Mineral content and botanical origin of Spanish honeys

Eleven elements (Zn, P, B, Mn, Mg, Cu, Ca, Ba, Sr, Na and K) were determined by inductively plasma coupled spectrometry in 40 honey samples from different places of Spain and four different botanical origins: Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.), Heather (Erica sp.), Orange-blossom (Citrus sinensis) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). K, Ca and P show the higher levels with average concentrations ranged between 434.1-1935 mg kg⁻¹ for K; 42.59-341.0 mg kg⁻¹ for Ca and 51.17-154.3 mg kg⁻¹ for P. Levels of Cu (0.531-2.117 mg kg⁻¹), Ba (0.106-1.264 mg kg⁻¹) and Sr (0.257-1.462 mg kg⁻¹) are the lowest in all honey samples. Zn (1.332-7.825 mg kg⁻¹), Mn (0.133-9.471 mg kg⁻¹), Mg (13.26-74.38 mg kg⁻¹) and Na (11.69-218.5 mg kg⁻¹) concentrations were found strongly dependent on the kind of botanical origin.Results were submitted to pattern recognition procedures, unsupervised methods such as cluster and principal components analysis and supervised learning methods like linear discriminant analysis in order to evaluate the existence of data patterns and the possibility of differentiation of Spanish honeys from different botanical origins according to their mineral content. Cluster analysis shows four clusters corresponding to the four botanical origins of honey and PCA explained 71% of the variance with the first two PC variables. The best-grouped honeys were those from heather; eucalyptus honeys formed a more dispersed group and finally orange-blossom and rosemary honeys formed a less distinguishable group.     

Delineation of RAID1, the RACK1 interaction domain located within the unique N-terminal region of the cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase, PDE4D5

Background  

The cyclic AMP specific phosphodiesterase, PDE4D5 interacts with the β-propeller protein RACK1 to form a signaling scaffold complex in cells. Two-hybrid analysis of truncation and mutant constructs of the unique N-terminal region of the cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase, PDE4D5 were used to define a domain conferring interaction with the signaling scaffold protein, RACK1.     

A ruthenium probe for cell viability measurement using flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and time-resolved luminescence

The capability of the new luminescent probe (dibenzo[h,j] dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine)bis(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) dication, (RB2Z), to discriminate live and dead cells has been tested on rat hepatocytes and mouse lymphocytes. RB2Z-stained cells were analyzed using flow cytometry, fluorescence (confocal) microscopy and time-resolved luminescence measurements. The established viability probes propidium iodide (PI) and SYTOX green (SG) were used as controls. The intense luminescence of RB2Z at 606 nm is localized in the nucleus of nonviable cells. Viability measurements by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy using RB2Z as dead-cell marker yield the same results as PI and SG. The luminescence lifetime of RB2Z also displays sensitivity to cell viability (0.45 and 0.82 microsecond in presence of fully viable and dead cells, respectively). This ruthenium complex is photostable under laser sources and its 200 nm Stokes shift facilitates multicolor labeling experiments in flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Unlike the currently available probes, the long-lived excited state of RB2Z also allows assays based on luminescence decay measurements.     

Cyclopentane-1,3-dione bis(4-methylthiosemicarbazone) monohydrochloride as a spectrophotometric reagent for the determination of chlorate in perchloric acid medium

1,3-Cyclopentanedione bis(4-methylthiosemicarbazone) monohydrochloride produces colored solutions with chlorate ions in strongly acid medium. The yellow color obtained has been used to propose a spectrophotometric method of C10₃^? determination in the concentration range 0.5–6.0 ppm (molar absorptivity 1.26 × 10⁴ liters mol^?1 cm^?1 at a wavelength of 397 nm).     

Solidification of metallic tin in dispersed phase

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and particle size measurements were carried out on disproportionation products of pure SnO to investigate the fusion and solidification behaviour of Sn droplets and their catalytic nucleation on Sn oxides. If disproportionation reaction takes place at T ≥ 798 K, the products are metallic Sn and SnO₂; but for 523 < T < 798 K, SnO₂ is replaced by an intermediate oxide (IO) Sn_xO_(1+x). On melting, samples with IO show a drop of melting point of metallic tin due to Gibbs–Thomson effect; no lowering of melting point was observed in samples with SnO₂. On the other hand, if solidification occurs in the presence of IO, Tin droplets always displayed three distinct exothermic solidification peaks, but if it takes place in the presence of SnO₂, only one exothermic peak is observed. Undercooling values and contact angles were determined for each of the heterogeneous nucleation processes. The different behaviour of metallic Tin droplets was related to the different lattice symmetry of SnO₂ and IO, which act as nucleation catalysts.     

Carbohydrate-based DNA ligands: sugar-oligoamides as a tool to study carbohydrate-nucleic acid interactions

Sugar-oligoamides have been designed and synthesized as structurally simple carbohydrate-based ligands to study carbohydrate-DNA interactions. The general design of the ligands 1-3 has been done as to favor the bound conformation of Distamycin-type gamma-linked covalent dimers which is a hairpin conformation. Indeed, NMR analysis of the sugar-oligoamides in the free state has indicated the presence of a percentage of a hairpin conformation in aqueous solution. The DNA binding activity of compounds 1-3 was confirmed by calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) NMR titration. Interestingly, the binding of the different sugar-oligoamides seems to be modulated by the sugar configuration. Semiquantitative structural information about the DNA ligand complexes has been derived from NMR data. A competition experiment with Netropsin suggested that the sugar-oligoamide 3 bind to DNA in the minor groove. The NMR titrations of 1-3 with poly(dA-dT) and poly(dG-dC) suggested preferential binding to the ATAT sequence. TR-NOE NMR experiments for the sugar-oligoamide 3-ct-DNA complex both in D(2)O and H(2)O have confirmed the complex formation and given information on the conformation of the ligand in the bound state. The data confirmed that the sugar-oligoamide ligand is a hairpin in the bound state. Even more relevant to our goal, structural information on the conformation around the N-glycosidic linkage has been accessed. Thus, the sugar asymmetric centers pointing to the NH-amide and N-methyl rims of the molecule have been characterized.     

Thermal decomposition of HO2NO2 (peroxynitric acid, PNA): rate coefficient and determination of the enthalpy of formation

Rate coefficients for the gas-phase thermal decomposition of HO(2)NO(2) (peroxynitric acid, PNA) are reported at temperatures between 331 and 350 K at total pressures of 25 and 50 Torr of N(2). Rate coefficients were determined by measuring the steady-state OH concentration in a mixture of known concentrations of HO(2)NO(2) and NO. The measured thermal decomposition rate coefficients k(-)(1)(T,P) are used in combination with previously published rate coefficient data for the HO(2)NO(2) formation reaction to yield a standard enthalpy for reaction 1 of Delta(r)H degrees (298K) = -24.0 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1) (uncertainties are 2sigma values and include estimated systematic errors). A HO(2)NO(2) standard heat of formation, Delta(f)H degrees (298K)(HO(2)NO(2)), of -12.6 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1) was calculated from this value. Some of the previously reported data on the thermal decomposition of HO(2)NO(2) have been reanalyzed and shown to be in good agreement with our reported value.     

Nitrosyl derivatives of tricobaltcarbon clusters

The nitrosyl clusters PPN[YCCo₃(CO)₇(NO)] (Y = Me, Ph, COOH, (C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H₄)) have been prepared in high yield from the reaction of YCCo₃(CO)₉ with PPN(NO₂) in THF, acetone or acetonitrile. Spectroscopic evidence indicates the structure of the nitrosyl anions is derived from that of YCCo₃(CO)₉ by the replacement of two CO ligands on one cobalt atom by a linear, terminal nitrosyl group. The nitrosyl metallates are extremely sensitive to oxidation and attempts to protonate the anions resulted in the reformation of the parent YCCo₃(CO)₉, molecules. The oxidative electrochemistry of the ferrocene complex, PPN[(C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H₄CCo₃(CO)₇(NO)] is also discussed.     

Future of biological aerosol detection

Biological aerosol detection in real time is an urgent civilian and military requirement. Such detection capability will be useful in environmental monitoring, for example, in gathering information in perceived hazardous areas such as housing developments downwind of sewage treatment plants. To be truly functional, the instrument has to operate continuously, 24 h a day and 7 days a week with minimal maintenance and few false alarms. A novel concept is proposed. The system employs a rapid front-end warning/alarming mechanism based on optical technologies that provides useful information for protection decision makers. This is connected to a sample collector that feeds a slower back-end liquid chemistry system that provides analytical results to the medical personnel to assist in prophylaxis and therapy decisions. Experience gained from measuring fluorescence signals of single bacterial spores under flow cytometry (FCM) using UV excitation at 340-360 nm, was applied to concept testing of a prototype instrument, built to do the same for aerosols. This machine was capable of resolving particle size as well as fluorescence intensity of each particle under laboratory and field conditions; it was called the fluorescent aerodynamic particle sizer (FLAPS). This paper describes practical aspects of measuring biological aerosols when the results must be compared to reference samplers that provide culturable or “live” data. Treatment of particle size and fluorescence information is discussed with respect to FLAPS and reference data fidelity. Along with an objective method to evaluate FLAPS data correlation to reference data, an approach for determining limit of detection in the field is discussed. In addressing the back-end detector chemistry, we have prioritized a number of important biological characteristics that must be given to a clinician to help in prophylaxis and therapy decisions. A series of biochemical measurements are proposed to define the threat of a sample and different solutions are given to implement these tests. We predict that the future for biological detection looks promising for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques in identifying microorganisms. A conceptual instrument based on merging FCM and microchip-based analysis is described.