Development of low-alcohol isotonic beer by interrupted fermentation

Alcohol-free beer with isotonic properties is getting more popular and its production can be carried out by different production strategies; however, interrupted fermentation is still a challenge. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a low-alcohol isotonic beer (<0.5% v/v) by interrupted fermentation. Moreover, the major objective is to compare the developed product to commercial beverages (sports drinks, ‘Pilsen' regular beer, alcohol-free beers and low-alcohol isotonic beer). The beverages were evaluated based on pH, alcohol content (% v/v), total titratable acidity (mEq L⁻¹), osmolality (mOsmol kg⁻¹), bitterness International Bitterness Units, colour European Brewery Convention, total phenolic compounds (mg L⁻¹ gallic acid), reducing and total sugars (%) and Na and K contents (mg L⁻¹). The developed low-alcohol isotonic beer presented characteristics similar to sports drinks, with the advantage of being richer in phenolic compounds and suitable osmolality. Despite salts were added in its formulation, the grades attributed to all beers employed in the sensory evaluation, as well as the purchase intention did not present significant differences.     

The impacts of a GTL plant on Brazil's oil products supply and refinery expansion

This paper assesses the impacts of a GTL plant on the expansion of Brazil's oil refining segment. The GTL plant (50,000 bpd) was sized to start up operations in 2015, producing diesel and naphtha through the indirect route (FT-synthesis). This plant will consume the non-associated natural gas production from the recent discoveries at the Santos Basin (around 419 Bm³), and the associated gas production from the Campos Basin. Both basins are located in the Southeast of Brazil, the most populated, rich and industrialized region of the country. Two different criteria for refinery expansion were simulated in order to meet oil product demand scenarios. Findings show that depending on the refinery expansion criteria considered GTL will play a fundamental hole to meet the oil product demand forecast to Brazil in the next 10 years.     

A rubber-modified thermoplastic where the morphology produced by phase-separation induced by polymerization disappears at high conversions

An unexpected experimental finding is reported where the primary morphology developed during polymerization-induced phase separation in a rubber-modified thermoplastic practically disappears at high conversions. This process was evidenced by light scattering (LS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for a particular composition of solutions of polyisobutylene oligomers (PIB) in isobornylmethacrylate (IBoMA), during the free-radical polymerization of the monomer. The primary phase separation produced a dispersion of domains rich in PIB containing significant amounts of the monomer (IBoMA). Polymerization of the monomer in these domains occurred at high overall conversions producing the filling of dispersed domains with a PIBoMA-PIB blend that could not be distinguished from the matrix. Under these conditions the final material had the appearance of a homogeneous blend.     

Grouped Approach for the Design of H.264/AVC Motion Estimation Architectures

This letter presents a novel approach for organizing computational resources into groups within H.264/AVC motion estimation architectures, leading to reductions of up to 75% in the equivalent gate count with respect to state‐of‐the‐art designs.     

Solar assisted cooling with sorption systems: status of the research in Mexico and Latin America

Solar refrigeration projects both national and international with sorption and other refrigeration systems have been developed in Mexico and other Latin American countries in the last 15 years. A review of the main projects, both for solar cooling and refrigeration and the results obtained are presented in this paper. A methodology where 19 solar technologies for cooling were identified is also presented. Although solar cooling is still not an economically viable technology, the advances made and the experience gained in the projects described and the improved systems envisaged, will make solar refrigeration systems play an important role in the future.     

Photovoltaic characterization of amorphous hydrogenated and chlorinated silicon films

Hydrogenated and chlorinated silicon films were used to deposit Schottky barrier solar cells. Photovoltaic characterization, together with the results of electronic transport measurements, led to the conclusion that the presence of chlorine is detrimental to the properties of this kind of device.     

The Use of Biopreservatives in the Control of Bacterial Contaminants of Sugarcane Alcohol Fermentation

ABSTRACT: Efficacy and safety of biopreservatives were studied for microbiological control of alcohol fermentation. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of nisin and lysozyme, and combinations with EDTA and Tween 20, were determined for Lactobacillus plantarum, L. fermentum , and L. confusus. The highest MIC value for nisin was 9.0 ppm for L. fermentum. Lysozyme was efficient against L. plantarum (700 ppm). A 2⁴ factorial design was used to study the effect of biopreservatives and potentiators on the growth kinetics of Lactobacillus fermentum. The combination of 8.6 ppm of nisin plus 0.1% of Tween 20 delayed the lag phase by 12 h. The biopreservatives did not affect the fermentation kinetics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

High-electric-field effects and degradation of AlGaAs/GaAs power HFETs: a numerical study

This work presents a numerical study of high-field degradation and reliability issues of AlGaAs/GaAs power HFETs. A commercial two-dimensional drift–diffusion tool is used to investigate electric-field distributions, the effects of electron capture at the device surface under hot-carrier conditions, and the impact of drain recess scaling on such effects. Wherever experimental data are available for direct comparison, a good match is observed with our simulations. The main results of this study are (1) a validation of the hypothesis that attributes the main high-field degradation effects to electron capture over the gate–drain access region, and (2) design indications pointing out to the possibility of a reverse correlation between the gate–drain breakdown voltage and the device hot-carrier reliability.