bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Burden of Non-Communicable Disease and It’s Association with Weight Status: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Community of Bangladesh
Authors: Onamika Mensila , Mahmud Sayeed , Khanam Mafruha , Ferdous Nasrin , Ghosh Purnasree , Mazumder Pranay Kumar
Published: November 2024

Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are now the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Bangladesh has also experienced a rapid epidemiological shift from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases due to growing urbanization and lifestyle alteration over the last few decades and this transition is also prominent in rural community of the country. Among all modifiable factors, overweight or obesity is the key risk factor for NCDs. This study aimed to determine the burden of NCD and its link to the body weight status of the rural population of Bangladesh.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a village of Gomostapur Upazila under Chapainawabganj district from February to April 2024 among 135 people. The data were collected with face-to-face interview and Body Mass Index was measured. The data were compiled and tabulated according to key variables and analyzed with IBM SPSS 29.0.2.
Results: Majority 44.5% of the study people belonged to age group 21-40 years. Among them 47.4% were male and 52.6% were female. Maximum respondents were of low-middle socioeconomic condition. Among them around 3/4th of the population was suffering from NCDs. Most of the respondents 24.4% had bone and joint pain followed by Hypertension, Asthma, COPD, Diabetes and Heart Disease at 20.7%, 17.0%, 14.1% and 10.4% respectively. Hypertension, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke and Cancers were more prevalent in the older age group. Hypertension, Diabetes, Stroke and Bone-Joint Pain were seen more in female participants whereas male respondents had more prevalence of Asthma, COPD. Most of the study population had BMI above 25 kg/m2 and the study showed maximum NCDs were prevalent considerably in overweight and obese groups.
Conclusion: The study revealed that, NCDs are highly prevalent among obese older rural population of Bangladesh while management, prevention, awareness and research are low. The integrated programs must be designed and implemented through a primary health care approach and high risk-group targeted interventions should be procurable to combat the rising burden of NCDs.
IAHS Medical Journal Vol 7(1), June 2024; 74-79
eGFR Evalutation among the Hypothyroid Patients Attending at a Tertiary Center of Chattogram
Authors: Alamgir Md , Siddiqui Syeda Rumman Akter , Hoque Asma , Datta Santanu , Barua Meghna , Rahman Imtiaz Ur , Bhowmik Shimul Kumar , Chowdhury Nasreen
Published: November 2024

Background: Hypothyroidism is a prevalent endocrine illness that affects people all over the world. The modulation of renal hemodynamics and basal metabolic rate is disrupted in hypothyroidism. The kidney is generally involved in thyroid hormone metabolism, breakdown and excretion. Chronic renal hypoperfusion affects the hypothalamic pituitary-thyroid axis, resulting in low circulating thyroid hormone levels, changed peripheral hormone metabolism, decreased tissue thyroid hormone content and altered thyroid iodine storage. Recent research has linked an increased risk of hypothyroidism to a decreased estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR). The purpose of the study is to determine the association between eGFR with hypothyroidism in a tertiary care hospital of Chattogram.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was done during July 2022 to June 2023 including 100 diagnosed hypothyroidism cases attending in Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) serum free thyroxine (FT4) serum creatinine, and blood urea were measured. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were determined. The result were analysed using SPSS version 25.
Results: The mean age was 42.76±10.18 years with 93% female. Most of the patients (92%) were in a subclinical hypothyroid state and 8% were in an overt hypothyroid state. The mean ±SD serum creatinine levels and urea levels were 0.8±0.2mg/dl and 25.4±6.5 mg/dl, respectively. The mean eGFR was 75.36±7.54 ml/min/1.73 m2. There was a significant decrease in mean eGFR in the < 60 ml/min/1.73m2 group among the study population. There was a significant association between decreased eGFR and hypothyroidism. Serum TSH had significantly shown a negative correlation with eGFR. Serum TSH level had a significant positive correlation with serum creatinine (r=0.56, p<0.05) and serum urea (r=0.25, p<0.05). There was a significant eGFR difference between subclinical hypothyroidism and overt hypothyroidism.
Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that the hypothyroidism was significantly correlated with decreased eGFR.
IAHS Medical Journal Vol 7(1), June 2024; 86-90
Natural Drainage System and Water Logging in Dhaka: Measures to address the Problems
Authors: Qazi Azizul Mowla  , Mohammed Saiful Islam
Published: November 2024

Dhaka city faces extensive water logging during the monsoon (May to October) as a regular phenomenon due to fast and uncontrolled urbanization. This water logging is a problem creating adverse social, physical, economic and environmental impacts in the life and living in Dhaka. Disruption of traffic movement and normal life, damage of structures and infrastructure, destruction of vegetation and aquatic habitats, loss of income potentials are the prime effects of water logging. This paper focuses on the rainfall induced flooding that is caused by high intensity rainfall runoff in the city area, mainly due to the lack of proper drainage system and inefficient management. Urban design and planning, responsive to the geo-climate and hydrological characteristics of the place will help mitigate water logging problem in the city. A close coordination among urban authorities and collaboration between public and private sectors is needed for sustainable operation of the drainage system to minimize water logging in Dhaka.
Vol. 6, December 2013, pp. 23-33
The Circular Waterway: Saving Rivers of Dhaka by Enhancing Recreation and Place-Making Along Specific Routes
Authors: Jesmin Nahar Sultana  , Roxana Hafiz
Published: November 2024

Waterways are vital productive resources for cities, regions and the country. Rivers provide amenities and services to communities that are taken for granted. Drinking water, food, transportation, communication, recreation, wildlife habitat, aesthetic appeal of places along waterways, economic development, etc. are some of the amenities that rivers provide. Dhaka is a tender land-mass - virtually an island framed by rivers which form a 110 km Circular Waterway around the city. Through place-making the city can also meet its recreational needs, as there are limited opportunities for spending leisure time or weekends within the city. The waterways of Dhaka can provide excellent opportunities to enhance all these and this paper intends to highlight them through better plan and design.
Vol. 6, December 2013, pp. 61-72
PRA: A Tool to Address WatSan Issues and Achieve the Standard In Low Income Settlements An empirical study on a Dhaka slum
Authors: Dipita Hossain  , Nushrat Jahan  , Md Imam Hossain  , Khadija Akhter  , Ishrat Islam  , Naila Sharmeen
Published: November 2024

Most of the slums in Dhaka lack in safe water supply and sanitation facilities. This study was performed in a slum situated near Mohammadpur embankment known as Shopon’s slum. Participatory rural appraisal method was used to collect information and analyze the WatSan problems of the slum. It is built on low lying marsh land and stagnant water. Water supply is illegally obtained from municipal connection and insanitary hanging latrines are used. According to the analysis lack of property rights, financing, lack of space and low elevation are the main reasons for water-sanitation problem of the slum. Resulting effects are inconvenience, long waiting time, disease outbreak, water logging etc. After considering standards set by DPHE and slum dwellers demand, a submerged septic tank system based sanitation plan and a legal water supply with storage tank and collection points for the community is proposed. PRA tools were proved to be helpful for this purpose.
Vol. 6, December 2013, pp. 73-85
An Assessment of People and Place based Community Development: An Analysis on Mirpur Area, Ward no 14 of DNCC
Authors: Nasrin Aktar  , Al Amin Sikder
Published: November 2024

For the development of an area as a potential urban center, two broad types of influential factors namely place-based (facilities attract people) and people based (facilities provided after residential agglomeration) factors can be addressed. The present behavior of urban people leads people to gather surrounding the facilities (place bound) but in terms of the developing countries like Bangladesh, the urban people can hardly experience the benefit of place bound factor rather they compelled to live over people bound factor. The ward no. 14 of Dhaka North City Corporation is developed in the later period of the development of Dhaka City. From the analysis of the study area, it is observed that the study area is developed mainly as a residential community and the community people suffer much from the essential urban civic services. Although, some facilities attracted people to live here (e.g. development of manufacturing processing industries in 1981- 1990), the study area has developed mainly as people based urban community development pattern and planning intervention is not ensured into the study area.
Vol. 6, December 2013, pp. 93-102
Contemporary Issues and Priorities in Addressing the Road Safety Problems of Dhaka Metropolitan Area, Bangladesh
Authors: Bayes Ahmed
Published: November 2024

Road traffic accidents are the world’s number one cause of death among young people between 16 and 24. Bangladesh has one of the highest fatality rate in road accidents in the world. Moreover, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is the most vulnerable city both in terms of total number of accidents and accident rates. A total number of 2,720 accidents occurred within 2007-2011. This has caused a total of 1,481 numbers of pedestrian fatal accidents with 1,562 pedestrian fatal casualties. At this backdrop, road safety problem has become one of the major issues for the transport regulators and traffic law enforcers in Dhaka. The objective of this research is to identify the most accident-prone roads, the victims as well the in-depth reasons for traffic accident in Dhaka Metropolitan Area. In this article, the road safety situation and traffic accident trends are discussed elaborately. It also discusses some contemporary issues and priorities in addressing the road safety problems. Based on the findings of this study, some recommendations related to Engineering, Enforcement, Educational and Emergency Response aspects are made. This kind of research will help generating new ideas to find out the parameters for reducing road traffic accidents in greater Dhaka City.
Vol. 6, December 2013, pp. 103-118
Impact of Telecommunication on Transportation System of Dhaka City
Authors: Khatun E Zannat  , Khadija Akhter  , Md Arif Hasan  , Suman Kumar Mitra
Published: November 2024

Dhaka city, being one of the most densely populated cities of the world, is suffering tremendous problems especially in transport sector. Also, with the increase in level of urbanization the situation is becoming more acute in the unbearable traffic congestion which takes away around 3.2 million work-hours in a year. Telecommunication is another way of communicating besides physical transportation and now-a-days a large number of travel demands can be satisfied through this advancing technology. In Dhaka, both these modes of communication have experienced tremendous growth over the past few decades and since they can serve the same demands to some extent, it is implied that development in one sector may potentially mitigate the problems of other. In this context, this study investigates the impact of telecommunication on transportation system of Dhaka city. From the impact analysis, it has been found that transportation demand has a positive or complementarity relationship with telecommunication demand and transportation cost. Also, telecommunication demand and supply has positive relationship with transport cost in Dhaka city. Socio-demographic conditions tend to reduce transportation cost and increase telecommunication cost. The implication of the effect of land use change is that non-residential use of land contributes towards the increase of both the supply and demand of telecommunications and travel. It is also suggested by the findings that proper integration transport and telecommunication sector is necessary for this city in order to use telecommunication as a substitute of transport sector to improve the mobility of the city dwellers.
Vol. 6, December 2013, pp. 125-135
Transport Sustainability of Dhaka: A Measure of Ecological Footprint and Means for Sustainable Transportation System
Authors: Labib S M , Mohiuddin Hossain , Shahadat Hossain Shakil
Published: November 2024

Sustainable city with sustainable transportation system in now become the heartiest demand for burgher, especially in a city like Dhaka; where ecological imbalance lead to unbearable livable condition with unsustainable growth in every sector resulting the degradation of life quality. Transportation sector in Dhaka is one of the major adherents behind ecological deterioration by emitting enormous CO2 in atmosphere. Thus this study aimed at determining the transport footprint for vehicles travel in Dhaka. The study estimates the CO2 emission from motorized vehicles using average emission factor method and then determines the average bio-capacity of Dhaka city to compare it with the footprint. The study finds out that only for vehicles CO2 emission and physical transportation network; the transport footprint is seventy times larger than the bio-capacity. In transportation sector of Dhaka; ecological footprint credibly depicts the present condition, that is not at all sustainable from environmental friendly transport system context and it also an absolute indication for future concerning transport development pattern and their holes. At this point for developing sustainable transportation system considering ecological balance; Transport Demand Management (TDM), low carbon transport, transit oriented development (TOD), and creation of green corridors can be of some greatest tools for Dhaka.
Journal of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Vol. 6, Dec 2013, pp. 137-147
Review of on-Street Parking Scenario of Motijheel Commercial Area (Dainik Bangla to Shapla Square)
Authors: Mahfuza Akter  , Taslima Akter  , Aktaruzzaman  , Abu Hussain
Published: November 2024

Parking problem is one of the burning issues in transport study for any commercial and business area. Efficient movements of vehicle as well as usages of surrounding lands are greatly affected by provision of parking. Motijheel, the CBD of Dhaka has been experiencing an upsurge of parking demand over the last few decades. To investigate the present on- street parking condition of Motijheel area a study consists of parking inventory survey and parking usage survey by patrol has been conducted from Dainik Bangla to Shapla Square. This study has revealed that overall demand is 2.73 times greater than available supply. Relatively longer duration of parking is mainly responsible for this. To get a more detailed overview different parking considerations like parking accumulation, parking index, parking duration, turnover, spill over etc are also calculated. On the basis of survey and analyses, some recommendations have been provided to improve the situation.
Journal of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Vol. 6, Dec 2013, pp. 173-180
Intentionality, Pygmalion, and Cognitive Fun Redirects Elementary School Children in Pull-Out Neural Enrichment
Authors: O'Mahony Timothy Kieran , Langston Caitlin
Published: November 2024

This study describes an academic enrichment intervention for 15 ‘high risk’ children who were pulled out of General Education classrooms in Bangalore India for 40 minutes four-times a week during a typical school year. Could a brain-based intervention reduce achievement gaps that showed up for these children in terms of below-grade academic outcomes and impoverished social and emotional wellbeing? The null hypothesis stated that a teacher’s mental model that shifted to brain-based methodology would have no perceivable effect on (i) children’s academic achievement or (ii) their social and emotional engagement. This study was grounded in teacher education literature involving mental models that illuminate classroom management techniques. Subjects were drawn from second grade students (mean 6.7 years; n = 15). Study was an opportunistic quasi-experimental design reflecting school life across India. Qualitative ethnographic data using grounded theory were triangulated with quantitative measures that best account for observed outcomes. Findings highlight significant academic, and social and emotional growth, which dramatically reduced the achievement gap for all participants.
Evaluating Generation Alpha Through the Lens of Organizational Practice
Authors: Srivastava Babita
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we use insights from OB and OT to analyze ways in which firms can help serve the needs of newly emergent organizational subjects and consumers. Our analysis is based on newly emergent demographics that differ from earlier generations in significant, non-trivial and unique ways. This presents both a threat and an opportunity to firms, as they search for consumers to satisfy and organizational subjects to deploy in the service of economic success. We identify ways in which firms can deploy demographic shifts to their advantage and identify ten emerging industry segments where these shifts will prove critical.
Facility Compliance and Natural Disaster Events: Evidence From the U.S. Clean Air Act
Authors: Hoe SingRu , Liu Lirong , Hsiao Daniel
Published: November 2024

With the increasing severity and frequency of natural disasters, we investigate the impact of such events on company environmental performance in the United States. This study analyzes the effect of natural disasters on facility compliance with the Clean Air Act throughout the sample period from 2013 to 2022. Our findings show that facilities located in disaster areas are associated with higher violation rates. By examining individual types of disasters separately, we find that the results are most pronounced for floods, fires, and severe storms. We suggest that regulators collectively evaluate the environmental policies and practices for companies in areas prone to natural disasters.
The Impact of Earnings Management on CEO Equity Incentives
Authors: Lee Jangwook
Published: November 2024

This paper investigates whether firms adjust CEO equity incentives in response to prior earnings management. I show that the risk-taking incentives from new equity grants are lower for firms with higher prior real earnings management (REM), but not for firms with higher prior accruals-based earnings management (AEM). These adjustments are associated with sustained earnings management over the three years before the grant, but not with transitory earnings management. Additionally, I show that firms with higher institutional ownership primarily drive the negative relationship between REM and AEM and risk-taking incentives from new equity grants. My results are consistent with firms altering compensation incentives to restrain managers’ value-reducing behavior, in part, due to the monitoring of institutional investors.
How Prepared Are US States for a Recession: An Update
Authors: Elder Erick M.
Published: November 2024

Rainy day funds are a common tool that most US states use to help mitigate the fiscal stress caused by economic slowdowns that reduce state government revenue. Except for a very brief (but very severe) recession in 2020 caused by the pandemic, most states have generally experienced an economic expansion since the end of the Great Recession in 2009 giving them well over a decade to accumulate savings in a Rainy-Day Fund (RDF) to help weather an economic downturn. This paper examines how state RDF’s have changed over the past decade and how these changes have affected each state’s ability to weather an economic downturn.
Потенціал застосування надлегких сталей для виробництва елементів броні військової техніки
Authors: Voron Mykhailo , Skorobagatko Yuliia , Tymoshenko Andrii , Semenko Anastasiia , Schwab Serhiy , Smirnov Oleksiy
Published: November 2024

Мета роботи: Проведення аналізу хімічного складу і властивостей сучасних сталей для виготовлення елементів бронезахисту військової техніки з надлегкими сталями в контексті пошуку нових матеріалів, які можуть зменшувати масу засобів озброєння та захисту.
Метод: аналіз, експертна оцінка.
Результати дослідження Показано актуальність застосування матеріалів з низькою, по відношенню до звичайних сталей, густиною для виробництва елементів бронезахисту.  Проведено порівняльний аналіз сталей, які використовуються у виробництві броні та вказано на потенційну технологічну і економічну доцільність використання з цією метою надлегких сталей.
Теоретична цінність дослідження: Запропоновано і обґрунтовано використання інноваційних матеріалів для потреб створення і модернізації військової техніки, зокрема для виробництва елементів бронезахисту, що може сприяти покрещенню її тактико-технічних характеристик.
Практична цінність дослідження: Проведено коротке системне порівняння складу і властивостей найбільш відомих і надійних марок броньових сталей з перспективними надлегкими сталями, які мають схожі механічні та експлуатаційні характеристики. Описано технологічні прийоми для підвищення комплексу властивостей та потенціалу надлегких сталей для виготовлення бронезахисту військової техніки.
Цінність дослідження: Дослідження покликане привернути увагу до можливостей масштабної модернізації існуючих та створення нових зразків військової техніки за рахунок застосування нових матеріалів.
Майбутні дослідження: Буде здійснено пошук партнерів для практичного впровадження наявних розробок авторів і проведення експлуатаційних та балістичних випробувань.
Еволюція підходів до кадрового менеджменту в Збройних Силах України в умовах воєнного стану
Authors: Maslii Oleg , Olekhnovych Viktor
Published: November 2024

Мета роботи: аналіз підходів до кадрової політики, які застосовуються у державному секторі країн світу і, зокрема, у Збройних Силах України, її напрямів, форм та методологічних засад.
Метод дослідження: компаративний.
Результати дослідження: виділено основні типи кадрової політики, серед них – державного рівня, активного спрямування, закрита і конкурентноорієнтована. Визначено, що поширена у довоєнний період (до 2014 року) концепція щодо більшої ефективності залучення цивільних спеціалістів для виконання завдань у Збройних Силах не виправдовує своїх очікувань у воєнний час. Це пов’язано зі специфікою завдань, що виконуються. Проаналізовані складові кадрової політики, визначено місце і роль освітнього компонента у стратегічних концепціях кадрового менеджменту. Одним з ключових завдань кадрового менеджменту, зокрема, в галузі логістичного забезпечення, на всіх рівнях є передусім питання формування професійних військових шляхом якісної підготовки військових спеціалістів, їхнього просування по кар’єрним сходам і максимально ефективного використання людського ресурсу для вирішення поставлених перед Збройними Силами завдань.
Цінність дослідження: визначення стратегічних концепцій кадрового менеджменту в умовах воєнного стану дозволить досягти оптимального рівня ефективності у питаннях використання людського ресурсу для вирішення поставлених перед Збройними Силами завдань.
Тип статті: теоретична.
Трансформація стійкості держави в умовах глобалізації світу
Authors: Alieksieienko Iryna , Kovalyshyn Liudmyla
Published: November 2024

Purpose: is to analyse the modern process of forming state stability in the conditions of the transformation of the international political security space.
Method: The research was conducted using a neo-institutional approach, historical and systemic methods, a comparative approach, and a functional method.
Findings: Determination of the conceptual foundations of the formation of state stability in the conditions of a crisis international security environment.
Theoretical implications: It consists in forming a holistic view of modern theories of the institution of the state and the factors that ensure its stability against the background of the aggravation of contradictions in the international political and security environment caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Practical implications: The main political, economic and security factors were analysed, and a model was formed based on the neo-institutional approach to ensure the stability of the state institution in the conditions of worsening globalisation threats and the formation of a new architecture of the international security environment. This study can be a valuable resource for professional researchers, analysts in geopolitics and geostrategy, security and defence sector representatives, international organisations, and state and local authorities.
Originality: It consists of applying a neo-institutional approach to ensuring the stability of the state institution in the context of the crisis of the international political and security environment triggered by Russiaʼs aggression against Ukraine.
Обґрунтування підходу до оптимального підбору показників діяльності сектору оборони України
Authors: Tkachenko Vitaly , Chornenkyi Oleksii , Нatsenko Serhii , Mordvinof Serhii
Published: November 2024

Мета роботи: На основі аналізу існуючих підходів щодо оцінювання діяльності урядових організацій в Україні та в країнах-членах ЄС і НАТО сформувати рекомендації щодо удосконалення системи показників діяльності сектору оборони України.
Метод дослідження: для реалізації мети дослідження використано метод комплексного аналізу та узагальнення – для формулювання наукових визначень та висновків.
Результати дослідження: спроба підвищити ефективність реалізації заходів з його розвитку та запровадити зрозумілу, прозору, всебічну систему оцінювання діяльності складових сектору оборони.
Теоретична цінність дослідження: теоретичні положення, висновки та рекомендації, викладені в роботі, можуть стати основою для подальших наукових досліджень й дискусій з питань підвищення продуктивності діяльності сектору оборони України.
Практична цінність дослідження: реалізація рекомендацій і пропозицій, обґрунтованих у роботі, дозволить вдосконалити процес стратегічного управління діяльністю сектору оборони України.
Оригінальність/Цінність дослідження: в даному дослідженні побудова комплексної системи показників діяльності сектору оборони України ще не були предметом комплексного наукового дослідження.
Обмеження дослідження: обмеження дослідження полягає у використанні джерел, що знаходяться у відкритому доступі.
Тип статті: теоретичний, практичний.
Метод оцінювання ефективності заходів щодо підвищення енергетичної та воєнної безпеки держави
Authors: Kliat Yurii , Tolok Polina , Diegtiar Oleg , Cherneha Tetiana
Published: November 2024

Мета роботи: викладення основних положень методу оцінювання ефективності заходів щодо підвищення енергетичної та воєнної безпеки держави.
Метод дослідження: використовуються методи системного аналізу та векторної алгебри.
Практична цінність дослідження: запропонований метод оцінювання ефективності заходів щодо підвищення енергетичної та воєнної безпеки держави можна використовувати під час розроблення програмних документів стосовно розвитку енергетичної сфери держави, визначення шляхів протистояння негативним зовнішнім та внутрішнім факторам, проведення досліджень з енергетичної безпеки держави, зокрема визначення можливостей держави щодо протидії загрозам.
Тип статті: теоретична.
Rebuilding a repertoire; reconstitution of γδ T cells after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors:   , Janssen Anke
Published: November 2024

γδ T cells are among the first immune cells to recover after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). SCT still remains the only curative treatment for various hematological malignancies, but is often complicated by infections, relapses and graft versus host disease (GVHD). T cells play a crucial role in in both the desired graft versus leukemia effect and severe complications such as GVHD. Whereas αβ T cells are extensively studied after SCT, the role of γδ T cells is less clear. In this thesis the role of γδ T cells after SCT is explored and their potential for therapeutic interventions is investigated. We showed a favorable outcome with less GVHD after αβ T cell depleted SCT in a multicenter prospective phase 1/2 clinical study. In depth analyses of the immune system after αβ T cell depleted SCT in the context of viral reactivations such as CVM and EBV showed the differences in reconstitution of the αβ- and γδ T cells. In the abcense of sufficient numbers and diversity of αβ T cells, γδ T cells played a crucial role in the first months after SCT as was suggested by focussing of the γδ T cell receptor repertoire. In the second part of this thesis we identified novel tumor reactive γδ T cell receptors against a variety of cancer types. These receptors are tested in the TEG format (αβ T cells engineered to express a defined γδTCR) and will be leads for future γδ T cell based immune effector cell therapies.
Notch signalling dynamics during mouse development and homeostasis
Authors:   , el Azhar Yasmine
Published: November 2024

In this thesis we investigate the Notch signalling pathway, which is known to play a crucial role in embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. A key component of this pathway is the Hes1 protein, regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. By studying the dynamics of Hes1 expression, the role of the Notch pathway in tissue formation across different contexts can be uncovered.
To do this, a new Hes1-Achilles mouse model was created, in which the Hes1 protein is endogenously coupled with a fluorescent protein. This enables real-time visualization of Hes1 expression at single-cell resolution, which was not possible before. Thus, by generating this model, the study of Hes1 dynamics in living tissues is made possible, offering insights into how cells behave during development and homeostasis.
We first examined Hes1 dynamics in the presomitic mesoderm (PSM) and preneural tube (pre-NT) of the mouse embryonic tail, where single-cell resolution enabled detailed analysis of cell-specific behaviour. We wanted to do this, because each cell type may respond differently to signalling cues, revealing diverse regulatory mechanisms. Indeed, our results showed synchronized oscillations in PSM cells and irregular differentiation-linked oscillations in pre-NT cells. Furthermore, Notch inhibition significantly altered Hes1 expression patterns in a cell-type-dependent manner.
The role of the Notch pathway was also studied in the small intestine, where a gradient of Hes1 expression was uncovered in the crypts. In addition, oscillations with periods of 90, 130, and 170 minutes suggest that Hes1 dynamics contribute to tissue patterning and homeostasis. How these dynamics regulate stem cell behaviour, can now be explored in further studies.
Disentangling the web
Authors:   , Dimas Martins Afonso
Published: November 2024

Vector-borne diseases are a major global health concern, causing over 700 000 deaths annually. These diseases are spread by insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and flies, which carry harmful pathogens from one host to another. Common examples include malaria, dengue fever, and West Nile virus.

This research explores the intricate ways these diseases spread, with a focus on questions such as:
1. What is the impact of species not directly involved in disease transmission, but that interact with the species that do?
2. How do mosquito biting preferences affect disease spread?
3. What is the role of competition between different species in disease dynamics?

We find that when mosquito species compete with each other, it tends to reduce the risk of disease spread. However, the opposite is true for host species competition, which can increase transmission risk. The research also shows that mosquito feeding preferences play a more significant role when host species are in fierce competition.

Surprisingly, even species not typically associated with disease spread can sometimes increase transmission risk if they strongly compete with species that do carry the disease. For West Nile virus specifically, the study identifies mosquito feeding preferences and mosquito-to-bird transmission rates as critical factors. Natural and rural habitats are found to be more susceptible to West Nile virus, with different mosquito types taking center stage in various environments.

This thesis also shows that when mosquitoes have an increased attraction to malaria-infected hosts, this can facilitate the introduction of malaria to new areas as well as influencing the spread of other diseases like Usutu virus. We also find that even when conditions aren't favorable for a major outbreak, small, temporary outbreaks of vector-borne diseases can still occur.

These findings are just a small sample of the complex nature of vector-borne disease transmission. They highlight the importance of integrating real-world data with mathematical models to enhance our ability to predict disease spread and develop more effective public health strategies.
Looking backwards to move forward
Authors:   , Spoormakers Tijn Jan Pieter
Published: November 2024

Like humans, horses can have back pain. Fortunately, humans can verbally communicate with a doctor to specify where and to which extent they have pain. In contrast, horses cannot verbally communicate and are reliant on their caretaker/rider for recognising signs of suspected pain, and the veterinarian’s ability to diagnose the source of pain. During the exam, veterinarians observe how the horse moves, but agreement between veterinarians on what constitutes normal and abnormal movement in horses with back pain, has not been studied. In this thesis, visual examination from several veterinarians and objective (through computer) measurements were compared. Several differences were observed, not only between the veterinarians, but also between the veterinarians and the computer. The results generate serious food for thought, and room for improvement.
Computer measurements and wearable sensor technologies were also used to evaluate the impact of lameness on the range of motion and muscle activity of the legs and back of the horse. Differences were noted between forelimb and hind limb lameness. Hindlimb lameness had a larger effect on both back motion and muscle activity, which is important to know when horses with orthopaedic problems are examined.
Further in this thesis, anatomical and pathological variations in foals and different horse breeds were examined with computer tomography. These studies show a large variety within and between breeds, which were present in both ridden and unridden populations.
Given the horse’s inability to directly communicate with the veterinarian this thesis provides equine veterinarians with new anatomical and biomechanical insights into the equine back. This information can be used to advance understanding and applied in practice to improve the veterinary examination of horses with back problems.
Suspended matter transport in the coastal turbidity maximum zone along the Holland coast
Authors:   , van der Hout Carola Margaretha
Published: November 2024

This research focuses on the elevated concentrations of suspended sediment along the Dutch coast. This suspended sediment consists of a mixture of fine minerals (silt and clay), microorganisms, algae and nutrients that cause natural turbidity in seawater. The Dutch coast forms a transit zone of suspended matter from the Strait of Dover to the Wadden Sea. This sediment is crucial for the Wadden Sea ecosystem because it creates nutrient-rich soils and is important for silting mudflats and the coast to compensate for sea level rise.
The study combines data from two measurement programs in 2010-2012 to map suspended matter transport and the influence of factors such as tidal currents, waves and biological influences. Measurements took place between IJmuiden and Callantsoog, where high concentrations were found. The results show a persistent turbidity zone with high suspended matter concentrations on average only 1.5 km from the coast.
The observed suspended matter concentrations show significant variations over time, influenced by tides, waves and seasonal biological activities. Storms lead to resuspension, after which, due to slow settling velocities, the highest concentrations exceeding 1000 mg/l occur during calm weather conditions in a post-storm period. Then a thin, concentrated layer of silt reappers near the seafloor. Seasonal fluctuations are also evident: high concentrations are usually measured in autumn and winter, while spring and summer show lower values.
In calm conditions, the tide provides a net northward transport in the turbidity zone. The influence of the wind (via resuspension by waves and amplification of currents) plays a larger role in the annual net transport. This causes a large variation in net transport during the year and between years. Thus, it is essential to integrate all time scales when calculating annual transports in order to capture the full dynamics of sediment transport. The measurements give an estimate of the average annual northward transport in the turbidity zone of 2.5 Mton.
A Three-Dimensional Exploration of the Facial Musculature
Authors:   , Schutte Hilde
Published: November 2024

In this thesis, the convergence of facial aesthetics and facial surgery was elaborated. It created 3D average facial models, explored upon facial expressions, and created methods for imaging and assessment of facial musculature. The creation of these models and atlases provides valuable reference materials for clinicians, aiding in surgical planning and assessment of facial morphology and dynamics.

The research highlights the importance of 3D imaging over traditional 2D methods, offering more consistent and comprehensive analysis. The dynamic analysis of facial expressions provides insights into normal and abnormal facial movements, which is crucial for both diagnosis and treatment planning.

The innovative use of 7 Tesla MRI technology represents a substantial improvement in visualizing and understanding facial musculature, which can enhance surgical precision and outcomes.

Based on the results of this thesis, future steps can be taken to enable automatic segmentation of the entire facial musculature. The ultimate goal is to develop reliable, automated methods for muscle segmentation, making the process faster and more applicable in clinical settings. This is of great importance in the evolvement of facial surgery, as it allows for individualized surgical planning and, potentially, better prediction of surgical outcomes. For the maxillofacial surgeon, one of the potential implications lies within orthognathic surgery. For example le Fort I osteotomies, where predictions on soft tissue outcomes are still challenging. Moreover, it could aid in assessment of cleft surgery, where modelling the muscles prior to surgery indicates how they must be repositioned, or after surgery to evaluate correct repositioning. Other implications are facial reanimation after facial paralysis, or face lift procedures. In these types of surgery, information of anatomy of facial muscles might aid in perioperative assessment to improve outcomes.
“If it remains out of sight”
Authors:   , Baalbergen Frederik Huibert
Published: November 2024

‘If it remains out of sight’ - Housing governance for refugees and migrant workers in the Netherlands

In recent years, housing and immigration have become two of the most debated issues in Dutch society. The present dissertation sheds light on decision-making processes in housing provision for refugees and migrant workers from Central and Eastern Europe. The thesis also shows the crucial role that housing plays in people's opportunities to build a living in the first years after arrival.

Regarding decision-making processes, the thesis demonstrates that the alleged desires of the general population often drive housing development for migrant workers and refugees. In practice, this translates to pushing migrant workers out of the existing housing stock, stalling the development of housing for migrant workers, and the development of lodging which intends to keep them out of sight. Refugees are also kept out of sight by being forced to live in remote asylum reception centers while they await a decision on their residence permit. After receiving a residence permit, legally recognized refugees are dispersed throughout the country in order to 'spread the burden'.

The findings show that these practices can have a negative impact on their ability to build a livelihood in the first years after arrival. Refugees have more difficulty finding employment, enrolling in education, or learning Dutch if they are kept in remote and highly institutionalized reception centers for longer periods of time. Dispersal to places that offer few opportunities also makes it more difficult for them to participate in society. We conclude that being ‘kept out of sight' is detrimental to individual migrants, but also economically costly to society as a whole; delays in refugees' economic integration prolong their dependence on welfare benefits.
Social Entrepreneurship in the cocoa industry in West Africa
Authors:   , Busquet Milande Maria
Published: November 2024

This dissertation examines the role of social entrepreneurship in creating social value in international value chains. The research focuses specifically on addressing labor issues in the cocoa value chain in West Africa and the influence of local communities in creating (social) value. Through qualitative case studies and fieldwork in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, the complexity surrounding labor issues is highlighted and a local perspective is offered on issues of child labor and (social) interventions in international value chains.

Various theoretical perspectives are used to explore the above issues. The Global Value Chain (GVC) perspective describes farmers and children as production factors, and child labor as a negative externality of low income. The Sustainable livelihood Approach (SLA) provides a local perspective and describes farmers and children as family and community members. Work on cocoa farms is part of a wide range of activities based on rural upbringing, with advantages and disadvantages. A broader lack of access to capitals plays a role in child labor. Alternative livelihood and development opportunities for children are a more fruitful discussion than the absence/presence of child labor.

This thesis furthermore identifies a process of community bricolage—the influence of local community dynamics in creating (social) value and exchanging livelihood resources, through norms and values that apply in the different communities.

Finally, this thesis evaluates social value creation and labor issues through a capability lens, in which freedom and individual human choice are central. This perspective distinguishes between structures that create or block freedoms, and the ultimate evaluation of what is valuable to an individual. This leads to the identification of different roles that social entrepreneurship can have regarding social value creation in international value chains:
(1) Facilitating global discourses on child labor. This includes the integration of local perspectives and values, with a focus on children's well-being and children's developmental opportunities
(2) Participation in value chains by changing structures, creating opportunities, and removing barriers for other actors (e.g. farmers) to create value and generate a living income
(3) Mobilizing stakeholders within and outside value chains to address labor challenges and facilitate social change and access to resources
(4) Navigating and facilitating the co-creation of social value by other active actors in the value chain, including communities, farmers, and children themselves
(5) Assessing existing institutions (including international treaties, resolutions, and other forms of (soft) legislation) and renegotiating them to include all value systems of the parties involved
A rural(–urban) perspective:
Authors:   , Spanier Julia Ramona
Published: November 2024

This PhD thesis explores the role of agricultural grassroots initiatives (AGIs) in societal transformations away from the capitalist status quo. AGIs are bottom-up, small-scale alternatives that exist within (and in opposition to) the dominant industrial agri-food system. In the thesis, they are not only considered for their role in the transformation of the agri-food system, but of capitalist society at large. They are thereby perceived both as safe environments within which post-capitalist ways of relating to each other and the environment can be experimented with, and as actors who engage with their outside world and initiate or fight for political changes.

Specifically, this thesis embeds these initiatives and their engagement for societal change in their rural–urban geographies. It focuses on the ways in which their actions are contextualised by rural and urban space, and investigates how they transform rural-urban dynamics: how AGIs change the relationship between countryside and city, and how they may initiate progressive, post-capitalist transformations in villages and rural regions.

Empirically, the thesis explores the case of community-supported agriculture (CSA) in Germany. CSA is a type of small-scale farming that relies on a direct linkage between producers and consumers. Consumers share the costs and risks of a farm and in return receive a share of the harvest. Often, these initiatives stretch across culturally defined rural-urban boundaries, connecting rural or peri-urban producers to predominantly urban members.

Amongst others, the thesis finds that CSAs have the potential to nurture material solidarity and care between rural producers and urban consumers, and may even facilitate encounters between rural and urban communities that go beyond the exchange of food. It also finds that CSAs may partake in the transformation of rural places, encouraging alternative, post-capitalist practices and politics in villages or contributing to the revitalisation of social and cultural life in the countryside. At the same time, the thesis illuminates that none of these potentials are automatically realised through the mere structure of a CSA. Not all CSAs automatically contribute to the local politics in their villages, and not all CSAs entail meaningful rural–urban encounters: They may, under some conditions, even CSAs (re)produce disharmonious relations between city and countryside.

Overall, the thesis illustrates the importance of rural–urban collaborations and alliances for progressive, post-capitalist societal change, stressing the potential of hybrid, rural–urban initiatives—such as CSAs—in facilitating these alliances. While identifying, through the case of a possible alliance between the degrowth movement and the CSA movement, several challenges and hindrances to such alliances, the thesis emphasises their relevance at a time of multiple socio-ecological crises and a rising far right.