Ferroelectricity and structure of BaTiO3 grown on YBa2Cu3O7-d thin films

We have investigated the crystal structure and the ferroelectric properties of BaTiO3 thin films with YBa2Cu3O7-d as the bottom and Au as the top electrode. Epitaxial heterostructures of YBa2Cu3O7-d and BaTiO3 were prepared by dc and rf sputtering, respectively. The crystal structure of the films was characterised by x-ray diffraction. The ferroelectric behaviour of the BaTiO3 films was confirmed by hysteresis loop measurements using a Sawyer Tower circuit. We obtain a coercive field of 30 kV/cm and a remanent polarisation of 1.25 \muC/cm. At sub-switching fields the capacitance of the films obeys a relation analogous to the Rayleigh law. This behaviour indicates an interaction of domain walls with randomly distributed pinning centres. At a field of 5 MV/m we calculate 3% contribution of irreversible domain wall motion to the total dielectric constant.Comment: 12 pages and 9 figure

Diversity and Distribution of Borrelia hermsii

Multilocus sequence analysis and laboratory experiments suggest that birds may play a role in maintaining and dispersing this pathogen

Identification of a Protein in Several Borrelia Species which is Related to OspC of the Lyme Disease Spirochetes.

Using oligonucleotide probes which have previously been shown to be specific for the ospC gene found in the Lyme disease spirochete species Borrelia burgdorferi, B. garinii, and group VS461, we detected an ospC homolog in other Borrelia species including B. coriaceae, B. hermsii, B. anserina, B. turicatae, and B. parkeri. In contrast to the Lyme disease spirochetes, which carry the ospC gene on a 26-kb circular plasmid, we mapped the gene in other Borrelia species to linear plasmids which varied in size among the isolates tested. Some isolates carry multiple copies of the gene residing on linear plasmids of different sizes. The analyses conducted here also demonstrate that these Borrelia species contain a linear chromosome. Northern (RNA) blot analyses demonstrated that the gene is transcriptionally expressed in all species examined. High levels of transcriptional expression were observed in some B. hermsii isolates. Transcriptional start site analyses revealed that the length of the untranslated leader sequence was identical to that observed in the Lyme disease spirochete species. By Western blotting (immunoblotting) with antiserum (polyclonal) raised against the OspC protein of B. burgdorferi, we detected an immunoreactive protein of the same molecular weight as the OspC found in Lyme disease spirochete species. The results presented here demonstrate the presence of a protein that is genetically and antigenically related to OspC which is expressed in all species of the genus Borrelia tested

Profile of higher alcohols in fruit wines produced by different Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Higher alcohols are secondary yeast metabolites, and can have both positive and negative impacts on the aroma and flavour of wine. Concentrations lower than 300 mg/l of higher alcohols contribute to the aroma, while concentrations above 400 mg/l negatively influence the wine quality. The formation of these compounds is influenced by several factors like temperature, presence of nitrogen compounds and the type of yeasts used for the fermentation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of higher alcohols in alcoholic beverage produced from the fermentation of raspberry must by different yeast. The pH of the must was adjusted to 4.0 by the addition of CaCO3 and the initial sugar concentration to 16 Brix (adjusted with sucrose syrup). Batch fermentations were carried out at 22º C. Higher alcohols were determined by gas chromatography (GC­FID). Five higher alcohols (1­propanol, 2­methyl­1­propanol, 2­methyl­1­butano, 3­methyl­1­butanol and 2­phenylethanol) were identified and quantified. 3­methyl­1­butanol was the alcohol found in highest quantity. The highest concentrations were 140.9 and 149.4 mg/l for the yeast UFLA CA1162 and UFLA CA15, respctively. The beverage produced by the yeast UFLA CA155 showed the highest concentration of 2­phenylethanol (29.1 mg/l). 1­propanol was found in similar values (21 mg/l) in raspberry wine fermented by the yeast UFLA CA11 and UFLA CA1174. The highest and lowest total concentrations of higher alcohols were 284.5 and 161.8 mg/l for the beverage produced by the yeast UFLA CA1162 and UFLA CA11, respectively. It can be concluded that raspberry wine with a total higher alcohol concentration similar to that considered desirable (300 mg/l) in alcoholic beverages can be produced by using the yeast UFLA CA1162

Profile of sugars comsumption in fruit wines produced by different Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In wine fermentation, the two main soluble sugars present in must (glucose and fructose) are fermented to ethanol, CO2 and other compounds. Wine yeasts have a slight preference for glucose compared to fructose resulting in a difference between glucose and fructose consumption. Fructose is approximately twice as sweet as glucose and its presence as a residual sugar has a much stronger effect on the final sweetness of wine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of sugars consumption by different yeasts during fruit wines production. Different Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used in the fermentation of raspberry must with 16 ºBrix and pH adjusted to 4.0. Batch fermentations were carried out at 22ºC. The concentrations of sucrose, glucose and fructose were determined by HPLC. The total conversion of sucrose into glucose and fructose by yeast UFLA CA11 was the fastest, within the first 8 h of fermentation, while for the yeast UFLA CA1174 the total hydrolysis of sucrose occurred after 32 h of fermentation. For the yeasts UFLA CA15 and UFLA EU 60.1, the sucrose hydrolysis occurred after 12 and 16 h, respectively. As expected, for all yeasts, was confirmed a preferential and fast consumption of glucose in comparison to the consumption of fructose. The highest residual concentrations of glucose and fructose were respectively, 300 and 920 mg/l for yeast UFLA CA11 and 400 and 2100 mg/l for yeast UFLA CA1174. Based on the concentrations of ethanol and residual sugar, the best efficiency of conversion was 93.88% for the yeast UFLA CA15. The other yeasts showed an efficiency of 75.56% (UFLA EU 60.1), 82.08% (UFLA CA11) and 83.69% (UFLA CA1174). It can be concluded that the evaluated yeasts were able to ferment the main sugars present in raspberry must. The yeast UFLA CA15 showed the best performance with higher conversion efficiency, rapid hydrolysis of sucrose and low concentration of residual sugars at the end of fermentation

Tick-borne Relapsing Fever Caused by Borrelia hermsii, Montana

Five persons contracted tick-borne relapsing fever after staying in a cabin in western Montana. Borrelia hermsii was isolated from the blood of two patients, and Ornithodoros hermsi ticks were collected from the cabin, the first demonstration of this bacterium and tick in Montana. Relapsing fever should be considered when patients who reside or have vacationed in western Montana exhibit a recurring febrile illness

Efeito da concentração do mosto e temperatura na fermentação para produção de vinho de frutas

Tradicionalmente o vinho é uma bebida alcoólica, a qual é produzida pela fermentação de uvas frescas, no entanto, diversas frutas apresentam características (teor de açucares, pH) que tornam possível seu uso na produção de vinho. Nos últimos anos vêm crescendo o número de trabalhos de pesquisa relativos ao emprego de outras frutas na produção de vinhos, destacando-se o kiwi, banana, cajá, manga, acerola, jabuticaba, cacau, laranja e gabiroba. Fatores como temperatura de fermentação e concentração de açúcares no mosto exercem grande influência no metabolismo das leveduras e consequentemente influenciam também a qualidade final da bebida produzida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da concentração do mosto (A) e temperatura (B) na conversão do substrato em etanol (Yp/s) utilizando a metodologia de superfície de resposta. O mosto de framboesa foi preparado em 3 diferentes concentrações (14, 18 e 22º Brix), sendo a correção realizada com adição de sacarose. A levedura S. cerevisiae UFLA CA 15 foi inoculada (1 g/L) em 100 mL de mosto e os frascos foram colocados em 3 diferentes temperaturas (17, 22 e 27º C). As concentrações de açúcares e etanol foram determinadas por HPLC. De acordo com a análise estatística, a concentração do mosto apresentou um efeito linear positivo, significativo a 95% de confiança; enquanto que o efeito da temperatura foi do tipo quadrático e negativo, significativo a 99% de confiança. O modelo que melhor descreve a variação da resposta em função das variáveis na faixa de valores estudados pode ser expresso pela equação: 0,49 + 0,019*A 0,045*B2, sendo A e B os valores codificados das variáveis concentração do mosto e temperatura, respectivamente. Os melhores resultados de YP/S foram obtidos a 22º C, empregando um mosto com 22º Brix. Em uma próxima etapa do experimento será avaliado o efeito da concentração do mosto e temperatura no perfil de compostos voláteis (alcoóis, ésteres, aldeídos, cetonas e outros) dos vinhos produzidos

Yeasts from Canastra cheese production process: Isolation and evaluation of their potential for cheese whey fermentation

Canastra cheese is a cheese with geographical indication recognized by the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Protection under number IG201002. It is produced in seven municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais in a region called Serra da Canastra. In thiswork, samples of milk, “pingo” (natural starter),whey and Canastra cheese were collected on a farm inMedeiros-MG/Brazil to evaluate the yeast microbiota and select yeasts for whey fermentation to produce ethanol and volatile aromatic compounds of relevance in the production of cheese. Thirtynine isolates capable of fermenting lactose in a synthetic medium were identified by MALDI-TOF as Kluyveromyces lactis (29), Torulaspora delbrueckii (7) and Candida intermedia (3). Eleven isolates of K. lactis and three of T. delbrueckii efficiently fermented lactose until 4th day, and due to this reason were selected for cheese whey fermentation with Brix 12, 14 and 18. Generally, the isolates T. delbrueckii B14, B35, and B20 and K. lactis B10 were the most effective regardless of the initial Brix value. The identification of these four isolates by MALDI TOF was confirmed by sequencing of the ITS region. In the fermentation of cheese whey 14 Brix, T. delbrueckii B14 and B35, respectively yielded 24.06 g/L and 16.45 g/L of ethanol, while K. lactis B10 was more efficient in the consumption of lactose. In sequential culture with K. lactis B10 inoculated 48 h after T. delbrueckii B14, 97.82% of the total sugars were consumed resulting in the production of 19.81 g/L ethanol and 39 aromatic volatile compounds. The most abundant compounds were 3-methyl-1-butanol, octanoic acid and ethyl decanoate, which are reported as important for the aroma and flavor of cheeses. Based in our results, B10 isolate inoculated 48 h after B14 isolate is a promising yeast inoculum to be used for fermentation of dairy substrates.The authors thank CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Brasil), CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais) for financial support. The authors also thank J.C Amorim for her help in MALDI TOF analysis and Dr. P.S Geraldino for her help in sequences analysis