Acreage Living, June 2002, Vol.8, no.6

Monthly newsletter for people in Iowa that live on Acreages, produced by Iowa State University Copperative Extension.

Acreage Living, July 2002, Vol.8, no.7

Monthly newsletter for people in Iowa that live on Acreages, produced by Iowa State University Copperative Extension.

Acreage Living, August 2002, Vol.8, no.8

Monthly newsletter for people in Iowa that live on Acreages, produced by Iowa State University Copperative Extension.

Acreage Living, October 2002, Vol.8, no.9

Monthly newsletter for people in Iowa that live on Acreages, produced by Iowa State University Copperative Extension.

Acreage Living, October/November 2003

Monthly newsletter for people in Iowa that live on Acreages, produced by Iowa State University Copperative Extension.

Acreage Living, November 2002, Vol.8, no.10

Monthly newsletter for people in Iowa that live on Acreages, produced by Iowa State University Copperative Extension.

Acreage Living, December 2002, Vol.8, no.11

Monthly newsletter for people in Iowa that live on Acreages, produced by Iowa State University Copperative Extension.

Acreage Living, June-July 2003

Monthly newsletter for people in Iowa that live on Acreages, produced by Iowa State University Copperative Extension.

Acreage Living, August-September 2003

Monthly newsletter for people in Iowa that live on Acreages, produced by Iowa State University Copperative Extension.

Chlamydiaceae and Chlamydia-like organisms in free-living small mammals in Europe and Afghanistan.

Few data are available on the occurrence of chlamydial infections in wild small mammals. We investigated the significance of free-living small mammals as reservoirs or transmission hosts for microorganisms of the phylum/class Chlamydiae. We obtained 3,664 tissue samples from 911 animals in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Afghanistan. Samples included internal organs (n = 3,652) and feces (n = 12) from 679 rodents (order Rodentia) and 232 insectivores (order Soricomorpha) and were tested by three TaqMan® real-time PCRs specific for members of the family Chlamydiaceae and selected Chlamydia-like organisms such as Parachlamydia spp. and Waddlia spp. Only one of 911 (0.11%) animals exhibited a questionable positive result by Chlamydiaceae-specific real-time PCR. Five of 911 animals were positive by specific real-time PCR for Parachlamydia spp. but could not be confirmed by quantitative PCR targeting the Parachlamydia acanthamoebae secY gene (secY qPCR). One of 746 animals (0.13%) was positive by real-time PCR for Waddlia chondrophila. This result was confirmed by Waddlia secY qPCR. This is the first detection of Chlamydia-like organisms in small wildlife in Switzerland. Considering previous negative results for Chlamydiaceae in wild ruminant species from Switzerland, these data suggest that wild small mammals are unlikely to be important carriers or transport hosts for Chamydiaceae and Chlamydia-like organisms.

Universal Design for Better Living The Essential Bathroom, May 2004

An easy-living home requires a full-sized bathroom on the main level. Family members will appreciate the extra space and guests of all ages and abilities will feel more welcome. At a minimum, you’ll need a five foot circle of open floor space for maneuvering a wheelchair between bathroom fixtures. A small powder room won’t work for guests who use walkers or wheelchairs. A shower stall—with no curb to step over—is more convenient than a tub for most guests. Make sure the doorway opening for the bathroom is at least 32 inches wide (preferably 36 inches). Universal design features, such as these, make homes better for everyone.

Universal Design for Better Living: “Where to Get Gadgets and Gizmos”, May 2004

If they don’t carry the item, ask them to order it for you. Look at discount stores, such as Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or Menard’s (they are more likely to carry items with universal design features). Look at the “Gadgets and Gizmos” section of the Iowa State University Extension Web site on “Universal Design & Home Accessibility.”

A qui li dic? : la detecció de l’abús sexual infantil i el traspàs d’informació entre professionals

Aquest treball s'estructura en una primera part de fonamentació teòrica. El procediment que s'ha seguit ha estat la recerca bibliogràfica. Es basa en els aspectes tècnics a tenir en compte per la detecció de l' Abusos Sexuals Infantils (ASI), la ubicació dels Serveis Bàsics d'Atenció Social (SBAS) dins el sistema català de serveis socials, el marc jurídic dels drets i de la protecció a la infància i l'adolescència així com de qüestions relatives al tractament de dades, de la confidencialitat de les informacions de què disposem els/les professionals, l'obligació de secret, complementat amb la deontologia professional, que ens pot orientar a l'hora de prendre les decisions més adequades a la nostra praxi. La segona part del treball és empírica. El procediment ha estat portar a terme un grup de reflexió ètica amb professionals del Consorci de Benestar Social del Pla de l'Estany-Banyoles. Partint de casos pràctics de sospita d'ASI, les persones participants han concretat els principals problemes (alguns dels quals relacionats amb l'ètica aplicada) davant els quals s'han trobat a la fase de detecció/intervenció. Les aportacions extretes de les diferents sessions en les quals es van treballar part dels objectius d'aquesta recerca ens permeten concretar la realitat i una primera deliberació sobre quina podria ser la bona pràctica general. La tercera part utilitza la fonamentació teòrica i els material del treball de camp per presentar la reflexió final que pretén donar resposta als objectius plantejats en aquesta recerca

Condom use with steady partners among heterosexual people living with HIV in Europe: testing the information-motivation-behavioral skills model.

Guided by a modified information-motivation-behavioral skills model, this study identified predictors of condom use among heterosexual people living with HIV with their steady partners. Consecutive patients at 14 European HIV outpatient clinics received an anonymous, standardized, self-administered questionnaire between March and December 2007. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and two-step backward elimination regression analyses stratified by gender. The survey included 651 participants (n = 364, 56% women; n = 287, 44%). Mean age was 39 years for women and 43 years for men. Most had acquired HIV sexually and more than half were in a serodiscordant relationship. Sixty-three percent (n = 229) of women and 59% of men (n = 169) reported at least one sexual encounter with a steady partner 6 months prior to the survey. Fifty-one percent (n = 116) of women and 59% of men (n = 99) used condoms consistently with that partner. In both genders, condom use was positively associated with subjective norm conducive to condom use, and self-efficacy to use condoms. Having a partner whose HIV status was positive or unknown reduced condom use. In men, higher education and knowledge about condom use additionally increased condom use, while the use of erectile-enhancing medication decreased it. For women, HIV disclosure to partners additionally reduced the likelihood of condom use. Positive attitudes to condom use and subjective norm increased self-efficacy in both genders, however, a number of gender-related differences appeared to influence self-efficacy. Service providers should pay attention to the identified predictors of condom use and adopt comprehensive and gender-related approaches for preventive interventions with people living with HIV.

Use of health services by residents at a seniors-only living facility

The objective of the study was to compare the use of medical and dental services by seniors residing at a seniors-only living facility and in the general community. It was a quantitative study, among 50 residents of the living facility and 173 in the general community. The data were collected between November 2011 and February 2012 through a questionnaire, and subjected to statistical analysis. Performance of clinical exams and satisfaction with health services was greater among seniors living in the general community; however, physical therapy treatment was more common among those living in the facility. The use of medical and dental services showed a statistically significant difference. The seniors in both groups need oral health monitoring and those living in the facility also require coverage by the Family Health Strategy. The presence of professionals with the right profile to adequately serve residents and the network of available services are determining factors for the success of this new housing policy.