Modeling of lactic acid fermentation of leguminous plant juices

Lactic acid fermentation of leguminous plant juices was modeled to provide a comparative efficiency assessment of the previously selected strains of lactic acid bacteria as potential components of starter cultures. Juices of the legumes fodder galega, red clover, and alfalfa were subjected to lactic acid fermentation in 27 variants of the experiment. Local strains (Lactobacillus sp. RS 2, Lactobacillus sp. RS 3, and Lactobacillus sp. RS 4) and the collection strain Lactobacillus plantarum BS 933 appeared the most efficient (with reference to the rate and degree of acidogenesis, ratio of lactic and acetic acids, and dynamics of microflora) in fermenting fodder galega juice; Lactobacillus sp. RS 1, Lactobacillus sp. RS 2, Lactobacillus sp. RS 3, Lactobacillus sp. RS 4, and L. plantarum BS 933 were the most efficient for red clover juice. Correction of alfalfa juice fermentation using the tested lactic acid bacterial strains appeared inefficient, which is explainable by its increased protein content and a low level of acids produced during fermentation. © MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica", 2006

Transformation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene into toxic hydroxylamino derivatives by lactobacilli

Lactobacilli isolated from different ecological niches were capable of partial nitroreduction of 2,4,6-trinitrqtoluene (TNT) to hydroxylaminodinitrotoluenes (HADNT) at a high rate (up to 93 nmol/(min mg dry biomass). For the most active (with respect to the reaction rate) strains, Lactobaculus fermentum BS3601 andLacîobacillusplantarum BS3604, the extent of transformation comprised 95-97%. An inverse correlation was found between the ability to transform TNT and resistance of bacteria to its toxic action. The inhibitory effects of TNT and HADNT on the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and glyceraldehydë-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (PGADH) in cell extracts of lactobacilli were revealed

Transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene into toxic hydroxylamino derivatives by Lactobacilli

Lactobacilli isolated from different ecological niches were capable of partial nitroreduction of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) to hydroxylaminodinitrotoluenes (HADNT) at a high rate (up to 9.3 nmol/(min mg dry biomass)). For the most active (with respect to the reaction rate) strains, Lactobacillus fermentum BS3601 and Lactobacillus plantarum BS3604, the extent of transformation comprised 95-97%. An inverse correlation was found between the ability to transform TNT and the resistance of bacteria to its toxic action. The inhibitory effects of TNT and HADNT on the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and glyceral-dehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in cell extracts of lactobacilli were revealed. © 1999 MAHK "Hayka/Interperiodica"

Fermentation of high-protein plant biomass by introduction of lactic acid bacteria

Lactic acid bacteria displaying increased ability to produce lactic acid, medium proteolytic activity, and tolerance to osmotic stress were isolated under selective conditions from phyllosphere and rhizosphere of registered and raised cultivars of legumes. Lactic fermentation of poorly ensilable leguminous plants (red clover and Caucasian goat's rue) was performed by introduction of rifampin-resistant homofermenting representatives of the genus Lactobacillus (selected according to a set of technologically important characteristics). The results demonstrate that introduction of active local strains of lactobacteria, as well as the collection strain Lactobacillus plantarum BS933, enhances activation of ensiling and increases the quality of fodder, as assessed according to the standard criteria (a decrease in pH of the medium, the ratio of lactic acid to fatty acid homologues, and the composition of silage microflora). © 2005 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica"

In situ probing of Pt/TiO2_{2} activity in low-temperature ammonia oxidation

The improvement of the low-temperature activity of the supported platinum catalysts in selective ammonia oxidation to nitrogen is still a challenging task. The recent developments in in situ/operando characterization techniques allows to bring new insight into the properties of the systems in correlation with their catalytic activity. In this work, near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques were applied to study Pt/TiO$_{2}$ catalysts in ammonia oxidation (NH$_{3}$ + O$_{2}$ reaction). Several synthesis methods were used to obtain samples with different size of Pt particles, oxidation state of Pt, and morphology of the support. Metal platinum particles on titania prepared by pulsed laser ablation in liquids exhibited the highest activity at lower temperatures with the temperature of 50% conversion of NH$_{3}$ being 150 °C. The low-temperature activity of the catalysts synthesized by impregnation can be improved by the reductive pretreatment. NAP-XPS and operando XANES data do not show formation of PtO$_{x}$ surface layers or PtO/PtO$_{2}$ oxides during NH$_{3}$ + O$_{2}$ reaction. Despite the differences in the oxidation state of platinum in the as-prepared catalysts, their treatment in the reaction mixture results in the formation of metallic platinum particles, which can serve as centers for stabilization of the adsorbed oxygen species. Stabilization of the bulk platinum oxide structures in the Pt/TiO$_{2}$ catalysts seems to be less favorable due to the metal–support interaction

Sub-surface Oxygen and Surface Oxide Formation at Ag(111): A Density-functional Theory Investigation

To help provide insight into the remarkable catalytic behavior of the oxygen/silver system for heterogeneous oxidation reactions, purely sub-surface oxygen, and structures involving both on-surface and sub-surface oxygen, as well as oxide-like structures at the Ag(111) surface have been studied for a wide range of coverages and adsorption sites using density-functional theory. Adsorption on the surface in fcc sites is energetically favorable for low coverages, while for higher coverage a thin surface-oxide structure is energetically favorable. This structure has been proposed to correspond to the experimentally observed (4x4) phase. With increasing O concentrations, thicker oxide-like structures resembling compressed Ag2O(111) surfaces are energetically favored. Due to the relatively low thermal stability of these structures, and the very low sticking probability of O2 at Ag(111), their formation and observation may require the use of atomic oxygen (or ozone, O3) and low temperatures. We also investigate diffusion of O into the sub-surface region at low coverage (0.11 ML), and the effect of surface Ag vacancies in the adsorption of atomic oxygen and ozone-like species. The present studies, together with our earlier investigations of on-surface and surface-substitutional adsorption, provide a comprehensive picture of the behavior and chemical nature of the interaction of oxygen and Ag(111), as well as of the initial stages of oxide formation.Comment: 17 pages including 14 figures, Related publications can be found at http://www.fhi-berlin.mpg.de/th/paper.htm

Society, State, Nation and the People in the Democratic South Africa: Two Decades of Illusions in The Practice of Public Administration, Development Planning and Management

The purpose of this article is to provide a conceptual argument in that as South Africa transcended beyond its democratic dispensation, an opportunity was missed in the process leading to transition to define a society, state, nation and the people for sustaining the democratic founding for purposes of public administration practice, development planning and management. That is done by critically portraying South Africa as a society, state, nation and locating the people for governance purposes within a democratic founding. It is argued that attempts are made to rewrite the history of the country with a view of bolstering its societal status, nation, state and the people without a profound context. South Africa has become what it is today due to its history that remains its defining factor if it has to locate its society, state, nation and the people. Having lost that opportunity during transition, governance has become so unwieldy in that those assigned with authority in the governance landscape, tend to confuse the roles of society, nation, state and the people and that eventually strain the fragile democracy by distorting the facts and the role of constitutional apparatus that are instrumental to the country’s democratic founding. The conclusion is rather pessimistic in that as long as these issues are not properly located within the governance landscape; the democratic dispensation remains vulnerable for demise just like other democracies within the African continent with the potential of the middle class hijacking it from the vulnerable poor majority being the people that public administration practice has to serve. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s1p61

Transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene into toxic hydroxylamino derivatives by Lactobacilli

Lactobacilli isolated from different ecological niches were capable of partial nitroreduction of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) to hydroxylaminodinitrotoluenes (HADNT) at a high rate (up to 9.3 nmol/(min mg dry biomass)). For the most active (with respect to the reaction rate) strains, Lactobacillus fermentum BS3601 and Lactobacillus plantarum BS3604, the extent of transformation comprised 95-97%. An inverse correlation was found between the ability to transform TNT and the resistance of bacteria to its toxic action. The inhibitory effects of TNT and HADNT on the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and glyceral-dehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in cell extracts of lactobacilli were revealed. © 1999 MAHK "Hayka/Interperiodica"