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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 (up) Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198498 Serial 9240
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Author Borms, L.; Van Opstal, W.; Brusselaers, J.; Van Passel, S.
Title The working future : an analysis of skills needed by circular startups Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of cleaner production Abbreviated Journal
Volume 409 Issue Pages 137261-137269
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Aside from potential environmental benefits, the implementation of circular economy principles in businesses can have merits for the labour market. The current unemployment in several regions of Europe and the qualitative mismatch between supply and demand could be countered by reskilling the labour force to adjust supply and demand to one another for increased reuse, repair, or recycling, among others. This study uses interviews to increase the focus of the research question and uses survey data to perform an ordered probit regression analysis to sketch the current and future landscape of startups’ skills in Flanders (Belgium), and to analyse the relationship between circular strategies and different types of skills. The results show that design to lower material use increases the need for transport and logistics skills, digitalisation increases the need for R&D and IT skills, and the recuperation of waste requires technical knowledge. Furthermore, gender, age, and experience of the entrepreneur influence the needed skills. The paper probed for policy recommendations for the uptake of circular strategies and recommendations for future research. The most asked policy measures by the respondents are innovation and collaboration support (subsidies), fiscal measures that support circular goods and services, and public procurement for circular goods and services. This research is of relevance for several stakeholders, such as startup ecosystems, sector organisations, policy makers in innovation policy and labour market policy, and educational institutions.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000988763400001 Publication Date 2023-04-21
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0959-6526 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195706 Serial 9246
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Author Bagherpour, A.; Baral, P.; Colla, M.-S.; Orekhov, A.; Idrissi, H.; Haye, E.; Pardoen, T.; Lucas, S.
Title Tailoring Mechanical Properties of a-C:H:Cr Coatings Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication Coatings Abbreviated Journal Coatings
Volume 13 Issue 12 Pages 2084
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;
Abstract The development of coatings with tunable performances is critical to meet a wide range of technological applications each one with different requirements. Using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process, scientists can create hydrogenated amorphous carbon coatings doped with metal (a-C:H:Me) with a broad range of mechanical properties, varying from those resembling polymers to ones resembling diamond. These diverse properties, without clear relations between the different families, make the material selection and optimization difficult but also very rich. An innovative approach is proposed here based on projected performance indices related to fracture energy, strength, and stiffness in order to classify and optimize a-C:H:Me coatings. Four different a-C:H:Cr coatings deposited by PECVD with Ar/C2H2 discharge under different bias voltage and pressures are investigated. A path is found to produce coatings with a selective critical energy release rate between 5–125 J/m2 without compromising yield strength (1.6–2.7 GPa) and elastic limit (≈0.05). Finally, fine-tuned coatings are categorized to meet desired applications under different testing conditions.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001136013600001 Publication Date 2023-12-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2079-6412 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) Times cited Open Access
Notes Walloon region under the PDR FNRS, C 62/5—PDR/OL 33677636 ; Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research, CDR—J.0113.20 ; National Fund for Scientific Reaserch; Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:202390 Serial 8982
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Author Vlasov, E.; Denisov, N.; Verbeeck, J.
Title Low-cost electron detector for scanning electron microscope Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication HardwareX Abbreviated Journal HardwareX
Volume 14 Issue Pages e00413
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Electron microscopy is an indispensable tool for the characterization of (nano) materials. Electron microscopes are typically very expensive and their internal operation is often shielded from the user. This situation can provide fast and high quality results for researchers focusing on e.g. materials science if they have access to the relevant instruments. For researchers focusing on technique development, wishing to test novel setups, however, the high entry price can lead to risk aversion and deter researchers from innovating electron microscopy technology further. The closed attitude of commercial entities about how exactly the different parts of electron microscopes work, makes it even harder for newcomers in this field. Here we propose an affordable, easy-to-build electron detector for use in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The aim of this project is to shed light on the functioning of such detectors as well as show that even a very modest design can lead to acceptable performance while providing high flexibility for experimentation and customization.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001042486000001 Publication Date 2023-03-10
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2468-0672 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) Times cited 1 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium) project SBO [Grant No. S000121N]. JV acknowledges funding from the HORIZON-INFRA-2022-TECH-01-01 project IMPRESS [Grant No. 101094299]. Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:195886 Serial 7252
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Author Mary Joy, R.; Pobedinskas, P.; Bourgeois, E.; Chakraborty, T.; Görlitz, J.; Herrmann, D.; Noël, C.; Heupel, J.; Jannis, D.; Gauquelin, N.; D'Haen, J.; Verbeeck, J.; Popov, C.; Houssiau, L.; Becher, C.; Nesládek, M.; Haenen, K.
Title Germanium vacancy centre formation in CVD nanocrystalline diamond using a solid dopant source Type A3 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Science talks Abbreviated Journal Science Talks
Volume 5 Issue Pages 100157
Keywords A3 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2023-02-09
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2772-5693 ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor (up) Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:196969 Serial 8791
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Author Zheng, J.; Zhang, H.; Lv, J.; Zhang, M.; Wan, J.; Gerrits, N.; Wu, A.; Lan, B.; Wang, W.; Wang, S.; Tu, X.; Bogaerts, A.; Li, X.
Title Enhanced NH3Synthesis from Air in a Plasma Tandem-Electrocatalysis System Using Plasma-Engraved N-Doped Defective MoS2 Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication JACS Au Abbreviated Journal JACS Au
Volume 3 Issue 5 Pages 1328-1336
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Abstract We have developed a sustainable method to produce NH3 directly from air using a plasma tandem-electrocatalysis system that operates via the N2−NOx−NH3 pathway. To efficiently reduce NO2− to NH3, we propose a novel electrocatalyst consisting of defective N-doped molybdenum sulfide nanosheets on vertical graphene arrays (N-MoS2/VGs). We used a plasma engraving process to form the metallic 1T phase, N doping, and S vacancies in the electrocatalyst simultaneously. Our system exhibited a remarkable NH3 production rate of 7.3 mg h−1 cm−2 at −0.53 V vs RHE, which is almost 100 times higher than the state-of-the-art electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction and more than double that of other hybrid systems. Moreover, a low energy consumption of only 2.4 MJ molNH3−1 was achieved in this study. Density functional theory calculations revealed that S vacancies and doped N atoms play a dominant role in the selective reduction of NO2− to NH3. This study opens up new avenues for efficient NH3 production using cascade systems.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000981779300001 Publication Date 2023-05-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2691-3704 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51976191, 5227060056, 52276214) and the National Key Technologies R&D Program of China (2018YFE0117300). N.G. was financially supported through an NWO Rubicon Grant (019.202EN.012). X.T. acknowl- edges the support of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/X002713/1). Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:196761 Serial 8792
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Author Vlasov, E.; Skorikov, A.; Sánchez-Iglesias, A.; Liz-Marzán, L.M.; Verbeeck, J.; Bals, S.
Title Secondary electron induced current in scanning transmission electron microscopy: an alternative way to visualize the morphology of nanoparticles Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS materials letters Abbreviated Journal ACS Materials Lett.
Volume Issue Pages 1916-1921
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Electron tomography (ET) is a powerful tool to determine the three-dimensional (3D) structure of nanomaterials in a transmission electron microscope. However, the acquisition of a conventional tilt series for ET is a time-consuming process and can therefore not provide 3D structural information in a time-efficient manner. Here, we propose surface-sensitive secondary electron (SE) imaging as an alternative to ET for the investigation of the morphology of nanomaterials. We use the SE electron beam induced current (SEEBIC) technique that maps the electrical current arising from holes generated by the emission of SEs from the sample. SEEBIC imaging can provide valuable information on the sample morphology with high spatial resolution and significantly shorter throughput times compared with ET. In addition, we discuss the contrast formation mechanisms that aid in the interpretation of SEEBIC data.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001006191600001 Publication Date 2023-06-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2639-4979 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) Times cited 1 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The funding for this project was provided by European Research Council (ERC Consolidator Grant 815128, REALNANO). J.V. acknowledges the eBEAM project, which is supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 101017720 (FET-Proactive EBEAM). L.M.L.-M. acknowledges funding from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (grant # PID2020-117779RB-I00). Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:197004 Serial 8795
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Author Abduvokhidov, D.; Yusupov, M.; Shahzad, A.; Attri, P.; Shiratani, M.; Oliveira, M.C.; Razzokov, J.
Title Unraveling the Transport Properties of RONS across Nitro-Oxidized Membranes Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication Biomolecules Abbreviated Journal Biomolecules
Volume 13 Issue 7 Pages 1043
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Abstract The potential of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in biomedical applications has received significant interest, due to its ability to generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Upon exposure to living cells, CAP triggers alterations in various cellular components, such as the cell membrane. However, the permeation of RONS across nitrated and oxidized membranes remains understudied. To address this gap, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations, to investigate the permeation capabilities of RONS across modified cell membranes. This computational study investigated the translocation processes of less hydrophilic and hydrophilic RONS across the phospholipid bilayer (PLB), with various degrees of oxidation and nitration, and elucidated the impact of RONS on PLB permeability. The simulation results showed that less hydrophilic species, i.e., NO, NO2, N2O4, and O3, have a higher penetration ability through nitro-oxidized PLB compared to hydrophilic RONS, i.e., HNO3, s-cis-HONO, s-trans-HONO, H2O2, HO2, and OH. In particular, nitro-oxidation of PLB, induced by, e.g., cold atmospheric plasma, has minimal impact on the penetration of free energy barriers of less hydrophilic species, while it lowers these barriers for hydrophilic RONS, thereby enhancing their translocation across nitro-oxidized PLB. This research contributes to a better understanding of the translocation abilities of RONS in the field of plasma biomedical applications and highlights the need for further analysis of their role in intracellular signaling pathways.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001035160000001 Publication Date 2023-06-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2218-273X ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes This research was funded by the Innovative Development Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, grant number FZ-2020092817. Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:198154 Serial 8803
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Author Ghasemitarei, M.; Ghorbi, T.; Yusupov, M.; Zhang, Y.; Zhao, T.; Shali, P.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Effects of Nitro-Oxidative Stress on Biomolecules: Part 1—Non-Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication Biomolecules Abbreviated Journal Biomolecules
Volume 13 Issue 9 Pages 1371
Keywords A1 Journal Article; plasma medicine; reactive oxygen and; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Abstract Plasma medicine, or the biomedical application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), is an expanding field within plasma research. CAP has demonstrated remarkable versatility in diverse biological applications, including cancer treatment, wound healing, microorganism inactivation, and skin disease therapy. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the effects of CAP remain incompletely understood. The therapeutic effects of CAP are largely attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which play a crucial role in the biological responses induced by CAP. Specifically, RONS produced during CAP treatment have the ability to chemically modify cell membranes and membrane proteins, causing nitro-oxidative stress, thereby leading to changes in membrane permeability and disruption of cellular processes. To gain atomic-level insights into these interactions, non-reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have emerged as a valuable tool. These simulations facilitate the examination of larger-scale system dynamics, including protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions. In this comprehensive review, we focus on the applications of non-reactive MD simulations in studying the effects of CAP on cellular components and interactions at the atomic level, providing a detailed overview of the potential of CAP in medicine. We also review the results of other MD studies that are not related to plasma medicine but explore the effects of nitro-oxidative stress on cellular components and are therefore important for a broader understanding of the underlying processes.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001071356400001 Publication Date 2023-09-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2218-273X ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes This research received no external funding. Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:200380 Serial 8958
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Author Bhatia, H.; Keshavarz, M.; Martin, C.; Van Gaal, L.; Zhang, Y.; de Coen, B.; Schrenker, N.J.; Valli, D.; Ottesen, M.; Bremholm, M.; Van de Vondel, J.; Bals, S.; Hofkens, J.; Debroye, E.
Title Achieving High Moisture Tolerance in Pseudohalide Perovskite Nanocrystals for Light-Emitting Diode Application Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication ACS Applied Optical Materials Abbreviated Journal ACS Appl. Opt. Mater.
Volume 1 Issue 6 Pages 1184-1191
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;
Abstract The addition of potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) to the FAPbBr3 structure and subsequent post-treatment of nanocrystals (NCs) lead to high quantum confinement, resulting in a photoluminescent quantum yield (PLQY) approaching unity and microsecond decay times. This synergistic approach demonstrated exceptional stability under humid conditions, retaining 70% of the PLQY for over a month, while the untreated NCs degrade within 24 h. Additionally, the devices incorporating the post-treated NCs displayed 1.5% external quantum efficiency (EQE), a 5-fold improvement over untreated devices. These results provide promising opportunities for the use of perovskites in moisture-stable optoelectronics.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2023-06-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2771-9855 ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor (up) Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Hercules Foundation, HER/11/14 ; European Commission; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaci?n, PID2021-128761OA-C22 ; European Regional Development Fund; Vlaamse regering, CASAS2 Meth/15/04 ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 1238622N 1514220N 1S45223N G.0B39.15 G.0B49.15 G098319N S002019N ZW15_09-GOH6316 ; Onderzoeksraad, KU Leuven, C14/19/079 db/21/006/bm iBOF-21-085 STG/21/010 ; Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, SBPLY/21/180501/000127 ; H2020 European Research Council, 642196 815128 ; Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:201011 Serial 8975
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Author Liu, C.(T.); Alvarez-Martin, A.; Keune, K.
Title Exploring benzyl alcohol derivatives and related compounds in the cleaning of oil paintings Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Studies in conservation Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-12
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS)
Abstract This study examines five benzyl alcohol derivatives and three chemically similar compounds and compares them against benzyl alcohol in gelled emulsions for the removal of overpaint during cleaning of oil paintings. Comparative cleaning tests using xanthan gels, Pemulen® TR-2 gels, and neat solvent were made on overpaint on fragments of a seventeenth-century test painting. This approach demonstrated that molecular changes to a benzyl alcohol core resulted in enhanced control during the cleaning process. In some cases a benzyl alcohol derivative enabled selective removal of non-original material, when benzyl alcohol appeared to affect the original paint. Select derivatives were also tested in an area of overpaint on a sixteenth-century oil on panel painting by Jan van Scorel in the Rijksmuseum Collection through modifying the chemical activity of benzyl alcohol. Finally, two GC-MS-based methods were used to monitor benzyl alcohol retention and possible oxidation in paint layers post-treatment.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001027641300001 Publication Date 2023-07-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0039-3630; 2047-0584 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 0.8 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 0.8; 2023 IF: 0.578
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:201643 Serial 9034
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Author Menegaldo, B.; Aleccia, D.; Nuyts, G.; Amato, A.; Orsega, E.F.; Moro, G.; Balliana, E.; De Wael, K.; Moretto, L.M.; Beltran, V.
Title Stories of the life of Saint George : materials and techniques from a Barbelli mural painting Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Studies in conservation Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-14
Keywords A1 Journal article; Art; History; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
Abstract Gian Giacomo Inchiocchio (1604-1656), better known as Barbelli, was one of the main exponents of Lombard painting of the seventeenth century. A large body of work is attributed to him, encompassing a wide range of drawings, murals, and oil paintings. However, despite his broad production, there are still many open questions regarding his painting techniques and materials. In this paper, a multi-analytical study of the cycle Stories of the life of Saint George that originally decorated the presbytery of the parish church of Casaletto Vaprio (Cremona, Italy) was performed, combining non-invasive techniques with the characterisation of selected micro samples. Results show that Barbelli used a very limited number of inorganic pigments, often mixing them together to create different colours and shades. Remains of caseinate and degradation products (i.e. weddellite and whewellite) related to the strappo intervention were also highlighted. The study helped to decipher the materials and technique of this painting, providing data that can be used as a reference to study his extensive production.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001080139100001 Publication Date 2023-10-04
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0039-3630; 2047-0584 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 0.8 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 0.8; 2023 IF: 0.578
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200302 Serial 9098
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Janssens, K.
Title EXRS2022 : the 2022 edition of the European X-ray Spectrometry conference, held in Bruges, Belgium Type Editorial
Year 2023 Publication X-ray spectrometry Abbreviated Journal
Volume 52 Issue 6 Pages 276-278
Keywords Editorial; Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS)
Abstract
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001043528400001 Publication Date 2023-08-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0049-8246 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 1.2 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.2; 2023 IF: 1.298
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198217 Serial 8865
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Author Calogiuri, T.; Hagens, M.; Van Groenigen, J.W.; Corbett, T.; Hartmann, J.; Hendriksen, R.; Janssens, I.; Janssens, I.A.; Ledesma Dominguez, G.; Loescher, G.; Mortier, S.; Neubeck, A.; Niron, H.; Poetra, R.P.; Rieder, L.; Struyf, E.; Van Tendeloo, M.; De Schepper, T.; Verdonck, T.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Vicca, S.; Vidal, A.
Title Design and construction of an experimental setup to enhance mineral weathering through the activity of soil organisms Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of visualized experiments Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue 201 Pages e65563-30
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Internet Data Lab (IDLab); Applied mathematics; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Abstract Enhanced weathering (EW) is an emerging carbon dioxide (CO2) removal technology that can contribute to climate change mitigation. This technology relies on accelerating the natural process of mineral weathering in soils by manipulating the abiotic variables that govern this process, in particular mineral grain size and exposure to acids dissolved in water. EW mainly aims at reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations by enhancing inorganic carbon sequestration. Until now, knowledge of EW has been mainly gained through experiments that focused on the abiotic variables known for stimulating mineral weathering, thereby neglecting the potential influence of biotic components. While bacteria, fungi, and earthworms are known to increase mineral weathering rates, the use of soil organisms in the context of EW remains underexplored. This protocol describes the design and construction of an experimental setup developed to enhance mineral weathering rates through soil organisms while concurrently controlling abiotic conditions. The setup is designed to maximize weathering rates while maintaining soil organisms' activity. It consists of a large number of columns filled with rock powder and organic material, located in a climate chamber and with water applied via a downflow irrigation system. Columns are placed above a fridge containing jerrycans to collect the leachate. Representative results demonstrate that this setup is suitable to ensure the activity of soil organisms and quantify their effect on inorganic carbon sequestration. Challenges remain in minimizing leachate losses, ensuring homogeneous ventilation through the climate chamber, and avoiding flooding of the columns. With this setup, an innovative and promising approach is proposed to enhance mineral weathering rates through the activity of soil biota and disentangle the effect of biotic and abiotic factors as drivers of EW.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001127854400015 Publication Date 2023-11-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1940-087x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 1.2 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.2; 2023 IF: 1.232
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200770 Serial 9019
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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 (up) 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
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Author Wang, L.; Shi, P.; Chen, L.; Gielis, J.; Niklas, K.J.
Title Evidence that Chinese white olive (Canarium album(Lour.) DC.) fruits are solids of revolution Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Botany letters Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-7
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Although many fruit geometries resemble a solid of revolution, this assumption has rarely been rigorously examined. To test this assumption, 574 fruits of Canarium album (Lour.) DC. which appear to have an ellipsoidal shape, were examined to determine the validity of a general avian-based egg-shape equation, referred to as the explicit Preston equation (EPE). The assumption that the C. album fruit geometry is a solid of revolution is tested by applying the volume formula for a solid of revolution using the EPE. The goodness of fit of the EPE was assessed using the adjusted root-mean-square error (RMSEadj). The relationship between the observed volume (Vobs) of each fruit, as measured by water displacement in a graduated cylinder, and the predicted volumes (Vpre) based on the EPE was also evaluated using the equation Vpre = slope * Vobs. All the RMSEadj values were smaller than 0.05, which demonstrated the validity of the EPE based on C. album fruit profiles. The 95% confidence interval of the slope of Vpre vs. Vobs included 1.0, indicating that there was no significant difference between Vpre and Vobs. The data confirm that C. album fruits are solids of revolution. This study provides a new approach for calculating the volume and surface area of geometrically similar fruits, which can be extended to other species with similar fruit geometries to further explore the ontogeny and evolution of angiosperm reproductive organs.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001033135400001 Publication Date 2023-07-25
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2381-8107; 2381-8115 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 1.5 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 24.01.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.5; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198001 Serial 8864
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Author Li, Q.; Niklas, K.J.J.; Niinemets, U.; Zhang, L.; Yu, K.; Gielis, J.; Gao, J.; Shi, P.
Title Stomatal shape described by a superellipse in four Magnoliaceae species Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Botany letters Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-9
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Stomata are essential for the exchange of water vapour and atmospheric gases between vascular plants and their external environments. The stomatal geometries of many plants appear to be elliptical. However, prior studies have not tested whether this is a mathematical reality, particularly since many natural shapes that appear to be ellipses are superellipses with greater or smaller edge curvature than predicted for an ellipse. Compared with the ellipse equation, the superellipse equation includes an additional parameter that allows generation of a larger range of shapes. We randomly selected 240 stomata from each of four Magnoliaceae species to test whether the stomatal geometries are superellipses or ellipses. The stomatal geometries for most stomata (943/960) were found to be described better using the superellipse equation. The traditional “elliptical stomata hypothesis” resulted in an underestimation of the area of stomata, whereas the superellipse equation accurately predicted stomatal area. This finding has important implications for the estimation of stomatal area in studies looking at stomatal shape, geometry, and function.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001024190300001 Publication Date 2023-07-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2381-8107; 2381-8115 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 1.5 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 12.01.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.5; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197847 Serial 8935
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Author Bercx, M.; Mayda, S.; Depla, D.; Partoens, B.; Lamoen, D.
Title Plasmonic effects in the neutralization of slow ions at a metallic surface Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication Contributions to Plasma Physics Abbreviated Journal Contrib. Plasma Phys
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;
Abstract Secondary electron emission is an important process that plays a significant role in several plasma‐related applications. As measuring the secondary electron yield experimentally is very challenging, quantitative modelling of this process to obtain reliable yield data is critical as input for higher‐scale simulations. Here, we build upon our previous work combining density functional theory calculations with a model originally developed by Hagstrum to extend its application to metallic surfaces. As plasmonic effects play a much more important role in the secondary electron emission mechanism for metals, we introduce an approach based on Poisson point processes to include both surface and bulk plasmon excitations to the process. The resulting model is able to reproduce the yield spectra of several available experimental results quite well but requires the introduction of global fitting parameters, which describe the strength of the plasmon interactions. Finally, we use an in‐house developed workflow to calculate the electron yield for a list of elemental surfaces spanning the periodic table to produce an extensive data set for the community and compare our results with more simplified approaches from the literature.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001067651300001 Publication Date 2023-09-16
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0863-1042 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 1.6 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes We acknowledge the financial support of FWO-Vlaanderen through project G.0216.14N. The computational resources and services used in this work were provided by the VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center) and the HPC infrastructure of the University of Antwerp (CalcUA), both funded by the FWO-Vlaanderen and the Flemish Government-department EWI. Approved Most recent IF: 1.6; 2023 IF: 1.44
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:200330 Serial 8962
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Author Cangi, A.; Moldabekov, Z.A.; Neilson, D.
Title International Conference on “Strongly Coupled Coulomb Systems” (July 24-29, 2022, Görlitz, Germany) Type Editorial
Year 2023 Publication Contributions to plasma physics Abbreviated Journal
Volume 63 Issue 9-10 Pages e202300110-3
Keywords Editorial; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001100083800001 Publication Date 2023-11-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0863-1042; 1521-3986 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 1.6 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.6; 2023 IF: 1.44
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:201156 Serial 9051
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Harrabi, K.; Gasmi, K.; Mekki, A.; Bahlouli, H.; Kunwar, S.; Milošević, M.V.
Title Detection and measurement of picoseconds-pulsed laser energy using a NbTiN superconducting filament Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity Abbreviated Journal
Volume 33 Issue 5 Pages 2400205-5
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract investigate non-equilibrium states created by a laser beam incident on a superconducting NbTiN filament subject to an electrical pulse at 4 K. In absence of the laser excitation, when the amplitude of the current pulse applied to the filament exceeds the critical current value, we monitored the delay time td that marks the collapse of the superconducting phase which is then followed by a voltage rise. We linked the delay time to the applied current using the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) theory, which enabled us to deduce the cooling (or heat-removal) time from the fit to the experimental data. Subsequently, we exposed the filament biased with a current pulse close to its critical value to a focused laser beam, inducing a normal state in the impact region of the laser beam. We showed that the energy of the incident beam and the incurred delay time are related to each other by a simple expression, that enables direct measurement of incident beam energy by temporal monitoring of the transport response. This method can be extended for usage in single-photon detection regime, and be used for accurate calibration of an arbitrary light source.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000946265900016 Publication Date 2023-02-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1051-8223 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 1.8 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.8; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195110 Serial 7295
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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 (up) 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 Bliokh, K.Y.; Karimi, E.; Padgett, M.J.; Alonso, M.A.; Dennis, M.R.; Dudley, A.; Forbes, A.; Zahedpour, S.; Hancock, S.W.; Milchberg, H.M.; Rotter, S.; Nori, F.; Ozdemir, S.K.; Bender, N.; Cao, H.; Corkum, P.B.; Hernandez-Garcia, C.; Ren, H.; Kivshar, Y.; Silveirinha, M.G.; Engheta, N.; Rauschenbeutel, A.; Schneeweiss, P.; Volz, J.; Leykam, D.; Smirnova, D.A.; Rong, K.; Wang, B.; Hasman, E.; Picardi, M.F.; Zayats, A.V.; Rodriguez-Fortuno, F.J.; Yang, C.; Ren, J.; Khanikaev, A.B.; Alu, A.; Brasselet, E.; Shats, M.; Verbeeck, J.; Schattschneider, P.; Sarenac, D.; Cory, D.G.; Pushin, D.A.; Birk, M.; Gorlach, A.; Kaminer, I.; Cardano, F.; Marrucci, L.; Krenn, M.; Marquardt, F.
Title Roadmap on structured waves Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of optics Abbreviated Journal
Volume 25 Issue 10 Pages 103001-103079
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Structured waves are ubiquitous for all areas of wave physics, both classical and quantum, where the wavefields are inhomogeneous and cannot be approximated by a single plane wave. Even the interference of two plane waves, or of a single inhomogeneous (evanescent) wave, provides a number of nontrivial phenomena and additional functionalities as compared to a single plane wave. Complex wavefields with inhomogeneities in the amplitude, phase, and polarization, including topological----- structures and singularities, underpin modern nanooptics and photonics, yet they are equally important, e.g. for quantum matter waves, acoustics, water waves, etc. Structured waves are crucial in optical and electron microscopy, wave propagation and scattering, imaging, communications, quantum optics, topological and non-Hermitian wave systems, quantum condensed-matter systems, optomechanics, plasmonics and metamaterials, optical and acoustic manipulation, and so forth. This Roadmap is written collectively by prominent researchers and aims to survey the role of structured waves in various areas of wave physics. Providing background, current research, and anticipating future developments, it will be of interest to a wide cross-disciplinary audience.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001061350200001 Publication Date 2023-07-26
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2040-8978 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 2.1 Times cited 7 Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 30.03.2024
Notes This work is funded by the Royal Society and EPSRC under the Grant Number EP/M01326X/1.M A A acknowledges funding from the Excellence Initiative of Aix Marseille University-A*MIDEX, a French Investissements d'Avenir' programme, and from the Agence Nationale de Recherche (ANR) through project ANR-21-CE24-0014-01.M R D acknowledges support from the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Topological Design(EP/S02297X/1).S R acknowledges support by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF, Grant P32300 WAVELAND) and by the European Commission (Grant MSCA-RISE 691209 NHQWAVE). FN is supported in part by NTT Research, and S K OE by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) Award No. FA9550-21-1-0202.The authors thank their co-workers Yaron Bromberg, Hasan Yilmaz, and collaborators Joerg Bewersdorf and Mengyuan Sun for their contributions to the works presented here. They also acknowledge financial support from the Office of Naval Research (N00014-20-1-2197) and the National Science Foundation (DMR-1905465).H R acknowledges a support from the Australian Research Council DECRA Fellowship DE220101085. Y K acknowledges a support from the Australian Research Council (Grant DP210101292).M G S acknowledges partial support from Simons Foundation/Collaboration on Extreme Wave Phenomena Based on Symmetries, from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) under the A F Harvey Research Prize 2018, and from Instituto de Telecomunicacoes under project UIDB/50008/2020. N E acknowledges partial support from Simons Foundation/Collaboration on Extreme Wave Phenomena Based on Symmetries, and from the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) grant number FA9550-21-1-0312.We acknowledge funding by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in the framework of the Alexander von Humboldt Professorship endowed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Moreover, financial support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 899275 (DAALI) is gratefully acknowledged.D L acknowledges a support from the National Research Foundation, Singapore and A*STAR under its CQT Bridging Grant. D A S acknowledges support from the Australian Research Council (FT230100058).The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Israel Science Foundation (ISF), the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-18-1-0208) through their program on Photonic Metamaterials, the Israel Ministry of Science, Technology and Space. The fabrication was performed at the Micro-Nano Fabrication & Printing Unit(MNF & PU), Technion.This work was supported by the European Research Council projects iCOMM (789340) and Starting Grant ERC-2016-STG-714151-PSINFONI.Our work in this area has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the Simons Foundation.This work was supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project DP190100406.J V acknowledges funding from the eBEAM Project supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101017720 (FET-Proactive EBEAM), FWO Project G042820N Exploring adaptive optics in transmission electron microscopy' and European Union's Horizon 2020 Research Infrastructure-Integrating Activities for Advanced Communities Grant Agreement No. 823717-ESTEEM3. P S acknowledges the support of the Austrian Science Fund under Project Nr. P29687-N36.; The authors would like to thank their many collaborators including Wangchun Chen, Charles W Clark, Lisa DeBeer-Schmitt, Huseyin Ekinci, Melissa Henderson, Michael Huber, Connor Kapahi, Ivar Taminiau, and Kirill Zhernenkov. The authors would also like to acknowledge their funding sources: the Canadian Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) program, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF).E K acknowledges the support of Canada Research Chairs, Ontario's Early Research Award, and NRC-uOttawa Joint Centre for Extreme Quantum Photonics (JCEP) via the High Throughput and Secure Networks Challenge Program at the National Research Council of Canada. Approved Most recent IF: 2.1; 2023 IF: 1.741
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199327 Serial 8925
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Matnazarova, S.; Khalilov, U.; Yusupov, M.
Title Effect of endohedral nickel atoms on the hydrophilicity of carbon nanotubes Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Molecular simulation Abbreviated Journal
Volume 49 Issue 17 Pages 1575-1581
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been successfully used in biomedicine, including cancer therapy, due to their unique physico-chemical properties. Because pristine CNTs exhibit hydrophobic behaviour, they can have a cytotoxic effect on cells, which limits their practical use in biomedicine. The toxicity of CNTs can be reduced by adding water-soluble functional radicals to their surface, i.e. by increasing their hydrophilicity. Another possibility for increasing the hydrophilicity of CNTs is probably filling them with endohedral metal atoms, which has not yet been studied. Thus, in this study, we use computer simulations to investigate the combined effect of endohedral nickel atoms and functional groups on the hydrophilicity of CNTs. Our simulation results show that the introduction of endohedral nickel atoms into CNTs increases their binding energy with functional groups. We also find that the addition of functional groups to the surface of CNT, along with filling it with endohedral nickel atoms, leads to an increase in the dipole moment of the CNT as well as its interaction energy with water, thereby increasing the hydrophilicity of the CNT and, consequently, its solubility in water. This, in turn, can lead to a decrease in CNT toxicity.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001059544800001 Publication Date 2023-09-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0892-7022 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 2.1 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.1; 2023 IF: 1.254
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199261 Serial 9027
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Hofer, C.; Pennycook, T.J.
Title Reliable phase quantification in focused probe electron ptychography of thin materials Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication Ultramicroscopy Abbreviated Journal Ultramicroscopy
Volume 254 Issue Pages 113829
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;
Abstract Electron ptychography provides highly sensitive, dose efficient phase images which can be corrected for aberrations after the data has been acquired. This is crucial when very precise quantification is required, such as with sensitivity to charge transfer due to bonding. Drift can now be essentially eliminated as a major impediment to focused probe ptychography, which benefits from the availability of easily interpretable simultaneous Z-contrast imaging. However challenges have remained when quantifying the ptychographic phases of atomic sites. The phase response of a single atom has a negative halo which can cause atoms to reduce in phase when brought closer together. When unaccounted for, as in integrating methods of quantification, this effect can completely obscure the effects of charge transfer. Here we provide a new method of quantification that overcomes this challenge, at least for 2D materials, and is robust to experimental parameters such as noise, sample tilt.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001071608700001 Publication Date 2023-08-18
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0304-3991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 2.2 Times cited Open Access
Notes FWO, G013122N ; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme; Horizon 2020; European Research Council, 802123-HDEM ; European Research Council; Approved Most recent IF: 2.2; 2023 IF: 2.843
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:200272 Serial 8987
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Author De Backer, A.; Bals, S.; Van Aert, S.
Title A decade of atom-counting in STEM: From the first results toward reliable 3D atomic models from a single projection Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Ultramicroscopy Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 113702
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Quantitative structure determination is needed in order to study and understand nanomaterials at the atomic scale. Materials characterisation resulting in precise structural information is a crucial point to understand the structure–property relation of materials. Counting the number of atoms and retrieving the 3D atomic structure of nanoparticles plays an important role here. In this paper, an overview will be given of the atom-counting methodology and its applications over the past decade. The procedure to count the number of atoms will be discussed in detail and it will be shown how the performance of the method can be further improved. Furthermore, advances toward mixed element nanostructures, 3D atomic modelling based on the atom-counting results, and quantifying the nanoparticle dynamics will be highlighted.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000953765800001 Publication Date 2023-02-10
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0304-3991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 2.2 Times cited 3 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This work was supported by the European Research Council (Grant 770887 PICOMETRICS to S. Van Aert, Grant 815128 REALNANO to S. Bals, and Grant 823717 ESTEEM3). The authors acknowledge financial support from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium) through project fundings (G.0267.18N, G.0502.18N, G.0346.21N, and EOS 30489208) and a postdoctoral grant to A. De Backer. S. Van Aert acknowledges funding from the University of Antwerp Research fund (BOF) . The authors also thank the colleagues who have contributed to this work over the years, including T. Altantzis, E. Arslan Irmak, K.J. Batenburg, E. Bladt, A. De wael, R. Erni, C. Faes, B. Goris, L. Jones, L.M. Liz-Marzán, I. Lobato, G.T. Martinez, P.D. Nellist, M.D. Rosell, A. Rosenauer, K.H.W. van den Bos, A. Varambhia, and Z. Zhang.; esteem3reported; esteem3JRA Approved Most recent IF: 2.2; 2023 IF: 2.843
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:195896 Serial 7236
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Author Zhang, Z.; Lobato, I.; De Backer, A.; Van Aert, S.; Nellist, P.
Title Fast generation of calculated ADF-EDX scattering cross-sections under channelling conditions Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Ultramicroscopy Abbreviated Journal
Volume 246 Issue Pages 113671
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Advanced materials often consist of multiple elements which are arranged in a complicated structure. Quantitative scanning transmission electron microscopy is useful to determine the composition and thickness of nanostructures at the atomic scale. However, significant difficulties remain to quantify mixed columns by comparing the resulting atomic resolution images and spectroscopy data with multislice simulations where dynamic scattering needs to be taken into account. The combination of the computationally intensive nature of these simulations and the enormous amount of possible mixed column configurations for a given composition indeed severely hamper the quantification process. To overcome these challenges, we here report the development of an incoherent non-linear method for the fast prediction of ADF-EDX scattering cross-sections of mixed columns under channelling conditions. We first explain the origin of the ADF and EDX incoherence from scattering physics suggesting a linear dependence between those two signals in the case of a high-angle ADF detector. Taking EDX as a perfect incoherent reference mode, we quantitatively examine the ADF longitudinal incoherence under different microscope conditions using multislice simulations. Based on incoherent imaging, the atomic lensing model previously developed for ADF is now expanded to EDX, which yields ADF-EDX scattering cross-section predictions in good agreement with multislice simulations for mixed columns in a core–shell nanoparticle and a high entropy alloy. The fast and accurate prediction of ADF-EDX scattering cross-sections opens up new opportunities to explore the wide range of ordering possibilities of heterogeneous materials with multiple elements.
Address
Corporate Author Zezhong Zhang Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000995063900001 Publication Date 2022-12-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0304-3991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 2.2 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes European Research Council 770887 PICOMETRICS; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek No.G.0502.18N; Horizon 2020, 770887 ; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme; European Research Council, 823717 ESTEEM3 ; esteem3reported; esteem3JRa Approved Most recent IF: 2.2; 2023 IF: 2.843
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:195890 Serial 7251
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Author Lobato, I.; De Backer, A.; Van Aert, S.
Title Real-time simulations of ADF STEM probe position-integrated scattering cross-sections for single element fcc crystals in zone axis orientation using a densely connected neural network Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Ultramicroscopy Abbreviated Journal Ultramicroscopy
Volume 251 Issue Pages 113769
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Quantification of annular dark field (ADF) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images in terms

of composition or thickness often relies on probe-position integrated scattering cross sections (PPISCS). In

order to compare experimental PPISCS with theoretically predicted ones, expensive simulations are needed for

a given specimen, zone axis orientation, and a variety of microscope settings. The computation time of such

simulations can be in the order of hours using a single GPU card. ADF STEM simulations can be efficiently

parallelized using multiple GPUs, as the calculation of each pixel is independent of other pixels. However, most

research groups do not have the necessary hardware, and, in the best-case scenario, the simulation time will

only be reduced proportionally to the number of GPUs used. In this manuscript, we use a learning approach and

present a densely connected neural network that is able to perform real-time ADF STEM PPISCS predictions as

a function of atomic column thickness for most common face-centered cubic (fcc) crystals (i.e., Al, Cu, Pd, Ag,

Pt, Au and Pb) along [100] and [111] zone axis orientations, root-mean-square displacements, and microscope

parameters. The proposed architecture is parameter efficient and yields accurate predictions for the PPISCS

values for a wide range of input parameters that are commonly used for aberration-corrected transmission

electron microscopes.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001011617200001 Publication Date 2023-06-01
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0304-3991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 2.2 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This work was supported by the European Research Council (Grant 770887 PICOMETRICS to S. Van Aert). The authors acknowledge financial support from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium) through project fundings (G034621N and G0A7723N) and a postdoctoral grant to A. De Backer. S. Van Aert acknowledges funding from the University of Antwerp Research fund (BOF), Belgium. Approved Most recent IF: 2.2; 2023 IF: 2.843
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:197275 Serial 8812
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Author Denisov, N.; Jannis, D.; Orekhov, A.; Müller-Caspary, K.; Verbeeck, J.
Title Characterization of a Timepix detector for use in SEM acceleration voltage range Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Ultramicroscopy Abbreviated Journal Ultramicroscopy
Volume 253 Issue Pages 113777
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Hybrid pixel direct electron detectors are gaining popularity in electron microscopy due to their excellent properties. Some commercial cameras based on this technology are relatively affordable which makes them attractive tools for experimentation especially in combination with an SEM setup. To support this, a detector characterization (Modulation Transfer Function, Detective Quantum Efficiency) of an Advacam Minipix and Advacam Advapix detector in the 15–30 keV range was made. In the current work we present images of Point Spread Function, plots of MTF/DQE curves and values of DQE(0) for these detectors. At low beam currents, the silicon detector layer behaviour should be dominant, which could make these findings transferable to any other available detector based on either Medipix2, Timepix or Timepix3 provided the same detector layer is used.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001026912700001 Publication Date 2023-06-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0304-3991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 2.2 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium) project SBO S000121N. The authors are grateful to Dr. Lobato for productive discussion of methods. Approved Most recent IF: 2.2; 2023 IF: 2.843
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:198258 Serial 8815
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Author Van den Broek, W.; Jannis, D.; Verbeeck, J.
Title Convexity constraints on linear background models for electron energy-loss spectra Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication Ultramicroscopy Abbreviated Journal Ultramicroscopy
Volume 254 Issue Pages 113830
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;
Abstract In this paper convexity constraints are derived for a background model of electron energy loss spectra (EELS) that is linear in the fitting parameters. The model outperforms a power-law both on experimental and simulated backgrounds, especially for wide energy ranges, and thus improves elemental quantification results. Owing to the model’s linearity, the constraints can be imposed through fitting by quadratic programming. This has important advantages over conventional nonlinear power-law fitting such as high speed and a guaranteed unique solution without need for initial parameters. As such, the need for user input is significantly reduced, which is essential for unsupervised treatment of large datasets. This is demonstrated on a demanding spectrum image of a semiconductor device sample with a high number of elements over a wide energy range.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2023-08-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0304-3991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor (up) 2.2 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes ECSEL, 875999 ; Horizon 2020; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme; Electronic Components and Systems for European Leadership; Approved Most recent IF: 2.2; 2023 IF: 2.843
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:200588 Serial 8961
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Author Wittner, N.; Gergely, S.; Slezsák, J.; Broos, W.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Cornet, I.
Title Follow-up of solid-state fungal wood pretreatment by a novel near-infrared spectroscopy-based lignin calibration model Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of microbiological methods Abbreviated Journal
Volume 208 Issue Pages 106725-106727
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE)
Abstract Lignin removal plays a crucial role in the efficient bioconversion of lignocellulose to fermentable sugars. As a delignification process, fungal pretreatment has gained great interest due to its environmental friendliness and low energy consumption. In our previous study, a positive linear correlation between acid-insoluble lignin degradation and the achievable enzymatic saccharification yield has been found, hereby highlighting the importance of the close follow-up of lignin degradation during the solid-state fungal pretreatment process. However, the standard quantification of lignin, which relies on the two-step acid hydrolysis of the biomass, is highly laborious and time-consuming. Vibrational spectroscopy has been proven as a fast and easy alternative; however, it has not been extensively researched on lignocellulose subjected to solid-state fungal pretreatment. Therefore, the present study examined the suitability of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) for the rapid and easy assessment of lignin content in poplar wood pretreated with Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Furthermore, the predictive power of the obtained calibration model and the recently published ATR-FTIR spectroscopy-based model were compared for the first time using the same fungus-treated wood data set. PLSR was used to correlate the NIR spectra to the acid-insoluble lignin contents (19.9%-27.1%) of pretreated wood. After normalization and second derivation, a PLSR model with a good coefficient of determination (RCV2 = 0.89) and a low root mean square error (RMSECV = 0.55%) were obtained despite the heterogeneous nature of the fungal solid-state fermentation. The performance of this PLSR model was comparably good to the one obtained by ATR-FTIR (RCV2 = 0.87) while it required more extensive spectral pre-processing. In conclusion, both methods will be highly useful for the high-throughput and user-friendly monitoring of lignin degradation in a solid-state fungal pretreatment-based biorefinery concept.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000983287400001 Publication Date 2023-04-13
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0167-7012 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 2.2 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.2; 2023 IF: 1.79
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195814 Serial 9038
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