Fermentation of corn fiber hydrolysate to lactic acid by the moderate thermophile Bacillus coagulans.

A strain of Bacillus coagulans that converted mixed sugars of glucose, xylose, and arabinose to L: -lactic acid with 85% yield at 50 degrees C was isolated from composted dairy manure. The strain was tolerant to aldehyde growth inhibitors at 2.5 g furfural/l, 2.

27 ps DFT molecular dynamics simulation of alpha-maltose: A reduced basis set study.

DFT molecular dynamics simulations are time intensive when carried out on carbohydrates such as alpha-maltose. In a recent publication (Momany et al., J.

Field incidence of mycotoxins in commercial popcorn and potential environmental influences.

Popcorn ear damage by insects and mycotoxin levels in kernels were monitored in several commercial popcorn fields in central Illinois over a 4-year period. Aflatoxin was rare, but fumonisin and deoxynivalenol (DON) were commonly encountered each year, and occurred at mean levels in fields up to 1.7 mg/kg (sample max.

Fluorescence polarization immunoassay of mycotoxins: a review.

Immunoassays are routinely used in the screening of commodities and foods for fungal toxins (mycotoxins). Demands to increase speed and lower costs have lead to continued improvements in such assays. Because many reported mycotoxins are low molecular weight (below 1 kDa), immunoassays for their detection have generally been constructed in competitive heterogeneous formats.

Evaluation of alkyl esters from Camelina sativa oil as biodiesel and as blend components in ultra low-sulfur diesel fuel.

Methyl and ethyl esters were prepared from camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] oil by homogenous base-catalyzed transesterification for evaluation as biodiesel fuels. Camelina oil contained high percentages of linolenic (32.

A comparison of used cooking oils: a very heterogeneous feedstock for biodiesel.

Used cooking or frying oils are of increasing interest as inexpensive feedstock for biodiesel production. In this work, used frying oils obtained from 16 local restaurants were investigated regarding their fatty acid profile vs. the fatty acid profile of the oil or fat prior to use.

A novel NADPH-dependent aldehyde reductase gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae NRRL Y-12632 involved in the detoxification of aldehyde inhibitors derived from lignocellulosic biomass conversion.

Aldehyde inhibitors such as furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, anisaldehyde, benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, and phenylaldehyde are commonly generated during lignocellulosic biomass conversion process for low-cost cellulosic ethanol production that interferes with subsequent microbial growth and fermentation. In situ detoxification of the aldehyde inhibitors is possible by the tolerant ethanologenic yeast that involves multiple genes including numerous functional reductases. In this study, we report a novel aldehyde reductase gene clone Y63 from ethanologenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae NRRL Y12632, representing the uncharacterized ORF YGL157W, which demonstrated NADPH-dependent reduction activities toward at least 14 aldehyde substrates.

Microbial production of xylitol from L-arabinose by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli.

An Escherichia coli strain, ZUC99(pATX210), which can produce xylitol from L-arabinose at a high yield, has been created by introducing a new bioconversion pathway into the cells. This pathway consists of three enzymes: L-arabinose isomerase (which converts L-arabinose to L-ribulose), D-psicose 3-epimerase (which converts L-ribulose to L-xylulose), and L-xylulose reductase (which converts L-xylulose to xylitol). The genes encoding these enzymes were cloned behind the araBAD promoter in tandem so that they were polycistronically transcribed from the single promoter, like an operon.

A comparison of linear and systems thinking approaches for program evaluation illustrated using the Indiana Interdisciplinary GK-12.

Logic models are based on linear relationships between program resources, activities, and outcomes, and have been used widely to support both program development and evaluation. While useful in describing some programs, the linear nature of the logic model makes it difficult to capture the complex relationships within larger, multifaceted programs. Causal loop diagrams based on a systems thinking approach can better capture a multidimensional, layered program model while providing a more complete understanding of the relationship between program elements, which enables evaluators to examine influences and dependencies between and within program components.

Recent advances in the development of novel materials for mycotoxin analysis.

For sensitive and specific toxin detection, mycotoxin immunoassays depend upon antibodies with high affinity and selectivity. While intact immunoglobulins remain the primary toxin-binding elements used in rapid assays, a number of alternatives have begun appearing in the literature. The alternatives can be broadly classified into those that are obtained by chemical synthesis and those that are obtained by altering biologically derived materials.

1,3-Diferuloyl-sn-glycerol from the biocatalytic transesterification of ethyl 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy cinnamic acid (ethyl ferulate) and soybean oil.

1,3-Diferuloyl-sn-glycerol is found ubiquitously throughout the plant kingdom, possessing ultraviolet adsorbing and antioxidant properties. Diferuloyl glycerol was synthesized and isolated as a byproduct in up to 5% yield from a pilot plant scale packed-bed, biocatalytic transesterification of ethyl ferulate with soybean oil or mono- and diacylglycerols from soybean oil. The yield of the diferuloyl glycerol byproduct was directly proportional to the overall water concentration of the bioreactor.

Turkish adolescents' conflict resolution strategies toward peers and parents as a function of loneliness.

This study investigated the effect of loneliness on the conflict resolution strategies of adolescents toward their friends, mothers, and fathers. High school students (N = 180) from 8 different schools in Ankara, Turkey, completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale and Conflict Resolution Questionnaire with respect to their friends, mothers, and fathers. Results indicated no significant interaction among level of loneliness, conflict resolution strategies, and type of relationship.

Modeling bacterial contamination of fuel ethanol fermentation.

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria may limit the effectiveness of antibiotics to treat bacterial contamination in fuel ethanol plants, and therefore, new antibacterial intervention methods and tools to test their application are needed. Using shake-flask cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown on saccharified corn mash and strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from a dry-grind ethanol facility, a simple model to simulate bacterial contamination and infection was developed. Challenging the model with 10(8) CFU/mL Lactobacillus fermentum decreased ethanol yield by 27% and increased residual glucose from 6.

DFT conformation and energies of amylose fragments at atomic resolution. Part 2: 'Band-flip' and 'kink' forms of alpha-maltotetraose.

In Part 2 of this series of DFT optimization studies of alpha-maltotetraose, we present results at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory for conformations denoted 'band-flips' and 'kinks'. Recent experimental X-ray studies have found examples of amylose fragments with conformations distorted from the usual syn forms, and it was of interest to examine these novel structural motifs by the same high-level DFT methods used in Part 1. As in Part 1, we have examined numerous hydroxymethyl rotamers (gg, gt, and tg) at different locations in the residue sequence, and include the two hydroxyl rotamers, the clockwise 'c' and counterclockwise 'r' forms.

DFT conformation and energies of amylose fragments at atomic resolution. Part 1: Syn forms of alpha-maltotetraose.

DFT optimization studies of 90 syn alpha-maltotetraose (DP-4) amylose fragments have been carried out at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory. The DP-4 fragments studied include V-helix, tightly bent conformations, a boat, and a (1)C(4) conformer. The standard hydroxymethyl rotamers (gg, gt, tg) were examined at different locations in the residue sequence, and their influence on the bridge conformations phi/psi values and conformer energy is described.

Effects of xanthotoxin treatment on trichothecene production in Fusarium sporotrichioides.

There are 4 P450 oxygenases involved in the biosynthesis of T-2 toxin in Fusarium sporotrichioides. Exactly how these enzymes react to antimicrobial plant defense compounds is unknown. Xanthotoxin (8-methoxypsoralen) is a phototoxic furanocoumarin that acts as a P450 oxygenase inhibitor.

Insoluble glucans from planktonic and biofilm cultures of mutants of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1355.

Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain NRRL B-1355 produces the soluble exopolysaccharides alternan and dextran in planktonic cultures. Mutants of this strain are available that are deficient in the production of alternan, dextran, or both. Our recent work demonstrated that biofilms from mutant strains contained insoluble polysaccharides.

Isolation of an operon involved in xylitol metabolism from a xylitol-utilizing Pantoea ananatis mutant.

An operon involved in cryptic xylitol metabolism of Pantoea ananatis was cloned by transposon tagging. A xylitol negative mutant with a transposon insertion in the xylitol 4-dehydrogenase gene (xdh) was isolated and genomic DNA around the transposon was sequenced. Consequently, six consecutive genes, xytB-G are located downstream of xdh in the same strand.

Multilocus genotyping and molecular phylogenetics resolve a novel head blight pathogen within the Fusarium graminearum species complex from Ethiopia.

A survey of Fusarium head blight (FHB)-contaminated wheat in Ethiopia recovered 31 isolates resembling members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex. Results of a multilocus genotyping (MLGT) assay for FHB species and trichothecene chemotype determination suggested that 22 of these isolates might represent a new species within the Fg complex. Phylogenetic analyses of multilocus DNA sequence data resolved the 22 Ethiopian isolates as a novel, phylogenetically distinct species.

Extraction of aflatoxins B1 and G1 from maize by using aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Aflatoxins are potent carcinogens produced by certain Aspergillus fungi. The aflatoxins were first discovered in the 1960s, and since then have been found to be distributed worldwide in a variety of commodities, foods, and feeds. Many of the early techniques for detecting aflatoxins involved extraction with halogenated solvents.

A simple method to generate chromosomal mutations in Lactobacillus plantarum strain TF103 to eliminate undesired fermentation products.

Gram-positive bacteria have been explored to convert lignocellulosic biomass to biofuel and bioproducts. Our long-term goal is to create genetically engineered lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains that convert agricultural biomass into ethanol and other value-added products. The immediate approaches toward this goal involve genetic manipulations by either introducing ethanol production pathway genes or inactivating pathways genes that lead to production of undesired byproducts.

Catabolic pathway for the production of skatole and indoleacetic acid by the acetogen Clostridium drakei, Clostridium scatologenes, and swine manure.

Skatole (3-methylindole) is a malodorous chemical in stored swine manure and is implicated as a component of foul-tasting pork. Definitive evidence for the skatole pathway is lacking. Deuterium-labeled substrates were employed to resolve this pathway in the acetogenic bacterium Clostridium drakei and Clostridium scatologenes and to determine if a similar pathway is used by microorganisms present in stored swine manure.

Antennally active macrolide from the emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis emitted predominantly by females.

The macrocyclic lactone (3Z)-dodecen-12-olide was identified from the emissions of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, feeding on ash foliage. The compound was detected from both sexes but was ca. 10 times more abundant from females.

Lactobacillus buchneri strain NRRL B-30929 converts a concentrated mixture of xylose and glucose into ethanol and other products.

Lactobacillus buchneri strain NRRL B-30929 was isolated from a fuel ethanol production facility. This heterofermentative, facultative anaerobe can utilize xylose as a sole carbon source and tolerates up to 12% ethanol. Carbohydrate utilization (API, Biomerieux) and Phenotype Microarrays (PM, Biolog) analyses indicated that the strain is able to metabolize a broad spectrum of carbon sources including various monosaccharides (C5 and C6), disaccharides and oligosaccharides, with better rates under anaerobic conditions.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Lactobacillus species isolated from commercial ethanol plants.

Bacterial contamination of commercial fermentation cultures is a common and costly problem to the fuel ethanol industry. Antimicrobials such as virginiamycin (VIR) and penicillin (PEN) are frequently used to control contamination but there are little data available on the susceptibility of bacterial contaminants to these agents. A survey of bacterial contaminants from a wet-mill ethanol plant with no history of using antibiotics and a dry-grind facility that periodically doses with VIR found that the majority of contaminants were species of Lactobacillus.