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A collection of Open Access and Embargoed publications from Utrecht University Repository. For an explanation on how and where to find an Open Access version of a publication see the information on this page.

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    From Bildungsbürger to Researchers: The Transformation of Academic Education in the Nineteenth Century
    (Brepols, 2026-04) Theunissen, Bert; Sub History and Philosophy of Science; History of Science; da Rocha Gonçalves, Dulce; de Klerk, Nico; Kessler, Frank; Notebaard, Jamilla
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    Validation of an automated system for at-slaughter assessment of footpad dermatitis and hock burn in broiler chickens
    (2026-06-23) van Staaveren, N; van Langeveld, Kenny; Schulte-Landwehr, J; Mulder, J; Galliot, P; Créach, P; Sztandarski, P; Marchewka, J; Forkman, B; Van Noten, N; Tuyttens, Frank A.M.; Giersberg, M F; Rodenburg, T B; AISS – Animal Welfare; AISS Animal Welfare; AISS Sustainable Animal Stewardship; AISS – Sustainable Animal Stewardship
    The automated assessment of footpad dermatitis and hock burn via camera systems at the slaughterline could allow continuous monitoring of these important welfare indicators in broiler chickens. This study aimed to compare the performance of a camera system (ChickenCheck software, CLK GmbH) against three human assessors. Footpad dermatitis (4 point scale based on relative size of the lesions compared to the footpad) and hock burn (3 point scale based on absolute size of the lesions) were scored on both the left and right foot and hock according to severity from images captured by the camera system. A total of 50 images (100 feet and hocks) were used in the training dataset used to train the human assessors and 500 images (1,000 feet and hocks) were used in the validation dataset to determine measures of agreement and reliability for the discrete scoring system. Additionally, 100 images were used for lesion annotation (200 feet and hock) to determine the agreement between the camera system and the human assessors in capturing the total area affected by lesions. Despite showing substantial to good intra-observer reliability (kappa: 0.78-0.98) and moderate to substantial inter-observer reliability (kappa: 0.46-0.66) during training, the human assessors showed fair to moderate agreement (kappa: 0.33-0.47) for footpad dermatitis and hock burn when the dataset included a larger number of images with greater variation in lesion severity and appearance. However, the human assessors showed moderate to substantial agreement with the scores assigned by the camera system (0.60-0.70). More importantly, human assessors and camera system are highly correlated when it comes to indicating the size of lesions on the footpad (R 2: 0.93) and hock burn (R 2: 0.97), suggesting that lesions are correctly annotated by the camera system. However, the small but systematic differences found in the size of the affected area of footpad dermatitis (+2.47%) and hock burn (-0.38 cm 2) by the camera system compared to the human assessors need to be addressed to further improve the performance of the automated system.
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    Kwaliteit van de Nederlandse gastouderopvang: Gecombineerde metingen 2017-2025
    (Sardes, 2026) Slot, Pauline; Romijn, Bodine; Jepma, IJsbrand; Muller, Paulien; Breedeveld, Merel; Tiliopoulou, Vaso; Leseman, Paul; Leerstoel Jongmans; Education and Learning: Development & Education of Youth in Diverse Societies; Leerstoel Haan
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    Kwaliteit van de Nederlandse kinderopvang: De kinderdagopvang, peuteropvang en buitenschoolse opvang in beeld: Gecombineerde metingen 2017-2025
    (Sardes, 2026) Romijn, Bodine; Slot, Pauline; Jepma, IJsbrand; Muller, Paulien; Breedeveld, Merel; Tiliopoulou, Vaso; Leseman, Paul; Leerstoel Jongmans; Education and Learning: Development & Education of Youth in Diverse Societies; Leerstoel Haan
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    When bovine life begins in a petri dish: transcriptomic insights from embryos to calves conceived in vitro
    (The Japanese Society of Animal Reproduction (JSAR), 2026) Rabaglino, Maria Belen; FAH Herkauwer gezondheidszorg; FAH – Sustainable Ruminant Health
    Gamete plasticity enables fertilization and embryo development under laboratory conditions through procedures commonly known as in vitro production (IVP). While this technology is primarily used in humans to treat infertility, it also enables the propagation of high-quality genetic material at relatively low cost in cattle, supporting sustainable animal production. However, IVP has inherent limitations. The artificial environment in which gamete maturation, fertilization, and embryo development occur may induce permanent epigenomic modifications, thereby altering the individual's transcriptome. This review synthesizes studies describing recurrent phenotypes observed across life stages in IVP-derived cattle compared with in vivo counterparts, from embryonic development through postnatal life, and outlines associated transcriptomic alterations and their potential prediction based on transcriptomic data. Collectively, the evidence indicates that increased pregnancy losses following the transfer of IVP embryos, predominantly after implantation, represent the principal limitation of the technology. When IVP embryos survive, early molecular perturbations may manifest as fetal overgrowth, increased birth weight, stillbirth, and a greater predisposition to reproductive disorders later in life. At the molecular level, transcriptomic alterations are already detectable in the 16-cell IVP embryo if embryonic genome activation occurs in vitro; IVP blastocysts exhibit dysregulated expression of genes involved in energy homeostasis; key developmental genes are deregulated in the embryonic disc of elongated IVP embryos prior to implantation; and transcriptomic alterations due to IVP persist in metabolically relevant organs during fetal and postnatal stages. These findings, together with future research, may enhance understanding of how IVP influences developmental outcomes in cattle and other species, including humans.