Prior research reported the oscillatory behavior characterized by long period and high amplitude during high gravity continuous ethanol fermentations at the dilution rate of 0.027 h(-1). In this paper, high gravity continuous ethanol fermentations using Saccharomyces cerevisia at different dilution rates were carried out. Similar oscillations were observed when the dilution rate was switched to 0.04 h(-1). Both oscillatory and steady processes can be achieved at dilution rates of 0.027 or 0.04 h(-1), which depends on the initial status of the fermentation system. However, compared to steady process at the same dilution rate of 0.04 h(-1), the average residual sugar concentration was lowered by 14.8% for the oscillatory process, while the average ethanol concentration and productivity were increased by 12.6% and 12.3%, respectively. Further investigation revealed that besides the lag time, oscillatory processes were different from steady ones in kinetics because a higher specific growth rate can be achieved at the same residual sugar and ethanol concentrations (increased by 53.8% in average).
Bioreactors ; microbiology ; Carbohydrates ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Hypergravity ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; metabolism

Residue of Mori Cortex was studied to optimize its enzymatic hydrolysis process, and explore its potential as a carbon source for biochemistry and biofuel production. The cellulose content of diluted acid pretreated (DAP) and non-pretreated from Mori Cortex were measured in this study, and the results showed that the cellulose content of DAP and non-pretreated from Mori Cortex were 52.5% and 47%, respectively. This higher cellulose content indicated that residue of Mori Cortex had the potential to act as a carbon source for biochemistry and biofuel production. Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated and non-pretreated from Mori Cortex was conducted under different enzyme loading amount. 40 FPU·(g DW）⁻¹ enzyme loading was determined as the optimal amount by comparing the yield of sugar and the rate of enzymolysis. Under this condition, the concentrations of glucose, xylose, arabinose sugar were 23.82, 4.84, 3.6 g·L⁻¹, and the corresponding enzymatic hydrolysis rate was 45.33% which was 2.3 times higher than that of non-pretreated from Morus alba residues. Fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis was conducted finally to get higher sugar yield, and the final glucose concentration reached up to 38 g·L⁻¹ with the enzymatic hydrolysis rate of 36.19%. The results indicated that Mori Cortex residue had higher cellulose and hemicellulose contents, so it had the potential to become a carbon source to produce the bio-chemicals and biofuels. Through enzymatic hydrolysis, it can be converted into microbial available monosaccharides; and through fermentation, it can be converted into high value-added chemicals, biofuels, etc., to solve the problem of residue pollution, and achieve the sustainable development and greening of Chinese pharmaceutical production process.
Carbohydrates ; Cellulose ; chemistry ; Enzymes ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Hydrolysis ; Morus ; chemistry

A continuous ethanol fermentation system composed of four-stage tank fermentors in series and with a total working volume of 4000 mL was established. The first fermentor was designated as the seed fermentor and the others for ethanol fermentation. A self-flocculating yeast strain developed by protoplast fusion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe was applied. Two-stage corn powder enzymatic hydrolyzate containing reducing sugar 100 g/L, together with 2.0 g/L (NH4)2HPO4 and KH2PO4, was used as yeast seed culture medium and fed into the seed fermentor at the dilution rate of 0.017h (-1). Meanwhile, the hydrolyzate containing reducing sugar 220 g/L, added with 1.5 g/L (NH4)2HPO4 and 2.5 g/L KH2PO4, was used as ethanol fermentation substrate and fed into the second fermentor at the dilution rates of 0.017, 0.025, 0.033, 0.040 and 0.050 h(-1) (based on the total working volume of the three fermentors), respectively. The chemostat states on which all of the monitoring parameters, including residual sugar, ethanol and yeast cell biomass concentrations, were maintained relatively constant were observed for seed cultivation and ethanol fermentations when the fermentation system was operated at the dilution rates of 0.017, 0.025, 0.033 and 0.050 h(-1). Yeast cells were observed being partly immobilized because significant yeast cell biomass concentration differences between the broth out of and inside the fermentors were detected. Moreover, the oscillations of residual sugar, ethanol and yeast cell biomass concentrations were observed when the fermentation system was operated at the dilution rate of 0.040 h(-1). The broth containing more than 12% (V/V) ethanol and less than 0.11% (W/V) residual reducing sugar and 0.35% (W/V) residual total sugar was produced when the dilution rate was controlled at no more than 0.033 h(-1). The ethanol productivity was calculated to be 3.32(g x L(-1) x h(-1)) for the dilution rate of 0.033 h(-1), which increased nearly 100% compared with that for conventional ethanol fermentation technologies using freely suspended yeast cells.
Bioreactors ; microbiology ; Carbohydrates ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Flocculation ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; metabolism ; Schizosaccharomyces ; metabolism ; Zea mays ; metabolism

PURPOSE: Providing an adequate amount of energy is important in patients with depleted nutrition. Indirect calorimetry is a portable tool that can measure the resting energy expenditure, the respiratory quotient, and the ratio of substrate utilization. Another way of getting the energy expenditure is through the use of equations, and that has been a more common way to get the basal energy expenditure. However, there has been a controversy that the energy expenditures calculated from equations are not the same as the values measured by indirect calorimetry. METHODS: Our study was to clarify this difference in two different groups with different physical conditions and growth. One was a normal-adult group (n=18), and their energy expenditure was calculated using the Harris-Benedict equations. The other was a normal-newborn group (n=7), and their energy expenditure was calculated using the Schofield equations. Calculated values were compared with the resting energy expenditure from indirect calorimetry (Deltatrac Metabolic Monitor, Datex Inc. Finland). RESULTS: In the adults, the basal energy expenditure was 1703.3+/-100.2 kcal/d according to the Harris-Benedict equations, and the resting energy expenditure was 1701+/-289.6 kcal/d according to indirect calorimetry (p>0.1). VO2 was 245.7+/-42.8 ml/min, VCO2 was 210+33.4 ml/min, and RQ was 0.86+/-0.05. In the neonates, the basal energy expenditure was 184.1+/-15.1 kcal/d according to the Schofield equations, and the resting basal energy expenditure was 154.3+/-32.1 kcal/d (p<0.05). VO2 was 21.9+/-4.3 ml/min, VCO2 was 18.7+/-4.0 ml/min, and RQ was 0.85+/-0.02. The ratios of substrate utilization were 192.1+/-58.8 g/d (48.03+/-16.8%) for carbohydrates, 69.7 +/-35.6 g/d (37.8+/-17.2%) for fats, and 55.8+/-14.9 g/d (14.3+/-3.9%) for proteins in the adults. In the neonates, the ratios were 18.6+/-5.6 g/d (50.3+/-7.0%) for carbohydrates, 18.6+/-1.1 g/d (47.7+/-6.2%) for fats, and 1+/-0 g/d (3.0+/-0.73%) for proteins. CONCLUSION: The difference between the basal energy expenditure obtained from equations and the resting energy expenditure obtained from indirect calorimetry could be identified only in the neonate group, but not in the adult group. It is speculated that resting energy expenditure was more reliable than the basal energy expenditure in neonates. Indirect calorimetry canbe a useful tool to correct the errors in the values obtained from equations, and other parameters, such as the respiratory quotient and the ratio of substrate utilization, should be evaluated in nutritional support.
Adult ; Calorimetry, Indirect* ; Carbohydrates ; Energy Metabolism* ; Fats ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Nutritional Support ; Young Adult*

The expensive production of bioethanol is because it has not yet reached the 'THREE-HIGH' (High-titer, high-conversion and high-productivity) technical levels of starchy ethanol production. To cope with it, it is necessary to implement a high-gravity mash bioethanol production (HMBP), in which sugar hydrolysates are thick and fermentation-inhibitive compounds are negligible. In this work, HMBP from an atmospheric glycerol autocatalytic organosolv pretreated wheat straw was carried out with different fermentation strategies. Under an optimized condition (15% substrate concentration, 10 g/L (NH4)2SO4, 30 FPU/g dry matter, 10% (V/V) inoculum ratio), HMBP was at 31.2 g/L with a shaking simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) at 37 degrees C for 72 h, and achieved with a conversion of 73% and a productivity of 0.43 g/(L x h). Further by a semi-SFF with pre-hydrolysis time of 24 h, HMBP reached 33.7 g/L, the conversion and productivity of which was 79% and 0.47 g/(L x h), respectively. During the SSF and semi-SSF, more than 90% of the cellulose in both substrates were hydrolyzed into fermentable sugars. Finally, a fed-batch semi-SFF was developed with an initial substrate concentration of 15%, in which dried substrate (= the weight of the initial substrate) was divided into three portions and added into the conical flask once each 8 h during the first 24 h. HMBP achieved at 51.2 g/L for 72 h with a high productivity of 0.71 g/(L x h) while a low cellulose conversion of 62%. Interestingly, the fermentation inhibitive compound was mainly acetic acid, less than 3.0 g/L, and there were no other inhibitors detected, commonly furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural existing in the slurry. The data indicate that the lignocellulosic substrate subjected to the atmospheric glycerol autocatalytic organosolv pretreatment is very applicable for HMBP. The fed-batch semi-SFF is effective and desirable to realize an HMBP.
Biofuels ; Carbohydrates ; chemistry ; Cellulose ; chemistry ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Furaldehyde ; chemistry ; Glycerol ; chemistry ; Hydrolysis ; Triticum

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of waterlogging stress on medicinal Chrysanthemum morifolium during the seedling stage and build a reliable evaluation of flooding tolerance indicator system.

METHODThe three cultivars: C. morifolium cv. Hongxinju, C. morifolium cv. Xiaobaiju and C. morifolium cv. Changbanju were studied for the and the effect of waterlogging stress on their physiological and biochemical chracteristics.

RESULTWith the extension of waterlogging, the content of chlorophyll and relative leaf water potential were decreased, meanwhile malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and soluble sugar were increased. The catalase (CAT) of C. morifolium cv. Hongxinju rose at first and then dropped and CAT of C. morifolium cv. Xiaobailu and C. morifolium cv. Changbanju declined at first before decreased, and then dropped again. The peroxidase (POD) rose firstly before decrease and then increases again. After the waterlogging treatments which last for 4 days, the physiology and biochemistry characteristics can not restore to the comparison (CK) within 3 days.

CONCLUSIONFour days waterlogging treatment had made serious damage on medicinal Chrysanthemum. Among three cultivars, C. morifolium Ramat. cv. Hongxinju showed the highest tolerance ability, while C. morifolium cv. Changbanju was the lowest, and C. morifolium cv. Xiaobaiu was in the middle. The malonaldehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT) could be the main physiological and biochemical indexes to reflect the tolerance ability against waterlogging.

Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Catalase ; analysis ; metabolism ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; enzymology ; physiology ; Dehydration ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; enzymology ; physiology ; Water ; metabolism

Effects of the leaf-clipped treatment on growth and physiological properties of Rehmannia glutinosa were studied. Result showed that with the increase of the cutting leaves degree, growth rates of shoots and roots were decreased, sugar contents declined, chlorophyll contents decreased and root activities also inhibited. Compared with the normal plant (CK), the root inhibit rates in T1, T2, T3 were 17.53%, 33.41%, 59.47%, respectively. Physiological indexes including chlorophyll contents, root activities and sugar contents also were impacted by the leaf-clipped treatment. The results indicate that to balance source-sink relationship is a very essential method for improving production of R. glutinosa.
Agriculture ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Chlorophyll ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; physiology ; Rehmannia ; chemistry ; growth & development ; physiology

The carbohydrate moieties of larval sparganum proteins in two different species, the snakes, Elaphe rufodorsata, the Balb/c mouse and those of the adult worm, Spirometra erinacei, were compared using five different lectins including GNA, SNA, MAA, PNA and DSA. The GNA positive 53 kDa molecule, which is excretory-secretory protease in the sparganum from the snake showed a stage specific and developmental regulation. We also suggested that sparganum glycosylation may be involved in immune evasion and differentiation into an adult worm.
Animals ; Carbohydrates/*metabolism ; Comparative Study ; Glycoproteins/*metabolism ; Human ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Snakes/*metabolism ; Sparganum/*metabolism ; Species Specificity ; Spirometra/*metabolism ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

High-concentration sugars production from stover is an important perspective technology for the cellulosic ethanol industrialization. Fed-batch process is an effective way to achieve this goal in the fermentation industry. In this study, based on fed-batch process, high-concentration sugars were produced from pretreated corn stover by enzymatic hydrolysis. After being pretreated by the dilute sulphuric acid, the impacts of the ratio of solid raw material to liquid culture, the content of supplementary materials and the refilling time on the saccharification rate were investigated. Results showed that the initial ratio of solid raw material to liquid culture was 20% (W/V) and the initial concentrations of enzymes for xylanase, cellulose and pectinase were 220 U, 6 FPU, and 50 U per gram of substrates, respectively. After 24 hours and 48 hours, 8% pretreated corn stovers were added respectively together with the additions of xylanase (20 U) and cellulose (2 FPU) per gram of substrates. After 72 hours, the final concentration of reducing sugar was increased to 138.5 g/L from 48.5 g/L of the non fed-batch process. The rate of enzyme hydrolysis of the raw material was 62.5% of the thoretical value in the fed-batch process. This study demonstrated that the fed-batch process could significantly improve the concentration of reducing sugar.
Batch Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Cellulase ; metabolism ; Cellulose ; metabolism ; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Hydrolysis ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Zea mays ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the physiological and biochemical changes during storage of angelica seeds with different moisture contents.

METHODThe dynamic changes of percentage and index of seeds germination, relative conductivity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, contents of soluble sugar and protein were determined at an interval of every two months.

RESULTUnder the conditions stored in sealed paper cups at 15 degrees C for 10 months, the germination percentage of angelica seeds with 2.85% of moisture content was kept above 85%. With moisture content reducing, the increase rate of relative conductivity decreased, the down trend of SOD activity and protein content were weakened, and soluble sugar content kept stable.

CONCLUSIONIn cool conditions, a modest low moisture content of seeds can be beneficial to prolong the longevity of angelica seeds, while high moisture content will accelerate the deterioration process of the seeds.

Angelica ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Germination ; physiology ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Water ; metabolism