From Waste to Watts: Updates on Key Applications of Microbial Fuel Cells in Wastewater Treatment and Energy Production

Due to fossil fuel depletion and the rapid growth of industry, it is critical to develop environmentally friendly and long-term alternative energy technologies. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a powerful platform for extracting energy from various sources and converting it to electricity. As no intermediate steps are required to harness the electricity from the organic substrate’s stored chemical energy, MFC technology offers a sustainable alternative source of energy production. The generation of electricity from the organic substances contained in waste using MFC technology could provide a cost-effective solution to the issue of environmental pollution and energy shortages in the near future. Thus, technical advancements in bioelectricity production from wastewater are becoming commercially viable. Due to practical limitations, and although promising prospects have been reported in recent investigations, MFCs are incapable of upscaling and of high-energy production. In this review paper, intensive research has been conducted on MFCs’ applications in the treatment of wastewater. Several types of waste have been extensively studied, including municipal or domestic waste, industrial waste, brewery wastewater, and urine waste. Furthermore, the applications of MFCs in the removal of nutrients (nitrogen and sulphates) and precious metals from wastewater were also intensively reviewed. As a result, the efficacy of various MFCs in achieving sustainable power generation from wastewater has been critically addressed in this study.

Identifying Consumer Groups and Their Characteristics Based on Their Willingness to Engage with Cultured Meat: A Comparison of Four European Countries

Cultured meat, as a product of recent advancement in food technology, might become a viable alternative source of protein to traditional meat. As such, cultured meat production is disruptive as it has the potential to change the demand for traditional meats. Moreover, it has been claimed it can be more sustainable regarding the environment and that it is, perhaps, a solution to animal welfare issues. This study aimed at investigating associations between the consumer groups and demographic and psychographic factors as well as identifying distinct consumer groups based on their current willingness to engage with cultured meat. Four European countries were studied: the Netherlands (NL), the United Kingdom (UK), France (FR) and Spain (ES). A sample of 1291 responses from all four countries was collected between February 2017 and March 2019. Cluster analysis was used, resulting in three groups in the NL and UK, and two groups in FR and ES. The results suggest that Dutch consumers are the most willing to engage with cultured meat. Food neophobia and food technology neophobia seem to distinguish the groups the clearest. Moreover, there is some evidence that food cultural differences among the four countries seem to be also influencing consumers’ decision.

Oleic acid-related anti-inflammatory effects in force-stressed PdL fibroblasts are mediated by H3 lysine acetylation associated with altered IL10 expression

The initiation of a spatially and temporally limited inflammation is essential for tissue and bone remodeling by the periodontal ligament (PdL) located between teeth and alveolar bone. Obesity-associated hyperlipidemic changes may impair PdL fibroblast (PdLF) functions, disturbing their inflammatory response to mechanical stress such as those occurring during orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Recently, we reported an attenuated pro inflammatory response of human PdLF (HPdLF) to compressive forces when stimulated with monounsaturated oleic acid (OA). Fatty acids, including OA, could serve as alternative source of acetyl-CoA, thereby affecting epigenetic histone marks such as histone 3 lysine acetylation (H3Kac) in a lipid metabolism-dependent manner. In this study, we therefore aimed to investigate the extent to which OA exerts its anti-inflammatory effect via changes in H3Kac. Six-hour compressed HPdLF showed increased H3Kac when cultured with OA. Inhibition of histone deacetylases resulted in a comparable IL10 increase as observed in compressed OA cultures. In contrast, inhibition of histone acetyltransferases, particularly p300/CBP, in compressed HPdLF exposed to OA led to an inflammatory response comparable to compressed control cells. OA-dependent increased association of H3Kac to IL10 promoter regions in force-stressed HPdLF further strengthened the assumption that OA exhibits its anti-inflammatory properties via modulation of this epigenetic mark. In conclusion, our study strongly suggests that obesity-related hyperlipidemia affect the functions of PdL cells via alterations in their epigenetic code. Since epigenetic inhibitors are already widely used clinically, they may hold promise for novel approaches to limit obesity-related risks during OTM.

Production and Characterization of Pulp from Banana Pseudo Stem for Paper Making via Soda Anthraquinone Pulping Process

The need for pulp and paper currently in the whole world has become shooting up massively. The generation of the pulp, as well as paper from woody materials, has a challenge due to deforestation, huge chemical and energy consumptions. Now, an alternative source for paper is lignocelluloses wastes, because of low cost, low energy, and chemical consumption. Among them, the banana pseudostem was best for the input of pulp and paper production. This investigation was on the production and characterization of pulp from Banana Pseudo Stem for Paper Making via Soda Anthraquinone pulping process. The amount of cellulose (41.45%), ash (12.4%), hemicellulose (23.37%), extractive (12.72%), and lignin (10.46%) contents were obtained at the initial compositional evaluation of the pseudostem. It has excellent fiber length (1.75mm), fiber diameter (22.15μm), an acceptable Runkle ratio (0.55), and flexibility coefficient (159.64). The effect of temperature (130,140 and 150 °C), cooking time (45, 60, and 75 minutes), the concentration of soda (10, 12.5, and 15%), were examined. The maximum pulp yield and kappa number was 36.7% and 22.8 respectively obtained at 10% of soda concentration, at 150 °C, and 63 minutes of cooking time from oven-dried raw material. The produced paper from the banana pseudostem has a tensile index, tearing index, smoothness, and porosity were 78.75 Nm/g, 19.1 mN.m2/g, 500-530μm, and 50 sec/100ml air respectively. This study indicates that high strength mechanical property and good surface properties paper can be produced from banana pseudostem pulp with a more environmentally friendly pulping process.

Growth and Fatty Acid Profile of the Aspergillus terreus in Different Culture Media and Temperatures

Fungi are a promising alternative source of oil to produce biodiesel, still very little known. The identification of a species with desirable characteristics is a fundamental component to achieve the economic viability of the process. The study aimed to carry out the evaluation of the fungus Aspergillus terreus in different culture media and different temperatures, the production of fungal biomass and in line with obtaining the profile of methyl esters of fatty acids. The fungal biomass revealed that in the NBRIP medium at both a temperature of 29 ºC and 36 ºC, it resulted in a great potential in the production of saturated fatty acids (SFA), which have excellent combustion properties, reaching values of 35.89 and 34,89%, respectively. For most species, the fuel would need to be mixed to make up culture conditions to be optimized and achieve the correct lipid profile, so that the fungal fuel meets European biodiesel production standards (EN 14214). Aspergillus terreus from iron ore tailings proved to be a promising microbial biomass as an energy source in the production of biodiesel.

ETIOPATHOGENESIS AND MANAGEMENT OF WAJAAL-MAFASIL (RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS): AN EVIDENCE-BASED COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by symmetrical inflammatory polyarthritis involving small joints of the hand and feet. It has a global prevalence of 0.8 to 1% in Europe and the Indian subcontinent. Rheumatoid arthritis (Waja‘al-Maf?sil) had been broadly described and managed by the Unani scholars since antiquity. Many pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment methods are available in the classical Unani literature. The treatment differs for different varieties of morbid humour involved in disease pathogenesis. Treatment aims to reduce morbidity and prevent disability, subsequently improving the quality of life. This review article mainly highlights the management of rheumatoid arthritis mentioned in classical Unani literature and supportive scientific evidence of various preclinical and clinical studies suggesting the potential of Unani medicine. This review article aims to explore the concept of rheumatoid arthritis in the Unani system of medicine to provide a better understanding of disease and its management through the holistic policy of Unani medicine. This review may conclude that Unani treatment can form an alternative source to manage RA.

Engineering Nanoplatform for Combined Cancer Therapeutics via Complementary Autophagy Inhibition

Despite advances in the development of tumor treatments, mortality from cancer continues to increase. Nanotechnology is expected to provide an innovative anti-cancer therapy, to combat challenges such as multidrug resistance and tumor recurrence. Nevertheless, tumors can greatly rely on autophagy as an alternative source for metabolites, and which desensitizes cancer cells to therapeutic stress, hindering the success of any current treatment paradigm. Autophagy is a conserved process by which cells turn over their own constituents to maintain cellular homeostasis. The multistep autophagic pathway provides potentially druggable targets to inhibit pro-survival autophagy under various therapeutic stimuli. In this review, we focus on autophagy inhibition based on functional nanoplatforms, which may be a potential strategy to increase therapeutic sensitivity in combinational cancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, phototherapy, sonodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy.

Transcriptional dynamics of gametogenesis in the green seaweed Ulva mutabilis identifies an RWP-RK transcription factor linked to reproduction

Background The molecular mechanism underlying sexual reproduction in land plants is well understood in model plants and is a target for crop improvement. However, unlike land plants, the genetic basis involved in triggering reproduction and gamete formation remains elusive in most seaweeds, which are increasingly viewed as an alternative source of functional food and feedstock for energy applications. Results Gametogenesis of Ulva mutabilis, a model organism for green seaweeds, was studied. We analyzed transcriptome dynamics at different time points during gametogenesis following induction of reproduction by fragmentation and removal of sporulation inhibitors. Analyses demonstrated that 45% of the genes in the genome were differentially expressed during gametogenesis. We identified several transcription factors that potentially play a key role in the early gametogenesis of Ulva given the function of their homologs in higher plants and microalgae. In particular, the detailed expression pattern of an evolutionarily conserved transcription factor containing an RWP-RK domain suggested a key role during Ulva gametogenesis. Conclusions Transcriptomic analyses of gametogenesis in the green seaweed Ulva highlight the importance of a conserved RWP-RK transcription factor in the induction of sexual reproduction. The identification of putative master regulators of gametogenesis provides a starting point for further functional characterization.