Identification and quantitation of key aroma compounds formed in Maillard-type reactions of fructose with cysteamine or isothiaproline (1,3-thiazolidine-2-carboxylic acid)

Fructose was reacted in the presence of either cysteamine (model A) or isothiaproline (model B) in aqueous buffer at 145 degrees C and pH 7.0. Application of an aroma extract dilution analysis on the bulk of the volatile compounds formed in model A revealed 5-acetyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-thiazine (19), N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-1,3-thiazolidine (16), 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (15), and 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline (11) as the key aroma compounds among the 10 odorants detected. A similar set of aroma compounds was formed when isothiaproline was reacted (model B), but the flavor dilution factors were generally lower. Substitution of the buffer by silica gel/water (9 + 1 w/w) in both models and application of 150 degrees C for 10 min also gave the same key odorants from both thio compounds; however, under these conditions isothiaproline was the better precursor of, in particular, 19 and 11. Quantitative measurements performed by means of stable isotope dilution assays revealed a significant effect of the pH on odorant formation. For example, in model A, formation of 19 as well as of 11 was suppressed at pH values <5.0. A clear maximum was, however, found for 19 at pH 7.0 (approximately 1 mol % yield), whereas 11 increased with increasing pH from 7.0 to 9.0.     

Stereochemical course of the generation of 3-mercaptohexanal and 3-mercaptohexanol by beta-lyase-catalyzed cleavage of cysteine conjugates

The product resulting from the reaction between E-2-hexenal and l-cysteine was shown to be a diastereoisomeric mixture of 2-(2-S-l-cysteinylpentyl)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid 1. Treatment of the conjugate with two sources of cysteine-S-conjugate beta-lyase (tryptophanase from E. coli and a crude enzyme extract prepared from Eubacterium limosum) resulted in the formation of 3-mercaptohexanal. The reaction proceeded with a slight preference for the (S)-configured product, however, with low conversion rate. The role of 3-S-l-cysteinylhexanal 2 as substrate for beta-lyases was demonstrated by in situ generation of 2 from 3-S-(N-acetyl-l-cysteinyl)hexanal using acylase. Opposite enantioselectivity was observed for the liberation of 3-mercaptohexanol from 3-S-l-cysteinylhexanol 5 by the enzyme preparations from Eubacterium limosum and tryptophanase. Various yeasts produced 3-mercaptohexanol starting from 1 as well as from 5. The reactions proceeded without preferential formation of one of the enantiomers.     

Seroprevalence of psittacine beak and feather disease in wild psittacine birds in New South Wales

SUMMARY A haemagglutination inhibition assay was used to detect antibody to psittacine beak and feather disease virus in sera from wild sulphur crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita), galahs (Eolophus roseicapillus), short-billed corellas (Cacatua sanguinea), eastern long-billed corellas (Cacatua tenuirostris) and other psittacine birds in New South Wales. The seroprevalence of psittacine beak and feather disease ranged from 41% to 94% in different flocks, indicating infection with the virus is widespread in wild populations.     

Synthesis and analysis of thio-, thiono-, and dithio-derivatives of whiskey lactone.

Cis- and trans-3-methyl-4-octanolide (1, whiskey lactones) were converted into their thio- (2), thiono- (3), and dithio- (4) derivatives by reaction with phosphorus pentasulfide. The reaction products were characterized by GC-mass spectrometry, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and GC-olfactometry. Two-dimensional NOESY spectra showed that sulfur is incorporated into the ring with reversal of the absolute configuration at C-4, whereas substitution of the keto-oxygen atom by sulfur occurs with retention of ring configuration. The cis- and trans-pairs of 2, 3, and 4 were separated into enantiomers by GC on heptakis(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-cyclodextrin and heptakis(2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-cyclodextrin as chiral stationary phases. GC-olfactometry revealed a sweet coconut-like odor for the cis-thio- and pleasant mushroom-like flavors for the cis-thiono- and trans-dithio-derivatives of whiskey lactone.     

Identifying agricultural flood damage using Landsat imagery

During the first two weeks of July 2003, heavy precipitation occurred across the northern and central portions of Indiana, resulting in flooding and ponded water that damaged crops. Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper images were used to identify the level of damage in fields. A supervised classification and temporal change detection were performed with the help of ERDAS Imagine. To examine the recovery rate of crops over time, two methods were used: a change detection matrix and Delta Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. Both methods indicated an improvement in the conditions of the crops two weeks after the end of the heavy precipitation. Correlations between precipitation, crop damage, yield and unharvested area were weak. At the end of the season, the damage caused by flooding and excess precipitation did not greatly affect the yield of crops, especially corn. Soybeans suffered slightly from these rainfall events, and their yield was smaller than in previous years.     

Dynamics of the hippocampus during encoding and retrieval of face-name pairs

The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is critical in forming new memories, but how subregions within the MTL carry out encoding and retrieval processes in humans is unknown. Using new high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acquisition and analysis methods, we identified mnemonic properties of different subregions within the hippocampal circuitry as human subjects learned to associate names with faces. The cornu ammonis (CA) fields 2 and 3 and the dentate gyrus were active relative to baseline only during encoding, and this activity decreased as associations were learned. Activity in the subiculum showed the same temporal decline, but primarily during retrieval. Our results demonstrate that subdivisions within the hippocampus make distinct contributions to new memory formation.     

Selection of amino acid sequences in the beta chain of the T cell antigen receptor

The induction of an immune response in mammals is initiated by specifically reactive T lymphocytes. The specificity of the reaction is mediated by a complex receptor, part of which is highly variable in sequence and analogous to immunoglobulin heavy- and light-chain variable domains. The functional specificity of the T cell antigen receptor is, however, markedly different from immunoglobulins in that it mediates cell-cell interactions via the simultaneous recognition of foreign antigens and major histocompatibility complex-encoded molecules expressed on the surface of various lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells. The relation between the structure of the receptor and its functional specificity was investigated by analyzing the primary sequences of the receptors expressed by a series of T lymphocyte clones specific for a model antigen, pigeon cytochrome c. Within this set of T lymphocyte clones there was a striking selection for amino acid sequences in the receptor beta-chain in the region analogous to the third complementarity-determining region of immunoglobulins. Thus, despite the functional differences between T cell antigen receptors and immunoglobulin molecules, analogous regions appear to be important in determining ligand specificity.     

Influence of the spatial organization of the perimysium on beef tenderness

The spatial distribution of the intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT) in four types of beef muscle (Biceps femoris, Infraspinatus, Longissimus thoracis, and Pectoralis profundus) was examined using histology and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The surface and the length of the IMCT and the surface of the myofiber bundles were evaluated by image analysis. The texture of the cooked meat from these muscles was measured both instrumentally by a compression test and by sensory analysis. The relationship between muscle structure and meat texture was studied by general discriminant analysis. The models obtained could assign correctly up to 87% of the samples to two tenderness classes. Histology and MRI provided complementary information about the microscopic and macroscopic IMCT structures, respectively. Both were necessary to predict sensory tenderness whereas only the MRI measurements were necessary to predict instrumental toughness. Tough muscles had smaller MRI myofiber bundles (0.7-1 mm radius) than tender muscles.     

Long-term survival after combination chemotherapy for bilateral renal malignant lymphoma in a dog

CASE HISTORY: A 6-year-old, entire male Flat-coated Retriever was presented with a history of lethargy, polydipsia and seizures. Clinical chemistry had shown marked azotaemia.

CLINICAL FINDINGS AND DIAGNOSIS: Radiography and ultrasonography revealed bilateral renomegaly, and cytology of fine needle aspirates from the kidneys was diagnostic of malignant lymphoma. The dog was treated with a modified high-dose cyclophosphamide-, vincristine-, and prednisolone-based chemotherapy protocol, achieved remission, and returned to normal quality of life. Survival time was 346 days from the time of diagnosis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Malignant lymphoma in the kidneys of dogs has been considered to carry a uniformly poor prognosis. Long-term remission after medical treatment has not previously been reported. The favourable outcome in this case illustrates the limitations of clinical staging in determining the outcome for individual patients.