La Utilització d'internet en les campanyes electorals als Estats Units i a Espanya : comparació de la campanya de Barack Obama (2008) i dels principals candidats de l'Estat (2011)

La campanya electoral de Barack Obama per guanyar les eleccions nord-americanes l'any 2008 s'ha convertit en el referent de les e-campanyes. En aquesta investigació es fa una anàlisi de l'estratègia que va plantejar el candidat demòcrata a internet enfront les que van plantejar els principls candidats a les Eleccions Generals espanyoles el 2011: Mariano Rajoy (PP), Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba (PSOE) i Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida (CiU). La investigació es planteja des de l'àmbit de la comunicació política a través d'una perspectiva comparativa i pren, fonamentalment, caràcter qualitatiu.

Norme d'internalité et unités d'analyse : Pour une redéfinition du statut de la mesure dans l'étude des normes sociales de jugement

Cet article fait suite à deux articles parus récemment dans la Revue Internationale de Psychologie Sociale traitant de la norme d'internalité et de sa mesure (Beauvois & Dubois, 2009a; Delmas, 2009). Dans un premier temps, nous discutons des confusions et glissements entre deux courants perçus bien souvent comme proches: l'approche du Locus of control et la théorie de la norme d'internalité. Nous pointons ensuite quelques difficultés méthodologiques qui ont alimenté ces confusions. Enfin, nous proposons de prendre en compte ces difficultés en redéfinissant le statut de la mesure en fonction d'une unité d'analyse plus adaptée pour l'étude de la norme d'internalité: les explications causales et non les individus. Ce changement d'unités d'analyse nous amènera à proposer une méthode plus adaptée pour l'étude de la normativité des explications causales : l'échantillonnage aléatoire des items composant ces questionnaires.

Predicting species distributions for conservation decisions.

Species distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly proposed to support conservation decision making. However, evidence of SDMs supporting solutions for on-ground conservation problems is still scarce in the scientific literature. Here, we show that successful examples exist but are still largely hidden in the grey literature, and thus less accessible for analysis and learning. Furthermore, the decision framework within which SDMs are used is rarely made explicit. Using case studies from biological invasions, identification of critical habitats, reserve selection and translocation of endangered species, we propose that SDMs may be tailored to suit a range of decision-making contexts when used within a structured and transparent decision-making process. To construct appropriate SDMs to more effectively guide conservation actions, modellers need to better understand the decision process, and decision makers need to provide feedback to modellers regarding the actual use of SDMs to support conservation decisions. This could be facilitated by individuals or institutions playing the role of 'translators' between modellers and decision makers. We encourage species distribution modellers to get involved in real decision-making processes that will benefit from their technical input; this strategy has the potential to better bridge theory and practice, and contribute to improve both scientific knowledge and conservation outcomes.

The Conservation Reserve Program in the Presence of a Working Land Alternative: Implications for Environmental Quality, Program Participation, and Income Transfer, August 2005

The United States has invested large sums of resources in multiple conservation programs for agriculture over the past century. In this paper we focus on the impacts of program interactions. Specifically, using an integrated economic and bio-physical modeling framework, we consider the impacts of the presence of working land programs on a land retirement for an important agricultural region—the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB). Compared to a land retirement only program, we find that the presence of a working land program for conservation tillage results in significantly lower predicted signups for land retirement at a given rental rate. We also find that the presence of both a large working land and land retirement program can result in more environmental benefits and income transfers than a land retirement only program can achieve.

Mechanical ventilation and clinical practice heterogeneity in intensive care units: a multicenter case-vignette study.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies on mechanical ventilation (MV) show practice variations across ICUs. We sought to determine, with a case-vignette study, the heterogeneity of processes of care in ICUs focusing on mechanical ventilation procedures, and whether organizational patterns or physician characteristics influence practice variations. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional multicenter study using the case-vignette methodology. Descriptive analyses were calculated for each organizational pattern and respondent characteristics. An Index of Qualitative Variation (IQV, from 0, no heterogeneity, to a maximum of 1) was calculated. RESULTS: Forty ICUs from France (N = 33) and Switzerland (N = 7) participated; 396 physicians answered our case-vignettes. There was major heterogeneity of management processes related to MV within and across centers (mean IQV per center 0.51, SD 0.09). We observed the lowest variability (mean IQV per question < 0.4) for questions related to intubation procedure, ventilation of acute respiratory distress syndrome and the use of the semirecumbent position. We observed a high variability (mean IQV per question > 0.6) for questions related to management of endotracheal tube or suctioning, management of sedation and analgesia, and respect of autonomy. Heterogeneity was independent of respondent characteristics and of the presence of written procedures. There was a correlation between the processes associated with the highest variability (mean IQV per question > 0.6) and the annual volume of ICU admission (r = 0.32 (0.01 to 0.58)) and MV (r = 0.38 (0.07 to 0.63)). Within ICUs there was a large heterogeneity regarding knowledge of a local written procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Large clinical practice variations were found among ICUs. High volume centers were more likely to have heterogeneous practices. The presence of a local written procedure or respondent characteristics did not influence practice variation.

Mémoire sur la meunerie, la boulangerie et la conservation des grains et des farines... précédé de considérations sur le commerce des blés en Europe, par Aug. Rollet,...

Comprend : Considérations sur le commerce des blés en Europe

Molecular epidemiology of pseudomonas aeruginosae in intensive care units (ICUs) over a 10-year period (1998-2007)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, une bactérie environnementale ubiquitaire, est un des pathogènes nosocomiaux les plus fréquents aux soins intensifs. La source de ce microorganisme peut être soit endogène, 2,6 à 24 % des patients hospitalisés étant colonisés au niveau digestif, soit exogène. La proportion des cas d'infections à P. aeruginosa d'origine exogène, donc secondaires à une transmission par manuportage ou par l'eau du réseau utilisée pour la toilette ou d'autres soins, reste débattue. Or une meilleure évaluation du taux d'infections exogènes est importante pour la mise en place de mesures de contrôle appropriées. Le but de cette étude était de déterminer sur une période de 10 ans les rôles respectifs des sources exogènes (robinets, autres patients) et endogène dans la colonisation et/ou l'infection par P.aeruginosa chez les patients des Soins Intensifs, ainsi que de documenter les variations épidémiologiques au cours du temps. L'étude a été menée dans les unités de Soins Intensifs du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV). Les patients colonisés et/ou infectés par P. aeruginosa entre 1998 et 2007ont été identifiés via la base de données du laboratoire de microbiologie. Ils ont été inclus dans l'étude s'ils étaient hospitalisés dans une des unités de Soins Intensifs, Durant cette période, des prélèvements pour recherche de P. aeruginosa ont été effectués sur des robinets des soins intensifs. Un typage moléculaire a été effectué sur toutes les souches cliniques et environnementales isolées en 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004 et 2007. Les patients inclus dans l'étude ont été répartis en quatre catégories (A-D) selon le résultat du typage moléculaire leur souche de P. aeruginosa. La catégorie A inclut les cas pour lesquels le génotype de P. aeruginosa est identique à un des génotypes retrouvé dans l'environnement. La catégorie B comprend les cas pour lesquels le génotype est identique à celui d'au moins un autre patient. La catégorie C comprend les cas avec un génotype unique et la catégorie D comprend les cas pour lesquels la souche était non disponible pour le typage. Les cas des catégories A et B sont considérés comme ayant une origine exogène. Au cours des années de l'étude, le nombre d'admissions aux soins intensifs est resté stable. En moyenne, 86 patients par année ont été identifiés colonisés ou infectés par P. aeruginosa aux Soins Intensifs. Durant la première année d'investigation, un grand nombre de patients colonisés par une souche de P. aeruginosa identique à une de celles retrouvées dans l'environnement a été mis en évidence. Par la suite, possiblement suite à l'augmentation de la température du réseau d'eau chaude, le nombre de cas dans la catégorie A a diminué. Dans la catégorie B, le nombre de cas varie de 1,9 à 20 cas/1000 admissions selon les années. Ce nombre est supérieur à 10 cas/1000 admissions en 1998, 2003 et 2007 et correspond à des situations épidémiques transitoires. Tout au long des 10 ans de l'étude, le nombre de cas dans la catégorie C (source endogène) est demeuré stable et indépendant des variations du nombre de cas dans les catégories A et B. En conclusion, la contribution relative des réservoirs endogène et exogène dans la colonisation et/ou l'infection des patients de soins Intensifs varie au cours du temps. Les facteurs principaux qui contribuent à de telles variations sont probablement le degré de contamination de l'environnement, la compliance des soignants aux mesures de contrôle des infections et la génétique du pathogène lui-même. Etant donné que ce germe est ubiquitaire dans l'environnement aqueux et colonise jusqu'à 15% des patients hospitalisés, la disparition de son réservoir endogène semble difficile. Cependant, cette étude démontre que son contrôle est possible dans l'environnement, notamment dans les robinets en augmentant la température de l'eau. De plus, si une souche multi-résistante est retrouvée de manière répétée dans l'environnement, des efforts doivent être mis en place pour éliminer cette souche. Des efforts doivent être également entrepris afin de limiter la transmission entre les patients, qui est une cause importante et récurrente de contamination exogène. - Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the leading nosocomial pathogens in intensive care units (ICUs). The source of this microorganism can be either endogenous or exogenous. The proportion of cases as a result of transmission is still debated, and its elucidation is important for implementing appropriate control measures. To understand the relative importance of exogenous vs. endogenous sources of P. aeru¬ginosa, molecular typing was performed on all available P. aeruginosa isolated from ICU clinical and environmental specimens in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2007. Patient samples were classified according to their P. aeruginosa genotypes into three categories: (A) identical to isolate from faucet; (B) identical to at least one other patient sample and not found in faucet; and (C) unique genotype. Cases in cat¬egories A and Β were considered as possibly exogenous, and cases in category C as possibly endogenous. A mean of 34 cases per 1000 admissions per year were found to be colonized or infected by P. aeruginosa. Higher levels of faucet contamination were correlated with a higher number of cases in category A. The number of cases in category Β varied from 1.9 to 20 cases per 1000 admissions. This num¬ber exceeded 10/1000 admissions on three occasions and was correlated with an outbreak on one occasion. The number of cases con¬sidered as endogenous (category C) was stable and independent of the number of cases in categories A and B. The present study shows that repeated molecular typing can help identify variations in the epidemiology of P. aeruginosa in ICU patients and guide infection control measures.

Soil and Water Conservation; Conservation Program Summary, 2002

Report of Conservation Program Summary produced by Iowa Departmment of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Warning systems in a computerized nursing process for Intensive Care Units

A hybrid study combining technological production and methodological research aiming to establish associations between the data and information that are part of a Computerized Nursing Process according to the ICNP® Version 1.0, indicators of patient safety and quality of care. Based on the guidelines of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses for the expansion of warning systems, five warning systems were developed: potential for iatrogenic pneumothorax, potential for care-related infections, potential for suture dehiscence in patients after abdominal or pelvic surgery, potential for loss of vascular access, and potential for endotracheal extubation. The warning systems are a continuous computerized resource of essential situations that promote patient safety and enable the construction of a way to stimulate clinical reasoning and support clinical decision making of nurses in intensive care.

Adherence To Diabetes Mellitus Treatments In Family Health Strategy Units

This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the adherence to drug and non-drug treatments in 17 Family Health Strategy units. A total of 423 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected through stratified random sampling in Family Health Strategy units of a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 2010. The results showed that the prevalence rate of adherence to drug therapy was higher than 60% in the 17 units investigated; in relation to physical activity, adherence was higher than 60% in 58.8% units; and for the diet plan, there was no adherence in 52.9% units. Therefore, we concluded that adherence to drug therapy in most units was high and the practice of physical activity was heterogeneous, and in relation to diet adherence, it was low in all units. We recommend strengthening of institutional guidelines and educational strategies, in line with SUS guidelines, so that, professionals may face the challenges imposed by the lack of adherence.



Management of basic health units in municipalities of different size: profile and management instruments

Objective To identify the characteristics of managers and their use of management instruments in primary care and to analyze differences in these features among municipalities of different sizes. Method The present cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at 108 basic health units from 21 municipalities in northern Paraná, Brazil. The data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire during the second half of 2010. Results Most managers had graduate degrees and were female and nurses. The managers from the small municipalities were younger, their payment was lower, and they had less work experience. The use of management instruments was expressive for both the organization and work management; however, the instruments were used less in the small municipalities. Conclusion The managers were committed to their role; it is recommended that policies and guidance should be formulated at the federal and state levels to support small municipalities.

Report to Government Oversight Committee Regrading Soil and Water Conservation Districts Competition with Small Business, 2006

At the request of the Government Oversight Committee, the Ombudsman gathered information regarding competition by county Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) with small business through the sale of products and services. The goal of the Ombudsman’s review was to assist the Government Oversight Committee (Committee) in gaining an objective understanding of the issues so the Committee can ascertain whether there is a problem that requires legislation this legislative session. The Ombudsman focused on gathering specific information from four SWCD offices in central Iowa; Dallas, Greene, Guthrie and Jasper. These offices were specifically identified in documentation presented to the Government Oversight Committee by affected small business owners (contractors), Jon Judson of Diversity Farms and Dan Brouse of Iowa Restorations. However, with 100 SWCDs in Iowa,1 each with their own elected commissioners and each with different practices, priorities and fundraising activities, what the Ombudsman learned about these four counties may not be applicable to all the SWCDs in Iowa. The Ombudsman assigned the case to the Assistant Citizens’ Aide/Ombudsman for Small Business, Kristie Hirschman. For reference purposes in this report, actions taken by Ms. Hirschman will be ascribed to the Ombudsman.