International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion online publications
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Dramaturgie van het antropoceen:Theatraliteit in transitie(s)
Get PDFIn dit proefschrift heb ik onderzocht wat theater kan betekenen in een tijd van (klimaat)crises. Theatraliteit en dramaturgie staan centraal als creatieve concepten en praktijken om de kritiek op het antropoceen te doordenken. In vier hoofdstukken analyseer ik hoe vijf hedendaagse Nederlandse performances toekomstscenario’s voor leven en sterven in – en na - een instabiele en onzekere tijd vormgeven en aldus alternatieve narratieven voor klimaatverandering presenteren. De hoofdstukken verbind ik door drie Interludes, waarin als tussenspel theatraliteit en dramaturgie ingezet worden om te oefenen met een andersoortige taal voor een verstrengeld tijdperk
Self driving labs for the optimization of photochemical processes
No full textThe integration of automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics into synthetic chemistry has ushered in a new era of self-driving laboratories (SDLs) capable of accelerating reaction optimization and chemical discovery. This thesis presents RoboChem, an advanced SDL platform designed for the optimization of photochemical processes. By leveraging Bayesian optimization and automated experimentation, RoboChem efficiently explores chemical space, reducing the number of required experiments while improving reproducibility and scalability.Chapter 1 introduces the field of SDLs, emphasizing their potential to overcome inefficiencies in traditional organic synthesis. Chapter 2 details the development of the RoboChem platform, including its hardware and software architecture, fluidic automation, and AI-driven decision-making. Chapter 3 applies RoboChem to synthetic photochemistry, demonstrating its capability for optimizing reaction conditions, light intensity, and catalyst loadings. Chapter 4 expands the platform’s utility to automated substrate selection and functional group tolerance testing, enabling high-throughput dataset generation for machine learning applications.By automating photochemical optimization, RoboChem enables rapid discovery of efficient reaction conditions, minimizes human intervention, and enhances safety. The findings in this thesis highlight the transformative role of SDLs in modern chemistry, paving the way for broader applications in reaction discovery, materials science, and beyond
How human are our machines?:Rethinking how we communicate with social robots
Get PDFAs robots make their way into unstructured contexts, they are required to have social characteristics to effectively communicate with users, posing the question: To what extent do existing theoretical frameworks apply to interaction with modern social robots? Our theoretical understanding of interaction with media agents is derived from the Computers-Are-Social-Actors (CASA) framework. Since its conception, there have been significant advancements to media agents themselves, people’s understanding of media agents, and the nature of interaction between these media agents and people, which has transformed people’s understanding and expectations of media agents from what CASA predicted.This dissertation conducted two cross-sectional experiments and one longitudinal survey. The first study focused on the effect of interdependency and a robot’s display of augmented cognitive capabilities on human-robot team behaviour and found that when participants perceived the robot as a teammate, they did not experience more team affinity or behaviour than when they did not perceive it as a teammate. The second study found that when being helped by a robot, participants did not reciprocate the helpful behaviour, even with the presence of a single humanlike social cue (a face). The third study was based on data from an eight-week study, in which children interacted with a social robot within their own home. It did not find any robust long-term patterns between social presence and perceived companionship.These findings indicate the need to update theoretical frameworks such that they can better explain social responses in (long-term) interactions between advanced social robots and experienced users
Prevention of surgical site infections
Get PDFSurgical site infection (SSI) is a common and concerning healthcare-associated infection. The first part of this thesis explored the impact of SSI on both patient health and economic burden. Specifically, it evaluated the impact of SSI and anastomotic leakage on cost and quality of life. In addition, a qualitative study investigated the physical and emotional experiences of patients with negative pressure wound therapy with instillation. Last, a cross-sectional study examined patients’ experiences and preferences regarding surgical wound care education at discharge in the Netherlands.The second part of this thesis investigated the efficacy of individual interventions aimed at reducing SSI risk, addressing gaps in existing knowledge, and highlighting discrepancies in current guidelines. Systematic reviews and (network) meta-analyses were conducted to assess the effects of different preoperative skin antiseptics, incisional wound irrigation solutions, and incisional negative pressure wound therapy on SSI. Additionally, the potential effect of operating room door openings on SSI rates was investigated in a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis. The findings from four chapters of Part II have contributed to the development of recommendations for the Dutch guideline for the prevention of SSI, which was published in 2024
Large benthic foraminifera under the pipette:Method development and ecological assessment in the Spermonde Archipelago
Get PDFCoral reefs are described as the rainforest of the seas, because they form a marine hotspot of biodiversity. Some coral reefs live and thrive in murky waters; they are important to study because they might provide refugia for corals and other reef organisms in face of climatic instability, especially the rise of sea water temperature. To assess this concept and to monitor the dynamics of coral reefs over time and space, multiple methods were developed, including the use of bioindicator species. Large benthic foraminifera (LBF), millimetre-sized unicellular marine protists, has proven to be very useful in assessing environmental conditions in coral reefs. Compiling 25 years of research from turbid coral reefs located in the Spermonde Archipelago, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, I answer three main questions: 1) Can LBF communities be used as a warning signal for reef benthic community shift?2) Can molecular methods be used to assess LBF community compositions reliably?3) Which environmental factors trigger the spatial distribution of LBF species?This work contributes to the greater understanding of the ecology of LBF by the means of morphological and molecular data analysis. Building upon thirty years of pioneer molecular research in foraminifera, I demonstrated the strength of LBF in monitoring reefs using molecular methods in a quantitative manner. Finally, I underscored how the combination of multiple LBF taxa provide complementary information on the reef environmental conditions in terms of water quality and substrate characteristics. This information is essential to picture ancient reefs and to anticipate future changes of present coral reefs
An annotated theory of tonal jazz harmony
Get PDFThis 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
The impact of pediatric post-COVID-19 condition:Navigating the long and winding road
Get PDFFive years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many children continue to experience long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This thesis explores the impact of Pediatric Post-COVID-19 Condition (PPCC) at global, national, and individual levels.Part I examines pediatric post-COVID-19 care programs internationally, highlighting challenges, multidisciplinary approaches, and the need for standardized guidelines. The International Post-COVID-Condition in Children Collaboration (IP4C) revealed a high burden of symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive difficulties globally, yet few objective abnormalities in diagnostic testing were found. Treatment is primarily focused on rehabilitation and symptom management.Part II investigates PPCC in the Netherlands, analyzing prevalence, risk factors, and other clinical outcomes. A nationwide study found that PPCC was more common after severe COVID-19, and is associated with reduced physical health-related quality of life. Further research into children hospitalized for severe COVID-19 or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) revealed long-term respiratory impairments in symptomatology and functional tests, emphasizing the need for tailored follow-up care. The role of multidisciplinary clinics in providing individualized treatment is also explored.Part III assesses the impact of PPCC on children’s daily lives. Three clinical phenotypes were identified, offering insights into the large variability in symptoms and patient characteristics. Additionally, children with PPCC demonstrated significantly lower quality of life and increased risks of anxiety, depression, and sleep-related impairments compared to children with chronic health conditions and healthy peers.This thesis underscores the need for standardized healthcare and research protocols, and individualized, multidisciplinary care strategies to improve outcomes for children with PPCC
Pathways of entrepreneurial urban governance:Spatial dynamics and community politics in Istanbul's regeneration
Get PDFWhat happens when urban governance adopts state-driven entrepreneurialism? Istanbul—a city metamorphosed into a canvas with its towering megaprojects—tells a profound tale of power, policy failures, and post-populist adaptations. Through the lens of Istanbul's transformation, the dissertation focuses on socio-spatial dynamics and community politics of entrepreneurial urban governance. While this governance model promises economic growth and innovation, this study reveals a fundamental tension: even as it generates new forms of social capital and community engagement, it simultaneously intensifies socio-spatial inequalities and marginalizes resistance and contestation, especially through state-led interventions. Highlighting Istanbul’s large-scale regeneration as a case to understand the broader phenomena of non-Western entrepreneurial governance, this dissertation contributes more diverse perspectives to urban governance scholarship. The outcomes demonstrate how state-driven entrepreneurial strategies are not fixed in one mode but fluctuate depending on scenarios shaped by resistance, negotiations, or multi-level interactions among urban actors. These governance mechanisms move back and forth between contrasting approaches—from top-down planning to self-organization and to post-populist politics.This dissertation argues that authoritarian entrepreneurial governance paradoxically creates conditions for local innovation and resistance. Local actors leverage state-designed tools and frameworks to challenge the system itself, either by re-politicizing depoliticized governance frameworks or by shaping community politics through market-driven imperatives. Urban residents display varieties of ‘entrepreneurial citizenship’, institutionalizing self-organization or adopting post-populist responses that imitate entrepreneurial practices of the state and property developers. This demonstrates how entrepreneurial governance, even in authoritarian contexts, can emerge as a platform for negotiated urban governance
Unlocking palladium catalysis:S,O-ligand-promoted C-H functionalization of arenes
Get PDFOver the past decades, palladium-catalyzed (Pd-catalyzed) C–H activation has revolutionized the formation of C–C and C–X bonds, offering atom- and step-economic transformations without the need of pre-functionalization. Recently, non-directed C–H activation has gained increasing attention as a straightforward approach, driven by the development of diverse ligands. This thesis focuses on advancing non-directed C–H functionalization using arene as the limiting reagent through innovative Pd/S,O-ligand catalytic systems, delivering efficient and industrially relevant methodologies.More specifically, a para-selective Pd-catalyzed C–H alkynylation of anilines enabled by the S,O-ligand is presented in Chapter 2. This method achieves good yields with a broad substrate scope, showcasing its potential for downstream synthetic applications.A versatile C–H arylation reaction for anisole derivatives using aryl iodides under mild conditions is presented in Chapter 3. This methodology achieves arylation with excellent efficiency and selectivity, accommodating diverse substrates and enabling late-stage functionalization of bioactive molecules.Chapter 4 describes a Pd/S,O-ligand catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenative homocoupling of arenes, employing O2 as the sole oxidant at room temperature. This transformation affords biaryl dimers with high regioselectivity. Its application to the synthesis of a key precursor of the Upilex® monomer demonstrates the industrial relevance of the methodology.By expanding the utility of Pd/S,O-ligand catalysis, these studies establish a foundation for more sustainable and versatile C–H functionalization reactions, driving innovation in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, functional materials, and beyond
Potassium and its effect on natriuresis and cardiovascular outcomes in health and kidney disease
No full textIn this thesis, we explored the complex relationship between potassium intake, natriuresis, blood pressure (BP), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in health and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In the first chapter, we studied dietary potassium intake in the general population and found that higher intake was associated with lower systolic BP and reduced CVD risk—particularly in women. Notably, in women, the association between potassium intake and systolic BP was modified by sodium intake. In the following chapters we examined the acute effects of a single oral potassium load on potassium and sodium balance. In healthy individuals, both changes in acid–base balance and aldosterone levels contributed to potassium uptake and excretion. Moreover, in healthy individuals, natriuresis increased in response to a single oral load of potassium, while in patients with CKD G3b–4 potassium-induced natriuresis was absent. Next, we evaluated the effects of 14-d supplementation of potassium chloride in patients with CKD G3b–4. We showed that potassium supplementation increased plasma potassium, but had no significant effect on BP or eGFR. Also, in proteinuric CKD patients, the proteinuria, but not BP-lowering response to losartan during a habitual high-sodium diet was hampered during high potassium intake. However, differences disappeared after sodium status change by low-sodium diet. Finally, we reviewed potassium management in haemodialysis patients, emphasizing the need for individualized strategies. Altogether, this thesis highlights that the beneficial effects of potassium may highly depend on patient characteristics including sex, sodium intake, kidney function and use of single renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) blockers