Characterizing Selected Sorghum Grain Varieties and Evaluating the Suitability of Their Malt Extracts for Cultivating Microbial Biomass

Microbial biomass is cultivated for different technological applications including food processing, medicine, waste management, and research. The conventional growth media used are generally expensive thus necessitating the development of more affordable alternatives. In this study, four sorghum grain varieties, SESO 1, SESO 3, Epuripur, and Eyera, and their malt extracts were characterized which is aimed at determining their suitability for growing microbial biomass. The varieties had kernel length, kernel width, kernel thickness, and thousand kernel weigh equivalent to 3.8-4.3 mm, 3.2-4.5 mm, 2.4-2.8 mm, and 12.4-20.2 g, respectively. SESO 1 and Epuripur had corneous endosperm textures whereas those of SESO 3 and Eyera were intermediate and floury, respectively. Varieties had germinative energies > 90 % and total defects < 8 %. SESO 3 had the highest ( p < 0.05 ) crude protein ( 10.8 ± 0.3 %) and dietary fiber ( 22.5 ± 0.4 %) whereas Epuripur had the highest ( p < 0.05 ) starch ( 81.6 ± 0.0 %) and crude fat ( 2.9 ± 0.1 %). There was no significant difference ( p > 0.05 ) in the ash contents ( 2.1 ± 0.0 %). The total sugars, free amino nitrogen, condensed tannins, and pH of the malt extracts were 106-116 g/L, 70-78 mg/L, 0.1-0.6 mg/mL, and 5.5-5.7, respectively. The composition of the sorghum malt extracts suggests their potential for use in cultivating microbial biomass.

Synthesis, Characterization, X-Ray Crystal Structures and Antibacterial Activity of Cobalt(III) Complexes Derived from 5-Bromo-2-((2-(phenylamino) ethylimino)methyl)phenol

Two new and similar cobalt(III) complexes, [CoL2] · NO3 (1) and [CoL2] · Cl (2), where L is 5-bromo-2-((2-(phenylamino) ethylimino)methyl)phenolate, have been synthesized and characterized by IR and UV-Vis spectra. Structures of the complexes were confirmed by single crystal X-ray determination. The Co atoms in the complexes are in octahedral coordination, with the donor atoms come from the two Schiff base ligands, viz. phenolate oxygen, and imino and amino nitrogen. The anions of the cobalt salts crystallized as counteranions in the complexes. The complexes were assayed for antibacterial activities by MTT method.

Interaction of proteins and amino acids with iso-α-acids during wort preparation in the brewhouse

This paper investigates the binding behavior of iso-α-acids from hops on free wort amino acids and proteins concerning the wort production process in breweries. The studies were carried out with different amino acids, bovine serum albumin and wort. To identify the nature of reaction between iso-α-acids and these substances, analyses of free amino nitrogen, HPLC and isothermal titration calorimetry were performed. According to the results, the iso-α-acids do not form covalent bonds with free amino acids of wort. However, iso-α-acids, especially isohumulone and isoadhumulone, form ionic bonds with wort proteins. A distinction must be made between proteins that are present in the hot trub, and those that are still dissolved in the hot wort. Proteins that are already coagulated and precipitated no longer react with iso-α-acids. Future experiments will investigate whether the established ionic bonds between iso-α-acids and proteins from the wort preparation process are maintained during fermentation until the finished beer or beer foam. If this is the case, which is induced by the experiments, there is a measurable loss of iso-α-acids in the hot wort, but at the same time, a gain for the later beer foam retention, as the iso-α-acids will stabilize it.

Effect of Storage Methods, Covering and Spraying Treatments of Sugar Beet Roots During Storage Periods on Quality Characters of Roots

A research experiment was conducted after sugar beet harvesting season of 2018/2019 to study the losses in sugar beet roots quality after harvesting and reducing it by using different storage methods (storage roots in shadow and open air), covering (without, covering with rice straw, sugar beet foliages and net) and spraying treatments (without, spraying with tap water and Mepiquat chloride at the rates of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 cm/L) during storage periods (one, two, three and four weeks from beginning the study) under environmental conditions of Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. The experiment was carried out in factorial experiment in randomized complete blocks design with three replicates. Stored sugar beet roots in piles under shading net conditions indexed the highest sucrose and quality percentages and lowest K, Na and alfa amino nitrogen percentages in roots. The highest sucrose and quality percentages and lowest K, Na and alfa amino nitrogen percentages in roots were obtained by covering sugar beet piles with sugar beet foliages. The highest sucrose and quality percentages and lowest K, Na and alfa amino nitrogen percentages in roots were resulted when spraying piles before storage with Mepiquat chloride at 1.0 cm/L. It can be concluded that stored sugar beet roots after harvesting directly in piles under shading and covering with beet foliages and spraying piles with Mepiquat chloride at 1.0 cm/L to reduce losses in sugar beet roots quality after harvesting and during storage and achieve high quality characters of roots under the environmental conditions of Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

Effect of Fermentation Parameters on Natto and Its Thrombolytic Property

Natto is a popular food because it contains a variety of active compounds, including nattokinase. Previously, we discovered that fermenting natto with the combination of Bacillus subtilis GUTU09 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BZ25 resulted in a dramatically better sensory and functional quality of natto. The current study further explored the effects of different fermentation parameters on the quality of natto fermented with Bacillus subtilis GUTU09 and Bifidobacterium BZ25, using Plackett–Burman design and response surface methodology. Fermentation temperature, time, and inoculation amount significantly affected the sensory and functional qualities of natto fermented with mixed bacteria. The optimal conditions were obtained as follows: soybean 50 g/250 mL, triangle container, 1% sucrose, Bacillus subtilis GUTU09 to Bifidobacterium BZ25 ratio of 1:1, inoculation 7%, fermentation temperature 35.5 °C, and fermentation time 24 h. Under these conditions, nattokinase activity, free amino nitrogen content, and sensory score were increased compared to those before optimization. They were 144.83 ± 2.66 FU/g, 7.02 ± 0.69 mg/Kg and 82.43 ± 5.40, respectively. The plate thrombolytic area and nattokinase activity both increased significantly as fermentation time was increased, indicating that the natto exhibited strong thrombolytic action. Hence, mixed-bacteria fermentation improves the taste, flavor, nattokinase activity, and thrombolysis of natto. This research set the groundwork for the ultimate manufacturing of natto with high nattokinase activity and free amino nitrogen content, as well as good sensory and thrombolytic properties.

Crystal structure of osimertinib mesylate Form B (Tagrisso), (C28H34N7O2)(CH3O3S)

The crystal structure of osimertinib mesylate Form B has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data and optimized using density functional techniques. Osimertinib mesylate Form B crystallizes in space group P-1 (#2) with a = 11.42912(17), b = 11.72274(24), c = 13.32213(22) Å, α = 69.0265(5), β = 74.5914(4), γ = 66.4007(4)°, V = 1511.557(12) Å3, and Z = 2. The crystal structure is characterized by alternating layers of cation–anion and parallel stacking interactions parallel to the ab-planes. The cation is protonated at the nitrogen atom of the dimethylamino group, which forms a strong hydrogen bond between the cation and the anion. That hydrogen atom also participates in a weaker intramolecular hydrogen bond to an amino nitrogen. There are two additional N–H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds between the cation and the anion. Several C–H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds also link the cations and anions. The powder pattern has been submitted to ICDD® for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File™.

Cocrystals versus Salts of Fluorescein

A series of nitrogen-containing organic molecules (4,4’-bipyridyl; trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene; 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane; 4-aminopyridine and trans-1,4-diaminocyclohexane) was envisaged for cocrystallization experiments together with fluorescein. These compounds, containing pyridyl or/and amino nitrogen atoms, can act either as hydrogen bond acceptors for the phenol groups of fluorescein-generating cocrystals or as proton acceptors forming organic salts. Five cocrystals were obtained with the partners containing only pyridyl groups: {(H2Fl)2(bipy)} (1); {(H2Fl)2(bipy)(MeOH)2} (2); {(H2Fl)2(bpete)(EtOH)2} (3); {(H2Fl)(bpete)} (4); {(H2Fl)(bpeta)} (5). The compounds bearing amino groups deprotonate fluorescein producing salts: [(HFl)(Hampy)]∙2H2O (6); [(HFl)(Hampy)] (7); [(Fl)(H2diach)]∙3H2O (8); [(HFl)2(H2diach)]∙2H2O∙EtOH (9); and [(HFl)2(Fl)2(H2diach)3]∙4H2O (10). Optical properties of the cocrystals and salts were investigated.

Plant-fungal mutualism as a strategy for the bioremediation of hydrocarbon polluted soils

Inasmuch as coal remains the linchpin for the generation of electricity and liquid petroleum products in South Africa, hydrocarbon waste and coal discard will continue to pose a threat to the environment. Therefore, the onus is on the associated industries to develop and implement efficient and sustainable strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of energy generating activities on the environment. Most conventional efforts in this regard, although successful for soil repair and the initiation of vegetation, have been deemed unsustainable. In an effort to find a sustainable remediation strategy a novel technology termed “FungCoal” was conceptualized and patented as a strategy for the rehabilitation of open cast coal mines, carbonaceous-rich spoils and coal wastes. This biotechnology, which exploits plant-fungal mutualism to achieve effective biodegradation of coal on discard dumps and the breakdown of the carbonaceous component in spoils, promotes revegetation to facilitate rehabilitation of mining-disturbed land. However, one limiting factor of the FungCoal bioprocess is that it requires oxidized weathered coal, a highly complex and variable resource for use as a co-substrate, for growth and proliferation of the coal degrading microorganisms. To fully exploit the potential of plant-fungal mutualism and its interaction for use in the remediation of coal contaminated soils, this study investigated the proposed relationship between plant roots, root exudate and the coal degrading fungus “Aspergillus sp.” (previously Neosartorya fischeri) strain 84 in more detail, in an effort to gain further insight into the mechanisms underpinning plant-fungal mutualism as a strategy for re-vegetation of coal discard dumps and the rehabilitation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil using the FungCoal approach. A pot-on-beaker (PoB) method was developed for the easy cultivation and collection of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)-containing exudates from Zea mays L. (maize) and Abelmuschus esculentus (okra). Characterisation of the EPS material from these exudates was carried out using a combination of physicochemical and biochemical methods. The results from analysis of phenolics and indoles showed that exudates contain some form of indoles and phenolic compounds, although in little proportions, which may fulfil a signalling function, responsible for attracting soil microorganisms into the rhizosphere. Spectroscopic analysis of the exudates using FT-IR revealed vibrations corresponding to functional groups of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and carboxylic acids. These compounds likely provide an easily accessible source of carbon to soil microorganisms and are also a better alternative to the poly-aromatics which are an inherent component locked-up in the supposed recalcitrant coal material. The results from biochemical analyses also revealed the presence of carbohydrate, proteins, lipids, and low amounts of α-amino-nitrogen in the EPS of maize and okra. These components of EPS are all essential for the stimulation of enzymatic activities in soil microorganisms and, which may in turn aid biodegradation. The action of the root EPS from maize was further tested on three coal-degrading fungal isolates identified as Aspergillus strain ECCN 84, Aspergillus strain ECCN 225 and Penicillium strain ECCN 243 for manganese peroxidase (MnP) and laccase (LAC) activities. The results revealed that the Aspergillus species, strains ECCN 84 and ECCN 225, showed with or without EPS, observable black halos surrounding each of the colonies after 7d incubation indicative of positive MnP activity, while no activity was observed for the Penicillium sp. strain ECCN 243. Analysis for LAC revealed little or no activity in any of the coal degrading fungi following addition of pulverized coal to the growth medium. Interestingly, the addition of EPS-containing exudate to the coal-containing medium resulted in increased LAC activity for all fungal isolates. This finding affirmed the positive contribution of EPS to extracellular LAC activity, purported as an important enzyme in the coal biodegradation process. Finally, the impact of plant-derived exudate on the colonisation and biodegradation of coal was investigated in situ using rhizoboxes, to simulate a coal environment, and was carried out for 16 weeks. Microscopic examination of coal samples after termination of the experiment showed fungal proliferation and attachment to coal particles. All of the rhizoboxes that contained plants had higher medium pH and EC, and the concentration of phenolics, indoles and humic acids was greater than that of control treatments. These observations indicated better rhizosphere colonisation, substrate biodegradation and humification. Therefore, root exudate appears to play a significant role in coordination of soil microorganisms within the rhizosphere and likely serves both as a scaffold for rhizospheric interactions by providing microorganisms with accessible carbon and as a likely ‘trigger’ for induction of coal-degrading enzymes such as fungal LAC for mobilisation of recalcitrant carbon. This study has shown that EPS exuded from roots of Zea mays together with coal degrading fungus Aspergillus strain ECCN 84 can alkalinise the coal substrate and facilitate introduction of oxygen, possibly as a result of increased laccase activity, and increase availability of nutrients (as indicated by higher EC) in a coal-polluted rhizosphere, to provide plants and their associated mycorrhizae and presumably other beneficial microorganisms a more mesic environment for sustained phytoremediation with enhanced rehabilitation potential. In conclusion, this study confirms the positive role of root exudate in mediating a mutualistic rehabilitation strategy involving plants and fungi such as the FungCoal bioprocess.

Luminol Doped Silica-Polymer Sensor for Portable Organic Amino Nitrogen and Ammonium Determination in Water

We propose a portable sensor, obtained by embedding luminol into the tetraethylorthosilicate/trietoxymethylsilane (TEOS/MTEOS) composite, for the quantitative determination of organic amino nitrogen and ammonium in water with the goal of achieving low levels of concentration. The method is based on the reaction between amino nitrogen compounds and hypochlorite to produce chloramino derivatives. Then, the remaining hypochlorite reacts with luminol sensor by producing a luminescence signal, which was measured by using a portable luminometer, being inversely proportional to nitrogen concentration. The liberation of the luminol from sensor is higher than 90% and the sensor is stable for at least a week at room temperature. This portable method was successfully validated and applied to the analysis of several real waters: fountain, river transition, lagoon, and seawater with recovery values between 92% and 112%, which indicated that the matrix effect was absent. The achieved limit of detection was around 10 µg·L−1, expressed as N. This sensor allows in situ monitoring owing to its simplicity, rapidity, and portability.

Separation of Th from leachate of monazite sulphation process using amine solvent extraction

The solvent extraction is one of the most common method for separating Th from solution. Primary amine has higher selectivity for the extraction of Th(IV) than U(VI) and RE(III) in sulfate media. N1923 (a primary aliphatic amine with amino nitrogen linked to a secondary carbon consisting of branched alkyl groups in C19–23 range) is commonly used to extractTh. At room temperature using 0.1M N1923 amine as solvent in this work, the results showed thatthorium maximum extraction capacity was about 2.5g/L with concentration of sulfuric acid in the aqueous phase was 1M and for 3 minutes shaking. At room temperature for 3 minutes shaking the best conditions for scrubbing processwas using the mixture of acids H2SO4 0.2M and HNO3 0.1M, result inover 75%, Th was scrubbed in the aqueous phase only 0.7%. The separation of Th from leachate of monazite sulphation process was carried out on a multistage continuous flow extraction device (12 boxes), the thorium purity was 98%. Therefore, the use of amine solvents can purify thorium from rare-earth solutions in a sulfate medium