Coastal climate change adaptation in existing urban areas, lessons learned from dutch and norwegian pilots

Climate change is expected to have a large impact on coastal cities all around the world. Due to the expected sea level rise for coastal regions new flood defense policies are developed, with emphasis on risk assessment and a multifunctional approach to strengthening existing coastal defenses. Most climate adaptation programs in cities focus on technical measures with little international knowledge exchange of the best management practices and governance. In this article the best management practices of two coastal cities both named ‘Bergen’ is discussed

Developing an equestrian network in the province of Drenthe

Abstract for the European Association for Sport Management conference 2015 in Dublin. The abstract describes a study to the economic value of the equestrian sector in the province of Drenthe (Netherlands) and the possibilities for the equestrian sector to optimize its economic value

Continuation of Liraglutide during Fasting is not Associated with Hypoglycaemia

Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog, is increasingly used in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in doses of up to 3.0 mg/day because of its attractive pharmacological profile. It is currently not known how to proceed with this medication during fasting for surgery. Discontinuation is likely to result in hyperglycaemia, while continuation might lead to hypoglycaemia, but, in view of its mode of action, continuation of GLP-1 analogs is likely to be safe. However, as evidence-based guidelines on GLP-1 management during perioperative fasting are not available, the safety of either policy needs to be confirmed on an individual basis. We therefore decided to perform a preoperative assessment of the glucose response to fasting during continuation of GLP-1 before giving a recommendation in individual cases. So far, 12 severely obese T2DM patients scheduled for bariatric surgery have been evaluated preoperatively by measuring glucose and insulin levels during a 32-hour fast with continuation of liraglutide. Hypoglycaemia was not observed. This suggests that liraglutide in doses of up to 3.0 mg can be safely continued during surgery without risking hypoglycaemia

Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for studying drug induced mitochondrial toxicity

Today HIV-1 infection is recognized as a chronic disease with obligatory lifelong treatment to keep viral titers below detectable levels. The continuous intake of antiretroviral drugs however, leads to severe and even life-threatening side effects, supposedly by the deleterious impact of nucleoside-analogue type compounds on the functioning of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase. For detailed investigation of the yet partially understood underlying mechanisms, the availability of a versatile model system is crucial. We therefore set out to develop the use of Caenorhabditis elegansto study drug induced mitochondrial toxicity. Using a combination of molecular-biological and functional assays, combined with a quantitative analysis of mitochondrial network morphology, we conclude that anti-retroviral drugs with similar working mechanisms can be classified into distinct groups based on their effects on mitochondrial morphology and biochemistry. Additionally we show that mitochondrial toxicity of antiretroviral drugs cannot be exclusively attributed to interference with the mitochondrial DNA polymerase

Cinacalcet for Hypercalcemia Caused by Pulmonary Squamous Cell Carcinoma Producing Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide

Contains fulltext : 110547.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Current treatments for hypercalcemia caused by lung cell carcinomas producing parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTH-rp) have limited efficacy, probably because of their lack of effect on PTH-rp secretion. In this case study we explored the efficacy of the calcimimetic cinacalcet as suppressor of PTH-rp production. PATIENT: A 57-year-old male with severe and recurrent hypercalcemia induced by a PTH-rp-producing squamous cell lung carcinoma, stage cT4N3M1b, poorly responding to standard treatments. RESULTS: Serum PTH-rp levels were not affected by saline, calcitonin or zoledronate. PTH-rp decreased during chemotherapy and cinacalcet monotherapy. The combination of chemotherapy plus cinacalcet was most effective in rapidly reducing serum calcium and PTH-rp. CONCLUSION: This case study is the first to suggest that cinacalcet may be of value in some cases of PTH-rp-dependent hypercalcemia. Corroborative evidence is needed

The I of students with ID or SEBD:A systematic literature review of the self-concept of students with ID or SEBD

With the trend towards inclusive education, today there are many different school settings in which students with an intellectual disability (ID) or social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) are educated. According to the Social Comparison Theory of Festinger, educational contexts influence the self-concept development of these students. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of literature over the last 20 years focusing on the self-concept of students with ID or SEBD in different school settings, in relation to typically developing peers and the relationship between self-concept and various variables. The results of the 15 articles identified for this review mainly indicate neutral self-concept scores. Studies focus primarily on students with ID and on the social and academic dimensions of self-concept. Students in special education tend to score slightly more positive than students in other school settings and students with ID or SEBD report a more negative self-concept than typically developing peers. Most variables included in the studies show no correlation with self-concept. Findings also revealed difficulties in the feasibility of comparison between studies due to statistical shortcomings and lack of clarification in the identified articles. Future directions for self-concept research are discussed comprehensively

Virtual historical landscapes

Using 3D computer graphics technology, we are able to create virtual reconstructions of (almost completely) disappeared landscapes. The applications of these virtual historic landscapes range from landscape archaeology, edutainment to landscape planning. Although computer graphics technology matured and photo-realistic representations are achieved, the creation of realistic virtual reconstructions remains problematic. For a realistic user experience, we need to know which cues influence the user perception. However, poor-defined visualization requirements for 3D virtual historic landscapes leave us with the question ‘How good is good enough?’ This article discusses the search for a decisive variable to let users perceive the virtual historic landscape, focusing on image quality and contents of the virtual historic landscape. The virtual reconstruction of Palace Honselaarsdijck, a 17th century real-estate of stadtholder Frederick Henry (1584-1647), and its surrounding landscape is used as a case study. Using old maps, image processing and GIS software the historic terrain model was generated. By application of a 3D historic object library, the virtual landscape was decorated with wind mills, houses, churches and so forth. Finally, the virtual historic landscape was completed with atmospheres, water and vegetation. The result is a full-decorated and rendered virtual historic landscape. From a preliminary user test, the researchers learned that the contents of the virtual historic landscape are more important than the image quality. Future work will focus on what the identifying landscape features for a realistic user experience are, and how to communicate uncertainty inside the virtual landscape. The expectation is  that the work contributes to the realization of virtual historic landscape on a large-scale to communicate landscape information to the broad public