The port-city of Izmir (old Smyrna) plays a crucial role in modern world history. From the 1570s, that city became subjected to European mercantile interests and quickly developed into the main... Show moreThe port-city of Izmir (old Smyrna) plays a crucial role in modern world history. From the 1570s, that city became subjected to European mercantile interests and quickly developed into the main conductor of an irreversible European takeover of the Ottoman economy – the structural basis of a centuries-long decline of the once-mighty Ottoman Empire. Or, so the historical consensus dictates. The problem is that this consensus has been constructed over a conspicuous shortage of sources by an overreliance on grand theories paired with a fundamental misunderstanding of the Ottoman (political, legal, economic and social) system and its solutions to the challenges of the times. This study wants to uncover and question the teleological (mostly Eurocentric, oftentimes triumphalist) historiography of city, empire and world systems that have resulted. In its stead, it lays the foundations of a historiography that restores 17th-century Izmir (and perhaps early-modern Ottoman civilization) to the role of an active and autonomous participant-alternative to Europe’s expanding world system. Show less
The referendum is one of the most studied and practiced institutions of semi-direct democracy around the world, in several latitudes and historical times, in different systems and political regimes... Show moreThe referendum is one of the most studied and practiced institutions of semi-direct democracy around the world, in several latitudes and historical times, in different systems and political regimes, at international, national, regional or local levels, with different legal frameworks and with various political consequences. However, Portugal, whose constitutional experience begins in 1820 with the liberal revolution, had its first democratic referendum only in 1998. This study try to conceptually characterize the referendum, in order to establish its fundamental typologies regarding the most relevant experiences in this field and to situate the case for and against the referendum as an expression of semi-direct democracy in the political and philosophical debate of different historical moments. In the next chapters, entirely dedicated to the Portuguese case, we shall present the historical evolution of the nation al and local referendum in the constitutional and political life in Portugal since 1820. An added emphasis will be given to the referendum experience of the Portuguese democracy born in 1974, particular attention being payed to the political debate about the formal introduction of the referendum in the 1976 Constitution and to the concrete experience of referendums proposed and held since then. Show less
The purpose of the thesis is to (i) single out and clarify the most common types of issues emerging in the interpretation of multilingual tax treaties (i.e. tax treaties authenticated in two or... Show moreThe purpose of the thesis is to (i) single out and clarify the most common types of issues emerging in the interpretation of multilingual tax treaties (i.e. tax treaties authenticated in two or more languages), and (ii) suggest how the interpreter should tackle and disentangle such issues under public international law, with a particular emphasis on the kinds of arguments he should use and the kinds of elements and items of evidence he should rely upon in order to support his construction of the treaty. In order to address such issues, the author has developed a normative (prescriptive) legal analysis based on modern linguistic and, more specifically, semantic theories. However, since the purpose of the study is to suggest how the interpreter should now tackle and disentangle those issues, the author has also carried out a positive (prescriptive) analysis, which highlights the generally accepted principles and rules of treaty interpretation, in order (i) to carve out from his (non-ideal) normative legal theory the results potentially conflicting with such generally accepted principles and rules and (ii) to show how his normative legal theory might be applied to solve interpretative issues in cases where no common solution has been reached yet. Show less
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare, life-threatening disease characterized by acute episodes of widespread thrombosis in capillaries and small arteries. The discovery that the... Show moreThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare, life-threatening disease characterized by acute episodes of widespread thrombosis in capillaries and small arteries. The discovery that the plasmatic activity of the von Willebrand factor cleaving protease, ADAMTS13, is severely deficient in patients with TTP represented a turning point in the understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. In spite of recent advances, the clinical course of TTP is characterized by considerable heterogeneity, the causes of which are largely unknown. Herein, we present a number of studies investigating the determinants of clinical heterogeneity in patients with both congenital and acquired forms of TTP. A __two-hit__ model of the pathophysiology of TTP is presented. Show less
The German chemist-apothecary Caspar Georg Carl Reinwardt (1773-1854) offers a fascinating window on Dutch culture and society in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. By providing an... Show moreThe German chemist-apothecary Caspar Georg Carl Reinwardt (1773-1854) offers a fascinating window on Dutch culture and society in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. By providing an in-depth analysis of his multi-faceted career in the Netherlands and the Malay Archipelago, this study sheds light on the co-evolutionary character of science, governance, and empire. It argues that seeds of Reinwardt’s professional flexibility lay in his practical training in one of Amsterdam’s chemical workshops and his socialization in a broader cultural context where the improvement of society and economy played a crucial role. Show less
The thesis is about artistic research – what it is, or what it could be. And it is about the place that artistic research could have in academia, within the whole of academic research. It is also... Show moreThe thesis is about artistic research – what it is, or what it could be. And it is about the place that artistic research could have in academia, within the whole of academic research. It is also about the ways we speak about such issues, and about how the things we say (in this study and elsewhere) cause the practices involved to manifest themselves in specific ways, while also setting them into motion. In this sense, the thesis not only explores the phenomenon of artistic research in relation to academia, but it also engages with that relationship. This performative dimension of the thesis is interwoven with its constative and interpretive dimensions. If the thesis succeeds in its aims, it will not only advance knowledge and understanding of artistic research, but it will further the development of this emerging field. Show less
What shaped the defense transformation policies of NATO member-states? And what does it mean for the future of the alliance? This dissertation explores the impact of the strategic cultures of the... Show moreWhat shaped the defense transformation policies of NATO member-states? And what does it mean for the future of the alliance? This dissertation explores the impact of the strategic cultures of the United States, the Netherlands and Germany on their efforts to adapt their defense policies and armed forces in light of significant changes in the security environment. Transformation was the central concept around which the Alliance was believed to find renewed cohesion. Instead, transformation in an era of expeditionary operations unearthed divergent views regarding the use of the military instrument. Each state pursued transformation differently and confronted different problems. These difficulties reflected the unique characteristics of their strategic culture. On the basis of the research it can be concluded that effective transformation can only take place when the characteristics of a state's strategic culture are taken into account. For NATO, it means that, unless the security environment changes substantially, friction within the alliance will persist and instead it will be necessary to work with these differences, rather than ignore them at its peril. Show less
This study focuses on the life and work of the sixteenth-century botanist Carolus Clusius in the context of court culture. Before accepting a position at the university in Leiden at the age of 67,... Show moreThis study focuses on the life and work of the sixteenth-century botanist Carolus Clusius in the context of court culture. Before accepting a position at the university in Leiden at the age of 67, Clusius spent a large part of his career at the courts of emperors, princes and aristocrats in Middle-Europe. There he met a wealthy and well-educated elite, who shared his passion for plants, gardens and travelling. But he also encountered a rich diversity of interests and approaches regarding the study of plants. These differences were used by Clusius to establish his authority as a professional botanist and to determine the standards for the proper scientific study of plants. Show less
Deze dissertatie concentreert zich op de vraag hoeveel studenten in Leiden studeerden in de periode tussen 1575 en 1812 en welke achtergrond zij hebben. In het verlengde daarvan ligt het onderzoek... Show moreDeze dissertatie concentreert zich op de vraag hoeveel studenten in Leiden studeerden in de periode tussen 1575 en 1812 en welke achtergrond zij hebben. In het verlengde daarvan ligt het onderzoek naar wat de gevolgen voor de stad waren van de komst van studenten. De voornaamste bron om antwoord op deze vraag te geven is het album studiosorum. Mijn digitale bewerking ervan biedt naast reguliere tellingen van aantallen en achtergronden veel extra mogelijkheden, zoals bijvoorbeeld het leggen van kruisverbanden tussen herkomst, studierichting en leeftijd. This dissertation focuses on the questions of how many students were studying in Leiden in the period between the foundation of the university in 1575 and 1812, and what their background was. What were the consequences of the arrival of students for the urban society? The main source to answer these questions is the album studiosorum. I scanned and OCR-ed the printed version of the Leiden album studiosorum. Other sources for my thesis were the proceedings of the academic tribunal, administrative regulations of the university, moralistic writings and many personal documents. Show less
In Transforming for Europe. The reshaping of national bureaucracies in a system of multi-level governance, Caspar van den Berg explores the implications of the increasingly multi-level nature of... Show moreIn Transforming for Europe. The reshaping of national bureaucracies in a system of multi-level governance, Caspar van den Berg explores the implications of the increasingly multi-level nature of governance for the French, British and Dutch national bureaucracies.Power and competencies in Western Europe are shared by various layers of government as well as multiple types of state and non-state actors. What does this mean for the organisation and functioning of national bureaucracies?While the civil service has become less bureaucratic (in the Weberian sense) in some respects, it is more bureaucratic in others: task-separation and record-keeping for oversight have increased, while permanence of office and political neutrality in various places have decreased.The EU is not a single direct source to any of these developments yet its presence is certainly felt and cross-national distinction is less stark. Nevertheless, deeply ingrained national structures and cultures have thus far prevented the conver¬gence of national bureaucracies into a single European administra¬tive model.Caspar van den Berg (1980) studied International Relations at the London School of Economics and has a PhD from Leiden University. He currently works as an assistant professor at Leiden University and as a public management consultant at Berenschot. Show less
Het is het voorjaar van 1348. Pestepidemieën rukken op richting Vlaanderen en er is al langer sprake van maatschappelijke onrust. In deze roerige setting legde een kopiist de laatste hand aan zijn... Show moreHet is het voorjaar van 1348. Pestepidemieën rukken op richting Vlaanderen en er is al langer sprake van maatschappelijke onrust. In deze roerige setting legde een kopiist de laatste hand aan zijn boek. Hij had een hele prestatie geleverd: 618 bladzijden had hij volgeschreven met passages uit de Bijbel en andere geestelijke teksten in het Nederlands. Had hij ooit kunnen bevroeden dat zijn boek een van de schatkamers van de Middelnederlandse letterkunde zou worden? Het boek heeft de eeuwen goed doorstaan. Binnen de Bijzondere Collecties van de Bibliotheek van de Universiteit van Amsterdam behoort handschrift I G 41 tot de topstukken. Esther Jonker heeft dit intrigerende object, het Amsterdams Perikopenboek, onderworpen aan een integrale analyse. Zij bespreekt de letterkundige aspecten van een van de oudste prozahandschriften in het Nederlands, als ook de sociaal-culturele en religieuze achtergronden. Met een synthese van de uitkomsten van haar onderzoek werpt Jonker een nieuw licht op de context van de vroegste Nederlandse Bijbelteksten. Show less
By applying a fieldwork-based, geoarchaeological approach, Tourloukis examines in this study the evidence from Greece within the framework of the earliest occupation of Europe. Although the Greek... Show moreBy applying a fieldwork-based, geoarchaeological approach, Tourloukis examines in this study the evidence from Greece within the framework of the earliest occupation of Europe. Although the Greek Peninsula lies within a core area of early hominin movements between Africa and Europe but also within Eurasia itself, the Lower Palaeolithic record of Greece remains as yet extremely poor. Chossing the scanty Greek record as a case-study, Tourloukis elaborates on a hitherto largely overlooked subject in the Eurasian Early-Middle Pleistocene archaeology: the role of geomorphic processes in biasing archaeological distribution patterns of early human presence. This study identifies the current status of the record, explains this status from a geoarchaeological and geomorphological perspective, and prospects its future enrichment. The analysis is carried-out on a landscape-scale and it assesses preservation potential in conjuction with archaeological visibility. Finally a conceptual model emerges that can assist in interpreting and/or predicting early Palaeolithic site locations in tectonically active settings, such as those of the Mediterranean Basin. Show less
De intieme relatie tussen Elisabeth Lestevenon en de rijke, uit Bayonne afkomstige koopman Gabriel de Lalande eindigt in mei 1661 abrupt. De Amsterdamse advocaat mr. Hendrick Cloeck heeft zich... Show moreDe intieme relatie tussen Elisabeth Lestevenon en de rijke, uit Bayonne afkomstige koopman Gabriel de Lalande eindigt in mei 1661 abrupt. De Amsterdamse advocaat mr. Hendrick Cloeck heeft zich als haar nieuwe vrijer aangediend. Als Elisabeth zich anders tegenover Gabriel gedraagt dan hij van haar gewend is, raakt hij misnoegd en laat hij zich ontvallen dat hij seksuele omgang met haar heeft gehad. Bijzonderheden daarvan worden publiek en de eer van de Lestevenons is geschonden. Spotdichters grijpen naar hun pen om de ex-geliefden, de familie Lestevenon en Hendrick Cloeck in pamfletten aan de kaak te stellen en tevens de Amsterdamse overheid en enkele van haar aanzienlijke burgers. Moeder Elisabeth van Thije en broer Mattheus Lestevenon weten de schepenen te bewegen Gabriel te arresteren en op te sluiten. De Heren van het Gerecht houden hem ruim zeventig dagen in arrest, wat tot veel commotie leidt die tot op de dag van zijn vrijlating duurt. Juridische pogingen tot eerherstel slepen zich jarenlang voort. Met het verstrijken van de tijd geraakt de geschiedenis in de vergetelheid. Over dit schandaal gaat het proefschrift dat ik de titel heb gegeven: De affaire De Lalande-Lestevenon. Feit en fictie over een spraakmakend schandaal in het zeventiende-eeuwse Amsterdam. Het beschrijft de rampzalig geëindigde liefde tussen Gabriel de Lalande en Elisabeth Lestevenon en de rol die het stadsbestuur van Amsterdam daarin heeft gespeeld, zodat een privézaak die normaliter slechts voor enig leedvermaak zou hebben gezorgd, kon uitgroeien tot een stedelijk schandaal. Het onderzoekt ook de mogelijke betrokkenheid bij deze geschiedenis van de dichter Jan Neuye, de drukker en boekverkoper Johannes van den Bergh, de drukker Cornelis de Bruyn, de graveur Crispijn de Passe en de schouwburgregent Jan Vos. Al deze verwikkelingen en betrekkingen maken de affaire De Lalande-Lestevenon tot een literatuurhistorische belevenis. Show less
Sustainable economic development is essential for hundreds of millions of poor households in rural areas. This book represents a merger of environmental science and rural development economics. It... Show moreSustainable economic development is essential for hundreds of millions of poor households in rural areas. This book represents a merger of environmental science and rural development economics. It elucidates the linkage between rational choice theory and theories on land use change. It builds a quantitative framework to connect the environmental method of Material Flow Analysis to basic issues of rural development such as agricultural intensification and food security. And finally, it develops a unique measuring rod of wealth and poverty called Freely Disposable Time, which integrates time and cash flows of households. With this indicator, we can quantify the much-cherished concepts of freedoms and development capacity. Along the way, the book provides critical discussions on ‘standard’ Material Flow Analysis, systems versus actor-based approaches, and the oversupply of inductive studies in land use and development science. Empirical data are drawn from the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Laos and the Netherlands, in a comparative perspective. Show less
In haar proefschrift ‘De rechtspositie der Chinezen in Nederlands-Indië 1848-1942’, subtitel wetgevingsbeleid tussen beginsel en belang, beschrijft en analyseert Patricia Tjiook-Liem de... Show moreIn haar proefschrift ‘De rechtspositie der Chinezen in Nederlands-Indië 1848-1942’, subtitel wetgevingsbeleid tussen beginsel en belang, beschrijft en analyseert Patricia Tjiook-Liem de ontwikkelingen in die rechtspositie en het wetgevingsbeleid van de koloniale en rijkswetgever ten aanzien van deze bevolkingsgroep. Het juridisch dualisme in Nederlands-Indië, zoals dat verankerd was in het Regeringsreglement (de grondwet) van Nederlands-Indië en waarvoor ras en geloof als criteria dienden, betekende een afzonderlijk recht en een daarbijbehorende afzonderlijke rechtspraak voor de twee hoofdgroepen van de bevolking: Europeanen en Inlanders. Chinezen en andere oosterse, niet-inheemse bevolkingsgroepen waren als gelijkgestelden met Inlanders aan het begin van de onderzoeksperiode onderworpen aan het voor de inheemse bevolking geldende rechtssysteem. Aan het eind van de onderzoeksperiode was de rechtspositie der Chinezen vrijwel gelijk met die der Europeanen. Die ontwikkeling in de rechtspositie hing nauw samen met de betekenis die de Chinese bevolkingsgroep had voor het gouvernement. Het onderzoek beperkte zich niet alleen tot de vraag wat de rechtspositie der Chinezen op verschillende tijdstippen was, maar strekte zich ook uit over de vraag waarom die rechtspositie zo was en hoe deze als gevolg van het gevoerde wetgevingsbeleid werd gewijzigd. In zeven hoofdstukken, die ieder een afzonderlijk rechtsgebied omvatten waarin de bijzondere rechtspositie der Chinezen naar voren kwam, worden deze vragen beantwoord. Niet beginselen of de in de wet genoemde criteria van ras en geloof, maar pragmatisme en belangen van het gouvernement bleken doorslaggevende factoren te zijn geweest voor het wetgevingsbeleid. Voor het onderzoek is extensief archiefonderzoek verricht, waarbij niet eerder gebruikt archiefmateriaal werd geraadpleegd. Show less
Transformation of public administration is acknowledged as a crucial element in the transition process in Central and Eastern Europe. Why have the state bureaucracies in Central and Eastern... Show moreTransformation of public administration is acknowledged as a crucial element in the transition process in Central and Eastern Europe. Why have the state bureaucracies in Central and Eastern European states been less affected by post-communist transformation when compared to other public institutions and sectors of their economies? Why have declared reforms of civil services failed to reach most of their objectives and sometimes had counter-productive effects? On the basis of comprehensive and comparative analysis of the development of the Russian and Czech state administrations over the last decade and a half the author provides a thorough insight into the causes of the prevailing tendencies and numerous constrains in their development. Key factors that have led to only modest results in the reforms of their civil services are explored. The research leads to important lessons for reformers in all post-communist countries and conclusions on methodologies in comparative research into administrative systems. Show less
Current pretransfusion policy requires the patients__ serum to be tested for the presence of irregular red blood cell antibodies. In case of an antibody, red blood cells lacking the corresponding... Show moreCurrent pretransfusion policy requires the patients__ serum to be tested for the presence of irregular red blood cell antibodies. In case of an antibody, red blood cells lacking the corresponding antigen are transfused after an antiglobulin crossmatch. The aim of the studies in this thesis is primarily to investigate whether this policy should change to improve transfusion safety. This thesis explores the risk on red blood cell alloimmunization after blood transfusion in oncohematologic patients and in patients who already formed antibodies after aprevious transfusion event. Furthermore, the risks of current pre-transfusion testing with regard to antibodies to low incidence antigens, timing of antibody testing and antibody persistence were studied. From these studies it was concluded that 1. oncohematologic patients have a high chance on developing antibodies despite immunosuppressive therapy, 2. patients with antibodies have a 20-25 times increased risk for additional antibodies after subsequent transfusions, compared to primo antibody formation, and preventive measures should be considered, 3. antibodies to low incidence antigens are common in immunized and non-immunized patients, 4. timing of antibody screening after transfusion influences the number as well as the specificity of the antibodies detected and 5. antibodies may become undetectable over time compromising transfusion safety. Show less
In the era of international(ized) criminal courts and tribunals, classical concepts of international criminal law such as principles and rules of extradition and of extraterritorial jurisdiction... Show moreIn the era of international(ized) criminal courts and tribunals, classical concepts of international criminal law such as principles and rules of extradition and of extraterritorial jurisdiction have fallen into oblivion. At the same time, globalization and the establishment of international criminal jurisdictions have brought about fundamental changes of relevant attributes of the international system, justifying and necessitating renewed scholarly attention for these seemingly over-analyzed phenomena. Due in major part to these systemic changes, the non-extradition of nationals increasingly comes under fire. As a consequence, several attempts were undertaken in recent years to disallow or at least considerably limit it. Focusing on two such endeavors (under the European Arrest Warrant and in the context of the International Criminal Court), this study attempts to identify the status and the role of the non-extradition of nationals and of its counterpart, the active personality principle in international (criminal) law. Recognizing that the non-extradition of nationals cannot be easily discard, in theory or in practice, the author considers ways to adapt these long-standing features of international cooperation in criminal matters to the requirements of international criminal justice. Show less
Quantum Mechanics is one of the most successful physical theories of the last century. It explains physical phenomena from the smallest to the largest lengthscales. Despite this triumph, quantum... Show moreQuantum Mechanics is one of the most successful physical theories of the last century. It explains physical phenomena from the smallest to the largest lengthscales. Despite this triumph, quantum mechanics is often perceived as a mysterious theory, involving superposition states that are alien to our everyday Big World. The construction of a future quantum computer relies on our ability to manipulate quantum superposition states in qubits. In this thesis it is shown that these qubits can be subtly influenced by the physics associated with spontaneous symmetry breaking. This process destroys the quantum nature of the qubit and renders it useless for quantum computation. An even more fundamental problem with quantum superpositions is that they cannot be reconciled with the theory of general relativity. In the end of this thesis a model is proposed which describes the effective, deteriorating, influence of gravity on quantum states, thus suggesting a path toward the demise of quantum mechanics in the big world. Show less
In this dissertation, I study the relation between narrativity and contemporary composed music. The purpose of this study is twofold. Firstly, in so doing, I am able to articulate what musical... Show moreIn this dissertation, I study the relation between narrativity and contemporary composed music. The purpose of this study is twofold. Firstly, in so doing, I am able to articulate what musical narrativity is in a precise manner. Since many contemporary musical works question or problematize the notion of musical narrativity, the analysis of these works might be the key to identifying the limits of musical narrativity. Secondly, I argue that, in assuming a narrative listening stance, the listener’s comprehension of contemporary music might be enriched. Narrative understanding is a basic disposition that human subjects share. Thus, I expect that a narrative interpretation of contemporary, atonal works may lead to a greater understanding of these works, which are often regarded as being incomprehensible or ungraspable by many listeners (and by many musicians and researchers alike). In short: I maintain that the study of the narrative aspect of contemporary music leads to a greater understanding of both musical narrativity and contemporary music. Yet, although I mainly focus on the analysis of contemporary, instrumental musical works, the results of this study, are valid for all kinds of music, thus for both instrumental and vocal music, classical and popular, ancient and contemporary. Show less
