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AbstractThe planetary boundary framework constitutes an opportunity for decision makers to define climate policy through the lens of adaptive governance. Here, we use the DICE model to analyze the set of adaptive climate policies that comply with the two planetary boundaries related to climate change: (1) staying below a CO2 concentration of 550 ppm until 2100 and (2) returning to 350 ppm in 2100. Our results enable decision makers to assess the following milestones: (1) a minimum of 33% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2055 in order to stay below 550 ppm by 2100 (this milestone goes up to 46% in the case of delayed policies); and (2) carbon neutrality and the effective implementation of innovative geoengineering technologies (10% negative emissions) before 2060 in order to return to 350 ppm in 2100, under the assumption of getting out of the baseline scenario without delay. Finally, we emphasize the need to use adaptive path-based approach instead of single point target for climate policy design.

Photoprotective mechanisms of cyanobacteria are characterized by several features associated with the structure of their water-soluble antenna complexes - the phycobilisomes (PBs). During energy transfer from PBs to chlorophyll of photosystem reaction centers, the "energy funnel" principle is realized, which regulates energy flux due to the specialized interaction of the PBs core with a quenching molecule capable of effectively dissipating electron excitation energy into heat. The role of the quencher is performed by ketocarotenoid within the photoactive orange carotenoid protein (OCP), which is also a sensor for light flux. At a high level of insolation, OCP is reversibly photoactivated, and this is accompanied by a significant change in its structure and spectral characteristics. Such conformational changes open the possibility for protein-protein interactions between OCP and the PBs core (i.e., activation of photoprotection mechanisms) or the fluorescence recovery protein. Even though OCP was discovered in 1981, little was known about the conformation of its active form until recently, as well as about the properties of homologs of its N and C domains. Studies carried out during recent years have made a breakthrough in understanding of the structural-functional organization of OCP and have enabled discovery of new aspects of the regulation of photoprotection processes in cyanobacteria. This review focuses on aspects of protein-protein interactions between the main participants of photoprotection reactions and on certain properties of representatives of newly discovered families of OCP homologs.

Large-scale muscle injury in humans initiates a complex regeneration process, as not only the muscular, but also the vascular and neuro-muscular compartments have to be repaired. Conventional therapeutic strategies often fall short of reaching the desired functional outcome, due to the inherent complexity of natural skeletal muscle. Tissue engineering offers a promising alternative treatment strategy, aiming to achieve an engineered tissue close to natural tissue composition and function, able to induce long-term, functional regeneration after in vivo implantation. This review aims to summarize the latest approaches of tissue engineering skeletal muscle, with specific attention toward fabrication, neuro-angiogenesis, multicellularity and the biochemical cues that adjuvate the regeneration process.

Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf, an important medicinal and food fungus, is well known in East Asia. Due to growing market demand, long cultivation period, and consumption of pine trunk during cultivation, developing alternative methods for producing P. cocos and/or its active components is of interest. In the present study, the effects of different culture methods on biomass and accumulation of four triterpenoids were investigated. The ethanol extract of fermented mycelium (EFM) was orally administered to rats. Urine output and concentrations of electrolytes (Na+, K+, and Cl-) were measured. Our results showed that mycelia grew better under continuous shaking culture condition (7.5 g DW·L-1), and higher triterpenoid levels were accumulated in two-stage culture (112 mg·L-1, 2.03%). The optimal starting time of static culture for triterpenoid yield was 4th d after shaking culture. Single administration of middle and high dose of EFM significantly increased urine output, Na+ and Cl- excretion, and Na+/K+ ratio. These results suggested that ethanol extract of cultured mycelia showed significant diuretic activity in rats and two-stage culture of P. cocos could be an alternative way to produce mycelia and triterpenoids.

AbstractPropolis acts primarily as a biocide against invasive bacteria and fungi in the hive, suggesting its potential for industrial applications. In food application, propolis is considered as a chemical preservative in meat products, extending shelf life of frozen meat and other food. The mechanism of action is still unclear due to the synergy of multiple compounds contained in propolis and due to parallel targeting of multiple pathways within each affected organism. Here, we examined the antimicrobial properties of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) Czech propolis extract. Until recently, DMSO was only rarely used in the propolis studies, although the other solvents tested (mostly ethanol) may significantly affect the observed inhibitory effects, notwithstanding the antimicrobial effects of ethanol itself. Here, we provide results of zone inhibition tests against Aspergillus fumigatus, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum canis, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis. Although we determined inhibitory effects against all the microorganisms tested, the dose‐dependent response curves were not similar to each other. While inhibitory effects against C. albicans or S. aureus were strictly dose‐dependent, responses of M. gypseum and E. faecalis displayed plateau across the broad range of concentrations tested. Interestingly, response of E. coli revealed the double‐peak dose‐dependent curve, and responses of M. canis and L. monocytogenes decreased at the highest concentrations tested. Suggested is evaluation of DMSO propolis extracts in experimental treatment of human and veterinary infections, preferably in multitherapy with antibiotics.

Using data from Eurobarometer 83.4, this study combines the two branches of research that address climate-related and biodiversity-related opinions and actions of individuals in the EU. The literature shows that the differences between climate-related and biodiversity-related policies correspond, at an individual level, to a person's basic attitudes towards environmental protection and towards nature protection, respectively. The contribution of this study is to demonstrate how these attitudes can influence behavior that has environmental repercussions for both issues, such as food consumption practices. The analysis focused on two Eurobarometer questions about buying local and seasonal food (to fight climate change) and about buying organic and local food (to protect biodiversity and nature). The results of two multinomial regression analyses, separately in Northwestern European countries and Eastern and Southern European countries, demonstrated that climate-related and biodiversity-related attitudes were, independent of each other, related to the adoption of these purchase behaviors. The results may support Europe's new Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy and indicate that improving food consumption practices can enable individuals to better play their part in fighting climate change and biodiversity loss simultaneously, which opens up interesting new perspectives for policymakers, businesses and consumers.

This study investigated the potential of Rhizopus arrhizus UCP 402 for producing chitosan using corn steep liquor and honey as agroindustrial nitrogen and carbon sources. A complete factorial design was used to assess the improved biomass and chitosan production. The results were evaluated using Pareto charts (Statistica 7.0 software). The chitosan obtained was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The cristallinity index (IC), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to evaluate the degree of deacetylation (DD %). The morphological aspects of the R. arrhizus were evaluated by measuring the diameter of the colonies by light microscopy. The results obtained showed higher biomass and chitosan yields (20.61 g/L and 29.3 mg/g), respectively, in the selected assays. The characterization of the macromolecular arrangement of chitosan showed a crystallinity index compatible with the literature, and the infrared peaks confirmed a degree of 86%. The experimental data obtained suggest that adding honey to corn steep liquor is a promising way to improve microbiological chitosan production.