On the identity of broad-shelled mussels (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mytilus) from the Dutch delta region

Late Quaternary (Eemian) deposits of the Netherlands contain shells that resemble those of living Mytilus galloprovincialis. Similar broad-shelled mytilids also occur in estuaries of the southwestern Netherlands together with slender individuals typical of M. edulis. We sampled living mussels along a depth gradient in the Oosterschelde to a) investigate whether a relation exists between shell shape and depth, b) test if the broad-shelled specimens might represent M. galloprovincialis (or a hybrid with M. edulis) and c) assess by inference if the Quaternary specimens might be attributed to M. galloprovincialis as well. In order to do so, we compared genetic (length polymorphism of Me 15/16, COIII sequences and AFLPs) and shell-morphological characteristics (juvenile L/W ratios and so-called Verduin parameters) of the same specimens. The obtained dataset indicates that all studied mussels from the Oosterschelde should be attributed to M. edulis, including those with broad shell outlines. No correlation of shell-morphology and depth-distribution was found. The worn and generally damaged state of the Eemian specimens precluded measurement of the Verduin parameters, while juvenile L/W ratios turned out not to be diagnostic. Therefore the shell characters examined in this study are insufficient to demonstrate the possible presence of M. galloprovincialis shells in Quaternary deposits of the Netherlands

The effect of workload constraints in linear programming models for production planning

Linear programming (LP) models for production planning incorporate a model of the manufacturing system that is necessarily deterministic. Although these deterministic models are the current state-of-the-art, it should be recognized that they are used in an environment that is inherently stochastic. This fact should be kept in mind, both when making modeling choices and when setting the parameters of the model. In this paper we study the effect of a workload constraint on the efficiency of resource usage and on the reliability of production planning in a stochastic environment represented by a queueing model. The main novelty of the queueing model is the fact that jobs are admitted to the production facility periodically but are processed continuously. We show that there may not be an acceptable trade-off between efficiency and reliability if planned lead times are not explicitly modeled. The impact of production uncertainty on the design and parametrization of the LP model is demonstrated by numerical examples

Language Change on the Dutch Frisian Island of Ameland: Linguistic and sociolinguistic findings

Hinskens, F.L.M.P. [Promotor]Hout, R.W.N.M. [Promotor]van Oostendorp, M. van [Promotor

The effect of workload constraints in mathematical programming models for production planning

Linear and mixed integer programming models for production planning incorporate a model of the manufacturing system that is necessarily deterministic. Although these eterministic models are the current-state-of-art, it should be recognized that they are used in an environment that is inherently stochastic. This fact should be kept in mind, both when making modeling choices and when setting the parameters of the model. In this paper we study the relation between workload constraints that reflect the finite capacity of the manufacturing system, and the use of planned lead times. It is a common practice in rolling schedule based production planning to limit the periodic output to the average production rate. If lead times are not modeled explicitly, this also implies a restricition on the periodic releases to the average production rate. We demonstrate that this common practice results in inefficient use of the production capacity and show that the use of planned lead times leads to a better trade-off between efficiency and reliability. We analyze a stylized model of a manufacturing system with a single exponential server and two queues in series: an admission queue and a work-in-progress (WIP) queue. The admission queue represents the pool of unreleased orders that is virtually present in the state variables of the planning model. Periodically, jobs from the admission queue are released to the WIP queue such that the number of jobs in WIP and in service does not exceed the workload constraint. We present a simple formula for the maximum utilization rate of such a system, characterize the stationary queue-length distribution by its generating function, and give the distribution of the sojourn time of a job. We use the results to compare various settings of the workload constraint and the planned lead time

God op de grens : missiologie als theologische begeleiding bij grensoverschrijding

Rede uitgesproken bij de aanvaarding van het ambt van bijzonder hoogleraar missiologie (leerstoel vanwege de Stichting Zending der Protestantse Kerk) op 18 november 2008 te Utrecht

On the identity of broad-shelled mussels (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mytilus) from the Dutch delta region

Late Quaternary (Eemian) deposits of the Netherlands contain shells that resemble those of living Mytilus galloprovincialis. Similar broad-shelled mytilids also occur in estuaries of the southwestern Netherlands together with slender individuals typical of M. edulis. We sampled living mussels along a depth gradient in the Oosterschelde to a) investigate whether a relation exists between shell shape and depth, b) test if the broadshelled specimens might represent M. galloprovincialis (or a hybrid with M. edulis) and c) assess by inference if the Quaternary specimens might be attributed to M. galloprovincialis as well. In order to do so, we compared genetic (length polymorphism of Me 15/16, COIII sequences and AFLPs) and shellmorphological characteristics (juvenile L/W ratios and socalled Verduin parameters) of the same specimens. The obtained dataset indicates that all studied mussels from the Oosterschelde should be attributed to M. edulis, including those with broad shell outlines. No correlation of shell-morphology and depth-distribution was found. The worn and generally damaged state of the Eemian specimens precluded measurement of the Verduin parameters, while juvenile L/W ratios turned out not to be diagnostic. Therefore the shell characters examined in this study are insufficient to demonstrate the possible presence of M. galloprovincialis shells in Quaternary deposits of the Netherlands.

Research Report 2004–2005

The National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre has the purpose of improving outcomes in health through clinical trials research. It was established by the National Health and Medical Research Council in 1988 as a research centre at the University of Sydney. The CTC provides the knowledge and infrastructure to ensure the quality, timely completion and reporting of clinical trials. It has vast expertise in the design, conduct and analysis of randomised controlled trials, particularly in cancer and cardiovascular disease. Over 100 staff have specialised skills, taking in clinical trials design, biostatistics, database design, randomisation and drug distribution, outcome assessment, quality assurance, and regulatory and ethical issues. In the past 16 years, the CTC has participated in more than 50 investigatorinitiated, collaborative-group clinical trials and coordinated some of the largest randomised trials initiated by Australian investigators (LIPID and FIELD studies, each with over 9000 patients). Over 40 000 patients have been randomised to these trials. All clinical trials undertaken through the CTC are conducted strictly according to guidelines for clinical trials research and conduct, and are audited by sponsors, the CTC itself and regulatory authorities. The CTC has a history of working collaboratively with cooperative groups, clinical trial networks and other organisations, and has played a central role in establishing some of these groups. These activities have been recognised in increased grant funding to enable further collaboration and to increase the number of investigator-initiated trials in Australia. In its research, the CTC has prospered: it has developed strategies for patient recruitment, trial and data management, study coordination, information systems and randomisation in an environment of academic excellence. In addition to trials management, the CTC is a leader in biostatistical methodology and analysis and in systematic review of health evidence. The integrated expertise of the CTC staff is turned to good use in frequent educational activities in Australia and elsewhere. This report covers the CTC’s achievements for the biennium, 2004–2005

Tracking en tracing in de mengvoerketen: een kritische beschouwing

Dit rapport geeft een beschrijving van de huidige logistieke keten van mengvoergrondstoffen en verschaft inzicht in de huidige situatie van traceerbaarheid van grondstoffen in de mengvoerketen (op basis van een case in de varkensvoerketen). Knelpunten voor tracering zijn geïdentificeerd. De belangrijkste bij een tracking- en tracingsysteem in de mengvoerketen betrokken groepen actoren zijn geïdentificeerd: het mengvoerbedrijfsleven, de overheid en de retail. De strategische doelen met een tracking- en tracingsysteem van deze groepen zijn bepaald door middel van interviews met organisaties in en rond de mengvoerketen. Denkrichtingen ter ondersteuning van de discussie over de langetermijnvisie van de actoren met betrekking tot een tracking- en tracingsysteem in de mengvoerketen worden gegeven door middel van scenario's. Hierbij wordt ingegaan op de invulling van het tracking- en tracingsysteem en op de groep actoren die het voortouw nemen

B-cell targeting with anti-CD38 daratumumab:implications for differentiation and memory responses

B cell–targeted therapies, such as CD20-targeting mAbs, deplete B cells but do not target the autoantibody-producing plasma cells (PCs). PC-targeting therapies such as daratumumab (anti-CD38) form an attractive approach to treat PC-mediated diseases. CD38 possesses enzymatic and receptor capabilities, which may impact a range of cellular processes including proliferation and differentiation. However, very little is known whether and how CD38 targeting affects B-cell differentiation, in particular for humans beyond cancer settings. Using in-depth in vitro B-cell differentiation assays and signaling pathway analysis, we show that CD38 targeting with daratumumab demonstrated a significant decrease in proliferation, differentiation, and IgG production upon T cell–dependent B-cell stimulation. We found no effect on T-cell activation or proliferation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that daratumumab attenuated the activation of NF-κB in B cells and the transcription of NF-κB–targeted genes. When culturing sorted B-cell subsets with daratumumab, the switched memory B-cell subset was primarily affected. Overall, these in vitro data elucidate novel non-depleting mechanisms by which daratumumab can disturb humoral immune responses. Affecting memory B cells, daratumumab may be used as a therapeutic approach in B cell–mediated diseases other than the currently targeted malignancies.</p