Optimization Lactic Acid Production from Molasses Renewable Raw Material through Response Surface Methodology with Lactobacillus Casei M-15

AbstractLactic acid is one of the functional and valuable compounds utilized in food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries while Poly lactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer that has a variety of applications. In recent years, microbial conversion of renewable raw materials has become an important objective in industrial biotechnology. Sugarcane molasses can be considered as potential renewable raw materials in PLA production. The objective of this study is to optimized fermentation medium and conditions to obtain maximum lactic acid production and Colony Forming Unit (log CFU/mL) through response surface methodology (RSM). The maximum lactic acid production (38.33%) and log CFU/mL (8.30) by Lactobacillus casei M-15 was under 3.82% of molasses and 8.02% of inoculum level within 24 hr at 37°C respectively. This process will be advantageous for increasing yields of lactic acid and enhancing productivity by optimization technique. Moreover, it can reduce waste disposal and pollution and can selectively produce by sustainable agriculture such as agriculture material. In addition, the high-performance of lactic acid-producing microorganisms, qualified renewable raw materials and effective fermentation processes will be benefit for bioplastic technologies

The control of postharvest blue and green molds of citrus in relation with essential oil-wax formulations, adherence and viscosity.

peer reviewedThe use of wax coatings enriched with antifungals has significantly contributed to quality maintaining of harvested citrus fruit. On the other hand, interest in essential oils (EOs) as an alternative to synthetic fungicides has recently gained momentum. In this study, Cinnamomum zeylanicum EO was incorporated into a variety of commercial citrus waxes (shellac, carnauba, paraffin and polyethylene). The biological activity of these formulations against green and blue rots as well as their viscosity and adherence to the orange fruit surface were evaluated. Excellent disease control was achieved with C. zeylanicum EO incorporated in shellac and/or carnauba wax compared to other EO–wax formulations. Disease control by EO–waxes seems to depend not only on the volume that remains on the fruit skin, but also, probably on the retention of EO components on the fruit. Other factors such as formulation solubility, permeability to gases, and compatibility between EO compounds and those of waxes may also be involved in the improvement of EO efficacy. The present study may therefore allow a careful selection of ppropriate waxes for the elaboration of effective EO–wax formulations

Formation of Calcium Oxalate and Calcium Carbonate Depositions in the Leaves of Ficus pumila L. var. awkeotsang (Makino) Corner

By using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, the composition, shape and localization of calcium depositions in the leaves of Ficus pumila L. var. awkeotsang (Makino) Corner were studied. In the mature leaves, many calcium oxalate and calcium carbonate were accumulated. All calcium carbonate depositions (cystoliths) were found in the lithocysts of the lower epidermis. The calcium oxalate crystals were in forms of druses or prismatic crystals. Most of the druse crystals were located sporadically in the cells of palisade mesophyll, while the prismatic crystals were found in the crystal cells of the bundle sheath. The formation of these two kinds of calcium deposits was related to the levels of calcium supply. The size of calcium carbonate depositions increased with the calcium concentration, but the density of lithocysts was not affected by different concentrations of calcium supply. Nevertheless, the density of calcium oxalate crystals was higher in high calcium solutions

Formation of Calcium Carbonate Deposition in the Cotyledons during he Germination of Justicia procumbens L. (Acanthaceae) Seeds

During seed germination of Justicia procumbens, the formation of lithocysts, trichomes and diacytic stomata in the epidermis of cotyledons was following a specific distribution pattern. During the first 1-3 days, many young stomata and trichome initial cells were formed sporadically in the adaxial and abaxial epidermis, but no lithocyst was found. Three to five days after seed sawing, two cotyledons were exposed to light and then opened. In the meantime, some lithocysts were recognized on both adaxial and abaxial epidermises. The lithocysts on the adaxial epidermis occurred in the radially arranged cells located between the central area and the margin. However on the abaxial epidermis, they were found only in the marginal cell layer and their axes were along the margin of cotyledons. The total number of lithocysts in a cotyledon at this stage was 32.2 ± 4.3 and the cystolith inside the lithocyst was spindle in shape and 48.2 ± 21.1 μm in length. Three weeks after seed sowing, the cotyledons were mature and the total number of lithocysts in a cotyledon was 112.2 ± 10.1 and the cystolith in the lithocyst was enlarged to be 119.8 ± 27.8 μm in length. The cystolith was extracellularly formed in the cell wall of lithocyst. Its surface was with many protuberances and surrounded by a cystolith sheath connecting to cytoplasmic strands. The core of cystolith was surrounded by concentrically stratified fibrils and the calcium carbonate was concentrically accumulated. The waved stratified fibrils were also deposited in the protuberances. The EDX spectra showed that the main mineral elemental compositions of cystoliths were Ca and P. Ca was deposited more in the central part of cystolith than in the marginal area

Comparative Studies of 5S rDNA Profiles and Cyt b Sequences in two Onychostoma Species (Cyprinidae)

Onychostoma barbatulum and O. alticorpus, two primarily freshwater cyprinid fish, have similar morphological characters and partially overlapping ecological habitats. In order to explore the genetic differences between these two species, chromosomal characteristics and genetic variations were examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of 5S rDNA and cytochrome (Cyt) b gene analysis. Ten specimens of O. barbatulum and O. alticorpus were collected from the Nanzihsian Stream in southern Taiwan. FISH revealed that the 5S rDNA loci of O. barbatulum and O. alticorpus were found at a pericentromeric and subtelomeric position, respectively, in a pair of submetacentric chromosomes. Cyt b genes were amplified and sequenced from five individuals of each species. Intraspecific genetic distances ranged from 0.001–0.004 in O. barbatulum and from 0.001–0.006 in O. alticorpus. Genetic distances between these two species ranged from 0.132–0.142. The phylogenetic tree showed these two species are not sister species. In conclusion, FISH cytogenetic information and Cyt b gene analyses indicated that these two species have significantly different genetic characteristics; nevertheless, their morphological similarities may be due to environmental adaptation

Anion-Controlled Dielectric Behavior of Homochiral Tryptophan-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks

Three homochiral metal-tryptophanate frameworks, {[Zn₂(l-trp)₂­(bpe)₂(H₂O)₂]­·2H₂O·2NO₃}_<i>n</i> (<b>1a</b>, l-Htrp = l-tryptophan, bpe = 1,2-bis­(4-pyridyl)­ethylene), {[Co­(l-trp)­(bpe)­(H₂O)]­·H₂O·NO₃}_<i>n</i> (<b>1b</b>), and {[Co­(l-trp)­(bpa)­(H₂O)]­·H₂O·NO₃}_<i>n</i> (<b>2</b>, bpa = 1,2-bis­(4-pyridyl)­ethane), were constructed from Zn²⁺ or Co²⁺ ions, bipyridyl ligands, and the amino acid l-tryptophan (l-Htrp), respectively. Compounds <b>1a</b>, <b>1b</b>, and <b>2</b> were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All of the compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space group <i>P</i>2₁ and form homochiral two-dimensional (2D) layers with rectangle-like (4,4) topologies. Anion-controlled dielectric, luminescence, and nonlinear-optic (NLO) properties were measured for these chiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in the solid state. Emission spectra confirmed that compound <b>1a</b> exhibited a green emission at 546 nm. Dielectric studies of <b>1a</b> revealed that it had very low dielectric constant (κ = 2.53 at 1 MHz), thus verifying that it is a promising candidate for interlayer dielectrics. The anion-controlled dielectric properties of <b>1a</b> were observed after treatment with solutions of different anions. The results revealed a significant change in κ value in the case of the phosphate anion. Secondary harmonic generation (SHG) studies revealed that <b>1a</b> had a good SHG intensity response that was about twice that of SiO₂

Anion-Controlled Dielectric Behavior of Homochiral Tryptophan-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks

Three homochiral metal-tryptophanate frameworks, {[Zn₂(l-trp)₂­(bpe)₂(H₂O)₂]­·2H₂O·2NO₃}_<i>n</i> (<b>1a</b>, l-Htrp = l-tryptophan, bpe = 1,2-bis­(4-pyridyl)­ethylene), {[Co­(l-trp)­(bpe)­(H₂O)]­·H₂O·NO₃}_<i>n</i> (<b>1b</b>), and {[Co­(l-trp)­(bpa)­(H₂O)]­·H₂O·NO₃}_<i>n</i> (<b>2</b>, bpa = 1,2-bis­(4-pyridyl)­ethane), were constructed from Zn²⁺ or Co²⁺ ions, bipyridyl ligands, and the amino acid l-tryptophan (l-Htrp), respectively. Compounds <b>1a</b>, <b>1b</b>, and <b>2</b> were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All of the compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space group <i>P</i>2₁ and form homochiral two-dimensional (2D) layers with rectangle-like (4,4) topologies. Anion-controlled dielectric, luminescence, and nonlinear-optic (NLO) properties were measured for these chiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in the solid state. Emission spectra confirmed that compound <b>1a</b> exhibited a green emission at 546 nm. Dielectric studies of <b>1a</b> revealed that it had very low dielectric constant (κ = 2.53 at 1 MHz), thus verifying that it is a promising candidate for interlayer dielectrics. The anion-controlled dielectric properties of <b>1a</b> were observed after treatment with solutions of different anions. The results revealed a significant change in κ value in the case of the phosphate anion. Secondary harmonic generation (SHG) studies revealed that <b>1a</b> had a good SHG intensity response that was about twice that of SiO₂