introduction pressure ulcers are tissue damages resulting from blood flow restriction, which occurs when the tissue is exposed to high pressure for a long period of time. these painful sores are common in patients and elderly, who spend extended periods of time in bed or wheelchair. in this study, a continuous pressure and temperature monitoring system was developed for pressure ulcer preventio...

The electro-mechanical (E/M) impedance method for structural health monitoring, damage detection and failure prevention is a new technology utilizing the emitter-detector properties of active material sensors and the structural drive point mechanical impedance. In previous work, the authors showed that changes in the drive point mechanical impedance of a structure or machinery can be sensed in ...

A results framework (RF) presents an operating unit’s strategy for achieving a specific objective.* Typically, it is laid out in graphic form supplemented by narrative. An RF includes the objective and the intermediate results, whether funded by USAID or its partners, necessary to achieve it. The framework also conveys the development hypothesis implicit in the strategy and the cause-and-effect...

Elements of a monitoring and evaluation system How do we know that a strategy for sustainable development has been successful, or is on the right path? Not only do strategies have multiple objectives, but also strategy activities will change over time and so will social, economic and environmental conditions. This presents a considerable challenge for monitoring and evaluation, but one that mus...

Updating, Self-Confidence and Discrimination In a laboratory experiment, we show that subjects incorporate irrelevant group information into their evaluations of individuals. Individuals from on average worse performing groups receive lower evaluations, even if they are known to perform equally well as individuals from better performing groups. Our experiment leaves room neither for statistical...

Over the past decade, donors have made a concerted effort to improve aid effectiveness. This intent was codified by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in the Paris Declaration of 2005, under which development agencies agreed to manage their aid budgets on the basis of five principles, two of which included managing development fund...

FORWARD Dear Colleagues, I would like to welcome you to the UNAIDS Monitoring and Evaluation Fundamentals series. As the response to the global HIV epidemic continues to evolve, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) has become more important than ever. Determining what programs do or do not work; implementing programs with proven cost-effectiveness; monitoring progress towards achieving targets; and ...