Consumer Advisory Bulletin, Tobacco Wars -- and How You Can Volunteer!, January 2008

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of calls and consumer complaints every year. Follow these tips to avoid unexpected expense and disappointments. This record is about: Tobacco Wars -- and How You Can Volunteer!

Trade-off between formal and informal care in Spain

The remarkable growth of older population has moved long term care to the front ranks of the social policy agenda. Understanding the factors that determine the type and amount of formal care is important for predicting use in the future and developing long-term policy. In this context we jointly analyze the choice of care (formal, informal, both together or none) as well as the number of hours of care received. Given that the number of hours of care is not independent of the type of care received, we estimate, for the first time in this area of research, a sample selection model with the particularity that the first step is a multinomial logit model. With regard to the debate about complementarity or substitutability between formal and informal care, our results indicate that formal care acts as a reinforcement of the family care in certain cases: for very old care receivers, in those cases in which the individual has multiple disabilities, when many care hours are provided, and in case of mental illness and/or dementia. There exist substantial differences in long term care addressed to younger and older dependent people and dependent women are in risk of becoming more vulnerable to the shortage of informal caregivers in the future. Finally, we have documented that there are great disparities in the availability of public social care across regions.

Special investigation of the Searsboro Volunteer Fire/EMS Department for the period February 8, 2005 through September 21, 2008

Special investigation of the Searsboro Volunteer Fire/EMS Department for the period February 8, 2005 through September 21, 2008

The influence of drugs used in cardiac anaesthesia and critical care on multiple electrode aggregometry: an in-vitro volunteer study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) is a point-of-care test evaluating platelet function and the efficacy of platelet inhibitors. In MEA, electrical impedance of whole blood is measured after addition of a platelet activator. Reduced impedance implies platelet dysfunction or the presence of platelet inhibitors. MEA plays an increasingly important role in the management of perioperative platelet dysfunction. In vitro, midazolam, propofol, lidocaine and magnesium have known antiplatelet effects and these may interfere with MEA interpretation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent to which MEA is modified in the presence of these drugs. DESIGN: An in-vitro study using blood collected from healthy volunteers. SETTING: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2010 to 2011. PATIENTS: Twenty healthy volunteers. INTERVENTION: Measurement of baseline MEA was using four activators: arachidonic acid, ADP, TRAP-6 and collagen. The study drugs were then added in three increasing, clinically relevant concentrations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: MEA was compared with baseline for each study drug. RESULTS: Midazolam, propofol and lidocaine showed no effect on MEA at any concentration. Magnesium at 2.5 mmol l had a significant effect on the ADP and TRAP tests (31 ± 13 and 96 ± 39 AU, versus 73 ± 21 and 133 ± 28 AU at baseline, respectively), and a less pronounced effect at 1 mmol l on the ADP test (39 ± 0 AU). CONCLUSION: Midazolam, propofol and lidocaine do not interfere with MEA measurement. In patients treated with high to normal doses of magnesium, MEA results for ADP and TRAP-tests should be interpreted with caution. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov (no. NCT01454427).

Learning in Digital Media: the legacy of McLuhan and his Impact on Formal Education

This paper describes a bibliographic analysis of the vision of Marshal McLuhan and the vision adopted by diverse current authors regarding the use of new interactive learning technologies. The paper also analyzes the transformation that will have to take place in the formal surroundings of education in order to improve their social function. The main points of view and contributions made by diverse authors are discussed. It is important that all actors involved in the educational process take in consideration these contributions in order to be ready for future changes.

Estudi sobre el perfil de persones grans amb dependència del servei d'ajuda a domicili del Consell Comarcal d'Osona i el tipus de suport formal i informal

The aim of this study is to determine the profile of dependent elderly people users of the home care services (SAD) of the regional council in Osona (Consell Comarcal d´Osona) , and the characteristics of formal and informal types of support they use. Methodology. An observational study of a transversal format has been carried out, with retrospective and descriptive purposes. The target population is 63 people (26 men and 37 women) included in the program of the regional SAD They have a recognized dependence grade approved by the law 39 /2006, December 14th , promoting the individual autonomy and care of elderly people in a dependent situation. The data were collected by social workers of basic social services, first with a home visit and followed by handed out questionnaires, specifically designed for this study, in order to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics, and the type of support formal and informal. The obtained results on the SAD users are women in a 58.7% and a 41.3 % are men. The 84% of the total sampling are 80 years old and more, being the average age of 85.2 years old. 45% of them are married, 41% are widows and widowers and 14% are single. 54% are rated with severe dependence (grade II), 42.8% with high dependence (grade III). 86% live accompanied. 100% have an informal caregiver and a 95% of the times, the caregiver is a relative who in 73% of the cases the dedication time is permanent. The coverage of the SAD has an average of 4.27 hours per week and per user. The formal services most used are the technical (62%), also the assessment of an occupational therapist at home (57%) and the telecare service in a (56%). Conclusions. The SAD is used primarily for women in an advanced age and severe dependence. The informal assistance structures have an informal caregiver, being a member of the family mostly, living with the dependent, and mainly in a permanent dedication basis. The SAD has a varied intensity in each case. The formal support services complementary to the SAD, are largely used in all cases.

Report on a special investigation of the Rodman Volunteer Fire Department and Park and Recreation Department for the period January 1, 2006 through September 30, 2009

Report on a special investigation of the Rodman Volunteer Fire Department and Park and Recreation Department for the period January 1, 2006 through September 30, 2009

El lenguaje de la interrogación: una gramática formal para la recuperación de la información

El conocimiento del lenguaje de interrogación es una herramienta imprescindible para la recuperación de información. En este artículo se ofrece una gramática formal (sintaxis y semántica) para ese tipo de lenguaje. Esta gramática nos permite, por un lado, conocer el lenguaje de interrogación desde un plano sistemático y conceptual y, por otro lado, nos permite obtener ciertos beneficios prácticos de tipo sintáctico y de tipo semántico relacionados con los procesos de recuperación de información.

Special investigation of the City of Modale Volunteer Fire Department for the period January 1, 2006 through January 31, 2010

Special investigation of the City of Modale Volunteer Fire Department for the period January 1, 2006 through January 31, 2010

Report on applying agreed-upon procedures of Kossuth Connections, Algona, Iowa, and the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services within the Iowa Department of Economic Development, now known as the Iowa Economic Development Authority, for the period October 2010 through June 2011

Report on applying agreed-upon procedures of Kossuth Connections, Algona, Iowa, and the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services within the Iowa Department of Economic Development, now known as the Iowa Economic Development Authority, for the period October 2010 through June 2011

Report on a special investigation of the City of Bloomfield Volunteer Fire Department for the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2010

Report on a special investigation of the City of Bloomfield Volunteer Fire Department for the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2010