A Hybrid Tracking System of Human Resources: A Case Study in a Canadian University

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), including Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), are technologies that have evolved considerably in the past few years. They have the potential to provide a means by which organizations can follow employees in real time. However, this permanent surveillance may have unexpected impacts on employees as well as on the organization itself. We followed the systems development research process to build a hybrid RFID-GPS system that allowed for the real-time location of human resources both indoors and outdoors. We tested this system in the security service of a Canadian university and explored its impacts on the workgroup and its employees. Our findings suggest that this kind of system can work in a real-world context, and that it has distinct impacts on the individual and the organization of a type not usually observed with more traditional information systems

Le rôle de l'image en art-thérapie : une étude de cas d'une adolescente en quête identitaire

Ce travail de recherche est une exploration du rôle de l'image dans le contexte de la relation art-thérapeutique. Il s'insère dans une étude de cas unique et descriptive concernant le déroulement d'une thérapie par l'art auprès d'une adolescente en quête identitaire. L'objectif de cet exposé vise à apporter une meilleure compréhension des fonctions multiples de l'image à l'intérieur de ce processus art-thérapeutique. En termes de contenu, le fondement théorique de ce travail est composé d'une révision approfondie de la littérature concernant à la fois le rôle de l'image en art-thérapie et les thèmes reliés à la quête identitaire propre à l'adolescente en question. C'est à partir de cette base que fut conduite, selon les principes de la spirale herméneutique, l'analyse des données; lesquelles provenaient des impressions de l'art-thérapeute et des oeuvres produites tout au long du suivi. Il est à `noter que la validité de cette recherche s'appuie sur les principes de réflexivité et que puisqu'il s'agit d'une étude de cas unique, ces résultats ne peuvent être généralisés. Les résultats obtenus lors de cette étude corroborent la notion de centralité de l'image dans la relation triadique particulière à l'art-thérapie. Ils mettent en relief la pertinence et l'effet prépondérant du rôle de l'image en tant que miroir dans ce contexte thérapeutique spécifique. Les fonctions conjointes de l'image comme médiateur, tiers, contenant, agent de distanciation et objet de transition sont aussi mises en évidence; celles-ci agissant comme un phare éclairant la compréhension de cette étude de ca

Le rôle de l'image en art-thérapie : une étude de cas d'une adolescente en quête identitaire

Ce travail de recherche est une exploration du rôle de l'image dans le contexte de la relation art-thérapeutique. Il s'insère dans une étude de cas unique et descriptive concernant le déroulement d'une thérapie par l'art auprès d'une adolescente en quête identitaire. L'objectif de cet exposé vise à apporter une meilleure compréhension des fonctions multiples de l'image à l'intérieur de ce processus art-thérapeutique. En termes de contenu, le fondement théorique de ce travail est composé d'une révision approfondie de la littérature concernant à la fois le rôle de l'image en art-thérapie et les thèmes reliés à la quête identitaire propre à l'adolescente en question. C'est à partir de cette base que fut conduite, selon les principes de la spirale herméneutique, l'analyse des données; lesquelles provenaient des impressions de l'art-thérapeute et des oeuvres produites tout au long du suivi. Il est à `noter que la validité de cette recherche s'appuie sur les principes de réflexivité et que puisqu'il s'agit d'une étude de cas unique, ces résultats ne peuvent être généralisés. Les résultats obtenus lors de cette étude corroborent la notion de centralité de l'image dans la relation triadique particulière à l'art-thérapie. Ils mettent en relief la pertinence et l'effet prépondérant du rôle de l'image en tant que miroir dans ce contexte thérapeutique spécifique. Les fonctions conjointes de l'image comme médiateur, tiers, contenant, agent de distanciation et objet de transition sont aussi mises en évidence; celles-ci agissant comme un phare éclairant la compréhension de cette étude de ca

Intermediate temperature SOFC single cell test using Nd1.95NiO4+δ as cathode

This work deals with SOFC single cell tests using neodymium nickelate Nd1.95NiO4+δ as cathode material. This MIEC oxide exhibits high values of both surface exchange coefficient (k) and oxygen diffusion coefficient (D*), as well as high electronic conductivity, which result in an enhanced electrochemical activity with respect to classical materials. The SOFC cells were fabricated from an anode-supported electrolyte half-cell provided by InDEC B.V. Corporation, with a 36mmdiameter. The Nd1.95NiO4+δ cathode was prepared as a two-stage electrode consisting of a thin interlayer of several hundred nanometers covered by a thicker layer of dozens microns. The Nd1.95NiO4+δ oxide powders were synthesized using different routes in order to reduce the final annealing temperature, and to subsequently obtain submicronic powders. I–V characteristics of the single cells were investigated under hydrogen–air conditions. The power densities versus current densities curves are reported and the results of impedance spectroscopy measurements performed under these operating conditions are discussed

Effects of a specific workshop on the beliefs and perceptions on zoonosis of the Veterinary students : a first pilot longitudinal study

peer reviewe

Specific antibody responses against membrane proteins of erythrocytes infected by Plasmodium falciparum of individuals briefly exposed to malaria

International audienceBACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum infections could lead to severe malaria, principally in non-immune individuals as children and travellers from countries exempted of malaria. Severe malaria is often associated with the sequestration of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes in deep micro-vascular beds via interactions between host endothelial receptors and parasite ligands expressed on the surface of the infected erythrocyte. Although, serological responses from individuals living in endemic areas against proteins expressed at surface of the infected erythrocyte have been largely studied, seldom data are available about the specific targets of antibody response from travellers. METHODS: In order to characterize antigens recognized by traveller sera, a comparison of IgG immune response against membrane protein extracts from uninfected and P. falciparum-infected red blood cells (iRBC), using immunoblots, was performed between non exposed individuals (n = 31) and briefly exposed individuals (BEI) (n = 38) to malaria transmission. RESULTS: Immune profile analysis indicated that eight protein bands from iRBC were significantly detected more frequently in the BEI group. Some of these antigenic proteins were identified by an original immuno-proteomic approach. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these data may be useful to characterize the singular serological immune response against a primary malaria infection in individuals briefly exposed to transmission

The protective role of transferrin in Müller glial cells after iron-induced toxicity

PURPOSE: Transferrin (Tf) expression is enhanced by aging and inflammation in humans. We investigated the role of transferrin in glial protection. METHODS: We generated transgenic mice (Tg) carrying the complete human transferrin gene on a C57Bl/6J genetic background. We studied human (hTf) and mouse (mTf) transferrin localization in Tg and wild-type (WT) C57Bl/6J mice using immunochemistry with specific antibodies. Müller glial (MG) cells were cultured from explants and characterized using cellular retinaldehyde binding protein (CRALBP) and vimentin antibodies. They were further subcultured for study. We incubated cells with FeCl(3)-nitrilotriacetate to test for the iron-induced stress response; viability was determined by direct counting and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Tf expression was determined by reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR with human- or mouse-specific probes. hTf and mTf in the medium were assayed by ELISA or radioimmunoassay (RIA), respectively. RESULTS: mTf was mainly localized in retinal pigment epithelium and ganglion cell layers in retina sections of both mouse lines. hTf was abundant in MG cells. The distribution of mTf and hTf mRNA was consistent with these findings. mTf and hTf were secreted into the medium of MG cell primary cultures. Cells from Tg mice secreted hTf at a particularly high level. However, both WT and Tg cell cultures lose their ability to secrete Tf after a few passages. Tg MG cells secreting hTf were more resistant to iron-induced stress toxicity than those no longer secreted hTf. Similarly, exogenous human apo-Tf, but not human holo-Tf, conferred resistance to iron-induced stress on MG cells from WT mice. CONCLUSIONS: hTf localization in MG cells from Tg mice was reminiscent of that reported for aged human retina and age-related macular degeneration, both conditions associated with iron deposition. The role of hTf in protection against toxicity in Tg MG cells probably involves an adaptive mechanism developed in neural retina to control iron-induced stress