Search

Creating a welcoming environment is high on policy makers' agendas to attract highly educated migrants. It is unclear, however, which factors contribute to migrants' feelings of being welcome in the host country. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by exploring the factors influencing highly educated migrants' feelings of being welcome in the host country. We develop a conceptual framework that differentiates between the host country's institutional (e.g., public services for migrants) and societal (e.g., tolerance, friendliness) incorporation capacity and the migrants' personal incorporation capacity (e.g., personality traits). The study follows a mixed methods research design using survey data (n = 391) and serial interviews (wave1: n = 67; wave2: n = 49) with highly educated migrants in the Euregio Meuse‐Rhine, a cross‐border region between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The quantitative and qualitative findings indicate that all three indicators of the incorporation capacity framework contribute to migrants' feelings of being welcome in the host country. The societal incorporation capacity emerges as most important in the analysis. Lastly, interview findings emphasise the importance of language across all incorporation capacity dimensions. The paper contributes to the literature on high‐skilled migration, and particularly on high‐skilled migrants' experiences in the host country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper brings a new perspective to the population growth implications of the low fertility levels of European countries. For years between 2009 and 2018, whether constant fertility, mortality, and net migration would generate long‐run population growth or population decrease is indicated simply and visually by comparison of the total fertility rate (TFR) to a migration‐adjusted replacement level. The results show that, when considered in combination with concurrent net migration and mortality, the population growth implication of low fertility varies between countries and over time. For Sweden, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the United Kingdom for all the years considered the fertility–mortality–migration combination is coherent with long‐run population growth. For the former two countries, long‐run population growth would be sustained by net migration at current levels even if fertility were to fall to very low levels. In contrast, for every Eastern European country and year considered, unchanged fertility–mortality–migration combination would lead to population decrease. The need for an alternative view of low fertility in terms of whether the TFR is above or below a migration‐adjusted replacement level and the need for a migration context‐specific view, as distinct from a universal best view, of the desirability of fertility level are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Augmented reality (AR) is receiving increasing interest as a tool to create an interactive and motivating learning environment. Yet, it is unclear how instructional support affects performance in AR. Objectives: This study sought to explore how varying the instructional support in AR can affect performance‐related behaviours of students with low cognitive abilities during assembly work. Methods: A total of 90 Belgian secondary school students repeatedly executed four different realistic assembly tasks. Three levels of instructional support (low, medium, and high) in AR as well as a control condition with paper instructions with a high level of detail were systematically varied across tasks and participants. Results and Conclusions: Multilevel regression analyses showed that AR instructions yielded lower assembly times and a lower perceived physical effort than paper instructions. Additionally, participants perceived tasks as less complex when given AR instructions with a high or a medium level of detail than when given a low level of detail. No effects of instructional support were established for other performance‐related behaviours, namely necessary assistance, error‐making, cognitive load, competence frustration, and stress. Effect sizes were small, at least among the instructional support conditions studied, yielding a limited base for adaptivity. Presumably, tailoring the instructional support in AR is only beneficial for highly complex tasks. The results might be useful for the design and implementation of AR in educational settings. Lay Description: What is currently known about the subject matter: Augmented reality is knowing increased use in education.Little is known about how to design effective instructional support in augmented reality. What this paper adds: This study represents an initial insight into how to personalize instructional support.The impact of instructional support on augmented reality performance of students with low cognitive abilities was investigated.The study suggests that varying instructional support may lead to differences in performance outcomes. Implications for practitioners: How instructional support is constructed may affect augmented reality learning.The results may inform the design of effective augmented reality learning environments for students with special needs.How individual, contextual, and task‐specific characteristics moderate the effectiveness of instructional support should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on two conferences about systems research and behavioral science. Sixth International Conference on Computing Anticipatory Systems in Li&eagrave;ge, Belgium from August 11-16, 2003; 7th World Multi Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics in Orlando, Florida from July 27-30, 2003.

Background: Acute and late toxicities in patients treated with (chemo)radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC) is common and can negatively impact quality of life and performance. Performance status instruments measure the functional ability to perform daily life activities and are important tools in the oncologic population. Aims: Since Dutch performance status scales for the HNC population are lacking, we conducted this study to translate the Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients (PSS‐HN) into Dutch (D‐PSS‐HN) and to validate this version. Methods & Procedures: The D‐PSS‐HN was translated into Dutch according to the internationally described cross‐cultural adaptation process. It was administered to HNC patients and together with the Functional Oral Intake Scale completed by a speech and language pathologist at five different time points during the first 5 weeks of (chemo)radiotherapy. Patients were asked each time to complete the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy and the Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to calculate convergent and discriminant validity and the evolution of D‐PSS‐HN scores was assessed by means of linear mixed models. Outcomes & Results: A total of 35 patients were recruited and > 98% of the clinician‐rated scales were completed. Convergent and discriminant validity were demonstrated, with all correlations rs between 0.467 and 0.819, and between 0.132 and 0.256, respectively. The subscales of the D‐PSS‐HN are sensitive to detect changes through time. Conclusion & Implications: The D‐PSS‐HN is a valid and reliable instrument to assess performance status in patients with HNC treated with (chemo)radiotherapy. It is a useful tool to measure HNC patients' current diet level and functional abilities to perform daily life activities. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Acute and late toxicities in patients treated with (chemo)radiotherapy for HNC are common and can negatively impact quality of life and performance. Performance status instruments measure the functional ability to perform daily life activities and are important tools in the oncologic population. However, Dutch performance status scales for the HNC population are lacking. Therefore, we translated the Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer Patients (PSS‐HN) into Dutch (D‐PSS‐HN) and validated this version. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: We translated the PSS‐HN and demonstrated its convergent and discriminant validity. The subscales of the D‐PSS‐HN are sensitive to detect changes through time. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: The D‐PSS‐HN is a useful tool to measure HNC patients' functional abilities to perform daily life activities. The tool can easily be used in clinical settings: since data collection duration is very short, this facilitates clinical (and research‐related) implementation of the scale. Patients' individual needs could be identified by using the D‐PSS‐HN, resulting in more appropriate approaches and (early) referrals if needed. Interdisciplinary communication could be facilitated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the governmental delineation of the speech‐language therapist (SLT) profession and in preservice SLT education, Flemish SLTs are considered as gatekeepers of the standard language in Flanders. Yet, most Flemish clients typically use a colloquial language style. Following earlier research on how teachers' language style affects teacher–student interactions, an SLT's strict adherence to standard Dutch may potentially evoke perceptions of inequality in their clients. As a result, Flemish SLTs may find themselves torn between on the one hand adhering to the standard language and on the other hand adapting to the sociolinguistic style of their client and establishing trust. In the present study, we explored SLTs' views on using standard/colloquial language varieties in their practice. Methods & Procedures: Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 Flemish SLTs who worked with children, adolescents and adults in special schools, private practices and hospitals. Interview transcripts were analysed with reflexive thematic analysis. Outcomes & Results: Analyses yielded three themes. Switching between styles was (1) triggered by client characteristics (age, style, therapeutic needs), and it was shaped by (2) the need for establishing trust and (3) a balance between the SLT's professional and personal identity. Notably, most SLTs described partially converging with their clients' colloquial style, effectively reconciling their professional identity as expert speakers with their personal identity as a colloquial language user. Conclusions & Implications: Despite consensus on the role of the SLT as gatekeeper of standard language, many SLTs felt that colloquial language also plays an important role as it bolsters therapeutic alliance and rehabilitation of functional communication. By implementing reflective mixed methods and integrating the client perspective, future studies should further examine how authentic style‐switching occurs and how various styles used by the SLT are evaluated by clients in different contexts. These findings may guide the development of style‐switching as a communicative strategy that can be addressed in preservice education. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: In Flanders, the existence of various (non‐)standard varieties of Dutch may evoke some tension regarding the preferred variety in a given context. Flemish teachers switch between standard language and colloquial language (style‐shifting), depending on the foregrounding of the transactional or relational nature of the context. Moving towards students' colloquial speech builds trust and perceptions of equality. Despite the importance of alliance in speech‐language therapy, little is known about how speech‐language therapists (SLTs) feel about using colloquial speech given that they are considered expert speakers. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: While 'talking properly' is part of the SLT's professional identity, many Flemish SLTs felt that strict adherence to the standard language variety hinders therapeutic alliance. While standard language was strongly associated with professionalism, strict adherence to standard language was used only when SLTs felt they had to prove their clinical competency or when language scaffolding was in the foreground. Partially converging with the clients' language use allowed SLTs to reconcile their professional identity as expert speaker with personal identity and authenticity. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Both colloquial speech and standard speech serve a function in SLT practice. Therefore, switching between standard and colloquial speech needs further consideration as a communicative strategy rather than instilling in therapists an ideological, normative stance towards language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) industry has announced an ambitious decarbonization roadmap to 2050 to keep its place as a reference product in the future market of building materials. AAC raw materials are contributing to a large share of the CO2 footprint of AAC and need to be carefully assessed. Lime is today an essential raw material in the production of AAC and will remain so in the future as, unlike some other raw materials, it cannot be interchanged by a less carbon‐intensive alternative. Lime is essential in the formation of Tobermorite and provides the alkaline conditions required for the formation of the hydrogen bubbles structuring the mineral foam. Lime is produced by the calcination of limestone (CaCO3) releasing carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 footprint of lime is considerable, and the production process is considered hard‐to‐abate. Today roughly two‐thirds of the CO2 is inherent to the production process while only one‐third of the CO2 is due to the required fuel. Lhoist has developed a Carbon Action 2030 plan with a range of low‐carbon and carbon‐neutral lime solutions. The approach is based on the principle of three pillars: Avoiding, Reducing, and Compensating with a pipeline of effective carbon reduction initiatives behind each pillar. The paper will provide a status update on the key projects in Belgium, France, and Germany. The transformation to low‐carbon lime has triggered projects in energy improvement, sustainable fuels, the usage of hydrogen, kiln electrification, oxyfuel kilns, carbon capture, and storage as well as CO2 utilization. Once the CO2 is captured during the production of lime, the carbonation of the AAC will lead to a carbon‐negative building material. Our roadmap will position Lhoist as a preferred partner for the AAC industry in the future. Our lime product portfolio ranging from Level|Blue™ to Level|Green™ will support the AAC industry to consolidate and develop its referential position in the building materials industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various research have been directed towards investigating the behaviour of political parties engaging in attacks. However, this topic has predominantly been studied in campaigning venues while focusing only on the attacker (parties that are attacking). This study contributes to the existing literature by (i) studying attack behaviour in the parliamentary venue, and (ii) analysing the interactions between both the attacker and the target. To this end, this paper uses longitudinal data on attacks during question time sessions in the parliaments (2010 to 2020) of Belgium, Croatia and the United Kingdom. More specifically, I investigate the conditions that make parties engage in mutual attacks. These conditions can be characterised along three dimensions: time (proximity to elections), status (government vs. opposition), and ideology (close vs. distant). The results confirm the overarching argument that: (i) more attacks in parliaments happen closer to election day; (ii) opposing parties are more likely to attack the government rather than vice‐versa; (iii) governing parties equally attack the opposition and themselves; and finally, (iv) the larger the ideological distance between parties, the more likely attacks happen (with mainstream parties engaging equally in attack behaviour compared to radical parties). As such, these findings contribute to our understanding of attack strategies between parties in regular day‐to‐day politics. [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]

In this paper, we aim to reconstruct meteoroid trajectories using a forward scatter radio system transmitting a continuous wave (CW) with no modulation. To do so, we use the meteor echoes recorded at the receivers of the BRAMS (Belgian RAdio Meteor Stations) network. This system consists, at the time of writing, of a dedicated transmitter and 44 receiving stations located in and nearby Belgium, all synchronized using GPS clocks. Our approach processes the meteor echoes at the BRAMS receivers and uses the time delays as inputs to a nonlinear optimization solver. We compare the quality of our reconstructions with and without interferometric data to the trajectories given by the optical CAMS (Cameras for Allsky Meteor Surveillance) network in Benelux. We show that the general CW forward scatter trajectory reconstruction problem can be solved, but we highlight its strong ill‐conditioning. With interferometry, this high sensitivity to the inputs is alleviated and the reconstructed trajectories are in good agreement with optical ones, displaying an uncertainty smaller than 10% on the velocity and 2° on the inclination for most cases. To increase accuracy, the trajectory reconstruction with time delays only should be complemented by information about the signal phase. The use of at least one interferometer makes the problem much easier to solve and greatly improves the accuracy of the retrieved velocities and inclinations. Increasing the number of receiving stations also enhances the quality of the reconstructions. Plain Language Summary: This paper presents a method for tracking the path and speed of meteoroids using radio observations. A simple continuous wave signal is reflected by the electrons created when the meteoroid enters the upper atmosphere and creates ionization. The reflected signal, called a meteor echo, is recorded at various locations not co‐located with the transmitter. The time delays between several echoes is used to retrieve the meteoroid trajectory and speed. In this work, we apply this method using data from Belgian RAdio Meteor Stations (BRAMS), a Belgian network of 44 receiving stations. The results are compared to accurate observations from Cameras for Allsky Meteor Surveillance, an optical network of cameras surveying the sky for meteors. Our method perfectly works with no measurement errors but small uncertainties on the time delays may significantly impact the accuracy of the reconstruction. Using a large amount of receivers and/or a radio interferometer greatly improves the results. This project is the first to tackle the meteoroid trajectory reconstruction using this type of radio system (with no range information and many receivers at different locations). This novel method is essential to fully exploit the capabilities of BRAMS for future applications such as determination of fluxes or sounding of the upper atmosphere (e.g., wind speed measurements). Key Points: Meteoroid trajectory and speed determined with a continuous wave forward scatter radio set‐upTrajectory reconstruction solver is validated against simulated data but the problem is ill‐conditionedInterferometry required for an accuracy of <10% on the velocity and <2° on the inclination for most trajectories [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether and how the European Semester has influenced structural reforms in member states. It does so by analysing the interaction between the Commission and the national bureaucratic and political levels. The paper presents two process‐tracing exercises with a focus on those actors that directly worked with the CSRs to assess the political dynamics underpinning the CSR implementation process. First, it examines the more nuanced and indirect effects the Semester had on the liberalization of professions in Italy. Second, it shows how the debate on wage indexation in Belgium turned around over the years and how the Semester was an important factor in introducing reform. The analysis shows the influence of the Semester in terms of issue salience and agenda setting, but it also shows how the Commission can exert real pressure. This pressure may in turn affect the EU's perceived legitimacy, which holds lessons for the Semester's post‐pandemic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the Econometric Society European Meeting (ESEM'92) held in Brussels, Belgium. Annoyance of the conference organizers with non-registered contributors; Schedule of the meeting; Presentation of contributed papers in the Scientific Programme; Session on Large Economies, Macroeconometrics and Rational Expectations applications; Details on the aspects of the meeting.

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Economics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Genetic relatedness figures heavily in contemporary ethical debates on egg freezing, although the arguments lack empirical‐based evidence. Rather than adding another theoretical view on the moral relevance of genetic connections, this paper instead proposes an empirically grounded perspective based on two independent qualitative interview‐based studies conducted in Belgium and France. Three themes emerge from our empirical data: (1) prioritizing family building; (2) centering the gestational experience of motherhood; and (3) identifying the complexities and limitations of adoption. These themes suggest that the relationship between egg freezing, genetics, biological motherhood, and adoption is highly complex and less straightforward than what is often assumed in the egg freezing debate. Our study provides more detailed insights into women's ambivalent experiences regarding those reproductive options. We discuss the ethical implications of our empirical findings and hold that pursuing genetic desire is not necessarily the main moral reason why women freeze their eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns about widespread democratic dissatisfaction have prompted a search for remedies, such as increasing citizens' role in politics. While the public seems supportive, it remains unclear whether such newly introduced procedures can effectively tackle citizens' dissatisfaction with present‐day politics. This paper develops a problem‐solving approach to studying this question. It proposes that combining insights on what 'pushes' and 'pulls' people to support procedural reform is crucial: Only then can we uncover if and how people consider procedural reform as addressing the problem(s) they see in the representative system today. Using the example of deliberative minipublics and original, pre‐registered survey data from Belgium (n = 1,579), we find that respondents generally think of minipublics as problem‐solvers rather than problem‐creators, albeit to different degrees. For instance, this perceived problem‐solving potential is more pronounced among discontent citizens. This study sheds new light on the importance of studying citizens' reasoning about the roots and remedies for political dissatisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on transnational youth mobilities has shown the importance of visits to the 'home' country for young people's identities, sense of belonging and access to resources. Yet what transpires on these visits and how do young people agentically shape their experiences? This paper brings into dialogue scholarship on 'homeland' mobilities, trajectories and temporalities to shed light on how youth experience their attachments to a 'homeland' and reveal the mechanisms through which young people's lives are affected by 'home' visits. We use the temporal concept of pacing, recently developed in mobility studies, to analyze how young people experience 'home' visits at different moments in their lives. Drawing on 18 months of multi‐sited ethnographic fieldwork using mobile methods with Ghanaian‐background youth who live in Belgium, we show that visits to Ghana are experienced differently by youth throughout their life time in relation to how much control they exert over the pacing of their visits. Through their mobility and their practices before, during and after 'home' visits, young people craft affective experiences with people and places in Ghana and experience different paces of life across space and time. This ultimately shapes how young people imagine a future 'good life' that involves a transnational lifestyle and that has the 'right pace' by incorporating aspects of life from both Belgium and Ghana. A focus on pacing and trajectories contributes to acknowledging both temporal and spatial dimensions of transnational youth mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has made significant contributions to our understanding of ethnic disparities in educational attainment, revealing amongst others the importance of parental and residential characteristics. Mixed empirical results, however, challenge the interpretation of why some ethnic groups face more difficulties in educational success than others, upholding contextual effects as a contested and inconclusive topic. This case study scrutinises the contextual underpinnings of ethnic diversity in the educational attainment of adolescents from various ethnic populations in Belgium's largest cities. Using full population individual‐level longitudinal census data (1991–2001), stratified multilevel ordinal models focus on the heterogeneous role of household characteristics – parental education and household composition – and neighbourhood characteristics – ethnic density, coethnic representation and deprivation – in young native and ethnic minority populations. While this Belgian case study shows that parental education and residential environment contribute to educational outcomes of all young adults in similar ways, it also points at two ethnic‐specific dynamics. First, contextual socioeconomic advantages are accumulated to a greater extent among native adolescents. Second, coethnic residential concentration shows a positive association with educational attainment for native and European‐origin children only. This paper reveals how the spatial separation of ethnic communities fosters differential opportunities for educational success, in particular for the most segregated population groups. If we want to better understand the complexities of native‐origin and minority youth embarking on differential educational trajectories, our study echoes the need for considering various sociospatial contexts in which people of different ethnic communities interact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we conduct a detailed examination of the determinants of attitudes to financial risk among retail investors in six European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom). We find that respondents from the United Kingdom and Belgium are the most risk tolerant while those from Spain are the least. We observe remarkable similarities in the distributions of risk tolerance across countries despite cultural differences and considerable variations in the extent to which risky investing is undertaken as a routine part of financial planning. We further show that country effects in the cross‐sectional variation of attitude to risk scores are swamped by the impacts of gender, salary and wealth, while financial knowledge and prior investment experience are much more important still. Our results have implications for regulators and those who wish to encourage European investors to consider going beyond bank savings and guaranteed products to more prevalent stock market investing in an era of negative real interest rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we revisit this well‐established linear relationship of person‐organisation, demands‐abilities, and needs‐supply fit with job satisfaction, commitment, and OCBs, and propose that this relationship may be linear for affective work outcomes but curvilinear for behavioural ones. We test this idea in a two‐wave sample of 212 employees, with measures taken 4 weeks apart. The results support the idea that the relationship between fit and behavioural outcomes can, indeed, be curvilinear. Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of the nature of the relationship between fit and work outcomes by challenging the long‐held 'more fit is better' logic that pervades much of the PE fit research to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assessing the speech production of multilingual children is challenging for speech‐language therapists (SLTs) around the world. Scientific recommendations to improve clinical practice are available, but their implementation has mostly been described in studies from English‐speaking countries. Aims: This survey aimed to describe the perspectives and practices of SLTs in assessing the speech production of multilingual children in French‐speaking Belgium. Methods & Procedures: An online survey was completed by 134 SLTs in French‐speaking Belgium. Outcomes & Results: SLTs predominantly used norm‐referenced assessment approaches, which are not recommended for use with multilingual children, and lacked necessary training and resources to implement recommended practices in the assessment of speech production of multilingual children. The shift towards more appropriate practices with multilingual children seems to be in its infancy among SLTs in French‐speaking Belgium. Some challenges identified by the SLTs were common to those in other countries and languages, such as the difficulty to distinguish between speech differences and speech disorders. Other challenges were specific to the French language and/or the Belgian context, such as the lack of appropriate tools in French. Conclusions & Implications: Action is required to improve clinical practice in assessing the speech production of multilingual children in French‐speaking contexts: better training for SLTs regarding linguistic diversity, more implementation research in the field of SLT, and advocacy for linguistic diversity with decision makers. What this paper adds: What is already known on this subject: Existing research indicates that assessing the speech production of multilingual children is challenging for speech‐language therapists (SLTs). Scientific recommendations for best practices have been published, and the shift to more appropriate assessment practices may be progressing differently across countries. SLTs' practices have been described in surveys, mostly conducted in English‐speaking countries. Although French is the fifth most spoken language in the world, data about SLTs' perspectives and practices in French‐speaking regions are scarce. What this study adds: The implementation of recommended practices in assessing multilingual children's speech production was limited among SLTs in French‐speaking Belgium. The norm‐referenced approach to assessment was predominant and few SLTs used recommended practices (e.g., criterion‐referenced measures, dynamic assessment, assessment of the child's speech production in the home language). Some challenges were identified that related specifically to practices in French‐speaking contexts (e.g., lack of French tools) and Belgian context (e.g., health policies unfavourable to multilingualism). These findings confirm that specific understanding of a situation is needed to develop context‐ and/or language‐specific solutions—and ultimately improve clinical practice. What are the clinical implications of this work?: SLTs in French‐speaking Belgium require specific training and support to provide appropriate assessment of speech production in multilingual children. Efforts to improve practices in French‐speaking contexts should focus on increasing understanding and consideration of cultural and linguistic diversity at all levels of the child's environment. Evidence‐based knowledge, assessment tools and multilingual resources are available to SLTs on websites in French and in English. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Usually in latent class (LC) analysis, external predictors are taken to be cluster conditional probability predictors (LC models with external predictors), and/or score conditional probability predictors (LC regression models). In such cases, their distribution is not of interest. Class‐specific distribution is of interest in the distal outcome model, when the distribution of the external variables is assumed to depend on LC membership. In this paper, we consider a more general formulation, that embeds both the LC regression and the distal outcome models, as is typically done in cluster‐weighted modelling. This allows us to investigate (1) whether the distribution of the external variables differs across classes, (2) whether there are significant direct effects of the external variables on the indicators, by modelling jointly the relationship between the external and the latent variables. We show the advantages of the proposed modelling approach through a set of artificial examples, an extensive simulation study and an empirical application about psychological contracts among employees and employers in Belgium and the Netherlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we examine how commodification and labour control unfold within a digital labour platform, focusing on the connections between the platform, its users and workers. Based on a qualitative study covering couriers, clients, restaurants and the management of a food delivery platform in Belgium, we shed light on the complexity of commodification, explaining how the platform simultaneously empowers and disempowers all participants. We illustrate how the platform fosters commodification by granting access to transactions and fuelling competition, while at the same time increasing dependency through withholding information from users and workers. In so doing, we contribute to understanding how platforms exert control and create, extract and capture value by connecting users and workers with each other through the use of digital technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the impact on household incomes of the COVID‐19 pandemic and governments' policy responses in April 2020 in four large and severely hit EU countries: Belgium, Italy, Spain and the UK. We provide comparative evidence on the level of relative and absolute welfare resilience at the onset of the pandemic, by creating counterfactual scenarios using the European tax‐benefit model EUROMOD combined with COVID‐19‐related household surveys and timely labor market data. We find that income poverty increased in all countries due to the pandemic while inequality remained broadly the same. Differences in the impact of policies across countries arose from four main sources: the asymmetric dimension of the shock by country, the different protection offered by each tax‐benefit system, the diverse design of discretionary measures and differences in the household level circumstances and living arrangements of individuals at risk of income loss in each country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on R&D employment effects due to financial slack generated by an R&D tax exemption scheme in Belgium. The tax exemption is granted without firm‐level requirements, which facilitates testing firm‐level contingencies on the influence of the generated financial slack. We find that R&D employment effects increase with the level of the R&D tax exemption related to financial slack resources and that this positive relation is more outspoken for older firms and for firms with an intermediate share of R&D tax exemptions in the overall mix of R&D policy support. No effects are found for firm size and its R&D intensity. These findings suggest targeting the R&D tax exemption support according to firm characteristics to obtain longer term R&D employment effects. The focus on R&D employment adds to the literature on the evaluation of R&D policies which is largely oriented toward R&D expenditure and innovation outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Swiss Political Science Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

In phosphorites, the content and distribution of rare earth elements are linked to the environment of phosphogenesis. This paper focuses on the question of sources and processes controlling the rare earth element content of apatite from Belgian phosphorites formed during three major phosphogenic events in the Lower Palaeozoic, Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic. To constrain sources and processes, new data include petrological, mineralogical (including cathodoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy) and in situ trace element and Sr and O isotope analyses of apatite. Fluorapatite from Lower Palaeozoic P‐rich conglomerates has the greatest rare earth element enrichment. It is affected by metamorphism that led to deformation of apatite nodules and formation of garnet porphyroblast inclusions. The role of Fe‐oxyhydroxides in element scavenging is highlighted by some apatite nodules that maintain their primary middle rare earth element enrichment, while others are characterized by altered rare earth element patterns resulting from competition for these elements between co‐crystallizing minerals during deformation. A systematic shift towards lower δ18O and radiogenic Sr isotopic composition compared to contemporaneous seawater indicate interaction with 18O‐depleted meteoric fluids and a crustal component. By contrast, carbonate‐rich fluorapatite from the Late Cretaceous phosphatic chalk mostly keeps its primary trace element and isotopic signatures (close to seawater), although an external rare earth element addition is noted, as well as rare earth element redistribution induced by diagenetic alteration. Cenozoic carbonate fluorapatite nodules mostly present flat rare earth element patterns that are indicative of a detrital influence. Slight changes in rare earth element distribution are assigned to post‐depositional alteration, which also led to an increase in radiogenic Sr, with unchanged δ18O compared to seawater. The methodology followed here efficiently helps in deciphering the processes that modified the chemistry of apatite in the frame of major phosphogenic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper addresses the inaccuracies in the current methods for estimating the capacity value of photovoltaic (PV) plants, which rely heavily on large‐scale data and fail to represent the actual capacity value pattern accurately. The research conducts case studies in Belgium, Texas, and California to analyze the impact of different factors on capacity value. It proposes a new metric called the Marginal Moving‐Average Limited‐Hours (MMALH) Equivalent Load‐Carring Capability (ELCC) ‐ Based capacity value. The proposed metric reduces the dependence on hourly data and better represents capacity value. The results from real case studies validate the effectiveness of the new metric, highlighting its novelty and contribution to the assessment of capacity value in PV power systems. The study emphasizes the importance of accurately assessing the capacity value of PV compared to conventional units, considering environmental factors and system parameters. The study exposes the shortcomings in current metrics and advocates for the MMALH ELCC methodology as a more precise evaluation approach. The research suggests optimizing design, employing advanced tracking systems, enhancing maintenance practices, and ensuring effective grid integration to boost solar plant efficiency. Consistent monitoring and analysis of the utilization factor are vital for pinpointing improvement areas and augmenting productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well‐documented that residential moves are connected to life events such as separation or widowhood. However, much less is known about the residential choices that follow these events in middle and later life (between ages 50 and 70) and how the location of family members outside the household relates to these choices. Comparing the cases of Belgium and Sweden, this paper addresses (i) the extent to which (im)mobility after separation or widowhood is associated with the presence of older parents and adult children nearby; (ii) the extent to which the choice of destination is associated with the location of older parents and adult children for those separated, widowed, and married individuals who moved, and (iii) how these patterns vary among men and women. We answer these questions employing logistic regression models and discrete‐choice models fitted to Belgian and Swedish register data from 2012 to 2014. The results show unique patterns of mobility around separation and widowhood which differ from those of continuously married individuals. Separated and widowed men and women in both countries are generally more likely to make a move towards their parents than continuously married ones. Widowhood is also associated with an increased propensity for a move towards one's children. In contrast, separation is associated with a lower propensity for moving towards one's children, especially among men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The XVIIth International Congress of Applied Psychology will be held from July 25-30, 1971 in Liege, Belgium. A limited number of free papers can still be accepted, interested authors should contact the Congress Secretariat. The provisional program of about thirty pages, containing full details, will be sent on demand, free of charge and without obligation, together with a registration form, from the Congress Secretariat.

Background: Big data research requires public support. It has been argued that this can be achieved by public involvement and engagement to ensure that public views are at the centre of research projects. Researchers should aim to include diverse communities, including seldom‐heard voices, to ensure that a range of voices are heard and that research is meaningful to them. Objective: We explored how researchers involve and engage seldom‐heard communities around big data research. Methods: This is a qualitative study. Researchers who had experience of involving or engaging seldom‐heard communities in big data research were recruited. They were based in England (n = 5), Scotland (n = 4), Belgium (n = 2) and Canada (n = 1). Twelve semistructured interviews were conducted on Zoom. All interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed, and we used reflexive thematic analysis to analyse participants' experiences. Results: The analysis highlighted the complexity of involving and engaging seldom‐heard communities around big data research. Four themes were developed to represent participants' experiences: (1) abstraction and complexity of big data, (2) one size does not fit all, (3) working in partnership and (4) empowering the public contribution. Conclusion: The study offers researchers a better understanding of how to involve and engage seldom‐heard communities in a meaningful way around big data research. There is no one right approach, with involvement and engagement activities required to be project‐specific and dependent on the public contributors, researchers' needs, resources and time available. Patient and Public Involvement: Two public contributors are authors of the paper and they were involved in the study design, analysis and writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares national sustainability support schemes and sustainability requirements in four countries that import solid biomass for heat and power generation: Belgium, Denmark, the UK, and the Netherlands. The paper also reviews voluntary certification schemes for solid biomass that may be used to demonstrate sustainability compliance. In the absence of mandatory EU criteria for solid biomass, different national support schemes and sustainability requirements may present barriers to trade. This paper identifies some possibilities for harmonization and provides suggestions for policymakers for the improvement and alignment of national sustainability requirements. Ultimately the paper suggests establishing a harmonized certification scheme in the short term based on legislative requirements in the four countries and in voluntary initiatives. The proposed harmonized certification scheme may also reduce both implementation costs and complexity for biomass suppliers and generators. In the long term, the paper recommends binding criteria on sustainability requirements for solid biomass at EU level. © 2017 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dr Aarts has advisory board / consultancy honoraria from Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, MSD-Merck, Merck-Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi, Astellas, Bayer. Prof vd Eertwegh has advisory relationships with Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Roche, Novartis, MSD, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi, Pfizer, Ipsen, Merck and has received research study grants not related to this paper from Sanofi, Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb, Idera and TEVA and has received travel expenses from MSD Oncology, Roche, Pfizer and Sanofi and has received speaker honoraria from BMS and Novartis. Dr Suijkerbuijk has advisory relationships with Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, MSD, Pierre Fabre, Abbvie and received honoraria from Novartis, MSD and Roche. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Dysarthria is a common symptom following stroke and represents an important cause of functional impairment in stroke patients. A better characterization of dysarthria could facilitate differential diagnosis and optimize healthcare service distribution. Aim: To determine the speech characteristics, dysarthria type and severity in the acute phase following ischemic stroke in a comprehensive stroke centre. Methods & Procedures: First‐ever ischemic stroke patients consecutively admitted to the Stroke Unit of Ghent University Hospital were included in this prospective clinical study between March 2018 and October 2019. All participants admitted to the Stroke Unit were screened for dysarthria by a speech–language pathologist within 72 h after admission. When dysarthria was identified, speech characteristics were evaluated via auditory–perceptual assessment and objective measurement of acoustic parameters. Dysarthria type was determined based on the Mayo Classification System. Severity of impairment was scored at function and activity level using the Radboud Dysarthria Assessment and the evaluation of speech intelligibility at sentence level using the Dutch Speech Intelligibility Assessment. In addition, dysarthria recovery was separately evaluated in all participants using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at hospital admission, day 3 ± 2 and day 7. Outcomes & Results: A total of 67 out of 151 participants (44%; mean age = 69 years; SD = 13; 28 females) were diagnosed with dysarthria in the acute phase following stroke. Standardized assessments were possible in 72% (48/67) of participants. Imprecise articulation of consonants, harsh voice quality and audible inspiration were the most frequent observed speech characteristics. The acoustic parameters maximum phonation time and maximum loudness deviated most from normative values. Unilateral upper motor neuron (UUMN) was the main dysarthria type present in 52% (25/48) of participants. A total of 58% (28/48) and 71% (34/48) of participants had no/minimal/mild difficulties at the functional and activity levels, respectively. Speech intelligibility was mildly impaired (median = 91%; IQR = 73–97). According to the NIHSS, sub‐item speech score at hospital admission, 46% (70/151) of participants had dysarthria, of which half recovered completely from their dysarthria within 1 week after stroke symptom onset. Conclusions & Implications: UUMN was the dominant dysarthria type, and the majority of participants had a mild dysarthria. Half the participants showed complete recovery within 1 week following symptom onset. The observed speech characteristics mainly reflect impairments in the subsystem's articulation, phonation and respiration. Objective measurements of acoustic parameters corroborate these findings. Future research should focus on longitudinal assessment to investigate recovery of symptoms and the long‐term impact of dysarthria on social participation. What this paper addsWhat is already known on the subjectThere are few data concerning the presentation of dysarthria following acute ischemic stroke. Moreover, previous research did not include objective measurements of speech characteristics and dysarthria severity. There was a need to determine prospectively speech characteristics, dysarthria type and severity in a stroke population using standardized assessments.What this paper adds to existing knowledgeThe findings of this study show a high prevalence of dysarthria following acute ischemic stroke. This study confirms previous findings that the speech of dysarthric patients following acute ischemic stroke was mostly characterized by imprecise articulation of consonants, a harsh voice quality and audible inspiration. The results of the objective measures confirm these findings. We added evidence that UUMN is the most prevalent dysarthria type in a stroke population, and that the majority of participants had mild dysarthria. A high rate of dysarthria recovery was seen in the first week following symptom onset.What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?The findings of this study contribute to the limited research performed regarding post‐stroke dysarthria. The results can help optimize the distribution of healthcare resources. The majority of participants have a mild dysarthria, making the identification of the specific needs of this group an important area of concern. The evaluation of impaired speech subsystems and characteristics, especially supplemented with objective measures of acoustic parameters, and the classification of the type and severity of dysarthria can be helpful to monitor early progress in the acute phase post‐stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a multi‐family therapy (MFT) group for adult outpatients with obsessive‐compulsive disorder and their family members. Since family accommodation (FA) is known to maintain OCD symptoms by preventing exposure and response prevention (ERP), reduction of FA is a major focus of the treatment. Furthermore, psychoeducation, conjoint ERP and (re)discovering resources and strengths of families are also important therapeutic foci of the family group. The organisation of MFT is explained and involvement of family is illustrated with clinical vignettes. Finally, some reflections about MFT are provided. On the basis of initial clinical impressions, MFT seems a promising approach. A clinical trial is currently underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates different uses of the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) in national journal rankings and discusses the merits of supplementing metrics with expert assessment. Our focus is national journal rankings used as evidence to support decisions about the distribution of institutional funding or career advancement. The seven countries under comparison are China, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Poland, and Turkey—and the region of Flanders in Belgium. With the exception of Italy, top‐tier journals used in national rankings include those classified at the highest level, or according to tier, or points implemented. A total of 3,565 (75.8%) out of 4,701 unique top‐tier journals were identified as having a JIF, with 55.7% belonging to the first Journal Impact Factor quartile. Journal rankings in China, Flanders, Poland, and Turkey classify journals with a JIF as being top‐tier, but only when they are in the first quartile of the Average Journal Impact Factor Percentile. Journal rankings that result from expert assessment in Denmark, Finland, and Norway regularly classify journals as top‐tier outside the first quartile, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. We conclude that experts, when tasked with metric‐informed journal rankings, take into account quality dimensions that are not covered by JIFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Swiss Political Science Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

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]

The circumplex version of the Impact Message Inventory (IMI-C) is one of the few existing diagnostic devices for the assessment of 'objective' (inter-subjective) countertransference. The IMI-C purports to assess eight categories of countertransference reactions along the circumference of the interpersonal circle, conceptualized as blends of the two basic dimensions of affiliation (AFF) and control (CON): dominant (D), hostile-dominant (HD), hostile (H), hostile-submissive (HS), submissive (H), friendly-submissive (FS), friendly (F) and friendly-dominant (FD). As a measure of objective (or 'inter-subjective') countertransference, a crucial test for the IMI-C is its ability to produce scores that are generalizable across different therapists involved with the same patients. In four previous psychometric studies, the 'objectivity' of countertransference reactions was examined with a Dutch paper-and-pencil IMI-C version. In the present study, the generalizability of countertransference reactions across therapists was tested with a computer-delivered IMI-C. Results obtained with the electronic IMI-C format were compared with the findings of the paper-and-pencil version. Similar to the four prior studies, D and HD were the comparatively most generalizable classes of countertransference reactions among the eight categories. Both the AFF and CON main dimensions scores were substantially generalizable across therapists. From different perspectives of analysis, more favorable results were obtained with the computer-delivered IMI-C in comparison to the paper-and-pencil-version for (a) five of the eight countertransference classes (D, HD, F, FS, FD) and also for (b) the AFF main dimension. The computer-based IMI-C appears to be a promising tool for assessing objective countertransference reactions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Message: • Your countertransference reactions are likely to be partly patient-induced ('objective'). • Countertransference reactions can conveniently be classified in terms of the interpersonal circle. • The computer-based IMI-C is a user-friendly clinical instrument for the assessment of patient-induced countertransference reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The built heritage is a collection of properties of heritage value that should be protected and preserved. Designed in Belgium and built in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the beginning of colonisation, the steel‐framed houses in the province of Kongo‐Central are in an advanced state of damages due not only to the climatic conditions of the area, but also to those of exploitation. An architectural and technical study of these steel houses is nowadays required to develop solutions for their conservation as part of the DRC's built heritage. In this context, the National Fund for Scientific Research of Belgium (FNRS) is financing the research project entitled "Tropicalisation of engineering and architecture". This project is carried out jointly by the Université libre de Bruxelles (in charge of the architectural part) and the Université de Liège (in charge of the engineering part). For this project, the courthouse of Mbanza‐Ngungu (former ABC Hotel in Thysville) is studied in detail as a case study to identify the techniques used during construction, the pathologies affecting the structures and the solution which could be contemplated for their refurbishment. The present paper will introduce first investigation conducted in the framework of this project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applies both parametric and nonparametric synthetic control methods in the case of a specific federal reform. It evaluates the impact of Belgium's constitutional federalism reform of 1993 on GDP per capita. The findings show a negative impact of the reform on economic growth. This negative impact ceases soon after 2001, when a subsequent reform reduced the vertical fiscal imbalance that characterized the 1993 federal reform. It is argued that the presence of a strong federalism with subnational spending autonomy and, conversely, a centralized tax system, enhanced pork barrel spending, a common pool problem, thus damaging economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the first to estimate the impact of a direct measurement of firm‐level upstreamness (i.e. the steps—weighted distance—before the production of a firm meets either domestic or foreign final demand) on productivity and wage costs. To this end, we merged detailed Belgian linked panel data, covering all years from 2002 to 2010, with a unique dataset containing accurate information on the yearly position of each firm in the value chain. We rely on the methodological framework pioneered by Hellerstein et al. (Journal of Labor Economics, 1999, 17, 409) to estimate panel data models at the firm level. Controlling for key worker and firm characteristics, our GMM‐SYS and FE‐IV estimates show that firms positioned more upstream (i.e. further away from the final consumer) create more value. Our results also indicate that the impact of firm‐level upstreamness is stronger on productivity than on wage costs, which implies that profitability is fostered. More precisely, in line with Belgium's strong labour market institutions, our estimates suggest that the productivity gains associated with upstreamness are shared almost equally between wages and profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing complexity of parliamentary ethics regulation adopted over the last decades makes the systematic examination of its nature and the rationales underpinning regulatory choices an important endeavor. In this paper we introduce conceptualizations and measurements of conflict of interest (COI) regulation directed toward assuring the impartial and unbiased decisionmaking of national parliamentarians. We distinguish the strictness of rules, the nature of enforcement, sanctions, and transparency requirements as core elements defining COI regimes. Applying our framework to 27 European democracies, we select two cases for in‐depth analysis in which legislators chose very different solutions in response to growing pressures to regulate themselves, to inductively explore the drivers underpinning the choice of COI mechanisms: the United Kingdom, which adopted a highly transparency‐oriented regime, and Belgium, which adopted a highly sanction‐oriented COI regime. Echoing neo‐institutionalist perspectives, the longitudinal analyses indicate how the two democracies' different institutional environments shape distinct answers to similar functional pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Articulatory excursion and vocal intensity are reduced in many children with dysarthria due to cerebral palsy (CP), contributing to the children's intelligibility deficits and negatively affecting their social participation. However, the effects of speech‐treatment strategies for improving intelligibility in this population are understudied, especially for children who speak languages other than English. In a cueing study on English‐speaking children with dysarthria, acoustic variables and intelligibility improved when the children were provided with cues aimed to increase articulatory excursion and vocal intensity. While French is among the top 20 most spoken languages in the world, dysarthria and its management in French‐speaking children are virtually unexplored areas of research. Information gleaned from such research is critical for providing an evidence base on which to provide treatment. Aims: To examine acoustic and perceptual changes in the speech of French‐speaking children with dysarthria, who are provided with speech cues targeting greater articulatory excursion (French translation of 'speak with your big mouth') and vocal intensity (French translation of 'speak with your strong voice'). This study investigated whether, in response to the cues, the children would make acoustic changes and listeners would perceive the children's speech as more intelligible. Methods & Procedures: Eleven children with dysarthria due to CP (six girls, five boys; ages 4;11–17;0 years; eight with spastic CP, three with dyskinetic CP) repeated pre‐recorded speech stimuli across three speaking conditions (habitual, 'big mouth' and 'strong voice'). Stimuli were sentences and contrastive words in phrases. Acoustic analyses were conducted. A total of 66 Belgian‐French listeners transcribed the children's utterances orthographically and rated their ease of understanding on a visual analogue scale at sentence and word levels. Outcomes & Results: Acoustic analyses revealed significantly longer duration in response to the big mouth cue at sentence level and in response to both the big mouth and strong voice cues at word level. Significantly higher vocal sound‐pressure levels were found following both cues at sentence and word levels. Both cues elicited significantly higher first‐formant vowel frequencies and listeners' greater ease‐of‐understanding ratings at word level. Increases in the percentage of words transcribed correctly and in sentence ease‐of‐understanding ratings, however, did not reach statistical significance. Considerable variability between children was observed. Conclusions & Implications: Speech cues targeting greater articulatory excursion and vocal intensity yield significant acoustic changes in French‐speaking children with dysarthria. However, the changes may only aid listeners' ease of understanding at word level. The significant findings and great inter‐speaker variability are generally consistent with studies on English‐speaking children with dysarthria, although changes appear more constrained in these French‐speaking children. What this paper addsWhat is already known on the subjectAccording to the only study comparing effects of speech‐cueing strategies on English‐speaking children with dysarthria, intelligibility increases when the children are provided with cues aimed to increase articulatory excursion and vocal intensity. Little is known about speech characteristics in French‐speaking children with dysarthria and no published research has explored effects of cueing strategies in this population.What this paper adds to existing knowledgeThis paper is the first study to examine the effects of speech cues on the acoustics and intelligibility of French‐speaking children with CP. It provides evidence that the children can make use of cues to modify their speech, although the changes may only aid listeners' ease of understanding at word level.What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?For clinicians, the findings suggest that speech cues emphasizing increasing articulatory excursion and vocal intensity show promise for improving the ease of understanding of words produced by francophone children with dysarthria, although improvements may be modest. The variability in the responses also suggests that this population may benefit from a combination of such cues to produce words that are easier to understand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Swiss Political Science Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Social enterprises are seen as innovative towards solving societal problems, but little research exists on possible negative aspects, the so‐called dark sides. In this study, the emphasis is on dark sides of social entrepreneurship, how they are managed, and how systems thinking can contribute towards managing these effects. Dark sides of social entrepreneurship can take many forms, like unethical or insincere motives and unintended outcomes like the negative impact on the well‐being of founders and employees, but they are also a call for a critical reflection on the role of the government in society and the economic system social enterprises have to operate in. This paper aims to contribute to the dark side theory of social entrepreneurship by linking system archetypes to themes of dark side thereby stressing how management strategies act as balancing feedback loops to mitigate or prevent dark sides. A qualitative research was conducted by interviewing 21 respondents who play an important role in the world of social entrepreneurship in Belgium. The results show that dark sides of social enterprises manifest itself mostly in the form of trade‐offs and financial, business, and management related issues. Taking over the habits of profit‐oriented companies emerged as a new dark side element. Management strategies include anchoring goals, transparency, obtaining external views, changing the system, and above all reflection. The latter is an important first step to become aware of these issues to be able to change the negative dynamism of these dark sides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Belgium, an extensive corrosion program on a wide range of metals has been studied as candidate container material, which is considered in the geological disposal concept of high‐level radioactive waste or spent fuel. This paper presents an overview of the corrosion studies initiated by SCK CEN more than 40 years ago. The experiments conducted in these studies were conceived based on early disposal designs, that is, designs in which the radioactive waste was to be enclosed in a metallic overpack that would be directly emplaced in an argillaceous environment. A step‐wise approach was adopted consisting of laboratory screening studies, detailed studies, and demonstration tests. The screening studies included accelerated tests, conducted in a surface laboratory, and exposure tests carried out either in autoclaves or in the field in a surface clay quarry. The detailed studies involved both in situ and laboratory experiments. Gradually, the emphasis shifted from basic research to large‐scale integrated demonstration experiments enabling the simultaneous study of different parameters and/or processes and their coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aphasia can affect the communication between the person with aphasia (PWA) and the communication partner (CP). It is therefore necessary to support both the PWA and their CPs. Communication partner training (CPT) focuses on training communication between dyads of whom one person has aphasia. Although there is increasing evidence supporting CPT as an effective intervention to improve communication and reduce the psychosocial consequences of stroke, implementation in clinical practice remains limited. Aim: To understand the mechanisms behind the practice–evidence gap currently hindering CPT implementation, this study investigated the role of (1) education, (2) concept knowledge, (3) work setting and (4) clinical experience in CPT. Methods & Procedures: Flemish speech and language therapists (SLTs) clinically involved in aphasia rehabilitation were surveyed online regarding CPT. Statistical analyses include descriptive statistics to report survey results and non‐parametric group comparisons to investigate the role of the four variables on CPT. Outcomes & Results: In this study 72 SLTs were included, of whom 73.61% indicated they deliver CPT but of whom only 43.10% indicated CP presence during therapy. The most frequently identified barriers to CPT delivery were lack of time and CPT‐specific knowledge. Other barriers were lack of resources, work setting dependent factors, PWA or CP dependent factors, individual therapy to the PWA being of higher priority, existing CPT methods and interventions being perceived as unclear and feeling uncertain about CPT delivery. Concerning the role of the four variables on CPT delivery, neither education nor concept knowledge had a significant effect on CPT delivery. Work setting and clinical experience did, however, influence CPT delivery. More specifically, CPT delivery and CP presence were higher in the private practice (chronic phase) compared to the other three settings and experienced SLTs deliver CPT more often compared with less experienced SLTs. Conclusions & Implications: To reduce the practice–evidence gap, we suggest prioritising the two most frequently identified barriers, that is, lack of time and CPT‐specific knowledge. To overcome the time barrier in CPT, we propose implementing automated natural speech analysis to reduce the workload. To enhance CPT‐specific knowledge, speech and language therapy curricula should provide more in‐depth theory and hands‐on practice for CPT. In addition, increased awareness about CPT‐specific methods is needed to further support clinical practice. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Communication partner training (CPT) is an effective intervention to improve communication and reduce the psychosocial consequences of stroke. Despite this evidence base, a current practice–evidence gap exists. What this study adds: This is the first study to characterise CPT delivery in a Flemish cohort of speech and language therapists (SLTs). In addition, on a more international perspective, few studies have investigated the role of education, concept knowledge, work setting and clinical experience in CPT. We found that neither education nor concept knowledge has a significant effect on CPT delivery. CPT delivery and communication partner presence are significantly higher in the private practice compared to the hospital, rehabilitation centre or nursing home settings. Experienced SLTs deliver CPT more often compared with less‐experienced SLTs. The two most prominent reported barriers include lack of time and CPT‐specific knowledge. What are the clinical implications of this work?: This study suggests reducing the practice–evidence gap by alleviating the main barriers identified, that is, lack of time and CPT‐specific knowledge. Time‐barriers can be addressed by implementing automated natural speech analyses. We additionally advocate for more in‐depth theory and hands‐on practice for CPT in speech and language therapy curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megacarnivore behaviours shape ecological dynamics between their prey and competitors and therefore play a key role in structuring ecosystems. In Late Pleistocene Eurasia, hominins and hyenas were sympatric predators. Since the first discoveries of Crocuta c. spelaea in the 19th century, this 'bone‐crushing' species has been identified at most Palaeolithic sites and has inspired many taphonomic studies. Nonetheless, there is still very little known about its reproductive, social and spatial behaviours. We believe that exploring the complexity of the cave hyena's ethology is a way to better understand spatial relationships and niche sharing/partitioning between hominins and other top predators in Pleistocene ecosystems. This paper focuses on the study of Caverne Marie‐Jeanne Layer 4 (Hastière, Belgium), one of the best‐preserved palaeontological sites in the region. The exceptional number of hyena neonates in this assemblage (minimum number of individuals >300) has led us to describe, for the first time, a Late Pleistocene hyena birth den that was reused over a long period of time around 47.6–43k a bp. By bridging the gap between archaeology and palaeontology, we explore the potential of carnivore socio‐spatial organisation and denning habits as an ecological proxy and discuss how these new unique data could help us further understand hominins' spatial strategy in southern Belgium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on two examples of the introduction and use of COVID‐19 contact tracing apps in The Netherlands (CoronaMelder) and Belgium (Coronalert). It aims to offer a critical, sociotechnical perspective on tracing apps to understand how social, technical, and institutional dimensions form the ingredients for increasing surveillance. While it is still too early to gauge the implications of surveillance‐related initiatives in the fight against COVID‐19, the "technology theatre" put in place worldwide has already shown that very little can be done to prevent the deployment of technologies, even if their effectiveness is yet to be determined. The context‐specific perspective outlined here offers insights into the interests of many different actors involved in the technology theatre, for instance, the corporate interest in sociotechnical frameworks (both apps rely on the Google/Apple exposure notifications application programming interface). At the same time, our approach seeks to go beyond dystopian narratives that do not consider important sociocultural dimensions, such as choices made during app development and implementation to mitigate potential negative impacts on privacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Please cite this paper as: Devroey et al. (2011) Online monitoring of flu in Belgium. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 5(5), 351-356. Background The diagnosis and treatment of patients with the A(H1N1) pandemic flu caused some serious burden for general practitioners (GPs) in the summer and autumn of 2009. Objective The aim of this study was to track the incidence of influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) in Belgium and to describe the characteristics of the affected patients. Methods In July 2009, the Belgian online influenza surveillance system (BOISS) was set up to monitor the spread of influenza and ILI. Registrations were made by 93 GPs from all 10 Belgian provinces who participated at least 1 week during the first 12 months of the registration. Only patients who met the WHO criteria for flu were recorded. Results In total, 1254 patients (53% men) with influenza or ILI were included. Mainly younger persons were affected: 43% was under the age of 20 years. A risk factor for influenza-related complications was determined in 19% of cases, mainly patients with chronic respiratory problems. A treatment with oseltamivir or zanamivir was prescribed in 13%, and 3% of the patients was admitted to a hospital. The time of the peak incidence (44th week) and the magnitude (623 cases per week per 100 000 inhabitants) corresponded with the figures of the existing paper-based registration network. The small sample size and possible reporting biases may have influenced the findings of the study. Conclusions The BOISS provides a good alternative to conduct surveillance activities for influenza and ILI in Belgium. It provides complementary information regarding ILI compared to the existing data capturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]