Application of Raman Microspectroscopic and Raman imaging techniques for cell biological studies

Raman spectroscopy is being used to study biological molecules for some three decades now. Thanks to continuing advances in instrumentation more and more applications have become feasible in which molecules are studied in situ, and this has enabled Raman spectroscopy to enter the realms of biomedicine and cell biology [1-5].\ud Here we will describe some of the recent work carried out in our laboratory, concerning studies of human white blood cells and further instrumentational developments

Axial resolution of confocal Raman microscopes: Gaussian beam theory and practice

A straightforward and transparent model, based on Gaussian beam optics, for the axial r0 resolution of a confocal microscope is presented. A confocal Raman microscope was used to determine the axial confocality in practice. The axial response of a thin planar object was measured for three different objectives, two pinhole sizes and a slit. The results show that, in the case of a confocal configuration, the response calculated with the model provides a good prediction of the axial resolution of the confocal microscope

Direct Aggression and the Balance between Status and Affection Goals in Adolescence

Previous studies have shown that status goals motivate direct forms of interpersonal aggression. However, status goals have been studied mostly in isolation from affection goals. It is theorized that the means by which status and affection goals are satisfied change during adolescence, which can affect aggression. This is tested in a pooled sample of (pre)adolescents (N = 1536; 49% girls; ages 10-15), by examining associations between status goals and direct aggression and the moderating role of affection goals. As hypothesized, with increasing age, status goals were more strongly associated with direct aggression. Moreover, for older adolescents, status goals were only associated with aggression when affection goals were weak. These findings support the changing relationship between status goals and direct aggression during adolescence

Imaging with extrinsic Raman labels

In two separate examples we demonstrate the use of extrinsic Raman scattering probes for imaging of biological samples. First, the distribution of cholesterol in a rat eye lens is determined with the use of the Raman scattered light from filipin, a molecule which binds specifically to cholesterol. The protein distribution in the same eye lens was obtained by using the 1450-cm-1 CH2 and CH3 bending modes as an intrinsic marker for protein. It appears that the cholesterol is concentrated in the membranes of the eye lens fibers, whereas the protein is distributed more evenly. Second, we demonstrate that phenotyping of lymphocytes can be done by using the Raman scattering of (antibody-coated) polystyrene spheres. The lymphocyte population was also fluorescently labeled with anti-CD4-FITC to demonstrate that Raman and fluorescence labeling can be used simultaneously. Finally, we discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of using Raman labels

The unfolding dark side:Age trends in dark personality features

Age and gender differences across the lifespan in dark personality features could provide hints regarding these features’ functions. We measured manipulation, callous affect, and egocentricity using the Dirty Dozen and their links with agreeableness in a pooled cross-sectional dataset (N = 4292) and a longitudinal dataset (N = 325). Age trends for all dark personality features were progressive through adolescence, but negative through adulthood. Men scored higher than women, but the gender gap varied with age. Trends for agreeableness partly mirrored these trends and changes in dark personality features and agreeableness were correlated. Results are discussed in light of the maturity principle of personality, gender role socialization processes, and issues regarding incremental validity of dark personality over traditional antagonism measures

A healthy peer status:Peer preference, not popularity, predicts lower systemic inflammation in adolescence

In adolescence, sensitivity to peers is heightened, which makes peer experiences highly salient. Recent work suggests that these experiences may influence individuals' immune system functioning. Although there is a need to investigate which types of developmental salient social experiences affect inflammation, no studies have examined the role of peer status in inflammatory activity so far. This study is the first to examine the unique role of different types of peer status (i.e., peer preference and peer popularity) on systemic inflammation in adolescence, and the extent to which this association is moderated by early childhood adversity. Participants were 587 Dutch adolescents from the TRacking Adolescents´ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS). Data were collected when participants were 11 (SD = .56), 13 (SD = .53) and 16 (SD = .71) years old, respectively. At age 11, early childhood adversity (e.g., hospitalization, death within the family) between 0-5 years was assessed via parent interviews. At age 13, peer preference and peer popularity were assessed with peer nominations of classmates. At age 16, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a marker of low-grade systemic inflammation, was assessed with a venipuncture blood draw. Results showed that adolescents who were rated low on peer preference at age 13 exhibited higher levels of hsCRP at age 16. Importantly, these effects remained after controlling for several covariates, including age, sex, peer victimization, smoking behavior, SES, fat percentage, physical activity and temperament. Additionally, we found a positive effect of peer popularity on hsCRP that depended on early childhood adversity exposure. This suggests that for those adolescents who experienced little early childhood adversity, high levels of peer popularity were associated with high levels of hsCRP. Overall, these findings suggest that it is important to take into account the independent roles of peer preference and peer popularity, as specific types of peer status, to better understand adolescent systemic inflammation.</p

Radicalization processes and transitional phases in female and male detainees residing in Dutch terrorism wings.

Background: Radicalization, violent extremism, and terrorism are risks to societal security. Although research on terrorism-related behaviors is increasing, thorough empirical studies are rare. Methods: This study investigates radicalization processes and transitions in a matched sample of female and male terrorist suspects and convicts (N = 26) residing in Dutch penitentiary terrorism wings. Results:Results show that both men and women often experienced discrimination. A subgroup of women grew up in a stressful family environment and lacked emotional support from their family, whereas the other women did not experience such circumstances. The majority of the study sample was susceptible to connecting with radicalized friends or family members. Interestingly, factors that initially led to radicalization (e.g., a utopian image of the Islamic State) could later turn out to be factors associated with abandoning extremism. Conclusions: In this study, differences in radicalization processes and transitional phases between women and men emerged. Men more often had police contact prior to a terrorism-related offense. Making an effort to right old mistakes seemed important in the radicalization processes of men, whereas women had a stronger desire for emotional support and were more driven by experienced trauma and feelings of loneliness. This study provides input for gender-specific prevention and disengagement interventions

Identifying patients who may benefit from adaptive radiotherapy:Does the literature on anatomic and dosimetric changes in head and neck organs at risk during radiotherapy provide information to help?

AbstractIn the last decade, many efforts have been made to characterize anatomic changes of head and neck organs at risk (OARs) and the dosimetric consequences during radiotherapy. This review was undertaken to provide an overview of the magnitude and frequency of these effects, and to investigate whether we could find criteria to identify head and neck cancer patients who may benefit from adaptive radiotherapy (ART). Possible relationships between anatomic and dosimetric changes and outcome were explicitly considered. A literature search according to PRISMA guidelines was performed in MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies concerning anatomic or dosimetric changes of head and neck OARs during radiotherapy. Fifty-one eligible studies were found. The majority of papers reported on parotid gland (PG) anatomic and dosimetric changes. In some patients, PG mean dose differences between planning CT and repeat CT scans up to 10Gy were reported. In other studies, only minor dosimetric effects (i.e. <1Gy difference in PG mean dose) were observed as a result of significant anatomic changes. Only a few studies reported on the clinical relevance of anatomic and dosimetric changes in terms of complications or quality of life. Numerous potential selection criteria for anatomic and dosimetric changes during radiotherapy were found and listed. The heterogeneity between studies prevented unambiguous conclusions on how to identify patients who may benefit from ART in head and neck cancer. Potential pre-treatment selection criteria identified from this review include tumour location (nasopharyngeal carcinoma), age, body mass index, planned dose to the parotid glands, the initial parotid gland volume, and the overlap volume of the parotid glands with the target volume. These criteria should be further explored in well-designed and well-powered prospective studies, in which possible relationships between anatomic and dosimetric changes and outcome need to be established

Involving consumers in food product development: Perspectives on the application of circular food design

Consumers and the food they choose, along with the actors providing the food, play a crucial role in the transformation toward a more sustainable food system. The circular food design model is a tool that supports consumer orientation in food product development and shows that it is not a static one-way direction but includes feedback loops and co-creative processes. In this study, circular food design was applied in two cases. Specifically, the following was explored: (1) How the application of circular food design can be carried out in different phases of product development? (2) How creativity and interaction can be stimulated? and (3) How different business disciplines can be involved? Learnings from a series of workshops were described from the perspectives of company and consumer research. The results showed that to make consumer research valuable in this development process, there was a need for interaction in different ways, including focused consumer research and understanding by food production actors in an interactive and iterative process supported by a creative approach and visualizations, and with cooperation between different departments within companies. Using this interaction for combining consumer- and market-driven thinking delivers more tailored and technically feasible innovations with engagement among all actors