INCREASING CORN THROUGHPUT IN DRY GRIND PROCESS FOR ETHANOL PROCESS

In a conventional dry grind process, corn is ground and mixed with water to produce slurry. The slurry is cooked; starch in the slurry is liquefied, simultaneously saccharified and fermented to produce ethanol. Typical solids during slurry preparation range from 30 to 34%. Higher solids result in higher ethanol concentration. High final ethanol concentration improves plant profitability by increasing plant capacity and improving plant efficiency. Corn solids higher than 34% are not used in dry grind corn process due to high mash viscosity (after cooking), increase in sugar concentration during fermentation (substrate yeast inhibition) and high final ethanol concentration (product yeast inhibition). Two new technologies have been developed which can be combined to reduce mash viscosity, maintain low sugar and ethanol concentration during fermentation and improve plant productivity. These technologies are: granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes and vacuum stripping of ethanol. Simultaneous liquefaction, saccharification, fermentation and distillation (SLSFD) can be conducted in one step with these two technologies and corn slurry solids higher than 34% can be used. In this study combination of granular starch hydrolyzing enzyme and vacuum stripping were evaluated for ethanol production with 40% slurry solids. Results were compared with conventional process using 40% slurry solids. The SLSFD process fermented slurry with negligible residual glucose content. In the conventional process residual sugar in beer started increasing at 20 hr and final residual sugar concentration of 5% (w/v) was observed. Amount of ethanol production and ethanol productivity of the SLSFD process was 20 to 40% higher compared to the conventional process

Dyeing studies and fastness properties of brown naphtoquinone colorant extracted from Juglans regia L on natural protein fiber using different metal salt mordants

In this study, wool fibers are dyed with a natural colorant extracted from walnut bark in presence and absence of mordants. The effect of aluminum sulfate, ferrous sulfate, and stannous chloride mordants on colorimetric and fastness properties of wool fibers was investigated. Juglone was identified as the main coloring component in walnut bark extract by UV visible and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. The results showed that pretreatment with metallic mordants substantially improved the colorimetric and fastness properties of wool fibers dyed with walnut bark extract. Ferrous sulfate and stannous chloride mordanted wool fibers shows best results than potassium aluminum sulfate mordanted and unmordanted wool fibers. This is ascribed due to strong chelating power of ferrous sulfate and stannous chloride mordants

A new mouse model to explore therapies for preeclampsia

BACKGROUND: Pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy-specific multisystemic disorder is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. This syndrome has been known to medical science since ancient times. However, despite considerable research, the cause/s of preeclampsia remain unclear, and there is no effective treatment. Development of an animal model that recapitulates this complex pregnancy-related disorder may help to expand our understanding and may hold great potential for the design and implementation of effective treatment. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we show that the CBA/J x DBA/2 mouse model of recurrent miscarriage is also a model of immunologically-mediated preeclampsia (PE). DBA/J mated CBA/J females spontaneously develop many features of human PE (primigravidity, albuminuria, endotheliosis, increased sensitivity to angiotensin II and increased plasma leptin levels) that correlates with bad pregnancy outcomes. We previously reported that antagonism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling by soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sFlt-1) is involved in placental and fetal injury in CBA/J x DBA/2 mice. Using this animal model that recapitulates many of the features of preeclampsia in women, we found that pravastatin restores angiogenic balance, ameliorates glomerular injury, diminishes hypersensitivity to angiotensin II and protects pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We described a new mouse model of PE, were the relevant key features of human preeclampsia develop spontaneously. The CBA/J x DBA/2 model, that recapitulates this complex disorder, helped us identify pravastatin as a candidate therapy to prevent preeclampsia and its related complications. We recognize that these studies were conducted in mice and that clinical trials are needed to confirm its application to humans

Bioinformatic analysis of the SARS virus X1 protein shows it to be a calcium-binding protein

The X1 open reading frame of the SARS virus encodes a ptoentially unique protein not found in other coronaviruses. Here we present results of bioinformatic analyses that predict the X1 protein to bind calcium. The regulation of calcium homeostasis and calciummediated signalling pathways in infected cells may affect cell fate and contribute to the unique pathogenesis of this virus

Formulation, Evaluation and Optimization of Orodispersible Tablets of Naproxen sodium by using Superdisintegrant

Among the different type of route of administration oral route for drug administration is most common route in which Orodispersible tablet is preferred for the patient which are unconscious, week or for immediate control. The tablet gets dispersed in mouth cavity without water, present study deals with formulation of Naproxen sodium mouth dissolving tablets using super disintegrants. Naproxen sodium is analgesic and NSAID, used for the treatment of pain and inflammation caused by different condition such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and menstrual cramps. However gastric discomfort caused by naproxen sodium result in poor patient compliance associated with it conventional doses form but now days Naproxen sodium MDTs produces rapid onset of action and minimise gastric discomfort associated with it. Thus improves patient compliance, enhance bioavailability and reduces the dose of drug. MDTs are formulated by direct compression method using super disintegrants in different proportion. The powder blend is subjected to pre-compression evaluation parameters like bulk density, true density, and tapped density and angle of repose. Formulations are evaluated for weight variation, hardness, wetting time, water absorption time, disintegration time. And in vitro dissolution studies and all formulations complies Pharmacopoeias standards. The tablets are evaluated and result compared for all five formulation the most efficacious super disintegrants for MTDs of Naproxen sodium as suggested by the dispersion time, disintegration time and drug dissolution profiles. Keywords: - MDT, Naproxen Sodium, crosscarmellose Sodium, Sodium starch glycolate, Cross-povidone

Formulation, Evaluation and Optimization of Orodispersible Tablets of Naproxen Sodium 250 Mg

Among the different type of route of administration oral route for drug administration is most common route in which Orodispersible tablet is preferred for the patient which are unconscious, week or for immediate control. The tablet gets dispersed in mouth cavity without water, present study deals with formulation of Naproxen sodium mouth dissolving tablets using super disintegrants. Naproxen sodium is analgesic and NSAID, used for the treatment of pain and inflammation caused by different condition such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and menstrual cramps. However gastric discomfort caused by naproxen sodium result in poor patient compliance associated with it conventional doses form but now days Naproxen sodium MDTs produces rapid onset of action and minimise gastric discomfort associated with it. Thus improves patient compliance, enhance bioavailability and reduces the dose of drug. MDTs are formulated by direct compression method using super disintegrants in different proportion. The powder blend is subjected to pre-compression evaluation parameters like bulk density, true density, and tapped density and angle of repose. Formulations are evaluated for weight variation, hardness, wetting time, water absorption time, disintegration time. And in vitro dissolution studies and all formulations complies Pharmacopoeias standards. The tablets are evaluated and result compared for all five formulation the most efficacious super disintegrants for MTDs of Naproxen sodium as suggested by the dispersion time, disintegration time and drug dissolution profiles

Effect of stem gall disease on long-term germplasm preservation and quality seed production of coriander

To know the health status of crops germplasm received from various sources, seed health testing (SHT) is a routine process for long-term conservation of healthy seeds in the National Genebank at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi. In this process, 1328 accessions of coriander were received in the Plant Quarantine Division for SHT through Germplsm Conservation Division. In the present study, SHT revealed that most of the samples of coriander in which the seeds are deformed suffer from stem gall (seed gall) disease caused by Protomycesmacrosporus. Infection of P. macrosporus greatly affects the size and quality of seeds. As a result, infected seeds become excessively larger (from 6.46x5.01 to 12.76x3.94 mm) as compared to normal seeds and the germination capacity of the seeds is also lost. Deformity in size and measurement of infected seeds compared to healthy seeds indicates susceptibility to stem gall disease. Our observation revealed that the chlamydospores present in the infected seeds survive for a long period (~ 2 years) and if such infected seeds are conserved for long term in the National Genebank, it is possible that along with the seeds, dormant chlamydospores also survive. While on the one hand such diseased seed can prove to be the carrier in spreading the pathogen from one place to another, on the other hand, market demand will be affected which will result in lower prices for the farmers cultivating coriander

Effect of stem gall disease on long-term germplasm preservation and quality seed production of coriander

123-131To know the health status of crops germplasm received from various sources, seed health testing (SHT) is a routine process for long-term conservation of healthy seeds in the National Genebank at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi. In this process, 1328 accessions of coriander were received in the Plant Quarantine Division for SHT through Germplsm Conservation Division. In the present study, SHT revealed that most of the samples of coriander in which the seeds are deformed suffer from stem gall (seed gall) disease caused by Protomycesmacrosporus. Infection of P. macrosporus greatly affects the size and quality of seeds. As a result, infected seeds become excessively larger (from 6.46x5.01 to 12.76x3.94 mm) as compared to normal seeds and the germination capacity of the seeds is also lost. Deformity in size and measurement of infected seeds compared to healthy seeds indicates susceptibility to stem gall disease. Our observation revealed that the chlamydospores present in the infected seeds survive for a long period (~ 2 years) and if such infected seeds are conserved for long term in the National Genebank, it is possible that along with the seeds, dormant chlamydospores also survive. While on the one hand such diseased seed can prove to be the carrier in spreading the pathogen from one place to another, on the other hand, market demand will be affected which will result in lower prices for the farmers cultivating coriander

Dynamics of HEV viremia, fecal shedding and its relationship with transaminases and antibody response in patients with sporadic acute hepatitis E

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is paucity of data regarding duration of fecal excretion and viremia on sequential samples from individual patients and its correlation with serum transaminases and antibody responses in patients with acute hepatitis E. This prospective study was undertaken at a tertiary care center in Northern India over 15 months. Only those patients of sporadic acute hepatitis E who were in their first week of illness and followed up weekly for liver function tests, IgM anti HEV antibody and HEV RNA in sera and stool were included. HEV RNA was done by RT - nPCR using two pairs of primers from RdRp region of ORF 1 of the HEV genome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over a period of 15 months 60 patients met the inclusion criterion and were enrolled for the final analysis. The mean age of the patients was 29.2 ± 8.92 years, there were 39 males. The positivity of IgM anti HEV was 80% at diagnosis and 18.3% at 7th week, HEV RNA 85% at diagnosis and 6.6% at 7th week and fecal RNA 70% at the time of diagnosis and 20% at 4th week. The maximum duration of viremia detected was 42 days and fecal viral shedding was 28 days after the onset of illness.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Present study reported HEV RNA positivity in sera after normalization of transaminases. Fecal shedding was not seen beyond normalization of transaminases. However, viremia lasted beyond normalization of transaminases suggesting that liver injury is independent of viral replication.</p

Marker-assisted enhancement of bacterial blight (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae) resistance in a salt-tolerant rice variety for sustaining rice production of tropical islands

IntroductionBacterial blight (BB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is a major disease of rice, specially in the tropical regions of the world. Developing rice varieties with host resistance against the disease is the most effective and economical solution for managing the disease.MethodsPyramiding resistance genes (Xa4, xa5, xa13,and Xa21) in popular rice varieties using marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB) has been demonstrated as a cost-effective and sustainable approach for establishing durable BB resistance. Here, we report our successful efforts in introgressing four resistance genes (Xa4, xa5, xa13, and Xa21) from IRBB60 to CARI Dhan 5, a popular salt-tolerant variety developed from a somaclonal variant of Pokkali rice, through functional MABB.Results and discussionBoth BB and coastal salinity are among the major challenges for rice production in tropical island and coastal ecosystems. Plants with four, three, and two gene pyramids were generated, which displayed high levels of resistance to the BB pathogen at the BC3F2 stage. Under controlled salinity microplot environments, the line 131-2-175-1223 identified with the presence of three gene pyramid (Xa21+xa13+xa5) displayed notable resistance across locations and years as well as exhibited a salinity tolerance comparable to the recurrent parent, CARI Dhan 5. Among two BB gene combinations (Xa21+xa13), two lines, 17-1-69-334 and 46-3-95-659, demonstrated resistance across locations and years, as well as salt tolerance and grain production comparable to CARI Dhan 5. Besides salinity tolerance, five lines, 17-1-69-179, 46-3-95-655, 131-2-190-1197, 131-2-175-1209, and 131-2-175-1239, exhibited complete resistance to BB disease. Following multilocation testing, potential lines have been identified that can serve as a prospective candidate for producing varieties for the tropical Andaman and Nicobar Islands and other coastal locations, which are prone to BB and coastal salinity stresses