44197 research outputs found
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Circular by nature: Framing the need for design for circularity in mass timber structures
No full textCircular construction is increasingly touted as a more sustainable approach aimed at decoupling construction activities from the depletion of virgin materials and minimizing the environmental impact of the construction industry. To support this, numerous design strategies have been developed under the collective term 'Design for Circularity' (DfC). In line with circular possibilities, wood-based construction products, such as mass timber, are gaining attention in recent scientific literature. However, due to its novelty, the full benefits of integrating MTS within DfC remain little explored. To address this gap, the present study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis, mapping the benefits of DfC and exploring its significance for MTS. A narrative review was employed as the methodological approach to achieve the research objectives. The study provides an integrative overview that bridges environmental, economic, and social perspectives. This analysis advances academic discourse through a critical evaluation. Adopting this holistic perspective can prevent misunderstandings and misapplications of the concept, which could otherwise result in unintended consequences, such as a false sense of effectiveness. Recognizing these interconnections promotes a more thoughtful approach to circularity, comprehensively considering the building's complex relationships with the environment, the economy, and society.This study was supported by the Special Research Fund (BOF) of Hasselt University. BOF number: BOF23OWB02.https://www.icsa2025.com
Falls prevention in community-dwelling older adults and implementation of world falls guidelines: a call for action across Europe by the European Geriatric Medicine Society Special Interest Group on Falls and Fractures
No full textFalls among older adults represent a significant public health challenge due to their consequences, including serious injuries, increased morbidity and mortality, decreased quality of life, and heightened healthcare costs. The World Falls Guidelines (WFG), published in 2022, offer a robust framework for evidence-based interventions; however, the uptake of these guidelines into clinical practice across Europe remains inconsistent. Key barriers to implementation include insufficient resources, a lack of trained healthcare professionals, and limited integration into existing healthcare systems. This position paper by the EuGMS Special Interest Group (SIG) on Falls and Fractures addresses the implementation of the WFG among community-dwelling older adults and falls prevention across Europe by providing an overview of the current status of WFG adoption in Europe and discusses the challenges and opportunities for implementation. We provide an overview of the current resources to support the clinical practice of falls prevention, implementation guides, and educational programs. Additionally, we discuss what is necessary for the future development of these resources and for advancing research. The EuGMS SIG on Falls and Fractures advocates for a commitment of healthcare providers as well as insurers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to collaborative European initiatives-such as developing a standardised falls prevention strategy, promoting evidence-based implementation plans, establishing a European-wide research agenda, and creating under- and postgraduate curricula-which are essential for advancing falls prevention efforts across Europe.Funding No funds, grants, or other support was received for this project. CT is principal investigator and LMcG is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Policy Research Unit in Older People and Frailty (NIHR PR-PRU-1217–21502), now NIHR Policy Research Unit in Healthy Ageing (reference NIHR206119). CT and ES are co-investigators on the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Applied Research Collaboration-Greater Manchester (NIHR200174). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, the Department of Health and Social Care, or its partner organisations. MMO’s Program in Gait
and Brain Health is supported by grants from the CIHR (MOP 211220, PJT 153100), the Weston Family Foundation (BH210118), and the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (FRN CNA 137794), and he holds the Wolfe Research Professorship in Aging from the Schulich Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, the University of Western Ontario, Canada. FXS was funded half-time for his PhD on benzodiazepine receptor agonist deprescribing in older adults by UCLouvain (2019=2020) and Fund for Scientifc Research–FNRS (2020–2024)
Explaining the adaptation gap in Dutch coastal risk management through lock-in mechanisms
No full textThis article investigates Dutch coastal risk management in light of recent scientific evidence on long-term sea level rise. While the so-called Delta Programme, meant as a national boost for flood safety, remains central to the Netherlands' coastal defence strategy, our analysis reveals that it does not offer sufficient protection beyond the year 2050. It is therefore evidence of a climate adaptation gap. Drawing on the concept of lock-ins, this study examines how certain mechanisms may be at play. The study uses a framework on "adaptation lock-ins" developed by Groen et al. (2022) in an attempt to study and explain this adaptation gap. A qualitative analysis of policy documents, secondary literature and semi-structured interviews with experts points to the existence of several lock-in mechanisms which are implied in the stagnation of Dutch coastal risk management. The insights gathered are relevant for practitioners and academics alike as it might be used to inform the upcoming revision of the Delta Programme in 2027. At the conceptual level, the study adds insights on previously undiscovered types of lock-ins, thus adding to the explanatory power of the lock-in concept. The article concludes that further research can focus on how lock-ins vary across time, regions or contexts, and how they can be addressed and overcome.Funding
The Adapt Lock-in project was supported, under the Open Research Area (ORA) programme, by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek [grant 464.18.101], the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [grant 396892926] and the Economic and Social Research Council [grant ES/S015264/1]
Acknowledgements
We thank the interviewees for their contributions and insights, which were very valuable for our research. This article is based on an MSc thesis that was written at the Open Universiteit, in the context of the Adapt Lock-in project. More information on the project is available at www.adaptlockin.e
The role of microglia in multiple sclerosis: implications for treatment with Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors
No full textBackground Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by inflammation and neurodegeneration. The pathophysiology of MS, especially its progressive forms, involves various cellular components, including microglia, the primary resident immune cells of the CNS. This review discusses the role of microglia in neuroinflammation, tissue repair, and neural homeostasis, as well as their involvement in MS and explores potential therapeutic strategies targeting microglial function.Methods A literature search conducted in August 2023 and updated in March 2025, using the PubMed database, focused on articles relating to microglia and MS published in 2018-2025. Additionally, ongoing clinical trials of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors were identified through the ClinicalTrials.gov website in November 2023 and updated in March 2025.Results Microglia are highly adaptive and exhibit various functional states throughout different life stages and play critical roles in neuroinflammation, tissue repair, and neural homeostasis. Their altered activity is a prominent feature of MS, contributing to its pathogenesis. Imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) provide insights into microglial activity in MS. BTK inhibitors and other novel treatments for MS, including masitinib and frexalimab, show promise in modulating microglial function and influencing the disease progression rate.Conclusions The multifaceted roles of microglia in CNS development, immune surveillance, and particularly in the pathogenesis of MS highlight the potential of targeting microglial functions in MS treatment. Emerging research on the involvement of microglia in MS pathophysiology offers promising avenues for developing novel therapies, especially for progressive MS, potentially improving patient outcomes in this debilitating disease.Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. Medical writing assistance was funded by ParadigMS, which also provided the open access fee for this review.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Georgii Filatov who wrote the outline and subsequent drafts of this manuscript on behalf of Springer Healthcare, and Karina Hamilton-Peel of Springer Healthcare who provided assistance after submission. This medical writing assistance was funded by ParadigMS
Dravet syndrome: Insights into seizure and speech progression from registry data
No full textObjective: Dravet syndrome (DS) is a rare genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy syndrome characterized by refractory seizures and neurodevelopmental disorders beginning in infancy. This study aims to understand the natural history of DS by utilizing longitudinal data from patient registries. Methods: We analysed data from 475 subjects across two European patient registries (RESIDRAS and Platform-RESIDRAS) from Dravet Italia Onlus, collected between 2010 and 2024. The study included only participants that were under 18 years old. Clinical characteristics such as seizure types and speech development were modelled using generalized linear mixed models and ordinal transition models. Results: Unilateral seizures predominantly occurred during infancy and early childhood, while generalized convulsive and focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures increased with age, showing a higher incidence in boys. Focal seizures peaked around the age of three years before declining. Speech development varied, with most participants initially having poor speech. However, a considerable number of transitions between different levels of speech impairment were observed over time. Transition models indicated that once speech is acquired, the likelihood of losing this ability is negligible. Significance: Patient registries are instrumental in modelling the disease history of DS, offering insight into its progression by means of advanced statistical modelling techniques that build on clinical expertise. Future research should focus on evaluating the effects of therapies and exploring the interrelations between different clinical characteristics. Understanding these aspects can guide better management strategies and improve patient outcomes.The work on the paper is part of the iSTORE project, funded by the European Union (Europe) through the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme Grant Agreement Number 825575 and as part of ERICA under Grant Agreement no. 964908. GZ gratefully acknowledges the support of the WISS 2025 projects ’IDA-Lab Salzburg’ (20204-WISS/ 225/197- 2019 and 20102-F1901166-KZP) and ‘EXDIGIT’ (Excellence in Digital Sciences and Interdisciplinary Technologies) (20204-WISS/ 263/6-6022), funded by the federal state of Salzburg. We also acknowledge the support of the Chair Geen-DS directed by R Nabbout and funded by FAMA fund hosted by Swiss Philanthropy Foundation. This project is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) under grant agreement No 101165912 (RealiseD). The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and COCIR, EFPIA, Europa Bío, MedTech Europe, and Vaccines Europe. The authors gratefully acknowledge RESIDRAS, PLATFORMRESIDRA, DRAVET REGISTRY, DRAVET ITALIA ONLUS (https:// www.dravet-registry.com/residras-centresinvolved and https://www. dravet-registry.com/platform-residras-centresinvolved) for sharing
their data
About Us
No full textHow can we use imagination to organize ourselves?
The research project 'Dialogical Landscapes, A speculative research on common ground(ing)' investigates and problematizes the boundary between the artistic and the organizational domain within the arts, and the role of artistic imagination and collaboration within this.
From this research framework a form of conversation was developed as an artistic and performative gesture, for groups between 4 to 12 participants, who are currently part of a collaboration (ie they are connected to each other as an organization or collective). It functions as an imaginary organizational structure (or a collective) that is established and disbanded in the course of the performance. The roles of different players can shift, and the group is challenged to think about their own cooperation. What brings us together?
The basis of this conversation performance consists of a script that was developed and that is still changing, based on many interviews with existing self-organization collectives in Belgium and abroad. I mainly focused on specific themes that play a prominent role in these organizations (e.g. authorship, care or the use of space), which I then transformed in different ‘roles’. How do certain terminologies change meaning when an organization uses them? By selecting and mixing quotes from these interviews, a generic script is created that reads like a manifesto (‘About Us’) from an organization that never existed.
This script forms the starting point of the dialogical performance, and is read throughout the performance, critiqued and finally adapted by the group, in various 'rounds'. To guide this process I currently have dramaturgical support from Peter Aers (Building Conversation). The ultimate goal of the performance would be that the participants learn to look differently at (aspects of) their own organization by means of this script, and a shift occurs in the way in which people speak in the group. The quotations provide a catalytic effect that enables a group of participants to question their own collective through the words of other collectives.
'About Us' balances between a dialogue and a performance, an imaginary and a daily reality
Retail, Hospitality, and Service Design Futures
No full textThe Designing Retail and Service Futures Special Interest Group focuses on the role of design in the commercial sector, covering interdisciplinary aspects of retail, hospitality, and service design. For the DRS2024 conference track, we have additionally incorporated hospitality design into the track theme to reflect the significant observed overlap between retail and service design and hospitality design. The 14 papers that will be presented were selected from 26 initial submissions to the track. The papers selected for presentation address topics within retail, hospitality, or service futures and are organized into three themed sessions: Sustainability, Experiences, and Technology
Community-Based Mangrove Management in Sucre, Colombia: Stakeholder Perceptions, Land Cover Trends, and Challenges
No full textMangrove forests support ecosystems, livelihoods, and cultural practices. However, their degradation threatens the utilization of mangroves by human communities, causing economic losses, particularly impacting local livelihoods. Cost-effective, community-led restoration and conservation efforts are essential to enhancing the ecological and economic resilience of coastal communities. This study investigated Community-Based Mangrove Management (CBMM) in Sucre, Colombia, where mangroves provide essential goods and services to human communities. We employed a discourse analysis technique (Q) and Geographic Information System integration, including analysis of remotely sensed data to identify mangrove cover trends (1986-1993 and 2017-2021). Q methodology identified two main discourses: "Optimism in CBMM" and "A call to enhance CBMM," highlighting issues such as lack of administrative skills, economic resources, land tenure, and socio-environmental conflicts. Interviews identified tourism expansion as a major driver of mangrove loss, threatening the ecosystem's ability to provide resources to local communities. The temporal analysis supported these trends, especially in Rinc & oacute;n del Mar, where tourism has increased. This study emphasizes the economic and ecological challenges faced by CBMM members, highlighting the need to integrate Local Ecological Knowledge and community perspectives to guide mangrove conservation policy that emphasizes the benefits of mangrove forests and their non-timber forest products. Los manglares sostienen ecosistemas, medios de vida y pr & aacute;cticas culturales. Sin embargo, su degradaci & oacute;n amenaza el uso de los manglares por parte de las comunidades humanas, provocando p & eacute;rdidas econ & oacute;micas que impactan especialmente los medios de vida locales. Los esfuerzos de restauraci & oacute;n y conservaci & oacute;n, liderados por las comunidades y de bajo costo, son esenciales para mejorar tanto la resiliencia ecol & oacute;gica como econ & oacute;mica de las comunidades costeras. Este estudio investig & oacute; la Gesti & oacute;n Comunitaria de Manglares (CBMM, por sus siglas en ingl & eacute;s) en Sucre, Colombia, donde los manglares proporcionan bienes y servicios esenciales a las comunidades humanas. Empleamos la t & eacute;cnica de an & aacute;lisis del discurso (Q) e integraci & oacute;n de Sistemas de Informaci & oacute;n Geogr & aacute;fica, incluyendo el an & aacute;lisis de datos de teledetecci & oacute;n para identificar tendencias de la cobertura de manglares (1986-1993 y 2017-2021). La metodolog & iacute;a Q identific & oacute; dos discursos principales: 'Optimismo en la CBMM' y 'Un llamado a fortalecer la CBMM,' destacando problem & aacute;ticas como la falta de habilidades administrativas, recursos econ & oacute;micos, tenencia de la tierra y conflictos socioambientales. Las entrevistas se & ntilde;alaron la expansi & oacute;n del turismo como un factor importante de p & eacute;rdida de manglares, amenazando la capacidad del ecosistema para proveer recursos a las comunidades locales. El an & aacute;lisis temporal respald & oacute; estas tendencias, especialmente en Rinc & oacute;n del Mar, donde el turismo ha aumentado. Este estudio enfatiza los desaf & iacute;os econ & oacute;micos y ecol & oacute;gicos que enfrentan los miembros de la CBMM, subrayando la necesidad de integrar el conocimiento ecol & oacute;gico local y las perspectivas comunitarias para guiar una pol & iacute;tica de conservaci & oacute;n de manglares que destaque los beneficios de los manglares y sus productos forestales no maderables.Funding
A. B. B. and F. D. G. received fnancial support from the EC-funded Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems – TROPIMUNDO
(contract no. 2019–1451), through an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship and a Scholar Grant respectively.
Acknowledgements
We thank the community leaders from Rincón del Mar, Berrugas, Tolú, and Coveñas, as well as ofcials from environmental entities, researchers, and non-governmental organization (NGO) members. Special thanks to Alejandro Zamora for his valuable contribution to gray literature and for providing insight into the timeline of regional and national mangrove policies. We are also grateful to all respondents and to the elders of these communities, who generously shared anecdotes revealing the transformations of the Rincón del Mar landscape through their lives and childhood memories. The results of this paper have been communicated to the surveyed local communities through the following link https:// youtu.be/sMjEtvYjdmE [access date: 28/05/2025]. This research was in part presented at the sixth edition of the Mangrove and Macrobenthos Meeting (MMM6) in Cartagena, Colombia (24–28 July 2023), the 18th Congress of the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE2024) in Marrakech, Morocco (15–19 May 2024),
and the IUFRO World Congress 2024 in Stockholm, Sweden (23–29 June 2024)
Mapping conservation conflicts by integrating social network analysis and Q methodology: A sea turtle case from Sri Lanka
No full textConservation conflicts pose major challenges to biodiversity conservation, and addressing related stakeholder conflicts is gaining importance in the contemporary conservation discourse. We present an innovative approach to investigate conservation conflicts by combining Social Network Analysis and Q methodology. The study focuses on human-human conflicts among sea turtle conservation, tourism, and governance stakeholders in Sri Lanka. Our integrated approach simultaneously maps the collaborative relationships and the conservation viewpoints among 39 national, provincial, and local sea turtle stakeholders along the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Social Network Analysis reveals the dynamics of willingness and non-willingness for collaboration between stakeholders. Q methodology identifies three distinct clusters of conservation viewpoints. Perception 1 prioritises an integrated ecosystem approach to protect sea turtle eggs and the nesting beaches with community participation. Perception 2 promotes ex-situ conservation through sea turtle hatcheries, highlighting the economic benefits of sea turtle tourism. Perception 3 criticises the governance characterising the limited intersectoral collaboration and poor monitoring of the privately owned hatcheries. Mapping the conservation viewpoints within the stakeholder network highlights multi-scale conservation conflicts rooted in diverse stakeholder preferences and needs. Managing these conflicts is important for inclusive and effective sea turtle conservation and tourism in Sri Lanka.This study was supported by the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems – TROPIMUNDO, funded by the European Commission (2019-1451). The article was published with the support of the Fondation Universitaire de Belgique. We sincerely thank all the sea turtle stakeholders of southern Sri Lanka for generously sharing their time, knowledge, and perspectives for this research. Our gratitude extends to Sanjaya Dasantha Thilakarathna for his invaluable contribution and assistance during data collection. The first author would like to express appreciation to the Turtle Conservation Project, Bio Conservation Society, and the Department of Wildlife Conservation for their support and expert consultations. We also acknowledge Anjleen Hannak for the original graphical illustration in Figure 4. This research was in part presented at the VLIZ Marine Science Day, Belgium (03 March 2021) and the online Conservation Social Science Conference (20-21 November 2024)
Changing the Activation of At-Risk Jobseekers: Algorithmically Redefining Categories of Vulnerability
No full textThis study investigates how the use of algorithms to analyse and support jobseekers by public employment services (PESs) redefines categories of vulnerability through the technology’s quantitative lens. We investigate the case of VDAB, the Flemish PES, which has introduced an algorithmic dashboard to visualise jobseekers’ efforts in finding work. Originally introduced to make decision-making processes more fair, less biased, and more efficient, algorithmic analyses, we show, have contributed to the reorientation of the organisation’s counsellors towards specific data points that render their historically determined differences (race, class, etc.) invisible but reformulate a new category of vulnerability. This category, digital illiteracy, is the new determinant of jobseekers’ support trajectories and becomes the main criteria for their estimated success in finding work. This study builds on qualitative interviews, meetings with management and document analysis to add to our understanding of how PESs utilise algorithmic technology to recontextualise and interpret jobseekers’ efforts in finding work.FWO projec