Image De-Identification Methods for Clinical Research in the XDS Environment

To investigate possible de-identification methodologies within the Cross-Enterprise Document Sharing for imaging (XDS-I) environment in order to provide strengthened support for image data exchange as part of clinical research projects. De-identification, using anonymization or pseudonymization, is the most common method to perform information removal within DICOM data. However, it is not a standard part of the XDS-I profiles. Different methodologies were observed to define how and where de-identification should take place within an XDS environment used for scientific research. De-identification service can be placed in three locations within the XDS-I framework: 1) within the Document Source, 2) between the Document Source and Document Consumer, and 3) within the Document Consumer. First method has a potential advantage with respect to the exposure of the images to outside systems but has drawbacks with respect to additional hardware and configuration requirements. Second and third method have big concern in exposing original documents with all identifiable data being intact after leaving the Document Source. De-identification within the Document Source has more advantages compared to the other methods. On the contrary, it is less recommended to perform de-identification within the Document Consumer since it has the highest risk of the exposure of patients identity due to the fact that images are exposed without de-identification during the transfers

Mapping and linking supply- and demand-side measures in climate-smart agriculture. A review

Climate change and food security are two of humanity’s greatest challenges and are highly interlinked. On the one hand, climate change puts pressure on food security. On the other hand, farming significantly contributes to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This calls for climate-smart agriculture—agriculture that helps to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Climate-smart agriculture measures are diverse and include emission reductions, sink enhancements, and fossil fuel offsets for mitigation. Adaptation measures include technological advancements, adaptive farming practices, and financial management. Here, we review the potentials and trade-offs of climate-smart agricultural measures by producers and consumers. Our two main findings are as follows: (1) The benefits of measures are often site-dependent and differ according to agricultural practices (e.g., fertilizer use), environmental conditions (e.g., carbon sequestration potential), or the production and consumption of specific products (e.g., rice and meat). (2) Climate-smart agricultural measures on the supply side are likely to be insufficient or ineffective if not accompanied by changes in consumer behavior, as climate-smart agriculture will affect the supply of agricultural commodities and require changes on the demand side in response. Such linkages between demand and supply require simultaneous policy and market incentives. It, therefore, requires interdisciplinary cooperation to meet the twin challenge of climate change and food security. The link to consumer behavior is often neglected in research but regarded as an essential component of climate-smart agriculture. We argue for not solely focusing research and implementation on one-sided measures but designing good, site-specific combinations of both demand- and supply-side measures to use the potential of agriculture more effectively to mitigate and adapt to climate change

LEI-onderzoekers reageren op interview minister Verburg: niet hekelen, maar heilige overtuiging

In de VMT 1/2 van 2010 stond een interview met Landbouwminister Gerda Verburg waarin zij de invloed van het eten van minder vlees op duurzaamheid bestempelt als symboolpolitiek. Een opmerkelijke uitspraak waarop door LEI-onderzoekers wordt gereageer

Trade-off analyse van duurzaamheid op basis van het Bedrijven-Informatienet; Methodologie en toepassing op de melkvee- en vleesvarkenshouderij

Op basis van het Bedrijven-Informatienet van het LEI is een stappenplan ontwikkeld om uitruil- en afwentelingmechanismen te kunnen bepalen en in beeld te brengen. Deze methodiek is toegepast op 2 cases: de melkvee- en vleesvarkenshouderij. Een trade-off, of uitruil, is een situatie, waarbij een kwaliteit of een voordeel wordt opgegeven in ruil voor een andere, hogere kwaliteit of groter voordeel. Een vraag met betrekking tot uitruil is bijvoorbeeld of het dierenwelzijn kan worden verbeterd door het oppervlakte per dier te vergroten, zonder dat dit een stijging van de ammoniakemissie veroorzaakt. De afwentelingsproblematiek is voornamelijk zichtbaar bij de 'planet' thema's: als er sprake is van afwenteling betekent dit dat stappen in het productiesysteem ten behoeve van het eindproduct leiden tot nadelige effecten elders in de wereld en/of in de toekomst

A 22-year follow-up reveals a variable disease severity in early-onset facioscapulohumeral dystrophy

Aim: To assess the long-term natural course of early-onset facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD), which is important for patient management and trial-readiness, and is currently lacking.Methods: We had the unique opportunity to evaluate 10 patients with early-onset FSHD after 22 years follow-up. Patients underwent a semi-structured interview, physical examination and additional genotyping.Results: Nine initial study participants (median age 37 years) were included, one patient died shortly after first publication. At first examination, one patient was wheelchair dependent, one patient walked aided, and eight patients walked unaided. After 22 years, four patients were wheelchair dependent, three walked aided, and two walked unaided. Systemic features, including hearing loss (56%), intellectual disability (44%), and a decreased respiratory function (56%), were frequent. Patients participated socially and economically with most patients living in a regular house (n = 6) and/or having a paid job (n = 4).Discussion: Patients with early-onset FSHD generally had a severe phenotype compared to classical onset FSHD. However, after 22 years of follow up they showed a wide variation in severity and, despite these physical limitations, participated socially and economically. These observations are important for patient management and should be taken into account in clinical trials. (C) 2018 European Paediatric Neurology Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p