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Exploring the role of SnRK1 and its regulators in nitrogen signaling
No full textTOR (Target of Rapamycin) en SnRK1 (Sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase 1) zijn twee geconserveerde, vitale kinasen die een essentiële rol spelen in de signalisatie van stress en nutriënten. Het begrijpen van de complexe interactie tussen TOR, SnRK1 en andere componenten van de stikstofsignalisatie is cruciaal voor het verbeteren van de efficiëntie van stikstofgebruik in de landbouw. Het interactoom van deze kinasecomplexen werd in kaart gebracht onder verschillende stikstofomstandigheden met behulp van affiniteitszuivering gekoppeld aan massaspectrometrie (AP-MS) en nabijheidslabelling gekoppeld aan massaspectrometrie (PL-MS). Door deze interactiedata te vergelijken met netwerken die eerder zijn bekomend in de context van koolstofsignalering, werden stikstofspecifieke interactoren geïdentificeerd. Door de integratie van multi-omics data, bekomen onder variabele stikstofniveaus, hebben we een divers scala aan eiwitten kunnen identificeren die mogelijk betrokken zijn bij stikstofsignalering, zowel stroomopwaarts als stroomafwaarts van SnRK1 en/of TOR, en hebben we er enkele van gevalideerd. Bovendien werden twee nieuwe klassen van SnRK1-regulatoren geïdentificeerd die betrokken zijn in de regulatie van groei en van stress reacties: de klasse C Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MPKs) and de Inositol-Requiring Enzymes (IRE1). Deze eiwitten en hun relatie met SnRK1 werden verder bestudeerd richting een verbeterde efficiëntie van stikstofgebruik
Sequence-based metagenomic approach for identifying lysins from sewage and pig feces
No full textPhage lysins, enzymes encoded by bacteriophages that degrade bacterial cell walls, are emerging as a promising class of alternative antimicrobials. This study aimed to identify novel lysins using a sequence-based metagenomic approach. Environmental samples were collected from sewage and pig feces, followed by viral DNA extraction, sequencing, assembly, and annotation. Open reading frames were predicted, and lysins were identified, with a focus on those targeting Enterococcus species.
Using the ViPER pipeline, 310,681 contigs were assembled, of which 135,675 were classified as viral via the geNomad tool. Despite generally low contig completeness, 8,825 putative lysins were predicted bioinformatically. Comparative domain analysis revealed distinct lysin architectures between fecal and sewage samples, suggesting differing phage host populations. A subset of lysins was expressed and screened for muralytic activity against E. faecium, E. faecalis, and E. hirae. Four lysins showed activity against all three species, two were active against E. faecalis and E. hirae, and seven were specific to E. hirae.
While this pipeline was applied to Enterococcus, it is broadly adaptable for the discovery of lysins targeting other bacterial pathogens
Reusability and durability of thermal insulation materials : performance and degradation assessment of naturally aged polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam insulation
No full textOver several decades, insulation materials have served the crucial role of meeting thermal performance standards for buildings. However, a contemporary challenge arises as an increasing number of these aged insulation materials are released now during demolition or renovation. Unfortunately, these materials always find their way to landfills or burning furnaces, while they are not yet at the end of their lifespan. To tackle this challenge, there is a growing need to explore the potential of reusing insulation materials to close material loops and reduce the ecological footprint of the current building industry. To initiate the reuse of insulation materials, there is currently a lack of knowledge regarding performance and degradation assessment after natural ageing and dismantling, which is necessary to identify the potential reuse applications. Therefore, this paper focuses on the material characterization of naturally aged polyurethane (PUR) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) foam insulation dismantled from various applications (e.g., roofs, walls, etc.). While standardized test procedures exist for new insulation products, assessing naturally aged materials requires a more nuanced approach. By prioritizing the most critical performance criteria for reuse, only relevant tests are conducted on the collected insulation samples (water absorption, thermal conductivity, compressive stress and dimensional stability). The initial results indicate that reusing PUR and PIR insulation is certainly feasible; however, certain performance aspects require a safety margin to be included. These outcomes not only provide insights into potential degradation phenomena, aiding manufacturers in improving the durability and service life prediction of their products, but also lay the groundwork for estimating their reusability potential. Ultimately, the findings contribute to the development of guidelines and tools for stakeholders to responsibly manage reuse, thereby promoting circular and sustainable construction practices
De bescherming van het milieu door middel van het strafrecht in de Europese Unie : de nieuwe Ecocrime-richtlijn 2024/1203 en het verdrag van de Raad van Europa van 14 mei 2025
No full textFactors influencing the experience of client-centeredness in Flemish (Proxy) budget holders : a moderation analysis
No full textBackground: Governments aim to stimulate care users/'budget holders’ empowerment and decisional power by implementing cash-for-care schemes. Such a policy is theorized to reflect client-centered care, a pivotal theme in policy and practice.
Objective: This paper explores the association between empowerment (PE score) and client-centered care (CCCQ score), and the possible moderating effect of the PE score on the associations between the CCCQ scores and contextual factors (for example, budget height) in Flemish personal budget (PB) holders.
Methods: Respondents were recruited using convenience sampling and multiple recruitment sources. Bivariate and linear regression analyses with the total CCCQ score and scores of its previously found subscales (conduct by caregiver and autonomy) as dependent variables, and PE score, contextual, and sociodemographic variables as independent variables, were used.
Results: The survey was completed by 224 respondents. Respondent type and the interaction term of budget height with PE score are associated with CCCQ total and autonomy scores. Searching for a suitable caregiver and interaction term of PB administrator type with PE score are associated with CCCQ total and conduct by caregiver scores. A positively rated financial situation is positively associated with CCCQ autonomy scores. However, CCCQ scores are not associated with PB type, information accessibility, or interaction terms of these variables with PE score.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the importance of sufficiently large budgets and involving care users in PB management to achieve experiences of empowerment and client-centered care. Future research should further explore which other contextual factors affect this association
A plain robe for the seeker of quiescence : the influence of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya on novice clothing in seventeenth-century China
No full textThis paper examines the regulations on novice robes introduced by Chinese Buddhist masters
during the seventeenth century, a period marked by a significant Buddhist revival. By analyzing vinaya
works from this era, it reveals an innovative approach to integrating diverse vinaya traditions. As
expected, seventeenth-century vinaya experts cite Daoxuan’s (道宣; 596–667) commentary and his
Sarvāstivāda source. Surprisingly, however, they also anchor their advocacy for a distinct novice
garment in Mūlasarvāstivāda texts—or what they understood as such—which were previously marginal
in the Chinese commentarial tradition. Moreover, this paper demonstrates that the new requirement
extended beyond theoretical discourse. Its implementation on Baohua Mountain (寶華山) necessitated
adaptations and compromises to incorporate it into the Triple Platform Ordination while mitigating the
financial burden it entailed
Essential metrics for Life on graphs
No full textWe present a strong theoretical foundation that frames a well-defined family of outer-totalistic network automaton models as a topological generalisation of binary outer-totalistic cellular automata, of which the Game of Life is one notable particular case. These “Life-like network automata” are quantitatively described by expressing their genotype (the mean field curve and Derrida curve) and phenotype (the evolution of the state and defect averages). After demonstrating that the genotype and phenotype are correlated, we illustrate the utility of these essential metrics by tackling the firing squad synchronisation problem in a bottom-up fashion, with results that exceed a 90% success rate
Extending the business model canvas for circular business models
No full textCircular business models integrate ecological and economic objectives to advance the transition toward a circular economy. Incorporating their specific characteristics requires adaptations of established innovation tools such as the Business Model Canvas. However, prior adaptations exhibit limited empirical substantiation and insufficient preservation of the framework’s integrative logic. This paper presents an empirically based extension of the Business Model Canvas tailored specifically for circular business models whilst keeping its original structure. To determine the necessary adaptations for practical application in companies, extant literature on circular business models and approaches to adapt the Business Model Canvas were reviewed. Building on this foundation, 22 interviews with practitioners from various industries were conducted. The interviews explore necessary adjustments to the Business Model Canvas to reflect the specific requirements, challenges, and characteristics of circular business models. Subsequently, the empirical findings are discussed considering existing literature and two additional interviews were conducted to validate the results. The outcome is an extended version of the Business Model Canvas that incorporates 29 sub-dimensions, systematically assigned to the original canvas structure. This model is grounded in empirical research and integrates existing conceptual approaches through an empirically validated process. The sub-dimensions provide practical guidance and highlight key considerations for implementing circular strategies across all components of a business model. Manufacturing companies can apply this empirically informed Business Model Canvas as a hands-on tool to systematically innovate and develop circular business models, thereby contributing to the broader transition toward a circular econom