Advances in ORC expander design

Conference (2012, September 13)

Dynamic modeling and control strategies for Organic Rankine Cycle systems

Conference (2012, September 13)

Control and optimization are major issues in ORC systems applied to waste heat sources. This talk provides an overview of the current state of the art and of the main areas of R&D in that topic, including ... [more ▼]

Control and optimization are major issues in ORC systems applied to waste heat sources. This talk provides an overview of the current state of the art and of the main areas of R&D in that topic, including: - Steady-state and dynamic modeling of ORC cycles (simulation platforms, modeling paradigms, numerical issues) - Optimization of the working conditions for a given heat source and heat sink, and in particular of the evaporating temperature - Optimal start-up and shut-down strategies (grid synchronization, pressure overshoot, ...) - Control of the cycle under transient heat source conditions - Traditional and advanced controllers (PID, Model predictive control) The different adjustable working conditions (condensing/evaporating temperature, superheating, subcooling, working fluid flow rate) are listed with regard to the available degrees of freedom (pump/expander speed, secondary fluid flow rates and temperatures) and their optimal values are derived, depending on the target application. [less ▲]

Influence of the protéin context on the propensity of polyglutamine tracts to trigger protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils

Conference (2012, September 13)

Nine neurodegenerative diseases, referred to as polyglutamine diseases, are associated with nine proteins containing an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract. PolyQ tracts are encoded by a repetition of ... [more ▼]

Nine neurodegenerative diseases, referred to as polyglutamine diseases, are associated with nine proteins containing an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract. PolyQ tracts are encoded by a repetition of the CAG codon in the corresponding genes, and are present in proteins of healthy people. They are however pathogenic when their length, due to mutations, becomes higher than a threshold generally comprised between 35 and 45Q. Such pathological tracts trigger the aggregation of the proteins into amyloid-like aggregates that could play an important role in the disease. It is therefore necessary to investigate at a molecular level the aggregation process of polyQ proteins. Since proteins associated with polyQ diseases are generally large and relatively insoluble, they are difficult to produce and handle experimentally. We have therefore decided to study the aggregation properties of polyQ proteins by designing and characterizing model proteins made of a well-characterized host protein, the β-lactamase BlaP, and polyQ tracts of different lengths (23 to 79Q) inserted either at positions 197 or 216 of BlaP. The aggregation behaviour of BlaP chimeras recapitulate those of proteins associated with polyQ diseases. We indeed observed that there is a minimal number of glutamines (i.e. a threshold) required for the chimeras’ aggregation into amyloid-like fibrils and that the kinetics of aggregation are faster with longer glutamine repeats. Most importantly, the value of the threshold for amyloid-like fibril formation seems to critically depend on the structural integrity of BlaP and thus on the constraints applied to the polyQ tract. In the present work, we investigate more deeply the role of the protein context and of oligomers on the aggregation process of BlaP chimeras. This study is mainly based on the use of two techniques: the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) in combination with atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the dynamic light scattering (DLS). QCM-D studies indicate that, under native condition, there is a minimal number of glutamines required for the elongation of BlaP197(Gln)79 fibrils by BlaP chimeras containing a polyQ tract in position 197. This threshold is lower than that observed for the aggregation assays monitored in solution in the absence of seed; it corresponds however to the threshold for fibril formation observed under denaturing conditions. These observations suggest that the conformation of BlaP is the limiting step for amyloid fibril formation by interfering with the nucleation step. BlaP chimeras containing 55Q or more in position 216 of BlaP also elongate BlaP197(Gln)79 fibrils. Interestingly this rate of cross-elongation is faster than the elongation rate observed with BlaP197(Gln)55 and BlaP197(Gln)79. This observation demonstrates that the protein environment of the polyQ tract influences its propensity to form amyloid fibrils. Finally, preliminary DLS experiments indicate that oligomers formed by BlaP197(Gln)79 under native condition are on-pathway of amyloid fibril formation and could act as aggregation nuclei. [less ▲]

Territorial Politics in inter and intra-party competition. Insights from Belgium

Conference (2012, September 13)

In territorial politics, political parties are key actors – be it state-wide or regionalist parties – for constitutional reforms underlying regionalisation or federalisation processes. From the agenda ... [more ▼]

In territorial politics, political parties are key actors – be it state-wide or regionalist parties – for constitutional reforms underlying regionalisation or federalisation processes. From the agenda-setting to the implementation of the reforms, they aggregate and catalyse territorial/national interest in order (not) to enable institutional reforms. In most representative democracies under such regionalist pressures – such as the Belgian case we explore, it is however individual MPs that ultimately vote the constitutional reforms. Of course, party discipline strongly constrains MPs’ freedom and frames parliamentary behaviour. The literature thus often explores territorial politics from a macro-perspective – political parties’ positions – rather than at a micro level – individual MPs. Yet, exploring MPs’ views on constitutional reforms bring interesting perspectives on intra-party dynamics complementing inter-party approaches. What explains MPs’ preferences on constitutional reforms? To explore this question, we surveyed every representative of Belgium’s six legislative assemblies with a standardized questionnaire (Summer 2011). We hypothesize that ethno-linguistic identity and party affiliation are strong variables explaining MPs’ preferences but that candidates’ attributes – be it (multi-level) former political experience, gender, political generation, or district origins – should also be taken into account. Based on the Belgian case study, this research will help us apprehend the rationale behind political elites’ attitudes negotiating the new boundaries of the state and above all shed light on territorial politics in Europe. [less ▲]

Stimuli-responsive Magnetic Nanohybrids for Triggered Drug Release and Potential Tumor Treatment via Hyperthermia

Poster (2012, September 13)

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Important differences between multiple offenders ans non-multiple offenders

Conference (2012, September 13)

importance to distinguish between young people who have a 'single- light' experience' of crime and those who do repeat illegal behaviours over time. The profile of those young people is quite different ... [more ▼]

importance to distinguish between young people who have a 'single- light' experience' of crime and those who do repeat illegal behaviours over time. The profile of those young people is quite different and the necessary prevention is specific in both cases [less ▲]

Creation of a Canopy Height Model from mini-UAV Imagery

Poster (2012, September 12)

The arrival of mini-UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), these small autonomous aircrafts, has opened the doors to a new environmental data acquisition’s approach. In forestry, low-altitude imagery from UAV can ... [more ▼]

The arrival of mini-UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), these small autonomous aircrafts, has opened the doors to a new environmental data acquisition’s approach. In forestry, low-altitude imagery from UAV can be used to characterize forest ecosystem structure through a Canopy Height Model (CHM). In this research, authors developed a new workflow for acquiring low-altitude aerial images with a mini-UAV and used them for the construction of a high resolution Canopy Height Model. An accuracy analysis is performed and shows that individual dominant tree height can be measured from (UAV-photo-) CHM with a precision of 2 meters. [less ▲]

Le discours des affranchis de la Cena Trimalchionis dans le contexte du bilinguisme : le cas d'Herméros

Conference (2012, September 12)

L'emploi des jeunes d'origine étrangère peu qualifiés (joepq) en Belgique. Phase exploratoire

Conference (2012, September 12)

Ce document s'inscrit dans le cadre de la Chaire diversité et innovations sociales qui est un partenariat entre HEC-Liège (EGiD) et l’Université d’Hasselt (SEIN). Mobistar, GDF-Suez Electrabel et B ... [more ▼]

Ce document s'inscrit dans le cadre de la Chaire diversité et innovations sociales qui est un partenariat entre HEC-Liège (EGiD) et l’Université d’Hasselt (SEIN). Mobistar, GDF-Suez Electrabel et B-Holding (la Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belge- SNCB) collaborent à cette recherche. Ma recherche se focalise sur l'emploi des jeunes d’origine étrangère peu qualifiés (JOEPQ) en Belgique abordé sous l’angle de la gestion. Ce document est le fruit d'entretiens exploratoires menés auprès de quatre agents d'insertion qui travaillent directement avec mon public-cible à Bruxelles. [less ▲]

Modernism and Melody

Scientific conference (2012, September 12)