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Social media have become indispensable tools for (legacy) news companies and brands to increase online traffic for their own platforms. A recent trend is the production and dissemination of native news content specifically for and through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. This paper uses a mixed methods research design to study the news production and content of @nws.nws.nws, a hugely popular Instagram channel targeting 13–17-year olds in Flanders (Belgium) which is maintained by the newsroom of VRT, the Flemish PSM. The explorative study highlights the differences in journalistic practice when producing news content for online platforms only and the changes it entails for traditional news values, dependency on social media platforms and media regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of flood risk experts in supporting homeowners to implement property‐level flood risk adaption (PLFRA). Homeowners can reduce their flood risks by implementing PLFRA. However, oftentimes they need advice on what sort of and how to implement PLFRA. This means that tailored experts advice is necessary to inform homeowners on such measures. But experience shows that mere information is often insufficient to motivate homeowners to realise measures. This contribution explores the reasons for the ineffectiveness of expert advice by investigating how expert advice responds to homeowners' rationalities. Based on a case study from Flanders, Belgium, this paper reveals how the relation between experts and homeowners differs related to different rationalities of homeowners. The paper uses Cultural Theory to discuss strategies on how experts, providing advice on property‐level risk adaption, could move beyond engineering skills by also using risk communication skills in order to involve homeowners in flood risk governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

City diplomacy is a rapidly growing and increasingly researched phenomenon, but to date most research has focused on major cities and eye‐catching city networks. This paper extends this literature by examining city diplomacy practices in Flanders, Belgium, a region defined by its many mid‐sized and smaller cities. Drawing on a combination of an exploratory survey and indepth interviews, five main themes are discussed: (i) internal organization, (ii) bilateral city diplomacy, (iii) multilateral city diplomacy, (iv) strategies and (v) motivations. We conclude that Flemish cities' city diplomacy broadly align with international trends, with their approaches increasingly centred on economic and financial motives. However, while some of the larger cities join a range of formal city networks to gain policy inspiration and international visibility, smaller cities' opportunities are much more limited and their main goal is often to get involved in projects that are funded by the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In-depth analysis of waste footprint and associated treatments at subnational level. • Waste footprint is detailed into direct waste, indirect waste and stock depletion. • Contribution analysis of waste types, products consumed and origin of waste. • Waste footprint of interregional and international linkages are unveiled. • Key information to foster waste monitoring and management policies are discussed. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the waste footprint and waste treatments at subnational level, for Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia. The paper details the waste footprint components into direct waste from households (disposed in bins), indirect waste generated upstream in the supply chains and induced by household consumption and waste materials from the degradation of in-use stocks. For each component, we analysed the contribution of waste types, products consumed and location where the waste was generated, as well as the associated treatments. The results show that Flanders had the highest total waste footprint in absolute terms; Brussels the highest direct waste in capita terms and Wallonia the highest indirect waste and stock depletion in capita terms. In each region, almost 78 ± 2% of the regional waste footprints were attributed to the consumption of food products, manufactured products and restaurants and accommodation services. For each region, around 45 ± 4% of the indirect waste was generated within its boundaries, 16 ± 9% in other regions and 39 ± 5% out of Belgium. Incineration was the predominant waste treatment type of the regional waste footprint, followed by recycling. Landfill was the second widely applied treatment for indirect waste. Results constitute key information relevant to enhance the waste data monitoring practices at regional level with effects at national level. We unveiled the waste footprint and associated treatments inherent to the interregional and international linkages. Results are also useful resources to substantiate waste management and circular economy policies, enacting on waste prevention and reduction, ecodesign and product lifetime extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Apart from a person's physical functioning, the early identification of social context indicators which affect patient outcomes - such as environmental and psychosocial issues - is key for high quality and comprehensive care at home. During a home care assessment, a person's biomedical and functional problems are typically considered. Harder to define concepts, such as psychosocial well-being or living arrangements, are not routinely documented, even though research shows they also affect functioning and health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to develop and test a concise, integrated assessment (BelRAI Social Supplement) that evaluates these social context indicators for persons receiving home care to complement existing interRAI- instruments.Methods: The development of the BelRAI Social Supplement is a multi-stage process, based upon the revised MRC-framework, involving both qualitative and quantitative research with stakeholders such as; clients, informal caregivers, care professionals and policy makers. The developmental process encompasses four stages: (I) item generation based on multiple methods and content validation by a panel of stakeholders (II) assessing feasibility and piloting methods, (III) early evaluation, and (IV) final evaluation. Stage II and III are covered in this paper.Results: During Stages I and II, a testable version of the BelRAI Social Supplement was developed in an iterative process. In Stage III, 100 care professionals assessed 743 individuals receiving home care in Flanders between December 2018 and December 2019. Using inter-item correlation matrixes, frequency distributions and regular feedback from the participants, the BelRAI Social Supplement was improved and prepared for Stage IV. The updated version of the instrument consists of four main sections: (1) environmental assessment; (2) civic engagement; (3) psychosocial well-being; and (4) informal care and support. In total, the BelRAI Social Supplement contains a maximum of 76 items.Conclusions: The BelRAI Social Supplement was reviewed and shortened in close collaboration with care professionals and other experts in Flanders. This study resulted in an instrument that documents need-to-know social context determinants of home dwelling adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Flanders-Belgium, a Belgo-Iranian politician has gained nation-wide attention for her critique of Islam. Safai's political discourses are built around her opposition to the violation of women's rights in Iran, and to the hijab as a political-patriarchal symbol. Through this latter opposition, she has gained prominence among Flemish nationalists. The emphasis in Safai's discourses has been on using Iranian gender politics to frame her antagonism to Islam as opposed to a patriarchal political ideology and the supposed progressive elite who threaten the secular order. Sparking fear of political Islam–in her words, 'you should be more scared'1–and gender as her subject matter has gained Safai acceptance not only among some Belgian and Flemish, but also among some Iranian nationalists. This paper investigates Safai's gender activism and femonationalism featured in online media to show how emancipatory gender discourses are employed in the service of right-wing agendas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific field of impact assessment encompasses various 'traditions', each reflecting a set of particular policy objectives. This paper analyses two types of impact assessment. Regulatory impact analysis focuses on better regulation and competitiveness, while sustainability assessment fosters a holistic approach centred on the values of sustainable development. Through an analysis of the political discourses at the level of the European Union and at the sub-national level of the Flemish Region of Belgium, elements of convergence between the better regulation and sustainable development discourse are identified. The paper analyses how integrated impact assessment can be an integrative tool that allows to merge both discourses and to implement them in day-to-day decision-making. The potential of the existing Flemish regulatory impact analysis framework to be the starting point of an integrated assessment scheme for sustainable development is advocated and motivated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the adoption and non-adoption of communication methods such as social media and explores the implementation of Web 2.0 technologies and their use in academic libraries. I interviewed 16 library employees from six academic university libraries in the Flanders region of Belgium and in South Africa. I explored five academic university libraries in the urban regions of Flanders and South Africa and one situated in a rural region of South Africa. This article discusses the benefits of using social media as a communication tool to engage with students. The results demonstrate that 'ease of use' was portrayed as a beneficial construct and has a positive influence on behavioural intention and use of Web 2.0 technologies. A comparison on the adoption of social media between the two countries indicate that financial resources, infrastructure and management support are crucial determining factors in service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maturity of integrated care in Belgium is rather low. The reasons are the country's complex organization, a lack of leadership and finances, an abundance of pilot projects, very long implementation and change processes, a healthcare system driven by providers and different cultures of action. However, new projects and ongoing research can help overcome these barriers. The primary care zones in Flanders, the National Hospital Plan and the Federal Plan to support mental health in particular are luxating opportunities. Well planned research is urgently needed to confirm the hope these projects arouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines what can be learnt from 'new rhetoric' (focusing on the work of the American rhetorician Kenneth Burke [1897-1993]) about (national) identity and discusses how nationalism can be taught from such a rhetorical perspective. Despite the 'deconstruction' of nation(alism) as a grand narrative, there is a new tendency towards emphasizing national identity, caused by trends such as globalization and multiculturalism. In the language and literature teaching curriculum, this paradoxical situation often causes frictions for teachers who very often are expected to teach standard language and national literature. The hypothesis is that rhetoric is a tool to deal with these tensions in the curriculum. This paper focuses on Flanders as a case-study. Together with pre-service teachers it analysed the rhetorical construction of Flanders from a dramatistic perspective. It is argued that Burke's concepts are useful tools to make students 'symbol-wise': to understand the way national symbols work, and to develop critical engagement with, as well as on behalf of, those symbols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Several Flemish social scientists argue for the existence of a dual Flemish labour market as a result of ethnic stratification. Flanders is the Northern, Dutch speaking region of Belgium, which inhabits around six million people. The poor educational level of ethnic minority youngsters is generally considered to be one of the main explaining factors. The purpose of this paper is to find out whether ethnic minority graduates, who have successfully completed their higher education, also face ethnic stratification in the labour market, even though the educational argument does not apply. Therefore, the paper examines differences in labour market positions of the third (Italian) and the second (Turkish and Moroccan) generation immigrants, and a matching Flemish ethnic majority control group. Design/methodology/approach – The study is essentially of a quantitative nature. A postal survey was used to ask recently graduated ethnic minority and majority students from two schools of higher education and one university in Flanders about their career on the labour market after graduation. Universities provide education leading to master diplomas whereas schools of higher education train professional bachelors. Findings – The waiting period between leaving school and entering the labour market is longer for ethnic majority graduates than for ethnic minority graduates. However, once on the labour market the differences in labour market position tend to disappear. Differences in first job wage, contract modalities, labour regime or the executive character of the job were small and non-significant. Yet 61 per cent of the graduates of Turkish and Moroccan origin feel they have to try harder both in gaining access to the labour market and once in employment. Research limitations/implications – Further studies will need to confirm these findings, perhaps even with ethnic minorities of other educational levels, in other locations. Practical implications – The results suggest that closer attention should be paid to the psychological dimension of the school-to-work transition of ethnic minority graduates as their psychological contract is under pressure. As they feel their efforts are not sufficiently rewarded – since they feel they have to try harder than others and are rewarded the same – chances are they will reduce their efforts. Originality/value – The paper focuses on the under-researched area of ethnic stratification among higher educated graduates. Moreover, it is not limited to factual labour market positions. The inclusion of subjective variables such as opportunity perception and self-confidence allows additional insight in existing differences and similarities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the propensity to attain a Ph.D. degree at the five largest universities in Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. It provides insight into the rate at which junior scholars appointed at the universities involved attained their Ph.D.-degree, and the duration of the doctoral training period. Cox’s regression model was applied to statistically analyse the influence of a number of ‘demographic’ and ‘merit’ variables, and variables related to funding source and type of appointment of the junior scholarly staff. Large differences in Ph.D. durations and attainment rates were found across funding sources, research disciplines and types of appointments. The policy background and implications are discussed briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the implementation of the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD), technological and scientific support are required. This paper presents a methodology to support a first step of the implementation of WFD, which is the delineation of groundwater bodies. The methodology consists of (1) the development of a complete and generally-accepted hydrogeological classification system for Flanders, named the HCOV code, (2) the development of a geographic information systems (GIS)-managed borehole database, and (3) the development of aquifer and aquitard models by means of a solid modeling approach. For each unit of the hydrogeological classification code for Flanders unit, GIS maps are generated for the three basic characteristics of hydrogeological layers: extent, base level and thickness, such that combined, the volume and extent of a hydrogeological layer is unambiguously defined. This GIS-based hydrogeological database has become a useful tool for groundwater management purposes and to provide the input for groundwater modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like the European Union itself, the anthropology of Europe has been slowly developing for decades. Yet compared to their colleagues working at more conventional non-Western field sites, ethnographers studying present-day Europe are focusing on a region that still exists at the margins of the discipline. Thus far, anthropologists have largely neglected Belgium as an opportunity to understand the sociopolitical culture of the European continent as a whole. Through a detailed examination of historical processes that have shaped modern Belgian society, the present article highlights how this tiny nation stands as a microcosm of Europe's past, present, and potential futures. Proffering a wide-ranging analysis of the various regional and supranational spheres that Belgians inhabit, this paper outlines how ethnographic studies ofbelgitude(or ‘Belgianness’) can shed light on pan-European topics that are of interest to anthropologists. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper describes the construction of a rent index for Flanders, Belgium. This annual index, referred to as the huurprijsindex (rent index), is designed to detect changes in rents for the overall stock of rental homes. We use the matched model methodology based upon repeat tenancy agreements, analogous to Case and Shiller's geometric repeat sales model, to estimate the rent index. We use recoded data on the tenancy agreements of nearly five hundred thousand rental homes; more than 30,000 of these represent repeat agreements between 1990 and 2010. The accuracy of the index is determined using the 95 % confidence interval. Given our target (a geometric mean index value) and the characteristics of the dataset (large but without property characteristics) our repeat tenancy agreements method seems to be adequate for calculating a rent index for Flanders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ager: Journal of Depopulation & Rural Development Studies / Revista de Estudios sobre Despoblación y Desarrollo Rural is the property of Rolde de Estudios Aragoneses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract The extent to which Environmental Assessment (EA) contributes to incorporating environmental values and objectives into decision-making (i.e. the effectiveness of EA) has been subject to much research. Still relatively little is known about how the effectiveness of EA is influenced by the specific features of EA systems and their context. International comparative research can shed more light on these relationships. In this paper we report on a survey of EA in Flanders, taking a similar approach as previous surveys in the Netherlands, UK and Denmark. We observe that the effectiveness of the Flemish project-based EA (EIA) is comparable to that in the other countries, whereas the Flemish plan-based EA (SEA) is more influential than the Dutch one (no data on Denmark and UK). As in the other countries, EA in Flanders has an influence on decision-making both before and after the EIA has been completed. According to respondents to the surveys, in all four countries the legal requirement is the main explanatory factor for EA effectiveness. The mechanisms by which EA characteristics and other factors contribute to EA effectiveness seem rather country-specific, however. Rather than trying to isolate the individual influence of factors we encourage more in-depth, qualitative and case-study based follow-up research in order to better understand the complex interplay between factors related to the EA system itself, how it is applied in practice and influenceds from its specific context. Highlights • The effectiveness of EIA in Flanders is comparable to the Dutch, UK and Danish EIA. • The Flemish SEA has more impact than the Dutch SEA. • The legal requirement to conduct EA is considered the main explanatory factor. • It is difficult to isolate the influence of individual, contextual factors. • Scoping and the quality of EAs are considered as challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents estimates of regional GDP per capita for certain benchmark years during the first half of the twentieth century using the method proposed by Geary and Stark. After testing the robustness of the Geary and Stark methodology for the Belgian situation, these estimates are linked to the official regional GDP figures, available since 1955. so that we can cover the whole of the twentieth century. Next we test the suggestion put forward by many historians of a contrast between a 'poor Flanders' and a relatively 'prosperous Wallonia' around 1900. For the remainder of the analysis Belgium's nine provinces are used as a geographical unit to take a broader view than just the Flanders/Wallonia controversy. The analysis shows a dramatic reversal of fortune between the northern and southern provinces. We explain the main causes of this process and assess the effect of state policies on regional development. Finally, the paper considers whether the twentieth century witnessed a process of convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

verpoort c., gastmans c. & dierckx de casterlé b. (2004) Journal of Advanced Nursing 47(6), 592–600 Palliative care nurses’ views on euthanasia In debates on euthanasia legalization in Belgium, the voices of nurses were scarcely heard. Yet studies have shown that nurses are involved in the caring process surrounding euthanasia. Consequently, they are in a position to offer valuable ideas about this problem. For this reason, the views of these nurses are important because of their palliative expertise and their daily confrontation with dying patients. The aim of this paper is to report a study of the views of palliative care nurses about euthanasia. A grounded theory approach was chosen, and interviews were carried out with a convenience sample of 12 palliative care nurses in Flanders (Belgium). The data were collected between December 2001 and April 2002. The majority of the nurses were not a priori for or against euthanasia, and their views were largely dependent on the situation. What counted was the degree of suffering and available palliative options. Depending on the situation, we noted both resistance and acceptance towards euthanasia. The underlying arguments for resistance included respect for life and belief in the capabilities of palliative care; arguments underlying acceptance included the quality of life and respect for patient autonomy. The nurses commented that working in palliative care had a considerable influence on one's opinion about euthanasia. In light of the worldwide debate on euthanasia, it is essential to know how nurses, who are confronted with terminally ill patients every day, think about it. Knowledge of these views can also contribute to a realistic and qualified view on euthanasia itself. This can be enlightening to the personal views of caregivers working in a diverse range of care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat exposure, particularly when co-occurring with extreme humidity levels, is amongst the most pronounced and challenging extreme weather conditions in European dairy production. Since these conditions are expected to increase in magnitude and frequency due to climate change, it is crucial to better understand the actual impact under managed production within the European dairy farm population. In this paper, we estimate the impact of heat stress, i.e. hot and humid weather conditions on milk quantity and quality in Flanders, a high intensity dairy production region in Belgium. The novelty of our approach is twofold. First, we provide insights in the non-linear response of dairy production (quantity and quality) to extreme heat using farm-level production data. Second, using data from the entire population of farmers in Flanders, and covering 6 years (N = 178.843), our results provide a maximum of representativeness and allows to infer on economic relevance of the effects. We use monthly milk deliveries within the grazing season for the period 2009 to 2014, which we match with temperature and humidity conditions at the barn-level. Using fixed effects regression, we particularly focus on heat shocks, i.e. the deviations from the average climate at the barn location, on production shocks, i.e. deviations from the average production of the barn. We use non-linear restricted cubic splines regression to estimate the response of milk quality and quantity to hourly temperature-humidity (THI) exposure. We find reductions of milk quantity and protein contents under hot and humid conditions, while milk fat content appears unaffected. These results are in contrast to earlier findings of heat exposure on dairy production in two ways. First, we find the critical temperature-humidity threshold above which production is affected to be substantially higher than in earlier/experimental studies. Second, not all quality components are affected by these conditions. We conclude that under managed conditions, farmers seem to be partly able to adapt their production to moderate heat exposure. Our results deliver important implications for policy makers and agricultural practitioners. While we find that farmers seem to be able to cope with moderate heat conditions, milk quality and quantity drop under extreme heat conditions. These impacts are economically relevant. [Display omitted] • Extreme weather conditions increasingly challenge agricultural production. • We investigate effects of extreme heat in Belgian dairy production using farm-level data covering 6 years (N = 178.843). • We find that extreme temperature and humidity affect milk quality and quantity. • The identified effects of heat stress in dairy production are of large economic relevance. • Farmers and policy makers need to develop strategies to cope with more exposure to extreme weather. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the possibilities of regional actors to maximize their visibility and influence in the Council of Ministers, especially in the context of a country holding the rotating Presidency. The research focuses on the case of Flanders during the 2010 Belgian Presidency as a fine example of a regional actor’s good performance in the supranational institutional setting due to facilitating factors such as: the Belgian unique power-sharing system enabling regions to uphold their interests in external relations; the provisions in the Union’s Treaties ensuring direct representation at ministerial level of federal subunits; and a highly skilled and efficient Presidency corps that allowed Flanders to prove its resourcefulness in promoting the Union’s objectives, chairing the Council’s formations at all levels, ensuring compromise in decision-making and most importandy raising its profile in the European framework [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A higher candidate turnover among women may be one of the reasons why quota rules seldom succeed in attaining full legislative parity. This proposition is tested on the basis of a longitudinal analysis of 11,678 candidates for legislative elections during the period 1987–2019 in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is shown that male candidates have shorter careers than women, contrary to expectations. The duration of the career as a candidate depends on the electoral performance, but only for men. In the long run, the introduction of a strict quota rule prolongs the candidate careers of both men and women, but the effect for women is much stronger. This finding contradicts the allegation that quota lead to an influx of unmotivated women candidates with a high turnover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The BelRAI Screener is a short-form assessment consolidating internationally validated interRAI items focusing on physical and psychological aspects of functioning and problems with activities of daily living. It was fully implemented in the Flemish home care setting as of June 2021. In a biopsychosocial model for developing a personalized and effective care plan social and contextual aspects are considered equally important to biomedical ones. Thus, a social supplement to the BelRAI Screener was collaboratively developed with stakeholders and tested to gather additional information on the social context of community-dwelling adults with care needs. Objective and methods: To examine the interrater reliability of the BelRAI Social Supplement in Flanders, Belgium, an observational study was conducted using a convenience sample. The method of simultaneous rating was used due to strict COVID-19 guidelines at the time and to minimize assessment burden. Fifty two community-dwelling adults requesting home care support were simultaneously assessed by two independent assessors during home visits. Interrater reliability was tested on all 80 items of the BelRAI Social Supplement using observed agreement, kappa coefficients, and intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: The kappa mean (0.74) and median (0.79) values for nominal items, show substantial agreement, while the kappa mean and median values for ordinal items were 0.81 and 0.90, which correspond to almost perfect agreement. Following the traditional cut-off points for the interpretation of the kappa statistic, reliability was almost perfect (k > 0.81) for 49% of all items, substantial (0.60 < k ≤ 0.80) for 33%, moderate (0.40 < k ≤ 0.60) for 8%, and poor (k < 0.40) for 10%. The majority of items with poor kappa value, showed a high observed agreement, reflecting homogeneity of the sample rather than poor agreement. Conclusion: The strength of kappa agreement for the items in this version of the BelRAI Social Supplement is generally substantial to almost perfect, with high proportions of observed agreement. COVID-19 restrictions had a large impact on the planning and execution of the home visits. A final optimization of the instrument and accompanying manual according to the findings will result in an improved version ready for nation-wide implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To describe the form and content of ethics policies on euthanasia in Flemish hospitals and the possible influence of religious affiliation on policy content. Methods: Content analysis of policy documents. Results: Forty-two documents were analyzed. All policies contained procedures; 57% included the position paper on which the hospital''s stance on euthanasia was based. All policies described their hospital''s stance on euthanasia in competent terminally ill patients (n =42); 10 and 4 policies, respectively, did not describe their stance in incompetent terminally and non-terminally ill patients. Catholic hospitals restrictively applied the euthanasia law with palliative procedures and interdisciplinary deliberations. The policies described several phases of the euthanasia care process – confrontation with euthanasia request (93%), decision-making process (95%), care process in cases of no-euthanasia decision (38%), preparation and performance of euthanasia (79%), and aftercare (81%) – as well as involvement of caregivers, patients, and relatives; ethical issues; support for caregivers; reporting; and practical examples of professional attitudes and communication skills. Conclusion: Euthanasia policies go beyond summarizing the euthanasia law by addressing the importance of the euthanasia care process, in which palliative care and interdisciplinary cooperation are important factors. Practice implications: Euthanasia policies provide tangible guidance for physicians and nurses on handling euthanasia requests. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Black Tournai “marble”, a fine-grained Lower Carboniferous (Tournaisian) limestone able to take a good polish has been widely used in the Flanders region (Belgium). Highly crafted baptismal fonts and tombslabs were also exported to England, France and elsewhere during the Middle Ages. Such objects are particularly valuable since their distribution aids the dating of historical events and the reconstruction of medieval trade. Similar black “marble” was extracted in the Meuse valley (Belgium) in the Middle Ages, and there are exploited sources in the UK, Ireland and elsewhere. Thus, it is not straightforward to determine the provenance of black “marble”. Based on geological, stylistic and historical evidence, this paper shows the likelihood that a black “marble” tombslab found in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim (Central Norway) was extracted and crafted in Tournai and shipped northwards around 1160, possibly for the grave of the first Norwegian archbishop, Jon Birgerson. The tombslab represents the first known crafted stone imported to Norway from the European continent/British Isles and is thus unique in a historical context. The properties of the Trondheim tombslab match those of black Tournai “marble”: It is a silicified, bioclastic packstone loaded with crinoids, featuring bryozoa and fragments of brachiopods and ostracods. The high silica content and absence of foraminifers distinguish the stone from the Viséan black “marble” quarried in the Meuse valley. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article explores recent (1995–2018) discourses on ‘multilingualism’ in the Dutch- and Frenchmedium written press in Belgium: how is the notion of ‘multilingualism’ thematised and evaluated and how does this reflect underlying historical, political and socio-economic sensitivities linked to the long-standing Belgian conflict? Based on a corpus of 1710 news articles and using Ruíz’ (1984) language orientations as heuristics for quantitative and qualitative analyses, the study aims to provide objectification and reflexivity over an emotional, versatile and multi-layered languageideological debate. Similar to (inter)national tendencies indicated in previous studies, our results generally reveal attention for and a positive bias towards (prestigious) multilingualism, mainly linked to discourses of economic utility and plurality. Differences between the Dutch- and French-medium corpus, as well as recurring argumentative patterns in both corpora, however, can be traced back to ideological sensitivities of the Belgian conflict and point to the imperative historicity of Belgian language debates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The supply of human organs available for transplantation remains grossly inadequate globally. Animal‐to‐human transplantation, and even more so humanized organ grown in animals, holds promising results for the start of clinical trials in humans. Very little is known about the public's willingness to accept different xenotransplantation techniques. This study aims to determine attitudes toward human‐to‐human transplantation, animal‐to‐human transplantation, and chimera‐to‐human transplantation in the Belgium context. Methods: Secondary school students from Flanders, Belgium, were surveyed between January and June 2019. Socio‐demographic details likely to influence participants' attitudes were gathered. Participants were presented with three hypothetical cases (human‐to‐human transplantation, animal‐to‐human transplantation, and chimera‐to‐human transplantation) and asked about their willingness to accept the particular organ. Their risk appetite to accept organs with potentially worse outcomes than the status quo was also evaluated. Results: Seven hundred forty‐one complete questionnaires were analyzed. It can be concluded that Flemish secondary school students favored the techniques of xenotransplantation to a lesser extent than allotransplantation; however, most of them did consider it a good solution for organ shortage. Compared to animal‐to‐human transplantation, chimera‐to‐human transplantation showed a more positive attitude among the respondents when considered a good organ transplantation solution. Conclusion: Flemish secondary school students favored the techniques of xenotransplantation to a lesser extent than allotransplantation; however, most of them did consider it a good solution for organ shortage. In comparison to animal‐to‐human transplantation, chimera‐to‐human transplantation showed a more positive attitude among the respondents when considered a good solution for organ transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The increasing number of cancer diagnoses and deaths underlines the importance of supportive and palliative care. It is defined as "all the care and the support necessary for patients throughout their illness." Aim: To evaluate the current status of the supportive and palliative care organization in Belgium. Methods: The Belgian Society of Medical Oncology (BSMO) supportive care task force conducted an observational study by sending a 31-point questionnaire to medical doctors responsible for the supportive care units of university, public, or private hospitals in Belgium. Results: Thirty centers completed the questionnaire, of which 12 were university hospitals. Inpatient supportive care units are available in more than 50% of the centers, whereas outpatient supportive care is less available in Brussels than in Flanders and Wallonia. Multidisciplinary teams or specific units dedicated exclusively to supportive care are represented less frequently in all 3 areas of Belgium. Intensive care units for cancer patients are even scarcer. In terms of research and teaching, active research is present in 10 (33%) centers. Of complementary and alternative medicine modalities available to cancer patients, mindfulness and massage are offered most frequently. Reference guidelines for various symptoms are widely used in Flanders and Brussels but less so in Wallonia. Conclusion: This is the first in-depth survey in Belgium that shows the limited availability of dedicated supportive care services throughout the country. This represents an unmet need for Belgian cancer patients. Within the BSMO supportive care task force, there is a great opportunity to expand services and develop active research in the area of supportive and palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2019 elections in Belgium yielded contrasted results between the two main regions of the country, Flanders and Wallonia. It is often posited that at the core of this regional difference is the intermingled question of identity and state reform preferences. In this context, this article asks the following question: does the presence or absence of inter-regional contacts can explain voting behaviour? To answer this question, we use structural equation modelling in order to compare 2019 voting behaviour in Flanders and in Wallonia. We rely on the 2019 RepResent cross-sectional post-electoral survey that offers a representative sample of the population in both regions, including indicators of their inter-regional contacts and vote choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how a restructuring local state repurposes existing government vehicles to navigate financial stress. Witnessing the changing use of intermunicipal companies (IMCs) by municipalities in Flanders (Belgium), we put empirical flesh on the bones of what we conceptualize as the extended local state. Our argument is that, while IMCs were set up to organize energy and water systems, several rounds of state restructuring have repurposed them into safety valves for municipal finance. As our analysis shows, austerity, devolution and budgetary control at the municipal level have been paralleled by an inflation of IMC debt, which, given the strategic importance and state ownership of IMCs, can be interpreted as off‐balance‐sheet local state debt. IMCs have also taken on new roles as vehicles for debt‐driven state investment and tax regulation workarounds. In effect, the local state is an active agent in installing practices of regulatory arbitrage and through IMCs it is connecting, albeit largely unwittingly and haphazardly, to financial market dynamics. While such exposures are limited compared to cases where financial markets alter municipal statecraft profoundly, when unchecked, these acts of institutional bricolage may eventually function as Trojan horses installing value extraction from public services in Flanders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual violence has globally been recognized as harmful to young people's health. In medical school, which is a highly competitive environment, the risk is supposedly even bigger. In this study we firstly aimed to investigate the magnitude and precipitating factors of sexual violence in medical students and specialty registrars in Flanders, Belgium. Secondly, we wanted to assess the reactive behaviours as well as the knowledge of possible types of bystander reactions as well as potential support resources for victims of sexual violence. Methods: This study was initiated and coordinated by the Flemish medical student representation organisation (VGSO). A survey containing demographic and behaviour-specific questions based on the UNMENAMAIS and SAS-V questionnaire was sent to all undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students of the 5 medical schools in Flanders. Participants were asked to limit their responses to internship-related events. Further questions concerning reactions to sexual violence, assailants, bystander reactions and general knowledge concerning support after sexual violence were asked. Results: We received 3015 valid responses to our survey, obtaining a response rate of 29% in the potential target population. Within the total study population, 1168 of 3015 participants (38,73%) reported having been victim of at least one type of sexual violence as explored by our survey. This percentage was the highest in GP specialty registrars (53%), followed by specialty registrars (50%) and master students (39%). Assailants of sexual violence varied, most often they were medical staff members, students or patients. In most types of sexual violence, nobody reacted to this behaviour. Women (57.3%) talked about what happened afterwards more often than men (39.7%). When asked about their knowledge of possible bystander reactions and support services for sexual violence, 60% of the respondents did not know about their existence. Conclusions: Sexual violence is still a relatively frequent issue in medical students and specialty registrars. Patients form an important part of the assailants. In a third of reported sexual violence cases, nobody reacted. In addition, male victims seem to underreport. There is still much need for sensitisation on support mechanisms and centres for victims and witnesses of sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In European and North American cities geese are among the most common and most visible large herbivores. As such, their presence and behaviour often conflict with the desires of the human residents. Fouling, noise, aggression and health concerns are all cited as reasons that there are ''too many''. Lethal control is often used for population management; however, this raises questions about whether this is a sustainable strategy to resolve the conflict between humans and geese when, paradoxically, it is humans that are responsible for creating the habitat and often providing the food and protection of geese at other times. We hypothesise that the landscaping of suburban parks can be improved to decrease its attractiveness to geese and to reduce the opportunity for conflict between geese and humans. Methods. Using observations collected over five years from a botanic garden situated in suburban Belgium and data from the whole of Flanders in Belgium, we examined landscape features that attract geese. These included the presence of islands in lakes, the distance from water, barriers to level flight and the size of exploited areas. The birds studied were the tadornine goose Alopochen aegyptiaca (L. 1766) (Egyptian goose) and the anserine geese, Branta canadensis (L. 1758) (Canada goose), Anser anser (L. 1758) (greylag goose) and Branta leucopsis (Bechstein, 1803) (barnacle goose). Landscape modification is a known method for altering goose behaviour, but there is little information on the power of such methods with which to inform managers and planners. Results. Our results demonstrate that lakes with islands attract more than twice as many anserine geese than lakes without islands, but make little difference to Egyptian geese. Furthermore, flight barriers between grazing areas and lakes are an effective deterrent to geese using an area for feeding. Keeping grazing areas small and surrounded by trees reduces their attractiveness to geese. Conclusion. The results suggest that landscape design can be used successfully to reduce the number of geese and their conflict with humans. However, this approach has its limitations and would require humans to compromise on what they expect from their landscaped parks, such as open vistas, lakes, islands and closely cropped lawns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we examine how the Dutch language is used when francophone Belgian journalists prepare and produce their reports—during all stages of the process—up until the actual broadcast. We conducted 16 qualitative interviews with TV news journalists employed by the Belgian French-speaking public broadcaster. Taking as a starting point the highly variable level of Dutch in the newsroom, we highlight four practices used by journalists when they have to cover a news story in Flanders or interview a Dutch speaker: avoidance, mutual assistance, specific efforts to deal with linguistic difficulties and what we call a "tactical use" of Dutch with the sources. This study reveals practices that are by no means a demonstration of excellent language skills. Journalists' frequent lack of knowledge is compensated by a certain pragmatism: they aim to illustrate how their daily routines tackle a concrete problem in a relatively informal, flexible, and collective manner. Finally, we explore to what extent these practices impact journalistic performance and how the use of the Dutch language in the newsroom reflects the language divide in Belgium's journalistic landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In democracies, one of Public Service Media's (PSM) main roles is to inform the public. In a digital news ecosystem, where commercial, citizen, and alternative news sources have multiplied, questions about the ability and need for PSM to fulfil this role are increasingly being raised. While the role of PSM can and should be scrutinized, a too-narrow a focus on an informed citizenry may obfuscate aspects, other than audience reach and objectivity, that are key to this information role, such as trust. Against this background, this article studies whether and to what extent citizens still trust the news and information services of their public broadcaster, asking if that trust is still high, whether there is a difference between groups in the population, and if trust is in line with reach. Based on a representative survey of news users in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking community of Belgium, the article studies the reach and trust scores of the brands of VRT, Flanders' PSM, and compares them to those of its main competitors, with a specific focus on differences in terms of age, education levels, and political orientation. The results suggest that VRT struggles more than the main commercial players to reach young people and the lower-educated, but still leads when it comes to trust. The data show the continued importance of widening our assessment of PSM beyond market-focused indicators of reach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bartonella spp. are vector-borne pathogens transmitted to humans via blood-sucking arthropods. Rodents such as the black rat (Rattus rattus) and Norway rat (R. norvegicus) are thought to be the main reservoirs. An infection with rodent-associated Bartonella spp. may cause severe symptoms in humans such as endocarditis and neuroretinitis. The current knowledge of Bartonella prevalence in rats from western Europe is scarce. Methods: Rats and a few other rodent by-catches were trapped in the context of a rodenticide resistance study at different sites in Flanders, Belgium. During dissection, biometric data were collected, and spleen tissues were taken. DNA was extracted from spleen samples and tested for Bartonella spp. by conventional generic polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To determine the Bartonella species, a selected number of amplicons were sequenced and compared with GenBank entries. Results: In total, 1123 rodents were trapped. The predominate species was R. norvegicus (99.64%). Other rodents trapped included: two water voles (Arvicola amphibius, 0.18%); one colour rat (R. norvegicus forma domestica, 0.09%); and one muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus, 0.09%). PCR analysis of 1097 rodents resulted in 410 (37.37%, 95% CI: 34.50–40.31%) Bartonella spp. DNA-positive samples. Bartonella tribocorum (94.68%, 95% CI: 88.02–98.25%) was the most frequently detected Bartonella species, followed by B. grahamii (3.19%, 95% CI: 0.66–9.04%) and B. doshiae (1.06%, 95% CI: 0.03–5.79%). An uncultured Bartonella species occurred in one water vole (1.06%, 95% CI: 0.03–5.79%). There was a significantly higher Bartonella prevalence in older rats compared to juveniles and a significant difference in Bartonella prevalence concerning the localisation of trapping sites. In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference in Bartonella prevalence regarding sex, degree of urbanisation and season. Conclusions: Based on the high prevalence found, we conclude that the Norway rat seems to be a key reservoir host for zoonotic B. tribocorum in Belgium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shifts in audio-visual production, distribution, and consumption have increased pressure on broadcasters as main financiers of domestic content in Europe. However, within the context of internationalisation and digitalisation, there are also new opportunities for the export of European content. By taking a close look at the evolution and increasing popularity of Flemish TV drama, this article identifies key explanatory factors for the export of content produced in a small media market. The analysis also discusses the extent to which the rise in exports may contribute to the increased sustainability of a small and fragile, yet vibrant audio-visual industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the features of intergovernmental relations (IGR) on immigrant integration in Belgium and critically examines the dynamics that shape them. The characteristics of IGR on immigrant integration in Belgium are shown to vary over time and differ across regions and sub-policy areas (immigrant reception policies and anti-discrimination). The comparative case study indicates that the primary traditional theses of the international comparative IGR literature, namely classical institutionalism and party politics, do not provide insights into the nature and mechanisms of IGR on immigrant integration in Belgium. Less established variables like European integration and sub-state claims for distinctiveness constitute key explanatory variables. While European integration explains the increase of IGR over time, notwithstanding the appearance of party incongruence, sub-state claims for distinctiveness enlighten the more conflictual nature of IGR with Flanders, even in cases of more party congruence than for Francophone authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although flood risk management is traditionally regarded as a governmental responsibility, homeowners in Flanders (Belgium) have a crucial role in flood risk reduction. With this in mind, the Flanders Environment Agency executed a pilot study in which homeowners were offered free tailor-made advice on floodproofing. To evaluate the advice, we conducted interviews and a survey of the participating homeowners. On this basis we conclude that, to improve the homeowner's contribution towards more effective flood-resilient (peri-)urban areas, there is a need for a more relational approach with other stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research examines television news as a contextual determinant of intergroup threat from North African immigrants in Flanders (i.e. the northern part of Belgium). We content analyse the prevalence of intergroup threats in television news over an eleven-year period (2003-13), and take an experimental approach to examine the impact of these threatening news stories on perceived threats from North African immigrants. The content analysis revealed that (combinations of) safety and cultural issues were widespread in television news content. Experimental evidence showed that exposure to safety and cultural issues in news content increased perceptions of safety and cultural threat accordingly, but exposure to economic issues revealed no effect for economic threat. We conclude by emphasizing the potential of television news content in affecting perceptions of intergroup threat, particularly for those threats which are commonly present in the news and readily accessible in natives' minds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on how students, who for a variety of reasons struggle in mainstream secondary schools, can be supported and engaged by alternative forms of education and training to attain a (formal) qualification. Interviews and focus groups are carried out with school staff members of distinct types of alternative learning arenas in Flanders (northern part of Belgium): second chance secondary education, part-time apprenticeship track and part-time work-based vocational education. Our analyses reveal that, due to the selectiveness of mainstream secondary education, staff members in alternative learning arenas mainly struggle with the ways to develop inclusive curricula/practices and with the actual content of the curricula of their educational training or programme they are supposed to teach. Staff members struggle with putting into practice the fundamental aim to prepare socially vulnerable students for their future lives. Debates within the school team focus upon the relative importance of transferrable, specialist and social skills and competences. Results of this study are discussed to further enhance the professionalisation of school teams, and can be seen as the starting point to specify and develop the curriculum taught in both alternative learning arenas and mainstream secondary education. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this comparative article of European and American contexts, we investigate how siblings influence individuals’ access to marriage. We use a comparative and quantitative event history analysis approach to identify similarities and differences between the contexts studied. We find evidence in both contexts of customs that stipulated that siblings should marry in order of birth and also positive stimulative effects from married siblings on their unmarried counterparts, particularly in opposite-sex pairs. At the same time, we find evidence for negative effects as a consequence of recent marriages of siblings, demonstrating that sibling competition for access to marriage went on simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to highlight the mechanisms through which institutional arrangements influence the morphology of residential development. By comparing the Netherlands, Flanders and North Rhine-Westphalia, which have quite similar socio-economic and landscape characteristics, it investigates how differences in national institutional environments have contributed to differences in the urban morphology of residential areas. This article fits within a broader institutional “turn” in planning research. While most of these studies focus on how institutions affect the behaviour of actors in the process of planning and development, this article focuses on the physical outcomes of these processes. The institutional analysis of physical outcomes suggests that urban morphology is not only linked to planning systems—the subject of this special issue—but also to housing cultures and property regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport and heritage, individually, are widely viewed as important catalysts in tourism development. However, the potential role that combining sport and heritage could have in tourism development initiatives is little understood. This article considers the tourism development potential of sport heritage via the Tour of Flanders--a nearly century-old 1-day cycling race held each spring in the Flanders region of Belgium--by discussing the role of heritage in cycling tourism, the background of the race, current local tourism challenges surrounding the race, and potential avenues for developing heritage sport tourism year round in the region. It is argued that the Tour of Flanders case suggests that sport heritage could be a potentially important avenue for tourism development, although it may need to be combined with other forms of local non-sport heritage to reach a broader, international audience. Furthermore, it is speculated that developing a sport heritage emphasis may also positively contribute to addressing other tourism challenges, such as place promotion. The article concludes that further testing and evaluation is required to demonstrate the link between sport heritage and tourism development, particularly as demonstrated through the Tour of Flanders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1989, the artist Jan Vercruysse (1948–2018) stated that he was "the last Flemish Primitive". This comment, despite being only a fragment of a lengthy interview with Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, became a trope in subsequent writings on Vercruysse. I argue that the statement was part of a deliberate strategy by Vercruysse in shaping his identity as a (Belgian) artist. First, I focus on Vercruysse's Portraits of the Artist (1979–1984), a series of photographic works in which he uses the genre of the self-portrait—thereby implicitly referring to the Flemish Primitives—as a means to express the constructedness of artistic identity. Second, I explore Vercruysse's construction of his identity and his relationship vis-à-vis the notion of Belgian art. Finally, the statement uttered in 1989 will be contextualized within the changing political and cultural context of Belgium and Flanders in the 1980s. I demonstrate how the statement can be read as invoking a radically different conception of Belgian art during this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the field of children's geographies several calls have been made to develop 'teenagers' geographies' as a complementary field of research and practice. It has been stated that teenagers remain 'invisible' or 'marginalised' in public debates as well as in research and practice, even within childhood studies and children's geographies. Further explorations in teenagers' geographies could contribute to the research on 'diverse childhoods'. This article explores the spatial worlds of teenagers (approximately 12-16 years) in Flanders (Belgium), a region characterised by a dense network of smaller cities and 'urban sprawl'. Based on street interviews and observations in a small city several mental maps and patterns of teenagers' use of public space were identified. Starting from a case study in the city of Mechelen, this article suggests how these perspectives can be integrated into urban planning by identifying and tying together relevant planning layers, thus creating a more closely knit 'teenage space network'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For more than a decade now, it has been demonstrated that female news sources receive little attention in television news. Usually women account for no more than 20-25 percent of total time devoted to people speaking in the news. This article assesses when exactly female news sources are depicted in the news, using a dataset of 25,896 news items and 1600 hours of television, covering public broadcasting and commercial television in Belgium (Flanders) for the years 2003-5. The analysis shows that female news sources are strongly stereotyped and limited to traditional 'female' topics. The impact of the gender of the reporter was limited. Contrary to expectations, the broadcasting corporation with a long-standing gender diversity policy actually scored worse than its counterpart without such a policy. The article concludes with a discussion of the apparently difficult relation between traditional news standards and the depiction of gender diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]