The textile trading system is based on the ‘take-make-use-dispose’ linear economic model: as high amounts of resources are utilized at low costs, the final products become waste after being used for a only short period. This creates an unbalanced system that has to change. A circular economy model can …

Digital Behavior Change Interventions (DBCI) have a pivotal role in reducing lifestyle-related illness, absenteeism, and healthcare costs. Current challenges in designing DBCI are appropriately tailoring interventions and finding new forms of delivery. In this exploratory work, we present the design …

1. Dynamic conditions in nature have led to the evolution of behavioural traits that allow animals to use information on local circumstances and adjust their behaviour accordingly, for example through learning. Although learning can improve foraging efficiency, the learned information can become unreliable …

Worldwide, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic diseases and currently the fourth leading cause of mortality. The natural course of this progressive disease is interrupted by periods of symptom deterioration called exacerbations. Exacerbations accelerate the …

Renewable energy systems are a crucial technological development needed to combat climate change. This thesis covers the design and implementation of a mathematical optimization model, which calculates the lowest cost of hydrogen for certain renewable energy system configurations. The output of the model …

Lake Kivu is experiencing unprecedented decline in production of Tanganyika Sardine (Limnothrissa miodon). This study sought to characterise the value chain of this fish species so as to chart its sustainable utilisation. The study performed in 2015 found two chains; an informal chain that takes 30% …

Background: Neck and shoulder complaints are common in primary care physiotherapy. These patients experience pain and disability, resulting in high societal costs due to, for example, healthcare use and work absence. Content and intensity of physiotherapy care can be matched to a patient’s risk of persistent …

Within BAM Infra (Netherlands) there is a 3D concrete printing facility already. This is the Europe's first commercial and industrial production location for 3D printing of concrete elements for bridges. The idea now for BAM (International) is to also include composite materials in the design of temporary …

In March 2020 life as we know it changed abruptly and indefinitely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. From one day to the next people were expected to work from home, while not everyone was equally equipped to do so in a safe and healthy manner. During a period of four months research was conducted …

Background: Rising healthcare costs, an increasing general practitioner shortage and an aging population have made healthcare organization transformation a priority. To meet these challenges, traditional roles of non-medical members have been reconsidered. Within the domain of physiotherapy, there has …