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Uncertainties caused by soil heterogeneity play an important role in the characterisation of contaminant transport through ground water. In this paper a process-based approach is presented as a method to generate predictions of the contaminant migration while taking these uncertainties into account throughout the entire process. The process-based approach is part of the concept of Flexible Emission Control (FEC). The concept of Flexible Emission Control consists of a dynamic approach of dealing with soil contamination problems. Based upon the understanding of the subsoil together with the character of the pollution, site investigation remedial me

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are more likely to experience falls and fractures due to renal osteodystrophy and the high prevalence of risk factors for falls. However, it is not well established how great the risk is for falls and fractures for the different stages of CKD compared to the general population. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess whether, and in which degree, CKD was associated with falls and fractures in adults. A systematic search in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library was performed on 7 September 2018. All retrospective, cross-sectional, and longitudinal studies of adults (18 years of older) that studied the association between CKD, fractures, and falls were included. Additional studies were identified by cross-referencing. A total of 39 publications were included, of which two publications assessed three types of outcome and four publications assessed two types of outcome. Ten studies focused on accidental falling; seventeen studies focused on hip, femur, and pelvis fractures; seven studies focused on vertebral fractures; and thirteen studies focused on any type of fracture without further specification. Generally, the risk of fractures increased when kidney function worsened, with the highest risks in the patients with stage 5 CKD or dialysis. This effect was most pronounced for hip fractures and any type of fractures. Furthermore, results on the association between CKD and accidental falling were contradictory. Compared to the general population, fractures are highly prevalent in patients with CKD. Besides more awareness of timely fracture risk assessment, there also should be more focus on fall prevention.

Gold catalysts have superior activity in CO and other oxidations at low temperatures. Both a small (~ 5nm) particle size and the presence of a partly reducible oxide (ceria or a transition metal oxide) have a beneficial effect on the catalyst performance. The present paper reviews our recent studies focused on understanding the specific role of the Au particle size and that of the oxide (MO). Our personal viewpoint on gold catalysis is outlined. The effects of Au particle size and of the oxidic additive are distinguished by using several alumina-supported gold catalysts having different gold particle sizes and various oxidic additives. The most active catalyst in CO oxidation is the multicomponent catalyst Au/MgO/MnOx/Al2O3 with MgO being a stabilizer for the Au particle size and MnOx being the cocatalyst. This catalyst also exhibits good performance in selective oxidation of CO in a hydrogen atmosphere, a reaction relevant for the development of polymer electrolyte fuel cell technology.

Abstract Intergenerational storytelling between grandparents and their grandchildren is a developmentally meaningful and mutually enjoyable shared activity. Until now, we know little about grandparents’ motivations for telling stories to younger generations. Do grandparents tell stories to entertain, to teach life lessons, or to simply pass the time? To cast light on this issue, we systematically investigated grandparents’ reasons, and grandchildren’s perceptions of their grandparents’ reasons, for intergenerational storytelling. We asked samples of grandchildren and grandparents in Canada and Austria to complete the newly developed 61-item Intergenerational Storytelling Functions Questionnaire (ISFQ) that measures 12 potential reasons for storytelling. A preliminary factor analysis of the ISFQ, presented here for the first time, suggests that the 12 hypothesized reasons reduce to five factors. Listed in the order of their reported frequency, the factors have been labelled: positive reminiscence function, intimacy/entertainment function, wisdom/teaching function, familial/cultural heritage function, and passing-time function. To supplement these analyses, before completing the ISFQ, grandchildren and grandparents were asked to provide up to four open-ended reasons for intergenerational storytelling. A qualitative analysis of their responses indicates that we failed to capture one additional functional with the ISFQ. We have called this the negative reminiscence or ‘processing the past’ function, in which grandparents tell stories of negative life experiences (a common example being war stories) many years later in order to make sense of the experience in the present. We hope these preliminary results spark interest in studying the underlying motivations for intergenerational storytelling, for which we provide a new measurement tool.

To compare the effects of free access to reduced fat products or their full fat equivalents on fat and energy intake, body weight, plasma lipids and fat-soluble antioxidants concentrations and haemostasis variables. A multicentre open randomised controlled trial in which intervention and control groups were followed in parallel for six months. Volunteers had free access to 44 different foods either in reduced fat or full fat version, covering between 30 and 40% of energy intake. The remainder of energy intake was covered by foods bought in regular shops. Zeist, Wageningen and Maastricht, The Netherlands. Two hundred and forty-one non-obese healthy volunteers who had no intention to lose weight. Food intake, body weight, plasma lipid, vitamin E, beta-carotene, lycopene and fibrinogen concentrations, plasma factor VII clotting activity, and plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-I antigen level. One hundred and three volunteers in the full fat group and 117 volunteers in the reduced fat group completed the study. Energy and fat intake from the free access products was lower in the reduced fat group, but no difference in energy and fat intake of other products occurred. Body weight, energy-, fat- and vitamin E intake and percentage of energy derived from fat decreased in the reduced fat group. No other statistical significant intervention effects were observed. Blood lipid concentrations, factor VII activity and plasminogen-inhibitor-activator-1 level were reduced after consumption of reduced fat products. When subjects without intention to lose weight limit fat intake by switching from ad libitum consumption of full fat products to reduced fat products body weight gain is prevented, and fat and energy intake are reduced. Such a switch may have beneficial effects on biochemical cardiovascular risk factors. We concluded that reduced fat products will help in a population strategy aimed at preventing overweight and obesity, they will also be effective in maintaining a lower body weight after slimming. Ad libitum consumption of reduced fat products will be ineffective for those individuals that want to reduce body weight because they are currently overweight or obese.

To assess the effect of supplementation with an antioxidant fortified margarine on the body's antioxidant status and on parameters of oxidative damage to lipids. Single blind, placebo controlled trial, two treatment groups balanced for sex, age and Quetelet Index. Unilever Research Laboratorium, The Netherlands. Thirty-one healthy adult volunteers accomplished the study. Volunteers were recruited among inhabitants of the surrounding area of the research laboratory. Volunteers consumed during the four weeks either 15 g/d of an antioxidant fortified margarine (providing 121 mg vitamin C, 31 mg vitamin E, 2.7 mg alpha-carotene and 5.3 mg beta-carotene) or an ordinary margarine. Fasting blood samples were taken before and at the end of the study. Consumption of the antioxidant fortified margarine significantly increased the levels of the supplied antioxidants in plasma and LDL as compared to the changes found after consumption of the control margarine, with the largest increases found in LDL levels of alpha-carotene (15.5-fold increase, 95% CI: 8.4-27.8-fold) and beta-carotene (4.3-fold increase, 95% CI: 2.2-7.9-fold). This increased antioxidant status in the antioxidant fortified margarine group resulted in a significantly increased total antioxidant activity of LDL and resistance of LDL to oxidation (lag time and rate of oxidation) as compared to baseline but not in comparison to the changes found in the control group. Consumption of moderate doses of vitamin E, vitamin C, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, supplied in a full-fat margarine and consumed as part of a normal diet, effectively increases the blood levels of these antioxidants.

The growing public concern with the adverse effects on health of a high fat intake has led to a proliferation on the market of reduced fat products. However, no consensus exists on the effectivity of reduced fat products to decrease energy intake. The studies that have investigated this topic have included small numbers of subjects, studied under laboratory conditions and over a relatively short period of time. Therefore, we have executed a long-term study in which volunteers had free access to both reduced fat, commercially available products in the laboratory as well as to products obtained from regular shops. We here report the feasibility of such a type of study and the effects of consumption of reduced fat products on blood levels of cholesterol, haemostasis variables, antioxidants and parameters of the immune system. The study was a multicentre parallel comparison trial of six months (so-called MSFAT-study). 241 volunteers received either reduced fat products or full-fat products and the products were clearly labelled as such. Two months before the start of the study, a 1 month adaptation period was executed to optimize the experimental procedures. Food intake was recorded before the start of the adaptation period and 2-4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after the start of the study. Blood samples were taken before, after 2, 4 and 6 months of the study. In addition, a selection of the reduced fat and full-fat products was sensorically evaluated three times during the study by a subgroup of the volunteers. 220 volunteers completed the study. The reduced fat group consumed on average 46% less fat from the so-called MSFAT-products obtained from the shop at the laboratory than the control group and consumption of these MSFAT-products did not decrease in either of the groups during the time course of the study. The palatability of the reduced fat and full-fat products was similar and as expected, the perceived fattiness of the full-fat products was higher than that of the reduced fat products. No effects were found on blood levels of cholesterol, haemostasis variables, parameters of antioxidant status and immune system characteristics. In conclusion, the experimental manipulation of the fat content of the diet that was achieved and that remained stable throughout the 6 months of the study indicates that this type of set-up is feasible to assess the effects of long-term nutritional intervention in large groups of volunteers under semi-controlled conditions. The regular use of reduced fat products did not positively but also not adversely affect blood cholesterol levels, antioxidant status, haemostasis factors and the body's immune system.