Rapid deconvolution of low-resolution time-of-flight data using Bayesian inference

The deconvolution of low-resolution time-of-flight data has numerous advantages, including the ability to extract additional information from the experimental data. We augment the well-known Lucy-Richardson deconvolution algorithm using various Bayesian prior distributions and show that a prior of second-differences of the signal outperforms the standard Lucy-Richardson algorithm, accelerating the rate of convergence by more than a factor of four, while preserving the peak amplitude ratios of a similar fraction of the total peaks. A novel stopping criterion and boosting mechanism are implemented to ensure that these methods converge to a similar final entropy and local minima are avoided. Improvement by a factor of two in mass resolution allows more accurate quantification of the spectra. The general method is demonstrated in this paper through the deconvolution of fragmentation peaks of the 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid matrix and the benzyltriphenylphosphonium thermometer ion, following femtosecond ultraviolet laser desorption

Reduction of Coxiella burnetii prevalence by vaccination of goats and sheep, the Netherlands

Recently, the number of human Q fever cases in the Netherlands increased dramatically. In response to this increase, dairy goats and dairy sheep were vaccinated against Coxiella burnetii. All pregnant dairy goats and dairy sheep in herds positive for Q fever were culled. We identified the effect of vaccination on bacterial shedding by small ruminants. On the day of culling, samples of uterine fluid, vaginal mucus, and milk were obtained from 957 pregnant animals in 13 herds. Prevalence and bacterial load were reduced in vaccinated animals compared with unvaccinated animals. These effects were most pronounced in animals during their first pregnancy. Results indicate that vaccination may reduce bacterial load in the environment and human exposure to C. burnetii

Moving beyond a limited follow-up in cost-effectiveness analyses of behavioral interventions

Background Cost-effectiveness analyses of behavioral interventions typically use a dichotomous outcome criterion. However, achieving behavioral change is a complex process involving several steps towards a change in behavior. Delayed effects may occur after an intervention period ends, which can lead to underestimation of these interventions. To account for such delayed effects, intermediate outcomes of behavioral change may be used in cost-effectiveness analyses. The aim of this study is to model cognitive parameters of behavioral change into a cost-effectiveness model of a behavioral intervention. Methods The cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of an existing dataset from an RCT in which an high-intensity smoking cessation intervention was compared with a medium-intensity intervention, was re-analyzed by modeling the stages of change of the Transtheoretical Model of behavioral change. Probabilities were obtained from the dataset and literature and a sensitivity analysis was performed. Results In the original CEA over the first 12 months, the high-intensity intervention dominated in approximately 58% of the cases. After modeling the cognitive parameters to a future 2nd year of follow-up, this was the case in approximately 79%. Conclusion This study showed that modeling of future behavioral change in CEA of a behavioral intervention further strengthened the results of the standard CEA. Ultimately, modeling future behavioral change could have important consequences for health policy development in general and the adoption of behavioral interventions in particular

THE FUTURE OF WILDFLOWER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA - THE LACHENALIA CASE STUDY

This paper reports the socio-economic impact of the lachenalia research program of the ARCRoodeplaat Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute (ARC-Roodeplaat) over the period 1965-2010. Data were collected from researchers, the local propagator and the market agent in Holland, using guidelines and questionnaires. A financial and economic analysis were conducted. The results of both were negative, unless increased productivity, early entry into all potential markets and a decreased research gestation period were assumed. Additional impacts were qualitatively assessed. The program contributed to employment creation, the preservation of biodiversity, capacity building and beneficial institutional linkages. The management information generated by the study was used in planning and priority setting at the institute.Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Estimating the burden of disease attributable to diabetes in South Africa in 2000

Objectives. To estimate the burden of disease attributable to diabetes by sex and age group in South Africa in 2000. Design. The framework adopted for the most recent World Health Organization comparative risk assessment (CRA) methodology was followed. Small community studies used to derive the prevalence of diabetes by population group were weighted proportionately for a national estimate. Populationattributable fractions were calculated and applied to revised burden of disease estimates. Monte Carlo simulation-modelling techniques were used for uncertainty analysis. Setting. South Africa. Subjects. Adults 30 years and older. Outcome measures. Mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for ischaemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, hypertensive disease and renal failure. Results. Of South Africans aged ≥ 30 years, 5.5% had diabetes which increased with age. Overall, about 14% of IHD, 10% of stroke, 12% of hypertensive disease and 12% of renal disease burden in adult males and females (30+ years) were attributable to diabetes. Diabetes was estimated to have caused 22 412 (95% uncertainty interval 20 755 - 24 872) or 4.3% (95% uncertainty interval 4.0 - 4.8%) of all deaths in South Africa in 2000. Since most of these occurred in middle or old age, the loss of healthy life years comprises a smaller proportion of the total 258 028 DALYs (95% uncertainty interval 236 856 - 290 849) in South Africa in 2000, accounting for 1.6% (95% uncertainty interval 1.5 - 1.8%) of the total burden. Conclusions. Diabetes is an important direct and indirect cause of burden in South Africa. Primary prevention of the disease through multi-level interventions and improved management at primary health care level are needed

Are Dutch homeowners willing to invest in sustainable heating systems?:Comparing intentions and determinants in four scenarios

The energy transition, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, requires everyone's efforts to succeed. In the Netherlands, homeowners are expected to invest in sustainable heating. This article describes a cross-sectional survey among Dutch homeowners (N = 302) investigating determinants of their intentions to make such investments. Unlike earlier research, this study problematized the concept of investment intentions, assuming that intentions and determinants might vary between different investment scenarios. Four scenarios were distinguished: (1) long-term status quo intentions, (2) short-term status quo intentions, (3) intentions in the case of higher natural gas prices, and (4) intentions in the case of government support. The results show that homeowners' investment intentions differed significantly between the four scenarios: Government support led to the highest intentions, followed by, respectively, long-term status quo intentions, intentions in the case of higher gas prices, and short-term status quo intentions. Furthermore, the behavioral determinants differed considerably between the scenarios. The overall conclusion is that strategies to promote homeowners' investments in sustainable heating must be aligned with the scenarios foreseen. For each scenario, our study lists determinants that could be emphasized.</p

Cross-talk between signaling pathways leading to defense against pathogens and insects

In nature, plants interact with a wide range of organisms, some of which are harmful (e.g. pathogens, herbivorous insects), while others are beneficial (e.g. growth-promoting rhizobacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and predatory enemies of herbivores). During the evolutionary arms race between plants and their attackers, primary and secondary immune responses evolved to recognize common or highly specialized features of microbial pathogens (Chisholm et al., 2006), resulting in sophisticated mechanisms of defense

Predicting arene rate coefficients with respect to hydroxyl and other free radicals in the gas-phase: a simple and effective method using a single topological descriptor

International audienceThe reactivity of aromatic compounds is of great relevance to pure and applied chemical disciplines, yet existing methods for estimating gas-phase rate coefficients for their reactions with free radicals lack accuracy and universality. Here a novel approach is taken, whereby strong relationships between rate coefficients of aromatic hydrocarbons and a Randi?-type topological index are investigated, optimized and developed into a method which requires no specialist software or computing power. Measured gas-phase rate coefficients for the reaction of aromatic hydrocarbons with OH radicals were correlated with a calculated Randi?-type index, and optimized by including a term for side chain length. Although this method is exclusively for use with hydrocarbons, it is more diverse than any single existing methodology since it incorporates alkenylbenzenes into correlations, and can be extended towards other radical species such as O(3P) (and tentatively NO3, H and Cl). A comparison (with species common to both techniques) is made between the topological approach advocated here and a popular approach based on electrophilic subsituent constants, where it compares favourably. A modelling study was carried out to assess the impact of using estimated rate coefficients as opposed to measured data in an atmospheric model. The difference in model output was negligible for a range of NOx concentrations, which implies that this method has utility in complex chemical models. Strong relationships (e.g. for OH, R2=0.96) between seemingly diverse compounds including benzene, multisubstituted benzenes with saturated, unsaturated, aliphatic and cyclic substitutions and the nonbenzenoid aromatic, azulene suggests that the Randi?-type index presented here represents a new and effective way of describing aromatic reactivity, based on a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR)

Keuzeregeling voor liquidatieverlies. Een voorstel tot wijziging van de liquidatieverliesregeling

Opstellen aangeboden aan prof. mr. J.W. Bellingwout, ter gelegenheid van het tweede lustrum van de masteropleiding Fiscaal recht aan de Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid van de Vrije Universiteit Amsterda