NWO Vici, recent awardees

Visualization of membrane-stabilized SorCS2 cis interactions

B.J.C. Janssen · Utrecht University · NL

Members of the Vps10p receptor family regulate protein trafficking and cellular differentiation in the nervous system. Previous structural studies of the dimeric Vps10p family member SorCS2 have focused on isolated ectodomains, revealing substantial structural plasticity but overlooking the influence of the membrane association on receptor organization. Here we establish two complementary tools for reconstituting the SorCS2 ectodomain on proteoliposomes in its native orientation: non-covalent co

Plant movements: navigating the light environment

Ronald Pierik · Wageningen University & Research · NL

Plants use light both as a resource for photosynthesis and as a signal about their environment. In response to light cues, plants can move their organs via directional growth driven by cell expansion. In dense vegetation where light is available in spatially heterogeneous patterns, plants need to navigate this space to improve the position of their photosynthetic tissues. In canopies blue light irradiance and red to far-red light ratio decrease due to absorption by chloroplasts, and these change

Plant movements: navigating the light environment

Sanne E A Matton · Wageningen University & Research · NL

Plants use light both as a resource for photosynthesis and as a signal about their environment. In response to light cues, plants can move their organs via directional growth driven by cell expansion. In dense vegetation where light is available in spatially heterogeneous patterns, plants need to navigate this space to improve the position of their photosynthetic tissues. In canopies blue light irradiance and red to far-red light ratio decrease due to absorption by chloroplasts, and these change

Maternal childhood maltreatment and children's psychopathology across childhood: Exploring the role of maternal early caregiving quality in a low-risk sample

Lisa Loheide-Niesmann · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

BACKGROUND: Childhood maltreatment can have severe, long-lasting mental health consequences for survivors themselves and these effects can also be transmitted to the next generation: children of childhood maltreatment survivors are at a higher risk for various behavioural problems. However, the impact of maternal childhood maltreatment on developmental trajectories of child behaviour problems is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal observational study examined associations between materna

An Evidence Accumulation Model Analysis of Prior Probability and Spatial Attention Biases

Ettore Cerracchio · University of Amsterdam · NL

Abstract Both the locus of our attention and our prior knowledge bias the decisions we make. These biases can be quantitatively investigated using formal models of decision-making such as evidence accumulation models (EAMs). EAMs describe how evidence towards the possible choices is accumulated until a decision is made. Previous studies investigating the biasing effect of spatial attention and prior probability manipulations on EAMs’ parameters supported the idea that the rate of evidence accumu

The association of psychosocial work quality with changes in the mental health of young adults starting career work

M. van der Veen

Objective This study investigated whether (i) young adults’ mental health problems change when starting career work, (ii) potential changes in mental health problems differ by psychosocial work quality, and (iii) mental health problems during adolescence moderate potential changes in mental health by psychosocial work quality. Methods We used data from the TRracking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS) cohort. Follow-up time was 2–4 years. Mental health was measured with the youth and a

Postdivorce family complexity and child problems

Weverthon Barbosa Machado

Objective: This study explores the prevalence of family complexity in Joint physical custody (JPC) versus sole physical custody (SPC) and investigates the relationship between custody arrangements and children’s socioemotional problems, focusing on the moderating effect of parental repartnering. Background: JPC is increasingly common and shown to be beneficial for children. However, the rise in family complexity due to parental repartnering raises questions about JPC’s benefits for children's we

Beyond 4×: pathways to higher expansion factors in expansion microscopy

Josiah B. Passmore · Utrecht University · NL

Abstract Expansion microscopy (ExM) enables nanoscale imaging with conventional light microscopes by physically magnifying biological specimens. While classical ExM achieves ∼4× linear expansion, advances in polymer chemistry and workflow design now routinely push expansion factors beyond 4×, thereby improving resolution while retaining compatibility with diverse labelling strategies. Here, we review current one-step and multi-step (iterative) high-expansion approaches, outlining how modificatio

Tailoring a DMA-based cryopreservation protocol with anti-freeze (glycol)proteins for commercial and native breeds of chicken

Berenice Bernal · Wageningen University & Research · NL

This study evaluated the effects of antifreeze proteins AFPI, AFPIII, and AFGP during fresh processing, and freezing-thawing of chicken semen from a commercial broiler breed (BB) and the local breed Yellow Hungarian (YH), using 0.6 mol/L DMA as cryoprotectant. AFPI had small but significant (P < 0.05) positive effects on post-thaw sperm viability and motility in BB. For YH semen, three freezing protocols with different dilution rates (4 ×, 2.3 ×, 2.1 ×) were compared. Protocol 1 (dilution rate 4

Markov Chains and Random Walks with Memory on Hypergraphs: A Tensor-Based Approach

Shaoxuan Cui

Many complex systems exhibit interactions that depend not only on pairwise connections, but also group structures and memory effects. To capture such effects, we develop a unified tensor framework for modeling higher-order Markov chains with memory. Our formulation introduces an even-order paired tensor that links folded and unfolded dynamics and characterizes their steady states and convergence. We further show that a Markov chain with memory can be approximated by a low-dimensional nonlinear t

Accumulation and sensitive period effects for childhood abuse and financial hardship on depressive symptoms in late adolescence

Erin C. Dunn · Broad Institute · US

Accumulation rather than sensitive period hypotheses generally best explained the relationship between adversity and depressive symptoms in late adolescence, but findings varied by sex and adversity type. These findings highlight the importance of considering multiple life course hypotheses, sex, and adversity type when investigating the downstream impacts of adversity.

Diels‐Alder Click Chemistry as a Dynamic‐Covalent Crosslinking Method in Spheroid‐Encapsulating Hydrogels for Cartilage Engineering

Tina Vermonden · Utrecht University · NL

In cartilage tissue engineering, there is a growing interest in dynamic hydrogels that promote spheroid fusion and cartilaginous matrix deposition, while maintaining sufficient stability for long-term construct maturation. In this study, Diels-Alder click chemistry is employed as a dynamic-covalent crosslinking method to create hydrogels composed of hyaluronic acid, gelatin, and PEG. By adjusting the pH during crosslinking, the tuneability of hydrogel stiffness and stability at pH values around

Accumulation and sensitive period effects for childhood abuse and financial hardship on depressive symptoms in late adolescence

Erin C. Dunn · Broad Institute · US

Accumulation rather than sensitive period hypotheses generally best explained the relationship between adversity and depressive symptoms in late adolescence, but findings varied by sex and adversity type. These findings highlight the importance of considering multiple life course hypotheses, sex, and adversity type when investigating the downstream impacts of adversity.

Accumulation and sensitive period effects for childhood abuse and financial hardship on depressive symptoms in late adolescence

Erin C. Dunn · Broad Institute · US

Accumulation rather than sensitive period hypotheses generally best explained the relationship between adversity and depressive symptoms in late adolescence, but findings varied by sex and adversity type. These findings highlight the importance of considering multiple life course hypotheses, sex, and adversity type when investigating the downstream impacts of adversity.

Diels‐Alder Click Chemistry as a Dynamic‐Covalent Crosslinking Method in Spheroid‐Encapsulating Hydrogels for Cartilage Engineering

Tina Vermonden · Utrecht University · NL

In cartilage tissue engineering, there is a growing interest in dynamic hydrogels that promote spheroid fusion and cartilaginous matrix deposition, while maintaining sufficient stability for long-term construct maturation. In this study, Diels-Alder click chemistry is employed as a dynamic-covalent crosslinking method to create hydrogels composed of hyaluronic acid, gelatin, and PEG. By adjusting the pH during crosslinking, the tuneability of hydrogel stiffness and stability at pH values around

How are estimated cellular turnover rates influenced by the dynamics of a source population?

Arpit Chandan Swain · Utrecht University · NL

Estimating production and loss rates of cell populations is essential but difficult. The current state-of-the-art method to estimate these rates involves mathematical modelling of deuterium labelling experiments. Current models typically assume that the labelling in the precursors of the population of interest (POI) is proportional to the deuterium enrichment in body water/glucose. This assumption is not always true and it is known that this can have a significant effect on the rates estimated f

Unveiling New Reactivities in Complex Mixtures: Synthesis of Tricyclic Pyridinium Derivatives

Jana Roithová · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

The discovery of new transformations drives the development of synthetic organic chemistry. While the main goal of synthetic chemists is to obtain the maximum yield of a desired product with minimal side product formation, meticulous characterization of the latter offers an opportunity for discovering new reaction pathways, alternative mechanisms, and new products. Herein, we present a case study on the discovery and development of a new chemical transformation using online mass spectrometry. Th

Solvent and temperature effects in the photoiniferter RAFT polymerisation of PEG methacrylate

Inge S. Zuhorn · University Medical Center Groningen · NL

Photoiniferter (PI)-RAFT polymerisation is a promising approach to synthesise a broad range of polymers due to its' "living" nature. We have investigated the effect of illumination, solvent and temperature on the PI-RAFT polymerisation of PEGMA.

Robust Optimization of Rank-Dependent Models with Uncertain Probabilities

Dick den Hertog

This paper studies distributionally robust optimization for a rich class of risk measures with ambiguity sets defined by $ϕ$-divergences. The risk measures are allowed to be non-linear in probabilities, are represented by Choquet integrals possibly induced by a probability weighting function, and encompass many well-known examples. Optimization for this class of risk measures is challenging due to their rank-dependent nature. We show that for various shapes of probability weighting functions, in

The Tomato <scp>PR</scp> ‐5 Proteins <scp>PR</scp> ‐5x and <scp>NP24</scp> Exert Antifungal Activity Against <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i>

Frank L. W. Takken · University of Amsterdam · NL

ABSTRACT Vascular wilt diseases, caused by the soilborne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum (Fo), significantly impact agriculture and horticulture. Traditional management strategies are often environmentally harmful and not effective once the pathogen has entered the host. Consequently, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to pathogenic Fo strains is crucial for developing novel control strategies. In tomato, resistance to F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) can be mediated b

Annuities

de Boer, de

This database was produced in the context of the dissertation "A Truth Universally Acknowledged. Dutch Investment in French Colonial Resources, 1717-1792", as part of NWO VICI project VI.C.191.027. The database consists of 581 Dutch-based investors in French annuités viagères (life annuities or lijfrenten) in the second half of the eighteenth century. It lists metadata related to their identities and investment. A protocol is attached containing details about the archival source, the selection m

Crossing-Preserving Geodesic Tracking on Spherical Images

Nicky J. van den Berg · Eindhoven University of Technology · NL

Establishment of patient-derived 3D in vitro models of sarcomas: literature review and guidelines on behalf of the FORTRESS working group

Sanne Venneker · Leiden University Medical Center · NL

Sarcomas are a large family of rare and heterogeneous mesenchymal tumors, which respond poorly to available systemic treatments. Translation of preclinical findings into clinical applications has been slow, limiting improvements in patients' outcomes and ultimately highlighting the need for a better understanding of sarcoma biology to develop more effective, subtype-specific therapies. To this end, reliable preclinical models are crucial, but the development of 3D in vitro sarcoma models has bee

Dynamics of a liquid lamella during vertical impact of a solid plate

Nayoung Kim · Max Planck University of Twente Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics · NL

We study the dynamics of a thin liquid sheet that flows upwards along the sides of a vertically aligned, impacting plate. Upon impact of the vertical solid plate onto a liquid pool, the liquid film is ejected and subsequently continues to flow over the solid surface while the plate enters the water. With increasing impact velocity, the liquid film is observed to rise up faster and higher. We focus on the time evolution of the liquid film height and the thickness of its upper rim and discuss thei

Amygdala Hyperactivity in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Disentangling Predisposing From Consequential Factors Using a Prospective Longitudinal Design

Lycia D. de Voogd · Leiden University · NL

BACKGROUND: Substantial interindividual differences exist in the vulnerability to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following trauma exposure. Identification of neurocognitive risk markers for PTSD symptoms could aid early assessment and identification of preventive intervention targets for PTSD, particularly in high-risk professionals. Therefore, large prospective longitudinal studies with pretrauma measurements are essential to disentangle whether previously observed neurob

Replication-IDentifier links epigenetic and metabolic pathways to the replication stress response

Sophie C. van der Horst · Leiden University Medical Center · NL

Perturbation of DNA replication, for instance by hydroxyurea-dependent dNTP exhaustion, often leads to stalling or collapse of replication forks. This triggers a replication stress response that stabilizes these forks, activates cell cycle checkpoints, and induces expression of DNA damage response genes. While several factors are known to act in this response, the full repertoire of proteins involved remains largely elusive. Here, we develop Replication-IDentifier (Repli-ID), which allows for ge

Guidelines for the Echocardiographic Assessment of the Right Heart in Adults and Special Considerations in Pulmonary Hypertension: Recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography

Monica Mukherjee

Suppression of Plant Resistance May Be a Common Trait Among Adapted Herbivores

Jéssica Teodoro‐Paulo · Sustainability Institute · ZA

populations sampled from tomato at three field sites were compared. To discriminate between mites that induce/suppress defenses and to assess their degree of resistance, the magnitude of induced defenses was measured and aligned with oviposition data. The expression of effector 84 was also assessed to determine whether its magnitude of expression is a good predictor of suppression with the magnitude of suppression. Surprisingly, we observed that suppression is the dominant phenotype in mite popu

Solvent and temperature effects in the photoiniferter RAFT polymerisation of PEG methacrylate

R.‐C. CHANG · University Medical Center Groningen · NL

= 1.30 even at 40 °C.

Unpacking similarity effects in visual memory search: categorical, semantic, and visual contributions

Marius V. Peelen · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

Abstract Visual memory search involves comparing a probe item against multiple memorized items. Previous work has shown that distractor probes from a different object category than the objects in the memory set are rejected more quickly than distractor probes from the same category. Because objects belonging to the same superordinate category usually share both visual and semantic features compared with objects of different categories, it is unclear whether the category effects reported in previ

Unraveling the paradox: cardiovascular risk profiling in migraine– a correspondence

Linda Al‐Hassany · Erasmus MC · NL

We read with great interest the recent publication by Marston and colleagues in Nature Medicine, entitled "Endothelial cell-related genetic variants identify LDL cholesterol-sensitive individuals who derive greater benefit from aggressive lipid lowering" (issue 31, March 2025, pages 963-969). Among their compelling findings, the association between the endothelial cell-specific polygenic risk score (EC-PRS) - which consists of SNPs associated with coronary artery disease - and a reduced risk of

A model of Notch signalling control of angiogenesis: Evidence of a role for Notch ligand heterodimerization

Daipeng Chen · Leiden University · NL

The ubiquitous Notch receptor signalling network is essential for tissue growth and maintenance. Operationally, receptor activity is regulated by two principal, counterposed mechanisms: intercellular Notch transactivation triggered by interactions between receptors and ligands expressed in neighbouring cells; intracellular cis inhibition mediated by ligands binding to receptors expressed in the same cell. Moreover, different Notch receptor/ligand combinations are known to elicit distinct molecul

A model of Notch signalling control of angiogenesis: Evidence of a role for Notch ligand heterodimerization

Daipeng Chen · Leiden University · NL

The ubiquitous Notch receptor signalling network is essential for tissue growth and maintenance. Operationally, receptor activity is regulated by two principal, counterposed mechanisms: intercellular Notch transactivation triggered by interactions between receptors and ligands expressed in neighbouring cells; intracellular cis inhibition mediated by ligands binding to receptors expressed in the same cell. Moreover, different Notch receptor/ligand combinations are known to elicit distinct molecul

Tiny Droplets, Large Insights: Studying Peptide Aggregation with Droplet-based Microfluidics Hyphenated with Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

Ariadni Geballa-Koukoula · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · NL

Peptide and protein aggregation is a hallmark of numerous neurodegenerative diseases. However, the structural characterization of oligomeric intermediates remains challenging due to their low abundance, heterogenic nature, and the complexity of coinciding and transient reaction networks. Confining reactions to microenvironments, such as picoliter droplets in droplet-based microfluidics (DBMF), simplifies these networks and thereby enabling high-throughput analysis and controlled reaction kinetic

Endothelial to mesenchymal transition in cardiovascular diseases: molecular insights and clinical perspectives

Ignacio Fernando Hall · The Queen's Medical Research Institute · GB

Endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a process whereby endothelial cells transition to adopt a mesenchymal-like fate, e.g. to become smooth muscle cells, osteoblasts, fibroblasts, or chondrocytes. In embryonic heart development, the importance of EndMT was established several decades ago, with ECs undergoing EndMT to give rise to the endocardial cushions that ultimately develop into the cardiac valves. More recently, EndMT has been observed in various adult cardiovascular diseases. T

Unobtrusive inference of diurnal rhythms from smartphone data

Loran Knol · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

Diurnal rhythms are an integral feature of psychopathology but difficult to measure at scale. Smartphones are ubiquitous and therefore uniquely positioned to measure such rhythms non-invasively and continuously. Here, we propose a digital phenotyping framework to quantify diurnal rhythms. We use it to predict sleep duration from smartphone typing dynamics and analyse rhythm phase during time zone transitions with a clinical outpatient sample and a year-long longitudinal data set.

Psilocybin alters visual contextual computations

Marco Aqil · Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience · NL

Psilocybin alters perception and brain dynamics. Here, we investigate the effects of psilocybin using psychophysics, ultra-high field functional MRI, and computational modeling. We find that psilocybin alters contextual perception in the Ebbinghaus illusion, as well as contextual modulation in cortical responses to visual stimuli. We propose a computational model capable of capturing and linking these changes. Leveraging vision as a beachhead, our findings highlight the alteration of contextual

Psilocybin alters visual contextual computations

Marco Aqil · Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience · NL

Psilocybin alters perception and brain dynamics. Here, we investigate the effects of psilocybin using psychophysics, ultra-high field functional MRI, and computational modeling. We find that psilocybin alters contextual perception in the Ebbinghaus illusion, as well as contextual modulation in cortical responses to visual stimuli. We propose a computational model capable of capturing and linking these changes. Leveraging vision as a beachhead, our findings highlight the alteration of contextual

Epigenome-wide association study on the plasma metabolome suggests self-regulation of the glycine and serine pathway through DNA methylation

Joanne A. Hoogerland · University Medical Center Groningen · NL

BACKGROUND: The plasma metabolome reflects the physiological state of various biological processes and can serve as a proxy for disease risk. Plasma metabolite variation, influenced by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, can also affect the cellular microenvironment and blood cell epigenetics. The interplay between the plasma metabolome and the blood cell epigenome remains elusive. In this study, we performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of 1183 plasma metabolites in 693 participant

Author response to ‘Clarification on the incidence and sex-specificity of sexual dysfunction as an adverse event of CGRP-targeting medications’

Antoinette MaassenVanDenBrink · Erasmus MC · NL

Characterization of the human fetal gonad and reproductive tract by single-cell transcriptomics

Xueying Fan · Leiden University Medical Center · NL

During human fetal development, sex differentiation occurs not only in the gonads but also in the adjacent developing reproductive tract. However, while the cellular composition of male and female human fetal gonads is well described, that of the adjacent developing reproductive tract remains poorly characterized. Here, we performed single-cell transcriptomics on male and female human fetal gonads together with the adjacent developing reproductive tract from first and second trimesters, highligh

Liquid crystalline inverted lipid phases encapsulating siRNA enhance lipid nanoparticle mediated transfection

Roy Pattipeiluhu · Leiden University · NL

Efficient cytosolic delivery of RNA molecules remains a formidable barrier for RNA therapeutic strategies. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) serve as state-of-the-art carriers that can deliver RNA molecules intracellularly, as exemplified by the recent implementation of several vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Using a bottom-up rational design approach, we assemble LNPs that contain programmable lipid phases encapsulating small interfering RNA (siRNA). A combination of cryogenic transmission electron micro

Intracellular signaling in proto-eukaryotes evolves to alleviate regulatory conflicts of endosymbiosis

Samuel H. A. von der Dunk · Utrecht University · NL

The complex eukaryotic cell resulted from a merger between simpler prokaryotic cells, yet the role of the mitochondrial endosymbiosis with respect to other eukaryotic innovations has remained under dispute. To investigate how the regulatory challenges associated with the endosymbiotic state impacted genome and network evolution during eukaryogenesis, we study a constructive computational model where two simple cells are forced into an obligate endosymbiosis. Across multiple in silico evolutionar

Lexical effects on talker discrimination in adult cochlear implant users

Terrin N. Tamati · Vanderbilt University Medical Center · US

The lexical and phonological content of an utterance impacts the processing of talker-specific details in normal-hearing (NH) listeners. Adult cochlear implant (CI) users demonstrate difficulties in talker discrimination, particularly for same-gender talker pairs, which may alter the reliance on lexical information in talker discrimination. The current study examined the effect of lexical content on talker discrimination in 24 adult CI users. In a remote AX talker discrimination task, word pairs

Conditions for Transformative Engaged Scholarship in Co-creation with Queer Refugees

Fabian Holle · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · NL

Abstract This chapter focuses on conditions for co-creative research with regard to experiences and diverse forms of knowledge that are silenced by stigmatizing, negative labelling and (subtle) kinds of exclusion. We reflect on three core conditions that emerged in LIMBO, a creative research collaboration between queer refugee community organizers and artists, the Amsterdam art institute Framer Framed and the Refugee Academy (expertise lab based at the Institute for Societal Resilience at VU Ams

Kinetic control over the chiral-selectivity in the formation of organometallic polymers on a Ag(110) surface

R. S. Koen Houtsma · University of Groningen · NL

Methods to control chiral-selectivity in molecular reactions through external inputs are of importance, both from a fundamental and technological point of view. Here, the self-assembly of prochiral 6,12-dibromochrysene monomers on Ag(110) is studied using scanning tunneling microscopy. Deposition of the monomers on a substrate held at room temperature leads to the formation of 1D achiral organometallic polymers. When the monomers are instead deposited on a substrate held at 373 K, homochiral org

Once in NEET, always in NEET? Childhood and adolescent risk factors for different NEET patterns

Karin Veldman · University Medical Center Groningen · NL

BACKGROUND: Young adults in Neither in Employment, Education nor Training (NEET) are at risk of adverse labour market outcomes. Earlier studies often measured NEET status at one time point or compared persistent NEETs with non-NEETs, neglecting other patterns of NEET status. Evidence on early life factors associated with NEET patterns is lacking. This study aims to (i) identify patterns of NEET status over time and (ii) examine whether factors in childhood and adolescence are associated with the

Optimizing ionic transport in argyrodites: a unified view on the role of sulfur/halide distribution and local environments

Marnix Wagemaker · Delft University of Technology · NL

molecular dynamics, focusing on the correlation between key structural descriptors and Li-ion conductivity. Commonly suggested parameters, such as configurational entropy, bromide site occupancy, and bromine content, correlate with Li-ion diffusivity but do not consistently explain conductivity trends. We find that a uniform distribution of bromine and sulfur ions across the 4a and 4d sublattices is critical for achieving high conductivity by facilitating optimal lithium jump activation energies

Structural Aspects of MoS_<i>x</i> Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Ageeth A. Bol · University of Michigan · US

HER electrocatalysts as well as new insights into their activity and structure.

‘The right to fall in love and kiss without consequences’: on racialized Muslim women, ‘mixed’ intimacies, and Dutch sexual exceptionalism

Sherilyn Deen · University of Amsterdam · NL

What does political concern with ‘mixed’ intimacies articulate about the nation? This article unpacks this question by analysing a Dutch poster campaign on self-determination, organized by the Rotterdam municipality and a feminist NGO, that visualized ‘mixed’ couples intimately kissing. It uses a visual analysis of the posters, combined with a post-structural policy analysis of a variety of documents that were essential to the production of this campaign. First, the article argues that the campa

Server Saturation in Skewed Networks

Diego Goldsztajn · Eindhoven University of Technology · NL

We use bipartite graphs to model compatibility constraints that arise between tasks and servers in data centers, cloud computing systems and content delivery networks. We prove that servers with skewed graph neighborhoods saturate with tasks in a limiting regime. The neighborhood of a server is skewed if it contains a diverging number of dispatchers with uniformly bounded degrees.

Estimating option pricing models using a characteristic function-based linear state space representation

H. Peter Boswijk

Subjective evidence evaluation survey for many-analysts studies

Alexandra Sarafoglou · University of Amsterdam · NL

Many-analysts studies explore how well an empirical claim withstands plausible alternative analyses of the same dataset by multiple, independent analysis teams. Conclusions from these studies typically rely on a single outcome metric (e.g. effect size) provided by each analysis team. Although informative about the range of plausible effects in a dataset, a single effect size from each team does not provide a complete, nuanced understanding of how analysis choices are related to the outcome. We u

Viscoelastic wetting: Cox–Voinov theory with normal stress effects

Minkush Kansal · University of Twente · NL

The classical Cox–Voinov theory of contact line motion provides a relation between the macroscopically observable contact angle, and the microscopic wetting angle as a function of contact-line velocity. Here, we investigate how viscoelasticity, specifically the normal stress effect, modifies the wetting dynamics. Using the thin film equation for the second-order fluid, it is found that the normal stress effect is dominant at small scales yet can significantly affect macroscopic motion. We show t

Polaritonic Chemistry Enabled by Non‐Local Metasurfaces

Jaime Gómez Rivas · Eindhoven University of Technology · NL

Vibrational strong coupling can modify chemical reaction pathways in unconventional ways. Thus far, Fabry-Perot cavities formed by pairs of facing mirrors have been mostly utilized to achieve vibrational strong coupling. In this study, we demonstrate the application of non-local metasurfaces that can sustain surface lattice resonances, enabling chemical reactions under vibrational strong coupling. We show that the solvolysis kinetics of para-nitrophenyl acetate can be accelerated by a factor of

Large orders in small markets: execution with endogenous liquidity supply

Agostino Capponi · Columbia University · US

Abstract We model the execution of a large uninformed sell order in the presence of strategic competitive market makers. We solve for the unique symmetric equilibrium of the model in closed form. Analysis of this equilibrium reveals that large orders unequivocally benefit market makers, while smaller investors stand to benefit only if the order trades with a sufficiently high intensity. The equilibrium results further provide a rationale for the empirically observed patterns of (1) shorter order

V1 neurons are tuned to perceptual borders in natural scenes

Paolo Papale · IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca · IT

The visual system needs to identify perceptually relevant borders to segment complex natural scenes. The primary visual cortex (V1) is thought to extract local borders, and higher visual areas are thought to identify the perceptually relevant borders between objects and the background. To test this conjecture, we used natural images that had been annotated by human observers who marked the perceptually relevant borders. We assessed the effect of perceptual relevance on V1 responses using human n

Single-cell analysis of innate immune cell mechanics: an application to cancer immunology

Tom M. J. Evers · Leiden University · NL

Alterations in the tumor microenvironment not only modulate cancer cell progression and invasiveness but also affect the viscoelastic properties of immune cells therein.

Primary SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern infections elicit broad antibody Fc-mediated effector functions and memory B cell responses

Karlijn van der Straten · Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam · NL

Neutralization of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by human sera is a strong correlate of protection against symptomatic and severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The emergence of antigenically distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) and the relatively rapid waning of serum antibody titers, however, raises questions about the sustainability of serum protection. In addition to serum neutralization, other antibody functionalities and the memory B cell (MBC)

Worldwide greenhouse gas emissions of green hydrogen production and transport

Kiane de Kleijne · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

Refractive index sensing using quasi-bound states in the continuum in silicon metasurfaces

Minpeng Liang · Eindhoven University of Technology · NL

This work presents a bulk refractive index sensor based on quasi-bound states in the continuum (BICs) induced by broken symmetries in metasurfaces. The symmetry is broken by detuning the size and position of silicon particles periodically arranged in an array, resulting in multiple quasi-BIC resonances. We investigate the sensing characteristics of each of the resonances by measuring the spectral shift in response to changes in the refractive index of the surrounding medium. In addition, we reve

Single-cell analysis of innate immune cell mechanics: an application to cancer immunology

Tom M. J. Evers · Leiden University · NL

Alterations in the tumor microenvironment not only modulate cancer cell progression and invasiveness but also affect the viscoelastic properties of immune cells therein.

Epigenome-wide association study on the plasma metabolome suggests self-regulation of the glycine and serine pathway through DNA methylation

Jiafei Wu · University Medical Center Groningen · NL

BACKGROUND: The plasma metabolome reflects the physiological state of various biological processes and can serve as a proxy for disease risk. Plasma metabolite variation, influenced by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, can also affect the cellular microenvironment and blood cell epigenetics. The interplay between the plasma metabolome and the blood cell epigenome remains elusive. In this study, we performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of 1183 plasma metabolites in 693 participant

MALDI versus DESI mass spectrometry imaging of lipids in atherosclerotic plaque

Gijs van Soest · Harvard University · US

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool for detecting lipids in tissue sections, with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) as its key ionization techniques. In this study, we examine how MALDI compares with state-of-the-art DESI ionization in identifying lipids in heterogeneous samples, specifically atherosclerotic plaques. Carotid plaques (n = 4) from patients undergoing endarterectomy were snap-frozen, stored at -80°C, and

Zebrafish as outgroup model to study evolution of scavenger receptor class B type I functions

Robin A.F. Verwilligen · Leiden University · NL

Scavenger receptor class B1 (SCARB1) - also known as the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor - is a multi-ligand scavenger receptor that is primarily expressed in liver and steroidogenic organs. This receptor is known for its function in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in mammals and hence disruption leads to a massive increase in HDL cholesterol in these species. The extracellular domain of SCARB1 - which is important for cholesterol handling - is highly conserved across multiple verteb

Entropy‐Driven Liquid Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries

Chenglong Zhao · Delft University of Technology · NL

Abstract Developing liquid electrolytes with higher kinetics and enhanced interphase stability is one of the key challenges for lithium batteries. However, the poor solubility of lithium salts in solvents sets constraints that compromises the electrolyte properties. Here, it is shown that introducing multiple salts to form a high‐entropy solution, alters the solvation structure, which can be used to raise the solubility of specific salts and stabilize electrode–electrolyte interphases. The prepa

Detecting continuous structural heterogeneity in single-molecule localization microscopy data

Sjoerd Stallinga · Delft University of Technology · NL

Fusion of multiple chemically identical complexes, so-called particles, in localization microscopy, can improve the signal-to-noise ratio and overcome under-labeling. To this end, structural homogeneity of the data must be assumed. Biological heterogeneity, however, could be present in the data originating from distinct conformational variations or (continuous) variations in particle shapes. We present a prior-knowledge-free method for detecting continuous structural variations with localization

The Export of Goods Used for Torture and the Applicability of Article 3 echr

Joëlle Trampert · University of Amsterdam · NL

Abstract Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights ( echr or Convention) is currently not understood to apply when Council of Europe member states export goods that could be used for torture, the death penalty, or other ill-treatment in third states. In 2021, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe recommended states to take measures against trade in such goods, also recalling Article 3 echr . Following an analysis of relevant rules in the EU Anti-Torture Regulation, the U

The environmentally-regulated interplay between local three-dimensional chromatin organisation and transcription of proVWX in E. coli

Remus T. Dame · Leiden University · NL

Nucleoid associated proteins (NAPs) maintain the architecture of bacterial chromosomes and regulate gene expression. Thus, their role as transcription factors may involve three-dimensional chromosome re-organisation. While this model is supported by in vitro studies, direct in vivo evidence is lacking. Here, we use RT-qPCR and 3C-qPCR to study the transcriptional and architectural profiles of the H-NS (histone-like nucleoid structuring protein)-regulated, osmoresponsive proVWX operon of Escheric

Acute heart failure: mechanisms and pre-clinical models—a Scientific Statement of the ESC Working Group on Myocardial Function

Michele Ciccarelli · University of Salerno · IT

While chronic heart failure (CHF) treatment has considerably improved patient prognosis and survival, the therapeutic management of acute heart failure (AHF) has remained virtually unchanged in the last decades. This is partly due to the scarcity of pre-clinical models for the pathophysiological assessment and, consequently, the limited knowledge of molecular mechanisms involved in the different AHF phenotypes. This scientific statement outlines the different trajectories from acute to CHF origi

Intervention-induced temperament changes in children: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial of the Incredible Years parent program.

Marijke Huijzer-Engbrenghof · Child Development Center · QA

Child temperament has long been viewed as a potential susceptibility factor in the link between parenting and child disruptive behavior (CDB). Specifically, the idea is that children with higher negative emotionality, surgency, and lower effortful control are more affected by their received parenting, but experimental evidence is scarce. Also, others have argued that child temperament might not be a susceptibility factor but a factor that can change through parents' participation in a parenting

On the interpretation of transcriptome-wide association studies

Christiaan de Leeuw · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · NL

Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) aim to detect relationships between gene expression and a phenotype, and are commonly used for secondary analysis of genome-wide association study (GWAS) results. Results from TWAS analyses are often interpreted as indicating a genetic relationship between gene expression and a phenotype, but this interpretation is not consistent with the null hypothesis that is evaluated in the traditional TWAS framework. In this study we provide a mathematical outl

Sodium channel endocytosis drives axon initial segment plasticity

Amélie Freal · Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences · NL

-methyl-d-aspartate receptor activation causes both long-term synaptic depression and rapid internalization of AIS sodium channels within minutes. The clathrin-mediated endocytosis of sodium channels at the distal AIS increases the threshold for action potential generation. These data reveal a fundamental mechanism for rapid activity-dependent AIS reorganization and suggests that plasticity of intrinsic excitability shares conserved features with synaptic plasticity.

Multi-decadal trends and variability in burned area from the fifth version of the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED5)

Yang Chen · University of California, Irvine · US

Abstract. Long-term records of burned area are needed to understand wildfire dynamics, assess fire impacts on ecosystems and air quality, and improve fire forecasts. Here, we fuse multiple streams of remote sensing data to create a 24 year (1997–2020) dataset of monthly burned area as a component of the fifth version of the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED5). During 2001–2020, we use the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) MCD64A1 burned area product and adjust for the erro

Considerations for hormonal therapy in migraine patients: a critical review of current practice

Linda Al‐Hassany · Erasmus MC · NL

INTRODUCTION: Migraine, a neurovascular headache disorder, is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Within the multifaceted pathophysiology of migraine, hormonal fluctuations play an evident triggering and exacerbating role, pointing toward the need for identification and proper usage of both existing and new hormonal targets in migraine treatment. AREAS COVERED: With a threefold higher incidence of migraine in women than in men, the authors delve into sex hormone-related events in migraine p

The amoeba dimension of a linear space

Jan Draisma · Eindhoven University of Technology · NL

Given a complex vector subspace <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper V"> <mml:semantics> <mml:mi>V</mml:mi> <mml:annotation encoding="application/x-tex">V</mml:annotation> </mml:semantics> </mml:math> </inline-formula> of <inline-formula content-type="math/mathml"> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="double-struck upper C Superscript n"> <mml:semantics> <mml:msup> <mml:mrow class="MJX-TeX

Re-investigating the structure–property relationship of the solid electrolytes Li _{3− <i>x</i>} In _{1− <i>x</i>} Zr _<i>x</i> Cl ₆ and the impact of In–Zr( <scp>iv</scp> ) substitution

Ernst R. H. van Eck · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

is most likely anisotropic considering the crystal structure and two distinct jump processes found by solid-state NMR. Zr-substitution improves ionic conductivity by tuning the charge carrier concentration, accompanied by small changes in the crystal structure which affect ion transport on short timescales, likely reducing the anisotropy.

Short Implicit Voice Training Affects Listening Effort During a Voice Cue Sensitivity Task With Vocoder-Degraded Speech

Ada Biçer · University Medical Center Groningen · NL

OBJECTIVES: Understanding speech in real life can be challenging and effortful, such as in multiple-talker listening conditions. Fundamental frequency ( fo ) and vocal-tract length ( vtl ) voice cues can help listeners segregate between talkers, enhancing speech perception in adverse listening conditions. Previous research showed lower sensitivity to fo and vtl voice cues when speech signal was degraded, such as in cochlear implant hearing and vocoder-listening compared to normal hearing, likely

Adhesive creases: bifurcation, morphology and their (apparent) self-similarity

Jacco H. Snoeijer · University of Twente · NL

An elastic material that experiences strong compression parallel to its free surface can exhibit sharp surface folds. Such creases arise due to an instability where a self-contacting fold appears on the surface, often observed in growing tissues or swelling gels. Self-adhesion of the contact is known to affect the bifurcation behavior and morphology of these structures, yet a quantitative description remains elusive. From numerical simulations and an energy analysis we resolve how adhesion quant

JoVE Video Dataset

Jitske Bak · Oncode Institute · NL

Microtubules are an important part of the cytoskeleton and are involved in intracellular organization, cell division, and migration. Depending on the posttranslational modifications, microtubules can form complexes with various interacting proteins. These microtubule-protein complexes are often implicated in human diseases. Understanding the structure of such complexes is useful for elucidating their mechanisms of action and can be studied by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). To obtain such co

Bayes Factors for Mixed Models: a Discussion

Johnny van Doorn · University of Amsterdam · NL

Abstract van Doorn et al. (2021) outlined various questions that arise when conducting Bayesian model comparison for mixed effects models. Seven response articles offered their own perspective on the preferred setup for mixed model comparison, on the most appropriate specification of prior distributions, and on the desirability of default recommendations. This article presents a round-table discussion that aims to clarify outstanding issues, explore common ground, and outline practical considera

Minding Rights: Mapping Ethical and Legal Foundations of ‘Neurorights’

Philipp Kellmeyer · University of Freiburg · DE

The rise of neurotechnologies, especially in combination with artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods for brain data analytics, has given rise to concerns around the protection of mental privacy, mental integrity and cognitive liberty - often framed as "neurorights" in ethical, legal, and policy discussions. Several states are now looking at including neurorights into their constitutional legal frameworks, and international institutions and organizations, such as UNESCO and the Council of Eur

Intermediate filament network perturbation in the C. elegans intestine causes systemic dysfunctions

Florian Geisler · RWTH Aachen University · DE

mutants but extends to mutants that disrupt the function of the cytoskeletal linker IFO-1 and the IF-associated protein BBLN-1. The findings provide strong evidence for adverse consequences of the deranged IF networks with implications for diseases that are characterized by altered IF network organization.

Direct and indirect associations between childhood adversity and emotional and behavioral problems at age 14: A network analytical approach

Tjeerd Rudmer de Vries · University Medical Center Groningen · NL

= 1880, 52.2% female). We found that bullying victimization, peer rejection, parental mental health problems, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse were the only AEs directly contributing to risk of emotional problems. Parental divorce and emotional abuse were the only AEs directly contributing to risk of behavioral problems. Most AEs (e.g., parental employment, parental physical illness) were not conditionally associated with emotional and behavioral problems but may nevertheless contribute to emot

Direct Measurement of the Local Density of Optical States in the Time Domain

Jaime Gómez Rivas · Eindhoven University of Technology · NL

One of the most fundamental and relevant properties of a photonic system is the local density of optical states (LDOS) as it defines the rate at which an excited emitter dissipates energy by coupling to its surrounding. However, the direct determination of the LDOS is challenging as it requires measurements of the complex electric field of a point dipole at its own position. We introduce here a near-field setup which can measure the terahertz electric field amplitude at the position of a point s

Reaction-diffusion equations with transport noise and critical superlinear diffusion: Local well-posedness and positivity

Mark Veraar · Delft University of Technology · NL

In this paper we consider a class of stochastic reaction-diffusion equations. We provide local well-posedness, regularity, blow-up criteria and positivity of solutions. The key novelties of this work are related to the use transport noise, critical spaces and the proof of higher order regularity of solutions – even in case of non-smooth initial data. Crucial tools are Lp(Lq)-theory, maximal regularity estimates and sharp blow-up criteria. We view the results of this paper as a general toolbox fo

A genetic linkage map and improved genome assembly of the termite symbiont Termitomyces cryptogamus

Sabine M. E. Vreeburg · Wageningen University & Research · NL

BACKGROUND: The termite-fungus symbiosis is an ancient stable mutualism of two partners that reproduce and disperse independently. With the founding of each termite colony the symbiotic association must be re-established with a new fungus partner. Complementarity in the ability to break down plant substrate may help to stabilize this symbiosis despite horizontal symbiont transmission. An alternative, non-exclusive, hypothesis is that a reduced rate of evolution may contribute to stabilize the sy

On the interpretation of transcriptome-wide association studies

Christiaan de Leeuw · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · NL

Transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) aim to detect relationships between gene expression and a phenotype, and are commonly used for secondary analysis of genome-wide association study (GWAS) results. Results from TWAS analyses are often interpreted as indicating a genetic relationship between gene expression and a phenotype, but this interpretation is not consistent with the null hypothesis that is evaluated in the traditional TWAS framework. In this study we provide a mathematical outl

Metyrapone Treatment Protects Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice against Hypercorticosteronemia Development without Changing Atherosclerosis Susceptibility

Menno Hoekstra · Leiden University · NL

< 0.001). In conclusion, we have shown that treatment with metyrapone diminishes hypercorticosteronemia without affecting atherosclerosis susceptibility in cholic acid-containing high cholesterol/high fat diet-fed low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice. These preclinical findings highlight that restoring plasma glucocorticoid levels to normal is not necessarily sufficient to overcome the cardiovascular co-morbidities associated with human Cushing's disease.

Vicarious Emotions of Fear and Pain in Rodents

Christian Keysers · Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience · NL

faces that threat. Finally, we discuss evidence that rodents can engage in prosocial behaviors that may be motivated by vicarious distress or reward.

Advanced<scp>MR</scp>Techniques for Preoperative Glioma Characterization: Part 2

Gilbert Hangel · Christian Doppler Laboratory for Thermoelectricity · AT

Preoperative clinical MRI protocols for gliomas, brain tumors with dismal outcomes due to their infiltrative properties, still rely on conventional structural MRI, which does not deliver information on tumor genotype and is limited in the delineation of diffuse gliomas. The GliMR COST action wants to raise awareness about the state of the art of advanced MRI techniques in gliomas and their possible clinical translation. This review describes current methods, limits, and applications of advanced

Towards a dynamic account of chronic pain

Madelon L. Peters · Maastricht University · NL

sponsorship: J.W.S. Vlaeyen is supported by the research program "From Acute Aversive Sensations to Chronic Bodily Symptoms," a long-term structural Methusalem funding (METH/15/011) by the Flemish government, Belgium, and J.W.S. Vlaeyen and M.L. Peters are supported by the NWO gravitation program "New Science of Mental Disorders": www.nsmd.eu (grant number 024.004.016) by the Dutch Research Council and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. J.M.B. Haslbeck is supported by NWO Vici

Molecular Signatures and Cellular Diversity During Mouse Habenula Development

R. Jeroen Pasterkamp · Utrecht University · NL

SUMMARY The habenula plays a key role in various motivated and pathological behaviors and is composed of molecularly distinct neuron subtypes. Despite progress in identifying mature habenula neuron subtypes, how these subtypes develop and organize into functional brain circuits remains largely unknown. Here we performed single-cell transcriptional profiling of mouse habenular neurons at critical developmental stages instructed by detailed three-dimensional anatomical data. Our data reveal cellul

Molecular Signatures and Cellular Diversity During Mouse Habenula Development

R. Jeroen Pasterkamp · Utrecht University · NL

SUMMARY The habenula plays a key role in various motivated and pathological behaviors and is composed of molecularly distinct neuron subtypes. Despite progress in identifying mature habenula neuron subtypes, how these subtypes develop and organize into functional brain circuits remains largely unknown. Here we performed single-cell transcriptional profiling of mouse habenular neurons at critical developmental stages instructed by detailed three-dimensional anatomical data. Our data reveal cellul

Sleep and mental health in childhood: a multi-method study in the general pediatric population

Elisabet Blok · Erasmus MC · NL

BACKGROUND: Sleep problems, altered sleep patterns and mental health difficulties often co-occur in the pediatric population. Different assessment methods for sleep exist, however, many studies only use one measure of sleep or focus on one specific mental health problem. In this population-based study, we assessed different aspects of sleep and mother-reported mental health to provide a broad overview of the associations between reported and actigraphic sleep characteristics and mental health. M

Identification and characterization of Crumbs polarity complex proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans

Mike Boxem · Utrecht University · NL

Crumbs proteins are evolutionarily conserved transmembrane proteins with essential roles in promoting the formation of the apical domain in epithelial cells. The short intracellular tail of Crumbs proteins are known to interact with several proteins, including the scaffolding protein PALS1 (protein associated with LIN7, Stardust in Drosophila). PALS1 in turn binds to a second scaffolding protein PATJ (PALS1-associated tight junction protein) to form the core Crumbs/PALS1/PATJ complex. While esse

Plate tectonic chain reaction revealed by noise in the Cretaceous quiet zone

Derya Gürer · Utrecht University · NL

Sticky Brownian Rounding and its Applications to Constraint Satisfaction Problems

Sepehr Abbasi-Zadeh · University of Toronto · CA

Semidefinite programming is a powerful tool in the design and analysis of approximation algorithms for combinatorial optimization problems. In particular, the random hyperplane rounding method of Goemans and Williamson [ 31 ] has been extensively studied for more than two decades, resulting in various extensions to the original technique and beautiful algorithms for a wide range of applications. Despite the fact that this approach yields tight approximation guarantees for some problems, e.g., Ma

Correction: Genome-wide gene-environment interactions in neuroticism: an exploratory study across 25 environments

Josefin Werme · Cognitive Research (United States) · US

The original version of this article contained a mistake in the Acknowledgements. The following sentence should be changed from “This work was funded by COSYN (Comorbidity and Synapse Biology in Clinically Overlapping Psychiatric Disorders: Horizon 2020 Program of the European Union under RIA grant agreement 667301 to D.P.) and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO: VICI 435-14-005).” to “This work was funded by COSYN (Comorbidity and Synapse Biology in Clinically Overlapping

The spread of the first introns in proto-eukaryotic paralogs

Julian Vosseberg · Utrecht University · NL

Spliceosomal introns are a unique feature of eukaryotic genes. Previous studies have established that many introns were present in the protein-coding genes of the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA). Intron positions shared between genes that duplicated before LECA could in principle provide insight into the emergence of the first introns. In this study we use ancestral intron position reconstructions in two large sets of duplicated families to systematically identify these ancient paralogous

Memantine treatment does not affect compulsive behavior or frontostriatal connectivity in an adolescent rat model for quinpirole-induced compulsive checking behavior

Milou Straathof · Utrecht University · NL

RATIONALE: Compulsivity often develops during childhood and is associated with elevated glutamate levels within the frontostriatal system. This suggests that anti-glutamatergic drugs, like memantine, may be an effective treatment. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to characterize the acute and chronic effect of memantine treatment on compulsive behavior and frontostriatal network structure and function in an adolescent rat model of compulsivity. METHODS: Juvenile Sprague-Dawley rats received repeated quin

Relativistic reduced density matrix functional theory

Mauricio Rodríguez‐Mayorga · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · NL

As a new approach to efficiently describe correlation effects in the relativistic quantum world we propose to consider reduced density matrix functional theory, where the key quantity is the first-order reduced density matrix (1-RDM). In this work, we first introduce the theoretical foundations to extend the applicability of this theory to the relativistic domain. Then, using the so-called no-pair (np) approximation, we arrive at an approximate treatment of the relativistic effects by focusing o

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in exhaled air of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Marien I. de Jonge · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

Knowledge about contagiousness is key to accurate management of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Epidemiological studies suggest that in addition to transmission through droplets, aerogenic SARS-CoV-2 transmission contributes to the spread of infection. However, the presence of virus in exhaled air has not yet been sufficiently demonstrated. In pandemic situations low tech disposable and user-friendly bedside devices are required, while commercially available samplers are unsuitable for applicati

Human milk: From complex tailored nutrition to bioactive impact on child cognition and behavior

Carolina de Weerth · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

Human milk is a highly complex liquid food tailor-made to match an infant's needs. Beyond documented positive effects of breastfeeding on infant and maternal health, there is increasing evidence that milk constituents also impact child neurodevelopment. Non-nutrient milk bioactives would contribute to the (long-term) development of child cognition and behavior, a process termed 'Lactocrine Programming'. In this review we discuss the current state of the field on human milk composition and its li

Particle Size Effects in the Selective Hydrogenation of Alkadienes over Supported Cu Nanoparticles

Petra E. de Jongh · Utrecht University · NL

Abstract Copper is considered an excellent alternative to noble‐metal selective hydrogenation catalysts. Herein, we systematically studied the effect of Cu nanoparticle size (2–10 nm) in the selective hydrogenation of 1,3‐butadiene in excess of propene. The catalysts exhibited particle size‐dependent activity, with particles above 4 nm being 3 to 4 times more active than the 2 nm ones, and at the same time more selective (up to 99 % at almost full butadiene conversion for 7–10 nm particles). The

Plant-litter-soil feedbacks in common grass species are slightly negative and only marginally modified by litter exposed to insect herbivory

Jonathan R. De Long · Netherlands Institute of Ecology · NL

Abstract Purpose Insect herbivory affects plant growth, nutrient and secondary metabolite concentrations and litter quality. Changes to litter quality due to insect herbivory can alter decomposition, with knock on effects for plant growth mediated through the plant-litter-soil feedback pathway. Methods Using a multi-phase glasshouse experiment, we tested how changes in shoot and root litter quality of fast- and slow-growing grass caused by insect herbivores affect the performance of response pla

Mode Mapping Photonic Crystal Nanocavities with <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" overflow="scroll"><mml:mi>Q</mml:mi><mml:mo>&gt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>5</mml:mn><mml:mo>×</mml:mo><mml:msup><mml:mn>10</mml:mn><mml:mn>5</mml:mn></mml:msup></mml:math> Using Free-Carrier Absorption

Karindra Perrier · Utrecht University · NL

We demonstrate a nonlinear photomodulation spectroscopy method to image the mode profile of a high-$Q$ photonic crystal resonator (PhCR). This far-field imaging method is suitable for ultrahigh-$Q$ cavities which we demonstrate on a $Q=619\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}000$ PhCR. We scan the PhCR surface with a 405-nm pump beam that modulates the refractive index by local thermal tuning, while probing the response of the resonance. We enhance resolution by probing at high power, using the thermo-opt

Trauma-induced human glucocorticoid receptor expression increases predict subsequent HPA-axis blunting in a prospective longitudinal design

Lycia D. de Voogd · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

Combined inhibition of EZH2 and ATM is synthetic lethal in BRCA1-deficient breast cancer

Leonie Ratz · University Hospital Cologne · DE

BACKGROUND: The majority of BRCA1-mutant breast cancers are characterized by a triple-negative phenotype and a basal-like molecular subtype, associated with aggressive clinical behavior. Current treatment options are limited, highlighting the need for the development of novel targeted therapies for this tumor subtype. METHODS: Our group previously showed that EZH2 is functionally relevant in BRCA1-deficient breast tumors and blocking EZH2 enzymatic activity could be a potent treatment strategy.

Lack of lipid accumulation in two species of chalcidoid wasps with secondarily evolved phytophagy

Jacintha Ellers · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · NL

Abstract Stable co‐evolutionary relationships between species may result in the loss of autonomous synthesis of essential nutrients when these can be obtained from the ecological partner. Parasitoid insects obtain most of their nutrients from their host, and many lineages do not increase their adult lipid reserves even when feeding on a surplus of sugars. Several clades within the parasitoid Hymenoptera have lost the parasitoid lifestyle and switched to either a predatory or a phytophagous lifes

<scp>CADASIL</scp> Affects Multiple Aspects of Cerebral Small Vessel Function on <scp>7T‐MRI</scp>

Geert Jan Biessels · University Medical Center Utrecht · NL

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral small vessel diseases (cSVDs) are a major cause of stroke and dementia. We used cutting-edge 7T-MRI techniques in patients with Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), to establish which aspects of cerebral small vessel function are affected by this monogenic form of cSVD. METHODS: We recruited 23 CADASIL patients (age 51.1 ± 10.1 years, 52% women) and 13 age- and sex-matched controls (46.1 ± 12.6, 46% women). Smal

Using modelled relationships and satellite observations to attribute modelled aerosol biases over biomass burning regions

Qirui Zhong · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam · NL

Biomass burning (BB) is a major source of aerosols that remain the most uncertain components of the global radiative forcing. Current global models have great difficulty matching observed aerosol optical depth (AOD) over BB regions. A common solution to address modelled AOD biases is scaling BB emissions. Using the relationship from an ensemble of aerosol models and satellite observations, we show that the bias in aerosol modelling results primarily from incorrect lifetimes and underestimated ma

Identification and characterization of Crumbs polarity complex proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans

Mike Boxem · Utrecht University · NL

Crumbs proteins are evolutionarily conserved transmembrane proteins with essential roles in promoting the formation of the apical domain in epithelial cells. The short intracellular tail of Crumbs proteins are known to interact with several proteins, including the scaffolding protein PALS1 (protein associated with LIN7, Stardust in Drosophila). PALS1 in turn binds to a second scaffolding protein PATJ (PALS1-associated tight junction protein) to form the core Crumbs/PALS1/PATJ complex. While esse

Untargeted metabolomics and infrared ion spectroscopy identify biomarkers for pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy

Jonathan Martens · HFML-FELIX · NL

BackgroundPyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE-ALDH7A1) is an inborn error of lysine catabolism that presents with refractory epilepsy in newborns. Biallelic ALDH7A1 variants lead to deficiency of α-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase/antiquitin, resulting in accumulation of piperideine-6-carboxylate (P6C), and secondary deficiency of the important cofactor pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP, active vitamin B6) through its complexation with P6C. Vitamin B6 supplementation resolves epilepsy in patients

Effect of Channel Interaction on Vocal Cue Perception in Cochlear Implant Users

Nawal El Boghdady · University Medical Center Groningen · NL

Speech intelligibility in multitalker settings is challenging for most cochlear implant (CI) users. One possibility for this limitation is the suboptimal representation of vocal cues in implant processing, such as the fundamental frequency (F0), and the vocal tract length (VTL). Previous studies suggested that while F0 perception depends on spectrotemporal cues, VTL perception relies largely on spectral cues. To investigate how spectral smearing in CIs affects vocal cue perception in speech-on-s

Sensory input drives rapid homeostatic scaling of the axon initial segment in mouse barrel cortex

Nora Jamann · Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience · NL

The axon initial segment (AIS) is a critical microdomain for action potential initiation and implicated in the regulation of neuronal excitability during activity-dependent plasticity. While structural AIS plasticity has been suggested to fine-tune neuronal activity when network states change, whether it acts in vivo as a homeostatic regulatory mechanism in behaviorally relevant contexts remains poorly understood. Using the mouse whisker-to-barrel pathway as a model system in combination with im

Amadori rearrangement products as potential biomarkers for inborn errors of amino-acid metabolism

Rianne E. van Outersterp · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

The identification of disease biomarkers plays a crucial role in developing diagnostic strategies for inborn errors of metabolism and understanding their pathophysiology. A primary metabolite that accumulates in the inborn error phenylketonuria is phenylalanine, however its levels do not always directly correlate with clinical outcomes. Here we combine infrared ion spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy to identify the Phe-glucose Amadori rearrangement product as a biomarker for phenylketonuria. Addi

A tipping point in cancer-immune dynamics leads to divergent immunotherapy responses and hampers biomarker discovery

Johannes Textor · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

BACKGROUND: Predicting treatment response or survival of cancer patients remains challenging in immuno-oncology. Efforts to overcome these challenges focus, among others, on the discovery of new biomarkers. Despite advances in cellular and molecular approaches, only a limited number of candidate biomarkers eventually enter clinical practice. METHODS: A computational modeling approach based on ordinary differential equations was used to simulate the fundamental mechanisms that dictate tumor-immun

Amadori rearrangement products as potential biomarkers for inborn errors of amino-acid metabolism

Rianne E. van Outersterp · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

The identification of disease biomarkers plays a crucial role in developing diagnostic strategies for inborn errors of metabolism and understanding their pathophysiology. A primary metabolite that accumulates in the inborn error phenylketonuria is phenylalanine, however its levels do not always directly correlate with clinical outcomes. Here we combine infrared ion spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy to identify the Phe-glucose Amadori rearrangement product as a biomarker for phenylketonuria. Addi

Nanoengineering Apolipoprotein A1‐Based Immunotherapeutics

Willem J. M. Mulder · Radboud University Nijmegen · NL

Abstract In the slipstream of targeting the adaptive immune system, innate immunotherapy strategies are being developed. In this context, technologies based on natural carrier vehicles that inherently interact with the innate immune system, are increasingly being considered. Immunoregulatory nanotherapeutics based on natural apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) are discussed here. This protein is a helical, amphipathic macromolecule and the main constituent of high‐density lipoprotein. In that capacity, ap