Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Publication Correlation between Lignin–Carbohydrate Complex Content in Grass Lignins and Phenolic Aldehyde Production by Rapid Spray Ozonolysis(American Chemical Society, 2022-12-19) Green, Steffan; Binder, Thomas; Hagberg, Erik; Subramaniam, BalaWe provide strong evidence that the amounts of phenolic aldehydes (vanillin and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, pHB) selectively released during rapid ozonolysis of grass lignins are correlated with the unsubstituted aryl carbons of lignin–carbohydrate complexes present in these lignins. In the case of acetosolv lignin from corn stover, we observed a steady yield of vanillin and pHB (cumulatively ∼5 wt % of the initial lignin). We demonstrate the continuous ozonolysis of the lignin in a spray reactor at ambient temperature and pressure. In sharp contrast, similar ozonolysis of acetosolv lignin from corn cobs resulted in a twofold increase in the combined yield (∼10 wt %) of vanillin and pHB. Structural analysis with 1H–13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) nuclear magnetic resonance revealed that signals assigned to unsubstituted aryl carbons of lignin–carbohydrate complexes are quantitatively correlated to phenolic aldehyde production from spray ozonolysis. The ratios of the integrated peak volumes corresponding to coumarates and ferulates in the HSQC spectra of cob and corn stover lignins (SLs) are 2.4 and 2.0, respectively. These ratios are nearly identical to the observed 2.3-fold increase in pHB and 1.8-fold increase in vanillin production rates from corn cob lignin compared to corn SL. Considering that the annual U.S. lignin capacity from these grass lignin sources is ∼60 million MT, the value creation potential from these flavoring agents is conservatively ∼$50 million annually from just 10% of the lignin. These new insights into structure/product correlation and spray reactor characteristics provide rational guidance for developing viable technologies to valorize grass lignins.Publication Preliminary Evidence That Fiji Water Has Protective Effects against Aluminum Toxicity in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)(MDPI, 2023-02-20) Stauch, Kiri Li N.; Chicas-Mosier, Ana M.; Abramson, Charles I.Researchers have determined that bioavailable aluminum chloride (AlCl3) may affect honey bee behavior (e.g., foraging patterns and locomotion) and physiology (e.g., abdominal spasms). The purpose of these experiments was to determine if Fiji water reduces the impacts of AlCl3 toxicity in bees by measuring circadian rhythmicity (number of times bees crossed the centerline during the day and night), average daily activity (average number of times bees crossed the centerline per day), and mortality rates (average number of days survived) using an automated monitor apparatus. Overall, the AlCl3 before and after Fiji groups had significantly higher average daily activity and rhythmicity rates compared to their respective AlCl3 before and after deionized water (DI) groups. One of the AlCl3 before DI groups exhibited no difference in rhythmicity rates compared to its respective AlCl3 after Fiji group. Overall, these results suggest that Fiji water might exert protective effects against AlCl3. The AlCl3 groups paired with Fiji water had higher activity and rhythmicity levels compared to the AlCl3 groups paired with DI. It is important for researchers to continue to study aluminum and possible preventatives for aluminum uptake.Publication Direct and Indirect Competitive Interactions between Ooencyrtus nezarae and Paratelenomus saccharalis Parasitizing Megacopta cribraria Egg Patches(MDPI, 2022-12-30) Warsi, Sanower; Chicas-Mosier, Ana M.; Balusu, Rammohan R.; Jacobson, Alana L.; Fadamiro, Henry Y.The present study investigated egg parasitoid interspecific interactions between a generalist, Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and a specialist, Paratelenomus saccharalis Dodd (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in a laboratory setting using kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria Fabricius, (Hemiptera: Plataspidae)) eggs as their shared host. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the emergence of wasps from parasitized hosts after the simultaneous and sequential release of wasps, monitor aggressive behavior of P. saccharalis, and quantify intraguild predation of O. nezarae larvae on heterospecific P. saccharalis larvae. Results showed that total host egg parasitism was higher when both wasps were released simultaneously than if wasps were released sequentially. Ooencyrtus nezarae produced more total offspring than P. saccharalis in all sequential/simultaneous treatments but produced male offspring in most cases. In the aggressive behavioral experiment, specialist, P. saccharalis used head butting to fight O. nezarae, but no other aggressions were observed. In an experiment examining intraguild predation, O. nezarae was able to develop in host eggs parasitized by P. saccharalis four days earlier, acting as a superior larval competitor. These findings shed light on the potential interspecific interactions between O. nezarae and P. saccharalis, which may determine their relative abundance and influence their compatibility in kudzu bug biological control programs.