Document Server@UHasselt
(3.247 recursos)
Repository of the University of Hasselt containing publications in the fields of statistics, computer science, information strategies and material from the Institute for behavioural sciences.
Mostrando recursos 1 - 13 de 13
1.
Tolerance of two hydroponically grown Salix genotypes to excess zinc - Vassillev, Andon; PEREZ-SANC, Araceli; CUYPERS, Ann; VANGRONSVELD, Jaco
Woody cuttings from two Salix genotypes (genotype I-clone LUC-3 1, Salix alba and genotype II- clone STOTT, Salix viminalis) were grown hydroponically for 14 days at increasing concentrations of Zn: control, 50, 100 or 150 AM Zn. Genotype tolerance to excess zinc (Zn) was evaluated using a root elongation test. The changes in growth, Zn, iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) concentrations as well as photosynthetic performance were used as additional evaluation criteria. Photosynthetic pigments concentrations in Zn-exposed cuttings of genotype II decreased as compared with genotype I, which corresponded well with the higher leaf Zn accumulation, decreased Fe...
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First report on Rhabdocoela (Rhabditophora) from deep parts of Skagerrak, with the description of four new species - WILLEMS, Wim; Sandberg, Maria; Jondelius, Ulf
In this contribution we report on 13 species of Rhabdocoela, found during a marine inventory of Skagerrak by the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative. Four new species are described, two of which are Kalyptorhynchia (Gnathorhychidae and Polycystididae) and two belong to Dalytyphloplanoida (Solenopharyngidae). Uncinorhynchus vorago sp. nov., (Gnathorhynchidae) has a triangular stylet consisting of a double-folded plate, which proximally forms a tube, but without a distal, needle-shaped tip. Austrorhynchus artoisi sp. nov. (Polycystididae), has two prostate stylets. Prostate stylet type II consists of a distal tube and a short proximal funnel, which has a stirrup-shaped ornament, whereas the stylet type III shows...
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Kosten-batenanalyse van pyrolyse van korteomloophout na fytoremediatie - KUPPENS, Tom; THEWYS, Theo
Fytoremediatie (bodemsanering met planten, bijvoorbeeld met korteomloophout) impliceert een
aanzienlijk inkomensverlies voor landbouwers met gronden die matig vervuild zijn met zware metalen.
Een kosten-batenanalyse onderzoekt in welke mate pyrolyse van korteomloophout dit verlies kan
compenseren, rekening houdend met externe effecten.
4.
Assessing farm sustainability with value oriented methods - VAN PASSEL, Steven
Agricultural policy makers aim to combine strong economic performance with a sustainable use of natural resources. An important step is to move from trying to define sustainability towards developing concrete tools for measuring and promoting achievements in sustainability. Hence, sustainability assessment is inevitably based on strong simplifications both of the theoretical paradigm and of the characteristics of systems of concern. The most known approaches to assess sustainability performance are burden orientated: they assess the costs or potential harm of resource use. These burden-oriented approaches focus on the level of environmental impacts caused by an economic activity compared to another set...
5.
Exploring production-theoretical insights for economic-ecological trade-off analysis - Van Meensel, J; Lauwers, L; Van Huylenbroeck, G; VAN PASSEL, Steven
This paper provides a framework for analyzing economic-ecological trade-off measures at firm level. This must allow for distinguishing different stages in the trade-off curve. Based on a literature review, various economic-ecological trade-off paradigms and theories are combined, and integrated and additive measures are distinguished. While integrated measures address inputoutput transformation and the relation with negative externalities and profit generation, additive measures aim at pollution abatement after externalities have already been generated. Since additive measures are costly, they always imply a negative trade-off, improving ecological performance and diminishing economic performance. Some integrated measures imply a positive trade-off, improving both economic and...
6.
Can Cleantech contribute to a sustainable future? - VAN PASSEL, Steven
Cleantech can be described as a diverse range of products, services or processes using technologies that optimize our use of natural resources and minimize environmental impacts. In this paper we explain that Cleantech can be seen as an implementation towards (weak) sustainability. This because proponents of weak sustainability believe that technological improvement can overcome any resource constraint. Cleantech can contribute towards a sustainable future but Cleantech is not the equivalent of a sustainable future because Cleantech activities do not solve the question of absolute scarcity. On the other hand, Cleantech can be an important step if we move from system...
7.
A new family of litophoran Proseriata (Platyhelminthes), with the description of seven new species from the Indo-Pacific and South America, and the proposal of three new genera - SCHOCKAERT, Ernest; Curini-Galletti, M.; De Ridder, W.; Volonterio, O.; ARTOIS, Tom
In this contribution a new representative of the taxon Meidiama Marcus, 1946, Meidiama uruguayensis sp. nov., from Uruguay, is described, as are six more new species, for which three new genera are proposed: Dreuxiola philippi gen. nov. sp. nov., from the French subantarctic archipelago Kerguelen; Yorknia aprostatica gen. nov. sp. nov.; Serrula byronensis gen. nov. sp. nov.; Serrula maxillaria sp. nov.; Serrula concharum sp. nov.; and Serrula acuta sp. nov., from eastern Australia and Tasmania. Arguments are presented to propose a new taxon to contain these new species, rather than include them in the Archimonocelididae Meixner, 1938 (of which Meidiama...
8.
Use of freeze-cracking in ontogenetic research in Macrostomum lignano (Macrostomida, Rhabditophora) - Willems, Maxime; Boone, Mieke; Couvreur, Marjolein; De Mulder, Katrien; Van Ranst, Jelka; ARTOIS, Tom; Borgonie, Gaetan
A method for studying whole mount flatworm embryos based on freeze-cracking of the eggs is described. This method allows successful immunohistological and immunocytological studies of whole mount embryos. It does not require the use of sharpened needles or a microinjection system to puncture the eggshell. Moreover, this method is more practical and less time-consuming than classical puncturing and much cheaper than the use of a microinjection system. The advantages of this method are illustrated by results of several immunolocalisation experiments in the macrostomid flatworm Macrostomum lignano. The optimal procedure and crucial steps for this method are discussed.
9.
Sustainable value assessment of farms using frontier efficiency benchmarks - VAN PASSEL, Steven; Van Huylenbroeck, Guido; Lauwers, Ludwig; Mathijs, Erik
Appropriate assessment of firm sustainability facilitates actor-driven processes towards sustainable development. The methodology in this paper builds further on two proven methodologies for the assessment of sustainability performance: it combines the sustainable value approach with frontier efficiency benchmarks. The sustainable value methodology tries to relate firm performance to the use of different resources. This approach assesses contributions to corporate sustainability by comparing firm resource productivity with the resource productivity of a benchmark, and this for all resources considered. The efficiency is calculated by estimating the production frontier indicating the maximum feasible production possibilities. In this research, the sustainable value approach...
10.
The detrimental health effects of traffic-related air pollution: a role for DNA methylation? - NAWROT, Tim; Adcock, Ian
Exposure to air pollution and particularly that from diesel engines has been known for many years to affect asthma symptoms and hospitalizations (1) as well as all-cause (2) and cardiovascular mortality (3). Indeed, it has been shown that 2 hours of walking in shopping areas with high levels of diesel fumes (Oxford Street, London) containing ultrafine particles and elemental carbon can result in a significant loss of lung function and an increase in inflammatory mediators (4). Such changes were rapid and prolonged with a return to normal lung function occurring between 5 and 22 hours. The effect of chronic exposure...
11.
Phytoremediation: plant-endophyte partnerships take the challenge Phytoremediation: plant-endophyte partnerships take the challenge - WEYENS, Nele; Van der Lelie, D.; Taghavi, S.; VANGRONSVELD, Jaco
A promising field to exploit plant-endophyte partnerships is the remediation of contaminated soils and (ground) water. Many plant growth promoting endophytes can assist their host plant to overcome contaminant-induced stress responses, thus providing improved plant growth. During phytoremediation of organic contaminants, plants can further benefit from endophytes possessing appropriate degradation pathways and metabolic capabilities, leading to more efficient contaminant degradation and reduction of both phytotoxicity and evapotranspiration of volatile contaminants. For phytoremediation of toxic metals, endophytes possessing a metal-resistance/sequestration system can lower metal phytotoxicity and affect metal translocation to the above-ground plant parts. Furthermore, endophytes that can degrade organic contaminants...
12.
House dust as possible route of environmental exposure to cadmium and lead in the adult general population - Hogervorst, Janneke; PLUSQUIN, Michelle; VANGRONSVELD, Jaco; Nawrot, Tim; CUYPERS, Ann; Van Hecke, Etienne; Roels, Harry; CARLEER, Robert; Staessen, Jan
Contaminated soil particles and food are established routes of exposure. We investigated the relations between biomarkers of exposure to cadmium and lead, and the metal loading rates in house dust in the adult residents of an area with a soil cadmium concentration of >= 3 mg/kg (n = 268) and a reference area (n = 205). We determined the metal concentrations in house dust allowed to settle for 3 months in Petri dishes placed in the participants' bedrooms. The continuously distributed vegetable index was the first principal component derived from the metal concentrations in six different vegetables. The biomarkers of...
13.
Flash co-pyrolysis of biomass: The influence of biopolymers - CORNELISSEN, Tom; Jans, M.; STALS, Mark; KUPPENS, Tom; THEWYS, Theo; JANSSENS, Gerrit; Pastijn, H.; YPERMAN, Jan; REGGERS, Guy; SCHREURS, Sonja; CARLEER, Robert
A high water content is one of the major drawbacks for the utilisation of bio-oil. One technology which shows the potential to satisfy the demand for bio-oil with a reduced water content is the flash co-pyrolysis of biomass with biopolymers. The influence of biopolymers on the pyrolysis yield of a biomass waste stream is investigated with a semi-continuous home-built pyrolysis reactor. Polylactic acid (PLA), corn starch, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), Biopearls, Eastar, Solanyl and potato starch are the biopolymers under investigation. All biopolymers show their specific benefits during flash co-pyrolysis with willow (target biomass) at 723 K. Each (co-)pyrolysis of pure willow...
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