Biological compartmentalization is a fundamental principle of life that allows cells to metabolize, propagate, or communicate with their environment. Much research is devoted to understanding this ...basic principle and to harness biomimetic compartments and catalytic cascades as tools for technological processes. This Review summarizes the current state‐of‐the‐art of these developments, with a special emphasis on length scales, mass transport phenomena, and molecular scaffolding approaches, ranging from small cross‐linkers over proteins and nucleic acids to colloids and patterned surfaces. We conclude that the future exploration and exploitation of these complex systems will largely benefit from technical solutions for the integrated, machine‐assisted development and maintenance of a next generation of biotechnological processes. These goals should be achievable by implementing microfluidics, robotics, and added manufacturing techniques supplemented by theoretical simulations as well as computer‐aided process modeling based on big data obtained from multiscale experimental analyses.
Machine‐generated multienzyme cascades: The machine‐assisted development of biomimetic compartments and catalytic cascades will pave the way towards a novel generation of biotechnological processes. Molecular scaffolds with small cross‐linkers, proteins, nucleic acids, colloids, and patterned surfaces can be used to arrange the catalytic units. S: substrate, P: product.
Aflatoxins are mainly produced by certain strains of Aspergillus flavus, which are found in diverse agricultural crops. In many lower-income countries, aflatoxins pose serious public health issues ...since the occurrence of these toxins can be considerably common and even extreme. Aflatoxins can negatively affect health of livestock and poultry due to contaminated feeds. Additionally, they significantly limit the development of international trade as a result of strict regulation in high-value markets. Due to their high stability, aflatoxins are not only a problem during cropping, but also during storage, transport, processing, and handling steps. Consequently, innovative evidence-based technologies are urgently required to minimize aflatoxin exposure. Thus far, biological control has been developed as the most innovative potential technology of controlling aflatoxin contamination in crops, which uses competitive exclusion of toxigenic strains by non-toxigenic ones. This technology is commercially applied in groundnuts maize, cottonseed, and pistachios during pre-harvest stages. Some other effective technologies such as irradiation, ozone fumigation, chemical and biological control agents, and improved packaging materials can also minimize post-harvest aflatoxins contamination in agricultural products. However, integrated adoption of these pre- and post-harvest technologies is still required for sustainable solutions to reduce aflatoxins contamination, which enhances food security, alleviates malnutrition, and strengthens economic sustainability.
•Evidence of adverse effect of aflatoxins on human health and trade participation.•Highlighting recent pre- and post-harvest technologies to prevent aflatoxin contamination.•Expressing the need for a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to manage aflatoxin contamination.•Providing some suggestions to guide research and policies to address aflatoxin contamination.
Cassava is mainly grown for its roots whereas leaves are mostly considered as a byproduct. Cassava leaves are a rich source of protein, minerals, and vitamins. However, the presence of antinutrients ...and cyanogenic glucosides are the major drawbacks in cassava leaves which limit its human consumption. These antinutrients and toxic compounds of cassava leaves cause various diseases depending on the consumption level. Hence these antinutrients and toxic potential of cassava leaves should be addressed during cassava leaf processing (CLP) before human consumption. Several CLP methods have been developed but every method has its own limitations. Some CLP methods successfully detoxify cassava leaves but simultaneously destroy the nutrients. Efforts have also been made for cassava leaf protein extraction in the form of cassava leaf protein concentrate (CLPC) but protein recovery was very low. This review summarizes the nutrient, antinutrient and toxic composition of cassava leaves, CLPC, different CLP methods, human consumption and diseases caused by cassava leaves. Furthermore, recommendations have been made in order to encourage cassava leaves consumption as an important source of protein and micronutrients.
•Cassava leaves are a rich source of protein, minerals, and vitamins.•Antinutrients and cyanogens in cassava leaves restricts their use as human food.•Consumption of improperly processed cassava leaves might cause various diseases.•Economical detoxification processing without degrading the nutrients is required.•Detoxified cassava leaves could serve as a safe nutrient source.
Purpose
Improved logistics and availability led to a rapid increase in the use of
18
F-PSMA-1007 for prostate cancer PET imaging. Initial data suggests increased uptake in benign lesions compared to ...
68
Ga-PSMA-11, and clinical observations found increased unspecific bone uptake (UBU). We therefore investigate the frequency and characteristics of UBU in
18
F-PSMA-1007 PET.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed
18
F-PSMA-1007 PET scans from four centers for the presence of UBU, defined as a focal mild-to-moderate uptake (SUV
max
< 10.0) not obviously related to a benign or malignant cause. If present, up to three leading UBUs were quantified (SUV
max
), localized, and correlated to clinical parameters, such as age, PSA, injected dose, Gleason score, tumor size (T1–T4), and type of PET scanner (analog vs. digital). Additionally, clinical and imaging follow-up results and therapeutic impact were evaluated.
Results
UBUs were identified in 179 out of 348 patients (51.4%). The most frequent localizations were ribs (57.5%) and pelvis (24.8%). The frequency of UBUs was not associated with PSA, Gleason score, tumor size, age, or the injected
18
F-PSMA-1007 dose. UBUs were significantly more frequent in images obtained with digital PET/CT scans (n = 74, 82%) than analog PET/CT scans (n = 221, 40.3%) (
p
= .0001) but not in digital PET/MR (n = 53, 51%) (
p
= .1599). In 80 out of 179 patients (44.7%), the interpretation of UBUs was critical for therapeutic management and therefore considered clinically relevant. For 65 UBUs, follow-ups were available: three biopsies, three radiotherapies with PSA follow-up, and 59 cases with imaging. After follow-up, UBUs were still considered unclear in 28 of 65 patients (43%), benign in 28 (43%), and malignant in nine (14%) patients.
Conclusion
UBUs occur in two-thirds of patients imaged with
18
F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT and are significantly more frequent on digital PET scanners than analog scanners. UBUs should be interpreted carefully to avoid over-staging.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease with a poor prognosis. There is great effort to find predictors of outcome. Conclusive data for any serum biomarker are lacking. We ...have recently documented that serum CCL18 concentrations correlate with the course of pulmonary function data in patients with pulmonary fibrosis of various causes.
To test the value of serum CCL18 concentrations in IPF, we included 72 patients in a prospective study.
IPF was defined according to the ATS/ERS criteria. Serum CCL18 concentrations were measured by a commercially available ELISA. Patients were followed for 24 months. Pulmonary function tests were performed at least every 6 months.
Baseline serum CCL18 concentrations predicted the change in TLC and FVC at the 6-month follow-up. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) revealed a significant relation between survival and baseline CCL18 concentrations. By ROC analysis, the cutoff value with the highest diagnostic accuracy was defined as 150 ng/ml (sensitivity, 0.83; specificity, 0.77). There was a significantly higher mortality in patients with serum CCL18 concentrations above 150 ng/ml (P < 0.0001). The hazard proportional ratio adjusted for age, sex, and baseline pulmonary function data was 8.0. There was a higher incidence of disease progression in the group with high serum CCL18 concentrations.
Our data demonstrate that serum CCL18 concentrations have a predictive value in IPF and may be a useful tool in the clinical management of patients with IPF and in clinical trials.
The use of biogas plants has increased sharply in recent years. A typical biogas plant of 500 kWel produces approx. 10,000 t of digestate per year, with a moisture content of more than 90%. For the ...purpose of reducing the transport mass and increasing the nutrient concentration, the digestate has to be dried. Using renewable energy is a way to treat biogas digestate without any additional fossil energy requirement for drying. In this study a solar greenhouse dryer was modified to use additional waste-heat from the combined heat and power unit (variant S-CHP), as well as the exhaust gas from a micro turbine (variant S-CHP-MT). The hybrid waste-heat/solar dryer achieved a moisture content for the digestate of 10.9%, and 10.5%, after 13 d of drying for variant S-CHP-MT and S-CHP-MT, respectively. Due to the higher energy input by additional use of the micro turbine, the specific energy consumption is higher for the variant S-CHP-MT. In general, the results showed that the combination of solar energy and waste-heat from electricity generation of a biogas plant is a suitable way to reduce the moisture content of the digestate to a safe level for further handling and storage.
This study was conducted to investigate physical, mechanical and chemical properties of
Jatropha curcas seed and kernels. The considered parameters were terminal velocity, unit mass, bulk/solid ...density, volume, porosity, surface area, specific surface area, coefficient of friction, static/dynamic angle of repose, rupture force, deformation at rupture point, deformation ratio at rupture point, hardness, energy used for rupture, moisture content, oil content, higher heating value, protein content and ash content. Seed mass frequency was indentified and four fractions of seeds were distinct by terminal velocity. It was observed that all physical characteristics such as unit mass, dimensions (
x,
y,
z), arithmetic diameter, geometrical diameter and volume within seeds and kernels are significantly different between fractions at
p
≤
0.01. Coefficient of static friction of seeds was higher on rubber surface and lowest on stainless steel, namely 0.45 and 0.22. The coefficient of static friction was higher on all surfaces for kernels than for seeds. It was noticed that angle of repose of kernels was higher than for seeds. The rupture force of seeds and kernels increased with unit mass for horizontal (
x), transversal (
y) and vertical (
z) direction. Vertical position showed highest values of rupture force for both, seeds and kernels. Lowest rupture force was recorded in transversal direction for seeds and in horizontal direction for kernels. Similar results were obtained for hardness. The oil content of kernels was higher than that of seeds for all fractions, the heaviest fraction of seeds and kernels show the highest values of oil content, namely 36% and 56%. Moisture content of seeds was higher than that of kernels and moisture content of kernels was decreasing with the increase of unit mass, namely from 7.55% to 4.11% moisture content (w.b). The higher heating value of kernels was higher than the higher heating value of seeds. The heaviest fraction of seeds and kernels showed the highest heating value, namely 26.23
MJ/kg for seeds and 30.20
MJ/kg for kernels.
Acute exacerbation (AE) of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a common cause of disease acceleration in IPF and has a major impact on mortality. The role of macrophage activation in AE of IPF has ...never been addressed before.
We evaluated BAL cell cytokine profiles and BAL differential cell counts in 71 IPF patients w/wo AE and in 20 healthy volunteers. Twelve patients suffered from AE at initial diagnosis while sixteen patients developed AE in the 24 months of follow-up. The levels of IL-1ra, CCL2, CCL17, CCL18, CCL22, TNF-α, IL-1β, CXCL1 and IL-8 spontaneously produced by BAL-cells were analysed by ELISA.
In patients with AE, the percentage of BAL neutrophils was significantly increased compared to stable patients. We found an increase in the production rate of the pro-inflammatory cytokines CXCL1 and IL-8 combined with an increase in all tested M2 cytokines by BAL-cells. An increase in CCL18 levels and neutrophil counts during AE was observed in BAL cells from patients from whom serial lavages were obtained. Furthermore, high baseline levels of CCL18 production by BAL cells were significantly predictive for the development of future AE.
BAL cell cytokine production levels at acute exacerbation show up-regulation of pro-inflammatory as well as anti-inflammatory/ M2 cytokines. Our data suggest that AE in IPF is not an incidental event but rather driven by cellular mechanisms including M2 macrophage activation.
Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) therapy after lung transplantation increases risk of kidney failure. Early everolimus-based quadruple low CNI immunosuppression may improve renal function without ...compromising efficacy or safety. A prospective, randomized, open-label, 12-month multicenter trial was conducted at 8 German sites. Patients 3-18 months after lung transplantation were randomized (1:1), stratified by baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In the quadruple low CNI regimen, patients received everolimus (target trough level 3-5 ng/mL) with reduced CNI (tacrolimus 3-5 ng/mL or cyclosporine 25-75 ng/mL) and a cell cycle inhibitor plus prednisone. In the standard triple CNI regimen, patients received tacrolimus (target trough level >5 ng/mL) or cyclosporine (>100 ng/mL) and a cell cycle inhibitor plus prednisone. Of the 180 patients screened, 130 were randomized: 67 in the quadruple low CNI group and 63 in the standard triple CNI group. The primary endpoint (eGFR after 12 months) demonstrated superiority of the quadruple low CNI regimen: 64.5 mL/min vs 54.6 mL/min for the standard triple group (least squares mean, analysis of covariance; P < .001). Key efficacy parameters (biopsy-proven acute rejection, chronic lung allograft dysfunction, and death) and safety endpoints were similar between both groups. Quadruple low CNI immunosuppression early after lung transplantation was demonstrated to be efficacious and safe. Clinical trials registry: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01404325.
For thin film silicon solar cells and modules incorporating amorphous (a-Si:H) or microcrystalline (μc-Si:H) silicon as absorber materials, light trapping, i.e. increasing the path length of incoming ...light, plays a decisive role for device performance. This paper discusses ways to realize efficient light trapping schemes by using textured transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) as light scattering, highly conductive and transparent front contact in silicon p–i–n (superstrate) solar cells. Focus is on the concept of applying aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) films, which are prepared by magnetron sputtering and subsequently textured by a wet-chemical etching step. The influence of electrical, optical and light scattering properties of the ZnO:Al front contact and the role of the back reflector are studied in experimentally prepared a-Si:H and μc-Si:H solar cells. Furthermore, a model is presented which allows to analyze optical losses in the individual layers of a solar cell structure. The model is applied to develop a roadmap for achieving a stable cell efficiency up to 15% in an amorphous/microcrystalline tandem cell. To realize this, necessary prerequisites are the incorporation of an efficient intermediate reflector between a-Si:H top and μc-Si:H bottom cell, the use of a front TCO with very low absorbance and ideal light scattering properties and a low-loss highly reflective back contact. Finally, the mid-frequency reactive sputtering technique is presented as a promising and potentially cost-effective way to up-scale the ZnO front contact preparation to industrial size substrate areas.
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