I show that particle collider experiments on relativistic nuclear collisions can serve as direct probes of the deformation of the colliding nuclear species. I argue that collision events presenting ...very large multiplicities of particles and very small values of the average transverse momentum of the emitted hadrons probe collision geometries in which the nuclear ellipsoids fully overlap along their longer side. By looking at these events one selects interaction regions whose elliptic anisotropy is determined by the deformed nuclear shape, which becomes accessible experimentally through the measurement of the elliptic flow of outgoing hadrons.
Green microalgae belonging to the genus Chlorella have long been used as health foods and additives for human consumption, as well as animal feed. These photosynthetic microorganisms have also found ...application in the bioremediation of wastewater and bio-mitigation of CO2. In the last decades, Chlorella microalgae have attracted considerable attention due to their great potential as feedstock for production of biofuels and high-value products. This review explores key aspects related to the cultivation of different Chlorella species under mixotrophic conditions. Common organic compounds and cheap substrates used for mixotrophic microalgal growth are presented. Bottlenecks and strategies to increase economic feasibility and sustainability of mixotrophic cultivation of Chlorella for future commercial production are also discussed. In this sense, the use of wastewater as a nutrient source for microalgae cultivation seems to be a promising alternative to improve the sustainability and economic feasibility of microalgae production systems. However, since wastewater presents a complex composition, methods to minimize the risk of contamination should be developed. Additionally, the screening of novel mixotrophic species of Chlorella capable of both assimilating a wide range of organic compounds from wastewater and accumulating high content of molecules of interest (e.g., lipids) would be highly recommended.
•Mixotrophic cultivation of Chlorella can favour lipid productivities.•Centrate is a potential low-cost substrate for mixotrophic cell cultivation.•Non-sterile environment associated with wastewater treatment is a major challenge.•More research is needed to demonstrate sustainability of mixotrophic growth at large scale.
Carotenoids are present in plant photosynthetic tissues, where they have essential roles in photoreception and photoprotection, as well as in non-photosynthetic tissues, where they act as colorants, ...precursors for plant isoprenoid volatiles and signaling molecules (abscisic acid and strigolactones), nutritional antioxidants and vitamin A precursors. This review presents the recent advances in our understanding of their biosynthesis, the key metabolic steps controlling their accumulation in plant non-photosynthetic tissues and their metabolic engineering using multi-gene approaches.
Hypercoagulation is one of the major risk factors for ICU treatment, mechanical ventilation, and death in critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. At the same time, hypoalbuminemia is one ...risk factor in such patients, independent of age and comorbidities. Especially in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2-infection, albumin infusion may be essential to improve hemodynamics and to reduce the plasma level of the main marker of thromboembolism, namely, the D-dimer plasma level, as suggested by a recent report. Albumin is responsible for 80% of the oncotic pressure in the vessels. This is necessary to keep enough water within the systemic circulatory system and for the maintenance of sufficient blood pressure, as well as for sufficient blood supply for vital organs like the brain, lungs, heart, and kidney. The liver reacts to a decrease in oncotic pressure with an increase in albumin synthesis. This is normally possible through the use of amino acids from the proteins introduced with the nutrients reaching the portal blood. If these are not sufficiently provided with the diet, amino acids are delivered to the liver from muscular proteins by systemic circulation. The liver is also the source of coagulation proteins, such as fibrinogen, fibronectin, and most of the v WF VIII, which are physiological components of the extracellular matrix of the vessel wall. While albumin is the main negative acute-phase protein, fibrinogen, fibronectin, and v WF VIII are positive acute-phase proteins. Acute illnesses cause the activation of defense mechanisms (acute-phase reaction) that may lead to an increase of fibrinolysis and an increase of plasma level of fibrinogen breakdown products, mainly fibrin and D-dimer. The measurement of the plasma level of the D-dimer has been used as a marker for venous thromboembolism, where a fourfold increase of the D-dimer plasma level was used as a negative prognostic marker in critically ill SARS-CoV-2 hospitalized patients. Increased fibrinolysis can take place in ischemic peripheral sites, where the mentioned coagulation proteins can become part of the provisional clot (e.g., in the lungs). Although critically ill SARS-CoV-2-infected patients are considered septic shock patients, albumin infusions have not been considered for hemodynamic resuscitation and as anticoagulants. The role of coagulation factors as provisional components of the extracellular matrix in case of generalized peripheral ischemia due to hypoalbuminemia and hypovolemia is discussed in this review.
This editorial summarizes the seven scientific papers published in the Special Issue "Overcoming Biological Barriers: Importance of Membrane Transporters in Homeostasis, Disease, and Disease ...Treatment 2 ....
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