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Cost comparison analysis of onasemnogene abeparvovec and nusinersen for treatment of patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 in the Netherlands
No full textBACKGROUND: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic disease resulting in loss of motor function and, in severe cases (e.g., SMA type 1), infantile death. While treatments like nusinersen and onasemnogene abeparvovec improve prognosis for patients with SMA, costs for these medications can contribute to economic burden.OBJECTIVE: Direct costs were compared for onasemnogene abeparvovec, a one-time gene replacement therapy, versus nusinersen, a lifelong therapy, for patients with SMA type 1 and/or three or more survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2) gene copies in the Netherlands.METHODS: A cost comparison analysis model of 1-year incident patient population from the Netherlands was used to compare costs of onasemnogene abeparvovec versus nusinersen for patients eligible for onasemnogene abeparvovec immediately after diagnosis. Multiple analyses were conducted for economic outcomes (e.g., base-case, break-even, deterministic sensitivity, probabilistic sensitivity, scenario analyses).RESULTS: Cost differences of -€2.9 million (undiscounted) and -€1.5 million (discounted) per patient with SMA type 1 treated with onasemnogene abeparvovec versus nusinersen over a 20-year time horizon were identified (base-case). Reduced costs with onasemnogene abeparvovec versus nusinersen were evident after 8.25 years.CONCLUSION: Onasemnogene abeparvovec was less costly than nusinersen after 8.25 years of treatment of patients with SMA type 1 in the Netherlands.</p
The opacity of international fertilizer companies:reluctance to adopt transparency and traceability systems
No full textWith the introduction of new regulations, such as the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, transparency and traceability have become essential for demonstrating sustainable (supply chain) management practices. This study aims to explore the reluctance of fertilizer companies to disclose the origins of their materials, despite significant environmental, health, safety, and food quality implications of fertilizer use. To achieve this, we analysed sustainability reports to assess how these companies publicly account for their traceability and transparency efforts. Additionally, semi-structured expert interviews with high-level managers were conducted to uncover their perceptions, motivations, and their (limited) willingness to adopt comprehensive transparency and traceability systems. Our findings indicate that fertilizer companies primarily react to legislative requirements and political risks rather than proactively embracing traceability. Internal and external stakeholder perspectives diverge significantly: while some managers view existing quality systems as sufficient for ensuring product safety, others recognize traceability as a critical component of quality assurance. Few managers are willing to expand transparency unless mandated by regulation or stakeholder pressure. Perceived risks, such as potential liability and competitive disadvantage, further hinder progress toward full traceability. This study highlights the tension between regulatory demands and common business practices. For the industry, embracing traceability and transparency not only aligns with evolving regulatory requirements, but also enhances stakeholder trust and secure a competitive edge in increasingly sustainability-focused markets
Letting Work What Works-Effectively Preventing Juvenile Delinquency in the Netherlands:A Meta-Analysis of the Evidence
No full textThis meta-analysis synthesized all available evidence on the effect of judicial behavioral interventions for juvenile delinquency that have been certified by the Netherlands Youth Institute with initial indications for effectiveness. Ten (quasi-)experimental studies examining the effects of six interventions were included: TOOLS4U, Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), Multi Systemic Therapy (MST), Only You Decide who you Are (OYD), Responsive Social skills Training (Re-SKT), and Responsive Aggression Regulation Therapy (Re-ART). Results showed an overall small significant positive effect of g = 0.22 (p = .032; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.42). Moderator analyses revealed that responsive cognitive behavioral therapy (Re-SKT and Re-ART) and the sports-based intervention OYD proved to be effective, whereas social skills training (TOOLS4U) and family-based systemic (parenting) interventions (MDFT and MST) showed no evidence of effectiveness. Finally, effectiveness was moderated by program integrity and offense type. The need for a stronger evidence-based approach to prevent and reduce juvenile delinquency in Dutch juveniles is emphasized
Employment quality and mental health in Germany:The mismatch of low employment quality with work and family values by gender
No full textEmpirical evidence on whether low-quality employment is detrimental to workers’ mental health is mostly cross-sectional and empirical evidence on pathways linking employment quality (EQ) to mental health remains scarce. Consequently, this study examines subsequent mental health associations of low-quality employment. Associations between EQ and mental health are investigated through a typology of employment arrangements. This study also investigates whether the relation between EQ types and subsequent mental health is different for workers with varying intensities of work and family values (i.e., importance of success at work and of having children, respectively) across genders. Using a large representative German panel dataset and Latent Class Cluster Analysis, EQ types are built and linked to mental health two years later. We assess two- and three-way interactions between EQ types and values, and between EQ types, gender and values, respectively. We found six EQ types: SER-like, precarious unsustainable, precarious full-time, SER-light, portfolio and protected part-time employment. Controlled for socio-demographic characteristics, precarious unsustainable employment for men and precarious full-time employment for women were associated to lower mental health after two years, compared to SER-like employment. Although protected part-time employment related to worse mental health for those with moderate to strong work and family values, compared to those with mild values, the interactions show an unclear pattern of the moderating role of values for the relation between EQ and subsequent mental health, for both men and women. This study should be replicated in other countries to confirm similar associations.</p
Déjà vu?:An Analysis of Explanations Concerning Decision-Making Under the GDPR and the AI Act
No full textThe article provides a comprehensive analysis of decision-making under Article 22 GDPR and Article 86 AIA, including their interplay. It outlines both provisions' scope, rationale, and requirements, offering a comparative analysis of their similarities and differences regarding the explanations they mandate. The GDPR focuses on providing ‘meaningful information about the logic involved’ in automated decision-making. Article 86 AIA demands ‘clear and meaningful explanations’ of the AI system's role in the decision-making procedure and the main elements of the decision taken. The article concludes that despite the apparent similarities with Article 22 GDPR, Article 86 AIA provides complementary protection for individuals against the risks of data-driven decision-making.Keywords: right to explanation; decision-making; EU AI Act; GDP
Effects of contact with a dog on prefrontal brain activation in patients in a minimally conscious state:A controlled crossover trial
No full textAn Analysis of Scientific Requirements on Artificial Intelligence Governance
No full textThe emergence of AI technology has prompted the need for standardization and governance due to the potential societal risks associated with its use. However, there is currently no common concept for AI standardization, that considers a broad range of social and ethical subject areas. International cooperation is necessary to address the possible threats, and various nations and organizations have already made initial efforts in this direction. Our overall research question investigates, to what extent requirements based on scientific insights have been addressed in international standards and what new insights standardization efforts can offer to science. In this paper we report the findings of an extensive systematic literature review of 482 scientific articles, using a hybrid analysis process combining manual coding with generative AI supported triangulation steps. The resulting 17 requirements will be used as a basis for a thematic analysis of the most relevant AI standards currently being developed and deployed globally
