Differences in avoidable mortality between migrants and the native Dutch in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND: The quality of the healthcare system and its role in influencing mortality of migrant groups can be explored by examining ethnic variations in 'avoidable' mortality. This study investigates the association between the level of mortality from 'avoidable' causes and ethnic origin in the Netherlands and identifies social factors that contribute to this association. METHODS: Data were obtained from cause of death and population registries in the period 1995–2000. We compared mortality rates for selected 'avoidable' conditions for Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese and Antillean/Aruban groups to native Dutch. RESULTS: We found slightly elevated risk in total 'avoidable' mortality for migrant populations (RR = 1.13). Higher risks of death among migrants were observed from almost all infectious diseases (most RR > 3.00) and several chronic conditions including asthma, diabetes and cerebro-vascular disorders (most RR > 1.70). Migrant women experienced a higher risk of death from maternity-related conditions (RR = 3.37). Surinamese and Antillean/Aruban population had a higher mortality risk (RR = 1.65 and 1.31 respectively), while Turkish and Moroccans experienced a lower risk of death (RR = 0.93 and 0.77 respectively) from all 'avoidable' conditions compared to native Dutch. Control for demographic and socioeconomic factors explained a substantial part of ethnic differences in 'avoidable' mortality. CONCLUSION: Compared to the native Dutch population, total 'avoidable' mortality was slightly elevated for all migrants combined. Mortality risks varied greatly by cause of death and ethnic origin. The substantial differences in mortality for a few 'avoidable' conditions suggest opportunities for quality improvement within specific areas of the healthcare system targeted to disadvantaged groups

A new architecture of robot with "wheels-with-legs" (WWL)

International audienc

DPCM with Forward Gain-Adaptive Quantizer and Simple Switched Predictor for High Quality Speech Signals

In this article DPCM (Differential Pulse Code Modulation) speech coding scheme with a simple switched first order predictor is presented. Adaptation of the quantizer to the signal variance is performed for each particular frame. Each frame is classified as high or low correlated, based on the value of the correlation coefficient, then the selection of the appropriate predictor coefficient and bitrate is performed. Low correlated frames are encoded with a higher bitrate, while high correlated frames are encoded with a lower bitrate without the objectionable loss in quality. Theoretical model and experimental results are provided for the proposed algorithm

Extrapolation and transference of Remediation Technologies and generic approaches to new selected test locations - AQUAREHAB WP8

The last year of the AQUAREHAB project was foreseen to evaluate and test the generic character of some finding from the first three project years. More specifically, the aim was to apply generic rehabilitation guidelines, approaches and tools to other river basins/sites with other pollutant conditions and climates. With this goal in mind, four case studies have been selected and started focussing on: (1) The capacity of wetlands and soils indenitrification and elimination of pesticide; (2) Estimation of the long term performance of Zero Valent Iron (ZVI) Permeable Reactive Barriers to eliminate Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons (CAHs) via a combination of improved lab scale tests and model tools; (3) The feasibility of micro scale ZVI injection into the subsurface to eliminate CAHs contaminants; and (4) The development of REACHER-local, a prototype management tool for groundwater management at a regional scal

Extrapolation and transference of Remediation Technologies and generic approaches to new selected test locations - AQUAREHAB WP8

The last year of the AQUAREHAB project was foreseen to evaluate and test the generic character of some finding from the first three project years. More specifically, the aim was to apply generic rehabilitation guidelines, approaches and tools to other river basins/sites with other pollutant conditions and climates. With this goal in mind, four case studies have been selected and started focussing on: (1) The capacity of wetlands and soils indenitrification and elimination of pesticide; (2) Estimation of the long term performance of Zero Valent Iron (ZVI) Permeable Reactive Barriers to eliminate Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons (CAHs) via a combination of improved lab scale tests and model tools; (3) The feasibility of micro scale ZVI injection into the subsurface to eliminate CAHs contaminants; and (4) The development of REACHER-local, a prototype management tool for groundwater management at a regional scale

Inwardly rectifying whole cell potassium current in human blood eosinophils

Membrane currents were studied in single human blood eosinophils using the whole cell voltage clamp technique. The whole cell current-voltage relationship exhibited rectification about the membrane potential which followed the potassium equilibrium potential when [K+]o was raised. Elevation of [K+]o considerably potentiated inward current amplitude, and in some cells channel activity was discernible in the whole cell membrane current recordings. The single channel conductance was 24 ± 1 pS ([K+]o, 100 mm [K+]i, 140 mm), and eosinophils were found to have as few as three, and on average twenty, inward rectifier channels each.The inward current was inhibited in a voltage-dependent manner by extracellular cations in order of potency Ba2+ > Cs+ > Na+. Intracellular acidification inhibited while alkalization augmented the inward current. Mg2+ contributed to rectification as dialysis with nominally Mg2+-free pipette solution was associated with an increase in the outward current during membrane polarization.By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using suitable primers on human eosinophil mRNA, an inward rectifier channel, Kir2.1, was identified, which is known from expression studies to have very similar properties to those found in this study.Superoxide anion production or its stimulation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was not significantly affected by depolarization with 140 mm [K+]o, or by 1 mm BaCl2.It is concluded that the single channel currents and the whole cell current rectification observed in human blood eosinophils resulted from the presence of an inwardly rectifying potassium channel, probably Kir2.1