733 research outputs found
Koos Kombuis: Ikonoklas na ikoon
No full textDie Afrikaanse skrywer en musikant Koos Kombuis word vandag wyd as \u27n ikoon beskou. In die 1980\u27s was hy egter \u27n randfiguur van die Afrikaner-establishment. Hoe het hierdie transformasie van ikonoklas na ikoon oor tyd plaasgevind? Kombuis het sy loopbaan as digter en skrywer in die 1980\u27s begin. Hy het homself aan die spits van die sogenaamde Tagtigerbeweging in die letterkunde bevind, en in 1989 het hy aan die berugte Voëlvry-toer deelgeneem wat sy status as dwarstrekker verskans het. Sy letterkunde en musiek van dié dekade het gepoog om die waardes en norme van die heersende Afrikaner-establishment omver te gooi. Die vroeë 1990\u27s het bepaalde veranderinge in sowel die breër sosio-politieke konteks van Suid-Afrika as Kombuis persoonlik gesien. Sy beeld onder Afrikaners het stelselmatig begin verander, en soos sy loopbaan in die jare sedertdien ontwikkel het, het hy algaande ikoonstatus bekom. Hierdie artikel stel ondersoek in na Koos Kombuis se transformasie van ikonoklas na ikoon binne Afrikaner geledere.
The Afrikaans author and musician, Koos Kombuis, is widely regarded as an icon today. In the 1980s, however, he was a fringe figure, arguably even an iconoclast of the Afrikaner establishment. How did this transformation from iconoclast to icon happen over time? Kombuis began his career as poet and author in the 1980s. He found himself as a leading figure of the so-called Tagtiger movement in Afrikaans literature, and in 1989 he participated in the Voëlvry tour which entrenched his image as an Afrikaner iconoclast. His literature and music of this particular decade attempted to overthrow the accepted norms and values of the reigning Afrikaner establishment. The early 1990s saw certain changes in the broader South African socio-political context as well as in Kombuis personally. His image among Afrikaners started changing and as his career developed in the years since, he gradually obtained icon status. This article investigates Koos Kombuis\u27s transformation from iconoclast to icon within Afrikaner society
Comparison of KOOS scores of middle-aged patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty to the general Dutch population using KOOS percentile curves: the LOAS study
No full textBackground: We aimed to investigate the application of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) percentile curves, using preoperative and postoperative data of patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods: We used Longitudinal Leiden Orthopedics Outcomes of Osteo-Arthritis study data of patients between 45 and 65 years and undergoing primary TKA. KOOS scores (0-100) were obtained preoperatively and 6, 12, and 24 months after TKA. Preoperative knee radiographs were assessed according to Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) in a subset (37%) of patients. Comorbidities were self-reported using a standardized questionnaire. The median (interquartile range) population-level KOOS scores were plotted on previously developed population-based KOOS percentile curves. In addition, we assessed the application of the curves on patient level and investigated differences in scores between patients with preoperative KL scores = 3 and presence (vs absence) of comorbidities.Results: The study population consisted of 853 patients (62% women, mean age 59 years, body mass index 30 kg/m(2)) with knee osteoarthritis undergoing primary TKA. Preoperatively, median KOOS scores of all subscales were at or below the 2.5th percentile. Scores increased to approximately the 25th percentile 12 months postoperatively. Greater improvements were observed in pain and less improvements in sport and recreational function and quality of life. Patients with higher preoperative KL scores and without comorbidities showed greater improvements.Conclusion: The KOOS percentile curves provided visual insights in knee complaints of patients relative to the general population. Furthermore, the KOOS percentile curves give insight in how preoperative patient characteristics are correlated with postoperative results. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.Clinical epidemiolog
Du nouveau sur la mystérieuse mission de Batavia à Saïgon en 1890
No full textThis note in part solves the mystery of the Chinese travelogue of 1890 published with a translation and introduction by Claudine Salmon and Ta Trong Hiêp in Archipel 47 (1994). The emissary Qu Molin is the Dutch sinologist and then member of the Council of the Indies W. P. Groeneveldt, and the interpreter Yang is the Dutch sinologist A. A. de Jongh. The purpose of this mission to French Indo-China was to study the advantages and disadvantages of the opium monopoly there, in view of its possible introduction in the Netherlands Indies. The identity of the author can be tentatively established. His name is Tan Siu Eng (1833-1906), he was a xiucai from Xiamen, who was brought to the Indies by Groeneveldt in 1874 as his personal teacher/ clerk and remained his assistant afterwards.Kuiper Koos. Du nouveau sur la mystérieuse mission de Batavia à Saïgon en 1890. In: Archipel, volume 77, 2009. pp. 27-44
Longitudinal Invariance Testing Of The Knee Injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score For Joint Replacement Scale (KOOS-JR)
No full text# Background
The Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS-JR) is a seven-item patient reported outcome measure used to assess perceived knee health. Though commonly used, the longitudinal psychometric properties of the KOOS-JR have not been established and further characterization of its structural validity and multi-group invariance properties is warranted.
# Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the KOOS-JR in a large sample of patients who received care for knee pathology.
# Study Design
Original research.
# Methods
Longitudinal data extracted from the Surgical Outcome System (SOS) database of 13,470 knee pathology patients who completed the KOOS-JR at baseline, three-months, six- months, and one-year. Scale structure was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), while multi-group and longitudinal invariance properties were assessed with CFA-based procedures. Latent group means were compared with statistical significance set at α ≤ .05 and Cohen’s d effect size as d = 0.2 (small), d = 0.5 (medium), and d = 0.8 (large).
# Results
CFA results exceeded goodness-of-fit indices at all timepoints. Multi-group invariance properties passed test requirements. Longitudinal analysis identified a biased item resulting in removal of item #1; the retained six-item model (KOOS-JR-6) passed longitudinal invariance requirements. KOOS-JR-6 scores significantly changed over time (p ≤ .001, Mdiff = 1.08, Cohen’s d = 0.57): the highest scores were at baseline examination and the lowest at 12-month assessment.
# Conclusions
The KOOS-JR can be used to assess baseline differences between males and females, middle and older aged adults, and patients receiving total knee arthroplasty or non-operative care. Caution is warranted if the KOOS-JR is used longitudinally due to potential measurement error associated with item #1. The KOOS-JR-6 may be a more viable option to assess change over time; however, more research is warranted.
# Level of Evidence
3
© The Author(s
The genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric traits: mechanism, polygenicity, and genome function
No full textRecent progress in genome science has enabled advances in our understanding of the molecular basis underlying susceptibility to a broad spectrum of complex traits, including neuropsychiatric disorders. Methodologically, genome-wide association studies have been remarkably successful in identifying trait-associated variation, but the ever-increasing repository of reproducible genetic associations has highlighted an important gap, namely crucial insight into the underlying mechanisms for most of the identified genetic loci. Here we develop analytic methods that improve on existing approaches and present molecular data that may serve as intermediate phenotypes to higher-order clinical traits with the goal of helping to dissect, more precisely, the functional consequences of the discovered variants. We explore the challenges (methodological and translational) that emerge from the recognition of the polygenicity of neuropsychiatric disease predisposition and the implications on the types of analyses that can advance our understanding of the genetic architecture of neuropsychiatric disorders. Finally, we present research aimed at leveraging our current understanding of regulatory variation in the genome and developing an integrative approach to systematize this knowledge into elucidating the cellular and biological consequences of trait-associated variation
Big data in medical research:From understanding to improving automation
No full textBig Data is a term that has been around for many years and it is often understood as the use and manipulation of large volumes of data. Over the years more aspects of Big Data have been recognised by researchers and institutions, such as its velocity, variety, and value. Nowadays, many definitions exist and researchers have wildly different understandings of Big Data. We believe that, without an unambiguous definition, communication is hampered, resulting in missed opportunities for both the developers as well as users of Big Data technologies.A group of researchers that may benefit greatly from applying Big Data technologies to partially automate their work are systematic reviewers. The nature of their work involves reading, dissecting, and selecting considerable numbers of scientific papers. Over the years many tools have been developed to support reviewers. However, it is unclear how often these are used and how well they work.In this thesis we start with an exploration of a common understanding of the term Big Data. The focus then shifts to systematic reviewers and their use of tools to deal with Big Data. Lasty, we propose a new method that may improve these tools. In this thesis we aim to: uncover a common understanding of Big Data in the (bio)medical research field; aid in improving the adoption of automation tools among systematic reviewers; and, contribute to the effectiveness of automation tools
Causal modeling in epidemiological practice
No full textWillem van der Wal bestudeerde methoden om het effect van een therapie op een relevante uitkomst zoals sterfte te onderzoeken. Hij deed dit met gegevens die niet uit gerandomiseerde, experimentele studies komen, maar juist uit een observationele database. Zulke gegevens bevatten verstorende invloeden, waarmee rekening moet worden gehouden. Van der Wal paste deze methode toe op een aantal situaties. Daaruit blijkt onder andere dat de keuze tussen buikspoeling of hemodialyse voor nierpatiënten die voor beide typen in aanmerking komen, geen effect heeft op de overleving gedurende de eerste 24 tot 36 maanden. Het voorkomen of vertragen van het verlies van de resterende nierfunctie kan de overleving van patiënten die dialyse krijgen, verbeteren
Statistical modelling of unobserved medical data
No full textHet gebruik van nieuwe statistische methoden maakt het mogelijk meer informatie te halen uit onvolledige medische gegevens. Nan van Geloven toont dit in zes studies aan.In haar onderzoek optimaliseert Van Geloven onvolledige informatie door de oorzaken die leiden tot het ontbreken van gegevens grondig onder de loep te nemen. Ze maakt gebruik van specifieke statistische methoden die rekening houden met de kennis die voorhanden is over het ontbreken van de gegevens.Deze aanpak leidt tot nieuwe inzichten. Zo toont Van Geloven aan dat traditionele statistische methoden de kans op een zwangerschap overschatten door het gebruik van irreële aannames over het (niet geobserveerde) natuurlijke zwangerschapspotentieel in paren die starten met vruchtbaarheidsbehandelingen zoals IVF. Ook maakt ze met een statistisch model onderscheid tussen paren met verminderde en paren met afwezige kans op een zwangerschap. Dit onderscheid kan niet gemaakt worden met de conventionele analysemethoden. Verder maakt Van Geloven duidelijk dat de nauwkeurigheid van testen voor de doorgankelijkheid van eileiders beter geschat kan worden door deze testen gezamenlijk te evalueren. Ook toont ze aan dat het risicoprofiel van patiënten na een acuut coronair syndroom afneemt over de tijd. Er kan een nieuw analysemodel ontwikkeld worden voor virusdata afkomstig uit seriële verdunningsreeksen. Dit model kan processen verbeteren die virussen moeten verwijderen uit donorbloed en -plasma
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