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JuryDr. Nikolai TUMANOV (UNamur), PresidentProf. Bao-Lian SU (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Yann GARCIA (UCLouvain)Prof. Teng BÊN (Jinhua University)Prof. Guillaume BERIONNI (UNamur)Prof. Alain KRIEF (UNamur)Prof. Alain KRIEF (UNamur)AbstractPorous crystals with structural flexibility are difficult to realize because flexible molecules often rearrange or leave the lattice, leading to pore collapse. Since the early 2000s, it has become clear that combining robust intermolecular interactions with flexible linkers and deformable nodes can stabilize porous crystals during guest removal. Frameworks such as MOFs, COFs, and HOFs benefit from strong noncovalent interactions, yet permanently porous HOFs remain uncommon due to dense molecular packing.Porous organic salts (POSs) offer an alternative strategy, assembling predictable networks from oppositely charged organic ions where electroneutrality and stoichiometry guide structure formation. However, most 3D POSs rely on planar guanidinium or tetrahedral tetraphenylmethane derivatives, resulting in a narrow set of topologies compared with the thousands of 3D nets catalogued in the Reticular Chemistry Structure Resource (RCSR).Here we report triptycene-based ionic frameworks (TIFs) formed via charge-assisted ammonium-sulfonate hydrogen bonding. By tuning triptycene symmetry and functionalization, together with sulfonate linker geometry, we generated diverse supramolecular architectures with tailored porosity, stability, and function.

JuryProf. Guillaume BERIONNI (UNamur), PresidentProf. Stéphane VINCENT (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Carmen GALAN (University of Bristol)Dr. Louis FENSTERBANK (Collège de France)Prof. Raphaël ROBIETTE (Université catholique de Louvain)AbstractCarboxylic acids are ubiquitous in nature and inexpensive compounds. Decarboxylation has become a key chemical transformation and has been widely reported in organic chemistry except for carbohydrates. This reaction can be catalyzed by transition metal and can also be induced by light, thermal activation, or photocatalysis. Borylated compounds have stimulated the pharmaceutical industry's interest (Boromycin, Bortezomib or boron neutron capture therapy). Recent methodologies have been developed to transform carboxylic acids to boronate esters by metal-catalyzed or light-promoted or photocatalyzed reactions. In this thesis, we explored the synthesis of borylated carbohydrates through a decarboxylation pathway. More specifically, sialic acids being among the most important carbohydrates in glycobiology, we addressed the problem of the synthesis of borylated sialic acids. On the other hand, organophosphates play an important role in diverse fields: in materials chemistry, in agriculture, in organic chemistry, and in biochemistry. Phosphorylation is a key reaction in biological processes such as signal transduction and cell activity regulation. The formation of phosphorylated carbohydrates has been widely described through two-electron mechanisms. However, radical phosphorylation of carbohydrates remains unexplored. This Ph.D. thesis describes the development of new methodologies for the decarboxylative functionalization of carbohydrates, focusing on borylation and phosphorylation..

The IBAF Meetings have been organized since 2003, every two years since 2008, by the Ion Beams Division of the French Vacuum Society (SFV), the oldest national vacuum society in the world, which celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2025.As in previous editions, IBAF 2026 will offer a rich and varied program with guest lectures, oral and poster presentations, and technical sessions. All this will be complemented by an industrial presence to promote exchanges between research and innovation. The conference will cover a wide range of topics, from ion beam instruments and techniques to the physics of ion-matter interactions, including the analysis and modification of materials, applications in the life sciences, earth and environmental sciences, and heritage sciences. More information on the IBAF2026 website

Practical information:When: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.Cost: FreeLanguage: FrenchAudience: 5th and 6th year secondary school studentsMeeting place: University of Namur (The exact address will be provided at a later date) Program:This morning event will feature several highlights:A warm welcome for groups to get the day off to a good start.Introductory lecture session: Mini-lectures in plenary sessions will address a variety of compelling topics, setting the stage and sparking curiosity about current mathematical themes.Parallel and successive practical workshops: After a short break, students are invited to participate actively. They rotate between three different workshops, offered in parallel. These sessions encourage experimentation and hands-on learning in small groups on specific topics.Offer your students a free and enriching morning to (re)discover the joy of mathematics!This activity is organized with the support of Wallonia Research.

AbstractIn CO2-rich atmospheres such as that of Venus, the study of water vapor requires the use of H2O collision parameters for CO2. However, due to a lack of data, models still use collision parameters for air to estimate the abundance of water vapor in this type of atmosphere. In this thesis, new experimental laboratory measurements of the collision parameters of H2O, HDO, and D2O by CO2 were carried out. These were then used as the basis for dedicated theoretical calculations. Their impact was evaluated using radiative transfer simulations applied to the atmosphere of Venus, under conditions close to those of future observations by the European EnVision mission. The results clearly show that using collision parameters for air instead of CO2 can lead to an overestimation of nearly 40% of the abundance of water vapor in the mesosphere and to inversion difficulties in the troposphere. This work thus provides essential elements for improving the spectral analysis of CO2-rich atmospheres.JuryDr. Ha TRAN (Sorbonne University), ChairProf. Muriel LEPÈRE (University of Namur), SecretaryDr. Emmanuel MARCQ (University of Versailles)Dr. David JACQUEMART (Sorbonne University)Dr. Laurence RÉGALIA (University of Reims)Dr. Séverine ROBERT (Royal Institute for Space Aeronomy, Belgium)

AbstractNosocomial infections are a major public health problem, exacerbated by the global spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Faced with this challenge, it is crucial to explore alternatives or complementary strategies to conventional treatments. Among these, the use of copper is attracting renewed interest. This metal has natural antibacterial properties that have been recognized since ancient times. It acts through multiple mechanisms such as membrane alteration, the generation of reactive oxygen species, and the denaturation of proteins and nucleic acids, leading to rapid cell death. These characteristics make it an effective biocidal agent in many contexts, particularly in hospitals.However, the selective pressure exerted by the increased presence of copper in the environment has led to the emergence of specific resistance systems in certain bacteria. These systems allow strict control of copper homeostasis by limiting its intracellular accumulation through efflux, sequestration, or oxidation mechanisms. In Caulobacter crescentus, an environmental bacterial model, copper resistance is based in particular on the Pco system. This system is composed of the PcoB protein, located in the outer membrane. Although its structure has been partially described in E. coli, its precise function remains unclear. Preliminary observations suggest that it may be involved in the export of copper from the periplasm to the outside of the cell, thus acting as a release pathway.To explore the role of PcoB in bacterial copper resistance, this study focused on the structural and functional characterization of the protein. After extraction and purification, PcoB was incorporated into artificial liposomes to develop an in vitro transport assay to assess its ability to release copper across a lipid bilayer. At the same time, a truncated mutant lacking the disordered N-terminal region was produced and subjected to the same analyses. The comparison between the complete and truncated forms aims to determine the involvement of this flexible region in the transport mechanism and stability of the protein. These approaches have laid the initial experimental foundations for studying the transport mechanism of PcoB and constitute a first step towards a detailed understanding of how the Pco system works. They also open up prospects for the development of new antibacterial strategies targeting copper management systems in bacteria.JuryProf. Johan WOUTERS (UNamur), ChairDr. Catherine MICHAUX (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Jean-Yves MATROULE (UNamur)Dr. Guillaume ROUSSEL (UCLouvain)Prof. Francesca CECCHET (UNamur)Prof. Hennie VALKENIER (ULB)

In line with its predecessors, ICEL 2026 will provide an excellent opportunity for the intellectual and social exchanges that keep our community closely connected. It will bring together participants from all over the world involved in the research, development, and manufacturing of emissive materials. A wide array of subjects will be explored, offering a comprehensive perspective on contemporary advances in these fields. We extend a warm invitation for the dissemination of recent breakthroughs in related topics, with a particular emphasis on fostering the active participation of young and motivated researchers.We especially expect to cover the following topics:Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence emittersRadical emittersOrganometallic complexesPerovskitesLasingCircularly polarized luminescenceLight emission from exciplexesGreen- and biophotonicsComputational modeling of light-emitting materialsAll practical information (registration, abstract submission, and accommodation) is available on the ICEL2026 website. Access the ICEL2026 website

Our keynote speakers for 2026 are Professor Roosmarijn Vandenbroucke (Ghent University) and Professor Nelly Litvak (Eindhoven University of Technology). More information on the "Women in Science" website

Every two years, the International Symposium on Marek's Disease and Avian Herpesviruses (MDAH) brings together researchers from around the world to exchange the latest insights on poultry viral diseases - covering their biology, evolution, control strategies, and epidemiology. Attendees include PhD students, postdocs and researchers representing academia, government, and commercial organizations from North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and Africa. More information on the MDAH2026 website

Deadlines Opening of abstract submissions and registrations: September 15, 2025Deadline to submit indicative title and summary: November 30, 2025Deadline for final abstract submissions: May 1, 2026Early bird registration deadline: March 1, 2026 More information on the website

Abstract This work demonstrates that polymer-coated gold nanoparticles can function not only as radiosensitizers but also as agents for macrophage reprogramming. Specifically, we show that these nanoparticles can repolarize tumor-associated macrophages from the immunosuppressive M2 phenotype to the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype-a process further enhanced by clinically relevant doses of X-ray radiation. Among the four nanoparticle formulations tested, 50 nm PVP-coated gold nanoparticles were particularly effective in promoting macrophage repolarization and reducing pancreatic cancer cell viability in co-culture, both with and without radiation. These findings highlight a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of cancer radiotherapy. Jury Prof. Julien COLAUX (UNamur), ChairmanProf. Anne-Catherine HEUSKIN (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Carine MICHIELS (UNamur)Prof. Henri-François RENARD (UNamur)Prof. Michel MOUTSCHEN (ULiège)Dr Dimitri STANICKI (UMons)Prof. Devika CHITHRANI (University of Victoria)

SummaryIn 2025, machine learning continues to revolutionize various scientific fields, with major implications in physics, particularly photonics. The integration of advanced machine learning algorithms has enabled significant advances in the design and control of photonic systems, improving their efficiency and performance. These advances are essential for the development of communication, imaging and quantum computing technologies. However, physics research presents many challenges that go beyond simple performance measurements: identifying patterns and building analytical models is often just as crucial.In this thesis, we apply computational intelligence tools, in particular heuristic optimization and neural networks, to develop data-driven approaches to solving various tasks in physics. Although data-centric, our approach remains rooted in physics, always seeking to understand the physical phenomena underlying the algorithms. The results of this thesis cover a wide range of applications, from the design of complex metasurfaces and diffraction gratings to the analysis and interpretation of spectral data. We have also successfully developed an optimizer capable of learning and adapting to the problems encountered, particularly in physics. This key tool in our arsenal outperforms state-of-the-art methods in our applications. In particular, it has enabled the design of a coronagraphic phase plate for exoplanet imaging, with a performance 25% better than the best previous solutions.We have also designed a compact, all-dielectric beam deflection device, operating efficiently for all polarizations, reaching a maximum efficiency of 90%. Starting from a purely data-driven design, we were able to extract and validate an analytical model based on the behavior of an echelle lattice, providing a physical understanding of its operation. In addition to simulation-based tasks, we also processed experimental data, developing an animal origin classifier for scrolls, capable of distinguishing three animal species with 90% accuracy. This tool offers a non-invasive method for conservators and historians wishing to analyze fragile historical materials.Jury members Prof. Michaël LOBET (UNamur), PresidentProf. Alexandre MAYER (UNamur), SecretaryDr. Charlotte BEAUTHIER (CENAREO)Prof. Benoît FRENAY (UNamur)Prof. Olivier DEPARIS (UNamur)Prof. Denis LANGEVIN (Université de Clermont Auvergne)Prof. Hai Son NGUYEN (Ecole Centrale de Lyon)