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Introduction: Lung transplant recipients are often physically inactive and are at risk of developing comorbidities. We investigated whether objectively measured physical activity was associated with the prevalence of comorbidities. Methods: Physical activity (accelerometry) and the presence of cardiovascular disease, symptoms of depression and anxiety, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, lower extremity artery disease, muscle weakness, obesity, and osteoporosis were assessed in 108 lung transplant recipients. Patients were divided into four groups based on daily step count. Results: A cohort of 108 patients (60 ± 7 years, 51% male, 20 ± 14 months since transplantation) was included. Active patients (>7,500 steps/day) had significantly fewer comorbidities (4 comorbidities) compared to severely inactive patients (<2,500 steps/day, 6 comorbidities), and muscle weakness and high symptoms of depression were less prevalent. Severely inactive patients had significantly more cardiovascular comorbidities compared to all other groups. No other significant differences were observed. Conclusion: Physically active lung transplant recipients have fewer comorbidities, lower prevalence of muscle weakness, and fewer symptoms of depression compared to very inactive patients. Plain Language Summary: This study investigated the relationship between objectively measured physical activity levels and the prevalence of comorbidities in lung transplant recipients. It shows that active lung recipients (≥7,500 steps/day) demonstrated significantly fewer comorbidities compared to severely inactive recipients (<2,500 steps/day). More specifically, muscle weakness and high symptoms of depression were significantly less prevalent in the active group. Severely inactive patients had more cardiovascular comorbidities compared to more active patients (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the prevalence of other comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INSIDER (Improved Nuclear SIte characterization for waste minimization in D&D operations under constrained EnviRonment) was a European project funded under the H2020-EURATOM programme and launched in June 2017. The project was coordinated by the French Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), it had a total duration of 4 years and covered a budget of 4 M€. INSIDER's work was performed by 5 technical working groups (WG) which brought together 18 institutions from 10 countries, leading to a total of 68 participating researchers. The objective of the project was to optimise the radiological characterisation of nuclear installations in constrained environments in order to obtain an accurate estimate of the content of contaminated materials as well as to optimise the quantity of contaminated materials to be treated as waste. The focus of this paper is on the statistical analysis of an interteam comparison of measurement results (dose rate, total gamma measurement, and gamma spectrometry) made in situ at the BR3 reactor, Belgium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strategy of reconnecting rivers with their floodplains currently gains popularity because it not only harnesses natural capacities of floodplains but also increases social co-benefits and biodiversity. In this paper, we present an example of a successfully implemented nature-based solution (NBS) in the Dijle valley in the centre of Belgium. The research objective is to retrospectively assess cost and benefit differences between a technical solution (storm basins) and an alternative NBS, here the restoration of the alluvial floodplain. The method is a comparative social cost–benefit analysis. The case study analysis reveals similar flood security, lower costs, more ecosystem services benefits and higher biodiversity values associated with the NBS option in comparison to the technical alternative. However, the business case for working with NBS depends substantially on the spatial and socio-ecological context. Chances for successful NBS implementation increase in conditions of sufficient space to retain flood water, when flood water is of sufficient quality, and when economic activity and housing in the floodplain is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Emergency and disaster situations have a major impact on hospitals, some of which are already overloaded daily. The recent COVID-19 outbreak, attacks in Brussels, floods in Wallonia and influx of Ukrainian refugees show that the risk of facing a disaster and involvement of local hospitals (and stakeholders) is real. However, how hospitals implement their own hospital disaster plan (HDP), the position of the hospital disaster coordinator (HDC) and the real efficacy of these measures remain unclear. Therefore, an evaluation tool with an expert-consensus set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and an evaluation of the HDC position is needed Method: A semi-quantitative survey, as part of evaluation research, was designed by a research group. This questionnaire was based on the document analysis of the main topics of the national template and accompanying legislation. To establish consensus on the importance of the KPIs concerning the HDP, a three-round email-based modified Delphi study (Policy Delphi) was undertaken. Results: For a task group, 15 qualified multidisciplinary professionals (in-hospital) agreed to participate, 11 completed all rounds. As a pilot group, a total of 25 'experts on the field', were purposively selected from Belgian hospitals, nine of them completed the questionnaire. The modified Delphi reached the agreed consensus threshold (i.e.75%), resulting in five main themes: demographic characteristics/profile HDC, hospital incident management system (HIMS), pre-incident phase, incident phase, post-incident phase. Collectively including a core set of 289 KPIs (29 indicators to assess progress concerning the HDC position). Conclusion: This study employed a modified Delphi approach to establish consensus, resulting in the development of an evaluation tool to measure hospital disaster preparedness and to evaluate progress of the HDC position within Belgian hospitals. All indicators were considered relevant and immediately implementable. When the implementation of KPIs is completed, the statement is that a HIMS exists within the hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) and tacrolimus (TAC) are immunosuppressive agents used in combination with corticosteroids for the prevention of acute rejection after solid organ transplantation. Their pharmacokinetics (PK) show considerable unexplained intraindividual and interindividual variability, particularly in the early period after transplantation. The main objective of the present work was to design a study based on D-optimality to describe the PK of the 2 drugs with good precision and accuracy and to explain their variability by means of patients’ demographics, biochemical test results, and physiological characteristics. Pharmacokinetic profiles of MPA and TAC were obtained from 65 stable adult renal allograft recipients on a single occasion (ie, day 15 after transplantation). A sampling schedule was estimated based on the D-optimality criterion with the POPED software, using parameter values from previously published studies on MPA and TAC modeling early after transplantation. Subsequently, a population PK model describing MPA and TAC concentrations was developed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Optimal blood-sampling times for determination of MPA and TAC concentrations were estimated to be at 0 (predose) and at 0.24, 0.64, 0.98, 1.37, 2.38, and 11 hours after oral intake of mycophenolate and TAC. The PK of MPA and TAC were best described by a 2-compartment model with first-order elimination. For MPA, the absorption was best described by a transit compartment model, whereas first-order absorption with a lag time best described TAC transfer from the gastrointestinal tract. Parameters were estimated with good precision and accuracy. While hematocrit levels and CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism significantly influenced TAC clearance, the pharmaceutical formulation and MRP2 genetic polymorphism were retained as significant covariates on MPA absorption and elimination, respectively. The prospective use of the simultaneous D-optimal design approach for MPA and TAC has allowed good estimation of MPA and TAC PK parameters in the early period after transplantation characterized by a very high unexplained variability. The influence of some relevant covariates could be shown. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Agricultural operations are important sources of organic dust containing particulate matter (PM) and endotoxins, which have possible negative health consequences for both humans and animals. Dust concentrations and composition in calf barns, as well as the potential health effects for these animals, are scarcely documented. The objective of this study was to measure PM fractions and endotoxin concentrations in calf barns and study their associations with lung consolidation, respiratory tract inflammation, and infection in group-housed calves. In this cross-sectional study, samples from 24 dairy farms and 23 beef farms were collected in Belgium from January to April 2017. PM 1.0 , PM 2.5 and PM 10 (defined as particulate matter passing through a size-selective inlet with a 50% efficiency cut-off at a 1.0-μm, 2.5-μm, and 10-μm aerodynamic diameter, respectively) were sampled during a 24-h period using a Grimm aerosol spectrometer (Grimm Aerosol Technik Ainring GmbH & Co. KG). Endotoxin concentration was measured in the PM 10 fraction. Thoracic ultrasonography was performed and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid was collected for cytology and bacteriology. Average PM concentrations were 16.3 µg/m3 (standard deviation, SD: 17.1; range: 0.20–771), 25.0 µg/m3 (SD: 25.3; range: 0.50–144.9), and 70.3 µg/m3 (SD: 54.5; range: 1.6–251.2) for PM 1.0 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 , respectively. Mean endotoxin in the PM 10 fraction was 4.2 endotoxin units (EU)/µg (SD: 5.50; range: 0.03–30.3). Concentrations in air were 205.7 EU/m3 (SD: 197.5; range: 2.32–901.0). Lung consolidations with a depth of ≥1, ≥3, and ≥6 cm were present in 43.1% (146/339), 27.4% (93/339), and 15.3% (52/339) of the calves, respectively. Exposure to fine (PM 1.0) PM fractions was associated with increased odds of lung consolidations of ≥1 cm (odds ratio, OR: 3.3; confidence interval (CI): 1.5–7.1), ≥3 cm (OR: 2.8; CI: 1.2–7.1), and ≥6 cm (OR: 12.3; CI: 1.2–125.0). The odds of having lung consolidations of ≥1 cm (OR: 13.9; CI: 3.4–58.8) and ≥3 cm (OR: 6.7; 1.7–27.0) were higher when endotoxin concentrations in the dust mass exceeded 8.5 EU/µg. Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid neutrophil percentage was positively associated with PM 10 concentration, and epithelial cell percentage was negatively associated with this fraction. Concentration of PM 2.5 was positively associated with epithelial cell percentage and isolation of Pasteurella multocida. Although concentrations of fine dust are lower in calf barns than in poultry and pig housings, in this study they were associated with pneumonia in calves. Dust control strategies for reducing fine dust fractions in calf barns may benefit human and animal respiratory health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to develop a test platform (TP) compartment that could mimic diurnal trends in indoor climate and NH3 emission in a real pig compartment and to compare diurnal indoor climate and NH3 production between two TP compartments and a real compartment. The objectives were achieved by using a real and TP compartment followed by a second test that used two TP compartments and another real compartment. The TP had two compartments equipped with mock-up pigs as heat source and automatic urea solution spraying installation to mimic pig urination at the pen floor. The study evaluated indoor climate and NH3 production in a 4-day comparative test between a TP and a real compartment followed by a 3-day comparative test between two TP compartments and a real compartment where exhaust and slurry pit NH3 concentrations, ventilation rate, indoor temperature and relative humidity were simultaneously measured. The TP reproduced comparable diurnal trends in the measured parameters in the real compartment. The TP compartment overestimated NH3 emissions in the real compartment by 23% (R2 = 0.27) in the first experiment. In the second experiment, the two TP compartments overestimated the NH3 emissions in the real compartment by 38% (R2 = 0.36) and 44% (R2 = 0.37), respectively. The overestimated NH3 emission in the TP was probably due to the differences in urea solution vs. pig urine chemistry and floor fouling characteristics. The two TP compartments when compared showed similar diurnal trends in NH3 concentration and emission rate with hourly averages of 11.5±4.1 vs. 11.6±2.8 ppm and 13.2±3.0 vs. 12.1±2.9 g h-1, respectively. The study shows the TP could simulate indoor climate dynamics and NH3 emissions trends in a real compartment and therefore could be used to study NH3 volatilization processes and emission reduction techniques on relative emission basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations collect an ever-increasing amount of data concerning environmental parameters. Non-experts may be confronted with an information overload, making the data meaningless. A way to circumvent this problem is visualizing the trends in the pollution concentrations measured over time. However, non-experts do not have a mental model to derive air quality information from displayed concentration profiles. Therefore, a large fraction of the stakeholders remains unable to read/interpret such data effectively. To improve communication with stakeholders, we superposed health risk information from 9 different Air Quality Indices (AQIs) on different kinds of graphs. The visualization methods are applied on data collected by the Belgian Environment Agency from two monitoring stations located in contrasting regions, Ghent and Vielsalm. Supplementary, spatially distributed pollution is shown using data collected from Sentinel-5p satellite. Despite some limitations of the AQIs, the applied visualizations methods successfully translate the data obtained into actionable information. • Air quality information is combined with environmental data. • Superposition of trends and air quality indices (AQI) is visualized in different ways. • We perform a comparison of air quality trends between 2 locations in Belgium (Vielsalm and Ghent). • Effectiveness of visualizations was evaluated with a think aloud study. • Selection of AQI affects the interpretation of graphs by non-experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in biochemical, sensorial and quality characteristics of retail beef in Belgium. Four types of beef (Belgian Blue double-muscled, Limousin, Irish and Argentine) and two different muscles (longissimus lumborum and semimembranosus) were bought at the retail level and compared with regard to colour, shear force, collagen content, fatty acid analysis, taste panel evaluation as well as flavour analysis. Belgian Blue and Limousin beef had a paler colour, lower collagen and intramuscular fat contents. Fatty acid profiles were significantly different between the four types, with significantly higher PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 ratios for Belgiam Blue and Limousin beef compared to Argentine and Irish beef. There were significant differences between the meat types for taste panel tenderness and shear force, however both measurements did not fully correspond. Flavour analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry as well as sensory analysis demonstrated that Irish and Argentine beef had a higher flavour intensity related to higher contents of volatile compounds. Differences in tenderness and flavour between the meat types were probably affected by differences in ageing time, related to import vs local production of meat. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]