High Alcohol Tolerance Research Articles

Adolescent alcohol and cannabis use and early adulthood educational attainment in the 1986 Northern Finland birth cohort study

BackgroundHeavy alcohol and cannabis use during adolescence have been previously described as risk factors not only for morbidity in adulthood, but also social problems including adversities in educational attainment. Attempts to consider overlapping risk factors and confounders for these associations are needed.MethodsUsing weighted multivariable models, we examined prospective associations between age at first drink (AFD), age at first intoxication (AFI), frequency of alcohol intoxication, as well as self-reported alcohol tolerance (i.e., number of drinks needed for the subjective experience of intoxication), and lifetime cannabis use at age 15/16 years with subsequent educational attainment obtained from comprehensive registers until age 33 in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (6,564 individuals, 49.1% male). Confounding variables including sex, family structure (intact vs. non-intact), maternal and paternal education level, behavioural/emotional problems in school at age 7/8 years, having a history of illicit substance use in adolescence, having any psychiatric diagnosis before age 16, and parental psychiatric diagnoses, were adjusted for.ResultsIn this large birth cohort study with a 17-year follow-up, younger age at first intoxication, higher frequency of alcohol intoxication, and high self-reported alcohol tolerance at age 15/16 years were associated with poorer educational outcomes by the age of 33 years. These associations were evident regardless of potential confounders, including parental education and childhood behavioural/emotional problems. The association between adolescent cannabis use and educational attainment in adulthood was no longer statistically significant after adjusting for confounders including frequency of alcohol intoxication at age 15/16.ConclusionsAssessments of age of first alcohol intoxication, high self-reported alcohol tolerance and frequency of intoxication during adolescence should be included when implementing screening strategies aimed at identifying adolescents at risk for subsequent social problems.

Associations of Adolescent Alcohol Use and Self-Reported Alcohol Tolerance With Risk of Self-Harm and Suicide in Early Adulthood: A Birth-Cohort Study.

We aimed to assess the predictive associations of age at first drink (AFD), age at first intoxication (AFI), frequency of intoxication, and self-reported alcohol tolerance at ages 15-16 with self-harm requiring medical attention or suicide death by age 33. In an ongoing follow-up study, the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986, a total of 7,735 individuals were included at ages 15-16. Information on alcohol and other substance use was assessed via questionnaires. Information on self-harm or suicide was collected from national registers until the participants were 33 years of age. Baseline psychiatric symptomatology measured with the Youth Self-Report questionnaire and sociodemographic background variables were controlled for in multivariable analyses using Cox regression analyses. Male gender and psychiatric symptoms at ages 15-16 were consistently associated with greater risk of self-harm and suicide death. When baseline psychiatric symptomatology and other background variables were adjusted for, younger AFI (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.28, 95% CI [1.16, 4.47]) and high inherent alcohol tolerance (HR = 3.76, 95% CI [1.55, 9.08]) were associated with self-harm. Furthermore, frequent alcohol intoxication (HR = 5.39, 95% CI [1.44, 20.23]) and high inherent alcohol tolerance (HR = 6.20, 95% CI [1.18, 32.45]) were associated with suicide death by age 33. High alcohol tolerance, age at onset of intoxication, and frequency of alcohol intoxication in adolescence appear to be significant predictors of self-harm and suicide in early adulthood. Self-reported alcohol tolerance in adolescence is a novel empirical approach to assess adolescent alcohol use associating with subsequent harms.

Alcohol use in adolescence as a risk factor for overdose in the 1986 Northern Finland Birth Cohort Study.

BackgroundOverdoses and poisonings are among the most common causes of death in young adults. Adolescent problem drinking has been associated with psychiatric morbidity in young adulthood as well as with elevated risk for suicide attempts. There is limited knowledge on adolescent alcohol use as a risk factor for alcohol and/or drug overdoses in later life.MethodsHere, data from The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 study with a follow-up from adolescence to early adulthood were used to assess the associations between adolescent alcohol use and subsequent alcohol or drug overdose. Three predictors were used: age of first intoxication, self-reported alcohol tolerance and frequency of alcohol intoxication in adolescence. ICD-10-coded overdose diagnoses were obtained from nationwide registers. Use of illicit drugs or misuse of medication, Youth Self Report total score, family structure and mother’s education in adolescence were used as covariates.ResultsIn multivariate analyses, early age of first alcohol intoxication [hazard ratios (HR) 4.5, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.2–9.2, P < 0.001], high alcohol tolerance (HR 3.1, 95% CI 1.6–6.0, P = 0.001) and frequent alcohol intoxication (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0–3.4, P = 0.035) all associated with the risk of overdoses. Early age of first intoxication (HR 5.2, 95% CI 1.9–14.7, P = 0.002) and high alcohol tolerance (HR 4.4, 95% CI 1.7–11.5, P = 0.002) also associated with intentional overdoses.ConclusionsAlcohol use in adolescence associated prospectively with increased risk of overdose in later life. Early age of first intoxication, high alcohol tolerance and frequent alcohol intoxication are all predictors of overdoses.

Bacterial Diversity and Lactic Acid Bacteria with High Alcohol Tolerance in the Fermented Grains of Soy Sauce Aroma Type Baijiu in North China.

Soy sauce aroma type baijiu (also known as Maotai-flavor baijiu) is one of the most popular types of baijiu in China. Traditionally, it is mainly produced in Southwest China. However, in recent decades, some other regions in China have also been able to produce high-quality soy sauce aroma type baijiu, but their microbial flora characteristics during fermentation are still unclear. Here, the bacterial microbial community structure of fermented grains in different rounds of Lutaichun soy sauce aroma type baijiu produced in North China was studied by high-throughput sequencing technology, and the potential probiotics strains with good characteristics (alcohol tolerance, etc.) were screened. The results showed that lactic acid bacteria were the main bacteria in the process of baijiu fermentation. However, as the number of repeated fermentation rounds increased, the proportion of lactic acid bacteria decreased. Firmicutes (96.81%) were the main bacteria in baijiu fermentation at the phylum level, and Lactobacillus (66.50%) were the main bacteria at the genus level. Finally, two strains with high resistance to alcohol stress, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LTJ12 and Pediococcus acidilactici LTJ28, were screened from 48 strains of lactic acid bacteria in the fermented grains. The survival rates of L. plantarum LTJ12 and P. acidilactici LTJ28 under the 8% alcohol stress treatment were 59.01% and 55.50%, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to reveal the microbial succession of fermented grains in different rounds of soy sauce aroma type baijiu from North China, and has the benefit of explaining the deep molecular mechanism in the process of baijiu fermentation. In addition, the obtained lactic acid bacteria strains with high alcohol tolerance could be conducive to the development of new products such as active probiotic alcoholic beverages and may have important industrial development prospects also.

Genomic Analysis of Lactiplantibacillus Pentosus&amp;nbsp;LTJ12, a Novel Strain with High Alcohol Tolerance Isolated from Chinese Baijiu

Genomic Analysis of Lactiplantibacillus Pentosus&amp;nbsp;LTJ12, a Novel Strain with High Alcohol Tolerance Isolated from Chinese Baijiu

Effects of carbon concentration, oxygen, and controlled pH on the engineering strain Lactiplantibacillus casei E1 in the production of bioethanol from sugarcane molasses

Sugarcane molasses are considered a potential source for bioethanol’s commercial production because of its availability and low market price. It contains high concentrations of fermentable sugars that can be directly metabolized by microbial fermentation. Heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria, especially Lactiplantibacillus casei, have a high potential to be a biocatalyst in ethanol production that they are characterized by strong abilities of carbohydrate metabolism, ethanol synthesis, and high alcohol tolerance. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of producing ethanol by Lactiplantibacillus casei used the ethanologen engineering strain L. casei E1 as a starter culture and cane molasses as substrate medium. The effects of environmental factors on the metabolism of L. casei E1 were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system, and the gene expression of key enzymes in carbon source metabolism was detected using quantitative real-time PCR (RT–qPCR). Results showed that the strain could grow well, ferment sugar quickly in cane molasses. By fermenting this bacterium anaerobically at 37 °C for 36 h incubation in 5 °BX molasses when the fermenter’s pH was controlled at 6.0, ethanol yield reached 13.77 g/L, and carbohydrate utilization percentage was 78.60%. RT-qPCR results verified the strain preferentially ferment glucose and fructose of molasses to ethanol at the molecular level. In addition, the metabolism of sugars, especially fructose, would be inhibited by elevating acidity. Our findings support the theoretical basis for exploring Lactic acid bacteria as a starter culture for converting sugarcane molasses into ethanol.

Occurrence and Distribution of Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in China Seas

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been widely applied in fermentation industries, chemical industries and biological research and it is widespread in different environments, especially in sugar-rich environments. However, little is known about the occurrence, distribution and roles of S. cerevisiae in marine environments. In this study, only 10 strains among all the yeasts isolated from different marine environments belonged to S. cerevisiae. It was found that most of the strains of S. cerevisiae in marine environments occurred in guts, the surface of marine fish and mangrove trees. In contrast, they were not found in seawater and sediments. All the strains of S. cerevisiae isolated from the marine environments had a lower ability to produce ethanol than the highly alcohol-producing yeast Saccharomyces sp. W0 isolated from fermented rice, but the strains 2E00400, 2E00558, 2E00498, 2E00723, 2E00724 could produce higher concentrations of ethanol than any other marine-derived strains of S. cerevisiae obtained in this study. However, some of them had higher ethanol tolerance and higher trehalose content than Saccharomyces sp. W0. In particular, ethanol tolerance of the yeast strain 2E00498 was higher than that of Saccharomyces sp. W0. This may be related to the harsh marine environments from which they were isolated. Such yeast strains with higher alcohol tolerance could be used to further improve the alcohol tolerance of Saccharomyces sp. W0.

Influence of indigenous lactic acid bacteria on the volatile flavor profile of light-flavor Baijiu

Baijiu (Chinese liquor) is a type of traditional distilled spirit drink produced by spontaneous fermentation. Lactic acid bacteria as the predominant bacteria during the fermentation of Baijiu may influence the flavor through the production of enzymes and metabolites. Results showed that there was significant difference in lactic acid bacteria counts between different fermentation periods. Indigenous lactic acid bacteria with high alcohol tolerance and esterase activity were selected for fortified fermentation. Inoculation with indigenous lactic acid bacteria significantly changed the flavor profile of Baijiu. All the selected strains promoted the formation of ethyl acetate which is an important flavor in Baijiu. Lactobacillus acetotolerans significantly promoted the formation of ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate, ethanol, acetic acid, and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol. Sensory analysis revealed higher harmony in the samples fermented with L. hilgardii and L. acetotolerans, and higher intensive ester aroma in the samples fermented with L. planturum. The generation of flavors such as esters, alcohols and acids were species or even strain dependent. The results of this work will broaden our knowledge regarding the role of indigenous lactic acid bacteria during Baijiu manufacturing, and provide a potential approach for improving the flavor of Baijiu.

Highly Stable Low-Cost Electrochemical Gas Sensor with an Alcohol-Tolerant N,S-Codoped Non-Precious Metal Catalyst Air Cathode.

The emerging applications of electrochemical gas sensors (EGSs) in Internet of Things-enabled smart city and personal health electronics bring out a new challenge for common EGSs, such as alcohol fuel cell sensors (AFCSs) to reduce the dependence on a pricy Pt catalyst. Here, for the first time, we propose a low-cost novel N,S-codoped metal catalyst (FeNSC) to accelerate oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and replace the Pt catalyst in the cathode of an AFCS. The optimal FeNSC shows high ORR activity, stability, and alcohol tolerance. Furthermore, the FeNSC-based AFCS not only demonstrates excellent linearity, low detection limit, high stability, and superior sensitivity to that of the commercial Pt/C-based AFCS but also outperforms commercial Pt/C-based AFCS in the exposed cell regarding great linearity, high sensitivity, and great stability. Such a promising sensor performance not just proves the concept of the FeNSC-based ACFS but enlightens the next-generation designs toward low-cost, highly sensitive, and durable EGSs.

A High-Efficacy CRISPR Interference System for Gene Function Discovery in Zymomonas mobilis.

Zymomonas mobilis is a promising biofuel producer due to its high alcohol tolerance and streamlined metabolism that efficiently converts sugar to ethanol. Z. mobilis genes are poorly characterized relative to those of model bacteria, hampering our ability to rationally engineer the genome with pathways capable of converting sugars from plant hydrolysates into valuable biofuels and bioproducts. Many of the unique properties that make Z. mobilis an attractive biofuel producer are controlled by essential genes; however, these genes cannot be manipulated using traditional genetic approaches (e.g., deletion or transposon insertion) because they are required for viability. CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) is a programmable gene knockdown system that can precisely control the timing and extent of gene repression, thus enabling targeting of essential genes. Here, we establish a stable, high-efficacy CRISPRi system in Z. mobilis that is capable of perturbing all genes-including essential genes. We show that Z. mobilis CRISPRi causes either strong knockdowns (>100-fold) using single guide RNA (sgRNA) spacers that perfectly match target genes or partial knockdowns using spacers with mismatches. We demonstrate the efficacy of Z. mobilis CRISPRi by targeting essential genes that are universally conserved in bacteria, are key to the efficient metabolism of Z. mobilis, or underlie alcohol tolerance. Our Z. mobilis CRISPRi system will enable comprehensive gene function discovery, opening a path to rational design of biofuel production strains with improved yields.IMPORTANCE Biofuels produced by microbial fermentation of plant feedstocks provide renewable and sustainable energy sources that have the potential to mitigate climate change and improve energy security. Engineered strains of the bacterium Z. mobilis can convert sugars extracted from plant feedstocks into next-generation biofuels like isobutanol; however, conversion by these strains remains inefficient due to key gaps in our knowledge about genes involved in metabolism and stress responses such as alcohol tolerance. Here, we develop CRISPRi as a tool to explore gene function in Z. mobilis We characterize genes that are essential for growth, required to ferment sugar to ethanol, and involved in resistance to isobutanol. Our Z. mobilis CRISPRi system makes it straightforward to define gene function and can be applied to improve strain engineering and increase biofuel yields.

Frequent Alcohol Intoxication and High Alcohol Tolerance During Adolescence as Predictors of Mortality: A Birth Cohort Study

PurposeLong-term prospective studies evaluating the health burden that is consequent to adolescent drinking are needed. The aim of this study was to examine the predictive associations between self-reported alcohol tolerance and frequent intoxication at age 15–16 years and the risk of death by age 33 years. MethodsA sample (n = 6,615; 49.3% males) of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort Study 1986 was studied. Self-reported alcohol tolerance (drinks needed to feel intoxicated) and frequency of alcohol intoxication at age 15–16 years were analyzed along with background variables and data regarding subsequent psychiatric diagnoses. Categories were formed for both predictive variables from self-reported tolerance and frequency of intoxication in mid-adolescence. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for death by age 30 years. ResultsBy the age of 33 years, of all 6,615 participants, 53 (.8%) were deceased. The HR for death by age 33 years was 3.08 (95% CI 1.17–8.07) among adolescents with high alcohol tolerance compared with adolescents without alcohol use or intoxication. The frequency of alcohol intoxication was also associated with mortality; HR 2.05 (95% CI 1.01–4.16) for those who had been intoxicated one to two times and HR 3.02 (95% CI 1.21–7.54) for those who had been intoxicated three or more times in the past 30 days compared with adolescents without intoxication. ConclusionsHigh self-reported alcohol tolerance and frequent alcohol intoxication during mid-adolescence significantly predicted death by age 33 years. These behaviors carry long-term repercussions with respect to premature loss of life. Substantial efforts should be made to diminish this mortality risk.

To drink or not to drink; that is the question! Antecedents and consequences of employee business drinking

Drinking with others is seen as a necessary activity for business negotiations worldwide. However, employee alcohol use in business context is rarely investigated. This study focuses on employee business drinking (EBD), defined as employee drinking with clients for business matters. Based on role theory, the antecedents and consequences of EBD are examined using three-wave data obtained from 183 full-time Chinese employees. The results show that the leader business drinking norms and coworker business drinking norms have positive effects on EBD. Employees with high performance drinking motives and high alcohol tolerance are more likely to participate in EBD. Furthermore, EBD is positively related to leader-member exchange (LMX), team-member exchange (TMX), and client ties. These results show the drivers and potentially beneficial effects of EBD and provide important theoretical and practical implications.

Frequent intoxication and alcohol tolerance in adolescence: associations with psychiatric disorders in young adulthood.

To assess the associations of intoxication frequency and number of drinks needed to become intoxicated in mid-adolescence with onset of psychiatric disorders in early adulthood. Prospective cohort study in Northern Finland, with people from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 who self-reported adolescent alcohol use: 6548 subjects (69.4% of the original sample). Data on alcohol use were collected using questionnaires at ages 15-16years. Outcomes were any non-organic psychosis, mood disorder, anxiety disorder, any substance use disorder (SUD) and all the studied psychiatric disorders in early adulthood gathered from nation-wide health care, pension and insurance registers. Number of drinks needed to become intoxicated was categorized into three classes: (1) no alcohol use or intoxication, and (2) low and (3) high alcohol tolerance (more than seven/nine drinks for females/males) groups. Similarly, intoxication frequency was divided into three classes: (1) never, (2) one to two times and (3) three or more times during the past 30days. Information regarding gender, family type, other drug use, psychopathology using Youth Self-Report (YSR) total score and parental psychiatric disorders were used as covariates. In the multivariable analyses, both low [odds ratio (OR)=3.0, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.3-6.7, P-value=0.009] and high (OR=4.4, 95% CI=1.8-11.1, P-value=0.001) alcohol tolerance were associated with increased risk of SUD. More frequent intoxication was associated with increased frequency of SUD (OR=3.9, 95% CI=2.0-7.3, P-value <0.001) and mood disorder (OR=1.6, 95% CI=1.1-2.3, P-value=0.008). The latter was attenuated after adjusting with concurrent psychopathology (YSR) and other drug use. Both higher alcohol tolerance and frequent intoxication in adolescence appear to be associated with increased risk of future substance use disorder.

Turning Carbon Atoms into Highly Active Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalytic Sites in Nitrogen-Doped Graphene-Coated Co@Ag

In recent years, 3d transition metals or alloys encapsulated by graphene layers (M@NG) have been emerging as prospective electrocatalysts especially for hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) and oxygen evolution reactions (OERs). However, this strategy is limited in preparation of high-performance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts. Herein we prepared Co@Ag bimetallic nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-rich graphene layers via pyrolysis metal organic frameworks (MOFs). The catalyst displays extraordinarily high ORR performance with a high onset potential of 0.989 V and a half-wave potential of 0.872 V in 0.1 M KOH. Moreover, it shows a superb long-term stability performance after 5000 cycles on account of the carbon layers that protect the material from corrosion as well as high methyl alcohol tolerance under methanol environments. Density functional theory calculations suggest that carbon atoms, which are adjacent to nitrogen dopants in Co@Ag@NC, are active sites for ORR. Especially, Ag “mantle” in ...

Lactobacillus casei as a biocatalyst for biofuel production.

Microbial fermentation of sugars from plant biomass to alcohols represents an alternative to petroleum-based fuels. The optimal biocatalyst for such fermentations needs to overcome hurdles such as high concentrations of alcohols and toxic compounds. Lactic acid bacteria, especially lactobacilli, have high innate alcohol tolerance and are remarkably adaptive to harsh environments. This study assessed the potential of five Lactobacillus casei strains as biocatalysts for alcohol production. L. casei 12A was selected based upon its innate alcohol tolerance, high transformation efficiency and ability to utilize plant-derived carbohydrates. A 12A derivative engineered to produce ethanol (L. casei E1) was compared to two other bacterial biocatalysts. Maximal growth rate, maximal optical density and ethanol production were determined under conditions similar to those present during alcohol production from lignocellulosic feedstocks. L. casei E1 exhibited higher innate alcohol tolerance, better growth in the presence of corn stover hydrolysate stressors, and resulted in higher ethanol yields.

Carbon nanotube-supported binary silver-based nanocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-supported silver nanocatalyst Ag/MWCNT and binary silver-based nanocatalysts Agx–Mey/MWCNT (molar ratio x:y=9:1, 8:2, 7:3; Me=Co, Cu, Ni, Sn) have been synthesized by using the NaBH4 reduction method. All catalysts have been studied in terms of structure and morphology by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. Their electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in 1molL−1 NaOH solution has been investigated with the linear scanning voltammetry on a rotating disk electrode. Results show that in terms of the ORR current density, Ag8Co2/MWCNT is the best among the three binary Ag–Co/MWCNT catalysts, Ag9Cu1/MWCNT is the best among the three binary Ag–Cu/MWCNT catalysts, Ag9Ni1/MWCNT is the best among the three binary Ag–Ni/MWCNT catalysts, and Ag9Sn1/MWCNT is the best among the three Ag–Sn/MWCNT catalysts. Their ORR current density follows the order: Ag8Co2/MWCNT>Ag9Ni1/MWCNT>Ag9Cu1/MWCNT>Ag9Sn1/MWCNT>Ag/MWCNT. The onset potential of ORR on the Ag8Co2/MWCNT is 0.005V, which is slightly higher than that on the Ag/MWCNT. However, the Ag8Co2/MWCNT exhibits a much higher ORR diffusion current density of 3.16mAcm−2@−0.3Vat 1600rpm than the Ag/MWCNT. A four-electron reaction of ORR on the as-synthesized binary Ag-based catalysts is more dominant than a two-electron reaction. In addition, these catalysts are electrochemically inactive to methanol oxidation, showing high alcohol-tolerance.

Features of the Formation, Course, and Treatment of Alcohol Dependence in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

This article presents the results of a study of clinical features of the development and course of alcohol dependence in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in comparison with alcohol-dependent patients without PTSD. The highly progressive course, continuous alcohol consumption, high alcohol tolerance, rapidly emerged altered forms of alcohol intoxication, alcohol amnesias, alcohol withdrawal with the prevalence of psychopathological component, and more pronounced social and somatic consequences of alcohol abuse were characteristic of the PTSD group. At the same time, the alcohol-dependent patients with PTSD had the best outcome to the end of 12-month treatment with intramuscular injections of vivitrol.

Fruit Flies Medicate Offspring After Seeing Parasites

Hosts have numerous defenses against parasites, of which behavioral immune responses are an important but underappreciated component. Here we describe a behavioral immune response that Drosophila melanogaster uses against endoparasitoid wasps. We found that when flies see wasps, they switch to laying eggs in alcohol-laden food sources that protect hatched larvae from infection. This change in oviposition behavior, mediated by neuropeptide F, is retained long after wasps are removed. Flies respond to diverse female larval endoparasitoids but not to males or pupal endoparasitoids, showing that they maintain specific wasp search images. Furthermore, the response evolved multiple times across the genus Drosophila. Our data reveal a behavioral immune response based on anticipatory medication of offspring and outline a nonassociative memory paradigm based on innate parasite recognition by the host.

Meeting report: ACB‐2011 Shanghai – “Biotechnology for Better Life”

At the 9th APBioChEC (Nov. 24–28, 2009, Kobe, Japan), it was announced that the Asia Pacific Biochemical Engineering Conference (APBioChEC) would be transformed into the Asian Congress on Biotechnology (ACB) to facilitate an enlarged scope under the newly founded Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB) [1]. “Biotechnology for Better Life” ... an avenue for young scientists/engineers to develop ... A total of 308 high-quality lectures, including 5 plenary lectures, 217 invited presentations from 10 sessions, 86 oral presentations from 3 special forums were delivered at this conference. In addition, 455 selected posters were presented from the submissions. In addition to this special issue of Biotechnology Journal, all the accepted full papers have been categorized according to their topics and will be published in five other international journals, including Biotechnology Advances, Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, Process Biochemistry, Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences-Computational Life Sciences. Prof. Zi-xin Deng (Shanghai Jiaotong University, China), introduced the revival of the antibiotics legend and recent progress in novel antibiotic discovery. Three major paths for discovery of antibiotics were discussed: (i) natural screening; (ii) pathway engineering and combinatorial biosynthesis; and (iii) synthetic biology. Our knowledge of the natural products' biosynthetic mechanisms and advances in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology are now providing better opportunities to generate novel compounds or optimal derivatives. Prof. Deng talked about his latest work on development of new antibiotics using tools from synthetic biology. Prof. Daniel I.C. Wang (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA), introduced glycoprotein glycosylation, which is a current challenge in the production of biopharmaceuticals. Prof. Wang also discussed glycoform heterogeneity and how to overcome this problem by process improvements and genetic manipulations for achieving greater glycoform quality. Prof. Jens Nielsen (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden), discussed yeast as a platform cell factory in future biorefineries due to yeast's many advantages such as its general acceptance in industry, its robustness towards contaminations, its high alcohol and low pH tolerance, and a large number of available molecular biology techniques and omics tools for this organism. Prof. Nielsen also introduced a number of synthetic biology and systems biology tools for advancing the design and engineering of novel, efficient yeast biocatalysts to produce a range of different products (i.e., novel fuels and chemicals). See [2] for a review on yeast metabolic engineering by Prof. Nielsen. Prof. Jung-Keug Park (Dongguk University, Korea), presented a novel field of interdisciplinary science “wave biotechnology” and its related “industry wave bioindustry”. Prof. Park discussed the current status of research and development in wave biotechnology, and showed some on-going work in stem cell differentiation using electromagnetic and sonic wave to stimulate neural cells. From the second day to the fifth day of the conference, 308 oral presentations including 222 invited lectures took place in 10 scientific sessions on various topics: (i) Bioprocess Engineering, (ii) Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology, (iii) Enzyme and Protein Engineering, (iv) Nano- and Analytical Biotechnology, (v) Biorefinery, Biofuels and Bioproducts, (vi) Extremophiles and Marine Biotechnology, (vii) Agricultural and Food Biotechnology, (viii) Environmental Biotechnology, (ix) Pharmaceutical and Medical Biotechnology, (x) Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering, and Biomaterials. In addition, there were three special forums focused on current biotechnology R&D and business for biotechnologists and biochemical engineers in Asia, including: (i) Asian Bioindustry & Bioeconomy Forum, (ii) Young Scientists & Students (YSS) Forum, (iii) ISBBE Forum-The 5th International Symposium and Exhibition on Bioprocess & Bioproduct Engineering. sincere thanks to all for their support, participation and cooperation As we bid farewell to one successful event, we look forward to the next: the 2nd Asian Congress on Biotechnology will be held in December 2013 in New Delhi, India, as announced by Prof. Virendra S. Bisaria (Indian Institute of Technology, India) at the closing ceremony. Prior to that, the 15th International Biotechnology Symposium and Exhibition (IBS-2012) will be held in September 2012 in Daegu, Korea, as introduced by Prof. Tai Hyun Park (Seoul National University, Korea). We hope to see you all in Daegu and New Delhi! Congress website: www.acb-2011.org

A Methanol‐Tolerant Pt/CoSe2 Nanobelt Cathode Catalyst for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

High alcohol tolerance: A Pt/CoSe2 nanobelt cathode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells was prepared by in situ loading of Pt nanoparticles on CoSe2/diethylenetriamine nanobelts through a polyol reduction approach. The resulting functionalized nanobelts (see picture) exhibit high activity in the four-electron oxygen reduction reaction and are highly methanol tolerant.