Recommendations on basic requirements for intensive care units: structural and organizational aspects

OBJECTIVE: To provide guidance and recommendations for the planning or renovation of intensive care units (ICUs) with respect to the specific characteristics relevant to organizational and structural aspects of intensive care medicine. METHODOLOGY: The Working Group on Quality Improvement (WGQI) of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) identified the basic requirements for ICUs by a comprehensive literature search and an iterative process with several rounds of consensus finding with the participation of 47 intensive care physicians from 23 countries. The starting point of this process was an ESICM recommendation published in 1997 with the need for an updated version. RESULTS: The document consists of operational guidelines and design recommendations for ICUs. In the first part it covers the definition and objectives of an ICU, functional criteria, activity criteria, and the management of equipment. The second part deals with recommendations with respect to the planning process, floorplan and connections, accommodation, fire safety, central services, and the necessary communication systems. CONCLUSION: This document provides a detailed framework for the planning or renovation of ICUs based on a multinational consensus within the ESIC

Bridging Virtual and Real Worlds: Enhancing Outlying Clustered Value Creations

International audienceVirtual worlds and virtual social networks provide real opportunities for companies to implement research in management dealing with immersive environment, interaction and co-creation of values (artefact, process, knowledge). New capabilities and new tools are emerging. The observations drawn from experiments allow categorizing them. We then propose an approach that could help companies to start activities inside these new environments of collaborative work. The cross fertilizing insights between the virtual and the real world are shown and introduced as the bridge. The 3D economy process is based on shorter cycles of decision making processes. The "bridge model' integrates the added value chain and goes beyond it with the creation of outlying clustered values. The bridge mechanism shows a spectrum from low potential to high potential areas - of fulfillments. A company strategy may explain a positioning on one or the other limits of the spectrum

Electrodes de platine modifiées : caractéristiques électrochimiques et comportement dans les boues activées

International audiencePolished platinum electrodes were coated with platinum black and/or with polymers (Nafion, polyurethane) to accelerate the electron transfer rate to the metal-solution interface and/or to constitute a protection barrier for the metal against neutral or anionic contaminants present in wastewater. The modified electrodes were electrochimically characterized (surface roughness and exchange current density) and their behaviour in activated sludge was studied. A platinum black deposit increases the roughness and the exchange current density. However, the response of these electrodes in an anoxic environment is very slow. A Nafion film provides a partial protection against contaminants thus increasing electrode response reproductibility. A polyurethane film has no apparent protective effect.Des électrodes de platine polies ont été recouvertes de noir de platine et/ou avec des polymères organiques (Nafion, polyuréthane) pour accélérer les vitesses de transfert d'électrons vers l'interface métal/solution et/ou pour constituer une protection pour le métal contre la présence des contaminants anioniques ou neutres dans l'eau résiduaire. On a caractérisé l'électrochimie des électrodes (rugosité de surface et densité des courants d'échange) et on a étudié leur comportement dans les boues activées. Un dépôt de noir de platine accroît la rugosité et la densité du courant d'échange ; cependant, la réponse de ces électrodes est très lente dans un environnement anoxique. Un film de Nafion procure une protection partielle contre les contaminants, augmentant ainsi la reproductibilité des réponses. Un film de polyuréthane n'a apparemment pas d'effet protecteur

Modified platinum electrodes: electrochemical characteristics and behaviour in activated sludge

Polished platinum electrodes were coated with platinum black and/or with polymers (Nafion, polyurethane) to accelerate the electron transfer rate to the metal-solution interface and/or to constitute a protection barrier for the metal against neutral or anionic contaminants present in wastewater. The modified electrodes were electrochimically characterized (surface roughness and exchange current density) and their behaviour in activated sludge was studied. A platinum black deposit increases the roughness and the exchange current density. However, the response of these electrodes in an anoxic environment is very slow. A Nafion film provides a partial protection against contaminants thus increasing electrode response reproductibility. A polyurethane film has no apparent protective effect. / Des électrodes de platine polies ont été recouvertes de noir de platine et/ou avec des polymères organiques (Nafion, polyuréthane) pour accélérer les vitesses de transfert d'électrons vers l'interface métal/solution et/ou pour constituer une protection pour le métal contre la présence des contaminants anioniques ou neutres dans l'eau résiduaire. On a caractérisé l'électrochimie des électrodes (rugosité de surface et densité des courants d'échange) et on a étudié leur comportement dans les boues activées. Un dépôt de noir de platine accroît la rugosité et la densité du courant d'échange ; cependant, la réponse de ces électrodes est très lente dans un environnement anoxique. Un film de Nafion procure une protection partielle contre les contaminants, augmentant ainsi la reproductibilité des réponses. Un film de polyuréthane n'a apparemment pas d'effet protecteur