http://repub.eur.nl/res/aut/13650/ List of Publications en http://repub.eur.nl/static-eur/img/logo.png http://repub.eur.nl http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/38694/ 2012-09-18T00:00:00Z Purpose: The ciliary body (CB) of the human eye consists of the non-pigmented (NPE) and pigmented (PE) neuro-epithelia. We investigated the gene expression of NPE and PE, to shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the most important functions of the CB. We also developed molecular signatures for the NPE and PE and studied possible new clues for glaucoma. Methods: We isolated NPE and PE cells from seven healthy human donor eyes using laser dissection microscopy. Next, we performed RNA isolation, amplification, labeling and hybridization against 44×k Agilent microarrays. For microarray conformations, we used a literature study, RT-PCRs, and immunohistochemical stainings. We analyzed the gene expression data with R and with the knowledge database Ingenuity. Results: The gene expression profiles and functional annotations of the NPE and PE were highly similar. We found that the most important functionalities of the NPE and PE were related to developmental processes, neural nature of the tissue, endocrine and metabolic signaling, and immunological functions. In total 1576 genes differed statistically significantly between NPE and PE. From these genes, at least 3 were cell-specific for the NPE and 143 for the PE. Finally, we observed high expression in the (N)PE of 35 genes previously implicated in molecular mechanisms related to glaucoma. Conclusion: Our gene expression analysis suggested that the NPE and PE of the CB were quite similar. Nonetheless, cell-type specific differences were found. The molecular machineries of the human NPE and PE are involved in a range of neuro-endocrinological, developmental and immunological functions, and perhaps glaucoma. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/17463/ 2009-05-01T00:00:00Z According to public opinion, members of shooting organizations (i.e. shooters) are thought to be more aggressive than other groups in society. Also, guns are generally seen as stimuli that elicit aggressive behaviour. The present study examined whether shooters are really more aggressive than non-shooters. Shooters and non-shooters were compared on measures of aggressive behaviour, aggressive fantasies, impulsivity, and main personality dimensions (i.e. neuroticism, psychoticism, and extraversion). The results showed that members of shooting associations were less aggressive and impulsive than non-members, even when controlling for their tendency to present themselves in a more favourable manner. These findings suggest that there is no reason to consider hobby shooters a priori as more aggressive. A possible explanation could be that for shooters, their positively coloured experiences with guns have changed the aggression eliciting effect that normally occurs when interacting with guns (i.e. the weapons effect). These findings are discussed in light of the cognitive script theory of aggression by Huesmann. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/11417/ 2008-02-29T00:00:00Z Het hebben van agressieve fantasieën is zo gek nog niet. Marleen Nagtegaal onderzocht vrouwelijke en mannelijke studenten, mannelijke leden van een schietsportvereniging, mannelijke gedetineerden en deelnemers aan controlegroepen. Iedereen heeft agressieve fantasieën. Of ze ook omslaan in agressief gedrag, hangt af van wat er met de gedachten wordt gedaan: worden ze onderdrukt of wordt er bijvoorbeeld over gepraat? Nagtegaal promoveert vrijdag 29 februari 2008 aan de Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. Het hebben van agressieve fantasieën an sich doet er niet zo toe, aldus Marleen Nagtegaal. Het komt immers bij iedereen voor. Het is belangrijker wat je vervolgens doet met deze gedachten. Als je afleiding zoekt voor het hebben van agressieve fantasieën of als je hierover praat, heb je minder kans agressief gedrag te vertonen. Probeer je de gedachten te onderdrukken, bestraf je jezelf of ga je over zo’n gedachte piekeren, dan is de kans groter dat je agressief gedrag gaat vertonen. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/1898/ 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z This study investigated (1) the usefulness of the thought suppression paradigm in understanding impulsivity and aggression and (2) the relation between intrusions, suppression and other control strategies on the one hand, and psychopathology on the other. Ninety undergraduate students filled in the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), the Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ), the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), five traits from the Eysenck Personality Profiler (EPP), and the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS). No relationship between intrusion and suppression, and impulsivity was found. However, significant correlations between intrusion and aggression were found. Intrusion, suppression, self-punishment, and psychopathology were all correlated positively. Implications of these findings for the dynamics between intrusion, thought control, and aggression are discussed.