Hasselt University

Validation of a Revised V-Slope Algorithm for Automated First Ventilatory Threshold Detection in Healthy Adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The first ventilatory threshold (VT1) is a key indicator of submaximal aerobic fitness. Its determination typically relies on visual assessment, which is time-consuming and subject to interobserver variability. Automated solutions may offer a more objec...

Lifelong health leadership: reframing geriatrics as a model of care for resilient health systems

Abstract Population ageing is commonly framed as a demographic challenge, biological frontier, or economic pressure. Yet these perspectives remain incomplete unless longevity is also understood as a leadership challenge. Gains in lifespan have not been matched by equivalent gains...

An Intensified Training Period Reduces REM Sleep but this Decline Can Be Mitigated by Ketone Ester Supplementation

Introduction: We previously showed that a strenuous training day disrupts sleep efficiency and REM sleep, and that these disturbances can be counteracted by ketone monoester (R)-3-hydroxybutyl-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (KE) supplementation. However, the impact of prolonged intensifie...

Prevalence and predictors of abnormal dyspnea during exercise in persons with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study (PROTECTION trial)

Abstract Aim To determine the prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of abnormal exertional dyspnea in T2D during a maximal exercise test. Methods 97 adults with non-insulin-dependent T2D underwent spirometry, maximal upright cardiopulmonary exercise test with Borg 0–10 dysp...

Biventricular vs conduction system pacing after atrioventricular node ablation for heart failure with atrial fibrillation: the CONDUCT-AF trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Randomized evidence comparing conduction system pacing (CSP) and biventricular pacing (BVP) following atrioventricular node ablation in patients with refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) remains limited. This study evaluated whether CSP...

Machine learning models to predict low birth weight in the Kenyan Coast

Low birth weight (LBW, < 2500 g) is associated with poor outcomes across multiple domains of child development. Predicting high-risk pregnancies for LBW will therefore enable timely intervention. We aimed to develop and internally validate machine learning models to predict LBW i...

The Critical Role of Economies of Scale: A Techno‐Economic Assessment of Small‐ Versus Large‐Scale Biogas Upgrading in Rural Tanzania

ABSTRACT Access to clean and affordable energy remains a major challenge in rural Tanzania, where dependence on traditional biomass continues to drive deforestation, indoor air pollution, and energy insecurity. Biogas offers a promising alternative, yet limited evidence exists on...

Service Life Assessment of Building Components: Lessons from a Cross-Country Empirical Comparison for Windows, Heating Systems, and Roofs

Accurate service life (SL) data for building components are a critical yet poorly constrained input for life cycle assessment (LCA). Reference service life (RSL) values published in national frameworks are typically derived from technical standards rather than empirical observati...

Pathways for biochar carbon removal: A national foresight study

Biochar carbon removal (BCR), achieved by stabilizing biogenic carbon through biomass pyrolysis, is gaining attention as a potential climate mitigation strategy. Yet, its future remains uncertain due to evolving market and regulatory conditions, and existing research provides lim...

Walking for Chronic Pain: Why It Matters, What We Know and How to Get Started: A Position Paper From the European Pain Federation ( EFIC ) ‘On The Move’ Task Force

ABSTRACT Background Physical activity is a cornerstone of chronic pain management. However, translating general recommendations into practical, clinically meaningful guidance for people living with chronic pain and their healthcare providers remains challenging. Walking represent...

Exploration of the Effect of Heatwave Temperatures on Traits of Soil Saprotrophic Fungi

Soil fungi are key drivers of organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, yet their physiological responses to realistic soil heatwave temperatures remain poorly understood. Trait-based frameworks offer a promising approach to predict microbial responses to climate change,...

Sport, exercise, and physical activity in children with cardiovascular disease. A Clinical Consensus Statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) of the ESC, the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions (ACNAP) of the ESC, and the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC)

Regular physical activity offers numerous benefits to children's health and well-being and is essential for reducing cardiovascular risk in children with cardiovascular disease. Despite increasing evidence supporting its benefits, many young patients remain insufficiently active...

A multicenter randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled phase 2 trial to evaluate safety and efficacy of ilofotase alfa in patients at risk for kidney injury following open heart surgery

Acute impairment of kidney function after cardiac surgery is common and associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. Ilofotase alfa has demonstrated potential to attenuate renal injury through its immunomodulatory effects. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of ilofotas...

Perceptual misalignment of texture representations in convolutional neural networks

Mathematical modeling of visual textures traces back to Julesz's intuition that texture perception in humans is based on local correlations between image features. An influential approach for texture analysis and generation generalizes this notion to linear correlations between t...

A stabilized finite element method for a Morpho-Visco-Poroelastic Model

Studying the structure of soft tissues is important and relevant in biology, particularly in some diseases, such as tumor growth and dermal contraction after burn injury. Based on the complicated characteristics of the tissue and for the sake of a better understanding of the unde...

Invasive Pseudosuccinea columella enters the transmission cycle of an amphistome parasite infecting African buffalo

Abstract Parasite transmission and disease outcomes in African wildlife are increasingly shaped by anthropogenic environmental change, yet empirical data linking parasites, intermediate hosts and wildlife health remain scarce. Following an unexplained increase in mortality among...

Obesity, incretin-based therapies, and cardiovascular disease in women

Abstract Obesity in women is a growing and multifaceted public health challenge, driven by complex interactions among biological, hormonal, and psychosocial factors across the life course. From menarche to menopause, hormonal fluctuations influence fat distribution, energy balanc...

Beyond weight loss: the value of physical activity and exercise for improving cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals with overweight and obesity

Abstract The global prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased markedly over recent decades. In clinical obesity care, and in the management of other chronic conditions, the role of physical exercise has largely been evaluated in the context of weight loss. Yet, while it...

No significant changes in synaptic density and gray matter volume following motor learning—a pilot study

Abstract In animal neurophysiology, motor learning induces long-term potentiation- and depression-like plasticity. In humans, gray matter volume (GMV) changes, measured non-invasively by MRI, in response to motor learning are interpreted as a surrogate measure of plasticity. Here...

BIOCOST: A Costing Tool for Belgian Biobanks

BACKGROUND: Biobanks are essential infrastructures for biomedical research, yet their long-term sustainability is increasingly challenged by complex and often underestimated costs. While numerous cost-accounting approaches have been proposed over the past decade, comparable empir...