Elicitor-Induced VOC Emission by Grapevine Leaves: Characterisation in the Vineyard

The present study is aimed at determining whether leaf volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are good markers of the grapevine response to defence elicitors in the field. It was carried out in two distinct French vineyards (Burgundy and Bordeaux) over 3 years. The commercial elicitor Bastid^® (Syngenta, Saint-Sauveur, France) (COS-OGA) was first used to optimise the VOCs’ capture in the field; by bagging stems together with a stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) sensor. Three elicitors (Bastid^®, copper sulphate and methyl jasmonate) were assessed at three phenological stages of the grapevines by monitoring stilbene phytoalexins and VOCs. Stilbene production was low and variable between treatments and phenological stages. VOCs—particularly terpenes—were induced by all elicitors. However, the response profiles depended on the type of elicitor, the phenological stage and the vineyard, and no sole common VOC was found. The levels of VOC emissions discriminated between weak (Bastid^® and copper sulphate) and strong (methyl jasmonate) inducers. Ocimene isomers were constitutively present in the overall blends of the vineyards and increased by the elicitors’ treatments, whilst other VOCs were newly released throughout the growing seasons. Nonetheless, the plant development and climate factors undoubtedly influenced the release and profiles of the leaf VOCs.     

Excited State Dynamics of Isolated 6- and 8-Hydroxyquinoline Molecules

The photoinduced dynamics of isolated n-hydroxyquinoline (nHQ) molecules (n=6,8) was investigated in femtosecond pump-probe experiments. A qualitative difference was found between 8HQ and 6HQ. After an initial rapid decay corresponding to the departure of the initial wavepacket out of the Franck-Condon region of the excitation, the 8HQ probe signal decays to zero in 0.37 ps whereas a much longer time constant of 10.4 ps is observed in 6HQ. This interrogates on the role played by the intramolecular H-bond N HO which is at play the 8HQ molecule. Ab-initio were performed at the MCSCF/aug-cc-pVDZ level on the 8HQ molecule to help the discussion. A complex energy landscape was found, which includes a conical intersection.     

Künstlich hergestellte OberflÄchenschichten auf Glas

Zusammenfassung Der Verfasser führt in erster Reihe die Me\ergebnisse des Brechungsindex mittels der polarimetrischen Methode und mittels der Methode der kleinsten Ablenkung auf Prismen aus den verschiedenen Glassorten (Tabelle II) und auf den 20 Jahre alten Prismen vor und nach dem frischen Polieren (Tabelle III und IV) an. Der Schwerpunkt dieser polarimetrischen Messungen liegt in den Studien der künstlich hergestellten OberflÄchenschichten auf den Glasprismen. Die Tabellen V und VI geben die Me\ergebnisse von Studien der OberflÄchenschichten, welche künstlich mit einer chemischen Einwirkung 1,0-norm. NaOH- und H₂SO₄-Lösungen erzielt wurden. Die H₂SO₄ bildet auf der GlasoberflÄche eine dünne OberflÄchenschicht, welche das Glas vor der Einwirkung der SÄure schützt. Diese OberflÄchenschicht macht das Glas widerstandsfÄhig gegen die SÄuren. Demgegenüber bildet die NaOH-Lösung keine solche Schicht, welche das Glas schützen würde; daher korrodieren die Alkalilösungen (NaOH) das Glas. Weitere Untersuchungen haben bewiesen, da\ die NaOH-Lösung die OberflÄchenschicht auflöst, und zwar auf dem Crownglasprisma schneller als auf dem Flintglas. Auf dem Quarz, der einer vierstündigen Einwirkung NaOHund H₂SO₄-Lösungen ausgesetzt wurde, konnte keine Änderung auf der OberflÄche festgestellt werden. Ein Beweis der Anwesenheit der OberflÄchenschichten auf dem Glas sind die Interferenzerscheinungen des Lichtes. Aus der Interferenzfarbe wurde die Dicke der OberflÄchenschicht auf dem Flintglas ca. 2,10^–4 mm berechnet. Aus dem Vorliegenden ist ersichtlich, da\ die polarimetrischen Messungen sich als wertvolle Hilfsmittel für die Untersuchung der OberflÄchenschichten auf dem Glas und den verschiedenen Stoffen bewÄhren.     

Steady compressible Navier–Stokes equations with large potential forces via a method of decomposition

We investigate the steady compressible Navier–Stokes equations near the equilibrium state v = 0, ρ = ρ₀ (v the velocity, ρ the density) corresponding to a large potential force. We introduce a method of decomposition for such equations: the velocity field v is split into a non-homogeneous incompressible part u (div (ρ₀u) = (0) and a compressible (irrotational) part ∇ϕ. In such a way, the original complicated mixed elliptic–hyperbolic system is split into several ‘standard’ equations: a Stokes-type system for u, a Poisson-type equation for ϕ and a transport equation for the perturbation of the density σ = ρ − ρ₀. For ρ₀ = const. (zero potential forces), the method coincides with the decomposition of Novotny and Padula [21]. To underline the advantages of the present approach, we give, as an example, a ‘simple’ proof of the existence of isothermal flows in bounded domains with no-slip boundary conditions. The approach is applicable, with some modifications, to more complicated geometries and to more complicated boundary conditions as we will show in forthcoming papers. © 1998 B.G. Teubner Stuttgart–John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

A multimodal analytical toolkit to resolve correlated reaction pathways: the case of nanoparticle formation in zeolites

Unraveling the complex, competing pathways that can govern reactions in multicomponent systems is an experimental and technical challenge. We outline and apply a novel analytical toolkit that fully leverages the synchronicity of multimodal experiments to deconvolute causal from correlative relationships and resolve structural and chemical changes in complex materials. Here, simultaneous multimodal measurements combined diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and angular dispersive X-ray scattering suitable for pair distribution function (PDF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analyses. The multimodal experimental data was interpreted via multi-level analysis; conventional analyses of each data series were integrated through meta-analysis involving non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) as a dimensional reduction algorithm and correlation analysis. We apply this toolkit to build a cohesive mechanistic picture of the pathways governing silver nanoparticle formation in zeolite A (LTA), which is key to designing catalytic and separations-based applications. For this Ag-LTA system, the mechanisms of zeolite dehydration, framework flexing, ion reduction, and cluster and nanoparticle formation and transport through the zeolite are elucidated. We note that the advanced analytical approach outline here can be applied generally to multimodal experiments, to take full advantage of the efficiencies and self-consistencies in understanding complex materials and go beyond what can be achieved by conventional approaches to data analysis.

Multimodal in situ experimental data probing a complex reaction have been integrated via a multi-level analysis involving non-negative matrix factorization and correlation analysis. This strategy can be applied generally to multimodal experiments.     

Evaluation of the curing state of epoxy thermoset systems

The characterization of thermoset networks has been carried out using numerous techniques but accurate determination of the extent of reaction is sometimes difficult. Some of these techniques have ben evaluated rapidly. As example, curing of epoxy-hardener systems have been investigated by DSC, infrared spectroscopy and other techniques and results were compared. Advantages and drawbacks of each technique are discussed and the risks of obtening misleading results for the kinetic studies or for the determination of reaction extent are underlined. Theses conclusions can be applied to numerous reactive thermoset systems.     

A Diels-Alder-based total synthesis of (-)-kainic acid

An efficient synthesis of (-)-kainic acid, through a high-pressure-promoted Diels-Alder cycloaddition of a vinylogous malonate derived from 4-hydroxyproline, is described. The bicyclic adduct could be converted into the natural product with complete stereocontrol.     

Steady Plane Flow of Viscoelastic Fluid Past an Obstacle

We consider the steady plane flow of certain classes of viscoelastic fluids in exterior domains with a non-zero velocity prescribed at infinity. We study existence as well as asymptotic behaviour of solutions near infinity and show that for sufficiently small data the solution decays near infinity as fast as the fundamental solution to the Oseen problem.