Oenological Characteristics of Four Non-Saccharomyces Yeast Strains With β-Glycosidase Activity

Non-Saccharomyces yeast with β-glucosidase activity might positively contribute to the flavor and quality of wines. The contribution of four non-Saccharomyces yeast strains Issatchenkia terricola SLY-4, Pichia kudriavzevii F2-24, P. kudriavzevii F2-16, and Metschnikowia pulcherrima HX-13 with β-glucosidase activity to the flavor and quality of wine making was studied. Compared with those of S. cerevisiae single fermentation, the four non-Saccharomyces yeast strains could grow and consume sugar completely with longer fermentation periods, and with no significantly negative effect on chemical characteristics of wines. Moreover, they produced lower content of C6 compounds, benzene derivative, and fatty acid ethyl ester compounds and higher content of terpene, β-ionone, higher alcohol, and acetate compounds. Different yeast strains produced different aroma compounds profiles. In general, the sensory evaluation score of adding non-Saccharomyces yeast-fermented wine was better than that of S. cerevisiae, and I. terricola SLY-4 fermentation received the highest one, followed by P. kudriavzevii F2-24, P. kudriavzevii F2-16, and M. pulcherrima HX-13 from high to low. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of non-Saccharomyces yeast and its application in wine making.

Structure of benzothiadiazine at zwitterionic phospholipid cell membranes

The use of drugs derived from benzothiadiazine, which is a bicyclic heterocyclic benzene derivative, has become a widespread treatment for diseases such as hypertension (treated with diuretics such as bendroflumethiazide or chlorothiazide), low blood sugar (treated with non-diuretic diazoxide) or the human immunodeficiency virus, among others. In this work we have investigated the interactions of benzothiadiazine with the basic components of cell membranes and solvents such as phospholipids, cholesterol, ions and water. The analysis of the mutual microscopic interactions is of central importance to elucidate the local structure of benzothiadiazine as well as the mechanisms responsible for the access of benzothiadiazine to the interior of the cell. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations of benzothiadiazine embedded in three different model zwitterionic bilayer membranes made by dimyristoilphosphatidylcholine, dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, 1,2- dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoserine and cholesterol inside aqueous sodium-chloride solution in order to systematically examine microscopic interactions of benzothiadiazine with the cell membrane at liquid-crystalline phase conditions. From data obtained through radial distribution functions, hydrogen-bonding lengths and potentials of mean force based on reversible work calculations, we have observed that benzothiadiazine has a strong affinity to stay at the cell membrane interface although it can be fully solvated by water in short periods of time. Furthermore, benzothiadiazine is able to bind lipids and cholesterol chains by means of single and double hydrogen-bonds of different characteristic lengths.

Production and characterization of bio-oils from fast pyrolysis of tobacco processing wastes in an ablative reactor under vacuum

Application of advanced pyrolysis processes to agricultural waste for liquid production is gaining great attention, especially when it is applied to an economic crop like tobacco. In this work, tobacco residues were pyrolyzed in an ablative reactor under vacuum. The maximum bio-oil yield of 55% w/w was obtained at 600°C with a particle size of 10 mm at a blade rotation speed of 10 rpm. The physical properties of the products showed that the oil produced was of high quality with high carbon, hydrogen, and calorific value. Two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis results indicated that the oils were complex mixtures of alkanes, benzene derivative groups, and nitrogen-containing compounds. In addition, 13C NMR results confirmed that long aliphatic chain alkanes were evident. The alkanes were likely converted from furans that were decomposed from hemicelluloses. Ablative pyrolysis under vacuum proved to be a promising option for generating useful amount of bio-oils from tobacco residues.

Investigation of Triple Symmetric Non-halogen Benzene Derivative Solvent for Spray-Coated Polymer Solar Cells

The performance of spray-coated polymer solar cells could be largely improved via morphologies and phase optimization by solvent engineering. However, there is still a lack of fundamental knowledge and know-how in controlling blend morphology by using various solvents. Here, the effect of adding low polar benzene and non-halogen benzene derivatives with triple symmetric molecular has been systematically investigated and discussed. It is found that the triple symmetric non-halogen benzene could promote the formation of preferential face-on molecule orientation for PBDB-T-2Cl:IT4F films by grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that PBDB-T-2Cl could be transported to the surface of the blend film during drying process. A 3D opt-digital microscope shows that triple symmetric non-halogen benzene could also improve the morphologies of active layers by reducing the coffee ring or other micro-defects. Due to the appropriate vapor pressures, devices with mixing 20% benzene or the triple symmetric non-halogen in spray solution could significantly improve the device performance. Device prepared using 20% 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (TMB) and 80% chlorobenzene (CB) mixture solvent has the best morphology and phase structure, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device was increased nearly 60 to 10.21% compared with the device using CB as the only solvent.

Electrodeposited Copolymers Based on 9,9′-(5-Bromo-1,3-Phenylene)Biscarbazole and Dithiophene Derivatives for High-Performance Electrochromic Devices

A 1,3-bis(carbazol-9-yl)benzene derivative (BPBC) was synthesized and its related homopolymer (PBPBC) and copolymers (P(BPBC-co-BT), P(BPBC-co-CDT), and P(BPBC-co-CDTK)) were prepared using electrochemical polymerization. Investigations of polymeric spectra showed that PBPBC film was grey, iron-grey, yellowish-grey, and greyish-green from the neutral to the oxidized state. P(BPBC-co-BT), P(BPBC-co-CDT), and P(BPBC-co-CDTK) films showed multicolor transitions from the reduced to the oxidized state. The transmittance change (DT) of PBPBC, P(BPBC-co-BT), P(BPBC-co-CDT), and P(BPBC-co-CDTK) films were 29.6% at 1040 nm, 44.4% at 1030 nm, 22.3% at 1050 nm, and 41.4% at 1070 nm. The coloration efficiency (η) of PBPBC and P(BPBC-co-CDTK) films were evaluated to be 140.3 cm2 C−1 at 1040 nm and 283.7 cm2 C−1 at 1070 nm, respectively. A P(BPBC-co-BT)/PEDOT electrochromic device (ECD) showed a large DT (36.2% at 625 nm) and a fast response time (less than 0.5 s), whereas a P(BPBC-co-CDTK)/PEDOT ECD revealed a large η (534.4 cm2 C–1 at 610 nm) and sufficient optical circuit memory.

Synthesis of Anthraquinones by Iridium-Catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition of a 1,2-Bis(propiolyl)benzene Derivative with Alkynes

[2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of a 1,2-bis(propiolyl)benzene derivative with terminal and internal alkynes takes place in the presence of [Ir(cod)Cl]2 (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) combined with bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) to give anthraquinones in 42% to 93% yields with a simple experimental procedure. A fluorenone derivative can also be synthesized by iridium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of a benzene-linked ketodiyne with an internal alkyne to give a 94% yield.