‘Maybe we can turn the tide’ : an explanatory mixed-methods study to understand how knowledge brokers mobilise health evidence in low- and middle-income countries

Background: Little is known about how knowledge brokers (KBs) operate in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to translate evidence for health policy and practice. These intermediaries facilitate relationships between evidence producers and users to address public health issues. Aims and objectives: To increase understanding, a mixed-methods study collected data from KBs who had acted on evidence from the 2015 Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference in Mexico. Methods: Of the 1000 in-person participants, 252 plus 72 online participants (n=324) from 56 countries completed an online survey, and 20 participants from 15 countries were interviewed. Thematic analysis and application of knowledge translation (KT) theory explored factors influencing KB actions leading to evidence uptake. Descriptive statistics of respondent characteristics were used for cross-case comparison. Findings: Results suggest factors supporting the KB role in evidence uptake, which include active relationships with evidence users through embedded KB roles, targeted and tailored evidence communication to fit the context, user receptiveness to evidence from a similar country setting, adaptability in the KB role, and action orientation of KBs. Discussion and conclusions: Initiatives to increase evidence uptake in LMICs should work to establish supportive structures for embedded KT, identify processes for ongoing cross-country learning, and strengthen KBs already showing effectiveness in their roles

Relations entre profils identitaires et profils motivationnels au lycée

International audienceLes années lycées correspondent aux années importantes en termes d'explorations et de choix dans des domaines qui comptent pour la construction identitaire (qui suis-je, qu'est-ce que je vaux, où vais-je ? etc). La motivation intrinsèque ou l'autodétermination (intégration d'une régulation externe de la motivation) des élèves sont des facteurs de réussite scolaire (Vallerand, Fortier & Guay (1997). De nombreux travaux menés auprès de lycéens ou de collégiens ont étudiés la présence de profils d'élèves autodéterminés ou non autodéterminés (Ratelle, Guay, Vallerand, Larose et Senecal, 2007). Dans le cadre d'une étude exploratoire, notre objectif est de définir chez les lycéens des profils motivationnels et d'étudier la façon dont ceux-ci se caractérisent du point de vue des statuts identitaires et du niveau d'autodétermination. L'échantillon de population est constitué de 427 lycéens scolarisés en Terminale dans des établissements des villes de Toulouse, Bordeaux et Grenoble (moyenne d'âge =16.84, ET= .87 ; 62.3% filles). Les dimensions identitaires sont évaluées à partir de la version française de la DIDS (Dimension of Identity Development Scale - Luyckx et al., 2008) validée par notre équipe (Zimmermann et al., EARA 2012) et les profils motivationnels à partir de l'échelle de motivation dans les études (EME-U28) de Vallerand et al. (1989). A partir d'une analyse en clusters nous identifions 4 profils allant de la motivation complète à l'a-motivation. Le croisement entre les profils motivationnels et le genre et les profils identitaires (statuts et processus) montrent des associations significatives. Par exemple, les garçons et les identités diffuses (en particulier les diffus insouciants) se retrouvent plutôt dans la classe des amotivés. Le croisement des clusters motivationnels et identitaires, en nous permettant de disposer à la fois des caractéristiques de la motivation, de l'identité et du genre, nous amène à identifier des profils d'élèves à risque de décrochage

Retail Energy Markets Under Stress:Lessons Learnt for the Future of Market Design

The paper aims to address and provide some initial answers to the below research questions: How well have European retail electricity markets been coping with the current energy crisis? How have governments responded to increasing prices? What short-term measures can governments take to soften the impact of high energy prices? What long-term measures can governments take to protect consumers from high energy prices? What should be the role of the EU vs. the Member States? What legal constraints are imposed by EU directives and regulations? Do we need to regulate the risk exposure of suppliers? What are the options for doing this

An introduction to schoenberg's approximation

AbstractFor a given function B and a non-zero real number h, Schoenberg's approximation defines from some data (jh, yj)jϵZd the function ΣjϵZd yj B(•h − j). For people not used to this kind of approximation, this paper intends to do a summary of the main definitions, properties and utilizations of Schoenberg's approximation: we show that the main tool to handle Schoenberg's approximation is the Fourier transform of B and even more its modified version, the transfer function of B; we give conditions for convergence of ΣjϵZd f(jh) B(•h − j) when h tends to zero, and we give various ways to define various B as combinations of translates of some function ϕ (usually ϕ is either some radial function, or obtained by a tensor product of some radial function), depending on the properties we want for the associated Schoenberg's approximation. Last, we show how multi-resolution analysis, subdivision techniques, and wavelets techniques, are nicely connected to Schoenberg's approximation

Daily activity in minimal footwear increases foot strength

The human foot is uniquely adapted to bipedal locomotion and has a deformable arch of variable stiffness. Intrinsic foot muscles regulate arch deformation, making them important for foot function. In this study we explore the hypothesis that normal daily activity in minimal footwear, which provides little or no support, increases foot muscle strength. Western adults wore minimal footwear for a six-month period (the “intervention” group). Foot strength, i.e., maximum isometric plantarflexion strength at the metatarsophalangeal joints, and foot biometrics were measured before and after the intervention. An additional group was investigated to add further insight on the long-term effects of footwear, consisting of Western adults with an average 2.5 years of experience in minimal footwear (the “experienced” group). This study shows that foot strength increases by, on average, 57.4% (p < 0.001) after six months of daily activity in minimal footwear. The experienced group had similar foot strength as the post intervention group, suggesting that six months of regular minimal footwear use is sufficient to gain full strength, which may aid healthy balance and gait

Expérimentation sur l’utilisation des argiles sableuses

La butte tertiaire du Mont Houy à Famars, coiffée des sables du Quesnoy (Vallin, Prévost-Boure, 1990) renferme, à quelques mètres sous la surface actuelle, différentes couches d’argiles [ill. 1]. Bien visible dans le paysage, elle se situe à quelques centaines de mètres de la fouille du Technopôle-Transalley (Clotuche, 2013 ; Clotuche, à paraître). Au cours de celle-ci, douze fours de potiers ont été mis au jour (Willems, Borgers, 2016), complétant le corpus constitué depuis les années  1970 ..

Walking with individualized 3D-printed minimal footwear increases foot strength and produces subtle changes in unroll pattern

IntroductionThis 5-month follow-up study, involving 66 subjects (38 intervention, 28 control; 34 females, 32 males), evaluated the biomechanics of walking while wearing bespoke, 3D-printed footwear.MethodsA 3D scanner was used to obtain foot shape, which was subsequently modified to yield a suitable instep and additional room in the forefoot and toe areas, to allow for potential shape changes of the foot. Shoes were manufactured using TPU laser sintering. Pre (T0) and post (T1) the intervention, plantar pressures were collected using a plantar pressure plate (3 trials per foot) and toe flexor strength (5 trials per foot) was measured using a dynamometer, for control and intervention groups. Plantar pressure peak patterns and center-of-pressure (CoP) timing was analysed using 2D and 1D Statistical Parametric Mapping, respectively. Toe strength changes were expressed in percent and per individual as: 100 x ((strength@T1strength@T0) / strength@T0).ResultsPeak pressure distribution did not differ between control and intervention populations, or between T0 and T1. Center-of-pressure unroll differed between barefoot and shod conditions at T0 for the intervention group. When barefoot, the intervention group at T1 showed a more lateral CoP in early stance and a more anterior CoP in late stance compared to T0. In the intervention group, toe strength increased significantly by 48.5% between T0 and T1.DiscussionOverall, the results indicate that the bespoke, 3D-printed footwear did not significantly affect peak pressure distribution compared to barefoot walking. However, center-of-pressure patterns during gait were influenced, particularly in the intervention group, with analysis indicative of barefoot subjects' CoP moving faster in early and mid-stance than when shod. Additionally, the intervention led to a significant increase in toe strength. These findings contribute to our understanding of the biomechanical effects of customized 3D-printed footwear and highlight the potential benefits of such interventions in improving foot function and strength