This thesis presents the results of a study on the interfaces of insulating oxides with and without the insertion of a magnetic layer.

This dissertation is an experimental study of laser-generated, atmospheric pressure, transient toroidal helium plasmas.

The long-held desire - to link structure directly to function and to explain molecular mechanisms based on basic chemical or physical principles - is finally coming closer, satisfying not only our scientific curiosity but also offering new solutions to the many challenges in the field of health, energy…

Promotor: M.T.M. Koper, Co-promotor: L. Juurlink

A large diversity of exoplanetary systems has been found, but it is still unclear what drives this diversity.

Understanding how galaxies form, interact, and evolve comes largely from comparing theory predictions with observational data. Numerical simulations of galaxies provide the most accurate approach to testing the theory, as they follow the non-linear evolution of gas and dark matter in great detail and…

In this thesis, we use low-frequency and high-frequency radio observations to address the following questions regarding quasars: is the radio loud/quiet quasar dichotomy real?

Hydrogen fuel cells are expected to be pivotal in the energetic transition towards renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. However, their industrial scalability is severely hindered by the high cost and degradation rate of platinum catalysts, one of their key components. Addressing this…

Pulsars were first discovered in 1967 and since then the population has grown and expanded over several wavelengths.

This thesis is a (biased) journey through very different topics in astrophysics: quasars and new populations of active galactic nuclei, gravitational waves from merging black holes, and protoplanetary discs around young stars.

Nowadays, it is well known that hydrogen and helium (and small traces of lithium and beryllium) were created shortly after the Big Bang, while the heavier elements are created in the cores of stars at different evolutionary stages. When these stars explode as supernovae, they expel metals synthesised…

It has now been well established that shocks and turbulent motions in the intra-cluster medium (ICM) generated through cluster mergers can produce large-scale synchrotron emission.

Promotores: T.H.W. Bäck, Y. Tan, Co-promotor: M.T.M. Emmerich

In this thesis we investigate cosmology and the large scale structure of the Universe using cosmological simulations.

The radio sky harbours both galactic and extragalactic sources of arcminute- to degree-scale emission of various physical origins. To discover extragalactic diffuse emission in the Cosmic Web beyond galaxy clusters, one must image low–surface brightness structures amidst a sea of brighter compact fore-…

Promotor: Prof.dr. S.F. Portegies Zwart

The focus of this thesis is how stars like our Sun and planets like Jupiter, Saturn, and Earth are formed.

Where does the urge to collect come from? What are the explicit or underlying reasons for gathering large amount of objects?

This thesis focuses on the X-ray spectral analysis of merging galaxy clusters and the plasma code development for future high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy observations.

The overarching goal of this thesis is to set the foundations, but also make the first essential steps towards establishing a comprehensive, mesoscopic, hydrodynamic theory of epithelial tissues. The stage is set by an exhaustive study of topological defects in passive p-atic liquid crystals, singularities…

This thesis utilises the exceptional sensitivity and resolution of LOFAR to explore the low-frequency Universe, while simultaneously advancing the telescope's capabilities to enable new scientific discovery.

This thesis discusses the physical and chemical processes than influence the composition of forming planets.

We have conducted a full spectral line survey of the 3-13 micron region of two massive protostars, AFGL 2591 and AFGL 2136, for the first time at high spectral resolution.

The stratum corneum is the outermost skin layer and consists of dead cells embedded in a lipid matrix.

In Nature beschrijven onderzoekers van de universiteiten van Leiden en Utrecht hoe 47 tanden uit Zuid-China aantonen dat de anatomisch modern mens minimaal 80.000 jaar geleden in die regio aanwezig was. 40.000 jaar eerder dan in Europa.

Onderzoek door Leidse promovenda Michelle Spierings toont aan dat zebravinken bijzonder gevoelig zijn voor de natuurlijke intonatie in menselijke spraak. Artikel gepubliceerd in Proceedings of the Royal Society - Biological Sciences.

Ons brein is een bron van onzekerheid, en we doen er alles aan om die te vermijden of te minimaliseren, aldus hoogleraar Sander Nieuwenhuis. Onzekerheid komt in allerlei vormen voor: van twijfels over wel of niet handelen tot sociale onzekerheid. Maar hoe verwerkt het brein die onzekerheid eigenlijk?…

De relatie tussen christenen en moslims in het Midden-Oosten in de middeleeuwen wordt vaak getypeerd met termen als ‘conflict’ en ‘onderling geweld’. In zijn proefschrift zet Bas Snelders vraagtekens bij dat beeld. Analyse van kunst uit die periode laat namelijk zien dat beide gemeenschappen niet naast,…

Hoe ervaren docentonderzoekers aan Nederlandse hogescholen hun academische identiteit wanneer zij hun onderwijstaken uitbreiden met onderzoek, en hoe navigeren zij de daarmee verbonden roltransities, terwijl zij persoonlijke doelen, institutionele verwachtingen en contextuele mogelijkheden in balans…

Het primaire doel van de leerstoel is het uitvoeren en bevorderen van wetenschappelijk onderzoek naar de rol van het militaire instrument in hedendaagse conflicten en het verhogen van de kennis daarover in de Nederlandse maatschappij.

While ecosystems have concrete benefits for human society, these benefits are typically overlooked in decision-making.

Promotor: M. Danhof Co-promotor: O.E. Della Pasqua

This thesis investigates a pharmacological challenge model induced by Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) activation, focusing on skin inflammation and its implications for early drug development.

Promotor: A. Achúcarro, Co-Promotor: J.W. van Holten

In this project of the Center for Public Values & Ethics (CPVE) ongoing research is conducted on the history of advice to Dutch central government by so-called State committees from 1814 to 2014. State committees have been installed by Dutch central government since 1814 to provide expert advice, research…

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

The origin and evolution of galaxies are closely tied to the cyclic feedback processes between stars and the interstellar medium (ISM).

This thesis systematically studies the physicochemical properties of non-planar, propeller-shaped, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The synthesis of several so-called propellerenes is described on a gram scale, using optimized procedures aimed at using less hazardous reagents and reducing the amount…

To gain more insight into the evolutionary development of orchid flowers and fruits, the orchid species Erycina pusilla was studied. The evolutionary origin of the median petaloid sepal, the callus on the labellum, and the stelidia was studied.

Onderzoekers werken al eeuwen aan een atlas van het brein. Maar zelfs in 2017 zijn sommige hersenstructuren nog niet in kaart gebracht, met name in de hersenstam. In dit paper hebben we de test-hertest betrouwbaarheid gemeten van de enige MRI-scan die onderzoekers in staat stelt om de locus ceruleus,…

Lezing

Video games have emerged as one of the most interesting media of the turn of the century. The peculiar characteristic of video games is the biunivocal interaction between the computer and the human player.

Our recent excavations have focused on the more recent New Kingdom/Late Period (ca. 1500-332 BCE) material.