In this research, a recently proposed renormalization group approach for networks to the case of random directed graphs is being generalized: we present a scale-invariant description of directed...Show moreIn this research, a recently proposed renormalization group approach for networks to the case of random directed graphs is being generalized: we present a scale-invariant description of directed networks containing reciprocated edges. This allows us to neglect several strong assumptions that are currently necessary to renormalize directed networks such as financial transaction networks. As an application, a model of ING’s transaction data has been derived across multiple coarse-grained partitions. In this article we provide detailed information on how this particular model has been structured and how its parameters are obtained. We show how we can use this model to determine the expected cumulative degree and weight distributions of ING’s transaction network across multiple coarse-grained partitions of the network which we will compare to the empirical degree and weight distributions, respectively.Show less
This study aims to empirically assess the influence of K-pop music on the perception of South Korea as a desirable travel destination among foreign K-pop fans. Investigating the multifaceted...Show moreThis study aims to empirically assess the influence of K-pop music on the perception of South Korea as a desirable travel destination among foreign K-pop fans. Investigating the multifaceted factors that attract visitors, including the roles of government initiatives and corporate efforts, the research explores the significance of K-pop within the broader context of influences on foreign K-pop fans’ decisions to visit South Korea. Through survey data collected from 1751 K-pop fans, the results demonstrate that K-pop has a substantial impact on their perception of South Korea, contributing positively to the country's image as a tourist destination. Furthermore, the research underscores the continued value of government and corporate efforts to attract visitors, particularly through the creation of K-pop-related locations for fan visits. While K-pop does not emerge as the primary motivational factor for half of the respondents, it emerges as the most influential factor shaping the intention to visit South Korea.Show less
While amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are primarily defined by cognitive deficits, studies have demonstrated that motor impairments can precede cognitive...Show moreWhile amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are primarily defined by cognitive deficits, studies have demonstrated that motor impairments can precede cognitive symptoms by several years in these conditions. However, it is uncertain if the ability to learn sequences of movements is also impaired in this population. Therefore, this study investigated whether aMCI and AD affect motor sequence learning abilities, and how such abilities are related to AD biomarkers. The sample included 33 individuals with aMCI, 28 with AD, and 52 healthy controls (HCs). All groups completed a motor task consisting of performing a sequence of button presses, alternated with random blocks. Reaction time, coefficient of variation, and learning rates were obtained from the task. Participants also completed a series of cognitive tests to assess memory, visuospatial abilities, processing speed, language, and attention. Additionally, the following biomarkers for AD were assessed: amyloid beta via PET imaging, hippocampal volume via structural MRI, and number of e4 alleles via APOE genotyping. ANOVAs showed that AD participants had longer and more variable reaction times, followed by aMCI individuals, and with HCs having the shorter and more consistent reaction times. No significant differences in sequence learning rate were observed between groups. Exploratory analyses revealed that aMCI/AD had significantly slower initial learning rate than HCs. Linear regressions showed associations of slower reaction times with smaller hippocampal volume, and of higher coefficients with higher amyloid deposition. Poisson regressions revealed no significant correlations between motor sequence learning and APOEe4 allele count. Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) results indicated that combining cognitive test with motor measures improves the prediction of AD biomarkers. Overall, AD and aMCI individuals showed impairments in general motor performance but relatively preserved motor sequence learning abilities, with some deficits in initial rate of learning. Moreover, statistical model comparison suggested that adding motor sequence learning measures to neuropsychological assessment tools enhanced the prediction of AD biomarkers. As such, future studies should explore the value of integrating motor sequence learning measures in the assessment and tracking of AD/aMCI.Show less
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by motor symptoms due to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. However, non-motor symptoms such as cognitive...Show moreParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by motor symptoms due to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. However, non-motor symptoms such as cognitive decline are prevelant in up to 80% of PD patients. Multi-system degeneration and neurotransmitter decifiences are likely the cause. One of the systems implicated in PD-related cognitive decline is the cholinergic system but it remains unclear to what extent the system is affected and how it links to different disease stages. This retrospective cohort study explores the integrity of the cholinergic system in PD through the measurement of alpha reactivity using electroencephalography (EEG). EEG data from 191 participants, including 46 early-stage PD patients, 17 late-stage PD patients, and 128 healthy controls was analyzed. Alpha reactivity, measured as the difference in alpha power between eyes closed and eyes open conditions, was assessed via EEG. Cognition was assessed via the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE). Results revealed significantly reduced alpha reactivity in PD patients compared to healthy controls. ANCOVA analyses demonstrated reductions in alpha reactivity in both early-stage and late-stage PD groups when compared to healthy controls. However, no significant reduction in alpha reactivity was found between early and late-stage PD patients. These findings provide neurophysiological evidence of a reduction in alpha reactivity in PD patients, which could indicate a cholinergic dysfunction in PD, irrespective of disease stage. This study also highlights the potential utility of alpha reactivity as a biomarker for assessing disease severity.Show less
Migration as a theme has held a prominent position in the (European) museum world since the 1990s. An extensive theoretical debate on its representation has been evolved since then. City museums...Show moreMigration as a theme has held a prominent position in the (European) museum world since the 1990s. An extensive theoretical debate on its representation has been evolved since then. City museums have emerged as important arenas for the exploring of the migration theme. In the development of migration-themed exhibitions, a common practice involves collaborating with local migrant communities to gather narratives previously untold or underrepresented. Whether the collected (hi)stories are presented and stored through tangible or intangible means, often this collected information is “new”. Despite the enduring presence of migration as a phenomenon throughout human history, relatively little attention has been directed towards exploring it within existing historical museum collections. While some scholars recognize the potential of historical collections to contribute to inclusive migration representations, this aspect remains relatively underexplored. This study employed two primary research strategies to address this gap. Firstly, interviews were conducted with six city museum professionals. Secondly, collection research was undertaken at the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, focusing on revisiting its historical collection. The research uncovered that revisiting historical city museum collections can yield valuable insights into migration-related histories. By posing different questions and embracing an interdisciplinary approach, previously overlooked objects can be reinterpreted to narrate migration stories. The effectiveness of this approach was demonstrated through the case study of the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, where several migration-related objects were identified within the historical collection. These objects, including a curved draw knife, a painting, and a sketch, symbolized various migration stories to Schiedam, such as German, Polish, and Huguenot migrations. The interdisciplinary aspect was found to be essential in enriching the revisiting process. Linking historical or archaeological data to museum collections facilitated a deeper understanding of migration-related narratives. Furthermore, exposing historical museum objects to present-day impulses can offer fresh perspectives. While participative projects have been advocated as a primary method for gathering new migration stories, this research revealed a certain hesitancy, fearing the reduction of migrants' experiences to stereotypical representations. Instead, there was a preference for embedding migration within other themes, allowing for a more nuanced portrayal of individuals' lives beyond their migrant status. Overall, this research revealed that revisiting historical city museum collections can offer valuable insights into migration-related histories. Furthermore, it contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the use of participative strategies in sourcing migration objects, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and thoughtful integration in the European city museum context.Show less
Chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) is a much debated topic and the current clinical literature states that up to 40% of the maxillary sinusitis cases can be caused by dental disease. This is called...Show moreChronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) is a much debated topic and the current clinical literature states that up to 40% of the maxillary sinusitis cases can be caused by dental disease. This is called odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS). Unilateral CMS is even believed to be induced by dental disease in approximately 75% of the cases. In bioarchaeology, odontogenic sinusitis has been somehow understudied, since very few archaeological studies on sinusitis have taken dental disease into consideration. Studying the impact of dental disease can give more contextualisation to previous studies on respiratory disease, including CMS. Both CMS and dental disease can be observable in archaeological context as various skeletal changes. This thesis research aims to test if the presence of CMS is related to the presence of dental disease within two post-medieval populations from Arnhem and Middenbeemster. The dental pathological conditions that are included here are periapical abscesses, periodontal disease, ante-mortem tooth loss and oroantral fistulae. First, the relation between CMS and dental disease has been investigated for the sample in its entirety, as well as on the intrasite level. After this, differences in the prevalence rates of OMS were investigated on the intersite level (i.e., between populations and between sex groups across populations). Chi squared tests and the Fisher’s Exact Test were used to test the hypotheses. The results show that there is no statistically significant correlation between the presence of chronic maxillary sinusitis and the presence of dental disease. Moreover, the differences in the prevalence rates of CMS did not hold any statistical significance either. It can be suggested that other factors, such as climate, smoking, or hazards as the result of urbanisation, have played a bigger role in the development of chronic maxillary sinusitis in the current sample. Although not significant, there was a stronger correlation between CMS and dental disease in the rural sample than in the urban sample. A stronger relationship was also observed in females than in males. Therefore, it might be suggested that dental disease played a more important role in the development of CMS among these subgroups. Furthermore, it is observed that OMS is slightly more prevalent in the urban population and has a slight female predominance.Show less
Education serves as a pivotal driver of societal advancement, yet persistent obstacles hinder universal access to quality education in low-middle-income countries. Concurrently, the phenomenon of...Show moreEducation serves as a pivotal driver of societal advancement, yet persistent obstacles hinder universal access to quality education in low-middle-income countries. Concurrently, the phenomenon of brain drain, characterized by the migration of skilled individuals to foreign shores, poses a considerable challenge to these nations. This study employs linear regression analysis to delve into the impact of educational assistance on emigration rates, with a particular focus on the dynamics of brain drain. Drawing from diverse theoretical frameworks, including Schumpeter's theory and insights gleaned from entrepreneurship studies, this research formulates hypotheses to elucidate the relationship between educational development and emigration. It undertakes a comprehensive examination of perspectives surrounding brain drain and delineates the role of education in nurturing sustainable development, with the overarching goal of unraveling the intricate interplay between education and emigration. This research contributes to the discourse on development by offering evidence-based insights into the complications of education assistance affecting brain drain. By understanding the nexus between education and emigration, policymakers can formulate targeted strategies to harness youth talent and drive economic progress in low-middle-income countries, without driving them abroad.Show less
This thesis explores the concept of linguistic secession and its implications within the framework of international law, focusing on the case studies of Québec and Abkhazia. Through a detailed...Show moreThis thesis explores the concept of linguistic secession and its implications within the framework of international law, focusing on the case studies of Québec and Abkhazia. Through a detailed examination of historical contexts, it highlights how linguistic identity can fuel secessionist movements and evaluates the extent to which linguistic discrimination can justify claims for independence. By analysing legal doctrines and international treaties, the study assesses the applicability of remedial secession as a response to linguistic subjugation. The findings suggest that while language plays a pivotal role in shaping national identity, the legitimacy of secession based on linguistic grounds remains contentious. The research underscores the importance of ensuring that internal self-determination is properly implemented and the need of protecting linguistic rights within existing state structures, offering insights into the evolving nature of self-determination in the global legal landscape.Show less
The actual numbers of international climate-related migration are not as large as expected, considering the rapid increase in the uninhabitability of these places in the Global South. This...Show moreThe actual numbers of international climate-related migration are not as large as expected, considering the rapid increase in the uninhabitability of these places in the Global South. This discrepancy may partly stem from the complex and multifaceted nature of migration, with the climate factors influencing economic opportunity and conflict, making it difficult to differentiate between people that migrate for climate reasons and people that migrate for other reasons, such as economic opportunities. However, it more likely arises from people being trapped within their increasingly uninhabitable homes, because they do not have the capacity to move or willingness to leave their home. Therefore, policymakers and researchers should redirect their attention to immobility, as the ‘trapped populations’ are an urgent and underexposed problem. This thesis will examine the term 'trapped populations,' by using conceptions of Zickgraf (2019, 2023) and De Shalit (2011) and clarifying the complexities inherent in their immobility. I will argue for ‘the right to stay’ as the most protective right for the interests of the trapped populations, as it respects the importance of a home in a person their life.Show less
Since 2014, Europe has faced an explosive increase in migrants, leading Europe into a migration crisis. Political parties in European countries have responded differently to this influx of people....Show moreSince 2014, Europe has faced an explosive increase in migrants, leading Europe into a migration crisis. Political parties in European countries have responded differently to this influx of people. This study aims to clarify the relationship between the agenda of these political parties and the European migration crisis. Based on qualitative research, a content analysis was used to study the differences between left-wing, right-wing and centre-parties and how the European migration crisis has impacted these points of view. The analysis shows that political parties with different ideologies about migration react differently to the crisis. The European migration crisis has little to no effect on the agenda of left-wing parties and right-wing parties, but a major effect on the agendas of centre-parties.Show less
