Oxidation of the flavonol quercetin by polyphenol oxidase

Because direct oxidation of flavonols by polyphenol oxidase (PPO) has not previously been reported and, given the importance of flavonols, the ability of broad bean seed PPO to oxidize the flavonol quercetin was studied. The reaction was followed by recording spectral changes with time. Maximal spectral changes were observed at 291 nm (increase) and at 372 nm (decrease). The presence of two isosbectic points (at 272 and 342 nm) suggested the formation of only one absorbent product. These spectral changes were not observed in the absence of PPO. The oxidation rate, which varied with pH, was highest at pH 5.0. The following kinetic parameters were also determined: V(m) = 11 microM/min, K(m) = 646 microM, V(m)/K(m) = 17 x 10(-)(2) min(-)(1). Flavonol oxidation was efficiently inhibited (K(I) = 3.5 microM) by specific PPO inhibitors such as 4-hexylresorcinol. The results obtained showed that quercetin oxidation was strictly dependent on the presence of PPO.     

Free galactose concentrations in fresh and stored apples (Malus domestica) and processed apple products

Gas chromatography was used to quantitate free galactose in Braeburn, Fuji, Red Delicious, and Spartan apples during cold storage, after thermal processing of apple slices and in juice produced using clarification and/or liquifaction enzymes. Spartan had significantly higher galactose levels as compared to Red Delicious apples, but changes in galactose in all varieties during 9 months of cold storage were insignificant. Blanching and canning decreased galactose levels, but doubling the thermal processing during canning increased the free galactose concentration detected in plant tissue. An enzymatic liquefaction aid used to prepare apple juice dramatically increased the free galactose content while a clarification aid caused only a slight increase due to its selective action on soluble pectin. These findings provide useful information for dietitians to base diet recommendations for galactosemic patients.     

Interactions between artificial saliva and 20 aroma compounds in water and oil model systems

The interactions between saliva components and 20 aroma compounds in water and oil model systems were systematically evaluated as a function of saliva composition and saliva/model system ratio. Air/liquid partition coefficients of dimethyl sulfide, 1-propanol, diacetyl, 2-butanone, ethyl acetate, 1-butanol, 2-pentanol, propyl acetate, 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl butyrate, hexanal, butyl acetate, 1-hexanol, 2-heptanone, heptanal, alpha-pinene, 2-octanone, octanal, 2-nonanol, and 2-decanone were determined by static headspace gas chromatography. Chain length of compounds within the homologous series determined the extent of interactions with the model system or saliva. Salts in the artificial saliva hardly interacted with aroma compounds. On the other hand, saliva proteins lowered retention of highly volatile compounds and increased retention of less volatile, hydrophobic compounds. Significant differences in volatility of compounds when artificial saliva or water was added indicated that saliva could not be sufficiently replaced by water. The model system/saliva ratio influenced air/liquid partitioning of the aroma compounds significantly for both model systems. Although saliva composition affected volatility of the aroma compounds, the saliva/model system ratio was of much greater influence.     

Investigation into the population growth and its implications for primary schooling in Timor‐Leste by 2020

The nation‐building process of Timor‐Leste, the newest nation in Asia, faces significant demographic challenges due to its high population growth, which is the fastest in Asia. The major contributor for this unprecedented growth is the extremely high total fertility rate of Timor‐Leste, among the highest in the world. It is of great concern that if the current fertility rate and its implied population growth continue the population of Timor‐Leste will double in 17 years. The analysis in this paper clearly shows that the current extremely high dependency ratio will decline only marginally in the next 10 years and this will put tremendous pressure on the government to constantly keep up with the increasing number of children entering school every year. However, as the intrinsic value of human resource development feeds back into the overall society and economy, an adequate public investment in knowledge‐producing services at the earliest stages of life and throughout that life has the potential to change the demographic concern of Timor‐Leste into a future demographic dividend.     

水稻整米率稳定性的估计

本文提出了测定水稻品种对环境稳定性的一个新参数,采用这一参数对美国加利福尼亚州多年多点的水稻品种整米率进行稳定性分析的结果表明,稳定性与熟期类型在统计上有一定的相关性,即整米率稳定性依晚熟品种、早熟品种、特早熟品种而顺序降低,回归分析说明整米率的稳定性有随整米率的提高而增加的趋向,本文还讨论了稳定性系数的优点和局限性。     

利用卫星遥感进行加拿大花旗松林虫害监测的研究

森林虫害监测是森林经营管理中的一个重要内容,为此作者利用陆地卫星第5号的主题成图仪数据,在加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省卡奇河试验区对花旗松林被云杉茅卷蛾危害的状况进行了监测。试验表明,在直方均衡的基础上进行比值处理和最大概似分类,其图象处理效果比较理想。利用直升飞机航空目视调查所勾绘的虫害分布图进行对照检验,其位置和形状基本吻合,面积也达到一定的精度。这种分析方法所取得的结果,可作为虫害防治的依据。     

The chemistry of sexual deception in an orchid-wasp pollination system

The "sexually deceptive" orchid Chiloglottis trapeziformis attracts males of its pollinator species, the thynnine wasp Neozeleboria cryptoides, by emitting a unique volatile compound, 2-ethyl-5-propylcyclohexan-1,3-dione, which is also produced by female wasps as a male-attracting sex pheromone.     

Reversal of neurological defects in a mouse model of Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder caused by mosaic expression of mutant copies of the X-linked MECP2 gene in neurons. However, neurons do not die, which suggests that this is not a neurodegenerative disorder. An important question for future therapeutic approaches to this and related disorders concerns phenotypic reversibility. Can viable but defective neurons be repaired, or is the damage done during development without normal MeCP2 irrevocable? Using a mouse model, we demonstrate robust phenotypic reversal, as activation of MeCP2 expression leads to striking loss of advanced neurological symptoms in both immature and mature adult animals.     

基于AutoCAD环境前处理接口程序的开发

本文通过分析传统的结构数据处理方法的缺陷，提出了基于AutoCAD环境下的前处理模式的开发；详细研究了Auto CAD的DXF文件结构，叙述了如何运用嵌套于AutoCAD内部的AutoLISP语言来读取、处理AutoCAD图形文件，进而生成计算程序所需要的数据文件；最后总结了前处理的主要工作。     

NaCl胁迫对黄瓜种子萌发的影响

采用培养皿发芽法研究了NaCl胁迫处理对黄瓜种子萌发的影响。结果表明：NaCl胁迫浸种、水环境下发芽对黄瓜种子萌发的影响较小，只有在高浓度NaCl胁迫下，才对种子萌发起抑制作用。不同浓度的NaCl胁迫对黄瓜种子发芽的影响有显著差异；随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增大。对发芽的抑制作用明显增强。种子活力指数、发芽指数、胚根一级侧根数比发芽率对NaCl胁迫的反应更敏感。在225mmol／L NaCl胁迫下，黄瓜种子萌发对外源Ca^2 反应较为敏感，适量的外源Ca^2 (10mmol／L CaCl2)对盐胁迫有一定的缓解效应，浓度过高对发芽起抑制作用。适当时间的吸湿-回干处理能缓解NaCl胁迫对黄瓜种子萌发的抑制作用。