The long-held desire - to link structure directly to function and to explain molecular mechanisms based on basic chemical or physical principles - is finally coming closer, satisfying not only our... Show moreThe long-held desire - to link structure directly to function and to explain molecular mechanisms based on basic chemical or physical principles - is finally coming closer, satisfying not only our scientific curiosity but also offering new solutions to the many challenges in the field of health, energy and sustainability. This thesis aims to understand the mechanisms of the largest and most efficient antenna complex in photosynthetic bacteria, the chlorosome, at the molecular level. By linking classical methods for the description of molecular motions to quantum models for electronic movements, and comparison with experimental data, I was able to unambiguously determine the molecular structure of chlorosomes. Moreover, this hybrid approach provided new and unique insight into how these antennae encode robust and efficient functions in structure and structural dynamics. This elucidates the origin of their photosynthetic efficiency, which can be useful for the design of new generations of solar cells. Furthermore, we gain unique insight into the versatile ways in which nature encodes its functions: not only in DNA, but also in the way molecules arrange themselves in a larger aggregate, and the dynamics that results from it. Show less
In meta-analysis, heterogeneity often exists between studies. In such cases, it is essential to investigate the sources of heterogeneity and understand the relationship between effect size and... Show moreIn meta-analysis, heterogeneity often exists between studies. In such cases, it is essential to investigate the sources of heterogeneity and understand the relationship between effect size and study characteristics (i.e., moderators). Applying tree-based methods in meta-analysis is a promising alternative for conventional meta-regression, since trees excel at modeling interactions and non-linear relationships and provide easily interpretable results. In this thesis, we propose a method called meta-CART, which integratesclassification and regression trees (CART) into the framework of meta-analysis. This method identifies subgroups of homogeneous studies by searching influential moderators that can explain the heterogeneity, and performs subgroup analysis to test the significance of the identified moderators and estimate the subgroup effect sizes. Show less
