Investigation of biomass and agricultural plastic co-pyrolysis: Effect on biochar yield and properties

Complete separation of mixed plastic and biomass waste is a technically difficult, laborious, expensive and time-consuming process. Hence, co-pyrolysis of these agricultural waste streams with low levels of plastic contamination presents a novel approach for the management of these plastic containing wastes, producing stable forms of carbon with potential use in environmental, agricultural and industrial applications. In this study, spent growing medium along with plastic growing bags, and bean crop residues along with mulching sheets were selected to assess how the presence of plastics would affect the characteristics of the biochars produced. These feedstocks were combined in mass ratios (of plastic in the biomass-plastic mixture) of 0, 0.25, 2.5, 5 and 10%. The resulting feedstock underwent slow pyrolysis in a fixed bed pyrolysis reactor at a temperature of 550 °C to ensure complete conversion of the plastic components of the feedstock. From the results obtained from pyrolysis, low ratios of plastic were found to have a positive impact on biochar yield, while high plastic ratios were found to have negative effect. Higher level of plastic in the feedstock have resulted peculiar functional groups in the biochar, including carboxylate anions, amides and aromatic groups. Biochars produced from spent growing medium along with plastic grow bags (GM biochars) showed no phytotoxic effect, irrespective of the concentration of plastic contamination in the feedstock. Biochars produced from bean crop residues along with mulching sheets (BM biochars) on the other hand showed high level of phytotoxicity (zero germination), irrespective of level of plastic contamination. After washing all BM biochar, very low phytotoxicity levels with no statistically significant effect of plastic contamination were observed, with the exception of 10BM that showed somewhat a reduced germination rate (93%). The results of this study will be beneficial for determining the tolerable level of plastic contamination in managing mixed agricultural waste biomass and to produce biochars suitable for environmental, agricultural and/or industrial applications

The COOH-Terminal Peptide of Platelet Factor-4 Variant (CXCL4L1/PF-4var47-70) Strongly Inhibits Angiogenesis and Suppresses B16 Melanoma Growth In vivo.

Chemokines influence tumor growth directly or indirectly via both angiogenesis and tumor-leukocyte interactions. Platelet factor-4 (CXCL4/PF-4), which is released from alpha-granules of activated platelets, is the first described angiostatic chemokine. Recently, it was found that the variant of CXCL4/PF-4 (CXCL4L1/PF-4var) could exert a more pronounced angiostatic and antitumoral effect than CXCL4/PF-4. However, the molecular mechanisms of the angiostatic activities of the PF-4 forms remain partially elusive. Here, we studied the biological properties of the chemically synthesized COOH-terminal peptides of CXCL4/PF-4 (CXCL4/PF-4(47-70)) and CXCL4L1/PF-4var (CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70)). Both PF-4 peptides lacked monocyte and lymphocyte chemotactic activity but equally well inhibited (25 nmol/L) endothelial cell motility and proliferation in the presence of a single stimulus (i.e., exogenous recombinant fibroblast growth factor-2). In contrast, when assayed in more complex angiogenesis test systems characterized by the presence of multiple mediators, including in vitro wound-healing (2.5 nmol/L versus 12.5 nmol/L), Matrigel (60 nmol/L versus 300 nmol/L), and chorioallantoic membrane assays, CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70) was found to be significantly (5-fold) more angiostatic than CXCL4/PF-4(47-70). In addition, low (7 mug total) doses of intratumoral CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70) inhibited B16 melanoma growth in mice more extensively than CXCL4/PF-4(47-70). This antitumoral activity was predominantly mediated through inhibition of angiogenesis (without affecting blood vessel stability) and induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by immunohistochemical and fluorescent staining of B16 tumor tissue. In conclusion, CXCL4L1/PF-4var(47-70) is a potent antitumoral and antiangiogenic peptide. These results may represent the basis for the design of CXCL4L1/PF-4var COOH-terminal-derived peptidomimetic anticancer drugs. Mol Cancer Res; 8(3); 322-34

Chemical stabilization of Cd-contaminated soil using fresh and aged wheat straw biochar

Metal mining and smelting activities can introduce a substantial amount of potentially toxic elements (PTE) into the environment that can persist for an extended period. That can limit the productivity of the land and creates dangerous effects on ecosystem services. The effectiveness of wheat straw biochar to immobilize Cd in contaminated soil due to metal smelting activities was investigated in this study. The biochar carbon stability and long-term provisioning of services depend on the biochar production conditions, nature of the feedstock, and the biotic and abiotic environmental conditions in which the biochar is being used. Within this context, three types of wheat straw biochar were produced using a screw reactor at 400 °C, 500 °C, and 600 °C and tested in a laboratory incubation study. Soil was amended with 2 wt% of biochar. Both fresh and aged forms of biochar were used. Biochars produced at lower temperatures were characterized by lower pH, a lower amount of stable C, and higher amounts of acidic surface functional groups than the freshly produced biochars at higher production temperatures. At the end of the 6 months of incubation time, compared to the soil only treatment, fresh and aged forms of wheat straw biochar produced at 600 °C reduced the Cd concentration in soil pore water by 22% and 15%, respectively. Our results showed that the aged forms of biochar produced at higher production temperatures (500 °C and 600 °C) immobilized Cd more efficiently than the aged forms of lower temperature biochar (400 °C). The findings of this study provide insights to choose the production parameters in wheat straw biochar production while considering their aging effect to achieve successful stabilization of Cd in contaminated soils

Biological Activity of CXCL8 Forms Generated by Alternative Cleavage of the Signal Peptide or by Aminopeptidase-Mediated Truncation

Posttranslational modification of chemokines is one of the mechanisms that regulate leukocyte migration during inflammation. Multiple natural NH(2)-terminally truncated forms of the major human neutrophil attractant interleukin-8 or CXCL8 have been identified. Although differential activity was reported for some CXCL8 forms, no biological data are available for others.status: publishe

Canine herpesvirus-1 infection

Canine herpesvirus is known to be a causal agent of reproduction disorders and diseases of the upper respiratory system. Subclinical infections are also frequently observed. The interest for the virus has risen in recent years especially since latency has been demonstrated and a new vaccine has been developed. In this review article we will successively deal with virus characteristics, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis as well as therapy and prevention

HiBSO Hip Exoskeleton: Toward a Wearable and Autonomous Design

HiBSO is an active orthosis designed to assist the hip flexion-extension of the elderly. A fully autonomous system with untethered power electronics and energy supply is now available. Going beyond the restricted walking conditions of a treadmill unveils many opportunities for the understanding of human-robot interaction. Previous works have presented the mechanical design optimized for high transparency and light weight, while dedicated kinematics allow high torque for sit-to-stand transition and high speed for level walking. The control strategies are currently in the evaluation process. In this document, the recent improvements to the device will be described, from the mechanical design to the control electronics. Some specific aspects such as the remote communication for the controller are emphasized. The assessment of the power autonomy is addressed with two sessions of walking in different conditions, and revealed a maximum operating time of more than 80 min. In this context, the controller is based on adaptive oscillators for the gait detection and is combined with a 40% torque assistance based on biomechanics from the literature

Risk posed by the Ebola epidemic to the Pacific islands: findings of a recent World Health Organization assessment

OBJECTIVE: To assess the public health risk posed by the ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa to Pacific island countries and areas and to highlight priority risk management actions for preparedness and response