In vitro attachment of glycosyl-inositolphospholipid anchor structures to mouse Thy-1 antigen and human decay-accelerating factor.

Glycosyl-inositolphospholipid (GPL) anchoring structures are incorporated into GPL-anchored proteins immediately posttranslationally in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, but the biochemical and cellular constituents involved in this "glypiation" process are unknown. To establish whether glypiation could be achieved in vitro, mRNAs generated by transcription of cDNAs encoding two GPL-anchored proteins, murine Thy-1 antigen and human decay-accelerating factor (DAF), and a conventionally anchored control protein, polymeric-immunoglobulin receptor (IgR), were translated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Upon addition of dog pancreatic rough microsomes, nascent polypeptides generated from the three mRNAs translocated into vesicles. Dispersal of the vesicles with Triton X-114 detergent and incubation of the hydrophobic phase with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipases C and D, enzymes specific for GPL-anchor structures, released Thy-1 and DAF but not IgR protein into the aqueous phase. The selective incorporation of phospholipase-sensitive anchoring moieties into Thy-1 and DAF but not IgR translation products during in vitro translocation indicates that rough microsomes are able to support and regulate glypiation.

Laser-ultraviolet-A induced ultra weak photon emission in human skin cells: A biophotonic comparison between keratinocytes and fibroblasts.

Photons participate in many atomic and molecular interactions and processes. Recent biophysical research has discovered an ultraweak radiation in biological tissues. It is now recognized that plants, animal and human cells emit this very weak biophotonic emission which can be readily measured with a sensitive photomultiplier system. UVA laser induced biophotonic emission of cultured cells was used in this report with the intention to detect biophysical changes between young and adult fibroblasts as well as between fibroblasts and keratinocytes. With suspension densities ranging from 1-8 x 106 cells/ml, it was evident that an increase of the UVA-laser-light induced photon emission intensity could be observed in young as well as adult fibroblastic cells. By the use of this method to determine ultraweak light emission, photons in cell suspensions in low volumes (100 microl) could be detected, in contrast to previous procedures using quantities up to 10 ml. Moreover, the analysis has been further refined by turning off the photomultiplier system electronically during irradiation leading to the first measurements of induced light emission in the cells after less than 10 micros instead of more than 100 milliseconds. These significant changes lead to an improvement factor up to 106 in comparison to classical detection procedures. In addition, different skin cells as fibroblasts and keratinocytes stemming from the same donor were measured using this new highly sensitive method in order to find new biophysical insight of light pathways. This is important in view to develop new strategies in biophotonics especially for use in alternative therapies.

Personality profiles of cultures: Aggregate personality traits

Personality profiles of cultures can be operationalized as the mean trait levels of culture members. College students from 51 cultures rated an individual from their country whom they knew well (N 12,156). Aggregate scores on Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) scales generalized across age and sex groups, approximated the individual-level 5-factor model, and correlated with aggregate self-report personality scores and other culture-level variables. Results were not attributable to national differences in economic development or to acquiescence. Geographical differences in scale variances and mean levels were replicated, with Europeans and Americans generally scoring higher in Extraversion than Asians and Africans. Findings support the rough scalar equivalence of NEO-PI-R factors and facets across cultures and suggest that aggregate personality profiles provide insight into cultural differences.

Enterprise Architecture Principles in Research and Practice: Insights from an Exploratory Analysis

Even though architecture principles were first discussed in the 1990s, they are still perceived as an underexplored topic in enterprise architecture management research. By now, there is an increasing consensus about EA principles' nature, as well as guidelines for their formulation. However, the extant literature remains vague about what can be considered suitable EA design and evolution guidance principles. In addition, empirical insights regarding their role and usefulness in practice are still lacking. Accordingly, this research seeks to address three questions: (1) What are suitable principles to guide EA design and evolution? (2) What usage do EA principles have for practitioners? (3) Which propositions can be derived regarding EA principles' role and application? Opting for exploratory research, we apply a research process covering critical analysis of current publications as well as capturing experts' perceptions. Our research ontologically distinguishes between principles from nonprinciples, proposes a validated set of meta-principles, and clarifies principles' application, role, and usefulness in practice. The explored insights can be used as guidelines in defining suitable principles and turning them into an effective bridge between strategy and design and a guide in design decisions.

Health literacy [Document électronique] : an economic perspective and data for Switzerland. Part 2, A review of health literacy measures and a cost assessment of limited health literacy

Summary : 1. Measuring health literacy in Switzerland: a review of six surveys: 1.1 Comparison of questionnaires - 1.2 Measures of health literacy in Switzerland - 1.3 Discussion of Swiss data on HL - 1.4 Description of the six surveys: 1.4.1 Current health trends and health literacy in the Swiss population (gfs-UNIVOX), 1.4.2 Nutrition, physical exercise and body weight : opinions and perceptions of the Swiss population (USI), 1.4.3 Health Literacy in Switzerland (ISPMZ), 1.4.4 Swiss Health Survey (SHS), 1.4.5 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), 1.4.6 Adult literacy and life skills survey (ALL). - 2 . Economic costs of low health literacy in Switzerland: a rough calculation. Appendix: Screenshots cost model

Society, politcs and nuclear energy in Switzerland

After the Fukushima accident, the Swiss Federal Council opted for withdrawal from nuclear energy in the horizon 2035. Considering that this decision cannot be studied in historical isolation, this article describes the evolution of the relationship between nuclear energy and the Swiss society by highlighting four distinctive periods: the social mobilisation of the seventies and eighties, the turning point of the nineties, the nuclear revival in the late 2000s and the Fukushima accident. To describe this relationship, we will analyse social mobilisation and the results of initiatives and empirical studies related to nuclear energy in Switzerland.

Aerodynamic drag modeling of alpine skiers performing giant slalom turns.

PURPOSE: Aerodynamic drag plays an important role in performance for athletes practicing sports that involve high-velocity motions. In giant slalom, the skier is continuously changing his/her body posture, and this affects the energy dissipated in aerodynamic drag. It is therefore important to quantify this energy to understand the dynamic behavior of the skier. The aims of this study were to model the aerodynamic drag of alpine skiers in giant slalom simulated conditions and to apply these models in a field experiment to estimate energy dissipated through aerodynamic drag. METHODS: The aerodynamic characteristics of 15 recreational male and female skiers were measured in a wind tunnel while holding nine different skiing-specific postures. The drag and the frontal area were recorded simultaneously for each posture. Four generalized and two individualized models of the drag coefficient were built, using different sets of parameters. These models were subsequently applied in a field study designed to compare the aerodynamic energy losses between a dynamic and a compact skiing technique. RESULTS: The generalized models estimated aerodynamic drag with an accuracy of between 11.00% and 14.28%, and the individualized models estimated aerodynamic drag with an accuracy between 4.52% and 5.30%. The individualized model used for the field study showed that using a dynamic technique led to 10% more aerodynamic drag energy loss than using a compact technique. DISCUSSION: The individualized models were capable of discriminating different techniques performed by advanced skiers and seemed more accurate than the generalized models. The models presented here offer a simple yet accurate method to estimate the aerodynamic drag acting upon alpine skiers while rapidly moving through the range of positions typical to turning technique.

Pyoderma gangrenosum after minor trauma in a pregnant woman, mistaken for necrotizing fasciitis: report of a case and literature review.

Abstract Background: Pyoderma gangrenosum is an ulcerative, non-infectious skin disorder. However, it can be mistaken as necrotizing fasciitis, a life-threatening infective condition. We describe here a case of pyoderma gangrenosum after minor trauma treated as necrotizing fasciitis. METHODS: Case report and literature review. CASE REPORT: A 27-year-old pregnant nurse had a pretibial wound after a fall on a rough surface. When erythema developed and no response to empirical antibiotic therapy was observed, multiple debridements were performed. Paradoxically, her condition became worse. The diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum was suspected. Treatment with corticosteroids was started and this was successful. CONCLUSION: Pyoderma gangrenosum can mimic infectious necrotizing fasciitis. Differentiating these two conditions is important because mistreatment of pyoderma can lead to disfigurement.

Experiments on substratum roughness, grainsize and volume influence on the motion and spreading of rock avalanches

The main objective of the research is to link granular physics with the modelling of rock avalanches. Laboratory experiments consist to find a convenient granular material, i.e. grainsize and physical behaviour, and testing it on simple slope geometry. When the appropriate sliding material is selected, we attempted to model the debris avalanche and the spreading on a slope with different substratum to understand the relationship between the volume and the reach angle, i.e. angle of the line joining the top of the scar and the end of the deposit. For a better understanding of the mass spreading, the deposits are scanned with a laser scanner. Datasets are compared to see how the grain size and volume influence a debris avalanche. The relationship between the roughness and grainsize of the substratum shows that the spreading of the sliding mass is increased when the roughness of the substratum starts to be equivalent or greater than the grainsize of the flowing mass. The runout distance displays a more complex relationship, because a long runout distance implies that grains are less spread. This means that if the substratum is too rough the distance diminishes, as well if it is too smooth because the effect on the apparent friction decreases. Up to now our findings do not permit to validate any previous model (Melosh, 1987; Bagnold 1956).

Le regard d'un psychiatre sur les écrits de la folie : la carrière de Hans Steck à l'Asile psychiatrique de Cery (1920-1960)

Quelles représentations de la schizophrénie les psychiatres vont-ils construire à travers l'étude des écrits asilaires des patients et des scientifiques dans la première moitié du XXème siècle? Le psychiatre helvétique Hans Steck (1891-1980), qui a travaillé à l'Asile psychiatrique de Cery de 1920 à 1960 et qui s'est fait connaître du public grâce à l'oeuvre d'Aloïse Corbaz, reconnue comme auteure d'art brut par Jean Dubuffet en 1945, constitue le fil rouge de la thèse. Dans le contexte des mouvements tels que Γ "art psychopathologique" et Γ "art brut", Steck étudie les théories de "la mentalité primitive et les peintures magiques des schizophrènes". En 1927, il se tourne vers les théories évolutionnistes de la régression et les premières études de Lévy-Bruhl pour avancer l'idée qu'il existe un "parallélisme schizo-primitif'. Puis il développe des explications de la pensée délirante, à partir des théories exposées lors du Premier Congrès International de Psychiatrie en 1950. Enfin, adoptant la perspective phénoménologique, il explique que "la fonction de l'art et la fonction du délire visent à reconstituer un monde viable pour le malade". En ce sens, l'expression artistique, bien que n'entrant pas dans le champ de la psychothérapie, fournit des indicateurs de l'état psychique du malade en même temps qu'elle contribue à son bien-être. Sont abordés les problèmes concernant la reconnaissance de Γ "auteur" interné, dont les oeuvres appartiennent soit aux archives médicales, soit au musée. La pérennité des critères qui définissent les oeuvres d'"art psychopathologique" ou d'"art brut" est également mise en question. Enfin, le rôle essentiel de l'écriture à l'hôpital, tant pour les patients que pour les soignants, fait l'objet de nombreux développements. - What representations of schizophrenia have psychiatrists been constructing when studying writings by patients and scientists in mental asylums in the first half of the 20th century? The Swiss psychiatrist Hans Steck (1891-1980) is the protagonist of this dissertation. From 1920 to 1960, he has been working at the "Asile psychiatrique de Cery" near Lausanne. Steck is known thanks to the paintings of Aloïse Corbaz, an artist recognized by Jean Dubuffet as belonging to the "art brut" movement in 1945. In the context of movements like "art psychopathologique" and "art brut," Steck studies theories of "primitive character and magic paintings of schizophrenics." In 1927, Steck engages with theories of regression and Lévy-Bruhl's early studies in order to push the idea of a "parallelism schizo-primitif." On the occasion of the First International Congress of psychiatry held in Paris in 1950, Steck develops explanations for the "pensée délirante." Finally, turning to a phenomenological point of view, he explains, "the function of art and the function of the delusion help the patient to reconstruct a viable environment for the sick person." In this way, artistic expression is not thought of as a psychotherapeutical means, but provides insight into the state of mind of a mentally sick person at the same time as contributing to his well-being. The dissertation discusses whether the "author's" work belongs in medical archives or museums. The continuity of "psychopathological art" and "art brut" criteria will be discussed. Finally, the essential role that writing played in the hospital for the patients as well as for the medical staff is presented.

Efficacy of the barbecue manoeuvre in benign paroxysmal vertigo of the horizontal canal

Five to ten percent of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo are caused by the horizontal semi-circular variant (h-BPPV). In this study, we reviewed the efficacy of the Barbecue repositioning manoeuvre in h-BPPV, and we assessed the possible effect of different factors on the outcome. Barbecue manoeuvre consists in turning the supine patient around his longitudinal axis toward the unaffected side until 360 degrees are accomplished. After every 90 degrees step the patient is maintained in the new position for 30 s. We reviewed 46 patients with h-BPPV, treated by barbecue rotation from 2003 to 2005. After the first Barbecue manoeuvre, the patients were followed-up at intervals of approximately 1 week and the rotation was repeated if h-BPPV persisted (up to three rotations). Factors assessed were age, gender, duration of symptoms before treatment and type of h-BPPV (canalolithiasis vs. cupulolithiasis). Fisher's exact test was used for the analysis. Results: 85% of patients (39/46) were cured after a maximum of 3 rotations. 74% (34/46) were cured after the first manoeuvre and 80% (37/46) after the second one. None of the evaluated factors did significantly affect the efficacy (P > 0.05). The Barbecue manoeuvre is an efficient treatment of h-BPPV demonstrating 85% cure rate after a maximum of three sessions. 74% of the patients are healed after one manoeuvre. The efficacy is not affected by the evaluated factors.

IDENTITÉ, PROJET, CHANGEMENT : DES REPRÉSENTATIONS SOCIALES AUX LEVIERS DE L'ACTION PUBLIQUE. POUR UN MODE DE GOUVERNANCE AXÉ SUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT TERRITORIAL. ETUDE DE CAS : CANTON DU JURA (SUISSE)

Thirty years after the Canton of Jura entered sovereignty, it has to be admited that the creation of the newly canton did't fullfill the hopes of economic and demografic growth that many could have expected from political independance. Through a plurality of complementary approaches, the research suggest a closer look at, on one hand, the position of the Canton in its territorial context as well as its structure and dynamics and on the other hand, the representations of the territory and its evolution by the social actors. This in order to formulate a set of social demands (of debate, of openness and of overcoming cleavages) which augurs for a new territoriality regime and testify of a requirement of reflexivity toward the state institutions and actions. The analysis allowed to set in evidence the central role of the couple identity-project in the dynamics of change, and to identifiy three main periods in the recent past of the Canton: a period of territorialization, during which grew a strong collective identity, coupled with a major project of society (the creation of the canton of Jura); then followed a period of deterritorialization, with the fragmentation of the collective identity and the lack of a project of society. Then, the third period, with a paradoxical event, the failure in public vote of the the project Jura open Land (Jura Pays ouvert), which was meant to give a second wind to the Canton. We consider this turning point as the start of a new period (of reterritorialization), with an issue linked with the outlines of a renewed "jurassian" identity and the elaboration of a shared territory project.Trente ans après l'entrée en souveraineté, force est de constater que la création du canton du Jura n'a pas permis de répondre aux espérances de développement économique et démographique que l'indépendance politique devait entraîner dans son sillage. Cette recherche se propose, à travers une pluralité d'approches complémentaires, d'examiner d'une part la position du Canton dans son contexte territorial ainsi que sa structure et sa dynamique; d'autre part, les représentations que se font les acteurs du territoire et de son évolution, pour déboucher sur une série de demandes sociales (de débat, d'ouverture et de dépassement des clivages) qui augurent de la transition vers un nouveau régime de territorialité et témoignent d'une exigence de réflexivité envers les institutions et les actions de l'Etat. L'analyse a permis de mettre en évidence le rôle central du couple identité-projet dans la dynamique de changement et d'identifier trois temps forts dans l'évolution récente du Canton, une phase de territorialisation au cours de laquelle s'est constituée une identité forte doublée d'un projet de société majeur, suivie d'une phase de déterritorialisation avec une fragmentation de l'identité collective et l'absence de projet mobilisateur. Enfin, un moment paradoxal, l'échec du projet Jura Pays ouvert, censé redonner un second souffle au Canton, qui amorce une nouvelle étape (de reterritorialisation) avec un questionnement lié aux contours d'une identité jurassienne renouvelée et à l'élaboration d'un projet de territoire partagé.Les ressorts de la production du territoire et de son développement sont analysés à travers le rôle des représentations sociales dans la constitution identitaire et le projet territorial, à l'exemple du canton du Jura. La mise en évidence du rôle central du couple identité-projet dans la dynamique de changement a permis d'identifier trois temps forts dans l'évolution récente du Canton. Une première phase (la création du canton du Jura), au cours de laquelle s'est constituée une identité forte doublée d'un projet de société majeur, suivie d'une phase au cours de laquelle l'identité collective s'est fragmentée en l'absence de projet mobilisateur (la phase de « gestion » de l'Etat). Puis un moment de rupture (l'échec du projet Jura Pays ouvert) et l'amorce d'une transition vers une nouvelle étape, avec un questionnement lié aux contours d'une identité jurassienne renouvelée, à l'élaboration d'un projet de territoire partagé, et à l'action des pouvoirs publics dans un contexte de repositionnement du Canton.

1H-[13C] NMR spectroscopy of the rat brain during infusion of [2-13C] acetate at 14.1 T.

Full signal intensity (1)H-[(13)C] NMR spectroscopy, combining a preceding (13)C-editing block based on an inversion BISEP (B(1)-insensitive spectral editing pulse) with a spin-echo coherence-based localization, was developed and implemented at 14.1 T. (13)C editing of the proposed scheme was achieved by turning on and off the (13)C adiabatic full passage in the (13)C-editing block to prepare inverted and noninverted (13)C-coupled (1)H coherences along the longitudinal axis prior to localization. The novel (1)H-[(13)C] NMR approach was applied in vivo under infusion of the glia-specific substrate [2-(13)C] acetate. Besides a approximately 50% improvement in sensitivity, spectral dispersion was enhanced at 14.1 T, especially for J-coupled metabolites such as glutamate and glutamine. A more distinct spectral structure at 1.9-2.2 ppm(parts per million) was observed, e.g., glutamate C3 showed a doublet pattern in both simulated (1)H spectrum and in vivo (13)C-edited (1)H NMR spectra. Besides (13)C time courses of glutamate C4 and glutamine C4, the time courses of glutamate C3 and glutamine C3 obtained by (1)H-[(13)C] NMR spectroscopy were reported for the first time. Such capability should greatly improve the ability to study neuron-glial metabolism using (1)H-observed (13)C-edited NMR spectroscopy.

Multidimensionnalité des violences envers les femmes. La Suisse en regard des États-Unis: pertinence et validité d'une comparaison

Summary : International comparisons in the area of victimization, particularly in the field of violence against women, are fraught with methodological problems that previous research has not systematically addressed, and whose answer does not seem to be agreed up~n. For obvious logistic and financial reasons, international studies on violence against women (i.e. studies that administer the same instrument in different countries). are seldom; therefore, researchers are bound to resort to secondary comparisons. Many studies simply juxtapose their results to the ones of previous wòrk or to findings obtained in different contexts, in order to offer an allegedly comparative perspective to their conclusions. If, most of the time, researchers indicate the methodological limitations of a direct comparison, it is not rare that these do not result in concrete methodological controls. Yet, many studies have shown the influence of surveys methodological parameters on findings, listing recommendations fora «best practice» of research. Although, over the past decades, violence against women surveys have become more and more similar -tending towards a sort of uniformization that could be interpreted as a passive consensus -these instruments retain more or less subtle differences that are still susceptible to influence the validity of a comparison. Yet, only a small number of studies have directly worked on the comparability of violence against women data, striving to control the methodological parameters of the surveys in order to guarantee the validity of their comparisons. The goal of this work is to compare data from two national surveys on violence against women: the Swiss component of the International Violence Against Women Survey [CH-IVAWS] and the National Violence Against Women Survey [NVAWS] administered in the United States. The choice of these studies certainly ensues from the author's affiliations; however, it is far from being trivial. Indeed, the criminological field currently endows American and Anglo-Saxon literature with a predominant space, compelling researchers from other countries to almost do the splits to interpret their results in the light of previous work or to develop effective interventions in their own context. Turning to hypotheses or concepts developed in a specific framework inevitably raises the issue of their applicability to another context, i.e. the Swiss context, if not at least European. This problematic then takes on an interest that goes beyond the particular topic of violence against women, adding to its relevance. This work articulates around three axes. First, it shows the way survey characteristics influence estimates. The comparability of the nature of the CH-IVAWS and NVAWS, their sampling design and the characteristics of their administration are discussed. The definitions used, the operationalization of variables based on comparable items, the control of reference periods, as well as the nature of the victim-offender relationship are included among controlled factors. This study establishes content validity within and across studies, presenting a systematic process destined to maximize the comparability of secondary data. Implications of the process are illustrated with the successive presentation of comparable and non-comparable operationalizations of computed variables. Measuring violence against. women in Switzerland and the United-States, this work compares the prevalence of different forms (threats, physical violence and sexual violence) and types of violence (partner and nonpartner violence). Second, it endeavors to analyze concepts of multivictimization (i.e. experiencing different forms of victimization), repeat victimization (i.e. experiencing the same form of violence more than once), and revictimization (i.e. the link between childhood and adulthood victimization) in a comparative -and comparable -approach. Third, aiming at understanding why partner violence appears higher in the United States, while victims of nonpartners are more frequent in Switzerland, as well as in other European countries, different victimization correlates are examined. This research contributes to a better understanding of the relevance of controlling methodological parameters in comparisons across studies, as it illustrates, systematically, the imposed controls and their implications on quantitative data. Moreover, it details how ignoring these parameters might lead to erroneous conclusions, statistically as well as theoretically. The conclusion of the study puts into a wider perspective the discussion of differences and similarities of violence against women in Switzerland and the United States, and integrates recommendations as to the relevance and validity of international comparisons, whatever the'field they are conducted in. Résumé: Les comparaisons internationales dans le domaine de la victimisation, et plus particulièrement en ce qui concerne les violences envers les femmes, se caractérisent par des problèmes méthodologiques que les recherches antérieures n'ont pas systématiquement adressés, et dont la réponse ne semble pas connaître de consensus. Pour des raisons logistiques et financières évidentes, les études internationales sur les violences envers les femmes (c.-à-d. les études utilisant un même instrument dans différents pays) sont rares, aussi les chercheurs sont-ils contraints de se tourner vers des comparaisons secondaires. Beaucoup de recherches juxtaposent alors simplement leurs résultats à ceux de travaux antérieurs ou à des résultats obtenus dans d'autres contextes, afin d'offrir à leurs conclusions une perspective prétendument comparative. Si, le plus souvent, les auteurs indiquent les limites méthodologiques d'une comparaison directe, il est fréquent que ces dernières ne se traduisent pas par des contrôles méthodologiques concrets. Et pourtant, quantité de travaux ont mis en évidence l'influence des paramètres méthodologiques des enquêtes sur les résultats obtenus, érigeant des listes de recommandations pour une «meilleure pratique» de la recherche. Bien que, ces dernières décennies, les sondages sur les violences envers les femmes soient devenus de plus en plus similaires -tendant, vers une certaine uniformisation que l'on peut interpréter comme un consensus passif-, il n'en demeure pas moins que ces instruments possèdent des différences plus ou moins subtiles, mais toujours susceptibles d'influencer la validité d'une comparaison. Pourtant, seules quelques recherches ont directement travaillé sur la comparabilité des données sur les violences envers les femmes, ayant à coeur de contrôler les paramètres méthodologiques des études utilisées afin de garantir la validité de leurs comparaisons. L'objectif de ce travail est la comparaison des données de deux sondages nationaux sur les violences envers les femmes: le composant suisse de l'International Violence Against Women Survey [CHIVAWSj et le National Violence Against Women Survey [NVAWS) administré aux États-Unis. Le choix de ces deux études découle certes des affiliations de l'auteure, cependant il est loin d'être anodin. Le champ criminologique actuel confère, en effet, une place prépondérante à la littérature américaine et anglo-saxonne, contraignant ainsi les chercheurs d'autres pays à un exercice proche du grand écart pour interpréter leurs résultats à la lumière des travaux antérieurs ou développer des interventions efficaces dans leur propre contexte. Le fait de recourir à des hypothèses et des concepts développés dans un cadre spécifique pose inévitablement la question de leur applicabilité à un autre contexte, soit ici le contexte suisse, sinon du moins européen. Cette problématique revêt alors un intérêt qui dépasse la thématique spécifique des violences envers les femmes, ce qui ajoute à sa pertinence. Ce travail s'articule autour de trois axes. Premièrement, il met en évidence la manière dont les caractéristiques d'un sondage influencent les estimations qui en découlent. La comparabilité de la nature du CH-IVAWS et du NVAWS, de leur processus d'échantillonnage et des caractéristiques de leur administration est discutée. Les définitions utilisées, l'opérationnalisation des variables sur la base d'items comparables, le contrôle des périodes de référence, ainsi que la nature de la relation victime-auteur figurent également parmi les facteurs contrôlés. Ce travail établit ainsi la validité de contenu intra- et inter-études, offrant un processus systématique destiné à maximiser la comparabilité des données secondaires. Les implications de cette démarche sont illustrées avec la présentation successive d'opérationnalisations comparables et non-comparables des variables construites. Mesurant les violences envers les femmes en Suisse et aux États-Unis, ce travail compare la prévalence de plusieurs formes (menaces, violences physiques et violences sexuelles) et types de violence (violences partenaires et non-partenaires). 11 s'attache également à analyser les concepts de multivictimisation (c.-à-d. le fait de subir plusieurs formes de victimisation), victimisation répétée (c.-à.-d. le fait de subir plusieurs incidents de même forme) et revictimisation (c.-à-d. le lien entre la victimisation dans l'enfance et à l'âge adulte) dans une approche comparative - et comparable. Dans un troisième temps, cherchant à comprendre pourquoi la violence des partenaires apparaît plus fréquente aux États-Unis, tandis que les victimes de non-partenaires sont plus nombreuses en Suisse, et dans d'autres pays européens, différents facteurs associés à la victimisation sont évalués. Cette recherche participe d'une meilleure compréhension de la pertinence du contrôle des paramètres méthodologiques dans les comparaisons entre études puisqu'elle illustre, pas à pas, les contrôles imposés et leurs effets sur les données quantitatives, et surtout comment l'ignorance de ces paramètres peut conduire à des conclusions erronées, tant statistiquement que théoriquement. La conclusion replace, dans un contexte plus large, la discussion des différences et des similitudes observées quant à la prévalence des violences envers les femmes en Suisse et aux États-Unis, et intègre des recommandations quant à la pertinence et à la validité des comparaisons internationales, cela quel que soit le domaine considéré.

Prevalence of patients' difficulties in swallowing solid oral dosage forms

Introduction Swallowing difficulties, or dysphagia, can occur in anyage group, although it is most common among elderly people. It canaffect patients' ability to take solid oral dosage forms, thus compromisingmedication adherence. Although literature is poor, availabledata show that prevalence in the general population ranges from 25 to60%. Prevalence in community pharmacies needs to be explored.Materials & Methods Community pharmacies were recruited from arandom selection in three Swiss states: Basel-Stadt (BS), Basel-Landschaft (BL) and Lausanne (LA). Patients' ability to swallowsolid oral medications was enquired with a semi-structured interview;the interviewer spent 4 h in each included pharmacy. Each consecutivepatient (18 years and older) entering the pharmacy with aprescription for at least 3 different solid oral forms was enrolled.Study was approved by the Lausanne ethics committee.Results Sixty pharmacies took part in the study (20 in BS, 10 in BL,30 in LA) between March and May 2010. Patient inclusion rate was77.8% (410/527). Prevalence of swallowing disorders was 22.4% (92/410). Patients with swallowing disorders were older (mean age: 67.5± 16 years vs. 63.0 ± 14 years, range 19-96; p = 0.03) and moreoften women (69.6% vs. 59.1%; Chi2 = 3.3, p = 0.04) than patientswithout swallowing disorders. They had on average 4.6 ± 2.7 drugswith a mean number of 5.5 ± 3.3 tablets or capsules to take daily,which didn't differ from the number of drugs taken by patientswithout swallowing difficulties (4.9 ± 2.5 drugs and 5.9 ± 3.5 tablets;n.s.). The difficulty was mainly related to the big size (63%) orthe quality of pill coating (rough, sticky, 14%). Twenty-one patients(37.5%) stated that their swallowing disorders resulted in nonadherence, rated as rarely (12 patients), sometimes (6 patients), veryoften (1 patient) or always (2 patients). According to patients, nopharmacist and only 2 physicians enquired about patients' swallowingissue.Discussion & Conclusion Swallowing difficulties are frequent amongpatients in community pharmacies in Switzerland with an estimatedprevalence of 22%. The problem resulted in non adherence or partialadherence in at least 35% of these patients. However, pharmacists andphysicians did not routinely inquire about the disorder. Guidelinesshould be developed for promoting systematic approaches of patientsin community pharmacies.