Biochemical characterization of a lichenase from Penicillium occitanis Pol6 and its potential application in the brewing industry

The purification and characterization of an extracellular lichenase from the fungus Penicillium occitanis Pol6 were studied. The strain produced the maximum level of extracellular lichenase (45 ± 5 U ml⁻¹) when grown in a medium containing oat flour (2%, w/v) at 30 °C for 7 days. The purified enzyme EG_L showed as a single protein band on SDS–PAGE with a molecular mass of 20 kDa. Its N-terminal sequence of 10 amino acid residues was determined as LDNGAPLLNV. The purified enzyme showed an optimum activity at pH 3.0 and 50–60 °C. The half-lives of EG_L at 60 °C and 70 °C were 80 min and 21 min, respectively. Substrate specificity studies revealed that the enzyme is a true β-1,3-1,4-d-glucanase. The enzyme hydrolyzed lichenan to yield trisaccharide, and tetrasaccharide as the main products. Under simulated mashing conditions, addition of EG_L (20 U/ml) or a commercial β-glucanase (20 U/ml) reduced the filtration time (25% and 21.3%, respectively) and viscosity (10% and 8.18%, respectively). These characteristics indicate that EG_L is a good candidate in the malting and brewing industry.     

关于猫颌下腺神经支及其节前神经元的观察

用逆行溃变（Kohnstamm,1902;Yagita,et al.,1909;Torvik,1957）局部电刺激中枢（Chatfield,1942;Magoun et al.,1942;Wang,1943）等方法进行唾液中枢的定位,所得到结果很不一致。近年Satomi（1979）等用辣根过氧化酶（HRP）浸泡猫中间一面神经或鼓索神经,观察了脑干中逆行标记细胞的分布。但用HRP直接浸泡支配猫颌下腺的神经分支尚未见报道。此外,只见到关于鼓索神经纤维类别和数量的分析的光学显微镜研究（Foley,1945）,用光镜和电镜相结合分析颌下腺神经支中的纤     

植物水分来源稳定氢氧同位素偏移研究进展

稳定氢氧同位素技术能有效计算植物根系水分吸收量,确定植物水分来源贡献,评估植物水分利用策略,是生态水文学探究大气-植被-土壤系统水分传输过程机制的有效工具。然而土壤与木质部水稳定氢氧同位素比值(δ²H和δ¹⁸O)偏移造成植物水分来源贡献率计算偏差,引起氢氧同位素结果差异的原因尚不明晰。该文首先简要介绍氢氧稳定同位素比值偏移现象,其次沿水分在土壤-植物-大气连续体中的传输路径构建梳理框架,系统阐述了3个界面(植物-大气界面、土壤-大气界面和根系-土壤界面)与2个空间(植物体和土壤层)中引起δ²H与δ¹⁸O偏移的自然效应,同时概述了土壤与木质部样品提取与测定技术中引起δ²H与δ¹⁸O偏差的人为效应。最后,根据现有研究进展提出主要问题,从获取同位素时空数据,微尺度同位素偏移原因,提取与测定技术的优化三方面指出未来的发展方向。     

Lignin genetic engineering

Although lignins play important roles in plants, they often represent an obstacle to the utilization of plant biomass in different areas: pulp industry, forage digestibility. The recent characterization of different lignification genes has stimulated research programmes aimed at modifying the lignin profiles of plants through genetic engineering (antisense and sense suppression of gene expression). The first transgenic plants with a modification of monomeric composition of lignins and lignin content have been recently obtained. Down regulation of the OMT gene induces dramatic reduction of syringyl units. CAD down regulated plants exhibit a unusual red phenotype associated with the developing xylem and several chemical modifications of their lignins including an increase in cinnamaldehydes in the polymer structure. Interestingly this novel lignin is removed more easily during the pulping process. In both OMT and CAD down regulated plants no changes in phenotypic characteristics such as growth architecture and morphology were observed. More recent experiments have shown that a reduction of CCR activity determines specific changes in the coloration of the xylem area suggesting significant chemical modifications which are currently being studied.These different results show that it is possible to manipulate lignins through targeted genetic transformation of plants and that lignins exhibit a relative flexibility of their chemical structure. Future developments should probe the impact of down regulating the expression of other recently characterized lignification genes such as F5H and CCoAOMT and also of a combination of genes in order to tailor lignins more adapted to specific purposes. In addition to biotechnological applications which should provide important economical benefits for utilization of wood in the pulp industry, genetic engineering of lignins offer very promising perspectives for the understanding of lignin synthesis, structure and properties.     

Technoecological analysis of energy carriers for long‐haul transportation

Long‐haul transportation demand is predicted to increase in the future, resulting in higher carbon dioxide emissions. Different drivetrain technologies, such as hybrid or battery electric vehicles, electrified roads, liquefied natural gas and hydrogen, might offer solutions to this problem. To assess their ecological and economic impact, these concepts were simulated including a weight and cost model to estimate the total cost of ownership. An evolutionary algorithm optimizes each vehicle to find a concept specific optimal solution. A model calculates the minimum investment in infrastructure required to meet the energy demand for each concept. A well‐to‐wheel analysis takes into account upstream and on‐road carbon dioxide emissions, to compare fully electric vehicles with conventional combustion engines. Investment in new infrastructure is the biggest drawback of electrified road concepts, although they offer low CO₂ emissions. The diesel hybrid is the best compromise between carbon reduction and costs.     

Effects of stocking density during live transportation on haematological parameters of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii,Brandt, 1869)

In this study, we investigated the effects of different stocking densities water quality and blood parameters during the transportation of the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii). Experiments were carried out in high-density polyethylene tank with three different stocking densities (50, 100 and 150 kg/m³) for 20 h. Ammonium nitrogen (NH₄-N) and nitrite nitrogen (NO₂-N) were measured in the water samples. The erythrocyte, leucocyte, haematocrit (HCT), haemoglobin (Hb), cortisol, and sodium ion (Na⁺) were measured in blood samples. Ammonium nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen concentrations in the water have increased in parallel with the stocking density depending on the time. In the highest stocking density, the maximum levels of NH₄-N and NO₂-N at the 16^th h reached 2.64 mg/L and 4.74 mg/L, respectively. Erythrocyte, leucocyte, HCT, and Hb values did not differ significantly between the experimental groups (p > .05). The results showed that fish could be transported safely for 20 h in 15℃ water temperature at 50 kg/m³ stocking density; however, stocking density of 100 kg/m³ and over could threaten fish welfare and health as from 16^th h.     

Human genetic databanks in Australia: indications of inconsistency and confusion

This paper reports on a survey of human biotechnology organizations in Australia. The study provides insights into the nature, use and practices involved with human genetic databanking in the country. The survey was conducted at a time when databanks were becoming increasingly important to an expanding genomics industry, and while the nature and extent of industry regulation was being debated. The data revealed a surprising level of confusion and inconsistency in the interpretation of terminology and in ethical practice, even among those organizations subject to the relevant government ethics guidelines. It is argued that despite the extensive level of public consultation, recommendations for reform and actual reform in the intervening years, human genetic databanking remains an under-regulated sector of the human biotechnology industry in Australia, and at least as far as the private sector is concerned, will remain so in the foreseeable future.     

Nutritional composition of black soldier fly larvae feeding on agro-industrial by-products

Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), bio-convert organic side streams into high-quality biomass, the composition of which largely depends on the side stream used. In the present study, BSF larvae were reared on feed substrates composed of dried brewers’ spent grains, each supplemented with either water, waste brewer’s yeast, or a mixture of waste brewer’s yeast and cane molasses to obtain 12 different substrates: barley/water, barley/yeast, barley/yeast/molasses, malted barley/water, malted barley/yeast, malted barley/yeast/molasses, malted corn/water, malted corn/yeast, malted corn/yeast/molasses, sorghum-barley/water, sorghum-barley/yeast, and sorghum-barley/yeast/molasses. The crude protein, fat, ash, and mineral contents of the BSF larvae fed each feed substrate were quantified by chemical analyses. The effect of substrate, supplementation, and their interaction on crude protein, fat, and ash contents of BSF larval body composition was significant. Calcium, phosphorus, and potassium were the most abundant macrominerals in the larvae and their concentrations differed significantly among substrates. These findings provide important information to support the use of BSF larval meal as potential new source of nutrient-rich and sustainable animal feed ingredients to substitute expensive and scarce protein sources such as fishmeal and soya bean meal.