Investigating the oronasal contributions to metallic perception

Metallic taints elicited when consuming food can be unpleasant for the consumer, and are therefore problematic to food manufacturers. Although metallic has been proposed as a taste in the past, evidence remains inconclusive. This study investigates the oral and nasal contributions to metallic perception using sensory evaluation and headspace analysis using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). When sniffing the headspace over divalent salt solutions some were discriminated from water. GC-MS did not detect volatiles in the sample headspace, one hypothesis being that sample volatiles react with phospholipids in the nasal cavity and it is lipid oxidation products which are perceived. Copper sulphate was reported as metallic when tasted with the nose occluded to eliminate retronasal perception, suggesting a gustatory or trigeminal mechanism may be involved. This work indicates orthonasal stimulation is involved in metallic perception, and contributes to the ongoing debate over metallic being a taste, trigeminal or flavour response

A Systems Approach Uncovers Restrictions for Signal Interactions Regulating Genome-wide Responses to Nutritional Cues in Arabidopsis

As sessile organisms, plants must cope with multiple and combined variations of signals in their environment. However, very few reports have studied the genome-wide effects of systematic signal combinations on gene expression. Here, we evaluate a high level of signal integration, by modeling genome-wide expression patterns under a factorial combination of carbon (C), light (L), and nitrogen (N) as binary factors in two organs (O), roots and leaves. Signal management is different between C, N, and L and in shoots and roots. For example, L is the major factor controlling gene expression in leaves. However, in roots there is no obvious prominent signal, and signal interaction is stronger. The major signal interaction events detected genome wide in Arabidopsis roots are deciphered and summarized in a comprehensive conceptual model. Surprisingly, global analysis of gene expression in response to C, N, L, and O revealed that the number of genes controlled by a signal is proportional to the magnitude of the gene expression changes elicited by the signal. These results uncovered a strong constraining structure in plant cell signaling pathways, which prompted us to propose the existence of a “code” of signal integration

Model reaching adaptive-robust control law for vibration isolation systems with parametric uncertainty

Adaptive control has been used for active vibration isolation and vehicle suspensions systems. A model reference adaptive control law is used for the plant to track the ideal reference model. In a model reaching adaptive control approach, the ideal of a skyhook target without using a reference model is achieved. In this paper, a novel approach, a model reaching adaptive-robust control law is studied for active vibration isolation systems. A dynamic manifold for ideal system is defined using the ideal of a skyhook target model system parameters. First, a new Lyapunov function is defined. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory, a model reaching adaptive and a robust control laws are derived for the uncertain system to reach the ideal manifold. Parameters and upper bounding functions are estimated as a trigonometric function depending on the relative displacements, velocities and the defined manifold. The developed adaptive and the robust compensators are combined and this combination is proposed as an adaptive-robust control law. After that, the controller is applied to a vehicle suspension system and the ideal of a skyhook target without using a reference model is achieved. The results also show that the proposed robust control law can increase the comfort of the vehicle active suspension systems and the ride comfort is remarkably increased

Phenylpropanoids, Sesquiterpenoids And Flavonoids From Pimpinella Tragium Vill. Subsp Lithophila (Schischkin) Tutin

A new sesquiterpenoid named germacradiene-6-O-(6'-O-acetyl)-beta-D-glucoside (1) and a new flavonol glycoside named rhamnetin-3-O-(2 ''-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2), along with three known sesquiterpenoids dictamnol (3), radicol (4), germacradiene glucoside (5); three phenylpropanoids 4-methoxy-2-(3-methyloxiranyl)-phenyl 2-methylbutanoate (6), 4-methoxy-2-(3-methyloxiranyl)-phenyl angelate (7), thellungianin E (8); and a flavonol glycoside platanoside (9) were isolated from the aerial parts of Pimpinella tragium Vill. subsp. lithophila (Schischkin) Tutin. Their structures were elucidated by detailed analyses of 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR and HR-ESI-MS data.Wo

False-positive I-131 accumulation in a hepatic hydatid cyst

WOS: 000251208500005PubMed ID: 18030043In this report, a case of differentiated thyroid carcinoma having false-positive I-131 accumulation due to a large hydatid cyst in the liver is presented. Abdominal sonographic examination of a 37-year-old patient with differentiated thyroid carcinoma demonstrated an ovoid, complex cystic mass containing cystic parts as well as solid-appearing components in the right lobe of liver, which is concordant with a type CE-3 hydatid cyst. The postablative whole-body scan obtained 10 days after 100 mCi I-131 therapy displayed intense and homogeneous uptake of radioiodine in the liver. Hepatic cystic mass was removed, and postoperative histologic evaluation confirmed hydatid disease. Some cystic lesions of the kidney and liver have been previously reported as causes of false-positive radioiodine accumulation

Cholinesterase Inhibition And Molecular Docking Studies Of Sesquiterpene Coumarin Ethers From Heptaptera Cilicica

Five sesquiterpene coumarin ethers: umbelliprenin, umbelliprenin-10', 11'-monoepoxide, conferone, mogoltacin and feselol were isolated from the fruits of Heptaptera cilicica. Their structures were identified by means of spectroscopic methods. AChE and BuChE inhibitory activities of the compounds were determined by molecular docking method which were confirmed by in vitro experiments. According to molecular docking results, total score of feselol and umbelliprenin were 5.69 and 3.23 kcal/mol against acetylcholinesterase, respectively. Total score for butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory effect of them were 2.76 and 4.99 kcal/mol, respectively. Feselol and umbelliprenin exhibited significantly high inhibitory potency against acetylcholinesterase (IC50 = 1.26 +/- 0.01 and 5.86 +/- 0.03 mu M, respectively) and butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 = 9.98 +/- 0.24 and 1.10 +/- 0.19 mu M, respectively). This is the first report of isolation of natural bioactives obtained from the chloroform extract of Heptaptera cilicica fruits with anticholinesterase activity.WoSScopu

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Capacity, Acetyl- And Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activities Of The Essential Oil Of Thymus Haussknechtii Velen.

The chemical composition of the essential oil from the aerial parts of Thymus haussknechtii Velen. was analyzed by using gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major component of the essential oil was thymol (52.2%). Total phenolic content of the essential oil was determined as 132.9 mu g gallic acid equivalent. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by DPPH free radical, superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities along with ferrous ion-chelating power test, ABTS radical cation decolorization assay and ferric thiocyanate methods. In addition to antioxidant activity, anticholinesterase activity of the essential oil was also evaluated. It exhibited inhibitory activities on AChE and BuChE which play an important role in Alzheimer's disease, along with significant antioxidant activity. (C) 2016 ACG Publications. All rights reserved.Wo

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant And Anticholinesterase Activities Of The Essential Oil Of Origanum Rotundifolium Boiss. From Turkey

The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Origanum rotundifolium Boiss. Its chemical content and composition were analyzed by using a gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Total phenolic content of the essential oil was determined as 132.39 mu g gallic acid equivalent by Folin-Ciocalteu's method and the major component was identified as carvacrol (56.8 %) along with p-cymene (13.1 %), (Z)-beta-ocimene (5.4 %), beta-caryophyllene (3.9 %), borneol (3.4 %) and thymol (3.2 %). After chemical characterization, the essential oil was evaluated for its antioxidant activity by DPPH free radical, superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities as well as ferrous ion-chelating power test, ABTS radical cation decolorization assay and ferric thiocyanate methods. Besides antioxidant activity, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of the essential oil were also evaluated by Ellman's method. It demonstrated inhibitory activities on AChE and BuChE, key enzymes in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), in addition to significant antioxidant activity.WoSScopu

Organics and inorganics in flow back and produced water from shale gas operations: treatment and identification of glycols using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

This study investigated the efficiency of different water treatment processes in reducing propylene glycol (PG), ethylene glycol (EG), ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGME), and other water quality parameters in flow back/produced water from a shale gas well operation. EG, PG, and EGME are the most widely used chemicals in hydraulic fracturing; however, limited investigations on these chemicals have been performed to date. Granular activated carbon (GAC) removed PG and EG to acceptable drinking water levels. Electrocoagulation was effective at decreasing turbidity (85%) as well as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) (80%), while ultrafiltration removed 90% of the turbidity and TPH. GAC further removed approximately 95% of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), total organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, and glycols but only removed 16% of total dissolved solids (TDS). Reverse osmosis removed approximately 90% of TDS (2,550 mg/L); however, this level remained high for certain purposes. Although some water quality parameters remained above the reusability threshold for most purposes, the treated water could be used on tolerant plants and permeable soils. In-depth knowledge and understanding of flow back/produced water quality characteristics, pre and post water treatment processes, can improve water treatment process strategies, reduce wastewater discharge, and improve treated water's reusability. HIGHLIGHTS Glycols in flow back from a shale gas well were measured via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.; The efficiency of different produced water treatment processes was assessed.; Glycols and other water quality parameters were compared before/after each treatment.; Water quality parameters remained above the reusability threshold.; The treated water reached a level where it could be reused on tolerant plants and permeable soils