FPInnovations

De stikstofproblematiek is de afgelopen jaren uitgegroeid tot één van de belangrijkste knelpunten voor ruimtelijke ontwikkeling in Nederland. Deze studie beschrijft de drie onderliggende problemen: het milieukundige, het ecologische en het beleidsmatige probleem. Op basis van wetenschappelijke kennis en inzichten komen we tot een samenhangende maar gedifferentieerde beleidsmatige aanpak om het ecologische en het milieukundige probleem op te lossen. Dit betreffen effectgerichte maatregelen om de natuurkwaliteit te verbeteren en een gecombineerd robuust lokaal, gebiedsgericht en landelijk emissiebeleid om de stikstofuitstoot, en daarmee de depositie van stikstof op natuur, op een geborgde en controleerbare manier te reduceren in samenhang met vermindering van de uitstoot van broeikasgassen en stikstofverliezen naar het water. Als laatste is een systeem nodig waarin de vergunningverlening zich concentreert op werkelijk vergunningsplichtige projecten en niet op bedrijven die een doeltreffend duurzaam ondernemersplan hebben met bedrijfsgerichte maatregelen die ervoor zorgen dat sprake is van emissiereductie tot onder de maximaal toegekende emissienorm. Via deze samenhangende aanpak is het mogelijk om antwoorden te geven op de huidige stikstofcrisis.

Wood used above ground and exposed to moisture may be vulnerable to decay. The initiation and rate of decay are influenced by several factors, including substrate type, moisture and temperature. The design and geometry of wood components affect moisture dynamics and may therefore influence both the initiation and progression of decay. This study evaluated the impact of nine different design configurations on the durability of wood components in a field experiment conducted at three North America sites with distinct climates. The tested variables included specimen volume, the presence of impermeable surface coatings, and the arrangement of appressed boards. Significant effects on both decay initiation and severity were observed, with water-trapping features such as appressed boards and sealed surfaces associated with earlier onset and more extensive decay over a fixed period. The results suggest that longer service life may be achieved by avoiding design features that retain moisture or inhibit drying.

The development of halogen-free flame-retardant formulations for wood-based panels is a promising strategy to improve both fire safety and environmental performance. In this study, oriented strand boards (OSB) were impregnated with aqueous solutions of sodium borate (SBo) and sodium bicarbonate (SBi) to evaluate their combined effects on fire resistance and mechanical properties. Fire performance was assessed using the ASTM D3806 small-scale tunnel test, while mechanical and physical properties were measured according to ASTM D1037. Significant improvements in fire performance were observed: mass loss (ML) during flammability testing decreased by 38% (from 6.9% to 4.3%), flame spread speed (FSS) was reduced by more than 50% (from 6.8 to 3.3 mm/s), and after-flame times (AFT) dropped from 17.2 s to 0 s. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) further confirmed enhanced thermal stability, with increased char residue (from 16.9% in untreated boards to 31.5% in treated ones). Mechanical testing revealed a 16% increase in internal bond (IB) strength (from 0.44 to 0.51 MPa), while modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were only slightly affected (decreased by up to 4.2% and 3.6%, respectively). Interestingly, the two additives exerted contrasting effects: SBo reduced strength and bonding performance, whereas SBi improved internal bond strength and dimensional stability. The optimal balance was obtained with treatment P250-50 (250 g SBi and 50 g SBo), which combined enhanced fire resistance with acceptable mechanical integrity. Overall, the results demonstrate that the synergistic use of SBo and SBi offers an effective halogen-free approach to simultaneously enhance the fire resistance and mechanical performance of OSB panels, highlighting its potential for industrial applications.

Abstract Counterfeiting has emerged as an increasingly severe global concern, posing significant threats to the security of individuals and society. In this study, a series of multilayered information‐encrypted composite materials is developed by embedding a chiral nematic cellulose nanocrystal ( cn ‐CNC) film inside a shape‐memory polymer (SMP) matrix to produce pressure‐responsive photonic crystals. The design also incorporates a cellulose acetate film, as a thermoset information carrier, and graphene oxide (GO), as a secrecy filter. In its initial state, the composite shows no information, while a pattern becomes visible to reveal the information upon hot‐pressing, due to the region‐dependent differences in its photonic responsiveness caused by the rigid pattern. A discernible mark remains even after recovery, serving as tangible evidence of the decrypted information. Moreover, the high color fidelity of these materials is confirmed using reflectance spectroscopy and color analysis over multiple cycles, demonstrating their potential in cyclic information encryption. By harnessing thermal and mechanical stimuli for anti‐counterfeiting purposes, these composites diversify the strategies available for information encryption.

Therapeutic protein replacement has demonstrated preclinical and clinical efficacy in neurological disorders but has not been used clinically for Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss of Fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein (FMRP). FXS results from a triplet repeat expansion of more than 200 CGG repeats in the 5'-UTR of the FMR1 gene leading to epigenetic silencing of FMRP. Currently, no clinically approved disease-modifying treatments for FXS exist. Recently, a tat-conjugated FMRP fragment encompassing residues 1 to 297 (FMRP N-tat) was shown to restore aspects of neuronal function in a mouse model of FXS. Promising in vivo data hinted to the therapeutic potential of FMRP N-tat. Herein, affinity purification mass spectrometry was used to identify the FMRP N-tat interactome in tsA-201 FMR1 knockout cells and FXS patient iPSC-derived neurons. The FMRP N-tat interactome included RNA binding proteins and constituents of the ribosome, which aligned closely with the known functions of FMRP. Further, the FMRP N-tat associated proteins included FXR2, STAU1, TRIM28, C1QBP, VDAC2, and several ribosomal proteins to regulate mRNA stability, cellular stress responses, mitochondrial function, and translation. The results highlight the potential of FMRP N-tat to orchestrate assembly of factors to correct lost function in FMRP deficient cells.

Increasing the productivity of planted forests may efficiently provide an important part of the world’s growing demand for wood while protecting natural forests. In this study, we developed an integrated modelling framework to evaluate the financial impacts of improving productivity of planted forests by tree breeding. Using this framework, we compared three genetic improvement scenarios of white spruce plantations, a key reforestation species in North America, and evaluated the differences in the derived wood product assortments in terms of quantity, quality, and revenues. Favouring the production of wood volume appears as the best way to enhance financial gains from white spruce plantations in the current market. The scenario that focused on increasing tree height produced a greater volume of wood products and larger lumber pieces, which resulted in the greatest revenues. In comparison, favouring wood stiffness over volume led to poorer results, as the increased product quality was not sufficient to surpass the financial gain associated with greater wood volumes. While we successfully provided an evaluation of the product assortments derived from genetically improved plantations, the proposed framework would benefit from more data input to help maximize financial gains from a range of tree breeding strategies.