needle. Conclusion: Our experience shows that the ProCore needle does not provide additive value when performing an FNA of mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes. The evaluation of more cases with this new technique is necessary to better determine the clinical utility of using ProCore during EBUS-TBNA.

scholarly journals A pilot study to determine the feasibility of a cluster randomised controlled trial of an intervention to change peer attitudes towards children who stutter

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rizwana B. Mallick ◽  
Lehana Thabane ◽  
A.S.M. Borhan ◽  
Harsha Kathard
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Dropout Rate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Peer Attitudes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
And Control

Background: While randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard of research, prior study is needed to determine the feasibility of a future large-scale RCT study. Objectives: This pilot study, therefore, aimed to determine feasibility of an RCT by exploring: (1) procedural issues and (2) treatment effect of the Classroom Communication Resource (CCR), an intervention for changing peer attitudes towards children who stutter. Method: A pilot cluster stratified RCT design was employed whereby the recruitment took place first at school-level and then at individual level. The dropout rate was reported at baseline, 1 and 6 months post-intervention. For treatment effect, schools were the unit of randomisation and were randomised to receive either the CCR intervention administered by teachers or usual practice, using a 1:1 allocation ratio. The stuttering resource outcomes measure (SROM) measured treatment effect at baseline, 1 and 6 months post-intervention overall and within the constructs (positive social distance, social pressure and verbal interaction). Results: For school recruitment, 11 schools were invited to participate and 82% (n = 9) were recruited. Based on the school recruitment, N = 610 participants were eligible for this study while only n = 449 were recruited, where there was n = 183 in the intervention group and n = 266 in the control group. The dropout rate from recruitment to baseline was as follows: intervention, 23% (n = 34), and control, 6% (n = 15). At 1 month a dropout rate of 7% (n = 10) was noted in the intervention and 6% (n = 15) in the control group, whereas at 6 months, dropout rates of 7% (n = 10) and 17% (n = 44) were found in the intervention and control groups, respectively. For treatment effect on the SROM, the estimated mean differences between intervention and control groups were (95% Confidence Interval (CI): -1.07, 5.11) at 1 month and 3.01 (95% CI: -0.69, 6.69) at 6 months. A statistically significant difference was observed at 6 months on the VI subscale of the SROM, with 1.35 (95% CI: 0.58, 2.13). Conclusion: A high recruitment rate of schools and participants was observed with a high dropout rate of participants. Significant differences were only noted at 6 months post-intervention within one of the constructs of the SROM. These findings suggest that a future RCT study is warranted and feasible.

scholarly journals Improving Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Life with Massage Therapy in Youth and Young Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: a Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-15
Author(s):  
Kathleen (Kate) Zink, MSN, RN, AHN-BC, LMT ◽  
Barbara Chini, MD ◽  
Joyce Cowens, LMT ◽  
Lois Kremer, BSN, RN ◽  
Li Lin, MS, BS
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Massage Therapy ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Muscle Tightness ◽  
And Control

Background: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder of exocrine glands characterized by abnormal production of thick mucus, primar-ily in bronchi of the lungs. Individuals experience recurrent respiratory infections, increased work of breathing, cough and musculoskeletal changes with pain. Previous research found that massage therapy (MT) decreased pain, muscle tightness, and anxiety in individuals with CF, but did not use valid/reliable measurements of quality of life (QOL).Purpose: To evaluate the effects of MT on QOL and clinical outcomes in individuals 8 to 21 years old with CF. Setting: A 622-bed nonprofit pediatric hospital in Ohio in the United States.Participants: Convenience sample of 24 patients with CF; 12 randomly assigned to treatment and control groups, respectively. Research Design and Intervention: Prospective two-group controlled pre/post pilot study using deep tissue myofascial trigger point massage over 10 to 12 weeks.Measurements: Pediatric Quality of Life Inven-tory (Peds QL 4.0); Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R); numeric rating scales (NRS) for pain, muscle tightness, ease of breathing, relax-ation; pulmonary function (PFT); single breath count; thoracic excursion (TE).Results: All participants were Caucasian; mean age 15.7 (SD = 3.5) years; 16 (66.6%) female. No significant differences were found in terms of age, gender, baseline pain between MT and control groups. At the final visit, compared to the control group, the children in MT group showed statistically significantly reduced muscle tight-ness (p = .048) with a large effect size (?²=0.163) and marginally statistically significantly higher levels of relaxation (p = .052), less pain (p = .076), and improved upper TE (p = .078) and lower TE (p = .056) scores with large and moderate effect sizes (?² = 0.156, ?² = 0.095, ?² = 0.083, and ?² = 0.073). No statistically significant differences in children’s and caregivers’ QOL scores between the two groups were found.Conclusions: Massage therapy was found to significantly reduce muscle tightness, marginally significantly help pain, relaxation, and thoracic excursion in participants with CF

scholarly journals Effect of Educational Short Message Service (SMS) on Excessive Gestational Weight Gain (GWG)

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1004-1004
Author(s):  
Hannah Holmes ◽  
Cristina Palacios ◽  
Yan Yan Wu ◽  
Jinan Banna
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Short Message ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
Message Service ◽  
And Control

Abstract Objectives The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of educational short message service (SMS), or text messages, on gestational weight gain (GWG) in a low-income population. It was expected that the intervention group, which received text messages on nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy, would experience less GWG when compared to the control group. Methods Participants (n = 83) were recruited at WIC clinics on the island of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i at 15–20 weeks gestational age. Eligibility criteria were: body mass index (BMI) of 25–45 kg/m2 in the first trimester, 18 years of age or older at the time of recruitment, and possession of a cellular phone with the ability to receive text messages. After recruitment, participants were randomized into intervention (n = 42) and control (n = 41) groups. The intervention group received SMS on nutrition and physical activity during pregnancy per the Institute of Medicine and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines, respectively. The control group received SMS about general health topics during pregnancy. Both groups received one text message per week for eighteen weeks. GWG was defined as the difference between the last weight taken before delivery and participants’ self-reported weight before pregnancy. GWG in intervention and control groups was compared using a linear regression model. Results Women were age 27.7 ± 5.3y on average, 65.5% were Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander or American Indian, 54.8% had some college or more and 37.8% were employed. The average weight before pregnancy was higher in the intervention group (80.6 + 17.7 kg) than that in the control group (76.2 + 15.9 kg), but this difference was not significant (P = 0.24). GWG was lower in the control group (14.1 + 11.4 kg) compared to the intervention group (15.5 + 11.6 kg), but this result was not significant (P = 0.58). Conclusions There was no significant difference in gestational weight gain between the intervention and control groups. Trials that begin earlier in pregnancy or before pregnancy with longer interventions and more frequent messages are needed. Funding Sources Mountain West Clinical Translational Research Infrastructure Network under a grant from the National Institute of General Medicine Sciences of the National Institutes of Health.

scholarly journals The Effect of Story Book Towards School Environmental Hygiene Concern of Elementary School 5th graders in Gamping District Sleman Regency of Special Region Yogyakarta

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Yustiana Olfah ◽  
Ni Ketut Mendri ◽  
Bondan Palestin
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
T Test ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Environmental Hygiene ◽  
Post Test ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior ◽  
And Control ◽  
Special Region

Background: Elementary school education is the basic level education where students were forged with many kind of study subject where each subject has to be mastered by the students. On the other hand students were also educated with attitude and behavior values that will be the basis for further developments in the future. One of the important attitude and behavior that needs to be educated early is environmental hygiene concern. Story book is a proper medium for attitude and behavior educaton for children, since they can accommodate children reading capacity and interest. Story books are usually written with short sentence, also simpler vocabulary and grammar compared to adult reading which makes them very effective in affecting the soul of the children. Objectives: To reveal the influence of story book with hygiene environmental schools hygiene concern theme towards attitudes and behavior of hygiene environmental schools hygiene concern on students of elementary schools in the District Gamping, Sleman Special Region of Yogyakarta. Method : Quasi-experimental "Pre test Post test with Control Design" Research Design. The research sampling was purposive sampling. Story books with environmental hygiene concern theme was given by reading together with the respondents and the researchers then followed by an explanation, while the control group didn’t exposed with the story books. Pre test and post test were used to determine the attitudes and behavior of hygiene environmental school concern before and after given the story book. Hypothesis testing using SPSS for Windows with T-test method with a significance level of p <0.05. Results: The attitude analysis result of the experimental and control groups with Independent sample t-tests obtained sig. (2-tailed) of 0.000 <0.05, which means story book gives significant influence on student’s attitude related to environmental hygiene concern. While behavior analysis result of the experimental and control groups with independent sample t-test obtained sig. (2-tailed) of 0,343 > 0,05, which means story book gives no significant influence on student’s behavior related to environmental hygiene concern. Conclusion: There is a correlation of using storybooks with environmental school hygiene concern themes towards the environmental school hygiene concern attitude and while no observed correlation towards the environmental school hygiene concern behavior.

scholarly journals PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ TRAINING FOR THE INNOVATIVE EXTRACURRICULAR WORK

2021 ◽  
pp. 20-32
Author(s):  
Nataliia Onyshchenko ◽  
Nataliia Serdiuk ◽  
Valentyna Krykun
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Research Results ◽  
General Index ◽  
High Level ◽  
Teachers Training ◽  
And Control ◽  
Students Satisfaction

The research proves that the level of pre-service teachers’ readiness for innovative extracurricular work at school will be increased together with the general index of their satisfaction with the extracurricular work at university after the implementing the designed holistic program of their training. The participants of the pedagogical experiment were 148 students, divided into experimental and control groups; the experts were 18 teachers of Philological Faculty of the Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav and 10 General Secondary Schools teachers (Pereiaslav, Ukraine). After implementation of the program, 27% of participants were ready for innovative extracurricular work at the high level, 62% of students increased their level of readiness for innovative extracurricular work to the middle one. The suggested program also increased the students' satisfaction with the extracurricular work at university. On the basis of the research results, the authors suggest methodical recommendations for educators.

scholarly journals Pelaksanaan Disiplin Aparatur Sipil Negara di Lingkungan Pemerintah Kabupaten Klungkung

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-113
Author(s):  
Ni Putu Ayu Sutarini Dewi ◽  
I Gusti Bagus Suryawan ◽  
Luh Putu Suryani
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
The State ◽  
The Political ◽  
Inhibiting Factors ◽  
Kinship System ◽  
Political Conditions ◽  
High Level

In order to realize national goals, ASN is in charge of providing public services. In serving the community, there are still many ASNs whose performance is not satisfactory in serving the community and many ASNs that violate disciplinary regulations. Discipline violations of the State Civil Apparatus include disobeying obligations and or violating the prohibition of the provisions of the ASN discipline, both those carried out inside and outside working hours. The problem of this research is about the application of penalties to the State Civil Apparatus who violate discipline and inhibiting factors in imposing sanctions. The method used in this study is empirical research with primary and secondary legal materials and legal material collection techniques by directly dropping space, interviews and literature studies. The results of the study were the application of penalties against ASN that violated the rules according to the level of violations committed and applied in accordance with Law No. 53 of 2010. The factors that become a barrier in the implementation of sanctions in the Klungkung Regency Government Environment are caused by the lack of strict attitude of the superiors and the high level of nepotism or kinship system as well as the political conditions in the Klungkung Regency government in general and the Secretariat in particular .

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