Influence of the use of spore-forming bacteria with probiotic properties on the quality and safety of food

The paper discusses the prospects for the use of probiotic drugs as an alternative to growth-stimulating antibiotics, which, according to current scientific research, have shown themselves as drugs that allow getting livestock and poultry products that are safe in all respects. The results of the conducted studies allow drawing conclusions about the biological safety of probiotics in terms of its residual amount in the tissues of slaughter animals, which excludes a negative effect on the consumer's body

Cholinesterases in Tripartite Neuromuscular Synapse

International audienceThe neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a tripartite synapse in which not only presynaptic and post-synaptic cells participate in synaptic transmission, but also terminal Schwann cells (TSC). Acetylcholine (ACh) is the neurotransmitter that mediates the signal between the motor neuron and the muscle but also between the motor neuron and TSC. ACh action is terminated by acetylcholinesterase (AChE), anchored by collagen Q (ColQ) in the basal lamina of NMJs. AChE is also anchored by a proline-rich membrane anchor (PRiMA) to the surface of the nerve terminal. Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a second cholinesterase, is abundant on TSC and anchored by PRiMA to its plasma membrane. Genetic studies in mice have revealed different regulations of synaptic transmission that depend on ACh spillover. One of the strongest is a depression of ACh release that depends on the activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Partial AChE deficiency has been described in many pathologies or during treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors. In addition to changing the activation of muscle nAChR, AChE deficiency results in an ACh spillover that changes TSC signaling. In this mini-review, we will first briefly outline the organization of the NMJ. This will be followed by a look at the role of TSC in synaptic transmission. Finally, we will review the pathological conditions where there is evidence of decreased AChE activity

Global biomass trade for energy - Part 1 : Statistical and methodological considerations

Many countries have limited, low-cost biomass resources to satisfy their own demand for bioenergy. International trade of biomass in various solid and liquid forms is consequently increasing. The aim of this study is to present a quantitative overview of the development of international biomass trade for energy purposes, including a discussion of methodological issues. The paper focuses on the production, export, and import of solid and liquid biofuels, including industrial roundwood, wood chips, fuel wood, wood pellets, biodiesel, and bioethanol. The study highlights changes in trends that have occurred over the past decade. Trade on global bioenergy markets is increasing: total trade of biomass for energy purposes is estimated as having increased twofold from around 780 PJ in 2004 to 1250 PJ in 2015. Despite the importance of the bioenergy market and the growth of biomass trade for energy, accurate evaluation of energy-related biomass trade faces several methodological challenges, such as uncertainties in international statistics, inconsistent data regarding export and import -volumes, as well as limited information about the final use of traded products

How can solid biomass contribute to the EU's renewable energy targets 2020, 2030 and what are the GHG drivers and safeguards in energy- and forestry sectors?

The authors regret the following inconsistencies. Introduction section (page 759): ⁃ “did gradually include forests” instead of “did not include agriculture and forests"⁃ “forests and other land use (changes) are officially recognized within the EU” instead of “forests are officially recognized"⁃ the phrase “(i.e. CP3 from 2021 to 2030)” is not applicable and can be deleted.Section 4.1.2 Non ETS sector (page 765) ⁃ so an increase of around 425 PJ in between 2020 and 2030 in the EU, excluding the UK and Ireland. With the inclusion of the non-ETS part of the Irish National Climate and Energy Plan, the EU demand for solid biomass is expected to increase by about 430 PJ in 2020–2030. The increase of Irish demand for power production (ETS part) is negligible in that period.Section 5.2 sustainable sourcing (page 766) “Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC)” instead of “Program European Forest Certification (PEFC)”. References (page 772) Reference [71] should be Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Verification protocol for sustainable solid biomass for energy applications. Commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, January 2020. Available from: https://english.rvo.nl/sites/default/files/2020/03/Verification%20protocol%20for%20Sustainable%20Solid%20Biomass%20for%20Energy%20Applications.pdf (Accessed 1 May 2020). Reference [91] (Navigant 2020) included an inappropriate weblink. The appropriate link for the background documents of the 5th renewable energy progress report (COM 952 final) is: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/energy-strategy/energy-union/fifth-report-state-energy-union_en. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.</p

How can solid biomass contribute to the EU's renewable energy targets in 2020, 2030 and what are the GHG drivers and safeguards in energy- and forestry sectors?

European Union set an ambitious 20% target of its energy consumption from renewable resources 20% by 2020. The aim of this paper is to assess the contribution of solid biomass to renewables use in the EU. During 2010–2018 the share of solid biomass increased from 6.1% to 8.0% of total GFEC, an increase of almost 300 PJ. The paper identifies leading and lagging countries in biomass development by focusing on their current solid biomass share in GFEC. The study shows that leading countries have reached or are close to reach their target, while lagging countries are far from their targets. ETS and non-ETS targets play both a role in the growing use of solid biomass. Despite some challenges, the forest biomass sector allows the sustainable increase of bioenergy in the EU, when the harvest level remains below 90% of net annual increment (except for natural disasters) and there is a stable division between fuelwood and harvested wood for solid products. Forests available for wood supply (FAWS) should be treated differently from non-FAWS areas (protected forests, biodiversity areas), because of different carbon dynamics. The EU Member States may wish to introduce a fixed ratio between FAWS and non FAWS areas, in order to optimally meet the corresponding wishes in EU's forest and biodiversity strategies.</p

How are the EU member states contributing to the biomass target for EU’s renewable energy consumption and environmental impact?

The European Union has increased its ambitious targets by raising the share of EU energy consumption produced from renewable resources from 20% by 2020 to 32% by 2030. For the aim of the analysis carried out in this paper the EU countries are divided into three groups having as main criteria the share that the use of solid biomass used for electricity and heat production had in their Gross Final Energy Consumption over period 2013-2017. Based on this criteria, the leading countries in the EU bioenergy deployment are in addition to Nordic and Baltic countries also Austria, Romania, Croatia and Portugal. Almost all countries of this group have already exceeded their 2020 targets on RES share due to the large progress of biomass in heating/cooling sector. Estonia, Latvia and Portugal are the main leader of industrial wood pellets supply in the EU. Lagging countries are those with a share of solid biomass in the gross final energy consumption below 5.6%, including countries as Spain, Greece, Belgium, UK, Netherlands, Ireland, Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta. Notably, this group has in total the lowest distance to 2020 plans on biomass due to the low expectations set in their NREAPs. In between lies the Intermediate group with countries as Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, France, Slovenia, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. This group has in overall the largest distance from 2020 plans on biomass due to the ambitious plans they set in their NREAPs.</p

Global biomass trade for energy - Part 1 : Statistical and methodological considerations

Many countries have limited, low-cost biomass resources to satisfy their own demand for bioenergy. International trade of biomass in various solid and liquid forms is consequently increasing. The aim of this study is to present a quantitative overview of the development of international biomass trade for energy purposes, including a discussion of methodological issues. The paper focuses on the production, export, and import of solid and liquid biofuels, including industrial roundwood, wood chips, fuel wood, wood pellets, biodiesel, and bioethanol. The study highlights changes in trends that have occurred over the past decade. Trade on global bioenergy markets is increasing: total trade of biomass for energy purposes is estimated as having increased twofold from around 780 PJ in 2004 to 1250 PJ in 2015. Despite the importance of the bioenergy market and the growth of biomass trade for energy, accurate evaluation of energy-related biomass trade faces several methodological challenges, such as uncertainties in international statistics, inconsistent data regarding export and import -volumes, as well as limited information about the final use of traded products

Data demonstrating the Finnish wood pellet industry and future perspectives

This article contains data related to the research article entitled “A survey analysis of the wood pellet industry in Finland: Future perspectives" (S. Proskurina, E. Alakangas, J. Heinimö, M. Mikkilä, E. Vakkilainen, 2016) [1]. The dataset include information about the importance of wood pellets on the global bioenergy development and role of wood pellets on the Finnish bioenergy development. Data leads to an expansion of knowledge and discoveries of new possibility for wood pellets industry analysis

Global biomass trade for energy- Part 2 : Production and trade streams of wood pellets, liquid biofuels, charcoal, industrial roundwood and emerging energy biomass

Many countries have limited low-cost biomass resources to satisfy their own demand for bioenergy; consequently, international trade in biomass in various liquid and solid forms is -increasing. The aim of this study is to present a quantitative overview of the development of international biomass trade for energy purposes. This paper focuses on the main biomass producing and consuming countries, as well as exporters and importers of liquid and solid biofuels, such as wood pellets, biodiesel, and bio-ethanol, and biomass products, for example industrial roundwood. The study -discusses changes in trends that have occurred over the past decade, and investigates emerging energy -biomass trade streams. Due to increased demand for wood pellets from the heating and -industrial sectors, global wood pellet markets and international trade have increased significantly in the past decade. The United States and Brazil remain leaders in bio-ethanol production with about 45 Mt and 24 Mt respectively. In recent years, Asian markets such as China (industrial roundwood), South Korea (wood pellets), Malaysia, and Indonesia (palm oil) have developed considerably. In the EU-28, more than 60% of total palm oil consumption is used for energy purposes. The EU is the global leader in biomass for energy utilization and also the main importer of most biomass products, particularly wood pellets

Influence of the use of spore-forming bacteria with probiotic properties on the quality and safety of food

The paper discusses the prospects for the use of probiotic drugs as an alternative to growth-stimulating antibiotics, which, according to current scientific research, have shown themselves as drugs that allow getting livestock and poultry products that are safe in all respects. The results of the conducted studies allow drawing conclusions about the biological safety of probiotics in terms of its residual amount in the tissues of slaughter animals, which excludes a negative effect on the consumer's body