Ground red peppers: capsaicinoids content,Scoville scores,and discrimination by an electronic nose

High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and total capsaicinoids levels of different ground red pepper samples obtained from local retail markets in Izmir, Turkey. Scoville scores were determined using sensory tests. An electronic nose (EN) was used to discriminate ground red pepper samples by headspace volatiles. EN data were analyzed using discriminant function analysis (DFA). An overall correct classification rate of pepper varieties by EN of 91% was obtained. A linear correlation between capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and total capsaicinoids and Scoville scores was also observed, and R (2) values of 0.89, 0.85, and 0.91 were obtained, respectively.     

Phylogenetic relationships among Triticum L. and Aegilops L. species as genome progenitors of bread wheat based on sequence diversity in trnT-F region of chloroplast DNA

Cultivated wheat, (Triticum aestivum L.), is one of the most important food crops in the world. The Aegilops L. genus is frequently utilized by plant breeders for improving the current wheat cultivars due to their close relationships. Therefore, understanding the phylogenetic relationships among the species of these genera is not only valuable for plant taxonomy, but also for plant breeding efforts. The presented phylogenetic analysis was based on the sequences of trnT-F chloroplast DNA containing three non-coding sub-regions. Twelve genotypes belonging to four species of Triticum L. genus and twenty-four genotypes belonging to eight species of Aegilops genus were used in the current study. The results postulated a close genetic relationship between diploid Aegilops species containing the BB genome and polyploid Triticum species. With the exception of Aegilops cylindrica Host (CCDD), all other Aegilops species having the CC genome were alienated from Aegilops speltoides Tausch (BB) and clustered together. These two clusters joined by a third cluster including the AA genome containing diploid Triticum species.     

Comparative study of three different methods for the determination of aflatoxins in tahini

Aflatoxins spiked at three different levels (6.5, 13.0, and 19.5 microg/kg) in tahini, a sesame butter, were analyzed by using three different methods: high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), fluorometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An immunoaffinity column was used for cleanup and purification of extracts prior to detection by HPLC and fluorometry. All methods were statistically evaluated for accuracy, precision, and simple correlations. Additionally, 14 tahini samples randomly obtained from Turkish retail markets were analyzed using an immunoaffinity column cleanup procedure coupled with the HPLC detection method. The fluorometric determination method involving an immunoaffinity column cleanup step was found to be highly correlated with the HPLC method (r = 0.978). Both methods were found to be effective due to their high recoveries and low variance for the prediction of total aflatoxin contamination in tahini samples. The ELISA method, due to its high variation in replicates, was found to be applicable only as a screening method. The survey study demonstrated the need for control of aflatoxin contamination of foodstuffs involving sesame seeds as an ingredient.     

Determination of Volume of Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) by Image Analysis

The objective of this study was to develop two methods to predict the volume of whole Alaska pollock and to compare the results with the experimentally measured volumes. One hundred fifty-five whole pollock, obtained from a Kodiak processor, were individually immersed in a graduated cylinder equipped with an outflow tube to catch the displaced water as a result of immersion. The weight of the water was recorded. Then the fish were placed in a light box equipped with a digital video camera, and the side view and top view recorded (2 images for each fish). A reference square of known surface area was placed by the fish. A cubic spline method to predict volume by integration of cross-sectional area slices based on the top and side views and an empirical equation using dimensional (length L, width W, depth D) measurements at three locations of the fish image were developed. The R² value for the correlation between the L × W × D versus measured volume was 0.987. The best R² for the correlation of the predicted volume by the cubic spline method versus the measured volume was 0.99. Image analysis can be used reliably to predict the volume of whole Alaska pollock.     

Sequence variants in SLITRK1 are associated with Tourette's syndrome

Tourette's syndrome (TS) is a genetically influenced developmental neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by chronic vocal and motor tics. We studied Slit and Trk-like 1 (SLITRK1) as a candidate gene on chromosome 13q31.1 because of its proximity to a de novo chromosomal inversion in a child with TS. Among 174 unrelated probands, we identified a frameshift mutation and two independent occurrences of the identical variant in the binding site for microRNA hsa-miR-189. These variants were absent from 3600 control chromosomes. SLITRK1 mRNA and hsa-miR-189 showed an overlapping expression pattern in brain regions previously implicated in TS. Wild-type SLITRK1, but not the frameshift mutant, enhanced dendritic growth in primary neuronal cultures. Collectively, these findings support the association of rare SLITRK1 sequence variants with TS.     

Alpha basic crystallin expression in canine mammary tumors

The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic and/or diagnostic factors of canine mammary tumors by immunohistochemically analyzing the expression of alpha basic crystallin (αB-c). For this, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of 51 naturally-occurring canine mammary tumors (11 benign and 40 malignant) were used. Tissue from eight normal canine mammary glands were served as a control. Immunohistochemically, in the control mammary tissues, a few luminal epithelial cells were αB-c positive but myoepithelial cells were negative. In benign or simple type malignant tumors, αB-c expression was observed in luminal epithelial cells while the myoepithelial basal cells were negative. In benign or complex type malign tumors, positive staining was predominantly found in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. Immunoreactivity of αB-c was also observed in neoplastic myoepithelial cells. Statistically, the number of cells immunolabeled with αB-c was found to be significantly different among tissues from normal canine mammary glands, benign lesions, and malignant tumors (p < 0.05). αB-c immunoreactivity was higher in malignant tumors than the control mammary tissues (p < 0.001). Data obtained in the current study revealed a strong association between high expression levels of αB-c and primary mammary gland tumors in canines.     

Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Aphanes arvensis Extracts

The objectives of this study were to examine the free radical scavenging activity and the protective effects against macromolecular oxidation as well as the cytotoxic activity of Aphanes arvensis aqueous and methanolic extracts. Free radical scavenging activity was determined by DPPH method. The methanolic extract showed a scavenging activity nearly equivalent to Trolox and Vitamin C and has an IC₅₀ value of 4.54 μg/mL. Total antioxidant capacity was determined by CUPRAC method. The antioxidant capacity of aqueous and methanolic extract was 0.792 and 1.550 mmol TE/g DWE, respectively. The protective effect of A. arvensis extracts against lipid peroxidation was evaluated using a liposome oxidation system. The methanolic extract was more active than the aqueous extract. The aqueous extract possessed protective effect against protein oxidation in a dose dependent manner. Both extracts showed inhibitory effect on DNA oxidation as measured by plasmid relaxation assay. Results presented here indicate that A. arvensis possess strong antioxidant activity and protective effects with very little cytotoxic effect, and they can therefore be used as a natural additive in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.