Systematic studies on the chemical structure and umami enhancing activity of Maillard-modified guanosine 5'-monophosphates

Recent investigations on taste active principles in nucleotide rich yeast extracts led to the discovery of (R)- and (S)-N(2)-(1-carboxyethyl)-guanosine 5'-monophosphate as previously not reported umami enhancing molecules formed upon the Maillard reaction of guanosine 5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) with dihydroxyacetone and glyceraldehyde, respectively. In the present study, systematic Maillard-type model reactions were performed with 5'-GMP and a homologous series of monosaccharides exhibiting a C(3)- to C(6)-carbon skeleton as well as with the reducing disaccharide maltose in the presence of an amino acid. By preparative RP-HPLC, various (R)- and (S)-N(2)-(1-carboxyalkyl)-guanosine 5'-monophosphates and (R)- and (S)-N(2)-(1-alkylamino)carbonylalkyl)guanosine 5'-monophosphates were isolated and identified by means of LC-MS, LC-TOF-MS, and 1D/2D-NMR spectroscopy. Sensory evaluation of these Maillard products revealed β-values for umami enhancement between 0.06 and 7.0 and identified a strong influence of the stereochemistry as well as the chain length of the N(2)-substituent on the umami enhancing activity. For all of the compounds evaluated, the (S)-configured isomers showed higher taste impact, whereas the (R)-isomers showed only marginal β-values, thus underlining the stereospecifity of the umami taste receptor binding site.     

Species enrichment in an agriculturally improved grassland and its effects on botanical composition, yield and forage quality

In a field experiment, the effects of different management treatments on the botanical development and productivity of a previously species‐poor, intensively managed, lowland permanent grass sward were investigated over a 4‐year period. Fertilizer inputs were stopped and nine main treatments, based on three pre‐sowing and three post‐sowing cutting regimes, were applied. Half of each treatment plot was oversown with a mixture of forb (wildflower) species and half left unsown. The aims were: (1) to investigate the effect of cutting regimes on the establishment of introduced forb species, (2) to assess the development and dry‐matter (DM) yield potential of these introduced species, and (3) to compare the DM yield and forage quality of swards with and without introduced species. Seedling establishment was recorded until the end of the second year. From the third year onwards, a common twice‐yearly cutting regime was imposed on all treatments, and the development of the introduced species was recorded. The DM yield of the nine oversown sub‐treatments was compared with the sub‐treatments not oversown. Frequent cutting after oversowing resulted in the greatest number of established plants and three times greater harvested DM yield of introduced species, compared with infrequent cutting. Plantago lanceolata and Trifolium pratense were the best performing introduced species. By years 3 and 4, there was proportionately 0·15 and 0·23, respectively, additional herbage DM yield harvested from the oversown treatments compared with unsown treatments, and up to 0·60 more in some treatments. The introduction of forbs increased the crude protein concentration, but decreased the digestibility of the forage.     

Concentration of Fe, Fe-binding capacity, Cu and Zn in the plasma of piglets before and after oral administration of iron sulfate solution]

In piglets, the influence of the ingestion of Fe-enriched faeces, of the oral application of Fe-dextran (containing 150, 200 or 250 mg Fe) up to the 8th hour as well as the intramuscular injection of Fe-dextran (150 mg Fe) on the 2nd and 3rd day after birth on Fe-resorption was analysed. On the 5th to the 7th and on the 12th to the 14th day after birth the highest increase in the Fe-concentration and the highest values of the Fe-binding capacity of the plasma after the oral application of a solution of Fe-sulphate (containing 20 mg Fe/kg body weight) were confirmed in the piglets with the ingestion of Fe-enriched faeces and in the control piglets without Fe-supplementation. The increase of the iron concentration in the plasma induced a decrease in the concentration of Cu in some cases and of Zn in the plasma in most cases. The biggest increase in body weight was established in the piglets that ingested Fe-enriched faeces.     

Accumulated occurrence of lipomatosis in a cattle herd in Assiut (Egypt)

A total number of 30 native breed cows were used in this investigation. Ten animals were clinically healthy and kept as control, while 20 diseased cows were selected according to rectal findings. At the beginning of the disease, the cows appeared obese with marked deposition of fat in the subcutaneous tissue at the lumbosacral area, later on they became emaciated. Additional signs were digestive disturbance in form of diarrhea or constipation and tympany. Rectal examination revealed hard irregular masses of various size which were palpated in the pelvis, the perirenal area around the colon and the rectum. More information about the nature and character of the lesions were taken from slaughtered cows. Biochemical analysis, including total lipids, cholesterol triglycerides and creatine kinase, were carried out in both healthy and diseased cows. In advanced cases of bovine lipomatosis hyperlipemia and hypercholesterolemia as well as increased creatine kinase values were constant findings. The aetiology of this disease is still unknown.     

Stratospheric sulfuric Acid layer: evidence for an anthropogenic component

Recent measurements of small aerosol particles in the stratosphere over Laramie, Wyoming, indicate low-concentration background conditions. A comparison of measurements made some 20 years ago with the present background concentration reveals the possibility of an increase of 9 percent per year. Since the aerosol particles are predominantly sulfuric acid droplets which form in the stratosphere from tropospheric sulfur-containing gases, such an increase may be related to man-made sulfur emissions.     

Rabies in a puppy imported from India to the USA, March 2007

In March 2007, a puppy that was recently imported from India into the United States was found to be positive for rabies by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. This case report highlights several important public health issues. First, recognizing that humans and animals are part of a global community with frequent travel and translocation, the risks of disease introduction, particularly with sub-clinical or incubating animals, are real and present. Animal-importation regulations, policies and practices are intended to minimize these risks and should be routinely evaluated and updated as needed in response to occurrences such as detailed in this communication. Second, veterinarians play key roles in safeguarding the public's health with regard to monitoring the movement of animals and diagnosing zoonoses. Third, investigating rabies cases that involve multiple jurisdictions are labour-intensive and require significant resources to ensure that all potentially exposed persons are identified and receive the appropriate rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.     

Eine neue Tannenlaus (Dreyfusia prelli nov. spec.)

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Gannenlaus und Gannensterben

Zusammenfassung Die Weisztannenlaus Dreyfusia nüsslini C. B. bedroht in zunehmendem Masze unseren gesamten Tannenjungwuchs und bringt ihn unter bestimmten Bedingungen zum Absterben. Die Form dieses Sterbens ist bon der im allgemeinen beschriebenen Form bes Tannensterbens berschieden.Wenn bisher bei ber Bekämpfung bon nüsslini keine eindeutigen Erfolge erzielt wurden, so lag das vor allem daran, dasz der Bekämpfungszitpunkt nicht richtig gewählt wurde.Alls neuer Befämpfungszeitpunkt wird nicht mehr das Frühiahr, wo auf den empfindlichen Maitrieben verschiedene Formen der einzelnen Generationen vorhanden sind, gewählt, sondern eine bestimmte Zeit im Herbft (im Bsälzer und Frankenwald (September und auch nach ein Teil des Dktober), wa lediglich die Neosistensform vorhanden ist, gegen die das Kontaftstäubemittel Detal wirksam zum Einsatz kam.Es wird noch näher ausgeführt, dasz nur unter bestimmten Berhältnissen eine chemische Befämpfung in Frage kommt.Zur Eindämmung und Niederhaltung von nüsslini sind auszer einer chemischen Bekämpfung noch bestimmte waldbauliche Masznahmen erforderlich.