Ethnic density in school classes and adolescent mental health

OBJECTIVE: The present study set out to examine the association between ethnic composition of school classes and prevalence of internalising and externalising problem behaviour among ethnic minority and majority students. METHODS: Data were derived from the Dutch 2002 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, a nationally representative cross-sectional study with a total of 5,730 adolescents, aged 11–18 and attending secondary school, of which 931 belong to ethnic minority groups. The data were analysed using a multilevel regression model. RESULTS: The study revealed that, after taking individual characteristics like age, gender, educational level and family affluence into account, ethnic minority students on average report higher levels of externalising but not internalising problems. Ethnic density on the level of school classes modified this difference, as a negative association between the proportion ethnic minority students in class and externalising problem behaviour was found, but only for ethnic minority students. No effect of ethnic composition was found with respect to internalising problem behaviour. CONCLUSION: The data revealed that ethnic minority students report higher levels of externalising problem behaviour, but only in classes with a minority of ethnic minority students and not in classes with a culturally diverse composition. This points towards a possible beneficial effect of a more culturally diverse environment for minority students. Majority students appeared to be insensitive for the ethnic density effect. Future studies should investigate the role of the ethnic composition of the school class more in-depth

Стратегічне управління як основа фінансової стійкості аграрних підприємств

Метою роботи є формування комплексного стратегічного підходу до управління фінансовою стійкістю аграрних підприємств на основі всебічного аналізу їх діяльності, конкретизації поточних цілей та індикаторів стану, а також розробці системи заходів для досягнення стратегічної мети, в залежності від етапу планування

The medicinal treatment of COVID-19:a brief update

Much has changed in the medical treatment of COVID-19 after the first patient with an infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the Netherlands was diagnosed in February 2020. On the basis of limited data, at first only off-label use of (hydroxy)chloroquine seemed to be a treatment option. However, now based on the findings of several randomized studies, other medicines have been included in the Dutch guidelines about the treatment of COVID-19. In this article, we will briefly discuss the current state of affairs with regard to the drugs (hydroxy) chloroquine, remdesivir and corticosteroids. Again, it appears that only well-executed randomized clinical trials can determine the status of various supposedly effective drugs.</p

Feed-Forward control of water and nutrient supply in greenhouse horticulture: development of a system

Minimisation of nutrient and water loss to the environment, prediction and planning of production and product quality, such that they meet the demands of customers, and increased financial return are some of the goals of current greenhouse horticulture. This requires an integrated system for monitoring and control of the nutrient solution, plant growth and product quality. This paper describes the components of such a system. Tomato was selected as example crop. Plant sensors for photosynthesis, radiation interception and fresh growth rate were developed and tested, and the combined plant-substrate model was validated against greenhouse experiments and commercial growth data. Techniques for auto-calibration of the crop model with sensor information were developed. Scenarios describing various fertigation regimes were defined, and a technique for the generation of set points for water and nutrient application on the basis of pre-defined optimisation goals was developed. These goals included drainage volume and nutrient concentration, nutrient application rate, fruit dry matter concentration, and fruit growth rate. The overall system was evaluated in a greenhouse experiment. In comparison with simulated ‘normal’ cultivation, optimisation of water and nutrient application indeed resulted in reduced application and drainage rates, increased fruit growth rate, and a dry matter concentration that met the optimisation goal. In conclusion, the monitoring and control system offers good prospects for efficient control of water and nutrient use, and control of crop growth in future control of greenhouse cropping systems

Current inpatient treatment options for COVID-19:an update

In dit overzichtsartikel geven wij een update van de adviezen voor de medicamenteuze behandeling van covid-19 in de tweede lijn.Deze adviezen zijn opgesteld door de Stichting Werkgroep Antibioticabeleid (SWAB) in samenwerking met onder andere de Federatie Medisch Specialisten (FMS).Zowel opties voor behandeling in het ziekenhuis als opties voor behandeling in de ambulante setting worden besproken.De behandeling omvat zowel anti-inflammatoire als antivirale therapie.In this article we provide an overview of the current treatment recommendations for COVID-19. These recommendations are made by the SWAB (StichtingWerkgroepAntibioticabeleid), in cooperation with the FMS (FederatieMedischSpecialisten (online: swab.nl/nl/covid-19.). Treatment options for patients in both ambulatory care and admitted to the hospital are listed. These treatment options include both antiinflammatory and antiviral therapy.</p

High unbound flucloxacillin fraction in critically ill patients

OBJECTIVES: To describe the unbound and total flucloxacillin pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients and to define optimal dosing strategies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational multicentre study including a total of 33 adult ICU patients receiving flucloxacillin, given as intermittent or continuous infusion. Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed on two occasions on two different days. Total and unbound flucloxacillin concentrations were measured and analysed using non-linear mixed-effects modelling. Serum albumin was added as covariate on the maximum binding capacity and endogenous creatinine clearance (CLCR) as covariate for renal function. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to predict the unbound flucloxacillin concentrations for different dosing strategies and different categories of endogenous CLCR. RESULTS: The measured unbound concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 110 mg/L and the observed unbound fraction varied between 7.0% and 71.7%. An integral two-compartmental linear pharmacokinetic model based on total and unbound concentrations was developed. A dose of 12 g/24 h was sufficient for 99.9% of the population to achieve a concentration of >2.5 mg/L (100% fT>5×MIC, MIC = 0.5 mg/L). CONCLUSIONS: Critically ill patients show higher unbound flucloxacillin fractions and concentrations than previously thought. Consequently, the risk of subtherapeutic exposure is low

Ultra-energiezuinige kassystemen met Supertransparante Micro-V Gestructureerde materialen: Rapportage in het kader van het EOS-LT programma van Agentschap NL (Openbare versie)

Doel van het in dit rapport beschreven onderzoek is het gebruiken van micro- en nanostructuren uit de PV-industrie om te komen tot een diffuus kasdekmateriaal met een hoge hemisferische transmissie. Hierbij wordt gebruik gemaakt van de kennis die in het verleden is opgedaan in het ontwikkelen van het zigzag kasdekmateriaal. Met de ontwikkelde kennis kan energiebesparing gerealiseerd worden door het toepassen van de structuren op dubbel glas, waardoor materiaal gemaakt kan worden met een hoge hemisferische transmissie, diffuse eigenschappen en een hoge isolatiewaarde. Randvoorwaarde hierin is dat het ontwikkelde kasdekmateriaal toepasbaar is in een glastuinbouwmilieu. Dit betekent dat het materiaal niet mag verouderen, condensatie de transmissie niet mag verminderen en extra vervuiling niet mag optreden. Hierbij wordt de Nederlandse situatie als uitgangspunt genomen, maar interessante structuren voor andere klimaten zullen niet worden uitgesloten