Nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly recognized as a valid alternative to grey infrastructures - i.e. hard, human-engineered structures – as measures for reducing climate-related risks. ...Increasing evidences demonstrated that NBS can reduce risks to people and property as effectively as traditional grey infrastructures, but potentially offering many additional benefits, e.g. improving the natural habitat for wildlife, enhancing water and air quality, improving socio-cultural conditions of communities. The growing attention on the NBS, triggered an increasing interest in developing integrated and multi-disciplinary frameworks for assessing NBS effectiveness accounting for the co-benefits production. Starting from the analysis of the existing frameworks, this work claims for a more direct engagement of stakeholders – i.e. co-benefits beneficiaries – in developing NBS assessment framework. This work aims at demonstrating that differences in co-benefits perception and valuation might lead to trade-offs and, thus, to potential conflicts. An innovative methodology using a quasi-dynamic Fuzzy Cognitive Map approach based on multiple-time-steps was developed in order to assess NBS effectiveness, and to detect and analyze trade-offs among stakeholders due to differences in co-benefits perception. The developed methodology was implemented in the Lower Danube case study. The trade-off analysis among stakeholders shows that they are quite low in the short term. Most of the potential conflicts can be detected in the long term, involving mainly the stakeholders that assigned a high value to the agricultural productivity variable. The results demonstrated that accounting for the different stakeholders' perception of the co-benefits is key for reducing trade-offs and enhance NBS acceptability.
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•Evidences regarding the NBS effectiveness in producing co-benefits are required in order to facilitate their implementation.•Engaging stakeholders in developing frameworks for assessing NBS effectiveness is key.•Differences in co-benefits perception and valuation might lead to trade-offs among stakeholders.•Including the time dimension in the trade-offs analysis allows to define when a potential conflict could emerge.
► Simultaneous xylose isomerization and ethanol fermentation using a gel biocatalyst. ► Chitosan matrix for glucose isomerase wrapped in calcium alginate
+
S. cerevisiae. ► Immobilized glucose ...isomerase and
S. cerevisiae can be used in a continuous reactor.
The use of the hemicellulose fraction of biomass may be important for the feasibility of the production of second generation bioethanol. Wild strains of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae are widely used in industry for production of 1st generation ethanol, and the robustness of this yeast is an important advantage in large scale applications. Isomerization of xylose to xylulose is an essential step in this process. This reaction is catalyzed by glucose isomerase (GI). A new biocatalyst is presented here for the simultaneous isomerization and fermentation (SIF) of xylose. GI from
Streptomyces rubiginosus was immobilized in chitosan, through crosslinking with glutaraldehyde, and the support containing the immobilized GI (IGI-Ch) was co-immobilized with
S. cerevisiae, in calcium alginate gel. The immobilization experiments led to high immobilized protein loads
(
30
–
68
mg
×
g
s
upport
−
1
)
,
high yields (circa of 100%) and high recovered enzyme activity (>90%). The IGI-Ch derivative with maximum activity presented
1700
IU
×
g
catalyst
−
1
,
almost twice the activity of a commercial immobilized GI, GENSWEET
® IGI-HF. At typical operational conditions for xylose SIF operation (pH 5, 30–35
°C, presence of nutrients and ethanol concentrations in the medium up to 70
L
−1), both derivatives, IGI-Ch and GENSWEET
® IGI-HF retained app. 90% of the initial activity after 120
h, while soluble GI was almost completely inactive at pH 5, 30
°C. The isomerization xylose/xylulose, catalyzed by IGI-Ch, reached the equilibrium in batch experiments after 4
h, with 12,000
IU
×
L
−1 (7
g
der
×
L
−1), at pH 5 and 30
°C, in the presence of fermentation nutrients. After co-immobilization of IGI-Ch with yeast in alginate gel, this biocatalyst succeeded in producing 12
g
×
L
−1 of ethanol, 9.5
g
×
L
−1 of xylitol, 2.5
g
×
L
−1 of glycerol and 1.9
g
×
L
−1 of acetate after consumption of 50
g
×
L
−1 of xylose, in 48
h, using 32.5
×
10
3
IU
×
L
−1 and 20
g
yeast
×
L
−1, at 35
°C and initial pH 5.3.
SW480 and SW620 colon carcinoma cell lines derive from primary tumour and lymph-node metastasis of the same patient, respectively. For this reason, these cells represent an ideal system to analyse ...phenotypic variations associated with the metastatic process. In this study we analysed SW480 and SW620 cytoskeleton remodelling by measuring the cells' mechanics and morphological properties using different microscopic techniques. We observed that different specialized functions of cells, i.e. the capacity to metastasize of elongated cells inside the primary tumour and the ability to intravasate and resist shear forces of the stream of cells derived from lymph node metastasis, are reflected in their mechanical properties. We demonstrated that, together with stiffness and adhesion between the AFM tip and the cell surface, cell shape, actin organization and surface roughness are strictly related and are finely modulated by colorectal cancer cells to better accomplish their specific tasks in cancer growth and invasion.
•Inexpensive metal ions reduce non-productive adsorption of enzymes onto lignin.•Mn2+ provided the best (hemi)cellulolytic activity and stability.•Saccharification of acid-pretreated bagasse with ...Mn2+ increased 34% glucose release.
High activity and stability are essential for (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes used in biomass conversion, while non-productive binding of cellulases to lignin reduces saccharification efficiency and needs to be avoided. One potential strategy is the addition of inexpensive metal ions. This paper describes the influence of divalent metal ions on the activity, thermostability, and saccharification efficiency of (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes produced in-house by Aspergillus niger under solid-state fermentation (SSF). The use of Mn2+ provided the best (hemi)cellulolytic activity and stability, with an increase in endoglucanase activity of up to 57%. The use of Mn2+ was then investigated in the saccharification of sugarcane bagasse submitted to acid, steam-explosion, and hydrothermal pretreatments. The addition of Mn2+ ions at 10mM in the saccharification of acid-pretreated bagasse resulted in a 34% increase in glucose release. These positive effects appeared to be due to a reduction in non-productive enzyme adsorption. The findings suggest that the addition of inexpensive metal ions can help to improve activity, thermostability, and saccharification efficiency of (hemi)cellulolytic enzymes.
► Immobilization of
Candida antarctica lipase B on chitosan and on chitosan–alginate complex. ► Supports were activated with glycidol, ethylenediamine and glutaraldehyde. ► High activities were ...achieved in comparison to a commercial immobilized lipase. ► During butyl oleate synthesis, high operational stability was achieved. ► Conversion of 100% was obtained in a 12-h reaction of butyl oleate synthesis.
Candida antarctica lipase B immobilization by covalent attachment on chitosan and on chitosan–alginate complex previously activated by different strategies was studied. Hydroxyl and amine groups of support were activated using glycidol and glutaraldehyde. Ethylenediamine (EDA) was also used in the activation process. FT-IR analysis confirmed the reaction of these activating agents with the supports. Several activation–immobilization strategies were performed and the best derivatives showed activities of 422.44
±
50.4 and 378.30
±
34.70
U/g-support for chitosan and chitosan–alginate complex, respectively, slightly less in comparison to the commercial immobilized lipase Novozym 435 (529.78
±
11.7
U/g-support). Best results of thermal stability (incubation at 60
°C) and operational stability (repeated cycles of synthesis of butyl oleate) were obtained for enzyme immobilized on chitosan–alginate, activated with 2% glutaraldehyde. This derivative was 33 times more thermally stable than the soluble enzyme, and it did not lose its initial activity after 8 cycles of a 12-h synthesis of butyl oleate. Chitosan, activated with 72% glycidol, EDA and 5% glutaraldehyde, showed less operational (loss of 16.7% of its initial activity) and thermal stabilities (only 12.5 times more thermally stable than soluble enzyme). Conversion of 100% was obtained in a 12-h reaction of butyl oleate synthesis, using the best derivatives (lipase immobilized on chitosan–Gly72%–EDA–Glu5% and on chitosan–alginate–Glu2%).
Mosaicism, the presence of subpopulations of cells bearing somatic mutations, is associated with disease and aging and has been detected in diverse tissues, including apparently normal cells adjacent ...to tumors. To analyze mosaicism on a large scale, we surveyed haplotype-specific somatic copy number alterations (sCNAs) in 1,708 normal-appearing adjacent-to-tumor (NAT) tissue samples from 27 cancer sites and in 7,149 blood samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas. We find substantial variation across tissues in the rate, burden and types of sCNAs, including those spanning entire chromosome arms. We document matching sCNAs in the NAT tissue and the adjacent tumor, suggesting a shared clonal origin, as well as instances in which both NAT tissue and tumor tissue harbor a gain of the same oncogene arising in parallel from distinct parental haplotypes. These results shed light on pan-tissue mutations characteristic of field cancerization, the presence of oncogenic processes adjacent to cancer cells.
Context
Glucocorticoid (GC) replacement therapy in patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) is life saving. After over 50 years of conventional GC treatment, novel formulations are now entering ...routine clinical practice.
Methods
Given the spectrum of medications currently available and new insights into the understanding of AI, the authors reviewed relevant medical literature with emphasis on original studies, prospective observational data and randomized controlled trials performed in the past 35 years. The Expert Opinion of a panel of selected endocrinologists was sought to answer specific clinical questions. The objective was to provide an evidence-supported guide, for the use of GC in various settings from university hospitals to outpatient clinics, that offers specific advice tailored to the individual patient.
Results
The Panel reviewed available GC replacement therapies, comprising short-acting, intermediate and long-acting oral formulations, subcutaneous formulations and the novel modified-release hydrocortisone. Advantages and disadvantages of these formulations were reviewed.
Conclusions
In the Panel’s opinion, achieving the optimal GC timing and dosing is needed to improve the outcome of AI. No-single formulation offers the best option for every patients. Recent data suggest that more emphasis should be given to the timing of intake. Tailoring of GS should be attempted in all patients—by experts—on a case-by-case basis. The Panel identified specific subgroups of AI patients that could be help by this process. Long-term studies are needed to confirm the short-term benefits associated with the modified-release GCs. The impact of GC tailoring has yet to be proven in terms of hospitalization rate, morbidity and mortality.
A fundamental understanding of the processes that control
Antarctic aerosols is necessary in determining the aerosol impacts on
climate-relevant processes from Antarctic ice cores to clouds. The ...first in
situ observational online composition measurements by an aerosol mass
spectrometer (AMS) of Antarctic aerosols were only recently performed during
the Two-Season Ozone Depletion and Interaction with Aerosols Campaign
(2ODIAC). 2ODIAC was deployed to sea ice on the Ross Sea near McMurdo
Station over two field seasons: austral spring–summer 2014 and
winter–spring 2015. The results presented here focus on the overall trends
in aerosol composition primarily as functions of air masses and local
meteorological conditions. The results suggest that the impact of long-range
air mass back trajectories on either the absolute or relative concentrations
of the aerosol constituents measured by (and inferred from) an AMS at a
coastal location is small relative to the impact of local meteorology.
However, when the data are parsed by wind speed, two observations become
clear. First, a critical wind speed is required to loft snow from the
surface, which, in turn, increases particle counts in all measured size bins.
Second, elevated wind speeds showed increased aerosol chloride and sodium.
Further inspection of the AMS data shows that the increased chloride
concentrations have more of a “fast-vaporizing” nature than chloride
measured at low wind speed. Also presented are the Cl:Na ratios of
snow samples and aerosol filter samples, as measured by ion chromatography,
as well as non-chloride aerosol constituents measured by the AMS.
Additionally, submicron aerosol iodine and bromine concentrations as
functions of wind speed are also presented. The results presented here
suggest that aerosol composition in coastal Antarctica is a strong function
of wind speed and that the mechanisms determining aerosol composition are
likely linked to blowing snow.
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