Academisch Proefschrift, ter verkrijging van de graad Doctor aan de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, op gezag van de rector magnificus prof. dr. J.J.G. Geurts, volgens besluit van de decaan van de Faculteit der Bètawetenschappen in het openbaar te verdedigen op donderdag 19 februari 2026 om 11.45 uur in …

As the global population continues to age, maintaining the physical performance and independence of older adults has become a critical public health concern. Population ageing describes a simultaneous increase in the number of older adults and the growth of the oldest- old demographic, which poses substantial …

Value Sensitive Design (VSD) offers a principled framework for embedding human values into technology, yet its practical application remains challenging due to unclear demarcations between its conceptual, empirical, and technical investigation types. This paper addresses the gap between VSD theory and …

Planning of container terminal operations is a complex task, which requires the accurate scheduling of operations that are highly interrelated and uncertain. This study aims to investigate the integration of quayside operational planning functions under uncertain parameters by applying a reactive approach. …

BACKGROUND: Following a severe burn injury, individuals embark on a lifelong process of managing and integrating the physical, psychological, and social consequences, including functional limitations, fatigue, altered body image, and psychological trauma. To aid in this process, healthcare professionals …

Background and aim. Research highlights that poor workspace variety, poor zoning, and limited personalization can reduce comfort, privacy, and focus in hybrid environments. This study aims to anticipate these challenges and to develop and evaluate participatory design interventions for user-centred, …

Self-regulation learning strategies are vital for academic success in blended learning. This study compares explicit and implicit instructional methods in fostering and retaining these strategies among university students. A randomized controlled trial with 100 s-year students at a Dutch University of …

The tourism industry is a major economic sector worldwide, significantly contributing to job creation and GDP growth. However, the rapid expansion of this industry, along with rising environmental and social concerns, underscores the critical need for sustainable strategies. This paper presents a novel …

Zoos play a crucial role in public education and wildlife engagement, yet traditional visits often lack interactive elements that foster meaningful connections between visitors and animals. In this paper, we introduce ZooWear, a head-mounted wearable featuring cartoon-style animal ears that provides …

Road markings play a crucial role in road safety by guiding traffic and ensuring visibility. As markings deteriorate over time, their effectiveness diminishes, necessitating timely maintenance. This paper studies two methods to classify road-marking damage from recorded images, in accordance with the …