Hasselt University Research Articles

Do diligent students perform better? Complex relations between student and course characteristics, study time, and academic performance in higher education

Research has reported equivocal results regarding the relationship between study time investment and academic performance in higher education. In the setting of the active, assignment-based teaching approach at Hasselt University (Belgium), the present study aimed (a) to further clarify the role of study time in academic performance, while taking into account student characteristics (e.g. gender, prior domain knowledge), and (b) to examine the relation between a number of student and course characteristics and study time. Data included course-specific study time recordings across the entire term, grades for 14 courses, expert ratings of six course characteristics, and other data from the records of 168 freshmen in business economics. For most courses, study time predicted grades, even beyond student characteristics. However, there were differential results depending on the course considered, stressing the importance of examining relations at course level instead of globally across courses. As to study time, course characteristics were strong predictors.

A Social Network Perspective on Sport Management: The Effect of Network Embeddedness on the Commercial Performance of Sport Organizations

Pieters is with FC Eindhoven (chairman), The Netherlands. He received his PhD at Hasselt University, Belgium. Knoben is with the Dept. of Organisation Studies, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands. Pouwels is with the Municipality of Heeze-Leende, Heeze, the Netherlands. A Social Network Perspective on Sport Management: The Effect of Network Embeddedness on the Commercial Performance of Sport Organizations

Cadmium from zinc smelter emission and variation in cancer incidence

Nawrot, Tim S.a,b; Roels, Harry A.d; Vangronsveld, Jacoa; Staessen, Jan A.c Author Information

MPGN – An Approach for Discovering Class Association Rules

The article briefly presents some results achieved within the PhD project R1876Intelligent Systems’ Memory Structuring Using Multidimensional Numbered Information Spaces, successfully defended at Hasselt University. The main goal of this article is to show the possibilities of using multidimensional numbered information spaces in data mining processes on the example of the implementation of one associative classifier, called MPGN (Multilayer Pyramidal Growing Networks).

Science Outreach Programs as a Powerful Tool for Science Promotion: An Example from Flanders

Within the framework of the Lisbon Agreement, all European member states are encouraged to take measures to increase the number of science and technology students in higher education. To promote this educational model, a chemistry project was developed that focuses on high school students and especially on the involvement of their teachers by inviting both groups to attend science outreach programs at Hasselt University.

Reply

The statement by Archer et al. not to forget aortocaval compression of the intra-abdominal veins of pregnant women in the supine position during maternal sonography is very relevant. This issue indeed deals with one of the fundamental characteristics of venous hemodynamics during pregnancy, which differs from non-pregnant conditions. It is well known that under normal physiological conditions, venous return equals cardiac output. Therefore, a change of venous return will automatically influence cardiac output and, as such, modulation of venous return is an important physiological mechanism involved in control of cardiac output. Contrary to arteries and arterial flow, external pressure to veins is an important determinant of venous return1. This characteristic of venous return becomes particularly relevant in the abdomen of a pregnant woman. During pregnancy, a gradual increase of intraperitoneal pressure has been reported2, which is associated with a rise of intravenous pressure in the femoral veins3. In a review on vena cava syndrome4, large interindividual variability was reported in cardiovascular reflex responses associated with the supine hypotensive syndrome. Others, including Archer et al., found a high degree of variation in cardiac output, especially in the third trimester5. Regulation and control of venous return and cardiac output therefore seems to be one of the major physiological challenges with which the female body must deal during pregnancy, and this is particularly reflected in the cardiovascular reflex response to maternal position. Evidence is growing that some pregestational or gestation-induced conditions of the venous compartment, and/or the cardiovascular system as a whole, interfere with this function and may predispose to specific gestational disorders, such as pre-eclampsia or fetal growth restriction6-8. The hemodynamic response to cardiovascular challenge by position change or exercise is one way of assessing the adaptive capacities of the maternal cardiovascular system9. This assessment should also be considered in maternal sonography, while respecting fetal safety conditions. Other methods to explore the functionality of the venous compartment have been reported, but, bearing in mind the complexity of reflex responses to biological variables such as position, breathing, diurne and pregnancy, it is easy to understand that these studies have always been technically difficult. Therefore, methodologic standardization is of major importance in studies of venous hemodynamics, especially when it comes to the application of ultrasound—and Doppler—technology10. In order to conduct these so-called cardiovascular challenge tests, new technologies such as electrical cardiometry may indeed be very useful, as Archer et al. have illustrated. However, validation studies on their application in experimental or clinical settings are required11. W. Gyselaers*, * Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, B-3600 Genk, Belgium; Department of Physiology, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium

Mesenchymal stem cells induce a time-dependent recruitment of microglia and astrocytes following autologous grafting in brain tissue

Mesenchymal stem cells induce a time-dependent recruitment of microglia and astrocytes following autologous grafting in brain tissue

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH: Traffic Trigger

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH: Traffic Trigger

Public health importance of triggers of myocardial infarction: a comparative risk assessment

Acute myocardial infarction is triggered by various factors, such as physical exertion, stressful events, heavy meals, or increases in air pollution. However, the importance and relevance of each trigger are uncertain. We compared triggers of myocardial infarction at an individual and population level. We searched PubMed and the Web of Science citation databases to identify studies of triggers of non-fatal myocardial infarction to calculate population attributable fractions (PAF). When feasible, we did a meta-regression analysis for studies of the same trigger. Of the epidemiologic studies reviewed, 36 provided sufficient details to be considered. In the studied populations, the exposure prevalence for triggers in the relevant control time window ranged from 0.04% for cocaine use to 100% for air pollution. The reported odds ratios (OR) ranged from 1.05 to 23.7. Ranking triggers from the highest to the lowest OR resulted in the following order: use of cocaine, heavy meal, smoking of marijuana, negative emotions, physical exertion, positive emotions, anger, sexual activity, traffic exposure, respiratory infections, coffee consumption, air pollution (based on a difference of 30 μg/m3 in particulate matter with a diameter <10 μm [PM10]). Taking into account the OR and the prevalences of exposure, the highest PAF was estimated for traffic exposure (7.4%), followed by physical exertion (6.2%), alcohol (5.0%), coffee (5.0%), a difference of 30 μg/m3 in PM10 (4.8%), negative emotions (3.9%), anger (3.1%), heavy meal (2.7%), positive emotions (2.4%), sexual activity (2.2%), cocaine use (0.9%), marijuana smoking (0.8%) and respiratory infections (0.6%). Interpretation In view of both the magnitude of the risk and the prevalence in the population, air pollution is an important trigger of myocardial infarction, it is of similar magnitude (PAF 5-7%) as other well accepted triggers such as physical exertion, alcohol, and coffee. Our work shows that ever-present small risks might have considerable public health relevance. The research on air pollution and health at Hasselt University is supported by a grant from the Flemish Scientific Fund (FWO, Krediet aan navorsers/G.0873.11), tUL-impulse financing, and bijzonder onderzoeksfonds (BOF) and at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven by the sustainable development programme of BELSPO (Belgian Science Policy).

Post-mortem assessment of rat spinal cord injury and white matter sparing using inversion recovery-supported proton density magnetic resonance imaging

This was an experimental study. White matter sparing influences locomotor recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The objective of the present post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigation was to assess the potential of a simple inversion recovery (IR) sequence in combination with high-resolution proton density (PD) images to selectively depict spared white matter after experimental SCI in the rat. This study was conducted at University of Liège and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Liège, Belgium and Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium. Post-mortem 9.4 tesla (T) MRI was obtained from five excised rat spines 2 months after compressive SCI. The locomotor recovery had been followed weekly using the standardized Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scale. IR MRI was used to depict normal white matter as very hypo-intense. Preserved white matter, cord atrophy and lesion volume were assessed, and histology was used to confirm MRI data. MRI showed lesion severity and white matter sparing in accordance with the degree of locomotor recovery. IR MRI enhanced detection of spared and injured white matter by selectively altering the signal of spared white matter. Even subtle white matter changes could be detected, increasing diagnostic accuracy as compared to PD alone. MRI accuracy was confirmed by histology. High-resolution IR-supported PD MRI provides useful micro-anatomical information about white matter damage and sparing in the post-mortem assessment of chronic rat SCI.

Simulation and optimisation of intermodal barge transport networks

This is a summary of the author’s PhD thesis supervised by Gerrit Janssens and Cathy Macharis and defended on 7 May 2010 at the Hasselt University, Belgium. The thesis is written in English and is available from the author upon request. This work deals with two key aspects in the competitiveness of intermodal transport making use of inland navigation. The first part of the thesis studies bundling of freight in intermodal barge transport networks. Alternative bundling strategies for container barge transport are compared by means of discrete event simulation. Cooperation between inland barge terminals to bundle freight flows is modelled as a service network design problem. The second part relates to the initial and final journey by road in the intermodal barge transport chain. Pre- and end-haulage by road is modelled as a Full Truckload Pickup and Delivery Problem with Time Windows. A local search algorithm and deterministic annealing algorithm are proposed to find near-optimal solutions.

Biological modification of carbon nanowalls with DNA strands and hybridization experiments with complementary and mismatched DNA

The authors acknowledge financial support by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen) in the framework of the project G.0159.07 'Structural and electronic properties of biologically modified graphene-based layers', a collaboration between Hasselt University, University of Antwerp and Catholic University Leuven. Furthermore, we acknowledge financial support from the federal Belgian BELSPO project IUP VI 'Quantum effects in clusters and nanowires'. S. W. is a postdoctoral research fellow of FWO-Vlaanderen and V. V. is a postdoc of the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT). We also want to thank Thomas Cleij and Milos Nesladek for fruitful discussions and helpful advice.

Editor's Summary and Q&A: In-vitro comparison of 2 cone-beam computed tomography systems and panoramic imaging for detecting simulated canine impaction-induced external root resorption in maxillary lateral incisors

Introduction The introduction of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in dentomaxillofacial radiology has created new diagnostic challenges, including some potential opportunities for evaluating impacted teeth. The diagnostic accuracy for detection of simulated canine-induced external root resorption lesions in maxillary lateral incisors was compared between conventional, 2-dimensional panoramic radiographic imaging and two 3-dimensional CBCT systems. Methods A child cadaver skull in the early mixed dentition was obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium, with ethical approval. This skull had an impacted maxillary left canine and allowed a reliable simulation. Simulated root resorption cavities were created in 8 extracted maxillary left lateral incisors by the sequential use of 0.16 mm diameter round burs in the distopalatal root surface. Cavities of varying depths were drilled in the middle or apical thirds of each tooth root according to 3 setups: slight (0.15, 0.20, and 0.30 mm), moderate (0.60 and 1.00 mm), and severe (1.50, 2.00, and 3.00 mm). The lateral incisors, including 2 intact teeth, were repositioned individually in the alveolus of the pediatric skull with approximal contacts to the impacted maxillary left canine. Three sets of radiographic images were obtained with panoramic Cranex Tome (Soredex, Helsinki, Finland), Accuitomo-XYZ Slice View Tomograph (J. Morita, Kyoto, Japan), and Scanora 3D CBCT (Soredex, Tuusula, Finland) for each tooth setup. Eight observers examined the 3 sets of 10 radiographs for resorption cavities. Results The differences in correct detection of simulated root resorption for all cavity sizes were significantly different ( P Conclusions These results suggest that the CBCT radiographic method is more sensitive than conventional radiography to detect simulated external root resorption cavities.

In-vitro comparison of 2 cone-beam computed tomography systems and panoramic imaging for detecting simulated canine impaction-induced external root resorption in maxillary lateral incisors

The introduction of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in dentomaxillofacial radiology has created new diagnostic challenges, including some potential opportunities for evaluating impacted teeth. The diagnostic accuracy for detection of simulated canine-induced external root resorption lesions in maxillary lateral incisors was compared between conventional 2-dimensional panoramic radiographic imaging and two 3-dimensional CBCT systems. A child cadaver skull in the early mixed dentition was obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium, with ethical approval. This skull had an impacted maxillary left canine and allowed a reliable simulation. Simulated root resorption cavities were created in 8 extracted maxillary left lateral incisors by the sequential use of 0.16 mm diameter round burs in the distopalatal root surface. Cavities of varying depths were drilled in the middle or apical thirds of each tooth root according to 3 setups: slight (0.15, 0.20, and 0.30 mm), moderate (0.60 and 1.00 mm), and severe (1.50, 2.00, and 3.00 mm). The lateral incisors, including 2 intact teeth, were repositioned individually in the alveolus of the pediatric skull with approximal contacts to the impacted maxillary left canine. Three sets of radiographic images were obtained with panoramic Cranex Tome (Soredex, Helsinki, Finland), Accuitomo-XYZ Slice View Tomograph (J. Morita, Kyoto, Japan), and Scanora 3D CBCT (Soredex, Tuusula, Finland) for each tooth setup. Eight observers examined the 3 sets of 10 radiographs for resorption cavities. The differences in correct detection of simulated root resorption for all cavity sizes were significantly different (P <0.05) between the panoramic and both CBCT systems. CBCT imaging performance was significantly better than that of panoramic radiography for determining root resorption in the categories of slight and severe resorption. These results suggest that the CBCT radiographic method is more sensitive than conventional radiography to detect simulated external root resorption cavities.

Preface: Phys. Status Solidi A 206/3

AbstractDear colleagues,on the following pages, you will find a series of 17 articles emerging from the first edition of the workshop on ‘Engineering of Functional Interfaces’. This workshop – briefly addressed as ‘EnFI’ – was held on June 12–13, 2008, for the very first time at the Solar Campus Jülich of the Aachen University of Applied Sciences. EnFI, under the auspices of the VDE/VDI Society of Microelectronics, Micro and Precision Engineering (GMM), aims especially at younger scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and doctoral students and its format strongly resembles international ‘master classes of music’. EnFI offers tutorial lectures by experienced scientists, generally with a broad interdisciplinary background, and provides, equally well, a podium for presenting the own research of each participant to an international and interdisciplinary community. The contributions by the participants were actually twofold (an oral ‘appetizer’, followed by lively poster discussions) and the scientific level truly exceeded even optimistic expectations.Concerning the scientific contents, Feynman's legendary one‐liner ‘there is plenty of room at the bottom’ can nicely be transferred to ‘there is plenty of room at interfaces’ and especially at smartly designed interfaces with functional properties. Fascinating, interface‐driven phenomena, like giant‐negative magnetoresistance have recently been honoured with the Nobel prize in Physics 2007 for Albert Fert and Peter Grünberg, or the Nobel prize in Chemistry 2007 for Gerhard Ertl's unravelling of the molecular mechanisms behind heterogeneous catalysis. The design and understanding of phenomena at functional interfaces is a joint endeavour for various scientific and technological disciplines while the application potential is tremendously huge. These transdisciplinary aspects were nicely illustrated by the 4 tutorials and 28 contributed lectures of EnFI 08, covering the topics of (i) organic/inorganic interfaces, (ii) materials systems for sensors and actuators, (iii) theoretical modelling of surface properties, and (iv) applied aspects of sensorics and biofunctional surfaces.Finally, we would like to thank the editorial staff of physica status solidi cordially for their kind support in publishing the conference proceedings: physica status solidi has offered us a solid platform for publishing forefront research – all made by young people – with a double peer‐review system at best international standards. Special acknowledgements go to Julia Hübner, Stefan Hildebrandt, and Martin Stutzmann for their helpful support in the entire editorial process, to all people behind the scenes taking care of literally ‘the dots in the i's’, and, not to forget, to the referees for their invaluable advice and clear judgements.To finish, we would like to invite you for the 2nd edition of the EnFI workshop: ‘EnFI‐2009’ will be organized on June 18–19, 2009 in Belgium at Hasselt University. Hasselt, known as ‘Belgium's capital of good taste’, is centrally located in the Maas–Rhine triangle at an equal distance from Aachen, Brussels, and Eindhoven. Again, physica status solidi will host the conference proceedings and, after the highly positive experiences with the previous EnFI edition, we are looking forward to an excellent and fruitful conference.Engineering of Functional Interfaces – EnFI‐2009June 18–19, 2009Hasselt University, Campus DiepenbeekAgoralaan, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgiumwww.EnFI‐2009.euJülich, 4 February 2009

Preface: phys. stat. sol. (a) 205/9

AbstractDear colleague,You are reading the preface of the 10th consecutively published SBDD proceedings in pss (a). We are very happy to celebrate this anniversary with 29 papers gathered in this issue. It gives a thorough overview over different topics that were presented during the Hasselt Diamond Workshop 2008 – SBDD XIII, which took place from 25 to 27 February, for the first time at the cultuurcentrum Hasselt (Hasselt's cultural centre) in Hasselt, Belgium. The need for a new venue had become obvious, and is also an indicator of the dynamic evolution of the field of CVD diamond. Since 1996 the meeting has grown as a vibrant forum for rapid and intense discussions on scientific and technological topics, including fundamental and application‐driven viewpoints. Since 2003, the emphasis on growth and properties of high quality epitaxial diamond, nanocrystalline diamond and nanostructured carbon materials stimulated interests in the converging fields of electronics, physics, biology, chemistry and medicine. The 13th edition of SBDD featured 9 invited lectures, 36 contributed oral presentations and 50 posters in several sessions, including new topics such as graphene. The success of this meeting is unmistakably reflected in the growing number of participants, almost reaching 150.The participants were coming from all over the world, with origins spanning 22 different countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, UK, and USA. The mixture of young and established scientists, including a great percentage of students, made this meeting a hot spot of lively discussions on a wide range of scientific subjects, not only during the meeting itself, but also at several occasions throughout many social events offered by the hospitality of the city of Hasselt.This meeting would not have been possible without the help and support of many people and organisations. For financial aid we are especially indebted to the Scientific Research Community “Surface Modification of Materials ” of the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), whose continual support plays an important role in keeping this meeting going. We also thank the Hasselt University through the Institute for Materials Research (IMO) and Division IMOMEC for administrative support, Seki Technotron Corp. &amp; sp3 Diamond Technologies for sponsoring the poster reception, and Element Six Ltd. for sponsoring the opening reception. Both companies were present with a table top exhibit. Finally we would like to thank the editorial staff of physica status solidi for their constant support during the last 10 years. Through the excellent help and patient work of Sabine Bahrs and Julia Hübner, we are looking forward to adding another successful SBDD proceedings volume next year.To finish, we would all like to invite you to the 14th edition of the SBDD series. The meeting will again be held at the modern and excellent facilities of the cultuurcentrum Hasselt, this time in the beginning of March.CU all at SBDD XIV in 2009!Hasselt Diamond Workshop 2009 – SBDD XIVMarch 2 – 4, 2009cultuurcentrum Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgiumhttp://www.imo.uhasselt.be/SBDD2009Hasselt, August 11, 2008. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Cover Picture: phys. stat. sol. (a) 205/5

AbstractThe progress of CVD diamond growth technologies has allowed for acousto‐electronic applications based on diamond. Nowadays, thin (∼1 μm) and smooth nanocrystalline diamond films are used in new acousto electronic sensor applications such as flexural plate wave (FPW) sensors, microcantilever sensors and composite thin film bulk acoustic wave resonator (FBAR) sensors. The cover pictures illustrate this development. The upper picture shows an SAW filter made on a thick (∼100 μm) freestanding diamond layer coated with a piezoelectric AlN thin film. The lower picture shows an array of diamond/AlN micro‐cantilevers that can, for example, be used as pressure and temperature sensors. For more details on these devices see the Feature Article by Vincent Mortet et al. (pp. 1009–1020). The first author started to work on CVD diamond for electronic applications in 2001 and has been part of the wide band gap materials group in the Institute for Materials Research (IMO) of the Hasselt University and the Division IMOMEC, IMEC vzw in Belgium since 2004. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

A simulation optimisation approach for inventory management decision support based on incomplete information

This text summarizes the PhD thesis defended by the author in October 2007 under the supervision of Gerrit K. Janssens at Hasselt University, Belgium. The thesis is written in English and is available from the author upon request. The overall objective of this thesis is twofold. First, the demand process is described under the condition of incomplete information. Then a framework is developed for inventory management decision support for intermittent demand. Related to the first objective, two main contributions are proposed. Under the condition of incomplete information on demand, characteristics as demand shape and unimodality are identified and the optimal inventory level given a desired performance level is determined. The second objective also results in two main contributions of the thesis: the proposition of a best strategy in combining inventory decision making and demand forecasting for intermittent demand and the description of the impact of uncertainty on the supply side on the best strategy for intermittent demand.

Preface: phys. stat. sol. (a) 204/9

AbstractThe 40 papers gathered in this issue of physica status solidi (a) give a thorough overview over different topics that were presented during the International Hasselt Diamond Workshop 2007 – SBDD XII, which took place from 28 February to 2 March 2007 at the Hasselt University in Diepenbeek‐Hasselt, Belgium. Since its start more than 10 years ago, the SBDD workshop has grown into a well‐established, yearly meeting place, addressing new emerging science related to the progress in the CVD diamond field. 10 Invited lectures, 31 contributed oral presentations and 45 posters were presented in several sessions during an intense two and half day long meeting. The success of this meeting is unmistakably reflected in the growing number of participants, presentations and submitted papers.The number of participants reached 141 this year with participants coming from nineteen different countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, UK, and USA. The mixture of young and established scientists, including a great percentage of students, made this meeting a hot spot of lively discussions on a wide range of scientific subjects, not only during the meeting itself, but also at several occasions throughout many social events offered by the hospitality of the city of Hasselt.It stands for itself that the workshop would not have been possible without the support of many people and institutions. For financial aid we are especially indebted to the Scientific Research Community “Surface Modification of Materials” of the Research Foundation–Flanders (FWO), whose incessant support plays an important role in keeping this meeting going. We also thank the Hasselt University for offering the lecture hall and infrastructure facilities, and Seki Technotron Corp. for sponsoring the poster reception and their presence with a table‐top exhibit. Finally we highly appreciate the active approach of the editorial staff of physica status solidi in this conference and would like to thank most notably Stefan Hildebrandt and Julia Hübner for their excellent and patient work, bringing the number of successfully published SBDD proceedings in pss (a) up to 9 in a row. We are looking forward to celebrate the upcoming anniversary next year!To finish, we would all like to invite you to the 13th edition of the SBDD series. For the 2nd year in a row, a small revolution will take place. After last year's essential name change into the more general “Hasselt Diamond Workshop”, indicating the dynamic evolution of diamond as a material, a new venue with modern and excellent facilities in the form of Hasselt's Cultural Centre (cultuurcentrum Hasselt) was chosen to house SBDD XIII in 2008. Situated in the city centre, we hope that this new location will make this meeting even more enjoyable.So, let's meet at SBDD XIII – 2008!Hasselt Diamond Workshop 2008 – SBDD XIII25–27 February 2008cultuurcentrum Hasselt, Hasselt, Belgiumhttp://www.imo.uhasselt.be/SBDD2008Erlangen, Paris, Hasselt, August 2007

Fostering Transport and Logistics Research in the Benelux Countries

Promoting high quality research and education in the field of transport, within its region, is the main goal of the Benelux Interuniversity Association of Transport Economists – BIVEC-GIBET for short. Founded in 1978, the Association has evolved from a small group of transport economists into a solid and broad-based network of a diversity of transport experts. It presently unites both academic staff and professional people qualified in fields such as transport economics, logistics, regional economics, transport geography and transport law. After a first successful period of 25 years of experience, the BIVEC-GIBET organization is restructuring its activities in order to offer a better fit between academics and leading transport organizations. A first major event took place on November 30, 2005 at Hasselt University with the organization of the first BIVEC-GIBET Transport Research Day. A selection of contributions included in this special issue reflects the diversity and multidisciplinary character of on-going research.