Coded SQUID arrays

We report on a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) system to read out large arrays of cryogenic detectors. In order to reduce the number of SQUIDs required for an array of these detectors, we used code-division multiplexing. This simplifies the electronics because of a significantly reduced number of wires from the cryogenic detectors to the SQUIDs and the room temperature electronics. Several prototype chips based on SQUIDs with multiple inputs coils have been developed and direct and indirect crosstalk properties are discussed

Eefde: identiteit en toekomst van een woondorp in het groen

In aanvulling op het onlangs afgeronde Dorpsplan Eefde had de dorpsraad van dit Gelderse dorp behoefte aan een visie voor de sociaal-ruimtelijke ontwikkeling voor Eefde. Dit met name in het licht van de grote infrastructurele projecten die in Eefde gepland staan voor de komende jaren. Het is in dit kader dat de Dorpsraad zich tot de Wetenschapswinkel wendde met het verzoek na te denken over een toekomstvisie voor het dorp, maar dan wel één die nadrukkelijk verankerd is in de Eefdese realiteit

Als het functioneren tekortschiet

Huisartsen zijn oververtegenwoordigd in tuchtzaken. Het wordt ook steeds belangrijker dat je kunt aantonen dat je je vak op een verantwoorde manier uitoefent, maar huisartsen maken vaak onvoldoende gebruik van de bestaande mogelijkheden om te reflecteren op hun eigen functioneren en op dat van collega’s

Uniqueness of the gauge invariant action for cosmological perturbations

In second order perturbation theory different definitions are known of gauge invariant perturbations in single field inflationary models. Consequently the corresponding gauge invariant cubic actions do not have the same form. Here we show that the cubic action for one choice of gauge invariant variables is unique in the following sense: the action for any other, non-linearly related variable can be brought to the same bulk action, plus additional boundary terms. These boundary terms correspond to the choice of hypersurface and generate extra, disconnected contributions to the bispectrum. We also discuss uniqueness of the action with respect to conformal frames. When expressed in terms of the gauge invariant curvature perturbation on uniform field hypersurfaces the action for cosmological perturbations has a unique form, independent of the original Einstein or Jordan frame. Crucial is that the gauge invariant comoving curvature perturbation is frame independent, which makes it extremely helpful in showing the quantum equivalence of the two frames, and therefore in calculating quantum effects in nonminimally coupled theories such as Higss inflation.Comment: 27 page

Quantification of growth patterns of screen-detected lung cancers:The NELSON study

Objectives: Although exponential growth is assumed for lung cancer, this has never been quantified in vivo. Aim of this study was to evaluate and quantify growth patterns of lung cancers detected in the Dutch-Belgian low-dose computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening trial (NELSON), in order to elucidate the development and progression of early lung cancer.Materials and methods: Solid lung nodules found at &gt;= 3 CT examinations before lung cancer diagnosis were included. Lung cancer volume (V) growth curves were fitted with a single exponential, expressed as V = V-1 exp(t/tau), with t time from baseline (days), V-1 estimated baseline volume (mm(3)), and tau estimated time constant. The R-2 coefficient of determination was used to evaluate goodness of fit. Overall volume-doubling time for the individual lung cancer is given by tau*log(2).Results: Forty-seven lung cancers in 46 participants were included. Forty participants were male (87.0%); mean age was 61.7 years (standard deviation, 6.2 years). Median nodule size at baseline was 99.5 mm(3) (IQR: 46.8-261.8 mm(3)). Nodules were followed for a median of 770 days (inter-quartile range: 383-1102 days) before lung cancer diagnosis. One cancer (2.1%) was diagnosed after six CT examinations, six cancers (12.8%) were diagnosed after five CTs, 14 (29.8%) after four CTs, and 26 cancers (55.3%) after three CTs. Lung cancer growth could be described by an exponential function with excellent goodness of fit (R-2 0.98). Median overall volume-doubling time was 348 days (inter-quartile range: 222-492 days).Conclusion: This study based on CT lung cancer screening provides in vivo evidence that growth of cancerous small-to-intermediate sized lung nodules detected at low-dose CT lung cancer screening can be described by an exponential function such as volume-doubling time. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</p

Publication of inspection frameworks: a qualitative study exploring the impact on quality improvement and regulation in three healthcare settings

Background: The Dutch healthcare inspectorate publishes its inspection frameworks to inform both the public and healthcare providers about regulatory procedures and in the hope that publication will motivate healthcare providers to improve quality and comply with standards. This study explores the consequences of publishing these frameworks for the regulation of quality and safety in healthcare. Methods: We selected recently published inspection frameworks used in three healthcare settings: nursing home care, dental care and hospital care. We conducted 37 interviews with 39 respondents (healthcare professionals, managers, quality officers, policy advisers and inspectors) and explored their awareness of and experiences with these frameworks. We held a group interview with three inspectors to reflect on our findings. All data underwent thematic content analysis. Results: We found that the institutional infrastructure of a sector plays an important role in how an inspection framework is used after publication; particularly the presence and maturity of quality improvement work in the sector and the inspectorate's grip on a sector matter. Respondents mentioned differences in framework use in organisational contexts, particularly relating to scale. In some organisations, the framework served as an accountability mechanism to check if quality meets basic standards, while in other organisations professionals adopted it to stimulate discussion and learning across teams. Conclusion: Publication of inspection frameworks might result in quality improvement work, and in particular contexts could be used as a regulatory strategy to target quality improvement in a healthcare sector. For this, it is important that regulators consider the capabilities and possibilities for learning an