Wind dispersal of genetically modified pollen from oilseed rape and rye fields

The increasing use of genetically modified plants (GMP) has opened up for a discussion about the problems related to the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops and especially the consequences for organic farming. One of the objectives of DARCOF project TOPRO (Tool for protection against contamination by GMO) has been to develop specific modelling tools, which can be used for the prediction of dispersal of GM pollen under different conditions and for investigating measures to limit the GM dispersal to organic fields

Model for vindspredning af pollen

Risikoen for vindspredning af GM pollen fra raps og rug til økologiske marker med samme af-grøde er undersøgt ved hjælp af en atmosfærisk computermodel. Modellen er en videreudvikling af den danske Operationelle Meteorologiske Luftkvalitetsmodel. Modellen kan anvendes til at påvise generelle forhold hvor der er særlig stor eller lille risiko for GM-spredning til økologiske marker (f.eks. markplacering og vindforhold). Således kan modellen bruges til at undersøge risi-koen for vindspredning til de enkelte marker i landskabet. Spredningsmodellen inddrager meteo-rologiske data, afgrødens blomstringsperiode samt fysiske parametre for pollenet til beregninger af spredningen fra andre marker i landskabet. Modelberegningerne af den rumlige fordeling af rapspollen for tre lokaliteter og for fem pollen-sæsoner tyder på, at vindspredningen af pollen varierer meget pga. variationer i de meteorologiske forhold fra sæson til sæson og fra sted til sted. Specielt har den dominerende vindretning betyd-ning for koncentrationsniveauerne og fordelingen, men også den stærkt varierende turbulente tilstand af det atmosfæriske grænselag er vigtig for spredningen. Modellen har også været benyttet til at lave mere detaljerede beregninger for et testområde i Bjerringbro-Hvorslev området i Jylland. Udfra oplysninger om fordelingen af afgrøder i landskabet giver denne scenarieberegning et indblik i betydningen af fordelingen af marker i landskabet i et område med vinterrug. Generelt understøtter disse modelberegninger, at separationsafstanden mellem markerne er den mest effektive parameter for at nedsætte den relative andel af GM-pollen over en ikke-GM mark. Fordelingen af markerne i landskabet og den dominerende vindretning i det pågældende områder er dog også yderst vigtige parametre for den samlede transport af pollen. Forsøget har vist, at man, ved at inkludere de lokale meteorologiske forhold for aktuelle år evt. for en længere årrække, kan opbygge et mere detaljeret billede af spredningsrisikoen i det pågæl-dende område. Dette komplekse værktøj kan således benyttes til vurdering af f.eks. behov for særlige afstandskrav for GM-marker i specificerede områder af Danmark baseret på de lokale forhold

Frailty is associated with in-hospital mortality in older hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the Netherlands: the COVID-OLD study

BackgroundDuring the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic older patients had an increased risk of hospitalisation and death. Reports on the association of frailty with poor outcome have been conflicting.ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to investigate the independent association between frailty and in-hospital mortality in older hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the Netherlands.MethodsThis was a multi-centre retrospective cohort study in 15 hospitals in the Netherlands, including all patients aged ≥70 years, who were hospitalised with clinically confirmed COVID-19 between February and May 2020. Data were collected on demographics, co-morbidity, disease severity and Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.ResultsA total of 1,376 patients were included (median age 78 years (IQR 74-84), 60% male). In total, 499 (38%) patients died during hospital admission. Parameters indicating presence of frailty (CFS 6-9) were associated with more co-morbidities, shorter symptom duration upon presentation (median 4 vs. 7 days), lower oxygen demand and lower levels of CRP. In multivariable analyses, the CFS was independently associated with in-hospital mortality: compared to patients with CFS 1-3, patients with CFS 4-5 had a two times higher risk (odds ratio (OR) 2.0 (95%CI 1.3-3.0) and patients with CFS 6-9 had a three times higher risk of in-hospital mortality (OR 2.8 (95%CI 1.8-4.3)).ConclusionsThe in-hospital mortality of older hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the Netherlands was 38%. Frailty was independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality, even though COVID-19 patients with frailty presented earlier to the hospital with less severe symptoms.Pathophysiology, epidemiology and therapy of agein

A developmental perspective on the etiology of alcohol use and comorbid traits

Boomsma, D.I. [Promotor]Bartels, M. [Copromotor]Vink, J.M. [Copromotor

Increases in alcohol consumption in women and elderly groups: Evidence from an epidemiological study

Contains fulltext : 160030.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Background: In most Western countries, alcohol consumption continues to increase, specifically among women and older adults. Insight into these trends may aid intervention strategies. Here we present data on alcohol consumption by age and sex as well as associations between alcohol use and demographic lifestyle/traits. The data are from a large (N>16,000) population-based Dutch sample, ascertained based on the presence of twins in the family. Methods: A set of 16 indicators of normative and problematic alcohol use was assessed in participants of the Netherlands Twin Register between 2009-2012 (ages 18-97; 6,052 men; 10,535 women). Alcohol consumption and demographic/lifestyle traits, including educational attainment, work-related/financial stress, urbanization, religiousness, smoking/cannabis initiation, and BMI were described by age and sex. Associations were examined by regressing aspects of alcohol use on age, sex, their interaction, and demographic/lifestyle variables. Results: Age, sex, and initiation of cigarette and cannabis use were the most important predictors of alcohol use. Frequency of alcohol use was lowest between 18-25 years, with 3.2% of men and .6% of women drinking 6-7 times/week, and highest above age 65 years, with 30.6-32.7% of men and 20.2-22.0% of women drinking 6-7 times/week. Women consumed the lowest quantities of alcohol between 25-45 years, with a 5.7-5.9% prevalence of excessive drinking (>14 glasses/week), and the largest quantities between 55-65 years (15.5% excessive drinkers). Age at alcohol initiation, onset of regular drinking, and first alcohol intoxication were lowest between ages 18-25 years and highest above age 65 years. Among older participants, men initiated alcohol use and regular drinking earlier, and had lower age at first intoxication than women, but among young adults, no sex differences were observed. Conclusions: Alcohol consumption was high in the elderly Dutch population, especially among women. Alcohol initiation, onset of regular drinking, and first alcohol intoxication occur at increasingly younger ages, and the previous gap between men and women in age at alcohol initiation, onset of regular drinking, and first alcohol intoxication has closed almost entirely. Heavy alcohol use was most strongly predicted by older age, sex (male), and initiation of smoking and cannabis use.13 p