Relative Composition (relative + composition)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Characterization of volatile compounds and triacylglycerol profiles of nut oils using SPME-GC-MS and MALDI-TOF-MS

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Stefanie Bail
Abstract Several nut oil varieties mainly used as culinary and overall healthy food ingredients were subject of the present study. Headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed in order to determine the qualitative composition of volatile compounds. Furthermore, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used in order to assess the profiles and relative composition of the prevalent triacylglycerols (TAG) within the oils. The headspace of the majority of oil samples was dominated by high contents of acetic acid (up to 42%) and hexanal (up to 32%). As nut oils are typically gained by cold-pressing from previously roasted nuts, characteristic pyrazine derivatives as well as degradation products of long-chain fatty acids were detected. TAG analysis of these oils revealed a quite homogeneous composition dominated by components of the C52 and C54 group composed mainly of oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), stearic (18:0) and palmitic (16:0) acid residues representing together between 65 and 95% of the investigated nut oils. The TAG profiles showed characteristic patterns which can be used as ,fingerprints' of the genuine oils. Nut oils exhibiting quite similar fatty acid composition (e.g. hazelnut, pistachio and beech oil) could be clearly discriminated based on TAG showing significant differences between the oils. [source]


Essential oil composition of Agastache anethiodora Britton (Lamiaceae) infected by cucumber mosaic virus (CMV)

FLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2007
Renato Bruni
Abstract Giant hyssop, Agastache anethiodora Britton, cultivated at the Herb Garden of Casola Valsenio, Italy, has been found for the first time naturally infected by cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Characteristic symptoms on the leaves were chlorotic or yellow mosaic, ring and line patterns and malformation, followed by yellowing and stunting of the entire plant. CMV was mechanically transmitted to species of the families Chenopodiaceae and Solanaceae and identified by applying PAS,ELISA and RT,PCR techniques. The essential oil of both healthy and CMV-infected plants has been evaluated by means of GC,FID and GC,MS, with the object of identifying composition differences caused by the disease. The infection of A. anethiodora by CMV was found to induce significant reduction in the yield of essential oil and several changes in the relative composition of the main components: pulegone, menthone, iso -menthone, methyl chavicole and limonene. Methyl chavicole content, in particular, was drastically reduced. The importance of the phytopathological status of essential oil-bearing plants is outlined. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Temporal, spatial and biotic variations in extrafloral nectar secretion by Macaranga tanarius

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2000
Heil M.
Abstract 1Many plants produce extrafloral nectar (EFN) to nourish ants and other animals which defend them against herbivores. We aimed to find reasons for the high variability in amounts of EFN produced by most plant species. We investigated the influence of several biotic and abiotic factors (time of day, leaf age, nectar removal and leaf damage) on secretion rates of EFN in the common south-east Asian pioneer tree species, Macarangatanarius (L.) Muell. Arg. 2In most experiments leaves were washed with pure water and bagged in nets to protect them against nectar-collecting insects, and nectar was collected and quantified 24 h later. Six soluble sugars and up to eight amino acids were detected in nectar samples derived from untreated, field-grown plants. Total amounts of soluble substances varied more than the relative composition of EFN. 3Nectar secretion rates were highest on young, expanded leaves. A diurnal pattern with a secretion peak in the first 2 h after dusk was detected in the field. Nectar removal had a positive effect and its accumulation a negative effect on further EFN production. Artificial leaf damage (punching leaves with a needle or removing parts of the leaf blade with scissors) led to a significant induction of EFN production for the next 3 days. 4Extrafloral nectar of M. tanarius was secreted in complex patterns influenced by different biotic and abiotic factors; its production appeared to be adapted temporally and spatially in order to ensure optimal use of invested resources. [source]


Characterization of dilute species within CVD-grown silicon nanowires doped using trimethylboron: protected lift-out specimen preparation for atom probe tomography

JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, Issue 2 2010
T. J. PROSA
Summary Three-dimensional quantitative compositional analysis of nanowires is a challenge for standard techniques such as secondary ion mass spectrometry because of specimen size and geometry considerations; however, it is precisely the size and geometry of nanowires that makes them attractive candidates for analysis via atom probe tomography. The resulting boron composition of various trimethylboron vapour,liquid,solid grown silicon nanowires were measured both with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and pulsed-laser atom probe tomography. Both characterization techniques yielded similar results for relative composition. Specialized specimen preparation for pulsed-laser atom probe tomography was utilized and is described in detail whereby individual silicon nanowires are first protected, then lifted out, trimmed, and finally wet etched to remove the protective layer for subsequent three-dimensional analysis. [source]


Cyclosiloxane-based networks: Synthesis, thermal characterization, and microstructure

JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 3 2005
Nihan Nugay
Abstract This article mainly concerns the synthesis of novel PD5/PDMS conetworks by the copolymerization of cyclic D5H and linear HOPDMSOH units, and the characterization of the product by DMTA, DSC, and TGA. The ultimate properties of the conetworks may be controlled by varying the relative composition of D5H and PDMS components. DMTA and DSC thermograms indicate compatibility between the PD5 and PDMS domains. Understanding of the polymer chemical transformations involved in conetwork formation combined with an analysis of DMTA and DSC thermograms led to a proposition of the microarchitecture of PD5/PDMS conetworks. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 630,637, 2005 [source]


Magnetic properties of bimetallic Co-Pd nanostructures

PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 10 2005
Javier Guevara
Abstract We study the dependence of the magnetic properties of Co-Pd nanoclusters (Co cores coated by Pd atoms) on size and relative composition. We consider Co-Pd clusters having closed shell cubo-octahedral structure with an increasing Co core size. The electronic and magnetic properties are calculated with a parametrized Hubbard Hamiltonian within the unrestricted Hartree-Fock approximation. We show that, depending on the relative composition, the Pd coating can give rise to an enhancement of the average magnetic moment of the Co core. We compare with results from slabs by using an ab initio calculation method. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Thermal denaturation pathway of starch phosphorylase from Corynebacterium callunae: Oxyanion binding provides the glue that efficiently stabilizes the dimer structure of the protein

PROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 6 2000
Richard GrießLer
Abstract Starch phosphorylase from Corynebacterium callunae is a dimeric protein in which each mol of 90 kDa subunit contains 1 mol pyridoxal 5,-phosphate as an active-site cofactor. To determine the mechanism by which phosphate or sulfate ions bring about a greater than 500-fold stabilization against irreversible inactivation at elevated temperatures (,50°C), enzyme/oxyanion interactions and their role during thermal denaturation of phosphorylase have been studied. By binding to a protein site distinguishable from the catalytic site with dissociation constants of Ksulfate = 4.5 mM and Kphosphate,16 mM, dianionic oxyanions induce formation of a more compact structure of phosphorylase, manifested by (a) an increase by about 5% in the relative composition of the ,-helical secondary structure, (b) reduced 1H/2H exchange, and (c) protection of a cofactor fluorescence against quenching by iodide. Irreversible loss of enzyme activity is triggered by the release into solution of pyridoxal 5,-phosphate, and results from subsequent intermolecular aggregation driven by hydrophobic interactions between phosphorylase subunits that display a temperature-dependent degree of melting of secondary structure. By specifically increasing the stability of the dimer structure of phosphorylase (probably due to tightened intersubunit contacts), phosphate, and sulfate, this indirectly (1) preserves a functional active site up to, 50°C, and (2) stabilizes the covalent protein cofactor linkage up to , 70°C. The effect on thermostability shows a sigmoidal and saturatable dependence on the concentration of phosphate, with an apparent binding constant at 50°C of , 25 mM. The extra stability conferred by oxyanion-ligand binding to starch phosphorylase is expressed as a dramatic shift of the entire denaturation pathway to a , 20°C higher value on the temperature scale. [source]


Herbaceous vegetation change in variable rangeland environments: The relative contribution of grazing and climatic variability

APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 2 2001
Samuel D. Fuhlendorf
Hatch et al. (1990) Abstract. A 44-yr record of herbaceous vegetation change was analysed for three contrasting grazing regimes within a semi-arid savanna to evaluate the relative contribution of confined livestock grazing and climatic variability as agents of vegetation change. Grazing intensity had a significant, directional effect on the relative composition of short- and mid-grass response groups; their composition was significantly correlated with time since the grazing regimes were established. Interannual precipitation was not significantly correlated with response group composition. However, interannual precipitation was significantly correlated with total plant basal area while time since imposition of grazing regimes was not, but both interannual precipitation and time since the grazing regimes were established were significantly correlated with total plant density. Vegetation change was reversible even though the herbaceous community had been maintained in an altered state for ca. 60 yr by intensive livestock grazing. However, ca. 25 yr were required for the mid-grass response group to recover following the elimination of grazing and recovery occurred intermittently. The increase in mid-grass composition was associated with a significant decrease in total plant density and an increase in mean individual plant basal area. Therefore, we failed to reject the hypotheses based on the proportional change in relative response group composition with grazing intensity and the distinct effects of grazing and climatic variability on response group composition, total basal area and plant density. Long-term vegetation change indicates that grazing intensity established the long-term directional change in response group composition, but that episodic climate events defined the short-term rate and trajectory of this change and determines the upper limit on total basal area. The occurrence of both directional and non-directional vegetation responses were largely a function of (1) the unique responses of the various community attributes monitored and (2) the distinct temporal responses of these community attributes to grazing and climatic variation. This interpretation supports previous conclusions that individual ecosystems may exist in equilibrial and non-equilibrial states at various temporal and spatial scales. [source]