The genus Dasypyrum—part 2. Dasypyrum villosum—a wild species used in wheat improvement

Dasypyrum villosum (L.) P. Candargy is discussed as a species commonly used in wheat improvement. Chromosomal localization of the potentially useful traits and chromosomal position of some morphological and isozyme markes are shown. The investigations using molecular RAPD, AFLP, SSR, RFLP markers and in situ (GISH, FISH) hybridization experiments on D. villosum itself and in wide hybrids with Triticum are summarized. The article also presents the information about designation of D. villosum chromosomes and the current knowledge on the phenomenon of two-coloured D. villosum caryopses.     

Quantitative determination of sulfur-containing wine odorants at sub parts per billion levels. 2. Development and application of a stable isotope dilution assay

[(2)H(10)]-4-Mercapto-4-methylpentan-2-one (d(10)-1), [(2)H(2)]-3-mercaptohexan-1-ol (d(2)-2), and [(2)H(5)]-3-mercaptohex-1-yl acetate (d(5)-3), deuterated analogues of impact odorants of wines, were used to determine quantitatively the natural compounds in white wines (Muscadet, Sauvignon, and Bacchus) with a stable isotope dilution assay using gas chromatography coupled either with ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (GC-ITMS-MS) or with atomic emission detection monitored on sulfur-selective acquisition (GC-AED). The thiol compounds were recovered from wines by liquid-liquid extraction, then purified from the wine extracts by covalent chromatography, and analyzed. The quantitative determination of 4-mercapto-4-methylpentan-2-one 1 in the wines that were analyzed was performed better with GC-AED than with GC-ITMS-MS under the conditions that were used. However, the detection limit of the method was higher than the odor threshold of 4-mercapto-4-methylpentan-2-one 1 in wine (5 vs 0.8 ng/L). The levels of this compound in the Sauvignon and Bacchus wines were much higher than its odor threshold, but it was not detectable in the Muscadet wines. On the contrary, GC-ITMS-MS was much more sensitive than GC-AED for detection of 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol 2 and 3-mercaptohex-1-yl acetate 3, and the detection limits were much lower than their odor thresholds in wine. The former compound was detected in all of the Muscadet wines that were analyzed at levels always higher than its odor detection threshold, while the latter occurred at levels higher than its odor threshold in only one Muscadet wine.     

A cost of long-term memory in Drosophila

Two distinct forms of consolidated associative memory are known in Drosophila: long-term memory and so-called anesthesia-resistant memory. Long-term memory is more stable, but unlike anesthesia-resistant memory, its formation requires protein synthesis. We show that flies induced to form long-term memory become more susceptible to extreme stress (such as desiccation). In contrast, induction of anesthesia-resistant memory had no detectable effect on desiccation resistance. This finding may help to explain why evolution has maintained anesthesia-resistant memory as another form of consolidated memory, distinct from long-term memory.     

Laser-induced ferroelectric structural order in an organic charge-transfer crystal

We report the direct observation by x-ray diffraction of a photoinduced paraelectric-to-ferroelectric structural phase transition using monochromatic 100-picosecond synchrotron pulses. It occurs in tetrathiafulvalene-p-chloranil, a charge-transfer molecular material in which electronic and structural changes are strongly coupled. An optical 300-femtosecond laser pulse switches the material from a neutral to an ionic state on a 500-picosecond time scale and, by virtue of intrinsic cooperativity, generates self-organized long-range structural order. The x-ray data indicate a macroscopic ferroelectric reorganization after the laser irradiation. Refinement of the structures before and after laser irradiation indicates structural changes at the molecular level.     

Pathologic changes in the lungs of deer spontaneously infected with nematodes from the Protostrongylidae family]

Lungs of 30 animals of the red deer (Cervus elaphus hippelaphus) attacked by parasitic helminths were submitted to a histological examination, and the changes which were caused by the nematodes of Protostrongylidae family were estimated. The lungworm Varestrongylus sagittatus (Mueller, 1891) creates hatching tubercles of a dark-red or yellow-green and even ochre colour. The lobular catarrhal bronchopneumonia is a histological correlate. In hatching tubercles there are located adult nematodes, ova of 46 x 27 microns and larvae of the 1st stage. For the infection of the Elaphostrongylus cervi nematodes (Cameron, 1931), the typical changes are those of the character of disseminated interstitial pneumonia. In the pulmonary tissue affected in such a way, there are numerous haemorrhages often visible microscopically. In the capillaries of interalveolar septa there are ova of E. cervi that reach up to 83 microns in dependence on the degree of their development and in alveoli there are larvae of the 1st stage. Adults do not occur in lungs.