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Opportunities for Inclusion: A Critical Analysis of Higher Education in Flanders
No full textThis contribution examines the Eurydice report on the current state of inclusion and equal opportunities in higher education in Flanders. The authors highlight the need for effective policies and cooperation to create an inclusive learning environment. This ties in with the conference themes of diversity and social cohesion, and provides insights for policymakers and educational institutions to make real changes
Neoadjuvant Nivolumab with or without Relatlimab in Resectable NSCLC: Additional Analysis and Extended Follow-up
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Complete hepatic caudate lobe resection: is robotic approach safe? Report from experienced centers
No full textBuilding Eco-Territorial Movements in Private-Community Conservation Areas: The Case of the Chaparri Nature Reserve in Lambayeque
No full textNature conservation is an urgent issue globally, particularly regarding its integration with sustainable socio-economic development. In Latin America, countries like Peru face increasing tensions between nature conservation and neoextractivist models. The eco-territorial turn of socio-environmental movements in the region reflects a critique of this economic model and seeks collective governance of the territory. In this context, Private Conservation Areas (PCAs) have proliferated in recent decades, with the Chaparri Nature Reserve pioneering as the first private-community PCA led by a peasant community. The case of Chaparri illustrates the struggle between local conservationists and proponents of extractivist development. This article explores the eco-territorial movement generated in Chaparri from the activist research that brought together efforts with Belgian and Peruvian academics and students. The eco-territorial movement in Chaparri has not only catalyzed transformations in community dynamics but also collaborations with a wide range of actors. The scholars from the activist research managed to integrate into the landscape of actors and institutions revolving around Chaparri, opening new and innovative opportunities for collaboration
Psychische kwetsbaarheid en de beëindiging van de arbeidsrelatie
No full textPsychische kwetsbaarheden zijn geen recent fenomeen, verschillende antieke bronnen beschrijven – en nog oudere archeologische vondsten tonen aan – dat de mens er millennia geleden al mee te kampen had. De moderne wetenschappelijke classificatie van psychische kwetsbaarheden en de behandeling ervan zijn daarentegen wel relatief jong, net zoals de aandacht voor de integratie van mensen met psychische kwetsbaarheden op de reguliere arbeidsmarkt. Twee stellingen in dat verband hebben aanleiding gegeven tot het onderzoek dat aan de basis lag van dit juridisch proefschrift. Ten eerste wordt gesteld dat tewerkstelling bijdraagt aan de geestelijke gezondheid van werknemers. Ten tweede suggereert de OESO dat mensen met een psychische kwetsbaarheid nog te gemakkelijk hun arbeidsbetrekking verliezen. In onderhavig proefschrift wordt daarom nagegaan hoe werknemers in België beter beschermd kunnen worden tegen de beëindiging van hun arbeidsovereenkomst omwille van een psychische kwetsbaarheid.
Het juridisch onderzoek behelst vier delen. In een eerste deel wordt kort nagegaan wat verstaan dient te worden onder het begrip ‘psychische kwetsbaarheid’ en hoe het zich verhoudt tot enkele aanverwante juridische begrippen zoals ‘arbeidsongeschiktheid’, ‘gezondheidstoestand’, ‘handicap’ en ‘psychosociale risico’s’. In een tweede deel wordt een kader uitgewerkt voor de evaluatie en normatieve aanbevelingen onder verwijzing naar (sociale) grondrechten die in verband kunnen worden gebracht met de centrale onderzoeksvraag. Op die manier wordt aandacht besteed aan het recht op bescherming tegen de onredelijke beëindiging van de arbeidsrelatie, het recht op gelijke behandeling, het recht op welzijn op het werk en het recht op integratie voor personen met een handicap.
In het derde deel wordt concreet in kaart gebracht welke bescherming werknemers vandaag genieten tegen de beëindiging van hun arbeidsrelatie omwille van een psychische kwetsbaarheid. Daarbij wordt in eerste instantie stilgestaan bij de regelgeving van de Europese Unie rond de bescherming tegen onredelijk ontslag en het recht op gelijke behandeling. Bij het onderzoek van de Belgische wetgeving wordt ruimer stilgestaan bij de arbeidsrechtelijke benadering van de arbeidsongeschiktheid, de bescherming tegen kennelijk onredelijk ontslag, het recht op gelijke behandeling en de regelgeving rond re-integratie op de werkvloer. De bescherming in de Belgische regelgeving wordt vervolgens ook nog vergeleken met de situatie in Nederland, waarbij in het bijzonder wordt stilgestaan bij de preventieve toetsing van het ontslag en de wederzijdse re-integratieverplichtingen van werkgevers en werknemers. In een vierde deel worden aan de hand van het eerder vastgestelde kader – zowel op niveau van de EU, als op Belgisch niveau – concrete aanbevelingen geformuleerd om werknemers beter te beschermen tegen de beëindiging van hun arbeidsovereenkomst omwille van een psychische kwetsbaarheid
Novel Ultrastructural Features of Clinostomum cutaneum in Nile tilapia revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy
No full textThe parasitic trematode Clinostomum presents a huge challenge to freshwater fish species, particularly Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), which plays a vital role in both aquaculture and wild fisheries. In a parasitological survey of 157 Nile tilapia samples from fish farms in the Upper Tana River Region, Kenya, 17.2% of the samples dissected and screened for parasites were found to be infected with Clinostomum metacercariae, encysted in the buccal cavity, skin and gills. This study used an integrative identification approach that combined traditional morphological techniques with ultrastructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular methods targeting ribosomal regions (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2, and 28S). The Clinostomum metacercariae were identified both morphologically and molecularly as C. cutaneum and C. phalacrocoracis. SEM revealed some new ultrastructural features specific to C. cutaneum. One of these is an excretory pore surrounded by minute, spiny papillae, a feature which had not been reported in previous studies. Another finding we observed was the presence of an everted cirrus in the metacercariae, a feature seen in the adult stage of C. cutaneum. However, in our samples, the cirrus lacked basal papillae, showing that there is morphological variation between the adult and metacercarial stages. Additionally, the tegumental area around the genital pore was surrounded by dome-shaped papillae. Our findings, therefore, provide new taxonomic features for the metacercariae of C. cutaneum and demonstrate the value of SEM as a complementary tool for more precise parasite identification and species differentiation
Design and Development of a RFID Assisted Flexible Printed Temperature Threshold Indicator
No full textVaccines and cold food supply chains induce loss, costing millions of Euros due to heat exposure in logistics. Therefore, this study aims to create a smart, green, biodegradable temperature indicator label for smart packaging to indicate heat exposure. First, conductive (silver) interconnects and HF RFID antenna are printed using Aerosol Jet Printing (AJP) on fibre-based substrates. Next, a self-formulated polyaniline ink (non-conducting) is deposited with AJP. Using a temperature-dependent mechanism, an acid is used as a stimulus, which subsequently transforms the non-conducting polyaniline ink into conductive ink (visualised by turning the blue color of the ink into green). Finally, this reaction can be read out with an RFID reader. This proof of concept could in the future be laminated and tested as a TTI label on a card box for smart (e)-packaging
Longitudinal Plasma Biomarker Profiles Predict Neurological Outcome in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
No full textObjectiveTraumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is diagnosed by imaging and clinical scoring using the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). These methods have limited value for prognosis. Here, the prognostic value of plasma neurofilament-light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and contactin-1 (CNTN-1) was analyzed. MethodsBiomarker levels were determined in the plasma of traumatic SCI patients (n = 37) and healthy controls (n = 22). SCI samples (n = 112) were collected at different time points from 0 to 4 days to 18 weeks post-injury. NfL and GFAP were measured by single molecule array (Simoa) technology, CNTN-1 by Luminex. Baseline and outcome AIS and motor scores were collected as a measure of injury severity. ResultsNfL, GFAP, and CNTN-1 showed different kinetics in SCI patients over time. Baseline biomarker levels could identify AIS-A SCI patients (NfL + GFAP) and discriminate between patients with a motor score change = 5 (NfL + GFAP+CNTN-1). Longitudinally, NfL could identify AIS-A patients up to 12 weeks post-SCI and discriminate between patients with a motor score change = 5 up to 18 weeks post-SCI. Further, baseline biomarker levels positively (NfL + GFAP) or negatively (CNTN-1) correlated with outcome injury severity and together could accurately predict AIS conversion (AUC 0.863) and motor score change (AUC 0.857). This predictive ability was maintained in subacute/chronic SCI stages. InterpretationIn conclusion, plasma NfL, GFAP, and CNTN-1 are potential prognostic biomarkers in SCI. This is important for patient stratification in clinical trials, prediction of neurological outcome and informed decision-making in SCI treatment and rehabilitation. ANN NEUROL 2025The authors thank Kim Ulenaers (Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, Belgium) for help with the sample and data collection, Prof. Tomas Menovsky (Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium) for patient inclusion, and
dr. Liesbeth Bruckers and dr. Anna Ivanova (BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, Belgium) for help with data analysis. This work was supported by Hasselt University and a grant from the Wings for Life Spinal Cord
Research Foundation (WFL-BE-20/20)
Real-Time MOSFET Condition Monitoring for Variable Mission Profiles With a Dual Extended Kalman Filter
No full textThe article proposes a methodology to detect real-time power mosfet degradation, in variable mission profile applications, using externally measurable electrical parameters. This complements the work done for fixed operation conditions in current literature. To achieve this, the damage and temperature sensitive drain to source resistance is accompanied with a gate resistance measurement only sensitive to temperature. Together, they allow for the detection of, and the distinction between, bond wire and die attach solder layer degradation. A dual extended Kalman filter is used to filter the measurement data and to estimate the change in thermal model. The article shows the measurement circuits together with proof of concept lab results in a solar photovoltaic use case. The main aim is to show that the resistance measurement can be compensated for mission profile temperature variations and that the thermal resistance can be estimated, reflecting bond wire and die attach solder layer degradation.Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Flux50 under project DAPPE