Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has faced capacity constraints, particularly during peak periods. At the security screening checkpoint, this is due to the growing number of passengers and a shortage of security staff. To improve operating performance, there is a need to integrate newer technologies that improve passing times. This research presents a discrete event simulation (DES) model for the inclusion of a shoe scanner at the security screening checkpoint at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Simulation is a frequently used method to assess the influence of process changes, which, however, has not been applied for the inclusion of shoe scanners in airport security screenings yet. The simulation model can be used to assess the implementation and potential benefits of an optical shoe scanner, which is expected to lead to significant improvements in passenger throughput and a decrease in the time a passenger spends during the security screening, which could lead to improved passenger satisfaction. By leveraging DES as a tool for analysis, this study provides valuable insights for airport authorities and stakeholders aiming to optimize security screening operations and enhance passenger satisfaction.
If brief and easy to use self report screening tools are available to identify frail elderly, this may avoid costs and unnecessary assessment of healthy people. This study investigates the predictive validity of three self-report instruments for identifying community-dwelling frail elderly.
Abstract Background One of the most problematic expression of ageing is frailty, and an approach based on its early identification is mandatory. The Sunfrail-tool (ST), a 9-item questionnaire, is a promising instrument for screening frailty. Aims • To assess the diagnostic accuracy and the construct validity between the ST and a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), composed by six tests representative of the bio-psycho-social model of frailty; • To verify the discriminating power of five key-questions of the ST; • To investigate the role of the ST in a clinical-pathway of falls’ prevention. Methods In this retrospective study, we enrolled 235 patients from the Frailty-Multimorbidity Lab of the University-Hospital of Parma. The STs’ answers were obtained from the patient’s clinical information. A patient was considered frail if at least one of the CGAs’ tests resulted positive. Results The ST was associated with the CGA’s judgement with an Area Under the Curve of 0.691 (CI 95%: 0.591–0.791). Each CGA’s test was associated with the ST total score. The five key-question showed a potential discriminating power in the CGA’s tests of the corresponding domains. The fall-related question of the ST was significantly associated with the Short Physical Performance Battery total score (OR: 0.839, CI 95%: 0.766–0.918), a proxy of the risk of falling. Discussion The results suggest that the ST can capture the complexity of frailty. The ST showed a good discriminating power, and it can guide a second-level assessment to key frailty domains and/or clinical pathways. Conclusions The ST is a valid and easy-to-use instrument for the screening of frailty.
Burgers kunnen met hun juridische vragen aankloppen bij Het Juridisch Loket. Maar wat als er achter hun vraag meerdere problemen schuilgaan, zoals schulden of psychische nood? Daar is de dienstverlening niet op ingericht. Dit onderzoek kijkt hoe mensen met multiproblematiek beter kunnen worden geholpen.Doel Het doel van dit onderzoeksproject is de dienstverlening van Het Juridisch Loket (HJL) aan hulpvragers met multiproblematiek te verbeteren door een multidisciplinaire aanpak. Deze nieuwe klantgerichte aanpak helpt om multiproblematiek op tijd te signaleren en waar nodig de klant door te verwijzen. Hulpvragers met multiproblematiek ervaren niet alleen problemen op het juridische vlak, maar ook psychische, financiële en/of fysieke problemen. De combinatie van problemen op verschillende vlakken maakt de hulpvraag van deze doelgroep complex. Resultaten De resultaten van het onderzoek worden gedeeld in publicaties, workshops en een slotconferentie. Ook worden ze opgenomen in de juridische opleidingen van Hogeschool Utrecht, zodat huidige én toekomstige juridische professionals ervan kunnen profiteren. Highlights Eerstelijns rechtshulp aan mensen met multiproblematiek – Publieksversie eindrapport Samenvatting project t.b.v. eindcongres. Veel aan hun hoofd: mensen met multiproblematiek in de eerstelijns rechtshulp Whiteboard animatie over multiproblematiek in de eerstelijns rechtshulp Blog 'Eerstelijns (rechts)hulp voor cliënten met multiproblematiek. Een wereld te winnen' Rechtshulp moet niet alleen juridisch zijn Artikel op socialevraagstukken.nl Voorkomen van multiproblematiek Factsheet voorkomen multiproblematiek in de eerstelijns rechtshulpverlening Screeningsinstrument Multiproblematiek herkennen Opname college multiproblematiek in de eerstelijns (rechts)hulpverlening Presentatie multiproblematiek in de eerstelijns (rechts)hulpverlening Ontwikkelwerkplaatsen In de werkplaatsen Arnhem en Dordrecht hebben professionals in de eerstelijns (rechts)hulp afspraken gemaakt over de warme doorverwijzing van klanten met multiproblematiek. Afspraken over de warme doorverwijzing Dordrecht Afspraken over de warme doorverwijzing Arnhem Wetenschappelijke publicaties Focus op cliënt behoeften – Een studie over eerstelijns rechtshulp in Nederland Artikel in de European Journal of Social Work Aanbevelingen uit de literatuur Aanbevelingen voor (rechts)hulp bij multiproblematiek Een overzicht van aanbevelingen uit de praktijkliteratuur. Prezi ‘Recht doen’ aan de cliënt met multiproblematiek - Adviezen uit de praktijkliteratuur. Een dynamisch online presentatietool gebaseerd op mindmappen (Prezi) waarin aanbevelingen uit de praktijkliteratuur worden toegelicht. ‘Recht doen’ aan de client met multiproblematiek – Workshop voor professionals Werkvormen waarmee de aanbevelingen uit de praktijkliteratuur kunnen worden overgebracht naar professionals op de werkvloer. Animatie ‘Recht doen’ aan de client met multiproblematiek - Adviezen uit de praktijkliteratuur. In onderstaande animatie wordt uitgelegd hoe op basis van adviezen uit de praktijkliteratuur recht kan worden gedaan aan cliënten met multiproblematiek. Looptijd 01 januari 2019 - 30 juni 2021 Aanpak Mixed-methods opzet: kwantitatieve (enquête onder cliënten) en kwalitatieve (diepte interviews met professionals en cliënten) data-analyse en actieonderzoek in twee lokale settings. Financiering Het onderzoek heeft een subsidie gekregen van SIA-RAAK.
CRISPR/Cas genome engineering unleashed a scientific revolution, but entails socio-ethical dilemmas as genetic changes might affect evolution and objections exist against genetically modified organisms. CRISPR-mediated epigenetic editing offers an alternative to reprogram gene functioning long-term, without changing the genetic sequence. Although preclinical studies indicate effective gene expression modulation, long-term effects are unpredictable. This limited understanding of epigenetics and transcription dynamics hampers straightforward applications and prevents full exploitation of epigenetic editing in biotechnological and health/medical applications.Epi-Guide-Edit will analyse existing and newly-generated screening data to predict long-term responsiveness to epigenetic editing (cancer cells, plant protoplasts). Robust rules to achieve long-term epigenetic reprogramming will be distilled based on i) responsiveness to various epigenetic effector domains targeting selected genes, ii) (epi)genetic/chromatin composition before/after editing, and iii) transcription dynamics. Sustained reprogramming will be examined in complex systems (2/3D fibroblast/immune/cancer co-cultures; tomato plants), providing insights for improving tumor/immune responses, skin care or crop breeding. The iterative optimisations of Epi-Guide-Edit rules to non-genetically reprogram eventually any gene of interest will enable exploitation of gene regulation in diverse biological models addressing major societal challenges.The optimally balanced consortium of (applied) universities, ethical and industrial experts facilitates timely socioeconomic impact. Specifically, the developed knowledge/tools will be shared with a wide-spectrum of students/teachers ensuring training of next-generation professionals. Epi-Guide-Edit will thus result in widely applicable effective epigenetic editing tools, whilst training next-generation scientists, and guiding public acceptance.
In the context of sustainability, the use of biocatalysis in organic synthesis is increasingly observed as an essential tool towards a modern and ‘green’ chemical industry. However, the lack of a diverse set of commercially available enzymes with a broad selectivity toward industrially-relevant substrates keeps hampering the widespread implementation of biocatalysis. Aminoverse B.V. aims to contribute to this challenge by developing enzymatic screening kits and identifying novel enzyme families with significant potential for biocatalysis. One of the most important, yet notoriously challenging reaction in organic synthesis is site-selective functionalization (e.g. hydroxylation) of inert C-H bonds. Interestingly, Fe(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent oxygenases (KGOs) have been found to perform C-H hydroxylation, as well as other oxyfunctionalization, spontaneously in nature. However, as KGOs are not commercially available, or even extensively studied in this context, their potential is not readily accessible to the chemical industry. This project aims to demonstrate the potential of KGOs in biocatalysis. In order to achieve this, the following challenges will be addressed: i) establishing an enzymatic screening methodology to study the activity and selectivity of recombinant KGOs towards industrially relevant substrates, ii) establishing analytical methods to characterize KGO-catalyzed substrate conversion and product formation. Eventually, the proof-of-principle demonstrated during this project will allow Aminoverse B.V. to develop a commercial biocatalysis kit comprised of KGO enzymes with a diverse activity profile, allowing their application in the sustainable production of either commodity, fine or speciality chemicals. The project consortium is composed of: i) Aminoverse B.V, a start-up company dedicated to facilitate chemical partners towards implementing biocatalysis in their chemical processes, and ii) Zuyd University, which will link Aminoverse B.V. with students and (bio)chemical professionals in creating a novel collaboration which will not only stimulate the development of (bio)chemical students, but also the translation of academic knowledge on KGOs towards a feasible biocatalytic application.
