The European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) is critically endangered across its range, with modern intensive agriculture and habitat fragmentation mainly driving population declines. Conservation efforts have been largely ineffective in reversing these trends, emphasising the need for innovative approaches, such as quantitative modelling, to evaluate and guide management actions. We used the Generalised Management Strategy Evaluation (GMSE) framework to develop an individual-based model for the European hamster.

Basalt is a widely used raw material for tool manufacture at prehistoric sites, but a unified methodology for assessing how hominfins used basalt in prehistory is lacking. A comprehensive experimental investigation of basalt tools is, thus, necessary to establish a reliable methodological framework that can be used to explore the functional properties of archaeological basalt assemblages.

Background: Screening coverage for cervical cancer remains suboptimal in Flanders, Belgium. The upcoming transition to primary HPV screening in January 2025 presents an opportunity to offer self-sampling kits (SSKs) as an alternative to conventional Pap smears, with the potential to increase participation rates. General practitioners (GPs) can play a crucial role in reaching under-screened populations. Hereto it is essential to understand the needs and preferences of GPs regarding the integration of SSKs into their routine practice.

IMPORTANCE Reported cases of assisted dying have increased in countries with such legislation. In Belgium, where euthanasia was legalized in mid-2002, cases rose from 236 in 2003 to 3423 in 2023. Most previous studies have focused on occurrence rates.
OBJECTIVE To examine the magnitude of the increase in euthanasia cases and its association with demographic changes observed during the study period.

Background Significant efforts over the past decades have successfully reduced the global burden of malaria. However, progress has stalled since 2015. In low-transmission settings, the traditional distribution of malaria along vector suitability gradients is shifting to a new profile, with the emergence of hotspots where the disease persists.

Lysine, often referred to as the ‘first limiting amino acid’ in pig nutrition, plays a pivotal role in growth performance. Variability in lysine requirements arises due to factors such as age, sex and environmental conditions. Optimising pig health and production efficiency and minimising nitrogen excretion require accurate knowledge of estimated lysine requirements accounting for factors such as genetics, feeding practices, scientific advancements, and environmental considerations.

Background Preventive cancer screenings improve health outcomes, yet inequalities in access to and engagement with cervical cancer screening persist among minoritised populations, particularly migrants and ethnically minoritised groups. This study examines whether inequalities in the accumulation of health-related cultural resources (knowledge, values, and skills that individuals can use to promote their health) help explain ethnic disparities in cervical cancer screening within a European context, drawing on the theoretical concept of “cultural health capital”.