The Millennium Development Goals were a global endeavour to achieve pro-poor human development between 2000 and 2015. Although adopted by 189 heads of state, few governments of developing countries...Show moreThe Millennium Development Goals were a global endeavour to achieve pro-poor human development between 2000 and 2015. Although adopted by 189 heads of state, few governments of developing countries took ownership of the Goals by adjusting their national policies to UNDP guidelines for accomplishment. This research finds a correlation between ownership and MDG achievement by studying the policies and progress of Burkina Faso, Uganda and Kenya. The findings are used to argue for strategic cooperation between the UNDP, World Bank and IMF for successful pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.Show less
Disney has been releasing Disney Princess films since 1937. They started out with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and just now, a thirteenth film has been added to the list: Moana. A distinct...Show moreDisney has been releasing Disney Princess films since 1937. They started out with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and just now, a thirteenth film has been added to the list: Moana. A distinct change in character is noticeable when looking at the princesses. The princesses from the first generation (1937-1959) have passive characters, they are submissive, enjoy domestic chores and play no active role in their own tales. They simply wait to be swept off their feet by a prince. In fact, they represented what people considered to be the perfect woman in those days. However, nowadays, that is not what we consider the perfect woman to be. The second generation princesses (1989-1998) introduced a change. They were rebellious, took agency and instead of falling for any man, they wanted the right one. However, these films still focus on finding love, as if that is all that a woman's life should be about. The most recent princesses (from 2010 onwards) are increasingly more independent and active. They do not rely on men to save them, take matters into their own hands and determine their own fate. They are progressive princesses and continue to increasingly become more proactive and independent. These new princesses provide the twenty-first-century audience with role models they can actually learn from. Disney is not there yet, but they are slowly but surely letting go of the Disney formula.Show less
In het najaar van 2013 verstrekte PvdA-minister Ronald Plasterk in Nieuwsuur verkeerde informatie over hoe Amerikaanse veiligheidsdiensten aan Nederlandse belgegevens kwamen. Hij deelde zijn fout...Show moreIn het najaar van 2013 verstrekte PvdA-minister Ronald Plasterk in Nieuwsuur verkeerde informatie over hoe Amerikaanse veiligheidsdiensten aan Nederlandse belgegevens kwamen. Hij deelde zijn fout niet met de Kamer, maar naar eigen zeggen wel met de commissie-Stiekem: een commissie die zich bezighoudt met geheime informatie van de AIVD. Dat bleek na een lek vanuit de commissie naar het NRC. Een schandaal leek onvermijdelijk en de politieke situatie werd breed uitgemeten in het nieuws. De hechte relatie die er bestaat tussen politiek en journalistiek kwam de betrokken politieke partijen goed van pas: zij kozen hun strategie en probeerden afhankelijk van hun doelstelling het schandaal uit te vergroten of juist te blokkeren. Het lek uit een geheime commissie is een ernstig feit en dat daar tot op de dag van vandaag niemand voor verantwoordelijk is gehouden ook. Als burgers en journalisten de strategieën van politieke actoren kennen, kunnen zij hen kritischer bekijken en bevragen. Daarom staat in dit onderzoek de vraag centraal welke strategieën van politici om de Stiekemgate te blokkeren of te amplificeren we terugzien in de media. De uitgevoerde analyse toont aan dat het mogelijk is om in deze casus strategieën van politici te achterhalen met behulp van een theoretisch model. Dit model gaat uit van twee hoofdstrategieën: een blokkadestrategie en een amplificatiestrategie. Deze twee vormen kunnen betrekking hebben op presentatie, verantwoordelijkheid en beleid. Om de criteria van deze strategieën te herkennen in uitspraken van politieke actoren, zijn de retorische technieken van politici onderzocht. Hiervoor is publiek beschikbaar materiaal geanalyseerd, waarin uitspraken van politici voorkomen. Door deze uitspraken aan de hand van het theoretisch analysemodel te beoordelen, zijn drie strategieën naar boven gekomen. De eerste is een presentatiestrategie met ethostechniek om het schandaal te blokkeren, die door zowel de PvdA als de VVD werd uitgevoerd. De tweede is een verantwoordelijkheidsstrategie met een logostechniek die D66 inzet. Tot slot volgt een verantwoordelijkheidsstrategie met behulp van een pathostechniek van de PVV. De vondst van deze strategieën toont een onzichtbare samenwerking aan tussen de PvdA en de VVD tijdens de aanloop naar en het verloop van de Stiekemgate. Het voorspellend theoretisch model houdt stand in het onderzoek naar deze casus. Door meerdere vergelijkbare analyses uit te voeren kan de bruikbaarheid van dit model worden getest. Als het model in vervolgonderzoek standhoudt, wordt het van toegevoegde waarde voor het vakgebied van de journalistiek.Show less
Experimental diffusion-weighted MRI measurements of a fiber phantom were compared to signals generated using a Monte-Carlo diffusion simulation. The diffusion simulation was combined with a...Show moreExperimental diffusion-weighted MRI measurements of a fiber phantom were compared to signals generated using a Monte-Carlo diffusion simulation. The diffusion simulation was combined with a generally applicable MRI simulation. We performed simulations for square packed and random packed cylinders that model the fibers. Good agreement was found between the simulated signal and the measured signal for a specific random packing type (the relative error was 0.09+-0.06). Follow-up simulations that use larger system sizes are needed to improve the accuracy. The simulation method presented here can be used to study changes in microstructural properties and to compare the efficiency of different MRI protocols in detecting these changes.Show less
This thesis seeks to explore the divergent paths taken by two Victorian sculptors, Henry Richard Hope-Pinker (1850-1927) and Edward Onslow Ford (1852-1901), in a chronological examination of key...Show moreThis thesis seeks to explore the divergent paths taken by two Victorian sculptors, Henry Richard Hope-Pinker (1850-1927) and Edward Onslow Ford (1852-1901), in a chronological examination of key works. Through an archive of unpublished letters, speeches, photographs and contemporary articles, I aim to reveal the challenges faced by these emerging sculptors in late 19th century England and examine how the want of finances, patronage and artistic networking forged their careers. While no book has yet been authored on either artist, the canon of art history tends to praise one as the exemplar of New Sculpture and dismiss the other. By comparing their careers, largely through contemporary published and unpublished sources, I seek to establish an economic model for their works.Show less
This study aims to describe and analyse the Europeanisation of defence policy in smaller member states. By using comparative analysis it will assess the impact of their EU membership on the...Show moreThis study aims to describe and analyse the Europeanisation of defence policy in smaller member states. By using comparative analysis it will assess the impact of their EU membership on the national policies and institutions of three countries: the Netherlands, Belgium and SwedenShow less
The thesis presents an inquiry on the relationship between author Maria Dermoût and publishing house Querido. It delves into the way publisher Alice von Eugen took care of her responsibilities,...Show moreThe thesis presents an inquiry on the relationship between author Maria Dermoût and publishing house Querido. It delves into the way publisher Alice von Eugen took care of her responsibilities, both in the Netherlands and abroad, how decisions regarding design were taken, and whether the relationship between Dermoût and Von Eugen differed much from the relationships Dermoût had with others in the publishing world. Furthermore, a bibliography of all Maria Dermoût's works is added.Show less
In hoeverre zijn massamedia een propagandamachine voor de overheid? Factoren als advertenties, financiële en sociale controle en commercialisatie kunnen zorgen voor oneerlijke berichtgeving. In dit...Show moreIn hoeverre zijn massamedia een propagandamachine voor de overheid? Factoren als advertenties, financiële en sociale controle en commercialisatie kunnen zorgen voor oneerlijke berichtgeving. In dit onderzoek vergelijk ik De Volkskrant met De Correspondent om deze hypothese te toetsen.Show less
In het onderzoek naar framing is visuele framing ondergeschikt is aan tekstuele framing. Het is volgens veel onderzoekers dan ook van belang dat visuele framing meer wordt betrokken bij het...Show moreIn het onderzoek naar framing is visuele framing ondergeschikt is aan tekstuele framing. Het is volgens veel onderzoekers dan ook van belang dat visuele framing meer wordt betrokken bij het onderzoek naar framing (o.a. Coleman, 2010; Dan & Ihlen, 2011; Brantner, Geise & Lobinger, 2012; Iorgoveanu & Corbu, 2012). Met name het onderzoek naar de samenwerking tussen visuele en tekstuele framing is relevant. Onderzoek naar framing richt zich meestal op slechts één van de twee communicatievormen, wat een incompleet beeld geeft. Een recent onderzoek dat de samenwerking tussen visuele en tekstuele framing bestudeert is van Wilkes (2015). Wilkes analyseert patronen en veranderingen in de titels en bijschriften gebruikt bij één iconische nieuwsfoto, aan de hand van keywords. Als blijkt dat deze onderzoeksmethode toepasbaar is op andere nieuwsfoto’s, kan het vaker herhaald worden en waardevolle inzichten opleveren voor de journalistieke praktijk. De vraag die deze thesis beantwoordt is dan ook: Is de onderzoeksmethode die Wilkes aandraagt algemeen toepasbaar op nieuwsfoto’s? Om deze vraag te kunnen beantwoorden wordt de onderzoeksmethode van Wilkes herhaald, waarbij de foto van de verdronken peuter Alan Kurdi als case study gebruikt wordt. Uit de replicatie blijkt dat de onderzoeksmethode van Wilkes (2015) op een aantal punten tekort schiet. Allereerst is een deel van de onderzoeksmethode moeilijk te repliceren, omdat Wilkes zich richt op een zeer specifiek soort nieuwsfoto: een foto waarop twee kanten van een politiek conflict zichtbaar zijn, maar waarop het conflict zelf niet zichtbaar is. Dat beperkt het aantal foto’s waarop de onderzoeksmethode toegepast kan worden. Daarnaast zegt Wilkes de relatie tussen beeld en tekst te willen onderzoeken, maar ze onderzoekt slechts patronen in de tekst. Daarbij gaat zij er vanuit dat de foto, bijschriften en titels hetzelfde frame hebben. Haar onderzoeksmethode draagt dan ook nauwelijks bij aan het onderzoek naar visuele framing en de samenwerking tussen visuele en tekstuele framing.Show less
This master’s thesis presents an edition of part of a handwritten recipe book dating from the first half of the eighteenth century. It was written by the semi aristocratic and VOC-director Aarnout...Show moreThis master’s thesis presents an edition of part of a handwritten recipe book dating from the first half of the eighteenth century. It was written by the semi aristocratic and VOC-director Aarnout van Citters from Zeeland, The Netherlands. Recepten voor de Keuken/Recepten voor Menschen (Recipes for the Kitchen/Recipes for Humans), preserved in the Manuscript Department of Amsterdam University Library (shelf-mark VIII E 14), is a book with different content on each side. It features culinary recipes on one side, and, when the book is turned around, medical recipes on the other side. In this edition, all culinary recipes and a small selection of the medical recipes have been transcribed. The aim of this edition is to present this fascinating historical document about the art of cooking to the modern day reader and to offer a historical context to help the reader interpret the recipes.Show less
Electoral competition has been an essential part of acquiring the American presidency since Jackson’s election of 1828. Competition made strategic considerations to ensure the maximization of...Show moreElectoral competition has been an essential part of acquiring the American presidency since Jackson’s election of 1828. Competition made strategic considerations to ensure the maximization of electoral support increasingly relevant. One phenomenon that traditionally dominated strategic thinking during American elections is ‘Outsiderism’: during campaigns candidates deliberately assume an outsider position in the electoral arena, not on the basis of genuine motivations, but for the categorical purpose of vote-maximization. Despite the fact that Outsiderism has constantly been deployed over the course of history, it has yet to receive scholarly attention. This thesis, therefore, offers an analysis of Outsiderism in the realm of American presidential campaigns. It investigates Outsiderism’s roots in the subsequent campaigns of Jackson and Van Buren through an analysis of their respective campaign biographies. Furthermore, it links Outsiderism to the framework of Rational Choice Theory, which elucidates the rather manipulative motives that induce Outsiderism. Thus, this thesis seeks to clarify to what extent Jackson and Van Buren conformed to Outsiderism during their campaign. Why did they as would-be presidents see the need to present themselves (to a certain extent) as outsiders to American politics? The results suggest that both Jackson and Van Buren as presidential candidates employed Outsiderism, although Jackson to a lesser extent than Van Buren, because they deemed it as advantageous for garnering the required support to get elected. As a result, they have paved the way for a campaign strategy that has remained dominant until today.Show less
TNO is developing a carbon-contamination-insensitive EUV power sensor that uses the photo-electric effect to distinguish in- from out-of-band EUV photons. The central question of this MSc research...Show moreTNO is developing a carbon-contamination-insensitive EUV power sensor that uses the photo-electric effect to distinguish in- from out-of-band EUV photons. The central question of this MSc research project was to verify if the EUV power sensor signal can be purified by suppressing the out-of-bound secondary electron signal using an electrostatic barrier, and, if so, which potential difference suffices. To this end, we designed a Secondary Electron Energy Distribution (SEED) analyzer to characterize the e-beam-induced secondary electron emission of gold and carbon targets. It was shown that the SEED analyzer allows filtering of electrons on their kinetic energy and could perform SE yield measurements as well as SE energy distribution measurements. However, systematic errors occurred in the form of secondary electron emission of the grid inside the SEED analyzer, leakage current flow, a loss of emitted electrons through the SEED analyzer’s opening and deflection of electrons due to lack of a field-free region. The SE yield measurement results were in good agreement with literature, after estimating the effect of the systematic errors. The SE energy distribution of both target materials were obtained and show similarities to experimental data reported in literature. However, the absence of a field-free region during the measurements causes a small mismatch between our acquired SE energy distribution and the reference data.Show less
Mini-max is a concept often used for solving games. The idea behind it is a constant alternation of minimizing and maximizing the value of moves to account for an adversarial opponent in the game....Show moreMini-max is a concept often used for solving games. The idea behind it is a constant alternation of minimizing and maximizing the value of moves to account for an adversarial opponent in the game. Lots of established methods have been developed to allow computers to play games like Chess [2] and Go [12]. Many of these methods involve evaluating sequences of moves to determine the best move to play. Because games like Chess and Go are quite big, it is infeasible to evaluate all possible sequences, so we resort to algorithms that pick sequences selectively, collected under the name Monte Carlo Tree Search [5]. These methods, in their quest to find the best move, already try to play as optimal as possible while figuring out the best move. We think that by letting go of the desire to only sample good sequences, and instead only caring for a good conclusion on the best move, we can improve on current algorithms. We do this by adapting Best-Arm Identification’s objective to fit a Mini-max structure: Mini-max Action Identification. We believe that this has not been done before. In Section 2 we will establish the framework and details of Mini-max Action Identification. We define the problem of finding an optimal algorithm in two ways: In Section 3 we define the problem as the algorithm that provides the best guaranteed performance on the hardest set of parameters. In Section 4 the problem will be based on parameters following a fixed distribution. Further algorithms will be provided in Section 5. In this Section the algorithms will be compared in their performance as well. Lastly we present some findings on the worst-case set of parameters in Section 6, providing proofs on a couple of these findings.Show less
The following thesis is a qualitative case study, utilizing Congruence Analysis Approach to study the Transantiago, a public transportation policy implemented in Santiago, Chile on February 2007...Show moreThe following thesis is a qualitative case study, utilizing Congruence Analysis Approach to study the Transantiago, a public transportation policy implemented in Santiago, Chile on February 2007 that is still operating to this day. This policy was implemented in order to ‘fix’ the previous public transportation system, by imitating successful Latin American public transportation policies, the Transmilenio (Colombia) and the BRT (Brazil). The main theoretical puzzle is how this policy continued after its initial policy failure implementation and later evaluation on 2010. Hence, it was studied if the policy was a success by the year 2010 following McConnell’s (2015) conceptualization of successful policy. Also, two theoretical lenses (historical institutionalism approach and rational decision making approaches) were compared in order to establish which theory explains more holistically the structure and the behavior of policymakers since its implementation until the year 2010. It was concluded that the Transantiago continues to be a policy failure and historical institutionalism approach explains more holistically the implementation process rather than rational decision making approach. The findings prove Parsons’ (1995) policy cycle theory is no longer relevant for studying modern policy failures and policies cannot be studied in a vacuum: they are affected by a myriad of factors (actors, history, contingencies, among other factors).Show less
Mean-Variance optimization is widely used to find portfolios that make an optimal tradeoff between expected return and volatility. The method, however, struggles with a robustness problem since the...Show moreMean-Variance optimization is widely used to find portfolios that make an optimal tradeoff between expected return and volatility. The method, however, struggles with a robustness problem since the portfolio weights are very sensitive towards change of the input parameters. There is a vast literature on methods that tries to solve this problem and we discuss two of these methods: resampling and shrinkage. In addition to the methods from the literature, we develop a new method which we call maximum distance optimization. The resampling method attempts to obtain more robust portfolios by changing the optimization procedure. The shrinkage method attempts to obtain more robust portfolios by making the estimation of the input parameters more robust. The maximum distance optimization method explores a region closely beneath the efficient frontier and determines what kind of portfolios are nearly optimal, but have very different portfolio weights. First, we show that any convex combination of these near-optimal portfolios is also near optimal. Second, we show that the set of near-optimal portfolios is robust. Apart from the robustness, the advantage of this method is that we now obtain a whole scope of solutions, instead of a single portfolio, which Mean-Variance optimization provides. Since the region is robust, the investor or consultant can use his own qualitative arguments to select a preferred portfolio from this region.Show less
