Acetylsalicylate and salicylates in foods

Acetylsalicylic acid is effective in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. It was suggested that fruits and vegetables provide unknown amounts of acetylsalicylic acid. We could not find any acetylsalicylic acid in 30 foods using HPLC with fluorescence detection (detection limits: 0.02 mg/kg for fresh, and 0.2 mg/kg for dried products). We showed that urinary excretion of salicylates is a valid indicator for intake, and found a median salicylate excretion of 10 mol (1.4 mg) in 24 h urine of 17 volunteers eating a variety of diets. Our data suggest that the content of (acetyl)salicylic acid of diets may be too low to affect disease risk

Phase toxicity of dodecane on the microalga Dunaliella salina

In the so-called milking process of Dunaliella salina carotenoids are extracted and simultaneously produced by the culture, whilst the biomass concentration remains constant. Different theories exist about the extraction mechanisms although none have been proven yet. In this research, direct contact between dodecane and cells during the extraction process was studied microscopically and effects of direct contact were determined during in situ extraction experiments. Our results showed that water– solvent interphase contact resulted in cell death. This cell death and consequent cell rupture resulted in the release and concomitant extraction of the carotenoids. Furthermore, it has been suggested to add a small amount of dichloromethane to the biocompatible dodecane to create an organic phase with more extraction capacity. Our results showed that the addition of dichloromethane resulted in increased cell death and consequently the extraction rate increased. The improved solubility of carotenoids in an organic phase with dichloromethane did not significantly increase the extraction rate

Argus: assessment and use of data in evaluating coercive measures in Dutch psychiatry

Widdershoven, G.A.M. [Promotor]Nijman, H.L.I. [Promotor]Noorthoorn van der Kruijff, E.O. [Copromotor

Robot-assisted laparoscopic rectovaginopexy for rectal prolapse: a prospective cohort study on feasibility and safety

Robotic systems may be particularly supportive for procedures requiring careful pelvic dissection and suturing in the Douglas pouch, as in surgery for rectal prolapse. Studies reporting robot-assisted laparoscopic rectovaginopexy for rectal prolapse, however, are scarce. This prospective cohort study evaluated the outcome of this technique up to one year after surgery. From January 2005 to June 2006, 15 consecutive patients with a rectal prolapse, either with or without a concomitant rectocele or enterocele, underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic rectovaginopexy with support of the da Vinci robotic system. A prospective cohort study was performed on operating times, blood loss, intra-operative and post-operative complications, and outcome at a minimum of one year after surgery. Median age at time of operation was 62 years (33-72) and median body mass index 24.9 (20.9-33.9). Median robot set-up time was 10 min (3-15) and median skin-to-skin operating time was 160 min (120-180). No conversions to open surgery were necessary. No in-hospital complications occurred and there was no mortality. Median hospital stay was four days (2-9). During one year follow-up, two patients needed surgical reintervention. One patient was operated for recurrent enterocele and rectocele one week after surgery. In another patient an incisional hernia at the camera port occurred three months after surgery. At one year after surgery, 87% of patients claimed to be satisWed with their postoperative result. Robot-assisted laparoscopic rectovaginopexy proved to be an eVective technique with favourable outcomes in most patients in this prospective series. The operating team experienced the support of the robotic system as beneWcial, especially during the dissection of the rectovaginal plane and suturing in the Douglas pouch

Het spanningsveld tussen burgerinitiatieven en het aanbestedingsrecht: ruimte voor stimulering?

Steeds vaker willen burgers medeverantwoordelijkheid dragen voor publieke taken en de openbare ruimte. Ondanks politieke en bestuurlijke wil blijkt het in de praktijk verre van eenvoudig om een initiatief tot bloei te laten komen. Ook het aanbestedingsrecht wordt veelal als obstakel ervaren. In deze bijdrage trachten we dit spanningsveld tussen burgerinitiatieven en het aanbestedingsrecht bloot te leggen, en bediscussiëren we de (on)mogelijkheden binnen de Aanbestedingswet 2012 om dergelijke initiatieven te stimuleren.The Legitimacy and Effectiveness of Law & Governance in a World of Multilevel Jurisdiction

Naar een nieuwe balans tussen markt en overheid

The Legitimacy and Effectiveness of Law & Governance in a World of Multilevel Jurisdiction

Pressure and Motion of Dry Sand -- Translation of Hagen's Paper from 1852

In a remarkable paper from 1852, Gotthilf Heinrich Ludwig Hagen measured and explained two fundamental aspects of granular matter: The first effect is the saturation of pressure with depth in a static granular system confined by silo walls -- generally known as the Janssen effect. The second part of his paper describes the dynamics observed during the flow out of the container -- today often called the Beverloo law -- and forms the foundation of the hourglass theory. The following is a translation of the original German paper from 1852.Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication in Granular Matter, original article (German) can be found under http://www.phy.duke.edu/~msperl/Janssen

Дії, що дезорганізують роботу установ виконання покарань: співрозмірність злочину та покарання

Досліджується співрозмірність покарання за дії, що дезорганізують роботу уста­нов виконання покарань (ст. 392 КК України), із характером та ступенем суспільної небезпеки цього злочину, а також співрозмірність покарання за злочин, що розгля­дається, із покараннями за окремі злочини із суміжними складами.Исследуется соразмерность наказания за действия, которые дезорганизуют рабо­ту учреждений исполнения наказаний (ст. 392 УК Украины), с характером и уровнем общественной опасности этого преступления, а также с соразмерность наказания за расматриваемое преступление с наказаними за отдельные преступления со смежными составами.The article contains the study of adequacy of punishment for actions disorganizing work of penitentiary institutions (art. 392 of Criminal Code of Ukraine) and public danger of this crime also punishments for other crimes

Neo-cartilage formation using human nondegenerate versus osteoarthritic chondrocyte-derived cartilage organoids in a viscoelastic hydrogel

Current regenerative cartilage therapies are associated with several drawbacks such as dedifferentiation of chondrocytes during expansion and the formation of fibrocartilage. Optimized chondrocyte expansion and tissue formation could lead to better clinical results of these therapies. In this study, a novel chondrocyte suspension expansion protocol that includes the addition of porcine notochordal cell-derived matrix was used to self-assemble human chondrocytes from osteoarthritic (OA) and nondegenerate (ND) origin into cartilage organoids containing collagen type II and proteoglycans. Proliferation rate and viability were similar for OA and ND chondrocytes and organoids formed had a similar histologic appearance and gene expression profile. Organoids were then encapsulated in viscoelastic alginate hydrogels to form larger tissues. Chondrocytes on the outer bounds of the organoids produced a proteoglycan-rich matrix to bridge the space between organoids. In hydrogels containing ND organoids some collagen type I was observed between the organoids. Surrounding the bulk of organoids in the center of the gels, in both OA and ND gels a continuous tissue containing cells, proteoglycans and collagen type II had been produced. No difference was observed in sulphated glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline content between gels containing organoids from OA or ND origin after 28 days. It was concluded that OA chondrocytes, which can be harvested from leftover surgery tissue, perform similar to ND chondrocytes in terms of human cartilage organoid formation and matrix production in alginate gels. This opens possibilities for their potential to serve as a platform for cartilage regeneration but also as an in vitro model to study pathways, pathology, or drug development.</p