Obvious Repercussions Research Articles

Repercussões obtidas nos serviços de saúde com a implantação do Lean Healthcare: revisão integrativa

The aim was to identify which types of health services/sectors implemented Lean Healthcare and the repercussions obtained. This is an integrative review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses – PRISMA guideline. Searches were carried out in health electronic databases and portals, resulting in 24 articles published between the years 2012-2022. It was evident that the last five years presented 88% of the publications, including during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the health services that implemented Lean, 58.4% did not mention the type of administration, 25% had a private institutional profile and 16.6% were public. The predominance of implementation was in hospitals and university institutions, followed by primary care and laboratory. The most obvious repercussions were the reduction in waiting time, increased patient and professional team satisfaction. It is concluded that the Lean philosophy proved to be effective in different health care scenarios. The importance of longitudinal studies that present the maintenance of the results obtained is highlighted.

Preparation of Asphalt Concretes by Gyratory Compactor: A Case of Study with Rheological and Mechanical Aspects

For asphalt concrete preparation in laboratory mix-design operations, bitumens are usually mixed with micrometer-sized particles (filler), sand and centimeter-sized crushed stones in a gyratory press at a temperature of about 140–155 °C depending on the bitumen viscosity, until adequate homogenization and compaction take place (air voids optimum). This requires energy consumption. To minimize it, the process needs to be optimized and is usually made empirically. The aim of this manuscript is to gain a comprehension of the physico-chemical mechanisms involved in the process by exploring: (i) the rheological properties (viscosity, activation energy) of a neat and RTFOT-aged bitumen, in presence and in absence of a filler, (ii) the volumetric and resistance behavior under the compaction in a standard Gyratory Compactor (GC) of their blends with aggregates and (iii) the mechanical properties (Indirect Tensile Strength, compression and tensile deformation) of the final products. Correlations between activation energy and pre-exponential factor of the viscosity on a side, and between viscosity, workability and final mechanical properties on the other side allowed to provide a rational interpretation of the physico-chemical processes involved in the framework of the physics of complex fluids. The scientific clues will be of help in optimizing the workability in asphalt concretes productions with obvious repercussions in terms of energy savings, useful for economic and environmental issues.

The Messinian Salinity Crisis in Mallorca: New insights for a Western Mediterranean stratigraphic scenario

The Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) was an extraordinary geological event that affected the whole Mediterranean region, as well as global marine circulation between 5.97 and 5.33 Ma. In the Mediterranean, the crisis was mainly characterized by isolation from the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in a new hydrological budget leading to the accumulation of large amounts of evaporites and large-scale erosion of its margins. The nature of the majority of the evaporites and erosional surfaces is still unknown, thus representing a challenge which forms the subject of debate in the scientific community.The Neogene Mallorca basins (Balearic Islands) are well situated to provide a stratigraphic record which expresses the sequence of events related to the MSC, being especially suitable for testing possible geological models or scenarios. New research on the island of Mallorca provides data about the MSC and Zanclean reflooding in the central part of the Western Mediterranean (Balearic Basin), with obvious repercussions for both academia and industry.The main aim of this study is to describe the features which characterize sedimentation during the Miocene-Pliocene transition on the island of Mallorca, to establish how this stratigraphic record relates to the different proposed MSC scenarios for the whole of the Mediterranean. In this regard, a stratigraphic analysis was carried out on a total of 100 exposures and boreholes corresponding to the Neogene basins of Mallorca. The results indicate that, on the island of Mallorca, the development of the MSC is most consistent with models that represent the main phase of desiccation occurring after the accumulation of marginal evaporites (Primary Lower Gypsum), the Terminal Carbonate Complex and the Lago Mare deposits.

El Agar.io Programado en la Enseñanza Superior: Fundamentos de la Dinámica del Superrendimiento y la Superproducción

En este artículo se exploran las experiencias y particularidades a las que se enfrentan los profesores a tiempo parcial o completo en situación precaria que optan, sin éxito aparente, por un trabajo a tiempo completo dentro del sistema profesional de la enseñanza superior. Siguiendo una metodología narrativa, explora la forma en que los profesores (ocho mujeres y seis hombres, todos ellos docentes universitarios a tiempo parcial o completo en diferentes áreas) construyen y legitiman ciertas concepciones sobre la esfera profesional en la universidad que tienen evidentes repercusiones en su identidad personal y profesional. Los resultados, organizados en torno a un relato que toma como referencia la vida cotidiana de un profesor en condiciones precarias, reflejan el estrés al que se ven sometidos los docentes en el marco de los incesantes programas de evaluación y acreditación universitaria, el distanciamiento de la buena enseñanza en favor de una calidad demostrable como investigador y la posibilidad de sufrir el síndrome de agotamiento del profesorado nada más iniciar su carrera profesional.

Safety and Effectiveness of Jet Ventilation with Conventional Ventilatory Frequencies for Elective Microlaryngeal Surgery

Introduction: Ventilate patients during microlaryngeal surgery confronts several problems. Jet ventilation with conventional ventilatory frequencies allows the use of small diameter endotracheal catheters to provide adequate oxygen volumes and better operating conditions than the traditional method. Objective: Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of jet ventilation with conventional ventilatory frequencies for elective microlaryngeal surgery. Methods: A comparative, single-blind, randomized and parallel study was performed. It was used a prototype of jet ventilation device (with an exceptional use permit in humans conferred by the Center for the State Control of Medication, Dispositive and Medical Equipment) in a study group of 45 patients (group E) and compared with a control group (group C) of 15 patients using the traditional ventilation method. Results: Oxygenation was higher in group E. Group C eventually required extubation, transitory apnea and reintubation, which impacted against the anatomophysiological integrity of patients, the operative field and teaching. A greater hemodynamic stability was evident among the subjects of group E. The intrapulmonary pressures produced by jet ventilation did not cause obvious injuries or clinical repercussions. Conclusions: Applying jet ventilation with conventional ventilatory frequencies was safe and effective. For the first time, experiences of using a jet ventilation method in the country were obtained. The group in which traditional ventilation method was applied suffered more frequent and dangerous complications. It is necessary to assimilate jet ventilation´s technologies to raise the quality of medical attention in times of peace, war or disasters, in elective or emerging contexts as the challenge of a difficult airway.

Prevalence and factors associated with poor sleep quality in inflammatory bowel disease outpatients.

sleep disorders are common in the general population and have obvious repercussions on quality of life. Poor sleep quality is associated to inflammatory activity and fatigue in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of poor sleep quality and the factors associated with it, in IBD outpatients. an observational and prospective study was performed in which epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data were collected from clinical records and patients who consecutively attended an outpatient clinic. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index (PSQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used to measure sleep quality, anxiety, depression and physical activity, respectively. Treatment optimizations, hospital admissions or surgery were prospectively verified three months after the baseline visit. one hundred and two patients were included and 54.9 % had poor sleep quality (PSQI score > 5). No association was found between poor sleep quality and IBD-related variables such as type of disease, ulcerative colitis (UC) extent, Crohn's disease (CD) location or behavior, time from diagnosis, treatment, prior admissions or surgery and laboratory values. Rotating night shift job (OR 6.116, 95 % CI: 1.312-28.514), HAD score for depression (OR 1.125, 95 % CI: 1.062-1.490) and frequency (days per week) of vigorous physical activity (OR 0.783, 95 % CI: 0.619-0.991) were independent predictors of poor sleep quality. A Pittsburgh questionnaire score higher than 5 was not significantly associated to treatment optimization in the total patient cohort (15.2 % vs 18.2 %, p = 0.451), in UC patients (18.2 % vs 10.7 %, p = 0.362) or CD patients (12.5 % vs 25.9 %, p = 0.198). poor sleep quality is present in more than half of IBD patients. Aspects not directly related to IBD are associated to poor sleep quality.

β-Arylethynyl substituted silver corrole complexes.

Silver corrolates are attractive compounds from both practical and theoretical points of view. Indeed, they play a key role in peripheral functionalization reactions occurring at the macrocycle, enabling high-yield and regioselective group insertions useful to further elaborate the molecular skeleton. In parallel, the Janus innocent or noninnocent behavior of the corrole ligand in these complexes makes their description particularly challenging. Herein, we report properties for a series of silver 3,17-disubstituted triarylcorrole complexes with various functionalities (halogens or different phenylethynyl units) that deeply affect the electron density in the macrocyclic ligand, with obvious repercussions on the observed spectral characteristics. The compounds were obtained in yields of 54-92% by applying the Stille coupling reaction with the appropriate tributylethynyl stannane. Among the complexes prepared was a derivative bearing two terminal acetylenic units which opens the way to "click" reactions for new corrole-based architectures. This corrole was structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The addition of substituted ethynyl groups resulted in red-shifts of the electronic absorption spectra, the largest of which was observed for the compound with two β-NO2-Ph-C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C substituents. The remarkable influence of the NO2 groups on the electron density of this macrocycle was further demonstrated by electrochemical measurements, where an easier reduction of this complex derivative was observed as compared to the others. DFT calculations showed full delocalization over the entire p-nitrophenylethynyl unit of 5, largely affecting orbital distributions and the corresponding electronic absorptions. Although a variation of the β-substituents dramatically modifies the Soret- and Q-band positions towards lower energies for all the examined complexes, the saddling of the macrocycle resulting from functionalization is only moderate. The collected results suggest the description of these compounds as AgIII-corrolate3-, a metallocorrole with an innocent macrocyclic ligand.

Appreciating vs venerating cultural outgroups

PurposeCosmopolitanism and xenocentrism denote distinct individual orientations toward cultural outgroups. The former considers an individual’s openness to cultural diversity and ability to navigate through intercultural environments, whereas the latter describes an individual’s feelings of admiration or preference for specific cultural outgroup(s), over his/her ingroup. Few studies have simultaneously examined these constructs and fewer still have considered these within a nomological framework of key predictors (i.e. basic psychological needs) and practical outcomes (e.g. influentialness and friendships across different groups). The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe authors hypothesized a series of relationships of various antecedents and outcomes of cosmopolitanism and xenocentrism, and tested these conjectures using survey data from Canadians (n=238) and Americans (n=239).FindingsThe findings support the psychometric robustness of our tripartite operationalization of xenocentrism, and clearly distinguish this construct from cosmopolitanism. Beyond confirming earlier findings, the authors illuminate several novel relationships (e.g. between basic psychological needs, cosmopolitanism and xenocentrism), and elucidate the role played by a key personality dimension, neuroticism, in mediating the relationships between basic psychological needs and the two outgroup orientations.Research limitations/implicationsSamples of this study are drawn from North America and a cross-sectional research design is used.Originality/valueWhereas for xenocentric consumers admiration of one or more foreign culture(s) displaces customary preferences for one’s own cultural group, cosmopolitan consumers are able to embrace outside cultures without disaffection from their sociocultural ingroup. Given the obvious repercussions of these differences for targeting international consumer segments and for positioning brands across borders, our research has numerous practical applications as well as theoretical implications.

Sequence-to-structure dependence of isolated IgG Fc complex biantennary N-glycans: a molecular dynamics study.

Fc glycosylation of human immunoglobulins G (IgGs) is essential for their structural integrity and activity. Interestingly, the specific nature of the Fc glycoforms is known to modulate the IgG effector function and inflammatory properties. Indeed, while core-fucosylation of IgG Fc-glycans greatly affects the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity function, with obvious repercussions in the design of therapeutic antibodies, sialylation can reverse the antibody inflammatory response, and galactosylation levels have been linked to aging, to the onset of inflammation, and to the predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis. Within the framework of a structure-to-function relationship, we have studied the role of the N-glycan sequence on its intrinsic conformational propensity. Here we report the results of a systematic study, based on extensive molecular dynamics simulations in excess of 62 μs of cumulative simulation time, on the effect of sequence on the structure and dynamics of increasingly larger, complex biantennary N-glycoforms isolated from the protein, i.e. from chitobiose to the larger N-glycan species commonly found in the Fc region of human IgGs. Our results show that while core fucosylation and sialylation do not affect the intrinsic dynamics of the unlinked N-glycans, galactosylation of the α(1-6) arm shifts dramatically its conformational equilibrium from an outstretched to a folded conformation. These findings are in agreement with and can help rationalize recent experimental evidence showing a differential recognition of positional isomers in glycan array data and also the preference of sialyltransferase for the more accessible, outstretched α(1-3) arm in both isolated, and Fc-bound N-glycans.

Job satisfaction, burnout and coping strategies: Comparison between medical and surgical specialties

IntroductionDoctors have many constraints in their professional practice, which influence negatively the quality of their performance. This causes a psychological distress.AimTo compare job satisfaction (JS), burnout (BT), anxiety, depression and coping strategies among doctors of medical (DMS) and surgical specialities (DSS).MethodComparative and cross-sectional study conducted among 33 DMS and 63 DSS with different grades, in the university hospital Farhat Hached Sousse, Tunisia. We used job satisfaction scale (JSS) to determine the degree of JS, hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) to evaluate anxiety and depression, the Maslach burnout inventory to assess the BT and the brief cope to determine coping strategies.ResultsDMS were older than the DSS (P = 0.005). The MSC had more unsettled family life (P = 0.04) and more monthly guard (5.87 vs. 4.96, P = 0.03). DMS had more days of outpatient (P = 0.00), were more satisfied with the work schedule (P = 0.00), conditions of the guards (P = 0.02). Relationships with colleagues were more satisfactory among DMS (P = 0.001). DMS were less confronted to violent events (P = 0.03). The average score of JSS was higher among DMS (P = 0.014). The BT was more reported in the DSS (P = 0.049). An average sub-score HADS-D (depression) was higher in the DSS (P = 0.00). An avoidance-focused coping was more adopted by the DSS (P = 0.02).ConclusionDSS were generally less satisfied in their work than DMS with obvious psychological repercussions. This incites to intervene in factors that interfere with job satisfaction to improve the quality of physicians’ performance.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Impacts of the antidepressant fluoxetine on the anti-predator behaviours of wild guppies (Poecilia reticulata)

Chemical pollution from pharmaceuticals is increasingly recognised as a major threat to aquatic communities. One compound of great concern is fluoxetine, which is one of the most widely prescribed psychoactive drugs in the world and frequently detected in the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 28-d fluoxetine exposure at two environmentally relevant levels (measured concentrations: 4ng/L and 16ng/L) on anti-predator behaviour in wild guppies (Poecilia reticulata). This was achieved by subjecting fluoxetine-exposed and unexposed guppies to a simulated bird strike and recording their subsequent behavioural responses. We found that exposure to fluoxetine affected the anti-predator behaviour of guppies, with exposed fish remaining stationary for longer (i.e. ‘freezing’ behaviour) after the simulated strike and also spending more time under plant cover. By contrast, control fish were significantly more active and explored the tank more, as indicated by the distance covered per minute over the period fish spent swimming. Furthermore, behavioural shifts were sex-dependent, with evidence of a non-monotonic dose-response among the fluoxetine-exposed fish. This is one of the first studies to show that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of fluoxetine can alter the anti-predator behaviour of adult fish. In addition to the obvious repercussions for survival, impaired anti-predator behaviour can have direct impacts on fitness and influence the overall population dynamics of species.

Drug Metabolism - From In Vitro to In Vivo, From Simple to Complex: Reflections of the BCPT Nordic Prize 2014 Awardee.

Drug metabolism is the crucial part of pharmaco- and toxicokinetics and consequently is associated with both desirable and adverse effects of most xenobiotics, compounds foreign to the body. This minireview follows some advances of the field over the last 50years or so through the experiences and work of one scientist. Thus, this minireview represents a rather personal view of research in one research field. Drug metabolism is affected and controlled by a huge number of factors and conditions such as individual development, species differences, drug-drug interactions and various environmental, host and genetic factors working via a variable set of regulatory mechanisms. All these different factors create wide individual, population and species variability with obvious repercussions to clinical drug therapy and chemical risk assessment. This minireview also provides glimpses to methodological developments over recent decades and ends up presenting a few promising approaches and techniques such as various omics and high-content and high-throughput techniques feeding huge amounts of data to computational integration and modelling, which constitute the basis for systems or network pharmacology and toxicology.

Dynamic Effects of Wind Loads on a Gravity Damper

The gravity damper is safety device used for the air treatment that prevent overpressure inside the unit through the opening. It is a normally closed valve under the effect of the gravity force, which, under the action of the incident air flow, allows to manage any excess mass. Clearly, although the device is rather simple and therefore reliable, the operating conditions may prove burdensome, especially if the gravity dampers are applied to installations of energy transformation, such as the gas turbines; this is mainly due to the need to develop large masses of air at speeds rather incurred. This article describes an experiment carried out on a gravity damper designed to be installed in a gas turbine. The characterization has been performed in numerical (CFD-FEM), considering both the mode shapes and the natural frequencies of the device in working condition as well as any phenomenon of detachment of the fluid that can trigger vortex shedding and subsequently validated in the wind tunnel facilities of the University of Perugia. In particular, what is wanted to be highlighted is the fact that, after a preliminary analysis, it has been clearly evident that, under the operating conditions, the structure would be affected by phenomena of vortex shedding. The shedding frequency is next to some natural frequencies of the structure, with obvious repercussions on the integrity of the structure. An experimental vibration analysis performed in the wind tunnel at flow regime has in fact allowed to identify the phenomenon of lock-in.

Severity Classification and Characterization of Waterlogged Irrigation Fields in the Fincha’ a Valley Sugar Estate, Nile Basin of Western Ethiopia

Waterlogging is becoming the major threat to the sustainability of irrigated agricultural lands in Fincha’a Valley Sugar Estate (FVSE). In the present study timely and accurate detection of waterlogged areas through piezometer monitoring and remote sensing indicators, along with their characterization and severity classification has been made. Accordingly, spatial maps of groundwater table (GWT) depth were produced in a Geographic information system (GIS) (ArcGIS 10.2) environment from 40 groundwater monitoring piezometer data. Results of the study revealed that FVSE, after nearly 20-25 years of irrigation, is experiencing a serious waterlogging problem. About 324.4 km2 (75.5%) of the delineated plantation fields are severely waterlogged and 105 km2 (24.5%) are critically waterlogged. The study also revealed that the GWT depth for all selected irrigation fields is very shallow in winter compared to spring, autumn and summer seasons. The seasonal fluctuation and spatial variability of groundwater table in the irrigated fields is owing to excess irrigation water application, nature of the soil, topography and high seepage from water bodies and poor drainage system; hence are the main causes for waterlogging (GWT rise) problem in the study area. The groundwater depth is extremely shallow (<1 m below ground) in most of the piezometer sites (about 94.7% of the study area) throughout the entire season and showed great spatio-seasonal variability. The rate of annual increment of groundwater rise, coupled with seasonal fluctuation, has obvious repercussions and grave consequences for the sustainability of Fincha’a Valley Sugar Estate. The serious problem of the rising groundwater table can be tackled by adopting improved irrigation water management practices, designing drainage system and further geological investigations. Therefore, it is highly suggested to critically study the causes, consequences and solutions of the waterlogging problem (GWT rise) in a concerted and integrated manner to get out of this vicious problem.

Knowing What is Best

AbstractAlready, and with good reason, light pollution is recognized as one of the most damaging legacies that current “civilization“ is bequeathing to its children. Denying them the opportunity, even the right, to experience visually the majesty and awe of the universe has obvious repercussions for our science, and other contributors to this meeting are addressing those eloquently. But it is also critically important to place light pollution in the cadre of the general environmental degradation which unbridled technology is causing. The amount of power consumed by one outdoor light is only a minuscule drop in the ocean, but enough of those drops make an ocean. Using low-wattage bulbs, and getting more power out of them via halogen or LED technology, can ease the drain on the supply of power, but when several can be run, and run brighter, than a single tungsten lamp and cost is the only goal, the consumer simply installs more of them.We all hope for a restored and sustainable environment, but the challenge is first to learn and practice the essential difference between “want“ and “need”. A more specific challenge is to educate the affluent countries about the deleterious effects of nighttime lights on human health and on other bio-systems and species, and to explain the truth about “security“ issues. If astronomers place the needs of their own science too foremost they risk the criticism of selfishness: why are our own scientific requirements more important than the pleasure and health benefits of a whole town in pursuing sports activities outdoors after sunset? How can the need to illuminate streets, intersections, parking lots and to deter intruders be less necessary for personal and community safety and wellbeing than some rather esoteric scientific opportunities for a small population of astronomers?Dark Sky Preserves are a lovely concept but they are not the full answer; reducing light pollution is the responsibility of every citizen, and ensuring good astronomical conditions in a few remote parks must does not excuse the prevailing cavalier attitudes that are causing light pollution to be blithely accelerated everywhere else.The solution is Education, and for astronomers the key is to tone down the astronomically important and to emphasize the many general benefits of reducing light pollution. It is only when the non-astronomical community starts offering the astronomical advantages too of its own volition that we will see true progress in fighting this most pervasive of modern environmental disasters.

The crisis in figures

Economic data on construction market performance culled from recently published analysis and studies, have served to highlight and quantify the phenomena that have driven the negative global economic downturn, affecting the construction sector in particular, over the last two years, with obvious repercussions also for Italy. Although there were a few rallying signs that the downward trend was easing off slightly in early 2011 – both in Europe and, albeit rather more hesitantly, in Italy – those tenuous hopes for recovery were not backed up by actual statistical indicators, potentially providing some indication of promising development trends. Of the few emerging dynamics in the American market, which is recovering more swiftly than in Europe, there seems to have been a marked increase in the production of sustainable or “green” buildings, which are taking over increasingly larger slices of the market.

The influence of alcohol and tobacco use in orthopaedic inpatients on complications of surgery

Tobacco use and heavy alcohol consumption are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. There is limited research on the correlation between tobacco and risky levels of alcohol use and the possible complications associated with a hospital admission. The underestimation of problem drinking, in particular, has obvious repercussions for the management of patients in hospital. If alcohol-related problems go undetected or unrecorded, treatment may be inadequate or inappropriate. The aims of the project were to assess the prevalence of high-risk alcohol and tobacco use in orthopaedic in-patients and to examine any relationship between alcohol and tobacco use and the number and type of complications, management and length of stay. One hundred and fifty-three consecutive orthopaedic admissions to the Orthopaedic Ward at Lismore Base Hospital were screened using the Drinkcheck questionnaire, which is based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), but which also screens for tobacco use. Nursing staff on the ward completed a Complications Evaluation Questionnaire (CEQ). The risk status of the subjects was compared to the number and type of complications, to assess any effects of alcohol and tobacco on post-surgical complications. Significant correlations were found between tobacco use, hazardous and harmful alcohol use and numerous medical complications and behavioural problems. Behavioural problems associated with risky alcohol use included verbal abuse, agitation and sleep disturbances, particularly in men; problems associated with tobacco use included agitation and non-compliance. Orthopaedic patients who smoke and/or drink heavily prior to surgery may have more non-medical complications than non-smokers and light or non-drinkers. All surgery patients should thus be screened for alcohol and tobacco use and alcohol withdrawal, which may cause other symptoms such as behavioural problems, non-compliance and verbal abuse post-surgery.

Palestine Versus the Palestinians? The Iron Laws and Ironies of a People Denied

An iron law of the conflict over Palestine has been the refusal by the Zionist movement and its backers, first Great Britain and then the United States, to make room for the existence of Palestinians as a political community. This non-recognition is rooted in historical forces that predate the existence of the Zionist movement and the Palestinians as a people. Consequently, there is a tension between identity and territory, with obvious repercussions for the following questions: Who are the Palestinians? What do they want? And who speaks for them? This essay calls for a critical reappraisal of the relationship between the concepts ““Palestine”” and ““Palestinians,”” as well as of the state-centered project of successive phases of the Palestinian national movement.

Ecosystems and World Systems: Accumulation as anEcological Process

World-systemic processes of capital accumulation are inextricably intermeshed with ecology. Not only do they have obvious repercussions on landscapes and ecosystems ( e.g., erosion, deforestation), but they are also fundamentally dependent on ecological aspects such as topsoil, forests, or minerals. The analytical disjunction of ecology and economics is a persistent feature of modern science. The minority of researchers who have seriously tried to integrate them in a common theoretical framework (cf. Martinez-Alier 1987) have run into major, conceptual difficulties. This paper addresses some of the issues raised in an attempt to ground the notion of capital accumulation in the physical realities of ecology and thermodynamics.

Retour sur le terrain. La préparation des élections municipales de 1995 par l’équipe d’Edmond Hervé, maire de Rennes

Between 1977 and 1989, the municipal team headed by Edmond Hervé successfully implemented a local mode of government linking social progress to economic growth. During his third mandate, Hervé was challenged as former minister of Health in the French blood transfusion scandal: this had obvious repercussions at the local level. In addition, protest grew over an underground railway project for Rennes which also weakened his political plans. But by mastering numerous skills •such as communication techniques or activist work —, the Socialists were able to rally their traditional supporters for the upcoming election. A microstructural approach to recruitment in social movements may throw a relevant light on this aspect of political activity described as «craftsmanship».