Source Of Sugars Research Articles

Nutritional composition of least-cost staple food sources of nutrients in Eastern Uganda

Food cost and seasonal availability are important determinants of food choice and ultimately nutrient intake. This study aimed at establishing the nutritional composition of least-cost staple food sources of nutrients in Kamuli, Buyende and Pallisa districts in eastern Uganda across the cropping seasons. The World Food Programme (WFP) Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) Market Analysis Tool guidelines were used to conduct a mini-survey to determine seasonal prices and availability of foods. Retailers (n= 268) from six markets in Kamuli, three in Buyende and six in Pallisa were interviewed. The least-cost sources of energy, protein, iron and zinc were determined using nutrient-cost values. The nutrient composition of the least-cost foods were determined using standard methods. For the first dry season, the least cost sources of energy, protein, iron and zinc were maize (0.052 $/1000kcal), soybeans (0.016 $/10g), maize (0.070 $/10mg) and maize (0.086 $/10mg), respectively. For the second dry season, the least cost sources of energy, protein, iron and zinc were maize (0.052 $/1000kcal), soybeans (0.015 $/10g), maize (0.070 $/10mg) and maize (0.086 $/10mg). For the first rainy season, the least cost source of energy was sorghum (0.074 $/1000kcal), protein was groundnuts (0.019 $/10g), iron was sesame (0.100 $/10mg) and zinc was sweet potatoes (0.123 $/10mg), respectively. For the second rainy season, the least cost sources of energy, protein, iron and zinc were sorghum (0.049 $/1000kcal), groundnuts (0.016 $/10g), sesame (0.067 $/10mg) and sweet potatoes (0.082 $/10mg), respectively. The richest sources of energy, sugars and starch, protein, fat, fibre and iron were sesame (797.2 ± 116.84 Kcal/100g), sweet potatoes (11.5 ± 1.22 and 86.8 ± 10.75 g/100g), soybeans (40.7 ± 4.58 g/100g), sesame (52.9 ± 3.82 g/100g), soybeans (7.0 ± 0.32 g/100g), groundnuts (7.0 ± 0.82 mg/g). The nutrition composition of least-cost foods in the dry seasons and rainy seasons indicates that they can be used to formulate low-cost nutrient-dense mixtures for the respective seasons. Key words: Uganda, cropping seasons, least-cost, energy, protein, iron, zinc

Intakes of Added Sugars, with a Focus on Beverages and the Associations with Micronutrient Adequacy in US Children, Adolescents, and Teens (NHANES 2003-2018).

Added sugars intake from sweetened beverages among children, adolescents, and teens is a public health concern. This study examined the relationships between added sugars intake from specific types of beverages with added sugars and from the rest of the diet (excluding beverages with added sugars) and micronutrient adequacy among US children, adolescents, and teens. Data from eight consecutive 2 y cycles of NHANES were combined (2003-04 through 2017-18), and regression analysis was conducted to test for trends in quantiles of added sugars intake from each beverage source (soft drinks, fruit drinks, sport and energy drinks, coffee and tea, and flavored milk) and the rest of the diet (excluding those beverages) and micronutrient adequacy among children (2-8 y) and adolescents and teens (9-18 y). Among those aged 2-8 y, higher added sugars from flavored milk were associated with lower percentages below the estimated average requirement (EAR) for calcium. Among those aged 9-18 y, higher added sugars from soft drinks or coffee and tea were associated with higher percentages below the EAR for magnesium and vitamins A and C. In contrast, higher added sugars from fruit drinks or flavored milk were associated with lower percentages below the EAR (higher percentages above the adequate intake (AI)) for vitamin C (fruit drinks) and calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and potassium (flavored milk). Regarding the rest of the diet, higher added sugars were associated with lower percentages below the EAR (higher percentages above the AI) for most micronutrients examined. The results suggest that the relationship between added sugars intake and micronutrient adequacy depends on the added sugar sources and their nutrient composition. Continued monitoring of sweetened beverage consumption, including beverage type, and the association with added sugars intake, micronutrient adequacy, and diet quality is warranted, given the changes in consumption and product development over time.

Lactation performance, milk fat output, and nutrient digestibility responses to the addition of liquid molasses or yeast culture in dairy cows fed super-conditioned corn

Increased diet fermentability may decrease ruminal pH and fiber digestibility, and increase the flow of trans fatty acids (FA) to the lower tract ultimately leading to milk fat depression. We recently showed that feeding super-conditioned corn, a new method of corn processing (95°C for 6 min in super-conditioner) for ruminants has potential to the reduction in milk fat yield caused by changes in ruminal pH and increased trans FA in milk fat. Supplementing yeast culture (YC) and replacing starch with sugar sources in diet can counteract the negative effects of high fermentable diets by improving ruminal pH and milk fat output. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding beet liquid molasses (LM) and YC on intake and total-tract digestibility of nutrients, milk yield and composition, ruminal fermentation, milk FA profile, and plasma concentrations of glucose, nonesterified FA, β-hydroxybutyric acid, and urea N in early-lactation dairy cows fed high-starch diets containing super-conditioned corn. Twelve primiparous and 18 multiparous Holstein cows (mean ± SD; 67 ± 12 d in milk and 42 ± 2.1 kg of milk at the beginning of the experiment) were blocked by parity, pre-experimental milk yield, and DIM. Cows were used in a randomized complete block design experiment with 14 d as covariate period and 37 d for the experimental period. The following dietary treatments were fed as total mixed rations: (1) control diet (CTRL = no YC or LM supplementation), (2) LM supplementation at 5% of the diet dry matter (MOL diet), and (3) CTRL supplemented with 10 g/d of YC (YST diet). Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic. Intake of nutrients and apparent total-tract digestibility of crude protein and starch did not change across treatments. In contrast, cows fed the YST diet had the greatest apparent total-tract digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fiber. Compared with the CTRL diet, yield of 4% FCM increased by 2.4 and 1.8 kg in cows fed MOL or YST, respectively. The ruminal molar proportions of acetate and butyrate increased in cows fed the YST or MOL diets, respectively, but the proportion of ruminal propionate was not affected by treatments. Milk fat concentration increased by supplementing both LM and YC and the milk yield of total trans-18:1 dropped by 45% and 18% relative to CTRL with MOL or YST diets, respectively. While the MOL diet increased the milk proportion and yield of de novo FA, no treatment effects were observed for the proportion and yield of preformed FA in the milk fat. Apart from β-hydroxybutyric acid concentration in plasma, which was greatest in cows fed MOL, remaining blood metabolites were not affected by treatments. Overall, MOL and YST diets increased 4% FCM and milk fat concentration and reduced the proportion of total trans-18:1 FA in milk fat in cows fed a concentrate based on super-conditioned corn. These responses were associated with increased ruminal pH and the molar proportions of acetate and butyrate with feeding the MOL and YST diets.

Chitosan Oligomer as a Raw Material for Obtaining Polyurethane Foams.

Decreasing oil extraction stimulates attempts to use biologically available sources to produce polyols, which are the basic components for obtaining polyurethane foams. Plants are inexhaustible source of oils, sugars, starches, and cellulose. Similar substrates to obtain polyols are chitosans. Commercially available modified chitosans are soluble in water, which gives them the possibility to react with hydroxyalkylating agents. We used a water-soluble chitosan previously to obtain polyols suitable for producing rigid polyurethane foams. Here, we described hydroxyalkylation of a low-molecular-weight chitosan (oligomeric chitosan) with glycidol and ethylene carbonate to obtain polyols. The polyols were isolated and studied in detail by IR, 1H-NMR, and MALDI-ToF methods. Their properties, such as density, viscosity, surface tension, and hydroxyl numbers, were determined. The progress of the hydroxyalkylation reaction of water-soluble chitosan and chitosan oligomer with glycidol was compared in order to characterize the reactivity and mechanism of the process. We found that the hydroxyalkylation of chitosan with glycidol in glycerol resulted in the formation of a multifunctional product suitable for further conversion to polyurethane foams with favorable properties. The straightforward hydroxyalkylation of chitosan with glycidol was accompanied by the oligomerization of glycidol. The hydroxyalkylation of chitosan with glycidol in the presence of ethylene carbonate was accompanied by minor hydroxyalkylation of chitosan with ethylene carbonate. The chosen polyols were used to obtain rigid polyurethane foams which were characterized by physical parameters such as apparent density, water uptake, dimension stability, heat conductance, compressive strength, and heat resistance at 150 and 175 °C. The properties of polyurethane foams obtained from chitosan-oligomer and water-soluble-chitosan sources were compared. Polyurethane foams obtained from polyols synthesized in the presence of glycerol had advantageous properties such as low thermal conductivity, enhanced thermal resistance, dimensional stability, low water uptake, and high compressive strength, growing remarkably upon thermal exposure.

Affinity-induced covalent protein-protein ligation via the SpyCatcher-SpyTag interaction

Production of economically viable bioethanol is potentially an environmentally and financially worthwhile endeavor. One major source for fermentable sugars is lignocellulose. However, lignocellulosic biomass is difficult to degrade, owing to its inherent structural recalcitrance. Cellulosomes are complexes of cellulases and associated polysaccharide-degrading enzymes bound to a protein scaffold that can efficiently degrade lignocellulose. Integration of the enzyme subunits into the complex depends on intermodular cohesin-dockerin interactions, which are robust but nonetheless non-covalent. The modular architecture of these complexes can be used to assemble artificial designer cellulosomes for advanced nanotechnological applications. Pretreatments that promote lignocellulose degradation involve high temperatures and acidic or alkaline conditions that could dismember designer cellulosomes, thus requiring separation of reaction steps, thereby increasing overall process cost. To overcome these challenges, we developed a means of covalently locking cohesin-dockerin interactions by integrating the chemistry of SpyCatcher-SpyTag approach to target and secure the interaction. The resultant cohesin-conjugated dockerin complex was resistant to high temperatures, SDS, and urea while high affinity and specificity of the interacting modular components were maintained. Using this approach, a covalently locked, bivalent designer cellulosome complex was produced and demonstrated to be enzymatically active on cellulosic substrates. The combination of affinity systems with SpyCatcher-SpyTag chemistry may prove of general use for improving other types of protein ligation systems and creating unconventional, biologically active, covalently locked, affinity-based molecular architectures.

Hydrolysis and Analysis of Agricultural Wastes Using Mineral Acids for Possible Glucose Synthesis

This work focuses on conversion of agricultural wastes into fermentable sugar via acid hydrolysis. Proximate and ultimate analysis was carried out to ascertain the physiochemical properties of the biomass feedstock and fermentable sugar. Mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) was used as the media for the conversion of plantain peels and water yam peels into fermentable sugar. Concentration of glucose was analyzed using DNS techniques. Modelling of the process was done using three established kinetic models to determine the rate determining step. Results showed that untreated plantain peels and water yam peels contained 30.1% and 6.4% cellulose but increased significantly to 55.1% and 10.03% after hydrolysis indicating increase in fermentable sugar. In comparing the same conditions of plantain-HCl, plantain-HS, water yam-HCl and water yam-HS at 80°C with acid concentration/sample ratio of 0.5:2 at time 90 mins, plantain peels with HCl yield highest concentration of 4.09mg/l fermentable sugar while at the same condition water yam produced 2.031mg/l. Second order kinetic model appears to be the best fit for the process with better correlation coefficient R2 >99% with HCl and plantain peels at a reaction temperature of 60oC conforming to the rate determining step. The model demonstrated an increasing rate constant with increase in temperature which agrees with the magnitude of the hydrolysis process. This work will help in solving the energy need of our society if commercialized. Also, it can serve as a viable alternative to environmental cleanliness because wastes will become raw materials. Plantain peels and water yam peels demonstrated good potential as a source of fermentable sugar but plantain peels performed better.

Bioethanol Production from Woody Biomass: Recent Advances on the Effect of Pretreatments on the Bioconversion Process and Energy Yield Aspects

As greenhouse gas emissions are continuously increasing, research is now privileging greener and more sustainable human activities. An attractive strategy in the pursuit of sustainability is the valorization of lignocellulosic biomasses for the production of bioethanol. This approach relies on the bioconversion of wood and agricultural waste, which are abundant globally. They represent considerable sources of fermentable sugars that can be recovered through enzymatic hydrolysis. However, the presence of lignin in wood waste makes it more recalcitrant to enzymatic hydrolysis, and reduces the efficiency of the bioconversion process. Therefore, a pretreatment preceding hydrolysis is highly necessary in order to disrupt the resistant structure of woody biomass. The type and severity of the pretreatment affect the outcomes of the hydrolysis and fermentation steps, just as they strongly influence the overall process costs. Given this context, bioenergy production from this biomass is a promising alternative method of sustainably responding to energy demands while reducing the amounts of waste left in nature. The aim of this review is to thoroughly compare the recent bioconversion processes performed on woody substrates over the past five years, with a focus on thermomechanical pretreatments. Moreover, this review will discuss the outcomes of their separate steps, their impact on the overall process, and their energetic aspects.

Grape Stalk Valorization: An Efficient Re-Use of Lignocellulosic Biomass through Hydrolysis and Fermentation to Produce Lactic Acid from Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC501

Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a homofermentative probiotic strain that was previously demonstrated to grow on lignocellulosic-derived raw materials and to convert glucose into L-lactic acid (LA) with yields that vary between 0.38 and 0.97 g/g. Lactic acid is a key platform chemical, largely applied in different biotechnological fields (spanning from the pharmaceutical to the food sector) and also as a building block for the production of biodegradable polymers. In the present study, grape stalks were evaluated as sources of fermentable sugars for the growth of L. rhamnosus IMC501 and for the production of LA, since millions of hectoliters of wine are produced every year worldwide, generating a huge amount of waste. Although grape stalks are quite recalcitrant, the combination of a steam explosion pre-treatment with optimized two-step hydrolysis and commercial enzymes (Cellic-CTec2) allowed us to obtain a cellulose conversion efficiency of about 37% and to develop small-scale 2 L batch fermentation processes. Results successfully demonstrate that L. rhamnosus IMC501 can tolerate biomass-derived inhibitors and grow on grape stalk hydrolysate without the need for additional sources of nitrogen or other nutritional elements, and that the strain can convert all glucose present in the medium into LA, reaching the maximal theoretical yield.

A synthetic lure for Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) based on the attractive plant Parthenium hysterophorus.

Sugar is the sole diet for male mosquitoes and a complementary meal for females. Searching for natural sources of sugar is mediated by semiochemicals. Floral nectars, extra floral nectaries, damaged tissues of plants and rotten fruits are the most common sources of sugar in nature. I provide laboratory evidence of the high attraction of Parthenium hysterophorus L., a weed that grows in tropical climates, to Anopheles gambiae Giles. This study has tried to identify the chemicals which might be involved in the chemical attraction of A. gambiae to this plant. Using quantitative GC-MS analysis, α-pinene, camphene, 1-octen-3-ol, β-pinene, cis-β-ocimene, bornyl acetate, α-caryophyllene, hexadecanoic acid, and α-linolenic acid were identified as the main constituents of P. hysterophorus volatiles. Successive olfactory assays helped a better understanding of the more attractive chemicals of P. hysterophorus to A. gambiae which was the basis for testing a possible synthetic blend. Olfactory experiments proved this synthetic blend to be as attractive as Parthenium intact plants for A. gambiae. A minimal blend, consisting of only α-pinene, camphene, and cis-β-ocimene, was also produced and laboratory experiments indicated its relative attraction for A. gambiae. This blend can be tested in the attractive toxic sugar bait stations for sampling, surveillance, or control programs of mosquitoes in tropical Africa, where A. gambiae sensu stricto transfer malaria among residents.

Integrated Approach for Bioethanol and Paper Production using Populus deltoides Wood Biomass: An Experimental Study

Lignocellulosic materials contain two major sugar macromolecules, cellulose and hemicellulose, and polyphenolic lignin. During pulping, lignin and hemicellulose are broken down into smaller molecules such as organic acids, and removed in the black liquor, leaving cellulose fibers for papermaking. Lignocellulose consists of approximately 28–35% hemicelluloses, which are lost during the pulping process in black liquor and are an important source of sugars that can be used to produce bioethanol as a liquid fuel. The hemicellulosic sugars from the Populus deltoides (poplar) lignocellulosic biomass were partially extracted keeping in mind that it does not affect the properties of paper beyond acceptable limits, further converting these extracted sugars by fermentation to bioethanol, followed by pulping the residual biomass and papermaking and determining pulping and papermaking properties. With the increasing demand for lignocellulosic biomass by various industries, an integrated biorefinery approach for maximum utilization of its chemical components with minimum degradation is necessary in the future. The maximum bioethanol yield was found to be 3.58 g/L. On manufactured paper sheets, the mechanical properties tensile index and tear index of pre-extracted biomass were observed as 19.23 Nm/g and 3.5 mNm2/g and slightly lower against the control 21.34 Nm/g and 4.0 mNm2/g. The main objective of the present study is to recover reducing sugars before the pulping process for bioethanol production and to further utilize the remaining residue for papermaking without disturbing its fiber integrity.

BLINCAR: a reusable bioluminescent and Cas9-based genetic toolset for repeatedly modifying wild-type Scheffersomyces stipitis.

Scheffersomyces stipitis is a yeast that robustly ferments the 5-carbon sugar xylose, making the yeast a valuable candidate for lignocellulosic ethanol fermentation. However, the non-canonical codon usage of S. stipitis is an obstacle for implementing molecular tools that were developed for other yeast species, thereby limiting the molecular toolset available for S. stipitis. Here, we developed a series of molecular tools for S. stipitis including BLINCAR, a Bio-Luminescent Indicator that is Nullified by Cas9-Actuated Recombination, which can be used repeatedly to add different exogenous DNA payloads to the wild-type S. stipitis genome or used repeatedly to remove multiple native S. stipitis genes from the wild-type genome. Through the use of BLINCAR tools, one first produces antibiotic-resistant, bioluminescent colonies of S. stipitis whose bioluminescence highlights those clones that have been genetically modified; then second, once candidate clones have been confirmed, one uses a transient Cas9-producing plasmid to nullify the antibiotic resistance and bioluminescent markers from the prior introduction, thereby producing non-bioluminescent colonies that highlight those clones which have been re-sensitized to the antibiotic and are therefore susceptible to another round of BLINCAR implementation. IMPORTANCE Cellulose and hemicellulose that comprise a large portion of sawdust, leaves, and grass can be valuable sources of fermentable sugars for ethanol production. However, some of the sugars liberated from hemicellulose (like xylose) are not easily fermented using conventional glucose-fermenting yeast like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, so engineering robust xylose-fermenting yeast that is not inhibited by other components liberated from cellulose/hemicellulose will be important for maximizing yield and making lignocellulosic ethanol fermentation cost efficient. The yeast Scheffersomyces stipitis is one such yeast that can ferment xylose; however, it possesses several barriers to genetic manipulation. It is difficult to transform, has only a few antibiotic resistance markers, and uses an alternative genetic code from most other organisms. We developed a genetic toolset for S. stipitis that lowers these barriers and allows a user to deliver and/or delete multiple genetic elements to/from the wild-type genome, thereby expanding S. stipitis's potential.

Effects of vegetation densities on the performance of attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) for malaria vector control: a semi-field study

BackgroundAttractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) control sugar-feeding mosquitoes with oral toxicants, and may effectively complement core malaria interventions, such as insecticide-treated nets even where pyrethroid-resistance is widespread. The technology is particularly efficacious in arid and semi-arid areas. However, their performance remains poorly-understood in tropical areas with year-round malaria transmission, and where the abundant vegetation constitutes competitive sugar sources for mosquitoes. This study compared the efficacies of ATSBs (active ingredient: 2% boric acid) in controlled settings with different vegetation densities.MethodsPotted mosquito-friendly plants were introduced inside semi-field chambers (9.6 m by 9.6 m) to simulate densely-vegetated, sparsely-vegetated, and bare sites without any vegetation (two chambers/category). All chambers had volunteer-occupied huts. Laboratory-reared Anopheles arabiensis were released nightly (200/chamber) and host-seeking females recaptured using human landing catches outdoors (8.00 p.m.–9.00 p.m.) and CDC-light traps indoors (9.00 p.m.–6.00 a.m.). Additionally, resting mosquitoes were collected indoors and outdoors each morning using Prokopack aspirators. The experiments included a “before-and-after” set-up (with pre-ATSBs, ATSBs and post-ATSBs phases per chamber), and a “treatment vs. control” set-up (where similar chambers had ATSBs or no ATSBs). The experiments lasted 84 trap-nights.ResultsIn the initial tests when all chambers had no vegetation, the ATSBs reduced outdoor-biting by 69.7%, indoor-biting by 79.8% and resting mosquitoes by 92.8%. In tests evaluating impact of vegetation, the efficacy of ATSBs against host-seeking mosquitoes was high in bare chambers (outdoors: 64.1% reduction; indoors: 46.8%) but modest or low in sparsely-vegetated (outdoors: 34.5%; indoors: 26.2%) and densely-vegetated chambers (outdoors: 25.4%; indoors: 16.1%). Against resting mosquitoes, the ATSBs performed modestly across settings (non-vegetated chambers: 37.5% outdoors and 38.7% indoors; sparsely-vegetated: 42.9% outdoors and 37.5% indoors; densely-vegetated: 45.5% outdoors and 37.5% indoors). Vegetation significantly reduced the ATSBs efficacies against outdoor-biting and indoor-biting mosquitoes but not resting mosquitoes.ConclusionWhile vegetation can influence the performance of ATSBs, the devices remain modestly efficacious in both sparsely-vegetated and densely-vegetated settings. Higher efficacies may occur in places with minimal or completely no vegetation, but such environments are naturally unlikely to sustain Anopheles populations or malaria transmission in the first place. Field studies therefore remain necessary to validate the efficacies of ATSBs in the tropics.

Tripartite interactions comprising yeast-endobacteria systems in the gut of vector mosquitoes.

It is shown that bacteria use yeast as a niche for survival in stressful conditions, therefore yeasts may act as temporary or permanent bacterial reservoirs. Endobacteria colonise the fungal vacuole of various osmotolerant yeasts which survive and multiply in sugar-rich sources such as plant nectars. Nectar-associated yeasts are present even in the digestive system of insects and often establish mutualistic symbioses with both hosts. Research on insect microbial symbioses is increasing but bacterial-fungal interactions are yet unexplored. Here, we have focused on the endobacteria of Wickerhamomyces anomalus (formerly Pichia anomala and Candida pelliculosa), an osmotolerant yeast associated with sugar sources and the insect gut. Symbiotic strains of W. anomalus influence larval development and contribute digestive processes in adults, in addition to exerting wide antimicrobial properties for host defence in diverse insects including mosquitoes. Antiplasmodial effects of W. anomalus have been shown in the gut of the female malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi. This discovery highlights the potential of utilizing yeast as a promising tool for symbiotic control of mosquito-borne diseases. In the present study, we have carried out a large Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) metagenomics analysis including W. anomalus strains associated with vector mosquitoes Anopheles, Aedes and Culex, which has highlighted wide and heterogeneous EB communities in yeast. Furthermore, we have disclosed a Matryoshka-like association in the gut of A stephensi that comprises different EB in the strain of W. anomalus WaF17.12. Our investigations started with the localization of fast-moving bacteria-like bodies within the yeast vacuole of WaF17.12. Additional microscopy analyses have validated the presence of alive intravacuolar bacteria and 16S rDNA libraries from WaF17.12 have identified a few bacterial targets. Some of these EB have been isolated and tested for lytic properties and capability to re-infect the yeast cell. Moreover, a selective competence to enter yeast cell has been shown comparing different bacteria. We suggested possible tripartite interactions among EB, W. anomalus and the host, opening new knowledge on the vector biology.

Production and Characterization of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) from Halomonas boliviensis LC1 Cultivated in Hydrolysates of Quinoa Stalks

The global production of fossil-based plastics has reached critical levels, and their substitution with bio-based polymers is an urgent requirement. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biopolymer that can be produced via microbial cultivation, but efficient microorganisms and low-cost substrates are required. Halomonas boliviensis LC1, a moderately halophilic bacterium, is an effective PHB producer, and hydrolysates of the residual stalks of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) can be considered a cheap source of sugars for microbial fermentation processes in quinoa-producing countries. In this study, H. boliviensis LC1 was adapted to a cellulosic hydrolysate of quinoa stalks obtained via acid-catalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification. The adapted strain was cultivated in hydrolysates and synthetic media, each of them with two different initial concentrations of glucose. Cell growth, glucose consumption, and PHB formation during cultivation were assessed. The cultivation results showed an initial lag in microbial growth and glucose consumption in the quinoa hydrolysates compared to cultivation in synthetic medium, but after 33 h, the values were comparable for all media. Cultivation in hydrolysates with an initial glucose concentration of 15 g/L resulted in a higher glucose consumption rate (0.15 g/(L h) vs. 0.14 g/(L h)) and volumetric productivity of PHB (14.02 mg/(L h) vs. 10.89 mg/(L h)) than cultivation in hydrolysates with 20 g/L as the initial glucose concentration. During most of the cultivation time, the PHB yield on initial glucose was higher for cultivation in synthetic medium than in hydrolysates. The produced PHBs were characterized using advanced analytical techniques, such as high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). HPSEC revealed that the molecular weight of PHB produced in the cellulosic hydrolysate was lower than that of PHB produced in synthetic medium. TGA showed higher thermal stability for PHB produced in synthetic medium than for that produced in the hydrolysate. The results of the other characterization techniques displayed comparable features for both PHB samples. The presented results show the feasibility of producing PHB from quinoa stalks with H. boliviensis.

Macroalgae as a source of sugar and detoxifier biochar for polyhydroxyalkanoates production by Halomonas sp. YLGW01 under the unsterile condition

Macroalgae (seaweed) is considered a favorable feedstock for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production owing to its high productivity, low land and freshwater requirement, and renewable nature. Among different microbes Halomonas sp. YLGW01 can utilize algal biomass-derived sugars (galactose and glucose) for growth and PHAs production. Biomass-derived byproducts furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and acetate affects Halomonas sp. YLGW01 growth and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production i.e., furfural > HMF > acetate. Eucheuma spinosum biomass-derived biochar was able to remove 87.9 % of phenolic compounds from its hydrolysate without affecting sugar concentration. Halomonas sp. YLGW01 grows and accumulates a high amount of PHB at 4 % NaCl. The use of detoxified unsterilized media resulted in high biomass (6.32 ± 0.16 g cdm/L) and PHB production (3.88 ± 0.04 g/L) compared to undetoxified media (3.97 ± 0.24 g cdm/L, 2.58 ± 0.1 g/L). The finding suggests that Halomonas sp. YLGW01 has the potential to valorize macroalgal biomass into PHAs and open a new avenue for renewable bioplastic production.

Isotonic Drinks Based on Organic Grape Juice and Naturally Flavored with Herb and Spice Extracts

The aim of this study was the elaboration of isotonic drinks rich in bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity using organic ingredients and without synthetic additives. Grape juice was used as a natural source of sugars and phenolic compounds, combined with lemon juice and natural flavors from herb and spice extracts. The ingredients were diluted in two types of water with different mineralization, to which three different determined concentrations of salts (sodium chloride and potassium chloride) were added. The beverages had a sugar content ranging from 72.73 ± 0.23 to 78.43 ± 0.06 g/L, total soluble solids between 4.23 ± 0.06 and 4.83 ± 0.29 °Brix, and total acids from 1.75 ± 0.02 to 2.39 ± 0.08 g/L. Generally, antioxidant activity was higher in the beverages flavored with herb and spice extracts, ranging from 3.28 ± 0.01 to 4.27 ± 0.09 µmols Trolox equivalent/mL. Color intensity showed an increase of up to 129.39% in all samples during the storage period, being higher in beverages prepared with high-mineral water and having high pH values. The results of sensory analysis revealed that the flavored beverages had higher values of global perception than the controls. Thus, the functional properties of grape juice have been increased, and these beverages can be alternative natural and healthy products because their formulation is based only on organic and natural ingredients.

A comparison of the attractiveness of flowering plant blossoms versus attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) in western Kenya.

Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSB) have been demonstrated to result in significant reductions in malaria vector numbers in areas of scarce vegetation cover such as in Mali and Israel, but it is not clear whether such an effect can be replicated in environments where mosquitoes have a wide range of options for sugar resources. The current study evaluated the attractiveness of the predominant flowering plants of Asembo Siaya County, western Kenya in comparison to an ATSB developed by Westham Co. Sixteen of the most common flowering plants in the study area were selected and evaluated for relative attractiveness to malaria vectors in semi-field structures. Six of the most attractive flowers were compared to determine the most attractive to local Anopheles mosquitoes. The most attractive plant was then compared to different versions of ATSB. In total, 56,600 Anopheles mosquitoes were released in the semi-field structures. From these, 5150 mosquitoes (2621 males and 2529 females) of An. arabiensis, An. funestus and An. gambiae were recaptured on the attractancy traps. Mangifera indica was the most attractive sugar source for all three species while Hyptis suaveolens and Tephrosia vogelii were the least attractive plants to the mosquitoes. Overall, ATSB version 1.2 was significantly more attractive compared to both ATSB version 1.1 and Mangifera indica. Mosquitoes were differentially attracted to various natural plants in western Kenya and ATSB. The observation that ATSB v1.2 was more attractive to local Anopheles mosquitoes than the most attractive natural sugar source indicates that this product may be able to compete with natural sugar sources in western Kenya and suggests this product may have the potential to impact mosquito populations in the field.

Staff Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs About Child Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake and Acceptability of a Pediatric Clinic-Based Beverage Screener.

Beverages are the leading source of sugar in children's diets and a modifiable risk factor for adverse health conditions. Electronic health record-based screeners could facilitate health systems' efforts to reduce child consumption of sugary beverages. Before implementing a sugar-sweetened beverage screener in the electronic health record within academic healthcare system, 228 pediatric and family medicine clinic staff completed an online educational training to familiarize them with the screener and its rationale. Pretraining and posttraining surveys were used to examine the association between staff knowledge of sugar-sweetened beverages and the acceptability of the screening workflow. Respondents displayed high levels of pretraining knowledge about health consequences of added sugar intake, but lower levels of pediatric beverage guideline knowledge. Knowledge improved from pretraining to posttraining surveys, with high acceptability of the screening process. Staff compliance with sugar-sweetened beverage screening was examined using electronic health record data. During the 6 months after screener implementation, 47% of eligible pediatric patients were screened, with some variation in compliance by age group and practice type. This study demonstrated that engaging nursing and frontline staff to screen pediatric patients for behavioral determinants of health is feasible. Ongoing outreach and refreshers may improve sustainability.

Bioprospeksi Bunga Lolipop (Pachystachys lutea Nees) sebagai Sumber Alternatif untuk Produksi Gula

The lollipop plant (Pachystachys lutea Nees) has been known as an ornamental plant species that originated from the South America region. In Indonesia, some local children claim that the nectar of this flower has a very sweet flavor. This fact has inspired this short bioprospecting study of the lollipop plant with aim to discover its nectar as a potential alternative sugar source. The study was conducted in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Four lollipop plants from three different shading level (one plant in full shade andpartial shade, and two plant in full sun exposure) were sampled as many as five flowers from each plant and their nectar droplets, measured using brix refractometer, and also compared with sweet corn seeds (Zea mays L.) and sugarcane stems (Saccharum officinarum L.). The data was then validated for its significance using t-Tests. The result shows that the lollipop plant grown in partial shade has the highest brix percentage (27.00±1.02%) compared to the rest and is significantly different statistically. The brix percentage of all samples combined for this lollipop plant (25.56±0.42%) also surpassed the sugarcane (15.33±0.36%) and sweet corn (12.67±0.47%) and was significantly different statistically.

The Study on the Effect of Acid Concentration, Temperature, and Time on the Dehydration of Xylose to Furfural in Ethanol Solvent

The development of the palm oil industry is followed by the increased amount of lignocellulosic biomass waste. Lignocellulosic biomass waste contains cellulose and hemicellulose which are potential sources of C6 and C5 sugars. C5 or pentose can be hydrolyzed into furfural through the hydrolysis process and then dehydration reaction using the acid catalyst in various kinds of solvent. At this moment, the highest yield of furfural in the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of xylose in water resulted in only about 50.0w-%. Other methods such as salt addition or the use of various organic solvents lead to new challenges both in purification and environmental issues. Therefore in this study, 70.0w-% ethanol in water was utilized as the solvent in a range of temperatures (140-170°C) and concentration of sulfuric acid (0.1-0.5M) up to 120 minutes reaction time. As the outcomes, the shorter time was needed to achieve maximum furfural yield with the increase of temperature and acid concentration with the water and the ethanol as the solvent. Improvement was shown in the highest furfural yield achieved up to 70.0-72.0mol-% (after 15 min at 170°C, 0.2-0.5 M concentration of H2SO4). The results showed the potential use of ethanol as a green solvent to produce furfural from xylose.