Preliminary Economic Potential Evaluation of Seaweed Gracilaria sp. Biomass Waste as Bioindustry Feedstock Through a Biorefinery Approach: A Case Study in Karawang, Indonesia

Seaweed processing usually produces biomass waste from unused and rejected materials, which have economic potential due to their bioactive components. This preliminary study aims to evaluate the economic potential of seaweed biomass waste through a biorefinery approach. Seaweed Gracilaria sp. biomass waste samples were collected from a representative seaweed production unit in Karawang, Indonesia, and their biochemical composition was analyzed. Relevant information related to seaweed biomass waste was gathered. The preliminary economic evaluation was assessed from the gross revenue of the proposed products, based on the assumed annual seaweed biomass waste productivity, biochemical composition, and estimated market price of the products. The present study revealed that the dry weight of Gracilaria sp. biomass waste contains 63.2% carbohydrates, 13.6% proteins, 1.6% lipids, and 21.5% ashes. Heavy metals were detected in the biomass waste, although no pigments were detected. This study estimates that 52 metric tons/year of Gracilaria sp. biomass waste could generate amino acids, fatty acids, lipids, carbohydrates, and minerals with potential gross revenue of ± USD 222,924.6/year. This study suggests that Gracilaria sp. biomass waste could be potentially used as feedstock to improve its economic value for bioindustry purposes. 

Pregnancy as a risk factor for severe influenza infection: an individual participant data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: WHO identifies pregnant women to be at increased risk for severe outcomes from influenza virus infections and recommends that they be prioritized for influenza vaccination. The evidence supporting this, however, is inconsistent. Ecologic studies in particular suggest more severe outcomes from influenza infection during pregnancy than studies based on individual patient data. Individual studies however may be underpowered and, as reported in a previous systematic review, confounding factors could not be adjusted for. We therefore conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis to assess the risk for severe outcomes of influenza infection in pregnant women while adjusting for other prognostic factors. METHODS: We contacted authors of studies included in a recently published systematic review. We pooled the individual participant data of women of reproductive age and laboratory confirmation of influenza virus infection. We used a generalized linear mixed model and reported odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: A total of 33 datasets with data on 186,656 individuals were available, including 36,498 eligible women of reproductive age and known pregnancy status. In the multivariable model, pregnancy was associated with a 7 times higher risk of hospital admission (OR 6.80, 95%CI 6.02–7.68), among patients receiving medical care as in- or outpatients, pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of admission to intensive care units (ICU; OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.48–0.69), and was not significantly associated with death (OR 1.00, 95%CI 0.75–1.34). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found a higher risk of influenza associated hospitalization among pregnant women as compared to non-pregnant women. We did not find a higher mortality rate or higher likelihood of ICU admission among pregnant women who sought medical care. However, this study did not address whether a true community based cohort of pregnant women is at higher risk of influenza associated complications

Understanding mild cell disintegration of microalgae in bead mills for the release of biomolecules

Cell disintegration is, in general, the first step in the biorefinery of algae, since it allows the release of biomolecules of interest from the cells into the bulk medium. For high-value commercial applications, the disintegration process must be selective, energy efficient and mild. Developing a process with such features would demand extensive experimental effort. In the present study, we attempt to provide a tool for developing an efficient disintegration process via bead milling, by proposing a modelling strategy that allows the prediction of the kinetics of cell disintegration while having as input not only process parameters but also strain-specific parameters like cell size and cell-wall strength. The model was validated for two different algal strains (Tetraselmis suecica and Chlorella vulgaris), at various values of bead size (0.3–1 mm) and bead fillings (2.5–75%) and at two different scales of 80 and 500 mL. Since the kinetics of disintegration is proportional to the kinetics of release of biomolecules, the model can be further used for scale-up studies and to establish a window of operation to selectively target cells or metabolites of interest. Furthermore, the energy consumption in the mill was evaluated and it was found that operating at high bead fillings (>65%) is crucial to ensure an energy efficient process.publishedVersionPaid Open Acces

Deep eutectic systems for carbonic anhydrase extraction from microalgae biomass to improve carbon dioxide solubilization

This work was supported by the project “DESalgae – Capturing and re-using CO2 using deep eutectic solvents and microalgae” funded by Dutch national fund NWO Open Competition Domain Science – XS [ OCENW.XS4.162 ]; Special thanks to AlGreen B.V. (Wageningen) for providing Spirulina sp. biomass. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors.This work is the first proof-of-concept of the use of carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzyme from microalgae biomass, extracted with deep eutectic systems (DES), with the goal of engineering a solution that will lead to a breakthrough in the Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) strategy. Three distinct microalgae were processed-Tisochrysis lutea, Chlorella vulgaris, and Spirulina sp.-with three DES-Choline chloride-Urea (ChCl-U), Choline chloride-Poly(ethylene glycol) (ChCl-PEG), and Poly(ethylene glycol)-Urea (PEG-U). To evaluate the most promising microalgae-DES, CA activity was evaluated with a specific enzymatic activity kit and through CO2 solubility assays. Preliminary results indicate that: DES is a suitable solvent medium for CA extraction from microalgal biomass, preserving its activity (specific CA activity up to 0.70 mU.mg-1); CA extraction efficiency differs between DES and microalgal species, indicating the potential for further research; from the tested DES, the ones containing PEG were favorable to maintain CA activity (CO2 solubility up to 4 g CO2.g-1 DES). This work paves the way towards a disruptive CCU approach.publishersversionpublishe

Pregnancy as a risk factor for severe influenza infection: an individual participant data meta-analysis

Background: WHO identifies pregnant women to be at increased risk for severe outcomes from influenza virus infections and recommends that they be prioritized for influenza vaccination. The evidence supporting this, however, is inconsistent. Ecologic studies in particular suggest more severe outcomes from influenza infection during pregnancy than studies based on individual patient data. Individual studies however may be underpowered and, as reported in a previous systematic review, confounding factors could not be adjusted for. We therefore conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis to assess the risk for severe outcomes of influenza infection in pregnant women while adjusting for other prognostic factors. Methods: We contacted authors of studies included in a recently published systematic review. We pooled the individual participant data of women of reproductive age and laboratory confirmation of influenza virus infection. We used a generalized linear mixed model and reported odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of 33 datasets with data on 186,656 individuals were available, including 36,498 eligible women of reproductive age and known pregnancy status. In the multivariable model, pregnancy was associated with a 7 times higher risk of hospital admission (OR 6.80, 95%CI 6.02–7.68), among patients receiving medical care as in- or outpatients, pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of admission to intensive care units (ICU; OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.48–0.69), and was not significantly associated with death (OR 1.00, 95%CI 0.75–1.34). Conclusions: Our study found a higher risk of influenza associated hospitalization among pregnant women as compared to non-pregnant women. We did not find a higher mortality rate or higher likelihood of ICU admission among pregnant women who sought medical care. However, this study did not address whether a true community based cohort of pregnant women is at higher risk of influenza associated complications

Expression of lymphotoxin-αβ on antigen-specific T cells is required for DC function

During an immune response, activated antigen (Ag)-specific T cells condition dendritic cells (DCs) to enhance DC function and survival within the inflamed draining lymph node (LN). It has been difficult to ascertain the role of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily member lymphotoxin-αβ (LTαβ) in this process because signaling through the LTβ-receptor (LTβR) controls multiple aspects of lymphoid tissue organization. To resolve this, we have used an in vivo system where the expression of TNF family ligands is manipulated only on the Ag-specific T cells that interact with and condition Ag-bearing DCs. We report that LTαβ is a critical participant required for optimal DC function, independent of its described role in maintaining lymphoid tissue organization. In the absence of LTαβ or CD40L on Ag-specific T cells, DC dysfunction could be rescued in vivo via CD40 or LTβR stimulation, respectively, suggesting that these two pathways cooperate for optimal DC conditioning

Childhood characteristics and participation in Scottish Mental Survey 1947 6-Day Sample Follow-ups: Implications for participation in aging studies

Given the ‘graying’ of especially the populations of most western nations, studies of factors contributing to well-being in later life are important and common, and it is important to their accuracy that they be based on samples representative of the populations in the relevant age groups. There is general awareness that several characteristics such as sex, socioeconomic status, cognitive ability and personality are associated with study participation, but many researchers assume that this reflects life circumstances at time of recruitment rather than inherent individual characteristics that shape those circumstances throughout people’s lives. The Scottish Mental Survey 1947 6-Day Sample Follow-Up Study offered an unusual opportunity to test this assumption, as follow-up study participation data were available both in young adulthood and at age 77. Participation at age 77 was dramatically restricted relative to that in young adulthood. Cognitive abilities and a composite of conscientiousness-related variables independent of cognitive ability assessed in childhood predicted participation at young ages, but much more strongly at older ages. Evidence was available that these results were not specific to the recruiting and assessment methods used in this study. This suggests that participation in studies of aging is a function not just of contemporaneous circumstances but also of early-life cognitive and personality characteristics that have shaped those circumstances.

Effectiveness of a technology-based injury prevention program for enhancing mothers’ knowledge of child safety: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Provision of anticipatory guidance for parents is recommended as an effective strategy to prevent injuries among young children. Technology-based anticipatory guidance has been suggested to reinforce the effectiveness of injury prevention and improve parents’ knowledge of child safety. Objective: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a technology-based injury prevention program with parental anticipatory guidance for enhancing mothers’ knowledge of child safety. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 308 mothers will be recruited from the antenatal clinics and postnatal wards of two major public hospitals in Hong Kong. Participating mothers will be randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. Mothers in the intervention group will be given free access to a technology-based injury prevention program with anticipatory guidance, whereas mothers in the control group will be given a relevant booklet on parenting. The injury prevention program, available as a website or on a mobile app, includes behavioral components based on the Theory of Planned Behavior. The primary outcome measure will be the change in the mother’s knowledge of child safety. The secondary outcome measures will be age-appropriate domestic safety knowledge, attitudes, intentions, perceived behavioral control, and self-reported behavior related to home safety practice. We will also determine dose-response relationships between the outcome measures and the website and mobile app usage. Results: Enrolment of participants will begin in October 2016. Results are expected by June 2018. Conclusions: Parents will be able to easily access the domestic injury prevention website to find information regarding child injury prevention. It is anticipated that the technology-based intervention will help parents improve their knowledge of child safety and raise their awareness about the consequences of domestic injuries and the importance of prevention. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02835768; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02835768 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation/6lbXYM6b9)

Tests of the random phase approximation for transition strengths

We investigate the reliability of transition strengths computed in the random-phase approximation (RPA), comparing with exact results from diagonalization in full $0\hbar\omega$ shell-model spaces. The RPA and shell-model results are in reasonable agreement for most transitions; however some very low-lying collective transitions, such as isoscalar quadrupole, are in serious disagreement. We suggest the failure lies with incomplete restoration of broken symmetries in the RPA. Furthermore we prove, analytically and numerically, that standard statements regarding the energy-weighted sum rule in the RPA do not hold if an exact symmetry is broken.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures; Appendix added with new proof regarding violation of energy-weighted sum rul

Deterministic evolution and stringent selection during preneoplasia

The earliest events during human tumour initiation, although poorly characterized, may hold clues to malignancy detection and prevention1. Here we model occult preneoplasia by biallelic inactivation of TP53, a common early event in gastric cancer, in human gastric organoids. Causal relationships between this initiating genetic lesion and resulting phenotypes were established using experimental evolution in multiple clonally derived cultures over 2 years. TP53 loss elicited progressive aneuploidy, including copy number alterations and structural variants prevalent in gastric cancers, with evident preferred orders. Longitudinal single-cell sequencing of TP53-deficient gastric organoids similarly indicates progression towards malignant transcriptional programmes. Moreover, high-throughput lineage tracing with expressed cellular barcodes demonstrates reproducible dynamics whereby initially rare subclones with shared transcriptional programmes repeatedly attain clonal dominance. This powerful platform for experimental evolution exposes stringent selection, clonal interference and a marked degree of phenotypic convergence in premalignant epithelial organoids. These data imply predictability in the earliest stages of tumorigenesis and show evolutionary constraints and barriers to malignant transformation, with implications for earlier detection and interception of aggressive, genome-instable tumours