Painting: Despite

"Painting: Despite" is an exploration into the possibility of continuing to paint despite the constancy of digitized images in our everyday and their effect on our ability to process images. Our contemporary culture is one primed for the consumption of images, but one woefully unable to understand them. This inability is for many the reason for the 'death of painting.' The paintings in the exhibit evoke a space that is fractured unstable and in a state of flux. Within the framework of past romantic notions concerning painting, its progress, and purported death, these works posit a new position for painting. The position for painting is one of duality. The works are paintings, but are not a continuation of the history of painting, instead referring only to what has come before through stylistic tendencies and knowingly taking part in a culture where the time for contemplation is no longer vali

A pilot study on the use of tracking technology: Feasibility, acceptability, and benefits for people in early stages of dementia and their informal caregivers

Objectives: Caregivers and clinicians may be confronted with the dilemma whether to allow people in early stages of dementia to go outside independently with the risk of getting lost, or to limit their autonomy and mobility. Newly available technology may offer a solution. This pilot study is focused on the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a three-month use of Global Positioning System (GPS) by care receivers and caregivers. Method: Numbers and percentages of participants with positive responses to self-report questions were calculated. Differences between the pre- and post-test scores of role-overload and worry were tested with paired t-tests and effect-sizes were calculated. Results: Of the 33 dyads of care receivers and caregivers, 28 remained in the study (dropout rate 15%). The majority of the caregivers was able to use the technology and integrate the use into their daily routines and would recommend the use of GPS. Almost half of the participants with dementia experienced more freedom and were less worried when they were outside unaccompanied, a quarter mentioned that they were more outside independently and a fifth that they had less conflicts with their caregiver after three months. Caregivers showed a trend to feel less worried, especially caregivers who could reach their relative using the telephone connection. No changes in caregivers feelings of role-overload were found. Conclusion: The GPS device used in this study seems to be promising for people in early stages of dementia and their informal caregivers. A next step is to carry out a randomized controlled trial. © 2012 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

Elkaar aanspreken: een onderzoek naar het draagvlak voor tucht in de Unie van Baptistengemeenten in Nederland

This study on the support for church discipline takes place at the intersection of church history, ecclesiastical law and church development. In addition, non-theological disciplines are also involved in the investigation. It concerns an investigation into the workings of the ecclesiological instrument of corrective action of the Christian community towards its members. The investigation is divided into two main parts and is of a hybrid design: on the one hand it is a literature study of the meaning of discipline in the Bible, theology and tradition, specifically in the Baptist tradition, and of whether the local church can also be the subject of discipline instead of primarily its object, in which case it is primarily a matter of ordained leadership. This immediately explains the title of this study: Accountability to each other. On the other hand, the second main part is an empirical qualitative study of the motives, attitudes and views of church members in the Union of Baptist Churches in the Netherlands. This part of the study focuses on the ‘support base’ for church discipline, which seems to have disappeared almost entirely. The aim is to develop insights and make recommendations with regard to strengthening and increasing support for discipline in Baptist churches. The questions, relevant for the investigation: 1. Which factors determine the existence of a support framework for church discipline? 2. What role do these factors play in Baptist church life? 3. How could these factors be influenced so that support increases

We need to be more daring:A biography of Jannes Reiling (1923-2005)

In this biography, Jelle Horjus gives the reader a rare insight into the life of the Union of Baptist Churches in The Netherlands, a small but cheerful conservative Protestant denomination that is not often in the spotlight. He describes the life of church leader Jannes Reiling (1923-2005), who was born as the son of a Baptist minister and was destined to become a minister himself. Unlike the rest of his family, he found his religious community narrow-minded and behind the times. Due to his war experiences and his academic training, he developed a more liberal faith and wanted to get his religious community on board with this. He wanted to open them up to new ideas so that they could connect with the world around them. By greater social involvement, participation in interdenominational life and a broadening of their theological vision, he hoped Baptists would become more relevant in society. He therefore led Dutch Baptists in the direction of ecumenism, university education, women’s ordination and the acceptance of homosexual believers. Unfortunately, he failed to win most of these battles. Although the reader can see these disappointments coming from afar, Reiling's life did not develop gloomily or predictably. His broad interest in the world outside the church, the colorful figures he met and the conflicts he stirred up, make this biography rich and surprising

A PESTLE analysis of biofuels energy industry in Europe

Biofuels production is expected to be an intrinsic confluence to the renewable energy sector in the coming years under the European regulations for renewable energy. Key standpoints of the biofuels promotions are the reduction of national carbon emissions and rural deployment. Despite jubilant outlook of biofuels for sustainable development, research efforts still tend to link the biofuel industry and regional growth. The aim of this study is to explore and review the biofuels industry through a socio-political, techno-economic, legal and environmental (PESTLE) analysis approach, and discuss the interrelation between technological facets and sustainable deployment

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in reducing psychological distress and improving sleep in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease:study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial (MindIBD).

Background: Many patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) suffer from psychological distress, fatigue and sleep disturbances, which are associated with reduced quality of life (QoL) and increased societal costs. Only limited psychosocial treatment options are available. As Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has demonstrated to improve psychological distress, QoL and sleep in other populations, MBCT might also be effective in patients with IBD. Methods: The MindIBD study is a prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled trial comparing MBCT plus Treatment As Usual (TAU) versus TAU alone in a targeted number of 136 IBD patients in remission, aged 16 years and older with at least mild psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) total score ≥ 11). Primary outcome is reduction of psychological distress post-intervention, measured by the HADS. In addition, the effect of MBCT on sleep quality (including actigraphy and electroencephalography recordings), fatigue, disease activity, perceived disease control, QoL and positive mental health will be examined. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months follow-up. Cost-effectiveness will be determined and a process evaluation will be conducted. Discussion: This study will provide valuable insight into the clinical effect of MBCT on psychological distress, sleep quality, fatigue and QoL in IBD patients and into the cost-effectiveness. If effective, MBCT can be a valuable addition to the available psychosocial interventions for patients with IBD. Moreover, findings from this study may also be applicable in patients with other chronic conditions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04646785, registered on 30/11/2020.</p