Fluoromorphometrics:A New Approach in Characterising Faecal Flora

Using image analysis and quantitative immunofluorescence, three new methods in characterising faecal microflora are presented. These methods are: Morphological analysis of faecal objects, measurement of titres of circulating Ig against faecal antigens and the combination. Morphological analysis is the least sensitive approach, which is only applicable when large fluctuations in the morphological composition of the faecal microflora have to be monitored. Biological fluctuations in titres of circulating Ig against faecal antigens can be performed at a statistically significant level for IgM and IgG and the distribution of titres of circulating IgG over 144 morphological distinct subsets of faecal bacteria yields a unique pattern in a group of ten volunteers

Social protection of marginal part-time, self-employment and secondary jobs in the Netherlands

In many European countries, marginal part-time, (solo-) self-employment and secondary jobs has been increasing since the last decades. The question about the provision of social protection and labour legislation for these types of employment is the starting point for a project entitled “Hybrid working arrangements in Europe”, directed by the WSI. Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Denmark and Austria comprise the group of countries selected in order to investigate “hybrid work” in the context of different welfare state regimes. The following paper by Gijsbert Vonk and Annette Jansen is one of the seven country studies that describe in detail labour law regulations and the national insurance systems for self-employed, secondary jobs and marginal part-time employment