The study assesses the implications of the bioethanol policy mandate in Thailand of producing 9 M litre ethanol per day by 2021 on water use and water deprivation. The results reveal that water footprint (WF) of bioethanol varies between 1396 and 3105 L water/L ethanol. Cassava ethanol has the highest WF followed by molasses and sugarcane ethanol, respectively. However, in terms of fresh water (especially irrigation water) consumption, molasses ethanol is highest with 699-1220 L/L ethanol. To satisfy the government plan of bioethanol production in 2021, around 1625 million m(3) of irrigation water/year will be additionally required, accounting for about 3% of the current active water storage of Thailand. Two important watersheds in the northeastern region of Thailand are found to be potentially facing serious water stress if water resources are not properly managed. Measures to reduce water footprint of bioethanol are recommended.

In this study we developed a segregated flux balance analysis (FBA) method to calculate metabolic flux distributions of the individual populations present in a mixed microbial culture (MMC). Population specific flux data constraints were derived from the raw data typically obtained by the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and microautoradiography (MAR)-FISH techniques. This method was applied to study the metabolic heterogeneity of a MMC that produces polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from fermented sugar cane molasses. Three populations were identified by FISH, namely Paracoccus sp., Thauera sp., and Azoarcus sp. The segregated FBA method predicts a flux distribution for each of the identified populations. The method is shown to predict with high accuracy the average PHA storage flux and the respective monomeric composition for 16 independent experiments. Moreover, flux predictions by segregated FBA were slightly better than those obtained by nonsegregated FBA, and also highly concordant with metabolic flux analysis (MFA) estimated fluxes. The segregated FBA method can be of high value to assess metabolic heterogeneity in MMC systems and to derive more efficient eco-engineering strategies. For the case of PHA-producing MMC considered in this work, it becomes apparent that the PHA average monomeric composition might be controlled not only by the volatile fatty acids (VFA) feeding profile but also by the population composition present in the MMC.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the possible clinical benefit of molasses-based dietary compositions (designated as MSQ 13, MSQ 15, and MSQ 18) in a case of both primary and recurrent adult AML.
METHODS: The design was a single case study.
METHODS: The setting was in the home.
METHODS: The regime of dietary compositions initially was administered as follows: MSQ-13 1 tbsp t.i.d. for 1 mo, MSQ-15 2 tbsp t.i.d. for 3 mo. After recurrence, MSQ-18 was taken at 2 tbsp t.i.d. for 3 mo.
METHODS: Clinical improvement and regression of AML were the outcome measures.
CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with the MSQ dietary compositions resulted in disease regression and the reversal of clinical manifestations over two episodes of AML. Therefore, further studies are warranted to evaluate the utility of this approach for the clinical management of AML.

Three cases of dairy herds affected by production disease (infertility, calf scours and low milk yield) were carried out. The value of blood analysis in establishing a diagnosis and a dietary supplement of molasses in correcting the production problems is illustrated.