Characterization of odor-active volatiles in apples: influence of cultivars and maturity stage

The aroma and texture of three different apple cultivars, harvested at three maturity stages, were analyzed by sensory and instrumental analysis. The emphasis was on the identification of the most potent odorant volatiles, and the challenge was to separate the few most important flavor compounds, which may be trace chemicals, from the vast number of nonodorant compounds present in apple aroma extracts. Thirty-six odorant compounds were detected, 24 of which were common to all extracts. A significant correlation coefficient was found between the aroma intensity scores and overall quantity of the odorant volatiles, which shows that the development of sensory aroma is similar to that of odorant volatiles. This study also showed that the parameters measured by penetrometry and compression were highly correlated with sensory textural attributes. The determination of the optimal maturity stage for different apple cultivars by the usual parameters, such as color, diameter, total soluble solids, and titrable acidity, may not be sufficient to determine the optimal sensory quality for consumers. Moreover, the sensory quality of fruits changes during maturation in a different way from one cultivar to another, and this should be taken into account.     

Uterine adenomyosis in an orang-utan (Pongo abelii/pygmaeus)

A 48-year-old, multiparous, female hybrid orang-utan ( Pongo abelii/pygmaeus ) was investigated after a 3-year history of irregular and excessively heavy menstrual bleeding. Opportunistic pelvic examinations over a 2.5-year period were non-diagnostic. Medical therapy was not effective. A subtotal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-ovariectomy was performed. A pedunculated mass spanning 90% of the uterine lumen was seen grossly, and histopathology confirmed uterine adenomyosis. Adenomyosis is defined as the ectopic occurrence or diffuse implantation of endometrial tissue, including glands and stroma, into the myometrium. It is common in older, usually premenopausal, multiparous women and is frequently associated with other uterine pathology, including endometrial hyperplasia and leiomyomas. The most common clinical signs are dysmenorrhoea and heavy menstrual bleeding; however, up to 35% of women are asymptomatic. Diagnosis is difficult and requires myometrial sampling and an experienced pathologist. A hysterectomy in this case was diagnostic and curative. There have been few reports of uterine adenomyosis in non-human primates and none reported in an orang-utan. Uterine adenomyosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in any multiparous, aged, non-human female primate with irregular and excessively heavy menstrual bleeding, and hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-ovariectomy is recommended as a diagnostic and therapeutic solution.     

Determination of glufosinate ammonium and its metabolite (AE F064619 and AE F061517) residues in water by gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry after ion exchange cleanup and derivatization

An analytical method for the determination of glufosinate ammonium and its principal metabolites, AE F064619 and AE F061517, in water of two different hardnesses (5 and 30 DH, French hardness) has been developed and validated. Samples were spiked at different levels (0. 05 and 0.5 microgram/L) and were purified by column chromatography on ion-exchange resins. After derivatization with glacial acetic acid and trimethylarthoacetate mixture, the derivatives were quantified by using capillary gas chromatography with an ion-trap tandem mass spectrometric detector. Analytical conditions for MS/MS detection were optimized, and the quantification was carried out on the areas of the most representative ions. The limit of quantification was validated at 0.05 microgram/L for each compound. The mean recovery value and the relative standard deviation (n = 20) were 92.0% and 17. 8% for glufosinate ammonium, 90.2% and 15.8% for AE F064619, and 89. 7% and 12.7% for AE F061517.     

Femtosecond dynamics of electron localization at interfaces

The dynamics of two-dimensional small-polaron formation at ultrathin alkane layers on a silver(111) surface have been studied with femtosecond time- and angle-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy. Optical excitation creates interfacial electrons in quasi-free states for motion parallel to the interface. These initially delocalized electrons self-trap as small polarons in a localized state within a few hundred femtoseconds. The localized electrons then decay back to the metal within picoseconds by tunneling through the adlayer potential barrier. The energy dependence of the self-trapping rate has been measured and modeled with a theory analogous to electron transfer theory. This analysis determines the inter- and intramolecular vibrational modes of the overlayer responsible for self-trapping as well as the relaxation energy of the overlayer molecular lattice. These results for a model interface contribute to the fundamental picture of electron behavior in weakly bonded solids and can lead to better understanding of carrier dynamics in many different systems, including organic light-emitting diodes.     

T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon in a Thoroughbred filly with colic

A 4-month-old Thoroughbred filly presented for abdominal pain was diagnosed with a T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon at exploratory laparotomy. Following resection and anastomosis of the large colon, no further episodes of abdominal pain occurred during a 12-month follow-up. Acute dehiscence of the linea alba occurred as a complication of the initial laparotomy, but was successfully managed following additional surgical repair. T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon has not previously been reported and is considered a congenital malformation of mesocolon formation.     

Synthesis of Novel Thin-Film Materials by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a conceptually and experimentally simple yet highly versatile tool for thin-film and multilayer research. Its advantages for the film growth of oxides and other chemically complex materials include stoichiometric transfer, growth from an energetic beam, reactive deposition, and inherent simplicity for the growth of multilayered structures. With the use of PLD, artificially layered materials and metastable phases have been created and their properties varied by control of the layer thicknesses. In situ monitoring techniques have provided information about the role of energetic species in the formation of ultrahard phases and in the doping of semiconductors. Cluster-assembled nanocrystalline and composite films offer opportunities to control and produce new combinations of properties with PLD.