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Biodiesel production from microalgae has been recognized as a promising route for sustainable energy supply. The extraction process of oil from microalgae usually generates large amount of lipid-extracted algal biomass (LEA), which has not been economically utilized until now. In order to explore economic potential of the residual biomass, LEA from extraction of microalgae strain, Nannochloropsis salina , was employed as the filler in biocomposite fabrication with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). It was noted that the increase of LEA loading reduced mechanical properties, but enhanced the thermal stability of biocomposite materials compared to neat PVA. As poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PD) was incorporated, mechanical properties of PVA/LEA/PD composites were significantly improved. PD was compatible with negatively charged LEA and PVA matrix as PD possesses positive charges. PVA was compounded with 20% LEA and 12% PD to synthesize the PVA68LEA20PD12 biocomposite. In contrast to neat PVA, this biocomposite recorded the similar mechanical property but the enhanced thermal property. This type of biocomposite film can be applied in commercial industries as specialty materials, for instance, 3D printing material. This helps to improve the economic feasibility of microalgae-based biofuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the feasibility of employing an electro-flotation-oxidation process that employs a pair of boron-doped diamond (BDD) and aluminum (Al) electrodes for electrochemical harvesting of green microalgae ( Scenedesmus quadricauda ) and treatment of residual pollutants in coke effluent, following an algal-bacterial process. Electro-coagulation-flotation with polarity exchange and with direct electro-flotation at 15 mA cm − 2 or more for 40 min allowed almost complete harvesting of microalgae. Similar harvesting efficiencies were achieved using direct electro-flotation, without electro-coagulation, under different electrical densities because algal biomass formed flocs with the other microorganisms in the activated sludge (AS). These results also indicate that the proposed approach of inducing bioaggregation via floc-forming microorganisms with microalgae is an efficient alternative to chemical flocculation, because it can minimize the release of toxic metal coagulants during electrochemical harvesting. During sequential electro-oxidation, anodic oxidation using the BDD electrode simultaneously mineralized residual soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) and thiocyanate (SCN − ), which are not degraded by algal-bacterial mixed cultures. Although the degradation rate of SCN − was much higher than that of SCOD under certain current densities, further investigation is needed to clarify the mechanism of SCN − mineralization during BDD-anodic oxidation. To satisfy the standard level of electrical power consumption for wastewater treatment, an electric current density below 15 mA cm − 2 must be supplied. The proposed electrochemical approach involving bioflocculation could be used as an efficient post treatment of microalgae-mediated process for treating coke wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Although progression of small deep subcortical infarct (PSDI) comprises 12% to 36% of all small deep subcortical infarcts, the therapy for progression is not clear. This study investigated whether induced-hypertension therapy using phenylephrine is a useful therapy for PSDI. Methods A group of 2427 consecutive patients, diagnosed with stroke at a tertiary hospital over a period of 4 years was reviewed retrospectively. We analyzed patients with small deep subcortical infarct using clinical, laboratory, and pulse wave velocity (PWV). PSDI is defined as one or more increase in the motor score according to the NIHSS. Good outcome was designated as a modified Rankin scale of 0 to 2 at discharge. Results Among all 662 patients who had a small deep subcortical infarct, 66 patients experienced motor progression (9.97%). The induced-hypertension therapy group (n = 25) received phenylephrine, and the conventional group (n = 41) received anticoagulation therapy such as heparin, volume expansion, or both. Although there were no significant differences in baseline clinical and laboratory findings, the PSDI group showed a significantly more frequent decrease in blood pressure at progression ( P < 0.0001) and higher PWV ( P = 0.001). The phenylephrine group ( vs the conventional group) had a lower NIHSS score ( P = 0.036) and good outcome at discharge ( P = 0.004). In multiple regression analysis, PWV (OR, 1.004 per 1-cm/s increase; 95% CI, 1.001–1.008; P = 0.018) was an independent predictor of good outcome in the phenylephrine group. A side effect of phenylephrine treatment was dysuria (n = 1). Conclusions The present study suggests that vascular stiffness can be not only a predictor for PSDI but also a predictor of motor improvement after induced-hypertension therapy using phenylephrine in lacunar stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]