Effects of microbial inoculants and amino acid production by-product on fermentation and chemical composition of sugarcane silages

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, fermentation patterns and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages with addition of amino acid production (monosodium glutamate) by-product (APB) and microbial inoculants. Mature sugarcane was chopped and ensiled in laboratory silos (n = 4/treatment) without additives (control) and with APB (10 g/kg), Pioneer 1174® (PIO, 1.0 mg/kg, Lactobacillus plantarum + Streptoccoccus faecium, Pioneer), Lalsil Cana (2.0 mg/kg, Lactobacillus buchineri, Lallemand) or Mercosil Maís 11C33® (1.0 mg/kg, Lactobacillus buchineri + Lactobacillus plantarum + Streptoccoccus faecium, Timac Agro). Fresh silage and silage liquor samples were obtained to assess pH, chemical composition and organic acid concentrations. Silage temperature was recorded throughout seven days to evaluate aerobic stability. The addition of APB decreased lactic acid levels, increased pH and N-NH3 and did not alter ethanol, acetic and butyric acids concentrations or dry matter (DM) losses. Microbial inoculants enhanced acetic acid levels, although only Pioneer 1174® and Mercosil Maís 11C33® lowered ethanol, butyric acid and DM losses. The addition of APB increased CP content and did not modify DM, soluble carbohydrates contents or in vitro dry matter digestibility. Additives did not alter silage maximum temperature or temperature increasing rate; however, Pioneer 1174® and Mercosil Maís 11C33® increased the time elapsed to reach maximum temperature. Monosodium glutamate production by-product does not alter fermentation patterns or aerobic stability of sugarcane silages, whereas homofermentative bacteria can provide silages of good quality.

Evaluation of Microorganisms with Sulfidogenic Metabolic Potential under Anaerobic Conditions

The aim of this work was to identify groups of microorganisms that are capable of degrading organic matter utilizing sulfate as an electron acceptor. The assay applied for this purpose consisted of running batch reactors and monitoring lactate consumption, sulfate reduction and sulfide production. A portion of the lactate added to the batch reactors was consumed, and the remainder was converted into acetic, propionic and butyric acid after 111 hours of operation These results indicate the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) catalyzing both complete and incomplete oxidation of organic substrates. The sulfate removal efficiency was 49.5% after 1335 hours of operation under an initial sulfate concentration of 1123 mg/L. The SRB concentrations determined by the most probable number (MPN) method were 9.0x10(7) cells/mL at the beginning of the assay and 8.0x10(5) cells/mL after 738 hours of operation.

The effects of extrusion conditions and the addition of volatile compounds and flavour enhancers to corn grits on the retention of the volatile compounds and texture of the extrudates

Corn grits that were supplemented with isovaleraldehyde, ethyl butyrate, butyric acid and flavour enhancers were extruded under different processing conditions. Volatile compounds retained in the extrudates were isolated by dynamic headspace and analysed using gas chromatographymass spectrometry. The expansion ratio, density and cut force to break down the extrudates were evaluated and aroma intensity was assessed using a multisample difference test. Butyric acid showed the greatest retention (96.4%), regardless of the extrusion conditions. All compounds were better retained when samples were extruded at 20% feed moisture and 90 degrees C processing temperature (2.981.0%), conditions that also resulted in greater aromatic intensity (moderate to moderate-strong intensity). The addition of volatile compounds reduced the expansion ratio and cut force, whereas the addition of flavour enhancers increased the expansion ratio but reduced ethyl butyrate and butyric acid retention.

Chemopreventive effects of the dietary histone deacetylase inhibitor tributyrin alone or in combination with vitamin A during the promotion phase of rat hepatocarcinogenesis

The chemopreventive effects of tributyrin (TB) and vitamin A (VA), alone or in combination, were investigated during the promotion phase of rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Compared to diethylnitrosamine control rats. TB and TB+VA-treated rats, but not VA-treated rats, presented a lower incidence and mean number of hepatocyte nodules and a smaller size of persistent preneoplastic lesions (pPNLs). In addition, TB and TB+VA-treated rats exhibited a higher apoptotic body index in pPNL and remodeling PNL, whereas VA-treated rats presented only a higher apoptotic body index in remodeling PNL. None of the treatments inhibited cell proliferation in PNL TB and TB+VA-treated rats, but not VA-treated rats, exhibited higher levels of H3K9 acetylation and p21 protein expression. TB and VA-treated rats exhibited increased hepatic concentrations of butyric acid and retinoids, respectively. Compared to normal rats, diethylnitrosamine control animals exhibited lower retinyl palmitate hepatic concentrations. All groups had similar expression levels and exhibited similar unmethylated CRBP-I promoter region in microdissected pPNL, indicating that epigenetic silencing of this gene was not involved in alteration of retinol metabolism in early hepatocarcinogenesis. Data support the effectiveness of TB as a dietary histone deacetylase inhibitor during the promotion phase of hepatocarcinogenesis, which should be considered for chemoprevention combination strategies. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

ER stress is associated with reduced ABCA-1 protein levels in macrophages treated with advanced glycated albumin - Reversal by a chemical chaperone

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 mediates the export of excess cholesterol from macrophages, contributing to the prevention of atherosclerosis. Advanced glycated albumin (AGE-alb) is prevalent in diabetes mellitus and is associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Independently of changes in ABCA-1 mRNA levels, AGE-alb induces oxidative stress and reduces ABCA-1 protein levels, which leads to macrophage lipid accumulation. These metabolic conditions are known to elicit endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We sought to determine if AGE-alb induces ER stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) in macrophages and how disturbances to the ER could affect ABCA-1 content and cholesterol efflux in macrophages. AGE-alb induced a time-dependent increase in ER stress and UPR markers. ABCA-1 content and cellular cholesterol efflux were reduced by 33% and 47%, respectively, in macrophages treated with AGE-alb, and both were restored by treatment with 4-phenyl butyric acid (a chemical chaperone that alleviates ER stress), but not MG132 (a proteasome inhibitor). Tunicamycin, a classical ER stress inductor, also impaired ABCA-1 expression and cholesterol efflux (showing a decrease of 61% and 82%, respectively), confirming the deleterious effect of ER stress in macrophage cholesterol accumulation. Glycoxidation induces macrophage ER stress, which relates to the reduction in ABCA-1 and in reverse cholesterol transport, endorsing the adverse effect of macrophage ER stress in atherosclerosis. Thus, chemical chaperones that alleviate ER stress may represent a useful tool for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis in diabetes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dynamics of adventitious rooting in mini-cuttings of Eucalyptus benthamii x Eucalyptus dunnii

It is possible to determine the optimum time for permanence of vegetative propagules (mini-cuttings) inside a greenhouse for rooting, and this value can be used to optimize the structure of the nursery. The aim of this study was to determine the dynamics of adventitious rooting in mini-cuttings of three clones of Eucalyptus benthamii x Eucalyptus dunnii. Sprouts of H12, H19 and H20 clones were collected from mini-stumps that were planted in gutters containing sand and grown in a semi-hydroponic system. The basal region of the mini-cuttings was immersed in 2,000 mg L-1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) solution for 10 seconds. The rooting percentage of the mini-cuttings, the total length of the root system and the rooting rate per mini-cutting were also evaluated at 0 (time of planting), 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56 days. We used logistic and exponential regression to mathematically model the speed of rhizogenesis. The rooting percentage was best represented as a logistic model, and the total length of the root system was best represented as an exponential model. The clones had different speeds of adventitious rooting. The optimum time for permanence of the mini-cuttings inside the greenhouse for rooting was between 35 and 42 days, and varied depending on the genetic material.

Evaluation of immobilized lipases on poly-hydroxybutyrate beads to catalyze biodiesel synthesis

Five microbial lipase preparations from several sources were immobilized by hydrophobic adsorption on small or large poly-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) beads and the effect of the support particle size on the biocatalyst activity was assessed in the hydrolysis of olive oil, esterification of butyric acid with butanol and transesterification of babassu oil (Orbignya sp.) with ethanol. The catalytic activity of the immobilized lipases in both olive oil hydrolysis and biodiesel synthesis was influenced by the particle size of PHB and lipase source. In the esterification reaction such influence was not observed. Geobacillus thermocatenulatus lipase (BTL2) was considered to be inadequate to catalyze biodiesel synthesis, but displayed high esterification activity. Butyl butyrate synthesis catalyzed by BTL2 immobilized on small PHB beads gave the highest yield (approximate to 90 mmol L-1). In biodiesel synthesis, the catalytic activity of the immobilized lipases was significantly increased in comparison to the free lipases. Full conversion of babassu oil into ethyl esters was achieved at 72 h in the presence of Pseudozyma antarctica type B (CALB), Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (Lipex (R) 100L) immobilized on either small or large PHB beads and Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFL) immobilized on large PHB beads. The latter preparation presented the highest productivity (40.9 mg of ethyl esters mg(-1) immobilized protein h(-1)). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and Solar Cell Application of New Alternating Donor-Acceptor Copolymers Based on Variable Units of Fluorene, Thiophene, and Phenylene

A new series of donor acceptor copolymers were synthesized via the Witting route and applied as an active layer in organic thin-films solar cells. These copolymers are composed of fluorene thiophene and phenylene thiophene units. The ratio between those was systematically varied, and copolymers containing 0%, 50%, and 75% of phenylene thiophene were characterized and evaluated when used in photovoltaic devices. The copolymers' composition, photophysical, electrical, and morphological properties are addressed and correlated with device performance. The 50% copolymer ratio was found to be the best copolymer of the series, yielding a power conversion efficiency (PCE) under air mass (AM) 1.5 conditions of 2.4% in the bilayer heterojunction with the C-60 molecule. Aiming at flexible electronics applications, solutions based on the heterojunction of this copolymer with PCBM (6,6-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester) were also successfully deposited using an inkjet printing method and used as an active layer in solar cells.

Efficacy of the dietary histone deacetylase inhibitor butyrate alone or in combination with vitamin A against proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

The combined treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and retinoids has been suggested as a potential epigenetic strategy for the control of cancer. In the present study, we investigated the effects of treatment with butyrate, a dietary HDACi, combined with vitamin A on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Cell proliferation was evaluated by the crystal violet staining method. MCF-7 cells were plated at 5 x 10(4) cells/mL and treated with butyrate (1 mM) alone or combined with vitamin A (10 µM) for 24 to 120 h. Cell proliferation inhibition was 34, 10 and 46% following treatment with butyrate, vitamin A and their combination, respectively, suggesting that vitamin A potentiated the inhibitory activities of butyrate. Furthermore, exposure to this short-chain fatty acid increased the level of histone H3K9 acetylation by 9.5-fold (Western blot), but not of H4K16, and increased the expression levels of p21WAF1 by 2.7-fold (Western blot) and of RARβ by 2.0-fold (quantitative real-time PCR). Our data show that RARβ may represent a molecular target for butyrate in breast cancer cells. Due to its effectiveness as a dietary HDACi, butyrate should be considered for use in combinatorial strategies with more active retinoids, especially in breast cancers in which RARβ is epigenetically altered.

Evaluation of microorganisms with sulfidogenic metabolic potential under anaerobic conditions

The aim of this work was to identify groups of microorganisms that are capable of degrading organic matter utilizing sulfate as an electron acceptor. The assay applied for this purpose consisted of running batch reactors and monitoring lactate consumption, sulfate reduction and sulfide production. A portion of the lactate added to the batch reactors was consumed, and the remainder was converted into acetic, propionic and butyric acid after 111 hours of operation These results indicate the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) catalyzing both complete and incomplete oxidation of organic substrates. The sulfate removal efficiency was 49.5% after 1335 hours of operation under an initial sulfate concentration of 1123 mg/L. The SRB concentrations determined by the most probable number (MPN) method were 9.0x10(7) cells/mL at the beginning of the assay and 8.0x10(5) cells/mL after 738 hours of operation.

Contribuição da inclusão de polpa cítrica e casca de soja para a qualidade da silagem de resíduo úmido de cervejaria

Com o objetivo de avaliar a produção da silagem e o uso de aditivos no processo de ensilagem do resíduo úmido de cervejaria, foram realizados 5 tratamentos: controle (C: ensilagem de 100% de resíduo úmido de cervejaria); PC15 (15% de polpa cítrica); PC30 (30% de polpa cítrica); CS15 (15% de casca de soja); CS30 (30% de casca de soja) – com base na matéria fresca do resíduo de cervejaria. As silagens foram confeccionadas em baldes plásticos com 252mm de altura e 245mm de diâmetro (0,06174m³), e amostras foram coletadas para análises bromatológicas, pH, nitrogênio amoniacal, digestão in vitro de matéria seca, ácidos orgânicos e perfil microbiológico. Os resultados foram analisados pelo programa computacional Statistical Analysis System (Statistical..., 1985), sendo verificada a normalidade dos resíduos pelo Teste de Shapiro-Wilk (PROC UNIVARIATE), e as variâncias, pelo Teste de Hartley. Os efeitos dos níveis de adição foram separados por meio de contrastes polinomiais utilizando o nível de significância de 5%. Houve aumento do teor de matéria seca, carboidratos solúveis, ácido lático, digestão in vitro de matéria seca, da população de bactérias ácido láticas e redução do pH, ácido butírico, propiônico e nitrogênio amoniacal a partir das inclusões de polpa cítrica e casca de soja, sendo os melhores resultados encontrados para o tratamento com inclusão de 30% de polpa cítrica (P<0,05). A ensilagem do bagaço de malte por si só é uma alternativa para o produtor rural como suporte alimentar e confecção de silagem de qualidade que pode ser incrementada com o uso de aditivos a serem avaliados de acordo com a relação custo-benefício para eficiência da produção

Synthesis and photovoltaic performance of a fluorene-bithiophene copolymer

We present the synthesis of a copolymer structure, poly(9,9′-n-di-hexyl-2,7-fluorene-alt-2,5- bithiophene), referred to herein as LaPPS43, and its physico-chemical characterization. Thin films of this polymer mixed with phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were used as the active layer in photovoltaic devices using the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/LaPPS43: PCBM/Ca/Al bulk heterojunction structure. The devices of different active layer thicknesses were electrically studied using J-V curves and the Photo-Celiv technique. The obtained results show that LaPPS43 combined with PCBM is a promising system for photovoltaic devices. Device performance is discussed in terms of the mean drift distance x for charge carriers. Photophysical data showed that the excitonic species are all localized in the aggregated forms. The mechanism of exciton formation and dissociation is also discussed.