Use of Lignocellulosic Materials for PHA Production

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are very promising materials that might serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to petrochemical plastics. The main obstacle preventing PHAs from entering the market massively is the final cost of the polymer material, a significant portion of which is attributed to carbon substrate. Hence, the researchers have been intensively seeking cheap substrates for sustainable production of PHAs. Lignocellulose represents a very promising substrate for PHAs production – it is abundant, cheap, and it does not compete with human food chain. On the other hand, utilization of lignocellulose materials as substrates for biotechnological processes represents a challenge due to many factors, such as necessary hydrolysis of the biomass to yield fermentable sugars and presence of numerous antimicrobial agents. Therefore, this work summarizes recent advances in biotechnological conversion of lignocellulose materials into PHAs. The review not only deals with the process of fermentation, but it also considers different approaches of lignocellulose hydrolysis and detoxification

Interconnection of Waste Chicken Feather Biodegradation and Keratinase and mcl-PHA Production Employing Pseudomonas putida KT2440

Background and objective: Waste chicken feather is an important waste product of the poultry processing industry and is annually produced in substantial amounts. Hence, wise management of this waste is desirable. In this work we aimed at feathers biodegradation by a selected bacterial strain capable of utilizing chicken feathers as sole carbon source Pseudomonas putida KT2440. To utilize feather, the bacterial culture excrete keratinase, which can be easily isolated after biodegradation process and which, therefore, represents an interesting side product of the intended technology. Moreover, bacterial culture of employed for feather degradation is also capable of mcl-PHA accumulation.Materials and methods: Bacterial culture of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 was cultivated in presence of waste chicken feathers as the only carbon source; during the cultivation keratinase activity and biomass growth were monitored. Metabolically active biomass after feather degradation was used for mcl-PHA production.Results and conclusion: During cultivation on waste feathers, bacteria did not accumulate detectable amounts of medium-chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA); nevertheless, when metabolically active bacterial cells after feather biodegradation were transferred into nitrogen limited mineral media, a high medium-chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate content of 61% of cell dry weight in microbial cells was reached. The polymer consisted of 3- hydroxyhexanoate (27.2% mol) and 3-hydroxyoctanoate (72.8% mol) monomer units. Therefore, this work demonstrates a possible interconnection of feather biodegradation with keratinase and medium-chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate production.Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest

The manipulation of trees and linear graphs within a computer and some applications

PhD ThesisA digraph of z points and br arcs can be represented by its adjacency matrix. Within a computer this means a storage of z elements. By suppress1ng obv1ous information, a reduction can be made 1n the storage reqUired. The branches list representation stores the non-zero elements of the adjacency matr1x and requ1res only (br + z) elements. Any trees reqUired for computer manipulation are rooted and ordered. They can be represented in the two arrays below[j] and posnbr[j]1 where below[j] stores the below of a point j and posnbr[j] its pos1tive neighbour. However, th1s representation is very inconvenient for going up the tree. Thus another representation called the rd, lu representation is defined such that it is nearly as easy to go up the tree as to go down it. A few procedures were written which enabled an ordered-rooted tree to be divided into two parts and rejoined together at different points. This technique forms a basis for Top tree and Transportree. A succesfUl investigation was also carried out to find a relationship between labelled ordered-rooted trees and labelled binary pendant trees. Top tree is a heuristic method of obtaining a good solution in a relatively short time to the Travelling Salesman Problem. It is based on the observation that the majority of lines of a minimal solution (to the problem) appear in the minimal spanning tree (for that same graph). The technique is to reduce multi-membered stars of the minimal spanning tree so as to have all points incident to at most two lines. This seems to give very good results on both random data and published examples. The problem of minimising the bandwidth of a matrix was also examined. The problem was re-stated as that of having to label the points of a large graph so that the maximum difference between the labels of adjacent pOints is a minimum. The problem of doing this quickly was not solved but here again, techniques based on the spanning tree for that graph were evolved which reduced the initial bandwidth considerably. An algorithm was written which did find the minimum bandwidth labelling by going through the permutation list. But due to the size of the list this was slow and impractical for graphs with z greater than 20. The nature or this work was such that it was suitable to tackle the Shortest Paths ( through a digraph) Problem. The tree spanning technique was developed so that for large, highly sparse digraphs ( or networks), it was found to be more erficient than the Cascade method, one of the better matrix type methods. Finally H.I.Scoins method of solving the Transportation Problem was refined (and called Transportree ) so that the tree was not kept in the below array (i.e. as a rooted tree) but in the rd, lu representation. This results in the time spent list processing in order to go up the tree being drasticaly reduced. This last section was merely an exercise in showing how ordered-rooted trees and their manipulation are of use in a wide array of problems

Fertilization and early embryology: Use of lasers in assisted fertilization and hatching

The erbium-yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Er: YAG) laser has been applied to micromanipulation in humans. It was used in the fertilization process for both subzonal insemination (SUZI) and for partial zona dissection (PZD). Laser-assisted micromanipulation achieved significantly higher fertilization rates (34.8%) when compared to mechanical SUZI (16.1%), but use of the laser did not improve the PZD results (laser 14.8% versus mechanical 14%). The Er: YAG laser was used to assist hatching. In the mouse it significantly improved the hatching rate (80 versus 29.3%) 110 h after administration of human chorionic gonadotrophin. This technique was applied in two different centres to patients with previous in-vitro fertilization (IVF) failures. The implantation rate per embryo (14.4% laser-assisted hatching versus 6% control group) and the pregnancy rate per transfer (40 versus 16.2%) were improve

Pregnancy rates after slow-release insemination (SRI) and standard bolus intrauterine insemination (IUI) – A multicentre randomised, controlled trial

Abstract: This multicentre, randomised, controlled cross-over trial was designed to investigate the effect of intra-uterine slow-release insemination (SRI) on pregnancy rates in women with confirmed infertility or the need for semen donation who were eligible for standard bolus intra-uterine insemination (IUI). Data for a total of 182 women were analysed after randomisation to receive IUI (n = 96) or SRI (n = 86) first. The primary outcome was serological pregnancy defined by a positive beta human chorionic gonadotropin test, two weeks after insemination. Patients who did not conceive after the first cycle switched to the alternative technique for the second cycle: 44 women switched to IUI and 58 switched to SRI. In total, there were 284 treatment cycles (IUI: n = 140; SRI: n = 144). Pregnancy rates following SRI and IUI were 13.2% and 10.0%, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.202). A statistically significant difference in pregnancy rates for SRI versus IUI was detected in women aged under 35 years. In this subgroup, the pregnancy rate with SRI was 17% compared to 7% with IUI (relative risk 2.33; p = 0.032) across both cycles. These results support the hypothesis that the pregnancy rate might be improved with SRI compared to standard bolus IUI, especially in women aged under 35 years

Screening of winery and olive mill wastes for lignocellulolytic enzyme production from Aspergillus species by solid-state fermentation

Wastes from olive oil and wine industries (as exhausted grape marc, vineshoot trimmings, two-phase olive mill waste, vinasses, and olive mill wastewater) were evaluated for lignocellulolytic enzyme production (as endocellulases, endoxylanases, and feruloyl esterases) by solid-state fermentation (SSF) with Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ibericus, and Aspergillus uvarum. To study the effect of different solid medium composition and time in enzyme production, a PlackettBurman experimental design was used. Variables that had a higher positive effect in lignocellulolytic enzyme production were urea, time, and exhausted grape marc. The maximum values of enzymatic activity per unit of substrate dry mass were found with A. niger for feruloyl esterase. Enzymatic extracts from SSF with A. niger achieved maximum feruloyl esterase activity (89.53 U/g) and endoxylanase activity (3.06 U/g) and with A. uvarum for endocellulase activity (6.77 U/g). The enzyme cocktails obtained in the SSF extracts may have applications in biorefinery industries.Jose Manuel Salgado is grateful for the postdoctoral fellowship (EX-2010-0402) of the Education Ministry of Spanish Government. Luis Abrunhosa was supported by the grant SFRH/BPD/43922/2008 from Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia-FCT, Portugal

Assisted hatching in mouse embryos using a noncontact Ho:YSGG laser system

PurposeA noncontact holmium:yttrium scandium gallium garnet (Ho:YSGG) laser system has been designed and tested for the micromanipulation of mammalian embryos. The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to determine the effectiveness of this laser for assisted hatching and evaluate its impact on embryo viability. The Ho:YSGG system, utilizing 250-microsecond pulses at a wavelength of 2.1 microns and 4 Hz, was used to remove a portion of the zona pellucida (ZP) of two- to four-cell FVB mouse embryos.ResultsIn the first experiment there was no difference in blastocyst production or hatching rates following laser or conventional assisted hatching (LAH or AH, respectively) in contrast to control embryos cultured in a 5% CO2 humidified air incubator at 37 degrees C. In the second experiment a blastocyst antihatching culture model was employed and LAH-treated embryos were cultured in a serum-free HTF medium (HTF-o). Blastocyst formation was not influenced by LAH treatment and hatching was increased (P < 0.01) from 4 to 60% compared to HTF-o control group.ConclusionsThese preliminary data demonstrate the utility and nontoxic properties of the Ho:YSGG laser system for quick and precise ZP drilling

ART in Europe, 2017: results generated from European registries by ESHRE

© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Study question: What are the data on ART and IUI cycles, and fertility preservation (FP) interventions reported in 2017 as compared to previous years, as well as the main trends over the years? Summary answer: The 21st ESHRE report on ART and IUI shows the continual increase in reported treatment cycle numbers in Europe, with a decrease in the proportion of transfers with more than one embryo causing an additional slight reduction of multiple delivery rates (DR) as well as higher pregnancy rates (PR) and DR after frozen embryo replacement (FER) compared to fresh IVF and ICSI cycles, while the number of IUI cycles increased and their outcomes remained stable. What is known already: Since 1997, ART aggregated data generated by national registries, clinics or professional societies have been gathered and analyzed by the European IVF-monitoring Consortium (EIM) and communicated in a total of 20 manuscripts published in Human Reproduction and Human Reproduction Open. Study design size duration: Data on European medically assisted reproduction (MAR) are collected by EIM for ESHRE on a yearly basis. The data on treatments performed between 1 January and 31 December 2017 in 39 European countries were provided by either National Registries or registries based on personal initiatives of medical associations and scientific organizations. Participants/materials setting methods: Overall, 1382 clinics offering ART services in 39 countries reported a total of 940 503 treatment cycles, including 165 379 with IVF, 391 379 with ICSI, 271 476 with FER, 37 303 with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), 69 378 with egg donation (ED), 378 with IVM of oocytes, and 5210 cycles with frozen oocyte replacement (FOR). A total of 1273 institutions reported data on 207 196 IUI cycles using either husband/partner's semen (IUI-H; n = 155 794) or donor semen (IUI-D; n = 51 402) in 30 countries and 25 countries, respectively. Thirteen countries reported 18 888 interventions for FP, including oocyte, ovarian tissue, semen and testicular tissue banking in pre- and postpubertal patients. Main results and the role of chance: In 21 countries (20 in 2016) in which all ART clinics reported to the registry, 473 733 treatment cycles were registered for a total population of approximately 330 million inhabitants, allowing a best-estimate of a mean of 1435 cycles performed per million inhabitants (range: 723-3286).Amongst the 39 reporting countries, the clinical PR per aspiration and per transfer in 2017 were similar to those observed in 2016 (26.8% and 34.6% vs 28.0% and 34.8%, respectively). After ICSI the corresponding rates were also similar to those achieved in 2016 (24% and 33.5% vs 25% and 33.2% in 2016). When freeze all cycles were removed, the clinical PRs per aspiration were 30.8% and 27.5% for IVF and ICSI, respectively.After FER with embryos originating from own eggs the PR per thawing was 30.2%, which is comparable to 30.9% in 2016, and with embryos originating from donated eggs it was 41.1% (41% in 2016). After ED the PR per fresh embryo transfer was 49.2% (49.4% in 2016) and per FOR 43.3% (43.6% in 2016).In IVF and ICSI together, the trend towards the transfer of fewer embryos continues with the transfer of 1, 2, 3 and ≥4 embryos in 46.0%, 49.2%, 4.5% and in 0.3% of all treatments, respectively (corresponding to 41.5%, 51.9%. 6.2% and 0.4% in 2016). This resulted in a reduced proportion of twin DRs of 14.2% (14.9% in 2016) and stable triplet DR of 0.3%. Treatments with FER in 2017 resulted in a twin and triplet DR of 11.2% and 0.2%, respectively (vs 11.9% and 0.2% in 2016).After IUI, the DRs remained similar at 8.7% after IUI-H (8.9% in 2016) and at 12.4% after IUI-D (12.4.0% in 2016). Twin and triplet DRs after IUI-H were 8.1% and 0.3%, respectively (in 2016: 8.8% and 0.3%) and 6.9% and 0.2% after IUI-D (in 2016: 7.7% and 0.4%). Amongst 18 888 FP interventions in 13 countries, cryopreservation of ejaculated sperm (n = 11 112 vs 7877 from 11 countries in 2016) and of oocytes (n = 6588 vs 4907 from eight countries in 2016) were the most frequently reported. Limitations reasons for caution: As the methods of data collection and levels of reporting vary amongst European countries, interpretation of results should remain cautious. Some countries were unable to deliver data about the number of initiated cycles and deliveries. Wider implications of the findings: The 21st ESHRE report on ART, IUI and FP interventions shows a continuous increase of reported treatment numbers and MAR-derived livebirths in Europe. Being already the largest data collection on MAR in Europe, efforts should continue to optimize data collection and reporting with the perspective of improved quality control, transparency and vigilance in the field of reproductive medicine. Study funding/competing interests: The study has received no external funding and all costs are covered by ESHRE. There are no competing interests.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Combining literature-based and data-driven fuzzy models to predict brown trout (salmo trutta l.) spawning habitat degradation induced by climate change

[EN] A fuzzy rule-based system combining empirical data on hydraulic preferences and literature information on temperature requirements was used to foresee the brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) spawning habitat degradation induced by climate change. The climatic scenarios for the Cabriel River (Eastern Iberian Peninsula) corresponded to two Representative Concentration Pathways (4.5 and 8.5) for the short (2011¿2040) and mid (2041¿2070) term horizons. The hydraulic and hydrologic modelling were undertaken with process-based numerical models (i.e., River2D© and HBV-light) while the water temperature was modelled by assembling the predictions of three machine learning techniques (M5, Multi-Adaptive Regression Splines and Support Vector Regression). The predicted rise in the water temperature will not be compensated by the more benign lower flows. Consequently, the suitable spawning habitat will be reduced between 15.4¿48.7%. The entire population shall suffer the effects of climate change and will probably be extirpated from the downstream segments of the river.The study has been partially funded by the IMPADAPT project (CGL2013-48424-C2-1-R) with Spanish MINECO (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad) and FEDER funds and by the Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar (Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment). The authors thank AEMET and UC for the data provided for this work (dataset Spain02). Finally, we are grateful to the colleagues who worked in the field and in preliminary data analyses; especially Marcello Minervini (funded by the EU programme of Erasmus Traineeships, at the Dept. of Hydraulic Engineering and Environment, Universitat Politècnica de València).Muñoz Mas, R.; Marcos-García, P.; Lopez-Nicolas, A.; Martínez-García, F.; Pulido-Velazquez, M.; Martinez-Capel, F. (2018). Combining literature-based and data-driven fuzzy models to predict brown trout (salmo trutta l.) spawning habitat degradation induced by climate change. Ecological Modelling. 386:98-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.08.012S9811438