Determination of the Exciton Binding Energy Using Photothermal and Photoluminescence Spectroscopy

In this paper, experimental photoluminescence (PL) and piezoelectric photothermal (PPT) spectra of selected II–VI binary crystals are presented and analyzed. The quantitative analysis of the photothermal spectra was performed using a modified and extended Jackson–Amer model. The values of the bandgap energies of investigated semiconductors were computed from the PT amplitude and phase spectra. From the temperature dependence of the exciton emission so-called “excitonic energy gaps” have been determined. It follows from the theory that the exciton binding energy is the difference of these two values of energy gaps derived from PPT and PL spectroscopy.     

Energy Absorption by a Single Abrikosov’s Vortex in NbTi and YBaCuO Superconductors

The calculations of the absorption energy and the Q-factor of vibration of a vortex line under the effect of an external uniform harmonic force have been presented. The line tension of the vortex line and its effective mass, Magnus force, pinning force, and viscosity force were included in the equation of the dynamics. Two peaks of absorption in accordance with two modes of the oscillation spectrum were observed. The first peak of absorption is a result of flux pinning, which coincides with the De Gennes–Matricon solution in some limits. The second (high-frequency) peak is a result of a novel mode related to the effective mass of a vortex line. Temperature dependencies of absorption peaks were calculated for the NbTi and YBaCuO superconductors for orientations H∥c and H⊥c. The resonant frequency of the resonance peaks of absorption decreases with an increase in temperature. Some other peculiarities of the oscillating dynamics of the vortex line were discussed.     

Local controllability of quantum systems

We give a criterion that is sufficient for controllability of multipartite quantum systems. We generalize the graph infection criterion to the quantum systems that cannot be described with the use of a graph theory. We introduce the notation of hypergraphs and reformulate the infection property in this setting. The introduced criterion has a topological nature and therefore it is not connected to any particular experimental realization of quantum information processing.     

Organic whey as a source of Lactobacillus strains with selected technological and antimicrobial properties

Twenty‐five strains, isolated from raw, non‐pasteurised, organic whey samples, were identified phenotypically and genotypically. Biochemical tests were performed, and enzyme profiles, antibiotic resistance and antimicrobial properties were investigated. Sixteen strains were identified as genus Lactobacillus. Based on 16S rDNA gene sequence, the strains were identified as Lb. plantarum and Lb. fermentum. All of the strains had β‐galactosidase activity, and some of them reduced nitrate content. All strains utilised carbohydrates. The tested strains were characterised by low or average lipolytic and esterolytic activity. Moreover, the strains showed low proteolytic activity which is advantageous for their use as starter cultures for foods with low protein content. Strains Lb. fermentum S20, SM1, SM3, S2R and Lb. plantarum SM5 produced harmful N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase; moreover, the strain S20 produced also β‐glucuronidase. None of the strains produced α‐chymotrypsin. In phenotypic studies, most of the test strains were susceptible to gentamicin, ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, penicillin and erythromycin. Strains Lb. plantarum S1 and Lb. fermentum S4, S7, S8, S10, SM1 and SM3 did not possess any transfer resistance genes. Antagonistic activity of the culture LAB strains was assessed as high or moderate in relation to the indicator strains, with the greatest zones of inhibition for E.coli and the smallest for L. monocytogenes ATCC 15313. This study reveals that the LAB strains isolated from organic whey have high potential for food application. Some strains of species Lb. fermentum (S4, S7, S8, S10) have been identified as the best candidates.     

Determination of Omega Fatty Acid Profiles in Egg Yolk by HILIC-LC-MS and GC-MS

The paper presents the analysis of the profile composition of fatty acids in the molecules of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, by using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The profiles of 15 phosphatidylcholine and 8 phosphatidylethanolamine species were analyzed with a newly developed hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC)–electrospray ionization (ESI)–tandem mass spectroscopy (MS/MS) method, by using a new stationary bonded phase. The application of the new method in control and experimental groups of egg yolk revealed significant differences in the composition of phospholipid species containing mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids. Additionally, using GC-MS, the profile of fatty acids in four groups with different dietary supplementation of hens was analyzed and 20 fatty acids in egg yolks were determined. Monounsaturated fatty acids were found in higher amounts than saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in egg yolks. Oleic acid (18:1) was the major monounsaturated fatty acid in egg yolk while palmitic acid (16:0) was the major saturated fatty acid. Linoleic acid (18:2), arachidonic acid (20:4), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) reached the highest levels among the polyunsaturated fatty acids.