Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Gas Chromatography/mass Spectrometry (gas + mass_spectrometry)
Selected AbstractsPrivate channel: a single unusual compound assures specific pollinator attraction in Ficus semicordataFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Chun Chen Summary 1.,Floral scents have been suggested to play a key role in the obligate pollination mutualism between figs and fig wasps. However, few studies have determined whether pollinator-attractive compounds could alone assure species-specificity (,private channel'), or whether specificity is mediated by more complex ,floral filters', of which scent is only one component. 2.,We examined changes in the floral volatile compounds of Ficus semicordata, a dioecious fig species, during and after pollination using headspace collection and compound identification by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). One benzenoid compound, 4-methylanisole, was strongly predominant (94,98%) among the volatile compounds emitted by both male and female receptive figs of F. semicordata, whereas it was totally absent in the volatiles emitted by figs 4 days after pollination, as well as in receptive-stage volatiles emitted by two other sympatric fig species, Ficus racemosa and Ficus hispida. 3.,Bioassays using the specific pollinator of F. semicordata, Ceratosolen gravelyi, in a Y-tube olfactometer showed that 4-methylanisole was attractive to C. gravelyi in a wide range of concentrations (from 1·22 × 10,2 ng/100 ,L to 1·22 × 106ng/100,L). Moreover, chemical blends lacking 4-methylanisole were unattractive to C. gravelyi. These non-active odour sources included volatile compounds emitted by receptive figs of the two other sympatric fig species and volatiles of F. semicordata post-pollination figs. 4.,All these results suggest that 4-methylanisole is the main signal compound in the floral scent of F. semicordata that attracts its obligate pollinator to the host figs at the precise stage required for pollination and oviposition. Furthermore, the high proportion of 4-methylanisole in the odours of receptive figs of both sexes was consistent with the hypothesis of chemical mimicry in dioecious figs. 5.,A simple signal comprised of one compound that is unusual among Ficus and that is an infrequent, usually minor, component of other floral odours, may thus function as a private channel in this specialized obligate mutualism. [source] Chemical composition and antioxidant and radical-scavenging activities of Periploca laevigata root bark extractsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 5 2009Hajji Mohamed Abstract BACKGROUND: The root powder of Periploca laevigata is used for preparing soft drinks and as an aromatic in Tunisia. The infusion or decoction of its root bark has widespread use in folk medicine. The plant is used to treat digestive disorders and hypertensive effects as well as other health problems. RESULTS: The antioxidant activities of extracts of P. laevigata root bark obtained with solvents of different polarity were investigated using assays of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity, ferric-reducing capacity, ,-carotene-bleaching ability, hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition. The methanol extract, with the highest amount of total phenolics and flavonoids, showed the highest antioxidant activities in all assays, followed by the water extract. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to determine the composition of the water and methanol extracts. Thirty-four compounds were identified in the methanol extract, with proflavine (516.2 g kg,1 dry matter (DM)) and 4-methoxysalicylaldehyde (198.3 g kg,1 DM) being the most abundant. Sixteen compounds were identified in the water extract, of which 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenethylene glycol (351.2 g kg,1 DM) was the main component. CONCLUSION: As far as is known, this is the first report on the chemical composition and biological activities of phenolic extracts from P. laevigata. The results of the study indicate that the root bark of this plant might be a good candidate for further investigation in developing new antioxidants. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Role of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in the development of a disinfectant taint in shelf-stable fruit juiceLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2003N. Jensen Abstract Aims: This study was undertaken to identify the bacterium and metabolic products contributing to a disinfectant taint in shelf-stable fruit juice and to determine some of the growth conditions for the organism. Methods and Results: Microbiological examination of tainted and untainted fruit juice drinks detected low numbers of acid-dependent, thermotolerant, spore-forming bacteria in the tainted juices only. The presence of ,-cyclohexyl fatty acids was confirmed in two of the isolates by cell membrane fatty acid analysis. The isolates were subsequently identified as Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris by partial 16S rDNA sequencing. Studies on the isolates showed growth at pH 2·5,6·0 and 19·5,58 °C. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify and quantify 2,6-dibromophenol (2,6-DBP) and 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) in the tainted juice. Challenge studies in a mixed fruit drink inoculated with the two isolates and the type strain of A. acidoterrestris, incubated at 44,46 °C for 4 d, showed the production of both metabolites, which were confirmed and quantified by GC/MS. Conclusions: The results show that A. acidoterrestris can produce 2,6-DBP and 2,6-DCP in shelf-stable juices. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report detailing experimental methodology showing that A. acidoterrestris can produce 2,6-DCP in foods. Control of storage temperatures (to <,20 °C) immediately after processing may provide an effective control measure for the fruit juice industry to prevent spoilage by A. acidoterrestris. [source] Integrative functional genomics of salt acclimatization in the model legume Lotus japonicusTHE PLANT JOURNAL, Issue 6 2008Diego H. Sanchez Summary The model legume Lotus japonicus was subjected to non-lethal long-term salinity and profiled at the ionomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic levels. Two experimental designs with various stress doses were tested: a gradual step acclimatization and an initial acclimatization approach. Ionomic profiling by inductively coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) revealed salt stress-induced reductions in potassium, phosphorus, sulphur, zinc and molybdenum. Microarray profiling using the Lotus Genechip® allowed the identification of 912 probesets that were differentially expressed under the acclimatization regimes. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling identified 147 differentially accumulated soluble metabolites, indicating a change in metabolic phenotype upon salt acclimatization. Metabolic changes were characterized by a general increase in the steady-state levels of many amino acids, sugars and polyols, with a concurrent decrease in most organic acids. Transcript and metabolite changes exhibited a stress dose-dependent response within the range of NaCl concentrations used, although threshold and plateau behaviours were also observed. The combined observations suggest a successive and increasingly global requirement for the reprogramming of gene expression and metabolic pathways to maintain ionic and osmotic homeostasis. A simple qualitative model is proposed to explain the systems behaviour of plants during salt acclimatization. [source] Contact urticaria caused by a fluorescent dyeAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Keiji Sugiura ABSTRACT A 28-year-old man developed urticaria while he was working in the garage. We suspected contact urticaria, which can be caused by some products used in his field, and we carried out a prick test using his work gloves and shoes. His gloves were orange and black in colour, his shoes were black and white in colour, and the materials they were made of were unknown. The results of the prick test using the gloves and shoes were positive. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was applied, and a fluorescent dye was found to be present in his gloves and shoes. The results of a prick test using the fluorescent dye were positive. His urticaria improved after he stopped using these gloves and shoes. This was a rare case of contact urticaria caused by a fluorescent dye in clothing. [source] Comparative in vitro and in vivo genotoxicities of 7H -benzo[c]fluorene, manufactured gas plant residue (MGP), and MGP fractionsENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 3 2004Leslie Cizmas Abstract Manufactured gas plant residue (MGP) is a complex mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that is tumorigenic in the lungs of mice. This study compared the relative genotoxicity of 7H -benzo[c]fluorene (BC), a PAH component of MGP, with MGP and MGP fractions in order to assess the contribution of BC to the genotoxicity of MGP. An MGP sample was separated into seven fractions (F1,F7) using silica gel column chromatography with petroleum ether (PE) followed by PE:acetone (99:1 v/v, then 98:2). PAHs were quantified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. An aliquot of F2, the fraction with the highest BC concentration and highest weighted mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98, was further separated using silica gel thin-layer chromatography with hexane. The first F2 subfraction, sF2-a, was enriched in BC and coeluting compounds and contained 35,000 ppm BC and 216,109 ppm carcinogenic PAHs (cPAHs, the sum of seven PAHs categorized by the U.S. EPA as class B2 carcinogens). The second F2 subfraction, sF2-b, contained a ninefold lower concentration of BC, with 3,900 ppm BC and 45,216 ppm cPAHs. Female ICR mice received topical application of crude MGP, crude MGP spiked with analytical-grade BC, F2, sF2-a, sF2-b, or analytical-grade BC. DNA adduct levels were analyzed by nuclease P1-enhanced 32P-postlabeling. In lung DNA of mice receiving 0.48 or 3.0 mg/mouse, net total RAL × 109 values were F2, 30.8 and 87.2; sF2-a, 24.8 and 106.7; and sF2-b, 19.6 and 151.0, respectively. Mice dosed with 0.10 mg analytical-grade BC (the mass of BC in 3.0 mg sF2-a) exhibited a net total RAL × 109 value of 7.03 in lung DNA. This was equal to approximately 7% of the total RAL × 109 value produced by 3.0 mg sF2-a. Thus, although BC appears to make an appreciable contribution to pulmonary adduct formation, the results suggest that MGP components other than BC play an important role in lung DNA adduct formation following topical MGP administration. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 43:159,168, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Benzidine transformation processes in natural sedimentsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2006Joel Harden Abstract Aromatic amines, such as benzidine and 3,3,-dichlorobenzidine, are chemicals used in the pigment and dye processes. Release of these compounds into the environment is important because of their carcinogenic and toxic nature. In the present study, the sediment and water samples were collected from Lake Macatawa (Holland, MI, USA) and subsequently spiked with benzidine. The grain size distribution of the sediment samples investigated here ranged in composition from sandy to silty-clay sediment types. The sediment,water systems spiked with benzidine were incubated under anaerobic conditions at 4, 15, and 23°C for 211 d. Degradation of benzidine was observed over the time-course analysis of the sediment,water mixtures. Three possible metabolites (aniline, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, and 1-amino-2-hexene) were observed during this investigation as a result of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. No metabolites were observed in autoclaved bottles, suggesting that the transformation of benzidine in the sediment,water mixtures was the result of microbial activity. From sediment,water distribution experiments, benzidine demonstrated higher sorption affinity for the different sediment phases than its degradation product, aniline. Therefore, microbially mediated transformation of benzidine to aniline is expected to yield a greater total concentration of the more mobile compound, aniline, in the water phase and a greater possibility for transport of aniline in the water phase. [source] Characterization of putative ligands for a fish gonadal androgen receptor in a pulp mill effluentENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2006D. G. Joakim Larsson Abstract Fish exposed to pulp and paper mill effluents often become masculinized. A plausible hypothesisis that this is caused by activation of androgen receptors. The present study aimed to investigate if ligands for the fish gonadal androgen receptor (AR2) are present in pulp mill effluent and to characterize/identify these compounds. Extracts of both primary and biologically treated effluents from a Swedish kraft pulp mill were fractionated chemically. Fractions were tested in competitive binding assays for AR2 from ovaries of the Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). Primary effluent contained 96 ng dihydrotestosterone equivalents/L, whereas biologically treated effluent was 16 times less potent. Further fractionations and assays of binding activities were performed on the primary effluent. Eight final fractions displaced androgen in the binding assay, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses revealed that these contained 37 detectable compounds that were not present in inactive fractions. The majority were moderately polar compounds between 200 and 400 g/mol with hydroxyl/carbonyl groups. Two compounds were ruled out because of their lack of binding to AR2. The mass spectra of a third compound matched that of 4-hydroxy-3 (2-(4-hydroxy-3methoxophenyl)ethyl)-5-metoxyacetophenon, but the remaining candidates could not be fully identified. A search for 21 known steroidal AR2 ligands showed that progesterone, a relatively strong AR2 ligand, was present in the primary effluent (1.6 ,g/L) but was removed during the biological treatment step. The detection of multiple fractions with significant binding activity indicates that a variety of compounds in effluents have the potential to masculinize fish near pulp mills via an androgen receptor-mediated mechanism. [source] Biomimetic solid-phase microextraction to predict body residues and toxicity of chemicals that act by narcosisENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2002Heather A. Leslie Abstract A biomimetic extraction technique using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers has been developed for the risk assessment of contaminants with a narcotic mode of action. Our goal is to apply this technique in the future for the prediction of total baseline toxicity of environmental water and effluent samples. Validation of this method requires establishing the relationship between contaminant accumulation and toxicity in biota and accumulation in the surrogate solid phase (the SPME fiber coating). For this purpose, we determined the median lethal concentration (LC50) values for Chironomus riparius midge larvae exposed to two halogenated aromatic compounds separately and measured body residues in the exposed larvae. Solid-phase microextraction fibers with an 85-,m polyacrylate (PA) coating served as the surrogate hydrophobic phase, mimicking the uptake of the compounds by midge larvae. The toxicant concentrations in SPME fibers measured directly by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS) or calculated from the SPME fiber,water partition coefficient, KSPME, were related to the toxicant concentrations found in midge larvae. Our results demonstrated that the biomimetic SPME method enables the estimation of body residues in biota and prediction of the degree of baseline toxicity of a water medium. [source] Mutagenicity and disinfection by-products in surface drinking water disinfected with peracetic acidENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2002Silvano Monarca Abstract The aims of this research were to study the influence of peracetic acid (PAA) on the formation of mutagens in surface waters used for human consumption and to assess its potential application for the disinfection of drinking water. The results obtained using PAA were compared to those found with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and chlorine dioxide (ClO2). The Ames test, root anaphase aberration assay, and root/micronuclei assay in Allium cepa and Tradescantia/micronuclei test were used to evaluate the mutagenicity of disinfected samples. Microbiological tests were also performed, and disinfection by-products (DBPs) were identified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A slight bacterial mutagenicity was found in raw lake and river water, and similar activity was detected in disinfected samples. A plant test revealed genotoxicity in raw river water, and microbiological analysis showed that PAA has bactericidal activity but lower than that of the other disinfectants. The DBPs produced by PAA were mainly carboxylic acids, which are not recognized as mutagenic, whereas the waters treated with the other disinfectants showed the presence of mutagenic/carcinogenic halogenated DBPs. However, additional experiments should be performed with higher concentrations of PAA and using water with higher organic carbon content to better evaluate this disinfectant. [source] The concentrations of fatty acids in organo-mineral particle-size fractions of a ChernozemEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2004G. Jandl Summary Fatty acids, the most abundant class of soil lipids, indicate pedogenetic processes and soil management. However, their quantitative distribution in organo-mineral particle-size fractions is unknown. The concentrations of n -C10:0 to n -C34:0 fatty acids both in whole soil samples and in the organo-mineral particle-size fractions of the Ap horizon of a Chernozem were determined (i) to evaluate the effects of long-term fertilization and (ii) to investigate their influence on the aggregation of organo-mineral primary particles. Quantification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) showed that long-term fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) and farmyard manure (FYM) led to larger concentrations (25.8 µg g,1) of fatty acids than in the unfertilized sample (22.0 µg g,1). For particle-size fractions of the unfertilized soil, the fatty acid concentrations increased from the coarse silt to the clay fractions (except for fine silt). Fertilization with NPK and FYM resulted in absolute enrichments of n -C21:0 to n -C34:0 fatty acids with a maximum at n -C28:0 in clay (×2.2), medium silt (×2.0), coarse silt (×1.8) and sand (×2.9) compared with the unfertilized treatment (the factors of enrichment are given in parentheses). New evidence for the aggregate stabilizing function of n -C21:0 to n -C34:0 fatty acids was shown by the characteristic pattern in size-fractionated, disaggregated and aggregated samples. Highly significant correlations of fatty acid concentrations with organic C concentrations and specific surface areas are interpreted as indicators of (i) trapping of fatty acids in organic matter macromolecules and (ii) direct bonding to mineral surfaces. This interpretation was supported by the thermal volatilization and determination of fatty acids by pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry (Py-FIMS). [source] Improved automated extraction and separation procedure for soil lipid analysesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2004G. L. B. Wiesenberg Summary Analysis of soil lipids may contribute to an improved understanding of atmosphere to soil carbon fluxes, soil organic matter source differentiation and pollutant accumulation. Soil lipids, mostly originating from plants and microorganisms, have traditionally been analysed by non-automated extraction and separation methods, which produce several lipid fractions, operationally defined by polarity. Here we present a combination of fast, automated and reproducible techniques, adopted from organic geochemical studies, for preparative separation of individual soil lipid fractions with increasing polarity. These techniques involve commercially available instruments, including accelerated solvent extraction and a two-step automated medium-pressure liquid chromatography procedure. The method yields eight lipid fractions consisting of five fractions fully amenable to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) (aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols, carboxylic acids), and three fractions of highly polar or high molecular weight compounds (bases, very long-chain wax esters (C40+), high polarity compounds) that were not measurable with GC/MS under standard conditions. We tested the method on five agricultural soils. Results show that (i) mass recoveries for the individual fractions are reproducible, (ii) within individual fractions compound distribution patterns are reproducible, as demonstrated for alkanes and carboxylic acids, and (iii) individual fractions represent distinct and clean compound classes, free of interfering substances detectable by GC/MS. Thus, automated separation can be a fast, effective and reproducible procedure for fractionation of complex mixtures of soil lipids into clean compound classes, directly suitable for a variety of molecular (e.g. GC/MS) and isotopic characterizations (e.g. gas chromatography coupled with isotope ratio monitoring mass spectrometry or accelerator mass spectrometry). [source] Organic geochemistry indicates Gebel El Zeit, Gulf of Suez, is a source of bitumen used in some Egyptian mummiesGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2005A.O. Barakat Molecular geochemical properties of crude oils and surface petroleum seeps from the southern part of the Gulf of Suez were evaluated. The characterizations of individual aliphatic, aromatic, and biomarker compounds were based on gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses. The results provided strong evidence for a close genetic association of these samples. The geochemical characteristics suggest an origin from Tertiary source rocks deposited in a normal marine environment that received continental runoff. The molecular signatures of the investigated samples were very similar to those of the Lower Miocene Rudeis Formation source rock in the southern Gulf of Suez. Further, biomarker fingerprints of the investigated oil seeps were compared with those of the Dead Sea asphalt, as well as the bitumen from some Egyptian mummies reported in the literature. The results demonstrate that oil seeps from the southern end of Gebel El Zeit were used by ancient Egyptians for embalming. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] In-situ oxygen profiling and lignin modification in guts of wood-feeding termitesINSECT SCIENCE, Issue 3 2010Jing Ke Abstract, Reports on the capability of wood-feeding termites (WFTs) in degrading wood particles and on the existence of aerobic environment in the localized guts suggest that their high efficiency of cellulose utilization is not only caused by cellulase, but also by biochemical factors that pretreat lignin. We thus extend the hypothesis that for highly efficient accessibility of cellulose, there should be direct evidence of lignin modification before the hindgut. The lignin degradation/modification is facilitated by the oxygenated environment in intestinal microhabitats. To test our hypothesis, we conducted experiments using a dissolved oxygen microelectrode with a tip diameter < 10 ,m to measure oxygen profiles in intestinal microhabitats of both Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Lignin modification during passage through their three gut segments was also analyzed with pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The data showed relatively high levels of oxygen in the midgut that could have promoted lignin oxidation. Consistent with the oxygen measurements, lignin modifications were also detected. In support of previously proposed hypotheses, these results demonstrate that lignin disruption, which pretreats wood for cellulose utilization, is initiated in the foregut, and continues in the midgut in both termites. [source] Isomeric hexyl-ketohydroperoxides formed by reactions of hexoxy and hexylperoxy radicals in oxygenINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL KINETICS, Issue 8 2003François Jorand Isomerization reactions of peroxy radicals during oxidation of long-chain hydrocarbons yield hydroperoxides, and therefore play an important role in combustion and atmospheric chemistry, because of their action as branching agents in these chain reaction processes. Different formation mechanisms and structures are involved. Three isomeric hexyl-ketohydroperoxides are formed via isomerization reactions in oxygen of either hexoxy RO or hexylperoxy RO2 radicals. In the temperature range 373,473 K, 2-hexoxy (C6H13O) radical in O2/N2 mixtures gives 2-hexanone-5-hydroperoxide via two consecutive isomerizations. The second one is a H transfer from a HC(OH) group occurring via a seven-membered ring intermediate: Its rate constant has been determined at 453 and 483 K, and the general expression can be written as Hexylperoxy C6H13O2 radical, present in n -hexane oxidation by oxygen/nitrogen mixtures in the temperature range 543,573 K, gives 2-hexanone-4-hydroperoxide, 3-hexanone-5-hydroperoxide, and 2-hexanone-5-hydroperoxide. The first two are formed through an isomerization reaction via a six-membered ring intermediate, and the last through an isomerization reaction via a seven-membered ring intermediate. The ratio of the rate constant of the isomerization reactions of RO2 radicals via a seven-membered ring intermediate to that via a six-membered ring is found to be 0.795, and the rate constant expression via a seven-membered ring intermediate is proposed: The role of these reactions in the formation of radicals in the troposphere is discussed. Other products arising in the reactional path, such as ketones, furans, and diketones, are identified. Identification of these ketohydroperoxides was made using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with electron impact, and with NH3 (or ND3) chemical ionization. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 354,366, 2003 [source] Effect of thermal treatment of incubated potato juice on the formation of Maillard volatilesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2003Stephen J. Davids Summary Potato juice samples, obtained from potatoes stored at different temperatures (0,24 °C) and times (8,20 weeks), were incubated (45,57 °C for 42 h) with or without commercial proteases. The samples were then used for thermal browning experiments by placing in either a heated oven at 125 °C overnight or in an autoclave at 132 or 121 °C for 1 h, these experiments promoted the occurrence of the Maillard reaction. After the heat treatment step, all samples were extracted with methylene chloride and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The data indicated that, by subjecting the potato juice to thermal treatments, a wide variety of volatiles generated by the Maillard were produced and these are known to be associated with specific flavour notes, examples are alkyl and acetyl pyrazines, piperazinediones, furans and pyrroles. These findings suggest that the study of potato juice extract as a new medium for flavour development, in particular in those applications which presently use malt, coffee, soybean, meat and yeast extracts, is a worthwhile endeavour. [source] Evaluation of trimedlure dispensers by a method based on thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography,mass spectrometryJOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 9-10 2008C. Alfaro Abstract Knowledge about the behaviour of trimedlure (TML) dispensers is essential to ensure the efficacy of monitoring and control methods based on TML as attractant. There are several commercially available TML dispensers, and each of them has a different useful life and TML release profile. Their emission is also affected differently by environmental factors. Even the same type of dispenser sometimes shows an important variability in the TML release rate. Because of the importance of methods based on TML lures in the control of the Mediterranean fruit fly and the influence of the TML dispenser on the efficacy of these control methods, we developed a non-destructive flow-through system to measure the TML release rate. This volatile collection method (VCM) adsorbs TML vapour on a Tenax TA desorption tube, and TML is quantified by Thermal desorption coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Two types of TML dispensers, a polymeric (Aralure) and a mesoporous (Epalure), were field aged during 3 months. The TML release rates of these dispensers were determined by both, VCM and solvent extraction method. In this study, the correlation between both measurement methods is shown. A field trial has also been carried out to correlate trap catches and TML emission of each type of tested dispenser. The VCM allows a quick and accurate evaluation of the current behaviour of commercial dispensers along their useful life. It also allows comparing the TML release rate between different dispensers. We believe that the VCM can be useful for dispenser manufacturers to determine seasonal dispenser performance before a new product is introduced in the market, and to rapidly verify TML dispenser release when field-aged dispenser efficacy is in question. Thus, it can be employed as a quality control of commercial dispensers. [source] Characterization and heterologous expression of a novel lysophospholipase gene from Antrodia cinnamomeaJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2010K.-H. Hsu Abstract Aims:, A novel lysophospholipase (LysoPL) from the basidiomycetous fungi Antrodia cinnamomea named ACLysoPL was cloned, heteroexpressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. Methods and Results:, The gene encoding ACLysoPL was obtained from expressed sequence tags from A. cinnamomea. The full length of this gene has a 945 -bp open reading frame encoding 314 amino acids with a molecular weight of 35·5 kDa. ACLysoPL contains a lipase consensus sequence (GXSXG) motif and a Ser,His,Asp catalytic triad. A putative peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 was found in the C-terminal. Heterologous expression of ACLysoPL in E. coli showed that the enzyme preferentially hydrolyses long-chain acyl esterases at pH 7 and 30°C. ACLysoPL is a psychrophilic enzyme about 40% of whose maximum activity remained at 4°C. The LysoPL activities with lysophospholipids as substrate were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Conclusion:, We have identified and characterized a gene named ACLysoPL encoding a protein performing LysoPL and esterase activities. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This is the first LysoPL of A. cinnamomea identified and characterized at the molecular level. [source] Catalytic hydrothermal treatment of pine wood biomass: effect of RbOH and CsOH on product distributionJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2005Selhan Karagöz Abstract Low-temperature hydrothermal treatment of pine wood biomass was performed in the presence of RbOH and CsOH catalysts (280 °C for 15 min). The effect of the catalysts on the distribution of products and the volatility distribution of oxygenated hydrocarbons was studied in detail. Oxygenated hydrocarbons were extracted from the liquid and solid portions and analysed individually by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Catalytic (RbOH and CsOH) hydrothermal treatment of wood biomass produced mainly phenolic compounds and benzenediol derivatives. The use of RbOH and CsOH catalysts hindered the formation of char and favoured the formation of oil products, as observed previously for various other base catalysts. The volatility distribution of hydrocarbons (ether extract) was characterised by carbon-normal paraffin (C-NP) gram and it was found that the oxygenated hydrocarbons from all runs, including thermal, were distributed in the boiling point region of n-C6 to n-C17. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source] EVALUATION OF GLOBAL YIELD, COMPOSITION, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND COST OF MANUFACTURING OF EXTRACTS FROM LEMON VERBENA (ALOYSIA TRIPHYLLA[L'HÉRIT.] BRITTON) AND MANGO (MANGIFERA INDICA L.) LEAVESJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING, Issue 2 2007CAMILA G. PEREIRA ABSTRACT In this work, the global yields, composition and antioxidant activity (AA) of extracts from lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla) and mango (Mangifera indica) leaves obtained by different separation processes were determined. Lemon verbena extracts were obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), while mango leaf extracts were obtained by SFE, low-pressure solvent extraction (LPSE) and hydrodistillation. The extract's constituents were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/flame ionization detector. The AA of the extracts was evaluated by the coupled reaction of , -carotene/linolenic acid. The cost of manufacturing (COM) was estimated for the SFE extracts. Higher global yields were obtained using SFE at 350 bar/45C (1.49%) for lemon verbena and LPSE (3.04%) for mango. The AAs of the extracts were larger than that of the , -carotene for both plants. The minimum values of COM were U.S.$26.96 and 52.45/kg of extract for lemon verbena and mango, respectively. [source] COMPARISON OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS AND CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES IN ORANGE JUICE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF JINCHEN FRUITJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 2 2010YU QIAO ABSTRACT Jinchen is a native sweet cultivar of Citrus sinensis and one of the most important varieties used in orange juice processing in China. The study of flavor components of Jinchen orange juice has not been carried out before. In this paper, the color characteristics, pH value, total soluble solids, total acids, as well as organic acids and sugars were determined in Jinchen orange juice from different parts of fruit (peeled juice, pulp juice, whole fruit juice). The color characteristics were significantly different among three types of Jinchen orange juice. The level of vitamin C and total soluble solids/total acids ratio (TSS/TA) is higher in whole fruit juice. The organic acids and sugars also changed. Pulp juice is rich in the highest amounts of organic acids and sugars. Volatiles from three juices were studied using the solid phase microextraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The whole fruit juice has the highest amount of volatile compounds (53.07 mg/L) followed by peeled juice (51.044 mg/L) and pulp juice (27.107 mg/L). Some differences in the constituents of the volatile compounds of three type juices were observed. These results indicated that volatile compounds and quality properties differed in Jinchen orange juice from different parts of fruit. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The peeled orange fruits are usually used for juice processing. Great amounts of aroma components with intensive odor are located in the peel of orange. The aroma of pulp possessing weak fresh citrus odor is different from peel. The different parts of the orange utilized in processing have direct impact on juice quality. It is very essential to obtain the data of chemical and physical properties in juice from different parts of orange fruit. The quality information could be used to modify the orange aroma. [source] INFLUENCE OF OSMOTIC DEHYDRATION ON THE VOLATILE PROFILE OF GUAVA FRUITSJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 3 2008JORGE A. PINO ABSTRACT The effect of osmotic dehydration (OD) on the volatile compounds of guava fruits was studied. Osmotic treatments were carried out at atmospheric pressure, at continuous vacuum and by applying a vacuum pulse (5 min under vacuum and the remaining time at atmospheric pressure) at different temperatures (30, 40 and 50C) and times (1, 2 and 3 h). The volatile compounds of fresh and dehydrated samples were obtained by simultaneous distillation,extraction, and were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In general, OD caused changes in the concentration of volatiles, depending on the process conditions. The use of lower temperatures and shorter treatment times can diminish the loss of volatiles with respect to the fresh samples. The greatest damage to volatiles loss is produced at 50C for up to 2 h under both pulsed and continuous vacuum. The lowest total volatiles loss occurred at 30 and 40C for up to 3 h under pulsed vacuum or atmospheric pressure. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Consumer demand for high-quality products with freshlike characteristics has promoted the development of a new category, minimally processed fruits and vegetables. Although these products present, as distinguishing features, simplicity in use and convenience, they generally perish more quickly than the original raw material because of tissue damage caused by mechanical operations. The use of osmotic dehydration process has been presented as a tool for the development of minimally processed fruits. The slight water activity reduction promoted by the process may provide stable products with good nutritional and sensorial quality and with characteristics similar to those of the fresh products. The application of minimal processing to tropical fruits can represent an interesting world market. Fruit flavor is an important quality factor that influences consumer acceptability, and for this reason, its study is relevant in the minimally processed food product. [source] Characterization by Volatile Compounds of Microbial Deep Spoilage in Iberian Dry-Cured HamJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010Alberto Martín Abstract:, In the present study, volatile compounds of spoiled dry-cured Iberian ham with deep spoilage or "bone taint" were analyzed and correlated with level of spoilage and the microorganisms detected. Volatile compounds extracted by a solid phase micro-extraction technique were assayed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The spoiled hams were evaluated sensorially, and the correlations among volatile compounds, spoilage level, and microbial counts were studied. The spoiled hams had higher concentrations of hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, esters, pyrazines, sulfur compounds, and other minor volatile compounds than unspoiled hams. The sensorial analysis showed that the spoilage level of hams correlated with several volatile compounds, most of them associated with Gram-positive catalase positive cocci and,Enterobacteriaceae,counts. Cyclic compounds such as cyclohexanone, some ethers, and pyrazines should be considered as indicators to monitor incipient microbial deep spoilage in the elaboration of this meat product. [source] Sensory Characterization of Dry Gins with Different Volatile ProfilesJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2008M. Riu-Aumatell ABSTRACT:, The aim of this study was the sensory characterization of dry gins in relation to their chemical volatile composition. The development of a specific vocabulary was necessary as a basis for quality control and to ensure the brand flavor integrity. The lexicon was obtained according to ISO 11035 (1994), on the basis of discussions between the panelists and the panel leader, reference materials, and an aroma wheel. Ten notes of the preliminary vocabulary were reduced by calculating the geometric mean (M) and applying ANOVA and principal component analysis. Finally, juniper, citric, aniseed, spice, and licorice were applied to describe 4 London Dry Gins (G1 to G4) and 2 gins with geographic indications (G5 and G6) by generic descriptive analysis (GDA). The latter were characterized by citric and juniper notes, respectively, while G1 was characterized by spice and aniseed attributes. Licorice was uniform in all of the samples. Chemical volatile composition of samples obtained by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was in agreement with the sensory results. [source] The Stability of Collected Human Scent Under Various Environmental Conditions,JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 6 2009Davia T. Hudson Ph.D. Abstract:, Human scent evidence collected from objects at a crime scene is used for scent discrimination with specially trained canines. Storage of the scent evidence is usually required yet no optimized storage protocol has been determined. Storage containers including glass, polyethylene, and aluminized pouches were evaluated to determine the optimal medium for storing human scent evidence of which glass was determined to be the optimal storage matrix. Hand odor samples were collected on three different sorbent materials, sealed in glass vials and subjected to different storage environments including room temperature, ,80°C conditions, dark storage, and UVA/UVB light exposure over a 7-week period. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the headspace of the samples were extracted and identified using solid-phase micro-extraction,gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME,GC/MS). Three-dimensional covariance mapping showed that glass containers subjected to minimal UVA/UVB light exposure provide the most stable environment for stored human scent samples. [source] Sex pheromone of apple fruit moth Argyresthia conjugella (Lepidoptera: Argyresthiidae)AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Gunnhild Jaastad Abstract 1,The apple fruit moth Argyresthia conjugella Zell. (Lepidoptera: Argyresthiidae) is the most important pest of apple in Scandinavia. It invades apple orchards and can destroy an entire crop during years of poor flowering and fruitsetting of its principal host, mountain ash Sorbus aucuparia. We investigated the female sex pheromone of apple fruit moth in order to develop a reliable lure, which can be used to detect migration of apple fruit moth into orchards and thus to avoid preventive insecticide sprays. 2,Pheromonal compounds obtained by solvent extraction of excised A. conjugella female pheromone glands were identified by coupled gas chromatography/electroantennography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Two compounds (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate, and the analogous alcohol (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol, elicited a strong response from male antennae. (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate was highly attractive in field trapping tests, whereas as little as a 1%-addition of (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol strongly reduced male attraction. 3,(Z)-13-octadecenyl acetate, a previously reported sex attractant, had no effect on A. conjugella male attraction. [source] Combination of liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the detection of 21 anabolic steroid residues in bovine urineJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 6 2005Christof Van Poucke Abstract For the detection of anabolic steroid residues in bovine urine, a highly sensitive liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ESI-MS/MS) method was developed using both positive and negative ionization. For four compounds the ESI mode was not sensitive enough and gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric GC/MS detection was therefore still necessary as a complementary method. The sample clean-up consisted of solid-phase extraction (SPE) on a C18 column followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and a second solid-phase extraction on a combination of a C18 and a NH2 column. After this last SPE clean-up, the eluate was split into two equal aliquots. One aliquot was further purified and after derivatization used for GC/MS analysis. The other aliquot was analyzed with LC/MS/MS in both ESI+ and ESI, modes. The method was validated according to the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Decision limits (CC,) were between 0.16 and 1 ng ml,1 for the compounds detected with the LC/MS/MS method. The developed method is used in routine analysis in our laboratory. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Direct exposure electron ionization mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry techniques to study organic coatings on archaeological amphoraeJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 5 2005Maria Perla Colombini Abstract Two different analytical approaches, direct exposure electron ionization mass spectrometry (DE-MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), were compared in a study of archaeological resinous materials. DE-MS was found to be an efficient fingerprinting tool for the fast screening of organic archaeological samples and for providing information on the major components. GC/MS appeared to be more efficient in unravelling the sample composition at a molecular level, despite the long analysis time and the need for a wet chemical pretreatment. Both procedures were applied to characterize the organic material present as coatings in Roman and Egyptian amphorae. DE-MS successfully identified abietanic compounds, hence a diterpenic resinous material could be identified and its degree of oxidation assessed. GC/MS enabled us to identify dehydroabietic acid, 7-oxodehydroabietic acid, 15-hydroxy-7-oxodehydroabietic acid, 15-hydroxydehydroabietic acid, retene, tetrahydroretene, norabietatriene, norabietatetraene and methyl dehydroabietate. These oxidized and aromatized abietanes provided evidence that the amphorae examined were waterproofed with a pitch produced from resinous wood of plants from the Pinaceae family. The chemometric evaluation of the GC/MS data highlighted significant chemical differences between the pitches found in the two archaeological sites, basically related to differences in the production techniques of the materials and in their degradation pathways. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] New designer drug, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylthio-,-phenethylamine (2C-T-7): studies on its metabolism and toxicological detection in rat urine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry,JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 1 2005Denis S. Theobald Abstract Studies are described on the metabolism and toxicological analysis of the phenethylamine-derived designer drug 2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylthio-,-phenethylamine (2C-T-7) in rat urine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The identified metabolites indicated that 2C-T-7 was metabolized by hydroxylation of the propyl side chain followed by N -acetylation and sulfoxidation and also by deamination followed by oxidation to the corresponding acid or by reduction to the corresponding alcohol. To a minor extent, 2C-T-7 was also metabolized by S -dealkylation followed by N -acetylation, S -methylation and sulfoxidation. The authors' systematic toxicological analysis (STA) procedure using full-scan GC/MS after acid hydrolysis, liquid,liquid extraction microwave-assisted acetylation allowed the detection of an intake of a dose of 2C-T-7 in rat urine that corresponds to a common drug users' dose. Assuming similar metabolism, the described STA procedure should be suitable for proof of an intake of 2C-T-7 in human urine. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Simultaneous determination of mono-, di- and tributyltin in environmental samples using isotope dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometryJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 5 2004Giuseppe Centineo Abstract The development of a rapid, precise and accurate speciation method for the simultaneous determination of mono-, di- and tributyltin in environmental samples is described. The method is based on using isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with electron ionization, a widely used technique in routine testing laboratories. A mixed spike containing 119Sn-enriched monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and tributyltin (TBT) was used for the isotope dilution of the samples. Five molecular ions were monitored for each analyte, corresponding to the 116Sn, 117Sn, 118Sn, 119Sn and 120Sn isotopes. The detection at masses corresponding to 116Sn and 117Sn were used to correct for m + 1 and m + 2 contributions of 13C from the organic groups attached to the tin atom on the 118Sn, 119Sn and 120Sn masses with simple mathematical equations and the concentrations of the butyltin compounds were calculated based on the corrected 118Sn/119Sn and 120Sn/119Sn isotope ratios. The 119Sn-enriched multispecies spike was applied with satisfactory results to the simultaneous determination of MBT, DBT and TBT in three certified reference materials: two sediments, PACS-2 and BCR 646, and the mussel tissue CRM 477. The method was compared with a previously published GC/inductively coupled plasma MS isotope dilution procedure, developed in our laboratory, by injecting the same samples into both instruments. Comparable analytical results in terms of precision and accuracy are demonstrated for both atomic and molecular mass spectrometric detectors. Thus, reliable quantitative organotin speciation analysis can be achieved using the more widespread and inexpensive GC/MS instrument. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||