Avec l’entrée d’internet dans notre quotidien, avec les réseaux sociaux, dans un monde de plus en plus numérique et mobile, le recours à la communication par internet est indispensable dans les stratégies de communication, et particulièrement en communication de crise. Une enquête, auprès d’universités françaises, permet d’analyser, à partir de l’exemple de la grippe A, comment internet est devenu un outil majeur dans la communication des universités en situation de crise. La communication par internet est d’abord une aide. Elle permet de diffuser largement les messages d’information et de prévention. A ce titre, elle est une communication interne. Elle aide aussi l’établissement à assurer la continuité du service public d’enseignement, grâce aux outils numériques qu’il développe. Mais la communication par internet présente aussi des risques. Elle peut être brouillée, altérant ainsi les effets attendus, comme il a été constaté lors de la campagne de communication sur la vaccination. Elle peut aussi être victime d’attaques, parce que toute communication empruntant la voie internet est menacée, posant ainsi le problème de la sécurité des systèmes d’information. En cas de crise, les établissements seraient confrontés, d’une part à la nécessité de maîtriser les techniques de communication, d’autre part aux besoins liés à l’utilisation des outils numériques ; mais aussi aux risques pesant sur les systèmes d’information. Prévoir, dans la mesure du possible, la survenance de problèmes qui pourraient se poser en cas de crise, est nécessaire. En se préparant à l’avance à la gestion de crise, grâce notamment à la mutualisation des moyens et à une prise de conscience des risques, les universités pourraient mieux maîtriser ces difficultés. / Internet communication is now generally acknowledged as indispensable in communication strategies, and particularly in crisis communication. A survey of French universities makes it possible to analyze, through the example of the H1N1 flu pandemic, how the Internet became a major tool for the communication of universities in a crisis. At the internal level, Internet communication appears as a reliable resource, allowing the diffusion of informative and preventive messages. It also helps the institution to ensure the continuity of public educational services through digital tools. But Internet communication also involves risks. Messages can be blurred, thus altering their expected effects, as became clear during the communication campaign on immunization. Messages can also be the victim of attacks, because any communication via the Internet channel may be threatened in various ways. This poses the problem of the security of information systems. In sum, institutions in crisis must face not only the necessity to master digital techniques of communication, and to comply with the requirements inherent in the use of digital tools, but also to manage risks that are specific to digital information systems. Anticipating, so far as is possible, the occurrence of problems that might arise in a crisis is essential. By preparing to cope with crises, including through the pooling of resources and the awareness of risks, universities may better control these difficulties. The study of this crisis reveals not only the pertinent issues, but also how such preparation might be most effectively undertaken.

A knowledge about infectious diseases and vaccination is very important in this time. The questionnaire, which is part of this thesis, is designated for 1st to 4th grade high school students and the upper grade grammar school pupils. The questionnaire was used to analyse pupils' knowledge and attitudes about infectious diseases and vaccination. Pupils' knowledge and attitudes are quite good and students are able to voice their opinion. Females have better knowledge than males and older students are better too. The thesis is further focusing on how are the infectious diseases included in the National Curriculum and examine the prevention programmes for schools. The other purpose is to follow up the threat of pandemic diseases and present state of knowledge and awareness about this topic.

Fin avril 2009, des cas de grippe causés par un nouveau virus grippal A/H1N1 d’origine porcine sont confirmés au Mexique et aux Etats-Unis. Rapidement, le virus est détecté aux quatre coins du globe causant la première pandémie du XXIème siècle. Les différents travaux présentés dans cette thèse retracent les moyens mis en œuvre pour obtenir des informations permettant d’estimer le taux d’attaque réel de ce nouveau virus et des informations sur les populations à risque. Durant les premiers mois, nous avons mis en place une plateforme de sérologies comprenant un laboratoire de réception et de traitement des échantillons pour l’exécution de notre technique d’IHA. Le traitement d’environ 40.000 sérums provenant de plusieurs endroits du globe : France, Bolivie, Djibouti, Mali, île de la Réunion et Laos a permis l’analyse de données sérologiques et leur comparaison. Nos études sérologiques de la grippe A(H1N1)pdm09 montrent que 10% à 40% des populations testées ont été infectées par ce nouveau virus après la première vague de 2009. Les plus forts taux d’attaque ont été observés chez les enfants et les jeunes adultes alors que les personnes âgées ont été relativement épargnées du fait qu’elles étaient déjà protégées contre des virus antigéniquements proches qui circulaient avant 1957 (virus pandémique et/ou saisonniers). L’analyse des données sérologiques ont également permis de tenter de définir les facteurs de risque à l’infection de A(H1N1)pdm09. / In late April 2009, news swine-origin A/H1N1 influenza virus cases were confirmed in Mexico and the United States. Quickly, it was spread worldwide causing the first flu pandemic of the 21st century. Different works presented in this thesis describe the means used to obtain information to estimate the actual attack rate of this new virus, and information on risk populations. During the first months, we have established a serology platform including a reception-processing samples laboratory for implementing our hémagglutination Inhibition technique (IHA). Processing of 40,000 sera from several parts of the world: France, Bolivia, Djibouti, Mali, Reunion and Laos, has allowed the analysis of serological data and their comparison. Our serological studies of influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 show that 10% to 40% of people tested were infected with this new virus after the first wave in 2009. The highest attack rates were observed in children and young adults, while the elderly were relatively spared because they were already protected again antigenic close viruses that circulated before 1957 (pandemic and / or seasonal). The analysis of serological data were also used to try to identify the risk factors for A(H1N1)pdm09 infection. It appears that infection with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was ubiquitous on the French territory, whatever the socio-demographic factors, and the Flu virus transmission can probably conditioned by the environmental and hygienic conditions in household.

The motivation to avoid punishment, or to pursue reward can result in certain behavioral tendencies. It is known that individuals with higher sensitivity towards reward can express traits of extrovertedness, openness to novel situations, and a general appetite for feeling good. Individuals on the other side of the spectrum tend to show a pessimistic attitude towards approaching novel situations. As a consequence, individuals with a higher tendency of approaching novel situations ought to find themselves in risky situations more frequently than individuals who would rather avoid novel situations. Looking at this from a human factors perspective, it becomes apparent that a tendency to approach situations with a lack of conflict monitoring can produce risks, but simeltaneously, disinterest in approaching a risky situation can lead to crisis events. In other words, whilst individuals with a sensitivity towards reward might have a proclivity for producing a crisis, they might also have a higher chance of solving a crisis. In order to solve unexpected crisis events, it is necessary to be able to improvise. In the experiment of this current thesis, individuals were assessed for their sensitivity towards reward and punishment, and following this, the individuals were assessed in improvisational skills. Motivation behavior and improvisation skills were investigated to see if there is a correlation between them. The purpose of this thesis was to present a multidisciplinary literature account for the relevant subjects by tying together aspects of cognition, cognitive neuroscience, human factors, and psychology, and to provide experimental data about the mentioned correlation. The present experiment showed that there is a significant correlation between sensitivity towards reward and improvisation skills. Additionally, it was also found that system-level factors i.e pre-implemented elements by a designer/organization might not facilitate improvisational performance, but this significant result did not appear in the expected manner. Future directions of research on this subject should focus on five mainpoints (1) replication of investigating the relationship between personality styles and improvisation with different methodologies, (2) investigating the mechanisms leading to the emergence of this relationship, (3) approach the subject mainly from a cognitive-neuroscientific standpoint, but complement with a multiple disciplinary approach (4) use the results within the disciplines of human factors, safety, and resilience, and (5) take data into consideration for e.g. future accident preventions policies.

Since 9/11, little statistical rigor has been placed on identifying the correlates of hospital preparedness. This quantitative study explores the research question: Is there a correlation between the employment of a designated hospital preparedness coordinator and the reported level of preparedness for: (a) general preparedness; (b) chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) events; (c) pandemic disease outbreaks; (d) mass casualty events; and (e) internal infrastructure failure, as assessed by an online survey. Alternative analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between access to resources and the 5 dependent variables. Using complexity theory as the theoretical framework, point biserial correlation and Pearson's method were used to assess the relations between the dependent and independent variables. Initially, no statistically significant correlative relationship was found using point biserial analysis. However, further analysis found that the correlation between full-time employment of a preparedness coordinator and pandemic preparedness reached significance. Point biserial analysis of the alternative research questions found statistically significant correlations between access to preparedness resources, CBRN, pandemic, and infrastructure failure preparedness. Pearson analysis found a statistically significant correlation between single facility coordinator responsibilities and pandemic preparedness. This identifies at least 2 significant correlates of hospital preparedness. Positive social change can be achieved by identifying strategies that leverage these assets in a fiscally sustainable constructs that maximize hospitals' ability to effectively serve the community in disasters but that do not so heavily rely on government funding and grants in a world of ever-changing priorities.

All-hazards pandemic planning is the foundation of current emergency management planning doctrine, yet there is limited information and limited studies related to its effectiveness in mitigating pandemics. The North Texas emergency management community handles incidents of West Nile Virus, H1N1 influenza, and a recent Ebola incident. Despite efforts to mitigate these threats, reported cases and deaths are still occurring from both influenza and West Nile virus. The purpose of this case study was to assess the risk perceptions of emergency planners in a small emergency operation center in North Texas using the cultural theory of risk perception as the theoretical framework. The raw data for this study originated from qualitative semi structured interviews with five emergency managers. By way of qualitative hand coding and thematic extraction, four primary themes emerged from the data: (a) political/organizational climate, (b) emergency response, (c) training and experience, and (d) communication. Additionally, all themes yielded relevant subthemes. The all-hazards approach to pandemic planning was effective as long as planners swiftly adjusted or adapted their plan for individual emergency events. The emergency management community still struggles with ineffective communication, negative political influences, poor coordination, and training shortfalls. Lack of trust in the levels of government emerged as a potential underlying cause to many of the issues. These findings may promote positive social change by assisting emergency management planners in assessing communications, coordination, training, appropriate use of personnel, and to identify areas where lack of trust between community partners may be affecting the overall response effort.

<p>The aim of this thesis is to develop a flexible distributed platform designed toexecute a disease outbreaks simulator in a fast way over many types of platformsand operating systems. The architecture is realized using the Elastic ComputeCloud (EC2) supplied by Amazon and Condor as middleware among the varioustypes of OS. The second part of the report describes the realization of a webapplication that allows users to manage easily the various part of the architecture,to launch the simulations and to view some statistics of the relative results.</p>

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2007.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2007.

<p><font face="Times New Roman"> <p align="left">Within this thesis, the author recognizes that the technocratic thinking about AIDS Silin warned against has become the standard upon which much of AIDS education is based today. The author demonstrates the necessity of rethinking constructions that have reduced AIDS education and the complex pandemic to simple facts about the HI virus and its transmission. Technicist understandings of the pandemic, the author suggests, have resulted in technicist approaches to AIDS education.</p> </font></p>