bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conversion of organic micropollutants with limited bromate formation during the Peroxone process in drinking water treatment
Authors: Knol A. H. , Lekkerkerker-Teunissen K. , Houtman C. J. , Scheideler J. , Ried A. , van Dijk J. C.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Advanced oxidation with O3 / H2O2 (peroxone) was conducted on pilot plant scale on pre-treated Meuse river water to investigate the conversion of organic micropollutants (OMPs) and the formation of bromate. Fourteen selected model compounds were dosed to the pre-treated river water on a regular basis to assess the efficiency of the peroxone process and to establish the influence of the water matrix. The ozone dose was the main factor in the conversion of the model compounds, however, the ozone dose was limited because of bromate formation. The hydrogen peroxide dosage had only a minor effect on the conversion, but it limited the bromate formation effectively. In terms of limited chemical consumption, maximal conversion and to comply the strict Dutch drinking water act for bromate of 1 μg L−1, a practical peroxone setting was 6 mg L−1 hydrogen peroxide and 1.5 mg L−1 ozone. During the investigation period, the average conversion of the model compounds was 78.9 %. The conversion of OMPs was higher at higher water temperatures and lower concentrations of DOC and bicarbonate. The bromate formation also was higher at higher water temperature and lower bicarbonate concentration and proportional with the bromide concentration, above a threshold of about 32 μg L−1 bromide. The peroxone process can be controlled on basis of the (derived) parameters water temperature, bicarbonate and DOC.
Designing a suite of measurements to understand the critical zone
Authors: Brantley S. L. , DiBiase R. , Russo T. , Shi Y. , Lin H. , Davis K. J. , Kaye M. , Hill L. , Kaye J. , Neal A. L. , Eissenstat D. , Hoagland B. , Dere A. L.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Many scientists have begun to refer to the earth surface environment from the upper canopy to the depths of bedrock as the critical zone (CZ). Identification of the CZ as a worthy object of study implicitly posits that the study of the whole earth surface will provide benefits that do not arise when studying the individual parts. To study the CZ, however, requires prioritizing among the measurements that can be made – and we do not generally agree on the priorities. Currently, the Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory (SSHCZO) is expanding from a small original study area (0.08 km2, Shale Hills catchment), to a much larger watershed (164 km2, Shavers Creek watershed) and is grappling with the necessity of prioritization. This effort is an expansion from a monolithologic first-order forested catchment to a watershed that encompasses several lithologies (shale, sandstone, limestone) and land use types (forest, agriculture). The goal of the project remains the same: to understand water, energy, gas, solute and sediment (WEGSS) fluxes that are occurring today in the context of the record of those fluxes over geologic time as recorded in soil profiles, the sedimentary record, and landscape morphology. Given the small size of the original Shale Hills catchment, the original measurement design resulted in measurement of as many parameters as possible at high temporal and spatial density. In the larger Shavers Creek watershed, however, we must focus the measurements. We describe a strategy of data collection and modelling based on a geomorphological framework that builds on the hillslope as the basic unit. Interpolation and extrapolation beyond specific sites relies on geophysical surveying, remote sensing, geomorphic analysis, the study of natural integrators such as streams, ground waters or air, and application of a suite of CZ models. In essence, we are hypothesizing that pinpointed measurements of a few important variables at strategic locations will allow development of predictive models of CZ behavior. In turn, the measurements and models will reveal how the larger watershed will respond to perturbations both now and into the future.
VISIR-I: small vessels, least-time nautical routes using wave forecasts
Authors: Mannarini G. , Pinardi N. , Coppini G. , Oddo P. , Iafrati A.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. A new numerical model for the on-demand computation of optimal ship routes based on sea-state forecasts has been developed. The model, named VISIR (discoVerIng Safe and effIcient Routes) is designed to support decision-makers when planning a marine voyage. The first version of the system, VISIR-I, considers medium and small motor vessels with lengths of up to a few tens of meters and a displacement hull. The model is made up of three components: the route optimization algorithm, the mechanical model of the ship, and the environmental fields. The optimization algorithm is based on a graph-search method with time-dependent edge weights. The algorithm is also able to compute a voluntary ship speed reduction. The ship model accounts for calm water and added wave resistance by making use of just the principal particulars of the vessel as input parameters. The system also checks the optimal route for parametric roll, pure loss of stability, and surfriding/broaching-to hazard conditions. Significant wave height, wave spectrum peak period, and wave direction forecast fields are employed as an input. Examples of VISIR-I routes in the Mediterranean Sea are provided. The optimal route may be longer in terms of miles sailed and yet it is faster and safer than the geodetic route between the same departure and arrival locations. Route diversions result from the safety constraints and the fact that the algorithm takes into account the full temporal evolution and spatial variability of the environmental fields.
Precision of farmer-based fertility ratings and soil organic carbon for crop production on a Ferralsol
Authors: Musinguzi P. , Ebanyat P. , Tenywa J. S. , Basamba T. A. , Tenywa M. M. , Mubiru D.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Simple and affordable soil fertility ratings are essential, particularly for the resource-constrained farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), in planning and implementing prudent interventions. A study was conducted on Ferralsols in Uganda to evaluate farmer-based soil fertility assessment techniques, hereafter referred to as farmers' field experiences (FFE), for ease of use and precision, against more formal scientific quantitative ratings using soil organic carbon (SQR-SOC). A total of 30 fields were investigated and rated using both techniques, as low, medium and high in terms of soil fertility – with maize as the test crop. Both soil fertility rating techniques were fairly precise in delineating soil fertility classes, though the FFE was inefficient in distinguishing fields > 1.2 % SOC with medium and high fertility. Soil organic carbon, silt and clay were exceptionally influential, accounting for the highest percentage in grain yield of 50 % in the topsoil (0–15 cm) and 67 % for the mean concentrations from 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm. Each unit increase in SOC concentration resulted in 966 to 1223 kg ha−1 yield gain. The FFE technique was effective in identifying low-fertility fields, and this was coherent with the fields categorized as low (SOC < 1.2 %). Beyond this level, its precision can be remarkably increased when supplemented with the SQR-SOC technique.
Thermal energy in dry snow avalanches
Authors: Steinkogler W. , Sovilla B. , Lehning M.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Avalanches can exhibit many different flow regimes from powder clouds to slush flows. Flow regimes are largely controlled by the properties of the snow released and entrained along the path. Recent investigations showed the temperature of the moving snow to be one of the most important factors controlling the mobility of the flow. The temperature of an avalanche is determined by the temperature of the released and entrained snow but also increases by frictional processes with time. For three artificially released avalanches, we conducted snow profiles along the avalanche track and in the deposition area, which allowed quantifying the temperature of the eroded snow layers. This data set allowed to calculate the thermal balance, from release to deposition, and to discuss the magnitudes of different sources of thermal energy of the avalanches. For the investigated dry avalanches, the thermal energy increase due to friction was mainly depending on the effective elevation drop of the mass of the avalanche with a warming of approximately 0.3 °C per 100 vertical metres. Contrarily, the temperature change due to entrainment varied for the individual avalanches, from −0.08 to 0.3 °C, and depended on the temperature of the snow along the path and the erosion depth. Infrared radiation thermography (IRT) was used to assess the surface temperature before, during and just after the avalanche with high spatial resolution. This data set allowed to identify the warmest temperatures to be located in the deposits of the dense core. Future research directions, especially for the application of IRT, in the field of thermal investigations in avalanche dynamics are discussed.
Comparing the Use of Uterine Artery Embolization to Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists in Shrinking Fibroid Size: A Pilot Study in Kazakhstan
Authors: Imankulova Balkenzhe , Mereke Alibek , Kamzaeva Nazira , Ukybassova Talshyn
Published: September 2015

Introduction: Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumor in women in Kazakhstan. In the past two decades, endoscopic surgery has played an important role in the development of gynecologic surgery, particularly in the treatment of uterine fibroids. The goal of this paper is to evaluate whether uterine artery embolization (UAE) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) prior to myomectomy was more effective in decreasing fibroid size and improving surgical outcomes in a pilot study of women in Kazakhstan.Methods: This pilot investigation included 24 patients separated into 2 groups: medication group (pre-treatment with GnRHa – 13 patients) and embolization group (pre-treatment with UAE – 11 patients). All patients had uterine fibroids, 3-10 cm in diameter, and were treated with myomectomy at the National Research Center for Maternal and Child Health, Astana, Kazakhstan. All patient data were obtained by a retrospective medical records review. Descriptive statistics were utilized to characterize participant demographics data. Independent t-tests were used to analyze continuous variables, and Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used where appropriate for count data.Results: The group treated with GnRHa had an operating time of 40±10 minutes longer than the group treated with UAE, due to the peri-operative difficulties encountered by surgeons in detecting the layer between the myometrium and fibroid capsule. The group treated with UAE experienced better patient outcomes (less blood loss, less surgical time, and reduced use of anesthesia) and was a technically easier surgery due to visible differences in uterine layers.Conclusions: Despite the fact that both treatments (GnRHa and UAE) were effective for fibroid shrinking, embolization resulted in more optimal surgical time and improved patient outcomes. Results of this pilot study need to be confirmed in a randomized clinical trial, specifically focused on Kazakhstan and the Central Asian Region.
Freedom of Religion, Inc.: Whose Sovereignty?
Authors: Cohen Jean L.
Published: September 2015

Freedom of Religion, Inc.: Whose Sovereignty?

This article focuses on an expansive conception of religious freedom propagated by a vocal group of American legal scholars – jurisdictional pluralists – often working with well-funded conservative foundations and influencing accommodation decisions throughout the US. I show that the proliferation of ‘accommodation’ claims in the name of church autonomy and religious conscience entailing exemption from civil regulation and anti-discrimination laws required by justice have a deep structure that has little to do with fairness or inclusion or liberal pluralism. Instead they are tantamount to sovereignty claims, involving powers and immunities for the religious, implicitly referring to another, higher law and sovereign than the constitution or the people. The twenty-first century version of older pluralist ‘freedom of religion’ discourses also rejects the comprehensive jurisdiction and scope of public, civil law – this time challenging the ‘monistic sovereignty’ of the democratic constitutional state. I argue that the jurisdictional pluralist approach to religious freedom challenges liberal democratic constitutionalism at its core and should be resisted wherever it arises.
Group Pluralism versus Group Accommodation
Authors: Eisenberg Avigail
Published: September 2015

Group Pluralism versus Group Accommodation

In this paper, I sharply distinguish between religious group-based pluralism and religious accommodation, which are each reflected in the cases examined in Jean Cohen’s paper and thereby provide a clearer understanding of different kinds of challenges to protecting religious freedom today and explain how these two approaches sometimes pull interpretations of religious freedom in different directions.
Disaggregating Corporate Freedom of Religion
Authors: Lægaard Sune
Published: September 2015

Disaggregating Corporate Freedom of Religion

The paper investigates arguments for the idea in recent American Supreme Court jurisprudence that freedom of religion should not simply be understood as an ordinary legal right within the framework of liberal constitutionalism but as an expression of deference by the state and its legal system to religion as a separate and independent jurisdiction with its own system of law over which religious groups are sovereign. I discuss the relationship between, on the one hand, ordinary rights of freedom of association and freedom of religion and, on the other hand, this idea of corporate freedom of religion, often called ‘church autonomy’. I argue that the arguments conflate different issues, elide important distinctions and equivocate over crucial terms. There is accordingly a need for disaggregation of the concerns raised under the heading of church autonomy. This significantly weakens the apparent case for church autonomy.
Religious Sovereignty and Group Exemptions
Authors: Seglow Jonathan
Published: September 2015

Religious Sovereignty and Group Exemptions

This response concurs with Cohen’s critique of the Hobby Lobby and Hosanna-Tabor cases but investigates whether religious accommodation might sometimes be justified in the case of institutions and groups (not just individuals). It suggests that exemptions for associations that are recruited to advance state purposes (e.g., in welfare or education) may be more justifiable than where private associations seek to maintain illiberal – for example, discriminatory – rules in line with their religious ethos. Non-democratic associations with a strong religious ethos might in principle enjoy permissible accommodation on the grounds that its members acquiesced to that ethos by joining the association, but only if other conditions are met. Democratic associations with a religious ethos have in principle a stronger claim for accommodation; in practice, however, few religious associations are internally democratic, especially where they seek to preserve illiberal internal rules.
Religion Ain’t Sacrosanct
Authors: Pierik Roland
Published: September 2015

Religion Ain’t Sacrosanct

This paper is largely an endorsement and a further elaboration of Cohen’s critical discussion of the Hobby Lobby and Hosanna-Tabor cases and the conceptual overstretch of religious freedom they embody. I disagree with Cohen, however, on the proper interpretation of this debate. Cohen construes the ominous Court cases as an anti-liberal attack on the liberal state order. My main thesis is that the root of this dispute can be traced back to a fault line within liberalism between a more tolerance-leaning and a more equality-leaning tradition. I argue that the ominous cases are instances of the tolerance-leaning tradition in liberalism, which once was characteristic of the liberal tradition. Still, I agree with Cohen that this tradition should be rejected because it reverts to an obsolete interpretation of religious freedom that defends unwarranted privileges for certain groups that are out of sync with the egalitarian underpinnings of contemporary liberal political orders.
Pluralism, Group Rights, and Corporate Religion
Authors: Cohen Jean L.
Published: September 2015

Pluralism, Group Rights, and Corporate Religion

In her reply to critics, Jean Cohen responds to some of the main criticisms and remarks raised by the respondents.
‘Le temps détruit tout’?
Authors: Vandamme Th. A.J.A.
Published: September 2015

‘Le temps détruit tout’?Het dienstenverkeer binnen de EU-Turkije Associatie na de uitspraak van het Hof van Justitie in Demirkan

Kunnen Turkse onderdanen zonder visum afreizen naar Duitsland teneinde daar (misschien) diensten te gaan ontvangen als ze dat ook konden in vroegere tijden toen het Duitse recht op dit punt hen welgevallig was? In de onderhavige zaak werd het Hof van Justitie geconfronteerd met deze vraag waarbij de standstill-clausules uit het EU-Turkije Associatieregime centraal staan. Hebben deze clausules betrekking niet alleen betrekking op het verlenen maar ook op het ontvangen van diensten?HvJ EU 24 september 2013, zaak C-221/11, Leyla Demirkan/Bundesrepublik Deutschland, n.n.g.
UPC/Gemeente Hilversum: tariefafspraken in kabeltelevisiecontract ingehaald door regulering
Authors: van Duijvenvoorde G.P.
Published: September 2015

UPC/Gemeente Hilversum: tariefafspraken in kabeltelevisiecontract ingehaald door regulering

Veel gemeenten in Nederland hebben in het verleden bij de verkoop van hun kabeltelevisienetwerken langlopende tariefafspraken gemaakt ten behoeve van hun inwoners. Over de afdwingbaarheid van deze tariefafspraken is veel en lang geprocedeerd vanuit verschillende invalshoeken. Dit arrest gaat in op de vraag hoe deze tariefafspraken zich verhouden met het nadien in werking getreden Europees telecommunicatiekader. Het arrest geeft een uitleg van enkele kernbegrippen in het telecommunicatierecht, zoals elektronische communicatie en nationale regelgevende instantie (NRI). Vervolgens wordt aan de hand van het beginsel van loyale samenwerking getoetst of de Gemeente Hilversum zich kan beroepen op de met UPC overeengekomen tariefbedingen.HvJ EU 7 november 2013, zaak C-518/11, UPC Nederland BV/Gemeente Hilversum, n.n.g.
Het Europees Openbaar Ministerie tussen soevereiniteit en effectiviteit
Authors: Geelhoed W.
Published: September 2015

Het Europees Openbaar Ministerie tussen soevereiniteit en effectiviteit

Het voorstel van de Europese Commissie voor oprichting van een Europees Openbaar Ministerie hinkt op twee gedachten. Het streven is de fraudebestrijding voortvarender te maken, maar tegelijk niet ten koste van nationale strafvorderlijke autonomie te laten gaan. Wanneer nationale strafrechtelijke gevoeligheden koste wat kost worden gespaard, kan slechts een papieren tijger worden opgericht. Dan is het beter om ofwel niets te doen, ofwel een krachtige instelling op te richten die daadwerkelijk strafrechtelijke bescherming biedt voor de financiële belangen van de EU.Voorstel voor een verordening van de Raad tot instelling van het Europees Openbaar Ministerie, COM(2013)534
Zaak C-270/12 (ESMA-short selling) als opvolger van de Meroni- en Romano-non-delegatiedoctrine
Authors: van Rijsbergen M.P.M. , Scholten M.
Published: September 2015

Zaak C-270/12 (ESMA-short selling) als opvolger van de Meroni- en Romano-non-delegatiedoctrine

De meer dan een halve eeuw oude Meroni/Romano-non-delegatiedoctrine lijkt zijn opvolger te hebben gevonden. Dit blijkt uit het onlangs gewezen arrest van het Hof van Justitie in de zaak C-270/12 (ESMA-short selling) van 22 januari 2014. Hierin wordt geoordeeld dat de delegatie van bevoegdheden om handelingen van algemene strekking vast te stellen mogelijk is, zodra de bevoegdheden nauwkeurig omkaderd zijn en door de rechter kunnen worden getoetst aan de door het delegerende gezag vastgelegde doelstellingen. Hiermee lijkt het Hof van Justitie de Romano-doctrine overboord te gooien. Een aantal belangrijke vragen met betrekking tot de Meroni-doctrine blijft echter onbeantwoord.HvJ EU 22 januari 2014, zaak C-270/12, Verenigd Koninkrijk van Groot-Brittannië en Noord-Ierland/Europees Parlement en Raad van de Europese Unie, n.n.g.
Het slachtoffer centraal?
Authors: Kuijpers Karlijn F. , van Parera Sanne , Popelier Lieke
Published: September 2015

A central focus on the victim? Opinions on victims rights in the Netherlands

The aim of the current study is to provide insight in the support for victim rights among Dutch citizens. Although it is generally assumed that the Dutch public supports these rights, empirical research into this topic appears to be scarce. The opinion with regard to four victim rights was established in two ways. Firstly, respondents were asked about their attitudes and, secondly, about their willingness to pay extra taxes for those rights. Respondents’ attitudes concerning the victim rights in this study appear to be positive; their willingness to pay, however, is low. Findings indicate the importance of combining conventional attitude questions with alternative methods (such as questions about willingness to pay) when studying public preferences and opinions.
Een herstelgerichte benadering van delinquenten met een psychische stoornis
Authors: Koenraadt Frans , Kool Renée
Published: September 2015

A plea towards a restorative (justice) approach towards mentally ill offenders

Today’s risk based criminal justice policy leaves but little room to tune sentencing decisions to the individual offender’s mental capacities. As a result, sanctioning has become one-sided, being directed towards retribution. However, in the long run such a non-reciprocal concept of sanctioning, implying a denial of the need to facilitate rehabilitation, weakens the social fabric. Moreover, it holds a denial of citizenship towards (mentally ill) offenders. For the past decades, restorative justice has offered alternative solutions to deal with delinquency. Using informal procedures, taking into account peculiarities of the case, including the offender’s mental capacities, offenders are invited to take accountability for wrongful acts. A similar approach has been introduced within the field of mental health services, including the sector of the forensic mental health care. In response to the popular social biological model, a model of restorative treatment has been introduced, implying treatment to be directed towards reintegration, requiring active participation of the patient/offender. Bearing in mind the communalities between both models, we explore the potential of such a restorative citizenship based approach to better the integration of mentally disturbed offenders.
Van je familie moet je het hebben
Authors: Aalders Hugo , Kurvers Bas , Mos Monique , Veurink Gert
Published: September 2015

‘You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.’ A report on the application of preventive measures taken by the city of Amsterdam against the siblings of 600 habitual offenders

Prevention is very difficult to evaluate. If the situation you are trying to avoid, does not occur, it is likely to continue with prevention. If the situation does occur, it is logical to continue with the already taken preventive measures or even intensify these. This is what we call the ‘prevention trap’. In the first part of the article, a framework is presented for a methodological way to test policy on signals of the presence of a ‘prevention trap’. In the second part this framework is applied on the way the city of Amsterdam is dealing with the brothers and sisters of the top 600 criminal offenders, in the so called ‘Top 600 approach’. Some conclusions are drawn.
Verschillen tussen burgers in vertrouwen in de rechtspraak
Authors: Niemeijer Bert , van Wijck Peter
Published: September 2015

Differences in public confidence in the judiciary

The degree to which individuals have confidence in the judiciary varies substantially. In this paper, we take the heterogeneity of the population as a starting-point. Our basic idea is that signals about the judiciary acquire significance through frames, schemes of interpretation. Using focus groups we portrayed contrasting frames of citizens. These frames enable us to test the consequences of measures to promote confidence. Measures that tend to increase confidence according to one frame may decrease confidence according to another. This yields dilemmas for those looking for possibilities to promote confidence. One possibility to deal with these dilemmas is to differentiate between different audiences.
Perspectieven van de buiten- en binnenwacht: de institutionele opgave van de rechtspraak
Authors: Verberk Suzan , Frissen Paul , ’t Hart Paul , Sieckelinck Stijn
Published: September 2015

Internal and external perspectives: the institutional challenge of the judiciary

It is important for the Dutch judiciary to monitor how society, professional partners and litigants perceive the administration of justice. Different polls and studies provide this information. However, up until 2012 little was known about the way top-level (public and private) decision makers and opinion leaders view the functioning of the courts. This prompted the Council for the Judiciary to commission a study on the external reputation of the administration of justice. The results of this study show that there is neither reason for serious concern nor reason for complacency. Criticism was voiced with regard to the operational capacity of the courts, most notably the case processing time and the lack of technical innovation. Also, it was concluded that the judiciary should take a more proactive stance concerning external communication.A couple of months after the study on the external reputation of the courts was completed, some justices of the Court of Appeal Leeuwarden conceived the so-called ‘Manifest’. Among other things, they criticized the caseload, which in their view threatens the independence of judges. Approximately 700 judges supported the Manifest. So lack of internal support rather than lack of external support seemed to pose a problem for the judiciary. What should the judiciary’s course of action be? Whereas the reputation study points to increasing the operational capacity of the courts, the supporters of the Manifest warn that too strong a focus on output would endanger the quality of justice. These contradictory factors demand reflection on the value identity of the judiciary. In our view this requires the Council for the Judiciary to focus less on management and more on governance. For judges this requires that they, through the development of professional standards, define and refine their view on ‘good administration of justice’.
Geen woorden maar daden
Authors: Hertogh Marc , Schudde Bert , Winter Heinrich
Published: September 2015

Actions rather than words. The influence of legitimacy and trust on compliance behavior of traffic offenders

For many years, most regulatory research focused on instrumental motivations for compliance, which emphasize the role of rewards and punishments related to (dis)obeying the law. However, more recent studies have also emphasized the potential role of normative motivations. Using survey data collected from a sample of 1,182 traffic offenders in the Netherlands, and building on the ‘procedural justice model’ which was first developed in Why People Obey the Law (Tyler 1990), this paper explores how perceptions of legitimacy shape regulatory compliance. The study makes three contributions to the literature. First, this study is one of the few studies in which the procedural justice model is tested in Continental Europe. Second, following recent critiques in the literature, the paper introduces three modifications to the original model. Third, and unlike most previous studies, this study is not entirely based on self-reporting by drivers, but includes actual evidence about their behavior as well. With regard to the self-reported level of compliance, our study largely confirms Tyler’s (1990) original findings. Yet with regard to the observed level of compliance, there are also important differences between both studies. These findings will be explained by shifting our focus of attention from Tyler’s ‘universalistic’ approach to ‘legitimacy-in-context’ (Beetham 1991).
Overvragende wetgever zet gezagsuitoefening van rechter onder druk
Authors: Bokhorst Meike
Published: September 2015

Overvragende wetgever zet gezagsuitoefening van rechter onder druk

During the recent Senate debate about the constitutional state some senators expressed a concern about the tensions between the legislature and judiciary. The problems of overburdening, underfunding and instrumentalisation of the judiciary have a long history. The legislature has a tendency to overburden himself and the other powers of state, like the judiciary, notwithstanding the official policy to be reserved with regard to the responsibilities of government. The judiciary must adapt itself to an ever more prominent role in the constitutional state. The judiciary also has to generate its own legitimacy and cannot consider this to be a function of the legitimacy basis of the democratic legislator. The legislator for his part has all kinds of democratic wishes and expectations on how the judiciary can increase its own legitimacy basis by dealing quicker with more cases. In this context, the minister strongly adheres to the maxim that justice delayed is justice denied. The working methods of the judiciary have shown small and gradual steps in the direction of a more responsive and communicative procedure. However, the judiciary is not able to transform all its ideas into concrete initiatives and to transform successful initiatives into settled practices.
Loyaliteit binnen de rechterlijke macht
Authors: Holvast Nina , Doornbos Nienke
Published: September 2015

Loyaliteit binnen de rechterlijke macht

Judges in the Netherlands have recently expressed their concerns in the media over the organization of the judiciary and the pressure to deliver output. At the same time, they consider themselves highly loyal to their work. In this article we explore this seeming contradiction by studying the developments in the selection, training and organisation of the judiciary and considering the consequences that these developments could have on the loyalty of judges. In doing so, a distinction is made between loyalty to the profession, to the organisation and to colleagues. We follow Hirschman's theory on Exit, Voice and Loyalty and determine that the act of judges expressing their concerns (instead of exiting the judiciary) is essentially a sign of their loyalty. However, we reason that this displays more loyalty to the profession than to the organisation. Due to changes in the selection and training of judges, more candidates who were formerly employed in other settings, e.g. in advocacy, will enter the profession. With their socialisation taking place in a more business-like setting, where values such as efficiency and productivity are significant, it is expected that they will be more willing to accept the new public management values which are criticized by the present generation of judges.
Legitimatie van de rechterlijke bewijsbeslissing door het opnemen van alternatieve scenario's in de motivering
Authors: Scholten Mirnah
Published: September 2015

Legitimatie van de rechterlijke bewijsbeslissing door het opnemen van alternatieve scenario's in de motivering

Recently there have been several miscarriages of justice in the Netherlands, which were widely reported in the media. They show that much can go wrong with legal proof in criminal cases and that judges sometimes give limited justification for their decisions. Insights from the so-called story-based approach to legal proof can potentially assist to improve and to critically assess judicial decisions in criminal cases, thereby helping to reduce the chance of mistakes. The story-based approach involves constructing and critically analyzing at least two stories about what (might have) happened in a case that explain the evidential data. These stories have to be compared to each other in order to decide which story is the most plausible. The judge has to include the different scenarios in his judgment and he must explain why the scenario he had chosen is the most plausible. In my paper I first discuss why it is important that judges justify their decision in a verdict. Then I explicate the story based approach. After that I explain how applying the story based approach in the motivation can be useful and help to reduce the chance of a miscarriage of justice.
De rechter als regisseur
Authors: Verkruisen Yael , Doornbos Nienke
Published: September 2015

The Judge as a director

This article reports on an explorative empirical research project on the experiences and opinions of litigants and judges with respect to a new way of handling court cases in administrative law, in which an early contact between parties is initiated and the judge tries to solve the conflict via mediation techniques. Fourteen case files have been analyzed, fourteen court sessions have been observed and thirteen litigants and five judges have been interviewed. Considering the limited scope and the explorative character of the project, it obviously can provide no general or final conclusions. Nonetheless, the research does provide a number of useful indications regarding how the respondents have experienced the new way of working. It also shows how theories on litigation and procedural fairness are implemented by judges in the daily routine of court hearings.
Metatoezicht op voedselveiligheid
Authors: Verbruggen Paul , Havinga Tetty
Published: September 2015

Metatoezicht op voedselveiligheid

Toezicht op voedselveiligheid is een aangelegenheid van zowel publieke als private partijen. Overheid en bedrijfsleven dragen beide verantwoordelijkheid voor controle en naleving van voedselveiligheidsnormen. Zij hebben daartoe allebei geavanceerde systemen van toezicht ontwikkeld met als primair doel risico’s op voedselveiligheid te beheersen en beperken. Kenmerkend is de relatief recente ontwikkeling dat publieke en private actoren elkaars inspanningen voor de verwezenlijking van dit doel onderling pogen af te stemmen. In Nederland probeert de Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (NVWA) toezicht te houden op private vormen van toezicht. Hoe richt de NVWA dit metatoezicht (toezicht op toezicht) in? Welke waarborgen brengt de NVWA aan bij de afstemming van haar toezicht op private initiatieven en op welke punten behoeft dit verbetering? De auteurs maken een vergelijkende analyse van twee initiatieven van privaat toezicht die door de NVWA zijn geaccepteerd als ‘zelfcontrolesysteem’ voor levensmiddelen, te weten Bureau de Wit en Riskplaza.
Een onmogelijke opgave?
Authors: Oostdijk André
Published: September 2015

Een onmogelijke opgave?

De inhoudelijke en financiële opgaven waarvoor gemeentelijke toezichthoudende organisaties zich gesteld zien, zijn ongekend groot. De omvang en complexiteit van het takenpakket nemen toe terwijl de uitvoeringsapparaten rigoureus afslanken. Kortom, meer en complexere taken met minder bezetting. In dit artikel betoog ik dat de gemeentelijke toezichthouders in een lastig pakket gebracht worden. De eisen die gesteld worden, zijn velerlei en tegenstrijdig. De regie erop ontbreekt waardoor gemeenten overspoeld worden met ingrijpende beleidsvoornemens die tezamen een te groot beslag leggen op het verandervermogen. Een reflectie op een andere organisatie van de uitvoering is dan ook noodzakelijk.
Online-opsporing en ontmoediging van vuurwerkdaders
Authors: Meijer Cees
Published: September 2015

Online-opsporing en ontmoediging van vuurwerkdaders: Combinatie preventie en repressie via een publiek-private samenwerking

De laatste drie jaarwisselingen zijn door de Task Force Opsporing Vuurwerkbommenmakers (TFOVB) vernieuwende online interventies uitgevoerd, waarmee (potentiële) vuurwerkdaders werden opgespoord en ontmoedigd om zwaar illegaal knalvuurwerk en vuurwerkbommen te bestellen, maken, verhandelen en afsteken. Uniek in de TFOVB was de publiek-private samenwerking bij de opsporing en ontmoediging van (potentiële) vuurwerkdaders. Het artikel beschrijft opzet, uitvoering en resultaten van de interventies, die zich hebben gericht op het afbreken van het online podium van vuurwerkdaders en op het ontmoedigen van (potentiële) bestellers van zwaar illegaal knalvuurwerk bij Poolse webwinkels. De beoogde meerwaarde die de samenwerking had voor de deelnemende organisaties was groot. De successen en leerpunten van de TFOVB-aanpak zijn eveneens voorstelbaar bij de inzet van online opsporingsmethoden voor andere thema’s en andere dadergroepen.
Toezicht in de zorg: gedrag sturen door benchmarks en gesprekken
Authors: Taal Michel , Rypkema Wietse
Published: September 2015

Toezicht in de zorg: gedrag sturen door benchmarks en gesprekken

Als men de media volgt, komen de medisch specialisten en hun declaratiegedrag er niet goed vanaf. Door verschillende incidenten staat toezicht in de zorg volop in de belangstelling. De aandacht gaat vooral uit naar onrechtmatige of vermeende frauduleuze declaraties. Het veld klaagt over onduidelijke regels en wijst naar de toezichthouder. De toezichthouder (en met hem het veld) rent achter incidenten aan en komt beperkt toe aan het sturen op gedrag.

Het gewenste gedrag laat zich samenvatten in drie woorden: doelmatig direct declareren (DDD). In dit artikel wordt deze DDD-methode van analyse en gedragsverandering verder toegelicht. Hoe slimmigheden in het declareren kunnen worden omgebogen naar een model waarbij zorgverleners op rationele gronden doelmatig declareren.
Als de inspecteurs slapen
Authors: Nagelhout Gera , Willemsen Marc , van Hoof Joris , Pieterse Marcel
Published: September 2015

Als de inspecteurs slapen

Mysteryshoppen is de standaard bij onderzoek naar naleving van tabak- en alcoholwetgeving. Vaak worden jongvolwassenen ingezet, zodat verkopers of eigenaren minder snel vermoeden dat een inspectie of observatie gaande is. In twee pilotstudies hebben we gebruikgemaakt van de mysteryshopmethode om te onderzoeken in hoeverre naleving van het rookverbod samenhangt met het tijdstip van het cafébezoek. Beide pilotstudies lieten zien dat het aantal overtredingen verdubbelde na 23.00 uur. Bij het gebruik van de mysteryshopmethode voor onderzoeks- of handhavingsdoeleinden moet daarom rekening gehouden worden met het feit dat de steekproef van bezoekmomenten bepalend kan zijn voor de uitkomsten.
Horizontaal toezicht is geen toezicht
Authors: Tekstra Ton
Published: September 2015

Horizontaal toezicht is geen toezicht

De relatie tussen de fiscus en de belastingplichtige burgers en ondernemers kent sinds jaar en dag een verticaal (top-down) karakter. De fiscus is daarbij verantwoordelijk voor de controle van belastingaangiften, de heffing van belastingen en de invordering daarvan. Dit behoort tot de kerntaken van de belastingdienst. Sinds 2005 houdt de fiscus zich ook bezig met het zogenoemde horizontale toezicht. Dit project is begonnen als model bij de zeer grote ondernemingen (veelal multinationals) en langzaam maar zeker is ook het midden- en kleinbedrijf onderwerp geworden van horizontaal toezicht. De fiscus presenteert het horizontaal toezicht als een succesvolle operatie en het lijkt zelfs een ‘exportproduct’ te worden. Toch bestaat er de nodige weerstand tegen deze figuur, onder meer uit de hoek van het midden- en kleinbedrijf, overigens ook vanuit de belastingdienst zelf. In dit artikel wordt beschreven hoe deze variant werkt en wordt onderzocht hoe de figuur zich verhoudt tot de basistaak van de fiscus, zijnde de controle, heffing en invordering van belastingen.
Over de eigen grenzen heen kijken
Authors: van Wingerde Karin
Published: September 2015

Over de eigen grenzen heen kijken

Innoveren betekent lang niet altijd dat we het wiel opnieuw moeten uitvinden. Er valt veel te leren van de manier waarop andere disciplines of branches omgaan met veiligheid en toezicht. Maar hoe realiseren we dat lessen uit andere velden ook daadwerkelijk de weg naar het eigen beleid vinden? Daarover sprak Karin van Wingerde namens de redactie van Tijdschrift voor Toezicht met de heer Frans Hiddema. Frans Hiddema was tussen 1990 en eind 2013 voorzitter van de raad van bestuur van het Oogziekenhuis Rotterdam. Door inzichten uit het bedrijfsleven te vertalen naar de veiligheid in het ziekenhuis, groeide het Oogziekenhuis uit tot een internationaal centre of excellence. Cultuurverandering, continuïteit van het management en het veilig kunnen melden van fouten en afwijkingen blijken daarvoor belangrijke ingrediënten.
Structural Changes in N-Glycans on Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Differentiating Toward Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Kawamura Takuji , Miyagawa Shigeru , Fukushima Satsuki , Kashiyama Noriyuki , Kawamura Ai , Ito Emiko , Saito Atsuhiro , Maeda Akira , Eguchi Hiroshi , Toda Koichi , Miyagawa Shuji , Okuyama Hiroomi , Sawa Yoshiki
Published: September 2015

Cell-surface glycans vary widely, depending on cell properties. Previously, we reported that the pattern of N-glycan expression on murine induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) changed toward that of the cardiac tissue during cardiomyogenic differentiation. In this study, N-glycans were isolated from human iPSCs, iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), and human cardiomyocytes (hCMCs). Their structures were analyzed by a mapping technique based on high-performance liquid chromatography elution positions and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass-spectrometric data. Of 52 isolated N-glycans, the structures of 38 were clearly identified. In addition, 11 structures were partially identified because the binding style and fucose binding site at the nonreduced terminal could not be identified. Quantitation of each type of N-glycan, based on the terminal glycosylation process, revealed that the exposed N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and the nonreduced terminal fucose types decreased, whereas the exposed galactose or the α2-3 NeuAc types increased in the iPSCs during cardiomyogenic differentiation. However, the bisecting GlcNAc and the triantennary structures were found in relative abundance in the iPSC-CMs in comparison with hCMCs or iPSCs. Expression of MGAT3, a glycosyltransferase-encoding gene that produces the bisecting GlcNAc structures, was higher in iPSCs and iPSC-CMs than in hCMCs. These findings will prove useful in understanding the directional precision of cardiomyogenic differentiation in vitro.

Significance

This study focused on N-glycans produced in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes to investigate their change on cardiomyogenic differentiation in vitro. This shows that the expression pattern of N-glycans in human iPSCs changed toward the pattern observed in human cardiomyocytes upon cardiomyogenic differentiation. Structural differences were also observed in the bisecting N-acetylglucosamine and the triantennary structures upon cardiomyogenic differentiation. The findings of this study will help in understanding the directional precision of cardiomyogenic differentiation in vitro.
Oral Mucosal Lamina Propria-Progenitor Cells Exert Antibacterial Properties via the Secretion of Osteoprotegerin and Haptoglobin
Authors: Board-Davies Emma , Moses Rachael , Sloan Alastair , Stephens Phil , Davies Lindsay C.
Published: September 2015

The oral cavity possesses a diverse microflora, yet recurrent infections within healthy individuals are rare. Wound healing within the buccal mucosa is preferential, potentially because of the presence of oral mucosal lamina propria-progenitor cells (OMLP-PCs). In addition to their multipotency, OMLP-PCs demonstrate potent immunosuppressive properties. The present study investigated whether OMLP-PCs possess antibacterial properties, directly interacting with microorganisms and contributing to the maintenance of a balanced oral microflora. Gram-positive and -negative bacteria were cocultured with OMLP-PCs, buccal mucosal fibroblasts, or their respective conditioned media (CM). Bacterial growth was significantly inhibited when cocultured with OMLP-PCs or their CM. No antibacterial activity was apparent within the fibroblasts. Analysis of the OMLP-PC CM indicated constitutive secretion of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and haptoglobin (Hp). Exposure of the bacteria to OPG or Hp demonstrated their differential antibacterial properties, with neutralization/blocking studies confirming that the growth of Gram-positive bacteria was partially restored by neutralizing OPG within OMLP-PC CM; blocking Hp restored the growth of Gram-negative bacteria. The present study demonstrates, for the first time, the broad-spectrum antibacterial properties of OMLP-PCs. We report the direct and constitutive antibacterial nature of OMLP-PCs, with retention of this effect within the CM suggesting a role for soluble factors such as OPG and Hp. Knowledge of the immunomodulatory and antibacterial properties of these cells could potentially be exploited in the development of novel cell- or soluble factor-based therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases such as pneumonia or ailments such as chronic nonhealing wounds.

Significance

Oral mucosal lamina propria-progenitor cells (OMLP-PCs) are a cell source with known immunomodulatory properties. The present report demonstrates the novel finding that OMLP-PCs possess potent antibacterial properties, halting the growth of Gram-positive and -negative bacteria through the secretion of soluble factors. OMLP-PCs constitutively secrete osteoprotegerin (OPG) and haptoglobin (Hp) at levels high enough to exert antibacterial action. OPG, a glycoprotein not previously known to be antibacterial, can suppress Gram-positive bacterial growth. Hp is only active against Gram-negative microorganisms. These findings indicate that OMLP-PCs could offer great potential in the development of novel cell- or soluble factor-based therapies for the treatment of infectious illness, such as bacterial pneumonia, through systemic infusion and of chronic wounds through local administration.
Topsy-Turvy Neo-Developmentalism: An Analysis of the Current Brazilian Model of Development
Authors: Milanez Bruno , Santos Rodrigo S. P.
Published: September 2015

The paper discusses the similarities and differences between neo-developmentalism and neo-extractivism. The evaluation compares Brazil with nine other Latin American countries and is based on a framework that considers both economic policies and their outcomes. On the policy side, it looks at income, monetary, international trade, industrial and mineral resource policies; on the outcome side, it observes the composition of both exports and the Gross Domestic Product. In the end, we argue that neo-developmentalism and neo-extractivism are actually variations of the same development route and may face similar challenges in the long term.
La identidad maya-poqomchi’ guatemalteca en sus manifestaciones espirituales y religiosas
Authors: Caballero Mariscal David
Published: September 2015

Guatemala is a country of considerable cultural diversity. Among the more than twenty Mayan groups that populate its territory, the Poqomchi’ who inhabit Alta and Baja Verapaz have preserved a great deal of their particular idiosyncrasy inherited from the ancient Maya. The main purpose of this article is to analyze the most important aspects of Poqomchi’ spirituality and religiosity as the legacy of the ancient Maya from whom they descend, as well as a product both of their constant interaction with other Mayan groups and syncretism as a survival mechanism. For this purpose, it is based on systematic participant observation and interviews which have led to conclude that the main features of Poqomchi’ spirituality remain alive even today, although not free from the influence of the peoples with whom they share space.