Progress 11/15/20 to 11/14/21
Outputs
Target Audience:This annual project report provides information to a diverse target audience on the NNF project activities and achievements for the fiscal year. Specifically, the project will benefit forest products industry, pulp and paper companies, animal science and technology, and food science as well as swine farm and, and society as a whole. In addition, we have presented at local and national conferences, where many experts in the field were participated, including governmental officers, industry researchers, university faculty, and graduate students. The NNF program support together with our capabilities and resources has provided opportunities for enhanced biomass utilization towards oligosaccharide production, which are the sustainable solutions capable of promoting the well-being of society while minimizing the environmental impact. Changes/Problems:One Fellow decided to leave the program by the end of Dec 2021. A new Fellow will be soon recruited to fill in the position. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Faculty members and graduate students have served as co-developers and teaching assistants for the four grant-supported online courses: The Sustainable Bioeconomy, Biomass Conversion, Strategic Business Analysis for the Bioeconomy, and Environmental Life Cycle Analysis. These experiences provided graduate students with teaching practice and exposed them to student-centered pedagogical practices. In addition, two of our Fellows had an opportunity for professional development (a) Internship at Eastman Chemicals. This was a five-month research intern. Fellow student was able to interact with the industry leaders and learn/contribute to their research work. (b) Teaching a course at North Carolina Central University. Fellow student taught the class (ENSC 1000 Introduction to Sustainable Planet) for their sophomore students. NCCU is one of the strong historically black colleges in North Carolina. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?- Journal publication as reported - Conference presentations at local and national conferences. - Teaching classes with the content from this project. - In addition, the graduate students have been mentoring undergraduate students who are assisting in the development of lab activities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will follow the schedule as described in the project proposal.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The objective of this proposal is to develop an education program for a new generation of researchers who understand both the areas of Forest Resources and Animal Production, and can analyze this coupled system using a life cycle analysis approach. We have a journal article published this year. Here is the abstract: This paper discusses the structural difference and role of xylan, procedures involved in the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS), and their implementation into animal feeds. Xylan is non-starch polysaccharides that share a β-(1-4)-linked xylopyranose backbone as a common feature. Due to the myriad of residues that can be substituted on the polymers within the xylan family, more anti-nutritional factors are associated with certain types of xylan than others. XOS are sugar oligomers extracted from xylan-containing lignocellulosic materials, such as crop residues, wood, and herbaceous biomass, that possess prebiotic effects. XOS can also be produced in the intestine of monogastric animals to some extent when exogenous enzymes, such as xylanase, are added to the feed. Xylanase supplementation is a common practice within both swine and poultry production to reduce intestinal viscosity and improve digestive utilization of nutrients. The efficacy of xylanase supplementation varies widely due a number of factors, one of which being the presence of xylanase inhibitors present in common feedstuffs. The use of prebiotics in animal feeding is gaining popularity as producers look to accelerate growth rate, enhance intestinal health, and improve other production parameters in an attempt to provide a safe and sustainable food product. Available research on the impact of xylan, XOS, as well as xylanase on the growth and health of swine and poultry, is also summarized. The response to xylanase supplementation in swine and poultry feeds is highly variable and whether the benefits are a result of nutrient release from NSP, reduction in digesta viscosity, production of short chain xylooligosaccharides or a combination of these is still in question. XOS supplementation seems to benefit both swine and poultry at various stages of production, as well as varying levels of XOS purity and degree of polymerization; however, further research is needed to elucidate the ideal dosage, purity, and degree of polymerization needed to confer benefits on intestinal health and performance in each respective species.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Jonathan T. Baker, Marcos E. Duarte, Debora M. Holanda and Sung Woo Kim, Friend or Foe? Impacts of Dietary Xylans, Xylooligosaccharides, and Xylanases on Intestinal Health and Growth Performance of Monogastric Animals, Animals, 2021, 11(3):609
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Progress 11/15/19 to 11/14/20
Outputs
Target Audience:This annual project report provides information to a diverse target audience on the NNF project activities and achievements for the fiscal year. Specifically, the project will benefit forest products industry, pulp and paper companies, animal science and technology, and food science as well as swine farm and, and society as a whole. In addition, we have presented at local and national conferences, where many experts in the field were participated, including governmental officers, industry researchers, university faculty, and graduate students. The NNF program support together with our capabilities and resources has provided opportunities for enhanced biomass utilization towards oligosaccharide production, which are the sustainable solutions capable of promoting the well-being of society while minimizing the environmental impact. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Faculty members and graduate students have served as co-developers and teaching assistants for the four grant-supported online courses: The Sustainable Bioeconomy, Biomass Conversion, Strategic Business Analysis for the Bioeconomy, and Environmental Life Cycle Analysis. These experiences provided graduate students with teaching practice and exposed them to student-centered pedagogical practices. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Graduate students also presented conference presentations at local and national conferences. In addition, the graduate students have been mentoring undergraduate students who are assisting in the development of lab activities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will follow the schedule as described in the project proposal.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The objective of this proposal is to develop an education program for a new generation of researchers who understand both the areas of Forest Resources and Animal Production, and can analyze this coupled system using a life cycle analysis approach. We have successfully recruited three Ph.D. students and they are currently working in this program. This year, we have focused on the second goal - Development and testing of novel biomaterials. Specifically, the production of a high-value xylooligosaccharide (XOS) prebiotic were studied. With an increased awareness of health and wellness, prebiotics have received a great amount of attention recently. Autohydrolyzate (hydrothermal treatment) of hardwood or non-woody biomass was characterized to have a better understanding on its chemistry. It was found that over 30% of the XOS in autohydrolyzate was found to be likely associated with lignin, all of which was removed during the hydrophobic resin treatment process along with over 90% of the dissolved lignin. In addition, the autohydrolyzate was evaluated for its prebiotic effect by fermentation of Lactobacillus brevis strain. It showed that mixed oligosaccharides in the autohydrolyzate from Miscanthus have considerable potential as a prebiotic and are comparable with commercial xylooligosaccharides derived products.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Griffin Miller, Richard Venditti, and Sunkyu Park, Utilization of Autohydrolysis as a Pathway to Value-Added Products and Sustainable Materials from Biomass, AIChE Meeting, Virtual, November 2020.
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Progress 11/15/18 to 11/14/19
Outputs
Target Audience:This annual project report provides information to a diverse target audience on the NNF project activities and achievements for the fiscal year. Specifically, the project will benefit forest products industry, pulp and paper companies, animal science and technology, and food science as well as swine farm and, and society as a whole. In addition, we have presented at local and national conferences, where many experts in the field were participated, including governmental officers, industry researchers, university faculty, and graduate students. The NNF program support together with our capabilities and resources has provided opportunities for enhanced biomass utilization towards oligosaccharide production, which are the sustainable solutions capable of promoting the well-being of society while minimizing the environmental impact. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Faculty members and graduate studentshave served as co-developers and teaching assistants for the four grant-supported online courses: The Sustainable Bioeconomy, Biomass Conversion, Strategic Business Analysis for the Bioeconomy, and Environmental Life Cycle Analysis. These experiences provided graduate students with teaching practice and exposed them to student-centered pedagogical practices. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will recruit two more NNF Fellows.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
One student has been successfully recruited for the project. His name is Griffin Miller. We will have two more NNF Fellows to join for Spring 2020.
Publications
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