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Author Vasilakou, K.; Nimmegeers, P.; Billen, P.; Van Passel, S. pdf  doi
openurl 
  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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001082526000001 Publication Date 2023-09-15  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1364-0321; 1879-0690 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198804 Serial 9205  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Van Oijstaeijen, W. url  isbn
openurl 
  Title Green infrastructure and local implementation : (green) bridging the gap between research and practice Type Administrative Services
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages xvii, 194 p.  
  Keywords Administrative Services; Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Climate change is an ever-increasing threat to our planet, with the urbanisation of previously open spaces exacerbating the issue. The loss of open space leads to a decrease in ecosystem services, which negatively impacts the liveability in urbanised environments, and beyond. The incorporation of green infrastructure (GI) into the built environment is acknowledged as an effective and multi-functional measure to make our living environment resilient and future-proof. Notwithstanding that the local level is essential for effective GI implementation, research into local decision making is very limited. This thesis therefore aims to address two significant gaps in the implementation of GI. The first objective is to bridge the science-policy gap by integrating scientific knowledge on ES and GI into local decision-making processes. In this context, the policy dimension within this thesis involves the process of translating overarching policy objectives into practical actions within local decision-making practices, abstracting from the intricacies of higher-level policymaking itself. The second objective focuses on the people-policy gap, which involves understanding stakeholders' perspectives and priorities regarding GI and its associated ecosystem services. Through stated preference valuation techniques (discrete choice experiments and a best-worst scaling experiment), multi-stakeholder GI perceptions are gathered. Finally, a novel tool to GI valuation is developed, acknowledging the different stakeholder views and building on the insights of collaborative tool development and design. By gaining insights into the demand, prioritisation, and provision of GI from the two most important stakeholder groups at the local level (residents and local decision-makers), this research aims to foster effective communication and alignment between public preferences and policy implementation. Ultimately, addressing these gaps will contribute to more informed planning and decision-making practices related to green infrastructure. The overall goal of this thesis is to enhance the uptake of GI knowledge in the local decision-making context, proposing pathways to facilitate and optimise investments in public GI.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-90-5728-814-2 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199925 Serial 9206  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
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. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000928414200001 Publication Date 2022-11-07  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1078-0432; 1557-3265 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:192500 Serial 9207  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Li, L.; Nijs, I.; De Boeck, H.; Vinduskova, O.; Reynaert, S.; Donnelly, C.; Zi, L.; Verbruggen, E. file  doi
openurl 
  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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000930582500001 Publication Date 2023-01-28  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0038-0717 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195257 Serial 9211  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Li, L.; Lin, Q.; Nijs, I.; De Boeck, H.; Beemster, G.T.S.; Asard, H.; Verbruggen, E. file  url
doi  openurl
  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  
  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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001116596100001 Publication Date 2023-08-24  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0048-9697; 1879-1026 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200463 Serial 9213  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
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. url  doi
openurl 
  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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000977760600001 Publication Date 2023-04-11  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0012-9658; 1939-9170 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196804 Serial 9218  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Vermeulen, S.; Cools, J.; Staes, J.; Van Passel, S. pdf  doi
openurl 
  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  
  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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001080044100001 Publication Date 2023-08-31  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0301-4797 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199661 Serial 9222  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Okamura, I.; Van Passel, S.; Fabri, C.; Senda, T. url  doi
openurl 
  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  
  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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001075308800001 Publication Date 2023-08-06  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2010-0086 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199659 Serial 9223  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Vervoort, P.; Grymonprez, H.; Bouckaert, N.; Derijcke, D.; De Wael, W. isbn  openurl
  Title Ruimte en gezondheidsongelijkheid aanpakken : een kwestie van sociale rechtvaardigheid Type H2 Book chapter
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages  
  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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-2-509-04324-5 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200534 Serial 9225  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Labey, E.; Fonteyn, F.; Wilmot, A.; El Amouri, S.; Gjurova, A.; De Cock, W.; De Wael, F. isbn  openurl
  Title Shaping utopia through law: how the law does (not) provide an answer to societal challenges Type ME2 Book as editor or co-editor
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 210 p.  
  Keywords ME2 Book as editor or co-editor; Law; Government and Law  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-94-000-1654-5 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198938 Serial 9227  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Van Oijstaeijen, W.; Finizola e Silva, M.; Back, P.; Collins, A.; Verheyen, K.; De Beelde, R.; Cools, J.; Van Passel, S. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  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  
  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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000982199900001 Publication Date 2023-04-11  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1618-8667 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196748 Serial 9235  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Bjørnåvold, A.; David, M.; Mermet-Bijon, V.; Beaumais, O.; Crastes dit Sourd, R.; Van Passel, S.; Martinet, V. url  doi
openurl 
  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  
  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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000985134400084 Publication Date 2023-03-16  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1932-6203 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196999 Serial 9236  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Gebremariam, Y.A.; Dessein, J.; Wondimagegnhu, B.A.; Breusers, M.; Lenaerts, L.; Adgo, E.; Van Passel, S.; Minale, A.S.; Nyssen, J. pdf  doi
openurl 
  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  
  Volume Issue 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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001126500500006 Publication Date 2023-12-19  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1387-585x; 1573-2975 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:202804 Serial 9238  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Li, L. openurl 
  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 (up)  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved 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. url  doi
openurl 
  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 (up)  
  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 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195706 Serial 9246  
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