Arbeidsmarktmonitor Metalektro Editie 2008

In 2002 is in opdracht van de Stichting A+O een start gemaakt met de opzet van een Arbeidsmarktmonitor voor de Nederlandse Metalektro. Deze monitor geeft inzicht in de actuele ontwikkelingen op de arbeidsmarkt en de toekomstige ontwikkelingen op personeels- en arbeidsmarktgebied in de metalektrosector. Deze rapportage vormt de afsluiting van de zesde jaarcyclus van de Arbeidsmarktmonitor. Het rapport combineertde belangrijkste resultaten van het voor de monitor opgezette Werkgeverspanel Metalektro en de Quickscans met informatie uit diverse andere bronnen. Om dieper te kunnen ingaan op de achtergronden van de ontwikkelingen, problemen en knelpuntenwaarmee de bedrijven in de Metalektro te maken hebben, is een aantal gesprekken georganiseerd. Deze gesprekken vonden plaats tijdens regionale bijeenkomstenvan bedrijven in de Metalektro. De gesprekken zijn verwerkt tot tekstkaders waarin de meningen van bedrijven over een aantal onderwerpen kernachtig samengevatworden. Deze kaders zijn door het hele rapport verspreid en gaan in op de wijze waarop bedrijven bepaalde ontwikkelingen en knelpunten in de praktijk ervaren en hoe ze daarmee omgaan. Ze zijn een waardevolle aanvulling op de informatie die in de hoofdtekst wordt gepresenteerd.education, training and the labour market;

Humoral response to Clostridium difficile in inflammatory bowel disease, including correlation with immunomodulatory treatment

Background and Aim: An abnormal immune response to intestinal bacteria has been observed in Crohn’s disease (CD). Clostridium difficile infection incidence and severity are increased in CD, but reports on the humoral response have provided conflicting results. We aimed to shed light on the possible role of C. difficile in CD pathogenesis by paying attention to the influence of immunomodulatory treatment on the humoral response. Methods: A total of 71 consecutive outpatients with CD, 67 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 121 healthy controls were analyzed for serum IgA and IgG to C. difficile toxins A and B. Results: IgA levels were similar in all study groups. IgG to toxin A was increased similarly in CD and UC (P = 0.02 for both). In contrast, IgG to toxin B was elevated only in CD patients not receiving disease-modifying anti-inflammatory bowel disease drugs (DMAID) (n = 16) (P = 0.0001), while the CD medication subgroup (n = 47) had a level similar to healthy controls. The UC results were not influenced by DMAID treatment. Conclusion: Our findings add support to the idea of a disturbed interaction between intestinal cells and the microbiota being part of the CD disease mechanism. An abnormal immune response to C. difficile toxin B may be a critical component of this interaction.publishedVersio

Fibre intake and the development of inflammatory bowel disease – a European prospective multi-centre cohort study (EPIC-IBD)

Background and Aims: Population-based prospective cohort studies investigating fibre intake and development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are lacking. Our aim was to investigate the association between fibre intake and the development of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in a large European population. Methods: 401 326 participants, aged 20–80 years, were recruited in 8 countries in Europe between 1991 and 1998. At baseline, fibre intake (total fibres, fibres from fruit, vegetables and cereals) was recorded using food frequency questionnaires. The cohort was monitored for the development of IBD. Each case was matched with four controls and odds ratios (ORs) for the exposures were calculated using conditional logistic regression. Sensitivity analyses according to smoking status were computed. Results: In total, 104 and 221 participants developed incident CD and UC, respectively. For both CD and UC, there were no statistically significant associations with either quartiles, or trends across quartiles, for total fibre, or any of the individual sources. The associations were not affected by adjusting for smoking and energy intake. Stratification according to smoking status showed null findings apart from an inverse association with cereal fibre and CD in non-smokers (Quartile 4 vs 1 OR=0.12, 95% CI=0.02–0.75, P=0.023, OR trend across quartiles=0.50, 95% CI=0.29–0.86, P=0.017). Conclusion: The results do not support the hypothesis that dietary fibre is involved in the aetiology of UC, although future work should investigate whether there may be a protective effect of specific types of fibre according to smoking status in CD

Robust T cell immunity in convalescent individuals with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T cells will likely prove critical for long-term immune protection against COVID-19. Here, we systematically mapped the functional and phenotypic landscape of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in unexposed individuals, exposed family members, and individuals with acute or convalescent COVID-19. Acute-phase SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells displayed a highly activated cytotoxic phenotype that correlated with various clinical markers of disease severity, whereas convalescent-phase SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were polyfunctional and displayed a stem-like memory phenotype. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were detectable in antibody-seronegative exposed family members and convalescent individuals with a history of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19. Our collective dataset shows that SARS-CoV-2 elicits broadly directed and functionally replete memory T cell responses, suggesting that natural exposure or infection may prevent recurrent episodes of severe COVID-19

Dietary index based on the Food Standards Agency nutrient profiling system and risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Background: Nutri-score is now widely available in food packages in Europe. Aim: To study the overall nutritional quality of the diet in relation to risks of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Methods: We collected dietary data at baseline from validated food frequency questionnaires. We used a dietary index based on the UK Food Standards Agency modified nutrient profiling system (FSAm-NPS-DI) underlying the Nutri-Score label, to measure the nutritional quality of the diet. We estimated the association between FSAm-NPS-DI score, and CD and UC risks using Cox models stratified by centre, sex and age; and adjusted for smoking status, BMI, physical activity, energy intake, educational level and alcohol intake. Results: We included 394,255 participants (68.1% women; mean age at recruitment 52.1 years). After a mean follow-up of 13.6 years, there were 184 incident cases of CD and 459 incident cases of UC. Risk of CD was higher in those with a lower nutritional quality, that is higher FSAm-NPS-DI Score (fourth vs. first quartile: aHR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.24–3.36; p-trend: <0.01). Among items of the FSAm-NPS-DI Score, low intakes of dietary fibre and fruits/vegetables/legumes/nuts were associated with higher risk of CD. Nutritional quality was not associated with risk of UC (fourth vs. first quartile of the FSAm-NPS-DI Score: aHR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.69–1.21; p-trend: 0.76). Conclusions: A diet with low nutritional quality as measured by the FSAm-NPS-DI Score is associated with a higher risk of CD but not UC

Early mobilisation in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a subanalysis of the ESICM-initiated UNITE-COVID observational study

Background Early mobilisation (EM) is an intervention that may improve the outcome of critically ill patients. There is limited data on EM in COVID-19 patients and its use during the first pandemic wave. Methods This is a pre-planned subanalysis of the ESICM UNITE-COVID, an international multicenter observational study involving critically ill COVID-19 patients in the ICU between February 15th and May 15th, 2020. We analysed variables associated with the initiation of EM (within 72 h of ICU admission) and explored the impact of EM on mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay, as well as discharge location. Statistical analyses were done using (generalised) linear mixed-effect models and ANOVAs. Results Mobilisation data from 4190 patients from 280 ICUs in 45 countries were analysed. 1114 (26.6%) of these patients received mobilisation within 72 h after ICU admission; 3076 (73.4%) did not. In our analysis of factors associated with EM, mechanical ventilation at admission (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.25, 0.35; p = 0.001), higher age (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.98, 1.00; p ≤ 0.001), pre-existing asthma (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.73, 0.98; p = 0.028), and pre-existing kidney disease (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.71, 0.99; p = 0.036) were negatively associated with the initiation of EM. EM was associated with a higher chance of being discharged home (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.08, 1.58; p = 0.007) but was not associated with length of stay in ICU (adj. difference 0.91 days; 95% CI − 0.47, 1.37, p = 0.34) and hospital (adj. difference 1.4 days; 95% CI − 0.62, 2.35, p = 0.24) or mortality (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.7, 1.09, p = 0.24) when adjusted for covariates. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that a quarter of COVID-19 patients received EM. There was no association found between EM in COVID-19 patients' ICU and hospital length of stay or mortality. However, EM in COVID-19 patients was associated with increased odds of being discharged home rather than to a care facility. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04836065 (retrospectively registered April 8th 2021)

Electric power system for field test Polygeneration system EXC

I ett modernt samhälle är elektricitet en nyckelkomponent för industrins, individens och samhällets utveckling. Naturkatastrofområden där elektriciteten slagits ut står inför stora prövningar för att kunna få samhällsviktiga funktioner att fungera igen. Med hjälp av den mobila miljövänlig energienhet Emergency Energy Module (EEM) kan elbehovet lindras. Detta examensarbetes mål var att ta fram en elsystemsbeskrivning för den kommande Export container (EXC), samt ta fram ett korrekt elschema för den befintliga EEM. Elsystemsbeskrivningen måste ta hänsyn till EXC:s kravspecifikation samt innehålla Bills of Material (BoM) och elschema. Problematiken ligger bl.a. i att få flera olika energikällor (sol, vind och biomassa förgasare) att fungera tillsammans i ett elsystem där likspänning, växelspänning, trefas och enfas blandas. Stor vikt ligger också vid att få ett flexibelt elsystem som relativt lätt kan förändras efter olika kunders behov. Genomförandet av detta examensarbete utfördes inledningsvis med en faktainsamligs-fas. Detta efterföljdes av en genomgång och analys av EEM:s elsystem vilket resulterade i ett elschema och en manual. Svagheter i EEM:s elsystem ansågs vara avsaknaden av överspänningsskydd och jordfelsbrytare, mätpunkt 5 var felplacerad, mätutrustningen borde av säkerhetsskäl vara fastmonterade och 1-fas generator borde användas i biomassaförgasaren för att avlägsna snedbelastningsproblem. Den befintliga Power routern, vars uppgift är att kontrollera energiflöde i systemet, ansågs begränsad eftersom den endast kunde ta emot en AC-energikälla, endast hantera 1-fas samt hade en relativt låg max uteffekt på 5,5 kW. Med hjälp av analysens funna svagheter och med hänsyn till EXC:s kravspecifikation konstruerades sedan ett elsystem för EXC med tillhörande BoM, elschema, kravspecifikation avseende delsystem och förslag på kandidater som uppfyller dessa. Elsystemet rekommenderas byggas kring Power routern Quattro vilket ger stora möjligheter till flexibilitet i form av att kunna skala upp systemet om bl.a. mer effekt skulle önskas av kund, eller om det finns behov av 3-fas system. En mängd olika programmeringsinställningar kan då göras vilket underlättar uppbyggnaden av specifika elsystem efter varierande kunders behov.In a modern society electricity is a key component for the development of the individual, industry, and society. Natural disaster areas where the electricity has been knocked out face great trials in order to get vital public functions working again. With the help of the mobile eco-friendly energy device Emergency Energy Module (EEM) electricity needs can be eased. The goal of thesis was to produce an electrical power system description for the upcoming Export container (EXC), and to generate a correct circuit diagram for the existing Emergency energy module (EEM). The electric power description must take into account EXC's specifications and include Bills of Material (BoM) and circuit diagram. The problems lies in getting the various sources of energy (solar, wind and biomass gasifier) to work together in a power system where DC, AC, three-phase and single-phase are mixed. Great emphasis is also given to obtain a flexible electricity systems that can be relatively easily changed for different customer needs. The making of this thesis was carried out initially with a gathering facts phase. This was followed by a review and analysis of the EEM's electrical system which resulted in a circuit diagram and a manual. Weaknesses in EEM's electrical system was considered to be the lack of overvoltage protection and residual current device, measuring point 5 was misplaced, measuring equipment should for safety reasons be firmly attached and 1-phase generator should be used in biomass gasifier to remove uneven load problems. The existing Power router, whose task is to control the energy flow in the system, was limited because it could only receive one AC power source, handle only one-phase and had a relatively low maximum output power of 5.5 kW. Whit the help of the analysis improvement suggestions above and with EXC's specification taking into account was then an electric power system for EXC constructed. with associated BoM, circuit diagram, specifications for subsystems and proposals for candidates that meet these. The electrical system is recommended to be built around the Power router Quattro which provides great opportunities for flexibility in terms of being able to scale up the system if such more power would be desired by the customer, or if there is a need for 3-phase systems. A variety of programming settings can then be made which facilitates the construction of specific electrical systems for varying customer needs

Asymmetrisk volatilitet

Tidigare forskning på finansiella data har visat att det i vissa fall föreligger en negativ korrelation mellan historisk avkastning och framtida volatilitet. Alltså att en negativ nyhet gör att volatiliteten ökar mer än vad en positiv nyhet hade orsakat. Detta fenomen benämns som asymmetrisk volatilitet eller leverage effect och har tydliga ekonomiska och ekonometriska implikationer. Ickelinjära GARCH-modeller och tester har tagits fram för att behandla och undersöka detta fenomen. Då vi skattar modellerna paå den realiserade avkastningen för HQ aktien får vi fram att omvänt resonemang gäller för våra data. Det innebär, för HQ aktien, att en positiv nyhet gör att volatiliteten ökar mer än vad en negativ nyhet av samma storlek hade orsakat

Asymmetrisk volatilitet

Tidigare forskning på finansiella data har visat att det i vissa fall föreligger en negativ korrelation mellan historisk avkastning och framtida volatilitet. Alltså att en negativ nyhet gör att volatiliteten ökar mer än vad en positiv nyhet hade orsakat. Detta fenomen benämns som asymmetrisk volatilitet eller leverage effect och har tydliga ekonomiska och ekonometriska implikationer. Ickelinjära GARCH-modeller och tester har tagits fram för att behandla och undersöka detta fenomen. Då vi skattar modellerna paå den realiserade avkastningen för HQ aktien får vi fram att omvänt resonemang gäller för våra data. Det innebär, för HQ aktien, att en positiv nyhet gör att volatiliteten ökar mer än vad en negativ nyhet av samma storlek hade orsakat