Scriptiebank overzicht

Deze studie onderzoekt acute afasiediagnostiek binnen de context van
de Vlaamse Gebarentaal (VGT). Afasie, een verworven neurologische
taalstoornis, wordt voornamelijk onderzocht vanuit een westers, eentalig
en audiocentrisch perspectief. Omdat gebarentaligen de visueel-gestuele
modaliteit gebruiken, in tegenstelling tot de oraal-auditieve modaliteit
van gesproken talen, zijn huidige diagnostische instrumenten niet
aangepast aan hun noden. Een rapid review onderzocht de neurale
representatie van gebarentalen in relatie tot afasie. Resultaten uit 29
beeldvormingsstudies tonen aan dat gebarentalen een
linksgelateraliseerd perisylvisch netwerk activeren, vergelijkbaar met
gesproken talen, maar met modaliteitsspecifieke aanpassingen.
Daarnaast leidt schade aan de linkerhersenhelft systematisch tot
verstoring van fundamentele taalaspecten, terwijl schade aan de
rechterhersenhelft visuospatiële vaardigheden selectief beïnvloedt. Een
enquête onder 20 Vlaamse clinici toont aan dat diagnostiek gebaseerd is
op Nederlandstalige instrumenten en informele vertaalmethoden, met
beperkte aandacht voor VGT-gebruikers. Deze bevindingen
onderstrepen de noodzaak van gevalideerde diagnostische instrumenten
voor gebarentaligen, verbeterde training van clinici, en een meer
rechtvaardige gezondheidszorg.

Deze masterproef onderzoekt het potentieel van bonenstengels, een landbouwreststroom, als grondstof voor biogebaseerde isolatiematerialen. Voor de productie van het isolatiemateriaal werd gebruik gemaakt van een nat productieproces. Dit proces benut de natuurlijke bindingseigenschappen van de vezels, waardoor een stevige isolatieplaat kan worden geproduceerd zonder toevoeging van een synthetisch bindmiddel. Aangezien dit proces al op industriële schaal wordt toegepast voor de productie van houtvezelisolatieplaten, werd het laboproces eerst geoptimaliseerd op basis van houtwol. Met een eenvoudige combinatie van koken, kort persen en drogen konden houtvezelisolatieplaten met lage thermische geleidbaarheid en hoge sterkte worden geproduceerd. Om vervolgens de geschiktheid van bonenstengels binnen dit proces te onderzoeken, werden verschillende voorbehandelingstechnieken toegepast. Ovendrogen en luchtdrogen werd vergeleken. Daarnaast werd het effect van een extra reinigings- of extrusiestap geanalyseerd. Alle onderzochte fracties van bonenstengels toonden potentieel. Rekening houdend met materiaalprestaties, praktische haalbaarheid en milieu-impact kwamen luchtgedroogde ongereinigde bonenstengels naar voren als meest belovende optie. De toevoeging van houtvezels of vlaslemen verbeterde de praktische haalbaarheid zonder de algemene prestaties negatief te beïnvloeden.

Naast het aantonen van het potentieel van bonenstengels als isolatiegrondstof, onderstreept deze thesis het bredere potentieel van landbouwreststromen om bij te dragen aan een duurzamere bouwpraktijk, gebaseerd op lokale en biologisch afbreekbare materialen.

Deze thesis onderzoekt hoe Vlaamse audiovisuele professionals de samenwerking met
Netflix ervaren en hoe zij de invloed van het platform op lokale productiepraktijken
waarnemen.

In deze masterthesis werd onderzocht welke rol stigma en health literacy (gezondheidsvaardigheden) hebben op hulpzoekgedrag bij patiënten met obesitas.

Deze masterproef onderzocht welke voorwaarden nodig zijn om kunst ten volle te kunnen waarnemen en waarderen, en op welke manier deze voorwaarden beïnvloed worden door digitale media en de cognitieve toestand waarin deze media hun gebruikers achterlaten. De factoren die bepalend zijn voor de waarneming en ervaring van kunst werden afgewogen tegen de impact van digitale media op diezelfde factoren.

In het eerste hoofdstuk werd duidelijk dat de waarnemer geen neutrale observator is, maar een beïnvloede kijker, gevormd door culturele, sociale, historische, conventionele en psychologische factoren, die op hun beurt mede worden bepaald door digitale media. Digitale media creëren zowel een nieuwe kijker als een nieuwe manier van kijken naar kunst. Vervolgens werd onderzocht hoe digitale media de aard van het kunstwerk beïnvloeden, zowel wat de reproductie betreft als het fysieke kunstwerk. Het bleek dat digitale media niet enkel de inherente aard van het kunstwerk veranderen, maar ook betekenis, receptie, de relatie tot de toeschouwer en het concept van authenticiteit een andere invulling geven.

Tot slot werd ingegaan op de context waarin de waarneming plaatsvindt: de ervaring van kunst in musea tegenover die op digitale media. Beide contexten beïnvloeden hoe een beeld wordt opgevat, wat en hoe er wordt gezien, hoe men zich ertoe verhoudt en hoe erop gereageerd wordt. In tegenstelling tot de beperkte ruimte van musea, die zich onderscheidt van het dagelijkse leven, worden digitale media gekenmerkt door hun alomtegenwoordigheid en hun ontwerp dat gericht is op het genereren van constante betrokkenheid. Hierdoor dringt de invloed van digitale media door tot in de hedendaagse musea en in de perceptie van hun kunst. Dit heeft implicaties voor de tijdsbesteding in musea, het geheugen van wat wordt waargenomen en het vermogen om aandachtig waar te nemen.

Het is duidelijk dat digitale media zowel de waarnemer, het kunstwerk als de context van beschouwing aanzienlijk beïnvloeden. Wanneer deze factoren samenkomen in de kunstwaarneming, wordt hun onderlinge interactie – en bijgevolg de perceptie en de ervaring van kunst – in belangrijke mate mee bepaald.

Reintegrating former rebels into civilian life remains a major challenge in post-conflict societies, where sustainable livelihoods and social cohesion are essential for long-term peace. The Philippines is one of the most conflict-affected countries in the world, sharing the 29th spot with Afghanistan and ranks second in ASEAN after Myanmar. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the southern Philippines has been particularly affected by decades of armed conflict and
institutional weaknesses, notably in provinces such as Sulu. In response, the Philippine government is promoting the integration of returnees into coffee cooperatives as part of its peace and reintegration strategy. Despite persistent volatility, the BARMM, particularly Sulu province, has emerged as one of the country’s leading coffee-producing regions contributing over a quarter of national production and providing a strategic pathway to economic recovery. It is therefore crucial to understand how these cooperatives contribute to both livelihoods and social reintegration. This study examines how membership in a coffee cooperative is associated to the socio-economic transition of rebel returnees in Sulu. Based on the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) framework and social capital theory, a comparative cross-sectional design with survey data from 101 returnees was used. Through regression analysis and structural equation modelling, we show that membership in a cooperative is associated with higher productivity, financial stability, and stronger social capital, even if infrastructural challenges, conflict vulnerabilities, governance, and market difficulties persist. The study demonstrates how locally rooted cooperatives can transform conflict legacies into peace dividends that foster economic gains, social cohesion, and inclusive development. These findings highlight the potential of cooperatives as a pathway for durable socio-economic transitions in fragile contexts. Moreover, the study underscores the importance of targeted support, capacity building, and improved market access to enable returnee cooperatives to fully realize their role in promoting sustainable livelihoods, facilitating social reintegration, and contributing to lasting peace.

Recurrent glioblastoma (rGB) remains to have a 5-year survival of <10%. Current treatments consist of re-resection, re-irradiation and/or immunotherapy, but therapy resistance remains unresolved due to multiple factors, such as the blood-brain-barrier, high tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In this context, CAR T-cell therapy is emerging as a promising approach. In particular, the use of nanobodies (Nbs) as the antigen binding moiety overcomes limitations such as tonic signaling and immunogenicity, commonly associated with scFv-based CARs. CAR T-cell therapies targeting B7-H3 showed promising results in the treatment of rGB, but in vivo toxicity has been recently described, highlighting the need for improved CAR designs. In this thesis, we developed an mRNA-based platform to identify the most efficient CAR design as an alternative to the laborious and time-consuming methods currently available. Briefly, we developed an mRNA-based approach for the production of mRNA encoding NanoCAR variants and the screening of NanoCAR functionality, comparing it to a plasmid-derived mRNA NanoCAR. We used our optimized workflow, to select previously evaluated NanoCAR T-cells which resulted in the same lead being selected. Therefore, we applied our technology to generate B7-H3 NanoCAR T-cells and selected four candidates for further development. Finally, we tested B7-H3 mRNA NanoCAR T-cells in vivo to evaluate if a transient expression would be sufficient to address the toxicity issue. Overall, we showed that our mRNA platform is a promising alternative to the current methods for CAR screening allowing us to select new B7-H3 NanoCAR T-cells and further proceed with their characterization.

This thesis evaluates the credibility of a multi-constituent microstructurally-informed finite element model of arterial tissue. Understanding the link between arterial microstructure and mechanical function is essential for defining cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis and aneurysms. Representative volume element (RVE) models are increasingly used to explore this link by efficiently connecting microstructure to mechanics. However, many existing RVEs lack experimental calibration using tissue with selectively modified constituents, systematic validation across loading conditions, and biofidelic microstructural networks. Furthermore, there is limited understanding of how uncertainties in input parameters affect model predictions. Therefore, this study aims to assess and improve the credibility of an RVE model by addressing these gaps through detailed characterisation. The model is evaluated against experimental data from both native and enzymatically-treated tissue, and parameter sensitivity analyses are conducted.

To achieve this, uniaxial tensile tests were performed on native porcine aortic samples. Crucially, to isolate the mechanical roles of key constituents, samples were treated with the enzymes collagenase or elastase to deplete collagen or elastin, respectively. The resulting data calibrated and validated the RVE model, focusing on the collagen and elastin networks and the model’s anisotropic predictive capacity. Subsequently, a surrogate model based on an artificial neural network emulated the RVE’s mechanical response, enabling efficient Sobol' sensitivity analysis of six key microstructural, mechanical, and model parameters.

Enzymatic depletion confirmed distinct constituent roles: collagen-deficient tissue exhibited a linearised response with slight stiffening at high strains, whereas elastase-digested samples demonstrated increased compliance but lost structural integrity. RVE model validation emphasised the importance of accurately representing the anisotropic architecture. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis revealed that uncertainties in six key input parameters substantially influence RVE output variance, with elastin properties predominantly governing low-strain behaviour and collagen-related parameters dictating high-strain responses.

The calibrated and validated microstructurally-informed RVE model can reliably predict aortic mechanics if tissue anisotropy is adequately accounted for. The sensitivity analysis provided crucial insights into which parameters most significantly impact model output variance. This will guide future efforts in model refinement and highlight parameters that require precise experimental characterisation to reduce predictive uncertainty. Furthermore, it will strengthen the RVE's potential as a credible tool in arterial biomechanics research by establishing a more robust, uncertainty-aware modelling framework.

Mijn masterproef onderzoekt hoe discriminatie het mentaal welzijn beïnvloedt van mensen van Sub-Saharaanse afkomst in België. Daarbij wordt onderscheid gemaakt tussen microagressies, de subtiele en vaak alledaagse vormen van uitsluiting, en harassment, de meer openlijke vormen van intimidatie. Op basis van de grootschalige ROAM-BE survey (N=923) werden deze ervaringen in verband gebracht met vier indicatoren van mentaal welzijn: angst, slaapkwaliteit, levenstevredenheid en algemeen welbevinden (WHO-5).
De resultaten tonen een duidelijk dose-responspatroon: hoe meer discriminatie iemand ervaart, hoe sterker de negatieve effecten op angst, slaap en levenstevredenheid. Hoewel de WHO-5 niet significant verschilde, suggereren de bevindingen dat discriminatie eerst specifieke domeinen van gezondheid onder druk zet. Belangrijk is dat de impact niet uniform is. Taalvaardigheid, inkomen, gender en verblijfsstatus beïnvloeden elk hoe zwaar discriminatie doorweegt. Vooral mensen met een matige taalvaardigheid of financiële moeilijkheden, en vrouwen die openlijke intimidatie ervaren, blijken bijzonder kwetsbaar.
Deze studie levert zo nieuwe empirische inzichten in hoe ongelijkheid het dagelijks leven en welzijn ondermijnt. Ze biedt ook concrete aanknopingspunten voor beleid en praktijk, onder meer rond taalondersteuning, armoedebestrijding, gendergevoelige interventies en structurele verblijfszekerheid.

Mijn bachelorproef onderzoekt hoe mensen met een arbeidshandicap nog steeds botsen op structurele drempels in onderwijs, mobiliteit, regelgeving en de arbeidsmarkt. Activeringsbeleid alleen volstaat niet: pas door die obstakels weg te nemen, krijgen zij echt de kans om hun talenten in te zetten. Echte inclusie vraagt dus om een integrale aanpak waarin overheid, onderwijs en werkgevers samen verantwoordelijkheid opnemen.

Productive Campus is a pilot project reimagining the relationship between vocational
education and urban production by exploring a hybrid infrastructure that enables
them to coexist, and benefits both the employees and students in building a resilient,
local, and circular economy.

In a time where many cities struggle with issues such as congestion, affordability, in-
adequate infrastructure, and unemployment, Vienna repeatedly tops the ranking of
the most livable cities in Europe. Due to rapid demographic expansion, infrastructural
demands, and evolving economic systems, the search for sustainable development
strategies of the post-industrial city has been dominating political discourse on urban
transformation over the last decades.

However, a different voice is heard, one that advocates for a re-appreciation of
productive economies as a driver for sustainable urban development. Production
has become an indispensable component of an innovative, sustainable urban econ-
omy due to the increasing interrelationships with knowledge, research and develop-
ment, and services. These productive industries are essential for instigating econom-
ic growth, creating jobs for a wide range of workers, and stimulating infrastructure
development. Additionally, their high contribution to Vienna’s value creation and
collaboration with businesses, communities and governments can further facilitate
urban development by addressing specific challenges. Hence, the City of Vienna developed the ‘Produktive Stadt’ in 2017 in close partnership with the Vienna Chamber
of Commerce and the Federation of Austrian Industry.

The mutual benefits of collaboration between on the one hand knowledge institutions in favour of innovation, adaptability, and on the other hand a more networked,
collaborative economy, no longer need to be the domain of universities and larger
research facilities. This thesis takes as a stance the potential for Austria’s wide range
of vocational disciplines in specialized schools for students at the Upper Secondary
Level. Such education trajectories prepare them for future employment in the pro-
ductive sector. It raises the question whether we can develop alternative models from
this collaboration for an inclusive environment for makers with various financial and
expert backgrounds, as well as ensuring qualitative, sustainable education through
early hands-on experience.

Through literature and policy evaluation, spatial analysis, and design research, a personal design proposal seeks to integrate socio-economic, and architectural strategies
in a newly emerging urban context through the architecture of a future-proof mixed-use productive education building.

The resulting architecture envisions adaptable, hybrid spaces that cater to traditional
and new industries, providing a flexible and sustainable environment for small businesses, self-employed people, and start-ups. The integration of these real-world working conditions in addition to the required general infrastructure for education, creates
an environment in which students are motivated to become good craftspeople. The
focus on inspiring makers goes even beyond the student population, since the local
diy’er, teachers and professionals are able to enjoy lifelong practical and theoretical
skill building. The importance of qualitative education and the re-integration of production on a mixed-use site, will by extension have a positive impact on enforcing
this economic growth and stability as well as creating a local identity for its residents.

While the extraction of metals is essential for sustainable energy technologies, they pose environmental challenges due to the toxic materials used in their production and the hazardous waste they generate. The presence of waste containing metals and organic compounds on Earth is increasing, and Europe holds large amounts of metals locked up in industrial process residues, such as tailings, metallurgical sludges, slags, dust, and ashes. The waste or secondary material may contain critical raw materials and base metals with application in the energetic transition. These factors highlight the urgent need for effective recycling practices to manage mine waste and recover valuable secondary raw materials, addressing both environmental and economic challenges.

This thesis investigates the optimal conditions for effective bioleaching of pyrite mine wastes and modern slags from the Achada do Gamo Sulfur factory in the São Domingos Mine area, focusing particularly on Manganese and Zinc recovery to address sustainability concerns. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the study evaluates the impact and relationship between pulp density, initial pH, and initial ferrous iron concentration evaluated through a Box-Behnken design (BBD). Direct bioleaching experiments were conducted on altered and crushed pyrite, pyrite ashes, and modern slags using a thermophilic microbial culture consisting of Sb. thermosulfidooxidans, L. ferriphillum, and At. caldus (SLA), which utilized elemental sulfur and ferrous iron as energy sources, driving the oxidation of ferrous to ferric iron and the conversion of sulfur to sulfuric acid in the leaching medium.

Results showed that SLA culture is less effective bioleaching in pyrite wastes than slag, although ORP measurements indicated microbial iron oxidation for all materials. This study successfully optimized the recovery of metals from slag samples, indicating a maximum efficiency of metal solubilization under the conditions of 2.32% (w/v) solid load, pH 1.90, and ferrous iron supplementation of 60 mM. The maximum metal recovery achieved was 86.9% Zn, 81.4% Mn, 65% Cu, and 66.4% Co.

For crushed pyrite, under the conditions of pH 1.66, 54 mM supplementation of iron and 2% (w/v) pulp density was estimated to achieve moderate to high recovery of Mn (>53.8%) and Zn (>8.0%). However, the values obtained were not within the 95% confidence interval and the null hypothesis could not be rejected, indicating the proposed model does not apply to the practical application; consequently, an optimized condition was not defined. The application of the same conditions obtained in the model for crushed pyrite was applied to pyrite ash material, which did not result in satisfactory results. Hence, to better recover metals from pyrite ashes and crushed pyrite, further optimization is needed.

Lower limb muscle weakness is a common symptom in many
neuromuscular conditions and traumatic injuries, often leading to
abnormal gait, instability, and reduced mobility. Ankle-foot orthoses
(AFOs) are widely prescribed to support functional walking, yet current
production methods remain labor-intensive, poorly adjustable, and limited
in their ability to accommodate evolving user needs. This thesis explores
the design and development of a modular, patient-specific AFO using
additive manufacturing (AM), in collaboration with Materialise and
Materialise Motion.
The project follows an adapted Stanford Biodesign methodology,
incorporating clinical research, user feedback, and iterative engineering
across three phases: Identify, Invent, and Develop. By reframing the
design process to account for technical, clinical, and experiential
demands, the resulting AFO aims to better align with the real-world needs
of orthotists and patients. The core innovation lies in a three-part modular
architecture: ankle-cuff, strut, and footplate, each optimized for digital
fabrication and individualized stiffness tuning.
To support this modularity, a parametric CAD workflow and Finite Element
Analysis (FEA) were used to iteratively tune the geometry and stiffness of
individual components. Physical testing under physiological loads
confirmed the reliability of the design, while patient and expert input
reinforced the importance of comfort, fit, and ease of use.
This thesis demonstrates the potential of AM to move beyond cosmetic
customization and deliver functional, adaptable orthoses. While further
clinical validation is required, the proposed system offers a promising step
toward more personalized and efficient orthotic care.

Deze thesis onderzoekt hoe 3D printtechnologie kan
worden ingezet om lichte en gepersonaliseerde externe
borstprothesen te ontwerpen voor vrouwen die een mastectomie
hebben ondergaan. Traditionele prothesen zijn vaak zwaar,
oncomfortabel en sluiten niet goed aan op de individuele
lichaamsvorm. Door middel van een benchmarkanalyse, cocreatie
met gebruikers en parametrisch modelleren in Grasshopper, richt
dit onderzoek zich op het ontwikkelen van een nieuwe generatie
prothesen die beter aansluiten bij de behoeften van de gebruikers.
Er werd een aanpasbaar digitaal model ontwikkeld met interne
perforatiestructuren om het gewicht te verminderen, terwijl de
prothese zacht en stabiel bleef. Verschillende prototypes werden
geprint in PLA, TPU en siliconen. Door technische beperkingen
was uitgebreid testen met patiënten niet mogelijk, maar er werd
wel feedback verzameld van experts. De studie toont aan dat 3D
printen belangrijke voordelen biedt op het gebied van comfort,
pasvorm en ontwerpflexibiliteit. Daarnaast benadrukt het
onderzoek het belang van gebruikersbetrokkenheid in het
ontwerpproces. De resultaten vormen een stevige basis voor
toekomstig onderzoek en klinische validatie.

Leercurves worden gebruikt om de impact van een beperking op de leersnelheid en de output te analyseren. Dit onderzoek werd toegepast op productiedata uit een maatwerkbedrijf.

This master's thesis is titled "Feasibility Study of Virtual Energy Reporting Based on Process Data in Historian," and is conducted as part of the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology - Automation for the academic year 2023-2024. The goal of this thesis is to develop a virtual, low-cost energy monitoring system using process data. This research was supervised by Dr. ir. Nele De Geeter and ir. Jeroen Pandelaere from Actemium Beverage Aalter. The thesis explores the feasibility of implementing a virtual energy reporting system based on existing process data stored in a historian database.
The aim of this work is to gain a better understanding of the energy consumption of an industrial process in a cost-effective way. It is applied to a UHT process at Puratos, one of Actemium's customers.
From an economic and environmental point of view, it is important to minimize the energy consumption of such a process, but the problem is that there is little insight into the energy consumption. In addition, process optimization is done by trial and error, resulting in an inefficient and costly method of improvement.
The developed system uses data from existing sensors used to control the relevant industrial processes. By analysing these data and components, the theoretical energy consumption is calculated, providing an approximation of the actual energy consumption.
The main advantage of this type of virtual energy monitoring system is that a virtual model can be used to evaluate different scenarios without the need for extensive real-world testing. This approach allows the optimal solution to be identified more quickly and cost-effectively. It also provides a better idea of the production cost of treating the product, resulting in a better revenue model.

In recent years, interest in the use of ecological materials in the production of fibre-reinforced composites has increased enormously. This study investigates if the mechanical properties of different types of flax fibre cloth could act as a substitute for carbon fibre in composite materials. The study focuses on nine different flax fibre cloths, each with different weight classes and different patterns, combined with bio-epoxy resin to create fiber reinforced composites. The study compares the mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and elongation of these flax-based composites. The results indicate that flax fibre composites achieve similar strengths to carbon fibres composites, but due to the fact that they require more layers resulting in greater thickness and weight, their applications are limited, especially in weight-sensitive areas. Unidirectional (UD) flax fibres exhibit the highest tensile strength of all flax fibres tested. In addition, the research shows that the importance of the proper fibre-epoxy ratio is huge, variations in epoxy content will affect the mechanical properties enormously. Bio-epoxy resin, which contains up to 34% biodegradable material, is a good substitute for traditional epoxies. The only difference of bio epoxy is the fact that it is more ductile. Overall, the research highlights the potential applications of flax fibre as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fibres, like carbon or glass fibre.

This dissertation examines the social reproductive experiences of Indian care workers participating in the Aurora Project in Flanders. Launched in response to labor shortages in elderly care homes, the project recruits migrant care workers from Kerala, India. Rooted in social reproduction theory, this study explores how the global care crisis and the international division of labor has given shape to the caring lives of the participants. The research focuses on two key questions: (1) What are the social reproductive experiences of Indian care workers involved in the Aurora Project? (2) How do urban arrival infrastructures, migration regimes, and working-time regimes influence these experiences? The study employs Thematic Analysis and interviews to delve into the complexities of the social reproductive experiences of the Indian care workers. The findings highlight the challenges faced by migrant care workers as they navigate the intersections of nationality, gender, and class in their caregiving roles. The dissertation contributes to a broader understanding of the care crisis and the limitations of labor migration as a solution.

Dit artikel onderzoekt de zaak van Sanda Dia, wiens dood na een brute ontgroening in 2018 tot nationale verontwaardiging leidde en kwesties als klassenonrechtvaardigheid en racisme aan het licht bracht. Door gebruik te maken van multimodale inhoud en thematische analyse, onderzoekt dit onderzoek hoe mediahypes en mediatisering individuen kunnen transformeren in symbolen of martelaren voor bredere sociale problematiek. Deze studie gaat in op het concept van martelaren en de rol van visuele en tekstuele toeschrijvingen bij het communiceren van deze martelaarsverhalen. De casestudy van Sanda Dia illustreert hoe de VRT een martelaarsframe in stand houdt en co-creëert door gebruik te maken van iconische foto's, inclusief publieke opinies en daaraan verbonden institutionele kwesties. Bovendien onderstreept het de kracht van visuele frames tijdens mediahypes. Het onderzoek draagt bij aan het begrijpen van de dynamische relatie tussen media en publieke perceptie. Door middel van een uitgebreide analyse van visuele en tekstuele inhoud geeft dit artikel inzicht in de constructie van het martelaarschap in de hedendaagse media. De implicaties van de studie bieden een genuanceerd perspectief op hoe mediaframes zoals een martelaar kunnen worden gecreëerd en ondersteund door een zorgvuldig samenspel van nieuwsmedia en de publieke opinie

Climate change has a significant impact on agricultural production because of its reliance on
environmental factors. Like in most parts of the world, the climate in Belgium is changing with
projections of increase in winter precipitation and decrease in summer precipitation. With
accompanying higher temperatures, evaporation will increase, and water availability will decrease,
especially in summer. It then becomes necessary to efficiently manage soil water for sustainable
crop production. While conservation agriculture is a promising climate smart agricultural
technology, it is often considered with less focus on mulching, one of the pillars of CA. In cases
where mulching has been studied, it was mostly under conventional tillage system, and about yield
and greenhouse gases emission. Since there is no one-size-fits all on soil water management. It is
imperative to conduct strategies suitable to local conditions. Potato is a staple crop in Belgium,
and it is drought sensitive. This makes it susceptible to effects of climate change. Therefore, this
research studied the impacts of mulching, under reduced tillage, on soil water balance and potato
growth as an adaptation strategy to climate change in the Flemish agricultural context.
A field experiment was conducted on a bio-parcel of the Flanders research institute for agriculture,
fisheries and food in Melle, East Flanders, Blegium. This study evaluated the effects of two
different mulch thickness (6 cm and 12 cm) against bare soil (no mulch) on evapotranspiration
(ET), potato growth, yield and water use efficiency (WUE). An adapted soil water balance
equation was used to determine ET; plant height and leaf area index (LAI) were used as parameter
of crop growth; and WUE was determined as a quotient of yield and ET. Data collected were
subjected to analysis of variance and significantly different means were separated using Tukey’s
Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) at 5% level of significance.
This study revealed that soil structural quality and soil water content improved under mulch; 12
cm mulch performed best in preventing drought stress during low rainfall; ET increased with
increasing mulch thickness though not significantly; 12 cm mulch significantly increased LAI
compared to other treatments; and yield and WUE were not significantly different among the
treatments though 6 cm and 12 cm mulch increased yield by 7.4% and 10.9% respectively.

Solar power forecasting is essential for optimizing energy use in residential households.
Machine learning models are promising for this power forecasting because they can
capture its non-linear characteristics. Nonetheless, these models require a significant
amount of data that is unavailable for new installations. To overcome the limited
data availability, this thesis proposes a transfer learning model using Long ShortTerm Memory (LSTM) networks trained on synthetic photovoltaic (PV) generation
provided by the Photovoltaic Geographical Information System. Using the metadata
about a PV installation, this synthetic data simulates the past production of the
new PV installation. The model utilizes Numerical Weather Predictions (NWP)
and autoregressive covariates. This proposed model is compared to benchmarks,
including models trained only on sites’ actual PV power, physical models, and TL
models with no weather covariates.
The research investigates the effect of physics-informed variables on the accuracy
of transfer learning. Furthermore, it examines the usage of reanalysis data to train
with synthetic PV data due to the low accessibility of historical Numerical Weather
Prediction output. Walk-forward validation is employed for forecasting the actual
PV power to simulate real-life conditions and the impact of increasing target data.
The results demonstrate that models trained with historical Numerical Weather
Prediction data achieve higher zero-shot forecasting accuracy. Contrary to expectations, including physics-informed variables did not enhance performance; in fact,
it showed a slight decrease. Additionally, models trained on reanalysis data catch
up with those trained on historical NWP data once limited target data becomes
available.
Discussion highlights include the impact of Storm Darcy in February 2021, which
caused instability in machine learning models and the suitability of other ML models.
The proposed LSTM-based transfer learning model can provide accurate forecasts
even with no or limited actual PV power data, proving its potential for practical
applications in solar power forecasting for residential households.

Deze masterproef gaat aan de hand van interviews in op de verschillende filmproductionele en -creatieve context in Hollywood en Europa met Vlaanderen als specifieke case. De focus ligt voornamelijk op de verschillende aspecten van beide productiecontexten. De onderzoeksvraag luidt: “Wat zijn de verschillen tussen de Vlaamse/Europese productiecontext en die in Hollywood, en hoe ervaren Vlaamse filmmakers deze verschillen?”. Een eerste stap in het formuleren van een antwoord op deze vraag was dan ook het interviewen van enkele Vlaamse filmmakers met ervaringen in beide productiecontexten. Deze data werd vervolgens aangevuld met een krantenanalyse. Met behulp van een thematische analyse werden daarna negen thema’s op een inductieve wijze ontwikkeld om de onderzoeksvraag te helpen beantwoorden. Deze thema’s hebben betrekking op de vrijheid van de filmmaker, censuur, agents, streamers, het sterrensysteem, de macht van de vakbonden, financiering, hoe filmmakers in Hollywood geraken en de schaalvergroting. Uit dit onderzoek blijkt dat de voornaamste resultaten bijna allemaal wel teruggekoppeld kunnen worden aan de commerciële verschillen van beide productiecontexten. In Hollywood overheersen de commerciële belangen namelijk veel meer de genomen beslissingen dan in Vlaanderen en
Europa. Daardoor is deze laatste productiecontext in staat om grotere risico’s te handhaven. Daarnaast zijn de verschillen ook vaak te verklaren door de schaalvergroting die de Hollywoodiaanse filmindustrie kenmerkt.

Deze thesis onderzoekt de productie van Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) met behulp van Laser Directed Energy Deposition (L-DED). Door ijzer (Fe) en koper (Cu) te combineren, worden FGMs ontwikkeld voor toepassingen in de luchtvaart, automobielsector en energieopwekking. De nadruk ligt op het optimaliseren van procesparameters om scheuren en porositeit te minimaliseren. De resultaten laten zien dat met de juiste instellingen Fe-Cu FGMs succesvol kunnen worden vervaardigd. Toekomstig onderzoek zal zich richten op verdere verbetering van deze technieken.

While the potential threat of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) to marine ecosystems is gain- ing attention, research often utilizes unrealistically high exposure levels. This study bridges that gap by investigating the effects of environmentally relevant MNP concentrations on the saltwater microalgae Rhodomonas salina. It further explores the role of Extracellular Poly- meric Substances (EPS) in mitigating these effects. Microalgae were exposed to a range of PET and aged-PET concentrations (10, 100, 1000, and 10000 particles/mL) to account for potential changes in polymer properties and additive release due to aging. Kaolin served as a control for non-plastic particle effects. Although the study’s findings on algal growth didn’t show a clear trend, they did reveal some intriguing patterns in EPS quantity and com- position. Notably, at the low MNP concentrations used, there were no significant changes in total EPS amount. However, the Protein-to-Carbohydrate (P/C) ratio within the EPS dis- played distinct responses depending on the exposure type. While the P/C-ratio remained stable for PET exposures, it significantly increased for aged-PET and kaolin at higher con- centrations. Interestingly, kaolin exposure resulted in more and larger aggregates, whereas higher concentrations of PET and aged-PET led to fewer and smaller ones. Furthermore, at the highest exposure (10000 particles/mL), all treatments displayed a shift in aggregate composition, with a higher proportion of algal cells relative to EPS. These findings signifi- cantly improve risk assessment of MNPs under current marine pollution conditions. They also highlight the critical role of algal EPS in the aggregation of both microalgae and MNPs, ultimately influencing their environmental fate.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease in the world. It is
characterised by degradative and reparative processes of the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone. To date, there is no causal treatment available for this disease, partly due to the fact that the pathophysiological mechanisms of OA are still not fully understood. Fibroblasts, which play an important role in the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) and synovial fluid, are the most abundant cell type in the synovium. Furthermore, macrophages are the most prominent immune cells in the synovium. The role of these cells in the pathogenesis of OA seems to be promising and therefore further research is recommended. The aim of this scoping review is to summarise the existing literature concerning surface proteins on synovial fibroblasts and macrophages in patients with osteoarthritis to determine their role in the pathogenesis of OA.

De luchtvaartindustrie staat voor aanzienlijke milieuproblemen, waarbij duurzame vliegtuigbrandstoffen (SAFs) essentieel zijn voor het bereiken van netto nul uitstoot. De EU-verordening ReFuelEU Aviation verplicht een toenemend gebruik van SAF, beginnend bij 2% in 2025 en oplopend tot 70% in 2050. De vijf grootste Europese luchtvaartmaatschappijen—Air France-KLM, EasyJet, IAG, Lufthansa en Ryanair—integreren geleidelijk SAF, moderniseren hun vloten en verkennen groene waterstoftechnologieën. Ondanks inspanningen vormen hoge productiekosten en beperkte capaciteit obstakels. Strategisch management, partnerschappen en regelgeving zijn cruciaal voor de overgang naar een duurzame luchtvaarttoekomst.

A systematic and chronological overview of contemporary literature on horizontal organization (HO) is given; organizations with less hierarchy, more autonomy for the participants and tools for shared decision-making power: commons, cooperatives, participation/co-production and self-managing teams and organizations. This literature shows an evolution from 1900 towards an increasingly broad cultural understanding of organizations within the organizational sciences: at first the focus was only on the needs of the organization, nowadays a paradigm prevails that increasingly incorporates the needs of the participants and environmental factors.

Belgium had a turbulent electronic music scene during the 1990s, with a free, extravagant club scene and rocksolid music production. Unfortunately, this changed with repressive government actions against allegedly high drug consumption in nightclubs, Belgium's emerging electronic music festivals as competitors and increasingly difficult, obtainable party licences. Clubs are disappearing as fast as they were established, but something new is bubbling underground. As was the case earlier in Britain, France and the Netherlands, Belgian collectives are holding parties in forests, squats, fields, industrial estates and abandoned office buildings. These illegal raves or free parties are organised by soundsystem crews consisting of DJs, sound engineers, artists and music lovers. On the basis of interviews with five organisers and two partygoers, this study attempts to gain an insight into how these parties come about and what significance they acquire in the development of participants' individual and collective identities.

This thesis analysed the effect on material scarcity of the soaring wind and solar markets
as energy sources, together with the deployment of batteries and the green hydrogen production
as storage alternatives. It classed the impact on raw materials in 3 categories: critical, moderated, limited

Een kwantitatief onderzoek naar de moeilijkheden die internationale studenten ondervinden tijdens de zoektocht naar een kot in Gent.