Role of copper in reducing hospital environment contamination

The environment may act as a reservoir for pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). Approaches to reducing environmental microbial contamination in addition to cleaning are thus worthy of consideration. Copper is well recognised as having antimicrobial activity but this property has not been applied to the clinical setting. We explored its use in a novel cross-over study on an acute medical ward. A toilet seat, set of tap handles and a ward entrance door push plate each containing copper were sampled for the presence of micro-organisms and compared to equivalent standard, non-copper-containing items on the same ward. Items were sampled once weekly for 10 weeks at 07:00 and 17:00. After five weeks, the copper-containing and non-copper-containing items were interchanged. The total aerobic microbial counts per cm2 including the presence of ‘indicator micro-organisms’ were determined. Median numbers of microorganisms harboured by the copper-containing items were between 90% and 100% lower than their control equivalents at both 07:00 and 17:00. This reached statistical significance for each item with one exception. Based on the median total aerobic cfu counts from the study period, five out of ten control sample points and zero out of ten copper points failed proposed benchmark values of a total aerobic count of <5 cfu/cm2. All indicator micro-organisms were only isolated from control items with the exception of one item during one week. The use of copper-containing materials for surfaces in the hospital environment may therefore be a valuable adjunct for the prevention of HCAIs and requires further evaluation.

Introduction:understanding the transformation of the CDU

This article introduces the special issue on the transformation of German Christian Democracy and sets the context for organisational and policy change in the CDU. As a starting point, it identifies both contemporary challenges to the CDU, locating its discussion within the wider literature on European Christian Democracy, and considers the extent to which these apply to the German case. It then outlines the key dimensions of the contemporary CDU which are examined in this collection. © 2013 Association for the Study of German Politics.

El reencuentro de la música española con la Latinomérica poscolonial:el caso Joaquín Sabina

La música se convirtió en los años setenta en el medio para encauzar la oposición al régimen franquista y la incertidumbre ante la transición. Del ejemplo y la fascinación con la revolución cubana, a la oposición a las dictaduras chilena (1973), uruguaya (1974) y argentina (1976), todos ellos fueron hechos que en España se vivieron como propios. En esos años los cantautores españoles reivindicaban la libertad de expresión y el final de todas las dictaduras. Sin embargo, la música española comienza a transformar su mirada hacia Latinoamérica cuando la democracia es un hecho. Se representa ahora un nuevo espacio latinoamericano que me propongo caracterizar en este artículo, y a través del caso concreto de Joaquín Sabina, como "post-colonial".The music in the seventies became the vehicle for channeling opposition to the regime and the uncertainty of the transition. From the example and the fascination with the Cuban revolution, opposition to the dictatorships in Chile (1973), Uruguay (1974) and Argentina (1976), they were all events that were lived in Spain as their own. In those years the Spanish songwriters claiming freedom of expression and end of all dictatorships. However, the Spanish music begins to turn their attention to Latin America where democracy is a fact. It is now a new Latin American space I propose to characterize in this article, and through the specific case of Joaquin Sabina, as "post-colonial".J A brief survey of style to your work reflects his role as poet cult following in the wake of Herrera or Gongora, as did Antequerana School, aims to upgrade from his vivid descriptions, his Christian ideas and a lyrical formal mannerisms full of clichés.

Involvement of tissue transglutaminase in the stabilisation of biomaterial/tissue interfaces important in medical devices

Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) has recently been established as a novel cell surface adhesion protein that binds with high affinity to fibronectin in the pericellular matrix. In this study, we have made use of this property to enhance the biocompatibility of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), a biomaterial currently used in bone repair. Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) discs were first coated with fibronectin and then tTG. The surface localisation of the two proteins was confirmed using ELISA and the tTG shown to be active on the surface by incorporation of biotin cadaverine into the fibronectin coating. When human osteoblasts (HOBs) were seeded onto the coated polymer surfaces in serum free medium, the surface coated with fibronectin and then tTG showed an increase in the spreading of the cells as compared to the surface coated with fibronectin alone, when analysed using environmental scanning electron microscopy. The presence of tTG had no effect on HOB cell differentiation when analysed by determining alkaline phosphatase activity. The use of tTG as a novel adhesion protein in this way may therefore have considerable potential in forming a stable tissue/biomaterial interface for application in medical devices.

Ist Religion schlecht für Frauen? Empirische Erkenntnisse zum Zusammenhang zwischen öffentlichen Religionen und den Menschenrechten der Frau

Religion is a dynamic concept. It can be a means of supporting masculinist power structures as well as a means for challenging established gender hierarchies. This article therefore suggests the proposition that it is not religion as such constituting a problem for the human rights of women but the privileging of patriarchal interpretations of religion and the marginalization of progressive interpretations in many contexts, respectively. From an empirical perspective, thus, the question of the concrete conditions contributing to the ability of conservative religious actors to enforce their patriarchal views in politics and society arises. This article consults existing empirical studies on predominantly Christian democracies and Muslim societies to find answers to this question. It discusses the impact that the institutional relations between the state and religion, the significance of religion in the political party system as well as the confessional composition and the strength of religiosity in a society have on the human rights of women. The article, moreover, deals with the effect of democracy and certain rights on the promotion of women's rights in religious contexts. It demonstrates the requirement of and provides suggestions for further empirical research in this area.

Religion in Latin America

This issue, edited by LACC Director of Research and Colombian Studies Institute Director, Ana Maria Bidegain, presents today’s Latin American and Caribbean religious landscape through different lenses: country profiles (Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia); sub-regional monographs (River Plate and the Caribbean); vignettes on the evolution of particular religious denominations (Christian, Islamic, and Judaic), communities (indige- nous Pentecostals) and practices (New World African religion). The feature article, authored by leading US expert on Latin American religion, Daniel Levine, examines the relationship between religion and politics in the region after thirty years of democratic rule. Different perspectives are represented: from the North and South of the Americas, as well as Europe.

RECONHECENDO-SE SEM-RELIGIÃO NAS PERIFERIAS DA CIDADE: LIBERDADE COMPARTILHADA COMO RESISTÊNCIA

Reconhecendo, a partir da constatação empírica, a multiplicidade de escolhas de crenças no Mundo e em particular na periferia urbana paulistana, reconhecemos, também, a emergência criativa de novas possibilidades de crer e não crer. Tal amplitude não apenas aponta para o crer (segundo as ofertas de um sem número de religiões) e o não crer (ateu e agnóstico), mas para uma escolha que poderia vir a ser silenciada e esquecida, neste binômio arcaico e obsoleto, quando alguém se dá à liberdade crer sem ter religião. Reconhecer interessadamente os sem-religião nas periferias urbanas paulistanas é dar-se conta das violências a que estes indivíduos estão submetidos: violência econômica, violência da cidadania (vulnerabilidade) e proveniente da armas (grupos x Estado). Tanto quanto a violência do esquecimento e silenciamento. A concomitância espaço-temporal dos sem-religião nas periferias, levou-nos buscar referências em teorias de secularização e de laicidade, e, a partir destas, traçar uma história do poder violento, cuja pretensão é a inelutabilidade, enquanto suas fissuras são abertas em espaços de resistências. A história da legitimação do poder que se quer único, soberano, de caráter universal, enquanto fragmenta a sociedade em indivíduos atomizados, fragilizando vínculos horizontais, e a dos surgimentos de resistências não violentas questionadoras da totalidade trágica, ao reconhecer a liberdade de ser com autonomia, enquanto se volta para a produção de partilha de bens comuns. Propomos reconhecer a igual liberdade de ser (expressa na crença da filiação divina) e de partilhar o bem comum em reconhecimentos mútuos (expressa pela ação social), uma expressão de resistência não violenta ao poder que requer a igual abdicação da liberdade pela via da fragmentação individualizante e submissão inquestionável à ordem totalizante. Os sem-religião nas periferias urbanas, nossos contemporâneos, partilhariam uma tal resistência, ao longo da história, com as melissas gregas, os profetas messiânicos hebreus, os hereges cristãos e os ateus modernos, cuja pretensão não é o poder, mas a partilha igual da liberdade e dos bens comuns. Estes laicos, de fato, seriam agentes de resistências de reconhecimento mútuos, em espaços de multiplicidade crescente, ao poder violento real na história.

A THEOLOGICAL NORMATIVE TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF FATHERHOOD IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY

ABSTRACT

This thesis examines the theological correlation between the role of the church, the identity and role of the African American male, and the effectiveness of fatherhood. The study begins with an in-depth analysis of how absentee fathers cause a crisis in the family. The absence of fathers from the home causes children to suffer financially, socially and psychologically, and therefore causes a disruption in the community as a whole. Focus on the Family founder and leader, Dr. James Dobson, confirms that “our very survival as a people will depend upon the presence or absence of masculine leadership in millions of homes.” In person interviews of African American Christian males and interpretation of the scriptures are just two of the methods used in this study to explore the theological norm of fatherhood. Collectively, the case studies and statistical data within this study explore attempts to remedy the crisis through governmental policies and networking within the community. The final chapter examines the role of urban churches and clergy in teaching effective fatherhood practices. Within the conclusion, it is made clear that the church is responsible for establishing the theological framework and principles for understanding the intended role of being a father. Another conclusion of this study is the acknowledgement of the African American community’s role in shaping and reforming the identity and role of the African American male as a father in the home. The African American community and the church must continue working in tandem to encourage organic social networks that will promote a model for effective fatherhood practices.

Посланието на патриарх Фотий до българския княз Борис-Михаил и неговият славянски превод

Статията разглежда славянския превод на Посланието на патриарх Фотий до българския княз Борис- Михаил, запазен само в руски преписи от началото на XVI до началото на XX в. Специално внимание се отделя на езика на славянския превод (правопис, морфосинтаксис, лексика и словообразуване), чрез който става възможно датирането на превода, тъй като липсват всякакви други (литературни, исторически, палеографски, кодикологични) сведения за това. Изследването на езика позволява пре- водът да се отнесе към книжовната продукция на XIV в. и по-точно към школата на Евтимий Търновски. Причината за появата на славянския превод на Фотиевия трактат трябва да се търси в основното послание на съчинението – запазване устоите на християнската вяра и въплъщаването й в държавното управление.

Commentary on Bach v. Longman (1777)

A case, initiated by two composers, Johann Christian Bach and Karl Friedrich Abel, concerning whether or not printed music fell within the protection of the Statute of Anne 1710 (uk_1710). Lord Mansfield holds that published music is protected as ‘writing' within the terms of the legislation.
The commentary explores attitudes to the protection of music throughout the eighteenth century on the part of publishers, composers and musicians, and in particular the use of the printing privilege by some composers to secure the right to publish their work, and the efforts of the music publishers to secure legislative protection in the mid-eighteenth century.

Exploring How Well UK Coach Education Meets the Needs of Women Sports Coaches

Inclusive and equitable processes are important to the development of sports coaching. The aim of this study was to explore how well UK coach education meets the needs of women sports coaches in order to make recommendations to further enhance the engagement of, and support for, aspiring and existing women coaches. The national governing bodies (NGBs) of four sports (Cycling, Equestrian, Gymnastics and Rowing) volunteered to participate and semi-structured interviews using the tenants of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) within a Self Determination Theory (SDT) framework were undertaken with 23 coaches, eight coach educators and five NGB officers. The data themed into an analytic structure derived from SDT comprising ‘Autonomy: Freedom to coach’, ‘Coaching competence’, and ‘Relatedness and belonging’. The coaches perceived potential benefit from enhanced relatedness and belonging within their sport with the findings suggesting that NGBs should embrace coach-led decision making in terms of the developmental topics which are important and should adopt the development of competence, rather than assessing technical understanding, as the foundational principle of more inclusive coach education. Future research should investigate the impact of the inclusive practices which are recommended within this investigation such as the softening of the technocratic focus of formal coach education.

Simone Weil’s questions about God

We can say that the 20th century was not an era for seeking the truth in the first place. Philosophers and others were absorbed with the idea that we cannot know anything for certain. No one is able to claim that something is really true. However, we can find philosophers who were willing to die for the truth. We can discover them in the Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Churches. For example, father Pavel Florensky, a Russian philosopher and priest, played an important role in solving the problem of correlation between culture and religion. He died executed by the firing squad at the Solovki Gulag on December 8th, 1937. Another such philosopher was St. Edith Stein. She was martyred equally for the truth of the Catholic Faith and for the truth of Mosaic Faith. Edith Stein was put on a train heading for the East and died in the gas chambers of Auschwitz probably on 9th August, 1942. The third person, who died for the truth in those horrible times, was Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The integrity of his Christian faith and life led him to a concentration camp, where he was hanged on April 9th, 1945. Looking at those great people of European history in the 20th century, we can see some contrasts and similarities to the life and activity of a French thinker – Simone Weil. Simone Weil was looking for the truth all her life. She was Jewish, but she was attracted to Roman Catholicism and sure that the truth is in God. Simone Weil persuades us that it is at the same time possible and impossible to know God, because “Dieu ne peut ętre présent dans la création que sous la forme de l’absence”.

Sistema informático para la gestión de gobierno electrónico en la innovación de canales de comunicación entre Casa Presidencial y población Salvadoreña (SIGOES)

Actualmente la Secretaría de Comunicaciones de la Presidencia y la Dirección de Innovación Tecnológica e Informática (ITIGES), tiene por objetivo utilizar los sitios web gubernamentales como medio de comunicación para difundir los diferentes proyectos que lleva a cabo Casa Presidencial, actualmente este proceso se realiza manualmente por lo que el tiempo de publicación varía dependiendo de factores como la disponibilidad de los administradores informáticos de cada institución para colocar dicha información en el sitio web gubernamental, haciendo que la información divulgada sea inoportuna. Debido a esto surge la necesidad de crear una plataforma mediante la cual la Secretaría de Comunicaciones de la Presidencia e ITIGES puedan difundir información de proyectos, para ser replicada en todos los sitios web de las instituciones del gobierno

Herramientas de auditoría interna para los fondos de actividades especiales del sector público, orientadas a contribuir a la efectividad de su funcionamiento.

Las instituciones gubernamentales con el paso del tiempo han experimentado el reto de obtener mayores ingresos que permitan cubrir los gastos inherentes a su funcionamiento; también, al resultar limitadas con los recursos monetarios que les son otorgados por el Estado, emerge la necesidad de crear la figura de los Fondos de Actividades Especiales mejor conocidos como FAE’S, tal iniciativa surge en el año de 1953 en la “Ley General del Presupuesto” y es hasta el año de 1954 cuando se constituye el primer FAE. Por consiguiente, los FAE’S adquieren gran relevancia puesto a que las instituciones gubernamentales pueden crearlos, siempre y cuando cumpla con los requerimientos exigidos por la Ley; además, conviene destacar que tales fondos observan la peculiaridad de ser similares a pequeñas empresas privadas debido a que se les exigen formalidades legales diferentes a las del Ministerio del cual dependen, los que implica cumplir con aspectos gubernamentales, fiscales y financieros. En cuanto al objetivo principal de los Fondos de Actividades Especiales, se tiene la captación de ingresos mediante la venta de bienes y servicios que contribuya a cubrir los gastos de funcionamientos de los mismos e incluso generar superávit para transferirlos a la institución de quien dependen, resultando de esta manera que el FAE creado, posee la finalidad de inyectar más efectivo a las instituciones de gobierno, prueba de ello es que, mediante un análisis comparativo de los resultados obtenidos por éstos, se observó en la actualidad, un incremento sustancial de efectivo. Ahora bien, es primordial manifestar que para realizar el fin antes señalado, el uso de los recursos con eficiencia, economía y eficacia son un factor clave. Aunado a lo anterior, se observan los requerimientos de transparencia en cada operación que realizan los FAE’S; asimismo, se espera que hagan buen uso de los recursos monetarios asignados, que en su mayoría provienen de la población salvadoreña, por esta razón es importante que tales instituciones no se conviertan en un mecanismo para enriquecer a sus encargados, quienes representan la minoría, en consecuencia se afirma que es un grave error el restarle importancia por ser fondos adicionales al presupuesto; así pues, el trabajo de investigación está orientado al proceso de auditoría interna que permita contribuir en la efectividad del funcionamiento de las instituciones antes expresadas. La investigación de campo realizada y cuyo diagnóstico se presenta en el capítulo II, apoya la idea que la auditoría interna desarrollada en los FAE´S, carece del enfoque moderno que postula el promover la mejora continua en las operaciones realizadas, debido a que la mayor parte de auditores internos determina la estrategia de auditoría de forma generalizada dejando de lado las características específicas de las entidades antes señaladas. El capítulo III contiene el fin principal de la investigación, el cual es proporcionar a las Unidades de Auditoría Interna Gubernamental, una propuesta de herramientas especializadas que facilite su labor en los Fondos de Actividades Especiales, contribuyendo de esta manera a la efectividad en su funcionamiento. Finalmente, se presentan las conclusiones y recomendaciones, que derivan del análisis realizado a toda la información recabada.

El cuento y la novela digital: estructura del texto e interactivdad

Resumen Desde hace algunas décadas la computadora, las tablets, los teléfonos inteligentes, los libros electrónicos, el internet y la conectividad irrumpieron en nuestras casas, cambiando de manera casi radical nuestra manera de aprehender el mundo. Es cierto que hoy en día, el fenómeno multimedia y su impacto sobre la sociedad fueron analizados desde diferentes perspectivas,tratando establecer los cambios en el comportamiento y hábitos que lo digital acarrea. Evidentemente, el mundo literario, como todos los ámbitos de la cultural, ha sido afectado por este fenómeno tecnológico y sus innovaciones. Varios autores y críticos literarios han analizado el tema desde varias ópticas, tales como Christian Vanderdrope y Roger Chartier quienes han estudiado los cambios que van desde las transformaciones físicas del libro hasta variaciones en la estructura del texto;Clément y Landow estudian, también la estructura misma de ciertos textos narrativos contemporáneos; escritores como Andrés Neuman, Leonardo Valencia, Vicente Mora o Fernando Escobar, entre otros,crean y reflexionan sobre el uso que ellos mismos hacen de la herramienta digital a través de susblogs. Estas nuevas textualidades es lo que nos proponemos estudiar en este trabajo, describiendo el impacto de su evolución y mutación artística, básicamente centrándonos en la estructura del texto ya sea del cuento o la novela; así como establecer la novedosa vinculación que estos textos mantiene con sus lectores.