Luhmann ontmoet ‘the Matrix’: Uitwisselen en delen van informatie in netcentrische omgevingen

Technologie bepaalt in toenemende mate de ontwikkeling van mens, organisatie en samenleving. Dankzij technologie ontstaan andere verbindingen voor het uitwisselen en delen van informatie tussen organisaties. Informatie-uitwisseling en -deling maken nieuwe manieren van organiseren mogelijk, bijvoorbeeld in willekeurige coalities en netwerken. Nieuwe organisatievormen dwingen echter tot nieuwe en andere vormen van sturing en controle. Ze leiden tot een verschuiving van verantwoordelijkheid tussen mens en technologie. Het gebruik van technologie noodzaakt de mens tot horizontaal in plaats van verticaal denken. Ben van Lier werkt al meer dan 25 jaar op het grensvlak van organisatie en technologie. Hij heeft management- en directiefuncties bekleed in de not-for-profit, overheid- en ICT-sector. In zijn proefschrift onderzoekt hij, aan de hand van een door hem ontwikkeld model, een wetenschappelijke basis voor het uitwisselen en delen van informatie tussen diverse soorten systemen

Parvalbumin expression and gamma oscillation occurrence increase over time in a neurodevelopmental model of NMDA receptor dysfunction

Dysfunction of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is thought to play a role in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental diseases like schizophrenia. To study the effects of NMDAR dysfunction on synaptic transmission and network oscillations, we used hippocampal tissue of NMDAR subunit GluN2A knockout (KO) mice. Field excitatory postsynaptic potentials were recorded in acute hippocampal slices of adult animals. Synaptic transmission was impaired in GluN2A KO slices compared to wild-type (WT) slices. Further, to investigate whether NMDAR dysfunction would alter neurodevelopment in vitro, we used organotypic hippocampal slice cultures of WT and GluN2A KO mice. Immunostaining performed with cultures kept two, seven, 14, 25 days in vitro (DIV) revealed an increasing expression of parvalbumin (PV) over time. As a functional readout, oscillatory activity induced by the cholinergic agonist carbachol was recorded in cultures kept seven, 13, and 26 DIV using microelectrode arrays. Initial analysis focused on the occurrence of delta, theta, beta and gamma oscillations over genotype, DIV and hippocampal area (CA1, CA3, dentate gyrus (DG)). In a follow-up analysis, we studied the peak frequency and the peak power of each of the four oscillation bands per condition. The occurrence of gamma oscillations displayed an increase by DIV similar to the PV immunostaining. Unlike gamma occurrence, delta, theta, and beta occurrence did not change over time in culture. The peak frequency and peak power in the different bands of the oscillations were not different in slices of WT and GluN2A KO mice. However, the level of PV expression was lower in GluN2A KO compared to WT mice. Given the role of PV-containing fast-spiking basket cells in generation of oscillations and the decreased PV expression in subjects with schizophrenia, the study of gamma oscillations in organotypic hippocampal slices represents a potentially valuable tool for the characterization of novel therapeutic drugs

The FOAM study : Is Hysterosalpingo foam sonography (HyFoSy) a cost-effective alternative for hysterosalpingography (HSG) in assessing tubal patency in subfertile women? Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

This is an investigator initiated trial, VU medical center Amsterdam is the sponsor, contact information: prof. CJM de Groot, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tel: + 31-204444444. This study is funded by ZonMw, a Dutch organization for Health Research and Development, project number 837001504. ZonMW gives financial support for the whole project. IQ Medical Ventures provides the ExEm FOAM® kits. The funding bodies have no role in the design of the study; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and in writing the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The contribution of macroalgae-associated fishes to small-scale tropical reef fisheries

Macroalgae-dominated reefs are a prominent habitat in tropical seascapes that support a diversity of fishes, including fishery target species. To what extent, then, do macroalgal habitats contribute to small-scale tropical reef fisheries? To address this question we: (1) Quantified the macroalgae-associated fish component in catches from 133 small-scale fisheries, (2) Compared life-history traits relevant to fishing (e.g. growth, longevity) in macroalgal and coral-associated fishes, (3) Examined how macroalgae-associated species can influence catch diversity, trophic level and vulnerability and (4) Explored how tropical fisheries change with the expansion of macroalgal habitats using a case study of fishery-independent data for Seychelles. Fish that utilised macroalgal habitats comprise 24% of the catch, but very few fished species relied entirely on macroalgal or coral habitats post-settlement. Macroalgal and coral-associated fishes had similar life-history traits, although vulnerability to fishing declined with increasing contribution of macroalgae association to the catch, whilst mean trophic level and diversity peaked when macroalgal-associated fish accounted for 20%-30% of catches. The Seychelles case study revealed similar total fish biomass on macroalgal and coral reefs, although the biomass of primary target species increased as macroalgae cover expanded. Our findings reinforce that multiple habitat types are needed to support tropical fishery stability and sustainability. Whilst coral habitats have been the focus of tropical fisheries management, we show the potential for macroalgae-associated fish to support catch size and diversity in ways that reduce vulnerability to overfishing. This is pertinent to seascapes where repeated disturbances are facilitating the replacement of coral reef with macroalgal habitats

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Connections, Information and Reality: Thinking about the internet of things

The number of connections between people, organizations and technology is proliferating rapidly, and the amount of information they produce, exchange and share is increasing accordingly. These connections and the information they produce are defining and shaping our daily life and work and our perception of reality. Computers in all forms are becoming smaller and less visible, but they are omnipresent. This development of information technology ‘everyware’, as Greenfield calls it, is also referred to as ubiquitous computing. With the development of ubiquitous computing, computers not only disappear from our perception, but also from our experience. When these new and almost invisible technological devices are tied together, for instance in the Internet of Things, the information resulting from that connection will be more than the sum of its parts. The Internet is the place where subjects are connected and where they exchange and share information. With the development of the ‘Internet of things’, the Internet will also connect objects and enable them to exchange and share information. In this Internet of the future, subjects and objects are more and more connected in random coalitions and networks on the basis of information. These new connections and their seamless exchanging and sharing of information will challenge traditional organizational structures. The information produced in networks will be used for changes to our existing reality and will help create a new reality. Will this development of subjects and objects connected in networks raise new questions and challenges for science and for the development of knowledge within a changing reality