Cultivar differences of total anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in red and purple-fleshed potatoes and their relation to antioxidant activity

Total anthocyanins (TAC) and individual anthocyanidins (AN) after hydrolysis were measured in 15 red and purple-fleshed potato cultivars produced in five different locations in the Czech Republic and a new cultivar Blaue St. Galler from Switzerland. It was found that TAC, expressed as cyanidin content, varied between 0.7 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW (cv. Blue Congo) and 74.3 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW (cv. Blaue Ludiano). Major differences in cultivars were found for AN relative abundance. For cv. Highland Burgundy Red a high proportion of pelargonidin (98.7%) was characteristic, whereas cv. British Columbia Blue contained almost exclusively cyanidin. Cultivars Violette and Vitelotte showed a relatively high content of malvidin. Cultivar Shetland Black differed from others with its higher content of peonidin (on average 36.7%). High petunidin abundance in the cultivars Valfi, Blue Congo, Salad Blue, Blaue St. Galler, Blaue Hindel Bank, Blaue Ludiano, Blaue Schweden, Farbe Kartoffel and Salad Red was found. TAC and AN contents highly corresponded with antioxidant activity (AA) determined with the ABTS, FRAP and DPPH assays in vitro. High AA was shown by the cultivars Vitelotte, Violette, Blaue Ludiano, Hafija, and Highland Burgundy Red. Increased height above sea level, higher annual sum of precipitation, and lower annual average temperatures caused higher AA and TAC. A high degree of hydroxylation and/or methoxylation of individual anthocyanidins could contribute in conjunction with other phenolics to high AA (peonidin, delphinidin and malvidin in the cultivars Blue Congo, Highland Burgundy Red and Shetland Black). Consequently, new red and purple-fleshed cultivars with high TAC and highly methoxylated and/or hydroxylated AN could be a promising source of favourable antioxidants in human nutrition.     

The influence of drug solubility and particle size on the pellet formulation in a rotoprocessor

Pellets containing drugs of different properties were prepared in a Rotoprocessor in order to study changes in the formulation process and resulting pellet characteristics. Diltiazem hydrochloride, diclofenac sodium, and theophylline were chosen as model drugs. Pellet size distribution, sphericity, density, hardness, friability, and repose angle were determined using standard methods. The amount of water as a wetting agent necessary for successful pellet formulation was observed for each sample and changed depending on drug solubility, concentration, and particle size. The pelletization of freely soluble diltiazem hydrochloride required 24.8-23.1% of the wetting agent and its amount decreased as the drug concentration increased. The demand for water in the formulation of theophylline pellets was 31.0-34.4% and it increased with increasing drug concentration. The pellet samples containing both drugs were easy to prepare. However, the cohesion of micronized diclofenac sodium particles negatively influenced both the pellet size distribution and the formulation process itself. When the drug concentration exceeded 40%, it was not possible to produce pellets of an appropriate size and the process was not reproducible.     

Carbosilane Metallodendrimers with Cyclopentadienyldichlorotitanium(IV) End Groups

Dendritic polyols of the second and third generation 2G-OH₈ (1), 2G-OH₁₆ (2), and 3G-OH₁₆ (3) were prepared by hydroboration/oxidation of allyl-terminated carbosilane dendrimers and used as supports for the immobilization of cyclopentadienyltrichlorotitanium(IV) complexes via alcoholysis. The reaction of 1–3 with CpTiCl₃ gave metallodendrimers 2G-(OTiCpCl₂)₈ (4a), 2G-(OTiCpCl₂)₁₆ (5a), and 3G-(OTiCpCl₂)₁₆ (6a), respectively, whereas the reaction of 1 and 3 with CpSi^FTiCl₃ (CpSi^F = C₅H₄SiMe₂CH₂CH₂C₈F₁₇) yielded peripherally fluorinated metallodendrimers 2G-(OTiCpSi^FCl₂)₈ (4b) and 3G-(OTiCpSi^FCl₂)₁₆ (6b). All metallodendrimers were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The suggested structures were supported by comparison with model 1-propoxycomplexes 10a,b. To identify side products of the alcoholysis reaction, hydrolytic behavior of the starting trichloro complexes was studied both in solid state and in solution. The main products of hydrolysis in solution were identified as μ-oxocomplexes 8a,b whereas hydrolysis in solid state yielded mainly hydroxycomplexes 7a,b.     

The stability of phaltan and captan in wort

Summary The stability of captan and phaltan in wort in relation to its influence on the growth of yeast was studied. Phaltan is degradated in wort by interaction with free SH-groups, resulting in a. stoichiometric quantity of phthalimide. The formation of HCl induced changes of pH. H₂S and CS₂ were not found as products of subsequent reactions. Phaltan is degradated faster than captan in ort under given experimental conditions. Microbiological studies confirmed the instability of these fungicides in wort. The application of sublethal concentrations of captan induced some morphological changes in the cells ofSaccharomyces cerevisae.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Stabilität des Captans und Phaltans in der Wurze unter Berücksichtigung ihres Einflusses auf die Hefen untersucht. Phaltan wird in der Wurze durch eine Umsetzung mit den freien SH-Gruppen abgebaut; bei dieser Reaktion wird eine stöchiometrisch entsprechende Menge Phthalimid gebildet. Durch Bildung von HCl wird eine Änderung des pH-Wertes indiziert. H₂S und CS₂ wurden als Produkte der Folgereaktion nicht nachgewiesen. Phaltan wird in der Würze unter gegebenen Versuchsbedingungen schneller als Captan abgebaut. Mikrobiologische Untersuchungen haben die Instabilität dieser Fungicide in der Würze bestätigt. Die Anwendung des Captans in subletalen Konzentration hat bestimmte Änderungen in den Zellen vonSaccharomyces cerevisae nach sich gezogern.

     

Light Quality and Intensity Modulate Cold Acclimation in Arabidopsis

Plant survival in temperate zones requires efficient cold acclimation, which is strongly affected by light and temperature signal crosstalk, which converge in modulation of hormonal responses. Cold under low light conditions affected Arabidopsis responses predominantly in apices, possibly because energy supplies were too limited for requirements of these meristematic tissues, despite a relatively high steady-state quantum yield. Comparing cold responses at optimal light intensity and low light, we found activation of similar defence mechanisms—apart from CBF1–3 and CRF3–4 pathways, also transient stimulation of cytokinin type-A response regulators, accompanied by fast transient increase of trans-zeatin in roots. Upregulated expression of components of strigolactone (and karrikin) signalling pathway indicated involvement of these phytohormones in cold responses. Impaired response of phyA, phyB, cry1 and cry2 mutants reflected participation of these photoreceptors in acquiring freezing tolerance (especially cryptochrome CRY1 at optimal light intensity and phytochrome PHYA at low light). Efficient cold acclimation at optimal light was associated with upregulation of trans-zeatin in leaves and roots, while at low light, cytokinin (except cis-zeatin) content remained diminished. Cold stresses induced elevation of jasmonic acid and salicylic acid (in roots). Low light at optimal conditions resulted in strong suppression of cytokinins, jasmonic and salicylic acid.     

Melatonin Prevents Early but Not Delayed Ventricular Fibrillation in the Experimental Porcine Model of Acute Ischemia

Antiarrhythmic effects of melatonin have been demonstrated ex vivo and in rodent models, but its action in a clinically relevant large mammalian model remains largely unknown. Objectives of the present study were to evaluate electrophysiological and antiarrhythmic effects of melatonin in a porcine model of acute myocardial infarction. Myocardial ischemia was induced by 40-min coronary occlusion in 25 anesthetized pigs. After ischemia onset, 12 animals received melatonin (4 mg/kg). 48 intramyocardial electrograms were recorded from left ventricular wall and interventricular septum (IVS). In each lead, activation time (AT) and repolarization time (RT) were determined. During ischemia, ATs and dispersion of repolarization (DOR = RTmax − RTmin) increased reaching maximal values by 3–5 and 20–25 min, respectively. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) incidence demonstrated no relations to redox state markers and was associated with increased DOR and delayed ATs (specifically, in an IVS base, an area adjacent to the ischemic zone) (p = 0.031). Melatonin prevented AT increase in the IVS base, (p < 0.001) precluding development of early VF (1–5 min, p = 0.016). VF occurrence in the delayed phase (17–40 min) where DOR was maximal was not modified by melatonin. Thus, melatonin-related enhancement of activation prevented development of early VF in the myocardial infarction model.     

Geochemistry of the Detroit River Sediments

The objectives of the investigation were to provide information on the concentration and distribution of metals in bottom sediments of the Detroit River and to study the association of metals with various sediment components. Concentrations of major elements (Si, Al, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, and P) and metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn), particle size distribution, and mineralogical composition were determined in 20 surficial sediment samples collected along the Detroit River in 1983. Significantly higher concentrations of metals in the Detroit River sediments than those reported in Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie sediments indicated input from sources in the river's drainage basin. Poor relationships exist between the metals and organic C and the metals and the silt-clay size fraction (< 63 μm). The association of metals with sediment particles was investigated by a separation of sediment into seven size fractions ranging from < 13 to > 63 μm. Zn, Ni, Cr, and Pb were accumulated in the < 13 μm size fraction. However, Cu and Cr concentrations were highest in the < 13 and 48 to 63 μm fractions. Quartz, feldspars, and calcite were found in the > 63 μm fraction. Dolomite, feldspars, and quartz were in the 13 to 63 μm fraction and the clay minerals illite, chlorite, and kaolinite were in the < 13 μm fraction. Concentrations and relationships among major elements reflected the mineralogical composition of different particle size fractions.     

In search of a “Non-citation index” indicator for scientific activity assessment in less developed countries. Case study of Croatia/Yugoslavia

The meaning of the term the intellectual island effect which was introduced byArunachalam et al. is broadened as to characterize the status of science on the periphery in general. A practical solution is proposed, based on bibliometric data of the research output and relying on two criteria: the extent of coverage by world significant secondary literature and the extent of scatter of that literature. Reliability of the publication data retrieved from the Citation Indexes is discussed; a measure is offered to assess the adequacy of the Citation Indexes as the data sources.Unquestionably, there has been no one like Einstein in physics in this century, but one has to reflect on how easily Einstein might have been lost, particularly if he had been born in a developing country.From C. M. KINNON, (Ed.)The Impact of Modern Scientific Ideas on Society Reidel/UNESCO, 1981, p. 29.     

Breite Einwilligung (<Emphasis Type="Italic">broad consent</Emphasis>) zur Biobank-Forschung – die ethische Debatte

Definition of the problem

Ethical aspects of biobanking research are receiving increasing attention in the literature. It is particularly controversial which model of consent should be implemented in research biobanks.

Arguments

This paper outlines the ethical controversy surrounding various models of consent into biobank-based research. Following a brief introduction of established consent models, it delineates the development of alternative approaches and discusses the ethical and regulatory challenges associated with these. Relevant ethical principles are highlighted.

Conclusion

The article concludes that there are good reasons to trial a combination of initial broad consent with consent to governance for future biobanking research in Germany.

     

Particle coagulation at semicontinuous emulsion polymerization. II. Characterization of surface groups

Semicontinuous emulsion polymerization of acrylic monomers with a monomer emulsion feed has been investigated. The amount of coagulum appearing during the polymerization under conditions of insufficient covering of particle surface by emulsifier was studied from the point of view of particle surface charge. Increasing the surface group concentration via copolymerization of butyl acrylate with acrylic acid or sulfoethyl methacrylate caused increased colloid stability of the system and a rapid decrease in coagulum formation. It was established that during the polymerization acid hydrolysis of ester groups took place, which caused an increase in the carboxyl groups concentration at the particle surface. These carboxyl groups contribute to the colloid stability of the polymerizing system.