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Can teachers promote students' self-regulated learning in elementary schools?:The role of teacher–student interactions and teacher skills
No full textSelf-regulated learning (SRL) is widely recognized as a crucial skill that influences various educational outcomes, including students’ academic success, student engagement, and lifelong learning capabilities. It involves a cyclical process in which students actively regulate various components of their learning, including cognition, metacognition, motivation, emotions, and behavior. Despite its significance, many educators struggle to effectively teach SRL in their students, which may be due to a lack of knowledge and practical tools to guide them. This lack of knowledge and tools stems in part from the traditional belief that SRL starts to develop after elementary school. Additionally, much of the existing theoretical models of SRL are grounded in research primarily focused on secondary school and university students. As a result, there is still a knowledge gap concerning how SRL may be best promoted in younger children. To address this gap, this dissertation explored the extent to which teacher and classroom factors are associated with students’ SRL-skills during the upper elementary school years. Three aims were addressed. The first aim was to synthesize the current empirical literature on classroom processes that may promote students’ SRL. The second aim was to examine the dimensions that underlie individual differences in SRL among elementary school students. The third and final aim was to investigate the extent to which teacher and classroom processes are associated with SRL-skills in elementary school classes, including daily interactions between teachers and students, and specific teacher skills
An annotated theory of tonal jazz harmony
No full textThis work concerns itself with the theory of tonal jazz harmony. It consists of two parts. One part presents a theory in which melodic (horizontal), harmonic (vertical), and stylistic aspects of tonal jazz harmony are integrated and grounded in a solid theoretical foundation. The other part introduces the work and its contexts, followed by a commentary on the harmony theory through extensive annotations. This work’s point of departure is that tonal jazz harmony is a specific variant of Western harmony and does not require a fundamentally new theoretical framework but, rather, crucial modifications of Western harmonic theory to accommodate and explain the musical phenomena adequately. Therefore, it adopts the Harmonielehre-format, a hybrid of speculative theory and pedagogical instruction. The work also touches upon key issues in jazz culture and jazz research, such as the long-standing questions of “ownership” and “entitlement” in jazz, gender, and the recent debates in the US around racism in and through music theory.Two different corpora form the basis of the work. The first is tonal jazz, the core of which consists of “standards” (compositions derived from the Great American Songbook from roughly 1930 to 1960, as performed by jazz musicians ) and tonal jazz compositions. The second corpus is formed by the existing manuals of jazz harmony, reflecting a body of technical know-how loosely labeled “chord-scale theory,” a vocabulary of harmonic possibilities applied by jazz performers. Chord-scale theory’s essential elements are critically evaluated with respect to the theoretical content, stylistic tenability, and practical applicability
Mechanistic insights and novel treatments for trauma-induced coagulopathy
No full textBleeding after trauma is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and is exacerbated by trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC). Early on, TIC is characterised by platelet dysfunction, coagulation factor depletion and hyperfibrinolysis. Despite its clinical importance, the pathophysiology of TIC is not fully understood, and effective treatment options are limited. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying TIC and explore novel treatments using a translational approach.First, we studied the effect of shock duration on TIC, using a murine trauma model. Next, we reviewed the mechanisms and treatment options for trauma-induced platelet dysfunction. Using an experimental model of trauma and shock, we explored the relationship between high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and TIC. We investigated whether inhibition of HMGB1 would improve platelet dysfunction and TIC.Reduced coagulation factor activity is one of the key features of TIC. Previously it was shown that Factor V activity is most severely depleted. In an international cohort of trauma patients, we explored the relationship between Factor V activity and mortality. Next, we used an in vitro model of TIC to investigate whether supplementing FV(a) would improve coagulation. TIC with hyperfibrinolysis has the highest mortality when compared to other TIC phenotypes. The mechanisms are however incompletely understood. In the final part of this thesis, we studied the effect of ADAMTS13 degradation in hyperfibrinolytic trauma patients and explored whether ADAMTS13 has a causal role in hyperfibrinolysis. In this study, we combined clinical data from severely injured trauma patients, with a mechanistic in vitro study. These results were further supported in an experimental trauma model, using ADAMTS13 knock-out mice
Improving physical fitness in neuromuscular diseases
No full textPhysical inactivity is common among people with neuromuscular diseases due to symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, and pain. Inactivity reduces physical fitness and is assumed to negatively impact on general health, daily functioning, and societal participation. This thesis showed that aerobic exercise in combination with coaching is safe and improves physical fitness in people with neuromuscular diseases. We advocate the (further) implementation of physical activity programs to improve the physical fitness in people with neuromuscular diseases and motivate to shift the focus on efficacy and safety of specific exercise programs to how exercise and physical activity can be initiated, motivated, monitored, and, most importantly, integrated into daily living
Convergence and divergence:Comparing symptom expression of and treatment for (parents of) children with ASD and those with ADHD
No full textAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) appear to have several overlapping features in terms of etiology, underlying mechanisms, and symptom expression. This raises the question of whether it is relevant to distinguish these classifications in school-aged children. Therefore, in this dissertation, differences between core and comorbid problems of school-aged children with ASD and those with ADHD – as well as their parents – were explored. Also, it was investigated whether (parents of) children with ASD and those with ADHD differed with respect to received treatment. Furthermore, a subscale to screen for ASD – consisting of separate items of the school-age version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) – was constructed and validated. Finally, it was examined whether it is feasible to provide a transdiagnostic Social Skills Training (SST) to a group of middle school-aged children and their parents. The results of this dissertation revealed that, statistically, school-aged children with ASD and those with ADHD can be distinguished with reference to their core symptoms. Both groups experienced relatively high levels of comorbid problems, although children with ASD seemed to be somewhat more impaired. Regarding their parents, hardly any group differences were found. Besides, the types and hours of treatment for the ASD and ADHD group largely overlapped. Additionally, the groups seemed to benefit equally from this treatment. Moreover, the results showed that the constructed ASD subscale had a similar screening potential to that of the existing DSM-oriented subscales. Also, the preliminary effects of the SST were promising, confirming its feasibility. <br/
Paving the way for nucleic acid-based HIV-1 envelope vaccines
No full textHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remains a major global health challenge, with no effective prophylactic vaccine despite decades of dedicated research. The viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer is the sole target of neutralizing antibodies and a central focus for vaccine development. However, its remarkable sequence diversity, inherent instability, and dense glycan shield, among other factors, hinder the induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). This thesis explores novel strategies to stabilize Env trimers, enhance their antigenic properties, and improve their suitability for RNA- and other nucleic acid-based vaccine platforms.We first investigated natural mechanisms of Env stabilization by introducing destabilizing mutations and identifying compensatory changes that emerged during viral evolution. Building on these and other prior insights, we engineered hyperstable trimers and found that increased stability led to stronger and more consistent neutralizing antibody responses. By selectively masking immunodominant epitopes with glycans, we redirected immune responses toward subdominant epitopes with greater potential to induce bNAbs.We also developed the Triple Tandem Trimer (TTT) platform, which encodes all three protomers of an HIV-1 Env or influenza hemagglutinin (HA) trimer within a single gene, ensuring exclusive trimer expression. TTT immunogens formed native-like trimers, induced diminished non-neutralizing responses, and enabled the design of chimeric trimers that could simplify sequential vaccine regimens by integrating different immunization stages into a single immunogen.Finally, we engineered RNA-delivered, membrane-bound, germline-targeting Env immunogens that potently activated rare bNAb precursors in knock-in mouse models and outperformed soluble counterparts in triggering these targeted responses.Collectively, these approaches advance the design of stable, immunofocused Env immunogens optimized for nucleic acid-based vaccine delivery, and offer promising tools and strategies for the development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine
Cancer-associated thrombosis:Mechanisms, prediction, and treatment
No full textThis thesis explores the mechanisms, prediction, and treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). In Part I, we investigated biological mechanisms contributing to venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer. In a review, we described germline and somatic mutations associated with increased VTE risk. A transcriptomic analysis in pancreatic cancer suggested a potential role of interleukin-33 in VTE development, whereas a protein profiling approach did not identify candidate protein predictors.In Part II, we focused on risk prediction. A new CAT risk score was validated in a large Danish cohort, classifying more patients with VTE as high risk compared with the guideline-recommended Khorana score, while maintaining similar discriminatory performance. An individual patient data meta-analysis of >2,200 patients with cancer identified predictors of recurrent VTE during anticoagulation (age, breast cancer, metastatic disease, direct oral anticoagulant use, and index deep-vein thrombosis). However, predictive accuracy was modest, underscoring the limitations of models relying only on baseline predictors at the start of anticoagulation.In Part III, we evaluated treatment of recurrent VTE despite anticoagulation. A post-hoc analysis of the Hokusai VTE Cancer trial revealed heterogeneous management strategies and high rates of recurrence, bleeding, and mortality. In a prospective observational study, a low-molecular-weight heparin dose escalation strategy did not clearly reduce second recurrences.Overall, this thesis underscores the complexity of cancer-associated thrombosis, the limitations of current prediction tools, and the poor outcomes of recurrent VTE, highlighting the need for improved biomarkers and treatment strategies.<br/
Endoscopic duodenal ablation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes:New insights and techniques
No full textMetabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) are rising worldwide. Largely due to poor diet and lack of exercise. Growing evidence highlights the duodenum, as a key regulator of glucose metabolism. Patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery often show rapid improvement in blood glucose within days, long before significant weight loss occurs. This suggests that bypassing the duodenum itself plays a major role in metabolic benefits. Based on this insight, new therapies have been developed that affect the duodenal mucosa. Since it is easily accessible via upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. One such approach is duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR), an endoscopic ablation technique that removes and regenerates the duodenal mucosa. Clinical studies have shown significant improvements in glucose control, with many patients able to discontinue insulin while maintaining stable blood glucose levels. Another technique is recellularization via electroporation therapy (ReCET), that uses electroporation (pulsed electric fields) to induce similar mucosal renewal in the duodenum. Both techniques have demonstrated durable effects without complications. Beyond glucose regulation, duodenal ablation also improves related metabolic conditions, including fatty liver disease, visceral fat accumulation, and cardiovascular risk factors. Additional research is ongoing to better understand the underlying hormonal and cellular mechanisms.In conclusion, duodenal ablation represents a safe and promising option for the treatment of T2D. Future studies aim to refine these techniques and identify which patient groups will benefit most
Escaping on Iberian ships arriving in Caribbean camps:Second World War refugees in global transit
No full textDuring the Second World War, Jewish refugees fled the Low Countries and found their way to Iberian harbors and ships, and eventually reached the Caribbean. Much to their surprise, they were interned in camps in Curaçao, Jamaica, and Suriname. Their confinement lasted from days to years, after which they pursued varied paths—some relocating within the Caribbean, others moving to the United States, or even returning to Europe to fight the Axis Powers. This dissertation investigates not only their routes and camp experiences but also these histories’ lasting effects and why they remain largely absent from public memory.The dissertation is structured along two approaches. The first two chapters adopt a “locality” lens: The Ship analyzes the refugees’ liminal transatlantic journeys, drawing on scarce shipboard sources and analyzing colonial authorities’ attitudes toward and expectations of Jewish and non-Jewish inhabitants. The Camp compares internment sites, showing how architecture, restrictions, and racialized contexts shaped the lives and experiences of refugees. The third chapter examines the exit routes from internment—through military service, employment, or personal connections—and traces the subsequent wartime lives of refugees across the Caribbean. The fourth chapter extends to postwar trajectories and memory, exploring how flight experiences were woven into family histories and remembered (or forgotten) across continents.Finally, the dissertation demonstrates the value of juxtaposing sites of arrival and stresses the importance of source-finding. Drawing from archives, private collections, synagogue archives, and (recorded) interviews, it reconstructs overlooked histories of global wartime transit and displacement
Golden slumber?:The elusive role of sleep in emotional memory
No full textEmotional memories shape how we perceive ourselves and the world. While they often serve adaptive functions, they have also been linked to the onset and persistence of affective disorders. Sleep is frequently disturbed in these conditions and has been proposed to play a key role in emotional memory processing. Empirical evidence, however, remains inconclusive, and theoretical accounts diverge: whereas some suggest sleep preserves or amplifies memories’ emotional tone, others propose a downregulating effect of sleep. This dissertation investigated whether, and under what conditions, sleep modulates the emotional impact of memories. Across a series of studies, we combined naturalistic paradigms with behavioural and psychophysiological measures. Using socially distressing tasks, we induced autobiographical experiences and later reminded participants of them after intervals including either sleep or wakefulness. Emotional responses triggered by the previously induced memories were assessed through subjective ratings and physiological measures (e.g., facial blushing). Contrary to our predictions, sleep could not be reliably linked to changes in the emotional tone of memories. The observed alterations in emotional responses were often unrelated to memory and sleep. Instead, findings suggest that factors such as future relevance and sleep quality may moderate emotional memory processes. Together, these results highlight the complexity of the relationship between sleep and emotional memories and challenge the idea of sleep as a simple mechanism for reducing or amplifying memories’ emotional tone. While healthy sleep may support general emotion regulation, it does not consistently reshape emotional memories. This work underscores the need for more nuanced models to capture how emotional experiences are processed over time