Could the recycled yarns substitute for the virgin cotton yarns: a comparative LCA

Purpose

Cotton yarns spun from natural fibers are widely used in the apparel industry. Most of waste cotton goods are now disposed by incineration or landfill, which brings resource and environmental challenges to the society. Using the waste cotton to spin yarns is an alternative way to forward a more sustainable future. In this research, two scenarios for the environmental impacts of yarns spun from corresponding fibers are investigated, including recycled cotton fibers and virgin cotton fibers.

Methods

The life cycle assessment (LCA) has been conducted according to the collected data from on-site investigation of typical production factories. The life cycle for the recycled cotton yarn production is divided into five stages, i.e., raw material acquisition, transportation, breaking, mixing, and spinning. The life cycle of virgin cotton yarn production is been divided into four stages, i.e., raw material acquisition, transportation, mixing, and spinning. The functional unit is 1000 kg produced yarns which are used for weaving into the fabrics. Notable impacts on climate change, fossil depletion, water depletion, and human toxicity were observed.

Results

The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) results show that environmental impacts of recycled cotton yarns are far less than those of virgin cotton yarns, except for climate change and water depletion. The reason is that the land occupation and irrigation water have great impact on environmental impacts of cotton cultivation. In spinning, the electricity is the key factor whose environmental impacts account for the most in the virgin cotton yarn scenario, while the electricity and water consumptions are the key factors for the recycled cotton yarn scenario in the life cycle of yarn production. The sensitivity analysis indicates that improving energy efficiency can significantly reduce environmental burdens for both the two scenarios. The uncertainty distribution of water depletion, human toxicity, fossil depletion, and climate change of the two scenarios were determined with a 90% confidence interval.

Conclusions

The LCIA results reveal recycled cotton yarn is a viable alternative to relieve resource and environmental pressure. About 0.5 ha of agricultural land can be saved, 6600 kg CO₂ eq can be reduced, and 2783 m³ irrigation water can be saved by using 1000 kg of the recycled cotton yarns. It can be concluded that the recycled cotton fibers can be served as a substitute for virgin cotton fibers to reduce agricultural land and avoid environmental impacts generated from the cotton planting.

     

Alterations in mitochondrial dynamics with age‐related Sirtuin1/Sirtuin3 deficiency impair cardiomyocyte contractility

Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and Sirtuin3 (SIRT3) protects cardiac function against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Mitochondria are critical in response to myocardial I/R injury as disturbance of mitochondrial dynamics contributes to cardiac dysfunction. It is hypothesized that SIRT1 and SIRT3 are critical components to maintaining mitochondria homeostasis especially mitochondrial dynamics to exert cardioprotective actions under I/R stress. The results demonstrated that deficiency of SIRT1 and SIRT3 in aged (24–26 months) mice hearts led to the exacerbated cardiac dysfunction in terms of cardiac systolic dysfunction, cardiomyocytes contractile defection, and abnormal cardiomyocyte calcium flux during I/R stress. Moreover, the deletion of SIRT1 or SIRT3 in young (4–6 months) mice hearts impair cardiomyocyte contractility and shows aging‐like cardiac dysfunction upon I/R stress, indicating the crucial role of SIRT1 and SIRT3 in protecting myocardial contractility from I/R injury. The biochemical and seahorse analysis showed that the deficiency of SIRT1/SIRT3 leads to the inactivation of AMPK and alterations in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) that causes impaired mitochondrial respiration in response to I/R stress. Furthermore, the remodeling of the mitochondria network goes together with hypoxic stress, and mitochondria undergo the processes of fusion with the increasing elongated branches during hypoxia. The transmission electron microscope data showed that cardiac SIRT1/SIRT3 deficiency in aging alters mitochondrial morphology characterized by the impairment of mitochondria fusion under I/R stress. Thus, the age‐related deficiency of SIRT1/SIRT3 in the heart affects mitochondrial dynamics and respiration function that resulting in the impaired contractile function of cardiomyocytes in response to I/R.     

Casein Kinase II Activity in the Postischemic Rat Brain Increases in Brain Regions Resistant to Ischemia and Decreases in Vulnerable Areas

Abstract: Casein kinase II (CKII) is a protein kinase acting in the intracellular cascade of reactions activated by growth factor receptors, and that has a profound influence on cell proliferation and survival. In this investigation, we studied the changes in the activity and levels of CKII in the rat brain exposed to 10. 15 and 20 min of transient forebrain ischemia followed by variable periods of reperfusion. The cytosolic CKII activity decreased during reperfusion by ∼ 30 and ∼ 50% in the selectively vulnerable areas, striatum and the CA1 region of the hippocampus, respectively. In the resistant CA3 region of hippocampus and neocortex, the activity increased by ∼ 20 and ∼ 60%, respectively. The postischemic changes in CKII activity were dependent on the duration of the ischemic insult. The levels of CKII did not change after ischemia, suggesting that the enzyme is modulated by covalent modification or is interacting with an endogenous inhibitor/activator. Treatment of the cytosolic fraction from cortex of rats exposed to ischemia and 1 h of reperfusion with agarose-bound phosphatase decreased the activity of CKII to control levels, suggesting that CKII activation after ischemia involves a phosphorylation of the enzyme. The correlation between postischemic CKII activity and neuronal survival implies that preservation or activation of CKII activity may be important for neuronal survival after cerebral ischemia.     

Paravascular pathways contribute to vasculitis and neuroinflammation after subarachnoid hemorrhage independently of glymphatic control

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating disease with high mortality. The mechanisms underlying its pathological complications have not been fully identified. Here, we investigate the potential involvement of the glymphatic system in the neuropathology of SAH. We demonstrate that blood components rapidly enter the paravascular space following SAH and penetrate into the perivascular parenchyma throughout the brain, causing disastrous events such as cerebral vasospasm, delayed cerebral ischemia, microcirculation dysfunction and widespread perivascular neuroinflammation. Clearance of the paravascular pathway with tissue-type plasminogen activator ameliorates the behavioral deficits and alleviates histological injury of SAH. Interestingly, AQP4^−/− mice showed no improvements in neurological deficits and neuroinflammation at day 7 after SAH compared with WT control mice. In conclusion, our study proves that the paravascular pathway dynamically mediates the pathological complications following acute SAH independently of glymphatic control.Cerebral aneurysm rupture causes subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), which is associated with a high mortality due to its secondary complications, including hemorrhage, hydrocephalus and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI).^{1, 2, 3} Therapeutic interventions against the secondary complications, especially DCI, are yet limited, as the pathological mechanism underlying that is not fully understood.^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} Current hypotheses of the development of the secondary complications mainly include cerebral vasospasm (CVS) and the microcirculation disturbance, as well as parenchymal arterial lesions, microthrombosis and neuroinflammation.^{1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9}Previous studies have shown that the blockade of cerebral lymphatic drainage deteriorated the secondary cerebral ischemia after SAH, suggesting that the cerebral lymphatic drainage pathway could be involved in the pathological mechanism of SAH.^{10, 11} However, the central nervous system (CNS) was considered lack of a conventional lymphatic drainage system in the past. Recently, several studies have shown that the brain has in fact the proper lymphatic system, including sinus-associated lymphatic vessels and the glymphatic system (GS).^{12, 13, 14, 15} Sinus-associated lymphatic vessels express all of the molecular hallmarks of lymphatic endothelial cells, contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and immune cells, and drain into the deep cervical lymph nodes.^{12, 13}There is a histologically defined space in the brain, the Virchow–Robin space, where the subarachnoid space meets the paravascular space (or perivascular space in somewhere, PVS).¹⁶ The GS is a specialized brain-wide anatomic structure locating at the PVS surrounding the brain vasculature, which is ensheathed with the astroglial endfeet and astroglial water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4).^{14, 15} The GS facilitates the efficient lymphatic clearance of extracellular solutes and fluid in the brain through astroglial-mediated interstitial fluid bulk flow.¹⁴Impairment of GS involves neurological conditions including traumatic brain injuries,¹⁷ ischemic stroke¹⁸ and aged brain.¹⁹ Interestingly, brain imaging study with magnetic resonance imaging reported weakened GS perfusion following acute stroke or SAH.^{18, 20} However, little is known about whether the GS is involved in the secondary complications of SAH. Here, we examined the potential involvement of GS in SAH-associated pathology progression with in vivo two-photon microscopy and CLARITY technique.^{21, 22} Our data showed that subarachnoid blood flowed into the brain parenchyma rapidly through the PVS, causing CVS, vasculitis, widespread microinfraction and neuroinflammation in the animal model of SAH and SAH patients. Prevention of CVS with Fasudil²³ did not improve the neurological impairment nor alleviated the pathology, while the PVS clearance with tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) infusion improved the behavioral recovery and reduced neuroinflammation in the brain. Interestingly, AQP4^−/− mice showed no improvements in neurological deficits and neuroinflammation at day 7 after SAH compared with WT control mice. Our study therefore suggested that the paravacular pathway dynamically mediates the pathological complications following acute SAH independently of glymphatic control.     

生物复苏——大绝灭后生物演化历史的第一幕

生命史是一部生物界短期,快速剧变与长期,慢速稳定相互交替的历史。大绝灭（即集群绝灭）事件反映了全球环境的大突变,点断了地质历史中的生命记录及其发展历程,预示着生物界的演化出现了最有意义的飞跃,近年来尝试研究大绝灭后全球生物界的残存－复苏及其基本型式,并探索复苏的控制因素,标志着地质科学中一个重心的转移（即从大绝灭转向其后的生物残存与复苏的研究）。生物复苏揭示了大绝灭后生物演化历史的第一幕,其研究的     

Identification and Effect Decomposition of Risk Factors for Brucella Contamination of Raw Whole Milk in China

Background

Lack of clear risk factor identification is the main reason for the persistence of brucellosis infection in the Chinese population, and there has been little assessment of the factors contributing to Brucella contamination of raw whole milk. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors affecting Brucella contamination of raw milk, and to evaluate effective measures for disease reduction in order to determine preventive strategies.

Methods and Findings

A nationwide survey was conducted and samples were obtained from 5211 cows corresponding to 25 sampling locations throughout 15 provinces in China. The prevalence of Brucella in the raw milk samples averaged 1.07% over the 15 Chinese provinces, while the prevalence of positive areas within these regions ranged from 0.23–3.84% among the nine provinces with positive samples. The survey examined factors that supposedly influence Brucella contamination of raw whole milk, such as management style, herd size, abortion rate, hygiene and disease control practices. A binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the association between risk factors for Brucella and contamination of milk samples. Furthermore, a relative effect decomposition study was conducted to determine effective strategies for reducing the risk of Brucella contamination of raw whole milk. Our data indicate that disease prevention and control measures, abortion rate, and animal polyculture are the most important risk factors. Meanwhile, culling after quarantine was identified as an effective protective measure in the current Chinese dairy situation.

Conclusions

These results indicate that, although there is a low risk of contamination of milk with Brucella nationwide in China, there are individual regions where contamination is a significant problem. Controlling three factors–culling after quarantine, maintaining a low abortion rate, and avoiding mixing groups of cattle and small ruminants–could effectively reduce the risk of Brucella contamination of raw whole milk.     

Liver Ischemic Preconditioning (IPC) Improves Intestinal Microbiota Following Liver Transplantation in Rats through 16s rDNA-Based Analysis of Microbial Structure Shift

Background

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is associated with intestinal microbial dysbiosis. The “gut-liver axis” closely links gut function and liver function in health and disease. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been proven to reduce I/R injury in the surgery. This study aims to explore the effect of IPC on intestinal microbiota and to analyze characteristics of microbial structure shift following liver transplantation (LT).

Methods

The LT animal models of liver and gut IPC were established. Hepatic graft function was assessed by histology and serum ALT/AST. Intestinal barrier function was evaluated by mucosal ultrastructure, serum endotoxin, bacterial translocation, fecal sIgA content and serum TNF-α. Intestinal bacterial populations were determined by quantitative PCR. Microbial composition was characterized by DGGE and specific bacterial species were determined by sequence analysis.

Principal Findings

Liver IPC improved hepatic graft function expressed as ameliorated graft structure and reduced ALT/AST levels. After administration of liver IPC, intestinal mucosal ultrastructure improved, serum endotoxin and bacterial translocation mildly decreased, fecal sIgA content increased, and serum TNF-α decreased. Moreover, liver IPC promoted microbial restorations mainly through restoring Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium clusters XI and Clostridium cluster XIVab on bacterial genus level. DGGE profiles indicated that liver IPC increased microbial diversity and species richness, and cluster analysis demonstrated that microbial structures were similar and clustered together between the NC group and Liver-IPC group. Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree of band sequences showed key bacteria corresponding to 10 key band classes of microbial structure shift induced by liver IPC, most of which were assigned to Bacteroidetes phylum.

Conclusion

Liver IPC cannot only improve hepatic graft function and intestinal barrier function, but also promote restorations of intestinal microbiota following LT, which may further benefit hepatic graft by positive feedback of the “gut-liver axis”.     

Morphological and molecular characterization of fertile tetraploid somatic hybrids produced by protoplast electrofusion and PEG-induced fusion between Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. and Lycopersicon peruvianum Mill.

Summary Mesophyl protoplasts of two genotypes of cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and one of its wild relative species (Lycopersicon peruvianum Mill.) were fused by using electrofusion and polyethyleneglycol-induced fusion. Forty-three fertile tetraploid somatic hybrid plants, each deriving from separate calli, were recovered from both fusion procedures. Electrofusion appeared more efficient than chemical fusion for the production of somatic hybrids. These plants appeared morphologically similar, whatever the fusion procedure and tomato genotype. They had intermediate leaf, inflorescence, and flower morphology. After self-pollination, the hybrids set fruit of intermediate size and color. The hybrid nature of these plants was confirmed by isoelectric focusing of the Rubisco small subunits used as nuclear markers. L. esculentum and L. peruvianum were distinguished by means of two chloroplast markers: CF1-ATPase subunit as analyzed by isoelectro-focusing and ct DNA restriction patterns. All hybrids displayed both ct markers of only one parent with no biased transmission. Mitochondrial (mt) DNAs were prepared from flower buds by using miniaturized CsCl gradients. Preliminary analysis indicated that mt genomes from the hybrids all differed from those of both parents. mt DNA Sall restriction enzyme analysis revealed that all but two hybrids contained one novel fragment of 13.5 kb. Gene mapping experiments showed that the mt apocytochrome b and ATPase subunit 9 homologies in the somatic hybrid mt DNA resembled L. esculentum and L. peruvianum, respectively; the mt nad5 probe distinguished at least four distinct patterns in the hybrids. These results indicated that mt DNA rearrangements involving intergenomic recombinations occurred through protoplast fusion. A greater mt DNA polymorphism was induced with chemical fusion than with electrofusion.     

Sulforaphene enhances radiosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma through suppression of the NF‐κB pathway

Sulforaphene (SFE), a naturally occurring isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables, has attracted increasing attention for its anti‐cancer effect in many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the precise role of SFE in the radiosensitivity of HCC is still unclear. Here, cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by MTT and flow cytometry assay, respectively. The activity of NF‐κB was further evaluated by ELISA. We also observed the effect of SFE and/or radiation on tumor growth. The results showed that SFE inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in HCC cells. Radiation increased NF‐kB activity, while PDTC, a NF‐kB inhibitor, enhanced radiation‐induced cell death. SFE inhibited NF‐kB activity and the downstream gene expressions of the NF‐kB pathway in HCC cells. Moreover, SFE enhanced the inhibitory effect of radiation on tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. This study indicated that SFE sensitized the radiosensitivity of HCC by blocking the NF‐kB pathway.