159 research outputs found
Moving towards Sustainable Electronic Health Applications
Electronic healthcare applications, both web-based and mobile health (mHealth) provide new modalities for chronic disease. These tools allow patients to track their symptoms and help them manage their condition. The sustainability of these tools is often not considered during their development. To ensure these applications can be adopted and sustainable, where policy differs amongst states and provinces, we must present the benefits of our findings to highlight the justification for its development. For technology to be sustainable it has to utilize infrastructure that is secure, stable and to be agile so that it can be deployed quickly with minimal interruption to patients, family members and healthcare professionals
USE OF INHALANT ANESTHETICS IN THREE SNAKE SPECIES
Different snake species respond differently to various anesthetic agents. Hence, an anesthetic procedure developed for one species cannot necessarily be safely transferred to another species. The goal of this paper is to summarize our experience using inhalant anesthetics on three snake species, including both procedures that were successful and those we found to be less satisfactory. We found isoflurane delivered with a precision vaporizer to be the best agent to anesthetize black rat snakes (Elaphe o. obsoleta). Sex and mass did not seem to affect induction times in black rat snakes, but larger female rat snakes recovered faster from anesthesia than smaller females. Halothane delivered in the open method provided consistent anesthesia in northern water snakes (Nerodia s. sipedon), although it caused some mortality and should not be used on debilitated patients. Halothane delivered with a precision vaporizer may be used to anesthetize eastern massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus c. catenatus). However, care must be taken to prevent mortality resulting from anesthetic overdose. Sex and mass had no effect on induction and recovery times in the rattlesnakes, but stressed animals require longer induction and recovery times
Dialectique nƩgative et thƩorie critique : pour une rƩflexion utopique en science politique
Avant tout, ce travail comptait Ć©tudier le concept de thĆ©orie critique dĆ©veloppĆ© Ć l'Ćcole de Francfort afin d'en exposer la pertinence en science politique. Il nous a d'abord fallu saisir sa premiĆØre dĆ©finition, celle Ć©laborĆ©e par Max Horkheimer durant les annĆ©es 1930. En lisant les principaux essais de Horkheimer Ć ce sujet (dont les traductions franƧaises n'ont Ć©tĆ© publiĆ©es qu'en 1974 et 1978), et certains textes de ses collaborateurs (surtout ceux de Theodor Adorno), nous avons repĆ©rĆ© deux thĆØmes qui ont eu une influence sur notre dĆ©finition de la science politique: la mĆ©thode dialectique de la PhĆ©nomĆ©nologie de l'Esprit de Hegel, conƧue pour permettre le dĆ©veloppement d'une science philosophique, et la rĆ©surgence du concept d'utopie qui, par sa critique de la rĆ©alitĆ© politique et son recours Ć la nĆ©gation, intĆ©resse la science politique et lui confĆØre un caractĆØre dialectique, lui permet d'adopter un point de vue diffĆ©rent au sujet de la rĆ©alitĆ© qu'elle observe. En revendiquant ses origines au sein du mĆŖme hĆ©ritage que la philosophie politique, et pour se distinguer de la gestion sociale ou d'une connaissance purement technique de la sociĆ©tĆ©, la science politique doit reconnaĆ®tre qu'elle constitue elle-mĆŖme une science philosophique, qu'elle doit s'intĆ©resser aux aspirations de l'humanitĆ© Ć une sociĆ©tĆ© rationnelle aussi bien qu'Ć la rĆ©alitĆ© politique quotidienne. Nous nous sommes donc attardĆ©s aux origines de la notion d'utopie, dans L'Utopie de Thomas More, puis Ć son utilisation, voire son dĆ©passement, dans l'oeuvre de Marx. Nous avons aussi procĆ©dĆ© Ć une relecture de la PhĆ©nomĆ©nologie hĆ©gĆ©lienne, en mettant en relief les principaux passages qui influenceront la ThĆ©orie critique horkheimerienne. Enfin, nous avons approfondi la dĆ©finition de la ThĆ©orie critique en nous intĆ©ressant Ć des ouvrages plus rĆ©cents, qui se rapprochent de l'oeuvre de Horkheimer ou de son concept de thĆ©orie critique, principalement ceux publiĆ©s par Axel Honneth et Michel Freitag. ______________________________________________________________________________ MOTS-CLĆS DE LāAUTEUR : Dialectique, PhĆ©nomĆ©nologie hĆ©gĆ©lienne, Ćcole de Francfort, ThĆ©orie critique, Utopie
Lāhabitation communautaire au QueĢbec : deĢfis et perspectives de deĢveloppement
Compte rendu du symposium du CAP Habitat de l'ARUC-EĢS tenu le 11 novembre 2009. Sous la direction de Marie J. Bouchard et Vincent van Schendel.Le 11 novembre 2009, le CAP Habitat communautaire de lāARUC-EĢS tenait, aĢ lāUniversiteĢ du QueĢbec aĢ MontreĢal, un symposium au sujet des deĢfis et perspectives de deĢveloppement de lāhabitation communautaire au QueĢbec et reĢunissait diffeĢrents acteurs du milieu. Les participants au symposium ont recĢ§u un document de discussion en preĢparation de lāeĢveĢnement. Ce document, preĢpareĢ par Magali Plante, Marie J. Bouchard et Marcellin Hudon est preĢsenteĢ en annexe du preĢsent compte rendu. La journeĢe de symposium, organiseĢe autour de trois panels suivis de discussions entre les participants, a deĢbuteĢ par un mot de bienvenue de lāanimatrice, Constance RamacieĢre. Marcellin Hudon, codirecteur du CAP, a ensuite eĢnonceĢ les objectifs de la journeĢe, puis Vincent van Schendel, coordonnateur aĢ lāARUC, a preĢsenteĢ brieĢvement lāARUC-EĢS et le CAP Habitat. Marie J. Bouchard, codirectrice du CAP, a poursuivi avec la preĢsentation de lāARUC-EĢS, les grandes lignes de lāouvrage Se loger autrement au QueĢbec et les objectifs du symposium.
Le premier panel, portant sur les populations viseĢes et rejointes par lāhabitation communautaire, eĢtait composeĢ dāAndreĢ Archambault, ancien directeur geĢneĢral de lāAuberge communautaire du Sud-Ouest et Yves Hurtubise, professeur associeĢ aĢ lāUniversiteĢ Laval. Le deuxieĢme panel portait sur le parc immobilier et regroupait les preĢsentations de deux consultants en habitation communautaire : Allan Gaudreault et Jean-Guy LagueĢ. Le dernier panel, au sujet du partenariat, de la gouvernance et de lāautonomie, eĢtait constitueĢ dāAndreĢ Fortin, de la Caisse dāeĢconomie solidaire Desjardins et de Winnie Frohn, professeure au DeĢpartement dāeĢtudes urbaines de lāUQAM
Influenza D virus M2 protein exhibits ion channel activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes
A new type of influenza virus, known as type D, has recently been identified in cattle and pigs. Influenza D virus infection in cattle is typically asymptomatic; however, its infection in swine can result in clinical disease. Swine can also be infected with all other types of influenza viruses, namely A, B, and C. Consequently, swine can serve as a mixing vessel for highly pathogenic influenza viruses, including those with zoonotic potential. Currently, the only antiviral drug available targets influenza M2 protein ion channel is not completely effective. Thus, it is necessary to develop an M2 ion channel blocker capable of suppressing the induction of resistance to the genetic shift. To provide a basis for developing novel ion channel- blocking compounds, we investigated the properties of influenza D virus M2 protein (DM2) as a drug target
Barriers to the management of Heart Failure in Ontario Long-Term Care Homes: an Interprofessional Care perspective
Background: With population aging, the prevalence of heart failure (HF) is risingin long-term care (LTC) homes. Given this burden, there is an urgent need to establish effective HF management programs.Methods and Findings: To understand what barriers would need to be addressed to develop such a program, we conducted a series of consultations among various LTC staff, as well as residents and their family caregivers. This article uses data obtained from the consultations to describe the interprofessional (IP) barriers that exist among the various LTC staff roles. Consultation methods included a Delphi survey followed by focus group interviews of LTC staff, and then personal interviews with LTC residents with HF and their family caregivers. Data were interpreted using an IP care framework in which interpersonal relationships among LTC staff provide the most direct influence on collaborative resident-centred practice, within the broader context of conditions within the LTC home, which in turn are housed in the broader context of systemic determinants.Conclusion: Across all data sets, the most consistently mentioned determinant was communication between the resident and the healthcare team, between different healthcare providers, between shifts, between medical specialists, and between the long-term care home and the hospital
Heart failure and cognitive impairment: Challenges and opportunities
As populations age, heart failure (HF) is becoming increasingly common, and in addition to a high burden of morbidity and mortality, HF has an enormous financial impact. Though disproportionately affected by HF, the elderly are less likely to receive recommended therapies, in part because clinical trials of HF therapy have ignored outcomes of importance to this population, including impaired cognitive function (ICF). HF is associated with ICF, manifested primarily as delirium in hospitalized patients, or as mild cognitive impairment or dementia in otherwise stable outpatients. This association is likely the result of shared risk factors, as well as perfusion and rheological abnormalities that occur in patients with HF. Evidence suggests that these abnormalities may be partially reversible with standard HF therapy. The clinical consequences of ICF in HF patients are significant. Clinicians should consider becoming familiar with screening instruments for ICF, including delirium and dementia, in order to identify patients at risk of nonadherence to HF therapy and related adverse consequences. Preliminary evidence suggests that optimal HF therapy in elderly patients may preserve or even improve cognitive function, though the impact on related outcomes remains to be determined
Feasibility Assessment for Implementation of Heart Failure Clinical Caremaps using Electronic Medical Records in Primary Practice
Objectives: The primary aim of this project is to evaluate the impact and level of use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) by family physicians (FPs) specifically with respect to HF management. This study provides pilot work towards successful implementation of HF clinical caremaps in EMRs to support decision making for FPs.
Methods: A survey questionnaire was sent to 207 FPs from which 42 (20%) replies were received. The survey included questions on demographic information of the FP's practice, specifics about HF patients and their management, EMR use and whether they have improved management in HF patients. Ā
Results: Among the 42 FPs who responded, 39 (93%) practice in the urban area of Hamilton and each have over 10 confirmed HF patients at their family practices, supporting the need for proper management of HF at the primary care level. FPs expressed concerns about difficulty in treating HF preserved vs. systolic HF, in managing HF patients with renal insufficiency and difficulty in the use of beta blockers. There was no consensus on whether EMRs have helped in improving the management of HF patients.
Conclusions: There is a perceived need for management tools which can be integrated into EMRs to provide decision making support for FPs in managing HF. Ā Tools such as caremaps may help provide optimal care in managing HF patients as per the Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines
Development of a long term monitoring network of sensitive clay slopes in QuƩbec in the context of climate change
The Government of QuƩbec recently initiated the deployment of a vast
groundwater pressures monitoring network in postglacial marine clays to document
their variations in time and improve our understanding of the relationship between
failure initiation and climate in clay slopes. This project aims at evaluating the
impacts of climate change on clay-slope stability and how it can be integrated
in landslide risk management to improve public safety. Hydrogeological data
will be acquired at sites located throughout the QuĆ©bec Provinceās post-glacial
clay deposits to create a public georeferenced index of typical hydrogeological
conditions. The project goes beyond the characterization of groundwater pressures
and their variations in clay slopes. Indeed, slope deformation will be measured at
several sites. Also, two sites in flat terrain will be instrumented in order to evaluate
mechanical properties of clay layers in simple 1-D conditions and groundwater
recharge. The unsaturated clay crust in slopes susceptible to superficial landslides
will be characterized and instrumented. The current lifetime of the monitoring
project has been set to a period of 25 years.
Ecological analysis of the association between high-risk population parameters and HIV prevalence among pregnant women enrolled in sentinel surveillance in four southern India states
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