Substrate Feeding Research Articles

Deposition characteristics, sintering and CMAS corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties of thermal barrier coatings by atmospheric plasma spraying

Atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) was used to fabricate 4.5 mol% Y2O3 stabilized ZrO2 (YSZ) and 4.0 mol% Yb2O3 and 0.5 mol% Y2O3 co-stabilized ZrO2 (YbYSZ) series coatings with different spraying parameters. This study presents the effects of particle size of feed powder and substrate temperature on the microstructure and performance of thermal barrier coatings. Single-pass and multi-pass experiments were conducted to explore the relationship between the splat and the coatings. The experimental results indicate that adjusting particle size of feed powders and deposition temperature can alter the splat behaviour and microstructure, improve anti-corrosion and anti-sintering abilities, and enhance the hardness and elastic modulus. Changes in parameters can cause changes in the microstructure of as-sprayed coatings. Lower substrate temperatures can lead to vertical cracks, finer powders can introduce more microdefects, and conventional sized powders can form larger pores. A coating deposited using a conventional feed powder at a substrate temperature of 800 °C shows excellent sintering resistance. A coating deposited using a fine feed powder on 800 °C substrate exhibits the best calcium‑magnesium-alumina-silicate (CMAS) corrosion resistance.

Identification of Novel Can Manipulation Behaviour in the Common Raven (Corvus corax)

This study examines the common raven (Corvus corax) population on Lanzarote, Spain, at a previously unstudied site. The study aimed to compare the use of camera trap technology and human observation in capturing a wide repertoire of raven behaviour and pay close attention to the perforation of aluminium cans, a behaviour that has not been described in the scientific literature previously but has been reported anecdotally through human observation. Five cameras were sited over a period of 6 months, with three aluminium cans placed at each location. One of the three cans was baited with meat and eggs, mimicking wild feeding substrate. Human observations took place over the same period of time in the same locations. Raven sightings were highly correlated in human-inhabited areas as well as agricultural areas, seemingly linked to food acquisition. Camera trap technology identified a greater number of can-orientated behaviours (interaction, manipulation, peeking inside, and pecking) compared to the human observation method. Conversely, human observation yielded a greater number of non-can-orientated behaviours (analysed as a group) when compared to that of camera trap observation. Overall, there was a significantly greater number of ravens observed via human observation when compared to that of camera trap observation. Initial evidence suggests that ravens only perforate cans they deem salient in terms of food acquisition, with beer cans being the most common focus of the behaviours observed, possibly linked to olfactory stimuli, the movement of the can or learned behaviour relating to reward acquisition. This study presents new data regarding object interaction in ravens, adding to the current body of knowledge.

Two ubiquitous parrotfishes exhibit distinct foraging ecologies on tropical Brazilian reefs

Parrotfishes (Labridae: Scarinae) are common components of reef environments known to influence the early succession dynamics of benthic communities through their foraging behavior. In the southwestern Atlantic, the sparisomatine clade predominates over the scarinine when compared to the Caribbean, with the endemic species Sparisoma axillare and S. frondosum being the most abundant and widespread parrotfishes in the Brazilian Biogeographic Province. Given that the 2 species are similar in terms of occurrence and abundance, describing their levels of niche complementarity is challenging. Investigating basic ecological distinctions between species can aid in comprehending their habitat requirements and susceptibilities. This is particularly important in the case of S. axillare and S. frondosum, both of which are listed as Vulnerable by the Brazilian Red List of Endangered Species. Here, we assessed feeding rate, substrate selectivity, niche overlap, shoaling behavior and agonistic interactions during foraging activity of both species and comparatively between ontogenetic stages. We found that despite a high niche overlap, S. frondosum feeds on a wider range of substrate types and interacts more with other species while foraging compared to S. axillare. Dissimilarities in substrate selection by the 2 species were mainly represented by algal turfs and sand but an opposite pattern was detected: S. axillare preferentially selected the algal turfs and S. frondosum selected more sand. Although fine-scale resource partitioning has not been investigated, our results provide insights into niche complementarity between the 2 species and inferences on drivers that may help explain their distribution in the Brazilian reefs.

Ammonia emissions related to black soldier fly larvae during growth on different diets

Abstract Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is considered a farmed animal. The larvae live in a moist substrate, which leads to a complex interaction with the microbial community. As such the combined metabolism of the insects and that of the microbial community can ultimately lead to all sorts of emissions such as ammonia and greenhouse gases. For ammonia emissions and associated depositions, it is known that this can lead to eutrophication of local ecosystems and the formation of particulate matter which can affect human health. This issue is known for intensive livestock farming where in some Western European countries this has led to specific regulations, for example limited number of livestock per farm, to control ammonia emissions. The production of black soldier fly larvae is a novel activity that could similarly lead to ammonia emissions. This study introduces a new method to quantify ammonia emissions in an industrial setting using an accumulation chamber and validates the findings with a nitrogen mass balance. Additionally, different feed substrates (Gainesville diet, chicken feed, artificial supermarket waste and brewers spent grains) were assessed with varying crude protein concentrations, hypothetically one of the driving factors affecting emissions. Results indicate significant ammonia emissions, the total emissions during larval growth ranged from 2.6 up to 83.6 g N/kg larvae (dry matter basis) and depend strongly on the diet. The rates at which these emissions are produced are negligible during the first three days. In the following days all diets emitted ammonia at a varying rate. The highest observed hourly emission rate for test substrates could be as low as 6.8 mg N/kg initial substrate (dry matter basis) and as high as 306 mg/kg. Different properties of the feed, such as the initial crude protein concentration, but also how the pH changes throughout larval growth, will affect emissions.

Investigating the efficiency of a two-stage anaerobic-aerobic process for the treatment of confectionery industry wastewaters with simultaneous production of biohydrogen and polyhydroxyalkanoates.

The scope of the current study was to investigate the efficiency of a two-stage anaerobic-aerobic process for the simultaneous treatment and valorization of selective wastewater streams from a confectionary industry. The specific wastewater (confectionary industry wastewater, CIW) was a mixture of the rinsing eluting during washing of the cauldrons in which jellies and syrups were produced, and contained mainly readily fermentable sugars, being thus of high organic load. The first stage of the process was the dark fermentation (DF) of the CIW in continuous, attached-biomass systems, in which the effect on hydrogen yields and distribution of metabolites were studied for different packing materials (ceramic or plastic), hydraulic retention times, HRTs (12 h–30 h) and feed substrate concentration (20 g COD/L- 50 g COD/L). In the second stage, the effectiveness of the aerobic treatment of the DF effluents was evaluated in terms of the reduction of the organic load and the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) through an enriched mixed microbial culture (MMC). The MMC was developed in a continuous draw and fill system, in which the accumulation potential of PHAs was studied. It was shown that the hydrogen production rates decreased for increasing substrate concentration and HRTs, with a maximum of 12.70 ± 0.35 m3 H2/m3 initial CIW achieved for the lowest HRT and feed concentration and using ceramic beads as packing material. Butyrate, acetate and lactate were the main metabolites generated in all cases, in different ratios. The distribution of metabolites during DF was shown to highly affect the efficiency of the second process in terms of both the reduction of organic load and the PHAs yields. The highest removal of organic load achieved after 48 h of aerobic treatment was 84.0 ± 0.9 %, whereas the maximum PHAs yield was 21.46 ± 0.13 kg PHAs/m3 initial CIW.

Al2O3 Thin Layer Formed inside Porous Membrane Using Spray Synthesis Method and Its Application

Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) films have been investigated for use in various applications, and numerous deposition techniques have been reported. The spray synthesis method has the advantage of forming a thin layer of crystal at low temperatures using the appropriate precursors. A precursor prepared by diluting Methylaluminoxane with N-methyl pyrrolidone was sprayed onto a porous membrane while varying conditions such as the substrate temperature, feeding speed, and spray amount. The solution penetrated the film during spray application, and the ultra-thin layers deposited on the side wall of the internal pores were observed using a cross-sectional transmission electron microscope (XTEM). The lattice image obtained using the TEM and the composition analysis conducted using a scanning TEM and an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope suggest that this thin layer is a layer of Al2O3. The formation of Al2O3 occurred at lower temperatures than in previous reports. This is a major advantage for applications with low-melting-point materials. The most suitable spraying conditions were determined based on the state of deposition on the surface and inside the membrane. These conditions were applied to a three-layer separator for lithium-ion batteries and their effect on thermal stability was investigated. Through heating experiments and XRD analysis, it was confirmed that the shrinkage and melting of the separator are suppressed by spraying. This process can be expected to have wide applications in low-melting-point materials such as polyolefin.

Effect of nutmeg essential oil (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) on methane production, rumen fermentation, and nutrient digestibility in vitro

The study evaluated the effect of adding of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) essential oil (NEO) as a feed additive on methane production, rumen fermentation parameters, rumen enzyme activity, and nutrient digestibility in vitro. This study was divided into three treatments based on the level of NEO addition, which included 0 µL/L (T0), 100 µL/L (T1), and 200 µL/L (T2). The feed substrate composition consisted of king grass as forage and concentrate in a 60:40 ratio. Feed fermentation was conducted using the Menke and Steingass gas production and two-step Tilley and Terry in-vitro digestibility technique. The data obtained from the study were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and if there were differences between means, they were further assessed using DMRT. The results showed that T2 treatment significantly decreased (P < 0.05) ammonia (NH3) levels, total VFA, acetate, propionate, butyrate, and microbial protein (P < 0.05). Methane production and the activity of rumen protease enzyme significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at T1 and T2 treatment. The T2 treatment significantly reduced (P < 0.05) protein digestibility (IVCPD) at 48 h, while IVCPD at 96 h significantly increased (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the addition of nutmeg essential oil did not effect the activity of the amylase, carboxymethyl cellulase, and β-glucosidase enzymes, as well as the in-vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD), crude fiber (IVCFD), and organic matter (IVOMD). The conclusion drawn from this study is that the optimum level for NEO is 200 µL/L, which can reduce methane production and increase crude protein digestibility at 96 h without any negative effect on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility.

Attraction of common Australian blowflies to algal affected remains, and the specific effect of algae present in the food substrate on growth and survival of Calliphora stygia

ABSTRACT Entomology is a well-established approach for estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) in terrestrial decomposition, however it is of limited value in aquatic environments due to little research into insect attraction and colonization in aquatic environments. This study aimed to investigate the effect algae in the feeding substrate has on the growth and survival of Calliphora stygia, and on the attraction of a range of common Australian blowfly species. Growth and survival studies were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, with growth measured through larval length and developmental stage, and survival estimated by percentage of adult eclosion. A walk olfactometer was used to assess attraction to an algal affected substrate, observing that algae was a strong attractant for females of multiple blowfly species. Species of the genus Calliphora had the highest rate of attraction at 95–100%, with Chrysomya rufifacies the lowest at 75%. Both developmental stage and survival of C. stygia were not significantly impacted by the presence of algae. However, larvae fed algae-soaked liver were significantly longer when compared with the controls. This study highlights the potential for skewed PMI estimations in forensic casework where entomologists may rely on larval length for PMI estimations, and the attractive effect of algae on blowflies.

Optimization of Pyrolysis Process Parameters for Fuel Oil Production from the Thermal Recycling of Waste Polypropylene Grocery Bags Using the Box–Behnken Design

The impact of dumping plastic waste is realized in different ecosystems of the planet. Several methods have been adopted to dispose of these wastes for energy recovery. This study, for the first time, proposed the Box–Behnken design technique to optimize the pyrolysis process parameters for fuel oil production from waste polypropylene (PP) grocery bags using a semibatch-type pyrolytic reactor. The semibatch-type pyrolytic reactor was developed and employed to produce fuel oil from waste PP grocery bags. The effect of different process parameters on fuel oil production was comprehensively analyzed using the response surface methodology (RSM) with the conjunction of the Box–Behnken design (BBD). The BBD facilitates the prediction of the response variables with respect to changes in the input variables by developing a response model. The BBD was used to optimize the process parameters, such as the reaction temperature (400–550 °C), nitrogen flow rate (5–20 mL min−1), and substrate feed rate (0.25–1.5 kg h−1), and their effect on the responses were observed. The optimum response yields of the fuel oil (89.34 %), solid residue (2.74%), and gas yield (7.92%) were obtained with an optimized temperature (481 °C), a nitrogen flow rate (13 mL min−1), and a feed rate (0.61 kg h−1). The quadratic model obtained for the fuel oil response denotes the greater R2 value (0.99). The specific gravity and calorific value of the fuel oil were found to be 0.787 and 45.42 MJ kg−1, respectively. The fuel oil had higher research octane number (RON) (100.0 min) and motor octane number (MON) (85.1 min) values. These characteristics of the fuel oil were matched with conventional petroleum fuels. Further, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) were used to analyze the fuel oil, and the results revealed that the fuel oil was enriched with different hydrocarbons, namely, alkane (paraffins) and alkene (olefins), in the carbon range of C4–C20. These results, and also the fractional distillation of the fuel oil, show the presence of petroleum-range hydrocarbons in the waste PP fuel oil.

Antimicrobial activity of lipids extracted from Hermetia illucens reared on different substrates

As the problem of antimicrobial resistance is constantly increasing, there is a renewed interest in antimicrobial products derived from natural sources, particularly obtained from innovative and eco-friendly materials. Insect lipids, due to their fatty acid composition, can be classified as natural antimicrobial compounds. In order to assess the antibacterial efficacy of Hermetia illucens lipids, we extracted this component from the larval stage, fed on different substrates and we characterized it. Moreover, we analyzed the fatty acid composition of the feeding substrate, to determine if and how it could affect the antimicrobial activity of the lipid component. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive Micrococcus flavus and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. Analyzing the fatty acid profiles of larval lipids that showed activity against the two bacterial strains, we detected significant differences for C4:0, C10:0, C16:1, C18:3 n3 (ALA), and C20:1. The strongest antimicrobial activity was verified against Micrococcus flavus by lipids extracted from larvae reared on strawberry, tangerine, and fresh manure substrates, with growth inhibition zones ranged from 1.38 to 1.51 mm, while only the rearing on manure showed the effect against Escherichia coli. Notably, the fatty acid profile of H. illucens seems to not be really influenced by the substrate fatty acid profile, except for C18:0 and C18:2 CIS n6 (LA). This implies that other factors, such as the rearing conditions, larval development stages, and other nutrients such as carbohydrates, affect the amount of fatty acids in insects.Key points• Feeding substrates influence larval lipids and fatty acids (FA)• Generally, there is no direct correlation between substrate FAs and the same larvae FAs• Specific FAs influence more the antimicrobial effect of BSF lipidsGraphical abstract

Fallen fruit: A backup resource during winter shaping fruit fly communities

Abstract Fallen fruits provide important feeding and breeding substrates for insects such as Drosophilidae and can be a potential trophic reservoir when usual host fruits become scarce. Recently, two invasive fruit fly species, Drosophila suzukii and Chymomyza amoena, have become established in Europe and are expected to alter existing Drosophilidae communities. In this study, carried out between September 2021 and April 2022 in northern France, we aimed to disentangle the relative roles of microclimatic, landscape and local factors driving the diversity of the Drosophilidae community in decaying fruit across seasons. Minimum site temperature during the week preceding sampling and the proportion of rotten fruit tissue had the strongest positive influence on Drosophilidae abundance and species richness. Drosophilidae abundance also increased with urbanisation (portion of building cover) around the sampled trees. Decaying apples were important breeding sites for C. amoena across seasons, but provided a suboptimal substrate for D. suzukii, which was only present in late summer. This study sheds light on the important role of unharvested fallen crop fruit in maintaining the diversity of an insect family that is generally overlooked in field studies. It also emphasises the importance of considering multiple scales and factors when studying the interactions between invasive species, native species and their shared trophic resources. Finally, our data highlight the importance of the Drosophilidae community in recycling agricultural waste.

Intestinal microbial community well explain larval growth than feed types.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are considered a sustainable ingredient in livestock feed. However, addressing issues related to feed substrate and intestinal microbiota is essential to ensure optimal larval development. The aim of this study was to assess and elucidate the contribution of substrate nutrients and intestinal microbes to protein and fat synthesis in BSFL. The results showed that larvae that were fed high-quality feed (chicken feed) had high fat biomass, while larvae that were fed medium-quality feed (wheat bran) had high protein biomass. These results indicate that the original nutritional content of the feed cannot fully explain larval growth and nutrient utilization. However, the phenomenon could be explained by the functional metabolism of intestinal microbes. Chicken feed enhanced the fatty acid metabolism of middle intestine microorganisms in larvae within 0-7days. This process facilitated larval fat synthesis. In contrast, wheat bran stimulated the amino acid metabolism in posterior intestine microorganisms in larvae within 4-7days, leading to better protein synthesis. The findings of this study highlight the importance of the microbial functional potential in the intestine in regulating protein and lipid synthesis in BSFL, which is also influenced by the type of feed. In conclusion, our study suggests that both feed type and intestinal microbes play a crucial role in efficiently converting organic waste into high-quality insect protein and fat. Additionally, a mixed culture of chicken feed and wheat bran was found to be effective in promoting larval biomass while reducing feed costs. KEY POINTS: • Intestinal microbes explain BSFL growth better than feed substrates. • Chicken feed promotes fatty acid synthesis in the middle intestine • Wheat bran promotes amino acid synthesis in the posterior intestine.

ANALYSIS OF DAPHNIA MAGNA SURVIVAL CURVES UNDER CONDITIONS OF ENCAPSULATION BY RHODOTORULA MINUTA BIOMASS

One of the alternative methods of carotenoid enrichment of feed zooplankton is the use of carotenesynthesizing yeast of the genus Rhodotorula. When their biomass is used as a feed substrate, zooplankton receives a whole range of nutrients along with carotenoids. However, the procedure of bioencapsulation can lead to inhibition of biomass growth and death of zooplankton feeding. It is important to analyze the survival curves of the studied organisms under the conditions of using different concentrations of carotenogenic yeast and to select the optimal enrichment scheme, at which the mortality rate will be the lowest. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using the yeast Rhodotorula minuta as a feed substrate for Daphnia magna in order to saturate them with carotenoids. The following concentrations of Rhodotorula minuta were used: 1 g/l culture medium (3×1011 CFU/l); 0.5 g/l (1.5×1011 CFU/l); 0.25 g/l (0.75×1011 CFU/l). Saturation of Daphnia magna with carotenoids was carried out for 9 days. The feed substrate of the control group was an aqueous suspension of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. It was found that the use of Rhodotorula minuta as a feed substrate leads to the accumulation of carotenoids in the body of Daphnia magna. The content of total carotenoids in daphnia does not differ statistically when using all studied concentrations of Rhodotorula and is higher by more than 1.5 times compared to the control. The survival rate of Daphnia under the conditions of encapsulation with carotenoid-synthesizing yeast is consistently high. The highest survival rate of daphnia - 92% - was found when using carotene-containing rhodotorula at the lowest concentration of 0.25 g/l, and at a concentration of 1 g/l this figure is almost 40% higher than the values obtained with S. cerevisiae. Keywords: yeast, Rhodotorula minuta, Daphnia magna, survival, carotenoids, live feed

Fermentação ruminal de amostras de alimento incubadas em sacos de filtro feitos de diferentes tecidos ou dispersos no meio usando um sistema de produção de gás in vitro

ABSTRACT: The effect of different feed substrates incubated in filter bags [no bag (NB); Ankom® F57, 25 μm pore size (25AN); polyester, 45 μm pore size (45PB); polyester, 67 μm pore size (67PB) ] or dispersed in the medium on gas production, digestion and rumen fermentation was evaluated using an in vitro gas production system. Filter bags reduced (P &lt; 0.01) gas production but increased (P &lt; 0.01) the in vitro dry matter digestibility (45PB and 67PB). Additionally, the use of filter bags with smaller pore size, reduced total volatile fatty acid (P &lt; 0.01), but had minimal effects on acetate, propionate, and butyrate concentration. Our research suggested that using filter bags with a pore size of 67 µ would reduce some negative effects of incubating feed substrate dispersed in the medium or in filter bags with smaller pore size. However, the use of bags with a larger pore size might allow the wash out of small feed particles with consequent overestimation of digestibility.

2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases and BAHD acyltransferases drive the structural diversification of orobanchol in Fabaceae plants.

Strigolactones (SLs), a class of plant apocarotenoids, serve dual roles as rhizosphere-signaling molecules and plant hormones. Orobanchol, a major naturally occurring SL, along with its various derivatives, has been detected in the root exudates of plants of the Fabaceae family. Medicaol, fabacyl acetate, and orobanchyl acetate were identified in the root exudates of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula), pea (Pisum sativum), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), respectively. Although the biosynthetic pathway leading to orobanchol production has been elucidated, the biosynthetic pathways of the orobanchol derivatives have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we report the identification of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (DOXs) and BAHD acyltransferases responsible for converting orobanchol to these derivatives in Fabaceae plants. First, the metabolic pathways downstream of orobanchol were analyzed using substrate feeding experiments. Prohexadione, an inhibitor of DOX inhibits the conversion of orobanchol to medicaol in barrel medic. The DOX inhibitor also reduced the formation of fabacyl acetate and fabacol, a precursor of fabacyl acetate, in pea. Subsequently, we utilized a dataset based on comparative transcriptome analysis to select a candidate gene encoding DOX for medicaol synthase in barrel medic. Recombinant proteins of the gene converted orobanchol to medicaol. The candidate genes encoding DOX and BAHD acyltransferase for fabacol synthase and fabacol acetyltransferase, respectively, were selected by co-expression analysis in pea. The recombinant proteins of the candidate genes converted orobanchol to fabacol and acetylated fabacol. Furthermore, fabacol acetyltransferase and its homolog in cowpea acetylated orobanchol. The kinetics and substrate specificity analyses revealed high affinity and strict recognition of the substrates of the identified enzymes. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the structural diversity of SLs.

Impact of artificial diets on the biological and chemical properties of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera:Curculionidae).

One of the most common palm pests is the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier. Five artificial diets were evaluated to rear RPW, and to facilitate its behavioral and biological studies. The developmental of R. ferruginus was studied on the tested artificial diets based on primarily composed of sugarcane stem pieces (1st diet; control), sweet pumpkin (2nd diet), ground sugarcane + sweet pumpkin (3rd diet), sweet potato (4th diet) and ground sugarcane + sweet potato (5th diet) under rearing room (28 ± 1 °C and 75 ± 5 RH%) at Faculty of Agriculture in Benha district. The biological aspects, pre-oviposition, oviposition, larval & pupal durations, the longevity of male and female adults and the generation period of R. ferrugineus have all been estimated. Moreover, the impact of these artificial diets on the quantities of total proteins, carbohydrates and lipids were determined in the full-grown larvae. Obtained results showed that the insect manifested the shortest larval and pupal periods and the longest longevity for males and females when rearing of R. ferruginus took place on an artificial diet based on sweet potato as a successful and economical for mass rearing of the red palm weevil under laboratory conditions. Larvae fed on diet 4 (sweet potato) was exhibited the shortest duration (114.80 days), while 1st diet (Sugarcane stem pieces) was recorded the longest period (125.00 ± days). Similarly for pupation and both male and female longevity, the shortest periods resulted from larvae feeding on 4th diet (14.65, 49.40 and 48.0 days, respectively). Contrariwise, the longest pupal period was reported with 5th diet (15.70 days). The highest of eggs hatchability % (96.53%) resulted from the rearing nof R. ferruginus larvae on the 4th diet. Chemical analyses of the full-grown larva were indicated that the highest contents of total carbohydrates (45.57 µg/g), lipids (28.46 µg/g) and proteins (20.01µg/g) were obtained in case of larvae reared on 1st and 4th diets, respectively. Consequently, the development of R. ferruginus stages was slightly lower on both 1st and 4th artificial diets. So that, both of them were a successful and economic artificial diet for RPW development under laboratory conditions. Therefore, this study added valuable alternative ingredients to prepare more practical and economical feeding substrate for weevil rearing to help for proposal of its management and conservation in palm plantations.

The Use of probiotics in fermenting food wastes for production of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.; Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Larvae of the black soldier fly (BSF) can process a wide variety of organic wastes and convert them into larval body primarily consisting of protein. Production of larvae with high-quality protein content is affected the rearing system, one of them is quality of feeding substrates. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of food wastes fermented by probiotic culture as the feeding substrates for producing the BSF larvae. The probiotic cultures used were Lactiplantibacillus plantarum E2 and Limosilactobacillus fermentum F5, while the food wastes were derived from a seafood restautrant. Four rearing substrates were compared: food wastes fermented by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum E2 (P1), food wastes fermented by Limosilactobacillus fermentum F5 (P2), food wastes fermented by consortium (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum E2 + Limosilactobacillus fermentum F5) (P3), and food wastes without probiotics (P0). Before the feeding substrates were applied, the food wastes were fermented by the probiotics for 10 days. Six-day-old BSF larvae were reared for 14 days on each fermented substrate. The larval growth performance observed were fresh weight, length and width, while the nutrient content of the larvae was protein and fat content. The waste reduction index was also measured. The data showed that the best larval growth performance was shown in P3 substrate, with fresh weight of 287.27 g, larva length and width of 19.93 mm and 3.53 mm, respectively. In P3 substrate also could produce the larvae with the best nutrient content, with protein and fat content by 12.53% and 16.09%, respectively. The waste reduction index value of P3 substrate was 6.12%. The duration of BSF larvae rearing required to be extended to obtain an increased average protein content. This finding of this study could be helpful for improving the quality of BSF larvae by applying consortium of probiotic cultures in fermenting the feeding substrates.

Enhanced Enzymatic Production of Antioxidant Peptides from Carya cathayensis Cake Using an Enzymatic Membrane-Coupled Reactor

This study establishes an enzymatic membrane-coupled production process for antioxidant peptides from Carya cathayensis cake by comparing the effects of not feeding, water feeding, substrate feeding, and gradient dilution feeding supplementary material modes, to assess their impact on production efficiency. The optimal operational conditions were determined as follows: pH 10.5, temperature 50 °C, and enzyme-to-substrate ratio of 10% (w/w). The continuous production using the gradient dilution supplementary material mode resulted in Chinese pecan antioxidant peptides with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging rate of 0.044 mg/mL, 2, 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) radical scavenging rate of 0.518 mg/mL, and ferrous ion chelating ability (IC50) of 0.252 mg/mL. Compared with traditional enzymatic hydrolysis processes, the gradient dilution supplementary material enzymatic membrane-coupled production process increased peptide yield, peptide production, and unit enzyme-peptide production by 14.36%, 11.35%, and 235.63%, respectively. This continuous production method facilitates scalability, enabling the production of high-yield and high-activity Carya cathayensis cake peptides, making better use of byproducts after oil extraction, and laying a solid foundation for the comprehensive development and deep processing of Chinese pecan, thus enhancing its economic value.

Characterization of biosurfactant produced through co-utilization of substrates by the novel strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa NG4

Biosurfactants are extremely valuable and promising compounds that have a wide range of applications across various industries and aspects of human life. Thus, there is a great need to enhance their production yield, by developing new and more efficient fermentation methods. In pursuit of this objective, batch fermentation was carried out with different feed concentrations and addition. The results were compared in relation to their effectiveness in producing biosurfactants using Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Batch fermentation experiments were conducted using two different substrates feeding strategies, such as single substrate utilization and co-utilization of substrates. The comparison of these substrates utilization processes revealed that the co-utilization of glucose and crude glycerol was a superior cultivation strategy compared to the single substrate utilization for biosurfactant production. The biosurfactant production by P. aeruginosa from co-utilization of glucose and crude glycerol reached to a yield of 2.5 gL-1. There was about 2.2 fold enhancement in the yield compared to single carbon substrates. Such co-utilization of substrates is not reported for biosurfactant production. The biosurfactant was characterized and the presence of mono-rhamnolipid and di-rhamnolipid compounds was confirmed through FT-IR and LC-MS.

A silk-floss tree (Ceiba speciosa) provides an oasis for floral visitors in an otherwise hostile suburban-farmland environment

ABSTRACT Keystone components in green urban spaces can make a big difference in supporting either impoverished or rich animal communities. Trees that produce thousands of flowers at densities higher than that of herbs and produce much more nectar than the latter can be such keystone structures. However, there is a lack of specific information on trees, both native and alien, and their flower visitors in urban/suburban contexts, which blurs the conservation role that such species can perform. In 2019 and 2020, we thoroughly recorded the flower visitors to a silk-floss tree in suburban Guadalajara, Mexico. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive inventory of silk-floss tree flower visitors. We documented 79 species/morphospecies of insects; eight of birds, and one of mammals visiting the flowers. All, except two, are native to the region; three are endemic/quasi-endemic to Mexico. Besides direct and indirect floral resources, the silk-floss tree offered perches, resting/hiding cover, nesting substrate, and seed fibres used by several birds, and feeding substrate for gleaning insectivorous birds. Four species are on one or more conservation listings: monarch butterfly (endangered), pink-spotted swallowtail (vulnerable), sparkling-tailed hummingbird (threatened), and lesser long-nosed bat (near-threatened). Our data supports that small patches can enhance the quality of urban green spaces, and that rather than geographic origin, flower output drives visitation. Alien trees can be pollination enhancement ‘devices’ for imperilled pollination networks. Silk-floss trees are a potential option for conservation-oriented urban greening, as well as to contribute to enhancing human enjoyment of nature, and provide opportunities for public outreach.