Origin of French virgin olive oil registered designation of origins predicted by chemometric analysis of synchronous excitation-emission fluorescence spectra

The authentication of virgin olive oil samples requires usually the use of sophisticated and very expensive analytical techniques, so there is a need for fast and inexpensive analytical techniques for use in a quality control methodology. Virgin olive oils present an intense fluorescence spectra. Synchronous excitation-emission fluorescence spectroscopy (SEEFS) was assessed for origin determination of virgin olive oil samples from five French registered designation of origins (RDOs) (Nyons, Vallée des Baux, Aix-en-Provence, Haute-Provence, and Nice). The spectra present bands between 600 and 700 nm in emission due to chlorophylls a and b and pheophytins a and b. The bands between 275 and 400 nm in emission were attributed to alpha-, beta-, and gamma-tocopherols and to phenolic compounds, which characterize the virgin olive oils compared to other edible oils. The chemometric treatment (PLS1) of synchronous excitation-emission fluorescence spectra allows one to determine the origin of the oils from five French RDOs (Baux, Aix, Haute-Provence, Nice, and Nyons). Results were quite satisfactory, despite the similarity between two denominations of origin (Baux and Aix) that are composed by some common cultivars (Aglandau and Salonenque). The interpretation of the regression coefficients shows that RDOs are correlated to chlorophylls, pheophytins, tocopherols, and phenols compounds, which are different for each origin. SEEFS is part of a global analytic methodology that associates spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. This approach can be used for traceability and vindicates the RDOs.     

Reactions of anthocyanins and tannins in model solutions

The reaction between procyanidin dimer Ec-EcG (B2 3'-O-gallate) and malvidin 3-O-glucoside (Mv3glc) was studied in a model solution system at two different pH values, 2.0 and 3.8. Disappearance of both species was much faster at pH 3.8 than at pH 2.0. That of Mv3glc was increased in the presence of Ec-EcG, whereas that of Ec-EcG was the same in the presence or absence of the anthocyanin. Values of absorbance at 520 nm measured at pH 2.0 were correlated with the amount of residual Mv3glc. Those measured at pH 3.8 hardly changed during the incubation, but absorbance values at 420 and 620 nm as well as resistance to sulfite bleaching were much increased, confirming that Mv3glc was converted to other pigments. Anthocyanin-flavanol adducts were observed at both pH values, but their structures were different. At pH 2.0, cleavage of the procyanidin linkage followed by nucleophilic addition of flavanol or anthocyanin moieties led to (Ec)(n)-EcG and (Ec)(n)-Mv3glc, respectively. At pH 3.8, nucleophilic addition of Ec-EcG onto the anthocyanin yielded Mv3glc-(Ec-EcG).     

Optimization of headspace solid-phase Microextraction (SPME) for the odor analysis of surface-ripened cheese

Fifty volatile compounds of surface smear-ripened cheese were detected and identified using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and vacuum distillation coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Changes in the headspace of aroma compounds were monitored over the whole packaging period (47 days) using the HS-SPME method. Initially, the concentration of methanethiol increased before reaching a plateau. This evolution could be linked to the growth of Brevibacterium linens. During the shelf life of cheese, levels of acetic acid and 3-methylbutanoic acid remained constant, whereas butane-2,3-dione, 3-hydroxybutan-2-one, and hydroxypropan-2-one levels gradually declined and acetone and 3-methylbutanol levels dropped sharply to a plateau. Changes in odor could be related to changes of the rind, which behaved as a barrier, strongly influencing the distribution of volatile compounds in the headspace. Using a gas chromatography-olfactometry technique without separation, it was shown that the SPME extract was representative of the cheese odor.     

Survival and spatial fidelity of moufl on (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ovis gmelini</Emphasis>): A Bayesian analysis of an age-dependent capture-recapture model

We study the influence of age and sex on survival and spatial fidelity of moufl on (Ovis gmelini) in the Caroux-Espinouse massif. Survival and movement probabilities are estimated through a Bayesian analysis of an age-dependent capture-recapture model. Prior information is based on external data, namely on radio-tracked animals. Recapture rates differed between age, sexes, and areas. Whatever the area, survival of males and females less than 5 years old was high and decreased for older animals, particularly males. Female spatial fidelity was high; males were as faithful as females to their capture area in their first 2 years of life but gradually used distinct areas in two successive years as they were getting older.     

Construction of a crop—wild hybrid population for broadening genetic diversity in cultivated sunflower and first evaluation of its combining ability: the concept of neodomestication

The genetic base of sunflower elite lines is very narrow, due to many years of selection and breeding. To broaden the genetic diversity of the cultivated sunflower, in 1995 73 wild sunflower populations were crossed with 3 cultivated lines (Testers), and 219 hybrid offspring’s were evaluated in the field. GCA and SCA effects were computed suggesting for all traits a genetic potential for improvement through selection. Study of the hybrids revealed that the wild accessions bear different genetic abilities to combine with the testers for traits of morphological architecture, phenology and yield (seed weight and seed oil). The variance due to GCA and SCA showed that gene action was additive for days to flowering, branching and plant height. Genotypes derived from the same geographic origin may have either good or poor general combing ability. The correlation between GCA and per se genotype performance was positive for all traits except for seed oil content. This was the first attempt to evaluate wild-cultivated hybrids in sunflower on a large scale and will be the starting point for the management of hybrid Helianthus annuus populations for breeding. GCA and SCA estimations will facilitate the definition of strategies to manage and exploit the natural diversity for this crop.     

Transpirational response to water availability for winter wheat as affected by soil textures

Soil texture and evaporative demand have been reported to be the main factors which influence the transpirational response to soil water deficits. However, experimental evidences are not enough. The objective of this study was to investigate the transpirational response to soil water availability in soils of different textures under different evaporative demand levels. The three main soils of the Loess Plateau of China (loamy clay, clay loam and sandy loam) were selected and six constant soil water treatments were applied for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in pots. In order to reduce the influence of environmental conditions and plant factors, a normalized daily transpiration rate was used to develop the relationships with volumetric soil water content and soil water suction. Results showed that, under various levels of evaporative demand, a linear-plateau function with a critical value could be used to describe the dynamic change of the normalized transpiration rate with soil drying. Soil texture significantly influenced both the critical and the slope values of the linear-plateau equations, however, evaporative demand significantly affected the critical values of volumetric soil water content and soil suction for the loamy clay and clay loam only. Therefore, for saving water, different strategies are needed for these three soils.     

Multipartite entanglement among single spins in diamond

Robust entanglement at room temperature is a necessary requirement for practical applications in quantum technology. We demonstrate the creation of bipartite- and tripartite-entangled quantum states in a small quantum register consisting of individual 13C nuclei in a diamond lattice. Individual nuclear spins are controlled via their hyperfine coupling to a single electron at a nitrogen-vacancy defect center. Quantum correlations are of high quality and persist on a millisecond time scale even at room temperature, which is adequate for sophisticated quantum operations.     

CoRoT measures solar-like oscillations and granulation in stars hotter than the Sun

Oscillations of the Sun have been used to understand its interior structure. The extension of similar studies to more distant stars has raised many difficulties despite the strong efforts of the international community over the past decades. The CoRoT (Convection Rotation and Planetary Transits) satellite, launched in December 2006, has now measured oscillations and the stellar granulation signature in three main sequence stars that are noticeably hotter than the sun. The oscillation amplitudes are about 1.5 times as large as those in the Sun; the stellar granulation is up to three times as high. The stellar amplitudes are about 25% below the theoretic values, providing a measurement of the nonadiabaticity of the process ruling the oscillations in the outer layers of the stars.