Yes, we can: motivate Dutch citizens to engage in self-protective behavior with regard to flood risks

Although the risk of flooding poses a serious threat to the Dutch public, citizens are not very inclined to engage in self-protective behaviors. Current risk communication tries to enhance these self-protective behaviors among citizens, but is nonetheless not very successful. The level of citizens engaging in self-protective actions remains rather low. Therefore, this research strives to determine the factors that might enhance or lessen the intention to engage in self-protection among citizens. The study was a 2 (flood risk: high vs low) × 2 (efficacy beliefs: high vs low) between subject experiment. It was conducted to test how varying levels of flood risk and efficacy beliefs influence two different self-protective behaviors, namely information seeking and the intention to engage in risk mitigating or preventive behaviors. Furthermore, the relationship between information seeking and the intention to take self-protective actions was discussed. Results showed that high levels of flood risk lead to higher levels of both information seeking and the intention to engage in self-protective behaviors than low levels of flood risk. For efficacy beliefs, the same trend occurred. Also, results showed that information seeking seems to coincide with the intention to take preventive actions and acted as a mediator between the levels of perceived risk and efficacy and the intention to take self-protective actions

The imaging tree of parathyroid diseases - Improving surgical outcomes by illuminating parathyroid glands

The current thesis investigates diagnostic molecular, optical and optoacoustic imaging techniques in parathyroid diseases. These imaging modalities may support surgical planning and have the potential to provide critical anatomical and biological information before and during surgery. In the first part of this thesis, we found that employing nuclear imaging techniques according to a standardized method in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism allows for the localization of parathyroid diseases with high accuracy before surgery. As a result, a minimally invasive surgical intervention is sufficient in these patients with fewer complications.The second part of this thesis focuses on preserving parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery to prevent hypoparathyroidism using optical fluorescence and optoacoustic imaging. Optical fluorescence imaging, where a fluorescent imaging agent lights up blood vessels during surgery, can assist in this clinical challenge. Moreover, optoacoustic imaging, an imaging modality that uses light to generate ultrasound waves, thereby providing both anatomical and biological information about the tissue, may be of help. We show the potential of standardized and quantitative optical and optoacoustic imaging in thyroid surgery patients to support clinical decision-making and ultimately prevent parathyroid function impairment. To incorporate these imaging techniques into the standard of care, we need to collaborate internationally to standardize evidence-based imaging and treatment guidelines. Eventually, illuminating parathyroid glands using these different techniques on the imaging tree of parathyroid diseases may guide surgical decision-making and improve surgical outcomes

The imaging tree of parathyroid diseases - Improving surgical outcomes by illuminating parathyroid glands

The current thesis investigates diagnostic molecular, optical and optoacoustic imaging techniques in parathyroid diseases. These imaging modalities may support surgical planning and have the potential to provide critical anatomical and biological information before and during surgery. In the first part of this thesis, we found that employing nuclear imaging techniques according to a standardized method in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism allows for the localization of parathyroid diseases with high accuracy before surgery. As a result, a minimally invasive surgical intervention is sufficient in these patients with fewer complications. The second part of this thesis focuses on preserving parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery to prevent hypoparathyroidism using optical fluorescence and optoacoustic imaging. Optical fluorescence imaging, where a fluorescent imaging agent lights up blood vessels during surgery, can assist in this clinical challenge. Moreover, optoacoustic imaging, an imaging modality that uses light to generate ultrasound waves, thereby providing both anatomical and biological information about the tissue, may be of help. We show the potential of standardized and quantitative optical and optoacoustic imaging in thyroid surgery patients to support clinical decision-making and ultimately prevent parathyroid function impairment. To incorporate these imaging techniques into the standard of care, we need to collaborate internationally to standardize evidence-based imaging and treatment guidelines. Eventually, illuminating parathyroid glands using these different techniques on the imaging tree of parathyroid diseases may guide surgical decision-making and improve surgical outcomes

Resilience in Older Adults: More Than Meets the Eye:A conceptual & empirical exploration of resilience in older adults

The life expectancy of the global population is increasing rapidly. However, the increase in life expectancy has also led to an increase in the number of years older adults live with chronic morbidities. Thus, for most older adults the reality of aging includes health-related adversities such as illness, disability, and/or cognitive impairment, but also social adversities such as loneliness and loss. Recently, the focus of research has shifted somewhat from treatment of diseases and extension of life to increasing wellbeing in the years gained. Considering the reality of adversities occurring in these extra years, it is important to study how wellbeing can be maintained or achieved despite these adversities. Studying resilience, the core of which is considered to be “some form of adversity and a positive response to this adversity” can therefore play an important role in achieving this goal. In this thesis we study the construct of resilience and its application in aging research and older adult clinical practice. We aim to contribute to the conceptual clarity and applicability of resilience for aging research. To do this we explore the views of different stakeholders on the construct of resilience and apply the construct to two different cases. We incorporate the diverse array of adversities for older adults posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in our explorations of resilience. Main Research questions: 1. What is resilience in older adults? 2. How can resilience (best) be studied in older adults? 3. What is the value of resilience for aging research and older adult care practice? 4. What are the challenges to the application of resilience in aging research and older adult care practice? 5. What can we learn about improving older adult wellbeing and resilience from how older adults deal with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic? In conclusion, researchers and older adults themselves initially described resilience as a personality trait. However, both the conceptual work on resilience in older adults and the comprehensive descriptions of recovery form COVID-19 of older adults themselves revealed that (their) resilience incorporated much more than just a trait. The results of this thesis show that the mechanism of resilience is a complex, dynamic and contextual process involving factors at different levels. Factors at an environmental (social) level seem to be of great importance to resilience of older adults in the face of different stressors across different contexts. Resilience is a valuable construct for aging research due to its positive connotation, its dynamic incorporation of stressors, and its versatility. ! e dynamic role of resilience factors across the life course and the importance of environmental factors lend particular value to resilience as they suggest that resilience factors are modifiable, through intervention, for example. Future resilience research may contribute to older adult care practice through: the identification of resilience factors which represent potential targets for intervention, the development of (clinical) predictors of resilience for clinical decision making and the guiding of personalized care, and the development of individual resilience factor mapping tools for the guiding of personalized treatment plans. It is important for this future research to incorporate a valid resilience measurement method/operationalization which reflects the conceptual framework of resilience (based on consensus within the conceptual literature), and is appropriate for the goal and context in which it is applied

Energy Policy Instruments and Technical Change in the Residential Building Sector

Energy performance policy in the building sector - such as is described by EU Directive known as EPBD - has the aim of reducing energy consumption in buildings. Given the importance of the development of innovations in energy technology, and a transition to a sustainable energy supply system, it is necessary that policy instruments for energy conservation in the building sector stimulate the development and diffusion of innovations. This publication contributes to knowledge about the content of energy performance policy and concludes that the effect of energy performance policy in encouraging innovation is limited. The study of the innovation system of the Dutch construction industry identifies how the project-based nature of the construction industry is an obstacle to ‘learning-rich’ collaboration between the various stakeholders. The study contributes to the discussion about the impact of government policy for energy conservation in the building sector, in the context of climate change policy

From harm to hope:Unraveling the intergenerational transmission of family violence

The main goal of this dissertation is to extend our knowledge on underlying mechanisms of the ‘making or breaking’ of the intergenerational transmission of family violence. The findings show that the intergenerational transmission can be explained by several mechanisms. The youth themselves explained this transmission especially by the mechanism of social learning; they did not have the right role model, and therefore, were less able to learn healthy conflict tactic skills, to talk about emotions and to develop emotion regulation skills. Underneath this behavior several trauma symptoms may exist, which can be triggered by certain stimuli, resulting in certain behavior. Additionally, based on interactions with their parents when they are young, children develop a secure or insecure attachment style. Family violence affects the attachment quality, increasing the risk of low self-esteem and mistrusting others, resulting in problems finding the right balance between connectedness and autonomy, setting boundaries, and sometimes even (justifying) controlling or aggressive behavior. Our results also highlight that children are resilient and able to break the intergenerational transmission of violence; with the right professional or social support and understanding, the youth can learn from their experiences with others, resulting in trust in self and others, reducing the risk of experiencing (later) violence within their romantic relationships. These findings highlight the need for specialized and long-term care, with a focus on strengthening the social network, to foster safe family environments for future generations of children exposed to family violence

Rodent-borne health risks in farming systems

Rodents represent the largest order of mammals (>40%) and consist of over 2000 species. However, only a small portion (<10%) of all rodent species can be referred to as pest species. There is a knowledge gap on the biology and habitat specialisations and distribution of many rodent species in Asia and in Europe, which is essential for the species-specific management of pest rodents. The main aim of this thesis was to obtain more knowledge about rodent-borne health risks in farming systems in both Europe and Asia. The chapters of this thesis describe several studies into rodents from the Netherlands and Bangladesh in order to find an answer to the main research question of this thesis. In this thesis, for both countries rodent presence is demonstrated, as well of the presence of zoonotic pathogens in these animals. It can be concluded that there are serious rodent-borne health risks in farming systems in both in the Netherlands and in Bangladesh. The results of this thesis may help to improve the preparedness for potential disease outbreaks. It is essential to gain a more thorough understanding of the ecology of rodent-borne pathogens in rodents and humans in order to determine the public health risks associated with commensal rodents