Color Stabilization of Apulian Red Wines through the Sequential Inoculation of Starmerella bacillaris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mixed fermentation using Starmerella bacillaris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae has gained attention in recent years due to their ability to modulate the qualitative parameters of enological interest, such as the color intensity and stability of wine. In this study, three of the most important red Apulian varieties were fermented through two pure inoculations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains or the sequential inoculation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae after 48 h from Starmerella bacillaris. The evolution of anthocyanin profiles and chromatic characteristics were determined in the produced wines at draining off and after 18 months of bottle aging in order to assess the impact of the different fermentation protocols on the potential color stabilization and shelf-life. The chemical composition analysis showed titratable acidity and ethanol content exhibiting marked differences among wines after fermentation and aging. The 48 h inoculation delay produced wines with higher values of color intensity and color stability. This was ascribed to the increased presence of compounds, such as stable A-type vitisins and reddish/violet ethylidene-bridge flavonol-anthocyanin adducts, in the mixed fermentation. Our results proved that the sequential fermentation of Starmerella bacillaris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae could enhance the chromatic profile as well as the stability of the red wines, thus improving their organoleptic quality.     

Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Diaryl Ethers by Copper‐Mediated O‐Arylation of Phenols using Trivalent Arylbismuth Reagents

Highly functionalized diaryl ethers were prepared by copper(II) acetate mediated O‐arylation reaction of phenols using trivalent organobismuthanes. The reaction is performed under simple conditions and tolerates a wide diversity of functional groups on the phenol and on the organobismuth reagent. Substoichiometric amounts of catalyst can be used by performing the reaction under an oxygen atmosphere. The N‐arylation of pyridones is also reported.     

Conversion of Mg‐Li Bimetallic Alloys to Magnesium Alkoxide and Magnesium Oxide Ceramic Nanowires

Technologically important composites with enhanced thermal and mechanical properties rely on the reinforcement by the high specific strength ceramic nanofibers or nanowires (NWs) with high aspect ratios. However, conventional synthesis routes to produce such ceramic NWs have prohibitively high cost. Now, direct transformation of bulk Mg‐Li alloys into Mg alkoxide NWs is demonstrated without the use of catalysts, templates, expensive or toxic chemicals, or any external stimuli. This mechanism proceeds through the minimization of strain energy at the boundary of phase transformation front leading to the formation of ultra‐long NWs with tunable dimensions. Such alkoxide NWs can be easily converted in air into ceramic MgO NWs with similar dimensions. The impact of the alloy grain size and Li content, synthesis temperature, inductive and steric effects of alkoxide groups on the diameter, length, composition, ductility, and oxidation of the produced NWs is discussed.     

Interpenetrating networks of conjugated ionic polyacetylenes

An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) based on poly(N-butyl 2-ethynylpyridinum bromide) (PB2EPB) and polycarbonate-urethane (PCU) has been prepared and characterized. The simultaneous full IPNs of PCU and PB2EPB have two glass transition temperatures corresponding to those of the linear chain blends measured by DSC. This suggests immiscibility of the two networks in the IPNs. The IPNs display a multiphase morphology which is confirmed by SEM observation. The full IPNs exhibit excellent solvent resistance, good thermal stability and good mechanical properties. High UV absorption of these materials extending to the visible range and beyond indicates that the polyacetylene network is extensively conjugated. The electrical conductivity of the IPNs increases linearly with increasing polyacetylene content reaching 10^-4 S/cm. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Tuning Cellular Biological Functions Through the Controlled Release of NO from a Porous Ti‐MOF

Materials for the controlled release of nitric oxide (NO) are of interest for therapeutic applications. However, to date, many suffer from toxicity and stability issues, as well as poor performance. Herein, we propose a new NO adsorption/release mechanism through the formation of nitrites on the skeleton of a titanium‐based metal–organic framework (MOF) that we named MIP‐177, featuring a suitable set of properties for such an application: (i) high NO storage capacity (3 μmol mg^?1_solid), (ii) excellent biocompatibility at therapeutic relevant concentrations (no cytotoxicity at 90 μg mL^?1 for wound healing) due to its high stability in biological media (<9 % degradation in 72 hours) and (iii) slow NO release in biological media (≈2 hours for 90 % release). The prospective application of MIP‐177 is demonstrated through NO‐driven control of mitochondrial respiration in cells and stimulation of cell migration, paving the way for the design of new NO delivery systems for wound healing therapy.     

Stereoisomeric Tris-BINOL-Menthol Bulky Monophosphites: Synthesis,Characterisation and Application in Rhodium-Catalysed Hydroformylation

Four stereoisomeric monoether derivatives, based on axially chiral (R)- or (S)-BINOL bearing a chiral (+)- or (−)-neomenthyloxy group were synthesised and fully characterised by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The respective tris-monophosphites were thereof prepared and fully characterised. The coordination ability of the new bulky phosphites with Rh(CO)₂(acac), was attested by ³¹P NMR, which presented a doublet in the range of δ = 120 ppm, with a ¹J(¹⁰³Rh-³¹P) coupling constant of 290 Hz. The new tris-binaphthyl phosphite ligands were further characterised by DFT computational methods, which allowed us to calculate an electronic (CEP) parameter of 2083.2 cm⁻¹ and an extremely large cone angle of 345°, decreasing to 265° upon coordination with a metal atom. Furthermore, the monophosphites were applied as ligands in rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation of styrene, leading to complete conversions in 4 h, 100% chemoselectivity for aldehydes and up to 98% iso-regioselectivity. The Rh(I)/phosphite catalytic system was also highly active and selective in the hydroformylation of disubstituted olefins, including (E)-prop-1-en-1-ylbenzene and prop-1-en-2-ylbenzene.     

The additive property of the inconsistency degree in intertemporal decision making through the generalization of psychophysical laws

Intertemporal decision making involves choices among options whose effects occur at different moments. These choices are influenced not only by the effect of reward value perception at different moments, but also by the time perception effect. One of the main difficulties that affect standard experiments involving intertemporal choices is the simultaneity of both effects on time discounting. In this paper, we unify the psychophysical laws and discount value functions using the one-parameter exponential and logarithmic functions from nonextensive statistical mechanics. Also, we propose to measure the degree of inconsistency. This quantity allow us to discriminate both effects of time and value perception on discounting process and, by integration, obtain other main quantities like impulsivity and discount functions.