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Contact guidance, the widely-known phenomenon of cell alignment, is an essential step in the organization of adherent cells. This guidance is known to occur by, amongst other things, anisotropic features in the environment including elastic heterogeneity. To understand the origins of this guidance we employed a novel statistical thermodynamics framework, which recognises the non-thermal fluctuations in the cellular response, for modelling the response of the cells seeded on substrates with alternating soft and stiff stripes. Consistent with observations, the modelling framework predicts the existence of three regimes of cell guidance: (i) in regime I for stripe widths much larger than the cell size guidance is primarily entropic; (ii) for stripe widths on the order of the cell size in regime II guidance is biochemically mediated and accompanied by changes to the cell morphology while (iii) in regime III for stripe widths much less than the cell size there is no guidance as cells cannot sense the substrate heterogeneity. Guidance in regimes I and II is due to “molli-avoidance” with cells primarily residing on the stiff stripes. While the molli-avoidance tendency is not lost with decreasing density of collagen coating the substrate, the reduced focal adhesion formation with decreasing collagen density tends to inhibit contact guidance. Our results provide clear physical insights into the interplay between cell mechano-sensitivity and substrate elastic heterogeneity that ultimately leads to the contact guidance of cells in heterogenous tissues. Statement of Significance Cellular morphology and organization play a crucial role in the micro-architecture of tissues and dictates their biological and mechanical functioning. Despite the importance of cellular organization in all facets of tissue biology, the fundamental question of how a cell organizes itself in an anisotropic environment is still poorly understood. We employ a novel statistical thermodynamics framework which recognises the non-thermal fluctuations in the cellular response to investigate cell guidance on substrates with alternating soft and stiff stripes. The propensity of cells to primarily reside on stiff stripes results in strong guidance when the period of the stripes is larger than the cell size. For smaller stripe periods, cells sense a homogenous substrate and guidance is lost.

Feeding black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on locally available organic wastes has the potential of providing an alternative source of protein to fishmeal and soybean used in animal feed formulation. This can also mitigate against increasing accumulation of organic wastes and reduce high costs associated with their disposal. This study assessed the effects of three locally available organic waste substrates namely Irish potato peels, kale remains and bovine ruminal content versus chick mash as a positive control on larval weight gain, prepupal yield, substrate reduction rate, bioconversion rate and conversion ratio of BSFL. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether organic feed substrates had significant effects on BSFL while Tukey HSD, post-hoc test was applied for multiple comparisons and mean separation at P

Vibrio natriegens is a Gram-negative marine bacterium with an exceptionally fast growth rate and a doubling time of less than 10 min. Its high substrate uptake rates and metabolic prowess make it a promising next-generation workhorse for rapid molecular biology, protein expression, and metabolic engineering.

В статье рассматриваются современные взгляды на субстрат и механизм действия иглоукалывания по данным мировой литературы. Приведены результаты нейровизуализационных исследований первичной сосудистой системы, или системы Kim Bong Ham, которая, по мнению ученых, на сегодняшний день может представлять собой акупунктурные точки и меридианы.

Monitoring studies were carried out on the territory of the Lviv wastewater treatment plants. The volumes of accumulated stocks of the sludge site were determined, its qualitative and quantitative indicators were identified, and the presence of limiting factors was established. Based on the obtained data, 2-D models characterizing the vertical and horizontal accumulation of elements were created. Bioindication studies were conducted to determine the feasibility of using sewage sludge as a growth substrate. Modeling was performed to determine the potential area of reclaimed land

The management and disposal of the sewage sludge (SS) generated by a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) as part of the municipal wastewater (MWW) treatment process is one of the main socio-environmental issues faced by this type of system. Taxco de Alarcón, Guerrero, in southern Mexico has had a WWTP operating since 2016, and the SS disposal is a task that must be addressed by the WWTP. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the growth capacity of Panicum maximum, also known as mombaza grass (MG), by using SS generated within the "Taxco de Alarcón wastewater treatment plant" as substrate. To do so, 4 g of MG seeds were scattered over 5 kg (dry basis) of SS. As a control, a commercial compost soil was used, hereafter called pattern soil (PS). The experiment was carried out in triplicates for three months and drinking water (water used for human consumption) was used for crop irrigation. Each month a MG harvest was carried out. The response variables analyzed for MG were germination time (one month after plant emergence), height (HMG), growth rate GrMG, and yield (YMG), whereas in the SS and PS the content of organic matter was analyzed. Furthermore, the chemical composition was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) on the MG, SS, and PS. The results showed that MG germinated faster on PS (5 days) than germination on SS (7 days). However, the MG grown on SS reached a considerably higher height (45 cm) compared to the height reached on PS (17 cm). Furthermore, the maximum GrMG over SS was also higher than the maximum GrMG observed on the PS, 3.64 and 1.40 cm∙day-1, respectively. In terms of YMG, it was observed that on SS it reached an average monthly YMG of 416 g∙m-2, whereas in PS it reached a YMG of 72 g∙m-2. The chemical analysis detected P, K, Ca, Mg, and S, considered macronutrients in both substrates. Besides, some micronutrients identified in SS were Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn, whereas in PS it was also possible to detect micronutrients except Mn and Zn. All the macronutrients detected in the substrates were observed in the harvested MG. However, in the MG harvested in PS, Mn and Zn were not detected. Hence, a feasible disposal strategy for the SS generated by the Taxco de Alarcón WWTP is as a substrate for grass forage MG by its high organic matter content, the significant presence of macro and micronutrients, and the performance shown by MG cultivated in SS. Furthermore, the SS characteristics provide added value and can be considered as organic amendments of agricultural soils.

The article presents data on the diversity and substrate groups of bryoflora of the Znesinnya Regional Landscape Park (Znesinnya RLP), located in the city of Lviv (Western Ukraine). Based on field research carried out in the period 2015-2018 and analysis of herbarium collections, an inventory was made of the bryoflora of the Znesinnya RLP. A total of 113 species of bryoflora belonging to 66 genera, 35 families and 2 divisions are presented from the investigated area. Of these, 105 species are members of the division Bryophyta and 8 belong to Marchantiophyta. Six regionally rare species of bryophytes have been recorded, namely Pellia endiviifolia, P. epiphylla, Encalypta streptocarpa, Fissidens exilis, Cirriphyllum crassinervium and Sciurohypnum starkei. With regard to substrate preferences, epigeous species of bryophytes predominated and accounted for 89.0% of the total number of species. The largest proportion of bryophytes occurred on bare soil (46.0%), while 36.3% and 25.7% species were found on soil among herbaceous vegetation and on soil with gravel, respectively. Stony substrates were colonized by 42.5% of bryophyte species, with 19.5% of species occurring on artificial stony substrates. In addition, 24.8% of the species belonged to epixils inhabiting old stumps and logs of varying degrees of decay, and the same proportion was represented by epiphytic species of bryophytes. The smallest proportion (10.7%) of bryophytes was confined to water bodies and swampy ecotopes.

Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS) comprises sugarcane bagasse, coconut coir, chicken manure, and paddy straw; inoculated with and farmed for Agaricus bisporus. At present, the waste generation at a mushroom cultivation plant in Goa is 40 tons/day (15,000 tons annually). Valorization of this waste has been explored in terms of extracting lignocellulolytic enzymes and briquette production. SMS was screened for the presence of lignocellulolytic enzymes and then was used to make briquettes. The enzymes found in SMS were cellulase and laccase, which were further concentrated via tangential flow filtration (TFF). Enzyme activity for Cellulase increased by four-fold (from 255.34±1.30 U/mL increased to 1022.21±4.84 U/mL) and Laccase increased by three-fold (from 4.83±0.02 U/mL to 13.21±0.05 U/mL). The concentrated enzyme cocktail was used to decolorize congo red dye. After only eight hours of enzymatic treatment at pH 4.8 on congo red, approx. 40-49% decolorization was accomplished. The color removal was due to the presence of the laccase enzyme. After enzyme extraction, all the residual SMS was utilized to generate briquettes with an initial reduction in its moisture content from 50% to 10%. The resulting briquette gave a Gross Calorific Value of 4,143 Kcal/kg with 12.60% ash content. Thus, SMS proves to be a valuable source for recovering enzymes and a cost-effective material for briquette production rather than going into landfills.

Microbial diversity is essential for the maintenance of the normal structure and function of bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS). As a typical nutrient-deficient environment (NDE), the BLSS does not provide sufficient types of available substrates for microbial communities, and its internal microbial diversity is usually not high due to interspecific competitive exclusion. However, it is reported that microbial diversity is abnormally high in the International Space Station (ISS) after long-term exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR). It remains a mystery why LDIR leads to the formation and maintenance of high microbial diversity. In this study, a series of artificial microbial communities have been cultivated in NDE without and with LDIR, respectively. These communities are composed of three common microbial species (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in the ISS. By comparing and analyzing the differences in the microbial physiological and behavioral response characteristics in the two scenarios, a reasonable hypothesis was put forward to elucidate the formation and maintenance mechanisms of high microbial diversity in NDE with LDIR. Then a set of kinetic models were developed based on this hypothesis, observed phenomena, and experimental data. Finally, these kinetic models were sufficiently validated and the hypothesis was fully confirmed through large-scale digital simulations. Briefly, two fundamental succession mechanisms of the microbial communities are supposed to exist in NDE with LDIR: substrate-based negative feedback regulation (SNFR) and microbial delayed responses. These two decisive succession mechanisms can give rise to asynchronously convergent fluctuations of microbial populations and significantly alleviate the interspecific competitions. Such a species-for-quantity strategy drives the microbial communities to form and maintain species diversity with higher richness and evenness. This study can lay the theoretical foundation and provide new ideas for the construction of advanced BLSS featured with more robust structures and stronger function.

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of addition of net piece substrates in cages for nursery rearing of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii post-larvae. In the first experiment, net piece substrates were added with an arrangement to increase the surface area of nursery cages to 50% and 75% and compared with cages without any substrate (control). In the second experiment, maintaining surface area increment at 75% in all cages, the net piece substrates were arranged in three different orientations of horizontal, vertical, and 45o angle sloping. Experiments were conducted in a pond of Faculty of Fisheries, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh for a period of 45 days in June –August of 2015 and 2016. A completely randomized design was followed to assign the treatments with three replications. The 75% area increment group showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) growth (1.02 ± 0.09 g) and survival rate (79.43 ± 1.63%), compared to 50% area increment (0.96 ± 0.05 g and 75.03 ± 2.45%) and control group (0.79 ± 0.06 g and 66.66 ± 3.57%). The vertically oriented substrate group showed significantly lower growth 0.95 ± 0.04 g) and survival (76.33 ± 1.15%), compared to the horizontal (1.06 ± 0.05 g and 77.12 ± 1.20%) and sloping (1.16 ± 0.10 g and 79.33 ± 0.57 %) substrate group. However, there were no differences between horizontal and sloping substrate groups regarding final length, final weight, specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate except food conversion ratio (FCR). The overall results suggested that modification of net cage nursery structure of M. rosenbergii might have significant effects on growth and survival of post-larvae by the manipulation of their behaviour in culture system. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2020) 24(2) : 95-106

Biological tissues may exhibit graded heterogeneities in structure and mechanical properties that are crucial to their function. One biological structure that shows variation in both structure and function is the molluscan radula: the organ comprises a chitinous membrane with embedded teeth and serves to process and gather food. The tooth morphologies had been well studied in the last decades, but the mechanical properties of the teeth are not known for the vast majority of molluscs. This knowledge gap restricts our understanding of how the radula is able to act effectively on a target surface whilst simultaneously resisting structural failure. Here we employed nanoindentation technique to measure mechanical properties (hardness and Young's modulus) on distinct localities of individual radular teeth from 24 species of African paludomid gastropods. These species have distinct ecological niches as they forage on algae on different feeding substrates. A gradual distribution of measured properties along the teeth was found in species foraging on solid or mixed feeding substrates, but soft substrate feeders exhibit teeth almost homogeneous in their biomechanical properties. The presence or absence of large-scale gradients in these taenioglossan teeth could directly be linked with their specific function and in general with the species ecology, whereas the radular tooth morphologies do not always and fully reflect ecology. Statement of significance African Lake Tanganyika is well known for harbouring endemic and morphologically distinct genera. Its paludomid gastropods form a flock of high interest because of its diversity. As they show distinct radular tooth morphologies hypotheses about potential trophic specializations had always been at hand. Here we evaluated the mechanical properties Young’s modulus and hardness of 9027 individual teeth from 24 species along the tooth by nanoindentation and related them with the gastropods’ specific feeding substrate. We find that hard substrate feeders have teeth that are hard at the tips but much less stiff at the base and thus heterogeneous with respect to material properties, whereas soft substrate feeders have teeth that are flexible and homogenous with respect to material properties.

Microhabitat conditions determine the magnitude and speed of microbial processes but have been challenging to investigate. In this study we used microfluidic devices to determine the effect of the spatial distortion of a pore space on fungal and bacterial growth, interactions, and substrate degradation. The devices contained channels differing in bending angles and order. Sharper angles reduced fungal and bacterial biomass, especially when angles were repeated in the same direction. Substrate degradation was only decreased by sharper angles when fungi and bacteria were grown together. Investigation at the cellular scale suggests that this was caused by fungal habitat modification, since hyphae branched in sharp and repeated turns, blocking the dispersal of bacteria and the substrate. Our results demonstrate how the geometry of microstructures can influence microbial activity. This can be transferable to soil pore spaces, where spatial occlusion and microbial feedback on microstructures is thought to explain organic matter stabilization., Arellano Caicedo et al. use microfluidic devices to determine how spatial distortion of pore spaces in soil organic matter affects bacterial and fungal growth and substrate degradation. Their newly conceptualized chip design allows the quantification of bacterial and fungal biomass, and ecosystem function organic matter cycling with help of fluorescent markers in different microstructures.

Research goal:Based on the information found in the literature, it has been verified that the use of biofertilizing algae can definitely improve plant quality, growth, and blooms. In this work, studies were conducted to evaluate whether the use of algae in the cultivation of ornamental cacti in pots can improve the growth, ornamental qualities and resistance to salt stress of plants that normally grow in environmental conditions different from our latitudes. Materials and Methods:The experiments, started in September 2020, were conducted in the greenhouses of CREA-OF in Pescia (PT), Tuscany, Italy (43°54′N 10°41′E) onLobivia arachnacantha,Lobivia aureashaferi, Lobivia jojoiana and Lobivia grandiflora herzogli. The experimental groups were: i) group control, irrigated with water and substrate previously fertilized; ii) group control1, irrigated with water and substrate previously fertilized + 50 mM of NaCl once every 7 days; iii) group with algae, irrigated with water and substrate previously fertilized; iv) group with algae, irrigated with water and substrate previously fertilized + 50 mM of NaCl once every 7 days. On July 28, 2021, plant height and circumference, suckers’ number, number and length of thorns, vegetative and roots weight, flowers number, flowers life, plants dead from salinity stress, substrate microbial count, pH were analysed. Results and Discussion:The test showed a significant increase in agronomic and quality parameters analyzed in plants treated with algae extracts onLobivia arachnacantha,Lobivia aurea shaferi,Lobivia jojoianaandLobivia grandiflora herzogli. In fact, the trial showed in agronomic terms an increase in plant height and circumference, number of new suckers, vegetative and roots growth, number and length of thorns and flowers number. In qualitative terms, theses treated with algae extracts have shown a significant increase in the flower’s life and greater resistance to salt stress. The trial also showed an increase in the microorganism’s number in the theses treated with algae and a lowering of the pH in the substrate. The results therefore suggest the presence of additional sources of carbon and energy in particular nitrogen and phosphorus that ensure the increase of microbial populations and influence their behavior. Conclusions:This research paper highlights the potential of biofertilizer technology in terms of cost, environmental sustainability, and saline soil improvement. As in other experiments in the literature, the application of algae not only resulted in significant effects on plant growth but also influenced the development of microbial communities in the soil.

The emergence of β-lactam resistance is yearning for clinical significance in Enterobacteriaceae, which are categorized under global priority pathogen lists by the World Health Organization. Likewi...

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a multi-step process initiated by a set of proteases, which interacts and cleaves diverse proteins, thus modulating their biochemical and cellular functions. In metazoans, PCD is mediated by proteolytic enzymes called caspases, which triggered cell death by proteolysis of human Tudor staphylococcus nuclease (TSN). Non-metazoans lack a close homologue of caspases but possess an ancestral family of cysteine proteases termed ‘metacaspases’. Studies supported that metacaspases are involved in PCD, but their natural substrates remain unknown. In this study, we performed the Plasmodium falciparum TSN (PfTSN) cleavage assay using wild and selected mutants of P. falciparum metacaspases-2 (PfMCA-2) in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, PfMCA-2, cleaved a phylogenetically conserved protein, PfTSN at multiple sites. Deletion or substitution mutation in key interacting residues at the active site, Cys157 and His205 of PfMCA-2, impaired its enzymatic activity with the artificial substrate, z-GRR-AMC. However, the mutant Tyr224A did not affect the activity with z-GRR-AMC but abolished the cleavage of PfTSN. These results indicated that the catalytic dyad, Cys157 and His205 of PfMCA-2 was essential for its enzymatic activity with an artificial substrate, whereas Tyr224 and Cys157 residues were responsible for its interaction with the natural substrate and subsequent degradation of PfTSN. Our results suggested that MCA-2 interacts with TSN substrate in a non-canonical way using non-conserved or conformationally available residues for its binding and cleavage. In future, it would be interesting to explore how this interaction leads to the execution of PCD in the Plasmodium.

We observed the behavior of the bivalve mollusk Arca boucardi during reattachment of the mollusk to plexiglass. According to our observations, after 0.5–4 h of active movement in search of a suitable place, the mollusks began to form a byssus and secreted a transparent discharge. After 9–10 h a new byssus formed, which did not fundamentally differ from the old one. It was shown that the byssus is a monolithic relatively elastic green band with an adhesive sole in the distal part and a system of septa in the proximal cavity that serves for attaching the muscles responsible for the byssus function. Field studies to evaluate the adhesion strength of mollusks to the substrate have shown that the strength varies from a few hundred grams to 23.5 kg, depending on the size of mollusk. The data are discussed in terms of the functional morphology and peculiarities of the spatial distribution of A. boucardi in the upper subintertidal zone.

Self-healing is an intrinsic ability that exists widely in every multicellular biological organism. Our recent experiments have shown that bacterial biofilms also have the ability to self-heal after man-make cuts, but the mechanism of biofilm self-healing have not been studied. We find that the healing process of cuts on the biofilm depends on cut geometries like its location or direction, the biofilm itself like the biofilm age, the growing substrate properties like its hardness, and also the environments such as the competitive growth of multiple biofilms. What is more, the healing rate along the cut is heterogeneous, and the maximum healing rate can reach 260 μm/h, which is three times the undestroyed biofilm expansion rate. The cut does not change the rounded shape growth of biofilms. Further study of phenotypic evolution shows that the cut delays bacterial differentiation; motile cells perceive the cut and move to the cut area, while the cut only heals when there are enough matrix-producing cells in the cut area. Our work suggests new ideas for developing self-healing materials.

Green waste (GW) is gradually increasing with the rapid development of urban greening and China’s flower industry. Using composted green waste (CGW) as acultivation substrate can effectively save p...

Social wasps build their nests using plant material and can thereby occupy different types of habitats. The organization of their colonies is generally based on complex communication systems that include chemical compounds of the cuticle that are shared with the material of their nests thus contributing to the specific chemical signature of their colony. These compounds can vary by environmental factors, in this case the nesting substrate may interfere with this composition. However, no study to date has investigated whether there is any relationship between the chemical signature of the colony and the nesting substrate of their nests. Therefore, in this study we investigated the relationship between the colonial chemical signature and the plant in which the colonies were nesting. Colonies of three species of social wasps and samples of plants where they nested were collected, then extractions of the chemical composition of adult wasps, nest material and plants were performed. The results show that the colonies of social wasps investigated here share their chemical composition with the plants where their nests were built. Our results suggest that the plant can provide the colony with more than just a place with ideal physical conditions and safety, but also compounds that compose the colonial chemical signature.

The production of insect protein as human food and livestock feed (entomophagy) may provide a more environmentally beneficial alternative to traditional animal agriculture. However, the resulting waste product from insect production has resulted in large accumulations of left-over substrate and frass. Due to its nutrient and microbial profile, this left-over product has the potential to be utilised as a biofertiliser for high value crop production. Studies have been conducted using the frass of various insects (e.g. black soldier flies, houseflies, and mealworms) to monitor its impact on crop productivity. Overall, frass tends to have similar or better results when compared to inorganic fertilisers, especially when combined with them. Aside from productivity and growth, frass may also preserve soil fertility by decreasing leaching and infiltration, and reducing the prevalence of disease and pathogens. In addition, chitin found in frass also has beneficial properties for plant/crop growth and disease resistance. Monitoring the dietary inputs of industrially reared insects may be the best way of mitigating the potential negative impacts of frass application, such as increased electrical conductivity and heavy metal toxicity. No single study confirms all of these benefits at once. Future studies should focus building onto these results by demonstrating systems levels benefits.

Ecosystems are degrading world-wide, with severe ecological and economic consequences. Restoration is becoming an important tool to regain ecosystem services and preserve biodiversity. However, in harsh ecosystems dominated by habitat-modifying organisms, restoration is often expensive and failure prone. Establishment of such habitat modifiers often hinges on self-facilitation feedbacks generated by traits that emerge when individuals aggregate, causing density- or patch size-dependent establishment thresholds. To overcome these thresholds, adult or juvenile habitat-forming species are often transplanted in clumped designs, or stress-mitigating structures are deployed. However, current restoration approaches focus on introducing or facilitating a single life stage, while many habitat modifiers experience multiple bottlenecks throughout their life as they transition through sequential life stages. Here, we define and experimentally test ‘life cycle informed restoration’, a restoration concept that focuses on overcoming multiple bottlenecks throughout the target species’ lifetime. To provide proof of concept, and show its general applicability, we carried out complementary experiments in intertidal soft-sediment systems in Florida and the Netherlands where oysters and mussels act as reef-building habitat modifiers. We used biodegradable structures designed to facilitate bivalve reef recovery by both stimulating settlement with hard and fibrous substrates and post-settlement survival by reducing predation. Our trans-Atlantic experiments demonstrate that these structures enabled bivalve reef formation by: (a) facilitating larval recruitment via species-specific settlement substrates, and (b) enhancing post-settlement survival by lowering predation. In the Netherlands, structures with coir rope most strongly facilitated mussels by providing fibrous settlement substrate, and predation-lowering spatially complex hard attachment substrate. In Florida, oysters were greatly facilitated by hard substrates, while coir rope proved unbeneficial. Synthesis and applications. Our findings demonstrate that artificial biodegradable reefs can enhance bivalve reef restoration across the Atlantic by mimicking emergent traits that ameliorate multiple bottlenecks over the reef-forming organism’ life cycle. This highlights the potential of our approach as a cost-effective and practical tool for nature managers to restore systems dominated by habitat modifiers whose natural recovery is hampered by multiple life stage-dependent bottlenecks. Therefore, investment in understanding how to achieve life cycle informed restoration on larger scales and whether the method it is applicable to restore other ecosystems is now required.

Invasive alien plants not only decrease riparian vegetation diversity but also alter wetland ecosystem carbon processes, especially when they displace the original vegetation. Invasive Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) has colonized large areas of disturbed and undisturbed land in southeastern China, yet little is known regarding how it affects soil carbon cycling. To explore the response patterns of soil respiration following S. canadensis invasion and their driving mechanisms, an observational field study and a greenhouse experiment simulating invasion were performed. In the field study, soil respiration was measured weekly from 21th July 2018 to 15th December 2018. In the greenhouse experiment, soil, autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration were measured every 1st and 15th of the month from 15th July 2019 to 15th December 2019. Soil, autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration were measured using a closed-chamber system with the deep gauze collar root exclusion method. Solidago canadensis invasion appeared to decrease the total soil CO2 emissions in both the field study and the greenhouse experiment. The suppressive effects on soil respiration may be attributed to S. canadensis invasion-induced alterations in the quality and quantity of available soil substrate, suggesting that S. canadensis invasion may impact soil carbon cycling via plant-released substrates and by competing for the soil available substrate with native plant and/or soil microbes. These results have substantial implications for estimations of the effects of invasive plants on belowground carbon dynamics and their contribution to the warming world.

Purpose: The study did an evaluation of cost-benefits of oyster mushroom production using innovative water hyacinth substrate for sustainable development of Sme, Kenya. Methodology: The study employed the Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) technique for the evaluation Findings: Oyster mushroom is edible and belongs to fungi Kingdom and can play a key role in economic development of a country. It can also contribute immensely to human wellness through enhancement of body immune system when consumed regularly. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy There is need to evaluate the Cost-Benefits of Oyster Mushroom Production Using Innovative Water Hyacinth Substrate for Sustainable Development of SMEs in Kenya. Objectives include determination of economic Net present Value (ENPV) and determination of Economic Benefit-Cost Ratio (EBCR). The significance of this study include control of Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic disease, poverty reduction, reduction of unemployment crisis and enhancement of sustainable business opportunity for SME.

Transglutaminases are protein cross‐linking and protein‐modifying enzymes that have attracted considerable interest due to their causal involvement in various diseases and versatility in industrial applications. In particular, microbial transglutaminases (MTG) from Streptomyces bacteria have managed in recent years to evolve from simple food additives to specialized enzymes for the site‐directed modification of therapeutic proteins. The review summarizes relevant studies from the beginning dealing with the occurrence, production, structure, catalysis, and substrate molecules of MTG enzymes. It also addresses biotechnological procedures with MTG from S. mobaraensis (SmMTG) as the most prominent representative in focus. Reassessment of the available data revealed unexpected insights into catalysis of SmMTG and other transglutaminases, suggesting selection of glutamine donor proteins by subsites at the front vestibule and the existence of distinct lysine pockets. Flexibility of the SmMTG‐accessible glutamine donor substrate regions seems to be more important than the glutamine environment. Nevertheless, residues in close vicinity to glutamines also determine interaction with the SmMTG subsites. The apparent lack of subsites for lysine donor proteins suggests self‐assembly of the substrate proteins prior to enzymatic cross‐linking. The study of natural substrate proteins, especially their mutual interaction, is proposed to further illuminate catalysis of SmMTG. To this end, structure and function of the characterized substrate proteins from S. mobaraensis are discussed in conclusion.

The insect sector can benefit from applying fermentation technology as a process step at multiple stages. In the first place, fermentation of the (usually plant-based) substrate is comparable to silage applied in traditional animal husbandry and it is already applied in the insect industry. The process can enhance the digestibility of the substrate for insects, or when insects are reared on fermented substrates, their characteristics or those of the residue may be more suited for certain applications. In contrast, fermentation of the insects themselves is less well established. From the few reports available, it appears that optimalisation of the fermentation of insects, an animal-based matrix, is not evident. Fermentation can go in the wrong direction when the process conditions are not properly fined-tuned for the matrix. Nevertheless, insect fermentation deserves further exploration. The few studies available on the topic prove that fermentation can improve their taste, aroma, shelf life, digestibility and/or other characteristics, leading to new applications.

The main ways of disposal of sewage sludge in the European Union and Ukraine are considered. The main problems of sludge utilization in Ukraine are identified. Research has been conducted on the possibility of using a substrate based on sewage sludge for biological reclamation of disturbed lands. Determined the quality of the sludge from Lviv WWTP. The best substrate composition for biological land reclamation is determined by using bioindication. It is established that the use of settled sludge observed inhibition of plant growth and development. Adding additional components to the substrate, in the form of sorbents, makes it possible to increase the content of sewage sludge. Positive changes in plant growth and development have been observed when using a soil-based substrate, sewage sludge and sorbent.

The roles of protein in bodybuilding and the regulation of biological processes are important in sustaining life. A large amount of protein is required by both humans and animals and this cannot be supplied by only conventional sources. This is because of the rapid increase in world population. The present sources of protein will not meet global protein demand in years to come. Scientists explore the production of single-cell protein (SCP), as an alternative source of protein, through the utilization of wastes and low-value materials. SCP can supply high-quality protein containing both essential and non-essential amino acids that can be utilized by humans and animals. Protein from microbial biomass is cheaper than animal proteins because the substrates used in the production are generally cheaper and more readily available. Moreover, the production process does not require arable land and the entire process can be completed within a short time. This article reviewed the process of SCP production. Different raw materials used in the production and variations in growth media preparation methods were discussed. Various sources of fermentation microorganisms and their potential substrate were reviewed. Growth media enrichment using different carbon, nitrogen, and mineral sources was also discussed.

The concept of biological memory of soils and cultural layers is developed. This term is understood as information about soil-forming conditions of the past that is carried by living organisms, their generative and dormant forms, dead and mineralized organisms and tissues, bioorganic compounds, low-molecular-weight and supramolecular products of microbial transformation of organic matter, and traces and products of the vital activity of living organisms in the soil profile. The structure of biological memory is considered, and the mechanisms of microbial soil memory are discussed in more detail. Microbial soil memory is defined as the ability of different groups of soil microbiota to change their structure, functional diversity, and biological activity under the impact of natural or anthropogenic factors and to preserve these changes. It is shown that changed in climatic conditions are reflected in the microbial memory of buried soils in the form of changes in the biomass and ecological-trophic structure of the soil microbial community. In addition to the microbial memory, cultural layers of ancient settlements and soils with traces of ancient anthropogenic transformation are characterized by the enzyme memory, which enables the reconstruction of the entry of nonspecific substrates primarily of anthropogenic nature into the soil. In the microbial memory, this is reflected in an increase in the number of microorganisms that specialize in the decomposition of particular substrate, while the enzyme memory reflects an increase in the activity of exo- and endoenzymes that participate in the utilization of this substrate by soil microorganisms. The established periods of functioning of microbial and enzyme memory of soils reach several thousand years.

Larval settlement is a critical step for sessile benthic species such as corals, whose ability to thrive on diverse natural and anthropogenic substrates may lead to a competitive advantage in the colonization of new environments with respect to a narrow tolerance for a specific kind of substratum. Plastic debris, widespread in marine waters, provides a large, motile, and solid substratum supporting a highly diverse biological community. Here we present the first observation of a floating plastic bottle colonized by the deep-sea coral Desmophyllum dianthus. The density pattern and co-occurring species composition suggest a pioneer behavior of this coral species, whose peculiar morphologic plasticity response when interacting with the plastic substrate (i.e., low density polyethylene) has not been observed before. The tolerance of D. dianthus for such plastic substrate may affect ecological processes in deep water environments, disrupting interspecific substrate competition in the benthic community.

If the photosynthetic organisms assimilated only CO2 in the Archean atmosphere, hydroxide ion in the Archean seawater would not increase. If plants would not consume bicarbonate as a direct substrate during photosynthesis, it is difficult to explain the evolution of Earth's environment. To date, it is generally accepted that photosynthetic O2 evolution of plants come from water photolysis. However, it should be debated by evaluating the effect of bicarbonate in photosynthetic O2 evolution, analyzing the role of carbonic anhydrase (CA) in photosynthetic O2 evolution, and the relationship between thylakoid CA and photosynthetic O2 evolution. In the paper, I propose that bicarbonate is directly used as substrate to participate in photosynthetic O2 evolution. The rationality of bicarbonate photolysis of plants is discussed from the thermodynamics and evolution of Earth's environment. The isotopic evidence that bicarbonate is not the direct substrate of photosynthetic O2 release is reexamined, and the new explanation of bicarbonate photolysis in photosynthetic O2 evolution is proposed.

The problem of biotransformation of man-caused disturbed lands is of great importance for the restoration of soil fertility. The leading role in this process is played by soil microorganisms. Toxic industrial waste can make negative adjustments to the species composition of soil microflora (can cause mutation of many microorganisms, as well as the death of some of them). Under certain conditions, in the presence of harmful substances, new microorganisms can arise that decompose precisely those substances that cause soil pollution. Consequently, a new microflora appears, capable of carrying out its trophic functions on an inductive basis on industrially contaminated substrates. As a man-caused control, a mineral substrate of the tailing dump of Abagurskaya agglomeration and processing plant JSC, unfavorable for the vital activity of soil microflora, where, due to the absence of plant residues and other carbon-containing components, an extremely low level of intensity of enzymatic hydrolytic processes was used. The introduction of organic matter containing sewage sludge (WWS) into the substrate as a recultivator creates favorable conditions for the formation of a stable vegetation cover. The presence of an organic component in the mineral substrate of the iron-containing tailings waste creates favorable conditions for the vital activity of microflora. Carbon-containing compounds of technozems create a certain pool of microorganisms. The products of their vital activity create the basis for the formation of an organic-mineral substrate, favorable conditions for the growth of higher plants and the creation of a stable phytocenosis. For the induced manifestation of enzymatic activity under these extreme conditions, a considerable time is required for the bacterial forms introduced from the outside to be able to fix their presence. The maximum activity, comparable both after 1 month and after 3 months with the natural control, was noted on the experimental site with the placement of WWS as a soil conditioner. The presence of WWS and intensive accumulation of leaf litter and other plant residues contribute to the favorable development of cellulose-degrading bacteria, among which rod-shaped forms of the genus Clostridium predominate. The quantitative indicators of the enzymatic activity of technozems are close to the natural level and significantly exceed those of technogenic control.

Due to the importance of camouflage to avoid detection by predators, predation pressure can cause coupled evolution of skin colour and preference for substrate colour. Individuals can choose regions where the background makes their skin colour less noticeable (crypsis) or where it accentuates warning coloration (aposematism). In such scenario, individuals should optimally choose substrate according to their skin colour and mechanism of predation avoidance: toxic species are expected to choose highly lit places and non-toxic species should avoid such places. We studied substrate choice on five species of tadpoles that differ in body colour and toxicity. The results of the present study did not confirm our prediction that non-toxic and cryptically coloured species would prefer a lower contrast substrate that maximizes camouflage. We show that individuals preferred highly lit areas that accentuated their contrast with the substrate. The general preference for lighter substrate might be related to the tadpole’s limited vision on a dark substrate, which hampers their ability in detecting predators. This study demonstrates that tadpoles can distinguish the substrate colour and that their choice of habitat might be linked to both their defence mechanism in the case of aposematic species and recognition of habitat elements in the case of cryptically-coloured species.

We studied the diversity of Y-chromosomal haplogroup N-L666 in Southern Siberia, where this lineage itself is an approximate equivalent to N2-P43. The whole sample included 590 representatives of western, central, southern, southeastern and northeastern (Tojin) Tuvans, who identified themselves as one of 21 tribal groups, as well as Tofalars. The N-L666 subsample consisted of 138 individuals and was studied using 15 STR markers in two scales: local (considering the areal groups and tribal clans of Tuvans) and regional (in comparison with the populations of Southern and Western Siberia). Results. Two clusters of N-L666 STR haplotypes were identified: cluster A, specific for Tuvans and Tofalars (covering 19% and 16% of their gene pools respectively) and cluster B, widely scattered throughout Siberia from the West to the Transbaikalia (reaching ~30% in Tofalars). The ubiquity and a greater age of the cluster B favor the idea of its origin in the ancestral population – the ultimate source of the haplogroup N-L666 in Siberia – commonly alleged to be Samoyedic by language. On the contrary, the narrow geographic range and a relatively recent age of the cluster A indicate its formation in the area inhabited by Tuvans and Tofalars during the last thousand years. The emergence of subclusters A1, A2, B1 may be the result of demographic growth in the populations of Tuvans, southern Altaians and Khakas about 300-450 years ago. The spread of the same haplotypes, clusters and subclusters among different regional groups and clans of Tuvans indicates a common source of haplogroup N-L666 for them, which existed in the gene pool long before the separation of the studied populations. Conclusions. A specific cluster of haplogroup N-L666 in Tuvans was presumably founded by a representative of one of the Samoyedic tribes, whose numerous descendants participated in the formation of the Tuvans, Tofalars and southern Altaians over the last thousand years.

The reuse of agro-industrial waste has been a recurring issue since the 20th century. With a composition rich in carbohydrates and because of the massive amount of residue produced daily all over the world, corncob became a low-cost and suitable substrate to produce high added-value compounds. Biosurfactants are bioproducts of versatile applications due to their chemical structure with hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. The current work performed a bibliometric analysis to identify research related to the synthesis of biosurfactants using corncob as substrate. Despite the high availability of corncobs, only nine articles were found in Scopus and Web of Science using different pretreatment processes and microorganisms. After an initial screening, data regarding research organizations, scientific journals, citations, countries, institutions, and keywords were analyzed. Results indicated that corncobs were also used to produce enzymes, adsorbents, activated carbon, and furfural. The presented evaluation updated the status of art, identifying a serious need for more research, especially because of corncob's high potential to provide fermentable sugars and the wide range of variables influencing fermentation processes that still need to be studied. A future association of this low-cost substrate with other methods can result in a promising scenario for technology transference.

The complex glycans comprising 'dietary fiber' evade the limited repertoire of human digestive enzymes and hence feed the vast community of microbes in the lower gastrointestinal tract. As such, complex glycans drive the composition of the human gut microbiota and, in turn, influence diverse facets of our nutrition and health. To access these otherwise recalcitrant carbohydrates, gut bacteria produce coordinated, substrate-specific arsenals of carbohydrate-active enzymes, glycan-binding proteins, oligosaccharide transporters, and transcriptional regulators. A recent explosion of biochemical and enzymological studies of these systems has led to the discovery of manifold new carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) families. Crucially underpinned by structural biology, these studies have also provided unprecedented molecular insight into the exquisite specificity of glycan recognition in the diverse CAZymes and non-catalytic proteins from the HGM. The revelation of a multitude of new three-dimensional structures and substrate complexes constitutes a 'gold rush' in the structural biology of the human gut microbiota.

Previous work by these authors have quantified cumulative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for several woody and herbaceous perennial species, in interaction with several standard best management practices (container size, fertilizer application and irrigation delivery methods, and light level). In this study, the greenhouse production of three annual species [coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides Thonn. ‘Redhead'), vinca (Catharanthus roseus L. ‘Cooler Grape'), and impatiens (Impatiens walleriana Hook. f. ‘Super Elfin XP White')] was evaluated in three substrates [80:20 peat:perlite, 80:20 peat:WholeTree (a whole pine tree-based substrate), 60:40 peat:WholeTree]. Emissions of CO2, N2O and CH4 were collected over a period of 52 days. Without regard to media, coleus had the highest cumulative CO2 efflux (statistically similar to vinca), due to its increased size in comparison with both vinca and impatiens. Without regard to species, plant-pot systems using the highest proportion of WholeTree (40%) had numerically the most cumulative CO2 efflux (statistically similar to those containing only 20% WholeTree). No differences were observed for the main effect of species or media for N2O or CH4. Results suggest that using a more sustainable high wood fiber substrate in similar proportions to that of perlite in an industry standard mix (20%) could yield similarly sized plants with no negative impact on GHG emissions.Index words: alternative substrate, WholeTree, carbon sequestration, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, global climate change.Species used in this study: ‘Redhead' coleus, Solenostemon scutellarioides Thonn. ‘Redhead'; ‘Cooler Grape' vinca, Catharanthus roseus L. ‘Cooler Grape'; ‘Super Elfin XP White' impatiens, Impatiens walleriana Hook. f. ‘Super Elfin XP White'.

A flowslide overriding liquefied substrate can vastly enhance its disaster after failure initiation, due to rapid velocity and long-runout distance during landslides mobilized into flows. It is cru...

1. This study evaluated photohydroionisation efficiency on the disinfection of new shavings used as substrate for litter in the poultry industry, pre-inoculated with bacterial, fungal and viral agents.2. Each replicate consisted of 250 g of new shavings sterilised by autoclaving, challenged with bacterial (

The carbon and artificial substrate integration was applied in mudskipper (Pseudapocryptes elongatus) culture to evaluate its effect on growth and enzyme activity. Wild mudskipper fries (6.9–7.3 cm; 3.88–4.12 g) were obtained in the coastal area of the Mekong delta. Fish were reared in 1 m3 fiber glass tanks containing 600 L of 15 ‰ seawater for 60 days in outdoor conditions. Mud was added to the tank bottom around 15 cm to simulate the culture condition as would be found in an earthen pond. Molasses (38% Carbon) was added daily to the culture water based on TAN level to balance C/N to 10. The results showed that the survival was in the range of 80.6–85%, and no significance in term of survival was found when comparing treatments. The individual weight of fish was 11.93–14.11 g/ind in range, fish in the culture where carbon and both carbon and substrate addition had significantly better growth and productivity than fish in the culture where molasses and substrates were not applied. The results of this study demonstrate that the growth performance and production of mudskipper significantly increased when the biofloc and substrate integration was applied.

Adverse storage conditions impair the quality of stored grain, contribute to the growth and propagation of the fungi leading to an even greater deterioration of the grain quality. Antifungal biopreparations can help preserve grain quality. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their metabolites with antifungal properties can potentially be used in storage conditions or for the decontamination of stored products. The aim of this study was to determine the antifungal activity of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus brevis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides on the inhibition of mycelial growth of pathogenic fungi Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum and Fusarium graminearum. The biocontrol potential of LAB against fungi was tested under laboratory conditions in culture media as an ideal substrate for fungal growth and wheat grains as a model of natural substrate. A liquid culture media (MRS broth) was inoculated with cells or cell-free supernatants (CFS) of each LAB species and the fungal spores. The fungal growth was evaluated by measuring the increase in mycelial biomass after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of incubation. The second antifungal assay was performed on the wheat grain treated with LAB CFS and inoculated with fungal spores. Biopreparation containing cells or CFS of all LAB species significantly inhibited the fungal growth of P. chrysogenum (mean inhibition 69– 75% LAB cells and 80–81% LAB CFS) and F. graminearum (mean inhibition 60–83% LAB cells and 83–88% LAB CFS) in the culture media. In the treatment with wheat grain, the CFS of all the tested LAB species significantly inhibited only the growth of F. graminearum (83–90% mean inhibition). There is inconsistency in the efficiency of LAB preparations when comparing assays. The results indicate that media used in the experiment affect the activity or tolerance of the tested bacteria and fungi. L. casei, L. brevis and L. mesenteroides proved their antifungal properties in the culture media and natural substrate. F. graminearum was the most susceptible, and A. niger was the most tolerant to treatments with LAB cells and LAB CFS. More research is needed to reveal the mode of action of the LAB against phytopathogenic fungi in different conditions for their application on stored grains.

Fungal deteriorative action on historical stone objects often leads to important and incalculable cultural heritage losses. The Anca stone is a unique limestone type widely used in some of the most important and emblematic Portuguese monuments. Being a soft and porous calcium carbonate limestone, this substrate is known to have a significant bioreceptivity to microbial colonization often resulting in notorious biodeterioration. Nonetheless, fungal bioreceptivity and biodeterioration of this lithotype remains scarcely characterized. With this in mind, the main aims of this work were to evaluate these aspects in a controlled laboratory environment. Inoculation of several fungal species in stone replicas revealed that Penicillia growth occupied larger areas under rich micro-nutrient environments, while Aspergilli and the black fungal species Aeminium ludgeri only denoted a slightly more accentuated growth under depleted nutrient conditions. Moreover, all species produced noticeable aesthetic alterations. In addition, we were able to verify A. ludgeri endolithic growth, Aspergillus glaucus putative hyphae penetration into calcite layers and mineralization phenomena occurring around A. westerdijkiae hyphae. By itself, this study provides a key update regarding fungal biodeterioration of this ancient, emblematic and remarkable limestone.