A growing interest in person-centered care from a biopsychosocial perspective has led to increased attention to structural screening. The aim of this study was to develop an easy-to-comprehend screening instrument using single items to identify a broad range of health-related problems in adult burn survivors. This study builds on earlier work regarding content generation. Focus groups and expert meetings with healthcare providers informed content refinement, resulting in the Aftercare Problem List (APL). The instrument consists of 43 items divided into nine health domains: scars, daily life functioning, scars treatment, body perceptions, stigmatization, intimacy, mental health, relationships, financial concerns, and a positive coping domain. The APL also includes a Distress Thermometer and a question inquiring about preference to discuss the results with a healthcare provider. Subsequently, the APL was completed by 102 outpatients. To test face validity, a linear regression analysis showed that problems in three health domains, i.e., scars, mental health, and body perceptions, were significantly related to higher distress. Qualitative results revealed that a minority found the items difficult which led to further adjustment of the wording and the addition of illustrations. In summation, this study subscribes to the validity of using single items to screen for burn-related problems.
Background: Undernutrition is a common complication of disease and a major determinant of hospital stay outcome. Dutch hospitals are required to screen for undernutrition on the first day of admission.Objective: We sought to determine the prevalence of the screening score “undernourished” with the use of the Short Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ) or Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and its relation to length of hospital stay (LOS) in the general hospital population and per medical specialty.Design: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study at 2 university, 3 teaching, and 8 general hospitals. All adult inpatients aged ≥18 y with an LOS of at least 1 d were included. Between 2007 and 2014, the SNAQ/MUST score, admitting medical specialty, LOS, age, and sex of each patient were extracted from the digital hospital chart system. Linear regression analysis with ln(LOS) as an outcome measure and SNAQ ≥3 points/MUST ≥2 points, sex, and age as determinant variables was used to test the relation between SNAQ/MUST score and LOS.Results: In total, 564,063 patients were included (48% males and 52% females aged 62 ± 18 y). Of those, 74% (419,086) were screened with SNAQ and 26% (144,977) with MUST, and 13.7% (SNAQ) and 14.9% (MUST) of the patients were defined as being undernourished. Medical specialties with the highest percentage of the screening score of undernourished were geriatrics (38%), oncology (33%), gastroenterology (27%), and internal medicine (27%).Patients who had an undernourished screening score had a higher LOS than did patients who did not (median 6.8 compared with 4.0 d; P < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that a positive SNAQ/MUST score was significantly associated with LOS [SNAQ: +1.43 d (95% CI: 1.42, 1.44 d), P < 0.001; MUST: +1.47 d (95% CI: 1.45, 1.49 d), P < 0.001].Conclusions: This study provides benchmark data on the prevalence of undernutrition, including more than half a million patients. One out of 7 patients was scored as undernourished. For geriatrics, oncology, gastroenterology, and internal medicine, this ratio was even greater (1 out of 3–4). Hospital stay was 1.4 d longer among undernourished patients than among those who were well nourished.
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.
Chemical preservation is an important process that prevents foods, personal care products, woods and household products, such as paints and coatings, from undesirable change or decomposition by microbial growth. To date, many different chemical preservatives are commercially available, but they are also associated with health threats and severe negative environmental impact. The demand for novel, safe, and green chemical preservatives is growing, and this process is further accelerated by the European Green Deal. It is expected that by the year of 2050 (or even as soon as 2035), all preservatives that do not meet the ‘safe-by-design’ and ‘biodegradability’ criteria are banned from production and use. To meet these European goals, there is a large need for the development of green, circular, and bio-degradable antimicrobial compounds that can serve as alternatives for the currently available biocidals/ preservatives. Anthocyanins, derived from fruits and flowers, meet these sustainability goals. Furthermore, preliminary research at the Hanze University of Applied Science has confirmed the antimicrobial efficacy of rose and tulip anthocyanin extracts against an array of microbial species. Therefore, these molecules have the potential to serve as novel, sustainable chemical preservatives. In the current project we develop a strategy consisting of fractionation and state-of-the-art characterization methods of individual anthocyanins and subsequent in vitro screening to identify anthocyanin-molecules with potent antimicrobial efficacy for application in paints, coatings and other products. To our knowledge this is the first attempt that combines in-depth chemical characterization of individual anthocyanins in relation to their antimicrobial efficacy. Once developed, this strategy will allow us to single out anthocyanin molecules with antimicrobial properties and give us insight in structure-activity relations of individual anthocyanins. Our approach is the first step towards the development of anthocyanin molecules as novel, circular and biodegradable non-toxic plant-based preservatives.
Worldwide, coral reefs are rapidly declining due to increased sea water temperatures and other environmental stresses (Figure 1). To counter the extinction of major coral reef building species on the island of Bonaire, the non-profit organization Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire is restoring degraded reef sites using corals that are grown in local nurseries. In these nurseries, corals are propagated on artificial trees using fragmentation. After 6-8 months of growth in the nursery, the corals are transplanted to degraded reef sites around the island. Over the years more than 21.000 corals have been outplanted to reef restoration sites in this way. These corals show high survivorship under natural reef conditions but remain under threat by environmental disturbances, such as increased water temperatures, diseases, and competition with macroalgae. A promising intervention to increase reef persistence and resilience is to manipulate the coral-associated microbiome. At present, the composition of the microbiome in nursery-reared and outplanted corals on Bonaire is unknown. The aim of the current project is to identify and isolate naturally occurring beneficial bacteria that may stimulate the resilience of these corals. Our key objectives are: 1) to assess the presence of functionally beneficial bacteria in corals in nursery and restoration sites on Bonaire using metagenomic screening. 2) to design culture strategies to isolate these functionally beneficial bacteria. In the future, a selection of these beneficial bacteria can be applied to the corals to increase their resilience against environmental disturbances.
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.
