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What works for whom? A systematic review on personalized speech intervention in children and adolescents with a cleft palate
No full textObjectivePersonalized health care involves intervention that is tailored to the unique characteristics of the individual. Even though personalized interventions have gained more attention in the past decades, this topic has not yet been systematically studied in the area of speech and language intervention in children with a cleft (lip and) palate (CP ± L). The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence of the effects of personalized speech intervention in children with a CP ± L, aged 3–18 years, with a narrow focus on anterior oral, posterior oral, and non-oral cleft speech characteristics.MethodsThis systematic literature review was developed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (via PubMed), and Embase were searched and the grey literature was checked. The search strategy was based on three concepts: cleft palate, speech intervention, and children. Two raters independently determined the eligibility and extracted all relevant data from the included studies. The methodological quality of the included study was also assessed using the QualSyst tool.ResultsFour studies were included in this review. The overall quality of the included studies was good. Children with severe, non-oral cleft speech characteristics were found to benefit from motor-phonetic based intervention strategies. Linguistic-phonological strategies, in contrast, were more effective in improving speech and health-related quality of life in children with less severe, anterior oral or posterior oral cleft speech characteristics.ConclusionThere is some evidence that personalized speech intervention yields better outcomes than a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Further research, especially randomized (sham-)controlled trials, is necessary to confirm these results.ObjectivePersonalized health care involves intervention that is tailored to the unique characteristics of the individual. Even though personalized interventions have gained more attention in the past decades, this topic has not yet been systematically studied in the area of speech and language intervention in children with a cleft (lip and) palate (CP ± L). The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence of the effects of personalized speech intervention in children with a CP ± L, aged 3–18 years, with a narrow focus on anterior oral, posterior oral, and non-oral cleft speech characteristics.MethodsThis systematic literature review was developed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (via PubMed), and Embase were searched and the grey literature was checked. The search strategy was based on three concepts: cleft palate, speech intervention, and children. Two raters independently determined the eligibility and extracted all relevant data from the included studies. The methodological quality of the included study was also assessed using the QualSyst tool.ResultsFour studies were included in this review. The overall quality of the included studies was good. Children with severe, non-oral cleft speech characteristics were found to benefit from motor-phonetic based intervention strategies. Linguistic-phonological strategies, in contrast, were more effective in improving speech and health-related quality of life in children with less severe, anterior oral or posterior oral cleft speech characteristics.ConclusionThere is some evidence that personalized speech intervention yields better outcomes than a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Further research, especially randomized (sham-)controlled trials, is necessary to confirm these results.A
Bioaccessibility of β-carotene during in vitro co-digestion of encapsulated mango peel carotenoids with milk
No full textR-carotene is a carotenoid with provitamin A activity whose digestive stability and bioaccessibility prior to intestinal absorption are important to fully exploit its health benefits. Microencapsulation protects carotenoids, but there is a lack of information on the extent to which its characteristics and interactions with complex food matrices could impact the carotenoid micellization during digestion. We evaluated the effect of milk fat content on the in vitro bioaccessibility of R-carotene from microparticles containing carotenoids from mango peel. The microparticles tested contained solvent-extracted carotenoids and supercritical fluid-extracted carotenoids, and were separately co-digested with whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed milks. Bioaccessibility was assessed using an in vitro digestion method adapted to carotenoids. R-carotene recoveries after in vitro digestions ranged from 79.6 to 102.2 %, with the highest values corresponding mainly to microparticles with the lowest initial R-carotene concentration. R-carotene bioaccessibilities ranged from 8.8 to 75.5 %, the highest values being obtained mainly when the microparticles were co-digested with whole milk, especially when those containing supercritical fluid-extracted carotenoids were used. The bioaccessibility-enhancing effect of the milk fat was explained by the higher concentration of free fatty acids in the micellar phase, while the better results in the microparticles containing supercritical-fluid-extract was attributed to the lower initial concentration of R-carotene. In conclusion, increasing the milk fat content increased the bioaccessibility of encapsulated R-carotene from mango peel, further determining that, a lower initial concentration of R-carotene in the microparticles resulted in higher bioaccessibility.R-carotene is a carotenoid with provitamin A activity whose digestive stability and bioaccessibility prior to intestinal absorption are important to fully exploit its health benefits. Microencapsulation protects carotenoids, but there is a lack of information on the extent to which its characteristics and interactions with complex food matrices could impact the carotenoid micellization during digestion. We evaluated the effect of milk fat content on the in vitro bioaccessibility of R-carotene from microparticles containing carotenoids from mango peel. The microparticles tested contained solvent-extracted carotenoids and supercritical fluid-extracted carotenoids, and were separately co-digested with whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed milks. Bioaccessibility was assessed using an in vitro digestion method adapted to carotenoids. R-carotene recoveries after in vitro digestions ranged from 79.6 to 102.2 %, with the highest values corresponding mainly to microparticles with the lowest initial R-carotene concentration. R-carotene bioaccessibilities ranged from 8.8 to 75.5 %, the highest values being obtained mainly when the microparticles were co-digested with whole milk, especially when those containing supercritical fluid-extracted carotenoids were used. The bioaccessibility-enhancing effect of the milk fat was explained by the higher concentration of free fatty acids in the micellar phase, while the better results in the microparticles containing supercritical-fluid-extract was attributed to the lower initial concentration of R-carotene. In conclusion, increasing the milk fat content increased the bioaccessibility of encapsulated R-carotene from mango peel, further determining that, a lower initial concentration of R-carotene in the microparticles resulted in higher bioaccessibility.A
The right not to use the internet : concept, contexts, consequences
No full textThis pioneering collection addresses the prospective fundamental/human right not to use the Internet and the challenges that the non- use of the Internet poses for democracy.As the Internet has increasingly ceased to be a mere option and rather turned into a de facto obligation for anyone who exercises their rights or fulfils duties, these developments bring about profound ramifications for the very existence and the functioning of democracy, and therefore merit a critical reflection. With contributors from academia and legal practice from all over Europe, this edited volume offers timely critical analysis of the right not to use of the Internet, at times supplemented with policy advice and postulates for law reform.This book is of key interest to scholars and students of – predominantly – law, political science and philosophy as well as to policymakers, judges and nongovernmental organisations at national, supranational and international levels.This pioneering collection addresses the prospective fundamental/human right not to use the Internet and the challenges that the non- use of the Internet poses for democracy.As the Internet has increasingly ceased to be a mere option and rather turned into a de facto obligation for anyone who exercises their rights or fulfils duties, these developments bring about profound ramifications for the very existence and the functioning of democracy, and therefore merit a critical reflection. With contributors from academia and legal practice from all over Europe, this edited volume offers timely critical analysis of the right not to use of the Internet, at times supplemented with policy advice and postulates for law reform.This book is of key interest to scholars and students of – predominantly – law, political science and philosophy as well as to policymakers, judges and nongovernmental organisations at national, supranational and international levels.B
The legal framework for (inter)connecting the Belgian offshore wind farms
No full textThe offshore electricity system in the Belgian part of the North Sea is evolving, with projects like Triton and Nautilus aiming to connect future wind farms in the Princess Elisabeth Zone to other countries. This dissertation investigates two key questions: (1) How can the current legal framework for connecting the Belgian offshore wind energy farms to the Belgian transmission system be assessed?, and (2) How can the current legal framework for interconnecting the Belgian offshore wind energy farms to the grids of other European states be assessed? It focuses on three pillars: grid development and integration, market issues, and planning and authorization. The study assesses whether the framework provides sufficient legal certainty and addresses future needs. Through legal and comparative analysis with the Netherlands and the UK, the research concludes the framework works well for current projects but lacks comprehensiveness for future ones. To address this, a more sustainable and future-proof legal framework is recommended.Public defense: 2025-03-11The offshore electricity system in the Belgian part of the North Sea is evolving, with projects like Triton and Nautilus aiming to connect future wind farms in the Princess Elisabeth Zone to other countries. This dissertation investigates two key questions: (1) How can the current legal framework for connecting the Belgian offshore wind energy farms to the Belgian transmission system be assessed?, and (2) How can the current legal framework for interconnecting the Belgian offshore wind energy farms to the grids of other European states be assessed? It focuses on three pillars: grid development and integration, market issues, and planning and authorization. The study assesses whether the framework provides sufficient legal certainty and addresses future needs. Through legal and comparative analysis with the Netherlands and the UK, the research concludes the framework works well for current projects but lacks comprehensiveness for future ones. To address this, a more sustainable and future-proof legal framework is recommended.D
Exploring the 'fit-for-work' principle : the association between occupational physical activity, cardio-respiratory fitness, and mortality : a meta-analysis of male worker data
No full textObjectives This individual participant data meta-analysis investigates the association between occupational physical activity (OPA) and both cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality across different cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) groups among male workers. Methods Data were pooled from five European cohort studies. OPA was categorized into three levels and CRF into low, moderate, and high tertiles. OPA was assessed using self-reports and CRF through objective measurements. Two-stage meta-analyses were conducted. First, we analyzed each cohort using Cox-regression models then we pooled results with random effects model to evaluate the associations between OPA and both cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, stratified by CRF. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking status, leisure-time physical activity, and educational level. Results Among 9922 men (mean age 46.8, standard deviation 6.7, years), 55.7% died during an average 25.6year follow-up, of which 29.3% died from cardiovascular causes. Individuals with low CRF and high levels of OPA showed increased risks of cardiovascular [hazard ratio (HR) 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.55] and all-cause mortality (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07-1.40) compared to those with low CRF and low levels of OPA. High CRF mitigated cardiovascular mortality risk (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.79-1.48) but not all-cause mortality (HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.98-1.83) for those with high OPA. Conclusions Our findings for cardiovascular mortality suggest that high CRF levels may protect workers with physically demanding jobs from adverse cardiovascular outcomes, supporting the 'fit-for-work' principle. However, this protective effect was not observed for all-cause mortality.Objectives This individual participant data meta-analysis investigates the association between occupational physical activity (OPA) and both cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality across different cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) groups among male workers. Methods Data were pooled from five European cohort studies. OPA was categorized into three levels and CRF into low, moderate, and high tertiles. OPA was assessed using self-reports and CRF through objective measurements. Two-stage meta-analyses were conducted. First, we analyzed each cohort using Cox-regression models then we pooled results with random effects model to evaluate the associations between OPA and both cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, stratified by CRF. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking status, leisure-time physical activity, and educational level. Results Among 9922 men (mean age 46.8, standard deviation 6.7, years), 55.7% died during an average 25.6year follow-up, of which 29.3% died from cardiovascular causes. Individuals with low CRF and high levels of OPA showed increased risks of cardiovascular [hazard ratio (HR) 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.55] and all-cause mortality (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07-1.40) compared to those with low CRF and low levels of OPA. High CRF mitigated cardiovascular mortality risk (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.79-1.48) but not all-cause mortality (HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.98-1.83) for those with high OPA. Conclusions Our findings for cardiovascular mortality suggest that high CRF levels may protect workers with physically demanding jobs from adverse cardiovascular outcomes, supporting the 'fit-for-work' principle. However, this protective effect was not observed for all-cause mortality.A
Masculinity as property : toward a new legal theory on the interaction between men, masculinities and law
No full textThis research project sought to utilize the notion of property to develop a new legal theory on the interaction between men, masculinities and law in order to clarify the nexus of law, gender and power. Accepting the feminist legal theory premise that law plays a role in women’s structural subordination, the project drew inspiration from Cheryl Harris’s seminal article "Whiteness as Property" in critical race theory, which analogizes whiteness and property. It asks whether and if so how Harris’s analogy can contribute to conceptualizing masculinity as property as well. The dissertation first builds the conceptual framework necessary to study men, masculinity and law and calls to further develop “critical legal masculinities studies” as a coherent and unified research agenda. It then explores the issue of positive action before the Court of Justice of the European Union. It shows where and how EU anti-discrimination law got aligned with men’s interests as a social group, offering individual men a legal tool to (unconsciously) enforce structural inequality. Next, the dissertation seeks to make sense of this by thinking about masculinity through the lens of property. It argues that masculinity functions as a resource, which allows individuals who can claim it to structure interpersonal relations and influence law in line with structural gendered dynamics of power. Finally, the dissertation makes a reverse move to think about property with the help of gender. It reimagines what property is and how it functions by bringing together socio-legal scholarship on property as social practice and gender performativity theory. It reveals that property and gender constitute interdependent regulatory tools that lead to repetitive and collectively recognized social practices which define who can do what. In this way, the conceptualization of masculinity as property developed in this dissertation proves useful in identifying where gendered power resides in law.Public defense: 2025-05-23This research project sought to utilize the notion of property to develop a new legal theory on the interaction between men, masculinities and law in order to clarify the nexus of law, gender and power. Accepting the feminist legal theory premise that law plays a role in women’s structural subordination, the project drew inspiration from Cheryl Harris’s seminal article "Whiteness as Property" in critical race theory, which analogizes whiteness and property. It asks whether and if so how Harris’s analogy can contribute to conceptualizing masculinity as property as well. The dissertation first builds the conceptual framework necessary to study men, masculinity and law and calls to further develop “critical legal masculinities studies” as a coherent and unified research agenda. It then explores the issue of positive action before the Court of Justice of the European Union. It shows where and how EU anti-discrimination law got aligned with men’s interests as a social group, offering individual men a legal tool to (unconsciously) enforce structural inequality. Next, the dissertation seeks to make sense of this by thinking about masculinity through the lens of property. It argues that masculinity functions as a resource, which allows individuals who can claim it to structure interpersonal relations and influence law in line with structural gendered dynamics of power. Finally, the dissertation makes a reverse move to think about property with the help of gender. It reimagines what property is and how it functions by bringing together socio-legal scholarship on property as social practice and gender performativity theory. It reveals that property and gender constitute interdependent regulatory tools that lead to repetitive and collectively recognized social practices which define who can do what. In this way, the conceptualization of masculinity as property developed in this dissertation proves useful in identifying where gendered power resides in law.D
An OWA analysis of the VSTOXX volatility index
No full textIn this paper, we analyze the information value of the VSTOXX (volatility) index as a measure of risk for the European stock market. Based upon daily data from 2007 to 2023, the properties of the VSTOXX index are inspected and contrasted under various market conditions and in high- and low-volatility periods. Moreover, to evaluate the contribution of each country-specific index to the VSTOXX index, we employ the Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) operator as an analysis tool. We obtain a number of useful insights. Only for France and Germany the correlation between the country-specific volatility index and the VSTOXX index is high during the entire period. In addition, the VSTOXX index acts more like a maximum than as a minimum of volatility for the European stock markets and acts as an average only during periods of extreme volatility. Our findings offer important implications for both investors and policymakers.In this paper, we analyze the information value of the VSTOXX (volatility) index as a measure of risk for the European stock market. Based upon daily data from 2007 to 2023, the properties of the VSTOXX index are inspected and contrasted under various market conditions and in high- and low-volatility periods. Moreover, to evaluate the contribution of each country-specific index to the VSTOXX index, we employ the Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) operator as an analysis tool. We obtain a number of useful insights. Only for France and Germany the correlation between the country-specific volatility index and the VSTOXX index is high during the entire period. In addition, the VSTOXX index acts more like a maximum than as a minimum of volatility for the European stock markets and acts as an average only during periods of extreme volatility. Our findings offer important implications for both investors and policymakers.A