Electromagnetic fields, or EMF, are ubiquitous in our daily life. Extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF MF) are generated by any device using electric current. Especially in workplace situations involving MRI scanners, welding equipment, induction heaters, and power plants, they are known for potentially high field strengths. These high field strengths may lead to adverse health effects if insufficient preventive measures are in place. This study investigates employees’ perceptions on work safety regarding EMF exposure. We held 15 semi-structured interviews in three different (non-nuclear) power plants in the Netherlands. We found that power plants in this study made ample use of fences and warning signs where needed, creating a safe working environment. Nevertheless, some workers perceive that there are vague regulations, organizational issues and lack of clarity on the properties of EMF. Participants also indicated that there is some room for improvement with respect to work safety meetings on EMF. Employees want to be informed about EMF and its potential health effects and mitigation methods, but their information need is limited and straightforward. A simple warning system, along with safety information on paper, may be sufficient. https://doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2020.1750459 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-bolte-0856134/
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ObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of the “Plants for Joints” multidisciplinary lifestyle program in patients with metabolic syndrome-associated osteoarthritis (MSOA).DesignPatients with hip or knee MSOA were randomized to the intervention or control group. The intervention group followed a 16-week program in addition to usual care based on a whole food plant-based diet, physical activity, and stress management. The control group received usual care. The patient-reported Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) total score (range 0–96) was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included other patient-reported, anthropometric, and metabolic measures. An intention-to-treat analysis with a linear-mixed model adjusted for baseline values was used to analyze between-group differences.ResultsOf the 66 people randomized, 64 completed the study. Participants (84% female) had a mean (SD) age of 63 (6) years and body mass index of 33 (5) kg/m2. After 16 weeks, the intervention group (n = 32) had a mean 11-point larger improvement in WOMAC-score (95% CI 6–16; p = 0.0001) compared to the control group. The intervention group also lost more weight (–5 kg), fat mass (–4 kg), and waist circumference (–6 cm) compared to the control group. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) fatigue, pain interference, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose, and low-density lipoproteins improved in the intervention versus the control group, while other PROMIS measures, blood pressure, high-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides did not differ significantly between the groups.ConclusionThe “Plants for Joints” lifestyle program reduced stiffness, relieved pain, and improved physical function in people with hip or knee MSOA compared to usual care.
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Control of plant growth is an important aspect of crop productivity and yield in agriculture. Overexpression of the At CHR12/ 23 genes in Arabidopsis thaliana reduced growth habit without other morphological changes. These two genes encode Snf2 chromatin remodelling ATPases. Here, we translate this approach to the horticultural crop tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum). We identified and cloned the single tomato ortholog of the two Arabidopsis Snf2 genes, designated Sl CHR1. Transgenic tomato plants (cv. Micro-Tom) that constitutively overexpress the coding sequence of Sl CHR1 show reduced growth in all developmental stages of tomato. This confirms that Sl CHR1 combines the functions of both Arabidopsis genes in tomato. Compared to the wild type, the transgenic seedlings of tomato have significantly shorter roots, hypocotyls and reduced cotyledon size. Transgenic plants have a much more compact growth habit with markedly reduced plant height, severely compacted reproductive structures with smaller flowers and smaller fruits. The results indicate that either GMO-based or non- GMO-based approaches to modulate the expression of chromatin remodelling ATPase genes could develop into methods to control plant growth, for example to replace the use of chemical growth retardants. This approach is likely to be applicable and attractive for any crop for which growth habit reduction has added value.
Aanleiding: De belangstelling voor gezonde en veilige voeding is groot. Bij de gezondheidseffecten van voeding spelen de darmen een cruciale rol. Verschillende soorten bedrijven hebben behoefte aan natuurgetrouwe testmodellen om de effecten van voeding op de darmen te bestuderen. Ze zijn vooral op zoek naar modellen waarvan de uitkomsten direct vertaalbaar zijn naar het doelorganisme (de mens of bijvoorbeeld het varken) en die niet gebruikmaken van kostbare en maatschappelijke beladen dierproeven. Doelstelling Het project 2-REAL-GUTS heeft als doel om twee innovatieve dierproefvrije darmmodellen geschikt te maken voor onderzoek naar voedingsconcepten en -ingrediënten. De twee darmmodellen die worden toegepast zijn darmorganoïden, minidarmorgaantjes bestaande uit stamcellen, en darmexplants bestaande uit hele stukjes darm verkregen uit relevante organismen. Beide modellen hebben potentieel heel uitgebreide toepassingsmogelijkheden en hebben ook grote voordelen ten opzichte van de huidige veelgebruikte cellijnen, omdat ze meerdere in de darm aanwezige celtypen bevatten en uit verschillende specifieke darmregio's te verkrijgen zijn. Gezamenlijk gaan de partners werken aan: 1) het aanpassen van de kweekomstandigheden zodat darmmodellen geschikt worden om de vragen van partners te beantwoorden; 2) het vaststellen van de toepassingsmogelijkheden van de darmmodellen door verschillende stoffen en producten te testen. Beoogde resultaten Kennisconferenties, publicaties en exploitatie van de modellen zullen zorgen voor het verspreiden van de opgedane kennis. Omdat het project gebruikmaakt van moderne, op de toekomst gerichte laboratoriumtechnieken (kweekmethoden met stamcellen en vitaal weefsel, moleculaire analyses en microscopie), leent het zich uitstekend om geïmplementeerd te worden in het hbo-onderwijs. Als spin-off zal het project dan ook voorzien in een specifieke, voor Nederland unieke hbo-minor op het gebied van stamcel- en aanverwante technologie (zoals organ-on-a-chiptechnologie).
Nowadays, there is particular attention towards the additive manufacturing of medical devices and instruments. This is because of the unique capability of 3D printing technologies for designing and fabricating complex products like bone implants that can be highly customized for individual patients. NiTi shape memory alloys have gained significant attention in various medical applications due to their exceptional superelastic and shape memory properties, allowing them to recover their original shape after deformation. The integration of additive manufacturing technology has revolutionized the design possibilities for NiTi alloys, enabling the fabrication of intricately designed medical devices with precise geometries and tailored functionalities. The AM-SMART project is focused on exploring the suitability of NiTi architected structures for bone implants fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology. This is because of the lower stiffness of NiTi alloys compared to Ti alloys, closely aligning with the stiffness of bone. Additionally, their unique functional performance enables them to dissipate energy and recover the original shape, presenting another advantage that makes them well-suited for bone implants. In this investigation, various NiTi-based architected structures will be developed, featuring diverse cellular designs, and their long-term thermo-mechanical performance will be thoroughly evaluated. The findings of this study underscore the significant potential of these structures for application as bone implants, showcasing their adaptability for use also beyond the medical sector.
Flying insects like dragonflies, flies, bumblebees are able to couple hovering ability with the ability for a quick transition to forward flight. Therefore, they inspire us to investigate the application of swarms of flapping-wing mini-drones in horticulture. The production and trading of agricultural/horticultural goods account for the 9% of the Dutch gross domestic product. A significant part of the horticultural products are grown in greenhouses whose extension is becoming larger year by year. Swarms of bio-inspired mini-drones can be used in applications such as monitoring and control: the analysis of the data collected enables the greenhouse growers to achieve the optimal conditions for the plants health and thus a high productivity. Moreover, the bio-inspired mini-drones can detect eventual pest onset at plant level that leads to a strong reduction of chemicals utilization and an improvement of the food quality. The realization of these mini-drones is a multidisciplinary challenge as it requires a cross-domain collaboration between biologists, entomologists and engineers with expertise in robotics, mechanics, aerodynamics, electronics, etc. Moreover a co-creation based collaboration will be established with all the stakeholders involved. With this approach we can integrate technical and social-economic aspects and facilitate the adoption of this new technology that will make the Dutch horticulture industry more resilient and sustainable.
