Thermal evaluation of plant biomass from the phytostabilisation of soils contaminated by potentially toxic elements.

The combination of phytoremediation of soils contaminated by potentially toxic elements with energy production by combustion of the generated biomass can be a sustainable land management option, combining the production of renewable bioenergy with soil restoration while minimising energy consumption and CO emission. In this work, plant biomass from phytoremediation of soils contaminated by potentially toxic elements was studied as solid biofuel for combustion by thermal analysis and biomass composition. Six plant species were grown in two soils with differing degrees of contamination: Brassica juncea, Cynara cardunculus, Atriplex halimus, Nicotiana glauca, Dittrichia viscosa, Retama sphaerocarpa and Salvia rosmarinus.

Safety and immunogenicity of the protein-based PHH-1V compared to BNT162b2 as a heterologous SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccine in adults vaccinated against COVID-19: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority phase IIb trial.

Background: A SARS-CoV-2 protein-based heterodimer vaccine, PHH-1V, has been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in healthy young adults in a first-in-human, Phase I/IIa study dose-escalation trial. Here, we report the interim results of the Phase IIb HH-2, where the immunogenicity and safety of a heterologous booster with PHH-1V is assessed versus a homologous booster with BNT162b2 at 14, 28 and 98 days after vaccine administration.

Methods: The HH-2 study is an ongoing multicentre, randomised, active-controlled, double-blind, non-inferiority Phase IIb trial, where participants 18 years or older who had received two doses of BNT162b2 were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive a booster dose of vaccine-either heterologous (PHH-1V group) or homologous (BNT162b2 group)-in 10 centres in Spain.

Biomarkers Found in the Tumor Interstitial Fluid may Help Explain the Differential Behavior Among Keratinocyte Carcinomas.

Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are the most frequent types of cancer, and both originate from the keratinocyte transformation, giving rise to the group of tumors called keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs). The invasive behavior is different in each group of KC and may be influenced by their tumor microenvironment. The principal aim of the study is to characterize the protein profile of the tumor interstitial fluid (TIF) of KC to evaluate changes in the microenvironment that could be associated with their different invasive and metastatic capabilities.

Treatment of hydrothermal carbonization process water by electrochemical oxidation: Assessment of process performance.

Herein electrochemical oxidation (EO) is proposed as a novel path to treat the process water obtained from hydrothermal carbonization of olive tree pruning. The aim of this work is to analyze the organic matter removal achieved by the treatment along with the identification of the chemical species formed after the electro-oxidation process at different experimental conditions. Three different tests were performed in a boron doped diamond cell, using NaSO and NaCl as supporting electrolytes to compare the results obtained with the raw process water.

Key points for translating wound regenerative agents from in vivo assays in mice to clinical validation.

Skin wound healing leads to the recovery of tissue structure and homeostasis after injury. Numerous factors can hamper wound healing and complete recovery of the harmed tissue, causing the formation of scars or chronic wounds. Therapeutic options to improve wound regeneration are limited, possibly due to failure during pre-clinical validation toward clinical trials.

Bone marrow aspiration in a patient with systemic microsporidium.

A 34-year-old female presented with several weeks of fever, fatigue, weight loss, abdominal pain and hemoptysis. PE revealed moderate pallor, RUQ pain, mild dyspnea, conjunctival injection and hepatomegaly. The CBC showed anemia, mild leukocytosis, hypoalbuminemia, hypertransaminasemia, presence of nucleated red blood cells.

Key points for the development of antioxidant cocktails to prevent cellular stress and damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) during manned space missions.

Exposure to microgravity and ionizing radiation during spaceflight missions causes excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production that contributes to cellular stress and damage in astronauts. Average spaceflight mission time is expected to lengthen as humanity aims to visit other planets. However, longer missions or spaceflights will undoubtedly lead to an increment in microgravity, ionizing radiation and ROS production.

Assessment of electrooxidation as pre- and post-treatments for improving anaerobic digestion and stabilisation of waste activated sludge.

This study evaluates the effects of electro-oxidation as a means for enhancing sludge stabilisation. Boron-doped diamond electrodes were used to treat waste activated sludge and digestate under different operating parameters (current density, conductivity, pH, and time). Electro-oxidation runs affected the solubilisation of organic matter, which seemed to improve anaerobic digestion and dewaterability characteristics.

Anaerobic Digestion for Producing Renewable Energy-The Evolution of This Technology in a New Uncertain Scenario.

Anaerobic digestion is a well-known technology with wide application in the treatment of high-strength organic wastes. The economic feasibility of this type of installation is usually attained thanks to the availability of fiscal incentives. In this review, an analysis of the different factors associated with this biological treatment and a description of alternatives available in literature for increasing performance of the process were provided.

Performance evaluation of a small-scale digester for achieving decentralised management of waste.

The performance of a small-scale prototype digestion plant (7.2 m working volume) intended for decentralised operation was evaluated considering energy efficiency and technical suitability for biogas valorisation in producing electrical and thermal energy. The digester operated in recirculation mode to enhance organic matter conversion and improve volatile solid degradation.

Anaerobic digestion of fourth range fruit and vegetable products: comparison of three different scenarios for its valorisation by life cycle assessment and life cycle costing.

Changes in consumer demand due to preferences for a healthier lifestyle have led to a new market offering fruit and salad products ready to eat. This affects the agro-industrial sector and the characteristic of waste streams generated having the organic fraction higher quality and representing a new opportunity of valorisation. This study experimentally evaluated the digestion of wastes derived from the fourth range product sector.

Integrating anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis for treating digestates derived from sewage sludge and fat wastes.

The coupling of biological and thermal technologies allows for the complete conversion of wastes into energy and biochar eliminating the problem of sludge disposal. The valorisation of fatty residues as co-substrate in a mesophilic digester of a wastewater treatment plant was studied considering an integrated approach of co-digestion and pyrolysis. Four digested samples obtained from co-digestion of sewage sludge and butcher's fat waste were studied by thermogravimetric analysis.

Effect of char addition on anaerobic digestion of animal by-products: evaluating biogas production and process performance.

The effect of char addition on the digestion of animal by-products was evaluated as a way for enhancing the performance of the process. Two different types of carbonaceous materials were tested as carbon conductive elements to improve biological treatment. One was derived from a torrefaction process intended for increasing the energy density of lignocellulosic biomass, and the other was obtained from a hydrothermal carbonisation process.

Sympathetic Hyperactivity and Sleep Disorders in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes.

Many studies on the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on sleep breathing have shown a higher prevalence and severity of sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) in those with T2DM. Moreover, an increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system has been described in both pathologies. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess sympathetic activity in patients with T2DM, and to investigate the relationship between sympathetic activity and polysomnographic parameters.

Yeast screening and cell immobilization on inert supports for ethanol production from cheese whey permeate with high lactose loads.

Eight yeast strains of the genera Saccharomyces and Kluyveromyces were screened to ferment high lactose-load cheese whey permeate (CWP) (>130 g/L lactose) without nutrient supplementation. The fermentation conditions (temperature, pH and time) were optimized to maximize the fermentation performance (ethanol titer, ethanol yield and lactose consumption) for the two preselected strains, K. marxianus DSM 5422 and S.

Evaluating the effect of biochar addition on the anaerobic digestion of swine manure: application of Py-GC/MS.

The anaerobic digestion process of swine manure was studied when char was used as supplement for improving performance. The use of pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) was proposed for assessing the organic matter degradation. The assessment on biogas production was carried out using samples of swine manure (SM) supplemented with char in one case and pre-treated by microwave irradiation in the other.

Enhancing anaerobic digestion of poultry blood using activated carbon.

The potential of using anaerobic digestion for the treatment of poultry blood has been evaluated in batch assays at the laboratory scale and in a mesophilic semi-continuous reactor. The biodegradability test performed on residual poultry blood was carried out in spite of high inhibitory levels of acid intermediaries. The use of activated carbon as a way to prevent inhibitory conditions demonstrated the feasibility of attaining anaerobic digestion under extreme ammonium and acid conditions.

Preclinical trial on the use of doxycycline for the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the duodenum.

Adenocarcinoma of the duodenum comprises 50-70% of duodenal tumors. There is an increase in extracellular matrix metalloproteinases in this disease and it has been suggested that they play an important role in the development and pathology. Therefore, new therapeutic recommendations based on inhibitors of these enzymes, such as doxycycline, are under investigation.

Anaerobic Codigestion of Sludge: Addition of Butcher's Fat Waste as a Cosubstrate for Increasing Biogas Production.

Fat waste discarded from butcheries was used as a cosubstrate in the anaerobic codigestion of sewage sludge (SS). The process was evaluated under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The codigestion was successfully attained despite some inhibitory stages initially present that had their origin in the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and adsorption of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA).

New biofuel alternatives: integrating waste management and single cell oil production.

Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions have increased research efforts into alternatives in bio-based processes. With regard to transport fuel, bioethanol and biodiesel are still the main biofuels used. It is expected that future production of these biofuels will be based on processes using either non-food competing biomasses, or characterised by low CO₂ emissions.