International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion online publications
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Supramolecular immobilization of molecular catalysts on electrodes for solar fuel production
Get PDFThis dissertation investigates if supramolecular interactions can be used to assemble molecular components on electrodes, in particular for solar fuel production. In contrast to the current state of the art catalysts, which employ precious metals, the molecular components described in this thesis are based on abundant elements. We initially carried out fundamental studies to obtain a better understanding of the electrode components. We found that the limited charge conduction of the electrode material could hamper the overall performance of the electrode. Furthermore, we found that the performance of the catalyst we planned to use in the photoelectrode, depended on the conditions it is exposed to. These insights were valuable for the subsequent two chapters, where we assembled new photocathodes for the production of hydrogen and the conversion of carbon dioxide, using hydrophobic interactions. In the final chapter, we used a new approach based on a different supramolecular interaction (π–π stacking) to implement an iron-based molecular catalyst on a gas diffusion electrode, for the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. Overall, we show in this thesis that supramolecular immobilization is a versatile strategy to include molecular catalysts on electrodes. We have shown here that we can install the state-of-the-art molecular first-row transition metal catalysts on (photo)electrodes via self-assembly, using hydrophobic interactions or π–π stacking. These novel electrodes were found to be active in (light-driven) proton and carbon dioxide reduction, underlining the wide applicability of supramolecular immobilization
Silence in the age of transnational memory:Recovering political violence in Romanian contemporary debates
Get PDFThe argument in this manuscript intervenes in the broader debate about the limits, biases and exclusions of the global liberal memory paradigm and the narratives that underpin global liberal democracy. Through a close reading of enduring conservative connotations of being 'liberal' and 'European' in Central and Eastern Europe, and specifically in Romania, the research charts how narratives of political violence have been linked to exclusionary dimensions of liberalism (human rights, neoliberalism) on the one hand, and problematic notions of Europeanism on the other. In particular, I mapped conflicts of memory, debates and contests. The analysis focused in particular on narratives of fragility, vulnerability, victimhood and persecution on the one hand, and of hope and transformation on the other, in order to trace how memory began as a mobilizing force, only to become a deterrent to truly progressive liberal notions, and ultimately to contribute to the demise of its myth. The argument builds on a notion of silence that has emerged in relation to the history of the left and social justice movements, critical narratives of knowledge and geopolitics, the mainstreaming of radical rightist thought, or the exclusionary dimensions of the state and law. In turn, the normative approach to political violence offers insights into a long and complex process of unravelling the idealism of liberalism. The analysis weaves together memory studies, intellectual history and political history to provide a cultural genealogy of the pitfalls of liberal memory
Taha's vision:The modern Sufi theology of Mahmud Muhammad Taha, 1909-1985
Get PDFThe Sudanese Muslim reformer Mahmud Muhammad Taha was executed in 1985 for his opposition to the introduction of Islamic criminal law in his country. His martyrdom in opposing traditional shari‘a and his radical project of Islamic legal reform have been described or mentioned in many books on modern Islam. But the mystical theology underlying his legal reform has been largely overlooked. This book describes Taha’s Sufi-inspired modernist theology in its premodern and modern intellectual context. It argues that his unique reliance on premodern Sufi thought allowed him to go further than his contemporaries in bringing Islam into the modern age, especially with his theory of spiritual evolution and his views on democratic governance and the rights of women and non-Muslims. Taha’s modern understanding of premodern Sufism may be viewed both as a Muslim version of contemporary New Age spirituality and as a Sufi reply to the fundamentalist Salafi interpretations of Islam that have gained worldwide ascendancy in the past few decades
Optimization of systemic treatments for patients with biliary tract cancer
Get PDFBiliary tract cancer (BTC) is a malignancy of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, including the gallbladder. BTC is diagnosed in approximately 1,000 patients annually in the Netherlands. The majority of patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Before the publication of the landmark ABC-02 trial in 2010, there were no standard systemic treatments for BTC. Over the past decade, there has been a substantial increase in the number of conducted clinical trials for BTC. Despite this, limited treatment options are available, all of which provide limited survival benefits. Real-world data is highly relevant to validate the results of clinical trials in daily practice and to monitor the quality of care in daily practice. The main aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness of available systemic treatments in daily practice using population-based data, and to identify subgroups of patients that may benefit most from these treatments. Additionally, we aimed to study the feasibility and efficacy of fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan plus oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) as a second-line treatment for biliary tract cancer
In the shadows of respectability:Gendered trajectories of marital dissidence amongst Dakarois professionals
Get PDFThis anthropological study explores the social obligation of marriage, in Dakar, Senegal, through focusing on how relative socio-economic status can enable people to have more scope to diverge from normative marital paths. Popular narratives imply that those who do not engage with marriage in a normative fashion are considered as unrespectable social outcasts, who are critiqued for: challenging patriarchal gender norms; lacking cultural authenticity; and disrupting normative processes of social reproduction. However, this study examines the lives of educated urban professionals who are dissident towards marriage, yet who, due to their considerable efforts, are not viewed as unrespectable social outcasts. Through an ethnographic exploration of the gendered trajectories of men and women who: have never married; are deferring marriage; are divorced and resisting remarriage; or are planning to engage with marriage in novel ways due to their same-sex desires; the social obligation of marriage comes to be queeried. Their stories thereby cast a critical light upon marriage’s supposed structural power, revealing flexibility and instability, whilst also illuminating the fragile nature of patriarchy. Much like marriage, patriarchy emerges as a fragile social institution that needs constant support and reinforcement to continue exerting its structural power. Through examining the social obligation of marriage from its dissident margins, their stories enabled me to queery – to curiously and critically question and deconstruct – marriage’s structural power. This thesis serves as an example of the power that queer theory, grounded in ethnography, can hold in illuminating the dissident affordances that exist within normative structures
The human element in judicial decision-making:The role of personal attitudes
Get PDFThe dissertation aims to gain insight into the role personal attitudes play in the professional judicial decision-making process. It builds on (i) insights from legal theory on the human element of judicial decision-making and on judicial impartiality, and (ii) what is known from psychological research about the role personal attitudes play in daily decision-making. Based on these theoretical perspectives it can be argued that empirical research on what role judges’ personal attitudes have in their decision-making is lacking. 77 semi-structured interviews were held with Dutch first instance court judges from three different district courts and from all areas of law. The results of these interviews provided insight into whether judges think personal attitudes play a role in their decision-making, and if so, how, and into whether judges experience a conflict between their personal attitudes and their impartiality. Additionally, an experimental vignette study was conducted to explore if, in an experimental setting, attitudes would be present when judges rule in a fictitious case and whether this has a direct effect on the decisional outcome. This dissertation underlines the importance of personal attitudes in the judicial decision-making while at the same time presenting a more intricate picture of their role. It opens a critical conversation about acknowledging and addressing the human element within judicial reasoning, aiming to foster a judicial process that is as fair and unbiased as humanly possible
(Pre)malignant lesions of the biliary tree:Beyond conventional endoscopic management
Get PDFPatients with (pre)malignant lesions of the biliary tree often present with biliary obstruction requiring endoscopic drainage. This thesis explores clinical research aimed at optimising conventional endoscopic management of these lesions and beyond.The first part focuses on the treatment of papillary adenomas, rare precursors to papillary carcinomas. Endoscopic papillectomy is the preferred method, but due to the rarity of these lesions, there is limited consensus on the optimal approach. This thesis proposes a treatment algorithm based on expert consensus and underscores the need for long-term follow-up, given that up to 20% of patients experience recurrence.The second part explores a promising new technique for biliary drainage of the distal bile duct: EUS-guided choledochoduodenostomy (EUS-CDS). Although EUS-CDS using a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) achieves high technical and clinical success rates, stent dysfunction remains a common issue. The thesis evaluates EUS-CDS as an alternative to the current standard ERCP, considers options for improved stent design to reduce dysfunction, and shows that EUS-CDS is safe and effective even in a preoperative setting.The third part addresses the diagnosis and drainage of perihilar and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, tumours that are challenging due to their location and growth patterns. By optimising cytology and the use of next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS), diagnostic sensitivity can be enhanced. While metal stents are preferred over plastic stents for biliary drainage, tumour ingrowth remains a problem. A novel technique, endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (eRFA), seems safe and shows promising results in preventing tumour ingrowth, justifying further clinical research
Optimizing the preoperative selection of patients with ovarian cancer
Get PDFCommon methods used in the preoperative risk of malignancy assessment in patients with an ovarian mass perform suboptimal, leading to incorrect (non-)referral of patients to a specialized center. Serum biomarker human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is considered as an alternative for the common used biomarker Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125). We observed that current literature on HE4 for this purpose was not performed in a population from general centers and therefore not reflecting the second line population in which a risk of malignancy assessment is relevant. In our study in a second-line population, we observed that HE4 was more cost-effective compared to common methods for the risk of malignancy assessment in patients with an ovarian mass from a second-line population. Additionally, circulating tumor DNA seemed to perform better compared to common methods as well. Besides the use of biomarkers in patients with an ovarian mass, we also investigated their usefulness in predicting surgical outcome in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer who have an indication for cytoreductive surgery. We observed that HE4 as part of a non-invasive model predicted well the successful surgery (less than 1 cm residual disease) in patients who underwent interval cytoreductive surgery. Diagnostic laparoscopy can also be considered as an invasive ‘’biomarker’’. Although a randomized controlled trial showed that the diagnostic laparoscopy can be useful in guiding primary treatment in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer, we observed that Dutch gynecologic-oncologists do not support routine implementation in clinical practice. Main reasons were centralization of care leading to a better preoperative selection and the availability of non-invasive alternative diagnostics
Getting grip on tolerance:Antibodies and how to get rid of them
Get PDFInhibitor development remains the most severe and life-threatening complication of FVIII replacement therapy in persons with hemophilia A, as inhibitors are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, inhibitor eradiation must remain the cornerstone of treatment to allow FVIII therapy, which should be attempted in every inhibitor patient unless the chances of success are very low. Until now, it has not been possible to identify patients at highest risk of ITI failure. We identified predictive clinical variables of ITI outcome, implemented in clinically applicable nomograms, which can be used to adequately inform clinicians, patients and their families in shared decision-making to choose the most appropriate treatment. In the future, we hope to extend this nomogram by integrating genetic predictive variables of ITI success, that should be identified after pooling our results with additional data obtained in other registries or cohort studies. Furthermore, to improve current ITI protocols that now achieve 70% success rate, we aimed to identify potential targets to reduce immune activation. We identified a potential role for targeting the inhibitory FcɣRIIb using a modified FVIII-specific human monoclonal antibody in inhibitor eradication. Further approaches to increase ITI success rate remain to be established. Finally, if we could identify the exact immunological mechanism underlying ITI, this will hopefully identify potential novel therapeutic targets allowing us to eradicate more inhibitors in the future