Evaluation of cacao projects in Colombia: The case of the rural Productive Partnerships Project (PAAP).

Identifying the effectiveness of agricultural interventions is a challenge faced by many international aid initiatives. This article reports on our efforts to document the success of agricultural aid interventions. The study is focused on evaluating cacao projects in Colombia, specifically on assessing the success of the rural Productive Partnerships Project (PAAP). The two approaches used to assess the project's success included the degree of accomplishment of four of the PAAP project's objectives and a measurement of the project performance at the local level, for which an existing performance index was utilized. Quantitative data were obtained from the project's evaluation platform developed by the PAAP project coordinators. Based on our first evaluation approach, we found that the four project objectives evaluated were not fully accomplished. While our results using the performance index provide baseline data for upcoming work assessing cacao projects' performance, the absence of precedent information constrained its interpretation. Finally, the paper offers feasible, affordable, and practical recommendations that could benefit future program planning and evaluation of international aid interventions, particularly on cacao projects worldwide.

Impact of COVID-19 first wave on the in-hospital length of stay of operated proximal femur fracture patients in an industrial hospital in Eastern India.

Objective: The objective of this article is to study the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic first wave on the in-hospital length of stay of operated proximal femur fractures. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of data collected through the electronic record system of the hospital, after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, was done. The data were collected from the pre-pandemic, early part first wave and later part first wave of COVID-19 pandemic to calculate the average preoperative stay (POS) and total length of stay (LOS) of operated proximal femur fracture patients. Also, a sub-analysis of POS and LOS was done as per age (male/female), sex (<60/≥60 years) and fracture subtype (intertrochanteric, neck of femur and subtrochanteric fracture) of the patients to study if any of these had a significant direct impact on the POS and LOS. Results: The LOS and POS were found to be significantly increased during early part of first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to the pre-pandemic era (13.6 ± 7.7 days vs. 11.1 ± 5.7 days). The later part of the first wave of the pandemic however saw the LOS and POS to return to near pre-pandemic values, although still remaining higher. Conclusion: The study highlights that unpreparedness during the early part of the unprecedented pandemic event leads to a significant increase in LOS of operated patients with its associated implications; however, prompt action by the government, hospital administration and hospital staff the LOS could be reduced to near pre-pandemic values in the later part of the first wave of the pandemic. Analysis of the causes that lead to a significant increase in LOS can help for better future management of similar events in future.

Effect of electron-phonon interaction and valence band edge shift for carrier-type reversal in layered ZnS/rGO nanocomposites.

The artificial stacking of nanohybrid films helps to enhance their properties and thus intrigues researchers to explore this possibility in emerging technologies. The layer-by-layer approach was used to fabricate samples of zinc sulfide/reduced graphene oxide (ZnS/rGO) by using spin coating technique. The structure and optoelectronic properties has been extensively studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Hall measurements. Raman spectrum elucidates the phonon contribution of ZnS and breathing mode of κ-point phonons and sp2 bonds of carbon atoms of rGO. The electron-phonon interactions reveal reduction in electron mobility and enhancement in holes contribution with rGO content leading to surface charge transfer doping (SCTD). XPS results explain the valence band edge and conduction band edge to form type-I band alignment to reconfirm carrier-type reversal. A change in the dispersion of refractive indices along with a small rise in the value of absorption coefficient in terahertz (THz) region for ZnS/rGO nanocomposite films has been observed. These results will open up new opportunities to furthering the science of this technologically important class of materials for future electronics.

Expanding evaluator competency research: Exploring competencies for program evaluation using the context of non-formal education.

The overlap of competencies between general program evaluation and specific contexts or content will always be reality because evaluators may need unique competencies to answer evaluation questions for particular contexts or content areas. Limited research exists that explores the essential competencies required by professionals who use evaluation as one part of their job portfolio, which leaves unanswered questions regarding the applicability of current evaluator competency models in such settings. We used a modified three-round Delphi technique to identify evaluator competencies for non-formal educators in Cooperative Extension (CE). Our panelists identified 36 competencies in the non-formal educational programming context for CE educators that they considered important to be included in evaluation capacity building efforts. We categorized our 36 identified competencies from the Delphi study into the five competency domains proposed by the American Evaluation Association. Our findings provide information to help guide professional development among non-formal educators related to program evaluation.

Reducing shoulder dislocation without anaesthesia or assistant: Validation of a new reduction manoeuvre.

PURPOSE: Shoulder dislocation comprises 60% of all major joint dislocations worldwide and a number of reduction techniques are described in the literature with varying degrees of success. The description of a large number of techniques speaks for itself that no method is effective all the times and one should be acquainted with more than one technique. An ideal method of reduction should be simple, easily reproducible, relatively painless that can be performed unassisted without sedation or anaesthesia with minimal or no further complications. We report our results of using a novel method of anterior shoulder reduction described recently in the literature that claims to fulfil most of the characteristics of an ideal method if not all. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care centre. All the cases of primary anterior shoulder dislocation presenting within three days of injury without any associated fracture or spine trauma with or without greater tuberosity fracture were included. The reduction was done using a novel method by orthopaedic residents in all cases. The need for a second reduction attempt or anaesthesia was considered a treatment failure. Time taken for reduction, pain felt during reduction and complications if any were noted. RESULTS: There were 47 (77.04%) males and 14 (22.95%) females with a mean age of (37.04 ± 12.63) years. The new technique was effective in locating a shoulder dislocation on the first attempt in 58 of the 61 dislocated shoulders (95.08%). The remaining three shoulders were reduced on second attempt by the same technique. Sedative, pre-medication or anaesthesia was not used in any case. The average time taken for the shoulder reduction was (130.5 ± 25.8) seconds and confidence interval (95%) 124-137 s. Iatrogenic complications were not seen in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: This relatively painless technique of shoulder reduction is easy to acquire and practice in emergency department. The advantages of this manoeuvre and its associated safety may justly lead surgeons to select it as their primary method for reduction of anterior shoulder dislocations.

Comparative Study of Ultraviolet Laser-Based Time-Resolved Photoacoustic Fingerprint Spectra and Thermal Decomposition Mechanisms of Energetic 1,2,3-1H-Triazole Derivatives Under Controlled Pyrolysis.

We report the comparative study of photoacoustic (PA) fingerprint spectra, thermal decomposition, and stability mechanism of some phenyl and bis series energetic compounds named 1-(2-methoxy,-3,5-dinitrophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole ( S5), 1-(3-methoxy, 2, 6 dinitrophenyl) 1H-1, 2, 3 triazole ( S10), 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole ( S8), and 2,6-bis ((4-(nitromethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl) pyridine ( S9). Fourth harmonic wavelength, i.e., 266 nm of pulse duration 7 ns and 10 Hz repetition rate obtained from Q-switched Nd: YAG laser, was used to record the thermal PA spectra of these compounds under controlled pyrolysis condition in the range of 30-350 ℃. The PA fingerprint spectra are produced due to entire molecule vapor along with principal functional byproduct NO2 molecule. NO2 molecule is a major gas released during thermal decomposition due to weakest nature of C-NO2 bond. Further, NO2 molecules are involved in photodissociation process due to π*← n transition and converted into NO molecules inside the PA cell due to excitation by 266 nm wavelength. The combined results of PA and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) spectra along with thermo gravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) data confirm the thermal decomposition mechanism process that can be completed in multiple steps. In addition, GC-MS spectra also confirm the release of NO and NO2 molecules. The effect of incident laser energy and data acquisition time has been carried out for understanding the behavior of acoustic modes. Finally, the thermal quality factor "Q" is measured to test the stability of compounds.