Effects Of Different Programs Research Articles

Mind the gap: Early-career teachers’ level of preparedness, professional development, working conditions, and feelings of distress

In the first years of a teaching career, teachers experience high levels of distress, and the attrition rate appears to be high. Early-career teachers do not always feel well prepared for their job and feel insufficient support during their first experiences as a teacher. Induction programs, professional development, and school support could equip early-career teachers with the additional teaching repertoire they need and improve their well-being. The current study aimed to contribute insights into the importance of the level of preparedness, professional development, and working conditions for early-career teachers’ well-being. Based on multi-level regression analysis of TALIS 2018 data of more than 77,000 teachers in 24 European countries, the impact of the level of preparedness, professional development, and working conditions have been examined on teachers’ feelings of distress during their first years of teaching. Early-career teachers have been divided into two groups: novice teachers (with no more than 2 years of teaching experience) and advanced beginners (with between 2 and 5 years of teaching experience). These two groups were compared with mid-and late-career teachers (with more than 5 years of teaching experience). Level of preparedness and professional development variables were only weakly related to teachers’ feelings of distress, whereas working conditions were strongly related to early-career teachers’ feelings of distress. In particular, high workload and classroom discipline issues were strongly and positively related to teachers’ feelings of distress. Differences between the two early-career teacher groups and the group of mid- and late-career teachers were marginal. Yet, additional research is needed into the quality and the variety of initial teacher education and induction programs to come to more rigorous conclusions about the potential effects of different programs.

Physical exercise and psychological health of rural left-behind children: An experiment from China.

How to promote the health (especially mental health) growth of left-behind children has become a hot social issue. Physical exercise is usually considered as a positive role in improving the physical and mental health of children, which can be considered to be integrated into the living environment of left-behind children. To discuss the changes of left-behind children in psychological health before and after the exercise-based intervention, thus providing a practical approach to improve the psychological growth of this disadvantaged group. An exercise-based social intervention experiment was designed and conducted in a township middle school in China, and 200 left-behind children with relatively low psychological health participated in the experiment. Physical exercise had positive effects on rural left-behind children's sense of hope, self-esteem, self-efficiency, and self-concept, and it seems that the positive effects are durative due to the optimization of living environment. There was no significant difference in the psychological promotion effect of different programs (football and table tennis) on left-behind children. Hope, self-esteem, and self-efficiency significantly mediated the relationship between physical exercise and self-concept of left-behind children. Physical exercise contributes to promoting the development of rural left-behind children's positive psychology such as hope, self-esteem, self-efficiency, and thus relieving the negative psychology caused by long-term parental-child separation and improving self-concept.

The Effect of Different Physiotherapy Programs on Pain, Balance and Trunk Functional Capacity in Adolescents with Low Back Pain

Background. Low back pain is a common problem, adversely affecting balance and strategy for controlling the trunk muscles. There are various methods to treat low back pain, therefore, studies comparing the effectiveness of different programs can help improve the rehabilitation program for patients with low back pain.
 The aim. To evaluate the effect of trunk stabilization and balance exercises performed with different devices on pain, balance and trunk functional capacity in adolescents with low back pain.
 Methods. 12 adolescents with low back pain participated in this study. They were divided into two groups. The first group received 20 minutes of stabilization exercises and 10 minutes of balance training using the Biodex balance system. The second group received 20 minutes of stabilization exercises and 10 minutes of balance training using a vibration platform. All subjects were evaluated before and after 10 physiotherapy procedures. Self-reported pain, balance and static endurance of trunk muscles were assessed before and after the interventions.
 Results. Both programs significantly reduced pain, improved control of the center of gravity within the base of support, reduced the time required to shift weight in different paths, reduced sway index in conditions of eyes open or eyes closed on a firm or foam surface, improved dynamic and static overall postural stability and increased static endurance of trunk muscles. Improvement in control of the center of gravity within the base of support, and reduction in the time required to shift weight in different paths, were more significant in the group that received balance training using the Biodex balance system compared with that in the group that received balance training using a vibration platform.
 Conclusions. Balance training using the Biodex balance system was more effective in improving control of the center of gravity within the base of support and reducing the time required to shift weight in different paths than balance training using a vibration platform.
 Keywords: low back pain, balance, trunk stability, Biodex balance system, vibration platform.
 

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FEED ADDITIVES OF OPTIFEED, OLEOBIOTEC AND VEO PREMIUM ON THE PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF BROILERS UNDER HEAT STRESS CONDITIONS IN DOHUK GOVERNORATE

This study was conducted at the University of Duhok, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Animal Production Department. , to estimate the effect of different programs of adding the phytogenic (Optifeed, Oleobiotec and Veo premium) which are nutritional plant materials that have ability to improve the productive performance of broiler, and that in the phases of broiler feeding: starter, grower , finisher and for the whole period of the experiment, as well as, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency at 35 days of age. 1440 one-day old chicks were distributed to five groups with six replicates for each group (48 chicks/replicate). Adding dietary phytogenic materials significantly (P<0.05) improved broiler performance at grower, finisher and during whole experimental period (35) days compared to control. Regarding the carcass characteristics and internal organs, all treatments significantly (P<0.01) increased dressing percentage compared to control group (basal diet), while all other carcass characteristics and internal organs did not significantly affected by phytogenic dietary supplementation. Concerning economic efficiency, all phytogenic dietary supplementation resulted in improved profit compared to the basal diet.

Adoption of a RIS-PACS system in a hospital: cost-benefit analysis

Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is one of the most widely used evaluation methods for studying the effects of different programs on the allocation of resources and the well-being of the involved agents. Therefore, it is possible to assess the cost-effectiveness of a PACS by analysing the relationship between costs and savings. A complete digitalization of the radiology acquisition, reporting and archiving process leads to a significant improvement in the quality of reporting, allowing the radiologist to intervene directly on the image display, making it faster and more accurate. The savings resulting from the implementation of the PACS can only be appreciated after some time; they take the form of a reduction in the running costs of the Diagnostic Imaging Service, above all due to the lower consumption of X-ray films. Secondly, there is a reduction in the number of staff employed in activities related to film processing and the redistribution of the space required for archives. A proper financial plan and a dilution of the required investment over several years allow an improvement of the systems to be achieved without increasing the costs for the company.

Adoption of a RIS-PACS system in a hospital: cost-benefit analysis

Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is one of the most widely used evaluation methods for studying the effects of different programs on the allocation of resources and the well-being of the involved agents. Therefore, it is possible to assess the cost-effectiveness of a PACS by analysing the relationship between costs and savings. A complete digitalization of the radiology acquisition, reporting and archiving process leads to a significant improvement in the quality of reporting, allowing the radiologist to intervene directly on the image display, making it faster and more accurate. The savings resulting from the implementation of the PACS can only be appreciated after some time; they take the form of a reduction in the running costs of the Diagnostic Imaging Service, above all due to the lower consumption of X-ray films. Secondly, there is a reduction in the number of staff employed in activities related to film processing and the redistribution of the space required for archives. A proper financial plan and a dilution of the required investment over several years allow an improvement of the systems to be achieved without increasing the costs for the company.

The Effect of Different Programs of Exercise on The Expression of Genes Associated with Endurance and Energy Metabolism

Physical exercise promotes the energy metabolism of the body. While physiological changes occuring in human body after regular exercise is well defined, it is not known how the body’s response changes during the time course of the exercise. Here, we investigated how the acute and chronic exercise alters expressions of genes related to energy metabolism and endurance. Our study investigated the effects of acute and chronic exercise on the expression of genes related to energy metabolism (AMPD1, PPARA) and endurance (ADRB2). Study group; was formed with 24 people: 12 healthy females and 12 healthy males. Maximal oxygen use capacities of the participants were determined by the Bruce test protocol at the beginning and end of the 8-week training program. After calculating their maximal oxygen use capacity, each participant was given an acute running exercise on the tread mill at the speed and incline that the participant would reach to his/her maxVO2 until he/she exhausted. The same people were built to continuous runs (%50-70) once every 8 weeks, and two days of medium-term interval training program (%90-95). Peripheral blood samples were taken before and after acute exercise and immediately after chronic exercises. RNA isolation was performed using TRIzol Reagent from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Gene expression was determined by Biomark Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR). Gene expression data was quantified by using both t-test and Mann-Whitney U tests. The statistical level of p &amp;lt;0.05 was taken. Our results show that ADRB2 and AMPD1 gene expression values increase in women after acute exercise. There were changes in the mean values of ADRB2, AMPD1, PPARA gene expressions in both men and women after the 8-week training program compared to pre-acute exercise. Expression of PPARA gene significantly decreased after exercise compared to pre-exercise only for the female group. This study is important in developing ideas about gene expressions of genes related to energy training and endurance with different selections and different exercise programs. Our results; this suggests that different training programs on different genders are important in terms of giving an idea about the gene expressions of genes related to energy metabolism and endurance.

Complex Electromagnetic Fields Reduce Candida albicans Planktonic Growth and Its Adhesion to Titanium Surfaces.

This study evaluates the effects of different programs of complex electromagnetic fields (C.M.F.s) on Candida albicans, in planktonic and sessile phase and on human gingival fibroblasts (HGF cells). In vitro cultures of C. albicans ATCC 10231 and HGF cells were exposed to different cycles of C.M.F.s defined as: oxidative stress, oxidative stress/antibacterial, antibacterial, antibacterial/oxidative stress. Colony forming units (CFUs), metabolic activity, cells viability (live/dead), cell morphology, filamentation analysis, and cytotoxicity assay were performed. The broth cultures, exposed to the different C.M.F.s, were grown on titanium discs for 48 h. The quantity comparisons of adhered C. albicans on surfaces were determined by CFUs and scanning electron microscopy. The C. albicans growth could be readily controlled with C.M.F.s reducing the number of cultivable planktonic cells vs. controls, independently by the treatment applied. In particular, the antibacterial program was associated with lower levels of CFUs. The quantification of the metabolic activity was significantly lower by using the oxidative stress program. Live/dead images showed that C.M.F.s significantly decreased the viability of C. albicans. C.M.F.s inhibited C. albicans virulence traits reducing hyphal morphogenesis, adhesion, and biofilm formation on titanium discs. The MTS assay showed no negative effects on the viability of HGF. Independent of the adopted protocol, C.M.F.s exert antifungal and anti-virulence action against C. albicans, no cytotoxicity effects on HGF and can be useful in the prevention and treatment of yeast biofilm infections.

Stochastic challenges to interrupting helminth transmission

Predicting the effect of different programmes designed to control both the morbidity induced by helminth infections and parasite transmission is greatly facilitated by the use of mathematical models of transmission and control impact. In such models, it is essential to account for the many sources of uncertainty – natural, or otherwise – to ensure robustness in prediction and to accurately depict variation around an expected outcome. In this paper, we investigate how well the standard deterministic models match the predictions made using individual-based stochastic simulations. We also explore how well concepts which derive from deterministic models, such as ‘breakpoints’ in transmission, apply in the stochastic world. Employing an individual-based stochastic model framework we also investigate how transmission and control are affected by the migration of infected people into a defined community. To give our study focus we consider the control of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) by mass drug administration (MDA), though our methodology is readily applicable to the other helminth species such as the schistosome parasites and the filarial worms. We show it is possible to theoretically define a ‘stochastic breakpoint’ where much noise surrounds the expected deterministic breakpoint. We also discuss the concept of the ‘interruption of transmission’ independent of the ‘breakpoint’ concept where analyses of model behaviour illustrate the current limitations of deterministic models to account for the ‘fade-out’ or transmission extinction behaviour in simulations. Our analysis of migration confirms a relationship between the critical infected human migration rate scale (i.e., order of magnitude) per unit of time and the death rate of infective stages that are released into the free-living environment. This relationship is shown to determine the likelihood that control activities aim at chemotherapeutic treatment of the human host will eliminate transmission. The development of a new stochastic simulation code for STH in the form of a publicly-available open-source python package which includes features to incorporate many population stratifications, different control interventions including mass drug administration (with defined frequency, coverage levels and compliance patterns) and inter-village human migration is also described.

Comparing learning outcomes among postgraduate year trainee groups

BackgroundThe objective of postgraduate year (PGY) training programs is to inculcate in medical graduates the expected levels of skills in patient care. This study compared the core clinical competencies of trainees who received PGY training at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital by attending the pilot training program in different groups. MethodsWe used six 10-min test stations for clinical performance evaluation, which comprised four and two test stations designed for objective structured clinical examination and procedural skill, respectively, to evaluate the learning outcomes of the trainees. The trainees were divided into three groups according to the training programs that they had attended. ResultsThe aspects of clinical performance included history taking, physical examination, medical communication, logical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. The trainees who selected the surgery-based training program exhibited a higher performance at the station for aseptic surgical preparation than the other two groups (p = 0.0261). The trainees who selected the internal medical training program (p = 0.0020) exhibited a higher performance at the station for abdominal pain in children. ConclusionsA well-designed postgraduate training program should develop trainees' competencies, particularly clinical operational skills. The results of this study may provide useful insight into methods for improving the design of training programs. Additional investigation is necessary for understanding the effects of different programs on the clinical performance of trainees.

VP45.32: Pressing goals at the time of COVID: rebuilding patient attention and organisation of the gynecology department in a Spanish tertiary care hospital

COVID-19 pandemic obligated to restructuring all not reenable activity as obstetric. Combining attention of patients with and without virus supposed a marked change with implementation of many protocols. Our main goal is the effectiveness evaluation of these programs. Retrospective observational study for evaluating the effectiveness of different programs since their implantation (march mid-month) to end of April. Universal pcr screening for all patients who undergone hospital admission to labour room. 264 pcr were realised, with 15 of them positive (2,7%, only one was symptomatic). These allowed the creation of different spaces with differential staff, having an infection rate near to 0%. The main problem was the pcr processing time. For the sake of convert recovery rooms to ICU beds, Caesarean recoveries were done in labour room. 68 patients were benefited (97%, rest were COVID-19 positive or unknow). None reinterventions or problems with pain management were detected. Also skin-to-skin contact between mother and neonates after caesarean were possible. As a way of minimising hospital stay and potential virus exposure an early discharge (24 hours postpartum) puerperal pilot program was launched. Strict mother and neonatal conditions must being fulfilled. 10 woman and their neonates could adhere to program. No readmissions were registered. Only one visit to emergencies due to normal uterine bleeding. 14 hospital stay were saved. Creation of a telephonic 24h number for COVID-19 and pregnancy relation doubts with more than 80 phone calls attended. A no on-site medical consultation was implanted. This allowed the attention and follow up of 4 patients COVID-19 and isolated and home in combination with GP, allowing a proper fit of all varying management protocols. Same team were designed to attend pregnancy who were hospitalised. Pandemic had supposed deep organisation changes, but, this hard moments have serves to learn and they come to stay.

Changes in fatigue, health-related quality of life and physical activity after a one-week educational program for cancer survivors

Background: Rehabilitation aims to improve function, but the effects of different programs are not clear. The aims of the present study were to: (1) compare the level of fatigue and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of cancer survivors admitted to a one-week inpatient educational program (IEP) to the general population (NORMS), (2) examine changes in fatigue, HRQOL and physical activity after the IEP and (3) examine the proportions of survivors for female and male separately with clinically relevant improvement (>10% of maximum scale).Methods: Cancer survivors ≥18 years, diagnosed with breast-, prostate- or gastrointestinal cancer within the last 10 years, about to attend a one-week IEP were invited to an observational study with a pre-post design. The IEP included lectures, group discussions and physical activity. The participants completed a questionnaire on the arrival day (T0) and three months after the stay (T1). Fatigue was assessed by the Fatigue Questionnaire and HRQOL by Short Form-36.Results: Compared to NORMS, both female and male participants had significantly higher mean levels of fatigue and poorer HRQOL at T0 and T1. From T0 to T1, among all participants physical fatigue was reduced from 12.6 (SD 3.9) to 11.8 (SD 3.8; p < .001), mental fatigue from 6.3 (SD 2.2) to 6.0 (SD 2.2; p = .044) and total fatigue from 19.0 (SD 5.3) to 17.8 (SD 5.4; p = .001). Among female participants, 30% experienced clinically relevant improvement in physical fatigue, 28% in total fatigue and 36% in general health. Of male participants, 31% displayed a clinically relevant improvement in role limitations physical.Conclusion: Participants in the IEP reduced their levels of fatigue and improved aspects of HRQOL, more often observed among female participants than among males. Because of the lack of a control group it is not possible to conclude whether the changes were due to the IEP.

What matters the most for economic development? Evidence from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund

AbstractGovernments use incentive programmes to attract new businesses. Due to limited resources, there are questions about which incentives are most effective. Using establishment data from California, and data on the location of disbursements through two federal programmes, we consider the effectiveness of different programmes in attracting new businesses. We find that the amount of funding through the New Markets Tax Credit programme has a significant impact on business activity but find no evidence of an effect from the Community Development Financial Institutions programme. Our results suggest that the effectiveness of these programmes depends on how they provide assistance.

Prevention of Falls - Interventions in the Home Visits to the Elderly: Scoping Review

Background: The prevalence of falls in the elderly population is high, causing mortality, morbidity, and loss of functionality, contributing to an increase in the elderly’s dependence, loss of quality of life and decrease in the average life expectancy. This study aims to identify the interventions performed during the home visit that may have an impact on the reduction of risk, on the prevention of falls, on their recurrence and / or on secondary injuries. Methods and Findings: Scoping review, with the inclusion of primary studies to answer the research question: Which nursing interventions during the home visit prevent the (C) fall in the home (Co) of the Elderly Person? Research conducted in the databases available on the search engines of EBSCO, B-On, ISI; SCOPUS and JBI, inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined. The search time limit has been restricted to the last 5 years. The 10 studies that integrate the sample are heterogeneous, evaluated a total of 32,308 elderly. The use of cognitive-behavioral strategies has a positive effect on reducing mortality, institutionalization, falls and functional decline. The results of our investigation are not conclusive as to the effect of physical exercise performed at home in the prevention of falls. The elderly positively evaluate the performance of home visits to prevent falls. Conclusions: Evidence on the effectiveness of home visits for falls prevention is low. Future studies should explore the effectiveness of different programs to promote physical activity and social participation in reducing the risk and prevalence of falls.

Comparative analysis of effectiveness of some students’ physical culture training methodic

Introduction: scientific researches witness about presence of serious tendency to weakening students’ everyday motor activity and absence of motivation to physical culture and sports practicing. Some specialists offer to solve this problem by making physical culture classes more oriented on sports. At the same time there are studies, offering to use methodic of cardio-power training. Purpose: comparative analysis of effectiveness of different programs on Physical culture trainings with the help of sport oriented approach and functional-power training. The main criterion of trainings’ effectiveness was the level of physical and functional fitness of students’ organism to physical loads. Material: in the research students (n=600: boys - n=300, girls - n=300, age - 19-20 years) participated. Selection of students was fulfilled, considering indicators of body mass. We used the methods of physical condition control and assessment (control tests) and functional fitness (functional tests). Besides, we considered indicators of busy mass by students’ regular weighing. Results: we found some increase of body mass of students, who attended different sport specialization trainings. Boys and girls (athletic gymnastic and ping pong) demonstrated confident body mass increase in average by 3-4 kg during academic year Students, practicing cardio-power training - HOT IRON- practically did not increase body mass. Difference in body mass indicators of such students between beginning of trainings and at the end of the researches was insignificant (±0.3 kg). Tests’ results witness about general reduction of indicators of students’ main physical qualities during academic year. Significant increase of physical strength was found only in students, specializing in athletic gymnastic (boys and girls). Students of cardio-power training - HOT IRON-demonstrated confident increase of indicators of physical strength, general endurance and flexibility. Conclusions: our results witness that there is a demand in corrections of students’ physical culture training methodic. Their base is programs of sport oriented physical education. With it, it is necessary to compulsory consider dynamic of body mass changes and targeted application of cardio-power training programs.

Evidence Base Update for Psychosocial Treatments for Disruptive Behaviors in Children

This article reviews the state of the science on psychosocial treatments for disruptive behaviors in children, as an update to Eyberg, Nelson, and Boggs (2008). We followed procedures for literature searching, study inclusion, and treatment classification as laid out in Southam-Gerow and Prinstein (2014), focusing on treatments for children 12 years of age and younger. Two treatments (group parent behavior therapy, and individual parent behavior therapy with child participation) had sufficient empirical support to be classified as well-established treatments. Thirteen other treatments were classified as probably efficacious. Substantial variability in effectiveness of different programs within the same treatment family has been previously documented; thus, a particular level of evidence might not hold true for every individual program in a treatment family. Systematic investigations of implementation, dissemination, and uptake are needed to ensure that children and families have access to effective treatments. Investigations into how to blend the strengths of the effective approaches into even more effective treatment might also lead to greater impact.

Effect of long-term adherence to clopidogrel on the VASP-PRI after elective coronary stent implantation: a randomized controlled study.

The biological response to clopidogrel is highly variable and a poor responsiveness is associated with major adverse cardiac events. Adherence to therapy is a major cause of poor responsiveness but its impact on long-term platelet inhibition is unknown. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different programmes monitoring adherence to clopidogrel on platelet reactivity. The study took the form of a monocentric, parallel group, randomized controlled trial. Adults treated with clopidogrel 75mg after elective coronary stenting were randomized into one of three groups: (i) a standard of care group; (ii) a standard of care+adherence electronic monitoring group, in which drug intake was recorded but kept blinded until the study end; or (iii) an integrated care group, with regular feedback on recorded adherence. Clopidogrel response was assessed with the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein-platelet reactivity index (VASP-PRI) at randomization, 3months and 6months. A total of 123 adults were enrolled and randomized. Baseline VASP-PRI was highly variable, with a mean of 48±18.8%. No difference between groups in VASP-PRI was found at 6months (P = 0.761), despite better adherence to clopidogrel in the integrated care group. However, adherence (P = 0.035) and baseline VASP-PRI (P = 0.015) were associated with VASP-PRI at 3months and 6months. The association between adherence and VASP-PRI was lost in patients with baseline VASP-PRI > 50%. Diabetes, CYP2C19*2 carrier status and body mass index were significant predictors of VASP-PRI. The platelet response to clopidogrel during chronic therapy remained highly variable, despite high adherence. Different adherence monitoring programmes did not affect VASP-PRI at 6months. Poor adherence is associated with lower VASP-PRI only in initial good responders to clopidogrel.

Supervised vs. self-selected physical activity for individuals with diabetes and obesity: the Lifestyle Gym program.

The effectiveness of different programs of physical activity outside randomized studies is difficult to determine. We carried out an audit in two different units where either a supervised physical activity (PA) program or a self-selected PA program was in use in individuals with type 2 diabetes or obesity. The supervised PA cohort (n=101) received progressive gym training (120min, twice a week for 13weeks) by a dedicated team, with nutritional counseling during resting periods. The self-selected PA cohort (n=69) was enrolled in a 13-week cognitive-behavioral program (120min/week, in groups of 12-15 individuals), chaired by an expert team. Body weight and physical fitness (6-min walk test) were measured at baseline and after 6 and 12months. Outcome measures were attrition, weight loss≥10% initial body weight, 10% increase in 6-min walk test; their association with a PA program was tested by logistic regression analysis. Attrition rate was lower in the supervised PA group (28 vs. 45% than in the self-selected cohort, P=0.023). After adjustment for confounders, the supervised PA program was associated with a lower risk of attrition at 1year (odds ratio 0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.98) at logistic regression analysis. Body weight similarly decreased in both groups (more rapidly in the supervised PA cohort); also physical fitness improved in a similar way, and no differences in achieved targets of body weight (supervised, 31%; self-selected, 18%; P=0.118) or fitness (supervised, 62%; self-selected, 49%; P=0.312) were demonstrated. Different PA programs produce very similar health benefits, but an initially supervised program has lower attrition rates, which might translate into better outcomes in the long term.

Evidence & Gap Maps: A tool for promoting evidence informed policy and strategic research agendas

A range of organizations are engaged in the production of evidence on the effects of health, social, and economic development programs on human welfare outcomes. However, evidence is often scattered around different databases, web sites, and the gray literature and is often presented in inaccessible formats. Lack of overview of the evidence in a specific field can be a barrier to the use of existing research and prevent efficient use of limited resources for new research. Evidence & Gap Maps (EGMs) aim to address these issues and complement existing synthesis and mapping approaches. EGMs are a new addition to the tools available to support evidence-informed policymaking. To provide an accessible resource for researchers, commissioners, and decision makers, EGMs provide thematic collections of evidence structured around a framework which schematically represents the types of interventions and outcomes of relevance to a particular sector. By mapping the existing evidence using this framework, EGMs provide a visual overview of what we know and do not know about the effects of different programs. They make existing evidence available, and by providing links to user-friendly summaries of relevant studies, EGMs can facilitate the use of existing evidence for decision making. They identify key “gaps” where little or no evidence from impact evaluations and systematic reviews is available and can be a valuable resource to inform a strategic approach to building the evidence base in a particular sector. The article will introduce readers to the concept and methods of EGMs and present a demonstration of the EGM tool using existing examples.

NEW APPROACHES TO CONTROL CUCUMBER PEST INFESTATION WITH EMPHASIS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND CROP CHARACTERISTICS UNDER GREENHOUSE CONDITIONS

The effect of different programs (foliar spray of some aromatic oils, extracts and intercropping plants with cucumber) against two insect and mite pests, i.e the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci (Genm)) egg and nymphal stages, thrips (Thrips tabaci) and the spider mite (Tetranychus urticea Koch) eggs and movable stages were studied. Also the cucumber horticultural characteristics, yield under the greenhouse and the tested programs conditions were evaluated. The trail was carried out in a clay soil at Kaha Research Farm, Kalubia, Egypt, during two successive seasons of 2014and 2015. The obtained results indicated a positive effect of all the investigated programs to reduce infestation of the important insect and mite pests on cucumber treated plants than the control and it may dividing them into groups between them to show significant differences during the first and second experimental seasons. Concerning the effect of the tested treatments on horticultural characteristics of cucumber plant, the obtained results indicated a positive effect for all treatments on cucumber vegetative growth characteristics, leaves chemical composition, fruit characteristics and total yield per plant during the two studied seasons. Data showed that T5 (basil oil spray) and T3 (citronella oil spray) followed with T6 (geranium oil) and T7(camphor oil) led to increase the cucumber growth, physical fruit characteristics, chemical leave contents, early and total yield compared with other treatments during the two studied seasons