Title Promoter Affiliations Abstract "Connectivity, Contestation and Cooperation in Global Governance (CONNECTIVITY)" "Jan Wouters" "Institute for International Law, Japanese Studies, Leuven, Leuven International and European Studies (LINES), Modernity & Society 1800-2000, Leuven" "In spite of an ever accelerating globalization and connectivity, our world is confronted with an increased contestation of universal and cosmopolitan principles and values. Especially human rights and the rule of law are criticized as “Eurocentric” or “Western” as part of complex dynamics involving concepts like sovereignty, self-determination and global norm diffusion. The present multidisciplinary research program starts from the hypothesis that the current gridlock in international affairs is grounded in fundamentally different conceptualizations of the core values and concepts on which international cooperation rests. To test this hypothesis we propose an in-depth, multiple-method and comparative analysis of how these values, principles and concepts are conceived by states and non-state actors in different countries (United States of America, Brazil, India, Japan, China, Russia and Egypt). This will generate (i) a fundamental re-thinking of theories that are built on the assumption of globally accepted values, (ii) new essential knowledge on the impact of differences on international law and relations, and (iii) key insights for finding new common ground to foster international cooperation." "Connectivity in large-scale brain networks and sleep-dependent motor memory consolidation" "Dante Mantini" "Department of Movement Sciences, Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group" "It is now well established that sleep plays a critical role in motor memory consolidation, which is the process by which newly acquired motor skills are retained for the long term. While the neural signatures underlying sleep-related motor memory consolidation are well documented, the functional connectivity (FC) patterns supporting this process remain poorly understood. Studying sleep and memory processes through the lens of brain connectivity is critical as there is increasing evidence that human sleep and behavior are not simply governed by activity in functionally localized areas, but instead orchestrated by functional integration of neural activity distributed throughout the brain.In this doctoral project, we used high-density electroencephalography (hdEEG) to examine how functional connectivity underlies motor learning and consolidation in large-brain networks during wake and sleep. We measured frequency-dependent functional connectivity in source-localized resting-state networks (RSNs) during wakefulness before and after motor learning (Chapter Two), and during sleep (control and post-learning sleep in Chapters Three and Four, respectively). Our aim was to understand how motor sequence learning (MSL) influences connectivity within and between RSNs, and how these modulations may relate to behavioral markers of motor memory consolidation (Chapters Two and Four). We also characterized frequency-dependent fluctuations of FC occurring across stages and cycles of control sleep (Chapter Three). Based on previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetoencephalographic (MEG) investigations, our overarching hypothesis was that motor sequence learning would modulate – and be related to – functional connectivity patterns during both wake and post-learning sleep in frequency bands that are known to be associated to motor learning (e.g., alpha and beta bands) and sleep physiology (e.g., sigma and delta bands). We expected these modulations to not only be observed within task-relevant networks (e.g., the motor network) but also between the motor and functionally distant networks (e.g., the default mode and attentional networks).With respect to FC during wakefulness, our findings indicate that lower resting-state FC (rsFC) between the motor and other large-scale networks (e.g., visual, attentional) before task practice (baseline) in the alpha, beta, theta, and delta bands was related to better motor learning and motor memory consolidation (Chapter Two). These results suggest that network segregation (i.e., lower large-scale connectivity) is not only beneficial for subsequent motor learning but also for the sleep-related consolidation process. Next, and before investigating the relationship between connectivity during sleep and motor memory consolidation, we characterized connectivity changes in RSNs during a control sleep session (Chapter Three). Our results demonstrated that connectivity globally decreased (across all frequencies and both within and between all RSNs) as non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep deepened. During the transition from NREM to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, however, we revealed frequency- and network-specific changes in connectivity, such that connectivity breakdown was observed across all network pairs in the delta and sigma bands, while a network-specific (default mode and attentional networks) reconnection was found in the alpha and beta bands. Results of Chapter Three thus highlight the spatial and temporal characteristics of the global breakdown in connectivity during NREM sleep as well as the more complex, network- and frequency-specific changes in connectivity during the transition to REM sleep. Last, we examined the effect of motor sequence learning on the sleep connectivity patterns described above (Chapter Four). Similar to Chapter Two, a relationship between motor memory consolidation and low connectivity between the motor and other RSNs was observed during sleep such that low alpha-band connectivity during post-learning NREM2 was correlated with better overnight improvements in performance. Interestingly, a decreased breakdown in sigma-band connectivity as NREM sleep deepened was correlated with better motor memory consolidation. Results of Chapter Four thus suggest that both network segregation (alpha-band, NREM2) and the maintenance of more global large-scale connectivity (sigma-band, transition from NREM2-3) play an important role in motor memory consolidation.Overall, my doctoral research provides a unique investigation into the interaction between sleep, memory, and connectivity patterns in both the spatial (functionally distinct resting-state networks) and temporal (oscillatory brain signal in different frequency bands) dimensions. Our results collectively demonstrate that frequency-dependent functional connectivity in resting state networks during both sleep and wakefulness is critically linked to motor learning and memory consolidation." "Assessing Feedback Responses of soil Erosion through the lens of variable Sediment connectivity during Extreme EveNts in semi-arid catchments." "Pascal Boeckx" "Department of Green Chemistry and Technology" "Soil resources in semi-arid regions are rapidly degrading, posing an imminent threat to food, water and livelihood security. Caveats in our understanding of geomorphological responses to extreme events are a major hindrance for attributing soil erosion and sediment flux dynamics to environmental drivers. Using the Burdekin and Makuyuni catchments as natural laboratories for semi-arid regions, the AsFoRESEEN project will assess feedback dynamics in soil erosion through the lens of variable sediment connectivity to test the hypothesis that extreme events can trigger regime shifts towards highly connected ephemeral gully networks. The proposed knowledge transfer strategies will bring the researcher’s scientific and analytical skills to the international standard, underpinning his ambition to combine academic and consultancy work within a leading European research institution. The researcher's unique skillset will be applied to develop novel approaches and integrate them with established techniques in an open-access diagnostic toolkit to support targeted soil- and water management interventions. Temporal dynamics in fine sediment and Phosphorous transport will be quantified using high-frequency sensors and sediment dating techniques. We will be the first to evaluate the use of secondary weathered metal species as tracers, providing a new pathway for attributing the contribution of gully erosion in deeply weathered or alluvials soils. Stream monitoring and sediment source tracing outputs will be integrated in a dynamic sediment budget to elucidate non-linear geomorphological responses to extreme events and land use changes. As a source of innovation, we will couple a machine-learning gully quantification tool with a dynamic catchment model, wherein gullies are both a direct source of sediment and a driver of changing sediment connectivity. The hybrid model will be used to test the efficacy of gully remediation strategies under current and future climatic conditions." "Connectivity in Merovingian time: mobility and kinship by ancient DNA in the Early Middle Ages in Western Europe" "Maarten Larmuseau" "Laboratory of Human Genetic Genealogy, Department of Human Genetics" "The Merovingian period was a time of extensive state formation in Western Europe led by Frankish rulers. Because of the scarcity of historical records and the prevalence of cremation practice until the mid-seventh century, it is still poorly understood what effect changes in the political landscape had on people living in the Frankish kingdom and how extensive mobility and gene flow were among the communities on the coast of the North Sea. Moreover, the kinship and genealogical connections within each archaeological site and between the sites remain unidentified. Therefore, an ancient DNA analysis on skeletal material before, between and after the Merovingian period (5th-8th century) in Western Europe will be realized within this PhD project." "Improving the Functional Connectivity of Grassland Networks for Plant-Pollinator Interactions" "Hans Jacquemyn" "Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation" "Loss in the area and connectivity of natural and semi-natural habitats in Europe over the last hundred years has placed not only numerous species under threat, but is also jeopardizing interactions between species crucial for maintaining important ecosystem functions, such as pollination. Despite protected areas covering now about a quarter of the land area of European Union, biodiversity has continued to decrease with only a few exceptions, suggesting that bold biodiversity-oriented governance is required also in landscapes beyond protected areas. Landscapes surrounding 'islands' of the still well-preserved habitats and protected biodiversity hotspots have to support exchange of individuals and genes between isolated plant and animal populations. Maintenance of such functional networks is vital for preserving genetic variation of populations, which, in turn, is necessary for adapting to climate change. FuncNet will improve understanding of the spatio-temporal effects of the area and structural connectivity of semi-natural grasslands - the hotspots of European biodiversity - on various aspects of plant-pollinator interactions in European rural landscapes. Project areas will cover Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany and Sweden, where grasslands have historically been common. However, due to land use change, the area and connectivity of these exceptionally diverse habitats has dramatically decreased over the past century, threatening the functioning and resilience of plant-pollinator networks. First, we will explore the effect of both current and historic landscape characteristics in the study regions on plant and pollinator diversity in structurally well-connected and fragmented grassland systems. We will focus both on good-quality grassland patches as well as on other landscape elements (small grassland remnants, grassy verges, power-line clear-cuts) to determine the role of these elements in supporting plants, pollinators and their interactions. In addition, we will assess the availability of floral resources for pollinators by carrying out pollen metabarcoding studies. Second, to further clarify the functioning of plant-pollinator interactions in maintaining the well-being and adaptive potential of insect-pollinated wild plants, we will examine pollinator visitation, fitness, genetic diversity and gene flow of an insect-pollinated self-incompatible grassland plant. Third, we will map the main stakeholder groups and explore what are their motivations and options to plan and manage remnant and marginal landscape elements in a biodiversity friendly way. Building on the results, the project will propose tools to maintain sustainable levels of biodiversity at landscape, community and genetic level through securing resilient plant-pollinator interactions, and will aim to propose win-win solutions for different stakeholder groups in supporting plant-pollinator networks of European rural landscapes through improved multi-actor governance." "Effective connectivity of the mirror neuron system in nonhuman primates" "Peter Janssen" "Laboratory for Neuro- and Psychophysiology" "The output of the mirror neurons in ventral premotor cortex (PMv) is currently unknown. Since anatomical tracer studies cannot distinguish between mirror sites and nonmirror sites, we have to manipulate mirror sites and nonmirror sites during fMRI. We want to address the following questions: - Do mirror neurons mostly project directly to mirror neurons in M1 (via F4) and to the spinal cord, and do nonmirror sites in PMv project to nonmirror sites in M1? What are the other cortical targets of mirror sites in PMv that distinguish them from nonmirror sites? - Can we chart the effective connectivity of mirror neuron sites compared to sites without mirror activity using microstimulation during fMRI? - What are the inputs to the mirror neurons in PMv? All these timely research questions require an experimental approach that goes beyond the current state of the art. We need recordings of single-unit and multiunit in PMv, M1 and the parietal input areas PFG and AIP, combined with electrical microstimulation and reversible inactivation during fMRI. To chart the connectivity of mirror and nonmirror sites in PMv and in M1, we will use electrical microstimulation during fMRI. To that end, two monkeys will scanned during ketamine/medetomidine sedation in a Siemens 3T scanner, as in our previous studies (Premereur, Van Dromme et al. 2015). We will select stimulation sites that are located at least 3 mm from each other. To chart the inputs to the mirror neurons in PMv, we will apply reversible inactivation of parietal areas PFG and AIP during fMRI. Together, these experiments will clarify the flow of information in the nohuman primate mirror neuron network." "Improving the Functional Connectivity of Grassland Networks for Plant-Pollinator Interactions" "Hans Jacquemyn" "Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation" "The major goal of this project is to explore the effect of both current and historic landscape characteristics on plant and pollinator diversity in structurally well-connected and fragmented grassland systems. We will focus both on good-quality grassland patches as well as on other landscape elements (small grassland remnants, grassy verges, power-line clear-cuts) to determine the role of these elements in supporting plants, pollinators and their interactions. In addition, we will assess the availability of floral resources for pollinators by carrying out pollen metabarcoding studies. In addition, to further clarify the functioning of plant-pollinator interactions in maintaining the well-being and adaptive potential of insect-pollinated wild plants, we will examine pollinator visitation, fitness, genetic diversity and gene flow of an insect-pollinated self-incompatible grassland plant. Finally, we will map the main stakeholder groups and explore what are their motivations and options to plan and manage remnant and marginal landscape elements in a biodiversityfriendly.Building on the results, the project will propose tools to maintain sustainable levels of biodiversity at landscape, community and genetic level through securing resilient plant-pollinator interactions, and will aim to propose win-win solutions for different stakeholder groups in supporting plant-pollinator networks of European rural landscapes through improved multi-actor governance. " "Climate and connectivity models to improve marl quarries as bat hibernacula" "Estuaries, Species Diversity" "Marl quarries are important overwintering sites for bats in Flanders. They are subject to frost and other forms of weathering which can cause collapses. This can lead to the disappearance of these important hibernacula. Stabilization is necessary for sustainable long-term protection. The climatological research will improve the knowledge on the variables (temperature, moist, …) that influence the distribution of bats in the marl quarries. Connectivity models will be used to optimize connections to the surrounding landscape. This study will be used as a base for a management plan and global vision of the marl quarries." "Innovative Entrepreneurship in Cities and Regions: Knowledge Connectivity, Incumbent Appropriation Strategies, and Multinational Firms" "Rene Belderbos" "Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation (main work address Leuven), Universiteit Utrecht" "Innovative entrepreneurship introduces new products, processes, or business models that form the basis of the development of new markets and long term prosperity of countries and regions. Incumbent (multinational) firms may however leverage their hold on global intangible assets and appropriation strategies to fence off the competitive threat of new innovative entrants. Innovative entrepreneurship is particularly salient in metropolitan areas with strong international knowledge connections (‘global cities’). We examine the influence of knowledge connectivity, ownership concentration of innovation, foreign and domestic multinational firm activity, and appropriation strategies in facilitating or hampering innovative entrepreneurial entry, growth of innovative entrants, and economic growth and resilience in (metropolitan) regions. To this end, we construct and analyse a comprehensive database on corporate innovative entry and growth in European regions and industries at a fine-grained (NUTS-3 and NACE-4) level." "Design of an in-package coupler for PMF technology towards an automotive connectivity demonstrator" "Patrick Reynaert" "Electronic Circuits and Systems (ECS)" "General purposeThe ultimate goal of this project is to develop a coupler in a housing for PMF (Polymer Microwave Fiber), witha bandwidth of 110-170GHz and less than 3dB loss, for use in the automotive industry as high data rate andgalvanically isolated information link. This requires significant effort as this is the first time such a structure,operating on these frequencies, is integrated into a fully commercial technology.An in-housing coupler offers a number of advantages such as low cost, performance and integrability with existingmounting techniques."