We study the origin of the scaling behavior in frictionless granular media above the jamming transition by analyzing their linear response. The response to local forcing is non-self-averaging and... Show moreWe study the origin of the scaling behavior in frictionless granular media above the jamming transition by analyzing their linear response. The response to local forcing is non-self-averaging and fluctuates over a length scale that diverges at the jamming transition. The response to global forcing becomes increasingly nonaffine near the jamming transition. This is due to the proximity of floppy modes, the influence of which we characterize by the local linear response. We show that the local response also governs the anomalous scaling of elastic constants and contact number. Show less
This book focuses on several Javanese theatre companies and more specifically on the way these groups shape and use their play texts. By looking at the different stages and dimensions of Javanese... Show moreThis book focuses on several Javanese theatre companies and more specifically on the way these groups shape and use their play texts. By looking at the different stages and dimensions of Javanese theatre productions various manifestations of the script and ‘script-like phenomena’ are encountered. All these phenomena play an important role in the production process as a whole. They are mnemonic and structuring devices employed by the participants of the production process. In case studies is explained how the playwright-director creates these tools and how he and the actors apply them. Furthermore, it is shown how ‘shaping agents’ such as the playwright-director, his assistant, the guest star and the companion of the guest star are at work during the performance. These agents influence the way the actors apply the mnemonic and structuring devices that form part of the production process. The interaction between shaping agents is characterised by multiple (humorous) misunderstandings. These misunderstandings eventually lead to collisions and call for multiple creative solutions in response. As a result the Javanese staging process has a lively, spontaneous and creative character. Show less
This thesis is an investigation into the formation of plural identities in the first half of the Koryŏ dynasty (918-1392). It focuses on processes of identity formation with both domestic and... Show moreThis thesis is an investigation into the formation of plural identities in the first half of the Koryŏ dynasty (918-1392). It focuses on processes of identity formation with both domestic and international reference. The Koryŏ dynasty was a rather extraordinary society, in which several important systems of belief and thought co-existed, but were not assimilated into each other. Koryo literati possessed a seldom encountered capacity for tolerating ambiguity, inconsistency and contradiction, while nonetheless displaying a distinctive sense of identity. The tolerance, even preference for ambiguity ensured in the long run the survival of the Koryo state amidst its powerful neighbours in China and Manchuria. This thesis concludes that despite the majority opinion in modern historiography Koryŏ was not either Confucian or Buddhist or nativist, but a mixture of all these systems and a good many more. The Koryŏ state and society were thoroughly pluralist, that is, geared to provide to the maximum of different, sometimes contradictory principles, instead of one ultimate principle. The thesis also concludes that pre-modern forms of community construction and the generation of feelings of belonging were not significantly different from their modern counterparts. Show less
The primary goal in repairing a peripheral nerve lesion is to guide the outgrowing axon back to its original target organ, which can be done by bridging the defect with an autograft or, more... Show moreThe primary goal in repairing a peripheral nerve lesion is to guide the outgrowing axon back to its original target organ, which can be done by bridging the defect with an autograft or, more experimentally, a synthetic nerve graft. In this thesis an overview is presented of the evaluation methods that are currently used to assess peripheral nerve regeneration and their expediency is discussed. An in vitro electrophysiological evaluation method that charts the electrophysiological properties of the myelinated Aα- and Aβ-nerve fibres was introduced, and it was demonstrated that small differences between grafted nerves could be discriminated. Moreover, the electrophysiological data could be correlated to the morphometrical data, that was likewise broken up into Aα- and Aβ-components. This correlation especially provided new insight in the changes that occur in regenerating nerve fibres. After applying a panel of evaluation methods it was demonstrated that the presence of pores in and biodegradability of synthetic nerve grafts are beneficial to regeneration, evidenced mainly by preferable values of the electrophysiological parameters. Finally the changes that occurred in reinnervated muscles helped to gain insight into the preferential architecture of a synthetic nerve graft. Show less
Celiac disease (CD) is a common disorder of the small intestine caused by intolerance to gluten, proteins found in wheat and related cereals. In this study two major questions were addressed: i)... Show moreCeliac disease (CD) is a common disorder of the small intestine caused by intolerance to gluten, proteins found in wheat and related cereals. In this study two major questions were addressed: i) which specific properties of gluten contribute to its disease-inducing characteristics ii) how can gluten toxicity be avoided. We found that CD-related molecule HLA-DQ2 has several features that explain why it can specifically interact with a large array of distinct gluten peptides. We also observed that some of the gluten peptides are being recognized by gluten-specific T cells in quite an unusual way, requiring the presence of a proline at position p-1. Another interesting observation was that the disease-inducing properties of rye and barley could be explained by the cross-reaction of gluten-specific T cells with the homologous peptides from these cereals. Although genetic studies indicated that the gene for prolyl endopeptidase could be involved in the pathogenesis of CD we showed that most likely this gene does not play a role in the disease development. Finally, we demonstrated that prolyl endoprotease from Aspergillus niger could be an effective measure to detoxify gluten in vitro. Show less
Since the second half of the 1990s, the Chinese government has made an intensive effort to control ongoing natural resource losses. In order to curb the loss of arable land and the environmental... Show moreSince the second half of the 1990s, the Chinese government has made an intensive effort to control ongoing natural resource losses. In order to curb the loss of arable land and the environmental destruction caused by air and water pollution, central level leadership amended existing legislation, making it stricter and more specific. In addition, the centre organized enforcement campaigns to overcome local resistance against the implementation of the amended laws. In an effort to understand the effects these changes had at the local level, this book details how they influenced compliance with natural resource legislation at Lake Dianchi in Yunnan province. This book combines local case studies with theories about lawmaking, compliance, and enforcement, derived from Western and non-Western contexts. Doing so, it offers a unique body of empirical and theoretical knowledge for those interested in how law functions in China, as well as those interested in the workings of regulatory lawmaking, compliance, and enforcement in a comparative perspective Show less
Classically a nanowire with a length larger than its circumference is expected to be unstable due to Rayleigh instability that appears in specimens with large aspect ratio. In contrast we present... Show moreClassically a nanowire with a length larger than its circumference is expected to be unstable due to Rayleigh instability that appears in specimens with large aspect ratio. In contrast we present experimental evidence that metallic nanowires with thicknesses ranging from one atom to hundreds of atoms present two series of exceptionally stable diameters, well determined and reproducible. The two series of stable diameters can be described in terms of shell closure effects. For low diameters the stability is given by the confinement of the electronic orbits in the nanowire cross-section, which is an electronic shell effect. Thicker nanowires are stable for densely packed structures, related to minima in the surface energy, which we refer to as atomic shell effect. A significant part of this thesis is dedicated to the study of shell effects for different types of metals: the monovalent noble metals, and multivalent Al and Mg. Additionally we investigate the stability from a mechanical point of view by measuring the stiffness of atomic contacts. The last chapter is dedicated to electrochemical methods of nanowire fabrication and we explore possible ways of enhancing the nanowire stability. Show less
In this study the author examines the question of whether the judges at the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda are entitled to make law. Instances of substantive... Show moreIn this study the author examines the question of whether the judges at the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda are entitled to make law. Instances of substantive and procedural lawmaking at the tribunals are analysed. The context within which tribunal law is made and the institutional culture at the tribunals are discussed. The author examines the influence of the principle of legality in distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate exercises of the lawmaking power of tribunal judges Show less
This thesis describes very sensitive methods for peptide detection, obtained by the coupling of high efficiency capillary chromatographic techniques to mass spectrometry. The application of novel... Show moreThis thesis describes very sensitive methods for peptide detection, obtained by the coupling of high efficiency capillary chromatographic techniques to mass spectrometry. The application of novel data preprocessing methods to the analysis of such complex MS data generated is also described. The data analysis step was completed by the use of multivariate statistical analysis tools, such as principal component analysis (PCA). The developed platform could be applied to the study of complex peptide mixtures and of proteomic samples. Show less
In the first part of this thesis, polyelectrolyte copolymer micelles are studied to elucidate the role of the micelle concentration on the intermicelle correlation and the extension of the... Show moreIn the first part of this thesis, polyelectrolyte copolymer micelles are studied to elucidate the role of the micelle concentration on the intermicelle correlation and the extension of the polyelectrolyte chains in the coronal layer. With increasing packing fraction the corona shrinks and/or interpenetrates in order to accommodate the micelles in the increasingly crowded volume. It is shown that interpenetration of the polyelectrolyte brushes controls the fluid rheology: the viscosity increases dramatically and the dynamic moduli show the formation of a physical gel. In the second part, we study giant vesicles as a superstructure self-assembled by dsDNA fragments, pUC18 or pEGFP-N1 and oppositely charged cationic diblock copolymer poly(butadiene-b-N-methyl 4-vinyl pyridinium. Under a preparation, the PBd brush collapses and a capsule is formed. The compaction of DNA is shown by the appearance of liquid crystalline textures under crossed polarizers and the increase in fluorescence intensity of labelled DNA. To form vesicles, the capsules are dispersed in aqueous medium supported by an osmotic agent. The integrity of the DNA after encapsulation and subsequent release was confirmed. We demonstrate ``reverse'' transfection of in vitro cultured HeLa cancer cells growing on plasmid-copolymer vesicles by the expressed green fluorescent protein in cultured cells. Show less
The ultimate goal in the transplantation field is the induction and maintenance of donor specific tolerance. Treg cells that control immune responses to alloantigens give opportunities for... Show moreThe ultimate goal in the transplantation field is the induction and maintenance of donor specific tolerance. Treg cells that control immune responses to alloantigens give opportunities for tolerogenic therapies in transplantation. However, it is important to investigate the mechanisms of tolerance induction in order to use the optimal strategy. Therefore, we exploded both natural towards NIMA that can be induced during fetal life and induced tolerance by modulation of DC. Naturrally induced tolerance towards NIMA can have an influence on transplant outcome later in life. In this thesis we explored the influence of NIMA on the alloreactive T cells repetoire in healthy individuals and additionally we focused on the NIMA effect in patients transplanted with a NIMA haplotype mismatched kidney graft. In order to actively induce tolerance, we modulated DC to generate Treg cells, since this may be of clinical relevance in the future for patients that are on the waiting list for transplantation. In this thesis we explored the possibility of using modulated DC for the induction of transplantation tolerance in a fully allogeneic setting in mice. Furthermore we describe an in vitro system for the use of human modulated DC to induce Treg cells. We show that two differentially modulated human DC can lead to different types of Treg cells. Finally, we examined the possibility to use in vitro tools to measure a possible tolerant state in patients. Monitoring of e.g. Treg cells and/or cytokines may give an indication which patients are at risk for rejection and which patients are more predisposed to tolerance. We describe the Elispot technique as a possible tool to monitor patients that received a renal allograft. In conclusion , this thesis contributes to the fundamental understanding of both natural and induced tolerance in transplantation and gives a handhold for future research. As donor-specific tolerance is still far away from the clinic, the in vitro monitoring tool described in this thesis may contribute to the optimalization of immunosuppressive therapies in transplant recipients. Show less
The study focuses on prophecy as a historical phenomenon by offering a comparison between parts of First Isaiah and the Assyrian prophecies. In the first part of the study the material from First... Show moreThe study focuses on prophecy as a historical phenomenon by offering a comparison between parts of First Isaiah and the Assyrian prophecies. In the first part of the study the material from First Isaiah and from seventh-century Assyria is investigated in its own right. The second part is a comparison of the Isaiah tradition in its earliest shape on the one hand and the prophetic material from seventh-century Assyria on the other. The comparison contains three aspects: the interrelation of prophetic oracles and historical events; the functions of the prophets; and the literary development of prophecy. The main conclusion of the study is that the earliest stages of the Isaiah tradition - i.e. the prophetic material from the eighth century and its earliest revision in the seventh century - to a great extent correspond with the prophetic material of seventh-century Assyria. Based on this conclusion, the hypothesis that prophecy as a historical phenomenon in ancient Israel was much more in conformity with prophecy in the ancient Near East in general than the biblical sources at face value suggest, gains further support. Show less
Against the background of a regional crisis caused by dynastic change in China and the closure of Japan in the middle of the seventeenth century, the Vietnamese kingdom of Tonkin rose to the fore... Show moreAgainst the background of a regional crisis caused by dynastic change in China and the closure of Japan in the middle of the seventeenth century, the Vietnamese kingdom of Tonkin rose to the fore as the major silk producing and exporting region in East Asia.Based on a wealth of so far unused primary sources from the Dutch East India Company (VOC) archives, this monograph explains how Dutch maritime traders played a critical role in Tonkin’s dramatic emergence as a trading power. The author examines the vicissitudes in political relations, the varying trends in the VOC-Tonkin import and export trade, and the Dutch influence on the seventeenth-century Vietnamese feudal society. Show less
Longitudinal growth is the key characteristic that distinguishes children from adults. Growth is regulated in the growth plates, which are layers of cartilage located at the ends of the long bones.... Show moreLongitudinal growth is the key characteristic that distinguishes children from adults. Growth is regulated in the growth plates, which are layers of cartilage located at the ends of the long bones. The cartilage cells are called chondrocytes and go through a coordinated program of proliferation, maturation, hypertrophic differentiation, apoptosis and replacement by bone. This process is called endochondral bone formation. A complex network of hormones (endocrine regulators) is involved in this process. The mechanism of actions of these hormones is not completely understood. A possible mechanism of action is the interaction of systemic hormones with locally produced growth factors (paracrine regulators), like the Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) related Peptide (PTHrP) and its receptor, the type 1 PTH/PTHrP receptor (PTHR1). PTHrP and PTHR1 are among the key regulators in the process of endochondral bone formation. The working mechanism of PTHrP signalling, alone or in combination with other growth factors or systemic hormones, in endochondral bone formation is not completely understood. In this thesis, we have further addressed the actions of PTHrP in the complex network of endocrine and paracrine regulation of endochondral bone formation. Show less
This case study of the tea trade of the Dutch East India Company with China deals with its most profitable phase, when a direct shipping link was established between Canton and the Dutch Republic... Show moreThis case study of the tea trade of the Dutch East India Company with China deals with its most profitable phase, when a direct shipping link was established between Canton and the Dutch Republic in the second half of the eighteenth century. It focuses on the questions why and how the tea trade was taken out of the hands of the High Government in Batavia in 1757 and put under the supervision of the newly established China Committee in Amsterdam, and explains in detail what factors contributed to the phenomenal rise of this trade and its sudden decline in the 1780s. Show less
