Auden's Styles of Verse

This article investigates Auden's re-use of traditional popular verse, such as folk song and nursery rhyme, when wriing modernist light verse or poems on more serious contemporary issues

Effect of ellagitannins, ellagic acid and volatile compounds from oak wood on the (+)-catechin, procyanidin B1 and malvidin-3-glucoside content of model wines

Background and Aims: During ageing in oak barrels, wine undergoes changes because of the release of polyphenols and other molecules from wood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of some oak wood-derived volatile compounds, ellagic acid and oak wood extracts on the levels of (+)-catechin, procyanidin B1 and malvidin-3-glucoside. Methods and Results: Phenolics and the oak wood derived volatile compounds studied were quantified by HPLC and by GC, respectively. Additionally, the new compounds formed in the solutions were characterised by their spectral properties. Ellagic acid and/or oak wood extracts slowed the decline in the levels of (+)-catechin and procyanidin B1. In contrast, the decrease in malvidin-3-glucoside was more pronounced in the presence of ellagic acid and oak wood chip extracts. Furfural slowed (+)-catechin degradation, while breakdown of malvidin-3-glucoside was slightly more pronounced in the presence of guaiacol, furfural, vanillin and eugenol. (+)-Catechin, procyanidin B1 and malvidin-3-glucoside did not significantly affect the rate of the degradation of ellagitannins during the storage time studied. Finally, new HPLC peaks were detected in the solutions containing (+)-catechin and ellagic acid, as well as with malvidin-3-glucoside with ellagic acid and oak wood extract. Conclusions: Malvidin 3-glucoside and (+)-catechin and procyanidin B1 presented distinct behaviours during time in the presence of volatile and non-volatile compounds from oak wood. Significance of the Study: This work points out the importance of oak wood components in the degradation of anthocyanins and tannins, as well as the reactions that occur during the ageing of red win

Molecularly imprinted polypyrrole based electrochemical sensor for selective determination of 4-ethylphenol

This work describes the development of an electrochemical sensor based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for sensitive and selective determination of 4-ethylphenol in wine. The sensor has been built by means of the electrosynthesis of the MIP on a glassy carbon electrode surface using cyclic voltammetry. The electropolymerization has been performed in the presence of 4-ethylphenol and pyrrole as template molecule and functional monomer, respectively. The influence of the molar ratios of template molecules to functional pyrrole monomers and the time needed to remove the template have been optimized taking into account the differential pulse voltammetric response of 4-ethylphenol. Under the optimal experimental conditions the developed MIP/GCE sensor shows good capability of detection (0.2 μM, α = β = 0.05) and reproducibility (3.0%) in the concentration range from 0.2 to 34.8 μM. The influence of possible interfering species in the analytical response has been studied and the sensor has successfully been applied to the determination of 4-ethylphenol in different wine samples.Junta de Castilla y León (BU018G19

Red wine and components flavonoids inhibit UGT2B17 in vitro

Background The metabolism and excretion of the anabolic steroid testosterone occurs by glucuronidation to the conjugate testosterone glucuronide which is then excreted in urine. Alterations in UGT glucuronidation enzyme activity could alter the rate of testosterone excretion and thus its bioavailability. The aim of this study is to investigate if red wine, a common dietary substance, has an inhibitory effect on UGT2B17. Methods Testosterone glucuronidation was assayed using human UGT2B17 supersomes with quantification of unglucuronidated testosterone over time using HPLC with DAD detection. The selected red wine was analysed using HPLC and the inhibitory effects of the wine and phenolic components were tested independently in a screening assay. Further analyses were conducted for the strongest inhibitors at physiologically relevant concentrations. Control experiments were conducted to determine the effects of the ethanol on UGT2B17. Results Over the concentration range of 2 to 8% the red wine sample inhibited the glucuronidation of testosterone by up to 70% over 2 hours. The ethanol content had no significant effect. Three red wine phenolics, identified by HLPC analyses, also inhibited the enzyme by varying amounts in the order of quercetin (72%), caffeic acid (22%) and gallic acid (9%); using a ratio of phenolic:testosterone of 1:2.5. In contrast p-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid had no effect on the UGT2B17. The most active phenolic was selected for a detailed study at physiologically relevant concentrations, and quercetin maintained inhibitory activity of 20% at 2 M despite a ten-fold excess of testosterone. Conclusion This study reports that in an in vitro supersome-based assay, the key steroid-metabolising enzyme UGT2B17 is inhibited by a number of phenolic dietary substances and therefore may reduce the rate of testosterone glucuronidation in vivo. These results highlight the potential interactions of a number of common dietary compounds on testosterone metabolism. Considering the variety of foodstuffs that contain flavonoids, it is feasible that diet can elevate levels of circulating testosterone through reduction in urinary excretion. These results warrant further investigation and extension to a human trial to delineate the healt

Molecular and supramolecular chemistry of mono- and di-selenium analogues of metal dithiocarbamates

This bibliographic review summarises the coordination chemistry of mono- and diselenium analogues of metal dithiocarbamate ligands, [RRꞌNCS2]-, as revealed by X-ray crystallography and spectroscopy (77Se NMR and infrared). The Se-ligands are usually chelating but, bridging modes, up to 4, are known. Reflecting the larger size, greater polarisability and presence of a polar-cap (-hole), selenium atoms are more likely to be involved in secondary-bonding (chalcogen-bonding) than sulphur when a competition exists. Isostructural relationships are established across the series in about one-third of the structures

Phenolic and furanic compounds of Portuguese chestnut and French, American and Portuguese oak wood chips

Botanical species used on aging process must be wisely and judiciously chosen, and for this selection, a basic knowledge of the chemical composition of woods is warranted. Aiming to contribute to extend the knowledge of the chemical composition of several wood species useful for enological purposes, we have focused our studies on Portuguese chestnut and French, American and Portuguese oak chips. The profile of low molecular weight phenolic composition of these chips was achieved, using an optimized extraction method based on pressurized liquid extraction, followed by the quantification of phenolic acids, phenolic aldehydes and furanic derivatives by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD). The identification of those compounds was also confirmed by LC-DAD/ESI-MS. This study allowed the determination of the low molecular phenolic composition of Portuguese chestnut and French, American and Portuguese oak wood. According to our results, the influence of the botanical species seems to be more relevant than the geographic origin of the wood species

Poems

Moving, \u27After two Thousand Years...\u2

Folie, topography and family in Murray's middle-distance poems

Discusses the depiction of topography and family in the poetry of Australian Les Murray. Characteristics of his verse novels; Allusions incorporated in his works; Development of sequences in theme and style