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Learning Objects: The Answer to the Knowledge Economy's Predicament?

Learning objects are bits of learning content. They may be reused 'as is' (simple reuse) or first be adapted to a learner's particular needs (flexible reuse). Reuse matters because it lowers the development costs of learning objects, flexible reuse matters because it allows one to address learners' needs in an affordable way. Flexible reuse is particularly important in the knowledge economy, where learners not only have very spefic demands but often also need to pay for their own further education. The technical problems to simple and flexible are rapidly being resolved in various learning technology standardisation bodies. This may suggest that a learning object economy, in which learning objects are freely exchanged, updated and adapted, is about to emerge. Such a belief, however, ignores the significant psychological, social and organizational barriers to reuse that still abound. An inventory of these problems is made and possible ways to overcome them are discussed.

Unravelling the potential mechanisms behind hospitalization-associated disability in older patients

BACKGROUND: Over 30 % of older patients experience hospitalization-associated disability (HAD) (i.e., loss of independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)) after an acute hospitalization. Despite its high prevalence, the mechanisms that underlie HAD remain elusive. This paper describes the protocol for the Hospital-Associated Disability and impact on daily Life (Hospital-ADL) study, which aims to unravel the potential mechanisms behind HAD from admission to three months post-discharge.METHODS/DESIGN: The Hospital-ADL study is a multicenter, observational, prospective cohort study aiming to recruit 400 patients aged ≥70 years that are acutely hospitalized at departments of Internal Medicine, Cardiology or Geriatrics, involving six hospitals in the Netherlands. Eligible are patients hospitalized for at least 48 h, without major cognitive impairment (Mini Mental State Examination score ≥15), who have a life expectancy of more than three months, and without disablement in all six ADLs. The study will assess possible cognitive, behavioral, psychosocial, physical, and biological factors of HAD. Data will be collected through: 1] medical and demographical data; 2] personal interviews, which includes assessment of cognitive impairment, behavioral and psychosocial functioning, physical functioning, and health care utilization; 3] physical performance tests, which includes gait speed, hand grip strength, balance, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and an activity tracker (Fitbit Flex), and; 4] analyses of blood samples to assess inflammatory and metabolic markers. The primary endpoint is additional disabilities in ADLs three months post-hospital discharge compared to ADL function two weeks prior to hospital admission. Secondary outcomes are health care utilization, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical performance tests, and mortality. There will be at least five data collection points; within 48 h after admission (H1), at discharge (H3), and at one (P1; home visit), two (P2; by telephone) and three months (P3; home visit) post-discharge. If the patient is admitted for more than five days, additional measurements will be planned during hospitalization on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (H2).DISCUSSION: The Hospital-ADL study will provide information on cognitive, behavioral, psychosocial, physical, and biological factors associated with HAD and will be collected during and following hospitalization. These data may inform new interventions to prevent or restore hospitalization-associated disability.

Physical activity patterns and sedentary time in primary schools situated in a low socio-economic status neighborhood in Amsterdam – The Netherlands.

Purpose: In Amsterdam – the Netherlands – we know that children living in low income households have a lower health status and report lower physical activity levels than their peers in middle- or high-income households. Seven primary schools located in neighborhoods with a low social-economic status are currently developing their own active school using the ‘Creating Active Schools Framework’. This study was conducted to assess the current physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns during and after school of the pupils in these seven primary schools.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we collect data in seven schools located within an Amsterdam neighborhood with a low social economic status score. Within each school, 4 classes are eligible for participation. Children wear an accelerometer from Monday morning until Friday afternoon to assess physical activity levels. Parents of participating children are asked to complete a questionnaire on baseline characteristics, wellbeing and out of school physical activity behaviors. The mean sedentary time (ST), low physical activity (LPA) time and Moderate to Vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time will be calculated. The association between the outcomes of the accelerometer data and gender and health related outcomes reported by parents will be assessed.Results: The data will be collected between March and May 2023. We will present the average LPA and MVPA during and after school time. The duration of the ST bouts during and after schooltime. And associations between ST, LPA and MVPA and gender and health related outcomes.Conclusions: The results of this study will be used to support local school teams in the development and implementation of local action plans towards a school day that involves less sitting and more physical activity.

De betekenis van nabijheid. Een onderzoek naar informele zorg in een volksbuurt

De vermaatschappelijking van de zorg, de herdefiniëring van de verzorgingsstaat en de Wet Maatschappelijke Ondersteuning doen een appel op burgers om (nog) meer voor elkaar te zorgen. De omstandigheden waaronder mensen informele zorg geven zijn echter veranderd: sociale contacten bewegen zich over grotere afstanden, de participatie op de arbeidsmarkt is de afgelopen decennia fors gestegen en de relatie van bewoners tot hun buurt werd afstandelijker. Als sociale relaties voor een groot deel buurt- of wijkoverstijgend zijn dan heeft dat consequenties voor het zorgvermogen en de zorgvraag in de buurt. Voor kwetsbare mensen die vanwege hun zwakke inkomenspositie, leeftijd, fysieke of mentale beperkingen voor hulp aangewezen zijn op de buurt zouden bovengenoemde ontwikkelingen nadelig kunnen uitpakken. Er is echter onvoldoende kennis beschikbaar over hoe informele zorg op buurtniveau zich voltrekt. Deze studie geeft antwoord op de vraag wat buurtbewoners beweegt om elkaar wel of niet te helpen. Ze brengt de motieven van bewoners die informele zog verlenen in beeld evenals de argumenten van hulpbehoevenden ten aanzien van het zich (al dan niet) te laten helpen. Op basis van de bevindingen worden eveneens handreikingen gedaan aan professionals ten aanzien van het ondersteunen en stimuleren van informele zorg.

Smart Fashion Production

Exhibition at Future Generation’s Brave Monday Hotel during Amsterdam Fashion Week, January 2016

Severity Of Glim-Defined Malnutrition In The Dutch Primary Care Setting At The Initial Dietitian Consult