Interview; kunst of kliederen; “De ene graffiti is de andere niet”

De aanpak van graffiti staat bij veel gemeenten hoog op de agenda. Het tegengaan van overlast en verloedering is hierbij meestal de belangrijkste reden. Maar om een aanpak echt te laten slagen, moet er volgens onderzoekster Gabry Vanderveen eerst goed worden nagegaan welke vormen van graffiti voor overlast zorgen en op welke plekken de schilderingen bijdragen aan de verloedering.Overig prod. v. wetensch. act.Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdhei

The potential impact of CT-MRI matching on tumor volume delineation in advanced head and neck cancer

To study the potential impact of the combined use of CT and MRI scans on the Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) estimation and interobserver variation. Four observers outlined the GTV in six patients with advanced head and neck cancer on CT, axial MRI, and coronal or sagittal MRI. The MRI scans were subsequently matched to the CT scan. The interobserver and interscan set variation were assessed in three dimensions. The mean CT derived volume was a factor of 1.3 larger than the mean axial MRI volume. The range in volumes was larger for the CT than for the axial MRI volumes in five of the six cases. The ratio of the scan set common (i.e., the volume common to all GTVs) and the scan set encompassing volume (i.e., the smallest volume encompassing all GTVs) was closer to one in MRI (0.3-0.6) than in CT (0.1-0.5). The rest volumes (i.e., the volume defined by one observer as GTV in one data set but not in the other data set) were never zero for CT vs. MRI nor for MRI vs. CT. In two cases the craniocaudal border was poorly recognized on the axial MRI but could be delineated with a good agreement between the observers in the coronal/sagittal MRI. MRI-derived GTVs are smaller and have less interobserver variation than CT-derived GTVs. CT and MRI are complementary in delineating the GTV. A coronal or sagittal MRI adds to a better GTV definition in the craniocaudal directio

On the terms violating the custodial symmetry in multi-Higgs-doublet models

We prove that a generic multi-Higgs-doublet model (NHDM) generally must contain terms in the potential that violate the custodial symmetry. This is done by showing that the O(4) violating terms of the NHDM potential cannot be excluded by imposing a symmetry on the NHDM Lagrangian. Hence we expect higher-order corrections to necessarily introduce such terms. We also note, in the case of custodially symmetric Higgs-quark couplings, that vacuum alignment will lead to up-down mass degeneration; this is not true if the vacua are not aligned.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure. Title and abstract are modified, conclusions remain the same. Section on Yukawa couplings is extended. Published versio

Improving Community Healthcare for Patients with Parkinson's Disease: The Dutch Model

Because of the complex nature of Parkinson's disease, a wide variety of health professionals are involved in care. Stepwise, we have addressed the challenges in the provision of multidisciplinary care for this patient group. As a starting point, we have gained detailed insight into the current delivery of allied healthcare, as well as the barriers and facilitators for optimal care. To overcome the identified barriers, a tertiary referral centre was founded; evidence-based guidelines were developed and cost-effectively implemented within regional community networks of specifically trained allied health professionals (the ParkinsonNet concept). We increasingly use ICT to bind these professional networks together and also to empower and engage patients in making decisions about their health. This comprehensive approach is likely to be feasible for other countries as well, so we currently collaborate in a European collaboration to improve community care for persons with Parkinson's disease

The effects of combined glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate supplements on condylar cartilage remodeling during functional appliance therapy. A Micro-CT study.

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate supplementation is used to prevent the degeneration of articular surfaces and also to enhance repair and regeneration of cartilage. The ability for adaptation of condylar cartilage to mandibular forward positioning is what constitutes the fundamental rationale for orthodontic functional therapy, which partially contributes to the correction of jaw discrepancies in growing Skeletal II mandibular retrusive patients. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively analyse the effect of Glucosamine sulphate (GS) and Chondroitin sulphate (CS) supplementation on condylar remodeling with functional appliance therapy in rats. One hundred and forty 3-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups consisting of; baseline controls, supplementation only, functional appliances only and those receiving both supplements and functional appliances. Supplements were preloaded for a period of 2 weeks prior to the placement of functional appliances at five weeks of age. The animals were sacrificed at days 0, 7 and 21 after appliance placement. The appliances were removed in the remaining experimental animals on day 21 with sacrifice on day 28 to analyse post growth modification changes. Condylar samples were then soaked in 0.2 M Gadolinium Chloride (GdCl3) (aq) for 6 days and analyzed using micro-computed tomography (μCT) for morphological characteristics and linear and volumetric measurements of the mandibular condyle. The results demonstrated supplement therapy increased the volume of cartilage with and without functional appliance therapy. Functional appliance therapy alone resulted in increases in cartilage volume over untreated animals, with peak volume increases occurring by day 7 of appliance wear followed with decreases as endochondral ossification ensued. Supplement therapy was found to enhance the normal biological response to functional appliance therapy in the rat model

Does postoperative cognitive decline after coronary bypass affect quality of life?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the influence of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on both postoperative cognitive dysfunction and quality of life (QoL) and the association between the two patient-related outcomes. METHODS: In a prospective, observational cohort study, patients with elective, isolated CABG were included. Cognitive function was assessed using the Cogstate computerised cognitive test battery preoperatively, 3 days and 6 months after surgery. QoL was measured preoperatively and at 6 months using the RAND-36 questionnaire including the Physical Component Score (PCS) and the Mental Component Score (MCS). Regression analysis, with adjustment for confounders, was used to evaluate the association between postoperative cognitive dysfunction and QoL. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients were included in the study. Evidence of persistent cognitive dysfunction was observed in 33% of patients after 6 months. At 6 months, the PCS had improved in 59% and decreased in 21% of patients, and the MCS increased in 49% and decreased in 29%. Postoperative cognitive changes were not associated with QoL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction and decreased QoL are common 6 months after surgery, although cognitive function and QoL were found to have improved in many patients at 6 months of follow-up. Impaired cognitive function is not associated with impaired QoL at 6 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03774342

Aquaculture for income and nutrition: Final report

The United States Agency for International Development-Aquaculture for Income and Nutrition (USAID-AIN) project, implemented by WorldFish, emphasized technology development for improved fish strains, and capacity building in hatcheries and nurseries for wider dissemination and uptake among small- and medium-scale household and commercial producers. Improving nutritional benefits from household aquaculture investment was also an important activity of the project. Specifically, AIN aimed to increase aquaculture production by developing hatcheries and nurseries, disseminating improved fish and shrimp seed, enhancing farm management skills of smallholder farmers, promoting new technologies to expand commercial aquaculture, developing backward and forward market linkages, supporting policy reform and building capacity of the public and private sectors, which resulted in increased productivity and revenue for farmers. This report also highlights the major achievements of the AIN project between 2011 and 2016