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Arrhythmias and structural remodeling in lifelong and retired master endurance athletes
No full textBackground: A greater prevalence of arrhythmias has been described in endurance athletes, but it remains unclear whether this risk persists after detraining. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of arrhythmias and their relationship with cardiac remodeling in lifelong and retired master endurance athletes compared to non-athletic controls. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of observational studies that used echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance to detail cardiac structure and function, and Holter monitors to identify atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in 185 endurance athletes and 81 non-athletic controls aged >= 40 years. Athletes were categorized as active lifelong (n =144) or retired (n = 41) based on hours per week of high-intensity endurance exercise within 5 years of enrollment and validated by percentage of predicted maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Athletes with overt cardiomyopathies, channelopathies, pre-excitation, and/or myocardial infarction were excluded. Results: Lifelong athletes (median age = 55 years (interquartile range (IQR): 46-62), 79% male) were significantly fitter than retired athletes (median age = 66 years (IQR: 58-71), 95% male) and controls (median age = 53 years (IQR: 48-60), 96% male), respectively (predicted VO2max: 131% +/- 18% vs. 99%+/- 14% vs. 98% +/- 15%, p < 0.001). Compared to controls, athletes in our cohort had a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation ((AF): 32% vs. 0%, p < 0.001) and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia ((NSVT): 9% vs. 1%, p = 0.007). There was no difference in prevalence of any arrhythmia between lifelong and retired athletes. Lifelong athletes had larger ventricular volumes than retired athletes, who had ventricular volumes similar to controls (left ventricular end-diastolic volume indexed to body surface area (LVEDVi): 101 +/- 20 mL/m(2)vs. 86 +/- 16 mL/m(2) vs. 94 +/- 18 mL/m(2), p < 0.001; right ventricular end-diastolic volume indexed to body surface area (RVEDVi): 117 +/- 23 mL/m(2) vs. 101 +/- 19 mL/m(2) vs. 100 +/- 19 mL/m(2), p < 0.001). Athletes had more scar (40% vs. 18%, p = 0.002) and larger left atria (median volume = 45 mL/m(2) (IQR: 38-52) vs. 31 mL/m(2) (IQR: 25-38), p < 0.001) than controls, with no difference in atrial volumes and non-ischaemic scar between the athlete groups. Conclusion: Master endurance athletes have a higher prevalence of AF and NSVT than non-athletic controls. Whereas ventricular remodeling tends to reverse with detraining, the propensity to arrhythmias persists regardless of whether they are actively exercising or retired.The authors would like to specifically acknowledge the work of Sofie Van Soest (Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leven, Belgium and Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium) as well as other members of the Pro@Heart Consortium: Youri Bekhuis; Peter Hespel; Steven Dymarkowski; Tom Dresselaers; Hielko Miljoen; Kasper Favere; Bernard Paelinck; Dorien Vermeulen; Isabel Witvrouwen; Dominique Hansen,; Bert Op’t Eijnde; Daisy Thijs; Peter Vanvoorden; Kristof Lefebvre; Elizabeth Paratz; Maria J. Brosnan; David L. Prior. Department of Cardiovascular Sciences (YB), Department of Movement Sciences (PH), Department of Imaging and Pathology (SD), KU Leuven, Belgium. Department of Cardiovascular Diseases (YB), Department of Radiology (SD and TD), University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium. Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, LCRC, UHasselt, Biomedical Research Institute, Diepenbeek, Belgium (YB and DH). Department of Radiology, Hartcentrum Hasselt (DT and PV), Jessa Ziekenhuis, Belgium. Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium (HM, KF, BP, DV, and IW). Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium (HM, KF, BP, DV, and IW). REVAL/ BIOMED, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium (DH and
BOE). Department of Cardiology, Algemeen Ziekenhuis Nikolaas, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium (KL). Department of Medicine,
University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia (EP and DLP).
HEART (Heart Exercise and Research Trials) Lab, St.
Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Australi
Trunk Laterality Judgement in Chronic Low Back Pain: Influence of Low Back Pain History, Task Complexity, and Clinical Correlates
No full textCitation: Matheve, T.; Janssens, L.; Timmermans, A.; Goossens, N.; Danneels, L.; Meirezonne, H.; Brandt, M.; De Baets, L. Trunk Laterality Judgement in Chronic Low Back Pain: Influence of Low Back Pain History, Task Complexity, and Clinical Correlates. Abstract Background/Objectives: Left/right discrimination (LRD) training is increasingly being used in the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, it is unclear whether trunk LRD-performance is impaired in CLBP patients and whether clinical parameters are related to LRD-performance. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to examine (1) whether LRD-performance differs between CLBP patients and pain-free individuals; (2) whether these differences depend on the low back pain (LBP) history in pain-free individuals; (3) if clinical factors are related to LRD-performance; (4) whether LRD-task difficulty influences these results. Methods: Participants included 150 pain-free persons (107 with no LBP-history; 43 with past LBP) and 150 patients with CLBP. All participants performed the LRD-task in a simple and complex condition. Outcomes were reaction time and accuracy. Results: CLBP patients were significantly slower (Cohen's d = 0.47 to 0.50, p < 0.001) and less accurate (Cohen's d = 0.30 to 0.55, p < 0.001) than pain-free individuals without LBP-history, but not compared to those with past LBP (Cohen's d reaction time = 0.07 to 0.15, p = 0.55; Cohen's d accuracy = 0.03 to 0.28, p-value = 0.28). All participant groups were slower and less accurate in the complex condition, but between-groups differences were independent of task difficulty. Linear mixed models showed that older age and lower education were independently associated with less accuracy. When controlling for demographics, pain intensity, disability, fear of movement, pain-related worry and pain duration were not related to LRD-performance in patients with CLBP. Conclusions: Patients with CLBP showed impaired trunk LRD-performance compared to pain-free persons without LBP history, but not compared to those with past LBP. When controlling for demographics, clinical parameters were not related to LRD-performance in patients with CLBP. Our findings indicate that LRD-performance may remain impaired after recovering from LBP.This research received no external funding
Sustained Success or Fading Spark? - Long-term Assessment of Participatory Order Assignments in a Warehouse Environment
No full textOrder picking, a key warehouse process, is known to be costly, monotonous, and tightly regulated by a central planning system. Recent studies have explored a way to mitigate the negative impacts of order picking; they experimentally investigated the feasibility and effects of a participatory order assignment (POA) system, which allows workers to choose their next order and break the monotony rather than being confronted with top-down systemic assignments. Thus far, studies have mainly looked at the effects on productivity and psychosocial and physical well-being shortly after such an autonomy-increasing system redesign, yet little is known about the longevity of these effects. The existing literature emphasises the need for evaluations that go beyond short-term findings to assess effects over a sustained period. The degree to which the observed effects persist over time significantly impacts potential adoption by practitioners. By conducting a unique field experiment in a real-world warehouse, this paper assesses the effects of a POA system over a period of 6 months and finds that the initially observed effects persist over time. We enhance the existing body of literature by providing evidence that POA systems are not only effective, but they also yield long-lasting effects. Copyright (c) 2025 The Authors.This research was funded by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) (FWO fundamental research fellowship; project number: 1116023N) and approved by the committee for medical ethics of Hasselt University (CME2023/038). We gratefully thank the collaborating compan
Contributions to Efficient Nonstandard Time Integration with Application in Compressible Flows
No full textnot availabl
Een goed leven binnen planetaire grenzen in Genk: focus op Warm Waterschei
No full textDeze masterproef is tot stand gekomen binnen het kader van het gemeenschappelijke masterplan Een goed leven binnen planetaire grenzen, dat de stad Genk herdenkt in het licht van urgente ecologische, sociale en economische uitdagingen. Vanuit een persoonlijke fascinatie voor duurzame energiesystemen en hun maatschappelijke verankering, ben ik op zoek gegaan naar manieren waarop architectuur kan bijdragen aan de regeneratie van zowel de gebouwde omgeving als het sociaal weefsel.
De centrale onderzoeksvraag, Hoe kan het concept van coöperatieve en collectieve wijkwarmte bijdragen aan een gemeenschap die leeft binnen de planetaire grenzen, vormde het uitgangspunt voor een ontwerpgerichte verkenning in Waterschei, Genk. Deze thesis verenigt theoretische reflectie, analyse van referentieprojecten en een ruimtelijk ontwerp waarin techniek, energie, ecologie en cultuur elkaar versterken.
Dit werk markeert het sluitstuk van een waardevolle leerperiode aan de Faculteit Architectuur en Kunst en vormt tegelijkertijd een beginpunt voor verder engagement binnen het veld van duurzame en sociaal rechtvaardige architectuur
Democratic innovations and the policy process: an overview
No full textThis chapter situates democratic innovation within broader processes of institutional change in public administration and develops the argument that they have vulnerable potential to act as a democratising force, through purposive institutional design. However, democratic innovations are a complement, rather than a substitute, for existing institutions, with which they interact in complex ways. The chapter focuses on the mechanisms through which the outputs of democratic innovation are transmitted to the policy process. The chapter argues that democratic innovations face two, competing, pressures. The first is technical and regards ensuring policy-making ‘reflexivity’ necessary for the efficient governance. The second is normative, and has to do with increasing levels of responsiveness necessary to ensure legitimacy. Different institutional designs for transmission mechanisms ‘fix’ the tension between reflexivity and responsiveness in different, and imperfect, ways. The chapter differentiates between three broad categories and illustrates how they operate using paradigmatic cases of democratic innovation
Empirical analysis of factors contributing to deviations from routing guidelines in order picking: a case study
No full textOrder picking remains a time-sensitive operation in warehousing, with pickers following predetermined routes. Previous research identified potential drivers for deviations from these routes through qualitative studies or descriptive data analysis. We take a novel approach by applying a statistical analysis on two years of data (i.e., 2 448 000 picks). Our mixed-effects logistic regression model shows that factors such as workload, picks completed, congestion and aisle layout may significantly affect the likelihood of route deviations. Such deviations could significantly reduce route efficiency. These insights highlight the need to integrate real-world dynamics into routing models, aiming to enhance overall efficiency in warehouse operations. Copyright (c) 2025 The Authors.This work was supported by the Special Research Fund of Hasselt University under BOF19KP03 and BOF21KP10
Onderwijsuitval en -vertraging in het Limburgs secundair onderwijs: een analyse van achtergrondkenmerken, regionale verschillen en onderwijsvormen
No full textIntegrating big data and artificial intelligence to predict progression in multiple sclerosis: challenges and the path forward
No full textMultiple sclerosis (MS) remains a complex and costly neurological condition characterised by progressive disability, making early detection and accurate prognosis of disease progression imperative. While artificial intelligence (AI) combined with big data promises transformative advances in personalised MS care, integration of multimodal, real-world datasets, including clinical records, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and digital biomarkers, remains limited. This perspective paper identifies a critical gap between technical innovation and clinical implementation, driven by methodological constraints, evolving regulatory frameworks, and ethical concerns related to bias, privacy, and equity. We explore this gap through three interconnected lenses: the underuse of integrated real-world data, the barriers posed by regulation and ethics, and emerging solutions. Promising strategies such as federated learning, regulatory initiatives like DARWIN-EU and the European Health Data Space, and patient-led frameworks including PROMS and CLAIMS, offer structured pathways forward. Additionally, we highlight the growing relevance of foundation models for interpreting complex MS data and supporting clinical decision-making. We advocate for harmonised data infrastructures, patient-centred design, explainable AI, and real-world validation as core pillars for future implementation. By aligning technical, regulatory, and ethical domains, stakeholders can unlock the full potential of AI to enhance prognosis, personalise care, and improve outcomes for people with MS.Funding
Hamza Khan and Sofie Aerts are supported by the Special Research Fund of Hasselt University ( BOF19DOCMA10, BOF22DOC18, respectively). This research received funding from the Flemish Government under the
Onderzoeksprogramma Artificiele Intelligentie (AI) Vlaanderen program, Stichting Multiple Sclerosis Research (19-1040 MS). The funding bodies had no involvement in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or
the writing of the manuscript.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the assistance of ChatGPT4-o, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, for its support in structuring and refining the content of this paper
Engineering Interactive Systems Embedding AI Technologies (3rd workshop on)
No full textThis workshop proposal is the third edition of a workshop which has been organised at EICS 2023 and EICS 2024. This edition aims to bring together researchers and practitioners interested in the engineering of interactive systems that embed AI technologies (as for instance, AI-based recommender systems) or that use AI during the engineering lifecycle. The overall objective is to identify (from experience reported by participants) methods, techniques, and tools to support the use and inclusion of AI technologies throughout the engineering lifecycle for interactive systems. A specific focus is on guaranteeing that user-relevant properties such as usability and user experience are accounted for. Contributions are also expected to address system-related properties, including resilience, dependability, reliability, or performance. Another focus is on the identification and definition of software architectures supporting this integration