Demographic Changes Underpinning the Population Decline of Starlings Sturnus vulgaris in the Netherlands

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The effect of iron catalyzed graphitization on the textural properties of carbonized cellulose: Magnetically separable graphitic carbon bodies for catalysis and remediation

Whereas pyrolysis of pristine microcrystalline cellulose spheres yields nonporous amorphous carbon bodies, pyrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose spheres loaded with iron salts leads to the formation of magnetically separable mesoporous graphitic carbon bodies. The microcrystalline cellulose spheres loaded with either iron(III) nitrate, ammonium iron(III) citrate or iron(III) chloride were pyrolyzed up to 800 °C. Temperature dependent X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the iron salts are transformed into iron oxide nanoparticles; their size and distribution are influenced by the anion of the iron salt. The iron oxide nanoparticles are subsequently carbothermally reduced by the amorphous carbon that is obtained from the pyrolysis of the microcrystalline cellulose. Next, the iron nanoparticles catalyze the conversion of the amorphous carbon to graphitic carbon nanostructures as shown with XRD, electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The extent of graphitization depends on the iron nanoparticle size. Nitrogen physisorption measurements show that this graphitization process introduces mesopores into the carbon bodies. The benefits of the properties of the resulting carbon bodies (ferromagnetic character, graphitic content, mesoporosity) are discussed in connection with applications in liquid-phase catalysis and remediation

Misperception of disease onset in people with gradual-onset disease of the upper extremity

BACKGROUND:Misperception that an established, gradual-onset disease such as osteoarthritis started when the symptoms were first noticed might lead to testing and treatment choices that are inconsistent with what matters most to a patient. In the present study, the primary null hypothesis was that there are no factors associated with patient-reported symptom duration (in months). The secondary null hypotheses were that there are no factors independently associated with (1) a sudden versus gradual perception of disease onset, (2) an event or injury-related versus age-related perceived cause of disease onset, and (3) the magnitude of physical limitations. METHODS:In this cross-sectional study, 121 patients with an atraumatic, established, gradual-onset condition of the upper extremity completed a demographic questionnaire, measures of mental health (symptoms of depression and anxiety, worst-case thinking, and self-efficacy [the ability to adapt and continue with daily activity] when in pain), measurement of the magnitude of upper extremity-specific limitations, and questions about the perceived course and cause of the disease. RESULTS:The median patient-reported symptom duration was 12 months (interquartile range, 3 to 36 months). Twenty-two patients (18%) perceived their disease as new, and 29 patients (24%) believed that the condition was related to ≥1 event (injury) rather than being time and age-related. In multivariable analysis, patients with Medicare insurance were independently associated with longer reported symptom duration (in months). Greater self-efficacy was associated with longer symptom duration in bivariate, but not multivariable, analysis. No factors were independently associated with a sudden versus gradual onset of symptoms. Hispanic ethnicity and federal, county, or no insurance were independently associated with the perception that the problem was caused by an injury or event. CONCLUSIONS:Approximately 1 in 5 patients misperceived new symptoms as representing a new disease, often as a type of injury. Misperception of the pathology as new had a limited association with unhealthy thoughts and is likely generally responsive to reorientation. We speculate that gentle, strategic reorientation of misperception can protect patients from choices inconsistent with their values.</p

The correlation of communication effectiveness and patient satisfaction

This study assessed the correlation of 9 questions addressing communication effectiveness (the Communication Effectiveness Questionnaire [CEQ]) with other patient-reported experience measures (PREMs; satisfaction, perceived empathy) as well as patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs; pain intensity, activity tolerance) in patients with musculoskeletal illness or injury. In a cross-sectional study, 210 patients visiting an orthopedic surgeon completed the CEQ and measures of satisfaction with the visit, perceived empathy, pain intensity, and activity tolerance. We evaluated correlations between CEQ and other PREMs and CEQ and PROMs. We measured ceiling effects of the PREMs. Communication effectiveness correlated moderately with other PREMs such as satisfaction (rho = 0.54; P < .001) and perceived empathy (rho = 0.54; P < .001). Communication effectiveness did not correlate with PROMs: pain intensity (rho = -0.01; P = .93) and activity tolerance (rho = -0.05; P = .44). All of the experience measures have high ceiling effects: perceived empathy 37%, satisfaction 80%, and CEQ 46%. The observation of notable correlations of various PREMs, combined with their high ceiling effects, direct us to identify a likely common statistical construct (which we hypothesize as "relationship") accounting for variation in PREMs, and then develop a PREM which measures that construct in a manner that results in a Gaussian distribution of scores. At least within the limitations of current experience measures, there seems to be no association between illness (PROMs) and experience (PREMs)

Transient electric current through an Aharonov-Bohm ring after switching of a Two-Level-System

Response of the electronic current through an Aharonov-Bohm ring after a two-level-system is switched on is calculated perturbatively by use of non-equilibrium Green function. In the ballistic case the amplitude of the Aharonov-Bohm oscillation is shown to decay to a new equilibrium value due to scattering into other electronic states. Relaxation of Altshuler-Aronov-Spivak oscillation in diffusive case due to dephasing effect is also calculated. The time scale of the relaxation is determined by characteristic relaxation times of the system and the splitting of two-level-system. Oscillation phases are not affected. Future experimental studies of current response may give us direct information on characteristic times of mesoscopic systems

Clofarabine-fludarabine-busulfan in HCT for pediatric leukemia: an effective, low toxicity, TBI-free conditioning regimen

We prospectively studied clofarabine-fludarabine-busulfan (CloFluBu)-conditioning in allogeneic hematopoietic cell therapy (HCT) for lymphoid and myeloid malignancies and hypothesized that CloFluBu provides a less toxic alternative to conventional conditioning regimens, with adequate antileukemic activity. All patients receiving their first HCT, from 2011-2019, were included and received CloFluBu. The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), graft-versus-host disease (GvHD)-relapse-free survival (GRFS), treatment-related mortality (TRM), cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), acute and chronic GvHD (aGvHD and cGvHD), and veno-occlusive disease (VOD). Cox proportional hazard and Fine and Gray competing-risk models were used for data analysis. One hundred fifty-five children were included: 60 acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL), 69 acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and 26 other malignancies (mostly MDS-EB). The median age was 9.7 (0.5 to 18.6) years. Estimated 2-year EFS was 72.0% +/- 6.0 in ALL patients, and 62.4% +/- 6.0 in AML patients. TRM in the whole cohort was 11.0% +/- 2.6, incidence of aGvHD 3 to 4 at 6 months was 12.3% +/- 2.7, extensive cGvHD at 2 years was 6.4% +/- 2.1. Minimal residual disease-positivity prior to HCT was associated with higher CIR, both in ALL and AML. CloFluBu showed limited toxicity and encouraging EFS. CloFluBu is a potentially less toxic alternative to conventional conditioning regimens. Randomized prospective studies are needed.Transplantation and immunomodulatio

Herstellen van akkers als onderdeel van een intact heidelandschap : de koppeling tussen arme heidegebieden en rijkere gronden

De heidegebieden in Nederland herbergen een groot aantal habitattypen die in Europees opzicht erg waardevol zijn. Voorbeelden zijn droge en vochtige heide (H4030 en H4010), zandverstuivingen (H2330) en zwakgebufferde vennen (H3130). Deze heidegebieden liggen temidden van intensief gebruikt agrarisch gebied. Rechtstreeks gevolg hiervan lijkt dat karakteristieke faunasoorten van heidelandschappen nog steeds achteruit gaan in verspreiding. Een groeiend aantal beheerders experimenteert tegenwoordig met tijdelijke beakkering van kleine perceeltjes in of direct grenzend aan heideterreinen, met als doel de aan het heidelandschap verbonden diersoorten een grotere overlevingskans te geven. Daarnaast bestaan er bij beheerders vragen over het gewenste beheer van bestaande (extensieve) landbouwpercelen en wildakkers ten behoeve van de versterking van de natuurwaarden in nabij gelegen heidegebiede

Greenhouse gas emissions in The Netherlands 1990-2012 : National Inventory Report 2014

In 2012 is de totale uitstoot van broeikasgassen van Nederland, zoals CO2, methaan en lachgas, met ongeveer 1,7 procent gedaald ten opzichte van 2011. Deze daling komt vooral door een lager brandstofgebruik in de energie- en transportsector. Dit lijkt een gevolg van de economische recessie, waardoor emissies door elektriciteitsproductie en het wegtransport in Nederland zijn afgenomen. Cijfers De totale broeikasgasemissie wordt uitgedrukt in CO2-equivalenten en bedraagt in 2012 191,7 teragram (megaton of miljard kilogram) . Ten opzichte van de uitstoot in het Kyoto-basisjaar (213,2 Tg CO2-equivalenten) is dit een afname van ongeveer 10 procent. Het basisjaar, dat afhankelijk van het broeikasgas 1990 of 1995 is, dient voor het Kyoto-protocol als referentie voor de uitstoot van broeikasgassen. De uitstoot van de overige broeikasgassen zoals lachgas en methaan is sinds het basisjaar met 51 procent afgenomen. De CO2-uitstoot daarentegen is in deze periode met 4 procent gestegen. Landen zijn voor het Kyoto-protocol verplicht om de totale uitstoot van broeikasgassen op twee manieren te rapporteren: met en zonder het soort landgebruik en de verandering daarin. Dit is namelijk van invloed op de uitstoot van broeikasgassen. Voorbeelden zijn natuurontwikkeling (dat CO2 bindt) of ontbossing (waardoor CO2 wordt uitgestoten). In bovengenoemde getallen zijn deze zogeheten LULUCF-emissies (Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry) niet meegenomen. Overige onderdelen inventarisatie Het RIVM stelt jaarlijks op verzoek van het Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Milieu (IenM) de inventarisatie van broeikasgasemissies op. De inventarisatie bevat trendanalyses om ontwikkelingen in de uitstoot van broeikasgassen tussen 1990 en 2012 te verklaren, en een analyse van de onzekerheid in deze getallen. Ook is aangegeven welke bronnen het meest aan deze onzekerheid bijdragen. Daarnaast biedt de inventarisatie documentatie van de gebruikte berekeningsmethoden, databronnen en toegepaste emissiefactoren. Met deze inventarisatie voldoet Nederland aan de nationale rapportageverplichtingen voor 2012 van het Klimaatverdrag van de Verenigde Naties (UNFCCC), van het Kyoto-Protocol en van het Bewakingsmechanisme Broeikasgassen van de Europese Unie.Total greenhouse gas emissions from the Netherlands in 2012 decreased by approximately 1.7 per cent, compared with 2011 emissions. This decrease is mainly the result of decreased fuel combustion in the Energy sector (increased electricity import) and in road transport. In 2012, total direct greenhouse gas emissions (excluding emissions from LULUCF - land use, land use change and forestry) in the Netherlands amounted to 191.7 Tg CO2 eq. This is approximately 10 per cent below the emissions in the base year (213.2 Tg CO2 eq.). The 51% reduction in the non-CO2 emissions in this period is counterbalanced by 4 per cent increase in CO2 emissions since 1990. This report documents the Netherlands' 2014 annual submission of its greenhouse gas emissions inventory in accordance with the guidelines provided by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the European Union's Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism. The report comprises explanations of observed trends in emissions; a description of an assessment of key sources and their uncertainty; documentation of methods, data sources and emission factors applied; and a description of the quality assurance system and the verification activities performed on the data.Ministerie van I&

Spintronics: Fundamentals and applications

Spintronics, or spin electronics, involves the study of active control and manipulation of spin degrees of freedom in solid-state systems. This article reviews the current status of this subject, including both recent advances and well-established results. The primary focus is on the basic physical principles underlying the generation of carrier spin polarization, spin dynamics, and spin-polarized transport in semiconductors and metals. Spin transport differs from charge transport in that spin is a nonconserved quantity in solids due to spin-orbit and hyperfine coupling. The authors discuss in detail spin decoherence mechanisms in metals and semiconductors. Various theories of spin injection and spin-polarized transport are applied to hybrid structures relevant to spin-based devices and fundamental studies of materials properties. Experimental work is reviewed with the emphasis on projected applications, in which external electric and magnetic fields and illumination by light will be used to control spin and charge dynamics to create new functionalities not feasible or ineffective with conventional electronics.Comment: invited review, 36 figures, 900+ references; minor stylistic changes from the published versio