The study of microbial hydrocarbons removal is of great importance for the development of future bioremediation strategies.In this study,we evaluated the removal of a gaseous mixture containing toluene,m-xylene,ethylb...The study of microbial hydrocarbons removal is of great importance for the development of future bioremediation strategies.In this study,we evaluated the removal of a gaseous mixture containing toluene,m-xylene,ethylbenzene,cyclohexane,butane,pentane,hexane and heptane in aerated stirred bioreactors inoculated with Rhodococcus erythropolis and operated under non-sterile conditions.For the real-time measurement of hydrocarbons,a novel systematic approachwas implemented using Selected-Ion Flow TubeMass Spectrometry(SIFTMS).The effect of the carbon source(~9.5 ppmv)on(i)the bioreactors’performance(BR1:dosed with only cyclohexane as a single hydrocarbon versus BR2:dosed with a mixture of the 8 hydrocarbons)and(ii)the evolution of microbial communities over time were investigated.The results showed that cyclohexane reached a maximum removal efficiency(RE)of 53%±4%in BR1.In BR2,almost complete removal of toluene,m-xylene and ethylbenzene,being the most water-soluble and easy-to-degrade carbon sources,was observed.REs below 32%were obtained for the remaining compounds.By exposing the microbial consortium to only the five most recalcitrant hydrocarbons,REs between 45%±5%and 98%±1%were reached.In addition,we observed that airborne microorganisms populated the bioreactors and that the type of carbon source influenced the microbial communities developed.The abundance of species belonging to the genus Rhodococcus was below 10%in all bioreactors at the end of the experiments.This work provides fundamental insights to understand the complex behavior of gaseous hydrocarbon mixtures in bioreactors,along with a systematic approach for the development of SIFT-MS methods.展开更多
Forest structural complexity influences arthropod communities by shaping habitat availability,microclimatic conditions,and resource distribution.However,the extent to which structural complexity and specific structura...Forest structural complexity influences arthropod communities by shaping habitat availability,microclimatic conditions,and resource distribution.However,the extent to which structural complexity and specific structural components drive arthropod abundance and biomass remains poorly understood in temperate forests.This study examined how local and landscape-scale forest characteristics influence arthropod communities across vertical strata(forest floor(FF),herb layer(HL),and shrub layer(SL))in 19 temperate deciduous forests in Belgium,dominated by pedunculate oak,European beech,or Canadian poplar.At the local scale,we assessed dominant tree species identity,overall forest structural complexity,and its components(vertical and horizontal structure,woody layer,herbal layer,and deadwood).At the landscape scale,we evaluated forest area,edge length,forest cover,and vegetation greenness(normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)).Contrary to expectation,arthropod biomass and abundance did not consistently increase with higher structural complexity.Instead,woody layer complexity,dominant tree species,and NDVI emerged as key drivers,with effects varying by context and stratum.Arthropod abundance and biomass were the highest in oak-and poplar-dominated forests and the lowest in beech forests,likely due to differences in litter quality,microhabitat availability,and understory development.Woody layer complexity positively influenced forest floor arthropods in poplar forests but had a negative effect in oak forests.At the landscape scale,NDVI unexpectedly showed negative relationships with arthropod abundance across strata and with arthropod biomass in the herb layer,likely reflecting dense canopy suppression of understory productivity.Arthropod biomass on the forest floor increased with forest cover,while abundance in the shrub layer decreased with forest cover but increased with forest area.These findings highlight the complex interplay between forest structural attributes,dominant tree species,and landscape factors in shaping arthropod communities.By identifying the key drivers of arthropod abundance and biomass,this study contributes to a better understanding of biodiversity patterns in temperate forests and their ecological dynamics.展开更多
Chemical engineers rely on models for design,research,and daily decision-making,often with potentially large financial and safety implications.Previous efforts a few decades ago to combine artificial intelligence and ...Chemical engineers rely on models for design,research,and daily decision-making,often with potentially large financial and safety implications.Previous efforts a few decades ago to combine artificial intelligence and chemical engineering for modeling were unable to fulfill the expectations.In the last five years,the increasing availability of data and computational resources has led to a resurgence in machine learning-based research.Many recent efforts have facilitated the roll-out of machine learning techniques in the research field by developing large databases,benchmarks,and representations for chemical applications and new machine learning frameworks.Machine learning has significant advantages over traditional modeling techniques,including flexibility,accuracy,and execution speed.These strengths also come with weaknesses,such as the lack of interpretability of these black-box models.The greatest opportunities involve using machine learning in time-limited applications such as real-time optimization and planning that require high accuracy and that can build on models with a self-learning ability to recognize patterns,learn from data,and become more intelligent over time.The greatest threat in artificial intelligence research today is inappropriate use because most chemical engineers have had limited training in computer science and data analysis.Nevertheless,machine learning will definitely become a trustworthy element in the modeling toolbox of chemical engineers.展开更多
Background: Weaning is known to result in barrier dysfunction and villus atrophy in the immediate post-weaning phase, and the magnitude of these responses is hypothesized to correlate with changes in the glutathione(G...Background: Weaning is known to result in barrier dysfunction and villus atrophy in the immediate post-weaning phase, and the magnitude of these responses is hypothesized to correlate with changes in the glutathione(GSH)redox system. Therefore, these parameters were simultaneously measured throughout the weaning phase, in piglets differing in birth weight category and weaning age, as these pre-weaning factors are important determinants for the weaning transition. Low birth weight(LBW) and normal birth weight(NBW) littermates were assigned to one of three weaning treatments;i.e. weaning at 3 weeks of age(3 w), weaning at 4 weeks of age(4 w) and removal from the sow at 3 d of age and fed a milk replacer until weaning at 3 weeks of age(3 d3 w). For each of these treatments, six LBW and six NBW piglets were euthanized at 0, 2, 5, 12 or 28 d post-weaning piglets, adding up 180 piglets.Results: Weaning increased the glutathione peroxidase activity on d 5 post-weaning in plasma, and duodenal and jejunal mucosa. Small intestinal glutathione-S-transferase activity gradually increased until d 12 post-weaning, and this was combined with a progressive rise of mucosal GSH up till d 12 post-weaning. Oxidation of the GSH redox status(GSH/GSSG Eh) was only observed in the small intestinal mucosa of 3 d3 w weaned piglets at d 5 postweaning. These piglets also demonstrated increased fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran(FD4) and horseradish peroxidase fluxes in the duodenum and distal jejunum during the experiment, and specifically demonstrated increased FD4 fluxes at d 2 to d 5 post-weaning. On the other hand, profound villus atrophy was observed during the weaning transition for all weaning treatments. Finally, LBW and NBW piglets did not demonstrate notable differences in GSH redox status, small intestinal barrier function and histo-morphology throughout the experiment.Conclusion: Although moderate changes in the GSH redox system were observed upon weaning, the GSH redox status remained at a steady state level in 3 w and 4 w weaned piglets and was therefore not associated with weaning induced villus atrophy. Conversely, 3 d3 w weaned piglets demonstrated GSH redox imbalance in the small intestinal mucosa, and this co-occurred with a temporal malfunction of their intestinal barrier function.展开更多
Understanding the impact of biological activities on the soil phosphorus(P)distribution under long-term fertilizer application can facilitate better soil P fertility management.Therefore,the primary objectives of this...Understanding the impact of biological activities on the soil phosphorus(P)distribution under long-term fertilizer application can facilitate better soil P fertility management.Therefore,the primary objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of long-term(since 1981)fertilizer application on the soil P fractions and microbial community and to evaluate correlations between the microbial community structure and P distribution.The following treatments were implemented in a long-term field trial:no fertilization(CK),inorganic N and K(NK),inorganic P and K(PK),inorganic N,P and K(NPK)and manure+NPK(MNPK)fertilization.The study showed that the soil pH,soil organic carbon and total and available N and P concentrations were considerably higher in the MNPK treatment than in the CK treatment.The soil microbial biomass C,N and P concentrations were also significantly higher in the MNPK treatment than in the CK treatment.Among fertilization treatments,theβ-1,4-glucosidase,α-1,4-glucosidase,urease,acid phosphatase and phosphodiesterase activities were the highest in the MNPK treatment.Compared to inorganic fertilization,the MNPK treatment increased the labile soil P fractions and decreased the residual soil P concentration.Continuous fertilization significantly affected the soil microbial composition.The total phospholipid fatty acid(PLFA)concentrations in the NK,PK,NPK and MNPK treatments were 23.3,43.1,48.7 and 87.7%higher,respectively,than in the CK treatment.A significant correlation was observed between the microbial community and soil P fractions.Moreover,the aggregated boosted tree(ABT)model showed that among the various soil biochemical properties,the total PLFA concentration was the factor that most influenced the active P pool,accounting for 35.4%of the relative influence of all soil biochemical properties examined.These findings reveal that combined manure and inorganic fertilizer application is a better approach than applying inorganic fertilizer alone for sustaining long-term P fertility by mediating soil biological activity.展开更多
The newly identified aquaporin coding sequences presented here pave the way for further insights into the plant–water relations in the commercial strawberry(Fragaria x ananassa).Aquaporins are water channel proteins ...The newly identified aquaporin coding sequences presented here pave the way for further insights into the plant–water relations in the commercial strawberry(Fragaria x ananassa).Aquaporins are water channel proteins that allow water to cross(intra)cellular membranes.In Fragaria x ananassa,few of them have been identified hitherto,hampering the exploration of the water transport regulation at cellular level.Here,we present new aquaporin coding sequences belonging to different subclasses:plasma membrane intrinsic proteins subtype 1 and subtype 2(PIP1 and PIP2)and tonoplast intrinsic proteins(TIP).The classification is based on phylogenetic analysis and is confirmed by the presence of conserved residues.Substrate-specific signature sequences(SSSSs)and specificity-determining positions(SDPs)predict the substrate specificity of each new aquaporin.Expression profiling in leaves,petioles and developing fruits reveals distinct patterns,even within the same(sub)class.Expression profiles range from leaf-specific expression over constitutive expression to fruit-specific expression.Both upregulation and downregulation during fruit ripening occur.Substrate specificity and expression profiles suggest that functional specialization exists among aquaporins belonging to a different but also to the same(sub)class.展开更多
Background： In this study the physiological implications of artificial rearing were investigated. Low（LBW） and normal birth weight（NBW） piglets were compared as they might react differently to stressors caused by...Background： In this study the physiological implications of artificial rearing were investigated. Low（LBW） and normal birth weight（NBW） piglets were compared as they might react differently to stressors caused by artificial rearing. In total, 42 pairs of LBW and NBW piglets from 16 litters suckled the sow until d19 of age or were artificially reared starting at d3 until d19 of age. Blood and tissue samples that were collected after euthanasia at 0, 3, 5, 8 and 19 d of age. Histology, ELISA, and Ussing chamber analysis were used to study proximal and distal small intestine histomorphology, proliferation, apoptosis, tight junction protein expression, and permeability. Furthermore, small intestine,liver and systemic redox parameters（GSH, GSSG, GSH-Px and MDA） were investigated using HPLC.Results： LBW and NBW artificially reared piglets weighed respectively 40 and 33% more than LBW and NBW sowreared piglets at d19（P 〈 0.01）. Transferring piglets to a nursery at d3 resulted in villus atrophy, increased intestinal FD-4 and HRP permeability and elevated GSSG/GSH ratio in the distal small intestine at d5（P 〈 0.05）. GSH concentrations in the proximal small intestine remained stable, while they decreased in the liver（P 〈 0.05）. From d5 until d19, villus width and crypt depth increased, whereas PCNA, caspase-3, occludin and claudin-3 protein expressions were reduced. GSH,GSSG and permeability recovered in artificially reared piglets（P 〈 0.05）.Conclusion： The results suggest that artificial rearing altered the morphology, permeability and redox state without compromising piglet performance. The observed effects were not depending on birth weight.展开更多
Although to date some technologies producing bio-based phosphorus(P) fertilizers have been proposed and implemented, the efficient use of the recovered products is still limited due to legislative constraints and lack...Although to date some technologies producing bio-based phosphorus(P) fertilizers have been proposed and implemented, the efficient use of the recovered products is still limited due to legislative constraints and lack of insights in the P release with time and in the corresponding mechanisms. The aim of this work was to evaluate the fertilizer performance in terms of P release and use efficiency of recovered struvite, FePO_4-sludge, digestate, and animal manure as compared to fossil reserve-based mineral triple superphosphate(TSP). First, product physicochemical characteristics and P fractions in the context of European fertilizer legislation were assessed. Next, a controlled greenhouse experiment was set up to evaluate plant reactions as well as changes of P availability in a sandy soil with high P status and a Rheinsand soil with low P status. Soil P fractions were determined in the extracts with water, ammonium lactate and CaCl_2, and in soil solution sampled with Rhizon soil moisture samplers. Based on all results, it is worth conducting long-term field trials to evaluate the P release effect of struvite and digestate as compared to animal manure and TSP on different soil types with varying P status. These products showed promise as sustainable substitutes for conventional P fertilizers and could contribute to a more efficient use of P in agriculture. A refined classification of P application standards/recommendations in terms of soil P status, soil texture, and fertilizer characteristics, next to the crop P demand, is recommended. Moreover, the additional use of Rhizon samplers for determination of direct available P, including dissolved organic P, is proposed for better understanding and categorization of different P fertilizers in environmental and fertilizer legislations.展开更多
Background:The transition period is a challenging period for high-producing dairy cattle.Cows in early lactation are considered as a group at risk of subacute ruminal acidosis(SARA).Variability in SARA susceptibility ...Background:The transition period is a challenging period for high-producing dairy cattle.Cows in early lactation are considered as a group at risk of subacute ruminal acidosis(SARA).Variability in SARA susceptibility in early lactation is hypothesized to be reflected in fecal characteristics such as fecal pH,dry matter content,volatile and odd-and branched-chain fatty acids(VFA and OBCFA,respectively),as well as fecal microbiota.This was investigated with 38 periparturient dairy cows,which were classified into four groups differing in median and mean time of reticular pH below 6 as well as area under the curve of pH below 6.Furthermore,we investigated whether fecal differences were already obvious during a period prior to the SARA risk(prepartum).Results:Variation in reticular pH during a 3-week postpartum period was not associated with differences in fecal pH and VFA concentration.In the postpartum period,the copy number of fecal bacteria and methanogens of unsusceptible(UN)cows was higher than moderately susceptible(MS)or susceptible(SU)cows,while the genera Ruminococcus and Prevotellacea_UCG-001 were proportionally less abundant in UN compared with SU cows.Nevertheless,only a minor reduction was observed in iso-BCFA proportions in fecal fatty acids of SU cows,particularly iso-C15:0and iso-C16:0,compared with UN cows.Consistent with the bacterial changes postpartum,the lower abundance of Ruminococcus was already observed in the prepartum fecal bacterial communities of UN cows,whereas Lachnospiraceae_UCG-001 was increased.Nevertheless,no differences were observed in the prepartum fecal VFA or OBCFA profiles among the groups.Prepartum fecal bacterial communities of cows were clustered into two distinct clusters with 70%of the SU cows belonging to cluster 1,in which they represented 60%of the animals.Conclusions:Inter-animal variation in postpartum SARA susceptibility was reflected in post-and prepartum fecal bacterial communities.Differences in prepartum fecal bacterial communities could alert for susceptibility to develop SARA postpartum.Our results generated knowledge on the association between fecal bacteria and SARA development which could be further explored in a prevention strategy.展开更多
Background: The EU ban on antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) has initiated a search for non-antibiotic alternatives. It has been demonstrated that certain antibiotics and non-antibiotic alternatives enhance growth b...Background: The EU ban on antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) has initiated a search for non-antibiotic alternatives. It has been demonstrated that certain antibiotics and non-antibiotic alternatives enhance growth by inhibiting inflammatory cells, i.e. neutrophils and macrophages in the intestine. There is very little information on the effect of anti-inflammatory compounds on intestinal epithelial cells, which are known to play an important role in intestinal inflammatory responses. In order to establish this, a porcine intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC J2) was incubated with an adherent enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) to stimulate inflammation, using a non-pathogenic non-adherent E. coli (EC) as a control. The influence of the presence of the anti-inflammatory compounds Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on inflammatory transcriptional responses was studied. Results: ETEC induced a strong inflammatory response as was most evident from the expression of IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α, whereas EC induced IL-1βonly. Co-incubation with MCE and ASA significantly reduced the responses of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, similarly for IL-1βand TNF-α, but ASA was more effective than MCE in reducing the IL8 response. Conclusions: The present results suggest that the in vivo anti-inflammatory growth promoting effects of AGP and effective alternatives to AGP such as MCE and ASA are not restricted to inflammatory cells and also involve the more abundant enterocytes. This suggests a major role for epithelial cells in growth promotion livestock, and it further supports the notion that effective alternatives to AGP should have anti-inflammatory activity.展开更多
Background Post-weaned piglets suffer from F18+Escherichia coli(E.coli)infections resulting in post-weaning diar-rhoea or oedema disease.Frequently used management strategies,including colistin and zinc oxide,have con...Background Post-weaned piglets suffer from F18+Escherichia coli(E.coli)infections resulting in post-weaning diar-rhoea or oedema disease.Frequently used management strategies,including colistin and zinc oxide,have contrib-uted to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.Novel antimicrobials capable of directly interacting with pathogens and modulating the host immune responses are being investigated.Lactoferrin has shown promising results against porcine enterotoxigenic E.coli strains,both in vitro and in vivo.Results We investigated the influence of bovine lactoferrin(bLF)on the microbiome of healthy and infected weaned piglets.Additionally,we assessed whether bLF influenced the immune responses upon Shiga toxin-producing E.coli(STEC)infection.Therefore,2 in vivo trials were conducted:a microbiome trial and a challenge infection trial,using an F18+STEC strain.BLF did not affect theα-andβ-diversity.However,bLF groups showed a higher relative abundance(RA)for the Actinobacteria phylum and the Bifidobacterium genus in the ileal mucosa.When analysing the immune response upon infection,the STEC group exhibited a significant increase in F18-specific IgG serum levels,whereas this response was absent in the bLF group.Conclusion Taken together,the oral administration of bLF did not have a notable impact on theα-andβ-diversity of the gut microbiome in weaned piglets.Nevertheless,it did increase the RA of the Actinobacteria phylum and Bifi-dobacterium genus,which have previously been shown to play an important role in maintaining gut homeostasis.Furthermore,bLF administration during STEC infection resulted in the absence of F18-specific serum IgG responses.展开更多
Gold(Au)nanostructures(NSs)have been widely employed as cocatalysts to improve the photoactivity of semiconductor materials,while a systematic summary of the engineering approaches of Au NSs to maximize the solar-to-f...Gold(Au)nanostructures(NSs)have been widely employed as cocatalysts to improve the photoactivity of semiconductor materials,while a systematic summary of the engineering approaches of Au NSs to maximize the solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency is still lacking.In this review,the recently developed strategies for elevating the overall photocatalytic performance of Au-based catalysts and the deep physical chemistry mechanisms are highlighted.Firstly,the synthetic approaches of Au NSs are summarized,followed by an elaboration on their multiple functions in improving photoactivity.Afterward,modification strategies of Au NSs used to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of Au-semiconductor composites,including controlling the Au NSs morphology,size,crystal phase,defect engineering,alloying with different metals,modulating interfacial interaction,and introducing an external field,are summarized and discussed independently.Additionally,advanced characterization techniques that can provide insights into the charge dynamics of the photocatalysts are introduced.Finally,we share our opinion on the challenges and outline potentially promising opportunities and directions for efficient Au-based photocatalysis research moving forward.We sincerely look forward to this review can deliver insightful views to design efficient Au-based photocatalysts and spur certain innovations to other metal-based catalysts.展开更多
Recently, near infrared reflectance （NIR） and mid-infrared （MIR） spectroscopy techniques are increasingly introduced as convenient and simple non-destructive techniques for quantifying several soil properties. Thi...Recently, near infrared reflectance （NIR） and mid-infrared （MIR） spectroscopy techniques are increasingly introduced as convenient and simple non-destructive techniques for quantifying several soil properties. This study uses MIR method to predict pH, soil organic C, total N, AI, Ca, Mg and K, CEC and soil texture for soil samples collected in Sud-Kivu, Congo. A total of 536 composite soil samples were taken from two locations （Burhale and Luhihi） at two depths （0-20 cm and 20-40 cm） using a spatially-stratified random sampling design within an area of 200 km2. Differences in characteristics were evaluated between the two locations, land use （cultivated vs. non-cultivated land） with soil depths. A random subset of the samples （10%） were analyzed using standard wet chemistry methods, and calibration models developed by MIR data to estimate soil properties for the full soil sample set. Partial least squares regression （PLS） method gave acceptable coefficients of determination between 0.71 and 0.93 for all parameters. Soil organic matter levels were higher in cultivated plots in Luhihi （3.9% C） than in Burhale （3.0% C）, suggesting lower levels of soil fertility in the later area. This indicates high levels of acidity, which are likely to limit crop production in the area. Phosphorus deficiency is acute in Burhale （2.4 mg P/kg） but less in Luhihi （5.4 mg P/kg）. In both locations, low levels of Ca and Mg indicate that soils may be susceptible to deficiencies in both elements.These findings provide new opportunities for monitoring soil quality in the region which can benefit multiple actors and scientists involved in the agricultural and environmental sectors.展开更多
Development policies have for a long time made it more profitable for people to degrade than to conserve environment. The adoption of these economic wide policies by Africa especially during colonial time and after in...Development policies have for a long time made it more profitable for people to degrade than to conserve environment. The adoption of these economic wide policies by Africa especially during colonial time and after independence has resulted into erosion of its communities’ conservation behaviour and attitude. Although many studies assess environmental attitudes, those focussing on African regions or countries using New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale are very limited. Such studies in the African context using NEP scale are very important, simply because many people depend on the environment for their livelihood, and in the process they destroy the world’s valued ecosystems including wetlands. This study is meant to fill in the gap using Kilombero valley wetlands in Tanzania as a case. The study used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to predict the behaviour of the users based on attitudes, environmental knowledge and awareness. The findings indicate that users of the Kilombero wetlands have a generally positive attitude towards the environment, despite a great degree of variability among the study participants. The study shows also that a certain level of environmental awareness is needed in order to increase people’s knowledge about environmental issues and change their environmental attitudes. The NEP scale does not fully fit into the Tanzanian context, thus suggesting that further research into the adaptation of the scale is needed.展开更多
Phytoextraction has been introduced as a new technology to clean up soils contaminated with heavy metals as the use of conventional methods to clean up the soil is very expensive and destructive to the ecosystem. Howe...Phytoextraction has been introduced as a new technology to clean up soils contaminated with heavy metals as the use of conventional methods to clean up the soil is very expensive and destructive to the ecosystem. However, using plants to clean up contaminated soils takes a considerable period before the contaminants are removed from the soil by the plants. This has necessitated the use of amendments to enhance phytoextraction in order to shorten the period of contaminants removal by plants. In view of this, a pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of various aminopolycarboxylic acids (EDTA, EDDS, NTA dry and NTA liquid) and two commercial fertilizers which are Hortrilon? and Fetrilon? on their ability to solubilize Cd and Zn in contaminated soils. It was observed that the inducing effect of EDTA on the solubility of Cd and Zn persisted throughout the experimental period. Initially, EDDS enhanced the solubility Cd and Zn, however, its effect dissipated with time. The application of both NTA dry (powder) and NTA liquid had a significant effect on the solubility of Zn as a result of the formation of Zn-NTA soluble complexes. Hortrilon? and Fetrilon? solubilized significant concentrations of both Cd and Zn with Hortrilon? having the greatest inducing effect on the solubility of Cd and Zn.展开更多
Background:Evidence regarding the effectiveness of prenatal nutritional supplements has mainly considered anthropometric pregnancy outcomes.The effect on markers of health and disease,such as offspring telomere length...Background:Evidence regarding the effectiveness of prenatal nutritional supplements has mainly considered anthropometric pregnancy outcomes.The effect on markers of health and disease,such as offspring telomere length(TL)and mitochondrial DNA content(mtDNAc)is unknown.Objectives:We assessed the efficacy of maternal multiple micronutrient(MMN)-fortified balanced-energy protein(BEP)and iron-folic acid(IFA)supplementation on newborn TL as a secondary outcome and mtDNAc as a non-declared outcome.Design:We conducted a randomized controlled trial in rural Burkina Faso,among pregnant females(15-40 years old)enrolled at<21 weeks of gestation.Mothers received either MMN-fortified BEP and IFA(intervention)or IFA only(control)throughout pregnancy.Whole arterial blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord of 104 control and 90 intervention group infants,respectively.Average relative TL and mtDNAc were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Linear regression models were fitted to assess TL and mtDNAc differences across trial arms.Results:We found that a combined daily MMN-fortified BEP supplement and IFA tablet did not affect newborn TL[β=-0.010(95%CI:-0.057,0.036);P=0.662]or mtDNAc[β=0.065(95%CI:-0.203,0.073);P=0.354],as compared to an IFA tablet alone.These findings were confirmed(P>0.05)by adjusting the regression models for potential prognostic factors of study outcomes at enrollment.Exploratory analyses indicated higher,but non-significantly different mtDNAc among children born either small-for-gestational age,low birthweight,or preterm.Conclusion:Newborns from mothers who received daily nutritional supplements across gestation did not have different relative TL or mtDNAc.展开更多
Chemical processes can bene t tremendously from fast and accurate ef uent composition prediction for plant design, control, and optimization. The Industry 4.0 revolution claims that by introducing machine learning int...Chemical processes can bene t tremendously from fast and accurate ef uent composition prediction for plant design, control, and optimization. The Industry 4.0 revolution claims that by introducing machine learning into these elds, substantial economic and environmental gains can be achieved. The bottleneck for high-frequency optimization and process control is often the time necessary to perform the required detailed analyses of, for example, feed and product. To resolve these issues, a framework of four deep learning arti cial neural networks (DL ANNs) has been developed for the largest chemicals production process steam cracking. The proposed methodology allows both a detailed characterization of a naphtha feedstock and a detailed composition of the steam cracker ef uent to be determined, based on a limited number of commercial naphtha indices and rapidly accessible process characteristics. The detailed char- acterization of a naphtha is predicted from three points on the boiling curve and paraf ns, iso-paraf ns, ole ns, naphthenes, and aronatics (PIONA) characterization. If unavailable, the boiling points are also estimated. Even with estimated boiling points, the developed DL ANN outperforms several established methods such as maximization of Shannon entropy and traditional ANNs. For feedstock reconstruction, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.3 wt% is achieved on the test set, while the MAE of the ef uent predic- tion is 0.1 wt%. When combining all networks using the output of the previous as input to the next the ef uent MAE increases to 0.19 wt%. In addition to the high accuracy of the networks, a major bene t is the negligible computational cost required to obtain the predictions. On a standard Intel i7 processor, predictions are made in the order of milliseconds. Commercial software such as COILSIM1D performs slightly better in terms of accuracy, but the required central processing unit time per reaction is in the order of seconds. This tremendous speed-up and minimal accuracy loss make the presented framework highly suitable for the continuous monitoring of dif cult-to-access process parameters and for the envi- sioned, high-frequency real-time optimization (RTO) strategy or process control. Nevertheless, the lack of a fundamental basis implies that fundamental understanding is almost completely lost, which is not always well-accepted by the engineering community. In addition, the performance of the developed net- works drops signi cantly for naphthas that are highly dissimilar to those in the training set.展开更多
Retina nociceptor,as a key sensory receptor,not only enables the transport of warning signals to the human central nervous system upon its exposure to noxious stimuli,but also triggers the motor response that minimize...Retina nociceptor,as a key sensory receptor,not only enables the transport of warning signals to the human central nervous system upon its exposure to noxious stimuli,but also triggers the motor response that minimizes potential sensitization.In this study,the capability of two-dimensional all-oxide-heterostructured artificial nociceptor as a single device with tunable properties was confirmed.Newly designed nociceptors utilize ultra-thin sub-stoichiometric TiO2–Ga2O3 heterostructures,where the thermally annealed Ga2O3 films play the role of charge transfer controlling component.It is discovered that the phase transformation in Ga2O3 is accompanied by substantial jump in conductivity,induced by thermally assisted internal redox reaction of Ga2O3 nanostructure during annealing.It is also experimentally confirmed that the charge transfer in alloxide heterostructures can be tuned and controlled by the heterointerfaces manipulation.Results demonstrate that the engineering of heterointerfaces of two-dimensional(2D)films enables the fabrication of either high-sensitive TiO2–Ga2O3(Ar)or high-threshold TiO2–Ga2O3(N2)nociceptors.The hypersensitive nociceptor mimics the functionalities of corneal nociceptors of human eye,whereas the delayed reaction of nociceptor is similar to high-threshold nociceptive characteristics of human sensory system.The long-term stability of 2D nociceptors demonstrates the capability of heterointerfaces engineering for e ective control of charge transfer at 2D heterostructured devices.展开更多
基金supported by Ghent University through a special research grant(No.BOFSTG2019005701)The assistance provided by Ann Dirckx in the microbiology lab was greatly appreciated.Allan A.Alvarado-Alvarado thanks the European Commission under the Erasmus+EMJMD Program for funding his research at Ghent University(No.2017-1957/001-001-EMJMD).
文摘The study of microbial hydrocarbons removal is of great importance for the development of future bioremediation strategies.In this study,we evaluated the removal of a gaseous mixture containing toluene,m-xylene,ethylbenzene,cyclohexane,butane,pentane,hexane and heptane in aerated stirred bioreactors inoculated with Rhodococcus erythropolis and operated under non-sterile conditions.For the real-time measurement of hydrocarbons,a novel systematic approachwas implemented using Selected-Ion Flow TubeMass Spectrometry(SIFTMS).The effect of the carbon source(~9.5 ppmv)on(i)the bioreactors’performance(BR1:dosed with only cyclohexane as a single hydrocarbon versus BR2:dosed with a mixture of the 8 hydrocarbons)and(ii)the evolution of microbial communities over time were investigated.The results showed that cyclohexane reached a maximum removal efficiency(RE)of 53%±4%in BR1.In BR2,almost complete removal of toluene,m-xylene and ethylbenzene,being the most water-soluble and easy-to-degrade carbon sources,was observed.REs below 32%were obtained for the remaining compounds.By exposing the microbial consortium to only the five most recalcitrant hydrocarbons,REs between 45%±5%and 98%±1%were reached.In addition,we observed that airborne microorganisms populated the bioreactors and that the type of carbon source influenced the microbial communities developed.The abundance of species belonging to the genus Rhodococcus was below 10%in all bioreactors at the end of the experiments.This work provides fundamental insights to understand the complex behavior of gaseous hydrocarbon mixtures in bioreactors,along with a systematic approach for the development of SIFT-MS methods.
基金supported by the UGent GOA project“Forest biodiversity and multifunctionality drive chronic stress-mediated dynamics in pathogen reservoirs(FORESTER)”(No.BOF20/GOA/009).
文摘Forest structural complexity influences arthropod communities by shaping habitat availability,microclimatic conditions,and resource distribution.However,the extent to which structural complexity and specific structural components drive arthropod abundance and biomass remains poorly understood in temperate forests.This study examined how local and landscape-scale forest characteristics influence arthropod communities across vertical strata(forest floor(FF),herb layer(HL),and shrub layer(SL))in 19 temperate deciduous forests in Belgium,dominated by pedunculate oak,European beech,or Canadian poplar.At the local scale,we assessed dominant tree species identity,overall forest structural complexity,and its components(vertical and horizontal structure,woody layer,herbal layer,and deadwood).At the landscape scale,we evaluated forest area,edge length,forest cover,and vegetation greenness(normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)).Contrary to expectation,arthropod biomass and abundance did not consistently increase with higher structural complexity.Instead,woody layer complexity,dominant tree species,and NDVI emerged as key drivers,with effects varying by context and stratum.Arthropod abundance and biomass were the highest in oak-and poplar-dominated forests and the lowest in beech forests,likely due to differences in litter quality,microhabitat availability,and understory development.Woody layer complexity positively influenced forest floor arthropods in poplar forests but had a negative effect in oak forests.At the landscape scale,NDVI unexpectedly showed negative relationships with arthropod abundance across strata and with arthropod biomass in the herb layer,likely reflecting dense canopy suppression of understory productivity.Arthropod biomass on the forest floor increased with forest cover,while abundance in the shrub layer decreased with forest cover but increased with forest area.These findings highlight the complex interplay between forest structural attributes,dominant tree species,and landscape factors in shaping arthropod communities.By identifying the key drivers of arthropod abundance and biomass,this study contributes to a better understanding of biodiversity patterns in temperate forests and their ecological dynamics.
基金The authors acknowledge funding from the European Research Council(ERC)under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation(818607)Pieter P.Plehiers and Ruben Van de Vijver acknowledge financial support,respectively,from a doctoral(1150817N)a postdoctoral(3E013419)fellowship from the Research Foundation-Flanders(FWO).
文摘Chemical engineers rely on models for design,research,and daily decision-making,often with potentially large financial and safety implications.Previous efforts a few decades ago to combine artificial intelligence and chemical engineering for modeling were unable to fulfill the expectations.In the last five years,the increasing availability of data and computational resources has led to a resurgence in machine learning-based research.Many recent efforts have facilitated the roll-out of machine learning techniques in the research field by developing large databases,benchmarks,and representations for chemical applications and new machine learning frameworks.Machine learning has significant advantages over traditional modeling techniques,including flexibility,accuracy,and execution speed.These strengths also come with weaknesses,such as the lack of interpretability of these black-box models.The greatest opportunities involve using machine learning in time-limited applications such as real-time optimization and planning that require high accuracy and that can build on models with a self-learning ability to recognize patterns,learn from data,and become more intelligent over time.The greatest threat in artificial intelligence research today is inappropriate use because most chemical engineers have had limited training in computer science and data analysis.Nevertheless,machine learning will definitely become a trustworthy element in the modeling toolbox of chemical engineers.
基金supported by a grant from the government agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT-LO 100856)。
文摘Background: Weaning is known to result in barrier dysfunction and villus atrophy in the immediate post-weaning phase, and the magnitude of these responses is hypothesized to correlate with changes in the glutathione(GSH)redox system. Therefore, these parameters were simultaneously measured throughout the weaning phase, in piglets differing in birth weight category and weaning age, as these pre-weaning factors are important determinants for the weaning transition. Low birth weight(LBW) and normal birth weight(NBW) littermates were assigned to one of three weaning treatments;i.e. weaning at 3 weeks of age(3 w), weaning at 4 weeks of age(4 w) and removal from the sow at 3 d of age and fed a milk replacer until weaning at 3 weeks of age(3 d3 w). For each of these treatments, six LBW and six NBW piglets were euthanized at 0, 2, 5, 12 or 28 d post-weaning piglets, adding up 180 piglets.Results: Weaning increased the glutathione peroxidase activity on d 5 post-weaning in plasma, and duodenal and jejunal mucosa. Small intestinal glutathione-S-transferase activity gradually increased until d 12 post-weaning, and this was combined with a progressive rise of mucosal GSH up till d 12 post-weaning. Oxidation of the GSH redox status(GSH/GSSG Eh) was only observed in the small intestinal mucosa of 3 d3 w weaned piglets at d 5 postweaning. These piglets also demonstrated increased fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran(FD4) and horseradish peroxidase fluxes in the duodenum and distal jejunum during the experiment, and specifically demonstrated increased FD4 fluxes at d 2 to d 5 post-weaning. On the other hand, profound villus atrophy was observed during the weaning transition for all weaning treatments. Finally, LBW and NBW piglets did not demonstrate notable differences in GSH redox status, small intestinal barrier function and histo-morphology throughout the experiment.Conclusion: Although moderate changes in the GSH redox system were observed upon weaning, the GSH redox status remained at a steady state level in 3 w and 4 w weaned piglets and was therefore not associated with weaning induced villus atrophy. Conversely, 3 d3 w weaned piglets demonstrated GSH redox imbalance in the small intestinal mucosa, and this co-occurred with a temporal malfunction of their intestinal barrier function.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFD0300901)the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Nonprofit Scientific Institutions of China(1610132019035,1610132020023 and 1610132020024)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province,China(20192BAB203022)。
文摘Understanding the impact of biological activities on the soil phosphorus(P)distribution under long-term fertilizer application can facilitate better soil P fertility management.Therefore,the primary objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of long-term(since 1981)fertilizer application on the soil P fractions and microbial community and to evaluate correlations between the microbial community structure and P distribution.The following treatments were implemented in a long-term field trial:no fertilization(CK),inorganic N and K(NK),inorganic P and K(PK),inorganic N,P and K(NPK)and manure+NPK(MNPK)fertilization.The study showed that the soil pH,soil organic carbon and total and available N and P concentrations were considerably higher in the MNPK treatment than in the CK treatment.The soil microbial biomass C,N and P concentrations were also significantly higher in the MNPK treatment than in the CK treatment.Among fertilization treatments,theβ-1,4-glucosidase,α-1,4-glucosidase,urease,acid phosphatase and phosphodiesterase activities were the highest in the MNPK treatment.Compared to inorganic fertilization,the MNPK treatment increased the labile soil P fractions and decreased the residual soil P concentration.Continuous fertilization significantly affected the soil microbial composition.The total phospholipid fatty acid(PLFA)concentrations in the NK,PK,NPK and MNPK treatments were 23.3,43.1,48.7 and 87.7%higher,respectively,than in the CK treatment.A significant correlation was observed between the microbial community and soil P fractions.Moreover,the aggregated boosted tree(ABT)model showed that among the various soil biochemical properties,the total PLFA concentration was the factor that most influenced the active P pool,accounting for 35.4%of the relative influence of all soil biochemical properties examined.These findings reveal that combined manure and inorganic fertilizer application is a better approach than applying inorganic fertilizer alone for sustaining long-term P fertility by mediating soil biological activity.
文摘The newly identified aquaporin coding sequences presented here pave the way for further insights into the plant–water relations in the commercial strawberry(Fragaria x ananassa).Aquaporins are water channel proteins that allow water to cross(intra)cellular membranes.In Fragaria x ananassa,few of them have been identified hitherto,hampering the exploration of the water transport regulation at cellular level.Here,we present new aquaporin coding sequences belonging to different subclasses:plasma membrane intrinsic proteins subtype 1 and subtype 2(PIP1 and PIP2)and tonoplast intrinsic proteins(TIP).The classification is based on phylogenetic analysis and is confirmed by the presence of conserved residues.Substrate-specific signature sequences(SSSSs)and specificity-determining positions(SDPs)predict the substrate specificity of each new aquaporin.Expression profiling in leaves,petioles and developing fruits reveals distinct patterns,even within the same(sub)class.Expression profiles range from leaf-specific expression over constitutive expression to fruit-specific expression.Both upregulation and downregulation during fruit ripening occur.Substrate specificity and expression profiles suggest that functional specialization exists among aquaporins belonging to a different but also to the same(sub)class.
基金supported by a grant from the government agency for Innovation by Science and Technology(IWT-LO 100856)
文摘Background： In this study the physiological implications of artificial rearing were investigated. Low（LBW） and normal birth weight（NBW） piglets were compared as they might react differently to stressors caused by artificial rearing. In total, 42 pairs of LBW and NBW piglets from 16 litters suckled the sow until d19 of age or were artificially reared starting at d3 until d19 of age. Blood and tissue samples that were collected after euthanasia at 0, 3, 5, 8 and 19 d of age. Histology, ELISA, and Ussing chamber analysis were used to study proximal and distal small intestine histomorphology, proliferation, apoptosis, tight junction protein expression, and permeability. Furthermore, small intestine,liver and systemic redox parameters（GSH, GSSG, GSH-Px and MDA） were investigated using HPLC.Results： LBW and NBW artificially reared piglets weighed respectively 40 and 33% more than LBW and NBW sowreared piglets at d19（P 〈 0.01）. Transferring piglets to a nursery at d3 resulted in villus atrophy, increased intestinal FD-4 and HRP permeability and elevated GSSG/GSH ratio in the distal small intestine at d5（P 〈 0.05）. GSH concentrations in the proximal small intestine remained stable, while they decreased in the liver（P 〈 0.05）. From d5 until d19, villus width and crypt depth increased, whereas PCNA, caspase-3, occludin and claudin-3 protein expressions were reduced. GSH,GSSG and permeability recovered in artificially reared piglets（P 〈 0.05）.Conclusion： The results suggest that artificial rearing altered the morphology, permeability and redox state without compromising piglet performance. The observed effects were not depending on birth weight.
基金supported by the European Commission under the Interreg IVb NWE Project Arbor(No.Interreg IVB 223G)the Environmental&Energy Technology Innovation Platform(MIP),Belgium+2 种基金the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)the Fonds de Recherche de Québec sur la Nature et les Technologies(FRQNT),CanadaPrimodal Inc.,Hamilton,Canada
文摘Although to date some technologies producing bio-based phosphorus(P) fertilizers have been proposed and implemented, the efficient use of the recovered products is still limited due to legislative constraints and lack of insights in the P release with time and in the corresponding mechanisms. The aim of this work was to evaluate the fertilizer performance in terms of P release and use efficiency of recovered struvite, FePO_4-sludge, digestate, and animal manure as compared to fossil reserve-based mineral triple superphosphate(TSP). First, product physicochemical characteristics and P fractions in the context of European fertilizer legislation were assessed. Next, a controlled greenhouse experiment was set up to evaluate plant reactions as well as changes of P availability in a sandy soil with high P status and a Rheinsand soil with low P status. Soil P fractions were determined in the extracts with water, ammonium lactate and CaCl_2, and in soil solution sampled with Rhizon soil moisture samplers. Based on all results, it is worth conducting long-term field trials to evaluate the P release effect of struvite and digestate as compared to animal manure and TSP on different soil types with varying P status. These products showed promise as sustainable substitutes for conventional P fertilizers and could contribute to a more efficient use of P in agriculture. A refined classification of P application standards/recommendations in terms of soil P status, soil texture, and fertilizer characteristics, next to the crop P demand, is recommended. Moreover, the additional use of Rhizon samplers for determination of direct available P, including dissolved organic P, is proposed for better understanding and categorization of different P fertilizers in environmental and fertilizer legislations.
基金the financial support of Flanders Innovation&Entrepreneurship(VLAIOBelgium+3 种基金LA170830)the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 101000213-Holo RuminantThe PhD research of Hong Yang and Xiaoping Jing was the Chinese Scholarship Council(CSC,China)the PhD research of Stijn Heirbaut was funded by a Ph D grant from the Special Research Fund of the Ghent University(Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds,BOF,Belgium)。
文摘Background:The transition period is a challenging period for high-producing dairy cattle.Cows in early lactation are considered as a group at risk of subacute ruminal acidosis(SARA).Variability in SARA susceptibility in early lactation is hypothesized to be reflected in fecal characteristics such as fecal pH,dry matter content,volatile and odd-and branched-chain fatty acids(VFA and OBCFA,respectively),as well as fecal microbiota.This was investigated with 38 periparturient dairy cows,which were classified into four groups differing in median and mean time of reticular pH below 6 as well as area under the curve of pH below 6.Furthermore,we investigated whether fecal differences were already obvious during a period prior to the SARA risk(prepartum).Results:Variation in reticular pH during a 3-week postpartum period was not associated with differences in fecal pH and VFA concentration.In the postpartum period,the copy number of fecal bacteria and methanogens of unsusceptible(UN)cows was higher than moderately susceptible(MS)or susceptible(SU)cows,while the genera Ruminococcus and Prevotellacea_UCG-001 were proportionally less abundant in UN compared with SU cows.Nevertheless,only a minor reduction was observed in iso-BCFA proportions in fecal fatty acids of SU cows,particularly iso-C15:0and iso-C16:0,compared with UN cows.Consistent with the bacterial changes postpartum,the lower abundance of Ruminococcus was already observed in the prepartum fecal bacterial communities of UN cows,whereas Lachnospiraceae_UCG-001 was increased.Nevertheless,no differences were observed in the prepartum fecal VFA or OBCFA profiles among the groups.Prepartum fecal bacterial communities of cows were clustered into two distinct clusters with 70%of the SU cows belonging to cluster 1,in which they represented 60%of the animals.Conclusions:Inter-animal variation in postpartum SARA susceptibility was reflected in post-and prepartum fecal bacterial communities.Differences in prepartum fecal bacterial communities could alert for susceptibility to develop SARA postpartum.Our results generated knowledge on the association between fecal bacteria and SARA development which could be further explored in a prevention strategy.
文摘Background: The EU ban on antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) has initiated a search for non-antibiotic alternatives. It has been demonstrated that certain antibiotics and non-antibiotic alternatives enhance growth by inhibiting inflammatory cells, i.e. neutrophils and macrophages in the intestine. There is very little information on the effect of anti-inflammatory compounds on intestinal epithelial cells, which are known to play an important role in intestinal inflammatory responses. In order to establish this, a porcine intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC J2) was incubated with an adherent enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) to stimulate inflammation, using a non-pathogenic non-adherent E. coli (EC) as a control. The influence of the presence of the anti-inflammatory compounds Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on inflammatory transcriptional responses was studied. Results: ETEC induced a strong inflammatory response as was most evident from the expression of IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α, whereas EC induced IL-1βonly. Co-incubation with MCE and ASA significantly reduced the responses of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, similarly for IL-1βand TNF-α, but ASA was more effective than MCE in reducing the IL8 response. Conclusions: The present results suggest that the in vivo anti-inflammatory growth promoting effects of AGP and effective alternatives to AGP such as MCE and ASA are not restricted to inflammatory cells and also involve the more abundant enterocytes. This suggests a major role for epithelial cells in growth promotion livestock, and it further supports the notion that effective alternatives to AGP should have anti-inflammatory activity.
基金The research that yielded these results,was funded by the Belgian Federal Public Service of Health,Food Chain Safety and Environment through the contract RF 17/6314 LactoPigHealthMatthias Dierick is supported by the Flemish fund for scientific research(FWO3S036319).
文摘Background Post-weaned piglets suffer from F18+Escherichia coli(E.coli)infections resulting in post-weaning diar-rhoea or oedema disease.Frequently used management strategies,including colistin and zinc oxide,have contrib-uted to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.Novel antimicrobials capable of directly interacting with pathogens and modulating the host immune responses are being investigated.Lactoferrin has shown promising results against porcine enterotoxigenic E.coli strains,both in vitro and in vivo.Results We investigated the influence of bovine lactoferrin(bLF)on the microbiome of healthy and infected weaned piglets.Additionally,we assessed whether bLF influenced the immune responses upon Shiga toxin-producing E.coli(STEC)infection.Therefore,2 in vivo trials were conducted:a microbiome trial and a challenge infection trial,using an F18+STEC strain.BLF did not affect theα-andβ-diversity.However,bLF groups showed a higher relative abundance(RA)for the Actinobacteria phylum and the Bifidobacterium genus in the ileal mucosa.When analysing the immune response upon infection,the STEC group exhibited a significant increase in F18-specific IgG serum levels,whereas this response was absent in the bLF group.Conclusion Taken together,the oral administration of bLF did not have a notable impact on theα-andβ-diversity of the gut microbiome in weaned piglets.Nevertheless,it did increase the RA of the Actinobacteria phylum and Bifi-dobacterium genus,which have previously been shown to play an important role in maintaining gut homeostasis.Furthermore,bLF administration during STEC infection resulted in the absence of F18-specific serum IgG responses.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21902132)the Research Foundation-Flanders(1280021N,1242922N,1298323N)。
文摘Gold(Au)nanostructures(NSs)have been widely employed as cocatalysts to improve the photoactivity of semiconductor materials,while a systematic summary of the engineering approaches of Au NSs to maximize the solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency is still lacking.In this review,the recently developed strategies for elevating the overall photocatalytic performance of Au-based catalysts and the deep physical chemistry mechanisms are highlighted.Firstly,the synthetic approaches of Au NSs are summarized,followed by an elaboration on their multiple functions in improving photoactivity.Afterward,modification strategies of Au NSs used to enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of Au-semiconductor composites,including controlling the Au NSs morphology,size,crystal phase,defect engineering,alloying with different metals,modulating interfacial interaction,and introducing an external field,are summarized and discussed independently.Additionally,advanced characterization techniques that can provide insights into the charge dynamics of the photocatalysts are introduced.Finally,we share our opinion on the challenges and outline potentially promising opportunities and directions for efficient Au-based photocatalysis research moving forward.We sincerely look forward to this review can deliver insightful views to design efficient Au-based photocatalysts and spur certain innovations to other metal-based catalysts.
文摘Recently, near infrared reflectance （NIR） and mid-infrared （MIR） spectroscopy techniques are increasingly introduced as convenient and simple non-destructive techniques for quantifying several soil properties. This study uses MIR method to predict pH, soil organic C, total N, AI, Ca, Mg and K, CEC and soil texture for soil samples collected in Sud-Kivu, Congo. A total of 536 composite soil samples were taken from two locations （Burhale and Luhihi） at two depths （0-20 cm and 20-40 cm） using a spatially-stratified random sampling design within an area of 200 km2. Differences in characteristics were evaluated between the two locations, land use （cultivated vs. non-cultivated land） with soil depths. A random subset of the samples （10%） were analyzed using standard wet chemistry methods, and calibration models developed by MIR data to estimate soil properties for the full soil sample set. Partial least squares regression （PLS） method gave acceptable coefficients of determination between 0.71 and 0.93 for all parameters. Soil organic matter levels were higher in cultivated plots in Luhihi （3.9% C） than in Burhale （3.0% C）, suggesting lower levels of soil fertility in the later area. This indicates high levels of acidity, which are likely to limit crop production in the area. Phosphorus deficiency is acute in Burhale （2.4 mg P/kg） but less in Luhihi （5.4 mg P/kg）. In both locations, low levels of Ca and Mg indicate that soils may be susceptible to deficiencies in both elements.These findings provide new opportunities for monitoring soil quality in the region which can benefit multiple actors and scientists involved in the agricultural and environmental sectors.
文摘Development policies have for a long time made it more profitable for people to degrade than to conserve environment. The adoption of these economic wide policies by Africa especially during colonial time and after independence has resulted into erosion of its communities’ conservation behaviour and attitude. Although many studies assess environmental attitudes, those focussing on African regions or countries using New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale are very limited. Such studies in the African context using NEP scale are very important, simply because many people depend on the environment for their livelihood, and in the process they destroy the world’s valued ecosystems including wetlands. This study is meant to fill in the gap using Kilombero valley wetlands in Tanzania as a case. The study used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to predict the behaviour of the users based on attitudes, environmental knowledge and awareness. The findings indicate that users of the Kilombero wetlands have a generally positive attitude towards the environment, despite a great degree of variability among the study participants. The study shows also that a certain level of environmental awareness is needed in order to increase people’s knowledge about environmental issues and change their environmental attitudes. The NEP scale does not fully fit into the Tanzanian context, thus suggesting that further research into the adaptation of the scale is needed.
文摘Phytoextraction has been introduced as a new technology to clean up soils contaminated with heavy metals as the use of conventional methods to clean up the soil is very expensive and destructive to the ecosystem. However, using plants to clean up contaminated soils takes a considerable period before the contaminants are removed from the soil by the plants. This has necessitated the use of amendments to enhance phytoextraction in order to shorten the period of contaminants removal by plants. In view of this, a pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of various aminopolycarboxylic acids (EDTA, EDDS, NTA dry and NTA liquid) and two commercial fertilizers which are Hortrilon? and Fetrilon? on their ability to solubilize Cd and Zn in contaminated soils. It was observed that the inducing effect of EDTA on the solubility of Cd and Zn persisted throughout the experimental period. Initially, EDDS enhanced the solubility Cd and Zn, however, its effect dissipated with time. The application of both NTA dry (powder) and NTA liquid had a significant effect on the solubility of Zn as a result of the formation of Zn-NTA soluble complexes. Hortrilon? and Fetrilon? solubilized significant concentrations of both Cd and Zn with Hortrilon? having the greatest inducing effect on the solubility of Cd and Zn.
基金supported by the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation(OPP1175213)supported by the Research Foundation Flanders(12X9620N and 12X9623N)the European Research Council(ERC)under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program(946192,HUMYCO)。
文摘Background:Evidence regarding the effectiveness of prenatal nutritional supplements has mainly considered anthropometric pregnancy outcomes.The effect on markers of health and disease,such as offspring telomere length(TL)and mitochondrial DNA content(mtDNAc)is unknown.Objectives:We assessed the efficacy of maternal multiple micronutrient(MMN)-fortified balanced-energy protein(BEP)and iron-folic acid(IFA)supplementation on newborn TL as a secondary outcome and mtDNAc as a non-declared outcome.Design:We conducted a randomized controlled trial in rural Burkina Faso,among pregnant females(15-40 years old)enrolled at<21 weeks of gestation.Mothers received either MMN-fortified BEP and IFA(intervention)or IFA only(control)throughout pregnancy.Whole arterial blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord of 104 control and 90 intervention group infants,respectively.Average relative TL and mtDNAc were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Linear regression models were fitted to assess TL and mtDNAc differences across trial arms.Results:We found that a combined daily MMN-fortified BEP supplement and IFA tablet did not affect newborn TL[β=-0.010(95%CI:-0.057,0.036);P=0.662]or mtDNAc[β=0.065(95%CI:-0.203,0.073);P=0.354],as compared to an IFA tablet alone.These findings were confirmed(P>0.05)by adjusting the regression models for potential prognostic factors of study outcomes at enrollment.Exploratory analyses indicated higher,but non-significantly different mtDNAc among children born either small-for-gestational age,low birthweight,or preterm.Conclusion:Newborns from mothers who received daily nutritional supplements across gestation did not have different relative TL or mtDNAc.
文摘Chemical processes can bene t tremendously from fast and accurate ef uent composition prediction for plant design, control, and optimization. The Industry 4.0 revolution claims that by introducing machine learning into these elds, substantial economic and environmental gains can be achieved. The bottleneck for high-frequency optimization and process control is often the time necessary to perform the required detailed analyses of, for example, feed and product. To resolve these issues, a framework of four deep learning arti cial neural networks (DL ANNs) has been developed for the largest chemicals production process steam cracking. The proposed methodology allows both a detailed characterization of a naphtha feedstock and a detailed composition of the steam cracker ef uent to be determined, based on a limited number of commercial naphtha indices and rapidly accessible process characteristics. The detailed char- acterization of a naphtha is predicted from three points on the boiling curve and paraf ns, iso-paraf ns, ole ns, naphthenes, and aronatics (PIONA) characterization. If unavailable, the boiling points are also estimated. Even with estimated boiling points, the developed DL ANN outperforms several established methods such as maximization of Shannon entropy and traditional ANNs. For feedstock reconstruction, a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.3 wt% is achieved on the test set, while the MAE of the ef uent predic- tion is 0.1 wt%. When combining all networks using the output of the previous as input to the next the ef uent MAE increases to 0.19 wt%. In addition to the high accuracy of the networks, a major bene t is the negligible computational cost required to obtain the predictions. On a standard Intel i7 processor, predictions are made in the order of milliseconds. Commercial software such as COILSIM1D performs slightly better in terms of accuracy, but the required central processing unit time per reaction is in the order of seconds. This tremendous speed-up and minimal accuracy loss make the presented framework highly suitable for the continuous monitoring of dif cult-to-access process parameters and for the envi- sioned, high-frequency real-time optimization (RTO) strategy or process control. Nevertheless, the lack of a fundamental basis implies that fundamental understanding is almost completely lost, which is not always well-accepted by the engineering community. In addition, the performance of the developed net- works drops signi cantly for naphthas that are highly dissimilar to those in the training set.
基金supported by Research and Development Program of the Ghent University Global Campus,South Korea.
文摘Retina nociceptor,as a key sensory receptor,not only enables the transport of warning signals to the human central nervous system upon its exposure to noxious stimuli,but also triggers the motor response that minimizes potential sensitization.In this study,the capability of two-dimensional all-oxide-heterostructured artificial nociceptor as a single device with tunable properties was confirmed.Newly designed nociceptors utilize ultra-thin sub-stoichiometric TiO2–Ga2O3 heterostructures,where the thermally annealed Ga2O3 films play the role of charge transfer controlling component.It is discovered that the phase transformation in Ga2O3 is accompanied by substantial jump in conductivity,induced by thermally assisted internal redox reaction of Ga2O3 nanostructure during annealing.It is also experimentally confirmed that the charge transfer in alloxide heterostructures can be tuned and controlled by the heterointerfaces manipulation.Results demonstrate that the engineering of heterointerfaces of two-dimensional(2D)films enables the fabrication of either high-sensitive TiO2–Ga2O3(Ar)or high-threshold TiO2–Ga2O3(N2)nociceptors.The hypersensitive nociceptor mimics the functionalities of corneal nociceptors of human eye,whereas the delayed reaction of nociceptor is similar to high-threshold nociceptive characteristics of human sensory system.The long-term stability of 2D nociceptors demonstrates the capability of heterointerfaces engineering for e ective control of charge transfer at 2D heterostructured devices.
