Determinants of gonadal function after childhood cancer

Each year, 600–700 children are diagnosed with cancer in the Netherlands. Over the last decades, the overall long-term survival of childhood cancer has increased up to ~75%. Due to the expansion of the childhood cancer survivor population, chronic health sequelae resulting from cancer and its treatment have become more prevalent and require our attention. Approximately 75% of the childhood cancer survivors have developed at least one long-term complication of cancer treatment. Gonadal dysfunction is one of the important late effects. The impact of cancer treatment on gonadal function has extensively been studied. However, the extent of loss of gonadal function differs between equally treated childhood cancer survivors. Information on determinants of ovarian function in childhood cancer survivors other than previous cancer treatment is largely lacking. Therefore, in this thesis we aimed to identify determinants of gonadal function and its potential recovery after childhood cancer, and, where possible, to evaluate alternative fertility options for survivors of childhood cancer

Toward a hydrogen peroxide sensor for exhaled breath analysis

In this contribution a chip-integrated amperometric sensor for the detection of H2O2 in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is reported. The electrode chip is characterized, and detection of H2O2 in an aqueous phase is shown by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometry. Variation of conditions such as the composition of the supporting electrolyte largely influences the obtained electrochemical response. Also it is found that electrochemical pretreatment of the platinum working electrode aiming at surface oxidation improves the detection limit of the sensor. Finally, the device is applied to measurement of H2O2 in the gaseous phase

Molecule-by-Molecule Writing Using a Focused Electron Beam

The resolution of lithography techniques needs to be extended beyond their current limits to continue the trend of miniaturization and enable new applications. But what is the ultimate spatial resolution? It is known that single atoms can be imaged with a highly focused electron beam. Can single atoms also be written with an electron beam? We verify this with focused electron-beam-induced deposition (FEBID), a direct-write technique that has the current record for the smallest feature written by (electron) optical lithography. We show that the deposition of an organometallic precursor on graphene can be followed molecule-by-molecule with FEBID. The results show that mechanisms that are inherent to the process inhibit a further increase in control over the process. Hence, our results present the resolution limit of (electron) optical lithography techniques. The writing of isolated, subnanometer features with nanometer precision can be used, for instance, for the local modification of graphene and for catalysis.</p

Wernicke's Encephalopathy in Acute and Chronic Kidney Disease:A Systematic Review

Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency is relatively common in patients with kidney disease. Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is caused by vitamin B1 deficiency. Our aim was to systematically review the signs and symptoms of WE in patients with kidney disease. We conducted a systematic literature review on WE in kidney disease and recorded clinical and radiographic characteristics, treatment and outcome. In total 323 manuscripts were reviewed, which yielded 46 cases diagnosed with acute and chronic kidney disease and WE published in 37 reports. Prodromal characteristics of WE were loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Parenteral thiamine 500 mg 3 times per day often led to full recovery, while Korsakoff's syndrome was found in those receiving low doses. To prevent WE in kidney failure, we suggest administering high doses of parenteral thiamine in patients with kidney disease who present with severe malnutrition and (prodromal) signs of thiamine deficiency.</p

Ontwerpen aan klimaatadaptatie : plannen voor het ondenkbare

In Nederland zal het natter worden ten gevolge van de klimaatverandering. Meer regens, meer smeltwater in rivieren en een stijging van de zeespiegel zorgen voor een groter risico op overstromingen. Daarmee wordt klimaatverandering een niet weg te denken element in waterbeheer, kustverdediging, stedelijke ontwikkeling en natuurbeheer. Ieder ontwerp voor stedelijke of gebiedsontwikkeling zal rekening moeten houden met de mogelijke gevolgen van de opwarming van de aarde, of met een mooi woord ‘klimaatbestendig’ moeten zijn. De vraag hoe je klimaatbestendige landschappen kunt ontwerpen, speelt een grote rol binnen Europese projecten waar de groene hogeschool aan heeft deelgenomen en deelneemt

The Prince William Sound Risk Assessment

After the grounding of the Exxon Valdez, and its subsequent oil spill, all parties with interests in Prince William Sound (PWS) were eager to prevent another major pollution event. While they implemented several measures to reduce the risk of an oil spill, the stakeholders disagreed about the effectiveness of these measures and the potential effectiveness of further proposed measures. They formed a steering committee to represent all the major stakeholders in the oil industry, in the government, in local industry and among the local citizens. The steering committee hired a consultant team, who created a detailed model of the PWS system, integrating system simulation, data analysis, and expert judgment. The model was capable of assessing the current risk of accidents involving oil tankers operating in the Prince William Sound and of evaluating measures aimed at reducing this risk. The risk model showed that actions taken prior to the study had reduced the risk of oil spill by 75 percent and identified measures estimated to reduce the accident frequency by an additional 68 percent, including improving the safety management systems of the oil companies and stationing an enhanced capability tug, called the Gulf Service, at Hinchinbrook Entrance. In all, various stakeholders made multi-million dollar investments to reduce the risk of further oil spills based on the results of the risk assessment

Умения академической письменной речи аспирантов неязыковых вузов при написании статьи на основе метода взаимного оценивания

Данная статья посвящена совершенствованию умений академической письменной речи аспирантов в рамках дисциплины «Иностранный язык» (английский, немецкий, французский) на основе метода взаимного оценивания в электронной обучающей среде Moodle. Определена номенклатура макроумений и микроумений академической письменной речи при написании научной статьи на английском языке

Estimating entropies from molecular dynamics simulations

The methods to compute the excess entropy and the entropy of solvation using liquid water as a test system were studied. The accuracy and convergence behavior of five methods based on thermodynamic integration and perturbation techniques was evaluated. Through the thermodynamic integration accurate entropy differences were obtained in which many copies of a solute were desolvated. Only two methods yield useful results, the calculation of solute-solvent entropy through thermodynamic integration and the calculation of solvation entropy through the temperature derivative of the corresponding free-energy difference, when one solute molecule is involved