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Constantly developing nanotechnology provides the possibility of manufacturing nanostructured composites with a polymer matrix doped with ceramic nanoparticles, including ZnO. A specific feature of polymers, i.e. ceramic composite materials, is an amelioration in physical properties for polymer matrix and reinforcement. The aim of the paper was to produce thin fibrous composite mats, reinforced with ZnO nanoparticles and a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrix obtained by means of the electrospinning process and then examining the influence of the strength of the reinforcement on the morphology and optical properties of the composite nanofibers. The morphology and structure of the fibrous mats was examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). UV -Vis spectroscopy allowed to examine the impact of zinc oxide on the optical properties of PVP/ZnO nanofibers and to investigate the width of the energy gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to produce composite thin films with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrix with nanoparticles of silicon dioxide (SiO2) as the reinforcing phase (5 and 10%) using spin coating method and to investigate the influence of mass concentration of silica particles and process parameters on the morphology and optical properties of the obtained PVP/SiO2 nanocomposite coatings. The composite layer topography examination, made using atomic force microscope (AFM), showed the increase of roughness due to the increase of silica mass concentration in thin films. UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis showed that with the increase of SiO2 nanoparticles in polymer matrix and use of higher rotation speed, the absorbance level decrease. Besides, composite layers with 10% mass concentration relative to polymer concentration were characterized by wider energy band gap, so it can be concluded that obtained nanocomposite thin films can be used as protective layers against UV radiation, with zero absorption in the range of visible light wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respirometric tests, carried out in OxiTop system, were used to determine biogas production (BP) from two waste materials, willow bark residue (W) from the chemical industry and brewer’s spent grain (BSG) from the brewing industry. Moreover, the kinetics of BP and the loss of organic compounds (expressed as COD) were investigated. In this investigation, W and BSG were used both in their unchanged forms and after mechanical pretreatment (grinding to a diameter of 1 mm) (W_G and BSG_G). The initial organic load in the bioreactors was 4 kg OM/m3. The BP from W was 154.1 dm3/kg DM (166.6 dm3/kg OM), and from BSG, it was 536.9 dm3/kg DM (559.5 dm3/kg OM). This probably resulted from the fact that the content of lignin that was hard to biodegrade was higher in W than in BSG. Mechanical pretreatment increased BP from W_G to 186.7 dm3/kg DM (201.9 dm3/kg OM), and from BSG_G to 564.0 dm3/kg DM (588.7 dm3/kg OM). The net biogas yield from W and BSG increased by 17% (35 dm3/kg OM) and 5 % (29 dm3/kg OM), respectively. The kinetic coefficient of BP (kB) and the rate of BP (rB) of W were lower than those of BSG. Mechanical pretreatment increased the kB and rB of biogas production from both waste materials.

To determine the actual timeframe of biodegradation, bioplastics (BPs) (based on polylactic acid (PLA), starch (FS), polybutylene succinate (PBS), cellulose (Cel)) were degraded with biowaste (B), which simulates real substrate technological conditions during composting. For comparison, standard conditions (with mature compost (C)) were also applied. The 90-day aerobic tests, both with C or B, were carried out at 58 ± 2 °C. This comparison enables understanding of how BPs behave in real substrate conditions and how C and B affect the time or completeness of degradation based on oxygen consumption (OC) for BPs, the ratio of OC to theoretical oxygen consumption (OC/Th-O 2 ), and the decrease in volatile solids (VS). Additionally, for deeper insight into the biodegradation process, microscopic, microbial (based on 16S rDNA), FTIR, and mechanical (tensile strength, elongation at break) analyses were performed. There was no association between the initial mechanical properties of BPs and the time necessary for their biodegradation. BPs lost their mechanical properties and remained visible for a shorter time when degraded with C than with B. OC for Cel, FS, PLA, and PBS biodegradation was 1143, 1654, 1748, and 1211g O 2 /kg, respectively, which amounted to 83, 70, 69, and 60% of the theoretical OC (Th-O 2 ), respectively. Intensive OC took place at the same time as an intensive decrease in VS content. With C, Cel was most susceptible to biodegradation (completely biodegrading within 11 days), and PLA was least susceptible (requiring 70 days for complete biodegradation). With B, however, the time required for biodegradation was generally longer, and the differences in the time needed for complete biodegradation were smaller, ranging from 45 d (FS) to 75 d (PLA). The use of C or B had the greatest effect on Cel biodegradation (10 d vs 62 d, respectively), and the least effect on PLA (70 d vs 75 d). Specific bacterial and fungal community structures were identified as potential BP biodegraders; the communities depended on the type of BPs and the substrate conditions. In conclusion, the time needed for biodegradation of these BPs varied widely depending on the specific bioplastic and the substrate conditions; the biodegradability decreased in the following order: Cel ≫ FS ≫ PBS ≫ PLA with C and FS ≫ Cel = PBS ≫ PLA with B. The biodegradability ranking of BPs with B was assumed to be ultimate as it simulates the real substrate conditions during composting. However, all of the BPs completely biodegraded in less than 90 days., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

As part of the multifaceted strategies developed to shape the common environmental policy, considerable attention is now being paid to assessing the degree of environmental degradation in soil under xenobiotic pressure. Bisphenol A (BPA) has only been marginally investigated in this ecosystem context. Therefore, research was carried out to determine the biochemical properties of soils contaminated with BPA at two levels of contamination: 500 mg and 1000 mg BPA kg -1 d.m. of soil. Reliable biochemical indicators of soil changes, whose activity was determined in the pot experiment conducted, were used: dehydrogenases, catalase, urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and β -glucosidase. Using the definition of soil health as the ability to promote plant growth, the influence of BPA on the growth and development of Zea mays , a plant used for energy production, was also tested. As well as the biomass of aerial parts and roots, the leaf greenness index (SPAD) of Zea mays was also assessed. A key aspect of the research was to identify those of the six remediating substances-molecular sieve, zeolite, sepiolite, starch, grass compost, and fermented bark-whose use could become common practice in both environmental protection and agriculture. Exposure to BPA revealed the highest sensitivity of dehydrogenases, urease, and acid phosphatase and the lowest sensitivity of alkaline phosphatase and catalase to this phenolic compound. The enzyme response generated a reduction in the biochemical fertility index (BA 21 ) of 64% (500 mg BPA) and 70% (1000 mg BPA kg -1 d.m. of soil). The toxicity of BPA led to a drastic reduction in root biomass and consequently in the aerial parts of Zea mays . Compost and molecular sieve proved to be the most effective in mitigating the negative effect of the xenobiotic on the parameters discussed. The results obtained are the first research step in the search for further substances with bioremediation potential against both soil and plants under BPA pressure.

Environmentally-friendly management of landfill leachate (LL) poses a challenge, and LL is usually co-treated with municipal wastewater in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The extent to which the co-treatment of LL and municipal wastewater influences the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR) in the environment has not been examined to date. Two WWTPs with similar wastewater composition and technology were studied. Landfill leachate was co-treated with wastewater in one of the studied WWTPs. Landfill leachate, untreated and treated wastewater from both WWTPs, and river water sampled upstream and downstream from the wastewater discharge point were analyzed. Physicochemical parameters, microbial diversity, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) abundance were investigated to determine the impact of LL co-treatment on chemical and microbiological contamination in the environment. Landfill leachate increased pollutant concentrations in untreated wastewater and river water. Cotreatment of LL and wastewater could affect the abundance and diversity of microbial communities and the interactions between microbial species. Co-treatment also decreased the stability of microbial co-occurrence networks in the examined samples. The mexF gene was identified as a potential marker of environmental pollution with LL. This is the first study to explore the impact of LL on the occurrence of AR determinants in wastewater and rivers receiving effluents., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Negative public sentiment built up around bisphenol A (BPA) follows growing awareness of the frequency of this chemical compound in the environment. The increase in air, water, and soil contamination by BPA has also generated the need to replace it with less toxic analogs, such as Bisphenol F (BPF) and Bisphenol S (BPS). However, due to the structural similarity of BPF and BPS to BPA, questions arise about the safety of their usage. The toxicity of BPA, BPF, and BPS towards humans and animals has been fairly well understood. The biodegradability potential of microorganisms towards each of these bisphenols is also widely recognized. However, the scale of their inhibitory pressure on soil microbiomes and soil enzyme activity has not been estimated. These parameters are extremely important in determining soil health, which in turn also influences plant growth and development. Therefore, in this manuscript, knowledge has been expanded and systematized regarding the differences in toxicity between BPA and its two analogs. In the context of the synthetic characterization of the effects of bisphenol permeation into the environment, the toxic impact of BPA, BPF, and BPS on the microbiological and biochemical parameters of soils was traced. The response of cultivated plants to their influence was also analyzed.

Lipid rafts are condensed regions of cell membranes rich in cholesterol and sphingomyelin, which constitute the target for anticholesterolemic drugs - statins. In this work, we use for the first time a combined grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD)/polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS)/Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) approach to show the statin effect on model lipid rafts and its components assembled in Langmuir monolayers at the air-water interface. Two representatives of these drugs, fluvastatin (FLU) and cerivastatin (CER), of different hydrophobicity were chosen, while cholesterol (Chol) and sphingomyelin (SM), and their 1:1 mixture were selected to form condensed monolayers of lipid rafts. The effect of statins on the single components of lipid rafts indicated that both the hydrophobicity of the drugs and the organization of the layer determined the drug-lipid interaction. For cholesterol monolayers, only the most hydrophobic CER was effectively changing the film structure, while for the less organized sphingomyelin, the biggest effect was observed for FLU. This drug affected both the polar headgroup region as shown by PM-IRRAS results and the 2D crystalline structure of the SM monolayer as evidenced by GIXD. Measurements performed for Chol/SM 1:1 models proved also that the statin effect depends on the presence of Chol-SM complexes. In this case, the less hydrophobic FLU was not able to penetrate the binary layer at all, while exposure to the hydrophobic CER resulted in the phase separation and formation of ordered assemblies. The changes in the membrane properties were visualized by BAM images and GIXD patterns and confirmed by thermodynamic parameters of hysteresis in the Langmuir monolayer compression-decompression experiments.

Despite the increasing interest in bioplastics, there are still contradictory results on their actual biodegradability, which cause difficulties in choosing and developing appropriate sustainable treatment methods. Two biofoils (based on poly(butylene succinate) (PBS 37 ) and cellulose (Cel 37 )) were anaerobically degraded during 100-day mesophilic (37 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) tests (PBS 55 , Cel 55 ). To overcome low degradation rates in mesophilic conditions, alkaline pre-treatment was also used (Pre-PBS 37 , Pre-Cel 37 ). For comprehensive understanding of biodegradability, not only methane production (MP), but also the structure (topography, microscopic analysis), tensile properties, and FTIR spectra of the materials undergoing anaerobic degradation (AD) analysed. PBS 37 and Pre-PBS 37 were visible in 100-day degradation, and the cumulative MP reached 25.5 and 29.3 L/kg VS, respectively (4.3-4.9% of theoretical MP (TMP)). The biofoils started to show damage, losing their mechanical properties over 35 days. In contrast, PBS 55 was visible for 14 days (cracks and fissures appeared), cumulative MP was 180.2 L/kg VS (30.2% of the TMP). Pieces of Cel were visible only during 2 days of degradation, and the MP was 311.4-315.0 L/kg VS (77.3-78.2% of the TMP) at 37 °C and 319.5 L/kg VS (79.3% of the TMP) at 55 °C. The FTIR spectra of Cel and PBS did not show shifts and formation of peaks. These findings showed differences in terms of the actual biodegradability of the bioplastics and provided a deeper understanding of their behaviour in AD, thus indicating limitations of AD as the final treatment of some materials, and also may support the establishment of guidelines for bioplastic management., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Arabidopsis ERECTA family (ERf) of leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs) comprising ERECTA (ER), ERECTA-LIKE 1 (ERL1), and ERECTA-LIKE 2 (ERL2) controls epidermal patterning, inflorescence architecture, and stomata development and patterning. These proteins are reported to be plasma membrane associated. Here we show that the er/erl1/erl2 mutant exhibits impaired gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and perception alongside broad transcriptional changes. The ERf kinase domains were found to localize to the nucleus where they interact with the SWI3B subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex (CRCs). The er/erl1/erl2 mutant exhibits reduced SWI3B protein level and affected nucleosomal chromatin structure. Similar to swi3c and brm plants with inactivated subunits of SWI/SNF CRCs, it also does not accumulate DELLA RGA and GAI proteins. The ER kinase phosphorylates SWI3B in vitro, and the inactivation of all ERf proteins leads to the decreased phosphorylation of SWI3B protein in vivo. The identified correlation between DELLA overaccumulation and SWI3B proteasomal degradation, and the physical interaction of SWI3B with DELLA proteins indicate an important role of SWI3B-containing SWI/SNF CRCs in gibberellin signaling. Co-localization of ER and SWI3B on GID1 (GIBBERELLIN INSENSITIVE DWARF 1) DELLA target gene promoter regions and abolished SWI3B binding to GID1 promoters in er/erl1/erl2 plants supports the conclusion that ERf-SWI/SNF CRC interaction is important for transcriptional control of GA receptors. Thus, the involvement of ERf proteins in the transcriptional control of gene expression, and observed similar features for human HER2 (epidermal growth family receptor member), indicate an exciting target for further studies of evolutionarily conserved non-canonical functions of eukaryotic membrane receptors., (© 2023 The Authors. The Plant Journal published by Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Owing to their wide range of applications in the control of ticks and insects in horticulture, forestry, agriculture and food production, pyrethroids pose a significant threat to the environment, including a risk to human health. Hence, it is extremely important to gain a sound understanding of the response of plants and changes in the soil microbiome induced by permethrin. The purpose of this study has been to show the diversity of microorganisms, activity of soil enzymes and growth of Zea mays following the application of permethrin. This article presents the results of the identification of microorganisms with the NGS sequencing method, and of isolated colonies of microorganisms on selective microbiological substrates. Furthermore, the activity of several soil enzymes, such as dehydrogenases (Deh), urease (Ure), catalase (Cat), acid phosphatase (Pac), alkaline phosphatase (Pal), β -glucosidase (Glu) and arylsulfatase (Aryl), as well as the growth of Zea mays and its greenness indicators (SPAD), after 60 days of growth following the application of permethrin, were presented. The research results indicate that permethrin does not have a negative effect on the growth of plants. The metagenomic studies showed that the application of permethrin increases the abundance of Proteobacteria , but decreases the counts of Actinobacteria and Ascomycota . The application of permethrin raised to the highest degree the abundance of bacteria of the genera Cellulomonas , Kaistobacter , Pseudomonas , Rhodanobacter and fungi of the genera Penicillium , Humicola , Iodophanus , Meyerozyma . It has been determined that permethrin stimulates the multiplication of organotrophic bacteria and actinomycetes, decreases the counts of fungi and depresses the activity of all soil enzymes in unseeded soil. Zea mays is able to mitigate the effect of permethrin and can therefore be used as an effective phytoremediation plant.

The Langmuir technique was applied for the first time to compare the layers obtained by spreading lipid liquid-crystalline nanoparticles monoolein 1-oleoyl-rac-glycerol (GMO)/Pluronic F108 cubosomes with the monolayers obtained by mixing the same components in chloroform at the air-water interface. The differences in the monolayer behavior and in the acting intermolecular forces were examined. The similarity of the isotherms obtained for the mixed components system and the cubosome-derived layer proved the disintegration of cubosomes into a single monolayer upon contact with the air-water interface. Despite the low Pluronic F108 content in both types of layers, a strong structural role of this stabilizer was also demonstrated. Cubosome-derived systems supported on hydrophilic mica substrates were prepared either using the combined Langmuir-Blodgett and Langmuir-Schaefer technique or via direct adsorption from the solution. The topographies of the obtained layers were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Images obtained in the air mode revealed the disintegration of cubosomes and the formation of large crystallized structures of the polymer, while AFM imaging performed in water confirmed the presence of intact cubosomes on the surface of mica. We proved that the original structure of cubosomes remains on one condition: the films must not dry out; therefore, the aqueous environment must be preserved. This new approach provides an explanation in the ongoing discussion of what happens to lipid nanoparticles with or without cargo when they come into contact with an interface.

Synthetic opioids such as piperazine derivative called MT-45 interact with opioid receptors in a manner similar to morphine leading to euphoria, a sense of relaxation and pain relief and are commonly used as substituents of natural opioids. In this study we show the changes in the surface properties of nasal mucosa and intestinal epithelial model cell membranes formed at the air - water interface using Langmuir technique upon the exposure to MT-45. Both membranes constitute the first barrier to absorb this substance into the human body. The presence of the piperazine derivative affects the organization of both DPPC and ternary DMPC:DMPE:DMPS monolayers treated as simple models of nasal mucosa and intestinal cell membranes, respectively. This novel psychoactive substance (NPS) leads to the fluidization of the model layers, which may indicate their increased permeability. MT-45 has a greater influence on the ternary monolayers characteristic of the intestinal epithelial cells than nasal mucosa. It might be attributed to the increased attractive interactions between the components of the ternary layer, which in turn increase the interactions with a synthetic opioid. Additionally, the crystal structures of MT-45 determined by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction methods allowed us to both provide useful data for facilitating the identification of synthetic opioids as well as to attribute the effect of MT-45 to the ionic interactions between protonated nitrogen atoms and negatively charged parts of the polar heads of the lipids., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Due to their ability to adsorb or absorb chemical pollutants, including organic compounds, sorbents are increasingly used in the reclamation of soils subjected to their pressure, which results from their high potential in eliminating xenobiotics. The precise optimization of the reclamation process is required, focused primarily on restoring the condition of the soil. This research are essential for seeking materials sufficiently potent to accelerate the remediation process and for expanding knowledge related to biochemical transformations that lead to the neutralization of these pollutants. The goal of this study was to determine and compare the sensitivity of soil enzymes to petroleum-derived products in soil sown with Zea mays , remediated using four sorbents. The study was conducted in a pot experiment, with loamy sand (LS) and sandy loam (SL) polluted with VERVA diesel oil (DO) and VERVA 98 petrol (P). Soil samples were collected from arable lands, and the effects of the tested pollutants were compared with those used as control uncontaminated soil samples in terms of Zea mays biomass and the activity of seven enzymes in the soil. The following sorbents were applied to mitigate DO and P effects on the test plants and enzymatic activity: molecular sieve (M), expanded clay (E), sepiolite (S), and Ikasorb (I). Both DO and P exerted a toxic effect on Zea mays , with DO more strongly disturbing its growth and development and the activities of soil enzymes than P. In sandy clay (SL), P was found to be a significant inhibitor of dehydrogenases (Deh), catalase (Cat), urease (Ure), alkaline phosphatase (Pal), and arylsulfatase (Aryl) activities, while DO stimulated the activity of all enzymes in this soil. The study results suggest that the sorbents tested, mainlya molecular sieve, may be useful in remediating DO-polluted soils, especially when alleviating the effects of these pollutants in soils of lower agronomic value.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of copper soil contamination on the trace element content of sunflower aerial parts and in roots. Another aim was to assess whether the introduction of selected neutralizing substances (molecular sieve, halloysite, sepiolite and expanded clay) into the soil could reduce the impact of copper on the chemical composition of sunflower plants. Copper soil contamination with 150 mg Cu 2+ kg -1 of soil and 10 g of each adsorbent per kg of soil were used. Soil contamination with copper caused a significant increase in the content of this element in the aerial parts (by 37%) and roots (by 144%) of sunflower. Enriching the soil with the mineral substances reduced the amount of copper in the aerial parts of sunflower. Halloysite had the greatest effect (35%), while expanded clay had the smallest effect (10%). An opposite relationship was found in the roots of this plant. In copper-contaminated objects, a decrease in the content of cadmium and iron and an increase in the concentrations of nickel, lead and cobalt in the aerial parts and roots of sunflower were observed. The applied materials reduced the content of the remaining trace elements more strongly in the aerial organs than in the roots of sunflower. Molecular sieve had the greatest reducing effect on the content of trace elements in sunflower aerial organs, followed by sepiolite, while expanded clay had the least impact. The molecular sieve also reduced the content of iron, nickel, cadmium, chromium, zinc and, especially, manganese, whereas sepiolite reduced the content of zinc, iron, cobalt, manganese and chromium in sunflower aerial parts. Molecular sieve contributed to a slight increase in the content of cobalt, while sepiolite had the same effect on the content of nickel, lead and cadmium in the aerial parts of sunflower. All materials decreased the content of chromium in sunflower roots, molecular sieve-zinc, halloysite-manganese, and sepiolite-manganese and nickel. The materials used in the experiment, especially the molecular sieve and to a lesser extent sepiolite, can be used effectively to reduce the content of copper and some other trace elements, particularly in the aerial parts of sunflower.

Pyrethroids are insecticides most commonly used for insect control to boost agricultural production. The aim of the present research was to determine the effect of permethrin and cypermethrin on cultured and non-cultivated bacteria and fungi and on the activity of soil enzymes, as well as to determine the usefulness of Zea mays in mitigating the adverse effects of the tested pyrethroids on the soil microbiome. The analyses were carried out in the samples of both soil not sown with any plant and soil sown with Zea mays . Permethrin and cypermethrin were found to stimulate the multiplication of cultured organotrophic bacteria (on average by 38.3%) and actinomycetes (on average by 80.2%), and to inhibit fungi growth (on average by 31.7%) and the enzymatic activity of the soil, reducing the soil biochemical fertility index (BA) by 27.7%. They also modified the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of the Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria phyla and the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota phyla. The pressure of permethrin and cypermethrin was tolerated well by the bacteria Sphingomonas (clone 3214512, 1052559, 237613, 1048605) and Bacillus (clone New.ReferenceOTU111, 593219, 578257), and by the fungi Penicillium (SH1533734.08FU, SH1692798.08FU) and Trichocladium (SH1615601.08FU). Both insecticides disturbed the growth and yielding of Zea mays , as a result of which its yield and leaf greenness index decreased. The cultivation of Zea mays had a positive effect on both soil enzymes and soil microorganisms and mitigated the anomalies caused by the tested insecticides in the microbiome and activity of soil enzymes. Permethrin decreased the yield of its aerial parts by 37.9% and its roots by 33.9%, whereas respective decreases caused by cypermethrin reached 16.8% and 4.3%.

This review focuses on the characteristics of the most widely used biopolymers that contain starch, polylactic acid, cellulose and/or polybutylene succinate. Because worldwide production of bio-based materials has grown dynamically, their waste is increasingly found in the existing waste treatment plants. The development of recycling methods for bio-based materials remains a challenge in the implementation of a circular economy. This article summarizes the recycling methods for bio-based materials, which, in the hierarchy of waste management, is much more desirable than landfilling. Several methods of recycling are available for the end-of-life management of bio-based products, which include mechanical (reuse of waste as a valuable raw material for further processing), chemical (feedstock recycling) and organic (anaerobic digestion or composting) ones. The use of chemical or mechanical recycling is less favourable, more costly and requires the improvement of systems for separation of bio-based materials from the rest of the waste stream. Organic recycling can be a sustainable alternative to those two methods. In organic recycling, bio-based materials can be biologically treated under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, depending on the characteristics of the materials. The choice of the recycling method to be implemented depends on the economic situation and on the properties of the bio-based products and their susceptibility to degradation. Thus, it is necessary to label the products to indicate which method of recycling is most appropriate.

Currently, the production of bio-based polymeric materials, of which poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is the most popular, has been increasing, causing the growth of PLA waste in municipal waste. Thus, it is necessary to develop sustainable methods for treating it. Methane production, resulting from anaerobic digestion (AD), is a potential end-of-life scenario for PLA waste that needs to be investigated. To obtain high efficiency of AD, thermophilic fermentation was applied, and to overcome low rates of biodegradation, hydrothermal (HT) and alkaline (A) pretreatments were used. For a deep insight into the process, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and microscopic and microbial analyses (based on 16S rDNA) were applied. For both untreated (PLA) and pretreated (PLA HT , PLA A ) samples a high maximal methane production (MP) of 453 L/kg volatile solids (VS) was obtained, almost 100 % of the theoretical methane yield from PLA. The use of pretreatment allowed shortening of the time for obtaining maximal MP, especially the hydrothermal pretreatment, which shortened the overall time of MP 1.3-fold, and methane was produced at an almost 10 % higher rate (8.35 vs 7.79 L/(kg VS·d)). However, DSC and microscopic analyses revealed that, in all cases, methane was intensively produced i) after the reduction of the molecular mass of the PLA material and ii) also when PLA pieces were not visible. This should be considered when designing the operational time for the AD process. Parallel to the gradual biodegradation of PLA, the abundances of Firmicutes, Thermotogae, and Euryarcheota increased. With PLA HT , Syntrophobacteraceae, Thermoanaerobacteraceae, and methanogens were identified as potential key thermophilic PLA biodegraders., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Chromium is used in many settings, and hence, it can easily enter the natural environment. It exists in several oxidation states. In soil, depending on its oxidation-reduction potential, it can occur in bivalent, trivalent or hexavalent forms. Hexavalent chromium compounds are cancerogenic to humans. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Cr(VI) on the structure of bacteria and fungi in soil, to find out how this effect is modified by humic acids and to determine the response of Zea mays to this form of chromium. A pot experiment was conducted to answer the above questions. Zea mays was sown in natural soil and soil polluted with Cr(VI) in an amount of 60 mg kg -1 d.m. Both soils were treated with humic acids in the form of HumiAgra preparation. The ecophysiological and genetic diversity of bacteria and fungi was assayed in soil under maize (not sown with Zea mays ). In addition, the following were determined: yield of maize, greenness index, index of tolerance to chromium, translocation index and accumulation of chromium in the plant. It has been determined that Cr(VI) significantly distorts the growth and development of Zea mays , while humic acids completely neutralize its toxic effect on the plant. This element had an adverse effect on the development of bacteria of the genera Cellulosimicrobium , Kaistobacter , Rhodanobacter , Rhodoplanes and Nocardioides and fungi of the genera Chaetomium and Humicola . Soil contamination with Cr(VI) significantly diminished the genetic diversity and richness of bacteria and the ecophysiological diversity of fungi. The negative impact of Cr(VI) on the diversity of bacteria and fungi was mollified by Zea mays and the application of humic acids.

The paper presents the results of the research on the possibility of using waste after the printing process as a filler for polymeric materials. Remains of the label backing were used, consisting mainly of cellulose with glue and polymer label residue. The properly prepared filler (washed, dried, pressed and cut) was added to the polypropylene in a volume ratio of 2:1; 1:1; 1:2; and 1:3 which corresponded to approximately 10, 5, 2.5 and 2 wt % filler. The selected processing properties (mass flow rate), mechanical properties (tensile strength, impact strength, dynamic mechanical analysis) and thermal properties (thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry) were determined. The use of even the largest amount of filler did not cause disqualifying changes in the determined properties. The characteristics of the obtained materials allow them to be used in various applications while reducing costs due to the high content of cheap filler.

For the first time, HMG-CoA reductase, the membrane protein responsible for cholesterol synthesis, was incorporated into a lipid membrane consisting of DOPC:Chol:SM at a 1:1:1 molar ratio, which mimics the lipid rafts of cell membranes. The membrane containing the protein was generated in the form of either a proteoliposomes or a film obtained by spreading the proteoliposomes at the air-water interface to prepare a protein-rich and stable lipid layer over time. The lipid vesicle parameters were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and fluorescence microscopy. The incorporation of HMG-CoA reductase was reflected in the increased size of the proteoliposomes compared to that of the empty liposomes of model rafts. Enzyme reconstitution was confirmed by measuring the activity of NADPH, which participates in the catalytic process. The thin lipid raft films formed by spreading liposomes and proteoliposomes at the air-water interface were investigated using the Langmuir technique. The activities of the HMG-CoA reductase films were preserved over time, and the two lipid raft systems, nanoparticles and films, were exposed to solutions of fluvastatin, a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor commonly used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Both lipid raft systems constructed were useful membrane models for the determination of reductase activity and for monitoring the statin inhibitory effects and may be used for investigating other integral membrane proteins during exposure to inhibitors/activators considered to be potential drugs.

As landfilling is a common method for utilizing plastic waste at its end-of-life, it is important to present knowledge about the environmental and technical complications encountered during plastic disposal, and the formation and spread of microplastics (MPs) from landfills, to better understand the direct and indirect effects of MPs on pollution. Plastic waste around active and former landfills remains a source of MPs. The landfill output consists of leachate and gases created by combined biological, chemical, and physical processes. Thus, small particles and/or fibers, including MPs, are transported to the surroundings by air and by leachate. In this study, a special focus was given to the potential for the migration and release of toxic substances as the aging of plastic debris leads to the release of harmful volatile organic compounds via oxidative photodegradation. MPs are generally seen as the key vehicles and accumulators of non-biodegradable pollutants. Because of their small size, MPs are quickly transported over long distances throughout their surroundings. With large specific surface areas, they have the ability to absorb pollutants, and plastic monomers and additives can be leached out of MPs; thus, they can act as both vectors and carriers of pollutants in the environment.

An undesirable side effect of economic progress is increasingly severe pollution with heavy metals, responsible for the degradation of ecosystems, including soil resources. Hence, this research focused on examining six adsorbents in order to distinguish a reactive mineral with the highest capacity to remediate soils contaminated with heavy metals. To this end, the soil was polluted with Co 2+ and Cd 2+ by applying the metals in concentrations of 100 mg kg -1 d.m. The extent of soil equilibrium disturbances was assessed by evaluating the response of the soil microbiome, activity of seven soil enzymes, and the yields of Helianthus annuus L. Six sorbents were evaluated: a molecular sieve, expanded clay (ExClay), halloysite, zeolite, sepiolite and biochar. Co 2+ and Cd 2+ proved to be significant inhibitors of the soil's microbiological and biochemical parameters. Organotrophic bacteria among the analysed groups of microorganisms and dehydrogenases among the soil enzymes were most sensitive to the effects of the metals. Both metals significantly distorted the growth and development of sunflower, with Co 2+ having a stronger adverse impact on the synthesis of chlorophyll. The molecular sieve and biochar were the sorbents that stimulated the multiplication of microorganisms and enzymatic activity in the contaminated soil. The activity of enzymes was also stimulated significantly by zeolite and sepiolite, while the growth of Helianthus annuus L. biomass was stimulated by the molecular sieve, which can all be considered the most useful reactive materials in the remediation of soils exposed to Co 2+ and Cd 2+ .

Background: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome characterized by acute decompensation of chronic liver disease associated with organ failures and very high short-term mortality., Objectives: To assess the incidence and factors predisposing to ACLF in patients with liver cirrhosis hospitalized due to acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB)., Material and Methods: We collected and retrospectively analyzed the data of 89 consecutive patients (59 males (66.2%), median age 53 years (range: 44-62 years), mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score 14.42 ±6.5, median Child-Turcotte-Pugh score 10 (range: 8-11), and acute GIB (72 variceal bleeding and 17 non-variceal bleeding cases). Acute-on-chronic liver failure was diagnosed based on European Association for the Study of the Liver - Chronic Liver Failure Consortium definition., Results: Twenty-seven (30.33%) patients met the criteria of ACLF during hospitalization: 8 (30%) had ACLF grade 1, 13 (48%) had ACLF grade 2 and 6 (22%) had ACLF grade 3. The most frequent organ failures were respiratory (22 (25%)), kidney (18 (20.23%)) and brain (17 (19.1%)) failure. The MELD score value, creatinine level and presence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) on admission were significant predictors of ACLF in the multivariate logistic regression model with optimal cutoff point for MELD score of 18.313 and optimal cutoff point for creatinine level of 1.35 mg/dL., Conclusions: In-hospital risk of ACLF in cirrhotic patients hospitalized for acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage is high despite successful arrest of bleeding. Elevated creatinine level, MELD score and the presence of HE on admission are the best predictors of ACLF during hospitalization in such patients.

Despite numerous studies on the influence of heavy metals on soil health, the search for effective, eco-friendly, and economically viable remediation substances is far from over. This encouraged us to carry out a study under strictly controlled conditions to test the effects of Cu 2+ , Ni 2+ , and Zn 2+ added to soil in amounts of 150 mg·kg -1 d.m. of soil on the soil microbiome, on the activity of two oxidoreductases and five hydrolases, and on the growth and development of the sunflower Helianthus annunus L. The remediation substances were a molecular sieve, halloysite, sepiolite, expanded clay, zeolite, and biochar. It has been demonstrated that the most severe turbulences in the soil microbiome, its activity, and the growth of Helianthus annunus L. were caused by Ni 2+ , followed by Cu 2+ , and the mildest negative effect was produced by Zn 2+ . The adverse impact of heavy metals on the soil microbiome and its activity was alleviated by the applied sorbents. Their application also contributed to the increased biomass of plants, which is significant for the successful phytoextraction of these metals from soil. Irrespective of which property was analysed, sepiolite can be recommended for the remediation of soil polluted with Ni 2+ and zeolite-for soil polluted with Cu 2+ and Zn 2+ . Both sorbents mitigated to the highest degree disturbances caused by the tested metals in the soil environment.

Hydrophilic photocatalytically active ZnO and ZnO thin films doped with Yb 2 O 3 and Eu 2 O 3 (rare earth metal oxide, REM) with optical transmittance exceeding 76% in the visible light range (λ = 550 nm) were prepared by a combination of sol-gel technique, spin-coating and high temperature thermal treatment at 500 and 600 °C. The thin films were tested using advanced research methods, i.e.: morphology and topography and fractures along with approximate thickness values were investigated on scanning electron microscope (SEM), chemical composition was determined using X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (X-ray Energy Spectroscopy), topography and roughness were measured on atomic force microscope (AFM), water contact angle values were determined by sitting water droplet method, optical properties of the fabricated materials were investigated using UV/Vis spectrophotometer. The decolorization efficiency of rhodamine B in aqueous solution was analyzed over a period of 190 min, obtaining degradation rates of: 54.7% and 43.1%, for ZnO and ZnO coatings doped with ytterbium oxide and europium oxide, respectively. The roughness of thin hybrid coatings did not exceed 50 nm, ensuring effective absorption of electromagnetic radiation by the layers. The methodology presented by the authors for the fabrication of thin hybrid films characterized by the key properties of self-cleaning coatings can be successfully applied to coatings of photovoltaic panels and architectural glass structures., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The research objective was established by taking into account common sources of soil contamination with bisphenol A (B) and zinc (Zn 2+ ), as well as the scarcity of data on the effect of metabolic pathways involved in the degradation of organic compounds on the complexation of zinc in soil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the spectrum of soil homeostasis disorders arising under the pressure of both the separate and combined toxicity of bisphenol A and Zn 2+ . With a broad pool of indicators, such as indices of the effect of xenobiotics (IF X ), humic acid (IF H ), plants (IF P ), colony development (CD), ecophysiological diversity (EP), the Shannon-Weaver and the Simpson indices, as well as the index of soil biological fertility (BA 21 ), the extent of disturbances was verified on the basis of enzymatic activity, microbiological activity, and structural diversity of the soil microbiome. A holistic character of the study was achieved, having determined the indicators of tolerance (IT) of Sorghum Moench (S) and Panicum virgatum (P), the ratio of the mass of their aerial parts to roots (PR), and the SPAD leaf greenness index. Bisphenol A not only failed to perform a complexing role towards Zn 2+ , but in combination with this heavy metal, had a particularly negative effect on the soil microbiome and enzymatic activity. The NGS analysis distinguished certain unique genera of bacteria in all objects, representing the phyla Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria , as well as fungi classified as members of the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota . Sorghum Moench (S) proved to be more sensitive to the xenobiotics than Panicum virgatum (P).

Post-consumer bio-based textile wastes are any type of garment or household article made from manufactured bio-based textiles that the owner no longer needs and decides to discard. According to the hierarchy of waste management, post-consumer textile waste should be organically recycled. However, there is still a problem with the implementation of selective collection of textile waste followed by sorting, which would prepare the waste for organic recycling. A technically achievable strategy for sorted textile waste materials consisting of only one type of fiber material, multi-material textiles are a problem for recycling purposes. Waste textiles are composed of different materials, including natural as well as synthetic non-cellulosic fibers, making bioprocessing difficult. Various strategies for recovery of valuable polymers or monomers from textile waste, including concentrated and dilute acid hydrolysis, ionic liquids as well as enzymatic hydrolysis, have been discussed. One possible process for fiber recycling is fiber recovery. Fiber reclamation is extraction of fibers from textile waste and their reuse. To ensure that organic recycling is effective and that the degradation products of textile waste do not limit the quality and quantity of organic recycling products, bio-based textile waste should be biodegradable and compostable. Although waste textiles comprising a synthetic polymers fractions are considered a threat to the environment. However, their biodegradable part has great potential for production of biological products (e.g., ethanol and biogas, enzyme synthesis). A bio-based textile waste management system should promote the development and application of novel recycling techniques, such as further development of biochemical recycling processes and the textile waste should be preceded by recovery of non-biodegradable polymers to avoid contaminating the bioproducts with nano and microplastics.

The interactions of anthracyclines with biological membranes strongly depend on the drug lipophilicity, which might also determine the specific affinity to cholesterol molecules. Therefore, in this work we show the studies concerning the effect of two selected anthracyclines, daunorubicin (DNR) and idarubicin (IDA) on simple models of healthy (DMPC:Chol 7:3) and cancer cells membranes with increased level of cholesterol (DMPC:Chol 3:7) as well as pure cholesterol monolayers prepared at the air-water interface and supported on gold surface. It has been shown that more lipophilic IDA is able to penetrate cholesterol monolayers more effectively than DNR due to the formation of IDA-cholesterol arrangements at the interface, as proved by the thermodynamic analysis of compression-expansion cycles. The increased interactions of IDA were also confirmed by the time measurements of pre-compressed monolayers exposed to drug solutions as well as grazing incidence X-ray diffraction studies demonstrating differences in the 2D organization of cholesterol monolayers. Langmuir studies of mixed DMPC:Chol membranes revealed the reorganization of molecules in the cancer cell models at the air-water interface at higher surface pressures due to the removal of DNR, while increased affinity of IDA towards cholesterol allowed this drug to penetrate the layer more efficiently without its removal. The SEIRAS spectra obtained for supported DMPC:Chol bilayers proved that IDA locates both in the ester group and in the acyl chain region of the bilayer, while DNR does not penetrate the membranes as deeply as IDA. The increased penetration of the mixed phospholipid layers by idarubicin might be attributed to the higher lipophilicity caused by the lack of methoxy group and resulting in a specific affinity towards cholesterol., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bisphenol A (BPA), with its wide array of products and applications, is currently one of the most commonly produced chemicals in the world. A narrow pool of data on BPA-microorganism-plant interaction mechanisms has stimulated the following research, the aim of which has been to determine the response of the soil microbiome and crop plants, as well as the activity of soil enzymes exposed to BPA pressure. A range of disturbances was assessed, based on the activity of seven soil enzymes, an abundance of five groups of microorganisms, and the structural diversity of the soil microbiome. The condition of the soil was verified by determining the values of the indices: colony development (CD), ecophysiological diversity (EP), the Shannon-Weaver index, and the Simpson index, tolerance of soil enzymes, microorganisms and plants (TI BPA ), biochemical soil fertility (BA 21 ), the ratio of the mass of aerial parts to the mass of plant roots (PR), and the leaf greenness index: Soil and Plant Analysis Development (SPAD). The data brought into sharp focus the adverse effects of BPA on the abundance and ecophysiological diversity of fungi. A change in the structural composition of bacteria was noted. Bisphenol A had a more beneficial effect on the Proteobacteria than on bacteria from the phyla Actinobacteria or Bacteroidetes . The microbiome of the soil exposed to BPA was numerously represented by bacteria from the genus Sphingomonas . In this object pool, the highest fungal OTU richness was achieved by the genus Penicillium , a representative of the phylum Ascomycota . A dose of 1000 mg BPA kg -1 d.m. of soil depressed the activity of dehydrogenases, urease, acid phosphatase and β -glucosidase, while increasing that of alkaline phosphatase and arylsulfatase. Spring oilseed rape and maize responded significantly negatively to the soil contamination with BPA.

Soil contamination with cresol is a problem of the 21st century and poses a threat to soil microorganisms, humans, animals, and plants. The lack of precise data on the potential toxicity of o -cresol in soil microbiome and biochemical activity, as well as the search for effective remediation methods, inspired the aim of this study. Soil is subjected to four levels of contamination with o -cresol: 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 50 mg o -cresol kg -1 dry matter (DM) of soil and the following are determined: the count of eight groups of microorganisms, colony development index (CD) and ecophysiological diversity index (EP) for organotrophic bacteria, actinobacteria and fungi, and the bacterial genetic diversity. Moreover, the responses of seven soil enzymes are investigated. Perna canaliculus is a recognized biosorbent of organic pollutants. Therefore, microbial biostimulation with Perna canaliculus shells is used to eliminate the negative effect of the phenolic compound on the soil microbiome. Fungi appears to be the microorganisms most sensitive to o -cresol, while Pseudomonas sp. is the least sensitive. In o -cresol-contaminated soils, the microbiome is represented mainly by the bacteria of the Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phyla. Acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and urease can be regarded as sensitive indicators of soil disturbance. Perna canaliculus shells prove to be an effective biostimulator of soil under pressure with o -cresol.

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are the bacteria that most frequently cause osteomyelitis. This study aimed to determine whether staphylococci isolated from osteomyelitis associated with septic loosening of orthopedic prostheses release extracellular vesicles (EVs) and, if so, to determine tentative immunomodulatory effects on the human monocytic cell line THP-1. EVs were isolated from bacterial cultures using filtration and ultracentrifugation and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and Western Blot. The cytotoxic effect of EVs was analyzed by NucleoCounter and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) analyses. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was employed to visualize the uptake of EVs by THP-1 cells. Activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was determined in THP1-Blue™ NF-κB cells, and the gene expression and secretion of cytokines were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. All investigated strains, irrespective of their biofilm formation ability, were able to secrete EVs in vitro. The S. aureus strains produced significantly more EVs than the S. epidermidis strains. Both S. aureus-derived EVs and S. epidermidis-derived EVs were internalized by THP-1 cells, upregulated Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) gene expression, activated NF-κB, and promoted the gene expression and secretion of interleukin (IL)-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-9 and IL-10. Whereas EVs from both staphylococcal species upregulated the proapoptotic DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) gene and downregulated the antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) gene, cytolysis was preferentially induced in S. aureus EV-stimulated cells, possibly related to the expression of cytolytic proteins predominantly in S. aureus EVs. In conclusion, staphylococcal EVs possess potent cytolytic and immunomodulatory properties., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

A model biomimetic system for the study of protein reconstitution or drug interactions should include lipid rafts in the mixed lipid monolayer, since they are usually the domains embedding membrane proteins and peptides. Four model lipid films composed of three components: 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), cholesterol (Chol) and sphingomyelin (SM) mixed in different molar ratios were proposed and investigated using surface pressure measurements and thermodynamic analysis of the monolayers at the air-water interface and imaged by Brewster angle microscopy. The ternary monolayers were transferred from the air-water onto the gold electrodes to form bilayer films and were studied for the first time by electrochemical methods: alternative current voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and imaged by atomic force microscopy. In excess of DOPC, the ternary systems remained too liquid for the raft region to be stable, while in the excess of cholesterol the layers were too solid. The layers with SM in excess lead to the formation of Chol:SM complexes but the amount of the fluid matrix was very low. The equimolar content of the three components lead to the formation of a stable and well-organized assembly with well-developed raft microdomains of larger thickness, surrounded by the more fluid part of the bilayer. The latter is proposed as a convenient raft model membrane for further physicochemical studies of interactions with drugs or pollutants or incorporation of membrane proteins.

Background: Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) are challenging complications following arthroplasty. Staphylococci are a frequent cause of PJI and known biofilm producers. Biofilm formation decreases antimicrobial susceptibility, thereby challenging favourable treatment outcomes. The aims of this study were to characterize the biofilm abilities and antimicrobial susceptibilities of staphylococci causing first-time PJI and correlate them to clinical outcome (infection resolution and recurrence)., Methods: Reoperations for PJI of the hip or knee between 1st January 2012 to 30th June 2015 performed at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital were identified in a local database. Medical records were reviewed and clinical parameters recorded for patients whose intraoperative bacterial isolates had been stored at the clinical laboratory. Staphylococcal strains isolated from reoperations due to first-time PJI were characterised by their ability to form biofilms using the microtiter plate test. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains was determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) when grown planktonically, and by minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) when grown as biofilms. MBEC determination was conducted using the Calgary biofilm device (CBD) and a custom-made antimicrobial susceptibility plate containing eight clinically relevant antimicrobial agents., Results: The study group included 49 patients (70 bacterial strains) from first-time PJI, whereof 24 (49%) patients had recurrent infection. Strong biofilm production was significantly associated with recurrent infection. Patients infected with strong biofilm producers had a five-fold increased risk for recurrent infection. Strains grown as biofilms were over 8000 times more resistant to antimicrobial agents compared to planktonic cultures. Biofilms were more susceptible to rifampicin compared to other antimicrobials in the assay. Increased biofilm susceptibility (MBEC ​> ​MIC) was observed for the majority of the bacterial strains and antimicrobial agents., Conclusions: Strong biofilm production was significantly associated with increased antimicrobial resistance and PJI recurrence. This underscores the importance of determining biofilm production and susceptibility as part of routine diagnostics in PJI. Strong staphylococcal biofilm production may have implications on therapeutic choices and suggest more extensive surgery. Furthermore, despite the increased biofilm resistance to rifampicin, results from this study support its use in staphylococcal PJI., The Translational Potential of This Article: Like for many biomaterial-associated infections, staphylococci are a common cause of PJI. Their ability to adhere to surfaces and produce biofilms on medical devices is proposed to play a role. However, clinical studies where biofilm properties are directly linked to patient outcome are scarce. This study demonstrates that the majority of staphylococci isolated from first-time PJI were biofilm producers with increased antimicrobial resistance. Patients suffering an infection caused by a staphylococcal strain with strong biofilm production ability had a five-fold greater risk of recurrent infection. This novel finding suggests the importance of evaluating biofilm production as a diagnostic procedure for the guidance of treatment decisions in PJI., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2021 The Authors.)

In this work, the effects of simvastatin (SIM), (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and their complex (SIM:HPβCD) on the structure and properties of lipid membranes were investigated for the first time by Langmuir technique combined with PM-IRRAS spectroscopy. An improved understanding of the differences of the interactions between free SIM, and SIM in the form of an inclusion complex with HPβCD with the lipid membrane will improve the development of preparation methods for in vivo applications. Monolayers of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), cholesterol (Chol) and their mixture DMPC:Chol (7:3) served as simple models of one leaflet of the cell membrane. The penetration of well-organized lipid layers by simvastatin lead to their fluidization but the extent of this unwanted effect was smaller when the drug was delivered in the form of the SIM:HPβCD complex. Surface pressure vs. time dependencies showed that the drug encapsulated with cyclodextrin dissociated from the complex upon contact with the lipid layer and the weak interactions between the exterior polar part of the HPβCD and the polar headgroups of the lipid layer facilitated smooth incorporation of the released lipophilic drug into the membrane. At a longer time-scale, the HPβCD ligand released from the complex removed some cholesterol, but not DMPC, from the lipid layer, hence, similarly to the enzyme inhibiting action of statins - it lead to the decrease of the amount of cholesterol in the membrane. Delivery of simvastatin in the form of an inclusion complex with HPβCD is proposed as an approach improving its bioavailability in the cholesterol-lowering therapies., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signaling is essential for cell function, acclimation to fluctuating environmental conditions, plant growth and development. The vast majority of chloroplast proteins are nuclear-encoded, and must be imported into the organelle after synthesis in the cytoplasm. This import is essential for the development of fully functional chloroplasts. On the other hand, functional chloroplasts act as sensors of environmental changes and can trigger acclimatory responses that influence nuclear gene expression. Signaling via mobile transcription factors (TFs) has been recently recognized as a way of communication between organelles and the nucleus. In this study, we performed a targeted reverse genetic screen to identify dual-localized TFs involved in chloroplast retrograde signaling during stress responses. We found that CHLOROPLAST IMPORT APPARATUS 2 (CIA2) has a functional plastid transit peptide, and can be located both in chloroplasts and the nucleus. Further, we found that CIA2, along with its homolog CIA2-like (CIL) are involved in the regulation of Arabidopsis responses to UV-AB, high light and heat shock. Finally, our results suggest that both CIA2 and CIL are crucial for chloroplast translation. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of signaling events in the chloroplast-nucleus cross-talk., (© 2020 Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Recently, the use of bio-based products, including biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA), has increased, causing their rapid growth in municipal waste streams. The presence of PLA in biowaste may increase biogas production (BP). However, the rate of PLA biodegradation, which affects the time frame of anaerobic digestion, is a key parameter for an efficient process. In this study, detailed kinetics of BP from PLA were determined at 58 °C and 37 °C. At both temperatures, lag phases were observed: 40 days at 37 °C, and 10 days at 58 °C. After the lag phase BP proceeded in two phases, differed in process rate. At 58 °C, during the 1st phase (up to day 30), the rate of BP (r B1,58 ) equaled about 35 L/(kg OM·d). At the end of this phase, the amount of biogas was 710 L/kg OM, which constituted 84% of the maximal BP (831-849 L/kg OM). In the 2nd phase (10 days), only 13% of maximal BP was produced (r B2,58 of 16.1 L/(kg OM·d)). At 37 °C, maximal BP (obtained after 280 days) was 1.5-fold lower (558-570 L/kg OM) than at 58 °C. In the 1st phase (100 days), r B1,37 was 1.4 L/(kg OM·d); at the end of this phase, BP constituted merely 14% of the maximal BP. A majority of biogas was produced in the 2nd phase (the next 180 days), and r B2,37 doubled to 2.6 L/(kg OM·d)). At 58 °C, intensive biogas production took place when PLA pieces were still visible. At 37 °C, in contrast, biogas was mainly produced when the PLA pieces had been disintegrated. Although PLA anaerobically biodegrades and produces a high yield of biogas, the time frame of PLA digestion is much longer than that of biowaste and, in thermophilic conditions requires separate digesters. In mesophilic conditions, however, is unacceptable at technical scale., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cell death is the ultimate end of a cell cycle that occurs in all living organisms during development or responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In the course of evolution, plants and animals evolve various molecular mechanisms to regulate cell death; however, some of them are conserved among both these kingdoms. It was found that mammalian proapoptotic BCL-2 associated X (Bax) protein, when expressed in plants, induces cell death, similar to hypersensitive response (HR). It was also shown that changes in the expression level of genes encoding proteins involved in stress response or oxidative status regulation mitigate Bax-induced plant cell death. In our study, we focused on the evolutional compatibility of animal and plant cell death molecular mechanisms. Therefore, we studied the deregulation of reactive oxygen species burst and HR-like propagation in Arabidopsis thaliana expressing mammalian Bax. We were able to diminish Bax-induced oxidative stress and HR progression through the genetic cross with plants mutated in ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY 1 ( EDS1 ), which is a plant-positive HR regulator. Plants expressing the mouse Bax gene in eds1-1 null mutant background demonstrated less pronounced cell death and exhibited higher antioxidant system efficiency compared to Bax-expressing plants. Moreover, eds1 /Bax plants did not show HR marker genes induction, as in the case of the Bax-expressing line. The present study indicates some common molecular features between animal and plant cell death regulation and can be useful to better understand the evolution of cell death mechanisms in plants and animals.