Time Of Inoculation Research Articles

Indigenous Non-Saccharomyces Yeasts With β-Glucosidase Activity in Sequential Fermentation With Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A Strategy to Improve the Volatile Composition and Sensory Characteristics of Wines.

Non-Saccharomyces (NS) yeasts with high β-glucosidase activity play a vital role in improving the aroma complexity of wines by releasing aroma compounds from glycosidic precursors during fermentation. In this study, the effect of sequential inoculation fermentation of Meyerozyma guilliermondii NM218 and Hanseniaspora uvarum BF345 with two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains [Vintage Red™ (VR) and Aroma White™ (AW)] on volatile compounds and sensory characteristics of wines was investigated. Prior to winemaking trials, the sequential inoculation times of the two NS yeasts were evaluated in synthetic must, based on changes in strain population and enzyme activity. The intervals for inoculation of NM218 and BF345 with the S. cerevisiae strains were 48 and 24 h, respectively. In the main experiment, sequential inoculation fermentations of the two strains with S. cerevisiae were carried out in Cabernet Sauvignon (CS) and Chardonnay (CH) grape must. The oenological parameters, volatile composition, and sensory characteristics of the final wines were assessed. No clear differences were observed in the oenological parameters of the sequentially fermented CH wines compared with the control, except for residual sugar and alcohol. However, in CS wines, the total acid contents were significantly lower in the wines fermented by sequential inoculation compared to the control. Both NM218 and BF345 improved the aroma complexity of wines by increasing esters and terpenes when inoculated with S. cerevisiae strains compared to inoculation with S. cerevisiae strains alone. NM218 resulted in a more positive effect on CS wine aroma, with higher levels of citronellol and trans-nerolidol. BF345 significantly enhanced the floral and fruity aromas of CH wine by producing higher concentrations of geranyl acetone, β-damascenone, trans-nerolidol, and nerol. Both NM218 and BF345 yeasts could potentially be used to improve wine aroma and overall quality, especially wine floral and fruity aromas, when used in sequential inoculation with S. cerevisiae.

Early oxidative burst and anthocyanin-mediated antioxidant defense mechanism impart resistance against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Indian mustard

The current study builds on our prior findings that anthocyanin buildup around the pathogen inoculation site confers resistance to S. sclerotiorum resistance in Indian mustard. However, the mechanism by which anthocyanin accumulation confers resistance is largely unknown. To better understand this mechanism, we compared the disease responses and biochemical profiling of two contrasting and wild type genotypes of Indian mustard [Sclerotinia stem rot-resistant RH 1222–28 (WR) and susceptible Varuna (WS)], as well as two anthocyanin contrasting mutants [anthocyanin-more (PM) and anthocyanin-devoid (AM) mutant] during different infection phases. Regardless of the inoculation time, disease examination revealed that WR and PM had considerably (P ≤ 0.05) lower mean lesion length (MLL) and rate of lesion expansion than WS and AM. Compared to WS and AM, biochemical results showed that WR and PM responses to infection were earlier, more timely regulated, and more robust. In the resistant WR and PM, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anions (O2−1) accumulated rapidly and peaked during the early infection stage (2 days after inoculation; DAI), whereas in the susceptible WS and AM, accumulation was stronger and more intense in the later infection stage (8 DAI). Compared to the susceptible genotype (WS), the resistant genotype (WR) had significantly higher anthocyanin accumulation, a lower rate of lipid peroxidation, and a strong, efficient, and timely regulated antioxidant system that limited pathogen colonization and disease development. The anthocyanin-rich mutant (PM) is more resistant to ROS-induced oxidative damage. It has a slower rate of lesion development than the anthocyanin-deficient (AM) mutant, which has lower anthocyanin accumulation and higher oxidative stress with weak antioxidative potential, resulting in significantly (P ≤ 0.05) longer stem lesion length and rate of lesion expansion. These findings imply that during distinct infection phases of S. sclerotiorum, a well-coordinated oxidants/antioxidants system in terms of intensity and timing regulates Sclerotinia stem rot resistance/susceptibility. Overall, anthocyanin accumulation around the pathogen infection site appears to play a critical role in altering the ROS producing and scavenging machinery in Indian mustard, which contributes to resistance to S. sclerotiorum.

Sugar Transporters in Plasmodiophora brassicae: Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Verification.

Plasmodiophora brassicae, an obligate intracellular pathogen, can hijack the host’s carbohydrates for survival. When the host plant is infected by P. brassicae, a large amount of soluble sugar accumulates in the roots, especially glucose, which probably facilitates the development of this pathogen. Although a complete glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) cycle existed in P. brassicae, very little information about the hexose transport system has been reported. In this study, we screened 17 putative sugar transporters based on information about their typical domains. The structure of these transporters showed a lot of variation compared with that of other organisms, especially the number of transmembrane helices (TMHs). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these sugar transporters were far from the evolutionary relationship of other organisms and were unique in P. brassicae. The hexose transport activity assay indicated that eight transporters transported glucose or fructose and could restore the growth of yeast strain EBY.VW4000, which was deficient in hexose transport. The expression level of these glucose transporters was significantly upregulated at the late inoculation time when resting spores and galls were developing and a large amount of energy was needed. Our study provides new insights into the mechanism of P. brassicae survival in host cells by hijacking and utilizing the carbohydrates of the host.

Impact of the potato inoculation date on potato virus Y load and viral distribution in daughter tubers at harvest

AbstractAged plants are more difficult to infect than young plantlets. This modification of susceptibility is described as mature plant resistance (MPR). For potato virus Y (PVY), MPR is known to lead to low infection rates of plants inoculated at the postflowering stage and a decrease in the number of infected daughter tubers. However, the impact of inoculation date on the capacity of PVY to accumulate in daughter tubers has not been studied so far. Field and greenhouse experiments were carried out to better understand PVY epidemiology and to help potato growers to evaluate consequences of early/late infections on the quality of their crops. In field trials, potato plants (cv. Bintje) were covered by insectproof nets from planting to harvest except for a 14‐day period to expose plants to natural PVY infections. Under controlled conditions, potato plants were mechanically inoculated with PVY at different dates from preflowering stages (early inoculations) to postflowering stage (late inoculations). At harvest, daughter tubers were individually collected and analysed to define proportions and viral load of infected tubers according to the time between virus inoculation and harvest. Our results showed that although the age of plants at the time of inoculation can modify their susceptibility to PVY infection, in return, early and late PVY inoculations lead to similar rates of infected tubers at the plant scale and equivalent viral accumulation in infected tubers. All together, these data revealed that both early/late infections are high risks for the sanitary quality of potato tubers.

Temperature Influences on Powdery Mildew Susceptibility and Development in the Hop Cultivar Cascade.

The hop cultivar 'Cascade' possesses partial resistance to powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis) that can be overcome by recently emerged, virulent isolates of the fungus. Given that hop is a long-lived perennial and that brewers still demand Cascade, there is a need to better understand factors that influence the development of powdery mildew on this cultivar. Growth chamber experiments were conducted to quantify the effect of constant, transient, and fluctuating temperature on Cascade before, concurrent to, and after inoculation as contrasted with another powdery mildew-susceptible cultivar, 'Symphony'. Exposure of plants to supraoptimal temperature (26 and 32°C) before inoculation led to more rapid onset of ontogenic resistance in intermediately aged leaves in Cascade as compared with Symphony. Cascade was overall less susceptible to powdery mildew when exposed to constant temperature ranging from 18 to 32°C directly after inoculation. However, cultivar also interacted with temperature such that proportionately fewer and smaller colonies developed on Cascade than Symphony at supraoptimal yet permissive temperatures for disease. When plants were inoculated and then exposed to high temperature, colonies became progressively more tolerant to temperatures of 26 to 30°C with increasing time from inoculation to exposure, as moderated by cultivar, the specific temperature, and their interaction. Subjecting plants to simulated diurnal temperature regimes at the time of inoculation or 24 h later indicated Cascade and Symphony responded proportionately similarly on days predicted to be marginally unfavorable or marginally favorable for powdery mildew, although Cascade was quantitatively less susceptible than Symphony. In sum, this research indicates that Cascade is overall less susceptible to powdery mildew than Symphony, and supraoptimal temperature before, concurrent to, or after infection may interact differentially to moderate disease risk in Cascade. Therefore, cultivar-specific risk assessments for powdery mildew appear warranted.

Combining Pharmacokinetics and Vibrational Spectroscopy: MCR-ALS Hard-and-Soft Modelling of Drug Uptake In Vitro Using Tailored Kinetic Constraints.

Raman microspectroscopy is a label-free technique which is very suited for the investigation of pharmacokinetics of cellular uptake, mechanisms of interaction, and efficacies of drugs in vitro. However, the complexity of the spectra makes the identification of spectral patterns associated with the drug and subsequent cellular responses difficult. Indeed, multivariate methods that relate spectral features to the inoculation time do not normally take into account the kinetics involved, and important theoretical information which could assist in the elucidation of the relevant spectral signatures is excluded. Here, we propose the integration of kinetic equations in the modelling of drug uptake and subsequent cellular responses using Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) and tailored kinetic constraints, based on a system of ordinary differential equations. Advantages of and challenges to the methodology were evaluated using simulated Raman spectral data sets and real Raman spectra acquired from A549 and Calu-1 human lung cells inoculated with doxorubicin, in vitro. The results suggest a dependency of the outcome on the system of equations used, and the importance of the temporal resolution of the data set to enable the use of complex equations. Nevertheless, the use of tailored kinetic constraints during MCR-ALS allowed a more comprehensive modelling of the system, enabling the elucidation of not only the time-dependent concentration profiles and spectral features of the drug binding and cellular responses, but also an accurate computation of the kinetic constants.

207 Polyclonal Antibodies Inhibit Growth of Key Cellulolytic Rumen Bacterial Species

Abstract The objective was to develop efficacious polyclonal antibodies to inhibit growth of targeted cellulolytic rumen bacterial species. Many rumen microorganisms have overlapping functions, so inhibiting the activity of targeted bacterial species may help elucidate their dynamic contributions to rumen fermentation. Egg-derived, polyclonal antibodies were developed against whole-cell cultures of Ruminococcus albus 7 (anti-RA7), Ruminococcus albus 8 (anti-RA8), and Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 (anti-FS85). Antibodies were added to a cellobiose-containing growth medium of pure cultures of the 3 targeted species. Antibody efficacy was determined via an inoculation time (0 and 4 h) and dose response. Antibody doses included: 0 (CON), 0.013 (LO), 1.3 (MD), 13 (HI) mg antibody per 10 mL of medium. Each targeted species inoculated at 0 h with HI of their respective antibody had decreased (P < 0.01) final optical density and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration after a 52-h growth period when compared with CON or LO. Live/dead stains of R. albus 7 and F. succinogenes S85 dosed at 0 h with HI of their respective antibody indicated a decrease (≥ 96%; P < 0.05) of live bacterial cells during mid-log phase compared with CON or LO. Addition of HI of anti-FS85 at 0 h in F. succinogenes S85 cultures reduced (P < 0.01) total substrate disappearance over 52 h by at least 48% when compared with CON or LO. Cross-reactivity was assessed by adding HI at 0 h to non-targeted bacterial species. Addition of anti-RA8 or anti-RA7 to F. succinogenes S85 cultures did not affect (P ≥ 0.45) total VFA accumulation after 52 h incubation. Overall, polyclonal antibodies were more efficacious at inhibiting growth of targeted cellulolytic bacteria than non-targeted bacteria. Specific polyclonal antibodies can be used to further characterize functional contributions of bacterial species to rumen fermentation.

Contrasting effects of the inoculation time with passenger endophytic Agrobacterium sp.10C2 on the nodule functioning and growth of Medicago truncatula

Agrobacterium species are one of the most frequently isolated endophytes from root nodules of a wide range of wild and cultivated legumes. Many studies have investigated the role of endophytes in phytoprotection and phytoremediation enhancement. However, their biological significance and their implication in nodule functioning have been scarcely studied, especially, the effect of the inoculation time on nodule activity and plant growth which still unknown. Accordingly, in this study, nodule-endophytic Agrobacterium sp.10C2 was inoculated before and after nodule formation, to determine the effect of the inoculation time on the plant growth and nodule functioning in the reference line Jemalong A17 of the model legume Medicago truncatula in symbiotic association with Sinorhizobium meliloti TII7. The results revealed that nodule functioning was strongly influenced by the inoculation time of the endophytic Agrobacterium sp.10C2. In fact, the early inoculation with Agrobacterium sp.10C2 induced an increase of the highest nodules nitrogenase activity, recorded at the day 66 after the inoculation, by 66%, the leghemoglobin concentration by 26% and the total sugar content by 67%, in addition to a higher photosynthesis activity and biomass plant production compared to the control. Interestingly, when inoculation occurred after nodule formation, nodules have induced a defense response against Agrobacterium sp. 10C2 evidenced by an overproduction of guaicol peroxidase which increased from 1.04 μmol H2O2 min-1 mg-1 proteins in the control to 2.36 μmol H2O2 min-1 mg-1 proteins in the late inoculated plants, leading to a loss of the beneficial impact of the endophytic Agrobacterium on both biomass production and nodule functioning parameters. We showed that nodule response to endophytic agrobacteria change according to the time of inoculation. When inoculated at early stage, 10C2 plays the role of a Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), however, after nodule formation, 10C2 could act as a pathogen agent. Thus, the inoculation time could be considered as a crucial parameter for the nodule functioning and plant growth.

Butanol Production by a Novel Efficient Method Using Mixed Cultures of Clostridium beijerinckii and Arthrobacter sp. in Stirred-Tank and Gas-Lift Bioreactors

Arthrobacter sp. BCC 72131, an obligate aerobic bacterium, was used to create anaerobic conditions, and Clostridium beijerinckii TISTR 1461 was used as a butanol producer in an acetone-butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation. Sweet sorghum juice (SSJ) medium containing 60 g/L of total sugar supplemented with 1.27 g/L of (NH4)2SO4 was used as a butanol production (BP) medium. Arthrobacter sp. was inoculated into the BP medium in 1-L screw-capped bottles. After 2, 4, 6 and 12 h of Arthrobacter sp. cultivation at 30 °C, C. beijerinckii was transferred into the BP medium to start butanol production at 37 °C. The results showed that C. beijerinckii inoculation after 6 h of Arthrobacter sp. cultivation gave the highest butanol titer (PB) at 12.56 g/L, with a butanol yield (YB/S) and volumetric butanol productivity (QB) of 0.34 g/g and 0.23 g/L·h, respectively. These values are approximately 10–27% higher than those of the control experiment using a single culture of C. beijerinckii TISTR 1461 and oxygen-free nitrogen (OFN) gas flushing to create anaerobic conditions. Field emission scanning electron microscopic (FE-SEM) images of Clostridium cells, as well as protein and free amino nitrogen concentrations in the broth during butanol fermentation were also studied to confirm the results. The butanol fermentation was then carried out in a 5.6-L stirred-tank and a 1.2-L low-cost gas-lift bioreactor by the mixed cultures using the optimal time of Clostridium inoculation. The PB, YB/S and QB values obtained were not significantly different from those in the 1-L screw-capped bottles. Hence, Arthrobacter sp. can be used as a novel method to create anaerobic conditions instead of a traditional method employing OFN gas flushing. Using mixed cultures of Arthrobacter sp. BCC 72131 and C. beijerinckii TISTR 1461 is a practical method to produce butanol on a large-scale, both in complex and low-cost bioreactors.

Dynamical Behavior of SEIR-SVS Epidemic Models with Nonlinear Incidence and Vaccination.

For some infectious diseases such as mumps, HBV, there is evidence showing that vaccinated individuals always lose their immunity at different rates depending on the inoculation time. In this paper, we propose an age-structured epidemic model using a step function to describe the rate at which vaccinated individuals lose immunity and reduce the age-structured epidemic model to the delay differential model. For the age-structured model, we consider the positivity, boundedness, and compactness of the semiflow and study global stability of equilibria by constructing appropriate Lyapunov functionals. Moreover, for the reduced delay differential equation model, we study the existence of the endemic equilibrium and prove the global stability of equilibria. Finally, some numerical simulations are provided to support our theoretical results and a brief discussion is given.

Release characteristic and mechanism of bound polyphenols from insoluble dietary fiber of navel orange peel via mixed solid-state fermentation with Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus niger

Dietary fiber (DF) is a carrier of abundant bound polyphenols (BP). The present work was to investigate the release characteristic and mechanism of BP from the insoluble dietary fiber of navel orange peel (NOP-IDF) by mixed solid-state fermentation (SSF) with Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus niger. The optimized fermentation conditions were set as follows: inoculation ratio of T. reesei to A. niger 3:1, delayed inoculation time 28 h and initial pH 6.5. The compositions of BP were identified and quantified by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and HPLC-ESI-QQQ-MS/MS, then the biotransformation pathways were partially speculated. Moreover, cellulase, xylanase and β-glucosidase activities were strongly correlated with the BP content. The SEM showed the cell wall and the crystalline structure of the NOP-IDF was effectively decomposed. Furthermore, mixed SSF significantly enhanced in vitro antioxidant activities of BP. In summary, our study demonstrated that mixed SSF was a feasible method for the BP release.

Bioaugmentation of Anammox Activated Sludge with a Nitrifying Bacterial Community as a Way to Increase the Nitrogen Removal Efficiency

—Bioaugmentation, i.e., increasing the abundance of certain microorganisms in the community by adding appropriate cells or establishing the conditions promoting their growth, is widely used in environmental technologies. Its application for launching of the anammox reactors is usually limited to introduction of anammox bacteria. We expected addition of nitrifiers during anammox bioreactor launching to stimulate the anammox process due to rapid production of nitrite, which anammox bacteria use for ammonium oxidation. The present work investigated the effect of introduction of a nitrifying community on the composition and activity of the microbial community in an anammox reactor. At the time of inoculation of a laboratory SBR reactor, an active nitrifying community (5 days old) (ASB) (bioaugmenting activated sludge, ASB) containing group I nitrifiers, primarily Nitrosospira, was added (1 : 100 by biomass) to anammox activated sludge (ASA) stored for 1 month at 4°C and exhibiting low metabolic activity. The use of ASB resulted in increased efficiency of nitrogen removal. While noticeable nitrogen removal in the control (7%) was observed since day 11 of incubation, nitrogen removal in the experimental reactor began on day 4 at the level of 20%. Nitrogen removal after 30 days of incubation was ~60% in the experiment and 20% in the control. The rate of ammonium oxidation in the presence of ASB increased due to activity of nitrifying bacteria (during the first 10 days of operation) and anammox bacteria of the genus Brоcadia, which were already present in ASA (throughout all period of operation). Activity of group II nitrifiers (genera Nitrobacter and Nitrococcus), which were present in ASB, prevented accumulation of nitrite, which in high concentrations is toxic to both nitrifiers and anammox bacteria. High activity of the Nitrosospira nitrifiers introduced with ASB probably provided the anammox bacteria with one of the substrates (nitrite), promoting their rapid growth. During subsequent operation of the reactor, nitrifiers of the genus Nitrosomonas from the initial ASA community were mainly responsible for growth of the anammox bacteria. Thus, ASA bioaugmentation at the loading of the anammox reactor by active nitrifiers resulted in significantly improved efficiency of ammonium removal via the anammox process and accelerated transition of the reactor to the working mode.

Design of a in-situ crystallization inoculant of Al–Cu alloys by addition of lanthanum

Previously, a new approach to refine α-Al grains in Al Alloys by the in-situ crystallization ZrCuAlNi metallic glasses was reported by us. A significant refining effect can be obtained, however, the effective inoculation time of ZrCuAlNi inoculant is short. Therefore, in this paper, we designed of a ZrCuAlNiLa inoculant to improve the effect inoculation time. The results showed that the effective inoculation time of ZrCuAlNiLa inoculant is prolonged obviously, which is due to La can facilitate the ZrCu compound-forming tendency and stabilize ZrCu compound phases that can act as the heterogeneous nucleation sites of α-Al phase. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of those inoculated samples are discussed in this paper. Though this study, we provide a way to prolong the effective inoculation time of metallic glasses inoculant in Al Alloys.

Understanding inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated on romaine lettuce by emulsified thyme essential oil

Effects of thyme essential oil (TEO) emulsion (TEE) with cationic charge formulated using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) on attachment strength and inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on romaine lettuce surface were examined in this study. Regardless of the inoculation time (2 h and 24 h), pathogen attachment was stronger on the adaxial surface of the romaine lettuce than on the abaxial surface because of the lower roughness of the former. Moreover, attachment strength increased with increasing inoculation time. TEE washing had the strongest inhibitory effect on pathogen attachment at 2 h when compared with that of TEO, CPC, and sodium hypochlorite (SH), demonstrating a 3.32 and 2.53 log-reduction in the size of the L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 populations, respectively, compared to the control samples. Additionally, the TEE washing effects were maintained even after inoculation for 24 h, and it decreased attachment to adaxial surface of the samples. These results indicate that TEE could be a good alternative to SH in improving the microbiological safety of romaine lettuce.

Larval transcriptomic responses of a stony coral, Acropora tenuis, during initial contact with the native symbiont, Symbiodinium microadriaticum

Although numerous dinoflagellate species (Family Symbiodiniaceae) are present in coral reef environments, Acropora corals tend to select a single species, Symbiodinium microadriaticum, in early life stages, even though this species is rarely found in mature colonies. In order to identify molecular mechanisms involved in initial contact with native symbionts, we analyzed transcriptomic responses of Acropora tenuis larvae at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after their first contact with S. microadriaticum, as well as with non-native symbionts, including the non-symbiotic S. natans and the occasional symbiont, S. tridacnidorum. Some gene expression changes were detected in larvae inoculated with non-native symbionts at 1 h post-inoculation, but those returned to baseline levels afterward. In contrast, when larvae were exposed to native symbionts, we found that the number of differentially expressed genes gradually increased in relation to inoculation time. As a specific response to native symbionts, upregulation of pattern recognition receptor-like and transporter genes, and suppression of cellular function genes related to immunity and apoptosis, were exclusively observed. These findings indicate that coral larvae recognize differences between symbionts, and when the appropriate symbionts infect, they coordinate gene expression to establish stable mutualism.

Transmission attributes of Asian I Silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) modulating the spread of Chili leaf curl virus disease in Chili (Capsicum spp.)

A dose-response relationship was documented throughout two-year greenhouse trial on chili in 2019 and 2020 wherein varying acquisition and inoculation times affected Chili leaf curl virus (ChLCV) transmission significantly. Transmissions of ChLCV to the highest levels were statistically equal between 42 and 48 hours acquisition and inoculation. ChLCV transmission by female whiteflies is far superior to that by males. Acquisition and inoculation lasting more than 12 hours inflicted only 50% ChLCV transmission. In ChLCV transmission, a short acquisition with extended inoculation outperformed a long acquisition with short inoculation, emphasizing inoculation over acquisition. Infectivity of ChLCV in B. tabaci peaked at 2–3 days and got nil at 11 days. Studied B. tabacci was identified as Asian I Silverleaf whitefly by bioinformatics (100% identity on cytochrome oxidase I). Overall, the study will help chili growers learn more about the biology of Asian I Silverleaf whiteflies, and how to better manage them.

Refining effect of an intermetallic inoculant on a Cu–Al–Mn shape memory alloy

Cu51Zr14 intermetallic inoculant was adopted to effectively decrease the grain size of a Cu–Al–Mn shape memory alloy (SMA), and key factors affecting the refining effect were systemically investigated. It is found that the important prerequisite for grain refinement of this alloy is that the Cu51Zr14 inoculant can provide effective heterogeneous nucleating centers, and the size of the spherical cap of the Cu–Al–Mn nuclei formed on these centers can reach the critical nucleus radius under a certain undercooling degree. The size of inoculant, the temperature and time of inoculation are all important factors affecting the refining effect. When the Cu51Zr14 inoculant was mechanically crushed into small pieces with the size ranged from 0.05 mm to 1 mm, and the temperature and time of inoculation are 1100 °C and 6 min, respectively, the best refining effect and the highest damping and mechanical properties can be achieved. The correlated mechanisms have been discussed in detail. The results of this work nicely provide an important theoretical base for the research, development as well as application of high damping performance alloys.

Quantifying the effect of coccidiosis on broiler performance and infection outcomes in the presence and absence of control methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the role of Eimeria species, dose and inoculation time, on performance and infection outcomes of different broiler strains infected for different study durations. The meta-analysis addressed E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, and mixed species infections, and involved data from 72 peer-reviewed articles, corresponding to 521 treatments performed on 20,756 broilers. A secondary objective was to investigate the effects of synthetic anticoccidials, ionophores, and vaccination against Eimeria on the above outcomes. Performance during infection was scaled (%) to that of the uninfected birds. Infection reduced scaled ADFI and ADG (P < 0.001) and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR; P < 0.05); there was a significant interaction between dose and species on scaled ADFI and ADG, suggesting that different species affected these variables to different extents (P < 0.001). There was a tendency for an interaction between dose and broiler strain on scaled ADFI (P = 0.079), and a significant interaction between these variables on scaled ADG (P < 0.01). A tendency for an interaction between oocyst dose and Eimeria species (P = 0.067) on maximum number of oocysts excreted was observed. Lesion scores were significantly affected by dose, species, and their interaction (P < 0.05), the latter caused by an increase in the lesion scores during E. maxima and E. tenella infections. Control methods significantly affected scaled ADG and FCR (P < 0.05) and there was an interaction between dose and control methods on ADFI (P < 0.001). Synthetic anticoccidial use improved scaled ADG (P < 0.01), whereas ionophores improved FCR compared with untreated birds (P < 0.01). An interaction between dose and control method on scaled ADFI was caused by the higher ADFI of vaccinated compared to untreated birds, as dose increased. There was a significant effect of control methods on lesion scores (P < 0.01). All findings advance our understanding of the factors that influence the impact of coccidiosis and its controls in broilers.

Timing of inoculation of Oenococcus oeni and Lactobacillus plantarum in mixed malo-lactic culture along with compatible native yeast influences the polyphenolic, volatile and sensory profile of the Shiraz wines

Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a secondary wine fermentation resulting from lactic acid bacteria (Oenococcus oeni or Lactobacillus plantarum), especially in cool climates. MLF reduces acidity, improves body, mouthfeel, aroma complexity, and stabilizes the wine. Nevertheless, the traditional MLF using single culture is often associated with stuck fermentation, increased volatile acidity and color loss in wine. Thus, studies on mixed blend of L. plantarum and O. oeni to improve chemical and sensory profiles are gaining importance. The first study on different timing of inoculation of dual malo-lactic culture for the vinification of Shiraz wine aims to understand interactions between the wine cultures (Saccharomyces cerevisiae AAV2, L. plantarum Lp 1 and O. oeni Oo 1). The wines were compared based on chemical properties, phenolic and volatile profiles, and sensory analysis. The study highlighted that early or mid-inoculated MLF wines have higher anthocyanins, flavonoids, syringol, esters, vanillate derivatives, benzaldehyde, and free terpenes compared to traditional MLF wines. The wines were rated high for purple red colour, tannin, body, and overall acceptability. Hence, it was concluded that the inoculation of Lp 1 and Oo 1, either after 7 or 14 days of alcoholic fermentation by yeast AAV2, yield the desired quality Shiraz wine.

A novel co-cultivation strategy to generate low-crystallinity bacterial cellulose and increase nisin yields

In this study, a co-culturing Enterobacter sp. and Lactococcus lactis strategy was developed to alter bacterial cellulose (BC) properties and increase nisin yields. We generated high nisin yields (6260 IU/mL) by altering inoculum ratios and inoculation times in a novel co-culture system. Critically, these were 85% higher than L. lactis monocultures. By monitoring fermentation broth pH and lactic acid yields, the pH was higher and lactic acid yields lower during co-culture conditions when compared with L. lactis monocultures, suggesting that co-culturing was more suitable for L. lactis nisin production. We also determined BC film yields and properties (BC, BC-N, and BC-N after nisin release). BC yields produced by co-culturing were not very different from Enterobacter sp. monocultures, but crystallinity was significantly altered. Collectively, our co-culture system adequately and economically modified BC fibers by interfering with self-assembly and crystallization processes during BC synthesis, with significantly improved nisin yields.