Promotie

De wetenschappelijke onderbouwing van beleid wordt cruciaal geacht voor goed bestuur. Maar ondanks de overvloed aan beschikbare kennis uit onderzoek en evaluaties, weten we nog maar weinig over de daadwerkelijke invloed die dergelijke evidence heeft op overheidsbeleid. Het onderzoeksprogramma ‘Power…

The NWO-funded Vidi project “American foreign policy and liberalism” challenges the idea that the United States has created and sustained a “liberal international order” since World War II. It instead explores the ways in which illiberal ideologies – such as those underpinning racial hierarchy at home…

How can we quantify the density of species within a community through environmental DNA concentrations?

Investigating epistemic and ethical practices in medical experimentation on humans in the colonial period in Southeast Asia.

Although nanoparticles are extensively used in various applications like consumer products and have most probably entered the environment, little is known about the effects of these particles on living organisms.

The thesis describes the use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, in continuous wave and pulse modes, to address the interaction of α-Synuclein (αS) with membranes and the aggregation of αS.

Promotor: Koen Kuijken Co-promotor: Henk Hoekstra

To contribute to the body of knowledge aiming at a better coverage of ecosystem service assessment in LCA studies, this thesis dives into the challenges of incorporating existing ecosystem service methods within the impact assessment phase of the conventional LCA framework.

1: What is the relative importance of alfa and beta biodiversity in polar ecosystems, and how does intraspecific variation influence this? 2: How can we use remote sensing to determine functional biodiversity (within communities) in polar ecosystems? 3: Temporal and spatial scales of functional biodiversity:…

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-promotor: J.B.F. Juurlink

A plasma is an ionized gas with very low electrical resistivity. As such, magnetic field lines are 'frozen in' and move with the fluid. Magnetic field lines that are linked, knotted and tangled, cannot be undone by the fluid motions.

The external tissues of plants and animals are colonized by microbial communities termed microbiota. When organisms are exposed to environmental pollutants, these substances will therefore encounter microbiota at the exposure interface.

Heterogeneous catalysis is essential to many industrial applications. These catalysts are often comprised of supported nanoparticles, which contain various different surface sites.

Promotor: P.G.L. Klinkhamer, Co-Promotores: K. Vrieling, P.P.J. Mulder

Promotor: Prof.dr. M. Danhof

This thesis manuscript explores the use of video games as tools for conceptual exploration and academic research.

Does roadside management in the mid-west USA increase invertebrate diversity similar to practices in Europe?

Promotor: J. Schaye

Mycorrhizas are symbiotic associations between soil fungi and most plant species.

Promotor: G.P. van Wezel, Co-promotor: D. Claessen

The Vallesian, 11.1-9 Ma, was a special time in the Vallès-Penedes basin near Barcelona, where a biodiversity hotspot existed. Europe had a subtropical climate, with rhinos, forest giraffes, lions, hyenas, flying squirrels and primates.

There is an increasing amount of attention on EU and its Member States contributions to implementation of two landmark agreements: the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Agenda 2030 with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Absent from the current literature is an analysis of the political effect of…

In summary, the collective results described in this thesis show that nanoparticulate vaccines can be delivered intradermally by coated and hollow microneedles and evoke antigen-specific immune responses.

Promotor: J.A. Bouwstra Co-promotor: A. El Ghalbzouri

Membrane fusion is a vital process in living organisms and is mediated by zipper-like proteins.

Clinical development of drugs for central nervous system (CNS) disorders has been particularly challenging and still suffers from high attrition rates.

Promotor: J. N. Kok, Co-promotor: A. J. Knobbe

Promotores: Prof.dr. G.A. van der Marel, M. van Heel

Synthetic microswimmers take an important place within the interdisciplinary field of active soft matter.

For each living organism health is ensured by correct functioning of its cells. Cells therefore have elaborate methods for regulation of their proteins.

n this PhD thesis, the recombination of different atomic lattices in stacked 2D materials such as twisted bilayer graphene is studied. Using the different possibilities of Low-Energy Electron Microscopy (LEEM), the domain forming between the two atomic layers with small differences is studied.

Mensen die de afgelopen drie maanden antibiotica hebben gebruikt, letten meer op negatieve gezichtsuitdrukkingen, blijkt uit onderzoek van postdoc Katerina Johnson en universitair docent Laura Steenbergen. Dit kan mogelijk verklaren hoe antibiotica het risico op het ontwikkelen van depressie vergroo…

In this thesis, the role of plant-mediated soil legacy effects in shaping aboveground plant-insect interactions was investigated.

Promotor: G.A. van der Marel, Co-promotor: J.D.C. Codée

Marine sponges are important members of reef ecosystems, as they play ecological roles that are essential for the health of the reef.

Promotores: Prof.dr. J. A. Bouwstra, Prof.dr. W. Jiskoot

Promotor: R. Verpoorte, Co-promotores: Y.H.Choi, N.R. Mustafa

Promotores: G.R. de Snoo, W.T. de Groot, Co-promotor: C.J.M. Musters

Vitamin A or retinol is essential in embryonic development, the visual cycle and the immune system.

The European Council and the European Commission have a similar role in agenda setting. Both place issues on the EU agenda. However, these institutions have distinct designs. They have different political attributes (the European Council has considerably more political authority) and information-processing…

Promotor: Prof.dr. J. Kuiper

How soil microbial composition impacts structure and composition of the aboveground plant and animal communities?

In this dissertation iron-based homogeneous catalysts were synthesized, characterized and investigated for water oxidation activity.

In this PhD study, I aim to deepen our understanding of the influence of major mycorrhizal types, namely arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) and ectomycorrhizae (EM), on the global soil carbon cycle and their potential distribution changes under future environmental shifts.

Innovation plays an essential role in firms' competitiveness and long-term success. It varies from different types, ranging from run-of-the-mill innovation that brings incremental changes to existing technologies to radical innovation that breaks from existing trajectories.

Human vocal communication and music perception represent advanced cognitive skills, seemingly innate and universal. These faculties encompass a range of perceptual and cognitive abilities. Cross-species research sheds light on the origins of musicality by investigating whether these traits are shared…

The lipids in the uppermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum (SC), play an important role in the skin barrier function. The three main SC lipid classes are ceramides (CER), cholesterol and free fatty acids.

Freshwater is an important resource, but at a great risk of species decline due to habitat loss, pollution and over-exploitation, and invasive alien species.

Promotor: Prof.dr. H.S. Overkleeft