Enhancing dry-grind corn ethanol production with fungal cultivation and ozonation

Public opinion of the U.S. fuel ethanol industry has suffered in recent years despite record ethanol production. Debates sparked over the environmental impacts of corn ethanol and competition with food and feed. The industry continues to actively address the concerns and to seek innovations that will enhance process efficiency, sustainability, and feed coproducts. Our research on fungal cultivation of thin stillage, a byproduct stream of dry-grind corn ethanol production, achieves those goals. Fungal treatment offers the potential to recover water and enzymes for in-plant reuse, to save energy by eliminating water evaporation from thin stillage, and to produce value-added animal feed (high-protein fungal biomass). The fungal coproduct could command an increased market value as a feed ingredient in nonruminant diets, such as swine and poultry, while improving profits and minimizing environmental impacts of fuel ethanol production. Our research on the no-cook corn ethanol process investigates an alternative method to antibiotics addition for controlling contamination by lactic acid bacteria during fermentation. The use of antibiotics is problematic because of rising concerns about the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This research seeks to replace antibiotics with a disinfection method, ozonation of corn mash, and to enable ethanol fermentation at a more conducive, higher pH. Operating at a higher pH reduces sulfuric acid requirements for pH adjustment and the resulting sulfur content in the distillers grains, an improvement for cattle feed. In addition to saving money on antibiotic and chemical costs, the enhanced feed coproduct could be marketed as antibiotic-free and reduced-sulfur distillers grains

Young people, education and unlawful non-citizenship: Spectral sovereignty and governmentality in Australia

This paper considers Judith Butler’s discussion of the intersections between governmentality and sovereign power in Precarious life: the powers of mourning and violence. We consider this interrelationship with a view to considering how this might enable us to expand our understanding of contemporary discourses governing young people within and outside Australia. In particular we focus on the production of groups of young people, such as those classified as ‘illegal immigrants’ who may be situated outside the frame of ‘public good’ or the ‘private interest’. This enables for a theorisation of the lives of groups of young people who may ‘have no definitive prospect for a re-entry into the political fabric of life, even as one’s situation is highly, if not fatally, politicized’. It is questionable whether the Foucauldian notion of governmentality gives sufficient account of the lives of these young people whose conduct is effectively considered irrelevant by the State. As educators, it is arguable that we have an ethical imperative to encourage our students to care for themselves, and for others, especially those others whose lives have been ‘fatally politicized’

Medical Nutrition Therapy Provided to Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients

This study explored the current medical nutrition therapy (MNT) provided to adult patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and examined the current and desired role of registered dietitians (RDs) in providing MNT. A total of 60 RDs (57% response rate) responded to an electronic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and χ2 analyses (SPSS, version 18) were used. Results revealed the primary form of diet was oral, and for patients on nutrition support, parenteral nutrition (PN) was used more frequently (16%–31%) than enteral nutrition (EN) (5%–9%; P ≤ .05). Nutrition support decisions were based on patients’ individualized needs rather than established protocol or policies. Mucositis was the most common reason for implementing PN (31%), and intubation or being in the intensive care unit was the most common reason for implementing EN (28%). The RDs had varying degrees of autonomy in order writing and were most often recommending MNT to the physician or writing the MNT order with a physician cosignature. Many RDs reported desiring higher autonomy than what they were currently practicing (P \u3c .05). Those who held a certified specialist in oncology (CSO) or certified nutrition support dietitian/clinician (CNCD/C) certification were significantly more likely to have and desire greater autonomy in order writing than those without specialty credentials (P ≤ .05). No difference was found in current practice or desired autonomy based on the years of experience or educational degree

Comparison of Recycling Outcomes in Three Types of Recycling Collection Units

Commercial institutions have many factors to consider when implementing an effective recycling program. This study examined the effectiveness of three different types of recycling bins on recycling accuracy by determining the percent weight of recyclable material placed in the recycling bins, comparing the percent weight of recyclable material by type of container used, and examining whether a change in signage increased recycling accuracy. Data were collected over 6 weeks totaling 30 days from 3 different recycling bin types at a Midwest university medical center. Five bin locations for each bin type were used. Bags from these bins were collected, sorted into recyclable and nonrecyclable material, and weighed. The percent recyclable material was calculated using these weights. Common contaminates found in the bins were napkins and paper towels, plastic food wrapping, plastic bags, and coffee cups. The results showed a significant difference in percent recyclable material between bin types and bin locations. Bin type 2 was found to have one bin location to be statistically different (p = 0.048), which may have been due to lack of a trash bin next to the recycling bin in that location. Bin type 3 had significantly lower percent recyclable material (p \u3c 0.001), which may have been due to lack of a trash bin next to the recycling bin and increased contamination due to the combination of commingled and paper into one bag. There was no significant change in percent recyclable material in recycling bins post signage change. These results suggest a signage change may not be an effective way, when used alone, to increase recycling compliance and accuracy. This study showed two or three-compartment bins located next to a trash bin may be the best bin type for recycling accuracy

Health Care Providers’ Knowledge, Perceptions, and Use of Probiotics and Prebiotics

Health care providers (N = 256) completed an online questionnaire to assess their knowledge, perceptions, and use of probiotics and prebiotics. Participants were familiar with probiotics (88%) but not with prebiotics (22%). Probiotics (62%) and prebiotics (55%) were perceived as being “somewhat” to “quite a bit” beneficial to health (μ = 3.6 ± 1.0 and 3.6 ± 1.2, respectively). Health care providers were “quite a bit” to “very much” willing to recommend probiotics (77%) and prebiotics (83%) if substantiated with literature. Despite this belief, they did not recommend probiotics (45%) or prebiotics (26%) to patients or read current research (75% and 76%, respectively)

Landscape patterns of pre-logging forest conditions in western Oregon

Using historical maps and tools provided by GJS, the spatial patterns of pre-logging forest conditions were quantified for three landscapes in western Oregon. The spatial coincidence between forest patches and topographic features was determined for slope gradient, aspect, elevation, and distance from streams. Pre-logging and current forest compositions were compared. The pre-logging landscape was dominated by old growth conifer with less than 10% consisting of early seral disturbance patches. Fire patches differed in size and shape between the Oregon Coast Range and the Oregon Cascade Range provinces. The size and variability of fire patches was larger in the Cascades, with shorter mean distances between fire patches and smaller perimeter to area ratios compared to fire patches in the Coast Range. Mean fire return intervals ranged from 170 to 292 years for the Oregon Coast Range. The most frequent patch size, regardless of patch type and study area, ranged from 100 to 999 ha. Forest patch types varied predictably by topographic feature for instance: fewer fire patches occurred on cool, moist aspects while more occurred on hot, dry, aspects. More burn area and less old growth conifer than expected occurred within 4000 m of major rivers. Late seral forest cover has declined dramatically across all three landscapes since 1933

Knowledge, use and perceptions of probiotics and prebiotics in hospitalized patients

Aim: Little is known about inpatient probiotic and prebiotic consumption or beliefs, despite their increase in availability. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to assess inpatient knowledge, use and perceptions of probiotics and prebiotics. Methods: All subjects were inpatients at two urban medical centers on general medical/surgical floors. Patients were randomly selected to complete a verbally administered questionnaire inquiring about probiotic and prebiotic knowledge, use and perceptions. Patient responses were recorded directly into Survey Monkey (Palo Alto, CA, USA) on a computer. Results: Patients (n = 200) were 58% were women and 56% were Caucasian with a mean age of 56 years. More patients were familiar with the term “probiotic” (43%) compared with “prebiotic” (11%); however, only 20% and 7% could correctly define probiotics and prebiotics, respectively, from a list of responses. More patients were consuming probiotics (53%) than prebiotics (38%). The most common probiotic and prebiotic products consumed were yogurts (72%) and cereals/granola bars (55%), respectively. Patients believed probiotics and prebiotics most beneficial for “digestion or gut health”, but the most common reason to consume these products was “to taste or try” (36% and 43%, respectively). Overall, patients believed probiotics and prebiotics to be safe; however, they also believed that health claims could only somewhat be trusted. Conclusions: This research found that many patients are consuming probiotic and prebiotic products despite limited awareness of the true meaning of these terms. As probiotic and prebiotic use is more common, it is important that clinicians are aware of increased use and provide patients with recommendations based on recent research

The Iowa Homemaker vol.37, no.7

Here’s The Way – Study Abroad, Diane Rasmussen, page 6 Your Speech Reflects You, Carole Boughton, page 7 Home Economics Grows With Pakistan, Mary Gibson, page 8 Favorite of Mice and Men, Rosalyn McBride, page 10 Have You Met Me?, Sharon Kay, page 12 We Present With Pride, Martha Burleigh, page 13 Check Your Personality, page 1

Marriage Equality Time: Entanglements of sexual progress and childhood innocence in Irish primary schools

Ireland is a majority-Catholic country that has, in recent times, been held up as a model of sexual progress internationally. We employ the term Marriage Equality Time (MET) to signify the tensions related to temporality, sexuality and children that emerged as Marriage Equality (ME) was introduced in Ireland. Drawing on a study with six primary schools during the ME referendum, this article captures MET in its emergent state, exploring how parents, teachers and principals were processing what ME might mean for children and schools. This analysis of MET illustrates how it mediates imaginaries of childhood innocence, sexuality and the nation-state

Reducing Bacterial Contamination in Fuel Ethanol Fermentations by Ozone Treatment of Uncooked Corn Mash

Ozonation of uncooked corn mash from the POET BPX process was investigated as a potential disinfection method for reducing bacterial contamination prior to ethanol fermentation. Corn mash (200 g) was prepared from POET ground corn and POET corn slurry and was ozonated in 250 mL polypropylene bottles. Lactic and acetic acid levels were monitored daily during the fermentation of ozonated, aerated, and nontreated corn mash samples to evaluate bacterial activity. Glycerol and ethanol contents of fermentation samples were checked daily to assess yeast activity. No yeast supplementation, no addition of other antimicrobial agents (such as antibiotics), and spiking with a common lactic acid bacterium found in corn ethanol plants,Lactobacillus plantarum, amplified the treatment effects. The laboratory-scale ozone dosages ranged from 26–188 mg/L, with very low estimated costs of $0.0008–0.006/gal ($0.21–1.6/m3) of ethanol. Ozonation was found to decrease the initial pH of ground corn mash samples, which could reduce the sulfuric acid required to adjust the pH prior to ethanol fermentation. Lactic and acetic acid levels tended to be lower for samples subjected to increasing ozone dosages, indicating less bacterial activity. The lower ozone dosages in the range applied achieved higher ethanol yields. Preliminary experiments on ozonating POET corn slurry at low ozone dosages were not as effective as using POET ground corn, possibly because corn slurry samples contained recycled antimicrobials from the backset. The data suggest additional dissolved and suspended organic materials from the backset consumed the ozone or shielded the bacteria