LIN Yongfeng, CHENG Zhen, LIU Wenmei, ZOU Zehua, LIU Hong, LIU Guangming, LIU Qingmei
In this study, the physicochemical properties of polysaccharides from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HM6008 (FHCTP) were determined, and the antiallergic activity was evaluated using rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells. The results showed that fermentation increased the ratio of mannose to sulfate in FHCTP. Compared with H. cordata Thunb. polysaccharides (HCTP), the particle size of FHCTP decreased by 26.67%, and its stability in aqueous solution increased. The inhibition rate of FHCTP on the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells was significantly higher than that of HCTP, (82.79 ± 5.19)% versus (53.75 ± 1.95)%. After FHCTP intervention, the expression of fragment crystallizable epsilon receptor I (FcεRI) was significantly down-regulated, and the average fluorescence intensity decreased from 2 458.00 ± 7.50 to 1 495.00 ± 28.50. Both FHCTP and HCTP effectively inhibited the isomerization of cytoskeletal proteins and the increase of intracellular calcium ion concentration. In addition, in the mouse passive cutaneous anaphylaxis assay, FHCTP showed a more significant inhibitory effect on dye extravasation in mouse ears, indicating stronger antiallergic activity. In conclusion, FHCTP has better stabilizing effect on mast cells and effectively alleviates mast cell-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice. The results of this research are expected to promote the development and application of antiallergic products from edible and medicinal materials.
Pattarawan Intasian, K. Prakinee, A. Phintha
et al.
Since the industrial revolution, the rapid growth and development of global industries have depended largely upon the utilization of coal-derived chemicals, and more recently, the utilization of petroleum-based chemicals. These developments have followed a linear economy model (produce, consume, and dispose). As the world is facing a serious threat from the climate change crisis, a more sustainable solution for manufacturing, i.e., circular economy in which waste from the same or different industries can be used as feedstocks or resources for production offers an attractive industrial/business model. In nature, biological systems, i.e., microorganisms routinely use their enzymes and metabolic pathways to convert organic and inorganic wastes to synthesize biochemicals and energy required for their growth. Therefore, an understanding of how selected enzymes convert biobased feedstocks into special (bio)chemicals serves as an important basis from which to build on for applications in biocatalysis, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology to enable biobased processes that are greener and cleaner for the environment. This review article highlights the current state of knowledge regarding the enzymatic reactions used in converting biobased wastes (lignocellulosic biomass, sugar, phenolic acid, triglyceride, fatty acid, and glycerol) and greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) into value-added products and discusses the current progress made in their metabolic engineering. The commercial aspects and life cycle assessment of products from enzymatic and metabolic engineering are also discussed. Continued development in the field of metabolic engineering would offer diversified solutions which are sustainable and renewable for manufacturing valuable chemicals.
Bruna Santos, Filomena Freitas, Abílio J. F. N. Sobral
et al.
ABSTRACT The growing environmental crises demands an urgent transition from a linear to a circular economy. Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that offer exceptional potential due to their rapid growth, high CO₂ fixation capacity, and ability to remove nutrients and pollutants from wastewater, producing both clean water and valuable biomass. Such characteristics have attracted interest in developing circular systems that transform wastes into resources such as biomaterials, biofertilisers, biofuels and bioactive compounds. However, various challenges hinder their industrial application, including technical, economic, environmental, commercial and political barriers. Technical limitations such as inefficient culture systems, low productivity and contamination risks, can be addressed by using genetic engineering tools to develop superior strains, and by developing bioreactors coupled with emerging technologies (AI, Digital Twin). Additionally, it was found that studies using wastewater for microalgae cultivation and a biorefinery approach to recover low and high value bioproducts were found to be energetically, environmentally and economically viable. Several projects and studies demonstrating microalgae-based circular economy models were highlighted. Finally, the implementation of clear regulations and guidelines for wastewater composition in microalgae systems is recommended to facilitate market acceptance and consumer trust in microalgae-derived products.
The performance of Organic Solar Cells (OSCs) is intrinsically linked to the molecular, electronic, and structural properties of donor and acceptor materials. This study employs various machine learning techniques, namely the Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Tree Boost, to predict key performance metrics of OSCs, including power conversion efficiency (PCE), short-circuit current density (JSC), open-circuit voltage (VOC), and fill factor (FF). The models are trained and evaluated using an experimentally reported dataset compiled by Sahu et al. Correlation analysis demonstrates that material characteristics such as polarizability, bandgap, dipole moment, and charge transfer are statistically associated with OSC performance. The predictive performance of the GRNN model is compared with that of the SVM and Tree Boost models, showing consistently lower prediction errors within the considered dataset. In addition, sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the relative importance of the predictor variables and to examine the influence of kernel functions on GRNN performance. The results indicate that machine learning models, particularly GRNN, can serve as effective data-driven tools for predicting the performance of organic solar cells and for supporting computational screening studies.
The concept of life skills is related to the way of life that emphasises the mutual exchange of knowledge, attitudes, and interpersonal skills in education. Its objective is to develop diverse skills among students and prepare them to face life’s challenges with determination. The World Health Organization has defined life skills as “the positive behaviours and tendencies that enable a person to adapt in day-to-day life.” Life skills are the abilities that enable a person to adapt and exhibit positive behaviour, allowing them to deal effectively with the problems and challenges of daily life. Life is a unique gift. Therefore, by equipping life with various skills, happiness, peace, and prosperity are created. In this research, with the objectives of the study in mind, an analytical examination of life skills among secondary-level students has been conducted. This research study examines the effects of living conditions, gender, and social class on students’ life skills and presents the findings. Future researchers can build upon this, and other factors affecting the research can also be explored.
Marilene Pavan, Kristina Reinmets, Shivani Garg
et al.
High levels of anthropogenic CO2 emissions are driving the warming of global climate. If this pattern of increasing emissions does not change, it will cause further climate change with severe consequences for the human population. On top of this, the increasing accumulation of solid waste within the linear economy model is threatening global biosustainability. The magnitude of these challenges requires several approaches to capture and utilize waste carbon and establish a circular economy. Microbial gas fermentation presents an exciting opportunity to capture carbon oxides from gaseous and solid waste streams with high feedstock flexibility and selectivity. Here we discuss available microbial systems and review in detail the metabolism of both anaerobic acetogens and aerobic hydrogenotrophs and their ability to utilize C1 waste feedstocks. More specifically, we provide an overview of the systems-level understanding of metabolism, key metabolic pathways, scale-up opportunities and commercial successes, and the most recent technological advances in strain and process engineering. Finally, we also discuss in detail the gaps and opportunities to advance the understanding of these autotrophic biocatalysts for the efficient and economically viable production of bioproducts from recycled carbon.
Abstract Intercropping systems have garnered attention as a sustainable agricultural approach for efficient land use, increased ecological diversity in farmland, and enhanced crop yields. This study examined the effect of intercropping on the kiwifruit rhizosphere to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between cover plants and kiwifruit in this sustainable agricultural system. Soil physicochemical properties and bacterial communities were analyzed using the Kiwifruit-Agaricus blazei intercropping System. Moreover, a combined analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomic sequencing was used to identify differential microbes and metabolites in the rhizosphere. Intercropping led to an increase in soil physicochemical and enzyme activity, as well as re-shaping the bacterial community and increasing microbial diversity. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Myxococcota, and Patescibacteria were the most abundant and diverse phyla in the intercropping system. Expression analysis further revealed that the bacterial genera BIrii41, Acidibacter, and Altererythrobacter were significantly upregulated in the intercropping system. Moreover, 358 differential metabolites (DMs) were identified between the monocropping and intercropping cultivation patterns, with fatty acyls, carboxylic acids and derivatives, and organooxygen compounds being significantly upregulated in the intercropping system. The KEGG metabolic pathways further revealed considerable enrichment of DMs in ABC transporters, histidine metabolism, and pyrimidine metabolism. This study identified a significant correlation between 95 bacterial genera and 79 soil metabolites, and an interactive network was constructed to explore the relationships between these differential microbes and metabolites in the rhizosphere. This study demonstrated that Kiwifruit-Agaricus blazei intercropping can be an effective, labor-saving, economic, and sustainable practice for reshaping bacterial communities and promoting the accumulation and metabolism of beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere.
Silas M. Mbeche, Paul M. Wambua, David N. Githinji
Human hair (HH) is considered a waste material generated in salons and barbershops in most societies, especially highly populated cities, where it is produced in large quantities, thus rekindling the interests of academics. Several studies are ongoing on the possibility of utilizing it as a reinforcement in polymer composites, either in its raw form or as extracted keratin nanoparticles, due to its unique features and the current global emphasis on circular economy. The present review seeks to provide a synopsis of recent developments in the utilization of HH and keratin in polymer composites. Composites from different HH loading, length, and chemical treatments were made using hand lay-up and hot compression molding methods. HH has been investigated in diverse composite systems, encompassing HH/natural fiber composites, HH/synthetic fiber composites, and keratin-reinforced composites. Our study revealed that these innovative materials exhibit enhanced energy absorption capacity, mechanical strength, hardness, and thermal properties, positioning them as promising choices for a wide range of engineering applications. The review further revealed that keratin nano-particles can be extracted from waste HH using various methods such as reduction alkaline hydrolysis and can be used as reinforcement in polymer composites.
Science, Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.
Aimed at the problem of low efficiency of ship pipeline design, an optimization method of pipeline layout is proposed. An optimization mathematical model is established by comprehensively considering the engineering background of safety, economy, coordination and operability, and the defects of ant colony optimization algorithm in dealing with mixed pipeline layout conditions are improved. A spatial state transition strategy for optimizing feasible solution search, a pheromone diffusion mechanism for improving pheromone inspiration effect and accelerating algorithm convergence are proposed, and a multi-ant colony co-evolution mechanism is designed for mixed pipeline layout conditions. Based on the secondary development technology, the application of this method in the third-party design software is realized, and verified by a nuclear primary pipeline layout project. The results show that the pheromone Gaussian diffusion multi ant colony optimization (PG-MACO) algorithm has a better performance and layout effect than the traditional ant colony algorithm. The routing efficiency is improved by 58.38%, the convergence algebra is shortened by 43.24%, the pipeline length is shortened by 33.88%, and the number of pipeline bends is reduced by 41.67%, which verifies the effectiveness and engineering practicability of the proposed method.
Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), Chemical engineering
The paper delves into an extensive exploration of the integration of the circular economy paradigm within the realm of additive manufacturing (AM). The objective is to comprehensively investigate existing methodologies for structuring the symbiotic relationship between circular economy and additive manufacturing, while meticulously analyzing the current research gap concerning the implementation of circular economy principles in additive manufacturing practices. A thorough review focusing on the sustainability of additive manufacturing within the circular economy framework was conducted. This review aims to recognize and delineate pertinent aspects related to post-use material valuation in AM, recyclability of materials, and the environmental footprint associated with these processes. Emphasis was placed on the significance of examining circular economy facets concerning additive manufacturing processes to establish a holistic understanding. The overarching goal of this review is to augment knowledge regarding the potential advantages and benefits derived from the seamless integration of circular economy principles within AM. By elucidating the activities essential to attain compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals, this study endeavors to illuminate the pathway toward promoting sustainable development through the harmonious marriage of additive manufacturing and the circular economy.
Wajid Umar, János Balogh, Muhammad Khalid Hameed
et al.
Overuse of chemical fertilizers in agroecosystems leads to the increased economic burden, low crop production in terms of input and environmental pollution. Due to its improved nutrient management and degrading properties, synthetic slow release fertilizers have become a significant advancement in the fertilizer sector. In this study we evaluated the effect of slow release urea on nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, crop growth and crop nutrient contents. Measurements were carried out in two different texture soils (sandy loam and silty clay) under two different conditions (bare soil and planted). The N2O emission was measured for 15 days from bare soils and 48 days from planted soil. Plant fresh weight, dry weight, chlorophyll contents, N and Zn were measured in the end of the experiment. The results showed that N2O emission was reduced 33–39 % from coated urea as compared to conventional urea in bare soil. In planted soil, the coated urea reduced the N2O emission 29–33 %. The deep placement of urea in silty clay soil reduced the N2O emission up to 22.8 % as compared to surface placement. Plant fresh matter, dry matter, N and Zn contents were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher with coated urea as compared to conventional urea. It is concluded that the coating of urea with hydrophobic materials like stearic acid, along with Zn sources i.e. Zn fortified nano-bentonite or the ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) presents opportunities to overcome the environmental pollution and increasing the crop production and quality.
The article reveals the problems that arose in the field of foreign trade policy formation and implementation as a result of the Russian invasion of the territory of Ukraine. Foreign trade is one of the components of the formation of the national economy, and its state affects the gross national product, the country's balance of payments and other socio-economic indicators of the country's development. Using the methods of analysis and synthesis, comparison and generalization, an analysis of the commodity and geographical structure of foreign trade in goods was carried out before and after the full-scale invasion of Russia into the territory of Ukraine. The consequences of the changes that occurred in the structure of export-import operations were analyzed. Reduction of export and import volumes for almost all groups of goods and reduction of shares of all regions of the world in favor of EU countries. The leading place in the product structure of exports is occupied by goods of agricultural industry, and in imports – mineral products. The directions for the formation of state policy in the field of regulation of foreign trade operations in the short-term, medium-term and strategic dimensions, which are determined by the National Council for the Recovery of Ukraine from the Consequences of the War, are substantiated. Foreign trade policy, which is formed under the influence of risks and threats of war, is aimed at developing and increasing the volume of foreign trade with EU countries and the USA, Japan and Canada. The priority areas of foreign trade development are: defense-industrial complex; metallurgy and metalworking; agro-industrial complex; engineering; mining industry; furniture and woodworking industries. An important place is also defined for the development of innovative enterprises and knowledge-intensive production, which will ensure the transition to a developing economy.
Bone regeneration and repair are complex processes with the potential of added complications, like delayed repair, fracture non-union, and post-surgical infections. These conditions remain a challenge globally, pressurizing the economy and patients suffering from these conditions. Applications of nanotechnology (NBT) in the field of medicine have provided a medium for several approaches to support these global challenges. Tissue engineering is one such field that has been on the rise in the last three decades through the utilization of NBT for addressing the challenges related to bone regeneration. First, NBT enables the formation of scaffolds at the nanoscale needed for bone tissue engineering (BTE) using natural and synthetic polymers, as well as with minerals and metals. Then, it aids the development of the nano-formulation strategized to deliver antimicrobial drugs and/or growth factors through various ways to enhance bone repair through the scaffold. Third, NBT facilitates the use of specialized nanoparticles to image and track cellular events in vitro as well as in vivo. This review is an effort to bring together the current knowledge in the field of BTE and present the scope of ever-evolving NBT, a contribution towards precision medicine.