Academic Ceremonies April 2008

“Smoothelins and smooth muscle contractility”

The contraction of smooth muscle cells is essential for a good functioning of various organs, such as the gastrointestinal system and the blood vessels. This dissertation studies the function of smoothelin, a protein that only occurs in smooth muscle cells. By means of various techniques it was shown for the first time that smoothelin is an important factor for the correct contraction of smooth muscle cells. The lack of smoothelins in the intestines causes among others a considerably slower bowel movement and in the blood vessels it can cause the development of high blood pressure. These results provide new insights in the functioning of smooth muscle cells and the possible involvement of smoothelins in smooth muscle cell-related syndromes.

Key words:

smooth muscle cells, smoothelin

“Peri-operative arginine metabolism in cancer”​

“Future health in a globalising world”

“Vita & Froet; the development and evaluation of two Interventions to promote fruit and vegetable intake among primary school children”

Eating sufficient vegetables and fruit prevents the development of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, Dutch children eat too little vegetables and fruit. To stimulate children to eat more vegetables and fruit, two interventions were developed for primary schools according to Intervention Mapping: (1) free daily distribution of vegetables and fruit and (2) an age-specific teaching programme with activities for the parents. The effect study showed that both interventions were effective, both short-term and longer-term, in increasing the fruit consumption. Moreover, the free distribution also increased the vegetable consumption by children of ages 4 to 12 years and its implementation turned out easier.

Key words:

vegetable and fruit consumption by children

“Wie bang is kan niet wachten”

“Sustainable Energy Development under Uncertainty”

Electricity generation is the major source of CO2 emissions. It is important to understand how investment decisions are made in the electricity sector and how they can be effectively influenced by policy, since many OECD countries have to replace substantial portions of their electricity-generating capacity over the next 10-20 years. This thesis shows that technological change and volatile fuel prices alone are not sufficient to induce the investment necessary to stabilize cumulative CO2 emissions at a level considered as bearable in climate science. Furthermore, fuel price certainty stimulates investment into the concerned technology, while certainty about future technological improvements initially leads to less investment in modern capacity. Finally, nuclear energy could be a transition technology bridging the gap between the existing fossil-fuel-based system and a large-scale diffusion of renewable energy technologies.

Key words:

decision-making under uncertainty, energy economics, climate change policy

“A half full glass may seem fuller than a half empty one”

Is a glass half empty or half full? Some people mostly see challenges in life, others mainly threats. The literature speaks of a promotion orientation versus a prevention orientation. This difference is the basis for the four studies in this dissertation. It shows that if you address customers in a way that fits the way they approach life, this leads to more effective marketing results. For the recruitment of new members for a fitness club, for example, it is more effective to indicate to consumers with a promotion orientation that you feel better when you work out regularly. On the other hand it is more effective to approach people with a prevention orientation about the fact that regular workouts are healthy and can help prevent illness.

Key words:

effectieve marketing

“Law and Economic Analysis of the Precautionary Principle”

“Techniek, de vierde dimensie van het octrooirecht”

“In itinere”