Exploring the land market in the province of Noord-Holland using a spatial explanatory regression model

This paper focuses on rural land prices. Different actors and factors influence land prices. Buurman (2003) has analysed, categorised, and used them to explain spatial differences in transaction prices of parcels using a GIS-based linear regression model. The model distinguishes parcel and transaction characteristics and uses principles of hedonic price and bid-rent theory to explain differences in land prices. Some theoretical aspects regarding the model are discussed. The regression model, estimated on a land transaction dataset covering the province of Noord-Brabant in the southern part of the Netherlands, is re-applied on a dataset covering the province of Noord-Holland. Insight is gained into actors and factors playing a role on the rural land market in this province. It seems that rural land that is included in building plans or located very close to areas for which building plans exist has a land price far higher than average. In most of these transactions, the city council is the buyer. Compared to other buyers, they pay the highest price for land in Noord-Holland. Keywords: land market, hedonic price theory, regression analysis, Noord-Holland

Exploring the land market in the province of Noord-Holland using a spatial explanatory regression model

This paper focuses on rural land prices. Different actors and factors influence land prices. Buurman (2003) has analysed, categorised, and used them to explain spatial differences in transaction prices of parcels using a GIS-based linear regression model. The model distinguishes parcel and transaction characteristics and uses principles of hedonic price and bid-rent theory to explain differences in land prices. Some theoretical aspects regarding the model are discussed. The regression model, estimated on a land transaction dataset covering the province of Noord-Brabant in the southern part of the Netherlands, is re-applied on a dataset covering the province of Noord-Holland. Insight is gained into actors and factors playing a role on the rural land market in this province. It seems that rural land that is included in building plans or located very close to areas for which building plans exist has a land price far higher than average. In most of these transactions, the city council is the buyer. Compared to other buyers, they pay the highest price for land in Noord-Holland. Keywords: land market, hedonic price theory, regression analysis, Noord-Hollan

Interrelation between the isoscalar octupole phonon and the proton-neutron mixed-symmetry quadrupole phonon in near spherical nuclei

The interrelation between the octupole phonon and the low-lying proton-neutron mixed-symmetry quadrupole phonon in near-spherical nuclei is investigated. The one-phonon states decay by collective E3 and E2 transitions to the ground state and by relatively strong E1 and M1 transitions to the isoscalar 2+ state. We apply the proton-neutron version of the Interacting Boson Model including quadrupole and octupole bosons (sdf-IBM-2). Two F-spin symmetric dynamical symmetry limits of the model, namely the vibrational and the \gamma-unstable ones, are considered. We derive analytical formulae for excitation energies as well as B(E1), B(M1), B(E2) and B(E3) values for a number of transitions between low-lying states.Comment: 25 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX, epsfig. Nucl. Phys. A (in press

Momentum or kinetic energy - How do substrate properties influence the calculation of rainfall erosivity?

Rainfall erosivity is a key component in soil erosion by water. While kinetic energy and momentum are used to describe the erosivity of rainfall, and both are derived from mass and velocity of raindrops, it is not clear how different substrates transform this energy. In our study we conducted rainfall simulation experiments to determine splash detachment amounts of five substrates (coarse sand, medium sand, fine sand, PE balls, silt) for seven different rainfall intensities (52-116mmh -1 ). We used linear mixed-effect modeling (LME) to calculate erosivity predictors for each substrate. Additionally, we separated drop-size-velocity relationship into lower left and upper right quarter to investigate the effect of small and slow just as big and fast raindrops on splash detachment amounts.We suggest using momentum divided by drop diameter as a substrate-independent erosivity predictor. To consider different substrates specific erosivity parameters are needed. Heavier substrates like sand are best described by kinetic energy multiplied by diameter whereas lighter substrates like silt point to momentum divided by diameter to the power of 1.5. Furthermore, our results show that substrates are differently affected by the size and velocity of drops. While splash detachment of light substances can be reliably predicted by drop size and velocity for small and slow drops, drop size and velocity loses its predictive power in heavier substrates like sand. </p

Effects of genital prolapse surgery on sexuality

OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was performed to evaluate the effects of genital prolapse surgery on sexuality. Additionally we investigated which variables are risk factors for persistence or development of sexual problems after surgery. METHODS: All 82 patients participating in a randomized trial comparing vaginal and abdominal surgical correction of descensus uteri, were asked to complete the Questionnaire for screening Sexual Dysfunctions (QSD) before and at six months and one year after surgery. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients completed the questionnaire. General satisfaction about sexuality was significantly improved after surgery. Of 41 patients who were sexually active both before surgery and at one year after surgery, 28 (68.3%) patients reported sexual problems before surgery. In 13 (46.4%) of these patients, all sexual problems disappeared. Of the 13 patients without sexual problems before surgery, two patients reported de novo sexual problems. The relative risk on disappearance of sexual problems in patients with large cystocele was 1.5 (95% confidence interval 1.1-2.1) times higher than the risk in patients without large cystocele. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction about sexuality increases and the prevalence of sexual problems decreases in patients undergoing surgical correction of descensus uter

Long-term safety, objective and subjective outcomes of laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy without peritoneal closure

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Effects of a preovulatory single low dose of mifepristone on ovarian function

Objectives To investigate the effect of a single low dose of mifepristone on ovarian function, when administered in the preovulatory period. Methods Healthy women with regular menstrual cycles were studied during two consecutive menstrual cycles. Either mifepristone or placebo was given in a randomized double-blind order when the leading follicle reached a diameter between 15 and 17 mm. Daily ultrasound and serum hormone measurements were obtained until follicular collapse. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results Eight women entered the study, although one woman had to be excluded afterwards from analysis because her LH surge had already appeared on the day of treatment. The LH surge was delayed from day 14 to 17 (P = 0.01). Mifepristone caused a 3-day delay in follicular collapse, occurring on day 16 in control cycles and on day 19 in mifepristone treatment cycles (P = 0.02). The median cycle length was 26 days in control cycles and 30 days in mifepristone treatment cycles (P = 0.03). Progesterone measurement 7 days after follicular collapse did not differ significantly between both cycles. Conclusions A single 10-mg dose of mifepristone administered during the preovulatory phase of the cycle delays the LH surge and postpones ovulation

A randomised controlled trial comparing abdominal and vaginal prolapse surgery: effects on urogenital function

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of vaginal hysterectomy (combined with anterior and/or posterior colporraphy) and abdominal sacro-colpopexy (with preservation of the uterus) on urogenital function. DESIGN: Randomised trial. SETTING: Three teaching hospitals in The Netherlands. POPULATION: Eighty-two patients undergoing surgical correction of uterine prolapse stages II-IV. METHODS: Participating patients completed the urogenital distress inventory (UDI), before and at six weeks, six months and one year after surgery, to measure discomfort of prolapse and micturition symptoms. Domain scores of the UDI (ranging from 0 to 100, higher scores indicating more discomfort) were compared between groups at all time points. Findings at pelvic examination, number of doctor visits within the first year after surgery because of pelvic floor symptoms and performed or planned surgery of recurrent genital prolapse were also compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Domain scores of the UDI at one year after surgery. RESULTS: At one year after surgery, scores on the discomfort/pain domain (mean difference 7.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-13.2), overactive bladder domain (mean difference 8.7, 95% CI 0.5-16.9) and obstructive micturition domain (mean difference 10.3, 95% CI 0.6-20.1) of the UDI were significantly higher in the abdominal group than in the vaginal group. Findings at pelvic examination were similar in both groups. Doctor visits because of pelvic floor symptoms were more frequent in the abdominal group than in the vaginal group. Re-operation was performed or planned in 9 of the 41 patients who underwent abdominal surgery and in 1 of the 41 patients who underwent vaginal surgery (odds ratio [OR] = 11.2, 95% CI 1.4-90.0). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that vaginal hysterectomy with anterior and/or posterior colporraphy is preferable to abdominal sacro-colpopexy with preservation of the uterus as surgical correction in patients with uterine prolapse stages II-I