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Author Wambacq, E.; Alloul, A.; Grunert, O.; Carrette, J.; Vermeir, P.; Spanoghe, J.; Sakarika, M.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Haesaert, G. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Aerobes and phototrophs as microbial organic fertilizers : exploring mineralization, fertilization and plant protection features Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2022 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal Plos One  
  Volume 17 Issue 2 Pages e0262497-15  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Organic fertilizers and especially microbial biomass, also known as microbial fertilizer, can enable a paradigm shift to the conventional fertilizer-to-food chain, particularly when produced on secondary resources. Microbial fertilizers are already common practice (e.g. Bloom® and Synagro); yet microbial fertilizer blends to align the nutrient release profile to the plant’s needs are, thus far, unexplored. Moreover, most research only focuses on direct fertilization effects without considering added value properties, such as disease prevention. This study has explored three promising types of microbial fertilizers, namely dried biomass from a consortium of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, a microalga (Arthrospira platensis) and a purple non-sulfur bacterium (Rhodobacter sphaeroides). Mineralization and nitrification experiments showed that the nitrogen mineralization profile can be tuned to the plant’s needs by blending microbial fertilizers, without having toxic ammonium peaks. In a pot trial with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), the performance of microbial fertilizers was similar to the reference organic fertilizer, with cumulative dry matter yields of 5.6–6.7 g per pot. This was confirmed in a pot trial with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), showing an average total plant length of 90–99 cm after a growing period of 62 days for the reference organic fertilizer and the microbial fertilizers. Moreover, tomato plants artificially infected with powdery mildew (Oidium neolycopersici), a devastating disease for the horticultural industry, showed reduced disease symptoms when A. platensis was present in the growing medium. These findings strengthen the application potential of this novel class of organic fertilizers in the bioeconomy, with a promising match between nutrient mineralization and plant requirements as well as added value in crop protection.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000775890100025 Publication Date 2022-02-02  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1932-6203 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 3.7 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.7  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:185568 Serial 7122  
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Author Mannaerts, D.; Faes, E.; Cos, P.; Briedé, J.J.; Gyselaers, W.; Cornette, J.; Gorbanev, Y.; Bogaerts, A.; Spaanderman, M.; Van Craenenbroeck, E.; Jacquemyn, Y.; Torrens, C. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Oxidative stress in healthy pregnancy and preeclampsia is linked to chronic inflammation, iron status and vascular function Type University Hospital Antwerp
  Year (down) 2018 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal Plos One  
  Volume 13 Issue 9 Pages e0202919  
  Keywords University Hospital Antwerp; A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Antwerp Surgical Training, Anatomy and Research Centre (ASTARC); Translational Pathophysiological Research (TPR)  
  Abstract Background

During normal pregnancy, placental oxidative stress (OS) is present during all three trimesters and is necessary to obtain normal cell function. However, if OS reaches a certain level, pregnancy complications might arise. In preeclampsia (PE), a dangerous pregnancy specific hypertensive disorder, OS induced in the ischemic placenta causes a systemic inflammatory response and activates maternal endothelial cells. In this study, we aimed to quantify superoxide concentrations (as a measure of systemic OS) using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and correlate them to markers of systemic inflammation, iron status and vascular function.

Methods

Fifty-nine women with a healthy pregnancy (HP), 10 non-pregnant controls (NP) and 28 PE patients (32±3.3weeks) were included. During HP, blood samples for superoxide, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), mean platelet volume (MPV) and iron status were taken at 10, 25 and 39 weeks. Vascular measurements for arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV), augmentation index (AIx), augmentation Pressure (AP)) and microvascular endothelial function (reactive hyperemia index (RHI)) were performed at 35 weeks. In PE, all measurements were performed at diagnosis. CMH (1-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine) was used as spin probe for EPR, since the formed CM radical

corresponds to the amount of superoxide.

Results

Superoxide concentration remains stable during pregnancy (p = 0.92), but is significantly higher compared to the NP controls (p<0.0001). At 25 weeks, there is a significant positive correlation between superoxide and ferritin concentration. (p = 0.04) In PE, superoxide, systemic inflammation and iron status are much higher compared to HP (all p<0.001). During HP, superoxide concentrations correlate significantly with arterial stiffness (all p<0.04), while in PE superoxide is significantly correlated to microvascular endothelial function (p = 0.03).

Conclusions

During HP there is an increased but stable oxidative environment, which is correlated to ferritin concentration. If superoxide levels increase, there is an augmentation in arterial stiffness. In PE pregnancies, systemic inflammation and superoxide concentrations are higher and result in a deterioration of endothelial function. Together, these findings support the hypothesis that vascular function is directly linked to the amount of OS and that measurement of OS in combination with vascular function tests might be used in the prediction of PE.
 
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000444355500010 Publication Date 2018-09-11  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1932-6203 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.806 Times cited 15 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes This study is part of a PhD-thesis which is supported by the University of Antwerp and the Department Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Antwerp University Hospital. The University of Antwerp provides the earnings for the principal investigator (DM) who is responsible for the design of the study, data collection and interpretation and writing of the manuscript. The Antwerp University Hospital supports the financial part of data collection. EMVC is supported by the fund for scientific research-Flanders (FWO) as senior clinical investigator. Approved Most recent IF: 2.806  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:153802c:irua:153644 Serial 5048  
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Author Domingos, J.L.C.; Peeters, F.M.; Ferreira, W.P. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Self-assembly and clustering of magnetic peapod-like rods with tunable directional interaction Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2018 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal Plos One  
  Volume 13 Issue 4 Pages e0195552  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)  
  Abstract Based on extensive Langevin Dynamics simulations we investigate the structural properties of a two-dimensional ensemble of magnetic rods with a peapod-like morphology, i.e, rods consisting of aligned single dipolar beads. Self-assembled configurations are studied for different directions of the dipole with respect to the rod axis. We found that with increasing misalignment of the dipole from the rod axis, the smaller the packing fraction at which the percolation transition is found. For the same density, the system exhibits different aggregation states for different misalignment. We also study the stability of the percolated structures with respect to temperature, which is found to be affected by the microstructure of the assembly of rods.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1932-6203 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.806 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.806  
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:150778UA @ admin @ c:irua:150778 Serial 4977  
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Author Kamaraj, B.; Bogaerts, A. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Structure and function of p53-DNA complexes with inactivation and rescue mutations : a molecular dynamics simulation study Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2015 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal Plos One  
  Volume 10 Issue 10 Pages e0134638  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract The tumor suppressor protein p53 can lose its function upon DNA-contact mutations (R273C and R273H) in the core DNA-binding domain. The activity can be restored by second-site suppressor or rescue mutations (R273CT284R, R273HT284R, and R273HS240R). In this paper, we elucidate the structural and functional consequence of p53 proteins upon DNA-contact mutations and rescue mutations and the underlying mechanisms at the atomic level by means of molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, we also apply the docking approach to investigate the binding phenomena between the p53 protein and DNA upon DNA-contact mutations and rescue mutations. This study clearly illustrates that, due to DNA-contact mutants, the p53 structure loses its stability and becomes more rigid than the native protein. This structural loss might affect the p53-DNA interaction and leads to inhibition of the cancer suppression. Rescue mutants (R273CT284R, R273HT284R and R273HS240R) can restore the functional activity of the p53 protein upon DNA-contact mutations and show a good interaction between the p53 protein and a DNA molecule, which may lead to reactivate the cancer suppression function. Understanding the effects of p53 cancer and rescue mutations at the molecular level will be helpful for designing drugs for p53 associated cancer diseases. These drugs should be designed so that they can help to inhibit the abnormal function of the p53 protein and to reactivate the p53 function (cell apoptosis) to treat human cancer.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000359061400096 Publication Date 2015-08-05  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1932-6203; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.806 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.806; 2015 IF: 3.234  
  Call Number c:irua:126779 Serial 3278  
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Author van Oeffelen, L.; Van Roy, W.; Idrissi, H.; Charlier, D.; Lagae, L.; Borghs, G. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Ion current rectification, limiting and overlimiting conductances in nanopores Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2015 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal Plos One  
  Volume 10 Issue 10 Pages e0124171  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Previous reports on Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) simulations of solid-state nanopores have focused on steady state behaviour under simplified boundary conditions. These are Neumann boundary conditions for the voltage at the pore walls, and in some cases also Donnan equilibrium boundary conditions for concentrations and voltages at both entrances of the nanopore. In this paper, we report time-dependent and steady state PNP simulations under less restrictive boundary conditions, including Neumann boundary conditions applied throughout the membrane relatively far away from the nanopore. We simulated ion currents through cylindrical and conical nanopores with several surface charge configurations, studying the spatial and temporal dependence of the currents contributed by each ion species. This revealed that, due to slow co-diffusion of oppositely charged ions, steady state is generally not reached in simulations or in practice. Furthermore, it is shown that ion concentration polarization is responsible for the observed limiting conductances and ion current rectification in nanopores with asymmetric surface charges or shapes. Hence, after more than a decade of collective research attempting to understand the nature of ion current rectification in solid-state nanopores, a relatively intuitive model is retrieved. Moreover, we measured and simulated current-voltage characteristics of rectifying silicon nitride nanopores presenting overlimiting conductances. The similarity between measurement and simulation shows that overlimiting conductances can result from the increased conductance of the electric double-layer at the membrane surface at the depletion side due to voltage-induced polarization charges.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000354916100012 Publication Date 2015-05-15  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1932-6203; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.806 Times cited 11 Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.806; 2015 IF: 3.234  
  Call Number c:irua:126366 Serial 1744  
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Author Duarte-Neto, P.; Stosic, B.; Stosic, T.; Lessa, R.; Milošević, M.V.; Stanley, H.E. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Multifractal properties of a closed contour : a peek beyond the shape analysis Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2014 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal Plos One  
  Volume 9 Issue 12 Pages e115262  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)  
  Abstract In recent decades multifractal analysis has been successfully applied to characterize the complex temporal and spatial organization of such diverse natural phenomena as heartbeat dynamics, the dendritic shape of neurons, retinal vessels, rock fractures, and intricately shaped volcanic ash particles. The characterization of multifractal properties of closed contours has remained elusive because applying traditional methods to their quasi-one-dimensional nature yields ambiguous answers. Here we show that multifractal analysis can reveal meaningful and sometimes unexpected information about natural structures with a perimeter well-defined by a closed contour. To this end, we demonstrate how to apply multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis, originally developed for the analysis of time series, to an arbitrary shape of a given study object. In particular, we show the application of the method to fish otoliths, calcareous concretions located in fish's inner ear. Frequently referred to as the fish's “black box”, they contain a wealth of information about the fish's life history and thus have recently attracted increasing attention. As an illustrative example, we show that a multifractal approach can uncover unexpected relationships between otolith contours and size and age of fish at maturity.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000347239900030 Publication Date 2014-12-26  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1932-6203; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.806 Times cited 6 Open Access  
  Notes ; Funding: This work was supported by CNPq, Brazil (Projects No. 201506/2011-4, No. 303251/2010-7, and No. 306719/2012-6). MVM acknowledges support from Flemish Science Foundation (FWO-Vlaanderen) and CAPES PVE action No. BEX1392/ 11-5. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. ; Approved Most recent IF: 2.806; 2014 IF: 3.234  
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:123770 Serial 2218  
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Author Tilleman, L.; De Henau, S.; Pauwels, M.; Nagy, N.; Pintelon, I.; Braeckman, B.P.; De Wael, K.; Van Doorslaer, S.; Adriaensen, D.; Timmermans, J.-P.; Moens, L.; Dewilde, S. url  doi
openurl 
  Title An N-myristoylated globin with a redox-sensing function that regulates the defecation cycle in Caenorhabditis elegans Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2012 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal Plos One  
  Volume 7 Issue 12 Pages e48768-9  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)  
  Abstract Globins occur in all kingdoms of life where they fulfill a wide variety of functions. In the past they used to be primarily characterized as oxygen transport/storage proteins, but since the discovery of new members of the globin family like neuroglobin and cytoglobin, more diverse and complex functions have been assigned to this heterogeneous family. Here we propose a function for a membrane-bound globin of C. elegans, GLB-26. This globin was predicted to be myristoylated at its N-terminus, a post-translational modification only recently described in the globin family. In vivo, this globin is found in the membrane of the head mesodermal cell and in the tail stomato-intestinal and anal depressor muscle cells. Since GLB-26 is almost directly oxidized when exposed to oxygen, we postulate a possible function as electron transfer protein. Phenotypical studies show that GLB-26 takes part in regulating the length of the defecation cycle in C. elegans under oxidative stress conditions.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000313236200008 Publication Date 2012-12-12  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1932-6203 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.806 Times cited 6 Open Access  
  Notes ; SDH is a Ph.D. fellow of the Fund for Scientific Research (FWO). Financial support to SD and LM was provided by the University of Antwerp (BOF UA TOP 2006) and to SD, LM, BPB, by FWO project G.0247.09. The UltraVIEW VoX spinning disk confocal microscope was purchased with support of the Hercules Foundation (Hercules Type 1: AUHA 09/001). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. ; Approved Most recent IF: 2.806; 2012 IF: 3.730  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:102591 Serial 5741  
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Author Gielis, J.; Caratelli, D.; Fougerolle, Y.; Ricci, P.E.; Tavkelidze, I.; Gerats, T. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Universal natural shapes : from unifying shape description to simple methods for shape analysis and boundary value problems Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2012 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 7 Issue 9 Pages e29324-11  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Gielis curves and surfaces can describe a wide range of natural shapes and they have been used in various studies in biology and physics as descriptive tool. This has stimulated the generalization of widely used computational methods. Here we show that proper normalization of the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm allows for efficient and robust reconstruction of Gielis curves, including self-intersecting and asymmetric curves, without increasing the overall complexity of the algorithm. Then, we show how complex curves of k-type can be constructed and how solutions to the Dirichlet problem for the Laplace equation on these complex domains can be derived using a semi-Fourier method. In all three methods, descriptive and computational power and efficiency is obtained in a surprisingly simple way.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000309517500001 Publication Date 2012-09-30  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1932-6203 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:102202 Serial 8711  
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Author Smits, M.; Vanpachtenbeke, F.; Horemans, B.; De Wael, K.; Hauchecorne, B.; Van Langenhove, H.; Demeestere, K.; Lenaerts, S. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Effect of operating and sampling conditions on the exhaust gas composition of small-scale power generators Type A1 Journal article
  Year (down) 2012 Publication PLoS ONE Abbreviated Journal Plos One  
  Volume 7 Issue 3 Pages e32825-e32825,10  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Small stationary diesel engines, like in generator sets, have limited emission control measures and are therefore responsible for 44% of the particulate matter (PM) emissions in the United States. The diesel exhaust composition depends on operating conditions of the combustion engine. Furthermore, the measurements are influenced by the used sampling method. This study examines the effect of engine loading and exhaust gas dilution on the composition of small-scale power generators. These generators are used in different operating conditions than road-transport vehicles, resulting in different emission characteristics. Experimental data were obtained for gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOC) and PM mass concentration, elemental composition and nitrate content. The exhaust composition depends on load condition because of its effect on fuel consumption, engine wear and combustion temperature. Higher load conditions result in lower PM concentration and sharper edged particles with larger aerodynamic diameters. A positive correlation with load condition was found for K, Ca, Sr, Mn, Cu, Zn and Pb adsorbed on PM, elements that originate from lubricating oil or engine corrosion. The nitrate concentration decreases at higher load conditions, due to enhanced nitrate dissociation to gaseous NO at higher engine temperatures. Dilution on the other hand decreases PM and nitrate concentration and increases gaseous VOC and adsorbed metal content. In conclusion, these data show that operating and sampling conditions have a major effect on the exhaust gas composition of small-scale diesel generators. Therefore, care must be taken when designing new experiments or comparing literature results.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000303836500012 Publication Date 2012-03-19  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1932-6203 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.806 Times cited 5 Open Access  
  Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 2.806; 2012 IF: 3.730  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:96545 Serial 5581  
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