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A Stepwise Methodological Framework for Enhancing Comparability in Life Cycle Assessment of CO₂ Adsorption in Hard-to-Abate Industries
Full text linkeditorial reviewe
Experimental study of adsorption and desorption of carbon dioxide/nitrogen using microwave heating (MSA) on modified Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF’s) with graphene oxide
Full text linkSynchronie interpersonnelle neuronale et comportements parent-enfant lors d'interactions sociales : revue systématique
No full textGentrification and Survival Dynamics of the Biestebroeck Marsh
No full textpeer reviewedLe long du canal bruxellois se niche Biestebroeck, une friche marécageuse (Mattoug, 2021). Derrière son apparence abandonnée se déploie une dynamique de luttes pour le droit à l’existence, l’inclusion et l’habitat, reliant les occupants humains et non-humains aux enjeux politiques, sociaux, économiques et environnementaux de la Région.
Bordée de quartiers aux indicateurs socio-économiques faibles, la friche subit d’importantes pressions gentrificatrices (Van Criekingen, 2021). Située au croisement de plusieurs axes de mobilité et de plans de développement (Plan Canal, PPAS, contrats de quartier), elle attise la spéculation immobilière : au projet initial d’un complexe luxueux avec marina succède aujourd’hui la construction d’appartements privés. Si la mainmise des promoteurs assombrit son avenir, une résistance collective parvient néanmoins à freiner ces projets.
Les associations locales s’unissent autour d’enjeux environnementaux et sociaux : les environnementalistes défendent le « poumon vert » d’un quartier toujours plus bétonisé, tandis que les collectifs d’habitants dénoncent la gentrification et la surdensification. Cette « ruine du capitalisme » (Tsing, 2017) devient ainsi un espace commun de lutte où coopèrent humains et non-humains pour préserver leur milieu de vie (Wei, 2023).
Cet article observe le déroulement et les effets de ces luttes dans un contexte de gentrification et d’accaparement, à travers une analyse généalogique et discursive de l’écologie politique d’une friche. Il examine les discours politiques (Comby, 2019), privés, associatifs, académiques et habitants, mobilise des outils urbanistiques et anthropologiques pour comprendre les ressorts de cette résistance temporaire, et met en évidence les implications de projets de ville néolibérale (Pinson, 2020) sur un espace déterminé.Along the Brussels Canal lies Biestebroeck, a marshy wasteland (Mattoug, 2021). Behind its seemingly abandoned appearance unfolds a dynamic struggle for the right to exist, to inclusion, and to housing, connecting human and non-human inhabitants to the political, social, economic, and environmental issues of the Region.
Bordered by neighborhoods with particularly low socio-economic indicators, the site has been subject to intense gentrification pressures (Van Criekingen, 2021). Located at the intersection of major regional mobility axes and several urban development plans (Plan Canal, PPAS, neighborhood contracts), it fuels real estate speculation: the initial project of a luxury complex with a marina connected to the canal has now given way to private apartment construction. Although developers’ control darkens its future, a collective resistance has nevertheless managed to slow these projects.
Local associations unite around both environmental and social concerns: environmentalists defend the “green lung” of an increasingly concreted neighborhood, while residents’ collectives denounce gentrification and over-densification. This “ruin of capitalism” (Tsing, 2017) thus becomes a shared space of struggle where human and non-human life forms cooperate to preserve their living environment (Wei, 2023).
This article examines the unfolding and effects of these struggles within a context of gentrification and appropriation, through a genealogical and discursive analysis of the political ecology of a wasteland. It explores political (Comby, 2019), private, associative, academic, and resident discourses, mobilizes urban planning and anthropological tools to understand the mechanisms of this temporary resistance, and highlights the implications of neoliberal urban projects (Pinson, 2020) on a specific space.1. No poverty6. Clean water and sanitation10. Reduced inequalities11. Sustainable cities and communities13. Climate actio
Crowdfunding and the Matthew Effect: Examining Structural Inequalities through a Systematic Review
Full text linkpeer reviewedCrowdfunding is presented as a democratizing financial tool that enhances access to capital. However, rather than eliminating financial barriers, it frequently reinforces structural inequalities. This study examines these disparities to understand how crowdfunding perpetuates funding inequities and explores potential avenues for more inclusive mechanisms using a systematic approach. By analysing 33 papers on crowdfunding inequalities through the PRISMA methodology, the study focuses on five key dimensions: geographic location, race and gender, institutional hierarchies, health-related fundraising, and reputation-based advantages. The results indicate persistent funding inequalities across multiple dimensions. Geographic location impacts crowdfunding success, with urban and developed regions benefiting more than rural or developing areas. Racial and gender biases disadvantage women and racial minorities, limiting their access to financial support. Institutional hierarchies and reputation-based advantages further exacerbate funding gaps. The study underscores the need for more inclusive crowdfunding frameworks that actively address funding disparities. Policy interventions, platform design, improvements, and regulators measures, such as algorithmic transparency, targeted support for underrepresented groups, and equitable platform policies can enhance accessibility for marginalized communities. By categorizing crowdfunding inequalities, this study provides a comprehensive overview of how digital financial ecosystems amplify disparities. Unlike previous fragmented analyses, it integrates multiple inequality dimensions, offering a holistic perspective on the systemic challenges with crowdfunding
Is Green Innovation a Driver of Financial Performance? A Comparative Analysis between Family and Nonfamily Firms
Full text linkpeer reviewedCette recherche examine l’effet du caractère familial de l’entreprise sur la relation entre l’innovation verte et la performance financière, en mobilisant le concept de familiness. Basée sur un échantillon de 251 entreprises wallonnes, elle montre que l’innovation verte est positivement liée à la performance financière. Cependant, le caractère familial de l’entreprise n’a pas d’influence significative sur cette relation. Les résultats suggèrent que les entreprises familiales ne se distinguent pas nécessairement des entreprises non familiales, notamment dans l’exploitation de l’innovation verte pour améliorer leur performance financière.7. Affordable and clean energy9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure8. Decent work and economic growth11. Sustainable cities and communities13. Climate action12. Responsible consumption and productio
Generation Z versus generative artificial intelligence: a cross-sectional study assessing medical students' confidence and over-reliance on artificial intelligence in perioperative clinical scenarios.
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Engineering Polyhydroxyurethane Nanocomposites with Cellulose and Chitin Nanomaterials
No full textThe transition toward sustainable polymers requires alternatives to
conventional isocyanate-based polyurethanes that retain performance while
reducing environmental and health concerns. Polyhydroxyurethanes (PHUs),
synthesized via cyclic carbonate aminolysis, represent a promising isocyanatefree
polyurethane platform, but their development has so far been limited by
relatively low mechanical performance and challenges in processing. This thesis
addresses these limitations through the design of bio-based PHU
nanocomposites reinforced with polysaccharide nanomaterials, with emphasis
on interfacial chemistry, nanofiller morphology, and processing strategy.
The first part focuses on interface engineering through epoxy hybridization and
polysaccharide reinforcement. Incorporation of epoxy resins into PHU matrices
significantly increased modulus and tensile strength, though at the expense of
ductility, leading to brittle behavior at higher epoxy contents. Complementary
reinforcement with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) provided a more synergistic
improvement, enhancing modulus and strength while maintaining strain to
failure above 240%, a key advantage for applications requiring both strength
and toughness. A second system based on segmented PHUs reinforced with
CNCs and partially deacetylated chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) demonstrated the
critical role of interfacial interactions. CNCs, engaging primarily through
hydrogen bonding, tripled the modulus (up to 1.2 MPa), while ChNCs, capable
of covalent grafting to the PHU matrix, showed over 140-fold modulus
enhancement (58.8 MPa) and a ~20-fold increase in tensile strength compared
to neat segmented PHU.
The second part explores processing strategies for PHU based nanocomposites.
Reactive extrusion was employed as a solvent-free route to synthesize
PHU/ChNC nanocomposites, achieving homogeneous nanocrystals dispersion
and improved thermomechanical stability. These nanocomposites exhibited
storage modulus up to three orders of magnitude higher than neat PHU in
rubbery state and displayed ferroelectric-like polarization switching,
demonstrating potential for energy-harvesting applications. In parallel, an
aqueous one-pot synthesis was developed to prepare PHU hydrogels reinforced
with chitin nanofibers and form double-network (DN) architectures. These DN
hydrogels achieved compressive modulus up to 0.39 MPa in the wet state and
tensile Young’s modulus above 20 MPa after drying. The ability to tailor
II
performance through nanofiber surface chemistry and loading demonstrated
the versatility of this approach for designing high-performance, sustainable
hydrogels.
In summary, this work establishes systematic strategies to improve the
mechanical performance of PHUs by combining interfacial engineering with
processing control. The findings demonstrate that renewable nanofillers,
integrated into tailored PHU matrices through scalable methods, can
significantly expand the property profile of these isocyanate-free polymers and
open new pathways toward sustainable, high-performance materials.3. Good health and well-being12. Responsible consumption and production13. Climate action14. Life below water15. Life on lan
A ketogenic approach in a new mouse model of early Alzheimer's disease: characterisation of diets and the APPNL-G-F/MAPT model in males and females
Full text linkGlucose brain metabolism impairment is one of the earliest hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It starts to decrease several years before the first clinical symptoms. A new hypothesis states that high consumption of fructose, as part of our modern diet, could contribute to glucose hypometabolism. Fructose intake can activate an evolutionary survival pathway that leads to decreased mitochondrial function and insulin resistance among others in order to prepare the body for times of food shortage. An overactivation of this pathway by our modern diet could therefore induce neuroinflammation and mitochondrial oxidative stress that would ultimately contribute to glucose hypometabolism. On the contrary, ketone body metabolism in the brain remains intact in early AD. A low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet could then be useful to counteract glucose hypometabolism by enhancing brain energetic metabolism through the production of ketone bodies.
This study aims to investigate the effect of both a ketogenic diet (85 %Kcal fat, 10 %Kcal protein and 5 %Kcal carbohydrates) and a high fructose diet (10 %Kcal fat, 20 %Kcal protein and 70 %kcal carbohydrates half of which consists of sucrose) against a classic chow diet (10 %Kcal fat, 20 %Kcal protein and 70 %kcal carbohydrates) on the development of AD in vivo in the new APPNL-G-F/MAPT model. Diets were introduced at 3 months of age for 3 months before testing synaptic activity on hippocampal slices. As there are gender differences in the incidence of the disease and in metabolism, the sex of the mice has been considered.
The weight of the mice didn’t differ following the 3-month diets in both males and females. In addition, no groups have developed hyperglycaemia as indicated by a measure of glycated albumin concentration in serum by ELISA. Neither diets nor the mouse line had an effect on synaptic plasticity and properties (long-term potentiation, excitability and glutamate release probability). This result could be explained by mice that might be too young to develop an impairment on synaptic plasticity despite literature showing behavioural deficits at this age. 1H-NMR has been used in a non-targeted way to search for metabolite differences in the groups. In the future, Apeptides, cytokines and neurotransmitters will be quantified in the brain. Further metabolism investigation through SeaHorse and mass spectrometry are considered as well as exploration of PPAR-alpha activity