Use of Microwave Maceration in Red Winemaking: Effect on Fermentation and Chemical Composition of Red Wines

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of microwave treatment of crushed grapes on the yeast population of the must and on the development of alcoholic fermentation, as well as on the extraction of different compounds from the grapes such as polysaccharides and amino acids that can affect the organoleptic quality and stability of the wine. This study demonstrated for the first time the effect of the microwave treatment of grapes on native yeast species and their diversity, producing an increase in fermentation kinetics and a decrease in the lag phase. The microwave treatment produced a positive effect on the extraction of amino acids and polysaccharides from the grapes, resulting in significantly higher amounts of the main amino acids of the must and some major volatile compounds in the treated samples. The polysaccharides most affected by the microwave treatment were the PRAGs, the main polysaccharides liberated from grapes during the maceration.     

Photocatalytic Degradation of Paracetamol in Aqueous Medium Using TiO2 Prepared by the Sol–Gel Method

Two titania photocatalysts have been prepared using the sol–gel method using TiCl₄ as a precursor, and two different alcohols, namely, ethanol or propanol (Et or Pr). The main aim of this work was to study the effect of the nature of the alcohol on the chemical, structural and photocatalytic properties for paracetamol photodegradation of the final solids. The TiCl₄/alcohol molar ratio to obtain the corresponding alkoxides (TiEt and TiPr) was 1/10. These alkoxides were calcined at 400 °C to prepare the oxide catalysts (named as TiEt400 and TiPr400). Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) of the original samples showed the presence of anatase diffraction peaks in sample TiPr, while TiEt is a completely amorphous material. Contrary to commercial TiO₂-P25, the PXRD diagrams of the calcined samples showed anatase as the exclusive crystalline phase in both solids. The specific surface area (S_BET) of sample TiPr400 was larger than that of sample TiEt400, and both larger than that of TiO₂-P25. The three solids have been tested in the photodegradation of paracetamol in aqueous solution. It has been established that the alcohol used influences the properties and catalytic activity of the final oxides. The synthesized solids exhibit a higher activity than commercial TiO₂-P25, because of their structural characteristics and larger S_BET.     

Changes of Separation Status During Registration and Scattering

In our previous work, a new approach to the notorious problem of quantum measurement was proposed. Existing treatments of the problem were incorrect because they ignored the disturbance of measurement by identical particles and standard quantum mechanics had to be modified to obey the cluster separability principle. The key tool was the notion of separation status. Changes of separation status occur during preparations, registrations and scattering on macroscopic targets. Standard quantum mechanics does not provide any correct rules that would govern these changes. This gives us the possibility to add new rules to quantum mechanics that would satisfy the objectification requirement. The method of the present paper is to start from the standard unitary evolution and then introduce minimal corrections. Several representative examples of registration and particle scattering on macroscopic targets are analysed case by case in order to see their common features. The resulting general Rule of Separation Status Changes is stated in the Conclusion.     

Gamma radiation effects on physical properties of parchment documents: Assessment of Dmax

Parchments are important documents that give testimony for History; therefore these materials should be respected and preserved. Considering incremental biodeterioration problems that have to be faced daily, the Archive of the University of Coimbra (AUC) is involved in different scientific projects in order to evaluate and determine new methods for document decontamination and preservation.The aim of this study was to evaluate gamma radiation effects on the colour and texture of the AUC parchment documents. The assessment of these effects was used to estimate the maximum gamma radiation dose (D_max) that could guarantee parchment documents′ decontamination treatment, without significant alteration of their physical properties. Parchment samples were exposed to gamma radiation doses ranging from 10 to 30 kGy. The texture and colour of samples were assessed before and after the irradiation procedure, using a texture analyser and an electronic colorimeter. Hardness and springiness were determined based on texture spectra. Lightness (L?), Chroma (C), greenness vs. redness (a*) and yellowness vs. blueness (b*) values were obtained from colorimetric measures. Results indicate no significant effects of gamma radiation on the texture and colour of parchment for the studied doses.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Biological Activity of 4-Chlorobenzaldehyde (2-trifluoromethylTrifluoromethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzo[4 ,5]-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)hydrazone Monohydrate

The novel title compound 4-chlorobenzaldehyde (2-trifluoromethyl-5,6,7,8- tetrahydrobenzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)hydrazone monohydrate (C18H14ClF3N4SH2O, Mr = 428.86) has been synthesized by a condensation reaction of 4-chlorobenzaldehyde with (2-trifluoromethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)hydrazine, and its crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal belongs to monoclinic, space group P21/c with a = 7.4252(7), b = 26.344(2), c = 10.3095(9) , = 109.407(2)°, V = 1902.0(3) 3 , Z = 4, Dc = 1.498 g/cm3 , μ = 0.356 mm-1 , F(000) = 880, the final R = 0.0564 and wR = 0.1681 for 2343 observed reflections with I > 2 (I). X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the title hydrazone molecule is nearly planar except for the cyclohexene and trifluoromethyl moieties. In the crystal packing, the molecules form stacks by a three-dimensional framework, which results from intermolecular N(3)-H(3)···O(1), O(1)-H(1B)···N(2), O(1)- H(1B)···N(4) and O(1)-H(1A)···F(1) hydrogen bonds via water molecules together with π-π stacking interactions. Molecular geometry of the title compound in the ground state optimized by B3LYP functional with 6-311G** basis sets indicates that the calculations are in agreement with the experimental data. The preliminary bioassay suggested that the title compound exhibits relatively good fungicidal activity against Fusarium oxysporium f.sp.vasinfectum and Dothiorella gregaria.     

Microcalorimetric determination of the activity of supercritical extracts of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) over Spodoptera littoralis

The aim of this study is to develop a method and to determine by means of isothermal microcalorimetry the activity of supercritical extracts obtained from growth-controlled wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) over Spodoptera littoralis L. (S. littoralis), a polyphagous pest of the Mediterranean crops. In order to achieve this goal, a three-step microcalorimetric method has been developed to insure the quality of the measurements and the validity of the results. Once optimized, different extracts of wormwood obtained by means of supercritical fluid extraction and by traditional methods have been used to investigate their effects over S. littoralis. The microcalorimetric method serves as a tool to complement other bioassays found in the literature. Several extracts from supercritical extractions with solvent density ranging from 485.5 to 819.5 kg m^?3 have been tested. The influence of an entrainer addition to the supercritical fluid has also been investigated. The traditional extracts were obtained by hydrodistillation and organic Soxhlet extraction. The supercritical extracts were more efficient against S. littoralis than the traditionally obtained extracts.     

Normal Coordinates Analysis for The M(NH3)2+ 4 Complex Ions in D4h and Td Symmetries. Simplified Molecular Models

A normal coordinates analysis for the M(NH₃)²⁺ ₄ complex ions in T_d symmetry (M = Zn, Cd, Co) and in D_4h symmetry (M = Cu, Pd, Pt) has been undertaken on the basis of a General Valence Force Field (GVFF), using simplified molecular models. Throughout the course of the present work, we have relaxed the point mass approximation for the NH₃-ligands in order to investigate, on a quantitative basis, some relevant ligand - framework coupling vibrations. The simplest molecular model able to accomplish this purpose is to treat the ammino group, in a linear ligator approximation. We show that these model calculations provide a satisfactory set of vibrational frequencies as well as consistent sets of force constants.