La qualité de la médiation au service du développement institutionnel du Centre de Médiation

Report (2007)

Quality and Trade with Many Countries and Industries

Scientific Conference (2021, October)

This paper investigates a trade model with many countries, many goods produced in multiple quality versions and non-homothetic preferences. It studies the impact of productivity, population changes and ... [more ▼]

This paper investigates a trade model with many countries, many goods produced in multiple quality versions and non-homothetic preferences. It studies the impact of productivity, population changes and trade costs on the quality composition of exports. The analysis embeds within the same model a series of empirical results about high-income countries specialization and trade in higher quality goods. Product di¤erentiation matters at explaining the volumes of trade quality. High-quality goods exhibiting a high degree of di¤erentiation are traded only by high-income countries. [less ▲]

Quality assessment of GPS reprocessed terrestrial reference frame

in GPS Solutions (2011), 15(3), 219--231

The International GNSS Service (IGS) contributes to the construction of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) by submitting time series of station positions and Earth Rotation Parameters ... [more ▼]

The International GNSS Service (IGS) contributes to the construction of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) by submitting time series of station positions and Earth Rotation Parameters (ERP). For the first time, its submission to the ITRF2008 construction is based on a combination of entirely reprocessed GPS solutions delivered by 11 Analysis Centers (ACs). We analyze the IGS submission and four of the individual AC contributions in terms of the GNSS frame origin and scale, station position repeatability and time series seasonal variations. We show here that the GPS Terrestrial Reference Frame (TRF) origin is consistent with Satellite laser Ranging (SLR) at the centimeter level with a drift lower than 1 mm/year. Although the scale drift compared to Very Long baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and SLR mean scale is smaller than 0.4 mm/year, we think that it would be premature to use that information in the ITRF scale definition due to its strong dependence on the GPS satellite and ground antenna phase center variations. The new position time series also show a better repeatability compared to past IGS combined products and their annual variations are shown to be more consistent with loading models. The comparison of GPS station positions and velocities to those of VLBI via local ties in co-located sites demonstrates that the IGS reprocessed solution submitted to the ITRF2008 is more reliable and precise than any of the past submissions. However, we show that some of the remaining inconsistencies between GPS and VLBI positioning may be caused by uncalibrated GNSS radomes. [less ▲]

Quality Control Strategy for CRISPRCas9- based Gene Editing Complicated by a Pseudogene

in Frontiers in Genetics (2019)

Quality in physical education: an overview from the perspective of physical education teacher associations

in Scheuer, Claude; Antala, Branislav; Holzweg, Martin (Eds.) Physical Education: Quality in Management and Teaching (2014)

In the frame of the general discussion about quality in physical education, it is a first step to determine the factors or criteria that are subject to have an influence on the quality of physical ... [more ▼]

In the frame of the general discussion about quality in physical education, it is a first step to determine the factors or criteria that are subject to have an influence on the quality of physical education. Several authors give various structures for equivalent factors, as e. g. Altrichter and Buhren (1997), Egger (2002) or Serwe (2008). Generally, a similar structure can be identified by differentiating between structure, process and product factors having an impact on quality physical education. Besides this, these factors can work on different levels of the school system, namely the system level, the school level and the classroom level, whilst specific factors can impact on more than one level at a time. The view on these determining factors then can come from different perspectives: a practical perspective, a political perspective and a scientific perspective. In this article, the focus lies on the perspective of several physical education teacher associations in – mainly – Europe on quality physical education. Several guidelines, positions statements and recommendations of these associations have been examined in order to identify their position in relation with different factors impacting quality physical education. This was done simultaneously by differentiating between structural, process and product factors on one side and between factors on the system level, school level and classroom level on the other side. [less ▲]

Quality of doctor-patient communication in cardiovascular diseases and secondary preventive adherence. The role of gender

in Innovative ideas in Health Psychology (2017)

The doctor-patient communication intervenes on the preventive behaviours of chronic patients by reducing their risk factors – in cardiovascular diseases: hypertension, overweight, obesity ... [more ▼]

The doctor-patient communication intervenes on the preventive behaviours of chronic patients by reducing their risk factors – in cardiovascular diseases: hypertension, overweight, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes. What are the associations between the quality of communication and the improvement of secondary preventive behaviours? How does gender influence these relationships? Methods: 1,289 patients who underwent a coronary angiography in 2008/09 in Luxembourg completed a self-administered questionnaire at the time of the visit, and at a five-year follow-up. The probability of improving each preventive eating behaviour (decrease of salt, sugar, fat consumption and increase of fruits/vegetables), and the quality of doctor-patient communication (5-item scale) were evaluated using logistic regression models. Sex was introduced in interaction with the communication score. Findings: Among hypertensive respondents, a higher quality of communication was associated with a higher probability of decreasing the salt intake in women (OR [95% CI]: 1.139 [1.060; 1.223]) whereas in men, the OR was only 1.086 [1.017; 1.159]. ORs were also higher in women among patients with hypertension, overweight and hypercholesterolemia regarding the increase of fruits/vegetables consumption; among patients with diabetes and hypercholesterolemia regarding sugar decrease or cessation; and among patients with overweight and hypercholesterolemia regarding fat reduction or stop. ORs were slightly higher among men only among diabetic and obese patients, regarding the increase of fruits/vegetables consumption. Discussion: The quality of the communication showed an effect on the adoption of secondary preventive eating behaviours, especially in women patients. Motivational interviews could encourage, especially men patients, to adhere to the recommendations about lifestyle change. [less ▲]

The quality of experience of students with and without special educational needs in everyday life and when relating to peers (Reprint)

in Schwab, Susanne; Nel, Mirna; Hellmich, Frank (Eds.) Social participation of students with special educational needs in mainstream education (2019)

Quality of life among adult patients living with diabetes in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study in outpatient clinics

in BMJ Open (2021), 11

Objectives To report on the disease-related quality of life of patients living with diabetes mellitus in Rwanda and identify its predictors. Design Cross-sectional study, part of the baseline assessment ... [more ▼]

Objectives To report on the disease-related quality of life of patients living with diabetes mellitus in Rwanda and identify its predictors. Design Cross-sectional study, part of the baseline assessment of a cluster-randomised controlled trial. Setting Outpatient clinics for non-communicable diseases of nine hospitals across Rwanda. Participants Between January and August 2019, 206 patients were recruited as part of the clinical trial. Eligible participants were those aged 21–80 years and with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus for at least 6 months. Illiterate patients, those with severe hearing or visual impairments, those with severe mental health conditions, terminally ill, and those pregnant or in the postpartum period were excluded Primary and secondary outcome measures Disease-specific quality of life was measured with the Kinyarwanda version of the Diabetes-39 (D-39) questionnaire. A glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test was performed on all patients. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, including medical history, disease-related complications and comorbidities. Results The worst affected dimensions of the D-39 were ‘anxiety and worry’ (mean=51.63, SD=25.51), ‘sexual functioning’ (mean=44.58, SD=37.02), and ‘energy and mobility’ (mean=42.71, SD=20.69). Duration of the disease and HbA1c values were not correlated with any of the D-39 dimensions. A moderating effect was identified between use of insulin and achieving a target HbA1c of 7% in the ‘diabetes control’ scale. The most frequent comorbidity was hypertension (49.0% of participants), which had a greater negative effect on the ‘diabetes control’ and ‘social burden’ scales in women. Higher education was a predictor of less impact on the ‘social burden’ and ‘energy and mobility’ scales. Conclusions Several variables were identified as predictors for the five dimensions of quality of life that were studied, providing opportunities for tailored preventive programmes. Further prospective studies are needed to determine causal relationships. [less ▲]

Quality of life and positive person-centred rehabilitation.

in Positive Psychology and Well-being (2014)

Quality of life (QoL) assessment is important when monitoring over time the recovery of survivors living at home, two years after stroke onset. The associations between Newcastle Stroke-Specific Quality ... [more ▼]

Quality of life (QoL) assessment is important when monitoring over time the recovery of survivors living at home, two years after stroke onset. The associations between Newcastle Stroke-Specific Quality of life (newsqol) domains, socioeconomic factors and satisfaction with information and home-care services were analysed. This problem remains partially addressed though positive and optimal supports may improve post-stroke’ quality of life. Methods. Stroke-survivors admitted to all hospitals in Luxembourg 18 months or more previously were identified using the only care-expenditure-reimbursement national system database. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed. Ninety four patients aged 65 years and living at home were interviewed to gather socioeconomic characteristics and satisfaction with information and home-care services, and newsqol assessing 11 scores. Data were analyzed using multiple linear sex-age-adjusted regression models. Results. About 50% of patients had low education and lower income. Functional impairments were common: sensory (45%), motor (35%), memory (32%), language (31%), and vision (20%). Patients with education (<12th grade) or lower income had low values for most newsqol domains. In opposite, patients who were working had better values for pain, mental feelings and sleep domains than did retired people. The self-rate quality of life was markedly low, especially for the domains of interpersonal relationship, sleep, cognition, mental feelings, and pain. Patients who were dissatisfied with information and home-care received had rather low values for several newsqol domains. Dissatisfaction with accuracy of information received, information about stroke and its consequences/change over time; help received, lack of coordination between services, and possibility of receiving help when necessary were related with low values for most domains. Dissatisfaction with the possibility of receiving help was also associated with mobility and self-care. Dissatisfaction with information about consequences/change over time of stroke linked with the vision domain. Dissatisfaction with information received about help correlated with mental feelings, interpersonal relationships, emotion, and fatigue. Being confident about where to get information about stroke, looking after someone who has had a stroke if needed, or about financial help, and being confident about who to contact from community services if needed were slightly associated with communication, mental feelings and interpersonal relationships only. Conclusions. Post-stroke patients had major alterations in quality of life that reflected depressive symptoms, which should be appropriately treated. Our results further raise the question concerning the needs and satisfaction of stroke-survivors living at home in terms of information and care services as well as interactions with social and medical carers according to recovery stage and possible relapse over time. The changing nature of needs at different stages of recovery may not be paid sufficient attention. A telephone service could help. Use of IT technology has been proposed to promote positive person-centred rehabilitation. It has been shown, with Telestroke, that videoconference calls can help to reduce stress, provide reassurance about the secondary effects of treatment, improve compliance with prescriptions, and yield valuable information about services. [less ▲]

Quality of life predicts outcome of deep brain stimulation in early Parkinson disease

in Neurology (2019)

Objective Toinvestigatepredictorsforimprovementofdisease-specificqualityoflife(QOL)afterdeepbrainstimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) for Parkinson disease (PD) with early motor complications ... [more ▼]

Objective Toinvestigatepredictorsforimprovementofdisease-specificqualityoflife(QOL)afterdeepbrainstimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) for Parkinson disease (PD) with early motor complications. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of data from the previously published EARLYSTIM study, a prospective randomizedtrialcomparingSTN-DBS(n= 124)tobestmedicaltreatment(n= 127)after2yearsfollow-up with disease-specific QOL (39-item Parkinson ’s Disease Questionnaire summary index [PDQ-39-SI]) as the primary endpoint. Linear regression analyses of the baseline characteristics age, disease duration, duration of motor complications, and disease severity measured at baseline with the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS)(UPDRS-III“off”and“on”medications,UPDRS-IV)wereconductedtodeterminepredictors of change in PDQ-39-SI. Results PDQ-39-SIatbaselinewascorrelatedtothechangeinPDQ-39-SIafter24monthsinbothtreatmentgroups (p<0.05).Thehigherthebaselinescore(worseQOL)thelargertheimprovementinQOLafter24months. No correlation was found for any of the other baseline characteristics analyzed in either treatment group. Conclusion Impaired QOL as subjectively evaluated by the patient is the most important predictor of benefit in patients with PD and early motor complications, fulfilling objective gold standard inclusion criteria for STN-DBS. Our results prompt systematically including evaluation of disease-specific QOL when selecting patients with PD for STN-DBS. [less ▲]