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Validity and reliability of Household Disinfectants-Cleaners Questionnaire (HDCQ) to investigate public awareness and performance in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
No full textInternational audienceAbstract Background Although household disinfectant cleaners are used at home frequently, less research has focused on standardized assessment tools to measure public awareness and precautions in practice, especially during health crises. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the important role of household disinfectants-cleaners in preventing infections. However, poor public awareness and unsafe practices can undermine their effectiveness. This study indirectly addresses this lack by developing and validating the Household Disinfectants-Cleaners Questionnaire (HDCQ), to make available an evidence-based comprehensive tool to support future assessments, public health research, and policy development. Objective To assess the validity and reliability of a questionnaire designed to measure public awareness and performance regarding the safe use of household disinfectants-cleaners in Abu Dhabi. Methods A cross-sectional Google survey, involving a sample of 750 Abu Dhabi residents, was analyzed using IBM-SPSS (Version 27.0) and RStudio (Version 1.1.456, Inc., 2009–2018). Validity tests included face, content, and construct evaluations by nine academic experts based on seven parameters. Reliability was assessed through Cronbach’s alpha and inter-item correlation. Principal Factor Analysis (PFA), including the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) measure and Bartlett’s test, was conducted for each section in SPSS. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in RStudio identified the underlying factors explaining item covariation. Results Cronbach’s alpha values for the awareness and performance domains were 0.854 and 0.883, indicating high internal consistency. Expert ratings indicated high face validity, with importance levels ranging from 0.89 to 1.00. The average Content Validity Ratio (CVR) for the questionnaire was 0.95, indicating strong content relevance. The PFA results demonstrated adequate sampling adequacy, with a KMO measure values of 0.879 and 0.891 and Bartlett’s test was statistically significant (χ2 = 2,368, P < 0.001) and (χ2 = 3,274, P < 0.001) for each section respectively, confirming factorability and suitability for factor analysis. Both EFA and CFA indicated a good model fit with RMSEA of 0.077 for Sect. 1 and 0.090 for Sect. 2, CFI of 0.990 for Sect. 1 and 0.975 for Sect. 2, and TLI of 0.986 for Sect. 1 and 0.967 for Sect. 2, confirming the robustness of the factor structure and the questionnaire’s validity. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that this questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for assessing public awareness and performance regarding the safe use of household disinfectants-cleaners for future pandemics. Recognizing inherent limitations, detailed in the conclusion section, is essential for effective application in public health contexts
Exploration du Benzothioxanthène imide : fonctionnalisation et utilisation
No full textThese three years of doctoral research focused on exploring the reactivity of benzothioxanthene imide (BTI) to afford new derivatives with high potential for various applications, ranging from photodynamic therapy to organic electronics. Through an in-depth synthetic work, functionalization and rationalization of the existing relationships between structure and properties, this research opened new perspectives for both the design of new materials and their applications. In addition to an introductory chapter related to this overlooked compound, the second chapter focused on optimizing synthetic methods for potential large-scale production and the subsequent evaluation of new BTI derivatives in biomedical applications (photodynamic therapy) and optoelectronic devices (electrochemical light-emitting diodes and emissive liquid crystals). Finally, the third chapter explored the synthesis and reactivity of “oxygenated” BTI derivatives, demonstrating the impact of a simple atomic change at the molecular level that also translates into the biological environments. This thesis thus contributes to demonstrate the potential of these new dyes as versatile platforms, offering opportunities for scientific and medical innovations, while opening new perspectives for research in functional materials and biology.Ces trois années de thèse se sont concentrées sur l'exploration de la réactivité du benzothioxanthène imide (BTI) afin d'obtenir de nouveaux dérivés à fort potentiel pour diverses applications allant de la thérapie photodynamique à l'électronique organique. Ce travail de synthèse approfondi, de fonctionnalisation et de rationalisation des relations entre structure et propriétés a ouvert de nouvelles perspectives pour la conception de nouveaux matériaux ainsi que pour leurs utilisations. Suite à un chapitre d'introduction consacré à ce composé encore peu étudié, le deuxième chapitre s'est porté sur l'optimisation des méthodes de synthèse en vue d’une production potentiellement à grande échelle et sur l’évaluation des nouveaux dérivés du BTI pour des applications biomédicales (thérapie photodynamique) et optoélectroniques (diodes électrochimiques luminescentes et cristaux liquides émissifs). Enfin, le troisième chapitre a exploré la synthèse et la réactivité des dérivés "oxygénés"du BTI, démontrant l'impact d'un simple changement d'atome à l'échelle moléculaire et en milieu biologique. Cette thèse a donc contribué à démontrer l'intérêt de ces nouveaux colorants en tant que plateformes polyvalentes, offrant des opportunités pour des innovations scientifiques et médicales, tout en ouvrant de nouvelles perspectives pour la recherche dans les matériaux fonctionnels et la biologie
Women’s perceptions and preferences toward HPV self-sampling in France: A questionnaire within the French CapU4 Trial
No full textInternational audienc
Patient-partner support for breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional comparative study assessing the effects on emotional distress, coping, perceived control, and perceived social support
No full textInternational audienceBackground: Quantitative studies evaluating the psychological effects of patient-partner (PP) support for breast cancer survivors are needed. This study aimed to assess the impact of patient-partner support on emotional distress, perceived social support, perceived control, and coping in breast cancer survivors.Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in 2021, using the LimeSurvey online software, at the Institut du Sein d'Aquitaine, which employed a trained patient-partner to provide individual support to BC survivors. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Questionnaire on Social Support in Cancer, the Cancer Locus of Control Scale, and the Ways of Coping Checklist were used in this study. ANOVAs and MANCOVA were performed for statistical analysis.Results: In total, 118 breast cancer survivors were included in the study (mean age = 56.21; SD = 11.38), of whom 49 (41.5%) had benefited from patient-partner support. In the multivariate analysis, the supported group reported significantly higher levels of emotional support (β = 5.81; p < 0.01) and used more social support-seeking coping strategies (β = 2.50; p < 0.05) compared to those without support. However, they showed greater internal causal attribution (β = 2.05; p < 0.05).Conclusion: In this study, patient-partner support has a relatively beneficial effect on transactional variables that facilitate adjustment to breast cancer. This support should be complemented by merging PP assistance with psychological support. Further randomized longitudinal and prospective studies are needed for in-depth explorations
Comment on: Use of teicoplanin monotherapy for the treatment of enterococcal infective endocarditis: a retrospective and comparative study at a referral centre
No full textInternational audienceNo abstract availabl
Considérer pleinement les sols dans les processus de planification et d'aménagement: exemples réplicables de Nantes Métropole (France)
No full textInternational audienceSoils are often considered from a risk perspective (pollution, geotechnics) in the urban environment. This is particularly the case in redevelopment projects. Being part of the ecosystem, soils represent also a vital resource. They are indeed a major source of biodiversity (in and above). They also sink carbon, store and infiltrate water, transform organic matter and nutriments. In this frame, in addition to supporting human activities, soils contribute to eg. regulate the climate and the water cycle, support the production of biomass. Planning and (re)development processes must consider soils as resource and as risk, whatever the scale of approach. Several R&D projects on soils used Nantes Metropolis territory as a case study. The objective is to present some results corresponding to knowledge, methods and tools that can serve landscape architects.Excavated soils are a resource. They can be reused, from one site to another or through a valorisation platform. The TERRASS numerical tool helps to put producers and receivers (users) in contacts and to fulfil the traceability obligations. In case of low to moderate contamination, which is frequent in the urban environment, the local geochemical background serves to establish threshold values to facilitate the reuse of excavated materials at district to territorial scale . Soil refunctionalisation or construction can also be operated, using eg. excavated soils and organic waste. This can compensate for the scarcity of topsoil.Soil multifunctionality helps taking the soil resource into account in planning and development. The MUSE method considers four estimated indicators of soil ecological functions (carbon storage, biodiversity storage, infiltration capacity, agronomic value) at territorial scale, and their combination. The maps can be used to preserve some good or patrimonial soils or anticipate soil restoration needs. Methodological adaptations at project (eg Ris-Orangis ) to territorial scale (eg. Rennes Metropolis ) aim to gain precision. Larger sets of indicators and more detailed soil maps allow adapting their use according to their quality, including multifunctionality as well as contamination.Soil pollution risks are linked to different sources. Urban historical inventories map the former industrial and service activities potentially source of soil pollution, and can guide on associated potential pollutants. Anthropogenic deposits may also be a source of pollutants, according to the nature of materials they contain . Further research efforts are in progress within the GSEU and PERMEPOLIS projects. Agriculture, like market gardening, and green spaces maintenance may also have generated diffuse soil contamination with pesticides . That is why, soil contamination risk needs to be checked before any project. In this frame, the high demand for urban gardening appears as a real challenge needing a careful check of soil quality(16).Soils (including resource and risk) are fully considered in the DésiVille17 method to map their potential for desealing, additional development being in progress within the PERMEPOLIS15 project. Other inspiring examples exist at national to EU scale. The webtool in progress (SPADES18) aims to help the users (including landscape architects) to find the right soil concept/methods/tool to answer their needs in the planning, developments and/or design process.</p
Domestic Use of Solvents and Pesticides and the Risk of Hypospadias in Offspring: A Case–Control Study From Brittany, France
No full textInternational audienceBackground - There is a growing concern about the potential role of environmental exposure in congenital male anomalies. Objective - We aimed to assess the association between the domestic use of products containing solvents or pesticides during pregnancy and the risk of hypospadias in the offspring. Methods - We included newborns from the PENEW case-control study, which took place in Brittany, France, from October 2012 to December 2018. Newborns affected with hypospadias (n = 100) were matched with one to four controls (n = 283) according to the biological sex assigned at birth, center of birth, year, and season of birth. We assessed self-reported domestic exposure to solvents (cosmetics, house cleaning, and home renovation products) and pesticides (used indoors and outdoors) through a maternal questionnaire at birth. We performed multivariable conditional logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. Results - The self-reported use of indoor pesticides during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of hypospadias in offspring (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.5, 4.81), especially those against wood insects (aOR = 13.19, 95% CI = 1.11, 59.57), rodents (aOR = 4.61, 95% CI = 1.03, 20.7), and flying and crawling insects (aOR = 2.77, 95% CI = 1.46, 5.28). Other studies have shown that domestic exposure was not statistically significantly associated with a risk of hypospadias. Conclusion - The use of indoor pesticides during pregnancy may be associated with a higher risk of hypospadias in offspring, especially those against flying and crawling insects. Further studies might be needed to identify specific molecules to target and confirm our results on a larger sample
Acceptor-Donor-Acceptor Systems Based on Indacenodithiophene-Extended Tetrathiafulvalene
No full textInternational audienceHere, we present a series of acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) conjugated molecules incorporating an indacenodithiophene-extended tetrathiafulvalene (IDT-TTF) as the central electron-donating moiety, functionalized with various lateral electron acceptors. A key synthetic step was the Vilsmeier-Haack formylation of the IDT-TTF, providing the dialdehyde in quantitative yield. This compound was further used for the incorporation of dicyanovinyl and indanedione acceptors. UV-vis absorption spectroscopy of the A-D-A compounds in solution revealed a broad absorption in the visible spectrum which is further red-shifted when proceeding from solutions to thin films. Their cyclic voltammograms in solution showed a multi-redox behaviorundergoing both oxidation and reduction events. Notably, the oxidation of these compounds unveiled the formation of intermolecular mixed-valence and π-dimer species, especially strong in the case of the indanedione-containing derivative. Computational calculations helped us to identify the electronic transitions involved in the main absorption bands of these A-D-A compounds displaying different behaviors depending on the acceptor attached to the IDT-TTF core. Finally, the potential of these compounds as donors in organic solar cells was investigated and the best performing solar cell exhibited a modest yet promising power conversion efficiency of 0.87%
Le cas de la chaîne de valeurs du secteur caprin en Corse et l'innovation en cours pour organiser le secteur- Approche "Follow the Thing": Cartographie participative et évaluation de la chaîne de valeur des produits caprins liés à une innovation- Tâche 2.1 du projet Pastinnova
No full textFinal remarks :Despite a long pastoral tradition, recent revival and interest for goat farming (especially from young people) and rather good market conditions, the future perspectives for the sector of goat farming in Corsica, looks fairly unfavourable due to structural and economic problems. The lack of attractivity due to land access conditions, isolation, lack of services, the condition of work are the main trends in the island. The rising of consumption costs, the sanitary conditions of the herds are other negative factors regarding this activity.Only an ambitious strategy based on a proactive policy to train and support a new population of rural actors with relevant projects (including goats) could stop this deadly tendency.Remarques finales :Malgré une longue tradition pastorale, un regain d’intérêt récent pour l’élevage caprin (notamment auprès des jeunes) et des conditions de marché plutôt favorables, les perspectives d’avenir du secteur caprin en Corse semblent plutôt défavorables en raison de problèmes structurels et économiques. Le manque d’attractivité dû aux difficultés d’accès au foncier, à l’isolement, au manque de services et aux conditions de travail constituent les principales tendances observées sur l’île. La hausse des coûts de consommation et l’état sanitaire des troupeaux constituent d’autres facteurs négatifs pour cette activité.Seule une stratégie ambitieuse, fondée sur une politique volontariste de formation et d’accompagnement d’une nouvelle population d’acteurs ruraux, avec des projets pertinents (notamment caprins), pourrait enrayer cette tendance néfaste
Bimodal Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanocarrier with Zinc Oxide and Iron Oxide for Fluorescence and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
No full textInternational audienceZinc oxide (ZnO) and iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles have been identified as promising candidates for biomedical applications, based on their unique physicochemical properties. The association of these nanoparticles in a single system creates a bimodal entity, allowing the excellent luminescent properties of ZnO quantum dots to be combined with the contrast agent of IO for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The present study focuses on the luminescent and MRI properties of a new poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanocarrier system formulation containing ZnO NPs and IO NPs in different nominal ratios. Microscopic analysis (TEM and SEM) reveals a circular morphology with IO and ZnO NPs. The average diameter of the particles was determined to be 220 nm, as measured by DLS. The luminescence results indicate that the PLGA system shows strong emission in the visible range, and the MRI analysis shows a high r2 relaxivity of 171 mM−1 s−1 at 7T. The optimized formulation, exhibiting a molar ratio of Fe:Zn ranging from 1:10 to 1:13 (mol:mol), demonstrates superior fluorescence and MRI performance, underscoring the significance of nanoparticle composition in bimodal imaging applications. The systems evaluated demonstrate no toxicity in the THP-1 cells for doses of up to 128 µg mL−1, with efficient labeling after 4 h of incubation, yielding images of strong luminescence and T2 contrast. The PLGA:ZnO:IO system demonstrates considerable potential as a bimodal platform for diagnostic imaging