Food, Pandemics, and the Anthropocene: On the Necessity of Food and Agriculture Change

The COVID-19 crisis demonstrates forcefully that human health, the well-being of animals, and planetary health must not be viewed in isolation—and that they all depend to a large extent on the ways in which we produce, process, trade, and consume food. In this perspective essay, we argue for the centrality of food and agriculture to the epoch of the Anthropocene and why profound changes are needed more than ever. We close with some reflections on how the disruptions associated with the current pandemic also offer the opportunity for the necessary ecological, economic, and social transformation of our agri-food systems—toward healthy humans, animals, and a healthy and biodiverse planet

A Comparison of Distillery Stillage Disposal Methods

This paper compares the main stillage disposal methods from the point of view of technology, economics and energetics. Attention is paid to the disposal of both solid and liquid phase. Specifically, the following methods are considered: a) livestock feeding, b) combustion of granulated stillages, c) fertilizer production, d) anaerobic digestion with biogas production and e) chemical pretreatment and subsequent secondary treatment. Other disposal techniques mentioned in the literature (electrofenton reaction, electrocoagulation and reverse osmosis) have not been considered, due to their high costs and technological requirements.Energy and economic calculations were carried out for a planned production of 120 m3 of stillage per day in a given distillery. Only specific treatment operating costs (per 1 m3 of stillage) were compared, including operational costs for energy, transport and chemicals. These values were determined for January 31st, 2009. Resulting sequence of cost effectiveness: 1. – chemical pretreatment, 2. – combustion of granulated stillage, 3. – transportation of stillage to a biogas station, 4. – fertilizer production, 5. – livestock feeding. This study found that chemical pretreatment of stillage with secondary treatment (a method developed at the Department of Process Engineering, CTU) was more suitable than the other methods. Also, there are some important technical advantages. Using this method, the total operating costs are approximately 1 150 ??/day, i.e. about 9,5 ??/m3 of stillage. The price of chemicals is the most important item in these costs, representing about 85 % of the total operating costs

The safety evaluation of food flavoring substances: the role of genotoxicity studies

The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) Expert Panel relies on the weight of evidence from all available data in the safety evaluation of flavoring substances. This process includes data from genotoxicity studies designed to assess the potential of a chemical agent to react with DNA or otherwise cause changes to DNA, either in vitro or in vivo. The Panel has reviewed a large number of in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity studies during the course of its ongoing safety evaluations of flavorings. The adherence of genotoxicity studies to standardized protocols and guidelines, the biological relevance of the results from those studies, and the human relevance of these studies are all important considerations in assessing whether the results raise specific concerns for genotoxic potential. The Panel evaluates genotoxicity studies not only for evidence of genotoxicity hazard, but also for the probability of risk to the consumer in the context of exposure from their use as flavoring substances. The majority of flavoring substances have given no indication of genotoxic potential in studies evaluated by the FEMA Expert Panel. Examples illustrating the assessment of genotoxicity data for flavoring substances and the consideration of the factors noted above are provided. The weight of evidence approach adopted by the FEMA Expert Panel leads to a rational assessment of risk associated with consumer intake of flavoring substances under the conditions of use

Digitalization and the Anthropocene

Great claims have been made about the benefits of dematerialization in a digital service economy. However, digitalization has historically increased environmental impacts at local and planetary scales, affecting labor markets, resource use, governance, and power relationships. Here we study the past, present, and future of digitalization through the lens of three interdependent elements of the Anthropocene: (a) planetary boundaries and stability, (b) equity within and between countries, and (c) human agency and governance, mediated via (i) increasing resource efficiency, (ii) accelerating consumption and scale effects, (iii) expanding political and economic control, and (iv) deteriorating social cohesion. While direct environmental impacts matter, the indirect and systemic effects of digitalization are more profoundly reshaping the relationship between humans, technosphere and planet. We develop three scenarios: planetary instability, green but inhumane, and deliberate for the good. We conclude with identifying leverage points that shift human–digital–Earth interactions toward sustainability

Passively Q-switched erbium-doped fiber laser with graphene oxide film as saturable absorber

Passively Q-switched erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) have been demonstrated using graphene oxide (GO) film as saturable absorber (SA). The aim of this experiment is to generate and demonstrate passively Q-Switched Erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) using GO as a saturable absorber. Stable Q-switched operation can be achieved at 1558.8 nm. By increasing the pump power from 26.32mW to 71.65mW, the repetition rate also increased from 30.58 kHz to 51.81k Hz. The pulse width of the laser were 11.2 - 4.73 µs. The maximum output power and maximum peak power obtained are 128 µW and 521.98 µW respectively at a pump power of 71.65 mW. The pulse energy reaches 2.47nJ. These results show that GO is a new potential SA material for pulsed laser applications

Time spent with cats is never wasted: Lessons learned from feline acromegalic cardiomyopathy, a naturally occurring animal model of the human disease

<div><p>Background</p><p>In humans, acromegaly due to a pituitary somatotrophic adenoma is a recognized cause of increased left ventricular (LV) mass. Acromegalic cardiomyopathy is incompletely understood, and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We describe the clinical, echocardiographic and histopathologic features of naturally occurring feline acromegalic cardiomyopathy, an emerging disease among domestic cats.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Cats with confirmed hypersomatotropism (IGF-1>1000ng/ml and pituitary mass; n = 67) were prospectively recruited, as were two control groups: diabetics (IGF-1<800ng/ml; n = 24) and healthy cats without known endocrinopathy or cardiovascular disease (n = 16). Echocardiography was performed in all cases, including after hypersomatotropism treatment where applicable. Additionally, tissue samples from deceased cats with hypersomatotropism, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and age-matched controls (n = 21 each) were collected and systematically histopathologically reviewed and compared.</p><p>Results</p><p>By echocardiography, cats with hypersomatotropism had a greater maximum LV wall thickness (6.5mm, 4.1–10.1mm) than diabetic (5.9mm, 4.2–9.1mm; Mann Whitney, p<0.001) or control cats (5.2mm, 4.1–6.5mm; Mann Whitney, p<0.001). Left atrial diameter was also greater in cats with hypersomatotropism (16.6mm, 13.0–29.5mm) than in diabetic (15.4mm, 11.2–20.3mm; Mann Whitney, p<0.001) and control cats (14.0mm, 12.6–17.4mm; Mann Whitney, p<0.001). After hypophysectomy and normalization of IGF-1 concentration (n = 20), echocardiographic changes proved mostly reversible. As in humans, histopathology of the feline acromegalic heart was dominated by myocyte hypertrophy with interstitial fibrosis and minimal myofiber disarray.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>These results demonstrate cats could be considered a naturally occurring model of acromegalic cardiomyopathy, and as such help elucidate mechanisms driving cardiovascular remodeling in this disease.</p></div