Purpose To investigate the test-retest reliability and validity of the steep ramp test (SRT), a short and practical maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer, for assessing CRF in apparently healthy adults aged 25–85 years. Methods To determine test-retest reliability, the reliability group performed …

Forecasting the thermal behavior of flexible heating assets is essential for real-time energy management in heating systems. While thermal dynamics are complex, the optimization algorithms within energy management systems (EMS) require low-order models with minimal computational load to make rapid, real-time …

The Quality Cost Indicator (QCI) model supports value-based health care at the institutional level, by calculating disease-specific health outcomes per unit cost over time. The aim of this study was to adapt the QCI model for specialized burn care (the BC-QCI model) and explore its utilization using …

Food loss and waste (FLW) remains a critical global challenge, particularly in the food and beverage (F&B) sector, where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate under tight margins and fragmented supply chains. This study investigates how F&B SMEs in the Netherlands address sustainability (including …

Hard coastal defences along the Dutch–Belgian North Sea coast are nearing the end of their design life and carry significant ecological costs. Salt marsh Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) provide a self-sustaining alternative. However, existing asset-management (AM) standards continue to view them as "nice-to-have" …

Aim: Mothers of children with intellectual disabilities are particularly vulnerable to mental distress due to demanding and exhausting caregiving. However, in the Arab world, they are seldom screened for depression because of limited diagnostic resources. Addressing the urgent need for brief and reliable …

Supplemental instruction, also known as Peer Assisted Study Sessions (SI-PASS), is a well-established form of peer learning that has been implemented in higher education institutions across the globe and that coincides with learning gains for participants. While the effects on learning gains have been …

INTRODUCTION: Standardized training in lung ultrasound is lacking. Given time constraints and challenges in accessing training, there is a need for condensed, focused training programs. This study aims to assess the effect of a targeted, condensed two hour training session on the competency of intensive …

This study investigates the influence of microplastic (MP) concentration on soil erodibility and examines how wind intensity affects the aerosolization of MPs, organic matter, and mineral fractions. Conducted under the SOILPROM project at Wageningen University & Research, two controlled laboratory experiments …

Human capital and social capital are crucial in shaping entrepreneurial decisions, yet their combined effects on entrepreneurship entry remain insufficiently explored. This study uses data from the China Household Tracking Survey (2010–2018) to examine how the coupling of human and social capital influences …