Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Roots and Their Attractiveness to Wireworms

Root volatile organic compounds (VOCs), their chemistry and ecological functions have garnered less attention than aboveground emitted plant VOCs. We report here on the identification of VOCs emitted by barley roots (Hordeum vulgare L.). Twenty nine VOCs were identified from isolated 21-d-old roots. The detection was dependent on the medium used for root cultivation. We identified 24 VOCs from 7-d-old roots when plants were cultivated on sterile Hoagland gelified medium, 33 when grown on sterile vermiculite, and 34 on non-sterile vermiculite. The major VOCs were fatty acid derived compounds, including hexanal, methyl hexanoate, (E)-hex-2-enal, 2-pentylfuran, pentan-1-ol, (Z)-2-(pentenyl)-furan, (Z)-pent-2-en-1-ol, hexan-1-ol, (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol, (E)-hex-2-en-1-ol, oct-1-en-3-ol, 2-ethylhexan-1-ol (likely a contaminant), (E)-non-2-enal, octan-1-ol, (2E,6Z)-nona-2,6-dienal, methyl (E)-non-2-enoate, nonan-1-ol, (Z)-non-3-en-1-ol, (E)-non-2-en-1-ol, nona-3,6-dien-1-ol, and nona-2,6-dien-1-ol. In an olfactometer assay, wireworms (larvae of Agriotes sordidus Illiger, Coleoptera: Elateridae) were attracted to cues emanating from barley seedlings. We discuss the role of individual root volatiles or a blend of the root volatiles detected here and their interaction with CO₂ for wireworm attraction.     

Mass transport limitations in zeolite catalysts: the dehydration of 1-phenyl-ethanol to styrene

The dehydration of 1-phenyl-ethanol to styrene is a critical step in the styrene/propene oxide manufacturing process. An important challenge is to achieve deep dehydration while minimising the oligomerisation of styrene to heavy products that deactivate the catalyst. The present study shows that zeolite-based catalysts can meet the challenge when designed and operated such as to avoid diffusion limitations in the mesopores of the binder. Indeed we achieved high conversion (>90%), reasonable selectivity (>90%) and largely improved catalyst life (>150 h) by using full-extrudate catalysts of low zeolite content that are running at low temperature (220°C) and moderate WHSV (2 g/g_extrudate h)).     

Naive probability: A mental model theory of extensional reasoning.

This article outlines a theory of naive probability. According to the theory, individuals who are unfamiliar with the probability calculus can infer the probabilities of events in an extensional way: They construct mental models of what is true in the various possibilities. Each model represents an equiprobable alternative unless individuals have beliefs to the contrary, in which case some models will have higher probabilities than others. The probability of an event depends on the proportion of models in which it occurs. The theory predicts several phenomena of reasoning about absolute probabilities, including typical biases. It correctly predicts certain cognitive illusions in inferences about relative probabilities. It accommodates reasoning based on numerical premises, and it explains how naive reasoners can infer posterior probabilities without relying on Bayes's theorem. Finally, it dispels some common misconceptions of probabilistic reasoning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of X-ray microtomography to study the homogeneity of carbon nanotube aqueous suspensions and carbon nanotube/polymer composites

X-ray microtomography was used to study the stability and homogeneity of concentrated carbon nanotube (CNT) aqueous suspensions and CNT/resorcinol–formaldehyde gel composites. Various CNT distribution states were achieved by modifying the CNT concentration, sonication time and resting time. X-ray microtomography is able to discriminate between zones with different CNT concentration levels and can be used as a non-destructive and fast tool to characterize the homogeneity of suspensions and composite systems at the micron scale.     

Synthetic gene transfer vectors II: back to the future

The discovery of RNA interference has given a new lease on life to both the chemistry of oligonucleotides and chemical approaches for the intracellular delivery of nucleic acids. In particular, delivery of siRNA, whether in vitro for screening and target validation purposes or in humans as a new class of drugs, may revolutionize our approach to therapy. Their impact could equal that of the bioproduction and various uses of monoclonal antibodies today. Unfortunately, global pharmaceutical companies again seem to be waiting to buy the next Genentech or Genzyme of gene silencing rather than investing research and development into this promising area of research. Gene silencing encounters barriers similar to gene addition and hence may benefit from the extra decade of experience brought by gene therapy. "Chemical" transfection of cells in culture has become routine, and this Account discusses some of the reasons this success has not extended to nonviral gene therapy trials, most of which do not progress beyond the phase 2 stage. The author also discusses a (much debated) mechanism of nucleic acid cell entry and subsequent release of the polycationic particles into the cytoplasm. Both topics should be useful to those interested in delivery of siRNA. The move from gene therapy toward siRNA as an oligonucleotide-based therapy strategy provides a much wider range of druggable targets. Even though these molecules are a hundredfold smaller than a gene, they are delivered via similar cellular mechanisms. Their complexes with cationic polymers are less stable than those with a higher number of phosphate groups, which may be compensated by siRNA concatemerization or by chemical conjugation with the cationic carrier. Thus chemistry is again desperately needed.     

New insight on the genesis and fate of odor-active compounds in vanilla beans (Vanilla planifolia G. Jackson) during traditional curing

Green vanilla beans were subjected to the traditional curing process in Mexico. Odor-active potential from beans including 23 compounds was monitored through the analysis of both free and glucosidically bound volatiles. 8 of them were aliphatic aldehydes, acids, alcohol and ketone. 15 molecules were shikimate derivatives in which 13 were detected in glucosylated form. Some glucosides were efficiently hydrolyzed while some others partly or not at all after 90 days of curing. Moreover kinetics of hydrolysis of glucosides were not the same. A major part of glucovanillin was hydrolyzed at the first stages of curing while some other glucosides at the advanced stages. Data support hypothesis that hydrolysis of glucosides during curing is rather enzymatic origin than chemical one. Free shikimate derivatives or those liberated from glucosides are prone to chemical or enzymatic interconversions leading to a significant change in the aroma profile of cured vanilla.     

Impulse Response Time Measurements in Hg<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Cd<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>Te MWIR Avalanche Photodiodes

The response time of front-sided illuminated n-on-p Hg_0.7Cd_0.3Te electron avalanche photodiodes (e-APDs) at T = 77 K was studied using impulse response measurements at λ = 1.55 μm. We measured typical rise and fall times of 50 ps and 800 ps, respectively, at gains of M ≈ 100, and a record gain-bandwidth (GBW) product of GBW = 1.1 THz at M = 2800. Experiments as a function of the collection width have shown that the fall time is strongly limited by diffusion. Variable-gain measurements showed that the impulse response is first-order sensitive to the level of the output amplitude. Only a slight increase in the rise time and the fall time was observed with the gain at constant output amplitude, which is consistent with a strongly dominant electron multiplication. Comparisons of the experimental results with Silvaco finite element simulations confirmed the diffusion limitation of the response time and allowed the illustration of the transit time and RC effects.