Strijd om natuurbeleid: op zoek naar nieuwe verhalen, symbolen en coalities

De bezuinigingen in het natuurbeleid, inclusief het schrappen van de robuuste verbindingen, zijn ingrijpend. Maar wat is er precies aan de hand? Gaat het alleen om geld of zijn er andere belangen, posities en visies over natuur en de EHS die nu boven komen drijven? Dit artikel zal de zoektocht naar het ‘nieuwe verhaal’ rond het natuurbeleid vanuit een discoursanalytisch perspectief beschouwen

Affected by Anxiety : Age-related characteristics and cognitive biases of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders among children and adolescents and more knowledge about anxiety disorders across the development of children and adolescents could contribute to diagnosis and treatment. This thesis presents several studies aimed at age-related characteristics of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents and the role of cognitive biases

The Use of Indicators in Agri-environmental Managemanent in the Netherlands

This report represents part of the research carried out in the Landscape Partners Project which aims to identify, analyse and assess the contribution of multi-stakeholder partnerships to the sustainable management of rural landscapes and to the well-being of communities. For the Dutch case study, the investigation focussed on Agrarische Natuurverenigingen (ANVs). They are agri-environmental collaborative groups which were selected because they represent a mix of stakeholders, including farmers, citizens, municipalities and nature conservation interest

Inhibition of influenza virus replication by nitric oxide

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of influenza virus-induced pneumonia in mouse models. Here we show that replication of influenza A and B viruses in Mabin Darby canine kidney cells is severely impaired by the NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine. Reduction of productively infected cells and virus production proved to correlate with inhibition of viral RNA synthesis, indicating that NO affects an early step in the replication cycle of influenza viruses

Value of urinary N-methylhistamine measurements m childhood mastocytosis

Background: Histamine is an indicator of mast cell activation. N- methylhistamine (NMH) is a metabolite of histamine that can be measured in urine. Objective: Our purpose was to assess the usefulness of determining urinary NMH levels for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with mastocytosis. Methods: Urinary NMH levels were determined in 44 patients and were correlated with disease activity and extension. The control group consisted of 24 children without mastocytosis or any other skin disease. Results: A significant negative correlation was found between NMH and age in patients with active mastocytosis and in the control group. Adjusted for age, NMH values were significantly higher in patients with active mastocytosis. There was a significant difference in NMH values between patients with diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis, patients with active urticaria pigmentosa, and patients with active mastocytomas. However, there was a substantial overlap of NMH values in the different subgroups. Conclusion: Urinary NMH values tend to decrease with age. Urinary NMH values correlated with the extent and the activity of the disease. High NMH values suggest more extensive involvement

Effects of an Interactive School-Based Program for Preventing Adolescent Sexual Harassment: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Evaluation Study

Many adolescents experience sexual harassment and victims of sexual harassment have higher risks regarding well-being and health behaviors such as higher risks of suicidal thoughts, suicidal ideation and feeling unsafe at school. A peer-performed play and school lessons on preventing sexual harassment behavior were presented to secondary school students. We evaluated its effectiveness, using a cluster-randomized controlled design to assign schools to an experimental condition [n = 14 schools; 431 students (51 % female)] and a control condition [n = 11 schools; 384 students (51 % female)]. To measure the effects of the intervention at first post-test and 6-month follow-up, our multilevel analyses used a two-level random intercept model. Outcome measures were sexual harassment behaviors, behavioral determinants and distal factors influencing these behaviors. At post-test, students in the experimental group reported a reduced intention to commit sexual harassment behavior and higher self-efficacy in rejecting it. At post-test and follow-up there was a significant positive effect on social norms for rejecting sexual harassment behavior. At follow-up, sexual self-esteem was higher in students in the experimental group than in the control group. Effects on these determinants will benefit adolescents’ future sexual behaviors. In combination, the play and lessons, possibly together with continued sexual health education and skills programs on social-emotional learning in subsequent school years, have potential for preventing sexual harassment behavior