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Teachers' responses to racism and racist bullying in Dutch primary schools
No full textBACKGROUND: Early in life, children with a non-White skin color, or a non-Western cultural or religious background, are susceptible of experiencing acts of racism. Since they spend a significant time of their daily life in school, teachers have a crucial role in providing a safe and bias-free environment for these children. However, teachers might find it challenging to react to bullying based on racism.AIM: This study aims to investigate teachers' experiences of and reactions to racist bullying among pupils in primary schools in The Netherlands. Additionally, this study aims to explore how racism is discussed in class.METHOD: With nine semi-structured in-depth interviews teachers' attitudes and reactions toward racist bullying were examined as well as their perceived competence and skills of handling this. In addition, teachers' availability on tools to discuss racism in class was investigated as well. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis.RESULTS: The results show that teachers emphasize a safe class climate but find it challenging addressing racist incidents, for instance determining its severity, or coping with the external influences on pupils' racist beliefs. Most teachers also expressed to not make a distinction between racist and interpersonal bullying. While teachers expressed that they talked about racism in the classroom, it seemed that they primarily talked about cultural diversity and not racism per se.CONCLUSION: Dealing with racism and racist bullying is an important but complicated task for teachers. Providing teachers with appropriate tools to increase knowledge, awareness and skills will help them to understand the negative impact racism has on children. Further, the results implicate that a pro-active approach can stimulate teachers to critically reflect on their own racial identity, and on school methods, teaching resources and policies concerning racism.</p
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Nirsevimab for Preventing Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Related Lower Respiratory Tract Disease in Dutch Infants:An Analysis Including All-Infant Protection
No full textObjectives: This study aimed to assess the cost effectiveness of nirsevimab, a recently authorized monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), in comparison with the standard practice involving palivizumab for high-risk infants during their first RSV season in the Netherlands. Methods: A static cost-effectiveness model was populated for the Netherlands to evaluate different immunization strategies for nirsevimab over a single RSV season from a societal perspective. The model considered the most recently published RSV incidence data (average incidence from 2006 to2018), costs (adjusted to the 2023 price year), and associated health effects. Extensive scenario analyses were conducted to explore various strategies, and sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the model’s robustness. Results: In the base-case scenario, all-infant protection—a strategy of in-season with catch-up immunization for all infants—nirsevimab has the potential to prevent numerous RSV-related cases, including 2333 hospitalizations and 150 intensive-care admissions, in the overall population compared with the standard of care. Nirsevimab appears to be cost effective under this strategy with an economically justifiable acquisition price for nirsevimab of €220 at a willingness-to-pay threshold of €50,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. Sensitivity analyses indicate a 52% probability that nirsevimab is cost effective at this threshold. Comparison of different vaccination strategies revealed that the all-infant protection approach was the one that prevented the higher number of cases. Conclusions: This study indicates that universal infant immunization with nirsevimab has the potential to be cost effective and significantly reduces the burden of RSV among Dutch infants. These findings underscore the importance of implementing effective protective measures against RSV-LRTD, reducing the pressure on the healthcare system during the RSV season.</p
Fed-GWAS:Privacy-preserving individualized incentive-based cross-device federated GWAS learning
No full textThe widespread availability of DNA sequencing technology has led to the genetic sequences of individuals becoming accessible data, creating opportunities to identify the genetic factors underlying various diseases. In particular, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) seek to identify Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) associated with a specific phenotype. Although sharing such data offers valuable insights, it poses a significant challenge due to both privacy concerns and the large size of the data involved. To address these challenges, in this paper, we propose a novel framework that combines both federated learning and blockchain as a platform for conducting GWAS studies with the participation of single individuals. The proposed framework offers a mutually beneficial solution where individuals participating in the GWAS study receive insurance credit to avail medical services while research and treatment centers benefit from the study data. To safeguard model parameters and prevent inference attacks, a secure aggregation protocol has been developed. The evaluation results demonstrate the scalability and efficiency of the proposed framework in terms of runtime and communication, outperforming existing solutions.</p
The effect of hrHPV prevalence on cervical cancer screening strategies:a cost-effectiveness study of Bangladesh
No full textWhat facilitates the effectiveness of innovation ecosystem-specific experimentation?:A dynamic capabilities perspective
No full textThere is the bourgeoning literature arguing that successfully delivering complex innovations to mass societies requires focal firms and their key partners to first perform a series of experimentation activities at the local small-scale societal level, known as Innovation Ecosystem-Specific Experimentation (IEE). Scholars have already evidenced the IEEs’ function to create viable innovation ecosystems, yet there is a dearth of information about which factors are associated with effective IEEs. We constructed the conceptual model based on a dynamic capabilities perspective. Our PLS-SEM analysis of 111 surveys in China indicates that (1) focal firms’ dynamic capabilities in metacognition, strategic networking, and learning agility are positively correlated with effective IEEs; (2) focal firms that use geographically accessible networking and innovation facilities tend to have stronger relationships between strategic networking capability and IEE, and between learning agility and IEE, respectively. Overall, this study enriches the literature on experimentation, entrepreneurial strategizing, and innovation ecosystem emergence
Incorporating Animals into Psychotherapy:Guidelines and Suggestions for Therapists
No full textThis chapter aims to provide the reader with an overview of the current research state and practical insights into how animals may be incorporated into psychotherapy. Within this context, the authors will also provide suggested guidelines to ensure quality control for both the client and the animal's safety. Case studies will be incorporated to illustrate how the interventions can be applied.</p
Young learners’ motivation, self-regulation and performance in personalized learning
Full text linkIntroductionPersonalized learning, a topic that has garnered significant attention in education, is known for its potential to cater to student's unique needs and improve educational outcomes. However, most large-scale longitudinal studies on personalized learning have primarily focused on middle school students and above (age ≥11). This study, in contrast, delves into the uncharted territory of how personalized learning affects younger students (ages 7–12), a domain largely overlooked by large-scale studies.ObjectiveTo understand the effect of PL on young learners’ academic performance, metacognitive awareness, and motivation.MethodMultidisciplinary design teams embedded personalized learning in eight participating elementary schools, resulting in personalized learning interventions tailored to each school in four subjects. The effects were measured over three years among 588 students and 82 teachers and analyzed using a Bayesian Gaussian regression with random intercept models and nested groups.ResultsWe found significant evidence that the personalized learning interventions fostered academic performance in two of the four subjects: math and spelling. Regarding spelling, we found that the schools in which metacognitive skills were explicitly trained improved their students' spelling performance significantly compared to other schools. We found significant evidence suggesting that student ICT skills improved metacognitive awareness, intrinsic motivation, and math performance. We also found significant evidence that teachers' ICT skills support student metacognitive awareness. However, we could not confirm the theorized effect of personalized learning on metacognitive awareness or students’ intrinsic motivation.ConclusionOur study provides evidence-based recommendations for implementing personalized learning interventions in elementary schools, particularly for math and spelling. Finally, improving ICT skills among students and teachers benefits students in math and in their metacognitive skills
Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Twin Pregnancies and the Role of Global Longitudinal Strain and Peak Systolic Strain:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
No full textIntroduction: Twin pregnancies are associated with an increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Pregnancy complications related to twins, such as fetal growth restriction, and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), are associated with hemodynamic changes in the fetal heart. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) is a tool to evaluate fetal cardiac function. This paper aims to review the literature regarding global longitudinal strain (rate) and peak systolic strain (rate) assessed with 2D STE in twin pregnancies. Feasibility, frame rate, and angle of the fetal heart at the time of measurement were selected as secondary outcomes. Methods: The databases Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Results: Seven articles met the inclusion criteria and selected all monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins with TTTS as the study population. The global longitudinal strain in the right and left ventricle and the peak systolic strain in the right ventricle of the recipient MCDA twin are significantly decreased compared to the donor MCDA twin. 2D STE assessment was shown feasible and reproducible in MCDA pregnancies. Large heterogeneity in technical characteristics between the articles induces inconsistent results. Conclusion: Although feasible, the knowledge of 2D STE is very limited in twin pregnancy. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate the 2D STE assessment in uncomplicated twin pregnancies considering its possible additive value in the diagnostics of pregnancy-related pathologies.</p
Cost-effectiveness Analysis of COVID-19 mRNA XBB.1.5 Fall 2023 Vaccination in the Netherlands
No full textIntroduction: This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of the fall 2023 COVID-19 mRNA XBB.1.5 vaccination campaign in the Netherlands, comparing the XBB1.5 updated mRNA-1273.222 with the XBB1.5 updated BNT162b2 vaccine. Methods: A 1-year decision tree-based cost-effectiveness model was developed, considering three scenarios: no fall 2023 vaccination, BNT162b2 vaccination, and mRNA-1273 vaccination in the COVID-19 high-risk population in the Netherlands. The high-risk population includes everyone of 60 and older, and younger adults at high risk as identified by the Dutch Health Council. Costs were included from a societal perspective and the modelled period started in October 2023 and ended in September 2024, including life years lost with a lifetime horizon. Sensitivity and scenario analyses were conducted to evaluate model robustness. Results: In the base case, mRNA-1273 demonstrated substantial benefits over BNT162b2, potentially averting 20,629 symptomatic cases, 924 hospitalizations (including 32 intensive care unit admissions), 207 deaths, and 2124 post-COVID cases. Societal cost savings were €12.9 million (excluding vaccination costs), with 1506 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. The break-even incremental price of mRNA-1273 compared to BNT162b2 was €16.72 or €34.32 considering a willingness to pay threshold (WTP) of 20,000 or 50,000 euro per QALY gained. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive cost-effectiveness analysis supporting the adoption of the mRNA-1273 vaccine in the national immunization program in the Netherlands, provided that the Dutch government negotiates a vaccine price that is at most €34.32 per dose higher than BNT162b2. Despite limitations, the findings emphasize the substantial health and economic benefits of mRNA-1273 over BNT162b2 in the high-risk population.</p
Gadamer's Metaphysics of Play
Full text linkGadamer has given very interesting analyses of “play” as a metaphor in the ontology of art. Close reading of these passages suggests that this metaphor should not be restricted to artworks and our interpretations of them. What Gadamer writes about art, its ontology and the human conditions of its understanding, is valid for everything that appears in the world and for everything that can be understood by human interpretation. The notion of “play” can thus beelaborated towards a general ontology or metaphysics of the world as horizon within which everything appears. Although Gadamer never wanted to develop such a general metaphysics—in line with Heidegger’s efforts to overcome onto-theological metaphysics— his hermeneutical philosophy can be read as having metaphysical presuppositions that might be made explicit. This chapter aims atsuch an explication of a hermeneutical metaphysics in which there is a primacy of history and world over individual human beings. The idea is that we are always already caught up in a play of relations that can never be completely surveyed, but that necessarily needs to be presupposed in all our actions and experiences