A modified nitrogen oxide-ozone photolytic cycle

Nitrogen Oxide-0₃ photolytic cycle is dependent upon the presence of NO in ambient air. From our air monitoring observations we have found that the NO concentration in the atmosphere is often zero (0 to 5 ppb). This suggests a need to modify/change the photolytic cycle. Linear regression analyses on the O₃ and NO₂ concentrations in ambient air, measured in real time were carried out. The predicted values of O₃ and NO₂ from these regression equations were close to the observed values. On the basis of these two observations a modified photolytic cycle, including some other components (such as HONO₂) is discussed.     

Resistant Starch Escaped from Ethanol Production: Evidence from Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy of Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)

The origin of resistant starch (RS) in distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) of triticale, wheat, barley, and corn from dry‐grind ethanol production was studied. A considerable portion of starch (up to 18% in DDGS) escaped from either granular starch hydrolysis or conventional jet‐cooking and fermentation processes. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that some starch granules were still encapsulated in cells of grain kernel or embedded in protein matrix after milling and were thus physically inaccessible to amylases (type RS1). The crystalline structures of native starch granules were not completely degraded by amylases, retaining the skeletal structures in residual starch during granular starch hydrolysis or leaving residue granules and fragments with layered structures after jet‐cooking followed by the liquefaction and saccharification process, indicating the presence of RS2. Moreover, retrograded starch molecules (mainly amylose) as RS3, complexes of starch with other nonfermentable components as RS4, and starch–lipid complexes as RS5 were also present in DDGS. In general, the RS that escaped from the granular starch hydrolysis process was mainly RS1 and RS2, whereas that from the jet‐cooking process contained all types of RS (RS1 to RS5). Thus, the starch conversion efficiency and ethanol yield could be potentially affected by the presence of various RS in DDGS.     

Elaboration of a crude antigen ELISA for serodiagnosis of caprine neosporosis: validation of the test by detection of Neospora caninum-specific antibodies in goats from Sri Lanka

The protozoan parasite N. caninum is a major pathogen in cattle and dogs. However, clinical symptoms are occasionally described for other potential hosts. Natural abortion in goats due to N. caninum has been rarely reported and only little data is available on the seroprevalence of N. caninum in this species. In the present study, 486 goats from Sri Lanka were tested in a crude antigen ELISA for the presence of serum antibodies against N. caninum. Additionally, the sera were analysed by N. caninum-Western blot and indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). In all three tests applied, only three sera (0.7%) were scored clearly positive for anti-N. caninum antibodies. The optimal correlation between ELISA, IFAT, and Western blot confirms the suitability of the ELISA for large-scale seroepidemiologic studies, not only in cattle but also in goats.     

Distribution of Granule Channels,Protein, and Phospholipid in Triticale and Corn Starches as Revealed by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy

The morphology and microstructure of starch granules from two cultivars of triticale and from normal corn were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Compared to numerous pores distributed randomly on the surfaces of corn starch granules, markedly fewer pores were observed on the surfaces of starch granules isolated from Pronghorn triticale, and even fewer on the surfaces of starch granules isolated from Ultima triticale. CLSM with fluorescence staining revealed that starch‐associated protein was predominately distributed on the granule surface and in the internal channels of both triticale and corn starches. However, after triticale starch was treated with SDS or SO₂, the radially oriented, protein‐filled internal channels of the granules were observed more frequently and extended to the central region of granules. Phospholipid was located mainly on the granule surface but also in channels and throughout granules in triticale starches, whereas in corn starch granules, it was mainly in the channels. The amount of protein and phospholipid in chemically and protease‐treated starches varied with starch source and treatment conditions. In treated triticale starches, the nitrogen content was positively correlated with the phosphorus content, indicating a close association between protein and phospholipid within starch granules. Starch‐associated protein and phospholipid may play an important role in maintaining the structural stability of both the granule surface and the internal channels.     

Waste‐grown phototrophic bacterium supports culture of the rotifer,Brachionus rotundiformis

The present and commonly used batch culture system (BCS) as adopted by many small‐scale tropical hatcheries is beset by poor rotifer production and sudden crashes. This study aimed to produce nutritive rotifers and evaluate their performance based on the BCS by using phototrophic bacteria (PB) that can be easily and cheaply cultured from palm oil mill effluent (POME), an agro‐industrial byproduct usually discarded as waste. Brachionus rotundiformis given a sole diet of POME‐grown PB (Rhodovulum sulfidophilum) grew as well as on the commercially produced microalgae, Nannochloropsis. Production, growth rate and fecundity of rotifers fed condensed bacterial cells (bPB) and culture broth of bacteria grown in POME (cPB) were evaluated. The best performance in terms of the stated parameters was obtained for rotifers fed 200 mL of cPB in 3 L of culture water; this media sustained a mean rotifer density of 600–900 individuals mL^?1 after 3–6 days of culture. The biochemical composition of rotifers fed PB was comparable to those fed microalgae, except that the former contained more polyunsaturated fatty acids.