Particulate matter strongly associated with human Q fever in The Netherlands: an ecological study

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (12) ◽  
pp. 2623-2633 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. REEDIJK ◽  
J. P. G. VAN LEUKEN ◽  
W. VAN DER HOEK
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Spatial Regression ◽  
National Level ◽  
Spatial Association ◽  
Postal Code ◽  
High Level

SUMMARYThere are still questions about the importance of different animal reservoirs and environmental factors that played a role in the large Q fever epidemic in The Netherlands. We therefore investigated the spatial association between reported Q fever cases and different livestock and environmental factors at the national level. A spatial regression analysis was performed, with four-digit postal code areas as the unit of analysis. High level of particulate matter (⩾24·5 μg/m3) with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (PM10) was by far the strongest risk factor for human Q fever with an odds ratio of 10·4 (95% confidence interval 7·0–15·6) using PM10 <24·5 μg/m3 as reference, in logistic regression analysis, controlling for differences in animal densities, vegetation and other risk factors. Particulate matter seems to play an important role in the transmission of Q fever from infected animals to humans and should be a focus for further studies on zoonotic infectious diseases and decision-making.

scholarly journals Environmental Factors Determine Where the Dutch Live: Results From the Netherlands Twin Register

2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonneke Willemsen ◽  
Danielle Posthuma ◽  
Dorret I. Boomsma
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Residential Area ◽  
Postal Code ◽  
Young Cohort ◽  
Dutch Population ◽  
Urbanization Level ◽  
Age Cohorts

AbstractThe heritability of the degree of residential area urbanization in twins and their siblings in the Dutch population was examined. The postal code was known for 6879 twins and 2724 siblings registered with the Netherlands Twin Register and born between 1940 and 1983. Using data from Statistics Netherlands (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, 2001), these postal codes could be related to residential area characteristics, including urbanization level. The degree of urbanization was assessed on a 5-point scale: very heavy, heavy, moderate, low and not urbanized. Genetic model-fitting was carried out in three age cohorts: young adults (born 1975 to 1983), adults (born 1965 to 1974) and older adults (born 1940 to1964). Twin and sibling resemblance in urbanization level was expressed in polychoric correlations. These correlations decreased from the youngest cohort (.66 to .86) to the oldest cohort (.20 to .58). In all 3 age cohorts, genetic factors did not contribute to familial resemblance. The influence of common environment decreased in importance from the young cohort (70% to 83%) to the old cohort (46% to 47%) and was lower in women than in men in all but the oldest age cohort. This study did not replicate Australian findings of a genetic contribution in the older cohorts; common environmental factors and, increasingly with age, unique environmental factors determine where the Dutch live. Future studies in European and other populations will reveal whether these results are specific to the Dutch population.

Characteristics, Features of Development, Regional and Sectoral Determinants of High-tech Business in Russia

2017 ◽  
pp. 142-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Yusupova ◽  
S. Khalimova
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Business Development ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Assessment Data ◽  
High Tech Sector ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
High Level

The paper deals with the research devoted to characteristics of high tech business development in Russia. Companies’ performance indicators have been analyzed with the help of regression analysis and author’s scheme of leadership stability and sustainability assessment. Data provided by Russia’s Fast Growing High-Tech Companies’ National Rating (TechUp) during 2012-2016 were used. The results have revealed that the high tech sector is characterized by high level of uncertainty. Limited number of regions and sectors which form the basis for high tech business have been defined. Relationship between innovation activity’s indicators and export potential is determined.

scholarly journals The Resolution of International Commercial Disputes – What Role (if any) for Continental Europe?

AJIL Unbound ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Giesela Rühl
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Dispute Settlement ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
National Level ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
The Past ◽  
The World ◽  
Traditional Market ◽  
Commercial Courts

The past sixteen years have witnessed the proliferation of international commercial courts around the world. However, up until recently, this was largely an Asian and a Middle Eastern phenomenon. Only during the past decade have Continental European countries, notably Germany, France and the Netherlands, joined the bandwagon and started to create new judicial bodies for international commercial cases. Driven by the desire to attract high-volume commercial litigation, these bodies try to offer international businesses a better dispute settlement framework. But what are their chances of success? Will more international litigants decide to settle their disputes in these countries? In this essay, I argue that, despite its recently displayed activism, Continental Europe lags behind on international commercial courts. In fact, although the various European initiatives are laudable, most cannot compete with the traditional market leaders, especially the London Commercial Court, or with new rivals in Asia and the Middle East. If Continental Europe wants a role in the international litigation market, it must embrace more radical change. And this change will most likely have to happen on the European––not the national––level.

scholarly journals A Review of Mormon Studies in China

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 375
Author(s):  
Hongmeng Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
National Level ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
History Of ◽  
Us Presidential Election ◽  
Chinese Scholars ◽  
Mitt Romney ◽  
High Level

Mormon studies in China began in the early 1990s and can be divided into three phases between the years of 2004 and 2017. The first Master’s and Doctoral theses on Mormonism were both published in 2004, and journal articles have also been increasing in frequency since then. The year of 2012 saw a peak, partly because Mormon Mitt Romney won the Republican nomination for the 2012 US presidential election. In 2017, a national-level project, Mormonism and its Bearings on Current Sino-US Relations, funded by the Chinese government, was launched. However, Mormon studies in China is thus far still in its infancy, with few institutions and a small number of scholars. Academic works are limited in number, and high-level achievements are very few. Among the published works, the study of the external factors of Mormonism is far more prevalent than research on its internal factors. Historical, sociological, and political approaches far exceed those of philosophy, theology, and history of thoughts. To Mormon studies, Chinese scholars can and should be making unique contributions, but the potential remains to be tapped.

scholarly journals Economic burden of work injuries and diseases: a framework and application in five European Union countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emile Tompa ◽  
Amirabbas Mofidi ◽  
Swenneke van den Heuvel ◽  
Thijmen van Bree ◽  
Frithjof Michaelsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Economic Burden ◽  
National Level ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Work Injuries ◽  
European Union Countries ◽  
Related Quality

Abstract Background Estimates of the economic burden of work injuries and diseases can help policymakers prioritize occupational health and safety policies and interventions in order to best allocate scarce resources. Several attempts have been made to estimate these economic burdens at the national level, but most have not included a comprehensive list of cost components, and none have attempted to implement a standard approach across several countries. The aim of our study is to develop a framework for estimating the economic burden of work injuries and diseases and implement it for selected European Union countries. Methods We develop an incidence cost framework using a bottom-up approach to estimate the societal burden of work injuries and diseases and implement it for five European Union countries. Three broad categories of costs are considered—direct healthcare, indirect productivity and intangible health-related quality of life costs. We begin with data on newly diagnosed work injuries and diseases from calendar year 2015. We consider lifetime costs for cases across all categories and incurred by all stakeholders. Sensitivity analysis is undertaken for key parameters. Results Indirect costs are the largest part of the economic burden, then direct costs and intangible costs. As a percentage of GDP, the highest overall costs are for Poland (10.4%), then Italy (6.7%), The Netherlands (3.6%), Germany (3.3%) and Finland (2.7%). The Netherlands has the highest per case costs (€75,342), then Italy (€58,411), Germany (€44,919), Finland (€43,069) and Poland (€38,918). Costs per working-age population are highest for Italy (€4956), then The Netherlands (€2930), Poland (€2793), Germany (€2527) and Finland (€2331). Conclusions Our framework serves as a template for estimating the economic burden of work injuries and diseases across countries in the European Union and elsewhere. Results can assist policymakers with identifying health and safety priority areas based on the magnitude of components, particularly when stratified by key characteristics such as industry, injury/disease, age and sex. Case costing can serve as an input into the economic evaluation of prevention initiatives. Comparisons across countries provide insights into the relevant performance of health and safety systems.

Identification of environmental factors affecting the speed of purebred Arabian racehorses in The Netherlands

2009 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Schurink ◽  
M.C.J. Theunissen ◽  
B.J. Ducro ◽  
P. Bijma ◽  
E.M. van Grevenhof
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Factors Affecting

A Dutchman in London: reflections of a hospital chief executive from the Netherlands in the NHS

BMJ Leader ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. leader-2021-000509
Author(s):  
Marcel Levi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
British Society ◽  
The Public ◽  
Interesting Insight ◽  
Clinical Point ◽  
High Level

BackgroundThe NHS is a fascinating health care system and is enjoying a lot of support from all layers of British society. However, it is clear that the system has excellent features but also areas that can be improved.Story of selfA number of years as a chief executive in one of London’s largest hospital has brought me a wealth of impressions, experiences, and understanding about working in the NHS. Contrasting those to my previous experience as chief executive in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) provides an interesting insight.ObservationsVery strong features of the NHS are the high level of health care professionals, the focus on quality and safety, and involvement of patients and the public. However, the NHS can significantly improve by addressing the lack of clinical professionals in the lead, curtailing ever increasing bureaucracy, and reducing its peculiar preference for outsourcing even the most crucial activities to private parties. The frequent inability to swiftly and successfully complete goal-directed negotiations as well as the large but from a clinical point of view irrelevant private sector are areas of sustained bewilderment. Lastly, the drive for innovation and transformation as well as the level of biomedical research in the NHS and supported by the British universities is fascinating and outstanding.

scholarly journals The tip of the iceberg: incompleteness of measles reporting during a large outbreak in The Netherlands in 2013–2014

2018 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Woudenberg ◽  
F. Woonink ◽  
J. Kerkhof ◽  
K. Cox ◽  
W.L.M. Ruijs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
National Level ◽  
Notifiable Disease ◽  
National Register ◽  
Notifiable Diseases ◽  
Measles Outbreak ◽  
Large Outbreak ◽  
Completeness Of Reporting

AbstractMeasles is a notifiable disease, but not everyone infected seeks care, nor is every consultation reported. We estimated the completeness of reporting during a measles outbreak in The Netherlands in 2013–2014. Children below 15 years of age in a low vaccination coverage community (n= 3422) received a questionnaire to identify measles cases. Cases found in the survey were matched with the register of notifiable diseases to estimate the completeness of reporting. Second, completeness of reporting was assessed by comparing the number of susceptible individuals prior to the outbreak with the number of reported cases in the surveyed community and on a national level.We found 307 (15%) self-identified measles cases among 2077 returned questionnaires (61%), of which 27 could be matched to a case reported to the national register; completeness of reporting was 8.8%. Based on the number of susceptible individuals and number of reported cases in the surveyed community and on national level, the completeness of reporting was estimated to be 9.1% and 8.6%, respectively. Estimating the completeness of reporting gave almost identical estimates, which lends support to the credibility and validity of both approaches. The size of the 2013–2014 outbreak approximated 31 400 measles infections.

OP123 Translating Evidence To Action – The Role Of Health Research Funders

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 47-47
Author(s):  
Wendy Reijmerink
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Health Research ◽  
National Level ◽  
Scientific Quality ◽  
Societal Impact ◽  
Research Waste ◽  
Research Programs ◽  
Societal Relevance ◽  
Funding Agencies ◽  
Do So

Introduction:National health research funders are accountable to the public with regard to the societal impact of the research, including health technology assessment (HTA), that they fund. Failing to do so can not only negatively affect public trust in the allocation of resources to funding agencies, but can also lead to public mistrust in science.Methods:We present the results of reducing research waste to ensure societal responsible research, both at an international and national level. In the Netherlands, the National Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) developed an analytical framework to assess its research programs, including the national HTA program.Results:An evaluation of 12 national funding agencies in Australia, Europe and North America demonstrated that certain processes (e.g. how research questions are prioritized or decided) are not transparent. At the international level, health funders believe that they have a joint responsibility not just to seek to advance knowledge, but also to advance the practices of health-related research and research funding. In the Netherlands, ZonMw (HTA) research programs perform well regarding addressing societal relevance (e.g. stakeholder participation) and reasonably well on scientific quality (e.g. international cooperation and knowledge sharing). Efficiency (e.g. encouraging use of existing data and systematic reviews) appears to be less well developed, while integrity (e.g. preventing publication bias) is underexposed.Conclusions:Although ZonMw is doing reasonably well in terms of reducing research waste, it was concluded that more focus on societal impact assessment is needed. To do so funding agencies need to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders. This is especially relevant in the field of HTA where the ambition is to move from evidence to impact.

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