Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a massive global health crisis. Because the crisis requires large-scale behaviour change and places significant psychological burdens on individuals, insights from the social and behavioural sciences can be used to help align human behavior with the recommendations of epidemiologists and public health experts. Here we discuss evidence from a selection of research topics relevant to pandemics, including work on navigating threats, social and cultural influences on behaviour, science communication, moral decision-making, leadership, and stress and coping. In each section, we note the nature and quality of prior research, including uncertainty and unsettled issues. We identify several insights for effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and also highlight important gaps researchers should move quickly to fill in the coming weeks and months

Verbetering van het produktieproces en de confectionering van microbiologische referentiematerialen

Steriele (melk)poeders werden op hun eigenschappen getest voor mogelijk gebruik bij het bereiden van microbiologische referentiematerialen. Zowel fysische eigenschappen als de overleving van de bacterien in de mengsels van hoogbesmet melkpoeder met steriel (melk)poeder werden getest. Het bereiden van meer voorspelbare homogene poeders was mogelijk door een farmaceutische manier van voormengen in een mortier en namengen in een mengapparaat. Het direct gebruiken van gemengde besmette melkpoeders, zonder de bescherming van gelatine capsules lijkt geen gebruikersvriendelijker alternatief te zijn voor de capsules.Sterile (milk) powders were tested for their properties for use in preparing microbiological reference materials. Physical properties and the survival of bacteria in mixtures of highly contaminated milk powder with sterile (milk) powder were examined. Preparing more predictable homogeneous powders was possible by carrying out a pharmaceutical way of premixing in a mortar and final mixing in a mixing apparatus. The direct use of contaminated mixed milk powders without the protection of the gelatin capsules does not seem to be a more user friendly alternative for the capsules.EC Measurement and Testing ProgrammeRIV

Language processing in glioma patients. Speed or accuracy as a sensitive measure?

Contains fulltext : 240839.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)26 p

MICROCRM: Haalbaarheid certificeringsstudies van microbiologische referentiematerialen

In 2002 feasibility certification studies were carried out on three different types of microbiological reference materials for eight different ISO and EN standard methods, related to EU water legislation (Drinking-water Directive and Bathing-water Directive). These studies were performed as part of the European project 'Microbiological Certified Reference Materials in support of EU water legislation, performance testing and laboratory quality control' (MICROCRM 01/02/2001 - 01/11/2003). The aim of the project was to determine the conditions necessary to produce and certify key reference materials for water microbiology. The three different types of reference materials were capsules, lenticules and pastilles. For each type of reference material, eight batches - containing different strains - were prepared (for use for the eight different methods). Thirteen European laboratories participated in the studies. The results of the studies were statistically analysed by three statisticians of the three partners in the project. The main conclusion was that certification of the microbiological reference materials was feasible for all target parameters at the desired concentration levels for the two directives mentioned above.In 2002 werden haalbaarheid certificeringsringonderzoeken georganiseerd met drie verschillende typen microbiologische referentiematerialen voor acht verschillende ISO en EN standaard methoden, gerelateerd aan EU water wetgeving (Drinkwaterrichtlijn en Zwemwaterrichtlijn). De studies werden uitgevoerd in het kader van het Europese project: 'Microbiologische gecertificeerde referentiematerialen ter ondersteuning van EU water wetgeving, testen van performance en laboratorium kwaliteitscontrole' (MICROCRM 01/02/2001 - 01/11/2003). De doelstelling van het MICROCRM project was om de condities te bepalen welke nodig zijn voor de productie en certificering van belangrijke referentiematerialen voor watermicrobiologie. De drie verschillende typen referentiematerialen waren capsules, lenticules en pastilles. Voor ieder type referentiemateriaal werden acht partijen, met verschillende stammen, bereid (om te gebruiken met de acht verschillende methoden). Dertien Europese laboratoria namen deel aan de studies. De resultaten van de studies werden statistisch geanalyseerd door drie statistici van de drie partners in het project. De belangrijkste conclusie was dat certificering van de microbiologische referentiematerialen haalbaar was voor alle tot doel gestelde parameters op de gewenste besmettingsniveaus voor de richtlijnen zoals hierboven vermeld

Feedback control of gene expression variability in the Caenorhabditis elegans Wnt pathway

Variability in gene expression contributes to phenotypic heterogeneity even in isogenic populations. Here, we used the stereotyped, Wnt signaling-dependent development of the Caenorhabditis elegans Q neuroblast to probe endogenous mechanisms that control gene expression variability. We found that the key Hox gene that orients Q neuroblast migration exhibits increased gene expression variability in mutants in which Wnt pathway activity has been perturbed. Distinct features of the gene expression distributions prompted us on a systematic search for regulatory interactions, revealing a network of interlocked positive and negative feedback loops. Interestingly, positive feedback appeared to cooperate with negative feedback to reduce variability while keeping the Hox gene expression at elevated levels. A minimal model correctly predicts the increased gene expression variability across mutants. Our results highlight the influence of gene network architecture on expression variability and implicate feedback regulation as an effective mechanism to ensure developmental robustness

MICROCRM: Haalbaarheid certificeringsstudies van microbiologische referentiematerialen

In 2002 werden haalbaarheid certificeringsringonderzoeken georganiseerd met drie verschillende typen microbiologische referentiematerialen voor acht verschillende ISO en EN standaard methoden, gerelateerd aan EU water wetgeving (Drinkwaterrichtlijn en Zwemwaterrichtlijn). De studies werden uitgevoerd in het kader van het Europese project: 'Microbiologische gecertificeerde referentiematerialen ter ondersteuning van EU water wetgeving, testen van performance en laboratorium kwaliteitscontrole' (MICROCRM 01/02/2001 - 01/11/2003). De doelstelling van het MICROCRM project was om de condities te bepalen welke nodig zijn voor de productie en certificering van belangrijke referentiematerialen voor watermicrobiologie. De drie verschillende typen referentiematerialen waren capsules, lenticules en pastilles. Voor ieder type referentiemateriaal werden acht partijen, met verschillende stammen, bereid (om te gebruiken met de acht verschillende methoden). Dertien Europese laboratoria namen deel aan de studies. De resultaten van de studies werden statistisch geanalyseerd door drie statistici van de drie partners in het project. De belangrijkste conclusie was dat certificering van de microbiologische referentiematerialen haalbaar was voor alle tot doel gestelde parameters op de gewenste besmettingsniveaus voor de richtlijnen zoals hierboven vermeld.In 2002 feasibility certification studies were carried out on three different types of microbiological reference materials for eight different ISO and EN standard methods, related to EU water legislation (Drinking-water Directive and Bathing-water Directive). These studies were performed as part of the European project 'Microbiological Certified Reference Materials in support of EU water legislation, performance testing and laboratory quality control' (MICROCRM 01/02/2001 - 01/11/2003). The aim of the project was to determine the conditions necessary to produce and certify key reference materials for water microbiology. The three different types of reference materials were capsules, lenticules and pastilles. For each type of reference material, eight batches - containing different strains - were prepared (for use for the eight different methods). Thirteen European laboratories participated in the studies. The results of the studies were statistically analysed by three statisticians of the three partners in the project. The main conclusion was that certification of the microbiological reference materials was feasible for all target parameters at the desired concentration levels for the two directives mentioned above.RIVME

MICROCRM: Feasibility certification studies of microbiological reference materials

In 2002 werden haalbaarheid certificeringsringonderzoeken georganiseerd met drie verschillende typen microbiologische referentiematerialen voor acht verschillende ISO en EN standaard methoden, gerelateerd aan EU water wetgeving (Drinkwaterrichtlijn en Zwemwaterrichtlijn). De studies werden uitgevoerd in het kader van het Europese project: 'Microbiologische gecertificeerde referentiematerialen ter ondersteuning van EU water wetgeving, testen van performance en laboratorium kwaliteitscontrole' (MICROCRM 01/02/2001 - 01/11/2003). De doelstelling van het MICROCRM project was om de condities te bepalen welke nodig zijn voor de productie en certificering van belangrijke referentiematerialen voor watermicrobiologie. De drie verschillende typen referentiematerialen waren capsules, lenticules en pastilles. Voor ieder type referentiemateriaal werden acht partijen, met verschillende stammen, bereid (om te gebruiken met de acht verschillende methoden). Dertien Europese laboratoria namen deel aan de studies. De resultaten van de studies werden statistisch geanalyseerd door drie statistici van de drie partners in het project. De belangrijkste conclusie was dat certificering van de microbiologische referentiematerialen haalbaar was voor alle tot doel gestelde parameters op de gewenste besmettingsniveaus voor de richtlijnen zoals hierboven vermeld

Delft University of Technology, Delft, The NetherlandsSimulation-based Operational Control of a Dry Bulk Terminal

Dry bulk terminals, located near the deep sea, are used all around the world to handle large quantities of bulk materials, like coal and iron ore. Bulk materials are transported within the terminal using routes of interconnected belt conveyors. Due to several sources of uncertainty, such as the delays of ships and trains and disturbances of terminal equipment, selecting routes is complicated and is now predominately based on the human operators ’ experiences. This paper focuses on route selection to transport the materials. A decision support system is proposed that assists a human operator in making the best decision. The proposed, so-called Dynamic Planner consists of a primary simulation model, that simulates the dynamics of the terminal, and within this primary simulation model, a secondary simulation model that simulates and proposes routes. The Dynamic Planner can be a useful tool for assisting terminal planners to select routes on forehand or to present alternative routes if a conveyor or machine breaks down. Practical experiments are carried out in order to assess the performance of the proposed Dynamic Planner. It is found that the determined routes generally correspond with at least the routes selected by the human operator, while in some cases even providing better alternatives