A novel aptamer-based enzymatic assay for the diagnosis of Malaria

Poster Presentation - Theme 2: Cancer & other diseasesMalaria causes nearly 1 million annual fatalities in lesser developed regions in South East Asia and Africa. Symptoms of malaria are unspecific (fever, vomitting, headache etc.) meaning without laboratory equipment reliable diagnosis is problematic. Point-of-care antibody-based dipsticks are available on the market but the cost and instability of antibodies in heat and humidity limits their widespread use. Aptamers are short oligonucleotide sequences which selectively bind their targets and present as stable and affordable alternatives to antibodies in point-of-care tests. Aptamers against the malaria antigen Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) have been ...postprin

De computer als leermiddel in het lager onderwijs

In het S. V.0.-project ' Leren met computers in het ondenvijs' werd de computer in het lager onderwijs vooral gebruikt voor 1. remediële doeleinden, en 2. het leren programmeren. Oefenprogramma's benutten bij uitstek de interactieve mogelijkheden van de computer. Gebruiksvormen: remedieel (voor enkele achterblijvers), aanvullend bij klassikaal onderwijs (voor alle leerlingen), verrijkend (voor enkele voorlopers). Computergestuurde oefening bleek statistisch geen significant grotere prestatiestijging op te leveren dan overeenkomstige schriftelijke oefening. Wel werd de motivatie en de concentratie er door vergroot. In het onderwijs van de toekomst zal de informatietechnogie een steeds belangrijker plaats innemen. Hierdoor zullen niet alleen leerlingen zelfstandiger kunnen leren maar zal ook het schoolse onderwijs effectiever kunnen verlopen

The significance of bidding, accepting and opponent modeling in automated negotiation

Given the growing interest in automated negotiation, the search for effective strategies has produced a variety of different negotiation agents. Despite their diversity, there is a common structure to their design. A negotiation agent comprises three key components: the bidding strategy, the opponent model and the acceptance criteria. We show that this three-component view of a negotiating architecture not only provides a useful basis for developing such agents but also provides a useful analytical tool. By combining these components in varying ways, we are able to demonstrate the contribution of each component to the overall negotiation result, and thus determine the key contributing components. Moreover, we are able to study the interaction between components and present detailed interaction effects. Furthermore, we find that the bidding strategy in particular is of critical importance to the negotiator's success and far exceeds the importance of opponent preference modeling techniques. Our results contribute to the shaping of a research agenda for negotiating agent design by providing guidelines on how agent developers can spend their time most effectively

Mental and physical health problems before and after detention:A matched cohort study

BACKGROUND: Individuals with poor health are largely overrepresented in prison populations. However, it remains unclear whether their poor health status already exists prior to their detention or reflects an effect of detention. We examined the health of detainees in the year before and after their detention and compared this with the health of matched non-detainees. METHODS: In this matched cohort study, we linked national data on all persons detained in the Netherlands in 2014/2015 to electronic health records (EHR's) of a representative sample of general practitioners in the Netherlands. Participants include 952 detained persons and 4760 matched non-detained persons (matched on age, sex and general practice). Prevalence rates of health problems in the year before and after detention and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Rates for a variety of physical and mental health problems are presented. FINDINGS: Detainees and matched controls differed statistically significant in their pre-detention health status. Compared with controls, male detainees were more likely to report psychological (odds ratio [OR] 3·64 [95% CI 3·11–4·26]), social (1·96 [1·46–2·64]), neurological (1·34 [1·02–1·76]), digestive (1·23 [1·02–1·49]), genital system-related (1·36 [1·07–1·72]), and unspecified health problems (1·32 [1·10–1·59]) in the year before their detention. For example, 43·7% of detainees and 17·6% of controls reported psychological problems in this pre-detention year. To some extent these pre-detention health differences were related to socioeconomic differences. Nevertheless, after taking these characteristics into account, a number of pre-detention health differences between detainees and controls remained statistically significant. No statistically significant changes in prevalence rates from pre- to post-detention and no differences in the levels of change across detainees and controls were observed. For female detainees a similar pattern was found. INTERPRETATION: People who experience detention have high and complex health needs both pre- and post-detention. While this study did not show a health deteriorating effect of detention, it also did not show a health improving effect. This latter finding may indicate a missed opportunity for health care services to address detainees’ health, especially since persons entering detention have elevated health problems. Knowledge on detainees’ specific health problems may help health care providers in prisons and in the community to adequately address the health care needs of this vulnerable group. FUNDING: None

Psychische klachten bij gedetineerden: psychometrische kenmerken van de Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)

Achtergrond In vergelijking met de algemene bevolking rapporteren gedetineerden veel psychische problemen. Een detentieperiode biedt mogelijkheden om de psychische gezondheid van gedetineerden te verbeteren. Hiervoor is een snelle systematische signalering van personen met psychische problemen belangrijk.DoelOnderzoeken van de psychometrische kenmerken van de Brief Symptom Inventory (bsi) in een gedetineerdenpopulatie.Methode1624 mannelijke gedetineerden uit alle penitentiaire inrichtingen vulden de bsi in. De volgende psychometrische kenmerken van de bsi-schalen werden onderzocht: de spreiding, interne consistentie van de bsi-schalen en de factorstructuur. Om de (criterium)validiteit te onderzoeken, werden bsi-scores van verschillende groepen met elkaar vergeleken.Resultaten Cronbachs α’s van de bsi-schalen varieerden van 0,97 tot 0,76. De gevonden factorstructuur kwam in belangrijke mate overeen met de veronderstelde negen klachtendimensies. Gedetineerden hadden significant hogere scores op de bsi dan mannen uit de algemene bevolking, maar significant lagere scores dan mannelijke psychiatrische patiënten. Gedetineerden die voor hun detentie behandeld waren voor psychische problemen scoorden significant hoger op de bsi dan gedetineerden bij wie dat niet het geval was.ConclusieDe bsi-vragenlijst heeft ook bij gedetineerden voldoende betrouwbare schalen en men kan er goed onderscheid mee maken tussen verschillende groepen.Criminal Justice: Legitimacy, accountability, and effectivit

Ex ante knowledge for infectious disease outbreaks:Introducing the organizational network governance approach

The core question addressed is to what extent ex ante knowledge can be made available from a network governance perspective to deal with a crisis such as an infectious disease outbreak. Such outbreaks are often characterized by a lack of information and knowledge, changing and unforeseen conditions as well as a myriad of organizations becoming involved on the one hand but also organizations which do not become adequately involved. We introduce the organizational network governance approach as an exploratory approach to produce useful ex ante information for limiting the transmission of a virus and its impact. We illustrate the usefulness of our approach introducing two fictitious but realistic outbreak scenarios: the West Nile Virus (WNV), which is transmitted via mosquitos and the outbreak of a New Asian Coronavirus (NAC) which is characterized by human to human transmission. Both viruses can lead to serious illnesses or even death as well as large health care and economic costs. Our organizational network governance approach turns out to be effective in generating information to produce recommendations for strengthening the organizational context in order to limit the transmission of a virus and its impact. We also suggest how the organizational network governance approach could be further develope

Современные проблемы развития теории функционально устойчивых сложных систем управления

Employment is believed to function as a ‘turning point’ for released offenders. Several theories state that employment can diminish recidivism, and offer different mechanisms to connect employment and crime, such as job stability and job quality. This study examines the effect of employment and employment characteristics on recidivism among Dutch ex-prisoners. Although recidivism risks are high among this group, longitudinal research on the effect of employment on recidivism risks is scarce. We based our analyses on longitudinal data of the Prison Project (n=842) and found that job stability reduces the risk of recidivism. The results indicate that not the guidance to a job, or a high-quality job, but the guidance to stable employment could help to reduce crime rates among this high-risk offender group

Preliminary design studies of an advanced general aviation aircraft

The preliminary design results are presented of the advanced aircraft design project. The goal was to take a revolutionary look into the design of a general aviation aircraft. Phase 1 of the project included the preliminary design of two configurations, a pusher, and a tractor. Phase 2 included the selection of only one configuration for further study. The pusher configuration was selected on the basis of performance characteristics, cabin noise, natural laminar flow, and system layouts. The design was then iterated to achieve higher levels of performance

Experienced Severity of Imprisonment Among Fathers and Non-Fathers

Criminal Justice: Legitimacy, accountability, and effectivit