Modelling representation errors of atmospheric CO2 mixing ratios at a regional scale

Inverse modelling of carbon sources and sinks requires an accurate quality estimate of the modelling framework to obtain a realistic estimate of the inferred fluxes and their uncertainties. So-called "representation errors" result from our inability to correctly represent point observations with simulated average values of model grid cells. They may add substantial uncertainty to the interpretation of atmospheric CO2 mixing ratio data. We simulated detailed variations in the CO2 mixing ratios with a high resolution (2 km) mesoscale model (RAMS) to estimate the representation errors introduced at larger model grid sizes of 10 100 km. We found that meteorology is the main driver of representation errors in our study causing spatial and temporal variations in the error estimate. Within the nocturnal boundary layer, the representation errors are relatively large and mainly caused by unresolved topography at lower model resolutions. During the day, convective structures, mesoscale circulations, and surface CO2 flux variability were found to be the main sources of representation errors. Interpreting observations near a mesoscale circulation as representative for air with the correct footprint relative to the front can reduce the representation error substantially. The remaining representation error is 0.5 1.5 ppm at 20 100 km resolution

EDAQ : DLV. Vragenlijst Evaluatie Dagelijkse Activiteit (Dutch language version of the Evaluation of Daily Activity Questionnaire)

The Dutch language version of the Evaluation of Daily Activity Questionnaire (EDAQ) is a self-report outcome measure, which people complete at home in their own time and then return to the clinician/ researcher. It has been validated for use with people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions in the UK, and with people with rheumatoid arthritis in the Netherlands. It can be used for clinical, audit and research purposes. It includes three parts. Part 1 consists of 10 numeric rating scales evaluating aspects of body functions (e.g. pain, fatigue, movement limitations). Part 2 consists of 14 domains assessing activity and participation abilities/ restrictions with and without the use of ergonomic approaches. Part 3 (optional) is about assistive device use. It is available in two forms: parts 1 to 3 and parts 1 and 2 only. Usually, the EDAQ parts 1 and 2 is used for most clinical and research purposes. The updated EDAQ Manual v3 (2018) explains how to use and score the EDAQ, with scoring examples (http://usir.salford.ac.uk/30752/). Rasch Transformation Tables are available in the EDAQ Manual v2 Supplement 1 and Supplement 2. An explanatory leaflet for clients is also available in USIR here under Monographs

Reducing children's aggressive and oppositional behaviors in the schools: Preliminary results on the effectiveness of a social-cognitive group intervention program

This study examined the effects of a social-cognitive group intervention program for children with oppositional and aggressive behaviors. Forty-two children aged between 9 and 12 years who clearly displayed behavior problems at school were treated with this program. A cross-over design was used in which one group of children first received treatment and then assigned to a waiting period, whereas the other group of children first waited and subsequently received treatment. Treatment effects were assessed by means of standardized instruments completed by children, parents, and teachers. Results demonstrate that the social-cognitive intervention yielded a significant reduction of behavior problems and an increase of social-cognitive skills as compared to the waiting list control condition. Further, a follow-up assessment of the children who were initially treated indicate that the intervention effects were retained over a three-month period. Finally, some support was found for the theoretical underpinnings of the social-cognitive intervention program. More specifically, a greater increase in social-cognitive skills was to some extent associated with a larger reduction of behavior problems

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric testing of the Dutch and German versions of the Evaluation of Daily Activity Questionnaire in people with rheumatoid arthritis

The Evaluation of Daily Activity Questionnaire (EDAQ) is a detailed patient-reported outcome measure of activity ability. The objective of this research was to assess the linguistic and cross-cultural validity and psychometric properties of the EDAQ in rheumatoid arthritis for Dutch and German speakers. The EDAQ was translated into Dutch and German using standard methods. A total of 415 participants (Dutch n = 252; German n = 163) completed two questionnaires about four weeks apart. The first included the EDAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and 36-item Short-Form v2 (SF-36v2) and the second, the EDAQ only. We examined construct validity using Rasch analysis for the two components (Self-Care and Mobility) of the Dutch and German EDAQ. Language invariance was also tested from the English version. We examined internal consistency, concurrent and discriminant validity and test–retest reliability in the 14 EDAQ domains. The Self-Care and Mobility components satisfied Rasch model requirements for fit, unidimensionality and invariance by language. Internal consistency for all 14 domains was mostly good to excellent (Cronbach’s alpha ≥ 0.80). Concurrent validity was mostly strong: HAQ rs = 0.65–0.87; SF36v2 rs = − 0.61 to − 0.87. Test–retest reliability was excellent [ICC (2,1) = 0.77–0.97]. The EDAQ has good reliability and validity in both languages. The Dutch and German versions of the EDAQ can be used as a measure of daily activity in practice and research in the Netherlands and German- speaking countries

Succesfactoren kleinschalige bioraffinage : tussentijdse rapportage 2014

Economies of scale zijn een belangrijke belemmering voor de implementatie van kleinschalige processen. Dit wordt bijvoorbeeld geïllustreerd met schaalfactoren voor apparatuur en menskracht. Als er echter naar hele ketens wordt gekeken, zijn er wel duidelijke situaties waarin kleinschaligheid voordelen biedt. Dit wordt in dit rapport geïllustreerd aan de hand van voorbeeldcases, zowel uit de literatuur of aan de hand van informatie binnen de “PPS Kleinschalige Bioraffinage”

Development of Comparative Toxicity Potentials of TiO₂ Nanoparticles for Use in Life Cycle Assessment

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Echoes from the past: Regional variations in recovery within a harbour seal population

Terrestrial and marine wildlife populations have been severely reduced by hunting, fishing and habitat destruction, especially in the last centuries. Although management regulations have led to the recovery of some populations, the underlying processes are not always well understood. This study uses a 40-year time series of counts of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Wadden Sea to study these processes, and demonstrates the influence of historical regional differences in management regimes on the recovery of this population. While the Wadden Sea is considered one ecologically coupled zone, with a distinct harbour seal population, the area is divided into four geo-political regions i.e. the Netherlands, Lower Saxony including Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark. Gradually, seal hunting was banned between 1962 and 1977 in the different regions. Counts of moulting harbour seals and pup counts, obtained during aerial surveys between 1974 and 2014, show a population growth from approximately 4500 to 39,000 individuals. Population growth models were developed to assess if population growth differed between regions, taking into account two Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) epizootics, in 1988 and 2002 which seriously affected the population. After a slow start prior to the first epizootic, the overall population grew exponentially at rates close to assumed maximum rates of increase in a harbour seal population. Recently, growth slowed down, potentially indicative of approaching carrying capacity. Regional differences in growth rates were demonstrated, with the highest recovery in Netherlands after the first PDV epizootic (i.e. 17.9%), suggesting that growth was fuelled by migration from the other regions, where growth remained at or below the intrinsic growth rate (13%). The seals’ distribution changed, and although the proportion of seals counted in the German regions declined, they remained by far the most important pupping region, with approximately 70% of all pups being born there. It is hypothesised that differences in hunting regime, preceding the protection in the 1960’s and 1970’s, created unbalance in the distribution of breeding females throughout the Wadden Sea, which prevailed for decades. Breeding site fidelity promoted the growth in pup numbers at less affected breeding sites, while recolonisation of new breeding areas would be suppressed by the philopatry displayed by the animals born there. This study shows that for long-lived species, variable management regimes in this case hunting regulations, across a species’ range can drive population dynamics for several generations