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Coupling extracellular glycan composition with metagenomic data in papermill and brewery anaerobic granular sludges

Doloman, Anna (author), de Bruin, S. (author), van Loosdrecht, Mark C.M. (author), Sousa, Diana Z. (author), Lin, Y. (author)

Glycans are crucial for the structure and function of anaerobic granular sludge in wastewater treatment. Yet, there is limited knowledge regarding the microorganisms and biosynthesis pathways responsible for glycan production. In this study, we analysed samples from anaerobic granular sludges treating papermill and brewery wastewater,...

journal article 2024

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A novel experimental method to determine substrate uptake kinetics of gaseous substrates applied to the carbon monoxide-fermenting Clostridium autoethanogenum

Allaart, M.T. (author), Korkontzelos, Charilaos (author), Sousa, Diana Z. (author), Kleerebezem, R. (author)

Syngas fermentation has gained momentum over the last decades. The cost-efficient design of industrial-scale bioprocesses is highly dependent on quantitative microbial growth data. Kinetic and stoichiometric models for syngas-converting microbes exist, but accurate experimental validation of the derived parameters is lacking. Here, we...

journal article 2024

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Corrosion of concrete structures due to climate change

Dimova, Silvia (author), Polo López, Cristina S. (author), Sousa, Maria Luísa (author), Nogal Macho, M. (author), Gervásio, Helena (author)

Concrete is clearly one of the most predominant-used material in both residential and non-residential structures across Europe (Peled and Fishman, 2021). A reinforced concrete (RC) structure is expected to satisfy criteria for serviceability, structural integrity, and stability over its designed operational lifespan, without significant loss of...

book chapter 2024

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Rapid Prototyping of Subsurface CO2 Sequestration with Flow Diagnostics

Petrovskyy, Dmytro (author), Geiger, S. (author), Jacquemyn, Carl (author), Jackson, Matthew D (author), Hampson, Gary J (author), Silva, Julio D Machado (author), Judice, Sicilia (author), Rahman, Fazilatur (author), Sousa, Mario Costa (author)

abstract 2023

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Enhancing drought resilience and energy security through complementing hydro by offshore wind power—The case of Brazil

Conde Santos Borba, P. (author), Sousa, Wilson C. (author), Shadman, Milad (author), Pfenninger, Stefan (author)

During atypical droughts, power systems with a heavy reliance on hydropower risk increased greenhouse gas emissions if they are balanced with fossil-fired generation. This work investigates the role of offshore wind energy in reducing the vulnerability of power systems dependent on such hydrological patterns, thereby eliminating this emission...

journal article 2023

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Overflow metabolism at the thermodynamic limit of life: How carboxydotrophic acetogens mitigate carbon monoxide toxicity

Allaart, M.T. (author), Diender, Martijn (author), Sousa, Diana Z. (author), Kleerebezem, R. (author)

Carboxydotrophic metabolism is gaining interest due to its applications in gas fermentation technology, enabling the conversion of carbon monoxide to fuels and commodities. Acetogenic carboxydotrophs play a central role in current gas fermentation processes. In contrast to other energy-rich microbial substrates, CO is highly toxic, which...

journal article 2023

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A Screening Assessment of the Impact of Sedimentological Heterogeneity on CO2 Migration and Stratigraphic-Baffling Potential: Sherwood and Bunter Sandstones, UK

Alshakri, Jafar (author), Hampson, Gary (author), Jacquemyn, Carl (author), Jackson, Matthew (author), Petrovskyy, Dmytro (author), Geiger, S. (author), Silva, Julio Daniel Machado (author), Judice, Sicilia (author), Rahman, Fazilatur (author), Sousa, Mario Costa (author)

We use a combination of experimental design, sketch-based reservoir modelling and flow diagnostics to rapidly screen the impact of sedimentological heterogeneities that constitute baffles and barriers on CO ₂ migration in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and saline aquifers of the Sherwood Sandstone Group and Bunter Sandstone...

journal article 2023

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Dynamic thresholds for the resilience assessment of road traffic networks to wildfires

Arango, Erica (author), Nogal Macho, M. (author), Yang, M. (author), Sousa, Hélder S. (author), Stewart, Mark G. (author), Matos, José C. (author)

The severe effects of extreme wildfire events in recent years have shown that the fire suppression approach is not enough to solve the problem. An alternative to dealing with this issue is to accept the impossibility of eliminating wildfire hazards and focus on preparing systems to be more resilient. However, existing decision-making tools...

journal article 2023

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Effectiveness Assessment of Adaptation Measures to Build Wildfire Resilience of Road Networks

Arango, Erica (author), Nogal Macho, M. (author), Yang, M. (author), Sousa, Hélder S. (author), Stewart, Mark G. (author), Matos, José C. (author)

Wildfires have become a source of concern for society due to the increase in frequency, intensity, and unpredictability. This has caused serious impacts all over the world, even in areas where this type of problem did not occur before. Studies on the adaptation of critical infrastructure have been conducted to reduce the...

conference paper 2023

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Sialylation and Sulfation of Anionic Glycoconjugates Are Common in the Extracellular Polymeric Substances of Both Aerobic and Anaerobic Granular Sludges

Chen, L.M. (author), de Bruin, S. (author), Pronk, M. (author), Sousa, Diana Z. (author), van Loosdrecht, Mark C.M. (author), Lin, Y. (author)

Anaerobic and aerobic granular sludge processes are widely applied in wastewater treatment. In these systems, microorganisms grow in dense aggregates due to the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This study investigates the sialylation and sulfation of anionic glyconconjugates in anaerobic and aerobic granular sludges...

journal article 2023

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Design and thermodynamic analysis of a pathway enabling anaerobic production of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate in Escherichia coli

Olavarria, Karel (author), Sousa, Diana Z. (author), van Loosdrecht, Mark C.M. (author), Wahl, S.A. (author)

Utilizing anaerobic metabolisms for the production of biotechnologically relevant products presents potential advantages, such as increased yields and reduced energy dissipation. However, lower energy dissipation may indicate that certain reactions are operating closer to their thermodynamic equilibrium. While stoichiometric analyses and...

journal article 2023

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Physiological and stoichiometric characterization of ethanol-based chain elongation in the absence of short-chain carboxylic acids

Allaart, M.T. (author), Fox, B.B. (author), Nettersheim, I.H.M.S. (author), Pabst, Martin (author), Sousa, Diana Z. (author), Kleerebezem, R. (author)

Hexanoate is a valuable chemical that can be produced by microorganisms that convert short-chain- to medium-chain carboxylic acids through a process called chain elongation. These microorganisms usually produce mixtures of butyrate and hexanoate from ethanol and acetate, but direct conversion of ethanol to hexanoate is theoretically possible....

journal article 2023

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Thin Film Encapsulation for LCP-Based Flexible Bioelectronic Implants: Comparison of Different Coating Materials Using Test Methodologies for Life-Time Estimation

Pak, A. (author), Nanbakhsh, K. (author), Hölck, Ole (author), Ritasalo, Riina (author), Sousa, Maria (author), Van Gompel, Matthias (author), Pahl, Barbara (author), Wilson, J.M. (author), Kallmayer, Christine (author), Giagka, Vasiliki (author)

Liquid crystal polymer (LCP) has gained wide interest in the electronics industry largely due to its flexibility, stable insulation and dielectric properties and chip integration capabilities. Recently, LCP has also been investigated as a biocompatible substrate for the fabrication of multielectrode arrays. Realizing a fully implantable LCP...

journal article 2022

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Sketch-Based Geological Modelling and Flow Diagnostics for Geothermal and Heat Storage Applications

Jacquemyn, Carl (author), Hampson, Gary (author), Jackson, Matthew (author), Petrovskyy, Dmytro (author), Geiger, S. (author), Silva, Julio Daniel Machado (author), Judice, Sicilia (author), Rahman, Fazilatur (author), Sousa, Mario Costa (author)

Production of subsurface heat from geothermal sources and subsurface storage of heat (and cool) are important for energy transition. Doublets for geothermal and warm- and cold wells for aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) depend on circulation of fluids and heat. Estimating the potential and feasibility of such systems requires a careful...

conference paper 2022

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A screening assessment of the impact of sedimentological heterogeneity on CO2 migration and stratigraphic-baffling potential: Johansen and Cook formations, Northern Lights project, offshore Norway

Jacksom, William (author), Hampson, Gary (author), Jacquemyn, Carl (author), Jackson, Matthew (author), Petrovskyy, Dmytro (author), Geiger, S. (author), Silva, Julio Daniel Machado (author), Judice, Sicilia (author), Rahman, Fazilatur (author), Sousa, Mario Costa (author)

We use a method combining experimental design, sketch-based reservoir modelling, and single-phase flow diagnostics to rapidly screen the impact of sedimentological heterogeneities that constitute baffles and barriers to CO2 migration in the Johansen and Cook formations at the Northern Lights CO2 storage site. The types and spatial organisation...

journal article 2022

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Sulfated glycosaminoglycan-like polymers are present in an acidophilic biofilm from a sulfidic cave

de Bruin, S. (author), Vasquez Cardenas, D. (author), Sarbu, S. M. (author), Meysman, F.J.R. (author), Sousa, D. Z. (author), van Loosdrecht, Mark C.M. (author), Lin, Y. (author)

Sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) are negatively charged extracellular polymeric substances that occur in biofilms from various environments. Yet, it remains unclear whether these polymers are acquired from the external environment or produced by microbes in the biofilm. To resolve this, we analyzed the presence of sGAGs in samples of an...

journal article 2022

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Flood risk assessment for road infrastructures using bayesian networks: Case study of santarem - portugal

Arango, E.A. (author), Santamaria, Monica (author), Nogal Macho, M. (author), Sousa, Helder S. (author), Matos, Jose C. (author)

Assessing flood risks on road infrastructures is critical for the definition of mitigation strategies and adaptation processes. Some efforts have been made to conduct a regional flood risk assessment to support the decision-making process of exposed areas. However, these approaches focus on the physical damage of civil infrastructures without...

conference paper 2022

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Extraction of low molecular weight polyhydroxyalkanoates from mixed microbial cultures using bio-based solvents

Elhami, Vahideh (author), van de Beek, Noor (author), Wang, Liangshin (author), Picken, S.J. (author), Tamis, J. (author), Sousa, João A.B. (author), Hempenius, Mark A. (author), Schuur, Boelo (author)

(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) obtained from waste/wastewater using a mixed microbial culture (MMC) usually varies in its properties due to daily variation in the waste/wastewater composition applied as feedstock. In the current study, the average molecular weight (MW) of PHBV was purposely reduced from about 1 MDa to about...

journal article 2022

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Historical and future naturalization of Magallana gigas in the Galician coast in a context of climate change

Des, M. (author), Gómez-Gesteira, J.L. (author), de Castro, M. (author), Iglesias, D. (author), Sousa, M.C. (author), El Serafy, G.Y.H. (author), Gomez-Gesteira, M. (author)

Magallana gigas is a naturalized species on the north coast of Galicia (Rías Altas, Northwest Iberian Peninsula), where it was unintentionally introduced. In recent decades, a greater abundance of M. gigas has been observed on the Galician coast, expanding towards the south, reaching the Artabro Gulf (Rías Centrales, NW Galician coast), probably...

journal article 2022

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Product Inhibition and pH Affect Stoichiometry and Kinetics of Chain Elongating Microbial Communities in Sequencing Batch Bioreactors

Allaart, M.T. (author), Stouten, G.R. (author), Sousa, Diana Z. (author), Kleerebezem, R. (author)

Anaerobic microbial communities can produce carboxylic acids of medium chain length (e.g., caproate, caprylate) by elongating short chain fatty acids through reversed β-oxidation. Ethanol is a common electron donor for this process. The influence of environmental conditions on the stoichiometry and kinetics of ethanol-based chain elongation...

journal article 2021