Biocontrol activity of Bacillus nakamurai BDI-IS1 and investigation of its mechanisms against Northern corn leaf blight

Chemical pesticides are widely used to control plant diseases and pests, despite their adverse effects on human health and the environment. In Burundi, chemical pesticides are primarily applied to cash crops, while diseases and pests affecting staple crops receive limited or no control. This thesis focused on the biocontrol activity of Bacillus nakamurai BDI-IS1 isolated from Burundi against major fungal diseases impacting crop production in this country. Multiple approaches, including in vitro and in planta trials, combining the use of wild type and mutants of BDI-IS1, dynamic of gene expression and microscopy were used to assess the biocontrol efficacy and mechanisms of action of the bacterium. BDI-IS1is antagonistic against a broad range of bacterial and fungal phytopathogens. It consistently reduced the severity of tomato early blight and Northern corn leaf blight. This bacterium produces several bioactive metabolites that act either directly against Exserohilum turcicum or by stimulating maize defenses. Its direct activity is mediated by iturin A, a metabolite with fungicidal properties, whilst its indirect activity is partly mediated by surfactin. BDI-IS1 induced systemic resistance in maize, as evidenced by the increased expression of defense-related genes. This study demonstrated the biocontrol potential of BDI-IS1, which can be attributed to multiple modes of action. We developed in this study a process to multiply and produce active spores of BDI-IS1 on lignocellulosic substrates. This work thus demonstrated that BDI-IS1 exhibits interesting biocontrol activity. Further research is needed to improve the formulation and storability of BDI-IS1 and to explore its biocontrol efficacy against other pathogens.(AGRO - Sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique) -- UCL, 202

Abords, Confiscation, Dation en paiement d’œuvres d’art, Diligence, Domaine public, Droit de propriété, Expropriation, Fouilles archéologiques, Immeuble, Imprescriptibilité, Inaliénabilité, Mécénat, Meuble, Monument historique, Patrimoine archéologique, Patrimoine culturel, Paysage, Recel, Refuge, Trésor National, Vol

Entrées dans le dictionnaire en droit belge rédigées par MS de Clippele Droit belge : Coordinatrice : M.-S. de Clippele (UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles) Contributeurs : A. Gardeyn (UGent), A. Vandenbulke (UMons), B. Demarsin (KULeuven), D. Deferme (KULeuven), M. de Brogniez (ULiège), M.-S. de Clippele (UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles), M. Smets (KULeuven), P. de Lathuy (avocat), S. Delepierre (ICOM), T. Lefevre (KULeuven

Jean-Baptiste SANTAMARIA, Gouverner au féminin. Marguerite de France, comtesse d’Artois et de Bourgogne 1361–1382

Compte-rendu critique de l'ouvrage: Jean-Baptiste SANTAMARIA, Gouverner au féminin. Marguerite de France, comtesse d’Artois et de Bourgogne 1361–1382, Villeneuve d’Ascq, P.U. Septentrion, 2024 (accessible en ligne sur ) ; 1 vol., 452 p. (Histoire et civilisations). ISBN : 978-2-7574-4133-6. Prix : € 32,00

Towards a 3D Northern Red Sea multi-scale ocean model to assess land-based waterborne pollutants impact on coral reefs

In a warming world, annual coral bleaching is becoming more frequent, threatening reefs globally. While most shallow coral reefs could disappear in a +2.0°C climate, Northern Red Sea (NRS) corals may act as a thermal refuge until this century's end (Fine et al., 2013). However, these 'super-corals' are vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors, such as the NEOM mega-project. NEOM is $500B project composed of various projects (e.g. The Line, Oxagon and Sindalah) located on the Saudi Arabian shores. Such a mega-project will lead to extensive coastal development, hence increasing local stress on NRS coral reefs. Here, we developed a proof of concept of a 3D multi-scale ocean model coupled with a Lagrangian Particle Tracker (LPT) to simulate sediment dispersal from coastal development sites and assess NEOM's impact on NRS coral reefs. We show that a non-negligeable number of reefs could be exposed to turbidity-related impacts

Combustion of Polycarbonate and Polycarbonate–Carbon Nanotube Composites Using Fluidized Bed Technology

This study investigates the combustion behavior of polycarbonate (PC) and polycarbonate–carbon nanotube (PC-CNT) composites in fluidized bed reactors. The primary objective was to evaluate the influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the thermal stability and combustion efficiency of PC. Simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analyses were conducted under both air and oxygendeficient conditions to assess decomposition temperature ranges and energetic effects. Additionally, a simultaneous TG-DSC analysis of the samples’ decomposition in a 2 vol.% O2 atmosphere was carried out to simulate adverse combustion conditions that may occur in some combustion technologies, such as the accumulation of degraded material on the grate. Combustion experiments were performed in inert and catalytic fluidized beds, the latter incorporating Fe2O3-coated cenospheres to enhance catalytic activity. The results demonstrated that the presence of CNTs alters the combustion mechanism, reducing energy release in the initial degradation stage while significantly intensifying exothermic effects in subsequent stages. Under oxygen-deficient conditions, both PC and PC-CNT required higher temperatures and extended times for complete decomposition. The catalytic fluidized bed markedly improved combustion efficiency at lower temperatures, achieving up to 90% conversion at 550 ◦C, compared to inert beds that required 750 ◦C for similar efficiency

Immune system regulation of physiological and pathological aspects of the ovarian follicle pool throughout the female reproductive lifespan.

The immune system plays a major role in ovarian physiology by regulating the ovarian follicle pool through complex signaling of different growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines. These may promote follicle activation and further growth but could also trigger follicle atresia and clearance of aging or damaged cells within the ovarian cortex. Moreover, extraglandular steroidogenesis potentially occurring in different immune cells like macrophages and natural killer cells might be another way of modulating follicle growth. Ovarian macrophages have recently been found to contain two different populations, namely resident macrophages and monocyte-derived cells, with potentially different roles. The immune system also plays a role in the development of pathological conditions, including premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Indeed, autoimmune activation against various ovarian antigen targets results in lymphocytic oophoritis mainly targeting early growing follicles, but later leading to complete follicle pool depletion. Immune-mediated ovarian damage may also be caused by viral infection or be the consequence of iatrogenic damage. Certain novel cancer immunotherapies like checkpoint inhibitors have recently been shown to induce ovarian reserve damage in a murine model. Studies are needed to corroborate these findings and further investigate the potential of newly developed immunotherapies to treat POI. Technological advances such as single-cell analyses of less represented cell populations like immune cells inside the ovary are now contributing to valuable new information, which will hopefully lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for women with fertility issues

Airway Remodeling in Asthma: Mechanisms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Directions.

Airway remodeling (AR) with chronic inflammation, are key features in asthma pathogenesis. AR characterized by structural changes in the bronchial wall is associated with a specific asthma phenotype with poor clinical outcomes, impaired lung function and reduced treatment response. Most studies focus on the role of inflammation, while understanding the mechanisms driving AR is crucial for developing disease-modifying therapeutic strategies. This review paper summarizes current knowledge on the mechanisms underlying AR, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic approaches. Mechanisms explored include the role of the resident cells and the inflammatory cascade in AR. Diagnostic methods such as bronchial biopsy, lung function testing, imaging, and possible biomarkers are described. The effectiveness on AR of different treatments of asthma including corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, bronchodilators, macrolides, biologics, and bronchial thermoplasty is discussed, as well as other possible therapeutic options. AR poses a significant challenge in asthma management, contributing to disease severity and treatment resistance. Current therapeutic approaches target mostly airway inflammation rather than smooth muscle cell dysfunction and showed limited benefits on AR. Future research should focus more on investigating the mechanisms involved in AR to identify novel therapeutic targets and to develop new effective treatments able to prevent irreversible structural changes and improve long-term asthma outcomes

Wat hebben de ark van het verbond en Maria met elkaar gemeen?

L'arche de l'alliance vétérotestamentaire et Mari