Enhancement Of Production Research Articles

In vitro effects of alginate lyase SG4 + produced by Paenibacillus lautus alone and combined with antibiotics on biofilm formation by mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Alginate is a major extra polymeric substance in the biofilm formed by mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is the main proven perpetrator of lung infections in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. Alginate lyases are very important in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. This study evaluated the role of standalone and in conjugation, effect of alginate lyase of SG4 + isolated from Paenibacillus lautus in enhancing in vitro bactericidal activity of gentamicin and amikacin on mucoid P. aeruginosa. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) alginate lyase SG4 + production was optimized in shake flask and there 8.49-fold enhancement in enzyme production. In fermenter, maximum growth (10.15mg/ml) and alginate lyase (1.46 International Units) production, 1.71-fold was increased using Central Composite Design (CCD). Further, fermentation time was reduced from 48 to 20h. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report in which CCD was used for fermenter studies to optimize alginate lyase production. The Km and Vmax of purified enzyme were found to be 2.7mg/ml and 0.84mol/ml-min, respectively. The half-life (t 1/2) of purified alginate lyase SG4 + at 37°C was 180min. Alginate lyase SG4 + in combination with gentamicin and amikacin eradiated 48.4- 52.3% and 58- 64.6%, alginate biofilm formed by P. aeruginosa strains, respectively. The study proves that alginate lyase SG4 + has excellent exopolysaccharide disintegrating ability and may be useful in development of potent therapeutic agent to treat P. aeruginosa biofilms.

The enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen production over Ag2WO4 modified g-C3N4 with Pt as cocatalyst

ABSTRACT The construction of heterojunction photocatalyst is an effective mean to improve the photoexcited electron–hole pair separation. The Ag2WO4-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, C3N4 for short) composite photocatalysts were fabricated by a simple calcination and in-situ depositing strategy. The composites were characterized by different techniques. The effects of Ag2WO4 content, type of scavengers, pH value of reaction solution and dose of scavenger on photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) generation were studied. It was found that the Ag2WO4 micro-nano particles were highly dispersed on the C3N4 surface. After doping Ag2WO4, the light absorption range of Ag2WO4-C3N4 material was broadened effectively from 440 nm to 448 nm, and the BET surface area of C3N4 was increased from 35.63 to 40.73 cm2·g−1, indicating that Ag2WO4 loading could provide some new BET surface areas. The binding energy of all elements in Ag2WO4-4/C3N4 was clearly shifted due to the charge transfer from C3N4 to Ag2WO4, implying a strong interaction between C3N4 and Ag2WO4. The photocatalytic H2 production rate of the optimized Ag2WO4-4/C3N4 was 6047.4 μmol·g−1·h−1, which was 2.04 and 171.8 times that of C3N4 and Ag2WO4, respectively. While Ag2WO4-4/C3N4 exhibited a poor H2 production performance in the absence of Pt co-catalyst (309.3 μmol·g−1·h−1), indicating the formation of heterojunction among Ag2WO4, C3N4 and Pt.

Mechanisms for the Enhancement of Caproic Acid and H2 Production in Ruminococcaceae Bacterium CPB6 by Fe(II) and Mg(II): Growth and Gene Transcription Analyses.

The production of caproic acid (CA) and hydrogen gas (H2) from organic wastewater is economically attractive. The Ruminococcaceae bacterium CPB6 has demonstrated potential for CA production from lactate-containing wastewater. However, our understanding of the effects of Fe2+ and Mg2+ on the growth and metabolism of strain CPB6 remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of Fe2+ and Mg2+ on CA and H2 production, as well as on the expression of key genes involved in CA and H2 biosynthesis pathway. The results indicate that Fe2+ positively affects cell proliferation and H2 production while minimally impacting CA production. The highest levels of H2 production were achieved with the addition of 200mg/L Fe2+. Conversely, Mg2+ significantly enhances CA and H2 production, with the optimal yield observed in a medium enriched with 300mg/L Mg2+. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis reveals that Fe2+ promotes the expression of the hydrogenase gene, whereas Mg2+ has a negligible effect on hydrogenase expression. Notably, Fe2+ and Mg2+ inhibit the expression of key genes involved in CA synthesis. These findings suggest that Fe2+ enhances H2 production by boosting cell biomass and the expression of the hydrogenase gene, whereas Mg2+ improves CA and H2 production primarily by increasing cell biomass rather than influencing the expression of functional genes involved in CA biosynthesis.

Association between antioxidant metabolites and N-terminal fragment brain natriuretic peptides in insulin-resistant individuals.

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the development of metabolic syndrome, including heart failure and insulin resistance. The N-terminal fragment of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been associated with heightened oxidative stress in heart failure patients. Yet, its correlation with insulin resistance remains poorly understood. Our objective is to investigate the association between oxidative stress markers and NT-proBNP levels in insulin-resistant individuals. In this cross-sectional study involving 393 participants from the Qatar Biobank, clinical and metabolic data were collected, and the association between NT-proBNP and 72 oxidative stress metabolites was compared between insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant individuals. Our results showed significantly lower NT-proBNP levels in insulin-resistant individuals (median = 17 pg/ml; interquartile range = 10.3-29) when compared to their insulin-sensitive counterparts (median = 31 pg/ml; interquartile range = 19-57). Moreover, we revealed notable associations between NT-proBNP levels and antioxidant metabolic pathways, particularly those related to glutathione metabolism, in insulin-resistant, but not insulin-sensitive individuals. The significant decrease in NT-proBNP observed in individuals with insulin resistance may be attributed to a direct or indirect enhancement in glutathione production, which is regarded as a compensatory mechanism against oxidative stress. This study could advance our understanding of the interplay between oxidative stress during insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk, which could lead to novel therapeutic approaches for managing cardiovascular diseases. Further investigations are needed to assess the practical utility of these potential metabolites and understand the causal nature of their association with NT-proBNP in the etiology of insulin resistance.

Unusual enhancement of the radical production in the X-ray irradiated aqueous-organic systems containing W(VI) in homogeneous and nanoparticle forms

Unusual enhancement of the radical production in the X-ray irradiated aqueous-organic systems containing W(VI) in homogeneous and nanoparticle forms

Well-Candidate-Recognition Solution Offers Time Savings, Production Enhancement

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 213329, “Data-Driven Well-Candidate-Recognition Solution: Case Study in a Digital Oil Field in Abu Dhabi,” by Erismar Rubio, SPE, Nagaraju Reddicharla, SPE, and Mayada Ali Sultan Ali, ADNOC, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ A well-candidate-recognition (WCR) data-analytics solution was developed to expedite the process of identifying unhealthy wells that may require rig or rigless interventions based on data integration, automation, and advanced data-driven models. The solution expedites the well-performance-review process to pinpoint candidates for stimulation, nitrogen lift, gas lift conversion, and water or gas shutoff, providing a flexible visualization platform to highlight hidden well-performance insight. Introduction Mature oil fields will face challenges in terms of increasing water cut, lack of pressure support, and the requirement of artificial lift. The critical concern is prioritization of remedial actions that are economically attractive with high returns and low risk. In the past, the asset was prioritizing the rig and rigless intervention candidates on a manual basis with no technical framework, mostly relying on engineers’ backgrounds and experience. Lack of understanding and failure to apply lessons learned from previous jobs were frequent outcomes because no single, comprehensive database or documentation existed that effectively captured well-intervention history. Every year, the operator requested a well-performance-review report for every reservoir containing hundreds of diagnostic plots that required massive manual updates, although the subject asset is a digital oil field fully instrumented with real-time data streaming. However, no tools were available to integrate periodic and nonperiodic required data. The complete paper addresses these challenges of integrating huge amounts of data and model frameworks and developing a systematic workflow to identify opportunities for production enhancement. Data-driven models, combined with the integration of static and dynamic data, enable proactive surveillance routines that allow engineers to focus on problematic wells and opportunity generation in a timely manner. Objective The WCR data-analytics solution was developed as part of the operator’s digital transformation strategy to streamline the process of improving diagnostics, identifying unhealthy wells, and reviewing value gain. The solution aims to help achieve the following objectives: - Facilitate well-performance review to pinpoint candidates for rig and rigless intervention - Provide a flexible visualization platform to highlight hidden well performance insight - Integration of real-time data and official databases - Create a collaborative environment for improved decision-making - Improve rigless success factor for the most-expensive activities - Optimize and prioritize the reservoir-monitoring plan (RMP)

Synergistic interaction of Piriformospora indica and microbial inoculants on symbiotic potential, plant nutrition and productivity of chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

The present study was carried out during the winter season of 2011–12 and 2012–13 at Indian Agricultural Re search Institute, New Delhi, to evaluate the efficacy of microbial bioinoculants in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) us ing combinatorial approach. A group of microbial inoculants (Mesorhizobium ciceri). Phosphate-solubilizing micro organisms and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) in presence and absence of P fertilizer was used to testify its synergistic effect with Piriformospora indica on symbiotic traits, growth and yield of chickpea under field condi tions. Significant differences were observed with respect to symbiotic potential and other associated parameters with combined inoculation. Inoculation with Mesorhizobium ciceri enhanced nitrogenase activity and leghemoglobin content significantly over un-inoculated control. Significant improvement in N and P nutrition with combined inoculation amended with 30 kg P/ha emphasized the beneficial effect of these and similar trend was reflected in productivity enhancement as well.

2D MoB MBene: An Efficient Co-Catalyst for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production under Visible Light.

Highly active and low-cost co-catalysts have a positive effect on the enhancement of solar H2 production. Here, we employ two-dimensional (2D) MBene as a noble-metal-free co-catalyst to boost semiconductor for photocatalytic H2 production. MoB MBene is a 2D nanoboride, which is directly made from MoAlB by a facile hydrothermal etching and manual scraping off process. The as-synthesized MoB MBene with purity >95 wt % is treated by ultrasonic cell pulverization to obtain ultrathin 2D MoB MBene nanosheets (∼0.61 nm) and integrated with CdS via an electrostatic interaction strategy. The CdS/MoB composites exhibit an ultrahigh photocatalytic H2 production activity of 16,892 μmol g-1 h-1 under visible light, surpassing that of pure CdS by an exciting factor of ≈1135%. Theoretical calculations and various measurements account for the high performance in terms of Gibbs free energy, work functions, and photoelectrochemical properties. This work discovers the huge potential of these promising 2D MBene family materials as high-efficiency and low-cost co-catalysts for photocatalytic H2 production.

Ziprasidone triggers inflammasome signaling via PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway to promote atrial fibrillation

BackgroundSecond-generation antipsychotics increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. This study explores whether the atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone triggers inflammasome signaling, leading to atrial arrhythmia. MethodsElectromechanical and pharmacological assessments were conducted on the rabbit left atria (LA). The patch-clamp technique was used to measure ionic channel currents in single cardiomyocytes. Detection of cytosolic reactive oxygen species production was performed in atrial cardiomyocytes. ResultsThe duration of action potentials at 50 % and 90 % repolarization was dose-dependently shortened in ziprasidone-treated LA. Diastolic tension in LA increased after ziprasidone treatment. Ziprasidone-treated LA showed rapid atrial pacing (RAP) triggered activity. PI3K inhibitor, Akt inhibitor and mTOR inhibitor abolished the triggered activity elicited by ziprasidone in LA. The NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 suppressed the ziprasidone-induced post-RAP-triggered activity. MCC950 treatment reduced the reverse-mode Na+/Ca2+ exchanger current in ziprasidone-treated myocytes. Cytosolic reactive oxygen species production decreased in ziprasidone-treated atrial myocytes after MCC950 treatment. Protein levels of inflammasomes and proinflammatory cytokines, including NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-6 were observed to be upregulated in myocytes treated with ziprasidone. ConclusionsOur findings suggest ziprasidone induces atrial arrhythmia, potentially through upregulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and enhancement of reactive oxygen species production via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Evaluating brand equity in the hospitality industry: Insights from customer journeys and text mining

To achieve effective marketing, continual enhancement of product and service quality is pivotal. Assessing brand equity encompasses diverse methods, including questionnaires and interviews, unearthing invaluable customer insights. The choice of data collection methods, driven by researchers' objectives, may extend beyond direct customer interactions to employ techniques such as text mining, extracting insights from customer posts and reviews. A study at Phuket's Amari Hotel seamlessly integrated customer journey analysis with text mining, yielding a robust hotel equity model. Notably, the findings unveiled the substantial influence of factors like location and community value on hotel equity, often overlooked in previous studies. Remarkably, the hotel accommodation room emerged as the dominant touchpoint (81 %). These insights can fuel the transformation of marketing strategies and brand equity assessment. Moreover, this framework accommodates dynamic customer behavior while delivering cost efficiencies compared to alternative machine learning methods.

Studies on Encapsulation of Gas Releasing Agent in Ca-Alginate Beads and Controlled Release Pattern of the Beads

Calcium alginate beads have been used to control release gases and volatile compounds for agricultural applications, drug delivery, waste treatment, and food product enhancement. The release rate of the gas and vapor depends on the diffusion of gas and vapor through the Ca-alginate gel matrix. However, the knowledge about the effect of process variables on the diffusion rate of gas and vapor still needs to be improved. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of alginate concentration, gas release agent concentration, and bead size on the concentration of gas released from Ca-alginate beads. In this study, calcium carbonate was used as the model gas release agent, encapsulated in Ca-alginate beads to release carbon dioxide when the beads reacted with an acetic acid solution. The results showed that the concentration of carbon dioxide released by the beads depended on the bead diameter. The gas release rate was increased when the diameter of the beads was increased. The total amount of gas produced by the large beads was observed to be higher than that of small beads. Compared to small beads, large beads take longer to react completely to produce carbon dioxide gas. It was also found that the amount of carbon dioxide produced by the Ca-alginate beads was inversely proportional to alginate concentration but directly proportional to calcium carbonate concentration. The results indicated that the gas diffusion rate of the Ca-alginate beads can be tailored by adjusting the process variables of the Ca-alginate bead encapsulation process.

Coupling Mechanism of Multiple-Thermal-Fluid Multi-Cycle Stimulation in Ultra-Heavy-Oil Reservoirs

Multiple-thermal-fluid (MTF) stimulation technology has been successfully applied in heavy-oil reservoir development, resulting in the significant enhancement of oil production. However, the underlying mechanism of multi-component coupling remains unclear. This paper constructs a coupling model for MTF stimulation, investigates the coupling mechanism of different media in various zones during multiple-cycle stimulation operations, and compares the implementation effect with field results. The findings reveal that (1) based on media distribution, the area from near-wellbore to far well locations can be divided into four zones: high-temperature oil-viscosity-reduction zones, compound action zones, energy-replenishment zones, and unaffected zones. (2) In the high-temperature oil-viscosity-reduction zone, the latent heat of vaporization is released by steam, and ultra-heavy oil absorbs heat and reduces its viscosity, which plays a dominant role in the production of MTF. In the compound action zone, hot water, CO2, and N2 exhibit a synergistic effect which enhances overall performance. In the energy-replenishment zone, a small amount of N2 provides pressure maintenance and an additional energy supply. (3) As more cycles of stimulation are conducted, the compound action zone expands, while the energy-replenishment zone contracts. Simultaneously, there is a decrease in contribution rate from the high-temperature viscosity-reduction zone to oil production but an increase from both the compound action zone and energy-replenishment zone up to 30%. Based on the dynamic law of representative wells, this paper proposes a multi-media zonal coupling mechanism, providing a reference for subsequent research on MTF stimulation mechanisms and the adjustment of production measures.

Study on Labor Productivity Improvement Based on Situational Awareness and Improved Value Stream Mapping

This study addresses the issue of poor construction labor productivity, exploring the process and methodology for increasing construction workers’ participation in labor productivity improvement, as well as a situational awareness (SA) development approach for construction workers based on lean construction (LC). A framework for enhancing labor productivity through SA has been developed. A case study approach is utilized to describe the LC improvement process, which includes enhancing construction workers’ SA for waste minimization and process optimization and engaging them in LC with improved value stream mapping (VSM). The labor productivity measurement approach, combined with VSM, is used to evaluate the labor productivity improvement with labor productivity improvement rate, resource efficiency, and flow efficiency. The results demonstrate that the labor productivity of the case project has increased by 24.07%, with 11.54% contributing resource efficiency and 88.46% contributing flow efficiency, indicating a greater increase in flow efficiency. This study fills a research gap in terms of the combination of construction workers’ SA enhancement and the involvement of LC practices to boost labor productivity. Furthermore, this study proposes an SA development approach based on LC at three levels: waste perception, VSM implementation, and labor productivity improvement assessment. This provides new perspectives for leveraging construction workers’ SA to increase labor productivity. The improved VSM approach and labor productivity measurements provide an operationalization of workers’ participation in continuous improvement. This research is of great practical relevance for augmenting the competencies of construction laborers and inspiring them to engage in labor productivity enhancement.

Extreme organic matter enrichment in the Ediacaran Doushantuo formation: New constraints from the NE Sichuan basin, China

The Yangtze Block is a highly prospective area for Ediacaran natural gas exploration in recent years, especially the Doushantuo Formation, a vital source rock for organic-rich hydrocarbon and a shale gas reservoir in the region. However, understanding of the Ediacaran organic-rich source rocks systematically has been limited due to the heterogeneous accumulation of organic matter and confusing paleoclimatological and paleoceanographic conditions. Such a scenario is not conducive to further exploration of the deep Ediacaran natural gas resources or understanding the evolution of early Earth. In this study, based on two new well drillings in the northeastern Sichuan Basin, the integrated sedimentological and geochemical investigations were focused on the Ediacaran middle−upper Doushantuo Formation (DST) fine-grained rocks interval. Results show this set of black organic-rich shales (total organic carbon up to 13.97%) deposited under episodic warming climate during an otherwise protracted cooling trend. These frequent climatic fluctuations intensified hydrological circulation, which together with the concurrent hydrothermal activity and the Neoproterozoic Oxidation Event, led to eutrophication of surface seawater. Under these circumstances, a substantial enhancement in primary productivity driven by algae blooming, subsequently resulted in consume excess dissolved oxygen in seawater during the degradation stage and anoxic-euxinic bottom water expansion. Consequently, the high paleoproductivity controlled the extreme organic matter enrichment during the Doushantuo time and formed the DST 4 organic-rich shales in the Chengkou and Nanhua subbasins. In contrast, although the DST 3 shales still deposited under a high productivity condition, the shallower sedimentary environments with anoxic-oxic bottom water conditions resulted in greater variation in total organic carbon contents.

Addressing water scarcity in agricultural irrigation: By exploring alternative water resources for sustainable irrigated agriculture

AbstractThis review paper addresses challenges in the water sector, particularly in irrigated agriculture, aiming to propose solutions for meeting irrigation demands while promoting global food security and sustainable development, notably SDG 6. Structured around three facets: empowering farmers, strengthening conventional sources of irrigation water and harnessing non‐conventional water resources, it emphasizes the significance of exploring blue water resources due to precipitation variability. Many irrigation systems operate below efficiency, offering productivity enhancement opportunities. Water management in agriculture spans various levels, involving farmers as key stakeholders. In addition to surface water, alternative sources like rainwater, grey water, recycled wastewater and groundwater can meet irrigation needs. Rainfed agriculture, facing challenges from erratic rainfall, can benefit from rainwater harvesting and under‐irrigation practices. Wastewater emerges as a pivotal resource, particularly in periurban areas, necessitating appropriate safety measures. This paper presents the General Report of Congress Question 64 of the ICID Congress in Visakhapatnam. It provides a unique opportunity to focus on how alternative water resources might enhance the resilience of irrigation systems and bridge the gap between water supply and demand. The subdivision of the paper into three distinct subtopics guides research contributions, encouraging responses that delve into the specific themes of reinforcing, harnessing and empowering, all within the context of sustainable irrigated agriculture.

Enhancement of light hydrocarbon production from polypropylene waste by HZSM-11-catalyzed pyrolysis

Herein, a mixture of real polypropylene (PP) waste was pyrolyzed with a HZSM-11 catalyst as a potential method to recover light hydrocarbons (C ≤ 12), the potential feedstock for value-added chemicals and fuels, from polyolefin plastic waste. Using the HZSM-11 in the PP waste mixture pyrolysis noticeably improved the yield of gas pyrolysate and oil in compensation for the yield of wax (i.e. hydrocarbons of C > 20) and solid residue particularly at a higher temperature. In addition, the selectivity of C3–C12 in the PP-waste mixture-derived pyrolysate was markedly increased by the HZSM-11. The highest yield of light hydrocarbons was ≈40 wt% (per mass of the feedstock) achieved at 700 °C with the HZSM-11 catalyst. Despite 7.9 wt% coke deposition on the HZSM-11 after its use in the pyrolysis of the PP waste mixture, the catalyst could be reusable for at least three times after regeneration. The experimental results demonstrate that HZSM-11 has the potential for being a promising catalyst to valorize polyolefin waste into value-added chemicals.

Societal impacts of chatbot and mitigation strategies for negative impacts: A large-scale qualitative survey of ChatGPT users

Discussing ChatGPT's societal impact often focuses on specific domains or groups, typically involving a limited number of participants. In contrast, this study investigates the impact of this artificial intelligence (AI) on society as a whole by conducting a qualitative online survey with 1298 daily users from Hinterland of China across various industries. Identified key benefits include enhanced efficiency and production, improved communication, understand, and cooperation, increased social equalization and harmony, and bolstered public mental health. On the downside, concerns arose about (un)employment issues, biased or false outputs, potential for unethical applications, and user dependency and its negative consequences. To address these concerns, participants suggested use restrictions and management, promoting independent and critical thinking/practice, enhancing user literacy, increasing individual irreplaceability, technological improvement and optimization, and safeguarding against AI threats to human society. The above results elucidate the impact of ChatGPT on various social domains and potential solutions for its negative effects. These findings augment existing research on AI user models from a societal impact perspective, providing a foundation for proposing AI user models that consider the social implications of AI. These outcomes also aim to assist policymakers, researchers, and designers in better understanding the societal impact and user concerns regarding AI, thereby informing the design and enhancement of products, services, or policies.

A Study of the Effects of Stimulants on Resin Yield, Resin Duct and Turpentine Chemical Composition in Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis

This study presents a comprehensive examination of Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis (Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis), the primary resin-extraction tree species in Yunnan Province, China. In this study, we formulated different concentration gradients of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% of diquat solution as tapping stimulant to test the effect of different concentrations on the resin gain rate of Pinus kesiya, and analyzed the relationship between anatomical structure, major chemical composition of turpentine and resin yield by methods such as wood anatomy and chemical composition analysis of turpentine. The primary focus of the investigation was on exploring the interrelationships among resin-tapping stimulants, anatomical structures, turpentine components, and resin yield. Research findings demonstrate a significant enhancement in resin production due to the application of stimulants, with the highest increase rate reaching 55% in a specific group, while others achieved approximately 30% increments. Moreover, measurement data about resin duct dimensions indicate a noteworthy increase in resin duct area for the stimulant-treated group compared to the control group. However, it should be noted that the impact on resin duct area by varying stimulant concentrations was relatively minor. Furthermore, continuous observation of resin extraction from different resin-yield classes of P. kesiya revealed insignificant variation in resin yield over time for the low and moderate resin-yield groups. In contrast, the high resin-yield group exhibited a gradual increase in resin production. Interestingly, the high resin-yield group exhibited the smallest resin duct area, but the highest resin duct density, indicating an interconnectedness of resin duct-related data that influences resin yield. Additionally, correlative investigations between anatomical structures and resin yield demonstrate a positive correlation between resin duct area and resin yield, total resin production, and average resin yield. This underscores the importance of resin duct area as a significant factor in resin production. On the other hand, the influence of stimulant concentrations on the turpentine components was found to be negligible. Overall, the correlation results suggest that turpentine components cannot reliably predict or differentiate between high and low resin-yield trees. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the interrelationships among stimulants, anatomical structures, and turpentine components, offering a theoretical foundation for the resin extraction and resin processing industries in Yunnan Province.

Insight into the synergistic effects of surface microstructures and wall peristalsis on glucose production in a bionic microreactor

The enzymatic hydrolysis stage is regarded as a key step in the production of biofuels derived from lignocellulosic biomass, but the elevated production expenses and limited conversion efficiency are still not favorable for practical applications. In this study, inspired by the efficient degradation of cellulose in the termite gut, a cellulase-loaded flexible microreactor model with bionic surface structures was first proposed for the production of fermentable glucose. In such a system, the fold-like structures can provide more enzyme loading sites, and villus-like structures can not only increase enzyme loading but also improve radial transfer in the microreactor. These two structures synergized well and resulted in a 58.5% increase in glucose production compared to the control. Applying peristalsis can further enhance mass transfer by the formation of backflow and vortex, and reducing the peristaltic period is more effective than increasing the peristaltic amplitude for glucose production enhancement. The glucose concentration obtained by the synergistic enhancement of peristalsis and surface structure was 2.3 times of the control. Moreover, for reactions with higher intrinsic reaction rates, the system is in a mass transfer-limited state and peristaltic enhancement is more effective. These results give insight into the design of the bionic flexible microreactor for efficient glucose production.

Enhancement of doxorubicin production in Streptomyces peucetius by genetic engineering and process optimization

Doxorubicin is an important class of anthracycline antitumor antibiotics produced by Streptomyces peucetius. The doxorubicin fermentation yield of the wild-type strain was very low, so it could not be produced directly by fermentation at an industrial scale due to the high cost. In the present study, S. peucetius SIPI-7-14 was obtained from SIPI-14 through several rounds of doxorubicin resistance screening. Then, the ketoreductase gene dnrU was knocked out to reduce (13S)-13-dihydrodaunorubicin production, and the resistance gene drrC was overexpressed to further enhance resistance to doxorubicin. The resulting engineered strain S. peucetius △U1/drrC produced 1128 mg/L doxorubicin, a 102.1% increase compared to that of SIPI-14. Then, fermentation medium was optimized using the response surface method. In the optimized fermentation medium, the yield of doxorubicin was increased to 1406 mg/L in shake flask on the 7th day. Furthermore, batch culture was carried out in a 10 L fermenter, and the concentration of doxorubicin reached 1461 mg/L after 7 days of culture, which was the highest yield reported to date, indicating the potential for industrial production of doxorubicin by fermentation.