The Transformation of Corporate Governance Regulation in the European Union - Towards a Marketisation of Corporate Control

Overbeek, H.W. [Promotor]Apeldoorn, E.B. [Copromotor

Steady and Stable: Numerical Investigations of Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations

Excerpt: Mathematics is a language which can describe patterns in everyday life as well as abstract concepts existing only in our minds. Patterns exist in data, functions, and sets constructed around a common theme, but the most tangible patterns are visual. Visual demonstrations can help undergraduate students connect to abstract concepts in advanced mathematical courses. The study of partial differential equations, in particular, benefits from numerical analysis and simulation

An Analytic Variational Study of the Mass Spectrum in 2+1 Dimensional SU(3) Hamiltonian Lattice Gauge Theory

We calculate the masses of the lowest lying eigenstates of improved SU(2) and SU(3) lattice gauge theory in 2+1 dimensions using an analytic variational approach. The ground state is approximated by a one plaquette trial state and mass gaps are calculated in the symmetric and antisymmetric sectors by minimising over a suitable basis of rectangular states

Reachability in Biochemical Dynamical Systems by Quantitative Discrete Approximation (extended abstract)

In this paper, a novel computational technique for finite discrete approximation of continuous dynamical systems suitable for a significant class of biochemical dynamical systems is introduced. The method is parameterized in order to affect the imposed level of approximation provided that with increasing parameter value the approximation converges to the original continuous system. By employing this approximation technique, we present algorithms solving the reachability problem for biochemical dynamical systems. The presented method and algorithms are evaluated on several exemplary biological models and on a real case study.Comment: In Proceedings CompMod 2011, arXiv:1109.104

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior among US Hispanic/Latino Youth: The SOL Youth Study

Purpose: Physical activity and sedentary behavior among diverse Hispanic/Latino youth in the United States is not well documented. The aim of this study was to describe physical activity and sedentary behavior among a representative sample of Hispanic/Latino youth from four US communities using accelerometry and self-reported measures. Methods: From 2012 to 2014, 1466 Hispanic/Latino youth ages 8 to 16 yr, children of participants in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, enrolled in the SOL youth. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed by interview. After this, youth wore an Actical accelerometer for 1 wk. All statistical analyses accounted for the complex survey design and used sampling weights. Results: The accelerometer wear time adjusted mean minutes per day was: 604.6, sedentary; 178.9, light; 25.4, moderate; and 10.2, vigorous. Generally, higher levels of moderate and vigorous activity occurred among males, Mexican backgrounds, and youth age 8 to 10 yr compared with older age groups. Higher levels of sedentary behavior occurred among youth age 15 to 16 yr compared with younger age groups. The most common activities (reported, ≥1 per month) were of lower intensity, including listening to music (91.9%), homework (87.0%), riding in car/bus (84.3%), and hanging out with friends (83.4%). Common active pursuits included travel by walking (74.6%), physical education class (71.7%), running (71.4%), and recess (71.3%). Conclusions: Time, intensity, and type of physical activity and sedentary behavior varied among Hispanic/Latino youth. These findings can inform efforts to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior among US Hispanic/Latino youth

First-Line Nivolumab in Stage IV or Recurrent Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Nivolumab has been associated with longer overall survival than docetaxel among patients with previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In an open-label phase 3 trial, we compared first-line nivolumab with chemotherapy in patients with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive NSCLC. We randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, patients with untreated stage IV or recurrent NSCLC and a PD-L1 tumor-expression level of 1% or more to receive nivolumab (administered intravenously at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram of body weight once every 2 weeks) or platinum-based chemotherapy (administered once every 3 weeks for up to six cycles). Patients receiving chemotherapy could cross over to receive nivolumab at the time of disease progression. The primary end point was progression-free survival, as assessed by means of blinded independent central review, among patients with a PD-L1 expression level of 5% or more. Among the 423 patients with a PD-L1 expression level of 5% or more, the median progression-free survival was 4.2 months with nivolumab versus 5.9 months with chemotherapy (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91 to 1.45; P=0.25), and the median overall survival was 14.4 months versus 13.2 months (hazard ratio for death, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.80 to 1.30). A total of 128 of 212 patients (60%) in the chemotherapy group received nivolumab as subsequent therapy. Treatment-related adverse events of any grade occurred in 71% of the patients who received nivolumab and in 92% of those who received chemotherapy. Treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurred in 18% of the patients who received nivolumab and in 51% of those who received chemotherapy. Nivolumab was not associated with significantly longer progression-free survival than chemotherapy among patients with previously untreated stage IV or recurrent NSCLC with a PD-L1 expression level of 5% or more. Overall survival was similar between groups. Nivolumab had a favorable safety profile, as compared with chemotherapy, with no new or unexpected safety signals. (Funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and others; CheckMate 026 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02041533 .)

Photoproduction of mesons off nuclei

Recent results for the photoproduction of mesons off nuclei are reviewed. These experiments have been performed for two major lines of research related to the properties of the strong interaction. The investigation of nucleon resonances requires light nuclei as targets for the extraction of the isospin composition of the electromagnetic excitations. This is done with quasi-free meson photoproduction off the bound neutron and supplemented with the measurement of coherent photoproduction reactions, serving as spin and/or isospin filters. Furthermore, photoproduction from light and heavy nuclei is a very efficient tool for the study of the interactions of mesons with nuclear matter and the in-medium properties of hadrons. Experiments are currently rapidly developing due to the combination of high quality tagged (and polarized) photon beams with state-of-the-art 4pi detectors and polarized targets

Extra-familial social factors and obesity in the Hispanic Community Children’s Health Study/Study of Latino Youth

Hispanic/Latino youth are disproportionately affected by obesity. However, how social factors outside of the family relate to Hispanic/Latino youth obesity is not well understood. We examined associations of extra-familial social factors with overweight/obesity prevalence, and their variation by sex and age, in 1444 Study of Latino Youth participants [48.6% female; 43.4% children (8–11 years); 56.6% adolescents (12–16 years)], who were offspring of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos participants. Youth self-reported general social support from friends, dietary-, and physical activity (PA)-specific support from peers, and awareness/internalization of thinness ideals. Overweight/obesity was defined as body mass index ≥ 85th percentile. Logistic regression models assessed effects of social factors and their interactions with age-group and sex, adjusting for potential confounders. Social support from friends interacted with both age and sex in relation to overweight/obesity. Female children who reported lesser (OR 0.60; 95% CI [0.39, 0.91]) and female adolescents who reported greater (OR 1.35; 95% CI [1.06, 1.74]) social support from friends had higher odds of overweight/obesity. Among males, greater awareness/internalization of thinness ideals related to higher odds of overweight/obesity (OR 2.30; 95% CI [1.59, 3.31]). Awareness/internalization of thinness ideals was not associated with overweight/obesity among females. Dietary and PA-specific peer support did not relate to overweight/obesity. Social support from friends and awareness/internalization of thinness ideals were significantly related to odds of overweight/obesity in Hispanic/Latino youth; associations varied by age and sex, and persisted after control for intra-familial factors (overall family support/function; diet and activity specific support)

DASH diet and prevalent metabolic syndrome in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is recommended for lowering blood pressure and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD), but little data exist on these associations in US Hispanics/Latinos. We sought to assess associations between DASH score and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in diverse Hispanics/Latinos. We studied 10,741 adults aged 18–74 in the multicenter Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Dietary intake was measured using two 24-hour recalls, and MetS defined per the 2009 harmonized guidelines. We assessed cross-sectional associations of DASH score and MetS (and its dichotomized components) using survey logistic regression, and DASH and MetS continuous components using linear regression. We also stratified these models by Hispanic/Latino heritage group to explore heritage-specific associations. We found no associations between DASH and MetS prevalence. DASH was inversely associated with both measures of blood pressure (p < 0.01 for systolic and p < 0.001 for diastolic) in the overall cohort. DASH was also inversely associated with diastolic blood pressure in the Mexican (p < 0.05), Central American (p < 0.05), and South American (p < 0.01) groups; triglycerides (p < 0.05) in the Central American group; fasting glucose overall (p < 0.01) and in the Mexican group (p < 0.01); and waist circumference overall (p < 0.05) and in the South American group (p < 0.01). DASH was positively associated with HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.01) in the Central American group. DASH may better capture diet-MetS associations in Hispanic/Latino subpopulations such as Central/South Americans; this study also adds evidence that Hispanics/Latinos should be analyzed by heritage. Further research, and/or culturally tailored DASH measures will help further explain between-heritage differences