{"type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [{"id": "10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-07-28T16:14:42Z", "type": "Report", "created": "2019-03-01", "title": "Advances in the Use of Biological Stabilisers and Hyper-compaction for Sustainable Earthen Construction Materials", "description": "In the majority of cases, earthen construction materials for real buildings require amendment to deliver suitable material properties, which could be some additional strength or resilience to erosion. In modern earthen construction, in India, Australia and other parts of the world, cement and lime have been successfully used as stabilisers, providing both strength and durability benefits. However, the use of cement is detrimental to the green credentials of earthen construction materials, due to the large carbon footprint of that material\u2019s manufacture and, for some time, researchers have been motivated to find more appropriate stabilisers and manufacturing methods. In this paper, we present recent findings from two projects that are linked by this motivation and involve the study of bio-based stabilisers and alternative manufacturing methods for in situ and unit-based materials. Results are presented from laboratory testing of strength and durability of a range of materials, bio-stabilisers and manufacturing processes, indicating that there could be viable alternatives to cement and lime, certainly for many current uses of earthen construction materials.", "keywords": ["690", "13. Climate action", "11. Sustainability", "Stabilisers; Rammed earth; Unsaturated soils; Biopolymers; Hyper-compaction", "0211 other engineering and technologies", "02 engineering and technology", "7. Clean energy", "12. Responsible consumption"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.unige.it/bitstream/11567/997779/1/Muguda%20et%20al.%20%282018%29.pdf"}, {"href": "http://dro.dur.ac.uk/28027/1/28027.pdf"}, {"href": "http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8"}, {"href": "http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/978-981-13-5883-8_17"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1101/2023.10.03.560709", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-07-28T16:18:27Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-10-04", "title": "Bacteria face trade-offs in the decomposition of complex biopolymers", "description": "Abstract<p>Although depolymerization of complex carbohydrates is a growth-limiting bottleneck for microbial decomposers, we still lack understanding about how the production of different types of extracellular enzymes affect individual microbes and in turn the performance of whole decomposer communities. In this work we use a theoretical model to evaluate the potential trade-offs faced by microorganisms in biopolymer decomposition which arise due to the varied biochemistry of different depolymerizing enzyme classes. We specifically consider two broad classes of depolymerizing extracellular enzymes, which are widespread across microbial taxa: exo-enzymes that cleave small units from the ends of polymer chains and endo-enzymes that act at random positions generating degradation products of varied sizes. Our results demonstrate a fundamental trade-off in the production of these enzymes, which is independent of system\uffe2\uff80\uff99s complexity and which appears solely from the intrinsically different temporal depolymerization dynamics. As a consequence, specialists that produce either exo- or only endo-enzymes limit their growth to high or low substrate conditions, respectively. Conversely, generalists that produce both enzymes in an optimal ratio expand their niche and benefit from the synergy between the two enzymes. Finally, our results show that, in spatially-explicit environments, consortia composed of endo- and exo-specialists can only exist under oligotrophic conditions. In summary, our analysis demonstrates that the (evolutionary or ecological) selection of a depolymerization pathway will affect microbial fitness under low- or high substrate conditions, with impacts on the ecological dynamics of microbial communities. It provides a possible explanation why many polysaccharide degraders in nature show the genetic potential to produce both of these enzyme classes.</p>Author summary<p>The decomposition of polysaccharides by microbes is a key process in the global carbon cycle. It requires the joint action of a variety of microbially-produced extracellular enzymes. They can be broadly classified into endo-enzymes, that act in the middle of polymers, and exo-enzymes, that cleave units from polymer ends. Little is known about the benefits for microbes producing a certain enzyme type and the interplay between enzyme producing strategies in mixed communities. This hampers our comprehensive understanding of decomposition in terrestrial and marine ecosystems and thus limits the prediction of decomposition processes, for example in a changing climate.</p><p>Based on theoretical modelling, we revealed a fundamental trade-off in the action of these enzymes. While exo-enzymes are more efficient at high substrate conditions, endo-enzymes perform better when substrate is low. Generalists producing both enzymes expand their ecological niche of substrate availability compared to specialists only producing one of the two types. Complementary specialists only co-exist in oligotrophic conditions. We conclude that producing enzymes for specific steps within polymer degradation represents relevant ecological strategies for microbes in decomposer communities.</p", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "106022 Mikrobiologie", "decomposition", "Bacteria", "Polymers", "QH301-705.5", "complex biopolymers", "Monomers", "Computational Biology", "Chitin", "Models", " Biological", "Enzymes", "Biopolymers", "Consortia", "106026 \u00d6kosystemforschung", "Oligomers", "106022 Microbiology", "14. Life underwater", "Biology (General)", "106026 Ecosystem research", "bacteria", "Depolymerization", "Research Article"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.03.560709"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/PLOS%20Computational%20Biology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1101/2023.10.03.560709", "name": "item", "description": "10.1101/2023.10.03.560709", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1101/2023.10.03.560709"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-10-03T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3390/bioengineering4020055", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-07-28T16:20:38Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-06-12", "title": "Recent Advances and Challenges towards Sustainable Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Production", "description": "<p>Sustainable biofuels, biomaterials, and fine chemicals production is a critical matter that research teams around the globe are focusing on nowadays. Polyhydroxyalkanoates represent one of the biomaterials of the future due to their physicochemical properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Designing efficient and economic bioprocesses, combined with the respective social and environmental benefits, has brought together scientists from different backgrounds highlighting the multidisciplinary character of such a venture. In the current review, challenges and opportunities regarding polyhydroxyalkanoate production are presented and discussed, covering key steps of their overall production process by applying pure and mixed culture biotechnology, from raw bioprocess development to downstream processing.</p>", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "0301 basic medicine", "Technology", "Renewable feedstock", "QH301-705.5", "biopolymers", "Review", "7. Clean energy", "01 natural sciences", "12. Responsible consumption", "mixed microbial consortia", "03 medical and health sciences", "Biopolymers", "/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/affordable_and_clean_energy; name=SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy", "renewable feedstock", "Pure cultures", "pure cultures", "enrichment strategy", "Biology (General)", "Synthetic biology", "Polyhydroxyalkanoates", "T", "polyhydroxyalkanoates", "Mixed microbial consortia", "downstream processing", "Downstream processing", "13. Climate action", "Enrichment strategy", "synthetic biology"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/4/2/55/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering4020055"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Bioengineering", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/bioengineering4020055", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/bioengineering4020055", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/bioengineering4020055"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-06-11T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "11353/10.2115948", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-07-28T16:24:04Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-10-04", "title": "Bacteria face trade-offs in the decomposition of complex biopolymers", "description": "Abstract<p>Although depolymerization of complex carbohydrates is a growth-limiting bottleneck for microbial decomposers, we still lack understanding about how the production of different types of extracellular enzymes affect individual microbes and in turn the performance of whole decomposer communities. In this work we use a theoretical model to evaluate the potential trade-offs faced by microorganisms in biopolymer decomposition which arise due to the varied biochemistry of different depolymerizing enzyme classes. We specifically consider two broad classes of depolymerizing extracellular enzymes, which are widespread across microbial taxa: exo-enzymes that cleave small units from the ends of polymer chains and endo-enzymes that act at random positions generating degradation products of varied sizes. Our results demonstrate a fundamental trade-off in the production of these enzymes, which is independent of system\uffe2\uff80\uff99s complexity and which appears solely from the intrinsically different temporal depolymerization dynamics. As a consequence, specialists that produce either exo- or only endo-enzymes limit their growth to high or low substrate conditions, respectively. Conversely, generalists that produce both enzymes in an optimal ratio expand their niche and benefit from the synergy between the two enzymes. Finally, our results show that, in spatially-explicit environments, consortia composed of endo- and exo-specialists can only exist under oligotrophic conditions. In summary, our analysis demonstrates that the (evolutionary or ecological) selection of a depolymerization pathway will affect microbial fitness under low- or high substrate conditions, with impacts on the ecological dynamics of microbial communities. It provides a possible explanation why many polysaccharide degraders in nature show the genetic potential to produce both of these enzyme classes.</p>Author summary<p>The decomposition of polysaccharides by microbes is a key process in the global carbon cycle. It requires the joint action of a variety of microbially-produced extracellular enzymes. They can be broadly classified into endo-enzymes, that act in the middle of polymers, and exo-enzymes, that cleave units from polymer ends. Little is known about the benefits for microbes producing a certain enzyme type and the interplay between enzyme producing strategies in mixed communities. This hampers our comprehensive understanding of decomposition in terrestrial and marine ecosystems and thus limits the prediction of decomposition processes, for example in a changing climate.</p><p>Based on theoretical modelling, we revealed a fundamental trade-off in the action of these enzymes. While exo-enzymes are more efficient at high substrate conditions, endo-enzymes perform better when substrate is low. Generalists producing both enzymes expand their ecological niche of substrate availability compared to specialists only producing one of the two types. Complementary specialists only co-exist in oligotrophic conditions. We conclude that producing enzymes for specific steps within polymer degradation represents relevant ecological strategies for microbes in decomposer communities.</p", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "106022 Mikrobiologie", "decomposition", "Bacteria", "Polymers", "QH301-705.5", "complex biopolymers", "Monomers", "Computational Biology", "Chitin", "Models", " Biological", "Enzymes", "Biopolymers", "Consortia", "106026 \u00d6kosystemforschung", "Oligomers", "106022 Microbiology", "14. Life underwater", "Biology (General)", "106026 Ecosystem research", "bacteria", "Depolymerization", "Research Article"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/11353/10.2115948"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/PLOS%20Computational%20Biology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "11353/10.2115948", "name": "item", "description": "11353/10.2115948", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/11353/10.2115948"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-10-03T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3390/polym16070922", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-07-28T16:20:46Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-03-27", "title": "Understanding the Effects of Adding Metal Oxides to Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid Blends on Mechanical and Rheological Behaviour, Wettability, and Photo-Oxidation Resistance", "description": "<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><article><p>Biopolymers are of growing interest, but to improve some of their poor properties and performance, the formulation of bio-based blends and/or adding of nanoparticles is required. For this purpose, in this work, two different metal oxides, namely zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), at different concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2%wt.) were added in polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid/polyamide 11 (PLA/PA11) blends to establish their effects on solid-state properties, morphology, melt behaviour, and photo-oxidation resistance. It seems that the addition of ZnO in PLA leads to a significant reduction in its rigidity, probably due to an inefficient dispersion in the melt state, while the addition of TiO2 does not penalize PLA rigidity. Interestingly, the addition of both ZnO and TiO2 in the PLA/PA11 blend has a positive effect on the rigidity because of blend morphology refinement and leads to a slight increase in film hydrophobicity. The photo-oxidation resistance of the neat PLA and PLA/PA11 blend is significantly reduced due to the presence of both metal oxides, and this must be considered when designing potential applications. The last results suggest that both metal oxides could be considered photo-sensitive degradant agents for biopolymer and biopolymer blends.</p></article>", "keywords": ["biopolymer blends; biopolymers; metal oxides; morphology refinement; photo-sensitive degradant agents", "metal oxides", "biopolymers", "photo-sensitive degradant agents", "02 engineering and technology", "0210 nano-technology", "biopolymer blends", "01 natural sciences", "morphology refinement", "Article", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.cnr.it/bitstream/20.500.14243/475462/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unina.it/bitstream/11588/971023/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unict.it/bitstream/20.500.11769/603692/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070922"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/polym16070922", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/polym16070922", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/polym16070922"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-03-27T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "20.500.11769/603692", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-07-28T16:24:26Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-03-27", "title": "Understanding the Effects of Adding Metal Oxides to Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid Blends on Mechanical and Rheological Behaviour, Wettability, and Photo-Oxidation Resistance", "description": "<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><article><p>Biopolymers are of growing interest, but to improve some of their poor properties and performance, the formulation of bio-based blends and/or adding of nanoparticles is required. For this purpose, in this work, two different metal oxides, namely zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), at different concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2%wt.) were added in polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid/polyamide 11 (PLA/PA11) blends to establish their effects on solid-state properties, morphology, melt behaviour, and photo-oxidation resistance. It seems that the addition of ZnO in PLA leads to a significant reduction in its rigidity, probably due to an inefficient dispersion in the melt state, while the addition of TiO2 does not penalize PLA rigidity. Interestingly, the addition of both ZnO and TiO2 in the PLA/PA11 blend has a positive effect on the rigidity because of blend morphology refinement and leads to a slight increase in film hydrophobicity. The photo-oxidation resistance of the neat PLA and PLA/PA11 blend is significantly reduced due to the presence of both metal oxides, and this must be considered when designing potential applications. The last results suggest that both metal oxides could be considered photo-sensitive degradant agents for biopolymer and biopolymer blends.</p></article>", "keywords": ["biopolymer blends; biopolymers; metal oxides; morphology refinement; photo-sensitive degradant agents", "metal oxides", "biopolymers", "photo-sensitive degradant agents", "02 engineering and technology", "0210 nano-technology", "biopolymer blends", "01 natural sciences", "morphology refinement", "Article", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.cnr.it/bitstream/20.500.14243/475462/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unina.it/bitstream/11588/971023/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unict.it/bitstream/20.500.11769/603692/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/7/922/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/20.500.11769/603692"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "20.500.11769/603692", "name": "item", "description": "20.500.11769/603692", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/20.500.11769/603692"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-03-27T00:00:00Z"}}], "links": [{"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "This document as GeoJSON", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Biopolymers&f=json", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "alternate", "type": "text/html", "title": "This document as HTML", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Biopolymers&f=html", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection URL", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"type": "application/geo+json", "rel": "first", "title": "items (first)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Biopolymers&", "hreflang": "en-US"}, {"rel": "last", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "items (last)", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items?keywords=Biopolymers&offset=6", "hreflang": "en-US"}], "numberMatched": 6, "numberReturned": 6, "distributedFeatures": [], "timeStamp": "2026-07-28T17:58:23.215231Z"}