Development of novel nanomedicines based on antimicrobial peptides for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pneumonia

The research described in this thesis comprises the development of novel inhalable antibiotic-nanomedicines based on antimicrobial peptides for the treatment of lung infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria like Klebsiella pneumonia. In our research, we first show that these two antimicrobial peptides are effective in the treatment of the most resistant bacteria causing infections, and then used an experimental animal model to show that the novel nanomedicines have improved characteristics, notably fewer side effects and a longer residence time in the lungs

Synthetic jet actuation for load control

The reduction of wind turbine blade loads is an important issue in the reduction of the costs of energy production. Reduction of the loads of a non-cyclic nature requires so-called smart rotor control, which involves the application of distributed actuators and sensors to provide fast and local changes in aerodynamic performance. This paper investigates the use of synthetic jets for smart rotor control. Synthetic jets are formed by ingesting low-momentum fluid from the boundary layer along the blade into a cavity and subsequently ejecting this fluid with a higher momentum. We focus on the observed flow phenomena and the ability to use these to obtain the desired changes of the aerodynamic properties of a blade section. To this end, numerical simulations and wind tunnel experiments of synthetic jet actuation on a non-rotating NACA0018 airfoil have been performed. The synthetic jets are long spanwise slits, located close to the trailing edge and directed perpendicularly to the surface of the airfoil. Due to limitations of the present experimental setup in terms of performance of the synthetic jets, the main focus is on the numerical flow simulations. The present results show that high-frequency synthetic jet actuation close to the trailing edge can induce changes in the effective angle of attack up to approximately 2.9°

Duurzaam bodembeheer maïs: Maïs en Bodem jaarrapport 2016.

Hoe kunnen veetelers met minder input meer resultaten halen bij snijmaïsteelt? Dat is de centrale vraag van het project “Duurzaam bodembeheer maïs” (BO-31.03-001-003). Veel melkveehouderijbedrijven telen snijmaïs, een gemakkelijk te telen ruwvoergewas met een goede productie van constante hoge kwaliteit. Als zetmeelbron met een ruime energie/eiwitverhouding past het goed in het runderdieet, naast gras en graskuil. De maïsteelt kan echter nadelige effecten hebben voor de bodem door gewasbeschermingsmiddelen en het uit- en afspoelen van nutriënten. Wageningen UR en het Louis Bolk Instituut onderzoeken in opdracht van het ministerie van EZ duurzame en praktisch haalbare verbeteringen en vernieuwingen. Teeltsystemen die zorgen voor een gezonde bodem worden daarbij gezien als sleutel tot duurzame teelt. Op drie locaties worden diverse teeltsystemen vergeleken in meerjarige proeven uitgevoerd op zand- en kleigrond. Daarbij wordt onder andere gekeken naar opbrengst, onkruiddruk, bodemstructuur, aanwezigheid van regenwormen, indringingsweerstand, waterinfiltratie, stikstofdynamiek en economische aspecten. Er zijn in eerste aanleg tevens methoden beproefd die specifiek voor biologische landbouw interessant zijn; Deze kennis wordt vervolgens doorgegeven aan de praktijk middels o.a. de beslisboom snijmaïs, een instrument om praktische kennis naar veetelers en erfbezoekers te brengen. De resultaten uit het vijfde projectjaar (2016) worden in deze rapportage beschreven

A new record of \u3ci\u3eProcynosuchus delaharpeae\u3c/i\u3e (Therapsida: Cynodontia) from the Upper Permian Usili Formation, Tanzania

Procynosuchus, the best-known Permian cynodont, has a remarkably broad geographic range, with records stretching from southern Africa to Europe. Fossils\u27 of Procynosuchus are most common in the Upper Permian Dicynodon Assemblage Zone of South Africa, but also occur in coeval East African rocks. Currently, there is one documented occurrence from the Madumabisa Mudstone Formation of Zambia, and two specimens from the Usili (=Kawinga) Formation of Tanzania. The Tanzanian specimens include a poorly preserved, incomplete skull and a partial cranium originally attributed to Parathrinaxodon proops. The latter is now considered a subjective junior synonym of Procynosuchus delaharpeae. Here we report on a new specimen collected in 2007 near the base of Kingori Mountain in Tanzania. It preserves the postorbital region of the skull and the posterior portions of both lower jaws, each containing several intact teeth. A well-preserved postcanine tooth exhibits the dental hallmarks of Procynosuchus and permits unambiguous referral to this taxon. Recent fieldwork corroborates previous suggestions that the Usili tetrapod fauna includes representatives of the Tropidostoma, Cistecephalus and Dicynodon assemblage zones of South Africa. Moreover, the presence of several endemic Usili taxa (e.g. Katumbia, Kawingasaurus, Peitobatrachus), suggests that a straightforward correlation between the Usili tetrapod fauna and a particular assemblage zone from the Beaufort Group may not be possible

Supporting autonomy for people with dementia living in nursing homes:A rapid realist review

Background For people with dementia living in nursing homes, autonomy is important. However, they experience difficulty with being heard as an autonomous person, as well as with expressing their preferences and choices. The question is how to support their autonomy. Objective Despite extensive efforts to support autonomy in daily care for people with dementia living in nursing homes, we do not know exactly what works for whom, in which context, how and why. The objective of this realist review is to explore what is known in literature on autonomy support interventions for people with dementia in nursing homes. Design A rapid realist review of literature. Review methods To understand how autonomy is supported, a realist approach was applied that entailed identifying the research question, searching for information, performing a quality appraisal, extracting data, synthesizing the evidence and validating the findings with a panel of experts. Causal assumptions were derived from articles found in four bibliographic databases (PubMed, PsychInfo, Cochrane and CINAHL) leading to context (C)–mechanism (M)–outcome (O) configurations. Results Data extraction from the included articles ultimately resulted in sixteen CMO configurations on four themes: a. preferences and choice: interventions for supporting autonomy in nursing homes and their results, b. personal characteristics of residents and family: people with dementia and their family being individuals who have their own character, habits and behaviors, c. competent nursing staff each having their own level of knowledge, competence and need for support, and d. interaction and relationships in care situations: the persons involved are interrelated, continuously interacting in different triangles composed of residents, family members and nursing staff. Conclusion The findings showed that results from interventions on autonomy in daily-care situations are likely to be just as related not only with the characteristics and competences of the people involved, but also to how they interact. Autonomy support interventions appear to be successful when the right context factors are considered

Pilotproef algengroei op geïnundeerd perceel : Onderzoek op een praktijkbedrijf in de Wieringermeer naar de mogelijkheden om algen te kweken op perceel dat in zomer en najaar wordt geïnundeerd ter bestrijding van schadelijke aaltjes

Maatschap Hoorsman uit Wieringerwerf heeft enkele jaren ervaring met inundatie van percelen ter bestrijding van (aardappelcyste)aaltjes, waarbij wordt geïnundeerd met water uit het IJsselmeer. Daarbij was het opgevallen dat gedurende het seizoen in het inundatie water algengroei kan ontstaan. Algen kunnen eventueel geoogst worden en zouden daarna wellicht kunnen dienen als veevoer of als bron van andere producten. In een kleine pilotproef is in 2015 op een geïnundeerd perceel van Hoornsman nagegaan of er in het inundatie water substantiële algengroei plaatsvind en om welke algen het gaat. Daarbij zijn de van nature aanwezige algensoorten aangevuld (“aangeënt”) met algensuspensie van Chlorella spp. die op het PPO-agv is gekweekt

Exposure to low-dose radiation and the risk of breast cancer among women with a familial or genetic predisposition:a meta-analysis

Women with familial or genetic aggregation of breast cancer are offered screening outside the population screening programme. However, the possible benefit of mammography screening could be reduced due to the risk of radiation-induced tumours. A systematic search was conducted addressing the question of how low-dose radiation exposure affects breast cancer risk among high-risk women. A systematic search was conducted for articles addressing breast cancer, mammography screening, radiation and high-risk women. Effects of low-dose radiation on breast cancer risk were presented in terms of pooled odds ratios (OR). Of 127 articles found, 7 were selected for the meta-analysis. Pooled OR revealed an increased risk of breast cancer among high-risk women due to low-dose radiation exposure (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.9- 1.8). Exposure before age 20 (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.1) or a mean of a parts per thousand yen5 exposures (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1-3.0) was significantly associated with a higher radiation-induced breast cancer risk. Low-dose radiation increases breast cancer risk among high-risk women. When using low-dose radiation among high-risk women, a careful approach is needed, by means of reducing repeated exposure, avoidance of exposure at a younger age and using non-ionising screening techniques

Genetic risk factors for clozapine-induced neutropenia and agranulocytosis in a Dutch psychiatric population

Personalised Therapeutic

Salmonella choleraesuis live vaccine strain suisaloral: molecular characterization and differentiation from homologous field isolates

The Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica (S.) live vaccine Suisaloral represents an auxotrophic mutant of a S. Choleraesuis strain which is deficient in adenine synthesis. Based on this auxotrophic marker, an adenine-deficient medium is used to identifY this vaccine strain by its inability to grow in this diagnostic medium. However, the widespread application of a Salmonella live vaccine strain requires additional methods that enable a reliable identification of the vaccine strain, its differentiation from field isolates of the same serovar as well as the proof of its genetic stability during animal and environmental passages. Since molecular methods have proven to be very useful tools for the characterization of Salmonella field isolates (Olsen et al. 1993) but also of other Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica (S.) live vaccine strains such as the S. Typhimurium vaccine strain Zoosaloral H (Schwarz & Liebisch 1994a,b) and the S. Dublin vaccine strain Bovisaloral (Liebisch & Schwarz 1996), four independent molecular methods were used to characterize the S. Choleraesuis live vaccine strain Suisaloral and to differentiate this live vaccine strain from homologous field isolates