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This special issue is dedicated to the retirement of former editor in chief of the Tijdschrift voor Taalbeheersing Ton van Haaften. It presents an investigation of some aspects of the communicative activity type ‘political debate’ from both a discourse and a historical angle. A special focus is put on Dutch parliamentary debate, of which it is shown that its norms and conventions originate from nineteenth century parliamentary discussions on how to conduct such a debate. Ever since, the strategy of attacking politicians personally has both been employed for rhetorical purposes and fiercely criticized. It was also the (late) nineteenth century when a rhetorical style was introduced in politics, i.e. by former pastor and politician Abraham Kuyper, whose famous ‘Maranatha’ speech to his followers is analyzed for its rhetorical features. Today, even more than in Kuyper’s days, politicians claim to speak on behalf of ‘the people’. An inventory of the ways in which populist politician Geert Wilders presents his appeals to the people shows four stylistic features that may have a strategic function.

‘Parasitic Politics’. Thorbecke and Personal Attacks in the Dutch Lower House This contribution uses a famous personal attack in Dutch parliamentary history to discuss ad hominem in the context of the activity type of parliamentary debating. The case is Thorbecke, liberal leader and most prominent defender of pure parliamentary discussion, vs the then Prime Minister Van Hall, in December 1860. Thorbecke rejected Van Hall’s opportunist policies but he also disliked him intensely. His personal feelings transpired in his diatribe against Van Hall’s ‘parasitic politics’. Thorbecke’s adherents applauded what they considered a principled attack, Van Hall’s supporters criticized the vehement personal attack. The attack virtually ended the discussion, and it was the culmination of Thorbecke’s vendetta against Van Hall. It is hard to deny that Thorbecke’s diatribe was a personal attack, since he disregarded the arguments of his opponent and discredited him by attacking his personal credibility, but the interpretation of such a political case will always remain open to discussion.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Bobath therapy, or neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) is widely practiced despite evidence other interventions are more effective in cerebral palsy (CP). The objective is to determine the efficacy of NDT in children and infants with CP or high risk of CP. METHODS Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Medline were searched through March 2021. Randomized controlled trials comparing NDT with any or no intervention were included. Meta-analysis was conducted with standardized mean differences calculated. Quality was assessed by using Cochrane Risk of Bias tool-2 and certainty by using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. RESULTS Of 667 records screened, 34 studies (in 35 publications, 1332 participants) met inclusion. Four meta-analyses were conducted assessing motor function. We found no effect between NDT and control (pooled effect size 0.13 [−0.20 to 0.46]), a moderate effect favoring activity-based approaches (0.76 [0.12 to 1.40]) and body function and structures (0.77 [0.19 to 1.35]) over NDT and no effect between higher- and lower-dose NDT (0.32 [−0.11 to 0.75]). A strong recommendation against the use of NDT at any dose was made. Studies were not all Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials-compliant. NDT versus activity-based comparator had considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 80%) reflecting varied measures. CONCLUSIONS We found that activity-based and body structure and function interventions are more effective than NDT for improving motor function, NDT is no more effective than control, and higher-dose NDT is not more effective than lower-dose. Deimplementation of NDT in CP is required.

Increased aquaculture production can improve food and nutrition security and economic growth in developing countries, but comes with environmental risks. In recent years, aquaculture has increased tremendously in Lake Kariba, which is located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. We calculated the carrying capacity of aquaculture production in Lake Kariba using the Beveridge P balance model with data for lake-wide total-P concentrations, river flows and data from aquaculture farms and feed producers in the Lake Kariba area. The maximum permissible P load for aquaculture farms in Lake Kariba is 1.2 × 106 kg P yr-1. Average loss of P to the environment in Lake Kariba through farming is 13.92 kg P t-1 for Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and 92.5 kg P t-1 for Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus. Consequently, sustainable aquaculture carrying capacity in Lake Kariba is 86900 t yr-1 for O. niloticus and 13000 t yr-1 for C. niloticus. We expect aquaculture production in Lake Kariba to account for 71% of the total allowable aquaculture P load by 2028. The total-P concentration is expected to increase to 28.5 mg m-3 by 2028 due to growth in aquaculture, and its development should be carefully monitored. In future, we recommend that our predictions should be compared to observed changes in order to validate the model. We also illustrate that companies can greatly improve the carrying capacity of a system by improving the feed conversion ratio, the efficiency of nutrient uptake and the processing of mortalities.

Background While [18F]-fluordeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) uptake is associated with arterial inflammation, [18F]-sodium fluoride ([18F]NaF) is a marker for arterial micro-calcification. We aimed to investigate the prospective correlation between both PET markers over time and whether they are prospectively ([18F]FDG) and retrospectively ([18F]NaF) related to progression of systemic arterial disease in a longitudinal study in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Baseline [18F]FDG PET/Low Dose (LD) Computed Tomography (CT) scans of ten patients with early T2DM without cardiovascular history (70% men, median age 63 years) were compared with five-year follow-up [18F]NaF/LDCT scans. Systemic activity was expressed as mean target-to-background ratio (meanTBR) by dividing the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of ten arteries by SUVmean of the caval vein. CT-assessed macro-calcifications were scored visually and expressed as calcified plaque (CP) score. Arterial stiffness was assessed with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Five-year changes were expressed absolutely with delta (Δ) and relatively with %change. Results Baseline meanTBR[18F]FDG was strongly correlated with five-year follow-up meanTBR[18F]NaF (r = 0.709, P = .022). meanTBR[18F]NaF correlated positively with ΔCPscore, CPscore at baseline, and follow-up (r = 0.845, P = .002 and r = 0.855, P = .002, respectively), but not with %change in CPscore and PWV. Conclusion This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that systemic arterial inflammation is an important pathogenetic factor in systemic arterial micro-calcification development.

Background: Early diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) is now standard of care although not fully implemented in practice. Irrespective of diagnosis age, parents and clinicians have three fundamental questions: 1) is it CP (diagnosis); 2) what type of CP (classification); and 3) what can be done to optimise outcomes (intervention)? This program of research explores early diagnosis, classification and effective interventions for infants and children with CP. Methods: A series of studies were conducted. Firstly, a literature review outlining the history of CP diagnosis. Implementation of an early diagnosis guideline was evaluated in a prospective observational case series. A second guideline described best practice for communicating a diagnosis. Next, early markers with highest accuracy for classification of motor severity, type and topography of CP were synthesised in a systematic review. Further, best available evidence of interventions was outlined in a systematic review. Lastly, the efficacy of one intervention, neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT), was determined through meta-analyses. Results: Diagnosis: Early diagnosis guidelines can be implemented with CP or high risk of CP diagnosis at an average age of 4.4 months. Guidelines for communicating a diagnosis are available. Classification: Tools with high accuracy to predict motor severity, type and topography are available from term age. Unilateral spastic CP can be predicted from 3-4 months. Further research would increase confidence in early prediction of bilateral spastic, dyskinetic and ataxic CP. Intervention: An increase in interventions for infants and children with CP in the last 10 years was found. Motor outcomes can be improved using motor-training interventions. Meta-analyses revealed no effect between NDT and control and no effect between higher and lower dose NDT. Activity-based approaches were superior to NDT for improving motor outcomes. Conclusion: Early diagnosis can be implemented in real-life settings and should be usual care. Best-evidence tools from term age to support early classification should be used. NDT is not recommended. However, multiple effective interventions for CP are available.

Objective: To examine the effect of the intervention implemented in the ToyBox study on changes observed in age and sex specific BMI percentile and investigate the role of perinatal factors, parental perceptions and characteristics on this change. Design: A multicomponent, kindergarten-based, family-involved intervention with a cluster-randomized design. A standardized protocol was used to measure children’s body weight and height. Information was also collected from parents/caregivers via the use of validated questionnaires. Linear mixed effect models with random intercept for country, socioeconomic status and school were used. Setting: Selected preschools within the provinces of Oost-Flanders and West-Flanders (Belgium), Varna (Bulgaria), Bavaria (Germany), Attica (Greece), Mazowieckie (Poland) and Zaragoza (Spain). Participants: A sample of 6, 268 pre-schoolers aged 3.5-5.5 (51.9% boys). Results: There was no intervention effect on the change in children’s BMI percentile. However, parents’ underestimation of their children’s actual weight status, parental overweight and mothers’ pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity were found to be significantly and independently associated with increases in children’s BMI percentile in multivariate modelling. Conclusion: Before or as part of the implementation of any childhood obesity intervention initiative, it is important to assist parents/caregivers to correctly perceive their own and their children’s weight status. Recognition of excessive weight by parents/caregivers can increase their readiness to change and as such facilitate higher adherence to favourable behavioural changes within the family. © 2021 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Additional file 16. The discovery and the synthesis of GSK761, GSK064, GSK675 and GSK306.

Kan ‘natuur’ een bron zijn van kennis over God en zijn handelen? De Nederlandse Geloofsbelijdenis noemt de schepping een ‘prachtig boek’ dat iets van God laat zien. Ten diepste is er eenheid tussen Gods Woord in de Bijbel en zijn werk in ‘de natuur’. In de discussie over schepping en evolutie blijkt wel hoe lastig het is om kennis uit deze twee ‘boeken’ te integreren. De categorieën waarmee ‘schepping’ en ‘evolutie’ worden ingevuld, verschillen fundamenteel van elkaar. In ethische debatten rond sekse en gender is het de vraag, of uit biologische en psychologische gegevens een normatieve richting kan worden afgeleid. De traditie van ‘natuurrecht’ lag lange tijd onder vuur, maar maakt een comeback. Tegelijk blijft het nodig om de ‘natuurlijke’ gegevens vanuit een richtinggevend Woord van God te beschouwen. In de bestudering van Bijbel en ‘natuur’ is een actieve wisselwerking nodig om tot inzicht te komen.