“Particulate ba-barite and acantharians in the Southern Ocean during the European iron fertilization experiment (EIFEX)”. Jacquet SHM, Henjes J, Dehairs F, Worobiec A, Savoye N, Cardinal D, Journal of geophysical research: G: biogeosciences 112, 04006 (2007). http://doi.org/10.1029/2006JG000394
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Laboratory Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP); AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
DOI: 10.1029/2006JG000394
|
“Insights into the composition of ancient Egyptian red and black inks on papyri achieved by synchrotron-based microanalyses”. Christiansen T, Cotte M, de Nolf W, Mouro E, Reyes-Herrera J, De Meyer S, Vanmeert F, Salvado N, Gonzalez V, Lindelof PE, Mortensen K, Ryholt K, Janssens K, Larsen S, Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 117, 27825 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1073/PNAS.2004534117
Abstract: A hitherto unknown composition is highlighted in the red and black inks preserved on ancient Egyptian papyri from the Roman period (circa 100 to 200 CE). Synchrotron-based macro-X-ray fluo-rescence (XRF) mapping brings to light the presence of iron (Fe) and lead (Pb) compounds in the majority of the red inks inscribed on 12 papyrus fragments from the Tebtunis temple library. The iron-based compounds in the inks can be assigned to ocher, notably due to the colocalization of Fe with aluminum, and the detection of hematite (Fe2O3) by micro-X-ray diffraction. Using the same techniques together with micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Pb is shown to be associated with fatty acid phosphate, sulfate, chloride, and carboxylate ions. Moreover, microXRF maps reveal a peculiar distribution and colocalization of Pb, phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S), which are present at the micrometric scale resembling diffused “coffee rings” surrounding the ocher particles imbedded in the red letters, and at the submicrometric scale concentrated in the papyrus cell walls. A similar Pb, P, and S composition was found in three black inks, suggesting that the same lead components were employed in the manufacture of carbon-based inks. Bearing in mind that pigments such as red lead (Pb3O4) and lead white (hydrocerussite [Pb-3(CO3)(2)(OH)(2)] and/or cerussite [PbCO3]) were not detected, the results presented here suggest that the lead compound in the ink was used as a drier rather than as a pigment. Accordingly, the study calls for a reassessment of the composition of lead-based components in ancient Mediterranean pigments.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 11.1
DOI: 10.1073/PNAS.2004534117
|
“Nanostructures in LuFe2O4+\delta”. Hervieu M, Damay F, Poienar M, Elkaim E, Rouquette J, Abakumov AM, Van Tendeloo G, Maignan A, Martin C, Solid state sciences 23, 26 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2013.05.015
Abstract: A LuFe2O4+delta sample, previously characterized by X-ray synchrotron and neutron diffraction, has been studied by electron microscopy techniques, in order to get a precise description of its micro- and nanostructures at room temperature. The X-ray synchrotron data vs. temperature show that the monoclinic distortion is associated with the charge ordering; this distortion results in elongated twinning domains, which enhance the complexity of the microstructural state at room temperature. The structural modulation associated with oxygen excess is observed in large domains inside a non modulated matrix, in contrast with the modulations associated with the charge ordering of the Fe2+ and Fe3+ species, which are mostly short-range. The investigation of the nature and density of defects in the sample shows that they are nano-scaled, preserving the regularity of the layer stacking mode, and limited to the formation of one- or two-units large stacking faults, associated with gliding mechanisms. Based on these observations, an original description of the LuFe2O4 ferrite structure, through puckered [LuO4](infinity) sandwiching [Fe-2](infinity) layers, is proposed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 1.811
Times cited: 7
DOI: 10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2013.05.015
|
“Synthesis and structural characterization of a novel Sillén &ndash, Aurivillius bismuth oxyhalide, PbBi3VO7.5Cl, and its derivatives”. Charkin DO, Plokhikh IV, Kazakov SM, Kalmykov SN, Akinfiev VS, Gorbachev AV, Batuk M, Abakumov AM, Teterin YA, Maslakov KI, Teterin AY, Ivanov KE, Solid state sciences 75, 27 (2018). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2017.11.006
Abstract: A new Sillen – Aurivillius family of layered bismuth oxyhalides has been designed and successfully constructed on the basis of PbBiO2X(X = halogen) synthetic perites and g-form of Bi2VO5.5 solid elec- trolyte. This demonstrates, for the first time, the ability of the latter to serve as a building block in construction of mixed-layer structures. The parent compound PbBi3VO7.5-dCl (d = 0.05) has been investigated by powder XRD, TEM, XPS methods and magnetic susceptibility measurements. An unexpected but important condition for the formation of the mixed-layer structure is partial (ca. 5%) reduction of VV into VIV which probably suppresses competitive formation of apatite-like Pb – Bi vanadates. This reduction also stabilizes the g polymorphic form of Bi2VO5.5 not only in the intergrowth structure, but in Bi2V1-xMxO5.5-y (M – Nb, Sb) solid solutions.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 1.811
Times cited: 1
DOI: 10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2017.11.006
|
“Nanosecond-pulsed DBD plasma-generated reactive oxygen species trigger immunogenic cell death in A549 lung carcinoma cells through intracellular oxidative stress”. Lin A, Truong B, Patel S, Kaushik N, Choi EH, Fridman G, Fridman A, Miller V, International journal of molecular sciences 18, 966 (2017). http://doi.org/10.3390/IJMS18050966
Abstract: A novel application for non-thermal plasma is the induction of immunogenic cancer cell death for cancer immunotherapy. Cells undergoing immunogenic death emit danger signals which facilitate anti-tumor immune responses. Although pathways leading to immunogenic cell death are not fully understood; oxidative stress is considered to be part of the underlying mechanism. Here; we studied the interaction between dielectric barrier discharge plasma and cancer cells for oxidative stress-mediated immunogenic cell death. We assessed changes to the intracellular oxidative environment after plasma treatment and correlated it to emission of two danger signals: surface-exposed calreticulin and secreted adenosine triphosphate. Plasma-generated reactive oxygen and charged species were recognized as the major effectors of immunogenic cell death. Chemical attenuators of intracellular reactive oxygen species successfully abrogated oxidative stress following plasma treatment and modulated the emission of surface-exposed calreticulin. Secreted danger signals from cells undergoing immunogenic death enhanced the anti-tumor activity of macrophages. This study demonstrated that plasma triggers immunogenic cell death through oxidative stress pathways and highlights its potential development for cancer immunotherapy.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
DOI: 10.3390/IJMS18050966
|
“Calculation of the spectral line profile broadening parameter in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry”. Bencs L, Canadian Journal Of Analytical Sciences And Spectroscopy 53, 52 (2008)
Abstract: A polynomial approach is applied for a number of data from the Posener-tables to calculate the values of the intensity distribution function of atomic absorption lines – H(a, 0.726a) – at the tabulated damping-parameter values with an error not worse than 0.044 %. For the resultant H(a, 0.726a) data, the ninth and sixth order polynomials can be fitted according to the damping parameter range of 0-2, and 2-10, respectively, which results in a minimal error of approximation. The derived functions are simply applicable to the calculation of any H(a, 0.726a) value belonging to a damping-parameter of any arbitrarily selected spectral line, implying the influence of Doppler- and Lorentz-broadening. The overall error of the described method is lower than 0.4 %.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
|
“Fertilizer type influences dynamics of the microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of tomato and impact the nutrient turnover and plant performance”. Grunert O, Robles Aguilar AA, Hernandez-Sanabria E, Reheul D, Vlaeminck SE, Boon N, Jablonowski ND, Communications in agricultural and applied biological sciences 81, 67 (2016)
Abstract: Ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms (AOB and AOA) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) are the most important organisms responsible for ammonia and nitrite oxidation in agricultural ecosystems and growing media. Ammonia and nitrite oxidation are critical steps in the soil nitrogen cycle and can be affected by the application of mineral fertilizers or organic fertilizers. The functionality of the microbial community has a major impact on the nutrient turnover and will finally influence plant performance. The microbial community associated with the growing medium and its functionality will also be influenced by the rhizosphere and the bulk soil. In our study, we used a tomato plant with a high root exudation capacity in order to stimulate microbial activity. We studied plant performance in rhizotrons (a phentotyping system for imaging roots), including an optical method (planar optodes) for non-invasive, quantitative and high-resolution imaging of pH dynamics in the rhizosphere and adjacent medium. The horticultural growing medium was supplemented with organic-derived nitrogen or ammonium derived from struvite. The possible differences in the root structure between treatments is compared with the total root length. Destructive growing medium sampling and high throughput sequencing analysis of the bacterial abundance of the communities present in the rhizosphere and the bulk soil is used to study the growing medium-associated microbial community structure and functionality, and this will be related to pH changes in the rhizosphere and the bulk soil. Our hypothesis is that the growing medium-associated microbial community structure changes depending on the nitrogen form provided and we expect a higher abundance of bacteria in the treatment with organic fertilizer and a higher abundance of AOB and NOB in the rhizosphere in comparison to the bulk soil.
Keywords: A2 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
|
“Detection of amyloid fibrils in Parkinson’s disease using plasmonic chirality”. Kumar J, Eraña H, López-Martínez E, Claes N, Martín VF, Solís DM, Bals S, Cortajarena AL, Castilla J, Liz-Marzán LM, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115, 3225 (2018). http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1721690115
Abstract: Amyloid fibrils, which are closely associated with various neurodegenerative
diseases, are the final products in many protein aggregation pathways. The identification of fibrils at low concentration is, therefore, pivotal in disease diagnosis and development of therapeutic strategies. We report a methodology for the specific identification of amyloid fibrils using chiroptical effects in plasmonic nanoparticles. The formation of amyloid fibrils based on α-synuclein was probed using gold nanorods, which showed no
apparent interaction with monomeric proteins but effective adsorption onto fibril structures via noncovalent interactions. The amyloid structure drives a helical nanorod arrangement, resulting in intense optical activity at the surface plasmon resonance wavelengths. This sensing technique was successfully applied to human brain homogenates of patients affected by Parkinson’s disease,
wherein protein fibrils related to the disease were identified through chiral signals from Au nanorods in the visible and near IR, whereas healthy brain samples did not exhibit any meaningful optical activity. The technique was additionally extended to the specific detection of infectious amyloids formed by prion proteins, thereby confirming the wide potential of the technique. The intense chiral response driven by strong dipolar coupling in helical Au nanorod arrangements allowed us to detect amyloid fibrils down to nanomolar concentrations.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 9.661
Times cited: 187
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1721690115
|
“Solubilization of struvite as a sustainable nutrient source for single cell protein production”. Muys M, Derese S, Verliefde A, Vlaeminck SE, Communications in agricultural and applied biological sciences 81, 179 (2016)
Abstract: By 2050, the world population will have considerably expanded and the life standard of many will increase, yielding a 50% higher demand in protein (FAO, 2011), and even increases of 82 and 102% for diary and meat products, respectively (Boland et al., 2013). To provide in this increasing demand we are highly dependent on our classical fertilizer to food chain which has a high environmental impact and lacks efficiency. Nutrient losses cause eutrophication and biodiversity loss and the input of resources is already beyond the boundaries of environmental sustainability (Steffen et al., 2015). Phosphate fertilizers are made from phosphate rock (apatite), of which the reserves are predicted to be depleted within 50 100 years if we continue business as usual (Cordell et al., 2009). Next to problems related to the unbalanced geopolitical distribution with dominance in China and Morocco, the decreasing quality of the remaining apatite will result in an increasing environmental impact of fertilizer production. Finally, our traditional food production model requires 30% of all ice-free land, 70% of all available freshwater and produces up to one third of the global greenhouse gas emission, of which 80 to 86% is linked to agricultural production (Vermeulen et al., 2012). To ensure food security, nutrient recovery from waste streams can provide an important strategy. In this context, struvite ( ) crystallisation may be applied to recover phosphorus, along with some nitrogen. Reusing these nutrients as agricultural fertilizer on the field will lead to considerable losses to the environment. In contrast, their use to cultivate micro-organisms, e.g. for single cell protein (SCP), offers to potential of a near perfect conversion efficiency (Moed et al., 2015). At this moment, microalgae represent the most developed type of SCP, and are a promising protein source due to their growth rate, high nutritional quality and extremely high nutrient usage efficiency (Becker, 2007). Reliable solubilisation data are essential to design a technological strategy for struvite dosage in bioreactors for SCP production. The effect on solubility and solubilisation rate of relevant physicochemical parameters was studied experimentally in aqueous solutions. Because pH and temperature greatly affect solubilisation kinetics they were set at a constant value of 7 and 20°C respectively. The effect of some parameters on struvite solubility was already studied (Bhuiyan et al., 2007; Ariyanto et al., 2014; Roncal-Herrero and Oelkers, 2011), but solubilisation rates were not yet considered and pH was not controlled at a constant value. The chemical parameters considered in this study include the concentration of different common ions ( and ), foreign ions ( and the chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA) present in micro-algal cultivation media as well as ionic strength (as set by NaCl). The main physical parameter included was contact surface, through variation in initial particle size and as well as in struvite dosage concentration.
Keywords: A2 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
|
“Cascades of multiheaded chimera states for coupled phase oscillators”. Maistrenko YL, Vasylenko A, Sudakov O, Levchenko R, Maistrenko VL, International journal of bifurcation and chaos in applied sciences and engineering 24, 1440014 (2014). http://doi.org/10.1142/S0218127414400148
Abstract: Chimera state is a recently discovered dynamical phenomenon in arrays of nonlocally coupled oscillators, that displays a self-organized spatial pattern of coexisting coherence and incoherence. We discuss the appearance of the chimera states in networks of phase oscillators with attractive and with repulsive interactions, i.e. when the coupling respectively favors synchronization or works against it. By systematically analyzing the dependence of the spatiotemporal dynamics on the level of coupling attractivity/repulsivity and the range of coupling, we uncover that different types of chimera states exist in wide domains of the parameter space as cascades of the states with increasing number of intervals of irregularity, so-called chimera's heads. We report three scenarios for the chimera birth: (1) via saddle-node bifurcation on a resonant invariant circle, also known as SNIC or SNIPER, (2) via blue-sky catastrophe, when two periodic orbits, stable and saddle, approach each other creating a saddle-node periodic orbit, and (3) via homoclinic transition with complex multistable dynamics including an “eight-like” limit cycle resulting eventually in a chimera state.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 1.329
DOI: 10.1142/S0218127414400148
|
“Standardized indoor air quality assessments as a tool to prepare heritage guardians for changing preservation conditions due to climate change”. Anaf W, Leyva Pernia D, Schalm O, Geosciences 8, Unsp 276 (2018). http://doi.org/10.3390/GEOSCIENCES8080276
Abstract: Climate change will affect the preservation conditions of our cultural heritage. Therefore, well-considered mitigation actions should be implemented to safeguard our heritage for future generations. Environmental monitoring is essential to follow up the change in preservation conditions and to evaluate the effectiveness of performed mitigation actions. To support heritage guardians in the processing and evaluation of monitored data, an indoor air quality (IAQ) index for heritage applications is introduced. The index is calculated for each measured point in time and is visualized in a user-friendly and intuitive way. The current paper describes the backbone of the IAQ-calculating algorithm. The algorithm is subsequently applied on a case study in which a mitigation action is implemented in a church.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Systems and software Modelling (AnSyMo); AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)
DOI: 10.3390/GEOSCIENCES8080276
|
“Atmospheric turbulence triggers pronounced diel pattern in karst carbonate geochemistry”. Roland M, Serrano-Ortiz P, Kowalski AS, Van Grieken R, Janssens IA, et al, Biogeosciences 10, 5009 (2013). http://doi.org/10.5194/BG-10-5009-2013
Abstract: CO2 exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere is key to understanding the feedbacks between climate change and the land surface. In regions with carbonaceous parent material, CO2 exchange patterns occur that cannot be explained by biological processes, such as disproportionate outgassing during the daytime or night-time CO2 uptake during periods when all vegetation is senescent. Neither of these phenomena can be attributed to carbonate weathering reactions, since their CO2 exchange rates are too small. Soil ventilation induced by high atmospheric turbulence is found to explain atypical CO2 exchange between carbonaceous systems and the atmosphere. However, by strongly altering subsurface CO2 concentrations, ventilation can be expected to influence carbonate weathering rates. By imposing ventilation-driven CO2 outgassing in a carbonate weathering model, we show here that carbonate geochemistry is accelerated and does play a surprisingly large role in the observed CO2 exchange pattern of a semi-arid ecosystem. We found that by rapidly depleting soil CO2 during the daytime, ventilation disturbs soil carbonate equilibria and therefore strongly magnifies daytime carbonate precipitation and associated CO2 production. At night, ventilation ceases and the depleted CO2 concentrations increase steadily. Dissolution of carbonate is now enhanced, which consumes CO2 and largely compensates for the enhanced daytime carbonate precipitation. This is why only a relatively small effect on global carbonate weathering rates is to be expected. On the short term, however, ventilation has a drastic effect on synoptic carbonate weathering rates, resulting in a pronounced diel pattern that exacerbates the non-biological behavior of soil-atmosphere CO2 exchanges in dry regions with carbonate soils.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
DOI: 10.5194/BG-10-5009-2013
|
“The Quest to Quantify Selective and Synergistic Effects of Plasma for Cancer Treatment: Insights from Mathematical Modeling”. Bengtson C, Bogaerts A, International Journal Of Molecular Sciences 22, 5033 (2021). http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22095033
Abstract: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and plasma-treated liquids (PTLs) have recently become a promising option for cancer treatment, but the underlying mechanisms of the anti-cancer effect are still to a large extent unknown. Although hydrogen peroxide () has been recognized as the major anti-cancer agent of PTL and may enable selectivity in a certain concentration regime, the co-existence of nitrite can create a synergistic effect. We develop a mathematical model to describe the key species and features of the cellular response toward PTL. From the numerical solutions, we define a number of dependent variables, which represent feasible measures to quantify cell susceptibility in terms of the membrane diffusion rate constant and the intracellular catalase concentration. For each of these dependent variables, we investigate the regimes of selective versus non-selective, and of synergistic versus non-synergistic effect to evaluate their potential role as a measure of cell susceptibility. Our results suggest that the maximal intracellular concentration, which in the selective regime is almost four times greater for the most susceptible cells compared to the most resistant cells, could be used to quantify the cell susceptibility toward exogenous . We believe our theoretical approach brings novelty to the field of plasma oncology, and more broadly, to the field of redox biology, by proposing new ways to quantify the selective and synergistic anti-cancer effect of PTL in terms of inherent cell features.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.226
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095033
|
“Effects of a Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet with Different Gas Sources and Modes of Treatment on the Fate of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells”. Kang T-Y, Kwon J-S, Kumar N, Choi E, Kim K-M, Applied Sciences 9, 4819 (2019). http://doi.org/10.3390/app9224819
Abstract: Despite numerous attempts to use human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in the field of tissue engineering, the control of their differentiation remains challenging. Here, we investigated possible applications of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet (NTAPPJ) to control the differentiation of hMSCs. An air- or nitrogen-based NTAPPJ was applied to hMSCs in culture media, either directly or by media treatment in which the cells were plated after the medium was exposed to the NTAPPJ. The durations of exposure were 1, 2, and 4 min, and the control was not exposed to the NTAPPJ. The initial attachment of the cells was assessed by a water-soluble tetrazolium assay, and the gene expression in the cells was assessed through reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that the gene expression in the hMSCs was generally increased by the NTAPPJ exposure, but the enhancement was dependent on the conditions of the exposure, such as the source of the gas and the treatment method used. These results were attributed to the chemicals in the extracellular environment and the reactive oxygen species generated by the plasma. Hence, it was concluded that by applying the best conditions for the NTAPPJ exposure of hMSCs, the control of hMSC differentiation was possible, and therefore, exposure to an NTAPPJ is a promising method for tissue engineering.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 1.679
DOI: 10.3390/app9224819
|
“A simple way to calculate the volume and surface area of avian eggs”. Shi P, Chen L, Quinn BK, Yu K, Miao Q, Guo X, Lian M, Gielis J, Niklas KJ, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1524, 118 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1111/NYAS.15000
Abstract: Egg geometry can be described using Preston's equation, which has seldom been used to calculate egg volume (V) and surface area (S) to explore S versus V scaling relationships. Herein, we provide an explicit re-expression of Preston's equation (designated as EPE) to calculate V and S, assuming that an egg is a solid of revolution. The side (longitudinal) profiles of 2221 eggs of six avian species were digitized, and the EPE was used to describe each egg profile. The volumes of 486 eggs from two avian species predicted by the EPE were compared with those obtained using water displacement in graduated cylinders. There was no significant difference in V using the two methods, which verified the utility of the EPE and the hypothesis that eggs are solids of revolution. The data also indicated that V is proportional to the product of egg length (L) and maximum width (W) squared. A 2/3-power scaling relationship between S and V for each species was observed, that is, S is proportional to (LW2)(2/3). These results can be extended to describe the shapes of the eggs of other species to study the evolution of avian (and perhaps reptilian) eggs.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Impact Factor: 5.2
DOI: 10.1111/NYAS.15000
|
Finizola e Silva M, Van Schoubroeck S, Cools J, Aboge DO, Ouma M, Olweny C, Van Passel S (2024) Local actors' perspectives on sustainable food value chains : evidence from a Q-methodology study in Kenya. 36–51
Abstract: Governments and international organizations are increasingly determined to create more sustainable food value chains (SFVCs). However, only little empirical evidence is available on how SFVCs are understood. Enquiring African food value chain actors allows gathering valuable insights into their perception of sustainability, which characteristics of sustainable food value chains they prioritize, and which obstacles to a sustainable transformation they identify. By means of a Q-methodology involving interviews with 33 Kenyan respondents, four perspectives were distinguished. The first perspective, “economic productivity and growth,” prioritizes economic growth and has only limited attention to the social dimension of sustainability. The second perspective, “food security and food availability,” believes that ensuring food security should be the key goal of SFVCs. The third perspective, “environment first,” is dedicated to the environmental dimension of sustainability; the perspective implies that protecting natural resources is the primary way to sustain this level of production. The fourth perspective, “transformative knowledge,” entails that by innovating and sharing knowledge, food value chains can become more sustainable in different areas. Overall, this study provides reliable insights into how Kenyan food value chain actors perceive sustainability in their sector and which elements they believe should be prioritized when rethinking food systems. The study results are valuable for policy-making to further define an SFVC in Kenya and to pave the way for a sustainable transformation of the food sector in developing countries.
Keywords: Administrative Services; A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
DOI: 10.1007/S13412-023-00854-5
|
“Nitrogen cycling in bioregenerative life support systems : challenges for waste refinery and food production processes”. Clauwaert P, Muys M, Alloul A, De Paepe J, Luther A, Sun X, Ilgrande C, Christiaens MER, Hu X, Zhang D, Lindeboom REF, Sas B, Rabaey K, Boon N, Ronsse F, Geelen D, Vlaeminck SE, Progress in aerospace sciences 91, 87 (2017). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.PAEROSCI.2017.04.002
Abstract: In order to sustain human life in an isolated environment, an efficient conversion of wasted nutrients to food might become mandatory. This is particularly the case for space missions where resupply from earth or in-situ resource utilization is not possible or desirable. A combination of different technologies is needed to allow full recycling of e.g. nitrogenous compounds in space. In this review, an overview is given of the different essential processes and technologies that enable closure of the nitrogen cycle in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS). Firstly, a set of biological and physicochemical refinery stages ensures efficient conversion of waste products into the building blocks, followed by the production of food with a range of biological methods. For each technology, bottlenecks are identified. Furthermore, challenges and outlooks are presented at the integrated system level. Space adaptation and integration deserve key attention to enable the recovery of nitrogen for the production of nutritional food in space, but also in closed loop systems on earth.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
DOI: 10.1016/J.PAEROSCI.2017.04.002
|
“Some properties of “bulky&rdquo, links, generated by Generalized Möbius Listing's bodies GML4n”. Caratelli D, Gielis J, Ricci PE, Tavkhelidze I, Journal of mathematical sciences 216, 509 (2016). http://doi.org/10.1007/S10958-016-2907-X
Abstract: In the present paper, we consider the bulky knots and bulky links that appear after cutting of generalized MöbiusListing GML 4 n bodies (with corresponding radial cross sections square) along different generalized MöbiusListing surfaces GML 2 n situated in it. The aim of this article is to examine the number and geometric structure of independent objects that appear after such a cutting process of GML 4 n bodies. In most cases, we are able to count the indices of the resulting mathematical objects according to the known tabulation for knots and links of small complexity.
Keywords: A2 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
DOI: 10.1007/S10958-016-2907-X
|
“About “bulky&rdquo, links generated by generalized Möbius-Listing bodies GML2n”. Gielis J, Tavkhelidze I, Ricci PE, Journal of mathematical sciences 193, 449 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1007/S10958-013-1474-7
Abstract: In this paper, we consider the bulky knots and bulky links, which appear after cutting of a Generalized MöbiusListing GMLn2 body (with the radial cross section a convex plane 2-symmetric figure with two vertices) along a different Generalized MöbiusListing surfaces GMLn2 situated in it. The aim of this report is to investigate the number and geometric structure of the independent objects that appear after such a cutting process of GMLn2 bodies. In most cases we are able to count the indices of the resulting mathematical objects according to the known classification for the standard knots and links.
Keywords: A2 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
DOI: 10.1007/S10958-013-1474-7
|
“Characterization of indoor and outdoor atmospheric pollutants impacting architectural monuments : the case of San Jerónimo Monastery (Granada, Spain)”. Kontozova-Deutsch V, Cardell carolina, Urosevic M, Ruiz-Agudo E, Deutsch F, Van Grieken R, Environmental earth sciences 63, 1433 (2011). http://doi.org/10.1007/S12665-010-0657-5
Abstract: Indoor and outdoor concentrations of atmospheric gaseous pollutants as well as composition, size, and morphology of particulate matter have been investigated at the monastery of San Jerónimo in Granada (Southern Spain). Complementary micro- and nano-analytical techniques were applied; elemental and mineralogical composition and morphological characteristics of particulate matter were investigated combining electron probe microanalysis at the single particle level, and bulk aerosol samples were analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analyzer and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Microclimatic conditions at the monastery were monitored, and gas concentrations were assessed by means of diffusion tubes subsequently analyzed with ion chromatography. Results revealed high abundances of soil dust particles (aluminosilicates, calcite, dolomite, quartz), salt aerosols (chlorides, sulfates and ammonium-rich salts), and NO2 and SO2 both outdoors and indoors. Amorphous black carbon particles had surprisingly high abundances for Granada, a non-industrialized city. The composition of indoor particles corresponds to severe weathering affecting the construction materials and artworks inside the church; moreover their composition promotes a feedback process that intensifies the deterioration. Chemical reactions between chloride-rich salts and pigments from paintings were confirmed by TEM analyses. Indoors, blackening of surface decorative materials is fostered by particle re-suspension due to cleaning habits in the monastery (i.e. dusting). This is the first air quality study performed in a monument in the city of Granada with the aim of developing a strategy for preventive conservation.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
DOI: 10.1007/S12665-010-0657-5
|
“IR reflectography and active thermography on artworks : the added value of the 1.53 µm band”. Peeters J, Steenackers G, Sfarra S, Legrand S, Ibarra-Castanedo C, Janssens K, van der Snickt G, Applied Sciences 8, 50 (2018). http://doi.org/10.3390/APP8010050
Abstract: Infrared Radiation (IR) artwork inspection is typically performed through active thermography and reflectography with different setups and cameras. While Infrared Radiation Reflectography (IRR) is an established technique in the museum field, exploiting mainly the IR-A (0.71.4 µm) band to probe for hidden layers and modifications within the paint stratigraphy system, active thermography operating in the IR-C range (35 μ m) is less frequently employed with the aim to visualize structural defects and features deeper inside the build-up. In this work, we assess to which extent the less investigated IR-B band (1.53 μ m) can combine the information obtained from both setups. The application of IR-B systems is relatively rare as there are only a limited amount of commercial systems available due to the technical complexity of the lens coating. This is mainly added as a so-called broadband option on regular Mid-wave infrared radiation (MWIR) (IR-C/35 μ m) cameras to increase sensitivity for high temperature applications in industry. In particular, four objects were studied in both reflectographic and thermographic mode in the IR-B spectral range and their results benchmarked with IR-A and IR-C images. For multispectral application, a single benchmark is made with macroscopic reflection mode Fourier transform infrared (MA-rFTIR) results. IR-B proved valuable for visualisation of underdrawings, pencil marks, canvas fibres and wooden grain structures and potential pathways for additional applications such as pigment identification in multispectral mode or characterization of the support (panels, canvas) are indicated.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 1.679
Times cited: 4
DOI: 10.3390/APP8010050
|
“Cluster analysis of IR thermography data for differentiating glass types in historical leaded-glass windows”. Hillen M, Legrand S, Dirkx Y, Janssens K, van der Snickt G, Caen J, Steenackers G, Applied Sciences-Basel 10, 4255 (2020). http://doi.org/10.3390/APP10124255
Abstract: Infrared thermography is a fast, non-destructive and contactless testing technique which is increasingly used in heritage science. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of infrared thermography, in combination with a data clustering approach, to differentiate between the different types of historical glass that were included in a colorless leaded-glass windows during previous restoration interventions. Inspection of the thermograms and the application of two data mining techniques on the thermal data, i.e., k-means clustering and hierarchical clustering, allowed identifying different groups of window panes that show a different thermal behavior. Both clustering approaches arrive at similar groupings of the glass with a clear separation of three types. However, the lead cames that hold the glass panes appear to have a substantial impact on the thermal behavior of the surrounding glass, thus preventing classification of the smallest glass panes. For the larger panes, this was not a critical issue as the center of the glass remained unaffected. Subtle visual color differences between panes, implying a variation in coloring metal ions, was not always distinguished by IRT. Nevertheless, data clustering assisted infrared thermography shows potential as an efficient and swift method for documenting the material intervention history of leaded-glass windows during or in preparation of conservation treatments.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES); AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 2.7
DOI: 10.3390/APP10124255
|
“Nontarget biomolecules alter macromolecular changes induced by bactericidal low-temperature plasma”. Privat-Maldonado A, Gorbanev Y, O'Connell D, Vann R, Chechik V, van der Woude MW, IEEE transactions on radiation and plasma medical sciences 2, 121 (2018). http://doi.org/10.1109/TRPMS.2017.2761405
Abstract: Low-temperature plasmas (LTPs) have a proven bactericidal activity governed by the generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) that target microbial cell components. However, RONS also interact with biomolecules in the environment. Here we assess the impact of these interactions upon exposure of liquid suspensions with variable organic content to an atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium viability in the suspension was reduced in the absence [e. g., phosphate buffered saline (PBS)], but not in the presence of (high) organic content [Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM), DMEM supplemented with foetal calf serum, and Lysogeny Broth]. The reduced viability of LTP-treated bacteria in PBS correlated to a loss of membrane integrity, whereas double-strand DNA breaks could not be detected in treated single cells. The lack of bactericidal activity in solutions with high organic content correlated with a relative decrease of center dot OH and O-3/O-2(a(1)Delta g)/O, and an increase of H2O2 and NO2- in the plasma-treated solutions. These results indicate that the redox reactions of LTP-generated RONS with nontarget biomolecules resulted in a RONS composition with reduced bactericidal activity. Therefore, the chemical composition of the bacterial environment should be considered in the development of LTP for antimicrobial treatment, and may affect other biomedical applications as well.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
DOI: 10.1109/TRPMS.2017.2761405
|
“‘biogeom&rsquo, : an R package for simulating and fitting natural shapes”. Shi P, Gielis J, Quinn BK, Niklas KJ, Ratkowsky DA, Schrader J, Ruan H, Wang L, Niinemets Ü, Niinennets U, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1516, 123 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1111/NYAS.14862
Abstract: Many natural objects exhibit radial or axial symmetry in a single plane. However, a universal tool for simulating and fitting the shapes of such objects is lacking. Herein, we present an R package called 'biogeom' that simulates and fits many shapes found in nature. The package incorporates novel universal parametric equations that generate the profiles of bird eggs, flowers, linear and lanceolate leaves, seeds, starfish, and tree-rings, and three growth-rate equations that generate the profiles of ovate leaves and the ontogenetic growth curves of animals and plants. 'biogeom' includes several empirical datasets comprising the boundary coordinates of bird eggs, fruits, lanceolate and ovate leaves, tree rings, seeds, and sea stars. The package can also be applied to other kinds of natural shapes similar to those in the datasets. In addition, the package includes sigmoid curves derived from the three growth-rate equations, which can be used to model animal and plant growth trajectories and predict the times associated with maximum growth rate. 'biogeom' can quantify the intra- or interspecific similarity of natural outlines, and it provides quantitative information of shape and ontogenetic modification of shape with important ecological and evolutionary implications for the growth and form of the living world.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Impact Factor: 5.2
DOI: 10.1111/NYAS.14862
|
“Nanodiamonds do not provide unique evidence for a Younger Dryas impact”. Tian H, Schryvers D, Claeys P, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108, 40 (2011). http://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1007695108
Abstract: Microstructural, δ13C isotope and C/N ratio investigations were conducted on excavated material from the black Younger Dryas boundary in Lommel, Belgium, aiming for a characterisation of the carbon content and structures. Cubic diamond nanoparticles are found in large numbers. The larger ones with diameters around or above 10 nm often exhibit single or multiple twins. The smaller ones around 5 nm in diameter are mostly defect-free. Also larger flake-like particles, around 100 nm in lateral dimension, with a cubic diamond structure are observed as well as large carbon onion structures. The combination of these characteristics does not yield unique evidence for an exogenic impact related to the investigated layer.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 9.661
Times cited: 32
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1007695108
|
“Sensitivity of water stress in a two-layered sandy grassland soil to variations in groundwater depth and soil hydraulic parameters”. Rezaei M, Seuntjens P, Joris I, Boenne W, Van Hoey S, Campling P, Cornelis WM, Hydrology and earth system sciences 20, 487 (2016). http://doi.org/10.5194/HESS-20-487-2016
Abstract: Monitoring and modelling tools may improve irrigation strategies in precision agriculture. We used non-invasive soil moisture monitoring, a crop growth and a soil hydrological model to predict soil water content fluctuations and crop yield in a heterogeneous sandy grassland soil under supplementary irrigation. The sensitivity of the soil hydrological model to hydraulic parameters, water stress, crop yield and lower boundary conditions was assessed after integrating models. Free drainage and incremental constant head conditions were implemented in a lower boundary sensitivity analysis. A time-dependent sensitivity analysis of the hydraulic parameters showed that changes in soil water content are mainly affected by the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity K-s and the Mualem-van Genuchten retention curve shape parameters n and alpha. Results further showed that different parameter optimization strategies (two-, three-, four- or six-parameter optimizations) did not affect the calculated water stress and water content as significantly as does the bottom boundary. In this case, a two-parameter scenario, where K-s was optimized for each layer under the condition of a constant groundwater depth at 135-140 cm, performed best. A larger yield reduction, and a larger number and longer duration of stress conditions occurred in the free drainage condition as compared to constant boundary conditions. Numerical results showed that optimal irrigation scheduling using the aforementioned water stress calculations can save up to 12-22 % irrigation water as compared to the current irrigation regime. This resulted in a yield increase of 4.5-6.5 %, simulated by the crop growth model.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
DOI: 10.5194/HESS-20-487-2016
|
“Division of labor and growth during electrical cooperation in multicellular cable bacteria”. Geerlings NMJ, Karman C, Trashin S, As KS, Kienhuis MVM, Hidalgo-Martinez S, Vasquez-Cardenas D, Boschker HTS, De Wael K, Middelburg JJ, Polerecky L, Meysman FJR, Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 117, 5478 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1073/PNAS.1916244117
Abstract: Multicellularity is a key evolutionary innovation, leading to coordinated activity and resource sharing among cells, which generally occurs via the physical exchange of chemical compounds. However, filamentous cable bacteria display a unique metabolism in which redox transformations in distant cells are coupled via long-distance electron transport rather than an exchange of chemicals. This challenges our understanding of organismal functioning, as the link among electron transfer, metabolism, energy conservation, and filament growth in cable bacteria remains enigmatic. Here, we show that cells within individual filaments of cable bacteria display a remarkable dichotomy in biosynthesis that coincides with redox zonation. Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry combined with 13 C (bicarbonate and propionate) and 15 N-ammonia isotope labeling reveals that cells performing sulfide oxidation in deeper anoxic horizons have a high assimilation rate, whereas cells performing oxygen reduction in the oxic zone show very little or no label uptake. Accordingly, oxygen reduction appears to merely function as a mechanism to quickly dispense of electrons with little to no energy conservation, while biosynthesis and growth are restricted to sulfide-respiring cells. Still, cells can immediately switch roles when redox conditions change, and show no differentiation, which suggests that the “community service” performed by the cells in the oxic zone is only temporary. Overall, our data reveal a division of labor and electrical cooperation among cells that has not been seen previously in multicellular organisms.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 11.1
Times cited: 6
DOI: 10.1073/PNAS.1916244117
|
“Non-thermal plasma accelerates astrocyte regrowth and neurite regeneration following physical trauma in vitro”. Katiyar KS, Lin A, Fridman A, Keating CE, Cullen DK, Miller V, Applied Sciences 9, 3747 (2019). http://doi.org/10.3390/APP9183747
Abstract: Non-thermal plasma (NTP), defined as a partially ionized gas, is an emerging technology with several biomedical applications, including tissue regeneration. In particular, NTP treatment has been shown to activate endogenous biological processes to promote cell regrowth, differentiation, and proliferation in multiple cell types. However, the effects of this therapy on nervous system regeneration have not yet been established. Accordingly, the current study explored the effects of a nanosecond-pulsed dielectric barrier discharge plasma on neural regeneration. Following mechanical trauma in vitro, plasma was applied either directly to (1) astrocytes alone, (2) neurons alone, or (3) neurons or astrocytes in a non-contact co-culture. Remarkably, we identified NTP treatment intensities that accelerated both neurite regeneration and astrocyte regrowth. In astrocyte cultures alone, an exposure of 20-90 mJ accelerated astrocyte re-growth up to three days post-injury, while neurons required lower treatment intensities (<= 20 mJ) to achieve sub-lethal outgrowth. Following injury to neurons in non-contact co-culture with astrocytes, 20 mJ exposure of plasma to only neurons or astrocytes resulted in increased neurite regeneration at three days post-treatment compared to the untreated, but no enhancement was observed when both cell types were treated. At day seven, although regeneration further increased, NTP did not elicit a significant increase from the control. However, plasma exposure at higher intensities was found to be injurious, underscoring the need to optimize exposure levels. These results suggest that growth-promoting physiological responses may be elicited via properly calibrated NTP treatment to neurons and/or astrocytes. This could be exploited to accelerate neurite re-growth and modulate neuron-astrocyte interactions, thereby hastening nervous system regeneration.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 1.679
Times cited: 2
DOI: 10.3390/APP9183747
|
“Cold Atmospheric Plasma Does Not Affect Stellate Cells Phenotype in Pancreatic Cancer Tissue in Ovo”. Privat-Maldonado A, Verloy R, Cardenas Delahoz E, Lin A, Vanlanduit S, Smits E, Bogaerts A, International Journal Of Molecular Sciences 23, 1954 (2022). http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23041954
Abstract: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a challenging neoplastic disease, mainly due to the development of resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is an alternative technology that can eliminate cancer cells through oxidative damage, as shown in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo. However, how CAP affects the pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), key players in the invasion and metastasis of PDAC, is poorly understood. This study aims to determine the effect of an anti-PDAC CAP treatment on PSCs tissue developed in ovo using mono- and co-cultures of RLT-PSC (PSCs) and Mia PaCa-2 cells (PDAC). We measured tissue reduction upon CAP treatment and mRNA expression of PSC activation markers and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling factors via qRT-PCR. Protein expression of selected markers was confirmed via immunohistochemistry. CAP inhibited growth in Mia PaCa-2 and co-cultured tissue, but its effectiveness was reduced in the latter, which correlates with reduced ki67 levels. CAP did not alter the mRNA expression of PSC activation and ECM remodelling markers. No changes in MMP2 and MMP9 expression were observed in RLT-PSCs, but small changes were observed in Mia PaCa-2 cells. Our findings support the ability of CAP to eliminate PDAC cells, without altering the PSCs.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Center for Oncological Research (CORE)
Impact Factor: 5.6
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23041954
|
“Low-Temperature Plasma for Biology, Hygiene, and Medicine: Perspective and Roadmap”. Laroussi M, Bekeschus S, Keidar M, Bogaerts A, Fridman A, Lu X, Ostrikov K, Hori M, Stapelmann K, Miller V, Reuter S, Laux C, Mesbah A, Walsh J, Jiang C, Thagard SM, Tanaka H, Liu D, Yan D, Yusupov M, IEEE transactions on radiation and plasma medical sciences 6, 127 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1109/TRPMS.2021.3135118
Abstract: Plasma, the fourth and most pervasive state of matter in the visible universe, is a fascinating medium that is connected to the beginning of our universe itself. Man-made plasmas are at the core of many technological advances that include the fabrication of semiconductor devices, which enabled the modern computer and communication revolutions. The introduction of low temperature, atmospheric pressure plasmas to the biomedical field has ushered a new revolution in the healthcare arena that promises to introduce plasma-based therapies to combat some thorny and long-standing medical challenges. This article presents an overview of where research is at today and discusses innovative concepts and approaches to overcome present challenges and take the field to the next level. It is written by a team of experts who took an in-depth look at the various applications of plasma in hygiene, decontamination, and medicine, made critical analysis, and proposed ideas and concepts that should help the research community focus their efforts on clear and practical steps necessary to keep the field advancing for decades to come.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
DOI: 10.1109/TRPMS.2021.3135118
|