Organic biomarkers may greatly aid in the interpretation of geobiological systems, but their significance is often restricted by the loss of spatial information during conventional sample work-up (solvent extraction). Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is a quasi-non-destructive technique that simultaneously detects inorganic and organic molecules on solid surfaces, witho...

One of the major steps toward the industrialization of the microbial product(s) is to optimize the cultivation conditions at the large-scale bioreactor and successfully control the microbial behavior within a large scale production environment. Statistical Design of Experiment was proven to optimize a vast number of microbial processes to achieve robustness and explore possible interactions...

In the short-term heterotrophic soil respiration is strongly and positively related to temperature. In the long-term, its response to temperature is uncertain. One reason for this is because in field experiments increases in respiration due to warming are relatively short-lived. The explanations proposed for this ephemeral response include depletion of fast-cycling, soil carbon pools and therma...

Rates of ecosystem processes such as decomposition are likely to change as a result of human impacts on the environment. In southern California, climate change and nitrogen (N) deposition in particular may alter biological communities and ecosystem processes. These drivers may affect decomposition directly, through changes in abiotic conditions, and indirectly through changes in plant and decom...

Tropical forests have high rates of soil carbon cycling, but little information is available on how roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and free-living microorganisms interact and influence organic matter mineralization in these ecosystems. We used mesh ingrowth cores and isotopic tracers in phospholipid fatty acid biomarkers to investigate the effects of roots and AMF mycelia on (1) mic...

PURPOSE Syrah red grapes are used in the production of tannin-rich red wines. Tannins are high molecular weight molecules, proanthocyanidins (PAs), and poorly absorbed in the upper intestine. In this study, gut microbial metabolism of Syrah grape phenolic compounds was investigated. METHODS Syrah grape pericarp was subjected to an enzymatic in vitro digestion model, and red wine and grape ski...