Chemical Profile of Satureja Kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. Essential Oils: Composition of Satureja Kitaibelii Essential Oils

The essential oils from dried aerial parts of Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff., collected at three various sites in Serbia, were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. One hundred sixty-three components were identified in all investigated samples, 132 components in the oil from the site Devoja?ki grob, 124 components in the oil coming from Si?eva?ka klisura site, and 146 components in the oil from the site Viso?ka R?ana, accounting 97.3, 93.9, and 95.6% of the total oils, respectively. The most abundant component in the essential oils was geraniol amounting from 24.0 to 30.3%, making up about one-quarter of the total oils. Other representative compounds were identified as linalool (5.0–14.8%), limonene (4.3–7.9%), and caryophyllene oxide (4.4–5.2%) in all tested samples. The results suggested that essential oils of S. kitaibelii belong to the aliphatic monoterpene chemotype.     

Novel Aeruginosin‐865 from Nostoc sp. as a Potent Anti‐inflammatory Agent

Aeruginosin‐865 (Aer‐865), isolated from terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. Luke?ová 30/93, is the first aeruginosin‐type peptide containing both a fatty acid and a carbohydrate moiety, and is the first aeruginosin to be found in the genus Nostoc. Mass spectrometry, chemical and spectroscopic analysis as well as one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR and chiral HPLC analysis of Marfey derivatives were applied to determine the peptidic sequence: D ‐Hpla, D ‐Leu, 5‐OH‐Choi, Agma, with hexanoic and mannopyranosyl uronic acid moieties linked to Choi. We used an AlphaLISA assay to measure the levels of proinflammatory mediators IL‐8 and ICAM‐1 in hTNF‐α‐stimulated HLMVECs. Aer‐865 showed significant reduction of both: with EC₅₀ values of (3.5±1.5) μg mL^?1 ((4.0±1.7) μM ) and (50.0±13.4) μg mL^?1 ((57.8±15.5) μM ), respectively. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the anti‐inflammatory effect of Aer‐865 was directly associated with inhibition of NF‐κB translocation to the nucleus. Moreover, Aer‐865 did not show any cytotoxic effect.     

Linearisation of RF PA by even-order nonlinear baseband signal processed in digital domain

This paper represents, for the first time, the linearisation method of RF power amplifiers, which is based on using the second- and fourth-order nonlinear signals shaped by digital signal processing in a baseband domain. The linearisation signals are generated by the second- and fourth-order nonlinear modifications of the baseband signal in the proposed manners. The composite second- and fourth-order linearisation signals modulate carrier second harmonics, and the modulated signals are then driven to the gate and drain of the amplifier transistor. The linearisation effects of the proposed method are evaluated on a single stage power amplifier for the simulated QAM and OFDM digitally modulated signals at diverse input power levels up to the 1 dB compression point. Moreover, the FPGA implementation of a system for the generation and processing of the fundamental signal, and the second-order linearisation signals is presented in the paper, and the proposed technique is verified for the generated QAM signal. In addition, the linearisation of the two-way asymmetrical Doherty amplifier is performed in the experiment by using software defined radio platforms for synthesising the fundamental signal and the second-order linearisation signals.     

Static Headspace Gas Chromatographic Method for Aldehyde Determination in Crackers

The aim of this work was to develop and validate static headspace gas chromatography with flame ionization detection method for determination of five aldehydes selected as markers for lipid oxidation, present in freshly baked and stored crackers with high fat content. Chromatographic conditions defined in this method allow the separation of propanal, pentanal, hexanal, heptanal and octanal within 15 min. Relative standard deviations (RSD) of the retention times for repeatability and intermediate precision for all compounds were less than 1.75 and 0.22 %, respectively. For the obtained peak areas, RSD for repeatability and intermediate precision were less than 3.86 and 4.32 %, respectively. Recovery was within the range of 60–99 %. Each analyte showed an excellent linear behaviour over the set concentration range, with correlation coefficient (R ² ) values above 0.99. Limits of quantification for propanal, pentanal, hexanal, heptanal and octanal were 0.10, 0.05, 0.08, 0.02 and 0.02 μg, respectively. The proposed method accomplishes the requirements for the method selectivity, precision, sensitivity, accuracy and linearity needed for determination of aldehydes in bakery products. Quantification of aldehydes was achieved for both freshly baked and stored crackers over a long period of time.     

Photo‐degradation of hydrophobic esters of pyridinecarboxylic acids as copper extractants from chloride media and their copper complexes

The photo‐stability of hydrophobic esters of pyridine‐3‐carboxylic acid and pyridine‐3,5‐dicarboxylic acid containing 2‐ethylhexyl‐, octyl‐, and dodecyl‐substituents which are model extractants of copper from chloride media were studied together with the photo‐degradation of their copper complexes. The results indicate that UV light degraded the esters of both pyridine‐3,5‐dicarboxylic acid and pyridine‐3‐carboxylic acid. The degree of degradation depended on the structure of the ester, the type of solvent, and the presence of oxygen, water or hydrochloric acid in the solution during exposure to visible or UV‐visible light. Photo‐reactions between the solvent and the esters were also observed. Copper has a considerable influence on the photo‐stability of the esters. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Planning to lose weight: Randomized controlled trial of an implementation intention prompt to enhance weight reduction among overweight and obese women.

Objective: The trial investigates the effects of augmenting an established weight-reduction intervention with implementation intention prompts. Design: Fifty-five overweight or obese women (ages 18 to 76 years; body mass index from 25.28 to 48.33) enrolled in a commercial weight reduction program were randomly assigned to either an implementation intention prompt or a control condition. Data were collected twice, with a time gap of 2 months. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was participants' change in weight and body mass index from preintervention to follow-up. Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a significant Time = Condition interaction: On average, implementation intention prompt participants lost 4.2 kg (95% confidence interval = 3.19, 5.07), whereas control participants lost 2.1 kg (95% confidence interval = 1.11, 3.09). The change in frequency of planning mediated the effects of the intervention on weight and body mass index change. Conclusion: Among obese or overweight women participating in a commercial weight loss program, those who learn to form implementation intentions can achieve greater weight reduction. Planning facilitation is a key mechanism explaining enhanced weight loss generated by implementation intention formation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bottom–up assessment of potentials and costs of CO2 emission mitigation in the buildings sector: insights into the missing elements

The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has calculated and shown that, currently, the buildings sector has the largest potential for low-cost carbon dioxide (CO₂) mitigation in the short to medium term from application of technological options among the sectors examined, based on bottom–up studies. The potential estimates, however, were derived with no regard to indirect costs of CO₂ mitigation, associated benefits, and non-technological options; these factors might change the magnitude of the potential and the costs associated with its implementation. The question emerges how accurate the indicators of the economic potential are according to the current IPCC method and how much they might change if all factors mentioned were taken into account. While research results are presently not sufficient to fully answer this question and quantitative analyses of non-technological options, transaction costs associated with barriers, and non-energy benefits are scarce and fragmented, this paper makes a first attempt to assess the presently available literature in the field. The paper concludes that the ballpark is right for the figures reporting the cost-effective potentials in the buildings sector; however, these assessments indeed need to be corrected by incurred transaction costs and co-benefits relevant for the particular assessment, as well as the potential of non-technological options. The paper also outlines a research agenda in the area so that a possible next Assessment Report of the IPCC can derive a more accurate estimate of the bottom–up potential of CO₂ mitigation.     

Bioclimatic rehabilitation of existing building stock

Bioclimatic rehabilitation of existing building stock can result in significant energy savings. Different rehabilitation measures are available, but low-cost measures are mostly in use. In Belgrade those are closing of balconies and loggias and annex of attics built in purpose of dwelling. Those are measures that tenants were able to realize in personal arrangement and measures that created benefits for the community. The review of rehabilitation measures is given and measures that are mostly in use in Belgrade are analyzed in the paper.     

Antennal and mouthpart sensilla of Acanthoscelides obtectus say (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Acanthoscelides obtectus, a serious pest with a worldwide distribution, damages stored seeds of Phaseolus sp. To acquire a better understanding of the sensory orientation of bean weevils, their antennal and palpal sensilla were investigated. The antennae and palps possess several types of sensory hairs: blunt‐tipped sensilla chaetica and trichoidea and also sharp‐tipped sensilla trichoidea, these last being the most numerous. Sensilla basiconica are present only on the flagellomeres, but Böhm bristles occur on the basal sclerite and scape of the antennae. The terminal segments of the maxillary and labial palps bear a group of sensilla styloconica with single apical pores. Sensilla coeloconica are located only on the terminal palpal segments. They were unable to detect any distinct morphological differences between males and females. The possible chemosensory, mechanosensory, and thermo‐/hygroreceptive functions of the sensilla are discussed.