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	Author	Shi, P.; Chen, L.; Quinn, B.K.; Yu, K.; Miao, Q.; Guo, X.; Lian, M.; Gielis, J.; Niklas, K.J.
	Title	A simple way to calculate the volume and surface area of avian eggs			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2023	Publication	Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume	1524	Issue	1	Pages	118-131
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	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.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	000975679400001	Publication Date	2023-04-28
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	0077-8923; 1749-6632	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor	5.2	Times cited		Open Access	OpenAccess
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: 5.2; 2023 IF: 4.706
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:196724			Serial	8827
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Peeters, H.
	Title	Solar active photocatalytic self-cleaning coatings based on plasmon-embedded titania			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	XX, 125 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology
	Abstract
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:201390			Serial	9093
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Friedrich, T.
	Title	Quantifying atomic structures using neural networks from 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) datasets			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	127 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
	Abstract	Nanoscience and nanotechnologies are of immense importance across many fields of science and for numerous practical applications. In this context, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and 4D-STEM are among the most powerful characterization methods at the atomic scale. Annular dark-field (ADF)-STEM can be used to quantify atomic structures in 3D by counting atoms based on a single projection image. In 4D-STEM a full diffraction pattern is recorded at each scan step, which enables more dose efficient imaging and the utilization of various advanced imaging modalities, which can however be complex and slow. Both, STEM and 4D-STEM suffer from noise and distortions. In the first section of this work the most important of these distortions are discussed and it is shown how image restoration with a dedicated convolutional neural network (CNN) can be beneficial for atomic structure quantifications in ADF-STEM. In the second part, a new 4D-STEM imaging method real-time-integrated-centre-of-mass (riCOM) is introduced, which is a very dose-efficient and fast algorithm that enables unprecedented live-imaging capabilities for 4D-STEM. It is based on the integrated centre-of-mass approach, but is reformulated with variable integration ranges and optional filters, which allows for a tunable contrast transfer function. This enables the imaging of light and heavy elements simultaneously at very low doses. In the third part another new 4D-STEM method, coined AIRPI (AI-assisted rapid phase imaging) is introduced, which uses a CNN to retrieve a patch of the specimen's phase image for each scan position, based on the diffraction patterns in the probe's immediate surroundings. This allows also live imaging in principle and surpasses comparable state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of resolution also at low doses. Different atomic columns can be reliably distinguished over a wide range of atomic numbers, enabling a very good image interpretability. Further, AIRPI can recover low frequency image components, which preserves thickness information. This is a unique and important feature which could make quantitative 4D-STEM feasible.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:196826			Serial	8919
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Le Compte, M.; Cardenas De La Hoz, E.; Peeters, S.; Rodrigues Fortes, F.; Hermans, C.; Domen, A.; Smits, E.; Lardon, F.; Vandamme, T.; Lin, A.; Vanlanduit, S.; Roeyen, G.; van Laere, S.; Prenen, H.; Peeters, M.; Deben, C.
	Title	Single-organoid analysis reveals clinically relevant treatment-resistant and invasive subclones in pancreatic cancer			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2023	Publication	npj Precision Oncology	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume	7	Issue	1	Pages	128-14
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Center for Oncological Research (CORE); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Antwerp Surgical Training, Anatomy and Research Centre (ASTARC)
	Abstract	Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal diseases, characterized by a treatment-resistant and invasive nature. In line with these inherent aggressive characteristics, only a subset of patients shows a clinical response to the standard of care therapies, thereby highlighting the need for a more personalized treatment approach. In this study, we comprehensively unraveled the intra-patient response heterogeneity and intrinsic aggressive nature of PDAC on bulk and single-organoid resolution. We leveraged a fully characterized PDAC organoid panel ( N = 8) and matched our artificial intelligence-driven, live-cell organoid image analysis with retrospective clinical patient response. In line with the clinical outcomes, we identified patient-specific sensitivities to the standard of care therapies (gemcitabine-paclitaxel and FOLFIRINOX) using a growth rate-based and normalized drug response metric. Moreover, the single-organoid analysis was able to detect resistant as well as invasive PDAC organoid clones, which was orchestrates on a patient, therapy, drug, concentration and time-specific level. Furthermore, our in vitro organoid analysis indicated a correlation with the matched patient progression-free survival (PFS) compared to the current, conventional drug response readouts. This work not only provides valuable insights on the response complexity in PDAC, but it also highlights the potential applications (extendable to other tumor types) and clinical translatability of our approach in drug discovery and the emerging era of personalized medicine.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	001118015800001	Publication Date	2023-12-08
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	2397-768x	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:201455			Serial	9091
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Monico, L.; d'Acapito, F.; Cotte, M.; Janssens, K.; Romani, A.; Ricci, G.; Miliani, C.; Cartechini, L.
	Title	Total electron yield (TEY) detection mode Cr K-edge XANES spectroscopy as a direct method to probe the composition of the surface of darkened chrome yellow (PbCr1-xSxO4) and potassium chromate paints			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2023	Publication	Nuclear instruments and methods in physics research: B: beam interactions with materials and atoms	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume	539	Issue		Pages	141-147
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS)
	Abstract	The darkening of chromate-pigments, including chrome yellows (PbCr1-xSxO4), is a surface phenomenon affecting late 19th-early 20th c. paintings, such as those by Van Gogh. Exploring analytical strategies that contribute to a deep understanding of darkening is therefore significant for the long-term conservation of unique masterpieces. Here, we examined the capabilities of Cr K-edge XANES spectroscopy collected at the same time in X-ray fluorescence yield (XFY) and total electron yield (TEY) detection modes to selectively study the surface composition of darkened oil paint mock-ups composed of chrome yellow (PbCr0.2S0.8O4) or potassium chromate. By discussing advantages and drawbacks in using XFY/TEY modes in relation to XFY & mu;-XANES analysis from sectioned samples, we aim at assessing if TEY-XANES spectroscopy: (i) is a selective surface method to determine the abundance of different Cr-species from paint fragments; (ii) can contribute to optimize the analytical strategy by limiting time consuming sample preparation procedures; (iii) can decrease the probability of radiation damage.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	001041485400001	Publication Date	2023-04-10
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	0168-583x	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor	1.3	Times cited		Open Access	OpenAccess
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: 1.3; 2023 IF: 1.109
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:198427			Serial	8944
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Hasnat Rubel, A.
	Title	Theoretical characterization and optimization of nano-engineered superconducting scanning probe tip			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	viii, 145 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
	Abstract	Using state-of-the-art simulation methods, we optimized the performance of nanoscale superconducting scanning probe tips for advanced spatial imaging of magnetic fields. The systematic studies of the tips’ static properties as a function of the tilted magnetic field, geometric parameters, and material parameters were carried out. The sensitivity of different superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) to the magnetic field emanating from the magnetic nanoparticle, where the location of a magnetic nanoparticle is considered below the primary loop's center, was examined as a function of the primary and secondary loop dimensions. The main objective of the research was to characterize and optimize the performance of a nano-sized SQUID-on-tip (SOT) device. Optimal SOT sensitivity was sought, for different loop sizes, arm linewidth, and lead dimensions. Moreover, we revealed that a constriction in the loop arms of the SOT can substantially improve the sensitivity of the device. Finally, the properties of the theta-SOT device were examined in the presence of in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic field components, enabling nanoscale imaging of 3D distributions of the magnetic field. Altogether, the obtained results deliver an engineering solution for the optimum performance of the SOT device in desired conditions.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:199494			Serial	8942
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Poppe, R.
	Title	Refining short-range order parameters from diffuse electron scattering			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	iv, 150 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
	Abstract	Electrons, X-rays and neutrons that pass through a thin crystalline sample will be diffracted. Diffraction patterns of crystalline materials contain Bragg reflections (sharp discrete intensity maxima) and diffuse scattering (a weak continuous background). The Bragg reflections contain information about the average crystal structure (the type of atoms and the average atomic positions), whereas the diffuse scattering contains information about the short-range order (deviations from the average crystal structure that are ordered on a local scale). Because the properties of many materials depend on the short-range order, refining short-range order parameters is essential for understanding and optimizing material properties. The refinement of short-range order parameters has previously been applied to the diffuse scattering in single-crystal X-ray and single-crystal neutron diffraction data but not yet to the diffuse scattering in single-crystal electron diffraction data. In this work, we will verify the possibility to refine short-range order parameters from the diffuse scattering in single-crystal electron diffraction data. Electron diffraction allows to acquire data on submicron-sized crystals, which are too small to be investigated with single-crystal X-ray and single-crystal neutron diffraction. In the first part of this work, we will refine short-range order parameters from the one-dimensional diffuse scattering in electron diffraction data acquired on the lithium-ion battery cathode material Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2. The number of stacking faults and the twin percentages will be refined from the diffuse scattering using a Monte Carlo refinement. We will also describe a method to determine the spinel/layered phase ratio from the intensities of the Bragg reflections in electron diffraction data. In the second part of this work, we will refine short-range order parameters from the three-dimensional diffuse scattering in both single-crystal electron and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data acquired on Nb0.84CoSb. The correlations between neighbouring vacancies and the displacements of Sb and Co atoms will be refined from the diffuse scattering using a Monte Carlo refinement and a three-dimensional difference pair distribution function refinement. The effect of different experimental parameters on the spatial resolution of the observed diffuse scattering will also be investigated. Finally, the model of the short-range Nb-vacancy order in Nb0.84CoSb will also be applied to LiNi0.5Sn0.3Co0.2O2.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:200610			Serial	9084
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Gielis, J.
	Title	Conquering Mount Improbable			Type	P1 Proceeding
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	153-173 T2 - Proceedings of the 1st International
	Keywords	P1 Proceeding; Economics; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	Abstract	Our scientific and technological worldviews are largely dominated by the concepts of entropy and complexity. Originating in 19th-century thermodynamics, the concept of entropy merged with information in the last century, leading to definitions of entropy and complexity by Kolmogorov, Shannon and others. In its simplest form, this worldview is an application of the normal rules of arithmetic. In this worldview, when tossing a coin, a million heads or tails in a row is theoretically possible, but impossible in practice and in real life. On this basis, the impossible (in the binary case, the outermost entries of Pascal's triangle xn and yn for large values of n) can be safely neglected, and one can concentrate fully on what is common and what conforms to the law of large numbers, in fields ranging from physics to sociology and everything in between. However, in recent decades it has been shown that what is most improbable tends to be the rule in nature. Indeed, if one combines the outermost entries xn and yn with the normal rules of arithmetic, either addition or multiplication, one obtains Lamé curves and power laws respectively. In this article, some of these correspondences are highlighted, leading to a double conclusion. First, Gabriel Lamé's geometric footprint in mathematics and the sciences is enormous. Second, conic sections are at the core once more. Whereas mathematics so far has been exclusively the language of patterns in the sciences, the door is opened for mathematics to also become the language of the individual. The probabilistic worldview and Lamé's footprint can be seen as dual methods. In this context, it is to be expected that the notions of information, complexity, simplicity and redundancy benefit from this different viewpoint.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos		Publication Date	2023-11-29
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	978-90-833839-0-3	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:201045			Serial	9014
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Yu, C.-P.
	Title	Novel imaging methods of transmission electron microscopy based on electron beam scattering and modulation			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	x, 154 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
	Abstract	Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a technique that uses an electron beam to analyze materials. This analysis is based on the interaction between the electron beam and the sample, such as photon emission and electron diffraction pattern, to name a few. Sample damage, however, also occurs when such interaction alters the structure of the sample. To ensure information from the undamaged material can be acquired, the electron expense to probe the material is thus limited. In this work, we propose efficient methods for acquiring and processing the information originating from the electron-sample interaction so that the study of the material and the conducting of the TEM experiment can be less hindered by the limited dose usage. In the first part of the work, the relationship between the scattering of the electron and the local physical property of the sample is studied. Based on this relationship, two reconstruction schemes are proposed capable of producing high-resolution images at low-dose conditions. Besides, the proposed reconstructions are not restricted to complete datasets but instead work on pieces of data, therefore allowing live feedback during data acquisition. Such feature of the methods allows the whole TEM experiment to be carried out under low dose conditions and thus further reduces possible beam damage on the studied material. In the second part of the work, we discuss our approach to modulating the electron beam and its benefits. An electrostatic device that can alter the wavefront of the passing electron wave is introduced and characterized. The beam-modulation ability is demonstrated by creating orthogonal beam sets, and applications that exploit the adaptability of the wave modulator are demonstrated with both simulation and experiments.
	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		ISBN	987-90-5728-534-7	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:200885			Serial	9064
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Gielis, J.
	Title	Simon Stevin as a central figure in the development of abstract algebra and generic programming			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2023	Publication	Symmetry : culture and science	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume	34	Issue	2	Pages	155-168
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	Abstract	Simon Stevin (1548-1620) is mainly known for the decimal system and his Clootkrans proof. His influence is also profound in infinitesimal calculus, mechanics, and even in abstract algebra and today’s conception of polynomials, algorithms, and generic programming. Here we review his influence as assessed in generic programming. According to Dr. Stepanov, one of the most influential researchers in generic programming, Stevin’s work on polynomials can be regarded as the essence of generic programming: an algorithm from one domain can be applied in another similar domain.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	001068714100003	Publication Date	2023-07-11
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	0865-4824	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access	Not_Open_Access: Available from 08.02.2024
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:198000			Serial	8929
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	Author	Skorikov, A.; Batenburg, K.J.; Bals, S.
	Title	Analysis of 3D elemental distribution in nanomaterials : towards higher throughput and dose efficiency			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2023	Publication	Journal of microscopy	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume	289	Issue	3	Pages	157-163
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
	Abstract	Many advanced nanomaterials rely on carefully designed morphology and elemental distribution to achieve their functionalities. Among the few experimental techniques that can directly visualise the 3D elemental distribution on the nanoscale are approaches based on electron tomography in combination with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Unfortunately, these highly informative methods are severely limited by the fundamentally low signal-to-noise ratio, which makes long experimental times and high electron irradiation doses necessary to obtain reliable 3D reconstructions. Addressing these limitations has been the major research question for the development of these techniques in recent years. This short review outlines the latest progress on the methods to reduce experimental time and electron irradiation dose requirements for 3D elemental distribution analysis and gives an outlook on the development of this field in the near future.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	000910532600001	Publication Date	2022-12-26
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	0022-2720	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor	2	Times cited	2	Open Access	OpenAccess
	Notes	ERC Consolidator Grant, Grant/Award Number: 815128			Approved	Most recent IF: 2; 2023 IF: 1.692
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:193428			Serial	7281
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	Author	Hugenschmidt, M.; Jannis, D.; Kadu, A.A.; Grünewald, L.; De Marchi, S.; Perez-Juste, J.; Verbeeck, J.; Van Aert, S.; Bals, S.
	Title	Low-dose 4D-STEM tomography for beam-sensitive nanocomposites			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2023	Publication	ACS materials letters	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume	6	Issue	1	Pages	165-173
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
	Abstract	Electron tomography is essential for investigating the three-dimensional (3D) structure of nanomaterials. However, many of these materials, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), are extremely sensitive to electron radiation, making it difficult to acquire a series of projection images for electron tomography without inducing electron-beam damage. Another significant challenge is the high contrast in high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy that can be expected for nanocomposites composed of a metal nanoparticle and an MOF. This strong contrast leads to so-called metal artifacts in the 3D reconstruction. To overcome these limitations, we here present low-dose electron tomography based on four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM) data sets, collected using an ultrafast and highly sensitive direct electron detector. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the applicability of the method for an Au nanostar embedded in a ZIF-8 MOF, which is of great interest for applications in various fields, including drug delivery.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	001141178500001	Publication Date	2023-12-11
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	2639-4979	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access	Not_Open_Access
	Notes	This work was supported by the European Research Council (Grant 815128 REALNANO to S.B., Grant 770887 PICOMETRICS to S.V.A.). J.P.-J. and S.M. acknowledge financial support from the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Grants No. PID2019-108954RB-I00) and EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 883390 (SERSing). J.V., S.B., S.V.A., and L.G. acknowledge funding from the Flemish government (iBOF-21-085 PERsist).			Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:202771			Serial	9053
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	Author	Van Putte, N.
	Title	Improving groundwater dynamics : a key factor for successful tidal marsh restoration			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	166 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Ecosphere
	Abstract	Tidal marshes take up and release certain elements from and to the river water. Hence, they act as a filter, improving the estuarine water quality. This filtering function depends on the interaction between the marsh soil and water that infiltrates into the marsh platform at high tide and seeps out of the creek banks at low tide. In the past centuries, many tidal marshes disappeared due to large scale land reclamations, together with their associated ecosystem services. Nowadays, tidal marshes are increasingly restored on formerly embanked agricultural areas to regain these ecosystem services. Here, we studied the effect of historical agricultural land use on the contribution of restored tidal marshes to water quality improvement, and we investigated several solutions to stimulate the water quality improving function in newly restored tidal marshes. In restored tidal marshes, the soil is often compacted due to the historical agricultural land use, leading to a reduced organic matter content and micro- and macroporosity. In this compacted soil, groundwater flow is hindered, leading to a more waterlogged soil and reduced groundwater dynamics in the restored marsh as compared to a natural marsh. The depth of groundwater drainage and the groundwater flow velocity have important implications for the processes that contribute to water quality improvement, e.g. removal of nitrogen, phosphorus retention and silica cycling. Where groundwater drains deeper, i.e. in the vicinity of tidal creeks and in a more porous soil, these processes are promoted. We suggest that, in newly restored tidal marshes, the soil porosity can be increased by amending the soil (e.g. with organic matter), and the distance to the nearest tidal creek can be reduced by creek excavation. Numerical modelling showed that the largest gain in groundwater dynamics and seepage was attained when both measures were applied together. The effect of organic soil amendments on groundwater dynamics and nutrient cycling was further explored in a large scale in situ mesocosm experiment. Where the soil was amended, groundwater drained deeper and nitrogen removal increased. For new tidal marsh restoration projects, we advise to conduct an explorative soil study. When the soil is heavily compacted, design measures, such as creek initiation and organic soil amendments can be applied to jumpstart the contribution to water quality improvement of newly restored tidal marshes.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:196965			Serial	8884
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Drăgan, A.-M.
	Title	Investigation of the electrochemical behaviour of illicit substances and their redox pathways in the development of nanomaterial-modified platforms for decentralized analysis			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	169 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
	Abstract
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:199086			Serial	8892
Permanent link to this record



	Author	Vijayakumar, J.; Savchenko, T.M.; Bracher, D.M.; Lumbeeck, G.; Béché, A.; Verbeeck, J.; Vajda, Š.; Nolting, F.; Vaz, Ca.f.; Kleibert, A.
	Title	Absence of a pressure gap and atomistic mechanism of the oxidation of pure Co nanoparticles			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2023	Publication	Nature communications	Abbreviated Journal	Nat Commun
	Volume	14	Issue	1	Pages	174
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
	Abstract	Understanding chemical reactivity and magnetism of 3<italic>d</italic>transition metal nanoparticles is of fundamental interest for applications in fields ranging from spintronics to catalysis. Here, we present an atomistic picture of the early stage of the oxidation mechanism and its impact on the magnetism of Co nanoparticles. Our experiments reveal a two-step process characterized by (i) the initial formation of small CoO crystallites across the nanoparticle surface, until their coalescence leads to structural completion of the oxide shell passivating the metallic core; (ii) progressive conversion of the CoO shell to Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>and void formation due to the nanoscale Kirkendall effect. The Co nanoparticles remain highly reactive toward oxygen during phase (i), demonstrating the absence of a pressure gap whereby a low reactivity at low pressures is postulated. Our results provide an important benchmark for the development of theoretical models for the chemical reactivity in catalysis and magnetism during metal oxidation at the nanoscale.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	000955726400021	Publication Date	2023-01-12
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	2041-1723	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor	16.6	Times cited	1	Open Access	OpenAccess
	Notes	Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, 200021160186 2002153540 ; EC \| Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, 810310 823717 ; University of Basel \| Swiss Nanoscience Institute, P1502 ; This work is funded by Swiss National Foundation (SNF) (Grants. No 200021160186 and 2002153540) and the Swiss Nanoscience Institut (SNI) (Grant No. SNI P1502). S.V. acknowledges support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 810310, which corresponds to the J. Heyrovsky Chair project (“ERA Chair at J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry AS CR – The institutional approach towards ERA”). The funders had no role in the preparation of the article. Part of this work was performed at the Surface/Interface: Microscopy (SIM) beamline of the Swiss Light Source (SLS), Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland. We kindly acknowledge Anja Weber and Elisabeth Müller from PSI for their help in fabricating the sample markers. A.B. and J. Verbeeck received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research Infrastructure – Integrating Activities for Advanced Communities under grant agreement No. 823717 – ESTEEM3 reported			Approved	Most recent IF: 16.6; 2023 IF: 12.124
	Call Number	EMAT @ emat @c:irua:196738			Serial	8804
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	Author	Gielis, J.; Brasili, S.
	Title	Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Square Bamboos and the Geometree (ISSBG 2022)			Type	ME3 Book as editor
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	xi, 175 p.
	Keywords	ME3 Book as editor; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos		Publication Date	2023-11-29
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	978-90-833839-0-3	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:201049			Serial	9077
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	Author	Marchetti, A.; Beltran, V.; Storme, P.; Nuyts, G.; Van Der Meeren, L.; Skirtach, A.; Otten, E.; Debulpaep, M.; Watteeuw, L.; De Wael, K.
	Title	All that glitters is not gold : unraveling the material secrets behind the preservation of historical brass			Type	A1 Journal article
	Year	2023	Publication	Journal of cultural heritage	Abbreviated Journal
	Volume	63	Issue		Pages	179-186
	Keywords	A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Art; History; Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES); Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
	Abstract	Brass is a relatively stable alloy but it tends to tarnish over time due to the interaction with the atmosphere. Thus, it is rare to observe centuries-old brass objects untouched by the passing of time. For this reason, the pristine appearance of hundreds of brass sequins in the Enclosed Gardens of Mechelen (reliquary altarpieces produced between 1530 and 1550) is remarkable. In this study, the chemical and metallographic characterization of such unexpectedly well-preserved objects is presented. The results revealed the reason for their stability to be a combination of high-quality materials (i.e. medium Zn content, low impurities) and optimal surface properties (i.e. high homogeneity, low roughness), indicating the high level of expertise of the craftsmen who produced them. Novel fundamental insights on the historical manufacturing method of metallic sequins were also obtained.
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	001058894000001	Publication Date	2023-08-14
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	1296-2074	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor	3.1	Times cited		Open Access	Not_Open_Access: Available from 15.08.2024
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: 3.1; 2023 IF: 1.838
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:198113			Serial	8830
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	Author	Li, L.
	Title	Untangling microbial community assembly in rainforest and grassland soils under increasing precipitation persistence			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	179 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
	Abstract	Climate change is causing alterations in precipitation patterns, leading to adverse ecological consequences in many ecosystems. Recently, an increasingly persistent weather pattern has emerged, characterized by lengthening the duration of alternating dry and wet periods, which is more complex than exclusively drought or increasing precipitation. It is currently unclear how soil microbial communities respond to these new regimes in relation to their interactions with plants, especially in precipitation-sensitive ecosystems, such as tropical rainforests and grasslands. In this thesis, we explored responses of soil bacterial and fungal communities to increasing weather persistence in rainforests and grasslands, using high throughput sequencing technology. We firstly investigated the resistance and resilience of microbial communities to prolonged drought in a mature seasonal tropical rainforest which experiences unusually intensive dry seasons in the current century. Through excluding rainfall during and after the dry season, a simulated prolongation of the dry season by five months was compared to the control. Our results indicate that as rain exclusion progressed, the microbial communities increasingly diverged from the control, indicating a moderate resistance to prolonged drought. However, when the drought ceased, the composition and co-occurrence patterns of soil microbial communities immediately recovered to that in the control, implying a high resilience. To further investigate the ecological roles of soil microbial communities in response to increasing weather persistence, we set up grassland mesocosm experiments. In these experiments, precipitation frequency was adjusted along a series, ranging from 1 to 60 consecutive days alternating of dry and wet periods, while keeping the total precipitation constant. Our results show that microbial community assembly tended to be more stochastic processes at intermediate persistence of dry and wet alternations while more deterministic processes dominated at low and high persistence within 120 days regime exposure. Moreover, more persistent precipitation reduced the fungal diversity and network connectivity but barely impacted that of bacterial communities. The prior experiences of persistent weather events for one year caused legacy effects. The soil microbial legacy induced by soil microbial communities subjected to prior persistent weather events was more enduring in subsequent fungal communities than bacterial communities, likely due to slower growth of fungi compared to bacteria. However, a minor effect of soil microbial legacy was observed on plant performance. In addition, we kept the grassland mesocosm experiment for two growing seasons. The effects of precipitation persistence on soil microbial communities increased in the second year. The dissimilarities of microbial communities between the first and second year were less with more persistent precipitation, potentially resulting in more vulnerable microbial communities, due to some taxa disappearing and a reduction in functional redundancy under more persistent weather. To conclude, our findings provide a comprehensive theoretical understanding of soil microbial communities in response to the current and future climate change, drawing from both natural and experimental systems. It helps in predicting and managing the impacts of future climate change on ecosystems mediated by microbial communities. Additionally, the findings of microbe-mediated legacy effects on grassland ecosystems can provide practical guidance for their application in agriculture, specifically for using an inoculum to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:198498			Serial	9240
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	Author	Wanten, B.; Vertongen, R.; De Meyer, R.; Bogaerts, A.
	Title	Plasma-based CO2 conversion: How to correctly analyze the performance?			Type	A1 journal article
	Year	2023	Publication	Journal of Energy Chemistry	Abbreviated Journal	Journal of Energy Chemistry
	Volume	86	Issue		Pages	180-196
	Keywords	A1 journal article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos	001070885000001	Publication Date	2023-07-22
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN	2095-4956	ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
	Impact Factor	13.1	Times cited		Open Access	Not_Open_Access
	Notes	We acknowledge financial support from the Fund for Scientific Research (FWO) Flanders (Grant ID 110221N), the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (grant agreement No 810182 – SCOPE ERC Synergy project), and the Methusalem funding of the University of Antwerp. We acknowledge the icons from the graphical abstract made by dDara, geotatah, Spashicons and Freepik on www.flaticon.com. We also thank Stein Maerivoet, Joachim Slaets, Elizabeth Mercer, Colín Ó’Modráin, Joran Van Turnhout, Pepijn Heirman, dr. Yury Gorbanev, dr. Fanny Girard-Sahun and dr. Sean Kelly for the interesting discussions and feedback.			Approved	Most recent IF: 13.1; 2023 IF: 2.594
	Call Number	PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:198709			Serial	8816
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	Author	Hassani, H.
	Title	First-principles study of polarons in WO₃			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	181 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
	Abstract	Polarons are quasiparticles emerging in materials from the interaction of extra charge carriers with the surrounding atomic lattice. They appear in a wide va- riety of compounds and can have a profound impact on their properties, making the concept of a polaron a central and ubiquitous topic in material science. Al- though the concept is known for about 75 years, the origin of polarons is not yet fully elucidated. This thesis focuses on WO 3 as a well-known prototypical system for studying polarons, which inherent polaronic nature is linked to its remark- able electrical and chromic properties. The primary objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive atomistic description and understanding of polaron formation in WO 3 using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calcula- tions. Additionally, the investigation explores the interactions between polarons and the possibility of bipolaron formation. Following a systematic strategy, we first extensively analyze the dielectric and lattice dynamical properties of WO 3 in both the room-temperature P 2 1 /n and ground-state P 2 1 /c phases. Our specific focus is on characterizing the zone-center phonons, which serve as the founda- tion for identifying the phonon modes involved in the polaron formation and charge localization process. Subsequently, we examine the impact of structural distortions on the electronic structure of WO 3 to elucidate the interplay between structural distortions and electronic properties, thereby laying the groundwork for understanding electron-phonon couplings. By incorporating these critical fac- tors, we address our primary research goals. The most common explanation for the polaron formation is associated with the electrostatic screening of the extra charge by the polarizable lattice. Here, we show that, even in ionic crystals, this is not necessarily the case. We demonstrate that polarons in this compound arise primarily from non-polar atomic distortions. We then unveil that this unexpected behavior originates from the undoing of distortive atomic motions, which lowers the bandgap. As such, we coin the name of anti-distortive polaron and validate its appearance through a simple quantum-dot model, in which charge localization is the result of balancing structural, electronic, and confinement energy costs. Then, we also study the polaron-polaron interaction and present the formation of the antiferromagnetic W 4+ bipolaronic state with relatively large formation energy. Our analysis of the W 4+ bipolaronic distortions on the global structure reveals the same behavior as in experiments where the highly distorted monoclinic phase transforms into a tetragonal phase as a function of doping. Additionally, leveraging our previous findings on asymmetric polaronic distortion and examin- ing different merging orientations, we stabilize the antiferromagnetic W 5+ -W 5+ bipolaronic state with an energy lower than the W 4+ state. This thesis clari- fies the formation of unusual medium-size 2D polarons and bipolarons in WO3,which might be relevant to the whole family of ABO 3 perovskites, to which WO 3 is closely related. The simplicity of the concept provides also obvious guidelines for tracking similar behavior in other families of compounds.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:198169			Serial	8868
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	Author	Khan, S.U.
	Title	Singlet oxygen-based photoelectrocatalysis : from photosensitizer structures to plasmonic enhancement			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	182 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
	Abstract	Singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) has continuously attracted researchers' interest because of its involvement in various processes, such as in photodynamic reactions in biological and chemical systems. 1O2 is an effective electrophile and potent oxidizing agent and can be easily generated by photosensitization via the illumination of organic dyes with visible light. As described in Chapter 1, 1O2 has gained prominence in various applications such as wastewater treatment, photodynamic therapy of cancer, organic synthesis, and recently developed 1O2-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing of phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds are a potential source of contaminants that originates from industrial effluents and waste products of chemical and pharmaceutical industries. These phenolic compounds pose severe threats to humans and aquatic life after reaching the environment. Therefore, it is imperative to develop photoactive materials that efficiently generate 1O2 and oxidize phenolic compounds and antibiotics. The existing 1O2 generating photosensitizers (PSs) include porphyrins, phthalocyanines (Pcs), subphthalocyanines (SubPcs), and other dyes such as derivatives of xanthene (e.g., Rose Bengal (RB)), and fluorinated boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPYs), and phenothiazinium dyes (e. g. Methylene Blue (MB)) which display long-lived triplet excited state and can be used in 1O2-based applications. This thesis focuses on preparing efficient hybrid materials based on newly synthesized Pcs, different surface area titanium dioxide (TiO2) and plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for their use in the PEC detection of phenolic compounds. The first focus was on developing a fast amperometric method to test the photo-electrocatalytic activity of 1O2 producing PSs dissolved in MeOH based on the redox cycling of an electroactive phenolic compound, hydroquinone (HQ) (Chapter 2). This method of testing PSs does not require the accumulation of a reaction product since the amperometric signal develops near instantly when the light is on, which enables dynamic monitoring of a PSs activity at varying conditions in a single experiment. This method was crucial to measure high 1O2 quantum yield and low yield in the same experimental conditions. Moreover, the obtained results revealed a range of working parameters affecting the PEC activity of PSs. The next goal was to immobilize tert-butyl substituted aluminum Pc (t-BuPcAlCl) on the solid support, which showed a high 1O2 quantum yield. However, before immobilizing Pc on a solid support such as TiO2, it is essential to know the electronic energy level of Pcs for the possible electron transfers from Pcs to TiO2. Therefore, Chapter 3 explored the (spectro)electrochemical properties of t-BuPcAlCl Pc. Next, in Chapter 4, t-BuPcAlCl Pc and other tert-butyl substituted Pcs with Zn central metal, t-BuPcZn, and its metal-free derivative t-BuPcH2 were immobilized on different surface area TiO2. The PEC activity of immobilized Pcs on TiO2 toward different phenols and antibiotics was studied, and the action mechanism was revealed and compared with sterically hindered fluorinated Pc F64PcZn. In the final part of this thesis plasmonic AuNPs were introduced combined with trimethylsilane-protected acetylene functionalized ZnPc (TMSZnPc) to study the synergistic effect that boosts the overall activity toward the detection of phenols under visible light illumination (Chapter 5) . The TMSZnPc was coupled with AuNPs via a click chemistry approach. The 1O2 quantum yield of TMSZnPc improved significantly after conjugating with AuNPs, and, subsequently, the PEC activity for detecting HQ. The theoretical and experimental investigation demonstrated that the plasmonic enhancement of TMSZnPc is driven by the near-field mechanism. This shows the importance of plasmonic AuNPs with other photoactive species for their use in 1O2-based applications. The fundamental knowledge obtained in this doctoral study will ultimately deepen the understanding of developing 1O2-based PEC sensors for detecting phenolic compounds and pharmaceuticals in the wastewater stream, helping to choose efficient materials and, in the last instance, a more sustainable future especially access to clean water for everyone.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:193342			Serial	7337
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	Author	Shi, P.; Gielis, J.; Niklas, K.J.; Niinemets, Ü.; Schrader, J.
	Title	Leaf functional traits : ecological and evolutionary implications			Type	ME3 Book as editor
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	185 p.
	Keywords	ME3 Book as editor; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
	Abstract
	Address
	Corporate Author				Thesis
	Publisher		Place of Publication		Editor
	Language		Wos		Publication Date	2023-04-14
	Series Editor		Series Title		Abbreviated Series Title
	Series Volume		Series Issue		Edition
	ISSN		ISBN	978-2-8325-2086-4; 1664-8714	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access	OpenAccess
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:198002			Serial	8894
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	Author	Van Echelpoel, R.
	Title	Making an impact with voltammetric illicit drug sensors : bridging the gap between fundamental lab research and on-site application			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	xxviii, 194 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
	Abstract	Illicit drugs are harmful substances, posing a threat to the health and safety of society. Policies, such as supply reduction and harm reduction, are in place to combat the illicit drug problem. Science can play a substantial role in this fight, by providing tools that enable these policies to be successfully enforced. One example are on-site detection tools, i.e. sensors that allow the on-site identification of an illicit drug in a sample of interest. Several technologies, such as color tests and portable spectroscopic techniques, are currently employed for this goal. Although these are valuable techniques, there is an opportunity for voltammetry, an electrochemical technique, to make an impactful addition to this repertoire of on-site detection tools. Despite its attractive features (low-cost, portable, short analysis time, indifference to color,...), voltammetric illicit drug sensor have failed to make an impact in real scenarios. The work outlined in this PhD thesis aims to change this by bringing the technology from the lab to the field. Strategic choices, fueled by feedback from end-users, were made to further develop those specific aspects of the technology that previously haltered the technology to fulfill its potential. A detection algorithm was introduced that converts the voltammetric output into a clear-cut interpretation thereof, opening up the technology to end-users without prior knowledge of the technology. A sensor that allows qualitative and quantitative detection of the psychoactive drug MDMA was introduced, and importantly, validated on a large set of 212 confiscated samples. A state-of-the art mobile application and adequate sampling methodology were developed, alongside other, often more practical studies and product developments, to evolve the technology into a product that truly creates value for end-users. Important steps towards multidrug detection were made with a festival sensor and a flowchart based on visual appearance that ties together a variety of voltammetric single sensors into a single multidrug sensing approach. Last but not least, multiple valorization aspects were researched, including a market study and an analysis to determine the optimal commercialization strategy. Overall, this PhD thesis has facilitated the transition of the voltammetric illicit drug sensing technology from lab to on-site application. The final application creates value for end-users, and is ready to make an impact in real on-site scenarios.
	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		ISBN	987-90-5728-534-7	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:200601			Serial	9055
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	Author	Van Oijstaeijen, W.
	Title	Green infrastructure and local implementation : (green) bridging the gap between research and practice			Type	Administrative Services
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	xvii, 194 p.
	Keywords	Administrative Services; Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
	Abstract	Climate change is an ever-increasing threat to our planet, with the urbanisation of previously open spaces exacerbating the issue. The loss of open space leads to a decrease in ecosystem services, which negatively impacts the liveability in urbanised environments, and beyond. The incorporation of green infrastructure (GI) into the built environment is acknowledged as an effective and multi-functional measure to make our living environment resilient and future-proof. Notwithstanding that the local level is essential for effective GI implementation, research into local decision making is very limited. This thesis therefore aims to address two significant gaps in the implementation of GI. The first objective is to bridge the science-policy gap by integrating scientific knowledge on ES and GI into local decision-making processes. In this context, the policy dimension within this thesis involves the process of translating overarching policy objectives into practical actions within local decision-making practices, abstracting from the intricacies of higher-level policymaking itself. The second objective focuses on the people-policy gap, which involves understanding stakeholders' perspectives and priorities regarding GI and its associated ecosystem services. Through stated preference valuation techniques (discrete choice experiments and a best-worst scaling experiment), multi-stakeholder GI perceptions are gathered. Finally, a novel tool to GI valuation is developed, acknowledging the different stakeholder views and building on the insights of collaborative tool development and design. By gaining insights into the demand, prioritisation, and provision of GI from the two most important stakeholder groups at the local level (residents and local decision-makers), this research aims to foster effective communication and alignment between public preferences and policy implementation. Ultimately, addressing these gaps will contribute to more informed planning and decision-making practices related to green infrastructure. The overall goal of this thesis is to enhance the uptake of GI knowledge in the local decision-making context, proposing pathways to facilitate and optimise investments in public GI.
	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		ISBN	978-90-5728-814-2	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:199925			Serial	9206
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	Author	Van Alphen, S.
	Title	Modelling plasma reactors for sustainable CO2 conversion and N2 fixation			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	202 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
	Abstract	200 years ago, humanity started the industrial revolution by discovering fossil fuels, which lead to unprecedented technological advancements. However it has become alarmingly clear that the major environmental concerns associated with fossil fuels require a short-term transition from a carbon-based energy economy to a sustainable one based on green electricity. A key step concerning this transition exists in developing electricity-driven alternatives for chemical processes that rely on fossil fuels as a raw material. A technology that is gaining increasing interest to achieve this, is plasma technology. Using plasmas to induce chemical reactions by selectively heating electrons in a gas has already delivered promising results for gas conversion applications like CO2 conversion and N2 fixation, but plasma reactors still require optimization to be considered industrially competitive to existing fossil fuel-based processes and emerging other electricity-based technologies. In this thesis I develop computational models to describe plasma reactors and identify key mechanisms in three different plasma reactors for three different gas conversion applications, i.e. N2 fixation, combined CO2-CH4 conversion and CO2 splitting. I first developed models to describe a new rotating gliding arc (GA) reactor operating in two arc modes, which, as revealed by my model, are characterized by distinct plasma chemistry pathways. Subsequently, my colleague and I study the quenching effect of an effusion nozzle to this rotating GA reactor, reaching the best results to date for N2 fixation into NOx at atmospheric pressure, i.e., NOx concentrations up to 5.9%, at an energy cost down to 2.1 MJ/mol. Afterwards, I investigate the possible improvement of N2 admixtures in plasma-based CO2 and CH4 conversion, as significant amounts of N2 are often found in industrial CO2 waste streams, and gas separations are financially costly. Through combining my models with the experiment from a fellow PhD student, we reveal that moderate amounts of N2 (i.e. around 20%) increase both the electron density and the gas temperature to yield an overall energy cost reduction of 21%. Finally, I model quenching nozzles for plasma-based CO2 conversion in a microwave reactor, to explain the enhancements in CO2 conversion that were demonstrated in experiments. Through computational modelling I reveal that the nozzle introduces fast gas quenching resulting in the suppression of recombination reactions, which have more impact at low flow rates, where recombination is the most limiting factor in the conversion process.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:194811			Serial	7270
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	Author	Wittner, N.
	Title	Improving and characterising solid-state fungal pretreatment by Phanerochaete chrysosporium for sugar production from poplar wood			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	206 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE)
	Abstract	Pretreatment is a critical step in the conversion of lignocellulose into biofuels and biochemicals. During pretreatment, the recalcitrance of lignocellulose is reduced, e.g. by removing lignin, thereby making the carbohydrates more accessible for enzymatic saccharification. Fungal delignification by white-rot fungi is a biotechnological alternative to chemical/physicochemical methods, which is carried out in solid-state fermentation with mild reaction conditions and without the formation of microbial inhibitors. However, fungal pretreatment presents some challenges, such as long pretreatment time, non-selective and low delignification, low enzymatic digestibility and feedstock sterilisation requirement, making its commercial implementation challenging compared to conventional methods. This study investigates the possibility of improving and characterising the solid-state fungal pretreatment of poplar wood by Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The individual and combined effects of MnSO4 and CuSO4 supplements on the delignification of sterilised wood are investigated using response surface methodology to improve the degree and selectivity of fungal delignification. Spore-inoculated solid-state fermentations are carried out for 4 weeks in sterile vented bottles. The mechanism of the concerted action of the metal ions on lignin degradation is then elucidated by relating fungal growth and ligninolytic enzyme activities to lignocellulose degradation as a function of pretreatment time. The optimised metal-supplemented system is then applied to the pretreatment of non-sterilised wood using different inoculation techniques (spores and pre-colonised substrate), nutrients (metal ions with or without glucose and sodium nitrate) and cultivation environments (sterile aerated bottles and open trays). The fermentations are then characterised using infrared spectroscopy, in particular NIR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, with the aim of developing rapid lignin quantification methods as an alternative to conventional wet chemical methods. Finally, the feasibility of producing fermentable sugars from sterilised and non-sterilised poplar wood using fungal pretreatment is evaluated through a techno-economic analysis. Supplementing the pretreatment system with 2.01 µmol CuSO4 and 0.77 µmol MnSO4 g-1 wood resulted in 1.9-fold higher lignin degradation, 2.3-fold higher delignification selectivity value and 2.9-fold higher glucose yield. The improved delignification could be explained by the concerted action of Mn2+ and Cu2+ ions, with Mn2+ ions inducing and Cu2+ prolonging manganese peroxidase production responsible for delignification. Fungal pretreatment at non-sterile conditions was obtained using trays in a simple solid-state fermentation set-up without sterile aeration. A 1:3 ratio of pre-colonised and untreated wood was applied for inoculation and only Cu2+, Mn2+ and sodium nitrate as supplements. Remarkably, this technology resulted in a comparably high glucose yield (28.51 ± 0.28%) to the traditional method using sterilised wood, sterile aeration and spores as inoculum, while reducing the amount of wood to be sterilised by 71.2%. Infrared spectroscopy-based methods with high coefficients of determination (R_CV
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:197185			Serial	8883
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	Author	Dingenen, F.
	Title	Solar-driven H2 production from seawater using stabilized plasmon-enhanced photocatalysts			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	XXXVIII, 210 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology
	Abstract	As natural gas prices proved to be very volatile, sustainable alternatives are highly needed. Water-derived H2 was revealed as a promising substitute, allowing to produce a green energy carrier with a minimum of harmful emissions. Direct splitting of earth-abundant seawater provides an eco-friendly route for the production of clean H2, but is hampered by selectivity and stability issues due to the presence of salts.Photocatalytic seawater splitting is particularly promising for this purpose, as it seems less affected by adversary seawater effects and might rely on free and renewable solar power. Unfortunately, the benchmark photocatalyst, TiO2, still suffers from its low solar light activity. It is only actived upon illumination with energetic ultraviolet light (<5% of the sunlight). In order to broaden the activity window to the visible light, the concept of the 'plasmonic rainbow' was explored. Here, TiO2 is modified with various gold-silver composites that possess the unique optical phenomenon of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). This phenomenon enables the absorption of light at very specific wavelengths, depending on the metal type, size, shape and dielectric environment. The light energy might then be converted into hot carriers, strong local electromagnetic fields and/or heat. By combining multiple composites with various sizes and compositions, a broadband absorption could be obtained, resulting in significantly enhanced activity in photocatalytic model reactions under simulated sunlight. The major disadvantage of these plasmonic nanoparticles is their tendency to oxidize and deactivate. To overcome this, polymer shell stabilization strategies were found to be effective to protect the metal cores. Both conductive and non-conductive polymers were studied. For the former, a mix-and-wait strategy generating polyaniline shells of 2-5 nm was used, whille the latter was based on a Layer-by-Layer approach, allowing (sub) nanometer thickness control. For the actual H2 production experiments, the plasmonic loading was optimized in a pure water:methanol scavenger (7:1) mixture and initially the stabilization strategies proofed to be effective for simulated seawater (0.5M NaCl), even after 2 years. However, in real seawater, the activity decreased drastically due to aggregation of the photocatalyst in the presence of multivalent cations. Finally, facile immobilization strategies using 3D printing showed to be able to yield stable, solar active photocatalyst for real seawater splitting.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:203196			Serial	9094
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	Author	Labey, E.; Fonteyn, F.; Wilmot, A.; El Amouri, S.; Gjurova, A.; De Cock, W.; De Wael, F.
	Title	Shaping utopia through law: how the law does (not) provide an answer to societal challenges			Type	ME2 Book as editor or co-editor
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	210 p.
	Keywords	ME2 Book as editor or co-editor; Law; Government and Law
	Abstract
	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		ISBN	978-94-000-1654-5	Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:198938			Serial	9227
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	Author	Vizarim, N.P.
	Title	Dynamic behavior of Skyrmions under the influence of periodic pinning in chiral magnetic infinite thin films			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	212 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
	Abstract	The miniaturization of transistors for application in new processors and logic devices poses a significant challenge in the field of materials. Spintronics, which relies on controlled movement of magnetic nanostructures, offers a promising solution. Among the candidates, magnetic skyrmions are considered one of the most promising. These chiral spin structures, characterized by topological protection and enhanced stability compared to vortices or magnetic bubbles, have been extensively studied. To advance in the control of skyrmion motion, essential for practical applications, we investigated their dynamic behavior in a two-dimensional chiral magnet at zero temperature. Our study focused on the influence of periodic arrays of pinning centers. The simulations considered skyrmions as point-like particles considering the following interactions: skyrmion-skyrmion interactions, interactions with pinning center arrays, a current of polarized spins, and the Magnus force. We conducted calculations for scenarios involving a single skyrmion as well as different skyrmion density values in the material. The aim was to explore possibilities for controlled skyrmion motion, investigate different dynamic regimes, and examine collective effects. The results demonstrate that by adjusting the size, strength, and density of the pinning centers, we can effectively control the motion of individual skyrmions and manage the flow of multiple skyrmions. Furthermore, we discovered that periodic arrays of pinning centers can facilitate topological selection when different species of skyrmions with distinct Magnus components are present. Employing alternating currents, we observed the significant role of the ratchet effect in the skyrmion dynamics. By fine-tuning the amplitudes of the alternating currents, we achieved direct and controlled motion of skyrmions in specific directions. These findings hold potential for advancing our understanding of skyrmion dynamics and can inspire future technological applications involving these quasi-particles. Overall, we anticipate that our results will be valuable to the scientific community, contributing to a deeper comprehension of skyrmion dynamics and paving the way for future technological applications.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:198101			Serial	8852
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	Author	Kovács, A.
	Title	A structured methodology for natural deep eutectic solvent selection and formulation for enzymatic reactions			Type	Doctoral thesis
	Year	2023	Publication		Abbreviated Journal
	Volume		Issue		Pages	viii, 216 p.
	Keywords	Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
	Abstract	Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) show great promise as media for enzymatic reactions in areas where (bio)compatibility with natural or medicinal products is a must. While in theory they can be tailored to the intended reaction to ensure optimized yields, the knowledge to date is predominantly empirical, with some mechanistic reports providing a fragmented view at best. Therefore, it is not easy to explain experimental observations, let alone make predictions. The aim of this study was to develop a structured, holistic understanding of the effects of NADES media on enzymatic reactions, distinguishing between effects on solubility, solvation, viscosity, inhibition and denaturation. Experimental and computational chemistry methods were combined to separately study the interactions between enzyme, substrate, and NADES as reaction media. The initial enzyme activity and the final conversion of vinyl laurate transesterification by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase were studied experimentally. The direct effect of NADES on the same enzyme was modeled by molecular dynamics simulation. The effect of solubility was studied by both experimental and computational methods. To predict the solubility and viscosity of NADES, data-driven models were developed by combining group contribution and machine learning methods, based on the accumulated experimental knowledge on NADES found in the literature. Finally, the composed relationships and prediction models were applied to the practical example of deacetylation of mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs). The experimental findings show that the chosen NADES system has a significant effect on both the apparent initial activity and the final conversion. However, in the simulations, the enzyme retains its original structure; moreover, NADES has an additional stabilizing effect on the enzyme. In addition, changes in the molar ratio of the compounds in NADES do not show a significant effect on the stability of the enzyme. These results indicate that the main effect of NADES on the reaction is mainly related to the substrate-solvent interactions (solvation energy) and the viscosity of the system. On the other hand, the experimental results only confirmed the significance of solvation, viscosity did not show a clear correlation with the studied reaction parameters. The machine learning models built for solubility and viscosity gave quantitative predictions of these properties. The accumulated knowledge was used to optimize the yield in the deacetylation reaction of MELs. The combination of these methods provides fundamental knowledge about the effect of NADES on biocatalysis, but the results are also applicable to other uses of NADES.
	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		ISBN		Additional Links	UA library record
	Impact Factor		Times cited		Open Access
	Notes				Approved	Most recent IF: NA
	Call Number	UA @ admin @ c:irua:194886			Serial	7276
Permanent link to this record