Records |
Author |
Vasilakou, K.; Nimmegeers, P.; Billen, P.; Van Passel, S. |
Title |
Geospatial environmental techno-economic assessment of pretreatment technologies for bioethanol production |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Renewable and sustainable energy reviews |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
Volume |
187 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
113743-16 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS) |
Abstract |
Second-generation biofuels, starting from lignocellulosic biomass, are considered as a renewable alternative for fossil fuels with lower environmental impact and potentially higher supply and energy security. The economic and environmental performance of second-generation bioethanol production from corn stover in the European Union (EU) is studied, starting in Belgium as base case. A comparative environmental techno-economic assessment has been conducted, with process simulations in Aspen Plus and corn stover availability data in thirteen EU countries to calculate minimum ethanol selling prices (MESP) and Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe). In this analysis, the emphasis is on the comparison of different pretreatment technologies, namely (i) dilute acid, (ii) alkaline, (iii) steam explosion and (iv) liquid hot water. Dilute acid showed the best economic and environmental performance for the base case scenario. Within the EU, Hungary and Romania presented the lowest MESP for the steam explosion model at 0.39 and 0.43 EUR/L respectively. Poland showed the lowest GHGe, at 0.46 kg CO2eq/L for the alkaline model, mainly due to the avoided product allocation on electricity and its high carbon intensity in the electricity generation sector. The second lowest GHGe were obtained in France for the dilute acid model and are attributed to its low agricultural emissions intensity. This study identifies a location-dependence of the economic and environmental performance of pretreatment technologies, which can be extrapolated from the EU to other large regions around the world and should be taken into consideration by decision-makers. |
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Place of Publication ![sorted by Place of Publication field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
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Language |
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Wos |
001082526000001 |
Publication Date |
2023-09-15 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1364-0321; 1879-0690 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
Impact Factor |
15.9 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
|
Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 15.9; 2023 IF: 8.05 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:198804 |
Serial |
9205 |
Permanent link to this record |
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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 |
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Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
|
Issue |
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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. |
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Publication Date |
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Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
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ISBN |
978-90-5728-814-2 |
Additional Links |
UA library record |
Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:199925 |
Serial |
9206 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Debie, Y.; van Audenaerde, J.R.M.; Vandamme, T.; Croes, L.; Teuwen, L.-A.; Verbruggen, L.; Vanhoutte, G.; Marcq, E.; Verheggen, L.; Le Blon, D.; Peeters, B.; Goossens, M.; Pannus, P.; Ariën, K.K.; Anguille, S.; Janssens, A.; Prenen, H.; Smits, E.L.J.; Vulsteke, C.; Lion, E.; Peeters, M.; Van Dam, P.A. |
Title |
Humoral and cellular immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 after third dose BNT162b2 following double-dose vaccination with BNT162b2 versus ChAdOx1 in patients with cancer |
Type |
University Hospital Antwerp |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Clinical cancer research |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
Volume |
29 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
635-646 |
Keywords |
University Hospital Antwerp; A1 Journal article; Laboratory for Experimental Hematology (LEH); Center for Oncological Research (CORE) |
Abstract |
Purpose: Patients with cancer display reduced humoral responses after double-dose COVID-19 vaccination, whereas their cellular response is more comparable with that in healthy individuals. Recent studies demonstrated that a third vaccination dose boosts these immune responses, both in healthy people and patients with cancer. Because of the availability of many different COVID-19 vaccines, many people have been boosted with a different vaccine fromthe one used for double-dose vaccination. Data on such alternative vaccination schedules are scarce. This prospective study compares a third dose of BNT162b2 after double-dose BNT162b2 (homologous) versus ChAdOx1 (heterologous) vaccination in patients with cancer. Experimental Design: A total of 442 subjects (315 patients and 127 healthy) received a third dose of BNT162b2 (230 homologous vs. 212 heterologous). Vaccine-induced adverse events (AE) were captured up to 7 days after vaccination. Humoral immunity was assessed by SARS-CoV-2 anti-S1 IgG antibody levels and SARSCoV- 2 50% neutralization titers (NT50) against Wuhan and BA.1 Omicron strains. Cellular immunity was examined by analyzing CD4þ and CD8þ T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2–specific S1 and S2 peptides. Results: Local AEs were more common after heterologous boosting. SARS-CoV-2 anti-S1 IgG antibody levels did not differ significantly between homologous and heterologous boosted subjects [GMT 1,755.90 BAU/mL (95% CI, 1,276.95–2,414.48) vs. 1,495.82 BAU/mL (95% CI, 1,131.48–1,977.46)]. However, homologous- boosted subjects show significantly higher NT50 values against BA.1 Omicron. Subjects receiving heterologous boosting demonstrated increased spike-specific CD8þ T cells, including higher IFNg and TNFa levels. Conclusions: In patients with cancer who received double-dose ChAdOx1, a third heterologous dose of BNT162b2 was able to close the gap in antibody response. |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000928414200001 |
Publication Date |
2022-11-07 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1078-0432; 1557-3265 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
11.5 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 11.5; 2023 IF: 9.619 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:192500 |
Serial |
9207 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Li, L.; Nijs, I.; De Boeck, H.; Vinduskova, O.; Reynaert, S.; Donnelly, C.; Zi, L.; Verbruggen, E. |
Title |
Longer dry and wet spells alter the stochasticity of microbial community assembly in grassland soils |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Soil biology and biochemistry |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
Volume |
178 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
108969-9 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; ADReM Data Lab (ADReM); Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change |
Abstract |
Climate change is increasing the duration of alternating wet and dry spells. These fluctuations affect soil water availability and other soil properties which are crucial drivers of soil microbial communities. While soil microbial communities have a moderate capacity to recover once a drought ceases, the expected alternation of strongly opposing regimes can challenge their capacity to adapt. Here, we set up experimental grassland mesocosms where precipitation frequency was adjusted along a gradient while holding total precipitation constant. The gradient varied the duration of wet and dry spells from 1 to 60 days during a total of 120 days, where we hy-pothesized that especially intermediate durations would increase the importance of stochastic community as-sembly due to frequent alternation of opposing environmental regimes. We examined bacterial and fungal community composition, diversity, co-occurrence patterns and assembly mechanisms across these different precipitation treatments. Our results show that 1) intermediate regimes of wet and dry spells increased the stochasticity of microbial community assembly whereas microbial communities at low and high regimes were subjected to more deterministic assembly, and 2) more persistent precipitation regimes (>6 days duration) reduced the fungal diversity and network connectivity but had little effect on bacterial communities. Collec-tively, these findings indicate that longer alternating wet and dry events lead to a less predictable and connected soil microbial community. This study provides new insight into the likely mechanisms through which precipi-tation persistence alters soil microbial communities and their predictability. |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication ![sorted by Place of Publication field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000930582500001 |
Publication Date |
2023-01-28 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0038-0717 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
9.7 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 9.7; 2023 IF: 4.857 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:195257 |
Serial |
9211 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Li, L.; Lin, Q.; Nijs, I.; De Boeck, H.; Beemster, G.T.S.; Asard, H.; Verbruggen, E. |
Title |
More persistent weather causes a pronounced soil microbial legacy but does not impact subsequent plant communities |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
The science of the total environment |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
903 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
166570-166578 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change |
Abstract |
A soil history of exposure to extreme weather may impact future plant growth and microbial community assembly. Currently, little is known about whether and how previous precipitation regime (PR)-induced changes in soil microbial communities influence plant and soil microbial community responses to a subsequent PR. We exposed grassland mesocosms to either an ambient PR (1 day wet-dry alternation) or a persistent PR (30 days consecutive wet-dry alternation) for one year. This conditioned soil was then inoculated as a 10 % fraction into 90 % sterilized “native” soil, after which new plant communities were established and subjected to either the ambient or persistent PR for 60 days. We assessed whether past persistent weather-induced changes in soil microbial community composition affect soil microbial and plant community responses to subsequent weather persistence. The historical regimes caused enduring effects on fungal communities and only temporary effects on bacterial communities, but did not trigger soil microbial legacy effects on plant productivity when exposed to either current PR. This study provides experimental evidence for soil legacy of climate persistence on grassland ecosystems in response to subsequent climate persistence, helping to understand and predict the influences of future climate change on soil biota. |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication ![sorted by Place of Publication field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
001116596100001 |
Publication Date |
2023-08-24 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0048-9697; 1879-1026 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
9.8 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 9.8; 2023 IF: 4.9 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:200463 |
Serial |
9213 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Vallicrosa, H.; Lugli, L.F.; Fuchslueger, L.; Sardans, J.; Ramirez-Rojas, I.; Verbruggen, E.; Grau, O.; Brechet, L.; Peguero, G.; Van Langenhove, L.; Verryckt, L.T.; Terrer, C.; Llusia, J.; Ogaya, R.; Marquez, L.; Roc-Fernandez, P.; Janssens, I.; Penuelas, J. |
Title |
Phosphorus scarcity contributes to nitrogen limitation in lowland tropical rainforests |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Ecology |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
Volume |
104 |
Issue |
6 |
Pages |
e4049-12 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change |
Abstract |
There is increasing evidence to suggest that soil nutrient availability can limit the carbon sink capacity of forests, a particularly relevant issue considering today's changing climate. This question is especially important in the tropics, where most part of the Earth's plant biomass is stored. To assess whether tropical forest growth is limited by soil nutrients and to explore N and P limitations, we analyzed stem growth and foliar elemental composition of the five stem widest trees per plot at two sites in French Guiana after 3 years of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and N + P addition. We also compared the results between potential N-fixer and non-N-fixer species. We found a positive effect of N fertilization on stem growth and foliar N, as well as a positive effect of P fertilization on stem growth, foliar N, and foliar P. Potential N-fixing species had greater stem growth, greater foliar N, and greater foliar P concentrations than non-N-fixers. In terms of growth, there was a negative interaction between N-fixer status, N + P, and P fertilization, but no interaction with N fertilization. Because N-fixing plants do not show to be completely N saturated, we do not anticipate N providing from N-fixing plants would supply non-N-fixers. Although the soil-age hypothesis only anticipates P limitation in highly weathered systems, our results for stem growth and foliar elemental composition indicate the existence of considerable N and P co-limitation, which is alleviated in N-fixing plants. The evidence suggests that certain mechanisms invest in N to obtain the scarce P through soil phosphatases, which potentially contributes to the N limitation detected by this study. |
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Thesis |
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Place of Publication ![sorted by Place of Publication field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000977760600001 |
Publication Date |
2023-04-11 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0012-9658; 1939-9170 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
4.8 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 4.8; 2023 IF: 4.809 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:196804 |
Serial |
9218 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Vermeulen, S.; Cools, J.; Staes, J.; Van Passel, S. |
Title |
A review of economic assessments of drought risk reduction approaches in agriculture |
Type |
Administrative Services |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Journal of environmental management |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
345 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
118909-118912 |
Keywords |
Administrative Services; A1 Journal article; Economics; Ecosphere; Engineering Management (ENM) |
Abstract |
Due to climate change, the frequency and intensity of droughts are expected to increase. To improve resilience to droughts, proactive drought management is essential. Economic assessments are typically included to decide on the drought risk-reducing investments to make. The choice of both methods and scope of economic assessments influences the outcome, and thus the investment choice. This paper aims to identify how comprehensively economic assessments are applied in practice. Through a systematic literature review, 14 actual economic assessments are identified and their methods are evaluated based on seven criteria for economic assessments as derived from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The results show that in practice, economic assessments rarely address all criteria. Applying a limited number of criteria reduces the scope and narrows the approach, possibly leading to the underestimation of drought risk reduction approaches’ related benefits. Applying the seven criteria in practice will improve the results of economic assessments of drought risk reduction measures, allowing for optimal investment selection. Based on the different criteria, a Framework for Economic Assessments of Drought Risk-Reducing Applications (FEADRRA) is proposed. Applying the criteria of the framework can support decision-makers in drought risk management and in carrying out the most fitting drought interventions. |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication ![sorted by Place of Publication field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
001080044100001 |
Publication Date |
2023-08-31 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0301-4797 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
Impact Factor |
8.7 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 8.7; 2023 IF: 4.01 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:199661 |
Serial |
9222 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Okamura, I.; Van Passel, S.; Fabri, C.; Senda, T. |
Title |
A Ricardian analysis of climate change impacts on Japan's agriculture : accounting for solar radiation |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Climate change economics |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
14 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
2350022-2350025 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM) |
Abstract |
This study evaluates the effects of climate change on the net revenue of farmers in Japan. We adopted the Ricardian model, which implicitly accounts for farmers’ full adaptation. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, the Ricardian regression shows that changes in temperature significantly impact farmers’ net revenue. In contrast, changes in precipitation have limited effects on farmers’ net revenue. The results of future predictions showed that the effects of climate change are positive across the country, with varying degrees between north and south. These results are more optimistic than those in the existing literature, which frequently reveal negative climate change impacts in southern Japan. However, it should be noted that this model assumes full adaptation and does not consider the transition costs of farmers, and understanding the actual adaptive measures is an important remaining issue. |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
001075308800001 |
Publication Date |
2023-08-06 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
2010-0086 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:199659 |
Serial |
9223 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Vervoort, P.; Grymonprez, H.; Bouckaert, N.; Derijcke, D.; De Wael, W. |
Title |
Ruimte en gezondheidsongelijkheid aanpakken : een kwestie van sociale rechtvaardigheid |
Type |
H2 Book chapter |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
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Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
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Issue |
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Pages |
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Keywords |
H2 Book chapter; Sociology; Law; Centre for Research on Environmental and Social Change |
Abstract |
De bijdrage gaat dieper in op de relatie tussen ruimte en gezondheidsongelijkheid, bespreekt gezondheidsongelijkheid vanuit een rechtenperspectief en illustreert een aantal praktijken waarin de aandacht voor ruimte en gezondheidsongelijkheid samenkomen. |
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Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
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ISBN |
978-2-509-04324-5 |
Additional Links |
UA library record |
Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:200534 |
Serial |
9225 |
Permanent link to this record |
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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 |
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Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
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Issue |
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Pages |
210 p. |
Keywords |
ME2 Book as editor or co-editor; Law; Government and Law |
Abstract |
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Address |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication ![sorted by Place of Publication field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
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Publication Date |
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Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
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ISBN |
978-94-000-1654-5 |
Additional Links |
UA library record |
Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:198938 |
Serial |
9227 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Van Oijstaeijen, W.; Finizola e Silva, M.; Back, P.; Collins, A.; Verheyen, K.; De Beelde, R.; Cools, J.; Van Passel, S. |
Title |
The Nature Smart Cities business model : a rapid decision-support and scenario analysis tool to reveal the multi-benefits of green infrastructure investments |
Type |
Administrative Services |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Urban forestry & urban greening |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
84 |
Issue |
|
Pages |
127923-14 |
Keywords |
Administrative Services; A1 Journal article; Art; Engineering Management (ENM) |
Abstract |
Incorporating natural spaces within urban areas has been shown to have multiple benefits. However, despite greening and adaptation strategies at different levels of government, progress remains slow with a lack of easy to use and comprehensive tools identified as key to overcoming this. This paper presents a co-designed tool with academic and local authority partners to demonstrate the ecosystem service benefits of small-scale urban green infrastructure projects. Through the tool, users can readily assess the impact of green infrastructure investments on the delivery of a selection of ecosystem services in the early stages of a project. Furthermore, the tool provides a standardised assessment of cultural ecosystem services' contributions, as well as offering a method to score spatial designs on the impact on habitat for biodiversity. Use of the tool is demonstrated using a pilot study in Kapelle, the Netherlands. The results set out an overview of the impacts of the spatial design on estimated ecosystem service delivery. They also show the tool's potential to add value in early project stages and as a planning and design tool, helping to maximise the benefits that can be achieved through green infrastructure design. Complementing these arguments with ball-park estimations on green infrastructure costs, the Nature Smart Cities Business Model aims to offer public sector officers the means to create a business case for green infrastructure measures, facilitating the translation from strategies to actual plans, thus benefitting green infrastructure implementation in the public realm. |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication ![sorted by Place of Publication field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000982199900001 |
Publication Date |
2023-04-11 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
|
ISSN |
1618-8667 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
6.4 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 6.4; 2023 IF: 2.113 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:196748 |
Serial |
9235 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Bjørnåvold, A.; David, M.; Mermet-Bijon, V.; Beaumais, O.; Crastes dit Sourd, R.; Van Passel, S.; Martinet, V. |
Title |
To tax or to ban? A discrete choice experiment to elicit public preferences for phasing out glyphosate use in agriculture |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
PLoS ONE |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
18 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
1-12 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM) |
Abstract |
In 2023, the European Union will vote on the reauthorization of glyphosate use, renewed in 2017 despite concern on impacts on the environment and public health. A ban is supported by several Member States but rejected by most farmers. What are citizens’ preferences to phase out glyphosate? To assess whether taxation could be an alternative to a ban, we conducted a discrete choice experiment in five European countries. Our results reveal that the general public is strongly willing to pay for a reduction in glyphosate use. However, while 75.5% of respondents stated to support a ban in the pre-experimental survey, experimental results reveal that in 73.35% of cases, earmarked taxation schemes are preferred when they lead to a strong reduction in glyphosate use for an increase in food price lower than that induced by a ban. When glyphosate reduction is balanced against its costs, a tax may be preferred. |
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Wos |
000985134400084 |
Publication Date |
2023-03-16 |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1932-6203 |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
3.7 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 3.7; 2023 IF: 2.806 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:196999 |
Serial |
9236 |
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Author |
Gebremariam, Y.A.; Dessein, J.; Wondimagegnhu, B.A.; Breusers, M.; Lenaerts, L.; Adgo, E.; Van Passel, S.; Minale, A.S.; Nyssen, J. |
Title |
Undoing the development army : a paradigm shift from transfer of technology to agricultural innovation system in Ethiopian extension |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Environment, development and sustainability |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
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Issue |
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Pages |
1-27 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM) |
Abstract |
Appropriate use of agricultural technologies and diversifying the farming activities is critical to addressing food security problems in Africa, including Ethiopia. The country is experimenting with the new Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) approach alongside the well-established Transfer of Technology (ToT) approach. This paper analyzes the gaps between policy discourses (as reflected in policy documents and strategic orientation documents) and extension practices (as reflected in the daily exchanges between farmers and the frontline staff of the Ethiopian extension system). It provides insights into the challenges faced and emphasizes the need for better coordination between policy formulation and implementation to enhance extension services. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers can benefit from the valuable perspectives the findings offer. The study contributes to understanding the relationship between policy discourses and extension practices, and its implications can inform policy design and implementation in similar contexts. A qualitative research approach was deployed to analyze policy discourse and practice. Data were collected in Fogera, a district in Northwest Ethiopia, between August 2018 and February 2019. The data for the paper were obtained from 23 Focus Group Discussions conducted with men and women. 13 Informant Interviews (KIIs) were also carried out with personnel at different levels of government agricultural services and departments. Transcripts of recordings of the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were analyzed using a deductive approach. The study focuses on rice crops in the Fogera district, which are crucial for food security and reducing poverty. Although the geographic area is limited, the results can be used to improve the extension system in other areas facing similar challenges. Specifically, the study suggests switching from the traditional transfer of technology approach to the agricultural innovation system approach. Furthermore, the study's techniques, such as qualitative interviews, may have limitations and not fully capture the intricacies of policy and extension practices. The findings demonstrate that, although the policy documents strongly adhere to agricultural innovation system principles, top-down transfer of technology approaches continues to dominate in practice. Moreover, we have found potential discrepancies between the training content delivered and the specific needs of smallholder farmers. Practically, prescriptive systems are still used because agricultural innovation system approaches are not well understood by the Extension Agents. To realize a genuine agricultural innovation system, Ethiopia's extension apparatus should move forward with building committed and robust relationships between farmers, extension agents, researchers, private sectors, and non-governmental organizations. To this end, more research, enhanced training, and improved institutions are needed on what genuine agricultural innovation system could look like at the grass-roots level. This also includes understanding the roles that different actors within Ethiopia's development army should assume how a multi-actor policy dialogue can be organized. |
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Wos |
001126500500006 |
Publication Date |
2023-12-19 |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1387-585x; 1573-2975 |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
Impact Factor |
4.9 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 4.9; 2023 IF: NA |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:202804 |
Serial |
9238 |
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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 |
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Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
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Issue |
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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. |
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Additional Links |
UA library record |
Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
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 |
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Volume |
409 |
Issue |
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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. |
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Wos |
000988763400001 |
Publication Date |
2023-04-21 |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0959-6526 |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
11.1 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 11.1; 2023 IF: 5.715 |
Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:195706 |
Serial |
9246 |
Permanent link to this record |