The potential microalgae-based strategy for attaining carbon neutrality and mitigating climate change: a critical review

In recent years, the impacts of global warming, including glacial melting, extreme weather events, food crises, and epidemics, have become increasingly severe, posing significant challenges to global sustainability. The primary driver of the current climate crisis is the substantial emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). Microalgae, as photoautotrophic microorganisms, offer a promising solution by utilizing CO2 for biosynthesis. Previous research indicates that microalgae can fix CO2 at rates exceeding 1.5 kg/m2/year under optimal conditions, and produce lipids with high content of unsaturated fatty acids. This review delves into recent advancements understanding the causes and effects of global warming, with a particular focus on agricultural GHG emissions. It critically examines the carbon sequestration mechanisms of microalgae and their potential as single-cell biofactories for carbon neutralization and biomanufacturing. The review highlights their ability to fix CO2 and produce high-value products such as biofuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and foods. Among these species, the characteristics and value of seven edible microalgae are also described. We outline the technical and economic challenges associated with scaling up microalgae cultivation from laboratory to industrial scale, including the optimization of cultivation systems and the improvement of harvesting and processing techniques. This review serves as a useful and informative reference for the application of CO2 capture and high-value bioproducts by microalgae, aiming to provide a reference for the realization of carbon neutrality and the mitigation of climate change

A comparative study on the efficacy of 10% hypertonic saline and equal volume of 20% mannitol in the treatment of experimentally induced cerebral edema in adult rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hypertonic saline and mannitol are commonly used in the treatment of cerebral edema and elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) at present. In this connection, 10% hypertonic saline (HS) alleviates cerebral edema more effectively than the equal volume of 20% mannitol. However, the exact underlying mechanism for this remains obscure. This study aimed to explore the possible mechanism whereby 10% hypertonic saline can ameliorate cerebral edema more effectively than mannitol.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to permanent right-sided middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and treated with a continuous intravenous infusion of 10% HS, 20% mannitol or D-[1-³H(N)]-mannitol. Brain water content (BWC) as analyzed by wet-to-dry ratios in the ischemic hemisphere of SD rats decreased more significantly after 10% HS treatment compared with 20% mannitol. Concentration of serum Na⁺and plasma crystal osmotic pressure of the 10% HS group at 2, 6, 12 and 18 h following permanent MCAO increased significantly when compared with 20% mannitol treated group. Moreover, there was negative correlation between the BWC of the ipsilateral ischemic hemisphere and concentration of serum Na⁺, plasma crystal osmotic pressure and difference value of concentration of serum Na⁺and concentration of brain Na⁺in ipsilateral ischemic hemisphere in the 10% HS group at the various time points after MCAO. A remarkable finding was the progressive accumulation of mannitol in the ischemic brain tissue.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We conclude that 10% HS is more effective in alleviating cerebral edema than the equal volume of 20% mannitol. This is because 10% HS contributes to establish a higher osmotic gradient across BBB and, furthermore, the progressive accumulation of mannitol in the ischemic brain tissue counteracts its therapeutic efficacy on cerebral edema.</p

High-efficiency bubble transportation in an aqueous environment on a serial wedge-shaped wettability pattern

A serial wedge-shaped wettability pattern is designed to achieve long-distance spontaneous and directional pumpless transportation of subaqueous gas bubbles.</p

Antibacterial Mechanism and Flavour Impact of Ultrasound and Plasma-Activated Water Combination on Aeromonas veronii in Crayfish

Aeromonas veronii is a foodborne pathogen commonly found in contaminated crayfish. In this study, the effects of ultrasound combined with plasma-activated water (US-PAW) against A. veronii and on the flavour of crayfish were investigated to evaluate their impact on crayfish preservation. In vitro, US and PAW showed a significantly synergistic inhibition against A. veronii growth and biofilm reformation at 7 min. Furthermore, PAW disrupted the membrane integrity of A. veronii, accompanied by enhanced outer membrane permeability, with bacteria exhibiting distortion, deformation, and the accelerated leakage of intracellular substances, which US-PAW further promoted. Additionally, US-PAW increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species and hydrogen peroxide, disrupting cellular homeostasis. This resulted in a significant decrease in the activities of SOD and GSH, as well as a reduction in the intracellular ATP concentration and the activities of MDH and SDH. The results indicated that US-PAW treatment impairs the ability of A. veronii cells to generate sufficient energy to resist external stress, ultimately leading to bacterial death due to the inability to maintain normal physiological functions. According to the bacterial cell count and GC-MS analysed, US-PAW treatment increased the storage period of crayfish (infected with A. veronii) by 2 days, while reducing sulphur-containing volatiles within 24.64% during 6 days of storage at 4 &deg;C. These conclusions provide a theoretical foundation for the industrial application of US-PAW to preserve crayfish