Headspace-solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometer and to enantioselective gas chromatography for strawberry flavoured food quality control

Authenticity assessment of flavoured strawberry foods was performed using headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). An authenticity range was achieved, investigating on the carbon isotope ratio of numerous selected aroma active volatile components (methyl butanoate, ethyl butanoate, hex-(2E)-enal, methyl hexanoate, buthyl butanoate, ethyl hexanoate, hexyl acetate, linalool, hexyl butanoate, octyl isovalerate, γ-decalactone and octyl hexanoate) of organic Italian fresh strawberries. To the author's knowledge, this is the first time that all these components were investigated simultaneously by GC-C-IRMS on the same sample. The results were compared, when applicable, with those obtained by analyzing the HS-SPME extracts of commercial flavoured food matrices. In addition, one Kenyan pineapple and one fresh Italian peach were analyzed to determine the δ(13)C(VPDB) of the volatile components common to strawberry. The δ(13)C(VPDB) values are allowed to differentiate between different biogenetic pathways (C(3) and CAM plants) and more interestingly between plants of the same CO(2) fixation group (C(3) plants). Additional analyses were performed on all the samples by means of Enantioselective Gas Chromatography (Es-GC), measuring the enantiomeric distribution of linalool and γ-decalactone. It was found that GC-C-IRMS and Es-GC measurements were in agreement to detect the presence of non-natural strawberry aromas in the food matrices studied.     

Mn2+ complexes with 12-membered pyridine based macrocycles bearing carboxylate or phosphonate pendant arm: crystallographic, thermodynamic, kinetic, redox, and 1H/17O relaxation studies

Mn(2+) complexes represent an alternative to Gd(3+) chelates which are widely used contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging. In this perspective, we investigated the Mn(2+) complexes of two 12-membered, pyridine-containing macrocyclic ligands bearing one pendant arm with a carboxylic acid (HL(1), 6-carboxymethyl-3,6,9,15-tetraazabicyclo[9.3.1] pentadeca-1(15),11,13-triene) or a phosphonic acid function (H(2)L(2), 6-dihydroxyphosphorylmethyl-3,6,9,15-tetraazabicyclo[9.3.1]pentadeca-1(15),11,13-triene). Both ligands were synthesized using nosyl or tosyl amino-protecting groups (starting from diethylenetriamine or tosylaziridine). The X-ray crystal structures confirmed a coordination number of 6 for Mn(2+) in their complexes. In aqueous solution, these pentadentate ligands allow one free coordination site for a water molecule. Potentiometric titration data indicated a higher basicity for H(2)L(2) than that for HL(1), related to the electron-donating effect of the negatively charged phosphonate group. According to the protonation sequence determined by (1)H and (31)P pH-NMR titrations, the first two protons are attached to macrocyclic amino groups whereas the subsequent protonation steps occur on the pendant arm. Both ligands form thermodynamically stable complexes with Mn(2+), with full complexation at physiological pH and 1:1 metal to ligand ratio. The kinetic inertness was studied via reaction with excess of Zn(2+) under various pHs. The dissociation of MnL(2) is instantaneous (at pH 6). For MnL(1), the dissociation is very fast (k(obs) = 1-12 × 10(3) s(-1)), much faster than that for MnDOTA, MnNOTA, or the Mn(2+) complex of the 15-membered analogue. It proceeds exclusively via the dissociation of the monoprotonated complex, without any influence of Zn(2+). In aqueous solution, both complexes are air-sensitive leading to Mn(3+) species, as evidenced by UV-vis and (1)H NMRD measurements and X-ray crystallography. Cyclic voltammetry gave low oxidation peak potentials (E(ox) = 0.73 V for MnL(1) and E(ox) = 0.68 V for MnL(2)), in accordance with air-oxidation. The parameters governing the relaxivity of the Mn(2+) complexes were determined from variable-temperature (17)O NMR and (1)H NMRD data. The water exchange is extremely fast, k(ex) = 3.03 and 1.77 × 10(9) s(-1) for MnL(1) and MnL(2), respectively. Variable-pressure (17)O NMR measurements have been performed to assess the water exchange mechanism on MnL(1) and MnL(2) as well as on other Mn(2+) complexes. The negative activation volumes for both MnL(1) and MnL(2) complexes confirmed an associative mechanism of the water exchange as expected for a hexacoordinated Mn(2+) ion. The hydration number of q = 1 was confirmed for both complexes by (17)O chemical shifts. A relaxometric titration with phosphate, carbonate or citrate excluded the replacement of the coordinated water molecule by these small endogenous anions.     

Theoretical modeling of ionization energies of argon clusters: nuclear delocalization effects

Temperature dependence of vertical ionization energies is modeled for small argon clusters (N ≤ 13) using classical parallel-tempering Monte Carlo methods and extended interaction models based on the diatomics-in-molecules approach. Quantum effects at the zero temperature are also discussed in terms of zero-point nuclear vibrations, either at the harmonic approximation level or at the fully anharmonic level using the diffusion Monte Carlo calculations. Both approaches lead to a considerable improvement of the theoretical predictions of argon clusters ionization energies and represent a realistic way of modeling of ionization energies for weakly bound and floppy complexes in general. A thorough comparison with a recent electron-impact experiment [O. Echt et al., J. Chem. Phys. 123, 084313 (2005)] is presented and a novel interpretation of the experimental data is proposed.     

Lipophilic toxin profile in Mytilus galloprovincialis during episodes of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in the N.E. Adriatic Sea in 2006

Dinophysis spp. blooms and related shellfish toxicity events of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) have been the most reported toxicity event through the Croatian National monitoring program. With the aim to characterize the DSP toxin profile in shellfish farmed in Croatia, for the first time a complete analysis of the toxin profile of Croatian mussels has been carried out using the LC-MS/MS technique. The obtained results showed okadaic acid (OA) as the main toxin contaminating Croatian mussels at that time. The maximum concentration of OA in shellfish tissue was recorded 12 days after the Dinophysis fortii bloom, thus suggesting that rapid growth of the toxin level in the shellfish occurred in the first week after the bloom while it was slower in the second week. Furthermore, the presence of only OA at concentrations which could endanger human health suggests D. fortii as the main organism responsible for the toxic event that occurred in Lim Bay. The presence of gymnodimine and spirolides in Croatian mussel has been detected for the first time, while the presence of yessotoxin and pectenotoxin-2 is confirmed.     

Chemical composition and in vitro activity of plant extracts from Ferula communis and Dittrichia viscosa against postharvest fungi

F. communis and D. viscosa are perennial Mediterranean weeds that have been used for different therapeutic purposes in traditional pharmacopeia. Plant extracts were obtained from air dried D. viscosa young shoots (DvA) and F. communis aerial part (FcA) and roots (FcR) with n-hexane. The chemical compositions of the extracts were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, LC-MS (ESI) and LC-Q-TOF techniques. Two sesquiterpene lactones (inuviscolide, tomentosin) and three sesquiterpene acids (costic acid, hydroxycostic acid, ilicic acid) were identified from the D. viscosa extract, while in F. communis extracts three daucane sesquiterpenes (acetoxyferutinin, oxojaeskeanadioyl anisate, fertidin) and one coumarin (ferulenol) derivates were found. Biological activities of plant extracts were studied in in vitro experiments on the colonies and conidia of Botryotinia fuckeliana, Penicillium digitatum, P. expansum, Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena and Aspergillus spp. Extracts showed varying degree of antifungal activities on colony growth and conidia germination. The extract from FcA showed the least effect, while DvA extract had the strongest fungitoxic effects. FcR extract presented a fungitoxic effect on the colony growth, but it was not able to inhibit the conidia germination. These distinctions can be attributed to the differences in chemical composition of plant extracts.     

The strengthened C.B.S. inequality constant for second order elliptic partial differential operator and for hierarchical bilinear finite element functions

We estimate the constant in the strengthened Cauchy-Bunyakowski-Schwarz inequality for hierarchical bilinear finite element spaces and elliptic partial differential equations with coefficients corresponding to anisotropy (orthotropy). It is shown that there is a nontrivial universal estimate, which does not depend on anisotropy. Moreover, this estimate is sharp and the same as for hierarchical linear finite element spaces.This research was supported by the Grant Agency of Czech Republic under the contract No. 201/02/0595.     

Spironolactone and its Complexes with β-cyclodextrin: Modern NMR Characterization and Structural DFTB-SCC Calculations

In the present work, inclusion complexes of spironolactone (SP) with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in solid phase and aqueous solution were studied by solubility methods, NMR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The results showed different kinds of complexations when freeze-drying and kneading methods were used. The freeze-drying product (1:1, SP:β-CD) showed lower degree of complexation and stability than the (1:2, SP:β-CD) compound obtained by kneading method. The spironolactone molecule was also studied by NMR spectroscopy at 400 MHz. The chemical shifts of all spironolactone atoms and their inclusion compounds were assigned. Extensive use of 1D and 2D NMR techniques, including ROESY experiment, allowed verifying the position of the spironolactone molecule inside the cyclodextrin cavity in both situations. In addition, DFTB-SCC quantum mechanical calculations of the inclusion compounds were performed. The predicted structural properties are in good agreement with ROESY NMR results.     

Crystallographic report: The crystal structure of bis(η5‐cyclopentadienyl)‐ diazido‐vanadium(IV)

The crystal structure of the cyclopentadienyl vanadocene complex (η⁵‐C₅H₅)₂V(N₃)₂ was determined. The molecule has a typical bent metallocene structure in which two η⁵‐bonded cyclopentadienyl rings and two nitrogen atoms of azide ligands occupy the pseudotetrahedral coordination sites around the vanadium(IV) center. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generalization of the stabilization method for green functions and quantum resonances

The stabilization method provides an efficient approach to many problems in atomic and molecular dynamics. Real avoided crossings and smoothing techniques provide the relevant information to compute real density of states. The aim of this letter is to present an extension of the stabilization method that allows for a direct determination of full Green functions and resonance energies. The method is based on the use of optical potentials and perturbation theory. Real avoided crossings of the original stabilization method become complex and resonance energies appear to stabilize in the complex-energy plane. A numerical illustration is presented for a simple model of shape resonance. Accurate results are obtained with a small number of real square-integrable functions as in the original stabilization method. The computational efficiency of the approach and its generality are emphasized.     

Crystallographic report: Bis(η5‐methyl‐cyclopentadienyl)‐bis(cyanato)‐vanadium(IV)

The crystal structure of the first cyclopentadienyl vanadium(IV) pseudohalide complex, (η⁵‐C₅H₄CH₃)₂V(NCO)₂, was determined. The molecule has a typical bent metallocene structure in which two η⁵‐bonded methyl‐cyclopentadienyl rings and two nitrogen atoms of cyanato ligands occupy the pseudotetrahedral coordination sites around the vanadium(IV) center. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.