Academic literature on the topic 'General Partners'

IPB University should implement its function: teaching, research and community services through collaboration with external partners, especially in national scope. However, the Memorandum of Understanding sometimes did not follow by concrete programs. In addition, the university should maintain string relationship to improve it partner’s commitment. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the factors of relationship marketing to IPB’s partners. This study used survey methods to 100 respondents with questionnaire as the tool. The study used descriptive analysis to describe partner profiles and answers with top three boxes method. The results identified that based on location, partners were concentrated in Java with the most types of institutions are district and city governments. Cooperation initiators generally come from partners. The maximum duration of cooperation is 1-5 years. Number of collaboration 1-5 activities dominate partners. In general, partners are still actively collaborating with IPB, with more active MoU compared to those that are non-active. Trust has the highest perception value of respondents and followed by communication and shared values. Partner's perception of commitment to cooperation and satisfaction is good, while the benefits of cooperation are categorized sufficient. The variable relationship benefits need to be of concern to IPB and be improved by increasing competencies, human resources and appropriate technology that are applicable to the industrial world and local governments.

Recent studies have indicated that activation of the sexual system fosters relationship initiation. In three studies, we expand on this work to investigate whether sexual activation encourages initiating relationship with prospective partners by biasing the way they are perceived. In all studies, participants encountered a potential partner and rated this partner’s attractiveness and romantic interest following sexual activation. Participants’ interest in the partner was self-reported or evaluated by raters. Study 1 revealed that sexual activation led participants to perceive potential partners as more attractive and interested in oneself. Study 2 added to these findings, providing a test of sexual priming rather than more general closeness priming. Mediational analyses in Study 3 indicated that heightened romantic interest mediated the link between sexual activation and perceiving potential partners as more interested in oneself. These findings suggest that sexual activation facilitates relationship initiation by motivating projection of one’s desires onto prospective partners.

Purpose – This paper aims to present a model that explains how knowledge contributions of international joint venture (“IJV”) partners can be balanced or imbalanced, which affects each partners’ trust needs, with implications for future partner relationships. Design/methodology/approach – Illustrative examples aid in explaining propositions associated with the knowledge/trust needs balance model. In addition, consideration is given to the trust-building complication of liability of foreignness and the implications balance or imbalance. Findings – In total, 12 illustrative cases are evaluated to determine whether the knowledge contributions of the IJV partners are balanced. Knowledge intensity associated with the venture is assessed to determine the value of the foreign firm partner’s knowledge contribution. Cultural distance between the relevant countries provides a measure of the host country partner’s knowledge contribution. Balance is assessed after factoring in mitigating partner experience. The cases provide examples of four different balance/imbalance situations. Practical implications – A critical aspect of a successful IJV is knowledge sharing and trust is required for the freest flow of information. It is important for firms entering into IJVs to more fully understand the relationship between the knowledge contributions of IJV partners and trust. When knowledge contributions are more evenly balanced, the relationship between the partners will be stronger. Originality/value – The paper distinguishes between balance and stability/instability, expands the literature on knowledge intensity and contributes the new concept of trust needs. Balance at the start of an IJV has implications for the future relationship of the partners.

Background: Partner notification in primary care is problematic and of limited effectiveness despite enthusiasm from primary care providers to engage with sexually transmissible infection (STI) management. Innovative partner notification strategies must be relevant to the primary care context. The aim of the present study was to explore the opinions of general practitioners (GP) and practice nurses on the acceptability and feasibility of a new form of partner notification developed in the specialist setting known as Accelerated Partner Therapy (APT), for sex partners of those diagnosed with a bacterial STI in general practice. APT is defined as partner notification strategies that reduce time for sex partners to be treated, and include partner assessment by appropriately qualified health care professionals and here involve telephone and community pharmacy assessment. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of GP and practice nurses in East London, UK. Results: All participants appreciated the importance of partner notification in STI management and felt that APT would improve their practice. They supported prioritising antibiotic provision for the sex partners with provision for future comprehensive STI screening. Although both models were acceptable and feasible, the majority preferred the sexual health clinic telephone assessment over the pharmacy model. Conclusions: GP and practice nurses welcome new strategies for partner notification and believe APT could provide rapid and convenient treatment of sex partners in general practice. This supports further evaluation of APT models as a partner notification strategy in primary care.

Abstract Background Although past longitudinal research demonstrates that romantic partners affect one another’s health outcomes, considerably less is known about how romantic experiences “get under the skin” in everyday life. Purpose The current study investigated whether young couples’ naturally occurring feelings of closeness to and annoyance with each other during waking hours were associated with their overnight cardiovascular activity. Methods Participants were 63 heterosexual young adult dating couples (Mage = 23.07). Using ecological momentary assessments, couples reported their hourly feelings of closeness to and annoyance with their partners across 1 day; subsequent overnight heart rate was captured through wearable electrocardiogram biosensors. Actor–partner interdependence models tested whether individuals’ overnight heart rate varied as a function of (a) their own daytime feelings of closeness and annoyance (actor effects) and (b) their partner’s daytime feelings of closeness and annoyance (partner effects) while controlling for daytime heart rate. Results Although young adults’ feelings of romantic closeness and annoyance were unrelated to their own overnight heart rate (i.e., no actor effects), gender-specific partner effects emerged. Young men’s nocturnal heart rate was uniquely predicted by their female partner’s daytime relationship feelings. When women felt closer to their partners during the day, men exhibited lower overnight heart rate. When women felt more annoyed with their partners during the day, men exhibited heightened overnight heart rate. Conclusions The findings illustrate gender-specific links between couple functioning and physiological arousal in the everyday lives of young dating couples, implicating physiological sensitivity to partner experiences as one potential pathway through which relationships affect health.

Abstract. Employing one correlational and two experimental studies, this paper examines the influence of attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant) on a person’s experience of equity in intimate relationships. While one experimental study employed a priming technique to stimulate the different attachment styles, the other involved vignettes describing fictitious characters with typical attachment styles. As the specific hypotheses about the single equity components have been developed on the basis of the attachment theory, the equity ratio itself and the four equity components (own outcome, own input, partner’s outcome, partner’s input) are analyzed as dependent variables. While partners with a secure attachment style tend to describe their relationship as equitable (i.e., they give and take extensively), partners who feel anxious about their relationship generally see themselves as being in an inequitable, disadvantaged position (i.e., they receive little from their partner). The hypothesis that avoidant partners would feel advantaged as they were less committed was only supported by the correlational study. Against expectations, the results of both experiments indicate that avoidant partners generally see themselves (or see avoidant vignettes) as being treated equitably, but that there is less emotional exchange than is the case with secure partners. Avoidant partners give and take less than secure ones.

The present study investigated the receptiveness of speakers toward conversational partners in dialogues by comparing duration of response latencies in both Compromise and Debate conditions. 12 dyads of speakers holding opposing opinions participated in a 15-min. dialogue. Six dyads in the Compromise condition reached a conclusion through discussion and consideration of the partner's opinion. The six dyads in the Debate condition imposed their opinion on the conversational partner. Analysis indicated that in compromise dialogues, the response latencies of the conversational partners become similar over the time course, while in debate dialogues, the response latency does not become similar, suggesting that speakers having a receptive attitude adjust their response latencies to match the partner's. The role of congruence of response latencies in dyadic communication was discussed.

Abstract: Induced abortion is an intervention that scientific research primarily addresses from the concerned women’s point of view in terms of either the causes or the consequences of the abortion decision. Nevertheless, each case of abortion involves a man as much as a woman (in the same vein as conception), which calls for the better knowledge of male partners’ needs, expectations and experiences related to induced abortion. The present summary addresses male partners’ status and importance in abortion care in a practical approach based on professional considerations. Available empirical findings suggest that male partners’ involvement in abortion care has importance both in protecting men’s emotional balance and in providing support for women in adapting to the abortion process. Male partners’ deeper involvement possibly includes roles such as seeing the female partner to the intervention, participation in pre-abortion counselling, presence during the intervention, and participation in post-abortion care. Related findings show that all of these forms of support are related to women’s positive abortion-related experiences and thus to their better recovery (provided that the female partner expresses a need for her male partner’s personal support). Furthermore, male partners’ involvement in abortion care enables health care providers to tailor counselling (information on the intervention, on possible consequences, on contraceptive methods etc.) to men’s specific needs. These practices facilitate partners’ joint and informed decision making, joint responsibility for conception or contraception, and eventually contribute to reducing the incidence of induced abortion. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(18): 694–699.

SUMMARY This paper summarizes our study, “An Examination of Partner Perceptions of Partner Rotation: Direct and Indirect Consequences to Audit Quality” (Daugherty et al. 2012). The study examines the perceptions of practicing audit partners with respect to mandatory partner rotation and cooling-off periods, in general, and how the more stringent partner rotation rules mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may negatively impact audit partners' quality of life at the expense of audit quality. The results suggest that mandatory partner rotation increases partners' (and other engagement team members') workloads, as well as the likelihood of partner relocation. In response to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the SEC's acceleration of mandatory partner rotation and extension of cooling-off periods, the partners participating in this study indicate that they would rather learn a new industry than relocate. Importantly, partners perceive that audit quality suffers from retraining, but not from relocating. Taken together, the study's results suggest that the partner rotation provisions create an unintended consequence—specifically an indirect, negative impact on audit quality.

AbstractThis study investigated relational uncertainty as a mechanism through which perceived partner humor use affects recipient’s relationship satisfaction. Two hundred individuals completed measures of their partners’ perceived positive and negative humor use, their relational uncertainty and relationship satisfaction. Results reveal that perceived partner’s positive relational humor use predicted greater relationship satisfaction, and perceived partner’s negative relational humor use predicted diminished relationship satisfaction. Further, relational uncertainty mediated relationships between perceived partner positive humor and satisfaction and perceived partner negative humor and satisfaction.

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, with a rising incidence. The proto-oncogene PBF is over-expressed in thyroid tumours, and the degree of over-expression is directly linked to patient survival. PBF causes transformation in vitro and tumourigenesis in vivo, with PBF-transgenic mice developing large, macro-follicular goitres, effects partly mediated by the internalisation and repression of the membrane-bound transporters NIS and MCT8. NIS repression leads to a reduction in iodide uptake, which may negatively affect the efficacy of radioiodine treatment, and therefore prognosis. Work within this thesis describes the use of tandem mass spectrometry to produce a list of potential binding partners of PBF. This will aid further research into the pathophysiology of PBF, not just in relation to thyroid cancer but also other malignancies. From this list, the interaction with three proteins was further investigated and validated by GST pull-down assays and/or co-immunoprecipitation. Thyroglobulin is an essential component of thyroid hormone synthesis. Preliminary studies suggested co-localisation with PBF within intra-cellular vesicles, although further research is needed to explore this functionally. Cortactin has a role in the cellular transport of proteins, and also promotes invadopodia formation and metastases in cancer. Co-localisation was observed in vesicles and at the membrane, with PBF additionally demonstrated in cell membrane projections – indicating a potential mechanism for the shuttling of PBF to and from the cell membrane, and its secretion. SRC is a tyrosine kinase intimately linked to cancer. SRC phosphorylated PBF, an effect abrogated by treatment with specific inhibitors, including PP1. Importantly, PP1 treatment was then found to increase iodide uptake in human primary thyroid cultures over-expressing PBF. Overall, these data describe a list of possible binding partners for PBF, and specifically identify a novel potential therapeutic strategy for iodide-refractory thyroid cancer.

Background: This paper examines contemporary changes and challenges within the Swedish private equity industry and reasons of their existence. Our research stems from the past years’ industry reports pointing out substantial inflows of capital on financial markets as one of the drivers behind high valuations and extended holding periods. Aim: The aim of this paper was to examine and analyse changes on the Swedish private equity market and how Swedish private equity participants experience how demand from investors have transformed and affected the industry. Completion: For this paper, we conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve actors at twelve different private equity firms operating on the Swedish private equity market. The participants were asked about their experiences regarding changes within the Swedish private equity market. Results: Through in-depth interviews we found that there are different views on whether there is too much capital on the private equity market. Frequent opinions were that demand for private equity investments from limited partners have increased, successful general partners see greater access to funding, the funds have increased in size, holding periods have extended and competition for portfolio companies has increased. We also found that some general partners think that the industry is at the top of a private equity cycle and faces a correction in the near future.
Bakgrund: Denna uppsats undersöker samtida förändringar och utmaningar i den svenska private equity-branschen samt orsaken till att dessa finns. Vår undersökning utgår från de senaste årens branschrapporter som pekar ut kraftiga kapitalinflöden på finansiella marknader som en av drivkrafterna bakom höga bolagsvärderingar och allt längre innehavsperioder. Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats var att undersöka och analysera förändringar på den svenska private equity-marknaden och hur svenska private equity-aktörer upplever att efterfrågan från investerare har förändrats och påverkat sektorn. Genomförande: För studien har vi genomfört semistrukturerade intervjuer med tolv aktörer på tolv olika private equity-bolag verksamma på den svenska private equity- marknaden. De medverkande tillfrågades om hur de upplever förändringar på den svenska private equity-marknaden. Resultat: Genom djupgående intervjuer fann vi att det råder delade meningar om huruvida det finns för mycket kapital på private equity-marknaden. Återkommande åsikter var att efterfrågan på private equity-investeringar hos limited partners har ökat, att framgångsrika general partners har lättare att få finansiering till sina fonder, att fonderna har vuxit i storlek, innehavsperioderna har förlängts och konkurrensen om portföljbolag har ökat. Vi fann även att vissa general partners anser att branschen befinner i toppen av en private equity-cykel och står inför en korrigering inom en snar framtid.

Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common partners with common problems. Both are chronic systemic disorders incurring significant morbidity and mortality. Although around one third of patients with HF have concurrent COPD,1 remarkably few reports have addressed this often ignored combination. The systematic review presented within this thesis defines the diagnostic challenges, prevalence and prognostic implications of HF with coexistent COPD. I then critically appraise the twin controversies of β-blockade in COPD and β-agonists in HF. The two are inextricably linked, each therapy exerting the reverse pharmacologic activity of the other. The evidence for symptomatic or prognostic benefit from either therapy is limited, and in the case of β-agonists adverse consequences appear more likely. A Cochrane meta-analysis concluded that long term cardioselective β-blockade is safe and well tolerated in patients with moderate to severe or reversible COPD.2 Although often cited,3 these conclusions are simply not true. Of the 20 randomised controlled trials included in the meta-analysis, 11 involved single doses and only one lasted longer than a month. The 9 ‘long term’ studies (defined as more than a single treatment dose) involved 147 young, predominantly male patients with moderate airways obstruction (mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 1.8 litres). The effect on health status has never been assessed in any cohort with COPD. The long term impact of β-blockade on pulmonary function, symptoms and quality of life is therefore largely unknown. Most importantly, no study has included patients with HF. I randomised 27 patients with HF and coexistent moderate or severe COPD to receive bisoprolol or placebo, titrated to maximum tolerated dose over 4 months. Patients were elderly and predominantly male. Cardiovascular comorbidity, smoking history and pulmonary function were similar in each group (mean FEV1 1.37L vs 1.26L). There were several key findings. A reduction in FEV1 occurred after 4 months following treatment with bisoprolol compared with placebo (–70 ml vs +120 ml, p=0.01). Reversibility following inhaled β2-agonist and static lung volumes were not impaired by bisoprolol. All measures of health status exhibited a consistent non-significant improvement, including the Short Form 36 physical and mental component scores, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, and Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire. The mean number of COPD exacerbations was similar in the bisoprolol and placebo groups. Although recruitment was limited, the results pose crucial questions and provide direction for larger randomised controlled trials. I analysed cross-sectional data from 61 primary care practices (377,439 patients) participating in the Scottish Continuous Morbidity Recording scheme. The prevalence of COPD in patients with HF increased year on year from 19.8% in 1999 to 23.8% in 2004. These changes may previously have been attributed to an ageing population or increasing age of presentation. However, the trend remained significant after age standardisation. A clear socioeconomic gradient was observed, with prevalence greatest in the most deprived. Consultation rates for HF or COPD in those with both conditions were greater than disease specific contact rates in patients with either condition alone. Cardiovascular comorbidity was similar in HF patients with and without COPD, despite differences in smoking history (respectively 76% vs 47%, p<0.001). This is concerning and suggests that common cardiovascular conditions are being under diagnosed (and likely under treated) in patients with HF and COPD. Although overall β-blocker prescribing increased over time, the adjusted odds of β-blocker prescription in patients with COPD was low (odds ratio 0.30 [95% CI 0.28–0.32], p<0.001). Whether the gap between patients with and without COPD is improving was previously unknown. Despite the overall improvement in beta-blocker prescribing, the relative difference in prescribing between those with and without COPD remained unchanged. By 2004, only 18% of individuals with HF and COPD were prescribed β-blockers. COPD is consistently an independent predictor of death and HF hospitalisation in patients with HF. However, the causes of increased mortality were unclear. I examined the relationship between COPD and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by heart failure, left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), or both enrolled in the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction (VALIANT) trial. COPD was an independent predictor of mortality, largely due to increased non-cardiovascular (HR 1.86 [1.43–2.42]) and sudden death (HR 1.26 [1.03–1.53]). However, after multivariate adjustment COPD was not an independent predictor of atherosclerotic events (MI or stroke: HR 0.98 [0.77–1.23]). This is an important finding, as atherosclerotic consequences of chronic systemic inflammation in COPD have been postulated. These appear of limited clinical significance, at least during intermediate follow-up. Part of the adverse risk associated with COPD may be attributable to bronchodilators. The prognosis of patients with HF prescribed bronchodilators is however ill defined. I examined the prognostic implications of bronchodilator use in patients with HF enrolled in the Candesartan in Heart failure Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) programme. The diversity and magnitude of adverse outcomes associated with bronchodilator therapy was surprising. Bronchodilator use was associated with increased all cause mortality (HR 1.26 [1.09–1.45]), cardiovascular death (HR 1.21 [1.03-1.42]), death due to HF progression (HR 1.40 [1.07-1.82]) and HF hospitalisation (HR 1.49 [1.29-1.72]). Although association is not causation, it is possible that bronchodilators compound maladaptive remodeling and further depress myocardial function. Finally, β-blockers were independently associated with better survival in both VALIANT and CHARM. No significant interaction was observed between either COPD or bronchodilators and β-blockade with respect to mortality. Furthermore, β-blocker use was not associated adversely with any pre-specified outcome in patients with COPD or those prescribed bronchodilators, including non-cardiovascular mortality. Although recruitment bias and the absence of spirometry limit inference to patients with severe or reversible airflow obstruction, the results should encourage β-blockade in patients with COPD. In summary, the studies presented in this thesis extend our understanding of HF with concurrent COPD. Only large randomised controlled trials will solve the quandary of β-blockers and β-agonists. Justification for these trials evolves from observational data and smaller prospective studies such as my own. In the meantime, I hope the evidence presented will stimulate physicians to re-evaluate the management of patients with HF and COPD.

Introduction: Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is known to impact on the lives of men but few studies have sought to assess the impact of ED on women and there are no qualitative studies that have compared accounts from women and their partners on the impact of ED on the relationship. Current trends in prescribing of ED treatment focus on men and consider ED to be a male medical problem. Aim: The aim of this study was to obtain knowledge on how ED affected the lives of women and their partners and to gain insight into the impact of ED from a couple’s perspective. Methods: Qualitative accounts from women on the impact of ED were obtained from one to one semi structured interviews and from clinical interviews with their partners. Interviews were audio taped and tape recordings transcribed. The study sample consisted of heterosexual couples and compared feedback on the impact of ED from interviews with men seeking erectogenic treatment and their partners. Men attended routine appointments at a secondary care specialist clinic following referral to the clinic by their GP and were interviewed. Feedback from interviews with men was recorded in hospital case-notes. Men with severe ED that met the inclusion criteria were invited to participate in the study and if they agreed were asked to deliver information about the study to their partners. Interview appointments were arranged for women that agreed to participate in the study and informed consent was obtained from both partners. Transcriptions of interviews with women were analysed using grounded theory. The size of the population sample was dictated by the theoretical relevance of the data in relation to the research enquiry. New concepts and new avenues of enquiry ceased to emerge from analysis of transcriptions after fifteen interviews. Results: Women expressed that ED consumed their partners and reported that their partner’s perception of “solving the problem” focussed on restoration of erectile function. These data were verified by men. Women expressed that they attempted to confront “the problem” by encouraging their partners to seek help but men delayed seeking help due to embarrassment. Women felt isolated and upset at the lack of reciprocity and struggled to make sense of their partner’s perspective, as men communicated to women that the sexual act was of optimum importance in terms of defining the relationship. Men expressed concern that their partners might seek sexual activity “elsewhere” which reinforced perception among women that men defined the relationship in terms of sex. Women were concerned that ED was a symptom of an underlying condition yet men ignored their advice to seek help. Erectile dysfunction affected men’s confidence and caused lack of self esteem. Men reported that ED impacted on their masculinity. Women expressed that ED caused significant disruption to their lives and agreed to their partners using treatment if it was likely to improve their quality of life by having a positive effect on their partner’s mood. Conclusions: Women were aggrieved and disappointed that ED had such a devastating influence on their relationship. The emotional trauma that women experienced and expressed suggested that feelings of hurt might prevail regardless of treatment outcomes. Women were disappointed that the bond in their relationship was weakened by ED and their partner’s reluctance to communicate. Men expressed fear of “losing everything” and felt that restoration of erectile function would solve all of theirs and their partner's problems. Lack of communication resulted in men and women relying on perception of how ED affected their partners. Although this study did not provide solutions to the problems that couples experienced it produced data that was unique in terms of insight into the impact of ED on women and their partners and identified the importance of considering the couple’s perspective on the problem when assessing ED. Further research is required into the impact of ED on couples as understanding of how ED impacts on a couple’s relationship is poor.

This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Birmingham. The thesis consists of two volumes which illustrate research (Volume I) and clinical work (Volume II). All identifying information has been anonymised to ensure confidentiality. Volume I This first volume contains three chapters. The first is a systematic review of the research literature regarding carers’ attributions of challenging behaviour in care-recipients with dementia. The second is a research study examining the association between spousal carers’ perceptions of relationship continuity, and their understanding and management of challenging behaviour, for partners with an acquired brain injury. The third is a public dissemination document providing an accessible overview of the research study. Volume II This second volume contains four clinical practice reports (CPRs) and an abstract of a fifth CPR which was presented orally. The first CPR describes the assessment and formulation of a 48-year-old man with mild learning disabilities who was experiencing anxiety and low mood, from cognitive behavioural and systemic perspectives. The second is a service evaluation of a dementia-friendly inpatient unit, identifying the barriers and facilitators to good care. The third is a single-case experimental design of a 33-year-old man in a medium-secure forensic service who experienced anxiety. The fourth describes a piece of leadership and consultation work, regarding how hospice staff cope with grief. The final CPR is an abstract of an oral presentation of a case study of a graded exposure intervention with a 16-year-old female.

Over the last decade, the call for schools to leverage partnerships with community organizations as a means to provide services that will mitigate the effects of poverty in the pursuit of achieving ambitious academic outcomes has gained momentum. The Achievement Schools, a network of five neighborhood schools serving students in Memphis’ Frayser community, has prioritized the development of partnerships as a lever to turn around the academic performance of its schools by ensuring students’ nonacademic challenges are identified and met. In this Capstone, I describe my role in building a “Partnership Readiness Toolkit,” a framework and set of resources to guide schools in developing the capacity needed to better utilize partnerships with community organizations that provide critical nonacademic services and resources. Drawing upon research that focuses on the challenges facing school-community organization partnerships, examples of effective partnerships, and change management theory, I argue that for schools to fully utilize partnerships, they must first be ready for partnership by more tightly coupling certain aspects of their relationships with community organizations. This Capstone then describes the approaches I took to design, build support for, and apply the Partnership Readiness Toolkit to an important community partner. The analysis of my actions and results generates two key findings: 1) creating a vision and proof point that multiple constituencies find valuable, undergirded by strong relationships with the constituencies, yields the support necessary to successfully introduce and begin applying the Partnership Readiness Toolkit, and 2) a school operator with multiple priorities and an ambitious mission must focus relentlessly on readying its schools for partnership in order for partnerships to be successful. This Capstone will provide two instrumental contributions to the sector. First, this Capstone presents a case study of the successes and challenges of readying schools for partnership, which conveys a valuable set of insights for school operators, particularly those in “turnaround” situations serving low-income students. Second, the Capstone produces a Partnership Readiness Toolkit that will serve as a resource for current and aspiring school leaders seeking to utilize partners as a lever for school improvement and student success.

Standard employment definitions have begun to change with the impact of globalization and new concepts such as part-time work, freelance, on-call work, temporary work, fixed-term labour contracts have started to be demanded in the labour market. These new definitions which were determined in order to keep pace with new competitive market environment paved the way of new trends in various countries. Flexicurity is one of these trends which is mostly favoured in European Union agenda. The purpose of this thesis is to study whether flexicurity is suitable for Turkish labour market or not while analyzing structure of it as well as Turkish labour market legislations with perceptions of social partners on flexicurity, which has been started to be argued with the accession process of Turkey to the European Union. The thesis observes that there is no homogenous system of flexicurity for European welfare states and if Turkey is analyzed in this framework it takes place in the Mediterranean Welfare Systems of flexicurity paradigm. Some policy recommendations necessary to make flexicurity suitable for Turkish labour market are also given in order to contribute to the conclusion part.

Background: Overweight and obesity are major health problems globally, particularly in men. Some group-based interventions for men, such as Football Fans in Training (FFIT), a gender-sensitised weight management and healthy living programme for overweight or obese men, have proven successful in helping men initiate and achieve weight loss. However, there is still a need to understand how men's attempts to make changes to health practices are influenced by their social context. This study explored how men's attempts to change their dietary practices and physical activity to lose weight and maintain weight loss were influenced by, and influenced, their cohabiting female partners within the context of FFIT. Method: Separate interviews were conducted with 20 men and their cohabiting female partners 3-12 months after men had completed FFIT. Their experiences around men's participation in FFIT and subsequent attempts to change dietary practices and physical activity were explored. Data were thematically analysed, guided by Self-Determination, Social Support, Interdependence, and Gender theories. Results: All partners in this study were supportive of men's autonomous decisions to join FFIT. Each partner displayed varied levels of involvement in the process of men's attempts to make changes to dietary practices and physical activity. Men's success or failure in making and maintaining changes, and/or achieving weight loss, was described as resulting from their resoluteness for the changes, responsiveness to FFIT and reliance on/receptiveness to the partner's involvement and support. Men's participation in FFIT also positively influenced the partners' dietary practices and physical activity, as well as couples' relationships despite some tensions and conflicts arising during this process. Conclusion: Cohabiting couples' close relationships provide a supportive context for overweight or obese men to initiate the pursuit of weight loss, and maintain healthy dietary practices and physical activity. This study also highlights the mechanisms by which partners influence men's changes to dietary practices and physical activity following a weight loss intervention, and how they too are influenced in this process. It thus helps explain how varying behaviour change outcomes can occur within an intervention. This study highlights the importance, and the bidirectional nature, of health behaviour change in the cohabiting couples' context.

AbstractIn 1997, Britons were shocked by a report from the General Medical Council (GMC) of a series of deaths from bungled surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. In response to parents’ complaints, the GMC had launched an investigation into the high mortality of cardiac surgery of children at the Infirmary. It found that of 53 children who were operated on, 29 had died and 4 suffered severe brain damage. Three surgeons were found guilty of serious professional misconduct, and two were stricken from the medical register [1].

AbstractMany individuals with visual impairments have residual vision that often remains underused by assistive technologies. Head-mounted augmented reality (AR) devices can provide assistance, by recoding difficult-to-perceive information into a visual format that is more accessible. Here, we evaluate symbolic and alphanumeric information representations for their efficiency and usability in two prototypical AR applications: namely, recognizing facial expressions of conversational partners and reading the time. We find that while AR provides a general benefit, the complexity of the visual representations has to be matched to the user’s visual acuity.

AbstractFrom 2000 to 2010, the segregation of male same-sex couples from different-sex couples declined in almost all of the nation’s largest cities. This trend toward a more even distribution of male same-sex couples across city neighborhoods calls into question the demographic future of gay neighborhoods. However, it is unclear how exactly male same-sex couples are spatially reorganizing within desegregating cities. Multiple processes could be driving declining segregation, including declining shares of same-sex households within gay neighborhoods, the emergence of gay neighborhoods in new parts of the city, and/or a general dispersal of same-sex couples to almost all neighborhoods. Moreover, it is unclear what characteristics—like urbanicity, housing values, or racial/ethnic composition—define neighborhoods that have gained (or lost) same-sex partners. This chapter uses data from the 2000 and 2010 Decennial Censuses to investigate neighborhood-level changes within desegregating cities. The small number of increasingly segregated cities are also explored. Results indicate that increasing representation of male same-sex households across most neighborhoods and an expanding number of gay neighborhoods are important contributors to the trend of declining segregation. In contrast, the loss of gay neighborhoods from a city was fairly uncommon—most neighborhoods that obtained large concentrations of same-sex partners tended to keep those concentrations over time. Finally, the same residential expansion of same-sex households that occurred within desegregating cities did not occur in cities that experienced increasing segregation. These results have important implications for the spatial organization of same-sex households into the future. The chapter concludes with a discussion and critique of census data for the continued study of the geography and segregation of same-sex partners.

AbstractAchieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires significant behavioural changes from a variety of actors, including actors in development cooperation. Within this context, this chapter discusses important political as well as technical factors that influence the contribution of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation (GPEDC) and its monitoring framework to the implementation of the SDGs. These are, among other things, the complementarity of the GPEDC monitoring framework to the SDGs; the limited enthusiasm of development partners from the Global South, in particular China and India; the limited attention paid to the platform in general and the monitoring framework in particular by member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); as well as the missing interpretative evaluations and follow-up processes in the aftermath of the respective monitoring rounds.

AbstractGlobally, sex workers experience a disproportionate burden of violence and human rights violations linked to criminalisation, punitive law enforcement, and lack of labour protections. Social injustices including poor working conditions, violence and victimisation, police harassment, and discrimination constitute severe violations of sex workers’ health, labour and human rights, and abuses of their freedom and dignity. Policymakers, researchers, and international bodies increasingly recognise violence as a critical public health and human rights concern among the general population; however, human rights violations against sex workers remain largely overlooked within international agendas on violence prevention and in human rights conventions. This chapter provides an overview of the global literature on violence against sex workers, other human rights violations, and drivers of elevated violence and rights inequities across settings. In addition to synthesising global research findings, this chapter features contributions and case studies from community partners in Asia Pacific. Guided by a structural determinants framework, and in recognising the right to live and work free from violence as a human right, this chapter provides an evidence base pertaining to violence against sex workers towards that informs the development of policy and public health interventions to uphold human rights among sex workers worldwide.

This final chapter explores the enduring legacy and fascination surrounding the Hitchcock branding. Since his death in 1980, Hitchcock has continued to fascinate audiences, scholars, critics and culture in general. By exploring the repeated rereleases of Hitchcock’s work on DVD (despite the relative youthfulness of the format, Psycho has already been released in seven different DVD editions in the UK alone), and Varese Sarabande's series of reissues of Herrmann soundtracks on CD, this chapter looks at how the co-authorship of Herrmann and Hitchcock has been contextualised, narrativised and conceptualised in different ways by the artefacts included in the reissued, remastered and recontextualised versions of Hitchcock’s work with Herrmann (and Herrmann’s work without Hitchcock). Drawing on recent scholarship on the DVD as ‘auteur machine’ by Catherine Grant, and new work on authorship by C. Paul Sellors, the chapter argues that the digital reconceptualization of authorship struggles to account for a notion of collaboration.

Chapter 12 focuses on the joint venture (JV) general manager, but also considers the management of collaborations and networks. The success of JVs relies on their general managers taking an active part in handling relations between partners, in addition to managing other external relations and those within the internal organization of the venture unit. Their management of these relationships is therefore of critical importance. The role can be stressful because the presence of two or more partners or parent companies in strategic alliances of any kind can lead to conflict and ambiguity in what is expected of their managers. Non-JV alliances, such as two-party collaborations and multi-party networks, also have their own managerial requirements. The chapter closes by considering the qualities that alliance managers need in the light of the tasks and circumstances they face.

Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. Questions, diagrams, and exercises help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress. The tort of negligence originated as a remedy for property damage and physical injury. However, recovery of compensation for psychiatric injury and pure economic loss, in cases where they were not caused by physical injury or property damage, has proved difficult. Duty of care for psychiatric injury is contingent upon whether the claimant is a primary or secondary victim. This chapter discusses the policy reasons for limiting duty of care for psychiatric injury, the mechanisms by which the law limits duty of care for psychiatric injury, the meaning of ‘pure economic loss’, and the development of the Hedley Byrne & Co Ltd v Heller & Partners Ltd (1964) principle of liability for negligent statements. The chapter also examines the ‘thin skull’ rule, which applies to psychiatric injury in the same way as to physical injury.

There are substantial benefits for both industry and universities from performing joint R&D projects. Given the significant potential benefits, both tangible and intangible, the level of such activity, however, seems surprisingly low. One reason hypothesized for this discrepancy is that the potential partners are motivated towards opposite goals: industry wishes to limit publication of research results due to fears of loss of competitive advantage in their markets as competitors obtain the benefits of the research at no cost, while academia is motivated to maximize publication. Intuitively, this would seem to be a fundamental difference between the potential partners. This paper studies this issue through the use of insights gained by a new analytic model of the profitability of such collaborations. First amongst these is that given the typical speed of product innovation and the typical publishing delay found in archival journals, little or no competitive advantage is expected to be lost by the industrial partner by allowing unrestricted publication freedom to the university partner. A second interesting insight occurs in the situation where a firm’s competitor forms the collaboration with the university partner. In general, if it is profitable for one industry partner to join the collaboration, the most beneficial decision for other firms in that market is to also join the collaboration.

In this paper, we describe the implementation of a new teaching module in the first year of a Pedagogical Sciences programme based on Problem Based Learning, Community Service Learning and co-creation principles. In this module, first year students answered a real-life pedagogical question for a project partner from a professional organization. Students ‘co-created’ solutions for the pedagogical-themed question by working together with a university expert and a project partner from a professional organization. Results indicated that students involved in this new teaching module scored significantly higher on a range of self-reported outcomes: feelings of being challenged, being able to link science to practice, feeling prepared for the professional field in general, and intrinsic motivation. Significant positive results occurred specifically when levels of co-creation were relatively high. This study underscores the importance of involving societal partners and challenging students to work on real-life problems very early on in academic education, that is, already in their first year at university.

According to written sources of trade with neighboring countries occupied an important place in the economy of the Kyrgyz State. That would create a successful economy, as well as to meet the needs of consumers the Kyrgyz State established extensive trade links in the Central Asian region. Trading partners of the Kyrgyz in the early middle ages were economic developed countries East and Central Asia. This reflects the fact that the degree of development of the Kyrgyz people related to trading partners. In general terms, the characteristics of the Kyrgyz State trade relations with neighboring countries in the period VII-X centuries. Thus, definition and comparison of different time in bars allow you to re-evaluate the economic and political aspects of the problem components.

The 2010–2012 implementation plan of the European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative (ESNII), prepared in the frame of the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP), establishes a very tight time schedule for the start of construction of the European Gen IV prototypes; namely the construction of the LFR ETPP (European Technology Pilot Plant) MYRRHA will start in 2014 and that of the SFR Prototype ASTRID will start in 2017. The GEN IV reactors pose new challenges to the designers and scientists in terms of higher operating temperature, higher fuel burn-up, and in some cases more corrosive environment with respect to the present technologies and which impacts the materials performance. In this frame, the MATTER (MATerials Testing and Rules) Project starts well targeted R&D activities to perform careful materials studies in GEN IV operational conditions and to find out criteria for the correct use of these materials in relevant reactor applications. Aim of the MATTER Project (that involved 27 partners and will end in 2015) is to complement the materials researches, in the frame of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) guidelines, with the implementation of pre-normative rules. The MATTER Project is divided in 3 technical Domains (called DM): • DM1 - Development of test and evaluation guidelines for structural materials: to develop/establish best practice guidelines for testing and evaluation procedures, which are aimed to screen and characterize nuclear materials for innovative nuclear systems. • DM2 - Pre-normative R&D for Codes and Standards: Prenormative activities are performed, comprehensive of experiments, to revise and update the design rules (with an EU level consensus) in order to answer to some short term needs of the two projects ASTRID & MYRRHA with respect to the design and the construction of structural components. • DM3 - Joint Program Scheme, implementation and Priorities: to optimise the effectiveness and efficiency of the EERA Joint Program on nuclear materials for innovative reactors and to support specific research activities related to fundamental understanding of ODS steels fabrication. ODS steels are considered candidate materials, in the medium-long term, for high fuel burn-up cladding application. After a brief presentation of DM1 and DM3, this paper mainly focuses on description of Pre-normative R&D activities for Codes and Standards (DM2).

Within the Faculty of Economics and Business (UD) our research group focuses on Lifestyle and Health Sciences. We define health as a complex psycho-bio and social phenomenon and the overall goal is to promote, assist and implement Sustainable Lifestyle. However Sustainable Lifestyle has many corresponding scientific sub-categories, beyond our activities we concentrate on (1) the present trends and future potential of sustainable food consumption, covering special consumer demands on functional food, organic, ethical , fairly traded, LOHAS and local products, plant-based diet and cultured (lab-grown) meat, Sustainable European traditional pig (Fatty Pig) etc., (2) Short Food Supply Chain, (3) renewable energy, and (4) the economic, social, health preserving effects of physical activity. Our aim is to run professional lifestyle studies focusing on actual research issues of Health Industry. Within the scope of Sustainable Lifestyle we wish to contribute to general awareness-raising about Health Economy with a special attention on social health-consciousness. Our proposal initiates seek future collaborations with CARPE members due to 1. Organisation of joint educational (bachelor, master and PhD) events; 2. Exchange of students; 3. Exchange of teaching and research staff; 5. Exchange of articles, publications and other scientific information; 6. Organisation of common scientific conferences.

This paper looks at the issue of joining the Eurasian Customs Union for Kyrgyzstan. We first provide a short description of how some former Soviet Union countries attempted to rejuvenate their regional integration followed by the review of the economic, social and political background of Kyrgyzstan in joining the Eurasian Customs Union. The main conditions for and the associated impact of joining the Union on customs tariffs and the international trade of Kyrgyzstan are discussed. By comparing the main development indicators of the Customs Union member countries we try to find any advantages for the Kyrgyz economy from joining the Union. An additional discussion of the potential losses and benefits shows that there are more benefits from joining the Customs Union. In general, we find that since the founders of the Customs Union – Russia and Kazakhstan – are also very important geographical, economic and political partners of our country, joining the Union seems inevitable for Kyrgyzstan.

Topology optimization is an innovative strategy applied in the turbomachinery field with the aim of substantially improving the performances of turbomachinery components in terms of weights, stress levels and rotation speed, with a very remarkable economic impact. Being very flexible, topology optimization allows to manage the structures topology, significantly improving material distribution within a given design space for a given set of loads and boundary conditions. In this paper, the authors, in cooperation with General Electric Nuovo Pignone, develop a new concept design of a turbine disk and the optimized component is compared to the benchmark, in order to verify the achieved improvements. Special attention is paid to the use of innovative materials with lattice structures, characterized by complex three-dimensional geometries. Thanks to advanced technologies, as additive manufacturing, it is now possible to effectively exploit topology optimization to develop new components featured by complex structures. The developed prototypes will be manufactured and tested in the near future together with the industrial partners.

With the ever-increasing level of integration in world economy, neighborhood relations become much more important for two-fold reasons. Firstly, neighbor countries are most important trade partners in general and secondly they form a bridge with the other countries. So, while good relations with neigbors have positive externalities for the trade with other countries, bad relations with neigbors mean reduced trade with other countries of a specific region. The main purpose of this study is to analyze Turkey's export potential with the neighbor countries with the help of the gravity model. For this purpose, first a gravity model has been set up using panel data which consists of bilateral data for 68 countries for the period 1980-2009, and then Turkey’s exports potential to 10 neigbor countries is analyzed. One important finding of the study is that Turkey’s exports to neighbor countries in general is below potential and there is a further room for increasing exports. While the short distance, one of the two most important indicator of trade in a gravity model (the other is GDP), is one of the main drivers of high trade among countries, its full effect depends on the geographical conditons of two countries. Our analysis shows that, high levels of untapped export potential exists for the majority of neighboring countries.

There is a worldwide effort to develop nuclear fuels that are resistant to accidents such as loss of coolant in the reactor and the storage pools. In the United States, the Department of Energy is teaming with fuel vendors to develop accident tolerant fuels (ATF), which will resist the lack of cooling for longer periods of times than the current zirconium alloy - uranium dioxide system. General Electric (GE) and its partners is proposing to replace zirconium alloys cladding with an Iron-Chromium-Aluminum (FeCrAl) alloy such as APMT, since they are highly resistant to attack by steam up to the melting point of the alloy. FeCrAl alloys do not react with hydrogen to form stable hydrides as zirconium alloys do. Therefore, it is possible that more tritium may be released to the coolant with the use of FeCrAl cladding. This work discusses the formation of an alumina layer on the surface of APMT cladding as an effective barrier for tritium permeation from the fuel to the coolant across the cladding wall.

As scientists, we aim to generate new knowledge and insights about the world around us. We often measure the impacts of our research by how many times our colleagues reference our work, an indicator that our research has contributed something new and important to our field of study. But how does our research contribute to solving the complex societal and environmental challenges facing our communities and our planet? The goal of this guidebook is to illuminate the path toward greater societal impact, with a particular focus on this work within the natural and physical sciences. We were inspired to create this guidebook after spending a collective 20+ years working in programs dedicated to moving climate science into action. We have seen firsthand how challenging and rewarding the work is. We’ve also seen that this applied, engaged work often goes unrecognized and unrewarded in academia. Projects and programs struggle with the expectation of connecting science with decision making because the skills necessary for this work aren’t taught as part of standard academic training. While this guidebook cannot close all of the gaps between climate science and decision making, we hope it provides our community of impact-driven climate scientists with new perspectives and tools. The guidebook offers tested and proven approaches for planning projects that optimize engagement with societal partners, for identifying new ways of impacting the world beyond academia, and for developing the skills to assess and communicate these impacts to multiple audiences including the general public, colleagues, and elected leaders.

Qualitative research is focused on the influence of COVID-19 pandemic and restriction measures on sexual and reproductive health in Latvia. Results of the anonymous online survey (I-SHARE) of 1173 people living in Latvia age 18 and over were used as a background in finalization the interview and the focus group discussion protocols ensuring better understanding of the influencing factors. Protocols included 9 parts (0.Introduction. 1. COVID-19 general influence, 2. SRH, 3. Communication with health professionals, 4.Access to SRH services, 5.Communication with population incl. three target groups 5.1. Pregnant women, 5.2. People with suspected STIs, 5.3.Women, who require abortion, 6. HIV/COVID-19, 7. External support, 8. Conclusions and recommendations. Data include audiorecords in Latvian of: 1) 11 semi-structures interviews with policy makers including representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in sexual and reproductive health, information and health service provision. 2) 12 focus group discussions with pregnant women (1), women in postpartum period (3) and their partners (3), people living with HIV (1), health care providers involved in maternal health care and emergency health care for women (4) (2021-02-18) Subject: Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Keywords: Sexual and reproductive health, COVID-19, access to services, Latvia

Integrated landscape management for sustainable livelihoods and positive environmental outcomes has been desired by many developing countries, especially for mountainous areas where agricultural activities, if not well managed, will likely degrade vulnerable landscapes. This research was an attempt to characterize the landscape in Chieng Yen Commune, Son La Province in Northwest Viet Nam to generate knowledge and understanding of local conditions and to propose a workable governance mechanism to sustainably manage the landscape. ICRAF, together with national partners — Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Soil and Fertilizer Research Institute — and local partners — Son La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Son La Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Chieng Yen Commune People’s Committee — conducted rapid assessments in the landscape, including land-use mapping, land-use characterization, a household survey and participatory landscape assessment using an ecosystem services framework. We found that the landscape and peoples’ livelihoods are at risk from the continuous degradation of forest and agricultural land, and declining productivity, ecosystem conditions and services. Half of households live below the poverty line with insufficient agricultural production for subsistence. Unsustainable agricultural practices and other livelihood activities are causing more damage to the forest. Meanwhile, existing forest and landscape governance mechanisms are generally not inclusive of local community engagement. Initial recommendations are provided, including further assessment to address current knowledge gaps.

Since long before the Covid-19 pandemic emerged in 2020, civic space has been changing all over the globe, generally becoming more restricted and hazardous. The pandemic brought the suspension of many fundamental freedoms in the name of the public good, providing cover for a deepening of authoritarian tendencies but also spurring widespread civic activism on issues suddenly all the more important, ranging from emergency relief to economic impacts. Research partners in the Action for Empowerment and Accountability (A4EA)'s Navigating Civic Space in a Time of Covid project have explored these dynamics through real-time research embedded in civil society in Mozambique, Nigeria, and Pakistan, grounded in a close review of global trends.

This guidance note is about how donors, can support a demographic transition in sub- Saharan Africa. The demographic transition is the evolution from high to low mortality and fertility rates, with associated changes in age structures. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa are on a trajectory of rapid population growth. Mortality rates have been declining for some time while fertility rates started to fall later and at a slower pace, resulting in high population growth. It is estimated that the population of sub-Saharan Africa will double between 2020 and 2050 to 2.5 billion. This guidance note refers to support from donors to governments in partner countries in two ways. First, support to adapt to the implications of rapid population growth. Second, support to accelerate the demographic transition. Countries in sub- Saharan Africa need to be prepared for population growth and, importantly, also for a unique “window of opportunity” that occurs when fertility rates fall consistently and at a high pace during the demographic transition. With the right investments, these countries could generate economic opportunities for growth, which in the literature is called the “demographic dividend”.

The availability and quality of pedestrian infrastructure play key roles in enabling access to transit. Many transit operators face challenges in facilitating this access, however, because they lack land use authority and encounter other institutional and programmatic impediments to effecting changes in the pedestrian environment. This report identifies the barriers to pedestrian access to transit in suburban communities located in the Pace Suburban Bus service area in northeastern Illinois and suggests potential solutions to overcome these barriers. The research team led several activities to collect data, including: conducting an academic literature review; reviewing pedestrian plans, policies, and programs in the region; surveying and interviewing key stakeholders; reviewing pedestrian funding sources; surveying and conducting case studies of peer transit agencies; conducting physical audits of pedestrian infrastructure; and interviewing residents of six municipalities about their transit access experiences. Lack of adequate funding, difficulties planning across jurisdictional boundaries, and conflicts in transportation priorities are major impediments to building pedestrian infrastructure. While planners and decision-makers tend to value pedestrian planning, challenges such as funding constraints and the need to retrofit suburban infrastructure are key barriers to implementation. Peer transit agencies face similar barriers to Pace and use strategies such as plan and policy development, diverse funding opportunities, and collaborative partnerships with stakeholder agencies and advocacy groups to overcome these barriers. Transit riders generally reported positive experiences with pedestrian access to transit in their communities. Many locations had robust infrastructure, but common deficiencies included poor sidewalk connectivity, incomplete crossings, lack of lighting and transit shelters, and deficiencies in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) infrastructure. A suite of policy recommendations for Pace and other partners that focus on planning, policy, funding, interagency coordination, education and training, infrastructure prioritization, and transit amenities address the full range of physical and institutional barriers identified in the research.

Tracking progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is critical to evaluate how far the water and sanitation sector is from achieving these targets, and to guarantee that the solutions and strategies implemented get everyone closer to them. But this is not a simple task. To truly assess collective progress towards achieving SDG 6 (and all other goals), it is fundamental to count on standardized measures that help track all types of access, their reliability, and their quality. Existing data tend to lack comparability across sources and locations because they rely on different definitions and categories. Samples are often not representative of all groups within the population. More developed areas are more likely to collect data, which results in the overrepresentation of groups that enjoy better services. Still in some areas and for some categories of information data is not available at all. In response to these challenges, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) partnered with the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) to gather nationally representative and comparable data in 18 countries in the region. The goal of this effort was to provide an initial outlook of the current landscape of water and sanitation services in the region, using two batteries of questions in the LAPOP questionnaire for the 2018-2019 wave. The main message that arises is that the Latin American and the Caribbean region faces a wide range of challenges, that vary both across and within countries. Some areas face the primary challenge of closing access gaps, while others display higher deficiency in service quality, such as continuity. The gaps in quality of services, in particular, are not clearly perceived by users. In general, levels of satisfaction with the services received is quite high among the population, much higher than warranted by the objective measures of service quality. This raises important issues for accountability in the sector. If users are mostly satisfied with the current state of affairs, it is unlikely they will pressure governments and utilities to improve service delivery. A more in-depth analysis is required to understand the reasons behind these opinions and possible ways to raise awareness.

1.1 Macroeconomic summary Economic recovery has consistently outperformed the technical staff’s expectations following a steep decline in activity in the second quarter of 2020. At the same time, total and core inflation rates have fallen and remain at low levels, suggesting that a significant element of the reactivation of Colombia’s economy has been related to recovery in potential GDP. This would support the technical staff’s diagnosis of weak aggregate demand and ample excess capacity. The most recently available data on 2020 growth suggests a contraction in economic activity of 6.8%, lower than estimates from January’s Monetary Policy Report (-7.2%). High-frequency indicators suggest that economic performance was significantly more dynamic than expected in January, despite mobility restrictions and quarantine measures. This has also come amid declines in total and core inflation, the latter of which was below January projections if controlling for certain relative price changes. This suggests that the unexpected strength of recent growth contains elements of demand, and that excess capacity, while significant, could be lower than previously estimated. Nevertheless, uncertainty over the measurement of excess capacity continues to be unusually high and marked both by variations in the way different economic sectors and spending components have been affected by the pandemic, and by uneven price behavior. The size of excess capacity, and in particular the evolution of the pandemic in forthcoming quarters, constitute substantial risks to the macroeconomic forecast presented in this report. Despite the unexpected strength of the recovery, the technical staff continues to project ample excess capacity that is expected to remain on the forecast horizon, alongside core inflation that will likely remain below the target. Domestic demand remains below 2019 levels amid unusually significant uncertainty over the size of excess capacity in the economy. High national unemployment (14.6% for February 2021) reflects a loose labor market, while observed total and core inflation continue to be below 2%. Inflationary pressures from the exchange rate are expected to continue to be low, with relatively little pass-through on inflation. This would be compatible with a negative output gap. Excess productive capacity and the expectation of core inflation below the 3% target on the forecast horizon provide a basis for an expansive monetary policy posture. The technical staff’s assessment of certain shocks and their expected effects on the economy, as well as the presence of several sources of uncertainty and related assumptions about their potential macroeconomic impacts, remain a feature of this report. The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, continues to affect the public health environment, and the reopening of Colombia’s economy remains incomplete. The technical staff’s assessment is that the COVID-19 shock has affected both aggregate demand and supply, but that the impact on demand has been deeper and more persistent. Given this persistence, the central forecast accounts for a gradual tightening of the output gap in the absence of new waves of contagion, and as vaccination campaigns progress. The central forecast continues to include an expected increase of total and core inflation rates in the second quarter of 2021, alongside the lapse of the temporary price relief measures put in place in 2020. Additional COVID-19 outbreaks (of uncertain duration and intensity) represent a significant risk factor that could affect these projections. Additionally, the forecast continues to include an upward trend in sovereign risk premiums, reflected by higher levels of public debt that in the wake of the pandemic are likely to persist on the forecast horizon, even in the context of a fiscal adjustment. At the same time, the projection accounts for the shortterm effects on private domestic demand from a fiscal adjustment along the lines of the one currently being proposed by the national government. This would be compatible with a gradual recovery of private domestic demand in 2022. The size and characteristics of the fiscal adjustment that is ultimately implemented, as well as the corresponding market response, represent another source of forecast uncertainty. Newly available information offers evidence of the potential for significant changes to the macroeconomic scenario, though without altering the general diagnosis described above. The most recent data on inflation, growth, fiscal policy, and international financial conditions suggests a more dynamic economy than previously expected. However, a third wave of the pandemic has delayed the re-opening of Colombia’s economy and brought with it a deceleration in economic activity. Detailed descriptions of these considerations and subsequent changes to the macroeconomic forecast are presented below. The expected annual decline in GDP (-0.3%) in the first quarter of 2021 appears to have been less pronounced than projected in January (-4.8%). Partial closures in January to address a second wave of COVID-19 appear to have had a less significant negative impact on the economy than previously estimated. This is reflected in figures related to mobility, energy demand, industry and retail sales, foreign trade, commercial transactions from selected banks, and the national statistics agency’s (DANE) economic tracking indicator (ISE). Output is now expected to have declined annually in the first quarter by 0.3%. Private consumption likely continued to recover, registering levels somewhat above those from the previous year, while public consumption likely increased significantly. While a recovery in investment in both housing and in other buildings and structures is expected, overall investment levels in this case likely continued to be low, and gross fixed capital formation is expected to continue to show significant annual declines. Imports likely recovered to again outpace exports, though both are expected to register significant annual declines. Economic activity that outpaced projections, an increase in oil prices and other export products, and an expected increase in public spending this year account for the upward revision to the 2021 growth forecast (from 4.6% with a range between 2% and 6% in January, to 6.0% with a range between 3% and 7% in April). As a result, the output gap is expected to be smaller and to tighten more rapidly than projected in the previous report, though it is still expected to remain in negative territory on the forecast horizon. Wide forecast intervals reflect the fact that the future evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant source of uncertainty on these projections. The delay in the recovery of economic activity as a result of the resurgence of COVID-19 in the first quarter appears to have been less significant than projected in the January report. The central forecast scenario expects this improved performance to continue in 2021 alongside increased consumer and business confidence. Low real interest rates and an active credit supply would also support this dynamic, and the overall conditions would be expected to spur a recovery in consumption and investment. Increased growth in public spending and public works based on the national government’s spending plan (Plan Financiero del Gobierno) are other factors to consider. Additionally, an expected recovery in global demand and higher projected prices for oil and coffee would further contribute to improved external revenues and would favor investment, in particular in the oil sector. Given the above, the technical staff’s 2021 growth forecast has been revised upward from 4.6% in January (range from 2% to 6%) to 6.0% in April (range from 3% to 7%). These projections account for the potential for the third wave of COVID-19 to have a larger and more persistent effect on the economy than the previous wave, while also supposing that there will not be any additional significant waves of the pandemic and that mobility restrictions will be relaxed as a result. Economic growth in 2022 is expected to be 3%, with a range between 1% and 5%. This figure would be lower than projected in the January report (3.6% with a range between 2% and 6%), due to a higher base of comparison given the upward revision to expected GDP in 2021. This forecast also takes into account the likely effects on private demand of a fiscal adjustment of the size currently being proposed by the national government, and which would come into effect in 2022. Excess in productive capacity is now expected to be lower than estimated in January but continues to be significant and affected by high levels of uncertainty, as reflected in the wide forecast intervals. The possibility of new waves of the virus (of uncertain intensity and duration) represents a significant downward risk to projected GDP growth, and is signaled by the lower limits of the ranges provided in this report. Inflation (1.51%) and inflation excluding food and regulated items (0.94%) declined in March compared to December, continuing below the 3% target. The decline in inflation in this period was below projections, explained in large part by unanticipated increases in the costs of certain foods (3.92%) and regulated items (1.52%). An increase in international food and shipping prices, increased foreign demand for beef, and specific upward pressures on perishable food supplies appear to explain a lower-than-expected deceleration in the consumer price index (CPI) for foods. An unexpected increase in regulated items prices came amid unanticipated increases in international fuel prices, on some utilities rates, and for regulated education prices. The decline in annual inflation excluding food and regulated items between December and March was in line with projections from January, though this included downward pressure from a significant reduction in telecommunications rates due to the imminent entry of a new operator. When controlling for the effects of this relative price change, inflation excluding food and regulated items exceeds levels forecast in the previous report. Within this indicator of core inflation, the CPI for goods (1.05%) accelerated due to a reversion of the effects of the VAT-free day in November, which was largely accounted for in February, and possibly by the transmission of a recent depreciation of the peso on domestic prices for certain items (electric and household appliances). For their part, services prices decelerated and showed the lowest rate of annual growth (0.89%) among the large consumer baskets in the CPI. Within the services basket, the annual change in rental prices continued to decline, while those services that continue to experience the most significant restrictions on returning to normal operations (tourism, cinemas, nightlife, etc.) continued to register significant price declines. As previously mentioned, telephone rates also fell significantly due to increased competition in the market. Total inflation is expected to continue to be affected by ample excesses in productive capacity for the remainder of 2021 and 2022, though less so than projected in January. As a result, convergence to the inflation target is now expected to be somewhat faster than estimated in the previous report, assuming the absence of significant additional outbreaks of COVID-19. The technical staff’s year-end inflation projections for 2021 and 2022 have increased, suggesting figures around 3% due largely to variation in food and regulated items prices. The projection for inflation excluding food and regulated items also increased, but remains below 3%. Price relief measures on indirect taxes implemented in 2020 are expected to lapse in the second quarter of 2021, generating a one-off effect on prices and temporarily affecting inflation excluding food and regulated items. However, indexation to low levels of past inflation, weak demand, and ample excess productive capacity are expected to keep core inflation below the target, near 2.3% at the end of 2021 (previously 2.1%). The reversion in 2021 of the effects of some price relief measures on utility rates from 2020 should lead to an increase in the CPI for regulated items in the second half of this year. Annual price changes are now expected to be higher than estimated in the January report due to an increased expected path for fuel prices and unanticipated increases in regulated education prices. The projection for the CPI for foods has increased compared to the previous report, taking into account certain factors that were not anticipated in January (a less favorable agricultural cycle, increased pressure from international prices, and transport costs). Given the above, year-end annual inflation for 2021 and 2022 is now expected to be 3% and 2.8%, respectively, which would be above projections from January (2.3% and 2,7%). For its part, expected inflation based on analyst surveys suggests year-end inflation in 2021 and 2022 of 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. There remains significant uncertainty surrounding the inflation forecasts included in this report due to several factors: 1) the evolution of the pandemic; 2) the difficulty in evaluating the size and persistence of excess productive capacity; 3) the timing and manner in which price relief measures will lapse; and 4) the future behavior of food prices. Projected 2021 growth in foreign demand (4.4% to 5.2%) and the supposed average oil price (USD 53 to USD 61 per Brent benchmark barrel) were both revised upward. An increase in long-term international interest rates has been reflected in a depreciation of the peso and could result in relatively tighter external financial conditions for emerging market economies, including Colombia. Average growth among Colombia’s trade partners was greater than expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. This, together with a sizable fiscal stimulus approved in the United States and the onset of a massive global vaccination campaign, largely explains the projected increase in foreign demand growth in 2021. The resilience of the goods market in the face of global crisis and an expected normalization in international trade are additional factors. These considerations and the expected continuation of a gradual reduction of mobility restrictions abroad suggest that Colombia’s trade partners could grow on average by 5.2% in 2021 and around 3.4% in 2022. The improved prospects for global economic growth have led to an increase in current and expected oil prices. Production interruptions due to a heavy winter, reduced inventories, and increased supply restrictions instituted by producing countries have also contributed to the increase. Meanwhile, market forecasts and recent Federal Reserve pronouncements suggest that the benchmark interest rate in the U.S. will remain stable for the next two years. Nevertheless, a significant increase in public spending in the country has fostered expectations for greater growth and inflation, as well as increased uncertainty over the moment in which a normalization of monetary policy might begin. This has been reflected in an increase in long-term interest rates. In this context, emerging market economies in the region, including Colombia, have registered increases in sovereign risk premiums and long-term domestic interest rates, and a depreciation of local currencies against the dollar. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in several of these economies; limits on vaccine supply and the slow pace of immunization campaigns in some countries; a significant increase in public debt; and tensions between the United States and China, among other factors, all add to a high level of uncertainty surrounding interest rate spreads, external financing conditions, and the future performance of risk premiums. The impact that this environment could have on the exchange rate and on domestic financing conditions represent risks to the macroeconomic and monetary policy forecasts. Domestic financial conditions continue to favor recovery in economic activity. The transmission of reductions to the policy interest rate on credit rates has been significant. The banking portfolio continues to recover amid circumstances that have affected both the supply and demand for loans, and in which some credit risks have materialized. Preferential and ordinary commercial interest rates have fallen to a similar degree as the benchmark interest rate. As is generally the case, this transmission has come at a slower pace for consumer credit rates, and has been further delayed in the case of mortgage rates. Commercial credit levels stabilized above pre-pandemic levels in March, following an increase resulting from significant liquidity requirements for businesses in the second quarter of 2020. The consumer credit portfolio continued to recover and has now surpassed February 2020 levels, though overall growth in the portfolio remains low. At the same time, portfolio projections and default indicators have increased, and credit establishment earnings have come down. Despite this, credit disbursements continue to recover and solvency indicators remain well above regulatory minimums. 1.2 Monetary policy decision In its meetings in March and April the BDBR left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.75%.

Effective programs that avert new HIV infections among sex workers and their partners, and hence the general population, are critical components of national HIV-prevention strategies. Prevention efforts have frequently relied on interventions that reach members of these vulnerable groups as individuals, such as condom promotion and STI management. Now, many researchers and program implementers are increasingly turning to “environmental-structural” interventions that address the physical, social, and political contexts in which individual behavior takes place. A recent Horizons study conducted jointly with two Dominican NGOs—Centro de Orientación e Investigación Integral and Centro de Promoción e Solidaridad Humana—and the National Program for the Control of STDs and AIDS assessed the impact of two environmental-structural models in reducing HIV-related risk among female sex workers in the Dominican Republic and compared their cost-effectiveness. As detailed in this brief, the models, built on years of experience gained from sex worker peer education programs, drew from the strengths of both community solidarity and government policy initiatives and engaged community members in both program and policy development.