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Serum palmitic acid (PA), a type of saturated fatty acid, causes lipid accumulation and induces toxicity in hepatocytes. Ethanol (EtOH) is metabolized by the liver and induces hepatic injury and inflammation. Herein, we analyzed the effects of EtOH on PA-induced lipotoxicity in the liver. Our results indicated that EtOH aggravated PA-induced apoptosis and lipid accumulation in primary rat hepatocytes in dose-dependent manner. EtOH intensified PA-caused endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in vitro and in vivo, and the expressions of CHOP, ATF4, and XBP-1 in nucleus were significantly increased. EtOH also increased PA-caused cleaved caspase-3 in cytoplasm. In wild type and CHOP(-/-) mice treated with EtOH and high fat diet (HFD), EtOH worsened the HFD-induced liver injury and dyslipidemia, while CHOP knockout blocked toxic effects of EtOH and PA. Our study suggested that targeting UPR-signaling pathways is a promising, novel approach to reducing EtOH and saturated fatty acid-induced metabolic complications.

The objective of this study was to verify the protective effect of Bifidobacterium longum (BL) and the synergistical effect of Selenium and BL on alcohol plus high fat diet (HFD) induced hepatic injury in mice. We also want to explore the mechanism of Selenium-enriched Bifidobacterium longum (SeBL). C57BL/6 mice were treated with alcohol plus HFD with or without different dosage of BL or SeBL for 4 weeks. Serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, FFAs, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, hepatic MDA level, SOD activity, the mRNA levels of AMPK, PPAR-α and SREBP1 were invested. SeBL inhibited lipid accumulation in hepatocytes; reduced serum AST and ALT levels; improved dyslipidemia; decreased serum FFAs, TC, TG and LDL-C levels. SeBL also inhibited alcohol plus HFD-induced hepatocyte oxidative stress through decrease in hepatic MDA levels and increase in SOD activity. SeBL also regulated lipid metabolism related genes such as AMPK, PPAR-α and SREBP1. Although BL had similar effect as SeBL, SeBL is more effective than BL. SeBL protected mice from alcohol plus HFD-induced hepatic injury in mice because of its inhibitory effect on hepatocellular oxidative stress, lipogenesis and inflammation. Selenium enhanced the protective effect of BL.

Polymalic acid (PMA), a homopolymer of L-malic acid (MA) generated from a yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans, has unique properties and many applications in food, biomedical, and environmental fields. Acid hydrolysis of PMA, releasing the monomer MA, has become a novel process for the production of bio-based MA, which currently is produced by chemical synthesis using petroleum-derived feedstocks. Recently, current researches attempted to develop economically competitive process for PMA and MA production from renewable biomass feedstocks. Compared to lignocellulosic biomass, PMA and MA production from low-value food processing wastes or by-products, generated from corn, sugarcane, or soybean refinery industries, showed more economical and sustainable for developing a MA derivatives platform from biomass biorefinery to chemical conversion. In the review, we compared the process feasibility for PMA fermentation with lignocellulosic biomass and food process wastes. Some useful strategies for metabolic engineering are summarized. Its changeable applicability and future prospects in food and biomedical fields are also discussed.

The growing abundance of wind and solar power has driven interest in utilizing this renewable energy to make chemicals. One of the most efficient and sophisticated frameworks to solar-to-chemical conversion is bioelectrochemical systems that electrochemically couple inorganic catalysts and microorganisms. In particular, microbial electrosynthesis systems and biohybrid systems have used CO2 and electricity or light, respectively, to synthesize organic acids at energy efficiencies that exceed natural photosynthesis. In parallel, new methods have been recently developed to improve the poor mechanistic understanding of these and other bioelectrochemical systems. Deeper knowledge of these underlying molecular processes and creation of new architectures for bioelectrochemical systems are needed to make these promising technologies scale to a commercially relevant level.

Bien que l'utilisation des plastiques varie selon les régions, l'Afrique est classée deuxième après l'Asie en tant que consommateur indiscernable de plastiques qui se décomposent en microplastiques. De plus, on sait peu de choses sur l'impact de ces microplastiques sur le continent africain. Cette revue donne un aperçu de ce que sont les microplastiques et de leur impact sur l'environnement en Afrique. La mauvaise gestion des déchets plastiques est à son apogée en Afrique, car le continent gère mal plus de 70 % des déchets générés quotidiennement en moyenne par le biais d'activités telles que le tourisme, la pêche et le transport des déchets d'un bout à l'autre par les voies navigables. En ce qui concerne l'impact des microplastiques sur l'environnement, nous avons constaté qu'ils facilitent de graves conséquences environnementales, telles que le développement de la toxicité des métaux au sein des organismes aquatiques et terrestres, les perturbations de la chaîne alimentaire dans l'écosystème et les problèmes de santé publique pour les humains qui consomment des fruits de mer. Alternativement, les bioplastiques sont des matériaux plastiques biodégradables et respectueux de l'environnement prometteurs qui pourraient être cruciaux pour l'expansion de l'industrie du plastique en Afrique. En outre, le continent dispose de matières premières renouvelables biosourcées largement répandues qui peuvent être exploitées pour développer des bioplastiques. Par conséquent, les polymères à base de biomasse sont des matières premières plastiques alternatives prometteuses pour la production de plastiques, car ils peuvent facilement se biodégrader et se décomposer dans les installations de compostage industriel. Aunque el uso de plásticos varía según las diferentes regiones, África ocupa el segundo lugar después de Asia como un consumidor indiscernible de plásticos que se descomponen en microplásticos. Además, se sabe poco sobre el impacto de estos microplásticos en todo el continente africano. Esta revisión proporciona información sobre qué son los microplásticos y su impacto en el medio ambiente en toda África. La mala gestión de los residuos plásticos está en su apogeo en África, ya que el continente gestiona mal más del 70% de los residuos generados diariamente en promedio a través de actividades como el turismo, la pesca y el transporte de residuos de un extremo a otro a través de vías fluviales. Con respecto al impacto de los microplásticos en el medio ambiente, encontramos que facilitan graves consecuencias ambientales, como el desarrollo de toxicidad por metales dentro de organismos acuáticos y terrestres, interrupciones de la cadena alimentaria en el ecosistema y desafíos de salud pública para los humanos que consumen mariscos. Alternativamente, los bioplásticos prometen materiales plásticos biodegradables y respetuosos con el medio ambiente que podrían ser cruciales en la expansión de la industria plástica de África. Además, el continente tiene algunas materias primas renovables de base biológica ampliamente difundidas que se pueden aprovechar para desarrollar bioplásticos. Por lo tanto, los polímeros a base de biomasa son materias primas plásticas alternativas prometedoras para la producción de plásticos porque pueden biodegradarse y descomponerse fácilmente en instalaciones de compost industrial. Although the use of plastics varies across different regions, Africa is ranked second after Asia as an indiscernible consumer of plastics that break down into microplastic. Moreover, little is known about the impact of these microplastics across the African continent. This review provides insight into what microplastics are and their impact on the environment across Africa. The mismanagement of plastic waste is at its peak in Africa, as the continent mismanages over 70% of daily generated waste on average through activities such as tourism, fishing, and waste transport from one end to the other through waterways. Regarding the impact of microplastics on the environment, we found that they facilitate severe environmental consequences, such as the development of metal toxicity within aquatic and terrestrial organisms, disruptions of the food chain in the ecosystem, and public health challenges to humans who consume seafood. Alternatively, bioplastics are promising biodegradable and environmentally friendly plastic materials that could be crucial in expanding Africa's plastic industry. Furthermore, the continent has some widely spread biobased renewable raw materials that can be harnessed for developing bioplastics. Therefore, biomass-based polymers are promising alternative plastic feedstocks for producing plastics because they can readily biodegrade and break down in industrial compost facilities. على الرغم من أن استخدام البلاستيك يختلف باختلاف المناطق، إلا أن أفريقيا تحتل المرتبة الثانية بعد آسيا كمستهلك غير ملحوظ للبلاستيك الذي يتحلل إلى بلاستيك دقيق. علاوة على ذلك، لا يُعرف سوى القليل عن تأثير هذه المواد البلاستيكية الدقيقة في جميع أنحاء القارة الأفريقية. توفر هذه المراجعة نظرة ثاقبة حول ماهية المواد البلاستيكية الدقيقة وتأثيرها على البيئة في جميع أنحاء إفريقيا. يبلغ سوء إدارة النفايات البلاستيكية ذروته في أفريقيا، حيث تسيء القارة إدارة أكثر من 70 ٪ من النفايات المتولدة يوميًا في المتوسط من خلال أنشطة مثل السياحة وصيد الأسماك ونقل النفايات من طرف إلى آخر عبر المجاري المائية. فيما يتعلق بتأثير المواد البلاستيكية الدقيقة على البيئة، وجدنا أنها تسهل العواقب البيئية الوخيمة، مثل تطور سمية المعادن داخل الكائنات المائية والبرية، واضطرابات السلسلة الغذائية في النظام البيئي، وتحديات الصحة العامة للبشر الذين يستهلكون المأكولات البحرية. وبدلاً من ذلك، فإن البلاستيك الحيوي يعد بمواد بلاستيكية قابلة للتحلل الحيوي وصديقة للبيئة يمكن أن تكون حاسمة في توسيع صناعة البلاستيك في إفريقيا. علاوة على ذلك، تمتلك القارة بعض المواد الخام المتجددة الحيوية المنتشرة على نطاق واسع والتي يمكن تسخيرها لتطوير البلاستيك الحيوي. لذلك، فإن البوليمرات القائمة على الكتلة الحيوية تعد بمواد أولية بلاستيكية بديلة لإنتاج البلاستيك لأنها يمكن أن تتحلل وتتحلل بسهولة في مرافق السماد الصناعي.

The changes in niche roles and functions caused by competition for survival resources have implications in various domains, with natural science and social science standing out. Currently, expanding the ecological niche concept and its practical interpretation in the fields of social ecology, geography and sustainable science is becoming a crucial challenge. This paper is based on niche theory to observe niche evolution and resulting socio-ecological effects of 1186 towns in 19 prefecture cities in Yangtze River delta. The results indicate that: Towns around the Taihu Lake displayed obvious spatial agglomeration, which was leading the development of the entire region. The town niche shows obvious characteristics of north-south differences and hierarchy distribution. The niche coordination degree of Jiangsu Province was higher than that of Zhejiang Province. The higher the subsystem coordination degree, the better the town development. Towns with poor ecological conditions are often subject to competition, while towns with better ecological conditions often benefit from cooperative development. The niche separation and collaboration could enhance niche competition of towns and cities in the region. The proposed framework can facilitate interdisciplinary exchanges among geography, sociology, landscape ecology and regional planning and provide insights for understanding regional co-opetition relationship and regional sustainable development.

Research on the influence of age on various automated driving conditions will contribute to an understanding of driving behavior characteristics and the development of specific automated driving systems. This study aims to analyze the relationship between age and takeover behavior in automated driving, where 16 test conditions were taken into consideration, including two driving tasks, two warning times and four driving scenarios. Forty-two drivers in Beijing, China in 2020 were recruited to participate in a static driving simulator with Level 3 (L3) conditional automation to obtain detailed test information of the recorded takeover time, mean speed and mean lateral offset. An ANOVA test was proposed to examine the significance among different age groups and conditions. The results confirmed that reaction time increased significantly with age and the driving stability of the older group was worse than the young and middle groups. It was also indicated that the older group could not adapt to complex tasks well when driving due to their limited cognitive driving ability. Additionally, the higher urgency of a scenario explained the variance in the takeover quality. According to the obtained influencing mechanisms, policy implications for the development of vehicle automation, considering the various driving behaviors of drivers, were put forward, so as to correctly identify the high-risk driving conditions in different age groups. For further research, on-road validation will be necessary in order to check for driving simulation-related effects.

Global food insecurity is becoming more severe under the threat of rising global carbon dioxide concentrations, increasing population, and shrinking farmlands and their degeneration. We acquired the ISI Web of Science platform for over 31 years (1988–2018) to review the research on how climate change impacts global food security, and then performed cluster analysis and research hotspot analysis with VosViewer software. We found there were two drawbacks that exist in the current research. Firstly, current field research data were defective because they were collected from various facilities and were hard to integrate. The other drawback is the representativeness of field research site selection as most studies were carried out in developed countries and very few in developing countries. Therefore, more attention should be paid to developing countries, especially some African and Asian countries. At the same time, new modified mathematical models should be utilized to process and integrate the data from various facilities and regions. Finally, we suggested that governments and organizations across the world should be united to wrestle with the impact of climate change on food security.