Only fifteen years ago, measures against antisocial behaviour on the street (ASB) were on the fringe of crime policies. Now this kind of behaviour is the focus of many new anti-crime actions. If... Show moreOnly fifteen years ago, measures against antisocial behaviour on the street (ASB) were on the fringe of crime policies. Now this kind of behaviour is the focus of many new anti-crime actions. If this sort of sub-crime is addressed as a major security problem what does that say about the current Dutch crime policy climate? Are young people terrorising the streets? Why do Dutch politicians think a fight against them is needed? What do the media say? And what does the public think? These descriptive questions fit within the recent criminological debate on shifting crime policies and the ideas of David Garland on a Culture of Control. This study zooms in on local developments, addressing the raised questions and analysing the Dutch judicial, political, media en public discourse on ASB. Dutch politicians regularly refer to English ASB measures as a recipe for success. By comparing the UK with the Netherlands, a deeper understanding of the construction of Dutch crime policies is created. This study reveals the assumptions that structure political decisions to tackle ASB, presents a balanced picture of the alleged pressing problem of ASB and identifies divergent currents in the Culture of Control. Show less
Chapter 1 reviews technical developments of cardiac CT and current status, recommendations and future perspective of various clinical cardiac CT applications. In chapter 2, the eff ect of dose... Show moreChapter 1 reviews technical developments of cardiac CT and current status, recommendations and future perspective of various clinical cardiac CT applications. In chapter 2, the eff ect of dose reduction on diagnostic performance in CT coronary angiography is assessed. Chapter 3 evaluates the eff ect of thin-slice image reconstructions on coronary artery calcium measurements. In chapter 4, the assessment of Agatston scores using coronary CT angiography is studied. Chapter 5 evaluates the predictive value of CT-derived RV/LV ratios and cardiac biomarkers for short term clinical outcome in patients with suspected acute PE. In chapter 6, the incremental value of ventricular function with ECG-synchronized cardiac CT over standard pulmonary CTA-derived RV/LV ratios for predicting clinical outcome in patients with suspected acute PE is discussed. Chapter 7 studies the influence of timing of NT-pro-BNP sampling for predicting adverse clinical outcome. Show less
The research described in this thesis has provided new insights in the activation mechanism of class A GPCRs and in particular of adenosine receptors. By a variety of mutagenesis approaches and the... Show moreThe research described in this thesis has provided new insights in the activation mechanism of class A GPCRs and in particular of adenosine receptors. By a variety of mutagenesis approaches and the use of a robust yeast reporter gene system, we identified several regions and amino acid positions that contribute to both agonist responses and constitutive activity of the human adenosine A1 receptor and the human adenosine A2B receptor. These results reveal new and surprising roles of the extracellular loops in the activation mechanism, greatly contributing to our notion of receptor activation. Show less
In this thesis, several strategies are presented that aim to facilitate the analysis and visualization of whole-body in vivo data of small animals. Based on the particular challenges for image... Show moreIn this thesis, several strategies are presented that aim to facilitate the analysis and visualization of whole-body in vivo data of small animals. Based on the particular challenges for image processing, when dealing with whole-body follow-up data, we addressed several aspects in this thesis. The developed methods are tailored to handle data of subjects with significantly varying posture and address the large tissue heterogeneity of entire animals. In addition, we aim to compensate for lacking tissue contrast by relying on approximation of organs based on an animal atlas. Beyond that, we provide a solution to automate the combination of multimodality, multidimensional data. Show less
Oral communication, especially through performance, has always been the basis through which Africans/blacks communicated. This became particularly so under apartheid given the fact that blacks were... Show moreOral communication, especially through performance, has always been the basis through which Africans/blacks communicated. This became particularly so under apartheid given the fact that blacks were denied a voice, and theatre gave them that voice. The democratisation of South Africa has not only changed Black Theatre from its original protest and militant nature under apartheid South Africa, but also fragmented it into three different camps based on both the age and gender of the South African black playwrights. These are the Older Generation, the Young Generation and the Female black playwrights. Each group addresses issues that it considers to be of major significance in a democratic South Africa, and consequently need urgent attention. Furthermore, the new political dispensation has changed the state attitude towards both Black Theatre and black institutions of dramatic art which were founded by and meant for blacks. As a result, this has compelled the two institutions to assume a different stand towards the State as well. This demonstrates the impact and influence political shifts have on Black Theatre in South Africa as it keeps up with changes in the society and reflects blacks' lives and experiences under them. Show less
Regulatory processes are responsible for the organization, division and death of cells in multicellular organisms such as humans. Additionally, cells are highly regulated internally, able to... Show moreRegulatory processes are responsible for the organization, division and death of cells in multicellular organisms such as humans. Additionally, cells are highly regulated internally, able to survive and respond in vastly different micro-environments. Many types of interactions of cells with their environment can be distinguished, and need to be controlled in experiments aimed at unravelling and predicting cellular behavior in vivo. The in vivo microenvironment is mimicked by exposing cells to complex and changing environments. To describe the stochastic differences between cells and the local experimental conditions in sufficient detail and to obtain statistically relevant results, high-throughput experimentation is required. In this thesis four new research methods are developed, aimed at a deeper understanding of cellular regulation in vivo. Show less
In this thesis several aspects on the diagnosing and management of patients with acute abdominal pain are investigated. 1; The efficacy and safety of standard outpatient re-evaluation for patients... Show moreIn this thesis several aspects on the diagnosing and management of patients with acute abdominal pain are investigated. 1; The efficacy and safety of standard outpatient re-evaluation for patients not admitted to the hospital after emergency department evaluation for acute abdominal pain. 2; The use of a diagnostic strategy for patients clinically suspected to have appendicitis incorporating non-invasive modalities such as clinical evaluation, routine ultrasound and clinical re-evaluation, and a minimal use of complementary CT or laparoscopy. 3; The possibility to clinically differentiate between children with acute appendicitis and those with acute mesenteric lymphadenitis. 4; The value of secondary signs during the ultrasonographic evaluation of children with suspected appendicitis. 5; The impact of radiological imaging on diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision making for patients with acute colonic diverticulitis. 6; A systematic review on laparoscopic peritoneal lavage for patients with peritonitis due to perforated colonic diverticulitis. Show less
This thesis presents a detailed molecular phylogenetic and biogeographic study of the Spathelioideae clade, a group of seven small Sapindalean genera with remarkable morphological diversity. The... Show moreThis thesis presents a detailed molecular phylogenetic and biogeographic study of the Spathelioideae clade, a group of seven small Sapindalean genera with remarkable morphological diversity. The systematic placement of these genera has always been in dispute and the results of this thesis show that Spathelioideae are a monophyletic sister clade to the Rutaceae family. Except for the South American and Caribbean genus Spathelia, all Spathelioideae genera are monophyletic. The South American species have been transferred to a resurrected genus Sohnreyia accordingly. Molecular dating analyses suggest an origin of Spathelioideae in the Late Cretaceous. Assuming a palaeotropic origin of Rutaceae, the stem lineage of Spathelioideae might have originated in Central western and central Africa. The divergence of a Neotropical and a Palaeotropical lineage of Spathelioideae might be explained by long-distance dispersal during the Late Cretaceous or Palaeocene. Within the Neotropical clade, one dispersal event to the Caribbean occurred possibly via a landbridge or a series of islands. Sea level changes in the Pleistocene have isolated and connected landmasses in the Caribbean and might have been triggers for speciation of the genus Spathelia. Within the Palaeotropic clade, dispersal events from Africa to the Mediterranean & Canary Islands, Madagascar, and South-East Asia occurred. Show less
This dissertation reexamines the problem of architectural proportion in the basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence following a rigorous new methodology that combines comprehensive measurements and... Show moreThis dissertation reexamines the problem of architectural proportion in the basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence following a rigorous new methodology that combines comprehensive measurements and other observations with documentary evidence, in order to identify the intentions of the basilica’s fifteenth-century creators. It finds that the proportions of this basilica are indeed extraordinary, as scholars have long contended, but for reasons different than previously believed. This dissertation analyzes the proportions of the basilica with greater quantitative precision than any previous study has done, and demonstrates that carefully-crafted sets of proportions expressed in the measurements constitute mental constructs that communicate non-visual, iconographical content. It thus reframes the subject of architectural proportion as part of the rhetorical, rather than visual, structure of architecture. The sets of proportions identified in this dissertation correspond with late medieval knowledge and practices pertaining to geometry, number and arithmetic in so many documented ways that they can be considered genuine historical artifacts, and thus, sources of historical evidence themselves. As such, these sets of proportions lead both to several unconventional new conclusions pertaining to the history of this basilica, and to a proposed alternative to Rudolf Wittkower’s framework for the study of medieval and Renaissance architectural proportion. Show less
The VirB/D4 Type four secretion system (T4SS) is a bacterial multiprotein complex that spans the bacterial envelope, which mediates the translocation of T-DNA and effector virulence proteins into... Show moreThe VirB/D4 Type four secretion system (T4SS) is a bacterial multiprotein complex that spans the bacterial envelope, which mediates the translocation of T-DNA and effector virulence proteins into recipient cell. My research revealed that the Agrobacterium VirE3 and VirD2 proteins are effector proteins that are translocated by the Agrobacterium T4SS into host cells. The translocated effector protein VirF carries an N-terminal F-box domain. My research focused on the identification of the host proteins interacting with VirF. The capacity of VirF to interact in vivo with ASK1 and CUL1, indicates that VirF plays a role in planta as part of a SCF complex, most likely mediating the ubiquitination of proteins targeted for degradation via the proteasome. Five other protein interactors of VirF (PIFs) were identified using the yeast 2-hybrid system. These VirF interactors are involved in different cellular processes, such as in metabolic processes, and in defense and stress responses. This suggests that Agrobacterium may translocate an effector virulence protein into plant host cells, which mimics the function of an eukaryotic F-box protein (FBP) and thus can direct the host SCF E3 Ub-ligase to the relevant plant targets. Show less
A survey into the origins of the army reforms of Archduke John of Austria 1805-1809. The thesis claims that the army reforms were not merely aimed at reforming the army, but through the army the... Show moreA survey into the origins of the army reforms of Archduke John of Austria 1805-1809. The thesis claims that the army reforms were not merely aimed at reforming the army, but through the army the political, social en economical structure of the Empire as well. John was influenced intellectually by his father, the emperor Leopold II, and Johannes von Müller, a Swiss historian of the early romantic school. John of Austria saw that limited warfare was something of the 18th century, and tried to realize a style of warfare that he thought would be more suited to a people's war. The survey ends with a chapter on the war of 1809, looks into Johns experiences in its campaigns and concludes that the Austrian defeat meant the defeat of the reform party in Habsburg politics as well. Show less
Tropical forestry in Indonesia is facing challenges in terms of sustainability and the survival of its inhabitant, indigenous people, not least because the perception of policymakers is that, since... Show moreTropical forestry in Indonesia is facing challenges in terms of sustainability and the survival of its inhabitant, indigenous people, not least because the perception of policymakers is that, since the 1970s, forests have provided a major solution to economic development by producing timber, conversion forest land for agriculture, mining, and other non-forest land use. Consequently, the forest and its resources have been undervalued and its monetary potential has been underestimated. This has led to overexploitation and conversion, which ultimately results in the loss of biodiversity and threatens the survival of indigenous people. This study, conducted in a small forest protection area in Gunung Lumut in the Pasir District of East Kalimantan, focuses on the poor indigenous people in this region and reveals the crucial role that the forest plays in both the economic and non-economic dimensions of the lives of the indigenous people of Paser. Indeed, the forest contributes to the Paser household economy in almost all aspects of life. Forests are so much more than trees and timber, and the Gunung Lumut protection forest goes far beyond providing food and materials for construction. It is the backdrop for the Paser people’s spirits and cosmovision. This study suggests that conversion or other land use options for forest land should begin with an evaluation process, in order to reveal the ‘true’ value of the forest – economically and environmentally – for the livelihoods of indigenous people. These values must be part of the toolkit for developing policies for land and forest use. In addition, such an evaluation process boosts the negotiating capacity of the indigenous people to prevent further losses from forest conversion. This study shows that monetary valuation also benefits forest management by preventing unnecessary conversion of forest land and further loss of biodiversity in tropical forests. It provides indigenous people with a bargaining tool in the context of compensation for the loss of their resources. Show less
The focus of this thesis was if the in vivo kinematics of total knee prostheses was consistent with the kinematics intended by design and to determine the additional value of insert mobility and... Show moreThe focus of this thesis was if the in vivo kinematics of total knee prostheses was consistent with the kinematics intended by design and to determine the additional value of insert mobility and thus __the sense or nonsense__ of mobile-bearing knee prostheses. The added value of this thesis to the current literature is the integration of different measurement techniques. Fluoroscopy is combined with RSA and motion analysis techniques to fully understand the in vivo knee kinematics beyond which can be obtained by either technique alone. Results demonstrate that the integration of different measurement techniques was indeed of great value to comprehend the in vivo knee kinematics. Show less
Commercial demand is the driving force behind the destruction of ironwood, locally called ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri Teijsm. and Binn.) in Kalimantan, Indonesia. This tree species is perceived as... Show moreCommercial demand is the driving force behind the destruction of ironwood, locally called ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri Teijsm. and Binn.) in Kalimantan, Indonesia. This tree species is perceived as a ‘people’s species’ or a ‘species reserved’ for local use in the village subsistence systems. However, the ironwood is threatened by overharvesting for commercial trade. The global demand for ironwood products is met with timber originating from the old-growth forests of Kalimantan through the clear-cutting of conversion forest in combination with illegal cutting from different status forests. Traditional forest management systems for a certain tree species, however, are not recognized. Forest islands, or simpukng, are created to protect tree stands or tree reserves, where clusters of trees are found. The simpukng also functions as an in situ conservation area for ironwood and other plants. From a land use system perspective, the simpukng and alas tuo systems offer an interesting challenge for ironwood conservation. This book provides an analysis of the external factors that contribute to the degradation of ironwood stands and investigates the potential of traditional forest management to counter-balance these factors. It also provides important insights into and addresses recent issues in this area. In addition, it formulates recommendations for a set of integrated policies in relation to the exploitation of forest timber, to support the sustainable management of ironwood and its cultural role in the life of local people in the research areas. Show less
In this thesis I present my research on the physics of some important processes in the production of thin films. I studied physical vapour deposition (PVD) and thin film modification through ion... Show moreIn this thesis I present my research on the physics of some important processes in the production of thin films. I studied physical vapour deposition (PVD) and thin film modification through ion bombardment using a newly developed, high-speed scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The instrument has the special property that it can be tilted and azimuthally rotated to allow atom or ion beams a direct line-of-sight access to the region of the surface that is being imaged by the STM tip. With the microscope I have recorded STM movies (available as supplementary material) that offer a unique insight into the atomic surface processes that occur during thin film growth and ion beam sputtering. The __real-time STM__ was applied to the study of some key steps in the fabrication of Mo-Si multilayer optical coatings. I have investigated the non-idealities of these optics, i.e. the alloying of Mo and Si during deposition and the surface roughness formation of a deposited layer. Furthermore, I successfully used the STM to find a possibility to smooth a rough Mo layer after its deposition by means of ion bombardment. Show less
CADASIL is a hereditary cerebral small vessel disease, caused by a mutation in the NOTCH3 gene, leading to migraine with aura, cerebrovascular accidents and cognitive decline at young to middle... Show moreCADASIL is a hereditary cerebral small vessel disease, caused by a mutation in the NOTCH3 gene, leading to migraine with aura, cerebrovascular accidents and cognitive decline at young to middle adult age. MRI scans of the brain may show lacunar infarcts, white matter lesions and microbleeds. In this thesis MRI scans of the brains are used to investigate the disease course in CADASIL. It is shown that lacunar infarcts, white matter lesions and microbleeds are progressive in CADASIL patients. Vascular risk factors are not associated with rate of progression of these MRI abnormalities. However, the rate of disease progression can be predicted by measuring the amount of MRI abnormalities at baseline. Lacunar infarcts, microbleeds and increased white ventricular volume are strongly associated with cognitive decline in CADASIL. Progression of white matter hyperintensities can be predicted by measurements of cerebrovascular reactivity. Using high-field MRI we demonstrated that luminal diameters of lenticulostriate arteries are normal in CADASIL, and that lacunar infarcts in CADASIL are not the result of luminal narrowing of these vessels. High-field MRI also showed that CADASIL patients have an increased diffuse iron deposition in the putamen and caudate nucleus of the brain. Show less
For nearly twenty-five years, the Dutch West India Company (WIC) occupied part of the northeast of Brazil. This situation, which pertained long ago in the distant past of the XVII century remains... Show moreFor nearly twenty-five years, the Dutch West India Company (WIC) occupied part of the northeast of Brazil. This situation, which pertained long ago in the distant past of the XVII century remains one of the most discussed and studied themes both within and outside the academic world up to the present day. The sugar trade, society, religion, slave trade and the life and work of individuals are all discussed. Although the most important battles on land and sea in the area were regularly described in many historical narratives, some of the most important protagonists in the process of the conquest and occupation of Brazil were forgotten: the soldiers of the WIC. This research was set up with the objectives of reconstructing the life history of a selection of the many anonymous characters who participated in the conquest and occupation of Brazil and investigating the conditions of everyday life for the people of war sent to Brazil between 1629 and 1653. Show less
Fundamental rights provisions are known for their relatively vague and general formulation. As a result, judges dealing with these provisions are confronted with many and often controversial... Show moreFundamental rights provisions are known for their relatively vague and general formulation. As a result, judges dealing with these provisions are confronted with many and often controversial interpretative choices. These interpretative choices already present judges operating in a national context with difficulties, but that is even more so for European judges operating in a multilevel context. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) are often criticized for delivering judgments that contain debatable choices and do not offer sufficient insight into the reasons which have led the courts to make these choices. Especially in a multilevel context where the cooperation of national authorities plays an important role as regards the effectiveness of the European courts, it is important that interpretation methods and principles are used in a transparent manner so that the reasons that justify a specific interpretative choice are clear. This book analyses the use of a selected number of interpretation methods and principles in the fundamental rights case law of the ECtHR and the CJEU. The use of teleological, comparative, evolutive and autonomous interpretation by the ECtHR and the CJEU are elaborately discussed on the basis of both legal theoretical literature and case law. The legal theoretical analysis provides the basis for various relevant questions, hypotheses and (analytical) suggestions, that are further studied in the subsequent case law analysis. This leads to a thorough overview of the role of these interpretation methods and principles and the possibilities for improvement. Show less
The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of doxycycline on the proteolytic and inflammatory processes in abdominal aneurysms. This data is essential for the development of pharmaceutical... Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to evaluate the effect of doxycycline on the proteolytic and inflammatory processes in abdominal aneurysms. This data is essential for the development of pharmaceutical strategies for the stabilization of an AAA. Such an approach could reduce the need for elective surgery and endovascular repair. It has repeatedly been shown that AAA progression and rupture is related to the failure of collagen in the aortic wall. Yet the exact mechanism underlying this failure remains unknown. Furthermore, the precise mechanism of activation of collagenases and their inflammatory mediators that are responsible for the collagen turnover of AAA are unknown. In this thesis we attempt to determine how collagen metabolism is balanced in aneurysmal diseases and contribute to the knowledge which collagenases and inflammatory mediators are involved in the destruction of the collagen network in AAA disease. Moreover, we evaluate some of the effects of doxycycline on the proteases and inflammatory mediators in AAA. Analyses showed that doxycycline inhibits specific MMPs and inflammatory pathways that are involved in the collagen balance and aneurysm growth. Together, these observations provide a rationale for a randomized clinical trial studying the effect of doxycycline on aneurysm growth. Show less
Advanced cardiac imaging modalities play a crucial role in the diagnostic process and clinical management of patients with different cardiac diseases, including heart failure, valvular heart... Show moreAdvanced cardiac imaging modalities play a crucial role in the diagnostic process and clinical management of patients with different cardiac diseases, including heart failure, valvular heart disease, myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation. RT3DE has made an important transition from a research tool to a clinically applicable imaging technique and has been demonstrated to provide important advantages over conventional 2D echocardiography, such as a more accurate quantification of cardiac chamber size and function and the possibility of unlimited image plane orientations for better understanding of valvular heart diseases. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography should be performed in every patient with suboptimal acoustic window, especially with RT3DE. Importantly, in patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention, perfusion analysis can provide an accurate estimate of myocardial infarction size, which is crucial information for the patient management, together with more sophisticated assessment of LV mechanics. Myocardial deformation imaging has witnessed an enormous development in the last years and is now considered an accurate tool for a more sensitive assessment of LV regional and global function and for a more detailed assessment of LV mechanics and dyssynchrony. CMR represents the reference imaging modality for the quantification of LV volumes and function and for the identification of myocardial scar/fibrosis. It should be therefore considered for a comprehensive evaluation of heart failure patients, including more novel and sophisticated assessments of transvalvular flow and LV dyssynchrony. Advanced cardiac imaging modalities can be applied in heart failure patients referred for CRT to explore novel physiopathological aspects, such as the effect on LV rotation mechanics, on functional mitral regurgitation and cerebral blood flow. Show less
