We have developed an SI-traceable narrow-band tunable radiance source based on an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and an integrating sphere for the calibration of spectroradiometers. The source is calibrated with a reference detector over the ultraviolet/visible spectral range with an uncertainty of <1%. As a case study, a CubeSat spectroradiometer has been calibrated for radiance over its operating range from 370 nm to 480 nm. To validate the results, the instrument has also been calibrated with a traditional setup based on a diffuser and an FEL lamp. Both routes show good agreement within the combined measurement uncertainty. The OPO-based approach could be an interesting alternative to the traditional method, not only because of reduced measurement uncertainty, but also because it directly allows for wavelength calibration and characterization of the instrumental spectral response function and stray light effects, which could reduce calibration time and cost.
INTRODUCTION: After treatment with chemotherapy, many patients with breast cancer experience cognitive problems. While limited interventions are available to improve cognitive functioning, physical exercise showed positive effects in healthy older adults and people with mild cognitive impairment. The Physical Activity and Memory study aims to investigate the effect of physical exercise on cognitive functioning and brain measures in chemotherapy-exposed patients with breast cancer with cognitive problems.METHODS AND ANALYTICS: One hundred and eighty patients with breast cancer with cognitive problems 2-4 years after diagnosis are randomised (1:1) into an exercise intervention or a control group. The 6-month exercise intervention consists of twice a week 1-hour aerobic and strength exercises supervised by a physiotherapist and twice a week 1-hour Nordic or power walking. The control group is asked to maintain their habitual activity pattern during 6 months. The primary outcome (verbal learning) is measured at baseline and 6 months. Further measurements include online neuropsychological tests, self-reported cognitive complaints, a 3-tesla brain MRI, patient-reported outcomes (quality of life, fatigue, depression, anxiety, work performance), blood sampling and physical fitness. The MRI scans and blood sampling will be used to gain insight into underlying mechanisms. At 18 months online neuropsychological tests, self-reported cognitive complaints and patient-reported outcomes will be repeated.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Study results may impact usual care if physical exercise improves cognitive functioning for breast cancer survivors.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR6104.
PURPOSE: To investigate the longitudinal association between the macronutrient composition of the diet and frailty.METHODS: Data were obtained from 5205 Dutch middle-aged and older adults participating in the Rotterdam Study. Frailty was measured using a frailty index based on the accumulation of 38 health-related deficits, score between 0 and 100, and a higher score indicating more frailty. Frailty was assessed at baseline and 11 years later (range of 23 years). Macronutrient intake was assessed using food-frequency questionnaires. The association between macronutrients and frailty over time was evaluated using multivariable linear regression, adjusted for the frailty index at baseline, energy intake, and other relevant confounders. All analyses were performed in strata of BMI.RESULTS: Median frailty index score was 13.8 points (IQR 9.6; 19.1) at baseline and increased by a median of 2.3 points (IQR - 2.0; 7.6) after 11 years. Overall, we found no significant associations between intake of carbohydrates or fat and frailty over time. We did observe a significant positive association between an iso-energetic intake of 10 g protein and frailty over time (β 0.31 (95% CI 0.06; 0.55)) which was mainly driven by animal protein (β 0.31 (95% CI 0.07; 0.56)). It did not depend on whether it was substituted fat or carbohydrates.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a reduction in the intake of animal protein may improve the overall health status over time in a relatively healthy population. More research is needed on the optimal macronutrient composition of the diet and frailty in more vulnerable populations.
Nowadays, there is particular attention towards the recycling of waste materials which is a critical issue for environmental protection and waste management. Polymer materials have numerous applications in daily life products. As a result, plastic pollution has become one of the biggest threats to nature, therefore recycling or replacing them with bio-based materials can significantly help the ecosystems. So far, many studies have investigated the possibility of reusing plastic waste, as a second life, to obtain consumable products. The 3D printing market is one of the great sectors that can utilize a wide range of thermoplastic polymers. This technology provides a unique capability to produce complex shape structures and products that cannot be produced by other manufacturing processes. In particular, Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is a common printing technology that consumes thermoplastic filaments including recycled materials. This printing technique has been also very successful in using novel high-performance materials with sustainable aspects. The reSHAPE project aims to develop novel smart filaments, with shape memory properties, from recycled materials. The filaments can be applied for the design and fabrication of smart products with dynamic behavior. In particular, the fabricated parts can shift from a plastic-deformed shape into a recovered original shape when being triggered by an external stimulus, like temperature. For that, we will specifically apply recycled polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) as the main materials in this study. Because they both have proper shape memory properties and also TPU can potentially enhance the material flexibility which is required in the design and fabrication of functional components. As a result, this study will obtain a proper combination of these materials with good printability and functionality that can be used for a wide range of products from the aerospace and automotive sectors to soft robotics and medical devices.
The application of sensors in water technology is a crucial step to provide broader, more efficient and circular systems. Among the different technologies used in this field, ultrasound-based systems are widely used, basically to generate energy peaks for cell lysis and particle separation. In this work, we propose the adaptation of an ultrasound system to monitor the concentration of solid particles in wastewater treatment plants settlers as well as to indicate sludge level (real time). A similar sensor was developed and tested in another project which operated successfully at solids concentration up to 1% in UASB reactors. Such measurements are nowadays obtained via time-consuming physical (solids) analysis, which can compromise the efficiency of the settlers and the quality of the effluent. The present project proposes an improved version of the sensor, which will combine solids concentration monitoring and sludge level detection. The defined targets have the intention to make a sensor with a much broader range of applications, been suitable not only for UASB reactors but also to settler and aerobic tanks. The project is a cooperation between the Water Technology lectoraat of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, two SME’s - YNOVIO B.V. and Lamp-ion B.V. - and the INCT group (Brazil). If proven feasible, the concept can generate a big business market to the involved Dutch partners as well as favor the automation of WWTP in the Netherlands, Brazil and around the world.
