Landbouwpraktijk en waterkwaliteit op landbouwbedrijven aangemeld voor derogatie in 2015

Dutch manure policy tries to limit the harmful environmental impact of agriculture. This is in line with international agreements on fertilizer use. The European Nitrates Directive prescribes Member States to limit the use of animal manure to 170 kg nitrogen per hectare. Farms with at least 80 percent of grassland may, under certain conditions, use more manure from grazing animals such as cows and sheep (derogation). Over the last 10 years, nitrate leaching from the manure to the upper groundwater has decreased or remained the same for these farms. By 2015, on average, the concentration is in all regions below the EU standard of 50 milligrams of nitrate per liter. This is according to the annual report by RIVM and Wageningen Economic Research. They follow agricultural practices and the effects on water quality at 300 derogation farms and report their results to the EU annually. This report describes the situation in 2015 and the development between 2006 and 2016 (trend). Management. The permissible amount of nitrogen from grazing manure is, depending on the soil and region, 250 kilograms per hectare (in the Clay region. Peat region and northern part of the Sand region) or 230 kg/ha (in the Loess region and the rest of the Sand region). On average, derogation companies have used 238 kilograms of nitrogen from animal manure per hectare in 2015. The amount of nitrogen that can leached as nitrate to groundwater is determined, among others, by the so-called nitrogen soil surplus. This is the difference between the input of nitrogen (such as fertilizers) and their output (including through grass and maize). The average nitrogen surplus over the regions has decreased over the period considered. Groundwater quality. By 2015, the average nitrate concentration in the groundwater in Sand 250 was 26 milligrams per liter (mg/l). The highest concentration is measured in the Loess region (42 mg/l) and in Sand 230 (45 mg/l). On the average, farms in the Clay region and the Peat region had lower nitrate concentrations in leaching water (22 and 13 mg/l respectively). The difference between the regions can be explained by the proportion of soils prone to nitrate leaching. Especially in Sand 230 and in the Loess region there are grounds for which nitrate is reduced in a lesser extent, and therefore can leach more to groundwater.Het Nederlandse mestbeleid probeert de schadelijke milieueffecten van de landbouw te beperken. Dit sluit aan bij internationale afspraken over het mestgebruik, die onder meer zijn vastgelegd in de Europese Nitraatrichtlijn. Die schrijft lidstaten voor om het gebruik van dierlijke mest te beperken tot 170 kg stikstof per hectare. Bedrijven met ten minste 80 procent grasland mogen onder bepaalde voorwaarden meer mest gebruiken, afkomstig van graasdieren zoals koeien en schapen (derogatie). Op deze bedrijven is in de periode 2006 tot en met 2016 de uitspoeling van nitraat uit de mest naar het grondwater gedaald of gelijk gebleven. In 2015 ligt op derogatiebedrijven de concentratie gemiddeld in alle regio's onder de EU-norm van 50 milligram nitraat per liter. Dit blijkt uit de jaarlijkse rapportage van het RIVM en Wageningen Economic Research. Zij volgen op 300 derogatiebedrijven de bedrijfsvoering en de effecten op de waterkwaliteit en zij rapporteren de resultaten hiervan jaarlijks aan de EU. In deze rapportage is de situatie in 2015 beschreven en de ontwikkeling tussen 2006 en 2016 (trend). Bedrijfsvoering. De toegestane hoeveelheid stikstof uit graasdiermest is, afhankelijk van de bodemsoort en regio, 250 kilogram per hectare (in de Kleiregio, Veenregio en het noordelijke deel van de Zandregio) of 230 kg/ha (in de Lössregio en het overige deel van de Zandregio). Gemiddeld hebben derogatiebedrijven in 2015 238 kilogram stikstof uit dierlijke mest per hectare gebruikt. De hoeveelheid stikstof die als nitraat kan uitspoelen naar het grondwater wordt onder andere bepaald door het zogenoemde stikstofbodemoverschot. Dit is het verschil tussen de aanvoer van stikstof (zoals meststoffen) en de afvoer ervan (waaronder via gras en maïs). Het stikstofbodemoverschot is gemiddeld over de regio's tijdens de onderzochte periode gedaald met 16%. Grondwaterkwaliteit. In 2015 was de gemiddelde nitraatconcentratie in het grondwater 26 milligram per liter (mg/l) in Zand 250. De hoogste concentratie wordt gemeten in de Lössregio (42 mg/l) en in Zand 230 (45 mg/l). Bedrijven in de Kleiregio en de Veenregio hadden gemiddeld een lagere nitraatconcentratie (respectievelijk 22 en 13 mg/l). Het verschil tussen de regio's kan verklaard worden door het aandeel uitspoelingsgevoelige gronden. Vooral in Zand 230 en in de Lössregio komen gronden voor waar nitraat in mindere mate in de bodem wordt afgebroken en daardoor meer kan uitspoelen naar het grondwater.Ministerie van Economische Zake

The modified Glasgow prognostic score in prostate cancer: results from a retrospective clinical series of 744 patients

<p>Background: As the incidence of prostate cancer continues to rise steeply, there is an increasing need to identify more accurate prognostic markers for the disease. There is some evidence that a higher modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) may be associated with poorer survival in patients with prostate cancer but it is not known whether this is independent of other established prognostic factors. Therefore the aim of this study was to describe the relationship between mGPS and survival in patients with prostate cancer after adjustment for other prognostic factors.</p> <p>Methods: Retrospective clinical series on patients in Glasgow, Scotland, for whom data from the Scottish Cancer Registry, including Gleason score, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin, six months prior to or following the diagnosis, were included in this study.</p> <p>The mGPS was constructed by combining CRP and albumin. Five-year and ten-year relative survival and relative excess risk of death were estimated by mGPS categories after adjusting for age, socioeconomic circumstances, Gleason score, PSA and previous in-patient bed days.</p> <p>Results: Seven hundred and forty four prostate cancer patients were identified; of these, 497 (66.8%) died during a maximum follow up of 11.9 years. Patients with mGPS of 2 had poorest 5-year and 10-year relative survival, of 32.6% and 18.8%, respectively. Raised mGPS also had a significant association with excess risk of death at five years (mGPS 2: Relative Excess Risk = 3.57, 95% CI 2.31-5.52) and ten years (mGPS 2: Relative Excess Risk = 3.42, 95% CI 2.25-5.21) after adjusting for age, socioeconomic circumstances, Gleason score, PSA and previous in-patient bed days.</p> <p>Conclusions: The mGPS is an independent and objective prognostic indicator for survival of patients with prostate cancer. It may be useful in determining the clinical management of patients with prostate cancer in addition to established prognostic markers.</p&gt

Effectiveness of YouRAction, an Intervention to Promote Adolescent Physical Activity Using Personal and Environmental Feedback: A Cluster RCT

Background: In this study the one and six months effects of the computer-tailored YouRAction (targeting individual level determinants) and YouRAction+e (targeting in addition perceived environmental determinants) on compliance with the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guideline and weight status are examined. In addition the use and appreciation of both interventions are studied. Methods: A three-armed cluster randomized trial was conducted in 2009-2010 with measurements at baseline, one and six months post intervention. School classes were assigned to one of the study arms (YouRaction, YouRAction+e and Generic Information (GI) control group). MVPA was derived from self-reports at baseline, one and six months post intervention. Body Mass Index and waist circumference were measured at baseline and six months post intervention in a random sub-sample of the population. Use of the interventions was measured by webserver logs and appreciation by self-reports. Multilevel regression analyses were conducted to study the effects of the intervention against the GI control group. ANOVA's and chi-square tests were used to describe differences in use and appreciation between study arms. Results: There were no statistically significant intervention effects on compliance with the MVPA guideline, overweight or WC. Access to the full intervention was significantly lower for YouRAction (24.0%) and YouRAction+e (21.7%) compared to the GI (54.4%). Conclusion: This study could not demonstrate that the YouRAction and YouRAction+e interventions were effective in promoting MVPA or improve anthropometric outcomes among adolescents, compared to generic information. Insufficient use and exposure to the intervention content may be an explanation for the lack of effects

Towards an evidence-based model of fear of cancer recurrence for breast cancer survivors.

Purpose In order to understand the multidimensional mechanism of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) and to identify potential targets for interventions, it is important to empirically test the theoretical model of FCR. This study aims at assessing the validity of Lee-Jones et al.'s FCR model.Methods A total of 1205 breast cancer survivors were invited to participate in this study. Participants received a questionnaire booklet including questionnaires on demographics and psychosocial variables including FCR. Data analysis consisted of the estimation of direct and indirect effects in mediator models.Results A total of 460 women (38 %) participated in the study. Median age was 55.8 years (range 32-87). Indirect effects of external and internal cues via FCR were found for all mediation models with limited planning for the future (R 2 = .28) and body checking (R 2 = .11-.15) as behavioral response variables, with the largest effects for limited planning for the future. A direct relation was found between feeling sick and seeking professional advice, not mediated by FCR.Conclusions In the first tested models of FCR, all internal and external cues were associated with higher FCR. In the models with limited planning for the future and body checking as behavioral response, an indirect effect of cues via FCR was found supporting the theoretical model of Lee-Jones et al.Implications for cancer survivors An evidence-based model of FCR may facilitate the development of appropriate interventions to manage FCR in breast cancer survivors

Temperature responses of Rubisco from Paniceae grasses provide opportunities for improving C3 photosynthesis.

Enhancing the catalytic properties of the CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco is a target for improving agricultural crop productivity. Here, we reveal extensive diversity in the kinetic response between 10 and 37 °C by Rubisco from C3 and C4 species within the grass tribe Paniceae. The CO2 fixation rate (kcatc) for Rubisco from the C4 grasses with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) phosphate malic enzyme (NADP-ME) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) photosynthetic pathways was twofold greater than the kcatc of Rubisco from NAD-ME species across all temperatures. The declining response of CO2/O2 specificity with increasing temperature was less pronounced for PCK and NADP-ME Rubisco, which would be advantageous in warmer climates relative to the NAD-ME grasses. Modelled variation in the temperature kinetics of Paniceae C3 Rubisco and PCK Rubisco differentially stimulated C3 photosynthesis relative to tobacco above and below 25 °C under current and elevated CO2. Amino acid substitutions in the large subunit that could account for the catalytic variation among Paniceae Rubisco are identified; however, incompatibilities with Paniceae Rubisco biogenesis in tobacco hindered their mutagenic testing by chloroplast transformation. Circumventing these bioengineering limitations is critical to tailoring the properties of crop Rubisco to suit future climates

Social capital in relation to depression, musculoskeletal pain, and psychosomatic symptoms: a cross-sectional study of a large population-based cohort of Swedish adolescents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Social capital has lately received much attention in health research. The present study investigated whether two measures of subjective social capital were related to psychosomatic symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and depression in a large population of Swedish adolescents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 7757 13-18 year old students anonymously completed the Survey of Adolescent Life in Vestmanland 2008 which included questions on sociodemographic background, neighbourhood social capital, general social trust, and ill health.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Low neighbourhood social capital and low general social trust were associated with higher rates of psychosomatic symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and depression. Individuals with low general social trust had more than three times increased odds of being depressed, three times increased odds of having many psychosomatic symptoms, and double the odds of having many symptoms of musculoskeletal pain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings make an important contribution to the social capital - health debate by demonstrating relations between social capital factors and self-reported ill health in a young population.</p

A novel class of heat-responsive small RNAs derived from the chloroplast genome of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-coding small RNAs play critical roles in various cellular processes in a wide spectrum of eukaryotic organisms. Their responses to abiotic stress have become a popular topic of economic and scientific importance in biological research. Several studies in recent years have reported a small number of non-coding small RNAs that map to chloroplast genomes. However, it remains uncertain whether small RNAs are generated from chloroplast genome and how they respond to environmental stress, such as high temperature. Chinese cabbage is an important vegetable crop, and heat stress usually causes great losses in yields and quality. Under heat stress, the leaves become etiolated due to the disruption and disassembly of chloroplasts. In an attempt to determine the heat-responsive small RNAs in chloroplast genome of Chinese cabbage, we carried out deep sequencing, using heat-treated samples, and analysed the proportion of small RNAs that were matched to chloroplast genome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Deep sequencing provided evidence that a novel subset of small RNAs were derived from the chloroplast genome of Chinese cabbage. The chloroplast small RNAs (csRNAs) include those derived from mRNA, rRNA, tRNA and intergenic RNA. The rRNA-derived csRNAs were preferentially located at the 3'-ends of the rRNAs, while the tRNA-derived csRNAs were mainly located at 5'-termini of the tRNAs. After heat treatment, the abundance of csRNAs decreased in seedlings, except those of 24 nt in length. The novel heat-responsive csRNAs and their locations in the chloroplast were verified by Northern blotting. The regulation of some csRNAs to the putative target genes were identified by real-time PCR. Our results reveal that high temperature suppresses the production of some csRNAs, which have potential roles in transcriptional or post-transcriptional regulation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In addition to nucleus, the chloroplast is another important organelle that generates a number of small RNAs. Many members of csRNA families are highly sensitive to heat stress. Some csRNAs respond to heat stress by silencing target genes. We suggest that proper temperature is important for production of chloroplast small RNAs, which are associated with plant resistance to abiotic stress.</p

Perceived need for mental health care among non-western labour migrants

Background There is a supposed higher prevalence of common mental disorders among many migrant groups. At the same time, problems are reported regarding underutilisation of mental health services by migrants. Since perceived need for care is a powerful predictor of actual care utilisation, we aimed to study the hypothesis that, given the same level of mental morbidity, non-Western migrants would perceive less need for mental health care than ethnic Dutch residents. Additionally, we studied the extent to which needs are met in both groups, as well as several possible barriers to care. Methods A cross-sectional study with data from the 2004/2005 Amsterdam Health Monitor. Data were complete from 626 ethnic Dutch and non-Western (Turkish and Moroccan) labour migrants. Respondents participated in a structured interview in their own language, which included the perceived need for care questionnaire (PNCQ) and the composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI) version 2.1 for anxiety and depressive disorders. Results Perceived need was much higher among Turkish migrants. Among Moroccans the perceived need was comparable to ethnic Dutch. Turkish migrants also reported that needs were met less often than ethnic Dutch. Differences were explained by a higher prevalence of common mental disorders and higher symptom levels among Turkish. When differences in mental morbidity were taken into account, Moroccans perceived less need for information, drugs, referral to specialised mental health care, or for counselling. The most important barrier to care in all ethnic groups was the preference to solve the problem on one’s own. Conclusion In case of similar mental morbidity, perceived need for care was lower than among ethnic Dutch. The results did not support the hypothesis that in case of similar mental distress, needs of migrants were less often met than needs of ethnic Dutch

Global mortality and readmission rates following COPD exacerbation-related hospitalisation: a meta-analysis of 65 945 individual patients

\ua9 2024, European Respiratory Society. All rights reserved.Background Exacerbations of COPD (ECOPD) have a major impact on patients and healthcare systems across the world. Precise estimates of the global burden of ECOPD on mortality and hospital readmission are needed to inform policy makers and aid preventive strategies to mitigate this burden. The aims of the present study were to explore global in-hospital mortality, post-discharge mortality and hospital readmission rates after ECOPD-related hospitalisation using an individual patient data meta-analysis (IPDMA) design. Methods A systematic review was performed identifying studies that reported in-hospital mortality, postdischarge mortality and hospital readmission rates following ECOPD-related hospitalisation. Data analyses were conducted using a one-stage random-effects meta-analysis model. This study was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-IPD statement. Results Data of 65 945 individual patients with COPD were analysed. The pooled in-hospital mortality rate was 6.2%, pooled 30-, 90- and 365-day post-discharge mortality rates were 1.8%, 5.5% and 10.9%, respectively, and pooled 30-, 90- and 365-day hospital readmission rates were 7.1%, 12.6% and 32.1%, respectively, with noticeable variability between studies and countries. Strongest predictors of mortality and hospital readmission included noninvasive mechanical ventilation and a history of two or more ECOPD-related hospitalisation