Phylogeographic patterns of Armillariaostoyae in the western United States

Nuclear ribosomal DNA regions (i.e. large subunit, internal transcribed spacer, 5.8S and intergenic spacer) were sequenced using a direct‐polymerase chain reaction method from Armillaria ostoyae genets collected from the western USA. Many of the A. ostoyae genets contained heterogeneity among rDNA repeats, indicating intragenomic variation and likely intraspecific hybridization. Intragenomic variation was verified by visually editing base‐sequence offsets in regions with insertions/deletions, and using sequence‐specific internal primers to resequence heterogeneous regions. Phylogenetic analyses with Bayesian Inference methods were used to define groups within A. ostoyae. Analysis of A. ostoyae from outside the western USA indicated the presence of a Circumboreal group of A. ostoyae that also occurs in Utah; two other phylogeographic groups were associated with the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions of the USA. Mixed sequence types, an indication of intraspecific hybrids, were common in some geographic regions. Hybridization events may have influenced species evolution, contributing to variation in pathogenicity and virulence. The occurrence of these groups and intraspecific hybrids also indicates that paleogeography and paleoclimate may have influenced the phylogeography of A. ostoyae. In addition, other Armillaria species were examined for evolutionary relationships with the groups of A. ostoyae. These findings will provide a basis for future research relating ecological function to genetic diversity within A. ostoyae.     

Adaptability of birch (Betula pendula Roth) and aspen (Populus tremula L.) genotypes to different soil moisture conditions

For northern Europe’s climate, models predict an increase in periods of drought and waterlogging. Knowledge of variation between genotypes of Betula pendula (birch) and Populus tremula (aspen) to drought and excess soil moisture are unavailable but relevant for future development of forest ecosystems. We studied variation between genotypes to soil moisture in birch and aspen with plant material representing naturally regenerated populations and showed differences in acclimation to soil moisture conditions. Genotypes showing most growth and biomass accumulation across treatments maintained most leaf area, high gas exchange and water-use efficiency and grew most root mass but had the lowest root length per unit root dry mass compared to other genotypes. This indicates that these genotypes are more efficient in harvesting water from the soil under adverse conditions. We also showed that birch and aspen employ different strategies to cope with soil moisture conditions, with aspen investing more in perennial parts, while birch efficiently maintains foliar processes. When the expression of some known drought responsive genes was measured, only ACC oxidase was induced by the drought treatment at the beginning of the experiment, while surprisingly LEA5, RD22 and ADH1 did not respond to drought, but were up-regulated in prolonged wet conditions indicating oxidative stress and hypoxia and that these genes are responding to multiple stress factors. We conclude that in plants micro-propagated from naturally regenerated birch and aspen populations, there is variation between genotypes in acclimation efficiency to soil moisture conditions.     

Comparative study of health properties and nutritional value of durian, mangosteen, and snake fruit: experiments in vitro and in vivo

In vitro and in vivo studies of the health and nutritional properties of durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) were compared with snake fruit (Salacca edulis Reinw.) and mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana). Dietary fibers, minerals, and trace metals were comparable. Total polyphenols (mg of GAE/100 g of FW) and flavonoids (85.1+/-6.1) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in snake fruit (217.1+/-13.2 (mg of CE/100 g of FW)), durian (309.7+/-19.3 and 61.2+/-4.9), and mangosteen (190.3+/-12.1 and 54.1+/-3.8). Antioxidant activity (microM TE/100 g of FW) of durian measured by DPPH and ABTS assays (228.2+/-13.4 and 2016.3+/-81.1) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in snake fruit (110.4+/-7.9 and 1507.5+/-70.1) and mangosteen (79.1+/-5.9 and 1268.6+/-62.3). HPLC/DAD analysis of durian (microg/100 g of FW) showed that quercetin (1214.23+/-116.7) was present at levels three times that of caffeic acid, and twice as high as p-coumaric and cinnamic acids. The correlation coefficients between the bioactive compounds of fruits and their antioxidant activities were high (R2=0.99). Male Wistar rats (25) were divided into five dietary groups: the control group was fed the basal diet (BD); in addition to BD, the cholesterol (Chol) group was supplemented with 1% of Chol; the diets of the Chol/Durian, Chol/Snake, and Chol/Mangosteen groups were supplemanted with 5% of these fruits, respectively. It was found that diets supplemented with durian, and to a lesser degree with snake fruit and mangosteen, significantly hindered the rise in plasma lipids and the decrease in antioxidant activity. The nutritional values were comparably high. In conclusion, it could be suggested that inclusion of studied tropical fruits, especially durian, in known disease-preventing diets could be beneficial.     

Apple and pear peel and pulp and their influence on plasma lipids and antioxidant potentials in rats fed cholesterol-containing diets

The aim of this study was to assess the bioactive compounds of apple and pear peel and pulp in vitro and their influence on plasma lipids and antioxidant potentials in vivo. The antioxidant potentials measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), beta-carotene bleaching (beta-carotene), and nitric oxide inhibition radical scavenging (NO) tests in apple peel and pulp were significantly higher than in pear peel and pulp, respectively. The ethanol extract of apple peels showed the strongest inhibition of lipid peroxidation as a function of its concentration and was comparable to the antioxidant activity of butylated hydroxyanisole. The pear pulp extract had the weakest antioxidant ability, whereas other extracts such as apple pulp and pear peel were nearly equal. The antioxidant activities comprised contributions from polyphenols, phenolic acids, and flavonoids and correlated well with polyphenols and flavonoids. The correlation coefficients between polyphenols and antioxidant activities by DPPH, beta-carotene, and NO were as follows: 0.9207, 0.9350, and 0.9453. Contrarily, the correlation coefficient between the content of dietary fiber and the antioxidant activities test was low. The content of all studied indices in apple and pear peel was significantly higher than in peeled fruits (p < 0.05). Diets supplemented with fruit peels exercised a significantly higher positive influence on plasma lipid levels and on plasma antioxidant capacity of rats than diets with fruit pulps.     

Elucidation of the structures of residual and dissolved pine kraft lignins using an HMQC NMR technique

Comparative studies on the structures of residual and dissolved lignins isolated from pine kraft pulp and pulping liquor have been undertaken using the (1)H-(13)C HMQC NMR technique, GPC, and sugar analysis to elucidate the reaction mechanisms in kraft pulping and the lignin reactivity. A modified procedure for the isolation of enzymatic residual lignins has resulted in an appreciable decrease in protein contaminants in the residual lignin preparations (N content < 0.2%). The very high dispersion of HMQC spectra allows identification of different lignin moieties, which signals appear overlapped in 1D (13)C NMR spectra. Elucidation of the role of condensation reactions indicates that an increase in the degree of lignin condensation during pulping results from accumulation of original condensed lignin moieties rather than from the formation of new alkyl-aryl structures. Among aryl-vinyl type moieties, only stilbene structures are accumulated in lignin in appreciable amounts. Benzyl ether lignin-carbohydrate bonds involving primary hydroxyl groups of carbohydrates have been detected in residual and dissolved lignin preparations. Structures of the alpha-hydroxyacid type have been postulated to be among the important lignin degradation products in kraft pulping. The effect of the isolation method on the lignin structure and differences between the residual and dissolved lignins are discussed.     

Determination of diastereomeric purity of tranylcypromine sulfate by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy with lanthanide shift reagent

Use of proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the lanthanide shift reagent, Eu(hfc)3, resulted in a simple and reliable method for determination of the diastereomeric purity of trans-2-phenylcyclopropylamine sulfate (tranylcypromine sulfate). Eu(hfc)3 effectively simplified the complex overlapping pattern of the 5 non-equivalent phenyl protons to a virtually first order pattern. At a shift reagent to substrate molar ratio of 0.75, and a substrate concentration of 0.25M (as the free base) in CDCl3, the resonances for the cis- and trans-ortho-phenyl protons at 11.39 and 9.99 ppm, respectively, were sufficiently resolved to be of use in quantitative work. Analysis of synthetic diastereomeric mixtures of 2-phenylcyclopropylamine sulfate by the proposed method yielded results that were in close agreement with the expected values. The mean recovery (SD) of trans-diastereomer was 100.51% (0.40) (n = 6). Levels of less than 2% of cis-diastereomer were measurable in cis-trans mixtures.     

Extraction of green labeled pectins and pectic oligosaccharides from plant byproducts

Green labeled pectins were extracted by an environmentally friendly way using proteases and cellulases being able to act on proteins and cellulose present in cell walls. Pectins were isolated from different plant byproducts, i.e., chicory roots, citrus peel, cauliflower florets and leaves, endive, and sugar beet pulps. Enzymatic extraction was performed at 50 degrees C for 4 h, in order to fulfill the conditions required for microbiological safety of extracted products. High methoxy (HM) pectins of high molar mass were extracted with three different enzyme mixtures. These pectins were subsequently demethylated with two pectin methyl esterases (PMEs), either the fungal PME from Aspergillus aculeatus or the orange PME. It was further demonstrated that high molar mass low methoxy (LM) pectins could also be extracted directly from cell walls by adding the fungal PME to the mixture of protease and cellulase. Moreover, health benefit pectic oligosaccharides, the so-called modified hairy regions, were obtained after enzymatic treatment of the residue recovered after pectin extraction. The enzymatic method demonstrates that it is possible to convert vegetable byproducts into high-added value compounds, such as pectins and pectic oligosaccharides, and thus considerably reduce the amount of these residues generated by food industries.     

Preparation and stability of animal feed mixtures dosed with rotenone

Studies at Midwest Research Institute for the National Toxicology Program show that rotenone/animal feed mixtures prepared by dry-mixing are more stable than mixtures produced by dosing the feed with alcoholic solutions of rotenone and then stripping the solvent. Also, recoveries of rotenone from the dry mix feeds are higher than those from feeds dosed by the solution method. A simplified analytical method from one previously reported for rotenone in feed is described.     

Fresh Israeli Jaffa blond (Shamouti) orange and Israeli Jaffa red Star Ruby (Sunrise) grapefruit juices affect plasma lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity in rats fed added cholesterol

The bioactivity of Israeli Jaffa blond (Shamouti) fresh orange and Israeli Jaffa red Star Ruby (Sunrise) grapefruit juices was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The contents of bioactive compounds of these juices were determined. The influence of bioactive compounds on plasma lipids and plasma antioxidant activity in rats fed cholesterol-containing and cholesterol-free diets was assessed. Significant differences in the contents of dietary fibers were not found. The contents of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins in fresh orange and grapefruit juices were 962.1 +/- 27.2 and 906.9 +/- 27.1; 50.1 +/- 3.3 and 44.8 +/- 3.2; and 69.9 +/- 5.6 and 68.7 +/- 5.5 microg/mL, respectively. The antioxidant potential measured by the scavenging activity against nitric oxide, the beta-carotene-linoleate model system (beta-carotene), and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diamonium salt assays was higher in orange juice but not significantly. A high level of correlation between contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids and antioxidant potential values of both juices was found. Diets supplemented with orange and to a lesser degree with grapefruit juices improved plasma lipid metabolism only in rats fed added cholesterol. However, an increase in the plasma antioxidant activity was observed in both groups. In conclusion, fresh orange and grapefruit juices contain high quantities of bioactive compounds, which guarantee their high antioxidant potential, and the positive influence on plasma lipid metabolism and plasma antioxidant activity could make fresh orange and grapefruit juices a valuable supplement for disease-preventing diets.     

Element (Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Tl and Zn), element ratio and lead isotope profiles in a sediment affected by a mining operation episode during the late 19th century

Mining operations at Mårsätter in 1877–81 resulted in increased metal loading to a small lake, notably as sulphidic tailings. The event is taken as an opportunity to study the present environmental impact of a historical single major metal release. Lake water and four sediment cores were sampled and analysed for principal and trace elements in solid and aqueous phases as well as general hydrochemical conditions. Chronologies were determined from ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios and historical records. Ordinary sedimentation after the event has lead to that the tailings are found as a distinct layer at a depth of 18–22 cm in the sediment. The layer is characterized by elevated metal concentrations in the solid and pore water phases, respectively, circum neutral pH and sulphate concentrations below detection. Geochemical modelling indicated a preference for carbonate equilibrium in the waste while sulphides prevailed above it. It is concluded that the growth of the ordinary sediment on top of the waste has lead to a physicochemical barrier that seals of the waste from the overlying sediment. Chemical or physical rupture of the barrier will release the metals to downstream regions. According to the chronologies at least three sources have contributed to the present elevated levels of metals, in additions to the release of tailings. Copper from a historical blast furnace prior to the event at Mårsätter, transport from mineralized parts of the watershed and release of contaminated water from present mining operations maintain elevated levels of notably zinc, silver, cadmium and lead. At present less than 10% of the lead content at the sediment/water interface comes from atmospheric deposition. Increased levels of antimony and thallium were not observed prior to ca 1950.