Association of Triglyceride and C-reactive Protein Level with Severity of Angiographically Defined Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is considered as a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Inflammatory cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to find out the association of C-reactive protein (CRP) and triglyceride (TG) level on the severity of CAD in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). This cross-sectional study was performed in the Department of Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of March 2018 to February 2021. Total 431 patients with ischemic heart disease were enrolled after taking informed written consent. CRP values were categorized into normal (<6 mg/L), borderline (6-10 mg/L) and high (>10mg/L) and TG level were categorized into normal (<150 mg/dl), borderline (150-199mg/dl) and high (≥200 mg/dl). Patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) were stratified according to CRP value and TG level. Severity of CAD was assessed by the Gensini score. Most of the patients (33.4%) belonged to age 51-60 years. The mean age was 51.31±10.30 years. The majority (74.5%) of patients were male. Among risk factors, the highest 205(47.6%) patients were smokers followed by hypertension 190(44.1%) and diabetes mellitus 175(40.5%). The association of TG and CRP with the whole spectrum of IHD was found statistically significant (p<0.05). Severe CAD was found higher in high TG and high CRP level group compared with the other groups and was statistically significant. Inflammation assessed by high CRP and hypertriglyceridemia associated with the risk and severity of CAD.

Improving Microbial Cell Factory Performance by Engineering SAM Availability

Methylated natural products are widely spread in nature. S-Adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) is the secondary abundant cofactor and the primary methyl donor, which confer natural products with structural and functional diversification. The increasing demand for SAM-dependent natural products (SdNPs) has motivated the development of microbial cell factories (MCFs) for sustainable and efficient SdNP production. Insufficient and unsustainable SAM availability hinders the improvement of SdNP MCF performance. From the perspective of developing MCF, this review summarized recent understanding of de novo SAM biosynthesis and its regulatory mechanism. SAM is just the methyl mediator but not the original methyl source. Effective and sustainable methyl source supply is critical for efficient SdNP production. We compared and discussed the innate and relatively less explored alternative methyl sources and identified the one involving cheap one-carbon compound as more promising. The SAM biosynthesis is synergistically regulated on multilevels and is tightly connected with ATP and NAD(P)H pools. We also covered the recent advancement of metabolic engineering in improving intracellular SAM availability and SdNP production. Dynamic regulation is a promising strategy to achieve accurate and dynamic fine-tuning of intracellular SAM pool size. Finally, we discussed the design and engineering constraints underlying construction of SAM-responsive genetic circuits and envisioned their future applications in developing SdNP MCFs.

Isolating Fistulifera pelliculosa from the northern Bohai Sea and analyzing biochemical composition, antibacterial and nutrient removal potential

The microalgae located near the estuary of the Liaohe River along the coast of Panjin have long been in an area with large fluctuations in salinity, temperature, and nutrients, and have high-quality alternatives for high-value metabolites. Three strains of microalgae were screened and the biomass of microalgae could be optimized 0.313-0.790 g L^-1 in 10 L bioreactor. The determination results of bioactive substances in these three microalgae showed that, the amount of fucoxanthin in the growth phase II (14 days) was maximum, at 5.354, 6.284 and 14.837 mg g^-1 respectively. The diatoxanthin of Dut-wj-J1 in growth phase III (21 days) could reach 5.158 mg g^-1. Dut-wj-J4 had the highest lipid production efficiency (9.45 mg L^-1 d^-1) followed by Dut-wj-J2 (8.49 mg L^-1 d^-1) and Dut-wj-J1 (8.18 mg L^-1 d^-1) respectively. These bioactive substances have inhibition zones of 7-13 mm against all four strains of bacteria ie., Acetobacter, Rhodococcus erythropolis, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis Cohn respectively. In addition, these microalgae can play a potential role in nutrient enrichment in eutrophic seawater. The NO₃^- degradation rates of these three algae in the first 14 days were 75.0 %, 45.8 % and 100 % respectively, as well as the PO₄^- degradation rates in the first 7 days were 94.8 %, 100 % and 80.9 % respectively. This work manifests the plasticity of algae isolated from the Bohai Sea and provides useful insights for further joint production of bioactive substances.

Employing Cationic Kraft Lignin as Additive to Enhance Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Corn Stalk

A water-soluble cationic kraft lignin (named JLQKL₅₀), synthesized by combining quaternization and crosslinking reactions, was used as an additive to enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis of dilute-alkali-pretreated corn stalk. The chemical constitution of JLQKL₅₀ was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of corn stalk at solid content of 10% (w/v) was significantly improved from 70.67% to 78.88% after 24 h when JLQKL₅₀ was added at a concentration of 2 g/L. Meanwhile, the enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency after 72 h reached 91.11% with 10 FPU/g of cellulase and 97.92% with 15 FPU/g of cellulase. In addition, JLQKL₅₀ was found capable of extending the pH and temperature ranges of enzymatic hydrolysis to maintain high efficiency (higher than 70%). The decrease in cellulase activity under vigorous stirring with the addition of JLQKL₅₀ was 17.4%, which was much lower than that (29.7%) without JLQKL₅₀. The addition of JLQKL₅₀ reduced the nonproductive adsorption of cellulase on the lignin substrate and improved the longevity, dispersity, and stability of the cellulase by enabling electrostatic repulsion. Therefore, the enzymatic hydrolysis of the corn stalk was enhanced. This study paves the way for the design of sustainable lignin-based additives to boost the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass.

Engineering an efficient whole-cell catalyst for D-allulose production from glycerol

D-Allulose has many health-benefiting properties and therefore sustainably applied in food, pharmaceutical, and nutrition industries. The aldol reaction based route is a very promising alternative to Izumoring strategy in D-allulose production. Remarkable studies reported in the past cannot get rid of by-product formation and costly purified enzyme usage. In the present study, we explored the glycerol assimilation by modularly assembling the D-allulose synthetic cascade in Escherichia coli envelop. We achieved an efficient whole-cell catalyst that produces only D-allulose from cheap glycerol feedstock, eliminating the involvement of purified enzymes. Detailed process optimization improved the D-allulose titer by 1500.00%. Finally, the production was validated in 3-L scale using a 5-L fermenter, and 5.67 g/L D-allulose was produced with a molar yield of 31.43%. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Determination of active sites on the synthesis of novel Lewis acidic deep eutectic solvent catalysts and kinetic studies in microalgal biodiesel production

Experimental and theoretical considerations for kinetic modeling of the transesterification reaction of microalgae lipids into biodiesel were investigated using Lewis acid deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as a catalyst. The acid sites involved in the reaction were characterized using acetonitrile as a probe to understand the mechanism. DES ChCl-SnCl2 (choline chloride-tin ii chloride) showed higher catalytic activity in transesterification due to its higher acidity compared to DES ChCl-ZnCl2 (choline chloride-zinc chloride). This was illustrated by geometric optimization of the DES structures through density functional theory (DFT) which showed that the metal centers furthest from the choline moiety are the most acidic and the bond lengths of Sn-Cl were between 2.56 and 2.77 Å, and were greater than the Zn-Cl bond lengths from 2.30 to 2.48 Å, making the ChCl-SnCl2 DES more acidic and more suitable for the biodiesel production. The fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) conversion from microalgae lipid was 36.75 mg g-1 under ideal conditions (6 molar ratio methanol-lipid with 8 vol% DES dosage in methanol at 140 °C for 420 min). The activation energy is found to be 36.3 kJ mol-1 based on the pseudo-first-order reaction, in addition, the DES catalyst (ChCl-SnCl2) drove the reaction chemically and did not show mass transfer limitation. Information from this study can help to advance the development of an efficient and environmentally friendly industrial biodiesel production technology.

Assessment of the Tolerance of a Chlorophyte Desmodesmus to CuO-NP for Evaluation of the Nanopollution Bioremediation Potential of This Microalga

Broad application of CuO nanoparticles (CuO-NP) for industrial and household purposes leads to a continuous increase in their discharge to, and, hence, ever-increasing environmental hazards for aquatic ecosystems. Microalgae-based technologies hold promise for bioremediation of diverse hazardous micropollutants (HMP), including NP, from wastewater. In this study, we tested the ability of the green microalga Desmodesmus sp. to accumulate CuO-NP or their components. We also assessed the tolerance of this microalga to the environmentally relevant concentrations of CuO-NP. Using scanning electron microscopy, we demonstrated that the average size of CuO-NP was 50-100 nm, and their purity was confirmed with elemental composition analysis. Tests of the colloidal suspensions of CuO-NP showed that the hydrodynamic diameter of CuO-NP and their aggregates was below 100 nm. Flow cytometry analysis showed that CuO-NP at a concentration of 100 µg L^-1 slightly inhibited the viability of microalgae cells and led to an increase in their oxidative stress. The assessment of the condition of photosystem II showed that CuO-NP exert a multifaceted effect on the photosynthetic apparatus of Desmodesmus sp., depending on the concentration of and the exposure to the CuO-NP. Desmodesmus sp. turned to be relatively tolerant to CuO-NP. In addition, the ICP-MS method revealed increased bioaccumulation of copper by microalgae cells in the experimental groups. The outcomes of this study indicate that the Desmodesmus sp. has a significant potential for bioremoval of the copper-based nanostructured HMP from an aquatic environment.

Produce D-allulose from non-food biomass by integrating corn stalk hydrolysis with whole-cell catalysis

D-allulose is a high-value rare sugar with many health benefits. D-allulose market demand increased dramatically after approved as generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The current studies are predominantly focusing on producing D-allulose from either D-glucose or D-fructose, which may compete foods against human. The corn stalk (CS) is one of the main agricultural waste biomass in the worldwide. Bioconversion is one of the promising approach to CS valorization, which is of significance for both food safety and reducing carbon emission. In this study, we tried to explore a non-food based route by integrating CS hydrolysis with D-allulose production. Firstly we developed an efficient Escherichia coli whole-cell catalyst to produce D-allulose from D-glucose. Next we hydrolyzed CS and achieved D-allulose production from the CS hydrolysate. Finally we immobilized the whole-cell catalyst by designing a microfluidic device. Process optimization improved D-allulose titer by 8.61 times, reaching 8.78 g/L from CS hydrolysate. With this method, 1 kg CS was finally converted to 48.87 g D-allulose. This study validated the feasibility of valorizing corn stalk by converting it to D-allulose.

Coupling with in-situ electrochemical reactive chlorine species generation and two-phase partitioning method for enhanced microalgal biodiesel production

Microalgal-based biofuel production is of great significance in alleviating energy crisis and achieving carbon neutrality. However, the excessive costs and high solvent consumption in lipids extraction from microalgal obstruct the widespread application of biodiesel in practice. Reported herein is the construction of facile strategy for lipids extraction via electrocatalytic pretreatment and a subsequent two-phase partitioning method. Electrocatalytic pretreatment method adopts the solar as power source and avoids the drying of microalgal biomass, in favor of carbon neutrality requirement. During this process, eco-friendly electrode with high specific surface area could contribute to the sufficient generation of reactive chlorine species (RCS), facilitating the outflows of intracellular lipid. As a result, assisted with two-phase partitioning method, a satisfied performance of lipid recovery (86.72 %) was obtained. Notably, compared with traditional solvent method, two-phase partitioning method greatly reduced the dosage of organic solvent, which is an economical or environmental technique.

Evaluation of Early Renal Involvement in Essential Hypertension by Measuring Urinary Biomarkers

Hypertensive kidney damage results in glomerular as well as tubular dysfunction. Albuminuria is a well-known marker of glomerular damage. On the other hand, urinary uromodulin is increasingly considered as a potential biomarker of early tubular dysfunction. The aim of the study was to assess glomerular and tubular function of the kidney by measuring urinary albumin and uromodulin excretion in hypertensive subjects. This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2018 to June 2019 in Hypertension Clinic of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka and Kidney Care and Research Centre, Sonargaon, Narayanganj, Bangladesh. In this study 122 hypertensive subjects with age >30 years, duration of hypertension <5 years, without accelerated or malignant BP, absence of dipstick proteinuria and eGFR >60ml/min were included. There were also 33 normotensive individuals included as healthy controls. Albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR mg/g), urine uromodulin-creatinine ratio (uUMODμg/g), urinary sodium-creatinine ratio (mEq/g) and potassium-creatinine ratio (mEq/g) were measured from single morning spot urine sample. Urinary uromodulin levels were measured by ELISA method. The hypertensive and normotensive subjects were age matched 49.0±12.0 vs. 48.0±11.0, years (p=NS). The mean uACR was 29.0±65.0 versus 5.6±2.7mg/g, (p<0.001) respectively. The median uUMOD in hypertensive subjects was 3.38 (1.73-9.06) and in normotensives 3.85(2.28-5.69) μg/g (p=non significant). Multivariate analysis showed significant inverse association between diastolic blood pressure and urinary uromodulin excretion. A uUMOD cut-off of 2.9 (25th percentile) showed eGFR, urinary sodium and potassium excretions were significantly lower at low uromodulin group. The glomerular involvement was found in 21.0% of hypertensive subjects as evidenced by albuminuria. No difference was observed in urinary uromodulin level between hypertensive and normotensive subjects. Low urinary uromodulin level was associated with lower eGFR, Na+ and K+ excretion which indicate simultaneous tubular and glomerular involvement.

Enhanced removal of tetracycline from synthetic wastewater using an optimal ratio of co-culture of Desmodesmus sp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae

A sustainable approach of Desmodesmus sp. GIEC-179: Klebsiella pneumoniae (DUT-XJR-t-1.2) co-culture ratios were optimized to remove tetracycline (TET) from synthetic wastewater. To enhance the tetracycline removal performance, the effect of microalgae-bacterial co-culture ratio, maximum TET concentration, effective inoculum amount, growth temperature and pH were studied. The optimized ratio 1:2 of Desmodesmus sp.: K. pneumoniae showed the optimal removal percentage at the temperature of 25 °C, pH 7 and 10% inoculum amount; and the removal of TET was recorded as 95%. Moreover, this study explored the Desmodesmus sp.: K. pneumoniae (1:2) nutrient (COD, NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3-) exchange relationship and their interaction of TET removal to better understand their fundamental mechanism. According to the results of this study, Desmodesmus sp.: K. pneumoniae co-culture could be a green option for bio-removal of tetracycline from wastewater.

Prospects of algae-based green synthesis of nanoparticles for environmental applications

Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to produce nanomaterials with diverse physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Previously used, physical and chemical methods involve the production of toxic byproducts, costly instrumentation, and energy-intensive experimental processes thereby, limiting their applicability. Biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles has come forward as a potential alternative, providing an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and energy-efficient approach for the synthesis of a diverse range of NPs. Several biological entities are employed in the biosynthesis of NPs including bacteria, fungi, and algae. However, the distinguishing characteristics of microalgae and cyanobacteria make them promising candidates for NPs synthesis because of their higher growth rate, substantially higher rate of sequestering CO₂, hyperaccumulation of heavy metals, absence of toxic byproducts, minimum energy input, and employment of biomolecules (pigments and enzymes) as reducing and capping agents. Algal extract, being a natural reducing and capping agent, serves as a living cell factory for the efficient green synthesis of nanoparticles. Physiological and biological methods allow algal cells to uptake heavy metals and utilize them as nutrient source to generate biomass by regulating their metabolic processes. Despite their enormous potential, studies on the microalgae-based synthesis of nanoparticles for the removal of toxic pollutants from wastewater remained an unexplored research area in the literature. This review was aimed to summarize the recent advancements and prospects in the algae-based synthesis of nanoparticles for environmental applications particularly treating the wastewater.

Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among students of Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh

Background and Aims

Anxiety and depression, as well as stress, are well‐known problems observed across the world, particularly among students. This study intends to identify the level of anxiety, depression, and stress among university students and determine its association with their sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods

The primary data were collected from 351 students with the help of a self‐administrated questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic information and contains the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale‐21 Items (DASS‐21) instrument over the period December 8, 2019–January 23, 2020. The χ² test is employed to find the association between the status of stress, anxiety, and depression level with selected sociodemographic variables, and confirmatory factor analysis is used to find interrelationships between DASS items.

Results

The results illustrate that no students have an extremely severe level of stress. However, the majority have a mild or moderate level of stress and it is associated with sex and residence (urban or rural). More than 40% of students have extremely severe anxiety. Results reveal that gender, residence (urban or rural), and family type of the students are linked with the anxiety level. The results also suggest that the type of accommodation of the students, their family type, and birth order are related to their depression level at a 5% level of significance. The findings also disclose that female students have more levels of depression, stress, and anxiety than their counterparts.

Conclusion

Considering the finding, the authors think that the university authority should pay a need for greater interest to the mental well‐being of students to enhance their quality of life. Given the harmful impacts of stress on academic performance and health, university administrators should be incorporating anxiety, stress, and depression management training in orientation activities.

Recent advances in photochemical and electrochemically induced thiocyanation: a greener approach for SCN-containing compound formation

Techniques utilizing photo- and electrochemically induced reactions have been developed to accelerate organic processes. These techniques use light or electrical energy (electron transfer) as a direct energy source without using an initiator or reagent. Thiocyanates are found in biologically active and pharmacological compounds and can be converted into various functional groups. It is one of the most prominent organic scaffolds. Significant development in photo- and electro-chemically induced thiocyanation procedures has been made in recent years for the conception of carbon-sulfur bonds and synthesis of pharmaceutically important molecules. This review discusses different photo- and electro-chemically driven thiocyanation C(sp³)–SCN, C(sp²)–SCN, and C(sp)–SCN bond conception processes that may be useful to green organothiocyanate synthesis. We focus on the synthetic and mechanistic characteristics of organic photo- and electrochemically accelerated C–SCN bond formation thiocyanation reactions to highlight major advances in this novel green and sustainable research field.

Techniques utilizing photo- and electrochemically induced reactions have been developed to accelerate organic processes.

Co-fermentation of succinic acid and ethanol from sugarcane bagasse based on full hexose and pentose utilization and carbon dioxide reduction

The full utilization of carbohydrates in lignocellulosic biomass is essential for an efficient biorefining process. In this study, co-fermentation was performed for processing ethanol and succinic from sugarcane bagasse. By optimizing the co-fermentation conditions, nutrition and feeding strategies, a novel process was developed to make full utilization of the glucose and xylose in the hydrolysate of sugarcane bagasse. The achieved concentrations of succinic acid and ethanol reached to 22.1 and 22.0 g/L, respectively, and could realize the conversion of 100 g SCB raw material into 8.6 g ethanol and 8.7 g succinic acid. It is worth mentioning that the CO₂ released from S. cerevisiae in co-fermentation system was recycled by A. succinogenes to synthesize succinic acid, realized CO₂ emission reduction in the process of lignocellulosic biomass biorefinery. This study provided a clue for efficient biorefinery of lignocellulosic biomass and reduction greenhouse gas emissions.

Al-doped α-MnO2 coated by lignin for high-performance rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Zn/MnO2 batteries, one of the most widely studied rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries, suffer from poor cyclability because the structure of MnO2 is labile with cycling. Herein, the structural stability of α-MnO2 is enhanced by simultaneous Al3+ doping and lignin coating during the formation of α-MnO2 crystals in a hydrothermal process. Al3+ enters the [MnO6] octahedron accompanied by producing oxygen vacancies, and lignin further stabilizes the doped Al3+ via strong interaction in the prepared material, Al-doped α-MnO2 coated by lignin (L + Al@α-MnO2). Meanwhile, the conductivity of L + Al@α-MnO2 improves due to Al3+ doping, and the surface area of L + Al@α-MnO2 increases because of the production of nanorod structures after Al3+ doping and lignin coating. Compared with the reference α-MnO2 cathode, the L + Al@α-MnO2 cathode achieves superior performance with durably high reversible capacity (∼180 mA h g-1 at 1.5 A g-1) and good cycle stability. In addition, ex situ X-ray diffraction characterization of the cathode at different voltages in the first cycle is employed to study the related mechanism on improving battery performance. This study may provide ideas of designing advanced cathode materials for other aqueous metal-ion batteries.

Mechanisms of bio-additives on boosting enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass

Expensive cellulase is one of the major obstacles hinders large-scale biorefining of lignocellulosic biomass. The cheap and biodegradable additives sophorolipid and whey protein were found to boost enzymatic hydrolysis, their mechanisms were clarified firstly in this study. Results showed that the effects of these additives on enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis were positively correlated with substrate content; when the solid dosage was 20% (w/v), the presence of sophorolipid and whey protein increased glucose yield by 17.8% and 11.9%, respectively; this could be attributed to sophorolipid favor to alleviate the non-productive adsorption between undesired substrates and enzymes caused by hydrophobic and electrostatic forces, and the ability of whey protein to block the site of enzyme adsorption of lignin; high shear and temperature conditions accelerate the inactivation of cellulase, and the addition of sophorolipid and whey protein reduced the inactivation rate by 7.8% and 13.6%, respectively, under enzymatic hydrolysis conditions.

Metastatic tuberculous abscess: A rare manifestation of cutaneous tuberculosis

Cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB), a rare manifestation of tuberculosis is one of the most challenging diagnoses to establish. Metastasic tuberculous abscess is a form of CTB which is characterized by cold abscesses on the patient's extremities or trunk without any involvement of underlying tissue. Here we report a case of 56-year-old Bangladeshi male with no previous history of TB, who presented with multiple abscesses over the body for 3 months. His diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of demonstration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lesions by staining, PCR and culture. But no primary focus was found. After 1 month of anti-tubercular therapy, significant improvement was noted.

Algae-Derived Bioactive Molecules for the Potential Treatment of SARS-CoV-2

The recently emerged COVID-19 disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has adversely affected the whole world. As a significant public health threat, it has spread worldwide. Scientists and global health experts are collaborating to find and execute speedy diagnostics, robust and highly effective vaccines, and therapeutic techniques to tackle COVID-19. The ocean is an immense source of biologically active molecules and/or compounds with antiviral-associated biopharmaceutical and immunostimulatory attributes. Some specific algae-derived molecules can be used to produce antibodies and vaccines to treat the COVID-19 disease. Algae have successfully synthesized several metabolites as natural defense compounds that enable them to survive under extreme environments. Several algae-derived bioactive molecules and/or compounds can be used against many diseases, including microbial and viral infections. Moreover, some algae species can also improve immunity and suppress human viral activity. Therefore, they may be recommended for use as a preventive remedy against COVID-19. Considering the above critiques and unique attributes, herein, we aimed to systematically assess algae-derived, biologically active molecules that could be used against this disease by looking at their natural sources, mechanisms of action, and prior pharmacological uses. This review also serves as a starting point for this research area to accelerate the establishment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 bioproducts.

Impact of COVID-19 on the social, economic, environmental and energy domains: Lessons learnt from a global pandemic

COVID-19 has heightened human suffering, undermined the economy, turned the lives of billions of people around the globe upside down, and significantly affected the health, economic, environmental and social domains. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the ecological domain, the energy sector, society and the economy and investigate the global preventive measures taken to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. This analysis unpacks the key responses to COVID-19, the efficacy of current initiatives, and summarises the lessons learnt as an update on the information available to authorities, business and industry. This review found that a 72-hour delay in the collection and disposal of waste from infected households and quarantine facilities is crucial to controlling the spread of the virus. Broad sector by sector plans for socio-economic growth as well as a robust entrepreneurship-friendly economy is needed for the business to be sustainable at the peak of the pandemic. The socio-economic crisis has reshaped investment in energy and affected the energy sector significantly with most investment activity facing disruption due to mobility restrictions. Delays in energy projects are expected to create uncertainty in the years ahead. This report will benefit governments, leaders, energy firms and customers in addressing a pandemic-like situation in the future.

Recent Advances in Producing Sugar Alcohols and Functional Sugars by Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica

The sugar alcohols and functional sugars have wide applications in food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. However, the smaller quantities of natural occurring sugar alcohols and functional sugars restricted their applications. The enzymatic and whole-cell catalyst production is emerging as the predominant alternatives. The properties of Yarrowia lipolytica make it a promising sugar alcohol and functional sugar producer. However, there are still some issues to be resolved. As there exist reviews about the chemical structures, physicochemical properties, biological functions, applications, and biosynthesis of sugar alcohols and/or functional sugars in Y. lipolytica, this mini review will not only update the recent advances in enzymatic and microbial production of sugar alcohols (erythritol, D-threitol, and xylitol) and functional sugars (isomaltulose, trehalose, fructo-oligosaccharides, and galacto-oligosaccharides) by using recombinant Y. lipolytica but also focus on the studies of gene discovery, pathway engineering, expanding substrate scope, bioprocess engineering, and novel breeding methods to resolve the aforementioned issues.

Novel biorefining method for succinic acid processed from sugarcane bagasse

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was pretreated with hot water (HLW), ethanol (ETH), and sodium hydroxide (SH). The obtained residuals were hydrolyzed and applied as carbon sources for succinic acid (SA) fermentation, the residue digestibility and SA conversion rate of alkali-pretreated residual were superior to others. Considering the characteristics of alkali pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and succinic acid fermentation, a novel in-situ semi-simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSSCF) procedure for SA production from SCB was developed. The yield, productivity, and conversion rates of SA from SCB raw material (DRM) processed by SSSCF were 41 g/L, 300 mg/L/h, and 320 mg/g dry, respectively. For every kilogram of SA production, the developed coupling method reduced the SH and water usages, energy consumption, and effluent emission by 0.14 kg, 233.5 L 14,000 kJ and 7 L, respectively, and enhanced the SA productivity by 1.7 times compared with the non-coupling procedure.

Novel biorefining method for succinic acid processed from sugarcane bagasse

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was pretreated with hot water (HLW), ethanol (ETH), and sodium hydroxide (SH). The obtained residuals were hydrolyzed and applied as carbon sources for succinic acid (SA) fermentation, the residue digestibility and SA conversion rate of alkali-pretreated residual were superior to others. Considering the characteristics of alkali pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and succinic acid fermentation, a novel in-situ semi-simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSSCF) procedure for SA production from SCB was developed. The yield, productivity, and conversion rates of SA from SCB raw material (DRM) processed by SSSCF were 41 g/L, 300 mg/L/h, and 320 mg/g dry, respectively. For every kilogram of SA production, the developed coupling method reduced the SH and water usages, energy consumption, and effluent emission by 0.14 kg, 233.5 L 14,000 kJ and 7 L, respectively, and enhanced the SA productivity by 1.7 times compared with the non-coupling procedure.

Experimental investigations for assessing the influence of fly ash on the flow through porous media in Darcy regime

Hydraulic conductivity plays a vital role in the studies encompassing explorations on flow and porous media. The study investigates the compaction characteristics of a river sand (Beas, Sutlej, and Ghaggar rivers) and fly ash mix in different proportions and evaluates four empirical equations for estimating hydraulic conductivity. Experiments show that an increase in the fly ash content results in a decrease in the maximum dry density (MDD) and an increase in the corresponding optimum moisture content (OMC) of sand-fly ash samples. MDD at optimum fly ash content was achieved at low water content, which resulted in less dry unit weight than that of typical conventional fill. In Beas, Sutlej, and Ghaggar sands the optimum fly ash content up to which the hydraulic conductivity value reduced uniformly was found to be 30, 45, and 40%, respectively. Any further increase in the fly ash content results in a negligible decrease in hydraulic conductivity value. The observed hydraulic conductivity of sand-fly ash mix lies in the range of silts, which emboldens the use of sand-fly ash mix as embankment material. Further, the evaluation of empirical equations considered in the study substantiates the efficacy of the Terzaghi equation in estimating the hydraulic conductivity of river sand-fly ash mix.

nCOVID-19 Pandemic: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Potential Investigational Therapeutics

In December 2019, a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related epidemic was first observed in Wuhan, China. In 2020, owing to the highly infectious and deadly nature of the virus, this widespread novel coronavirus disease 2019 (nCOVID-19) became a worldwide pandemic. Studies have revealed that various environmental factors including temperature, humidity, and air pollution may also affect the transmission pattern of COVID-19. Unfortunately, still, there is no specific drug that has been validated in large-scale studies to treat patients with confirmed nCOVID-19. However, remdesivir, an inhibitor of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), has appeared as an auspicious antiviral drug. Currently, a large-scale study on remdesivir (i.e., 200 mg on first day, then 100 mg once/day) is ongoing to evaluate its clinical efficacy to treat nCOVID-19. Good antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 was not observed with the use of lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r). Nonetheless, the combination of umifenovir and LPV/r was found to have better antiviral activity. Furthermore, a combination of hydroxychloroquine (i.e., 200 mg 3 times/day) and azithromycin (i.e., 500 mg on first day, then 250 mg/day from day 2-5) also exhibited good activity. Currently, there are also ongoing studies to evaluate the efficacy of teicoplanin and monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Thus, in this article, we have analyzed the genetic diversity and molecular pathogenesis of nCOVID-19. We also present possible therapeutic options for nCOVID-19 patients.

Critical processes and variables in microalgae biomass production coupled with bioremediation of nutrients and CO2 from livestock farms: A review

Development of renewable and clean energy as well as bio-based fine chemicals technologies are the keys to overcome the problems such as fossil depletion, global warming, and environment pollution. To date, cultivation of microalgae using wastewater is regarded as a promising approach for simultaneous nutrients bioremediation and biofuels production due to their high photosynthesis efficiency and environmental benefits. However, the efficiency of nutrients removal and biomass production strongly depends on wastewater properties and microalgae species. Moreover, the high production cost is still the largest limitation to the commercialization of microalgae biofuels. In this review paper, the state-of-the-art algae species employed in livestock farm wastes have been summarized. Further, microalgae cultivation systems and impact factors in livestock wastewater to microalgae growth have been thoroughly discussed. In addition, technologies reported for microalgal biomass harvesting and CO₂ mass transfer enhancement in the coupling process were presented and discussed. Finally, this article discusses the potential benefits and challenges of coupling nutrient bioremediation, CO₂ capture, and microalgal production. Possible engineering measures for cost-effective nutrients removal, carbon fixation, microalgal biofuels and bioproducts production are also proposed.

Effects of different nitrogen sources and light paths of flat plate photobioreactors on the growth and lipid accumulation of Chlorella sp. GN1 outdoors

To assess the potential of Chlorella sp. GN1 for producing biodiesel raw materials in flat plate photobioreactors (FPPs) outdoors, we optimized the nitrogen sources and concentrations for the growth of the algae. The effects of different light paths of FPPs on the growth, lipid accumulation, and fatty acids of Chlorella sp. GN1 were also studied. As the light path of the FPPs was reduced, the alga could accumulate lipids rapidly, achieving high lipid content and lipid productivity outdoors. The highest lipid content obtained was 53.5%, when the light path was 5 cm. In addition, the lipid productivity was 66.7 mg L^-1 day^-1. The main fatty acids were C16/C18, accounting more than 90% of the total fatty acids. Results showed that Chlorella sp. GN1 had the ability to accumulate large quantities of lipids in FPPs outdoors and was a promising microalgal species for biofuel production.

Investigating the potentiality of Scenedesmus obliquus and Acinetobacter pittii partnership system and their effects on nutrients removal from synthetic domestic wastewater

A lab-scale study of Scenedesmus obliquus: Acinetobacter pittii (S. obliquus: A. pitti) partnership cultured in synthetic domestic wastewater was conducted to evaluate the partnership performance for growth and removal of nutrients from wastewater. To draw out the functional dependencies of this partnership measured the ammonia-nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), ortho-phosphate (PO₄^3--P), soluble total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and have got the nutrient removal rate of 85.90%, 91.50%, 73.75% and 100% respectively. The results showed that their optimized partnership ratio is 2:1 for S. obliquus: A. pitti and, CO₂ & O₂ exchanges in between was the more crucial parameters to shifting the best nutrient removals performance and promoted biomass quantity.

Cultivating microalgae in wastewater for biomass production, pollutant removal, and atmospheric carbon mitigation; a review

Water shortage is one of the leading global problems along with the depletion of energy resources and environmental deterioration. Recent industrialization, global mobility, and increasing population have adversely affected the freshwater resources. The wastewater sources are categorized as domestic, agricultural and industrial effluents and their disposal into water bodies poses a harmful impact on human and animal health due to the presence of higher amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, heavy metals and other organic/inorganic pollutants. Several conventional treatment methods have been employed, but none of those can be termed as a universal method due to their high cost, less efficiency, and non-environment friendly nature. Alternatively, wastewater treatment using microalgae (phycoremediation) offers several advantages over chemical-based treatment methods. Microalgae cultivation using wastewater offers the highest atmospheric carbon fixation rate (1.83 kg CO₂/kg of biomass) and fastest biomass productivity (40-50% higher than terrestrial crops) among all terrestrial bio-remediators with concomitant pollutant removal (80-100%). Moreover, the algal biomass may contain high-value metabolites including omega-3-fatty acids, pigments, amino acids, and high sugar content. Hence, after extraction of high-value compounds, residual biomass can be either directly converted to energy through thermochemical transformation or can be used to produce biofuels through biological fermentation or transesterification. This review highlights the recent advances in microalgal biotechnology to establish a biorefinery approach to treat wastewater. The articulation of wastewater treatment facilities with microalgal biorefinery, the use of microalgal consortia, the possible merits, and demerits of phycoremediation are also discussed. The impact of wastewater-derived nutrient stress and its exploitation to modify the algal metabolite content in view of future concerns of cost-benefit ratios of algal biorefineries is also highlighted.

Process optimization for the production of high-concentration ethanol with Scenedesmus raciborskii biomass

Scenedesmus raciborskii WZKMT was subjected to fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation to facilitate the saccharification of high-solid-loading substrate for high-concentration ethanol. In this work, process factors affecting enzymatic hydrolysis, including enzyme loading, temperature, pH, and solid loading, were optimized. Results showed that 58.03 g L^-1 glucose, 12.57 g L^-1 xylose, and 1.45 g L^-1 cellobiose were obtained after the enzymatic hydrolysis of 330 g L^-1 substrates under the optimal conditions of 30 FPU g^-1 enzyme loading, 50 °C, and pH 5.5. Meanwhile, 89.60% yield and 30.43 g L^-1 content of ethanol were obtained after the fermentation of 330 g L^-1 hydrolysate. The maximum ethanol concentration of 79.38 g L^-1 could be achieved through repeated fed-batch process, indicating that S. raciborskii WZKMT is a promising feedstock for ethanol production.

Enhanced isolation of lipids from microalgal biomass with high water content for biodiesel production

In present study, lipids were extracted from unbroken microalga Chlorella vulgaris with high water content (50% microalgal solution) through three-phase partitioning (TPP). The method was found to extract around 15.9% of total lipid transformable to methyl esters (LTMEs) from unbroken microalgal cells which is two times of Bligh and Dyer method. We investigated the effects of various parameters on TPP performance and were optimised through response surface methodology. The results indicated that incubation duration, temperature and extraction time were positively correlated with LTME extraction efficiency. The optimum temperature was 60 °C, incubation duration was 120 min, extraction time was 60 min, ratio of solvent to DKP was 1:1. The FAME yield was calculated as 12.05% and major fatty acids together accounted for 71.33% which indicated the great potential of the proposed lipid extraction procedure for microalga-based biodiesel production.

A study on the geotechnical characterization and water retention characteristic curve of pond ash

The understanding of the engineering behaviour of unsaturated soil is totally dependent on the water retention characteristic curve (WRCC). In this paper, a comprehensive study of the WRCCs of pond ash along with the ash's geotechnical behaviour has been made. The WRCC has been drawn experimentally using a Fredlund device based upon the pressure plate technique for both wetting and drying cycles. Further, an investigation was carried out to study WRCC hysteresis of pond ash. There exists a considerable hysteresis in drying and wetting curves of pond ash sample. The different WRCC models were used to fit the experimental WRCC data. The effect of compaction on WRCC was also studied. The air entry value in the case of a loose sample is low and the sample gets nearly desaturated at low soil suction as compared to a dense sample. Also, the wetting WRCC is predicted using the Feng and Fredlund model as it is difficult and time consuming to measure the whole hysteresis. The predicted results are compared with the measured wetting WRCC. Since the direct measurement of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is difficult to obtain in engineering practices, the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity function is predicted using the measured WRCC as the input parameter using SEEP/W software.

Integrating Spirulina platensis cultivation and aerobic composting exhaust for carbon mitigation and biomass production

Aerobic composting is an effective way to dispose of organic waste. However, considerable carbon is converted into CO₂ and emitted into the atmosphere, which is a waste of the carbon resource and has the potential for the greenhouse gas effect. In this study, an innovative approach coupling aerobic composting exhaust and Spirulina platensis cultivation has been proposed and investigated, resulting in a double-edged solution to mitigating waste and co-generating biomass with a minimal cost of CO₂ supplied in the culture. Experimental results showed that the maximum biomass productivity ranged from 56.61 to 58.38 mg·L^-1·day^-1 was achieved using aerobic composting exhaust as a carbon source. Moreover, the CO₂ fixation rates of 46.36 mg·L^-1·day^-1 and 76.81 mg·L^-1·day^-1 were obtained by S. platensis cultivation. Finally, the chemical composition analysis of S. platensis biomass obtained in an optimum condition showed an abundance of proteins and lipids, thereby indicating its great potential for biofuel industry.

Chemical sensing platform for the Zn+2 ions based on poly(o-anisidine-co-methyl anthranilate) copolymer composites and their environmental remediation in real samples

A novel nanostructure of poly(o-anisidine-co-methyl anthranilate) (poly(Ani-Co-MA) copolymer has been synthesized by chemical oxidative in situ polymerization technique with equal molar proportion of monomers in the presence of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (SDBS) surfactant. The synthesized copolymers were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray crystallography (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-Vis, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and simultaneous X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study. The ultraviolet visible spectrum shows the π to π∗ transition and n to π∗ transition. XRD diffraction pattern confirms the amorphous nature of poly(Ani-Co-MA)-SDBS composites. The scanning electron microscope image shows the morphology of the copolymer matrix. For the selective detection of Zn⁺² cation in neutral phosphate buffer, it was fabricated Zn⁺² cation sensor based on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) coated with poly(Ani-co-MA)-SDBS composites as a thin layer with conducting coating binders. The proposed cation sensor has been found to exhibit the inertness in air and chemical environment, long-term stability with good sensitivity, a broad linear dynamic range practically, a reliable reproducibility, short response time, and high electrochemical activity. The sensitivity (0.3560 μA μM^-1 cm^-2) of Zn⁺² cation sensor has been calculated from the slope of the calibration curve. The linearity of the calibration curve is found over the linear dynamic range (LDR) 0.1 nM~0.01 M, and detection limit (DL) is 27.0 ± 1.35 pM at the signal to noise ratio of 3. This novel effort may be considered quite reliable and effective to detect Zn⁺² cation in environmental and biomedical sectors on a broad scale. Simultaneously, SDBS doped poly(o-anisidine-co-methyl anthranilate) copolymer composites were measured against medically important organisms Escherichia coli. E. ludwigi, and Bacillus subtilis. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Preparation and investigation of highly selective solid acid catalysts with sodium lignosulfonate for hydrolysis of hemicellulose in corncob

Saccharification of lignocellulose is a necessary procedure for deconstructing the complex structure for building a sugar platform that can be used for producing biofuel and high-value chemicals. In this study, a carbon-based solid acid catalyst derived from sodium lignosulfonate, a waste by-product from the paper industry, was successfully prepared and used for the hydrolysis of hemicellulose in corncob. The optimum preparation conditions for the catalyst were determined to be carbonization at 250 °C for 6 h, followed by sulfonation with concentrated H₂SO₄ (98%) and oxidation with 10% H₂O₂ (solid–liquid ratio of 1 : 75 g mL⁻¹) at 50 °C for 90 min. SEM, XRD, FT-IR, elemental analysis and acid–base titration were used for the characterization of the catalysts. It was found that 0.68 mmol g⁻¹ SO₃H and 4.78 mmol g⁻¹ total acid were loaded onto the catalyst. When corncob was hydrolyzed by this catalyst at 130 °C for 12 h, the catalyst exhibited high selectivity and produced a relatively high xylose yield of up to 84.2% (w/w) with a few by-products. Under these conditions, the retention rate of cellulose was 82.5%, and the selectivity reached 86.75%. After 5 cycles of reuse, the catalyst still showed high catalytic activity, with slightly decreased yields of xylose from 84.2% to 70.7%.

A novel carbon-based catalyst with high catalytic ability and xylose selectivity was prepared from sodium lignosulfonate.

One-step production of biodiesel from wet and unbroken microalgae biomass using deep eutectic solvent

One-step and Two-step methods were studied for lipid extraction from wet and unbroken (water content is 65-67%) Chlorella sp. and Chlorococcum sp. (GN38) using deep eutectic solvent (DES) treated microalgae cells. Further we optimized the extraction process and studied on its underlying mechanism. Among all DES, Choline chloride-Acetic acid (Ch-Aa) DES treatment showed optimal conditions at the mass ratio of DES: methanol-H₂SO₄ (2.00%) mixture: algae biomass was 60:40:3 with reaction time was 60min, and the optimum temperature was 110°C (Chlorococcum sp.) and 130°C (Chlorella sp.) respectively. The total content of FAME by One-step method with DES treatment was improved by 30% compared with Two-step method. This process is effective on wet and unbroken paste of microalgae biomass, so the FAME extracted using one-step with DES process is feasible for microalgae based biodiesel production.

Enhanced esterification of oleic acid and methanol by deep eutectic solvent assisted Amberlyst heterogeneous catalyst

In present study, esterification of oleic acid with methanol using deep eutectic solvent (DES) assisted Amberlyst heterogeneous catalyst was investigated to produce biodiesel. Results showed that esterification efficiency was enhanced by the DES. The combined effect of DES on Amberlyst BD20 (BD20) is better than Amberlyst 15 (A-15) due to different structure. The optimal reaction conditions were 12:1M ratio of methanol to oleic acid, 20%(wt/wt) catalyst (BD20-DES (2:8) and A-15-DES (8:2)) at 85°C for 100min with agitating at 200rpm. The mechanism involved in catalysis and their capacity to reuse were studied. We proposed, Choline chloride-glycerol (Chcl-gly) DES could enhance the Amberlyst function due to the hydrogen bond effect on both DES and water. BD20 has fewer pores than A-15, have desirable performance in decreasing the inhibition the water during esterification of high FFA content and provide better performance in reuse.

A new approach of microalgal biomass pretreatment using deep eutectic solvents for enhanced lipid recovery for biodiesel production

The biomass of Chlorella sp. was pretreated with three different aqueous deep eutectic solvents (aDESs), i.e. aqueous choline chloride-oxalic acid (aCh-O), aqueous choline chloride-ethylene glycol (aCh-EG) and aqueous urea-acetamide (aU-A). The effect of aDESs pretreatment of microalgae biomass was evaluated in terms of lipid recovery rate, total carbohydrate content, fatty acid composition, and thermal chemical behavior of biomass. Results indicated that, lipid recovery rate was increased from 52.03% of untreated biomass to 80.90%, 66.92%, and 75.26% of the biomass treated by aCh-O, aCh-EG and aU-A, respectively. However, there were no major changes observed in fatty acid profiles of both untreated and treated biomass, specifically palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid and stearic acid under various pretreatments. Furthermore, characterizations of untreated and treated biomass were carried out using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to understand the enhanced lipids recovery.

Sociocultural and host factors related to extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in rural Bangladesh: A case control study

Bangladesh ranks sixth among higher TB burden countries. Extra-pulmonary TB contributes 12% of all tuberculosis cases in 2008. Risk factors for EPTB in Bangladesh are hypothesized to be different from pulmonary tuberculosis as seen in other high-burden countries. A case control study was conducted to compare the sociodemographic, household condition and lifestyle characteristics between extra pulmonary and pulmonary tuberculosis. This case control study was conducted in thirteen sub districts of Pabna, Shirajgonj and Cox's Bazar districts from January to June 2013. The samples were classified as either extra pulmonary tuberculosis EPTB (cases) or pulmonary tuberculosis PTB (controls). A total of 490 participants including 245 extra pulmonary tuberculosis (cases) and 245 pulmonary tuberculosis (controls), who were being enrolled in DOTS treatment for last six months, were interviewed for epidemiological and clinical information using a standardized questionnaire. Children, adolescent and younger adults had four-time higher risk of being manifested with extra pulmonary tuberculosis [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.97; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.10 to 14.35] and (AOR 4.50; 95% CI 1.48 to 13.72). Respondents, who lived in their own houses showed three times more chance of getting extra pulmonary disease (AOR 3.11; 95% CI 1.15 to 8.39). Extra pulmonary tuberculosis was seven to eight times more likely to occur among those whose resided in bedrooms ventilated with one (p= .001) or more windows (p =.004) and having window shutter made of glasses or wood slit raised the probability of getting extra pulmonary involvement by twenty times. Households using grain husk and leaves as cooking fuel revealed seven times higher chance of being manifested as extra pulmonary tuberculosis (P <.001). Extra pulmonary cases were three times more common among respondents, who had no history of exposure with known tuberculosis cases than those who had frequent exposure history (AOR 3.01; 95% CI 1.24 to 7.34). Extra pulmonary tuberculosis was found 1.5 times more common among BCG vaccinated respondents than pulmonary tuberculosis (AOR 1.66; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.58). Younger age, house ownership, bedroom ventilation, fuel material used for cooking, contact history and BCG vaccination status might be the important risk factors for the extra pulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis relative to pulmonary tuberculosis.

Orally co-administrated oleo-gum resin of Commiphora myrrha decreases the bioavailability of cyclosporine A in rats

Cyclosporine A is a narrow therapeutic indexed immunosuppressant used after organ transplantation. Several herbs have been reported to alter its pharmacokinetics. Myrrh, dried oleogum resin obtained from Commiphora myrrha (Burseraceae) has been used for many common ailments. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of myrrh on the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine A. The rats of the control group received 60 mg/kg, p.o. cyclosporine A, and blood samples were collected at predetermined time intervals. Rats of the test group were treated with an aqueous suspension of myrrh (380 mg/kg p.o.) for eight days and on 8th day a single dose of cyclosporine A was administered to the treated group after 1 h of myrrh administration. Blood samples were drawn at predetermined time points and the drug was analyzed in whole blood by using H-Class UPLC-TQD. Pharmacokinetic profiles of control and test group were compared. Statistically significant differences were observed between the pharmacokinetic parameters of control and treated groups. In the myrrh treated group, the AUC(0-t) and C(max) of cyclosporine A was decreased by about 45% and 48%, respectively. The time to reach maximum concentration (T(max)) remained almost unchanged in both groups. Results indicated that the bioavailability of cyclosporine A was reduced by about 45% when co-administered with myrrh. This observation suggests that concurrent consumption of myrrh and cyclosporine A should be avoided. To confirm the clinical relevance of these findings, P-gp and CYP3A based molecular investigations can be performed along with a well-planned clinical study.

Enhanced removal of Zn(2+) or Cd(2+) by the flocculating Chlorella vulgaris JSC-7

Microalgae are attracting attention due to their potentials in mitigating CO2 emissions and removing environmental pollutants. However, harvesting microalgal biomass from diluted cultures is one of the bottlenecks for developing economically viable processes for this purpose. Microalgal cells can be harvested by cost-effective sedimentation when flocculating strains are used. In this study, the removal of Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) by the flocculating Chlorella vulgaris JSC-7 was studied. The experimental results indicated that more than 80% Zn(2+) and 60% Cd(2+) were removed by the microalgal culture within 3 days in the presence up to 20.0mg/L Zn(2+) and 4.0mg/L Cd(2+), respectively, which were much higher than that observed with the culture of the non-flocculating C. vulgaris CNW11. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying this phenomenon was explored by investigating the effect of Zn(2+) and Cd(2+) on the growth and metabolic activities of the microalgal strains. It was found that the flocculation of the microalga improved its growth, synthesis of photosynthetic pigments and antioxidation activity under the stressful conditions, indicating a better tolerance to the heavy metal ions for a potential in removing them more efficiently from contaminated wastewaters, together with a bioremediation of other nutritional components contributed to the eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems.

Current progress and future prospect of microalgal biomass harvest using various flocculation technologies

Microalgae have been extensively studied for the production of various valuable products. Application of microalgae for the production of renewable energy has also received increasing attention in recent years. However, high cost of microalgal biomass harvesting is one of the bottlenecks for commercialization of microalgae-based industrial processes. Considering harvesting efficiency, operation economics and technological feasibility, flocculation is a superior method to harvest microalgae from mass culture. In this article, the latest progress of various microalgal cell harvesting methods via flocculation is reviewed with the emphasis on the current progress and prospect in environmentally friendly bio-based flocculation. Harvesting microalgae through bio-based flocculation is a promising component of the low-cost microalgal biomass production technology.

Potential inhibitory effect of herbal medicines on rat hepatic cytochrome P450 2D gene expression and metabolic activity

The aim of current study was to investigate the effect of some commonly used medicinal herbs on the regulation of rat CYP2D gene expression and its metabolic activity. Wistar albino rats were treated for seven consecutive days with selected doses of five commonly used herbs (Trigonella foenum-graecum, Ferula asafoetida, Nigella sativa, Commiphora myrrha and Lepidium sativum). Thereafter, rat livers were harvested and CYP2D mRNA levels were determined by RT-PCR. The metabolic activity of CYP2D was performed on rat hepatic microsomes using dextromethorphan as specific substrate. All investigated herbs produced inhibition of CYP2D mRNA expression and metabolic activity. The inhibitory potential of investigated herbs on rat CYP2D mRNA was in the following order: Commiphora myrrha > Nigella sativa > Lepidium sativum > Trigonella foenum-graecum > Ferula asafoetida. Whereas, the inhibitory potential of investigated herbs on CYP2D mediated enzyme metabolic activity was found in following order: Nigella sativa > Lepidium sativum > Trigonella foenum-graecum > Commiphora myrrha > Ferula asafoetida. The current study shows that only used herbs reduce CYP2D activity in rat liver microsomes at the transcriptional levels. Such effects could lead to undesirable pharmacological effects of clinically used low therapeutic index CYP2D substrate drugs.

Impact of Herbal Medicines like Nigella sativa, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and Ferula asafoetida, on Cytochrome P450 2C11 Gene Expression in Rat Liver

AIM

Combined use of herbs and drugs may result in clinically important herb-drug interactions. The majorities of these interactions are thought to be metabolism-based and involve induction or inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP). The current study was designed to investigate the effect of some commonly used herbs on rat CYP2C11 gene expression and metabolic activity.

METHODS

Wistar rats were treated for 7 days with increasing doses of 3 herbs; Nigella sativa, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and Ferula asafoetida. Thereafter, CYP2C11 mRNA and protein levels were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analyses, respectively. In vitro metabolic activity of CYP2C11 was performed on rat hepatic microsomes using tolbutamide as specific substrate.

RESULTS

Our results showed that all the 3 herbs significantly inhibited the mRNA and protein expression levels of CYP2C11 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the in vitro enzyme metabolic activity study showed a significant decrease in the formation of 4-hyroxy-tolbutamide, a tolbutamide metabolite, at the higher doses. The inhibitory effects of the investigated herbs on rat CYP2C11 was in the order: Nigella Sativa > Trigonella foenum-graecum > Ferula asafoetida.

CONCLUSIONS

The 3 herbs are strong inhibitor of CYP2C11 expression, which can lead to an undesirable pharmacological effect of clinically used CYP2C11 substrate drugs with a low therapeutic index.