Phenolic Compounds as Phytochemical Tracers of Varietal Origin of Some Autochthonous Apple Cultivars Grown in Serbia

Domesticated international (standard) apple cultivars, together with resistant apple cultivars are the core of the Serbian apple production. Furthermore, autochthonous cultivars are characterized by a good adaptability to the local environmental conditions and represent a valuable source of genetic variability, as well as an important source of the gene pool for further breeding programs. Additionally, they show a higher phenolic content and a stronger antioxidant activity, in comparison to commercial cultivars. Therefore, they are more likely to be used as a functional food. The subjects of this study were seventeen samples of fruits and leaves from autochthonous apple cultivars, five international standard cultivars, and six resistant apple cultivars. The phenolic profile was determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), coupled with a diode array detector and a TSQ Quantum Access Max triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. A total of twenty compounds were quantified in the samples. Most of the analyzed phenolics were detected in higher amounts in the peel, compared to the mesocarp. The results of the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicate that 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid is present in the highest amount in the mesocarp, while in the peel and leaves, quercetin-glycosides were detected in the highest amount. According to the MANOVA: phloretin, phlorizin, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, kaempferol, and p-coumaric acid are present in significantly higher levels in the autochthonous cultivars, compared to the standard and resistant ones (in both fruits and leaves). Therefore, these compounds can be used as chemical tracers of the apple varietal origin.     

Nonlinear evolution of coarse-grained quantum systems with generalized purity constraints

Constrained quantum dynamics is used to propose a nonlinear dynamical equation for pure states of a generalized coarse-grained system. The relevant constraint is given either by the generalized purity or by the generalized invariant fluctuation, and the coarse-grained pure states correspond to the generalized coherent, i.e. generalized nonentangled states. Open system model of the coarse-graining is discussed. It is shown that in this model and in the weak coupling limit the constrained dynamical equations coincide with an equation for pointer states, based on Hilbert-Schmidt distance, that was previously suggested in the context of the decoherence theory.     

Potential energy landscape of monolayer-surface systems governed by repulsive lateral interactions: the case of (3 x 3)-I-Pt(111)

Combined density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo (MC) approach is applied to study the potential energy landscape of four iodine atoms adsorbed on the Pt(111) surface in a (3 x 3) unit cell. Three critical points were identified: (3 x 3)-sym and (3 x 3)-asym, corresponding to structures well known from experimental studies, while the third one (3 x 3)-zigzag is a new structure not reported before. An interaction model fitted to DFT calculations allows us to explain the difference between arrangements of iodine monolayer in vacuum, air, and solution environments as a result of different repulsion regimes.     

On some coarse shape invariants

The author and N. Ugleši? have recently introduced a new classification of topological spaces, strictly coarser than the shape type classification. The corresponding coarse shape theory is founded on the coarse shape category. In this paper several topological and shape invariants are considered with respect to the coarse shape. It is shown that the coarse shape domination preserves connectedness, shape dimension, movability, n-movability and strong movability. Further, stability is a coarse shape invariant. Moreover, the coarse shape and shape coincide on the class of stable spaces.     

Aromaticity on the edge of chaos: an Ab initio CCSD(T) study of the bimodal balance between aromatic and non-aromatic structures for 10-π-diheterocins and heteronins

CCSD(T) coupled cluster ab initio SCF-MO calculations for 10-π-heteroannulenes reveal a range of potential surface characteristics, ranging from single-minimum aromatic planar species to triple-minimum systems involving both planar-aromatic and the two enantiomers of a C₂ symmetric non-planar non-aromatic species. For the specific case of 1,4-dioxocine, the existence of barriers separating the three minima is attributed to an anti-aromatic Möbius-like transition state connecting the two equilibrium forms.     

Bound states in continuum: Quantum dots in a quantum well

We report on the existence of a bound state in the continuum (BIC) of quantum rods (QR). QRs are novel elongated InGaAs quantum dot nanostructures embedded in the shallower InGaAs quantum well. BIC appears as an excited confined dot state and energetically above the bottom of a well subband continuum. We prove that high height-to-diameter QR aspect ratio and the presence of a quantum well are indispensable conditions for accommodating the BIC. QRs are unique semiconductor nanostructures, exhibiting this mathematical curiosity predicted 83 years ago by Wigner and von Neumann.     

Energy Properties and Biomass Yield of Miscanthus x Giganteus Fertilized by Municipal Sewage Sludge

The application of municipal sewage sludge as fertilizer in the production of non-food energy crops is an environmentally and economically sustainable approach to sewage sludge management. In addition, the application of municipal sewage sludge to energy crops such as Miscanthus x giganteus is an alternative form of recycling nutrients and organic material from waste. Municipal sewage sludge is a potential source of heavy metals in the soil, some of which can be removed by growing energy crops that are also remediation agents. Therefore, the objective of the research was to investigate the effect of municipal sewage sludge applied at three different rates of 1.66, 3.22 and 6.44 t/ha on the production of Miscanthus. Based on the analyses conducted on the biomass of Miscanthus fertilized with sludge from the wastewater treatment plant in three fertilization treatments, it can be concluded that the biomass of Miscanthus is a good feedstock for the process of direct combustion. Moreover, the application of the largest amount of municipal sewage sludge during cultivation had no negative effect on the properties of Miscanthus biomass. Moreover, the cellulose and hemicellulose content of Miscanthus is ideal for the production of second-generation liquid biofuels. Fertilizer treatments had no effect on the content of cellulose and lignin, while a significant statistical difference was found for hemicellulose.