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Generic industrially applicable algorithms to design mechanisms with minimal energy usage
No full textAbstract: Energy consumption is a critical issue, particularly in industrial sectors where electric motors account for nearly 45% of global electricity use. This substantial share underscores the need for innovative energy efficiency solutions, driven by environmental concerns and the aim to reduce operational costs. While hardware upgrades, such as efficient motors or energy-recovery devices, are commonly pursued, they are often costly and limited by design constraints. A promising alternative is design optimization, which focuses on refining mechanical geometries to achieve energy savings. For instance, modifying mechanism link lengths in a case study reduced RMS motor torque by 71%. Despite its potential, existing design optimization methods are often complex, relying on analytical models that are not scalable or practical for industrial use. These methods are constrained by intricate dynamics and tend to prioritize precise motion over energy efficiency. Additionally, many optimization algorithms fail to guarantee global optimality for the proposed designs. This thesis addresses these limitations through four key objectives. First, it demonstrates the effectiveness of CAD-based simulations for optimizing system geometry, offering a scalable alternative to analytical models. A novel approach integrates CAD simulations with optimization algorithms to explore design configurations and reduce energy consumption. Second, the study develops efficient methods for guiding optimization within feasible design spaces, using Gaussian process models to ensure feasible simulations and probabilistic insights. Third, to address the computational demands of CAD-based optimization, Sparse Interpolation (SI) and Bayesian Optimization (BO) are employed, improving efficiency without compromising accuracy. Finally, global optimization search strategies are adopted to ensure comprehensive insights into solution optimality. Together, these contributions culminate in a generic, computationally efficient global design optimization methodology applicable to various industrial mechanisms. Future work explores co-optimization of geometry and motion profiles, revealing further energy savings through appropriate optimization architectures. The methodology demonstrates broad industrial applicability, particularly in manufacturing, robotics, and automation. Case studies\u2014including an emergency ventilator mechanism, a weaving loom component, and a toggle press\u2014showcase the robustness and versatility of the approach, achieving RMS motor torque reductions of 71%, 49.2%, and 49.2%, respectively. These findings highlight the method's value for industries seeking to reduce energy consumption while maintaining system precision and reliability
Exploring the essence of the freedom of thought : a normative framework for identifying undue mind interventions
No full textAbstract: The freedom of thought (FoT) has recently gained attention in human rights scholarship, emerging as a key component in the human rights protection of the human mind. However, this newfound interest has exposed significant gaps in the protection offered by the FoT. While the underdevelopment of the FoT is mainly examined in relation to the mind\u2019s vulnerability to emerging neurotechnologies, there are numerous other ways to interfere with the privacy, freedom, and integrity of the mind. Conversations, education, online marketing, and abusive indoctrination programs can all interfere with individual\u2019s minds. These different forms of mind interventions (MIs) appear to pose varying degrees of threat to the FoT, particularly to the right not to have one\u2019s thoughts impermissibly altered. Despite this, the theoretical exploration of the impact of different MIs on this aspect of FoT remains largely unexplored. This article explores the core of the right not to have one\u2019s thoughts impermissibly altered. First, the current shortcomings in the conceptualisation of FoT will be outlined. Second, the article defines mind interventions to delineate the scope of the analysis. Third, it introduces a normative framework to identify Undue Mind Interventions (UMIs). To this end, a general maxim will be presented: a MI qualifies as an UMI when the agent intentionally undermines a subject's mental autonomy by bypassing, distorting, or disarming the mental abilities that enable it. The core elements of this maxim will be detailed. Finally, the impact of this normative assessment on the meaning of FoT will be discussed
Genre conventions of fact-checks : topics, style, and form of fact-checking in two IFCN-certified news media
No full textAbstract: Despite fact-checking often being described as a new genre of journalism, the number of studies focusing on genre conventions in fact-checking is limited. This study examines fact-check conventions related to topic selection, style, and form through a quantitative content analysis of 375 fact-checks from Belgium's verified International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) signatories published between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022. Results show that the most prominent topics in fact-checks resembled the \u201ctop public policies\u201d of the time in which the fact-checks were published and that fact-checkers focused more on statements circulating on social media or online than on statements made by elite actors. Concerning style, both news outlets use source and verification transparency but implement it differently in their fact-checks. Regarding the form, multimedia embeds are commonly used, and labels are used to mark the fact-checks explicitly as such. Additionally, giving a final judgement is a common convention, but they are not provided through rating scales, and both news outlets use different formats for these final judgements. Overall, it can be concluded that genre conventions in fact-checking through IFCN-certified news media are not fixed yet and that style and form seem to depend on the topic and origin of fact-checks
Self-presentation and verbal personality branding in Russian politics
No full textAbstract: This paper examines the impression management instances of Russian politicians that include mentions of their personality (self-presentation). The current study identifies what personality characteristics Russian presidential candidates emphasized in their electoral interviews during the presidential election campaign of 2018. The study has an exploratory research design. The qualitative orientation of the study reflects its research approach. Drawing upon the Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA), we utilize the content related and structural categories from the existing personality research. Furthermore, this analytical technique leaves space for category development as the number of impression management and campaign style studies with application of personality frameworks is limited. Past studies on this subject have failed to sufficiently integrate personality theories into the examination of impression management. This research addresses this gap and to create categories for future studies of political leadership. The analysis discovered four structural groups of characteristics related to leaders' personality: references to leaders' traits, values, social contexts, and professional skills. The results present a personality architecture framework based upon the qualitative mapping of the personal characteristics that the candidates refer to in their verbal communication
Hof van Beroep van Antwerpen blaast warm noch koud inzake de gevolgen van een onverantwoorde tariefdifferentiatie
No full textAbstract: Er bestaan nog heel wat onduidelijkheden inzake de invulling van het gelijkheidsbeginsel in de rechtspraa
Het Antwerpse Hof van beroep over parasitaire concurrentie en de stelplicht in het auteursrecht
No full textNoot onder ECSR nr. 178/2019 18 oktober 2023, Amnesty International t/ Itali\ueb
No full textAbstract: De beslissing in de zaak Amnesty International t. Itali\ueb van het Europees Comit\ue9 voor Sociale Rechten (ECSR), dat middels een collectieve klachtenprocedure toezicht uitoefent over de naleving van het Europees Sociaal Handvest, is de zoveelste in een reeks van zaken over schendingen van het recht op huisvesting van Roma en Sinti, en de derde tegen Itali\ueb
Early complications after penile prosthesis surgery : findings from the PHOENIX multicenter registry
No full textAbstract: Erectile dysfunction is a prevalent condition that may impact psychosocial health and quality of life. While various treatment modalities exist, penile prosthesis implantation offers a permanent solution. Surgery, however, carries inherent risks and potential complications. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of early postoperative complications after penile prosthesis surgery in a large, multicenter, prospective, cohort study. Data was analyzed from patients participating in the PHOENIX registry, an international study on penile prosthesis surgery conducted by the EAU Research Foundation. Patients were operated on from November 2021 until august 2024 in 30 centers from 8 countries. Our study was not limited to one device or brand, all available inflatable and malleable devices were eligible for inclusion. Postoperative complications were registered at different time points, up to 2 years post-surgery. For this analysis we studied complications that occurred within 2 weeks after surgery. Data on early complications after penile prosthesis surgery of 1072 patients were analyzed. Median age was 62 (range 24-88) years old at time of surgery. A total of 639 (59.6%) patients received a drain perioperatively. A total of 49 patients (4.6%) reported complications within 2 weeks after surgery. Infection occurred in 4 patients and penoscrotal hematoma occurred in 6 patients within 2 weeks post-surgery. A total of 5 patients underwent early revision surgery. There was no significant effect of diabetes mellitus on development of an early postoperative infection (0.4% vs. 0.4%, p = 1.00). We found no significant impact of drain placement on hematoma development (0.3% vs. 0.3%, p = 0.69). We did find that early hematoma occurred more frequently in low-volume versus high-volume centers (1.3% vs. 0.1%, p = 0.02). This large international study confirms that penile prosthesis surgery is a safe procedure with a low rate of early postoperative complications
Tracing the artist's intent : combining micro- and macroscopic analysis with art technological sources to study 17th-century paintings
No full textAbstract: The topic of this thesis is the study of 17th-century Dutch artists\u2019 painting techniques and the impact of material degradation over time on their works. These artists were masters at realistically depicting objects, employing precise methods and layered processes to create surface textures and optical effects. However, paintings are dynamic systems, and over time, the deterioration of materials can alter the artists\u2019 intended effects. Traditionally, the study of paintings has relied on the analysis of paint cross-sections and conventional imaging techniques such as infrared photography and X-radiography. This thesis focuses on the capabilities of non-invasive imaging techniques\u2014including macroscopic X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF), macroscopic X-ray powder diffraction (MA-XRPD), and reflectance imaging spectroscopy (RIS)\u2014to investigate painting techniques and pigment degradation. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of integrating these scientific methods with the study of art technological sources, such as painting instructions and recipes, to better contextualize findings and understand the artist\u2019s original intent. This research provides insights into Jan Davidsz. de Heem\u2019s multi-layered painting techniques, correlated with detailed painting instructions from Willem Beurs\u2019 The Big World Painted Small ( 1692) and recipes from De Heem himself. It also presents an in-depth study of orpiment degradation in the yellow rose of Abraham Mignon\u2019s Still Life with Flowers and a Watch; the unexpected discovery of arsenic sulfide pigments in Rembrandt\u2019s The Night Watch; and an analysis of how Rembrandt achieved a convincing chiaroscuro in the costume of Willem van Ruytenburch, one of the central and most illuminated figures in The Night Watch