Developing Terminal Phosphinidene Complexes : The Quest for Applicability Continues

Lammertsma, K. [Promotor]Ehlers, A.W. [Copromotor]Slootweg, J.C. [Copromotor

Going to Where No One Went Before: Endoscopic Procedures of the Small Bowel

__Abstract__ Diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures of the small-bowel have for a long time been a great challenge to gastroenterologists. Especially the anatomy of the small intestine in combination with the lack of adequate, non-invasive, diagnostic tools, made it an almost ‘no-go’zone. Only in selected cases push enteroscopy and intraoperative enteroscopy were performed. Push enteroscopy has both diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, but typically only examines a limited part of the proximal small bowel. Intraoperative enteroscopy permits examination of the entire small bowel and therapeutic interventions, but is much more invasive. The need for endoscopic access to improve diagnosis and treatment of small bowel disease has led to the development of novel endoscopic technologies. In 2000 the diagnostic and non-invasive video capsule endoscopy was introduced, followed by the more invasive double-balloon enteroscopy system in 2001, the latter combining diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. The following years, single balloon enteroscopy and spiral enteroscopy were introduced as alternatives for double balloon enteroscopy, with in theory, comparable diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Complete enteroscopy of the small bowel is now in reach: ‘easy’ and much less invasive, and can be performed world wide in any endoscopy unit

Developing knowledge level scale of functional foods: Validity and reliability study

The aim of the study was to develop a scale to determine the knowledge levels of University students on functional foods and to investigate the validity and reliability of the scale. The research was conducted on 417 (209 girls and 208 boys) undergraduate students in Selcuk University regarding functional foods. The participants were selected from different departments of Selcuk University using proportional cluster sampling method and the scale was repeated twice. Split-half test, Kuder-Richardson (KR 20) internal consistence coefficient and test- retest reliability methods were used to determine the validity of application during reliability test when examining the validity of content, view and structure of application. Seventy-seven questions that did not contribute to the result in the first application were removed from the achievement scale, and thus achievement scale was reduced to 45 items which were reorganized. Eleven more items that had little or no contribution were eliminated from 45 items of achievement test so that the scale was further reduced to 34 items. According to the data obtained from the scale applied, a significant difference was found between information levels of undergraduate student regarding functional foods (p<0.05). In calculating reliability, correlation between the first and the second application results was determined by using test-retest method and it was established that relationship between two applications was significant at 0.05 level. Reliability coefficient of the tool was found as 0.82 by split half test in the first application, while it was determined as 0.80 by Kuder-Richardson (KR-20) test. On the other hand, reliability coefficient of the tool was calculated as 0.91 in the second application.Key words: Functional food, scale, validity, reliability, University students

Exclusive diffractive processes at HERA within the dipole picture

We present a simultaneous analysis, within an impact parameter dependent saturated dipole model, of exclusive diffractive vector meson (J/psi, phi and rho) production, deeply virtual Compton scattering and the total gamma* p cross section data measured at HERA. Various cross sections measured as a function of the kinematic variables Q^2, W and t are well described, with little sensitivity to the details of the vector meson wave functions. We determine the properties of the gluon density in the proton in both longitudinal and transverse dimensions, including the impact parameter dependent saturation scale. The overall success of the description indicates universality of the emerging gluon distribution and proton shape.Comment: 48 pages, 28 figures, the final version to appear in Physical Review

Mind the gap between non-activated (non-aggressive) and activated (aggressive) indoor fungal testing: impact of pre-sampling environmental settings on indoor air readings

Indoor fungal testing has been within the researchers’ scope of interest for more than a century. Various sampling and analysis techniques have been developed over the years, but no testing protocol has been yet standardised and widely accepted by the research and practitioner communities. The diversity in fungal taxa within buildings with varied biological properties and implications on the health and wellbeing of the occupants and the building fabric complicates the decision-making process for selecting an appropriate testing protocol. This study aims to present a critical review of non-activated and activated approaches to indoor testing, with an emphasis on the preparation of the indoor environment prior to sampling. The study demonstrates the differences in the outcomes of non-activated and activated testing through a set of laboratory experiments in idealised conditions and a case study. The findings suggest that larger particles are particularly sensitive to the sampling height and activation, and that non-activated protocols, despite dominating the current literature, can significantly underestimate the fungal biomass and species richness. Therefore, this paper calls for better-defined and activated protocols that can enhance robustness and reproducibility across the research domain focused on indoor fungal testing

Associations between home characteristics and mould levels in UK

Mould growth is governed by a complex set of factors, including among others physical characteristics of a given indoor environment, as well as how that space is used, i.e. heating, cleaning and ventilation habits, however how and to what extent these define propensity to grow mould is unclear. This study uses data from a testing scheme on 84 rooms in 18 properties to shed further light on these questions through elastic net regression analysis. The testing data includes the air and surface mould readings quantified based on the activity of β-N-acetylhexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52; NAHA), and particle intensity in each room

Therapeutic balloon-assisted enteroscopy

Since the introduction of the first balloon-based enteroscopic technique in 2001, therapeutic balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) using either the single or double balloon enteroscopy technique (respectively SBE and DBE) has evolved rapidly. Argon plasma coagulation (APC), polypectomy, dilation therapy of strictures, and therapy of the pancreatico-biliary system in patients with surgical altered proximal intestinal anatomy: all have been successfully introduced to treat pathological findings in all segments of the small bowel. The clinical impact of treatment of vascular malformations, strictures caused by chronic inflammation (especially Crohn's disease) and polypectomy therapy (especially in the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome) seems evident. The decrease of, often repeated, surgical therapy after successful therapeutic BAE in the latter 2 patient groups appears to be a big step forward in treatment. The development of newer enteroscopes, specialized equipment and improved sedation of patients adds positively to the clinical management of undergoing therapeutic BAE. The overall complication rate of therapeutic BAE seems acceptable, but is higher compared to therapeutic colonoscopy which needs further attention in future

Wind Driven Rain (WDR) Laboratory Tests on Cavity Wall Specimens treated with surface waterproofing products

Wind driven rain (WDR) is one of the most common sources of moisture risks affecting buildings in the UK. Water penetration can lead to defects such as ineffective insulation, damp inner walls and freeze-thaw damage, causing issues in both energy efficiency and wall integrity. Surface waterproofing products have shown great potential as a new method of improving the moisture condition in buildings. This paper is focused on real size cavity walls tested under WDR exposure to study the hygrothermal performance of surface waterproofing products. Test results show both acrylic-based liquid and silane/siloxane blend cream products were capable of lessening moisture enrichment of masonry cavity walls under cyclic WDR loading

The effect of the airflow pattern inside air gaps on the assessment of interstitial mould: A theoretical approach

Internal wall insulation is one of the few, possibly, the only feasible solution to efficiently reduce heat losses through the external walls of buildings where the application of external insulation is not an option, for example, in conservation areas. However, the application of this intervention may lead to unintended consequences, such as moisture accumulation and mould growth. Currently, no international standards and regulations exist to evaluate these hazards via non-destructive inspections. Air sampling through impaction and culture-based analysis was suggested in previous research as a potential non-disruptive methodology for interstitial mould testing. The method requires the perforation of the inner side of a wall and the creation of airflow through the operation of a pump, to allow the collection of particles from the confined space of interest. The present study aimed to assess the location of perforations and their effect on the airflow created and the airflow pattern variations due to changes in the airflow velocity at the outlet. Results regarding airflow features such as the turbulence intensity, dynamic pressure and volume-averaged velocity were also extracted and discussed. Practical application : The rapid changes in climate and net-zero emissions targets call for major improvements of the existing building stock towards a more sustainable future. The installation of internal wall insulation is one of the few and might be the only feasible solution for the efficient reduction of heat losses through uninsulated walls. However, this intervention might lead to moisture accumulation and thus moisture-related problems such as mould growth. This study aims to build upon previous work on interstitial mould growth assessment and contribute to the development of a well-defined testing protocol for building professionals

Performance Comparison of Surface Waterproofing Products with Various Chemical Compositions on Brick Masonry

Moisture risk in building systems is one of the major concerns affecting the durability of building envelopes and indoor comfort. Surface waterproofing products are a common and simple methods to enhance the moisture performance of masonry buildings. However, the various chemical compositions of these products can lead to very different performance under exposure. This paper focus on the comparison and discussion of the different level of impact of surface waterproofing products with various chemical compositions on the performance of brick masonry substrate through a series of benchtests on small scale specimens to test water vapour transmission, hydrophobicity and liquid water absorption. Four different types of waterproofing products were selected, along with 3 brick types common in the 50s and 60s to be representative of the majority of the UK building stock. Results show that the combined outcome of the three tests is sufficient to identify the clearly the effectiveness of the products in improving waterproofing while ensuring vapour transmission. It also shows that it is essential to use specimens reproducing the masonry fabric rather than samples of the individual materials