Popular song topics in the Dutch Republic: a data-driven study into topical fluctuations in the Dutch song database (1550-1750)

This article investigates popular topics and topical fluctuations in a diachronic corpus of 43,772 Dutch songs, all written between 1550 and 1750, contained within the Dutch Song Database. Computational methods such as topic modelling are used to analyse the relationship between topical changes and cultural-historical developments. Two cultural trends are used as case studies: the role of Petrarchism, and the articulation of a patriotic identity in early modern Dutch song culture. Furthermore, this data-driven approach reveals how subcategories can be defined within the existing but incomplete genre classification in the song collection. The results obtained contribute to a better understanding of the richness of the Dutch Song Database, and will facilitate the use of the song collection by future users.Collective identities and transnational networks in medieval and early modern Europe, 1000-180

Chronicling novelty: nieuws! Lokale kronieken, 1500-1850

Collective identities and transnational networks in medieval and early modern Europe, 1000-180

The early modern Dutch mediascape. Detecting media mentions in chronicles using word embeddings and CRF

Collective identities and transnational networks in medieval and early modern Europe, 1000-180

Computer-aided detection of fasciculations and other movements in muscle with ultrasound:Development and clinical application

Objective: To develop an automated algorithm for detecting fasciculations and other movements in muscle ultrasound videos. Fasciculation detection in muscle ultrasound is routinely performed online by observing the live videos. However, human observation limits the objective information gained. Automated detection of movement is expected to improved sensitivity and specificity and increase reliability.Methods: We used 42 ultrasound videos from 11 neuromuscular patients for an iterative learning process between human observers and automated computer analysis, to identify muscle ultrasound movements. Two different datasets were selected from this, one to develop the algorithm and one to validate it. The outcome was compared to manual movement identification by clinicians. The algorithm also quantifies specific parameters of different movement types, to enable automated differentiation of events.Results: The algorithm reliably detected fasciculations. With algorithm guidance, observers found more fasciculations compared to visual analysis alone, and prescreening the videos with the algorithm saved clinicians significant time compared to reviewing full video sequences. All videos also contained other movements, especially contraction pseudotremor, which confused human interpretation in some.Conclusions: Automated movement detection is a feasible and attractive method to screen for fasciculations in muscle ultrasound videos.Significance: Our findings affirm the potential clinical usefulness of automated movement analysis in muscle ultrasound

Developing and testing the EPICC Spiritual Care Competency Self‐Assessment Tool for student nurses and midwives

Aims and objectives To develop and psychometrically test a self-assessment tool that measures undergraduate nursing and midwifery students’ perceptions of spiritual care competence in health care practice. Background Spiritual care is part of nurses/midwives’ responsibility. There is a need to better benchmark students’ competency development in spiritual care through their education. The EPICC Spiritual Care Education Standard served as groundwork for the development of the EPICC Spiritual Care Competency Self-Assessment Tool. Design Cross sectional, mixed methods design. A STROBE checklist was used. Methods The Tool (available in English, Dutch and Norwegian) was developed by an international group. It was tested between July–October 2020 with a convenience sample of 323 nursing/midwifery students at eight universities in five countries. The Tool was tested for validity using Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) test, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, one-way ANOVA and independent samples t test. The reliability was tested by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results The KMO test for sampling adequacy was 0.90. All, but two, items were related to the same factor. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the Tool was 0.91. Students found the Tool easy to use, and they gained new insights by completing it. However, students felt that some questions were repetitive and took time to complete. Conclusions The Tool has construct and discriminant validity, and high internal consistency (is reliable). In addition, students found the Tool useful, especially in early stages of education. Relevance to clinical practice The Tool affords student nurses and midwives the opportunity to self-evaluate their knowledge, skills and attitudes about spirituality and spiritual care. The Tool offers students, educators and preceptors in clinical practice a tangible way of discussing and evaluating spiritual care competency

Dose recommendations for anticancer drugs in patients with renal or hepatic impairment

Renal or hepatic impairment is a common comorbidity for patients with cancer either because of the disease itself, toxicity of previous anticancer treatments, or because of other factors affecting organ function, such as increased age. Because renal and hepatic function are among the main determinants of drug exposure, the pharmacokinetic profile might be altered for patients with cancer who have renal or hepatic impairment, necessitating dose adjustments. Most anticancer drugs are dosed near their maximum tolerated dose and are characterised by a narrow therapeutic index. Consequently, selecting an adequate dose for patients who have either hepatic or renal impairment, or both, is challenging and definitive recommendations on dose adjustments are scarce. In this Review, we discuss the effect of renal and hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of anticancer drugs. To guide clinicians in selecting appropriate dose adjustments, information from available drug labels and from the published literature were combined to provide a practical set of recommendations for dose adjustments of 160 anticancer drugs for patients with hepatic and renal impairment