Polysaccharide Stalks in Didymosphenia geminata Diatom: Real World Applications and Strategies to Combat Its Spread

Didymosphenia geminata is a species of freshwater diatom that is known as invasive and is propagating quickly around the world. While invasive species are generally considered a nuisance, this paper attempts to find useful applications for D. geminata in the biomedical field and wastewater remediation. Here, we highlight the polysaccharide-based stalks of D. geminata that enable versatile potential applications and uses as a biopolymer, in drug delivery and wound healing, and as biocompatible scaffolding in cell adhesion and proliferation. Furthermore, this review focuses on how the polysaccharide nature of stalks and their metal-adsorption capacity allows them to have excellent wastewater remediation potential. This work also aims to assess the economic impact of D. geminata, as an invasive species, on its immediate environment. Potential government measures and legislation are recommended to prevent the spread of D. geminata, emphasizing the importance of education and collaboration between stakeholders.

Download Full-text

Invasive Shot Hole Borers Euwallacea fornicatus, E. kuroshio, and E. perbrevis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-fr422-2019 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 (1) ◽

pp. 7

Author(s):

Demian F. Gomez ◽

Jiri Hulcr ◽

Daniel Carrillo

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Invasive Species ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Economic Impacts ◽

Forest Resources ◽

Economic Damage ◽

Ambrosia Beetles ◽

Invasive Insects ◽

The World ◽

And Control

Invasive species, those that are nonnative and cause economic damage, are one of the main threats to ecosystems around the world. Ambrosia beetles are some of the most common invasive insects. Currently, severe economic impacts have been increasingly reported for all the invasive shot hole borers in South Africa, California, Israel, and throughout Asia. This 7-page fact sheet written by Demian F. Gomez, Jiri Hulcr, and Daniel Carrillo and published by the School of Forest Resources and Conservation describes shot hole borers and their biology and hosts and lists some strategies for prevention and control of these pests. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr422

Download Full-text

Polysaccharide-Based Aerogel Production for Biomedical Applications: A Comparative Review

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14071631 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. 1631

Author(s):

Mariangela Guastaferro ◽

Ernesto Reverchon ◽

Lucia Baldino

Keyword(s):

Tissue Regeneration ◽

Supercritical Co2 ◽

Biomedical Applications ◽

Freeze Drying ◽

Time Interval ◽

Comparative Review ◽

Biomedical Field ◽

Low Cytotoxicity ◽

Gel Preparation ◽

Cell Adhesion And Proliferation

A comparative analysis concerning bio-based gels production, to be used for tissue regeneration, has been performed in this review. These gels are generally applied as scaffolds in the biomedical field, thanks to their morphology, low cytotoxicity, and high biocompatibility. Focusing on the time interval 2015–2020, the production of 3D scaffolds of alginate, chitosan and agarose, for skin and bone regeneration, has mainly been investigated. Traditional techniques are critically reviewed to understand their limitations and how supercritical CO2-assisted processes could overcome these drawbacks. In particular, even if freeze-drying represents the most widespread drying technique used to produce polysaccharide-based cryogels, supercritical CO2-assisted drying effectively allows preservation of the nanoporous aerogel structure and removes the organic solvent used for gel preparation. These characteristics are essential for cell adhesion and proliferation.

Download Full-text

Graphene Integrated Hydrogels Based Biomaterials in Photothermal Biomedicine

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano11040906 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 906

Author(s):

Le Minh Tu Phan ◽

Thuy Anh Thu Vo ◽

Thi Xoan Hoang ◽

Sungbo Cho

Keyword(s):

Photothermal Therapy ◽

Biomedical Applications ◽

High Light ◽

Conversion Materials ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Good Biocompatibility ◽

Biomedical Field ◽

Hydrogel Composites ◽

Material Fabrication ◽

Biomedical Fields

Recently, photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as one of the most promising biomedical strategies for different areas in the biomedical field owing to its superior advantages, such as being noninvasive, target-specific and having fewer side effects. Graphene-based hydrogels (GGels), which have excellent mechanical and optical properties, high light-to-heat conversion efficiency and good biocompatibility, have been intensively exploited as potential photothermal conversion materials. This comprehensive review summarizes the current development of graphene-integrated hydrogel composites and their application in photothermal biomedicine. The latest advances in the synthesis strategies, unique properties and potential applications of photothermal-responsive GGel nanocomposites in biomedical fields are introduced in detail. This review aims to provide a better understanding of the current progress in GGel material fabrication, photothermal properties and potential PTT-based biomedical applications, thereby aiding in more research efforts to facilitate the further advancement of photothermal biomedicine.

Download Full-text

Taxonomy, Conservation, and the Future of Native Aquatic Snails in the Hawaiian Islands

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13050215 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 215

Author(s):

Carl C. Christensen ◽

Kenneth A. Hayes ◽

Norine W. Yeung

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Endangered Species Act ◽

Habitat Requirements ◽

Freshwater Snails ◽

Full Understanding ◽

State Legislation ◽

The World ◽

Threatened Habitats ◽

Life On Earth

Freshwater systems are among the most threatened habitats in the world and the biodiversity inhabiting them is disappearing quickly. The Hawaiian Archipelago has a small but highly endemic and threatened group of freshwater snails, with eight species in three families (Neritidae, Lymnaeidae, and Cochliopidae). Anthropogenically mediated habitat modifications (i.e., changes in land and water use) and invasive species (e.g., Euglandina spp., non-native sciomyzids) are among the biggest threats to freshwater snails in Hawaii. Currently, only three species are protected either federally (U.S. Endangered Species Act; Erinna newcombi) or by Hawaii State legislation (Neritona granosa, and Neripteron vespertinum). Here, we review the taxonomic and conservation status of Hawaii’s freshwater snails and describe historical and contemporary impacts to their habitats. We conclude by recommending some basic actions that are needed immediately to conserve these species. Without a full understanding of these species’ identities, distributions, habitat requirements, and threats, many will not survive the next decade, and we will have irretrievably lost more of the unique books from the evolutionary library of life on Earth.

Download Full-text

3D Technology – Additive Manufacturing Applications and Prospects (Vol. 24, No. 9, Full Issue)

Asia-Pacific Biotech News ◽

10.1142/s0219030320001093 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (09) ◽

Keyword(s):

Additive Manufacturing ◽

3D Printing ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Real World ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

Health Screening ◽

Wide Range ◽

The World ◽

Real World Applications ◽

Manufacturing Applications

For the month of September 2020, APBN dives into the world of 3D printing and its wide range of real-world applications. Keeping our focus on the topic of the year, the COVID-19 pandemic, we explore the environmental impact of the global outbreak as well as gain insight to the top 5 vaccine platforms used in vaccine development. Discover more about technological advancements and how it is assisting innovation in geriatric health screening.

Download Full-text

Development of the Critical Loads Concept and Current and Potential Applications to Different Regions of the World

Nitrogen Deposition, Critical Loads and Biodiversity ◽

10.1007/978-94-007-7939-6_30 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 281-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jean-Paul Hettelingh ◽

Wim de Vries ◽

Maximilian Posch ◽

Gert Jan Reinds ◽

Jaap Slootweg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Critical Loads ◽

The World ◽

Potential Applications

Download Full-text

Concepts for Developing Physical Gels of Chitosan and of Chitosan Derivatives

Gels ◽

10.3390/gels4030067 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 67 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Pasquale Sacco ◽

Franco Furlani ◽

Gaia de Marzo ◽

Eleonora Marsich ◽

Sergio Paoletti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Electrostatic Interactions ◽

Chitosan Derivatives ◽

Modified Chitosan ◽

Physical Chemical ◽

Degree Of Acetylation ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Low Toxicity ◽

Physical Interactions ◽

Biomedical Field

Chitosan macro- and micro/nano-gels have gained increasing attention in recent years, especially in the biomedical field, given the well-documented low toxicity, degradability, and non-immunogenicity of this unique biopolymer. In this review we aim at recapitulating the recent gelling concepts for developing chitosan-based physical gels. Specifically, we describe how nowadays it is relatively simple to prepare networks endowed with different sizes and shapes simply by exploiting physical interactions, namely (i) hydrophobic effects and hydrogen bonds—mostly governed by chitosan chemical composition—and (ii) electrostatic interactions, mainly ensured by physical/chemical chitosan features, such as the degree of acetylation and molecular weight, and external parameters, such as pH and ionic strength. Particular emphasis is dedicated to potential applications of this set of materials, especially in tissue engineering and drug delivery sectors. Lastly, we report on chitosan derivatives and their ability to form gels. Additionally, we discuss the recent findings on a lactose-modified chitosan named Chitlac, which has proved to form attractive gels both at the macro- and at the nano-scale.

Download Full-text

Introducing the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species: challenges with classification

Biodiversity Information Science and Standards ◽

10.3897/biss.2.25306 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. e25306

Author(s):

Shyama Pagad

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Alien Species ◽

Alien Invasive Species ◽

Validation And Verification ◽

The World ◽

Invasive Status

The Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (GRIIS) presents annotated country checklists of introduced and invasive species. Annotations include higher taxonomy of the species, synonyms, environment/system in which the species occurs, and its biological status in that country. Invasiveness is classified by evidenced impact in that country. Draft country checklists are subjected to a process of validation and verification by networks of country experts. Challenges encountered across the world include confusion with alien/invasive species terminology, classification of the ‘invasive’ status of an alien species and issues with taxonomic synonyms.

Download Full-text

The pig of the Lençóis Maranhenses, first record of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Maranhão State, Brazil

Check List ◽

10.15560/15.4.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

Gilberto Nepomuceno Salvador ◽

Nathali Garcia Ristau ◽

Isabel Sanches da Silva ◽

André Nunes

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Wild Boar ◽

Sus Scrofa ◽

Native Species ◽

National Park ◽

First Record ◽

Negative Effects ◽

The World

The wild boar is one of the most dangerous invasive species. It is widespread in the world, including records for many Brazilian states. However, there is a lack of record from Maranhão state. In the present study, we reported a population of wild boar inside the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, in Barrerinhas county, State of Maranhão. We discuss about the negative effects of this introduction on native species, including a record of predation by wild boar in nests of endangered turtles.

Download Full-text

The End of the Niche Economy

Cotton Capitalists ◽

10.18574/nyu/9781479879700.003.0007 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Michael R. Cohen

Keyword(s):

Nineteenth Century ◽

Invasive Species ◽

Competitive Advantage ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Global Capitalism ◽

Late Nineteenth Century ◽

Cotton Industry ◽

The World ◽

Late Nineteenth ◽

Anti Jewish

Chapter 6 explores the end of the niche economy. By the late nineteenth century, changes to the cotton industry meant that merchants in the Gulf South were no longer as important as they once were. Structural changes to global capitalism, including the rise of investment banking, changed the nature of credit and lending, as networks of trust, which once provided a competitive advantage for Jews and other minorities, began to lose their importance. Additional global forces also mitigated the Gulf South’s centrality in the cotton industry, as the world’s thirst for cotton pushed European powers to find cheaper places in the world to produce cotton. Localized factors were also marginalizing the Gulf South and its Jewish merchants, as floods and invasive species ravaged cotton crops and a spate of anti-Jewish violence took direct aim at the Jewish niche economy. All of this meant that, in much the same manner that Jewish merchants had once marginalized cotton factors, Jewish merchants themselves became marginalized, and their niche economy came to an end.

Download Full-text