International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion online publications
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Patchwork gentrification:Fragmented urban governance, residents' experiences and resistance in Lima
Full text linkThis dissertation examines the trajectories of gentrification in Lima through the lens of urban fragmentation and neoliberal urban governance. Focusing on the central districts of Barranco and Lince, it investigates four key dimensions characteristic of gentrification processes after the neoliberal turn: new-build gentrification, touristification, privatisation of public spaces, and resistance of local residents. Drawing on qualitative methods, including ethnographic observations, interviews, and document analysis, the research traces how state-led and private sector interventions converge with local practices to produce uneven patterns of urban transformation. Building on existing gentrification debates, the dissertation introduces the concept of patchwork gentrification to account for the fragmented, locally variegated, and often non-linear trajectories observed in Lima. This framework is operationalised through three analytical layers: metrics, interpretations, and practices. It allows for a nuanced understanding of how real estate speculation, symbolic displacement, and selective investment reinforce existing inequalities without necessarily producing mass physical displacement. By bridging theoretical discussions on neoliberal urbanism with an in-depth empirical study of Lima, the dissertation contributes to debates on urban fragmentation and the differentiated impacts of gentrification in Latin America. It highlights how governance logics, market dynamics, and resident strategies interact to reshape urban space in ways that are both contested and contingent. In doing so, it advances knowledge on the assemblage of actors, forces and practices that drive urban change and offers a framework for analysing gentrification processes in cities characterised by entrenched socio-spatial inequalities
Optimising PROTACs against integral membrane proteins
Full text linkIntegral membrane proteins (IMPs) play a critical role in the pathophysiology of a range of diseases. Resistance mechanisms to conventional IMP-targeted therapeutics have driven the need for novel modalities. While PROteolysis TArgeting Chimeras (PROTACs) have shown significant potential for degrading cytosolic proteins, their use in the targeted degradation of IMPs remains challenging due to structural complexity and limited accessibility of IMPs. This thesis explored novel approaches to support the development of IMP-targeted PROTACs. First, potential reasons underlying the complexity of targeting IMPs for PROTAC-mediated degradation were discussed. These included the strong IMP-lipid bilayer interaction and poor understanding of the mechanism of degradation. Next, we addressed current limitations in traditional immunoblotting, which has low throughput and lacks spatial resolution. We proposed an immunofluorescence-based protocol, which provides increased accuracy, a qualitative and quantitative insight into degradation efficacy and a critical distinction between cell membrane-localised and intracellular IMP protein pools. To address the underutilisation of the E3 ligase repertoire, we also developed a ligand-independent E3 ligase recruitment system, integrated with an imaging-based assay, to identify putative E3 ligase candidates. Lastly, we integrated machine learning with proteome-profiling to characterise off target effects of androgen receptor-targeted PROTACs. We demonstrated a link between observed mitochondrial toxicity and the respiratory chain complex I and provided an analytical framework for the proteome-guided rational PROTAC development. Overall, the body of work conducted as part of the PhD thesis provides novel insights into more effective drug development for the targeted degradation of IMPs
The creation of obligations under international law by diplomatic assurances issued in the context of expulsion
Full text linkThis study examines whether diplomatic assurances issued from one state to another in the situation of the expulsion of individuals can create obligations under international law. The study is conducted against the background of non-refoulement, the legal duty of states to refrain from expelling individuals to states where they may face a risk of torture, persecution or other serious mistreatment. This obligation prohibits expulsion when the predictable risk to the person surpasses a certain threshold. As part of the risk appraisal, a receiving state may provide “diplomatic assurances” to alleviate the concerns of the expelling state. If these assurances sufficiently mitigate the risk, then nonrefoulement is not implicated. Yet it remains unclear whether such assurances create any obligations under international law. It is often said that diplomatic assurances are merely political pledges, but this casual, overbroad assertion fails to appreciate the subtle differences among assurances as well as the nuances in international practice. This study finds that assurances in fact can create obligations under international law, in certain conditions. In turn, where assurances create obligations, states giving those assurances should incur state responsibility if they mistreat the person contrary to the assurances, opening the door to the traditional means of enforcement. More broadly, if the conditions under which assurances create obligations were explicated and acknowledged in international practice, expelling states may predict with greater confidence that an individual will not be mistreated, and non-refoulement would not be implicated.</p
Toward opportunities for inclusive GP-specialty training:On building bridges over the unspoken undercurrents
Full text linkMigration has led to rapidly increased diversity in population demographics, necessitating a healthcare system that addresses its population's varied cultural and social needs. Given primary care's central role, these developments require a GP-workforce that reflects and respects this diversity. However, despite this requirement, ethnic minority GP-trainees in the Netherlands seem more at risk of being assessed as underperforming than their majority peers.This dissertation investigates barriers and facilitators faced by these trainees, examining the impact on their professional development and identifying strategies for fostering an inclusive training environment. The research comprises four complementary studies: Quantitative Analysis of Underperformance Assessments: An analysis of 1,700 trainees revealed that those from minority backgrounds are at a significantly higher risk of being labeled as 'underperforming,' even after adjusting for age and gender.Lived Experiences of Minority GP-Trainees during their 'Educational Journey': In-depth interviews with 14 trainees highlighted experienced bias, microaggressions, and a lack of belonging within predominantly 'white' institutions.Coping Strategies of these trainees: Trainees reported various coping mechanisms, including emotional distancing, religious support, and peer networking, which may put them at risk for isolation and hinder professional growth.Intervention Development: Seven interventions were proposed and co-designed with trainees and faculty. These include mandatory DEI training for all stakeholders, DEI ambassadors, and a significant voice for minority trainees in their curriculum. The researchers underscore the need for continuous evaluation and adjustment in GP-specialty training programs to ensure a genuinely inclusive educational environment that reflects the diversity of the broader society.</p
New insights in the management of pancreatic diseases
Full text linkThe primary objective of this thesis is to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients with pancreatic diseases. In Part I, we focused on novel insights for the early detection of pancreatic cancer (PDAC). We conducted two case-control studies involving PDAC patients who had undergone imaging before PDAC diagnosis (Chapter 2 and 3). Skilled radiologists retrospectively analyzed the data, revealing that a notable portion of prediagnostic PDAC patients exhibited suspected pancreatic masses in imaging, while controls showed minimal occurrences. Additional features such as pancreatic duct dilation, pancreatic atrophy, and pancreatic steatosis were also associated with PDAC.Part II centers on the challenges in diagnosing and managing pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN). CEA in cyst fluid is a commonly applied biomarker for distinguishing mucinous from non-mucinous PCN, and Chapter 4 of this thesis demonstrated that a revised cutoff of ≥20 ng/mL had optimal diagnostic accuracy. In Chapter 5, we examined four biomarkers in pancreatic juice to differentiate CP and IPMN with main-duct involvement. Mutated KRAS exhibited high sensitivity for IPMN but limited specificity, whereas GNAS mutation displayed the opposite pattern. The assessment of CEA and glucose did not significantly contribute. Chapter 6 compared three guidelines for managing mucinous PCN, with the European and IAP guidelines outperforming AGA but potentially leading to excessive surgeries. Chapter 7 showcased that large BD-IPMN without other risk factors had a low prevalence of advanced neoplasia.In Part III, Chapter 8 described that the Pancreas Elastase 1 Quick Test™ was found to be less accurate than conventional methods for diagnosing exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Chapter 9 examined vitamin D deficiency in CP patients, revealing a high prevalence but no clear difference between CP patients and controls
The effects of time on managers and investors in corporate social responsibility
Full text linkAn emerging body of literature has started to examine the cognitive drivers and financial outcomes of corporate social responsibility (CSR). This Ph.D. research aims to shed light on the overall research question: How do the time perspectives of managers and investors affect their actions with respect to CSR?Specifically, Chapter 3 explores how managerial cognition influences the CSR strategies of Chinese small and medium enterprises. An analysis of qualitative data showed that integrative complexity and temporal orientation work together to shape managers’ strategic goals with respect to CSR, and hence lead to differences in CSR strategies.Chapter 4 examines the impact of top executives’ time horizons on the CSR disclosures of publicly listed Chinese firms. The analysis of a sample of 2,341 firm-year observations from 482 listed Chinese firms during the period of 2010 to 2014 showed that as executives’ time horizons shorten, a firm discloses more CSR information.Chapter 5 examines the responses of institutional investors to the corporate social responsibility and irresponsibility of listed U.S. firms. The analysis of a dataset comprising 11,280 quarterly observations from 670 listed U.S. firms over the period 2007-2014 showed that firms that behave responsibly experience an increase in dedicated institutional ownership, whereas firms that behave irresponsibly face a decrease in transient institutional ownership.Jointly, these three empirical studies indicate that the temporal aspects of cognition affect decision-making related to CSR. Besides having implications for management practice, this dissertation extended the knowledge on the cognitive antecedents and behavioral consequences of CSR
Brick is warmer than concrete:Aesthetic anxiety and the making of architecture in Eastern European cities
Full text linkAs numerous projects of beautifying cities make it clear, the appearance of built environments is gaining more and more relevance. How cities look concerns not only architects and inhabitants, but state officials, investors, and international organizations, all interested in making urban space as aesthetically pleasing as possible. While effects of urban beautifications have been well documented—they increase property values, crystallize a city’s ‘brand,’ and drive the displacement of marginalized populations— why ‘beauty’ is so powerful and efficient in asserting particular political projects remains underexplored. Bridging insights from cultural sociology, geography, and science and technology studies, this dissertation explains how material aesthetics of architecture come to be invested with cultural power. The study is built around two case studies, Wrocław in Poland and Klaipėda in Lithuania, and it reveals how ‘beauty’ and ‘ugliness’ of architecture were understood in both cities in the period from 1945 until today, and how these understandings are practiced nowadays when architectural professionals resolve dilemmas concerning designing, reconstructing, and maintaining buildings of various historical periods. Drawing upon archival materials, go-alongs, and more than one hundred interviews with architects, planners, state officials, and activists in both cities, the dissertation offers a comprehensive analysis of how notions of ‘beautiful’ and ‘ugly’ architecture can turn into critical terrains where meanings of the past, history, the nation, and the state acquire strong emotional resonances for individuals and are experienced as personally relevant to them
History and physics entangled:Disciplinary intersections in the long nineteenth century
Full text linkThis dissertation uncovers historical relations between two knowledge disciplines that are usually defined in contrasting terms: history and physics. My main claim is that the histories of these disciplines have crucially depended on one another: they are “entangled.” To support this claim, I describe the sharing of three knowledge-making tools by historians and physicists in nineteenth-century German-speaking contexts: the concept of “fact,” the epistemic virtue of “exactitude,” and the method of source criticism. I argue that, by sharing these tools of knowledge making – which I subsume under the notion of “cognitive goods” — German historians and physicists defined the boundaries of their disciplines, while also maintaining a common, empirically oriented culture of knowledge making. I also pay attention to the divergences that emerged as part of these disciplinary intersections. In particular, I show that historians and physicists assigned different roles and interpretations to the concepts, virtues, and methods that they shared. This illustrates a fundamental aspect of how disciplinary communities interact: when they share tools of knowledge making, these tools inevitably transform. Finally, this dissertation aims to contribute to a better understanding of the historical relation between the natural sciences and the humanities. Previous historiography has dealt with these areas of knowledge mostly in separate terms. However, as this entangled history illustrates, disciplines that we today consider as belonging to the humanities or the natural sciences, turn out to have an intimately connected history. Hence, their histories should be studied not separately, but in relation to one another
Kosovar youth correctional institutions from the prospect of rehabilitation
Full text linkThis dissertation is guided by Self Determination Theory (SDT), and examines how living group climate and academic involvement may create conditions for successful rehabilitation of incarcerated juvenile delinquents in Kosovo, and what is known in international literature about the effectiveness of aftercare programs in reducing criminal recidivism and ensuring sustainable rehabilitation? The dissertation uses a mix of quantitative (e.g., meta-analysis) and qualitative (interviews and case studies) research methods. Findings highlight the importance of supportive environments and attending formal education in meeting the psychological and criminogenic needs of incarcerated juvenile delinquents in Kosovo from the perspective of successful rehabilitation. The meta-analysis revealed that mentoring and multimodal aftercare programs, targeting multiple risk and protective factors for juvenile delinquency, can effectively reduce recidivism and promote successful reintegration into society. Research findings from the four empirical studies that are part of this dissertation provide insights and practical implications for enhancing rehabilitation and reintegration of incarcerated juveniles in Kosovo, and possibly other collectivistic cultures or countries that experience less or more economic strains. The dissertation may also contribute to empirical knowledge on the putative (universal) ‘what works principles’ of successful judicial interventions.There are four studies: 1. Study 1: Validation of the Living Group Climate Instrument (published: Selimi, R., Llullaku, N., van der Helm, G. H. P., (Geert-Jan) Stams, G. J. J. M., & Roest, J. (2024). Living Group Climate in Kosovo and Albania: Internal Structure and Reliability of the Prison Group Climate Instrument (PGCI). Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/24732850.2024.2425635)2. Study 2: Living group climate in youth correctional facilities in Lipjan, Kosovo: A mixed method study.3. Study 3: Academic Motivation of Incarcerated Juveniles from the Perspective of Self-determination Theory: A Multiple Case Study (published: Selimi, R., Llullaku, N., (Peer) Van Der Helm, G. H. P., Stams, G. J., & Roest, J. (2023). Academic Motivation of Incarcerated Juveniles From the Perspective of Self-Determination Theory: A Multiple Case Study in Kosovo Context. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X231198805) 4. Study 4: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis of Aftercare Programs for Juvenile and Young Adult Offenders. <br/
<i>Wenyi</i> and its discontents:A study of creative practices and politics in Hong Kong
No full text“Time will pass while our voice will last,” I titled the conclusion of this project with this line of lyrics, which I wrote in 2022. This line points to a key question of this project: How and when is wenyi politically engaged in the protests in Hong Kong? With the accelerating integration into China, and a definite return to Beijing looming in the year 2047 (Sino-British Declaration 1984), the future is increasingly unspeakable. Whilst it is often claimed that the future belongs to the young, a group of young literary practitioners, wenyi, have been involved in and struggling with, if not failing, their engagement with the anti- Extradition Law Amendment Bill movement in Hong Kong. This project asks when and how the creative practices of this group of wenyi practitioners– ranging from flash mobs to art, and from music to poetry – and politics intersect during the Anti-ELAB protests.The Hong Kong protests provide a unique prism through which to study the entanglement between creative practices, wenyi culture, and politics. Among the eruption of large protests worldwide, Hong Kong was a reference of Chilean and Catalonia protests. This project explores the relations between creativity, youth, and politics in Hong Kong by zooming in on wenyi practitioners – local young creative practitioners involved in different phases of the protests, from the beginning to the period of abeyance