International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion online publications
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Escaping on Iberian ships arriving in Caribbean camps:Second World War refugees in global transit
Full text linkDuring 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
From darkness to light:Exploring deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression
No full textDeep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising intervention for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This thesis explores its neurobiological mechanisms, symptom trajectories, effects on cognitive functioning, and response predictors. Findings from a systematic review of neuroimaging studies indicate that TRD may be a distinct major depressive disorder subtype, characterized by abnormalities in default mode network and occipital lobe functioning. Furthermore, we show that DBS effectively reduces depressive symptoms across all dimensions in TRD, although insomnia symptoms may improve at a slower rate. Additionally, patients with more anxiety symptoms, who typically tend to have worse pharmacological treatment outcomes, may particularly benefit from DBS. Using a meta-analytic approach, we further show that DBS for TRD does not lead to a decline in cognitive functioning. Two neuroimaging studies show that vALIC DBS normalizes amygdala hyporesponsivity and modifies amygdala functional connectivity in TRD. In addition, findings indicate that baseline and changes in reward circuit activity is associated with DBS outcome, although there was no significant effect of vALIC DBS on reward circuit functioning in patients compared to healthy controls. A systematic review and meta-analysis of preoperative predictors found no reliable predictors of response to DBS in TRD. Although further research is necessary, some findings suggests that a less chronic, more treatment-responsive course of depression may be associated with response, as well as hyperactivity in the subcallosal cingulate gyrus. In order to improve and personalize DBS treatment in TRD, future research should focus on personalizing DBS targets, identifying response predictors, and enhancing DBS treatment with adjunctive therapies
Serotonin and dopamine:An updated investigation of neurochemical signals surrounding appetitive and aversive stimuli
Full text linkMany people believe that dopamine and serotonin are key players in experiencing reward and happiness, but this understanding oversimplifies the complex roles these neuromodulators play in influencing behavior. Our current understanding of dopamine and serotonin signaling remains incomplete, limiting the development of effective treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), addiction, depression, and Parkinson’s disease. In this thesis, we employed high-precision techniques with high specificity, sensitivity, and temporal resolution to better characterize dopamine and serotonin signaling. By utilizing fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) to measure real-time serotonin and dopamine release and optogenetics to selectively activate serotonergic neurons, we investigated how these neuromodulators respond to appetitive and aversive stimuli on behaviorally-relevant timescales. We found dopamine release is differentially regulated across striatal subregions and that, within the ventromedial striatum (VMS), value-based changes in dopamine signaling in response to rewards occur rapidly and incorporate both model-based and model-free reinforcement learning mechanisms. Additionally, we found that VMS dopamine tracks aversive stimulus duration and prediction but not value or prediction error. Lastly, we observed that serotonin mildly promotes voluntary actions and ongoing movement but does not influence instinctive or compulsive behaviors. Together, our findings provide new insights into how dopamine and serotonin influence behavior in response to appetitive and aversive stimuli. These insights offer promising avenues for improving therapeutic strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders
Clinical dilemmas in diagnosis and treatment of breast disease
Full text linkThis thesis explores various clinical dilemmas in the treatment of breast disease, focusing on the phyllodes tumor and early-stage breast cancer. The first section of this thesis focuses on the phyllodes tumor. The second section addresses challenges in early breast cancer treatment, including the use of FDG-PET/CT, selecting patients for neoadjuvant systemic treatment and selection for delayed oncoplastic surgery. The thesis concludes with the DESCARTES study protocol, investigating whether radiotherapy can be omitted for patients with pCR after neoadjuvant therapy. Overall, the thesis emphasizes the need for individualized treatment strategies to improve outcomes and address persistent clinical challenges in breast cancer care
The sacred networks of Dersim sayyids:An oral history approach to Alevi bonds and tribal affiliations
Full text linkThis thesis examines the hereditary organization of holy families among the Alevis, a minority religious group in Turkey primarily comprising Kurdish and Turkish ethnicities. Although Alevism is part of the Shia branch of Islam, it diverges significantly from mainstream Shia traditions. The Alevis’ minority status dates back to at least the 16th century when, under Ottoman rule, they were labelled rafizis (heretics) by Sunni authorities. Consequently, Alevis faced severe persecution and were often forced to seek refuge in remote rural areas, far from administrative centers. Despite these challenges, they preserved their religious identity through religious organizations structured around two main entities: the Bektashi order and independent holy families. While much of Alevi historiography has focused on the Bektashi order, this thesis emphasizes the independent holy families, particularly the Dersim sayyids. Concentrated in Dersim (Eastern Turkey), these families established hereditary ties with tribes and maintained influence until the 1970s. Faced with a lack of historical documents, this research relies on hereditary networks observed through fieldwork. The affiliation map between sayyid families, as well as the connections between sayyids and tribes, provides valuable data to enhance our understanding of their history. The oral traditions of these families also make it possible to pinpoint key turning points in past centuries. Furthermore, the findings of this research allow for a critical evaluation of major assertions in Alevi historiography and the formulation of new questions for future research
Diagnostic approaches, ventilation and fluid management in patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure
Full text linkThis thesis investigates key aspects of ventilation, fluid management, and diagnostic approaches in critically ill patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, including those with COVID-19. It explores differences in ventilation strategies, aspects of fluid management, and the impact of advanced imaging techniques on diagnosing and managing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).A central focus is the comparison of ventilation management between pre-pandemic ARDS and COVID-19 ARDS. The findings indicate that key ventilator settings differ significantly between these patient groups, with implications for clinical outcomes. Another key aspect is the comparison of high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) and invasive ventilation in COVID-19. Using the Berlin definition’s PaO2/FiO2 cutoffs resulted in three cohorts with varying mortality rates, highlighting differences in risk classification and patient outcomes.Fluid management is also extensively analyzed, with particular attention to medication-related fluid creep. The findings suggest that a substantial portion of daily fluid intake in critically ill COVID-19 patients originates from intravenous medications, highlighting opportunities for fluid reduction through early oral transitions. Additionally, a higher cumulative fluid balance is associated with prolonged ventilation and worse outcomes.Overall, this research provides insights into optimizing ventilation strategies, refining fluid management, and improving diagnostic approaches in critically ill patients, with potential implications for future clinical practice. Finally, this thesis assesses ARDS classification accuracy, showing that an 8-grade confidence scale with lung ultrasound and CT improves consistency. It also examines prone positioning’s effects on lung aeration, inhomogeneity, and compliance in spontaneously breathing, invasively ventilated COVID-19 patients using electrical impedance tomography (EIT)
Flowing with intelligence:Machine learning driven screening, optimization and prediction of photocatalytic reactions in flow
Full text linkThis thesis presents the development of intelligent, machine learning-guided workflows for the optimisation, screening, and prediction of chemical reactions. The work bridges the fields of chemistry, automation, and data science, with the aim of improving how experimental data is collected and used to drive discovery in synthetic chemistry.The thesis spans three main projects. The first focuses on RoboChem, an automated flow platform designed for self-optimisation and scale-up of photocatalytic reactions. By integrating Bayesian optimisation, RoboChem demonstrated efficient enhancement of reaction yield and throughput in a reproducible and data-rich manner.The second project explores a high-throughput experimentation workflow for reaction screening. Using an initial dataset and a Random Forest model, the method predicts promising reaction conditions in unexplored chemical space. This approach successfully identified new C(sp³)–C(sp³) bond-forming reactions.The third project centres on reaction prediction, particularly using data collected via RoboChem. Substrates were clustered to guide targeted experimentation, generating a dataset that enabled reaction outcome predictions under various conditions. While further data is needed for broader generalisation, the results show the predictive potential of RoboChem-generated data
When the esophageal sphincter fails:New treatment strategies on achalasia and GERD
No full textThe first part of the thesis focuses on treatment of achalasia, comparing two methods: single series pneumatic dilation (PD) and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). Our study of 133 patients showed that POEM was more effective than PD after five years was more effective than PD, with 81% of patients in remission, compared to 40% with PD.However, patients treated with POEM were more likely to use proton pump inhibitors.In addition, a phenomenon seen after treatment with POEM was described; a pseudodiverticulum or distal focal dilatation at the site of the myotomy, also called a 'blown-out myotomy' (BOM). This is seen in one-third of POEM patients five years after initial treatment. Patients who developed a BOMhad higher acid exposure time, more reflux complaints and symptoms of regurgitation. We concluded that the presence of a BOM could explain for certain symptoms that patients develop in the years following a myotomy.The second part of the thesis explores new treatments for gastro-esophageal reflux disease. The natural supplement benesco™ was investigated but found to be no more effective than a placebo in reducing reflux symptoms. Ziverel, a gel that forms a layer in the esophagus, offered no significant benefit for patients with persistent reflux symptoms who were taking concurrent proton pump inhibitors.A promising treatment is endoscopic anti-reflux mucosectomy (ARMS). In patients with therapy-resistant reflux symptoms, ARMS led to a significant reduction in reflux episodes and acid exposure, with no increase in swallowing problems.This technique may be an effective option for a certain group of patients who do not respond well respond to medication
Disentangling the metabolic and psychological wiring in obesity:A look beyond the scale
Full text linkThis thesis investigates the biological mechanisms underlying obesity and obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and MASLD-MASH, through a systems biology perspective. It emphasizes the multifactorial nature of obesity and its complexities. At its core is the BARIA study, a large longitudinal cohort examining metabolic and psychological changes following bariatric surgery.A key focus is bile acid metabolism, leveraging a unique dataset of portal bile acids to gain deeper insights into the enterohepatic circulation in individuals with severe obesity. The interaction between portal bile acids and the gut microbiota emerges as critical. Alterations in bile acid profiles after surgery revealing pathways potentially linked to diabetes remission.The thesis also addresses complications of bariatric surgery, such as post-bariatric hypoglycemia. Using high-throughput sequencing, acylcholines were identified as a novel pathway that may influence glucose metabolism, providing new insights into the condition’s underlying mechanisms.Psychological dimensions of obesity are explored, including the identification of distinct psychological phenotypes that may impact post-surgery outcomes. Additionally, the role of self-compassion is highlighted as a potential factor in enhancing patients' overall well-being.Finally, the gut microbiota's role is underscored by the discovery of microbiota-generated ethanol in the portal vein, correlating with MASLD-MASH markers and suggesting a significant role in disease pathogenesis.In summary, this research integrates microbiome, metabolic, and psychological factors, advancing understanding of the complexity of obesity and metabolic diseases while paving the way for innovative, personalized treatments
Light-driven CO<sub>2 </sub>reduction in metal-organic frameworks:Strategies for catalyst immobilization
Full text linkThe increasing concentration of atmospheric CO₂ due to fossil fuel overreliance demands innovative solutions to mitigate climate change and transition toward a carbon-neutral society. This thesis focuses on the development of a hybrid catalytic platform for photocatalytic CO₂-to-CO reduction, combining the high activity and selectivity of molecular catalysts with the stability and recyclability of heterogeneous systems. In this work, we employed porous, tuneable, and hierarchical coordination polymers, known as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), to immobilize an active and selective CO₂ reduction molecular catalyst, creating a hybrid material. Initially, the optimal catalyst loading within the MOF was identified to balance porosity and catalytic performance to optimize CO₂-to-CO conversion. The study further explored different installation strategies for the catalyst within the MOF, revealing that the coordination linkage between the catalyst and MOF provides the most robust attachment, minimizing leaching and enhancing long-term stability. Next, a comparative analysis between 3D and 2D assemblies highlighted the trade-off between initial catalytic performance and durability, with MOFs demonstrating superior recyclability. Finally, the hybrid material was integrated into a dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cell, where a redox mediator facilitated electron transfer from the photoelectrode to the catalytic sites within the MOF. The fabricated device achieved a stable photocurrent, leading to the formation of CO. This work advances the understanding of hybrid catalysts for solar fuels, emphasizing the importance of catalyst loading, immobilization strategy, and integration into functional devices. The findings offer a promising step toward scalable and sustainable artificial photosynthesis.