263134 research outputs found
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Single-ensemble multilevel Monte Carlo for discrete ensemble Kalman methods
No full textstatus: Accepte
The Application of Molecular Dynamics Simulation in Determining the Diffusivity of Boron in Molten Slag
No full textsponsorship: A.D.P. Putera was the receiver of the SUPRA (Swinburne University Postgraduate Research Award) scholarship. This work is also funded by a research grant from the Australia Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Grant number 2020RND011 (Prof Akbar Rhamdhani). The resources and services used in this work to perform the MD calculations were provided by the VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center), funded by the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) and the Flemish Government. H. Verbeeck holds a grant from the Research Foundation Flanders [1S07324N]. I. Bellemans holds a grant from the Research Foundation Flanders [1239024N]. A.D.P. Putera and H. Verbeeck contributed equally to this work and would like to share first authorship. (SUPRA (Swinburne University Postgraduate Research Award) scholarship - Australia Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)|2020RND011, Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO), Flemish Government, Research Foundation Flanders|1239024N)status: Publishe
Mobilising operaismo in the digital age: Continuities and ruptures with the 1960s ‘mass worker’ struggles
No full textThis article examines whether the recent surge in labour mobilisations within the gig economy represents genuinely novel forms of worker resistance, or whether it is a reconfiguration of established patterns of collective action. To achieve this, the article analyses the relationship between workers’ struggles and changes to the labour process, comparing contemporary gig workers’ mobilisations with those of the ‘mass worker’ in Western Europe in the 1960s. To explore these dynamics, we employ the notion of class composition, a political and analytical tool developed within the Italian workerist tradition (operaismo) to capture the interplay between technological change, labour processes, and collective resistance. Through this lens, the analysis identifies continuities and ruptures between the mobilisations of mass and gig workers in three key areas: the actors involved; the action repertoires deployed; and the demands articulated. Crucially, we develop a taxonomy of the two waves of mobilisation, emphasising their similarities and differences. This taxonomy provides a framework for understanding how transformations in the labour process in the digital age are shaping new forms of collective action and protest.status: Published onlin
Structural, interfacial and electrochemical investigation of simplistically developed ZnO, ZnO/Ag2S and ZnO/Ag2O nanostructured films
No full textsponsorship: The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Research and Graduate Studies at King Khalid University for funding this work through the Large Research Project under grant number RGP2/550/45. This study was funded by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project number (PNURSP2025R821) , Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Deanship of Research and Graduate Studies at King Khalid University|RGP2/550/45, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia|PNURSP2025R821)status: Accepte
Budget Impact Analysis of Implementing C-Reactive Protein Point-of-Care Testing to Aid Antibiotic Prescribing in Belgian Primary Care
No full textBackground
The inappropriate use of antibiotics is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and can lead to various adverse side effects. C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care testing (POCT) in primary care has shown potential as an effective strategy to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. This study evaluates the budget impact of introducing CRP POCT in Belgian primary care over a 5-year time horizon.
Methods
A decision tree model was developed to compare the budget impact of implementing CRP POCT in primary care versus usual care (without CRP POCT) based on 712,102 acute cough patients annually. Cost and probability parameters were derived through literature review and primary data collection. The robustness of the findings was assessed using univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Additionally, alternative scenarios were explored by modifying key assumptions in the base-case scenario to evaluate the effect on the results.
Results
Over a 5-year period, implementing CRP POCT in Belgian primary care for the management of 712,102 acute cough patients annually is estimated to result in an incremental cost of approximately €12.8 million (95% credible interval: 12,699,459 to 12,924,898), primarily driven by capital expenditures for analysers and CRP test expenses. Scenario analyses showed substantial variation in budget impact depending on implementation choices, ranging from €13.6 million to €39.6 million, with the highest costs when general practitioners’ (GPs’) compensation was included. Reduced inappropriate antibiotic use, adverse side effects, and AMR rates would decrease costs, with these savings expected to grow over time as CRP POCT becomes more widely adopted. However, the proportion of these savings relative to total expenditure is limited.
Conclusion
The implementation of CRP POCT entails a significant financial investment. Our scenario analyses indicate a substantial increase in budget impact when GPs’ compensation was included. However, a well-designed implementation strategy with an appropriate GP compensation structure may be crucial to avoid inefficiencies from over- or underuse of CRP testing and achieve the anticipated health benefits.sponsorship: We would like to thank Dr. Lieve Van Hoovels for contributing to data collection. (FOD Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu)status: Published onlin
Sleep disordered breathing symptoms in children: a prospective evaluation 5 years after maxillary expansion
No full textOBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of maxillary expansion and of different types of subsequent comprehensive orthodontic treatment on sleep disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms in children five years after maxillary expansion. METHODS: Children needing early maxillary expansion were asked to fill the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) at three time points: before the start of maxillary expansion (T0; N = 404), after active expansion (T1; N = 309) and after the completion of comprehensive orthodontic treatment (T2; N = 113). Maxillary expansion was achieved using a removable expansion plate (80,49 %), a hyrax (18,03 %) or a quadhelix (1,48 %). When indicated, comprehensive orthodontic treatment either consisted of fixed appliances alone or was combined with a class II functional appliance, a headgear or a hyrax. Linear mixed models corrected for age were used to compare the PSQ results per time point. RESULTS: Significant reductions in the total PSQ scores (p < 0.0001), breathing (p < 0.0001), behavior (p = 0.0026) and loudness of snoring (p = 0.0107) were observed between T0 and T1, which maintained between T0 and T2 (p = 0.0275; p = 0.0281; p = 0.0243). Between T1 and T2 and T0 and T2, sleepiness significantly increased (p < 0.0001; p = 0.0004). No significant interaction was found between the four different types of comprehensive orthodontic treatment and the PSQ scores. CONCLUSION: Early maxillary expansion with removable plates has general a positive effect on PSQ scores. These improvements exhibit a stability for at least five years, regardless of the type of subsequent comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Therefore, the orthodontist plays an important role in the early detection and multidisciplinary treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.sponsorship: KU Leuven Universitystatus: Accepte
To re-root or not to re-root after migration? Longitudinal effects of transnational friendship on immigrants' life satisfaction through acculturative processes
No full textsponsorship: This research was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation National Center of Competence in Research nccr - on the move. Grant No. 51NF40-182897 awarded to Eva G. T. Green. Emanuele Politi was supported by the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek-Vlaanderen under Grant 12A7522N LV 3088. (Swiss National Science Foundation National Center of Competence|51NF40-182897, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek-Vlaanderen|12A7522N LV 3088, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)|51NF40-182897)status: Publishe
Verbetering van RSS-gebaseerde optische draadloze positionering via machinaal leren, fysisch modelleren en IMU-integratie
No full textThe work will start with a detailed study of the challenges in precise positioning in indoor environments, and the potential in the combination and cooperation of many sensors and techniques. The PhD student will hence develop strategies for precise positioning leveraging on sensor federations and electronics dispersed in the environment. This will be based on theoretical and simulation-based analyses. Next, experiments will be set-up and carried out in the hybrid sensor testbed that is under construction in the DRAMCO lab. These experiments will validate the new positioning solutions. Also, they will deliver essential data for the investigation of machine learning techniques to further improve the performance.status: Publishe
Don't Stop Receiving: Ensuring Availability of Critical Services on Compromised Mobile Devices
No full textThe developers of critical networked applications currently relied on kernel-level protections to ensure the timely delivery of critical messages like Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) notifications. However, the increasing complexity of mobile operating system kernels and network stacks increases the attack surface for adversaries to exploit. In this paper, we introduce a system which safeguards network availability for critical mobile applications against powerful attackers. We achieve this by using the Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) found in most mobile devices to host minimal network drivers. Further, we utilize Trusted I/O to ensure that critical messages reach the end-user even if the device's kernel is compromised. To demonstrate the feasibility of our approach, we provide a PoC implementation that mimics multi-factor authentication. Our Evaluation demonstrates that latency for all applications is reduced by around 21% on a representative mobile platform (ARM Cortex A9), though a significant throughput performance is observed.sponsorship: European Union's research and innovation programme|101020416, European Union's research and innovation programme|101168311, European Union's research and innovation programme|101225797status: Published onlin