Amsterdam Institute Research Articles

Education in collaboration with cities: the intentions of transdisciplinary courses

Purpose In collaboration with their home cities, universities increasingly develop courses in which students investigate urban sustainability challenges. This paper aims to understand how far-reaching the collaboration with urban stakeholders in these courses is and what students are meant to learn from the transdisciplinary pedagogies. Design/methodology/approach This research is designed as a qualitative multiple-case study into the intentions of transdisciplinary courses in which universities collaborate with their home cities: Delft University of Technology in Delft and Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions in Amsterdam. The study compares the written intentions of eight courses in course descriptions with the ideal intentions that teachers describe in interviews. Findings First, seven of the eight investigated courses were designed for urban stakeholders to participate at a distance or as a client but rarely was a course intended to lead to a collaborative partnership between the city and students. Second, the metacognitive learning objectives, such as learning to deal with biases and values of others or getting to know one’s strengths and weaknesses in collaboration, were often absent in the course descriptions. Learning objectives relating to metacognition are at the heart of transdisciplinary work, yet when they remain implicit in the learning objectives, they are difficult to teach. Originality/value This paper presents insight into the levels of participation intended in transdisciplinary courses. Furthermore, it shows the (mis)alignment between intended learning objectives in course descriptions and teachers’ ideals. Understanding both the current state of transdisciplinarity in sustainability courses and what teachers envision is vital for the next steps in the development of transdisciplinary education.

Applying the Model of the European Foundation for Quality Management to evaluate quality of care alongside the merger of mental health care institutes in Amsterdam: a five year pre–post study

Abstract Background Health care reforms over the past decades in the Netherlands enforced institutions to enhance quality and to contain costs. To cope with the policy context, a majority of mental health care institutes applied a merger strategy and hence large mental health care organizations were created. This study assesses the impact of a merger and the related quality management approach on the quality of care of three large Dutch mental health care institutes in Amsterdam. The nine criteria of the Model of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM Model) with 32 criteria parts for total quality management were used. Method A case study with a pre–post design was applied, with the EFQM baseline (pre) and follow-up (post) assessments using the standardized EFQM protocol with a 0%–100% scoring system. The baseline status of 2007–2008 was scored and validated by seven independent certified assessors. During a period of 5 years, the merge was conducted, enhancing the quality management and effectuating the findings of the advice of the feedback report. An EFQM post-assessment of the status of 2012–2013 was carried out by five independent certified assessors applying the strict EFQM assessment protocol. The statistics of pre–post differences were evaluated. The study can be seen as a before–after assessment of a naturalistic experiment. Results The comparison of the nine EFQM criteria before and after the merger on the bases of the scores of the assessors shows an overall improvement from 358 to 425 points on the EFQM scale 0–1000. There is one slight deterioration concerning criterion 8: Society Results, five criteria show positive changes. The top three criteria with the highest improvement are 1: Leadership (15% improvement), 5: Processes, Products, and Services (12%), 6: Customer Results (15%). The overall statement of the audit team of 2013 is ‘The merged organisation strives for effectiveness, which leads to better results in most of the areas.’ Learning from the results is one recommendation of the assessors for the future. Conclusion The conduced merge of three Dutch mental health care institutions in Amsterdam showed an improvement of quality based on the criteria of the EFQM Model over a period of 5 years. This naturalistic experiment can stimulate further studies about mergers. The systematic and transparent approach and documentation can facilitate mutual learning.

The power of the gut in critical care.

Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity (AII), Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Amsterdam UMC), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Correspondence to W. Joost Wiersinga, MD, PhD, MBA, Division of Infectious Diseases and Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, AMC, Meibergdreef 9, Room G2-130, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 20 5669111; e-mail: [email protected]

Learners' Perceptions on the Use of Oral Corrective Feedback in One-to-One EFL Classroom

Abstract. Learners’ perception plays an important role in evaluating the teaching and learning process and has an impact to the teacher’s performance during the teaching and learning process. Applying descriptive qualitative method with case study design, this study highlighted the learners’ perceptions and their preference of oral corrective feedback utilized by the teachers during the teaching and learning process. By using purposive sampling, this research involved one teacher and two learners as research participants at an English course called Amsterdam Institute located in Makassar. The data, collected through semi-structured interview and observation, resulted that the learners found themselves facilitated in responding the teacher’s utterances since the teacher’s oral corrective feedback were helpful to lead the learners’ accuracy or just to help them acknowledge their errors in terms of grammar, lexis, the use of L1, and particularly in phonology (pronunciation). Furthermore, inconsistencies between the students’ preference and the teacher’s feedback use in terms of the time to provide oral corrective feedback are identified. Students preferred being given time to work out their error, while teacher mostly gave feedback directly. Thus, it can be concluded that giving more time for students to provide self-repair can be a way for students to make sense of error they committed. The results further highlight a significant impact for teachers’ beliefs on their corrective feedback practices, especially for those teaching using a tailor-made system. Finally, the implication of this study is discussed.Keywords: Learners’ Perceptions, Oral Corrective Feedbacks, One-To-One EFL Classroom.

Effect of Time Spent in Rehabilitation on Activity Limitation and Impairment After Stroke: A Cochrane Review Summary

HomeStrokeVol. 53, No. 8Effect of Time Spent in Rehabilitation on Activity Limitation and Impairment After Stroke: A Cochrane Review Summary No AccessArticle CommentaryRequest AccessFull TextAboutView Full TextView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toNo AccessArticle CommentaryRequest AccessFull TextEffect of Time Spent in Rehabilitation on Activity Limitation and Impairment After Stroke: A Cochrane Review Summary Beth Clark, BSc, Jill Whitall, PhD, Gert Kwakkel, PhD, Jan Mehrholz, PhD, Sean Ewings, PhD and Jane Burridge, PhD Beth ClarkBeth Clark Correspondence to: Beth Clark, BSc, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Bldg 67, Southampton, United Kingdom. Email E-mail Address: [email protected] https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4493-166X School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences (B.C., J.B.), University of Southampton, United Kingdom. Search for more papers by this author , Jill WhitallJill Whitall Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore (J.W.). Search for more papers by this author , Gert KwakkelGert Kwakkel https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4041-4043 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute of Neuroscience and Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, the Netherlands (G.K.). Search for more papers by this author , Jan MehrholzJan Mehrholz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7180-5434 Department of Public Health, Dresden Medical School, Technical University Dresden, Germany (J.M.). Search for more papers by this author , Sean EwingsSean Ewings https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7214-4917 Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute (S.E.), University of Southampton, United Kingdom. Search for more papers by this author and Jane BurridgeJane Burridge https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3497-6725 School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences (B.C., J.B.), University of Southampton, United Kingdom. Search for more papers by this author Originally published25 Jul 2022https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.038017Stroke. 2022;53:e388–e389"Effect of Time Spent in Rehabilitation on Activity Limitation and Impairment After Stroke: A Cochrane Review Summary." Stroke, 53(8), pp. e388–e389FootnotesFor Sources of Funding and Disclosures, see page e389.Correspondence to: Beth Clark, BSc, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Bldg 67, Southampton, United Kingdom. Email b.a.[email protected]ac.ukReference1. Clark B, Whitall J, Kwakkel G, Mehrholz J, Ewings S, Burridge J. The effect of time spent in rehabilitation on activity limitation and impairment after stroke.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;CD012612. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012612Google Scholar Previous Back to top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails August 2022Vol 53, Issue 8 Advertisement Article InformationMetrics © 2022 American Heart Association, Inc.https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.038017 Originally publishedJuly 25, 2022 Keywordsstrokeactivities of daily livingrecovery of functionadultstroke rehabilitationPDF download Advertisement SubjectsCerebrovascular Disease/Stroke

The effectiveness of intensive home treatment as a substitute for hospital admission in acute psychiatric crisis resolution in the Netherlands: a two-centre Zelen double-consent randomised controlled trial

BackgroundAlthough de-institutionalisation has been underway for decades, admission to hospital followed by low-intensity outpatient care remains the usual treatment for patients with an acute psychiatric crisis. Intensive home treatment has been developed for patients in a severe psychiatric crisis as an alternative to inpatient care. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of intensive home treatment to reduce bed-days and its clinical effectiveness compared with treatment as usual. MethodsWe did a two-armed, two-centre, open-label, Zelen, double-consent, pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Patients aged 18–65 years were recruited at the psychiatric emergency service and psychiatric emergency wards of the two major mental health institutions (Arkin and GGZ inGeest) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Patients diagnosed with at least one DSM-IV-TR or DSM-5 disorder and in a psychiatric crisis and for whom psychiatrists had indicated or completed a clinical admission could be included. Trained psychiatric emergency service and hospital professionals did the automated web-based pre-randomisation procedure upon first contact with the patient. A seeded pseudo-random number generator allocated patients (2:1) to intensive home treatment or treatment as usual. Informed consent was obtained after randomisation as soon as the patient was mentally capable within 14 days. Due to the nature of this study, patients and professionals were not masked to treatment. Intensive home treatment was tailored to the nature of the crisis and goals of patients and relatives, and developed in collaboration with them and a multidisciplinary professional team. All main analyses were intention-to-treat, and the primary outcome was the total number of admission days 12 months after randomisation. To investigate the effect of treatment conditions on the outcome measures, linear mixed modelling analyses using restricted maximum likelihood estimation were done. This trial was prospectively registered with Trialregister.nl, NL-6020 (NTR-6151). FindingsBetween Nov 15, 2016, and Oct 15, 2018, 246 patients were included in the study (183 patients with intensive home treatment vs 63 patients with treatment as usual). 135 women (55%) and 111 men (45%) were included, with a mean age of 41·01 years (range 18–65; SD 12·68). 114 participants (46%) were born in the Netherlands and 85 (35%) elsewhere (missing data on 47 [19%] participants). Ethnicity data were not available. After 12 months, the mean number of admission days in the intensive home treatment condition was 42·47 (SD 53·92) versus 67·02 (SD 79·03) for treatment as usual, a reduction of 24·55 days (SD 10·73) or 36·6% (p=0·033). 26 adverse events were registered, 23 (89%) of which were suicide attempts. The number of patients with a reported adverse event did not differ significantly between the groups (15 [8%] in the intensive home treatment group vs five [8%] in the treatment as usual group; p=0·950). Five patients died by suicide (three [2%] in the intensive home treatment group vs two [3%] in the treatment as usual group; p=0·610). No treatment-related deaths occurred. InterpretationIntensive home treatment is a safe and effective partial substitute for conventional psychiatric crisis care that led to a reduction in admission days, causing patients to stay longer in their social environment, with similar clinical effects, patient satisfaction and adverse events. FundingDe Stichting tot Steun Vereniging voor Christelijke Verzorging van Geestes-en Zenuwzieken.

Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Measures Among the Ghanaian-Dutch Community in the Netherlands; a Mixed Method Study in Amsterdam

Background: The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) had forced authorities across the globe to introduce a plethora of preventive measures to combat the rapid spread of the virus. The goal was to achieve a high adherence towards these preventive measures and help reduce the burden on health-care institutions. The reluctance to adhere to these mitigation strategies has been reported worldwide as it poses a threat to the control of the pandemic. Thus, this study aimed to assess the Ghanaian-Dutch community’s adherence to COVID-19 mitigation strategies and their associated factors.Methods: This cross-sectional mixed-methods survey recruited 57 Ghanaian-Dutch respondents in Amsterdam and collected information on respondents’ demographics, knowledge, opinions, behaviours, and attitudes surrounding COVID-19.Findings: The respondents in this study demonstrated good level of knowledge about the recommended COVID-19 prevention measures. While most of the respondents tried to adhere to these preventive protocols, others had varying levels of difficulty in adhering to specific measures such as wearing masks and avoiding/reducing family and friends visits. The primary reasons for the difficulty in wearing a nose mask were because some felt uncomfortable. The social, religious and culturally appropriateness of visiting friends and families or providing help for people in need was another reason commonly cited.Interpretation: Our findings show that the Ghanaian-Dutch community in Amsterdam has its own needs and concerns on COVID-19 and adherence to these prevention measures. Accordingly, they strive to follow the COVID-19 prevention measures. However, different factors play influential roles in their adherence to the COVID-19 prevention measures.Funding: None to declare.Declaration of Interest: None to declare. Ethical Approval: This study was approved by Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) the Ethics Advisory Board of the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Two-Component Spike Nanoparticle Vaccine Protects Macaques from SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is continuing to disrupt personal lives, global healthcare systems and economies. Hence, there is an urgent need for a vaccine that prevents viral infection, transmission and disease. Here, we present a two-component protein-based nanoparticle vaccine that displays multiple copies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Immunization studies show that this vaccine induces potent neutralizing antibody responses in mice, rabbits and cynomolgus macaques. The vaccine-induced immunity protected macaques against a high dose challenge, resulting in strongly reduced viral infection and replication in upper and lower airways. These nanoparticles are a promising vaccine candidate to curtail the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.Funding: This work was supported by a Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) Vici grant (to R.W.S.); by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CAVD) grants OPP1111923, OPP1132237, and INV-002022 (to R.W.S. and/or N.P.K.), INV-008352/OPP1153692 and OPP1196345/INV-008813 (to M.C.), and grant OPP1170236 (to A.B.W.); by the Fondation Dormeur, Vaduz (to R.W.S. and to M.J.v.G.) and Health Holland PPS-allowance LSHM20040 (to M.J.v.G.); the University of Southampton Coronavirus Response Fund (to M.C.); and by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development ZONMW (to B.L.H). M.J.v.G. is a recipient of an AMC Fellowship from Amsterdam UMC and a COVID-19 grant from the Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity. R.W.S and M.J.v.G. are recipients of support from the University of Amsterdam Proof of Concept fund (contract no. 200421) as managed by Innovation Exchange Amsterdam (IXA). The Infectious Disease Models and Innovative Therapies (IDMIT) research infrastructure is supported by the ‘Programme Investissements d’Avenir, managed by the ANR under reference ANR-11-INBS-0008. The Fondation Bettencourt Schueller and the Region Ile-de-France contributed to the implementation of IDMIT’s facilities and imaging technologies. The NHP study received financial support from REACTing, the National Research Agency (ANR; AM-CoV-Path) and the European Infrastructure TRANSVAC2 (730964). Conflict of Interest: N.P.K. is a co-founder, shareholder, and chair of the scientific advisory board of Icosavax, Inc. All other authors declare no competing interests.Ethical Approval: The protocols were approved by the institutional ethical committee “Comité d’Ethique en Expérimentation Animale du Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives” (CEtEA #44) under statement number A20-011. The study was authorized by the “Research, Innovation and Education Ministry” under registration number APAFIS#24434-2020030216532863v1.

The Other Within Oneself: Understanding Care for a Family Member with Early‐Onset Dementia Through the Lens of Dividuality

AbstractIn this article, I use the concept of the dividual to analyze the dynamics at stake in a family caring for a member with early‐onset dementia. Drawing on anthropological fieldwork in the Netherlands, I argue that using a dividual framework reveals family dynamics that are overlooked when using an individual framework, and it allows one to better understand the emotional pain that family members experience during the care process. Approaching family members as fractal persons shows how their identity is composed of other family members and how this can lead to dilemmas and conflicts in the care situation. The majority of articles on dementia focus on dyadic relationships. This article advocates a systemic approach encompassing the whole family. Moreover, it underlines the importance of taking the historicity of family relations into account and not limiting the analysis to situational dynamics.

Perceived publication pressure in Amsterdam: Survey of all disciplinary fields and academic ranks.

Publications determine to a large extent the possibility to stay in academia (“publish or perish”). While some pressure to publish may incentivise high quality research, too much publication pressure is likely to have detrimental effects on both the scientific enterprise and on individual researchers. Our research question was: What is the level of perceived publication pressure in the four academic institutions in Amsterdam and does the pressure to publish differ between academic ranks and disciplinary fields? Investigating researchers in Amsterdam with the revised Publication Pressure Questionnaire, we find that a negative attitude towards the current publication climate is present across academic ranks and disciplinary fields. Postdocs and assistant professors (M = 3.42) perceive the greatest publication stress and PhD-students (M = 2.44) perceive a significant lack of resources to relieve publication stress. Results indicate the need for a healthier publication climate where the quality and integrity of research is rewarded.

Schizophrenia Patients Show Cognitive Improvements After Smoking Cessation

Schizophrenia Patients Show Cognitive Improvements After Smoking Cessation

The Purchasing Behavior of Public Organizations and its Impact on City Logistics

This paper presents three studies on public procurement and its impact on city logistics. The studies aimed to give an insight into the transport volume related to the delivery of products and services - at a university in Newcastle, two academic institutions in Amsterdam, and the municipality of Rotterdam. Furthermore, the role of the public organisations as large receivers and promoters of sustainable transport is discussed. The paper concludes that public organisations play a key role in the organisation and extent of city logistics planning, albeit they may not be making beneficial use of their impact. Key barriers are the lack of standardised logistics information in procurement information systems, and incentives that promote sustainable and efficient delivery among purchasers.

Research in action: from AIDS to global health to impact. A symposium in recognition of the scientific contributions of Professor Joep Lange.

On Tuesday 14 October 2014, 850 family members, friends, colleagues, prominent scientists and dignitaries from all over the world gathered in Amsterdam to pay tribute to the lives and legacies of Joep Lange and Jacqueline van Tongeren. The remembrance was held at the Amsterdam Medical Centre (AMC) where Joep and Jacqueline met and worked together for many years. The day was organized by the AMC, the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) and PharmAccess Foundation. The latter two were both founded by Joep. A morning symposium titled ‘Research in action: from AIDS to global health to impact’ highlighted Joep's scientific legacy (Figure 1). During the remembrance in the afternoon, a range of speakers shared memories of Joep and Jacqueline. As was the case during their lives, the personal and the professional were closely intertwined throughout the day. As Prof Peter Piot said, Joep and Jacqueline shared a common perspective on life: ‘La folie suprême est de voir la vie comme elle est et non comme elle devrait être.’ If there was one thing that defined them both, it was indeed that they saw life – and lived it – not as it was, but as it should be. ‘Joep's place in history is really as the visionary architect of combination therapy,’ Prof Piot stated, adding that ‘it cannot be stressed enough that he was ahead of his time, a true innovator.’ Joep's contribution didn't stop at science. Dr Khama Rogo of the World Bank explained that ‘it's not enough to be a doctor or a researcher if you're not also an activist.’ Joep fully understood the importance of translating research into action and generating impact for people. Prof Marcel Levi, chairman of the AMC, summarized the enormity of the impact Joep had on the world with the words ‘it's rare to know someone who has saved millions of lives.’ The scientific symposium traced Joep's career, starting in the early eighties with the treatment of the first AIDS patients and the design of antiretroviral therapy, moving towards the emerging field of global health and ending with his most recent focus: using knowledge derived from scientific research to improve access to quality health care in real-world settings. From Prof Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, who won the Nobel Prize for the discovery of HIV, to Prof Michael Merson, who founded Duke University's Global Health Institute, the list of presenters reads like a who's who of people involved at key moments in the history of HIV and global health (Figure 2). ‘And Joep,’ as Barré-Sinoussi said, ‘contributed to all eras of HIV.’ More memories of Joep and Jacqueline shared throughout the day are available at http://www.joepandjacqueline.org/remembrance/ .

Steffanie Strathdee: “called” to HIV prevention

Steffanie Strathdee: “called” to HIV prevention

A Disease Unlike Any Other? Why HIV Remains Exceptional in the Age of Treatment

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Additional informationNotes on contributorsEileen MoyerEileen Moyer’s current research focuses on HIV patient activism in eastern Africa, as part of the Netherlands research council funded program, Filling the Gap: Social institutions and AIDS in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia.Anita HardonAnita Hardon is an associate editor of Medical Anthropology. She is professor of the Anthropology of Care and Health at the University of Amsterdam and the Scientific Director of the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research.

Obesity Science and Health Translations in Guatemala

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Additional informationNotes on contributorsEmily Yates-DoerrEmily Yates-Doerr is a postdoctoral fellow at the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research. Her research on the emergence of the diagnostic category of obesity in the Guatemalan highlands attends to collisions between global and Indigenous politics, translations between research and policy in the food sciences and the practice of “engaged anthropology.” She has conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Guatemala since the late 1990s and she has collaborated with metabolic scientists in Guatemala City since 2006. Her writing has recently appeared in Limn, Medical Anthropology Quarterly, Food, Culture and Society and Cambridge Anthropology.

Paul Ehrenfest’s final years

New access to his correspondence sheds light on the tragic life and death of one of the pioneers of modern physics.

Assessment Tool to Measure and Evaluate the Risk Potential of Gambling Products, ASTERIG: A Global Validation

Although most individuals who gamble do so without any adverse consequences, some individuals develop a recurrent, maladaptive pattern of gambling behavior, often called pathological gambling or gambling disorder, that is associated with financial losses, disruption of family and interpersonal relationships, and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Identifying whether different types of gambling modalities vary in their ability to lead to maladaptive patterns of gambling behavior is essential to develop public policies that seek to balance access to gambling opportunities with minimizing risk for the potential adverse consequences of gambling behavior. Until recently, assessing the risk potential of different types of gambling products was nearly impossible. ASTERIG, initially developed in Germany in 2006–2010, is an assessment tool to measure and to evaluate the risk potential of any gambling product based on scores on 10 dimensions. In doing so, it also allows a comparison to be drawn between the addictive potential of different gambling products. Furthermore, the tool highlights where the specific risk potential of each specific gambling product lies. This makes it a valuable tool at the legislative, judicial, and administrative levels, as it allows the risk potential of individual gambling products to be identified and compared globally across 10 different dimensions of risk potential. We note that specific gambling products should always be evaluated rather than evaluating product groups (e.g., lotteries, slot machines) or providers, as there may be variations among those product groups that impact their risk potential. For example, slot machines may vary on the Carlos Blanco is a professor of clinical psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, NY. Alex Blaszczynski is a professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia. Reiner Clement is a professor of economics at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University in Sankt Augustin, Germany. Jeffrey Derevensky is a professor in School/Applied Child Psychology and a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Anna E. Goudriaan is a researcher at the Amsterdam Institute for Addiction Research at the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. David C. Hodgins is a professor in the Program in Clinical Psychology in the Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, in Calgary, Canada. Ruth J. van Holst is a researcher at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, at Radboud University Nijmegen in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Angela Ibanez is an associate professor of psychiatry and a head of section in the Department of Psychiatry at Ramon y Cajal Hospital, Alcala University, in Madrid, Spain. Silvia S. Martins is an associate professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, in New York, NY. Chantal Moersen is a researcher at Charite in Berlin, Germany. Sabrina Molinaro is head of Epidemiology and Health Services Department, Institute of Clinical Physiology– National Research Council in Pisa, Italy. Adrian Parke is a senior lecturer at the School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, at the University of Lincoln in Lincoln, UK. Franz W. Peren is a professor of business administration at Bonn-RheinSieg University in Sankt Augustin, Germany, and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council of the International Research Institute for Gambling and Gaming in Bonn, Germany. Nancy M. Petry is a professor of medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, CT. Heather Wardle is a research director within the Health and Wellbeing Group at NatCen Social Research in London, UK. Cf. F. W. Peren, Assessment Tool to Measure and Evaluate the Risk Potential of Gambling Products: ASTERIG, 5(2) J. Gambling Bus. & Econ. 54–66 (2011) [hereinafter Peren 2011]. ASTERIG was originally published in the Journal of Gambling Business and Economics; see id. GAMING LAW REVIEW AND ECONOMICS Volume 17, Number 9, 2013 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089/glre.2013.1797

Introducing a model of cardiovascular prevention in Nairobi's slums by integrating a public health and private-sector approach: the SCALE-UP study

IntroductionCardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with annual deaths expected to increase to 2 million by 2030. Currently, most national health systems in SSA are not adequately prepared for this epidemic. This is especially so in slum settlements where access to formal healthcare and resources is limited.ObjectiveTo develop and introduce a model of cardiovascular prevention in the slums of Nairobi by integrating public health and private sector approaches.Study designTwo non-profit organizations that conduct public health research, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) and African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), collaborated with private-sector Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to develop a service delivery package for CVD prevention in slum settings. A theoretic model was designed based on the integration of public and private sector approaches with the focus on costs and feasibility.ResultsThe final model includes components that aim to improve community awareness, a home-based screening service, patient and provider incentives to seek and deliver treatment specifically for hypertension, and adherence support. The expected outcomes projected by this model could prove potentially cost effective and affordable (1 USD/person/year). The model is currently being implemented in a Nairobi slum and is closely followed by key stakeholders in Kenya including the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and leading non-governmental organizations (NGOs).ConclusionThrough the collaboration of public health and private sectors, a theoretically cost-effective model was developed for the prevention of CVD and is currently being implemented in the slums of Nairobi. If results are in line with the theoretical projections and first impressions on the ground, scale-up of the service delivery package could be planned in other poor urban areas in Kenya by relevant policymakers and NGOs.

Accountability portrayed: documents on regents’ group portraits in the Dutch Golden Age

In 1617/1618, Cornelis van der Voort painted the regents of three institutions in Amsterdam. Nearly all of them have documents, either in their hands or within hand’s reach. On the table are registers, charters, and other archival documents. This new way of depicting regents emphasized the efficiency and effectiveness of their handling the business of the charitable institutions. The new format became very popular: thirty-three portraits of regents’ boards of charitable institutions in Amsterdam have been preserved from the 70 years between 1617 and 1686. The popularity of the genre decreases in Amsterdam during the last quarter of the seventeenth century and increases again some 50 years later. I argue that this was because of changing notions about accountability and governance. Van der Voort’s format was followed in Haarlem, but there the documents on the regents’ group portraits served as mere props, reflecting a culture of accountability that was different from that in Amsterdam in the first decades of the seventeenth century.