University of Antwerp

Protein polymers proliferate: polymerization of phosphatases and proteases

It has been known for more than half a century that enzymes can polymerize to either activate or repress their catalytic functions. Using electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM), we serendipitously found that two commonly used enzymes in molecular microbiology research, alkaline phosp...

Scaling vision models does not consistently improve localisation-based explanation quality

Artificial intelligence models are increasingly scaled to improve predictive accuracy, yet it remains unclear whether scale improves the quality of post-hoc explanations. We investigate this relationship by evaluating 11 computer vision models representing increasing levels of de...

Lyme beyond the season: late-autumn dissemination of infected ticks by southward migrating redwings (Turdus iliacus)

Abstract Background Climate warming is altering the seasonal timing of many ecological interactions. Migratory birds typically time their movements using photoperiodic cues, whereas the activity of ectoparasites such as ticks is largely temperature dependent. This difference in e...

Parametric Physically Grounded Rendering of Otoscopic Morphology for Synthetic Medical Image Generation

The tympanic membrane (TM) is a thin, semi-transparent structure whose morphology and optical appearance provide important diagnostic cues. In the early stages of middle-ear pathology, subtle shape and compliance alterations may precede overt clinical signs, making them valuable...

Controlling Solid Carbon Formation in Gliding Arc CH4 Plasmas

Abstract Non-oxidative coupling of methane (CH4) in plasma reactors offers a promising route for electrified hydrocarbon production but is hindered by solid carbon formation, reducing efficiency and causing reactor fouling. Here, we systematically investigate solid carbon formati...

Quality standards for preclinical research in cardio-oncology

Preclinical research in cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity (CTR-CVT) is a major domain of cardio-oncology and has provided biological explanation for the cardiovascular adverse effects of many cancer therapies. However, the choice of the experimental models to investi...

Cardiovascular disease as a driver of tumor development: epidemiological, mechanistic and bioinformatic insights

In recent years, the field of Cardio-Oncology has expanded beyond its traditional focus on cancer therapy–related cardiotoxicity. Growing evidence now supports a bidirectional relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, in which CVD may promote tumor progression...

Assessing the environmental aging behaviour of antioxidant modified bitumen via chemo-mechanical analysis

Antioxidants can mitigate bitumen aging, improving asphalt durability. This study evaluates the aging prevention performance of zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDC). Three laboratory aging methods (extensive thermal (3xPAV), thermo-chemical, and photo-thermal aging) were compared wi...

Controllable anisotropic Andreev reflection in gapless few-layer phosphorene

Andreev reflection at a normal/superconductor interface is studied in a system in which the normal region consists of a few-layer black phosphorus (BP) under an electric field applied perpendicularly to the material’s plane. The application of a strong electric field induces a ph...

Divided beyond politics: How perceptions of non-political differentness are linked to affective polarization among citizens

While affective polarization is commonly attributed to political differences between partisans, recent studies suggest it also relates to perceived non-political differences, such as differences in lifestyle, class, or personality. However, little is known about the relevance of...

Pattern-Anchored Diagnosis of Oral Epithelial Dysplasia: A Position Paper From COST Action INTERCEPTOR Working Group 2

Abstract Purpose Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) is the principal histopathological marker for malignant risk stratification in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). Current World Health Organisation (WHO) three-tier and other binary grading systems are limited by modest...

Ageing processes in the bonobo gut microbiome mirror human patterns

Ageing is associated with changes in the human gut bacterial microbiome: with age, it becomes more diverse, intra- and interindividual variability increases and it shows a decline in core bacterial genera and an expansion of rarer genera. While recent evidence in model organisms...

Current Bladder Dysfunction Reports/Section BPS/Interstitial Cystitis Phenotyping BPS/IC Patients

Abstract Purpose of Review When clinicians and researchers talk about phenotyping BPS/IC (Bladder Pain Syndrome / Interstitial Cystitis) patients, they usually mean grouping patients into more precise subtypes based on symptoms, clinical findings, and sometimes pathophysiology. T...

Declines in European bumblebee habitat suitability attributable to climate change

Climate change is increasingly implicated in the decline of insect pollinator populations, which provide critical ecosystem services. Isolating its contribution from other co-occurring environmental stresses remains challenging yet crucial for informing conservation strategies an...

The meaning of ‘normal’ – children’s negotiation of (normal) masculinity, femininity, and LGBTQ media representations in Flanders

This study examines how 55 children (aged 10–12) in Flanders interpret LGBTQ media representations and negotiate related norms of gender and sexuality. Drawing on twelve focus groups across four different schools, the research investigates the dynamics of their peer interactions,...

Full event interpretation with machine-learning-based particle-flow reconstruction in the CMS detector

Abstract The particle-flow (PF) algorithm constructs a global description of each particle collision by producing a comprehensive list of final-state particles, and is central to event reconstruction in the CMS experiment at the CERN LHC. The existing PF implementation relies on...

Eight years of nationwide routine wastewater surveillance in New Zealand: Demonstrating its complementary role in public health policy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Monitoring illicit drug consumption is challenging due to its hidden and stigmatised nature. However, objective consumption data are essential for a wide range of stakeholders, including policy makers. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) offers population-lev...

Who Are the Worst-Off? Objective, Subjective, and Preference-Based Approaches to Measure Older Adults’ Well-Being

Assessing the well-being of older adults requires a multidimensional framework, yet combining dimensions into a single summary measure raises conceptual and methodological challenges. This study examines whether objective, subjective, and preference-based aggregation strategies i...

Evaluating the state of constructed infills in the Venice Lagoon through remote satellite imagery

Abstract Introduction Salt‐marsh restoration is used to counter wetland loss, strengthen ecosystem resilience, and support dredged‐sediment reuse. In the Venice Lagoon, 63 constructed infills have been realized since the late 1980s, yet their eco‐geomorphological development and...

Numerical Valuation of European Options Under Two-Asset Infinite-Activity Exponential Lévy Models

We propose a numerical method for the valuation of European-style options under two-asset infinite-activity exponential Lévy models. Our method extends the effective approach developed by Wang et al. [Robust numerical valuation of European and American options under the CGMY proc...