The Potential of Species as Probiotics in the Food Industry: A Review.

The demand for probiotics is increasing, providing opportunities for food and beverage products to incorporate and market these foods as a source of additional benefits. The most commonly used probiotics belong to the genera of and , and traditionally these bacteria have been incorporated into dairy products, where they have a wider history and can readily survive. More recently, there has been a desire to incorporate probiotics into various food products, including baked goods.

Oxidative Stability of a New Peanut Butter Bite Product.

Peanut butter continues to be a mainstay in the American diet, but in its current form, peanut butter lacks the convenience of other foods. A peanut butter bite snack food has been developed that is individually wrapped, high in protein, and made mostly from peanut butter. The target market for the product is the active, health-conscious segment of the population that wants a high-protein peanut butter snack that is easy to pack, carry, and eat.

Characterization of Spirulina-Alginate Beads Formed Using Ionic Gelation.

Spirulina (blue-green algae) is one of the cheapest sources of protein and essential vitamins. However, bitterness and bad flavor of spirulina protein may limit its use in food products. In this study, spirulina was encapsulated using ionic gelation to facilitate protein delivery.

Evaluation of three cultivars of sweet sorghum as feedstocks for ethanol production in the Southeast United States.

Sweet sorghum has become a promising alternative feedstock for biofuel production because it can be grown under reduced inputs, responds to stress more efficiently than traditional crops, and has large biomass production potential. A three-year field study was conducted to evaluate three cultivars of sweet sorghum as bioenergy crops in the Southeast United States (Fort Valley, Georgia): Dale, M81 E and Theis. Parameters evaluated were: plant density, stalk height, and diameter, number of nodes, biomass yield, juice yield, °Bx, sugar production, and theoretical ethanol yields.

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of Kanlow switchgrass by thermotolerant Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB3: the effect of enzyme loading, temperature and higher solid loadings.

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) was subjected to hydrothermolysis pretreatment and then used to study the effect of enzyme loading and temperature in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with the thermotolerant yeast strain Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB3 at 8% solid loading. Various loadings of Accellerase 1500 between 0.1 and 1.

Ethanol production from syngas by Clostridium strain P11 using corn steep liquor as a nutrient replacement to yeast extract.

The feasibility of replacing yeast extract (YE) by corn steep liquor (CSL), a low cost nutrient source, for syngas fermentation to produce ethanol using Clostridium strain P11 was investigated. About 32% more ethanol (1.7 g L(-1)) was produced with 20 g L(-1) CSL media in 250-mL bottle fermentations compared to media with 1 g L(-1) YE after 360 h.

Biomass downdraft gasifier with internal cyclonic combustion chamber: design, construction, and experimental results.

An exploratory downdraft gasifier design with unique biomass pyrolysis and tar cracking mechanism is evolved at Oklahoma State University. This design has an internal separate combustion section where turbulent, swirling high-temperature combustion flows are generated. A series of research trials were conducted using wood shavings as the gasifier feedstock.

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of Kanlow switchgrass pretreated by hydrothermolysis using Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB4.

A thermotolerant yeast strain named Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB4 was used in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process using Kanlow switchgrass as a feedstock. Switchgrass was pretreated using hydrothermolysis at 200 degrees C for 10 min. After pretreatment, insoluble solids were separated from the liquid prehydrolyzate by filtration and washed with deionized water to remove soluble sugars and inhibitors.

The effects of fructo-oligosaccharides in combination with soy protein on bone in osteopenic ovariectomized rats.

Objective: The intestinal microflora is important in rendering soy isoflavones bioavailable by facilitating their conversion to equol. Hence, substances that can modulate the intestinal microflora could affect the bioavailability of isoflavones. In this study, we examined the effects of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), a prebiotic, on enhancing the effects of soy isoflavones on bone in ovariectomized osteopenic female rats.

Physical quality and carotene content of solar-dried green leafy and yellow succulent vegetables.

The effects of vegetable type, vegetable dimensions, and solar drier load on dehydration rate; and texture, color, water activity, and carotene content of solar-dried carrots, sweet potatoes, and collard greens were studied. Mean dehydration rates (moisture loss,%/hr) for solar dried loads of 430 g/m2 and 715 g/m2 were 3.3 +/- 0.

Evaluation of the tensile strengths of four monofilament absorbable suture materials after immersion in canine urine with or without bacteria.

Objective: To evaluate the tensile strength, elongation, and degradation of 4 monofilament absorbable suture materials that undergo degradation by hydrolysis in specimens of canine urine with various physical characteristics.

Sample Population: 4 monofilament absorbable sutures (polydioxanone, poliglecaprone 25, polyglyconate, and glycomer 631).

Procedure: Voided urine was collected from 6 healthy dogs, pooled, filter-sterilized, and prepared to provide 5 media: sterile neutral (pH, 7.