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In this paper we outline a method for systematically addressing needs assessment (QUALISEM-PEOPLE), alongside a case study of its use within a medium sized, German company. The method was designed in order to provide guidance in analysing skill and role competences, particularly when e-learning systems are being considered for training purposes. The method proved to be successful within the compan
The residence time distribution (RTD) approach was used to characterize the flow and mixing behavior of burners. This analysis consists of injecting an inert gaseous tracer into the feed and measuring its change in concentration at various detection points. The responses are then used to characterize the flow behavior and, thus, the local mixing in the space delimited by the injection and probe po
The relation between clinical or histologic chorioamnionitis and early neonatal adverse neurologic outcome was investigated (n = 483). Histologic, but not clinical, evidence of chorioamnionitis was found to be a significant predictor of periventricular echodensity (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.8-3.2), echolucency (3.3; 1.9-5.6), ventriculomegaly (2.7; 1.8-4.2), intraventricular hemorrhage > or =3 (3
Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an established staging method in early breast cancer. After a negative biopsy, most institutions will not perform a completion axillary dissection. The present study reports the current axillary recurrence (AR) rate, overall and disease-free survival in the Swedish Multicenter Cohort Study. Methods: From 3534 patients with primary breast cancer <= 3 cm pro
We report the fabrication and characterisation of a non-compartmentalised, mediator and cofactor free glucose-oxygen biofuel cell based on adsorbed enzymes exhibiting direct bioelectrocatalysis, viz. cellobiose dehydrogenase from Dichomera saubinetii and laccase from Trametes hirsuta as the anodic and cathodic bioelements, respectively, with the following characteristics: an open-circuit voltage o
Binding of immobilized collagen-I (Cn-I) and fibronectin (Fn) by Lactobacillus acidophilus CRL 639 depends on cell-surface proteins. Capsule formation during the stationary growth phase has a negative effect on adherence of Cn-I and Fn. However, cells from the exponential growth phase. which produce no capsule, exhibit maximal binding. Binding is sensitive to trypsin, proteinase K, pronase E, and
Immune responses constitute a major way for hosts to defend themselves against parasites. Because hosts do not habitually produce strong responses all the time, immune responses might be costly to produce or maintain. We tested experimentally if the production of a response to a challenge with a novel antigen resulted in a cost in terms of fitness using the highly colonial house martin Delichon ur
A broad range of rare inherited metabolic disorders can present with dystonia. For clinicians, it is important to recognize dystonic features, but it can be complicated by the mixed and complex clinical picture seen in many neurometabolic patients. Careful phenotyping is the first step towards the diagnosis of the underlying condition and subsequent targeted treatment, further supported by imaging
Objective: The introduction of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has significantly improved the life-span of Hurler patients (mucopolysaccharidosis type I-H, MPS I-H). Yet, the musculoskeletal manifestations seem largely unresponsive to HSCT. In order to facilitate evidence based management, the aim of the current study was to give a systematic overview of the orthopaedic complication
Hurler syndrome (HS) is a severe inborn error of metabolism causing progressive multi-system morbidity and death in early childhood. At present, stem cell transplantation (SCT) is the only available treatment that can prevent central nervous system disease progression in HS patients. Although SCT has been shown to be effective for several important clinical outcome parameters, the reported clinica
Renal Fanconi syndrome developed rapidly in a 3-year-old Moroccan girl with established lysinuric protein intolerance. She was hospitalized because of lowered consciousness, uncoordinated movements and hepatosplenomegaly after a febrile period. Laboratory investigations revealed plasma ammonia 270 micromol/L (normal <70 micromol/L), ferritin 159 micromol/L (normal 2-59 micromol/L), LDH 1180 U/L (n
Methods to supply fresh water are becoming increasingly critical as the world population continues to grow. Small-diameter hazardous microbes such as viruses (20-100 nm diameter) can be filtered by size exclusion, but in this approach the filters are fouled. Thus, in our research, we are investigating an approach in which filters will be reusable. When exposed to ultraviolet (UV) illumination, tit
The presence or absence of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) at the centre of Milky Way globular clusters (GCs) is still an open question. This is due to either observational restrictions or limitations in the dynamical modelling method; in this work, we explore the latter. Using a sample of high-end Monte Carlo simulations of GCs, with and without a central IMBH, we study the limitations of s
U-Pb geochronology on baddeleyite is a powerful technique that can be applied effectively to chronostratigraphy. In southern Africa, the Kaapvaal Craton hosts a well-preserved Mesoarchean to Paleoproterozoic geological record, including the Neoarchean Ventersdorp Supergroup. It overlies the Witwatersrand Supergroup and its world-class gold deposits. The Ventersdorp Supergroup comprises the Klipriv
Elevated concentrations of inorganic arsenic, one of the most potent environmental toxicants and carcinogens, have been detected in well water around Lake Poopó, Bolivia. This study aimed to assess human exposure to arsenic in villages around Lake Poopó, and also to elucidate whether the metabolism and detoxification of arsenic in this population is as efficient as previously indicated in other An
