Production of sensory compounds by means of the yeast Dekkera bruxellensis in different nitrogen sources with the prospect of producing cachaça

The distilled spirit made from sugar cane juice, also known as cachaça, is a traditional Brazilian beverage that in recent years has increased its market share among international distilled beverages. Several volatile compounds produced by yeast cells during the fermentation process are responsible for the unique taste and aroma of this drink. The yeast Dekkera bruxellensis has acquired increasing importance in the fermented beverage production, as the different metabolites produced by this yeast may be either beneficial or harmful to the end‐product. Since D. bruxellensis is often found in the fermentation processes carried out in ethanol fuel distillation in Brazil, we employed this yeast to analyse the physiological profile and production of aromatic compounds and to examine whether it is feasible to regard it as a cachaça‐producing microorganism. The assays were performed on a small scale and simulated the conditions for the production of handmade cachaça. The results showed that the presence of aromatic and branched‐chain amino acids in the medium has a strong influence on the metabolism and production of flavours by D. bruxellensis. The assimilation of these alternative nitrogen sources led to different fermentation yields and the production of flavouring compounds. The influence of the nitrogen source on the metabolism of fusel alcohols and esters in D. bruxellensis highlights the need for further studies of the nitrogen requirements to obtain the desired level of sensory compounds in the fermentation. Our results suggest that D. bruxellensis has the potential to play a role in the production of cachaça. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Latent polyphenol oxidase from quince fruit pulp (Cydonia oblonga): purification,activation and some properties

Quince fruit polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was partially purified using a combination of phase partitioning in Triton X‐114 and PEG 8000/phosphate with a final ammonium sulfate fractionation between 30% and 75%, to avoid the deep browning of the enzyme due to the high amount of oxidizing substances present in the quince pulp. The clean and stable enzyme was partially purified in a latent form and could be optimally activated by the presence of 0.5 g dm^?3 sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with an optimum pH of 5.0. In the absence of SDS, the enzyme showed maximum activity at acid pH. The apparent kinetic parameters of the latent enzyme were determined at pH 5.0, the V_m value being 15 times higher in the presence of SDS than in its absence, whereas the K_M was the same in both cases, with a value of 1.2 mmol L^?1. The effect of several inhibitors was studied, tropolone being the most active with a K_i value of 4.7 µmol L^?1. In addition, the effect of cyclodextrins was studied, and the complexation constant (K_c) between 4‐tert‐butylcatechol and cyclodextrins was calculated using an enzymatic method. The value obtained for K_c was 15 310 mol L^?1. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease: A Focused Review on Oral Anticoagulation

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality but it is usually underdiagnosed and undertreated. Patients with PAD present dysregulated procoagulant, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic pathways leading to arterial and venous thrombosis. The risk of several ischemic-related complications could be mitigated with appropriate antithrombotic therapy, which plays a central role in all types of PAD. For years, antiplatelets have been indicated in patients with symptomatic PAD or those who have undergone revascularization. Unfortunately, a non-negligible proportion of patients with PAD will suffer from adverse events during the follow-up, even despite proper medical therapies for the prevention of PAD complications. Thus, there is room for improving clinical outcomes in these patients. Given the implication of both, primary and secondary hemostasis in arterial thrombosis and the pathophysiology of PAD, the combination of antiplatelets and anticoagulants has emerged as a potential antithrombotic alternative to antiplatelets alone. In this narrative review article, we have highlighted the most recent evidence about antithrombotic therapy in PAD patients, with a special focus on oral anticoagulation. Certainly, COMPASS and VOYAGER PAD trials have shown promising results. Thus, rivaroxaban in combination with aspirin seem to reduce cardiovascular outcomes with a similar bleeding risk compared to aspirin alone. Nevertheless, results from real-world studies are needed to confirm these observations, and other trials will provide novel evidence about the safety and efficacy of emerging anticoagulant agents.     

Application of a check‐all‐that‐apply question for the evaluation of strawberry cultivars from a breeding program

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, breeding research has been focused on increasing yield and fruit size, improving resistance to diseases, behaviour during transport and increasing postharvest shelf‐life. However, consumers' liking is one of the biggest challenges for strawberry breeding programs. In this context, the aim of the present work was to evaluate the application of a check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA) question to study consumers' perception of new strawberry cultivars. RESULTS: Average liking scores were low for a highly appreciated product like strawberries, which could be explained considering unfavourable weather conditions prior to harvest. However, despite the small differences in overall liking scores, significant differences were found in the frequency in which 14 out of the 22 terms of the CATA question were used to describe samples. This suggests that the evaluated CATA question was able to detect differences in consumers' perception of the sensory characteristics of the evaluated cultivars. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between laboratory analyses (firmness, colour, soluble solids and acidity) and consumers' responses to the CATA question, which indicates their validity. CONCLUSIONS: Considering results from the present study, the use of CATA questions could be a simple and interesting methodology to gain insight into consumers' perception of different fruit cultivars. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Environmental history of one of the largest freshwater neotropical fish (Zungaro jahu) from otolith isotopic analysis

The Manguruyú Zungaro jahu, endemic to the La Plata Basin, is one of the largest neotropical fish species whose life history is virtually unknown. The objectives of this study were to determine if Z. jahu is a large-scale migratory species and to describe habitat use throughout ontogeny using the otolith Sr isotope (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) ratio. Surface water samples were collected in 2020 at four sites representing the main water courses of the Great Pantanal in Brazil (upper Paraguay, Cuiabá, São Lourenço and Vermelho rivers). Eighteen fish individuals were collected from the Paraná River (Argentina). New water ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data were incorporated into previously established statistical models to infer the fish habitat use through the otolith ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. The water ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of the upper Paraguay tributaries varied (0.7209 and 0.7229) and were the highest in the La Plata Basin. The dispersal area of Z. jahu was restricted to the surroundings of the confluence of the Paraná and Paraguay rivers. Fish showed chemical signatures compatible with those of the middle Paraná (88%), Paraguay-Pilcomayo-Bermejo (50%) and the lower/upper Paraná (66%). The discriminant analysis based on otolith core indicated natal origins from the middle Paraná (37%), upper Paraná (32%), and Paraguay sub-basin (32%). The dispersal area of Z. jahu migrations could be restricted to the surroundings of the confluence of Paraná and Paraguay, which highlights the need to review regional fishing regulations, especially between latitudes 30°–34° S.     

Automated database design for document stores with multicriteria optimization

Document stores have gained popularity among NoSQL systems mainly due to the semi-structured data storage structure and the enhanced query capabilities. The database design in document stores expands beyond the first normal form by encouraging de-normalization through nesting. This hinders the process, as the number of alternatives grows exponentially with multiple choices in nesting (including different levels) and referencing (including the direction of the reference). Due to this complexity, document store data design is mostly carried out in trial-and-error or ad-hoc rule-based approaches. However, the choices affect multiple, often conflicting, aspects such as query performance, storage space, and complexity of the documents. To overcome these issues, in this paper, we apply multicriteria optimization. Our approach is driven by a query workload and a set of optimization objectives. First, we formalize a canonical model to represent alternative designs and introduce an algebra of transformations that can systematically modify a design. Then, using these transformations, we implement a local search algorithm driven by a loss function that can propose near-optimal designs with high probability. Finally, we compare our prototype against an existing document store data design solution purely driven by query cost, where our proposed designs have better performance and are more compact with less redundancy.

     

Antiparasitic Derivatives of the Furoquinoline Alkaloids Kokusaginine And Flindersiamine

We report the synthesis of 16 new compounds obtained from kokusaginine and flindersiamine, the main alkaloids isolated from the bark of Balfourodendron riedelianum. The activity of the compounds against axenic cultures of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigtotes and trypomastigotes, as well as intracellular amastigotes, is described, together with their cytotoxic activity against three different human cell lines. The synthetic strategy for the preparation of the new compounds was based on the reactivity at the C4 position of the furoquinoline core towards nucleophiles. The new derivatives were synthesized by a Buchwald-Hartwig reaction, in most cases under green, solvent-free conditions. Compounds 1 c and 1 e displayed better in-vitro activity against trypomastigotes than benznidazole and nifurtimox (positive controls) with IC₅₀<4 μM. In addition, both compounds were not cytotoxic against the three human cell lines K562 (erytroleukimia), LM2 (breast cancer), and HaCat (keratinocyte). Interestingly, when evaluated against intracellular amastigotes, compound 1 c was able to significantly reduce the number of this parasite form, compared to the negative control.     

Inhibition of Intergranular Corrosion in Austenitic Stainless Steels Through Critical Near-Surface Plastic Deformation and Aging

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Inhibition of high intergranular corrosion susceptibility (HIGCS) in austenitic stainless steels can be achieved by healing Cr-depleted zones through...     

A Review on Biogenic Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles and Its Biological Applications

In recent decades, aquaculture and environment plays a noteworthy role in rewarding the massive stipulate in all industries. Environmental damage and disease domination are seen as essential issues in the region. In addition to these, nanotechnology as a fresh and imaginative instruments were extremely feasible in aquaculture and environmental applications. Next-generation biological applications of these nanomaterials might lead to an explosion in the bio industries. In order to utilizing the nanoparticles of biogenic expansion, selenium has plays major role in the biological progresses. Selenium (Se) is a multifunctional trace element. The present review analytically intends to the potential biological applications of biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). Synthesis of SeNPs physical, chemical and biological methods has been used. Physical and chemical methods of SeNPs have high cost, non ecofriendly, highly time consuming. Therefore, there is a growing concern to develop eco friendly and sustainable methods for biosynthesis. Biosynthesis method has ecofriendly, low cost, nontoxic and zero contamination. Biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles by plant extracts, bacteria, protein, biopolymers, seaweed extracts, fungi and yeasts have used for capping or stabilizing agents. Therefore this review represented original evidence for antibacterial, antifungal, antibiofilm, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antimosquito larvicidal and aquaculture applications of prospective biogenic SeNPs were provided in turn in this regard of literatures. Bio synthesis of SeNPs and it is used for many applications like medical, environmental and aquaculture applications. In this review study, the importance of selenium nanoparticles as a competitive element for sustainable aquaculture and environmental applications is also examined in detail.

     

Templated Out-of-Equilibrium Self-Assembly of Branched Au Nanoshells

Out-of-equilibrium self-assembly of metal nanoparticles (NPs) has been devised using different types of strategies and fuels, but achieving finite 3D structures with a controlled morphology through this assembly mode is still rare. Here, a spherical peptide-gold superstructure (PAuSS) is used as a template to control the out-of-equilibrium self-assembly of Au NPs, obtaining a transient 3D-branched Au-nanoshell (BAuNS) stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The BAuNS dismantles upon SDS concentration gradient equilibration over time in the sample solution, leading to NPs disassembly and regression to PAuSS. Notably, BAuNS assembly and disassembly promotes temporary interparticle plasmonic coupling, leading to reversible and tunable changes of their plasmonic properties, a highly desirable behavior in the development of optoelectronic nanodevices.