Projects
Connectivity in large-scale brain networks and sleep-dependent motor memory consolidation KU Leuven
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 ...
Assessing Feedback Responses of soil Erosion through the lens of variable Sediment connectivity during Extreme EveNts in semi-arid catchments. Ghent University
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 ...
Connectivity in Merovingian time: mobility and kinship by ancient DNA in the Early Middle Ages in Western Europe KU Leuven
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. ...
Improving the Functional Connectivity of Grassland Networks for Plant-Pollinator Interactions KU Leuven
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, ...
Effective connectivity of the mirror neuron system in nonhuman primates KU Leuven
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 ...
Improving the Functional Connectivity of Grassland Networks for Plant-Pollinator Interactions KU Leuven
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 ...
Climate and connectivity models to improve marl quarries as bat hibernacula Research Institute for Nature and Forest
Innovative Entrepreneurship in Cities and Regions: Knowledge Connectivity, Incumbent Appropriation Strategies, and Multinational Firms KU Leuven
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 ...
Design of an in-package coupler for PMF technology towards an automotive connectivity demonstrator KU Leuven
General purpose
The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a coupler in a housing for PMF (Polymer Microwave Fiber), with
a bandwidth of 110-170GHz and less than 3dB loss, for use in the automotive industry as high data rate and
galvanically 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 ...