Governance and sustainable development at higher education institutions

© 2020, Springer Nature B.V. Governance issues, here interpreted as the provisions of adequate policy frameworks characterized by reliability and accountability, coupled with resources to support their implementation, are known to be the basis for the implementation of sustainable development measures. This paper discusses the influence of governance in the ways sustainability is perceived and practiced in a higher education context. Apart from due considerations to the role of governance as the basis for regulation and institutional actions and management decisions, this paper reports on an empirical study undertaken in a sample of higher education institutions. This study entailed an analysis of sustainable development policies, certification, organizational structure, budget, reports, team for sustainability, staff training, and challenges for the integration of sustainability and governance. The results suggest that even though there are different opinions and attitudes on the role of governance, it is regarded as an important component in supporting efforts by higher education institutions to include considerations on sustainable development as part of their strategies

Terrestrial research during the fourth International Polar Year

Huiskes, A., M.J.J.E. Loonen & J. Rozema(2016) Terrestrisch onderzoek tijdens het vierde Internationale Pooljaar. In: Buma, A.G.J., A.J.M. Scheepstra & R. Bintanja (eds). Door de kou bevangen. Vijftig jaar Nederlands onderzoek in de poolgebieden. Uitgeverij MaRiSuDa, Lelystad: 182-185Huiskes, A., M.J.J.E. Loonen & J. Rozema(2016) Terrestrisch onderzoek tijdens het vierde Internationale Pooljaar. In: Buma, A.G.J., A.J.M. Scheepstra & R. Bintanja (eds). Door de kou bevangen. Vijftig jaar Nederlands onderzoek in de poolgebieden. Uitgeverij MaRiSuDa, Lelystad: 182-185

Do Patients Benefit from Orthognathic Surgery? A Systematic Review on the Effects of Elective Orthognathic Surgery on Psychosocial Functioning and Patient Satisfaction

The main purpose of this systematic review was to determine the current state of evidence regarding patient satisfaction with, and the impact of, orthognathic surgery on psychosocial functioning of patients 17 yr of age and older. A secondary aim was to determine whether individuals with psychiatric disorders and mental health conditions are more likely to be dissatisfied with the treatment outcome than those without. We systematically searched PubMed, PsycInfo, and Embase for relevant studies (up to 6 June 2016). After selection of articles we determined the Directness of Evidence (DoE) and Risk of Bias (RoB). We identified 3,948 studies (1,053 studies in Pubmed, 2,023 in Embase, and 872 in PsycInfo). Of these, 87 remained after screening of title and abstract, while after full-text screening only nine remained for DoE and RoB assessment. All nine studies had a high RoB and a low or moderate DoE. The quality of the methods of studies, published to date, on the effects of orthognathic surgery on patient satisfaction or the psychosocial impact carry a high RoB. Therefore, these do not allow inferences on the effects of orthognathic surgery on patient satisfaction or their psychosocial functioning. [Abstract copyright: © 2017 Eur J Oral Sci.

Terrestrisch onderzoek tijdens het vierde Internationale Pooljaar

Huiskes, A., M.J.J.E. Loonen & J. Rozema(2016) Terrestrisch onderzoek tijdens het vierde Internationale Pooljaar. In: Buma, A.G.J., A.J.M. Scheepstra & R. Bintanja (eds). Door de kou bevangen. Vijftig jaar Nederlands onderzoek in de poolgebieden. Uitgeverij MaRiSuDa, Lelystad: 182-18

Physiological, biochemical and ultrastructural responses of the green macroalga Urospora penicilliformis from Arctic Spitsbergen to UV radiation

Exposure of the filamentous turf green alga Urospora penicilliformis to ambient and artificial ultraviolet radiation (UVR) revealed a considerable resilient species. This explains the ability of this alga to thrive in the middleupper intertidal zones of the Arctic sea where it is periodically exposed to environmental extremes. A transient UVR effect on photosynthesis under photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) + UV-A and PAR + UV-A + UV-B was found, but dynamic recovery of photoinhibition was observed immediately after reduction of the photon fluence rate of PAR in the absence or presence of background UVR under laboratory and natural solar radiation, respectively. Chlorophylls, carotenoids, and xanthophyll cycle pigments (violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, and zeaxanthin) concentrations were not significantly different between freshly collected samples and filaments exposed to additional laboratory radiation treatment. The ultrastructure of the U. penicilliformis gametophytes showed that the cells are well adapted to UVR. No significant ultrastructural alterations were observed in filaments exposed to different spectral irradiance in the laboratory compared to in situ acclimated specimen. The antioxidant α-tocopherol was detected in minute quantity while the search for flavonoid-like compounds was negative. Other UV screening strategies or certain genetically fixed physiological protective mechanism could be operating in this species responsible for their occurrence in higher shoreline and ecological success. Further molecular and biochemical studies are needed to elucidate the stress resistance in this turf alga. There is an indication that the extremely thick cell wall of U. penicilliformis gametophytes covered with mucilage sheath and dense layer of mineral depositions may provide a shield against unfavorable environmental conditions in general and against UVR in particular