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A quick and selective analytical method was developed via LC-MS/MS for the simultaneous quantitation of alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TeA) which belong to the large group of secondary metabolites produced by fungi of the genus Alternaria. Cocoa is susceptible to a number of toxin-producing microorganisms, including Aspergillus and Penicillium species. The method relies on a single-step extraction, followed by an easy clean up, dilution of the raw extract and direct analysis. To assess whether cocoa and chocolate products can be a source of Alternaria toxins, a monitoring of cocoa and chocolate products (N = 99) as well as cocoa raw and semi-finished materials (cocoa shells, cocoa masses; N = 10) was performed. As the results, cocoa and products made from cocoa (without other ingredients) are no source of the Alternaria toxins considered here.

A quick and selective analytical method was developed employing LC-MS/MS for the quantitation of matrine. This is known to be a natural ingredient of Sophora ssp. and is suggested to be a potential contaminant, e.g. in herbal raw materials from liquorice or confectionery products based on liquorice. To prove that the finding of matrine in liquorice roots does not originate from an active use of pesticides, wild collection areas, as well as geographical, legal and economic aspects have been studied with the help of experienced traders and suppliers in cooperation with local liquorice producers. An LC-MS/MS method was successfully developed and applied for monitoring of raw material and semi-finished products (N = 104) and afterwards a model test was performed to show that findings of matrine in liquorice products originates from a co-harvesting of nearby growing Sophora roots during the manual collection of liquorice roots.

This study evaluates the content and formation of free and bound monochloropropanediol (MCPD) and bound glycidol (GE) in fine bakery wares from the German market. The analytical screening revealed, that free 3-MCPD can be quantified in products with low water and fat content, which are produced using high baking temperatures. Concentrations resulted to be 10.0 µg/kg (wafers), 14.1 µg/kg (crispbread) and 22.8 µg/kg (rusk) and are thus judged to be of minor significance when it comes to a potential introduction of a combined maximum level for free and bound species. As exception, considerable amounts of free 3-MCPD (maximum level of 265.4 µg/kg) were only quantified in cinnamon stars containing glycerine as additive. As expected, MCPDE were only quantified in products produced with refined vegetable oil (short bread, puff pastry, caramel biscuits, speculoos, cake, wafers, wholemeal biscuits and rusk). GE levels have already been significantly reduced compared to former studies, one cake showed a maximum content of 127.8 µg/kg. A model baking trial using 13C-3-MCPDE spiked butter as fat component in shortbread confirmed that free 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD, 3-MCPDE, 2-MCPDE or GE are not endogenously formed in marketable browned biscuits. A thermal or lipase-catalysed release of free 3-MCPD from its fatty acid esters can be excluded.

In recent years, operating rooms (ORs) have transformed into integrated operating rooms, where devices are able to communicate, exchange data, or even steer and control each other. However, image data processing is commonly done by dedicated workstations for specific clinical use-cases. In this paper, we propose a concept for a dynamic service component for image data processing on the example of automatic image quality assessment (AQUA) of intraoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. The service is build using the Open Surgical Communication Protocol (OSCP) and the standard for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM). We have validated the proposed concept in an integrated demonstrator OR.

Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) are present in many fats and oils as well as foods prepared thereof. A survey of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) in different types of vegetable fats and oils is reported. Contents of MOSH/MOAH were quantified using liquid chromatography online‐coupled to gas chromatography with flame‐ionization detection (LC‐GC‐FID). Cocoa butter (n = 142) showed levels from

3D medical images are important components of modern medicine. Their usefulness for the physician depends on their quality, though. Only high-quality images allow accurate and reproducible diagnosis and appropriate support during treatment. We have analyzed 202 MRI images for brain tumor surgery in a retrospective study. Both an experienced neurosurgeon and an experienced neuroradiologist rated each available image with respect to its role in the clinical workflow, its suitability for this specific role, various image quality characteristics, and imaging artifacts. Our results show that MRI data acquired for brain tumor surgery does not always fulfill the required quality standards and that there is a significant disagreement between the surgeon and the radiologist, with the surgeon being more critical. Noise, resolution, as well as the coverage of anatomical structures were the most important criteria for the surgeon, while the radiologist was mainly disturbed by motion artifacts.

We present an interactive segmentation method for 3D medical images that reconstructs the surface of an object using energy-minimizing, smooth, implicit functions. This reconstruction problem is called variational interpolation. For an intuitive segmentation of medical images, variational interpolation can be based on a set of user-drawn, planar contours that can be arbitrarily oriented in 3D space. This also allows an easy integration of the algorithm into the common manual segmentation workflow, where objects are segmented by drawing contours around them on each slice of a 3D image. Because variational interpolation is computationally expensive, we show how to speed up the algorithm to achieve almost real-time calculation times while preserving the overall segmentation quality. Moreover, we show how to improve the robustness of the algorithm by transforming it from an interpolation to an approximation problem and we discuss a local interpolation scheme. A first evaluation of our algorithm by two experienced radiology technicians on 15 liver metastases and 1 liver has shown that the segmentation times can be reduced by a factor of about 2 compared to a slice-wise manual segmentation and only about one fourth of the contours are necessary compared to the number of contours necessary for a manual segmentation.

Bacillus megaterium was used in biotransformation studies to test the influence of several barbiturates towards the recently observed N-dealkylation and arylic hydroxylation of N,N-diethylaniline. Certain barbiturates (phenobarbital and amobarbital) induced increased enzyme activity in whole-cell incubations with B. megaterium resulting in an increasing amount of N-deethylated and hydroxylated arylic (ortho- and para-hydroxylation) products, whereas ortho-hydroxylation was slightly favored. Phenobarbital did not show any effects towards hydroxylation activity, but N-dealkylation activity was highly induced. Finally, metyrapone highly reduced hydroxylation and N-dealkylation activity.

Female choice is thought to increase the fitness returns of females. The complementary choice model states that the best mate depends on the particular genotype of a female. Aculeate Hymenoptera represent a special case of complementary female choice because males should be chosen on the basis of their allele at the sex determination locus. The prevalent sex determination mechanism in bees and wasps (single-locus complementary sex determination) requires that, to produce a daughter, diploid offspring are heterozygous at the sex determination locus. Otherwise, infertile diploid males result. Inevitably, the proportion of diploid males increases with the rate of inbreeding. In the European Beewolf, males scent mark territories to attract mates and the composition of the pheromone might provide a basis for female choice. One crucial prerequisite for females to be able to discriminate against brothers and avoid inbreeding is that the male sex pheromone varies with familial affiliation. This hypothesis was tested by analysing the pheromone of male progeny of eight mothers using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. A significantly higher similarity was found among brothers than among unrelated individuals. Such a genetic component of a male sex pheromone has not yet been described from aculeate Hymenoptera. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 89, 433–442.

Extracts obtained by simultaneous distillation extraction (SDE) from industrial raw materials, namely single strength apple juices, and concentrates and aromas made thereof (each n = 31, from one production line; origin Poland, Germany, Turkey, Romania and China), as well as commercially available juices (n = 27), were analysed by standard controlled capillary gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HRGC–MS). During the technological processing from juice to the aroma, no qualitative changes in the apple aroma profile were observed. Major constituents of the juices and aromas under study were found to be 1-hexanol (juice, 0.06–5.9 mg/l; aroma, 47–685 mg/l), 1-butanol (juice, 0.1–4.7 mg/l; aroma, 17–370 mg/l); E-2-hexenol (juice, 0.01–3.4 mg/l; aroma, 12–300 mg/l); E-2-hexenal (juice, 0–3.0 mg/l; aroma 0–470 mg/l), and butyl acetate (juice, 0–1.7 mg/l; aroma, 0–165 mg/l). By far the major component of the apple juice concentrates under study was furfural (2.4–56 mg/kg). The observed occurrence of 3-methyl-1-butanol (juice, 0.01–2.1 mg/l; aroma, 1.5–134 mg/l) and, in part, its acetate (juice, 0–0.3 mg/l; aroma, 0–3.3 mg/l), both known not to be genuine apple constituents, was obviously caused by fermentative effects in the course of industrial juice production. In addition, on-line capillary gas chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry was used in the combustion (C) and the pyrolysis (P) modes (HRGC–C/P–IRMS) for the determination of δ13CV-PDB and δ2HV-SMOW values of selected apple flavour constituents to check potential isotope discrimination during distillative aroma production. As shown by means of the representative examples of E-2-hexenal, 1-hexanol and E-2-hexenol, their δ2HV-SMOW values were slightly depleted. However, authenticity assessment by stable IRMS will not be influenced by this effect.

Bacillus megaterium, isolated in a screening process from topsoil, was used for N-demethylation of natural N-methyl methyl anthranilate to produce natural methyl anthranilate. Maximal productivity of 70 mg/L/day was achieved under laboratory-scale conditions without further optimization. No byproducts were observed. Thus, production of “natural” methyl anthranilate using B. megaterium is a significant improvement over comparable already existing procedures. Keywords: Bacillus megaterium; bioflavor; biotransformation; methyl anthranilate; N-demethylation; N-methyl methyl anthranilate

Using extracts obtained by simultaneous distillation extraction (SDE) as well as liquid liquid extraction (LLE) of self-prepared juices from pear fruits ( n = 20) and from commercial pear products (juices, n = 11; brandies, n = 16; baby food, n = 8), on-line capillary gas chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry was employed in the combustion (C) and the pyrolysis (P) modes (HRGC-C/P-IRMS) to determine the δ 13 C V-PDB and δ 2 H V-SMOW values of major pear flavour constituents. In addition to butyl acetate 1 , 1-butanol 2 , hexyl acetate 3 , 1-hexanol 4 , as well as the ‘pear esters’ methyl E , Z -2,4-decadienoate 5 , ethyl E , Z -2,4-decadienaote 6 , and ethyl E , E -2,4-decadienoate 7 , each originating from the fruit, the δ 13 C VPDB and δ 2 H V-SMOW data of commercial synthetic and “natural” (biotechnologically derived) 1 – 7 were determined.

The δ13CVPDB and δ18OVSMOW values of caffeine isolated from commercial caffeine-containing foods were determined by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) using elemental analysis (EA) in the 'combustion' (C) and 'pyrolysis' (P) modes (EA-C/P-IRMS), respectively. In total, 69 samples (32 guarana products, 20 teas, 12 coffee products, and 5 mate teas) were analyzed together with three references of synthetic caffeine. Validation was done by excluding isotope discrimination in the course of sample preparation and determining linear dynamic ranges for EA-P-IRMS measurements. In total, five samples (one caffeine-containing soft drink and four guarana products) under study contained synthetic caffeine.

The chemical composition and functional significance of pheromones of solitary Hymenoptera is much less well known compared to social species. Males of the genus Philanthus (Sphecidae) are territorial and scent mark their territories to attract females. Because of inconsistent results of earlier studies, we reanalyzed the content of the cephalic glands of male European beewolves, Philanthus triangulum F. Besides a variety of alkanes and alkenes, four major compounds were found. Two of these, (Z)-11-eicosen-1-ol and (Z)-10-nonadecen-2-one, had been previously described as constituents of the cephalic glands. We identified 1-octadecanol as a new component of the cephalic gland, and a fourth compound, enantiopure (S)-2,3-dihydrofamesoic acid, was identified for the first time in nature. Structural elucidation and enantiomeric analysis were performed by HRGC-MS and HRGC-FTIR as well as enantioselective gas chromatography and by means of authentic reference compounds. Occurrence and function of the four compounds in insect chemistry are discussed.

In this account, we summarize the highlights of our cooperative research work on the biocatalytic preparation of enantiomerically enriched, oxyfunctionalized substances in the ‘Sonderforschungsbereich (SFB 347): Selektive Reaktionen Metall-aktivierter Molekule’. The biocatalytic kinetic resolution of secondary hydroperoxides with the metalloenzymes horseradish (HRP) and Coprinus (CiP) peroxidase affords the hydroperoxides and their alcohols in excellent enantiomeric excess. Also the semisynthetic enzyme selenosubtilisin catalyzes effectively the enantioselective reduction of racemic hydroperoxides to produce optically active hydroperoxides and alcohols in high ee values. The asymmetric CH oxidation of long- and medium-chain carboxylic acids by molecular oxygen, catalyzed with the α-oxidase from pea leaves or germinating peas yields enantiomerically pure 2-hydroxy acids. The enzymatic kinetic resolution of racemic 2-hydroxy acids through the enantioselective oxidation by glycolate oxidase (GOX) or the esterification by lipase provides an attractive route to such optically active building blocks. The bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium , isolated from topsoil by selective screening with hydrogen peroxide or allylbenzene, are efficient biocatalysts for the enantioselective reduction of racemic hydroperoxides and the asymmetric CH oxidation of alkanes. The latter enzymatic process is to date still difficult to emulate by chemical catalysis.

Efficient segmentation editing tools are important components in the segmentation process, as no automatic methods exist that always generate sufficient results. Evaluating segmentation editing algorithms is challenging, because their quality depends on the user’s subjective impression. So far, no established methods for an objective, comprehensive evaluation of such tools exist and, particularly, intermediate segmentation results are not taken into account. We discuss the evaluation of editing algorithms in the context of tumor segmentation in computed tomography. We propose a rating scheme to qualitatively measure the accuracy and efficiency of editing tools in user studies. In order to objectively summarize the overall quality, we propose two scores based on the subjective rating and the quantified segmentation quality over time. Finally, a simulation-based evaluation approach is discussed, which allows a more reproducible evaluation without the need for human input. This automated evaluation complements user studies, allowing a more convincing evaluation, particularly during development, where frequent user studies are not possible. The proposed methods have been used to evaluate two dedicated editing algorithms on 131 representative tumor segmentations. We show how the comparison of editing algorithms benefits from the proposed methods. Our results also show the correlation of the suggested quality score with the qualitative ratings.

In oncological chemotherapy monitoring, the change of a tumor's size is an important criterion for assessing cancer therapeutics. Measuring the volume of a tumor requires its delineation in 3-D. This is called segmentation, which is an intensively studied problem in medical image processing. However, simply counting the voxels within a binary segmentation result can lead to significant differences in the volume, if the lesion has been segmented slightly differently by various segmentation procedures or in different scans, for example due to the limited spatial resolution of computed tomography (CT) or partial volume effects. This variability limits the sensitivity of size measurements and thus of therapy response assessments and it can even lead to misclassifications. We present a fast, generic algorithm for measuring the volume of solid, compact tumors in CT that considers partial volume effects at the border of a given segmentation result. The algorithm is an extension of the segmentation-based partial volume analysis proposed by Kuhnigk for the volumetry of solid lung lesions , such that it can be applied to inhomogeneous lesions and lesions with inhomogeneous surroundings. Our generalized segmentation-based partial volume correction is based on a spatial subdivision of the segmentation result, from which the fraction of tumor for each voxel is computed. It has been evaluated on phantom data, 1516 lesion segmentation pairs (lung nodules, liver metastases and lymph nodes) as well as 1851 lung nodules from the LIDC-IDRI database. The evaluations of our algorithm show a more accurate estimation of the real volume and its ability to reduce inter- and intra-observer variability significantly for each entity. Overall, the variability (interquartile range) for phantom data is reduced by 49% ( p ≪ 0.001) and the variability between different readers is reduced by 28% ( p ≪ 0.001). The average computation time is 0.2 s.

Manual delineations by experts are often used as reference standards for validating segmentation algorithms, although it is well known that they always show some degree of variability. Our goal is to estimate the effects of using a limited number of expert segmentations. Given ten manual delineations of 13 liver tumors, we analyzed the volume error made by randomly selecting subsets of the ten segmentations compared to the complete set. We found that when using just one segmentation the expected error was 17% with a maximum of 35%. This means that it is questionable whether a comparison with a single reference allows a reliable validation. When three segmentations are chosen, the error is halved, so this might be a reasonable compromise between accuracy and viability of evaluation studies.

In oncological therapy monitoring, the estimation of tumor growth from consecutive CT scans is an important aspect in deciding whether the given treatment is adequate for the patient. This can be done by measuring and comparing the volume of a lesion in the scans based on a segmentation. However, simply counting the voxels within the segmentation mask can lead to significant differences in the volume, if the lesion has been segmented slightly differently by various readers or in different scans, due to the limited spatial resolution of CT and due to partial volume effects. We present a novel algorithm for measuring the volume of liver metastases and lymph nodes which considers partial volume effects at the surface of a lesion. Our algorithm is based on a spatial subdivision of the segmentation. We have evaluated the algorithm on a phantom and a multi-reader study. Our evaluations have shown that our algorithm allows determining the volume more accurately even for larger slice thicknesses. Moreover, it reduces inter-observer variability of volume measurements significantly. The calculation of the volume takes 2 seconds for 50 3 voxels on a single 2.66GHz Intel Core2 CPU.

Segmentation is an essential task in medical image analysis. For example measuring tumor growth in consecutive CT scans based on the volume of the tumor requires a good segmentation. Since manual segmentation takes too much time in clinical routine automatic segmentation algorithms are typically used. However there are always cases where an automatic segmentation fails to provide an acceptable segmentation for example due to low contrast, noise or structures of the same density lying close to the lesion. These erroneous segmentation masks need to be manually corrected. We present a novel method for fast three-dimensional local manual correction of segmentation masks. The user needs to draw only one partial contour which describes the lesion's actual border. This two-dimensional interaction is then transferred into 3D using a live-wire based extrapolation of the contour that is given by the user in one slice. Seed points calculated from this contour are moved to adjacent slices by a block matching algorithm. The seed points are then connected by a live-wire algorithm which ensures a segmentation that passes along the border of the lesion. After this extrapolation a morphological postprocessing is performed to generate a coherent and smooth surface corresponding to the user drawn contour as well as to the initial segmentation. An evaluation on 108 lesions by six radiologists has shown that our method is both intuitive and fast. Using our method the radiologists were able to correct 96.3% of lesion segmentations rated as insufficient to acceptable ones in a median time of 44s.

Soil samples were screened to select microorganisms with the capability to oxidize organic sulfides into the corresponding sulfoxides with differential enantioselectivities. Several bacterial strains that preferentially produced the S- configured sulfoxide enantiomer were isolated. Surprisingly, one bacterial strain, genotypically and phenotypically characterized as Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis , selectively gave the R enantiomer. The finding that two apparently identical organisms displayed opposite enantioselectivities is novel for non-genetically modified organisms.

For the authenticity assessment of (E)-methyl cinnamate from different origins, combustion/pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (C/P-IRMS) was used by an elemental analyzer (EA) and on-line capillary gas chromatography coupling (HRGC-C/P-IRMS). For that reason, (E)-methyl cinnamate self-prepared from synthetic, natural, and semisynthetic educts was analyzed in comparison to the commercial synthetic and natural ester. In addition, (E)-methyl cinnamate from basil extract and a number of commercial natural aromas was investigated. The data of self-synthesized synthetic (E)-methyl cinnamate, i.e., delta(13)C(V)(-)(PDB) = -33.8 per thousand and delta(2)H(V)(-)(SMOW) = +349 per thousand, corresponded with that found for the commercial synthetic samples (-29.5 to -31.4 per thousand and +328 to +360 per thousand for delta(13)C(V)(-)(PDB) and delta(2)H(V)(-)(SMOW), respectively). The ester produced from natural educts by acid as well as Candida antarctica catalysis revealed delta(13)C(V)(-)(PDB) = -25.6 and -30.1 per thousand as well as delta(2)H(V)(-)(SMOW) = -162 and -169 per thousand, respectively. Acid-catalyzed semisynthetic products differed in their delta(13)C(V)(-)(PDB) and delta(2)H(V)(-)(SMOW) values depending on the origin of their educts. For the ester from synthetic methanol and natural cinnamic acid, -27.3 and -126 per thousand were determined for delta(13)C(V)(-)(PDB) and delta(2)H(V)(-)(SMOW), respectively, whereas for the ester produced from natural methanol and synthetic acid delta(13)C(V)(-)(PDB) = -30.6 per thousand and delta(2)H(V)(-)(SMOW) = +287 per thousand were found. Basil extract showed -28.9 and -133 per thousand for delta(13)C(V)(-)(PDB) and delta(2)H(V)(-)(SMOW), respectively. Commercial aromas declared to be natural revealed delta(13)C(V)(-)(PDB) and delta(2)H(V)(-)(SMOW) data ranging from -25.7 to -28.5 per thousand as well as -85 to -191 per thousand, respectively, indicating, in part, incorrect declaration.

By use of extracts prepared by liquid-liquid separation of the volatiles from self-prepared juices of pineapple fruits (Ananas comosus) (n = 14) as well as commercial pineapple recovery aromas/water phases (n = 3), on-line capillary gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry was employed in the combustion (C) and the pyrolysis (P) modes (HRGC-C/P-IRMS) to determine the delta(13)C(VPDB) and delta(2)H(VSMOW) values of selected pineapple flavor constituents. In addition to methyl 2-methylbutanoate 1, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate 2, methyl hexanoate 3, ethyl hexanoate 4, and 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy-3[2H]-furanone 5, each originating from the fruit, the delta(13)C(VPDB) and delta(2)H(VSMOW) data of commercial synthetic 1-5 and "natural" (biotechnologically derived) 1-4 were determined. With delta(13)C(VPDB) data of pineapple volatiles 1-4 varying from -12.8 to -24.4 per thousand, the range expected for CAM metabolism was observed. Compound 5 showed higher depletion from -20.9 to -28.6 per thousand. A similar situation was given for the delta(2)H(VSMOW) values of 3-5 from pineapple ranging from -118 to -191 per thousand, whereas 1 and 2 showed higher depleted values from -184 to -263 per thousand. In nearly all cases, analytical differentiation of 1-5 from pineapple and natural as well as synthetic origin was possible. In general, natural and synthetic 1-5 exhibited delta(13)C(VPDB) data ranging from -11.8 to -32.2 per thousand and -22.7 to -35.9 per thousand, respectively. Their delta(2)H(VSMOW) data were in the range from -242 to -323 per thousand and -49 to -163 per thousand, respectively.

The chemical composition and functional significance of pheromones of solitary Hymenoptera is much less well known compared to social species. Males of the genus Philanthus (Sphecidae) are territorial and scent mark their territories to attract females. Because of inconsistent results of earlier studies, we reanalyzed the content of the cephalic glands of male European beewolves, Philanthus triangulum F. Besides a variety of alkanes and alkenes, four major compounds were found. Two of these, (Z)-11-eicosen-1-ol and (Z)-10-nonadecen-2-one, had been previously described as constituents of the cephalic glands. We identified 1-octadecanol as a new component of the cephalic gland, and a fourth compound, enantiopure (S)-2,3-dihydrofamesoic acid, was identified for the first time in nature. Structural elucidation and enantiomeric analysis were performed by HRGC-MS and HRGC-FTIR as well as enantioselective gas chromatography and by means of authentic reference compounds. Occurrence and function of the four compounds in insect chemistry are discussed.

By use of headspace SPME sampling and a PLOT column, on-line capillary gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry was employed in the combustion (C) and the pyrolysis (P) modes (HRGC-C/P-IRMS) to determine the delta(13)C(VPDB) and delta(18)O(VSMOW) values of ethanol in authentic (n = 14) and commercial tequila samples (n = 15) as well as a number of other spirits (n = 23). Whereas with delta(13)C(VPDB) values ranging from -12.1 to -13.2 per thousand and from -12.5 to -14.8 per thousand similar variations were found for 100% agave and mixed tequilas, respectively, the delta(18)O(VSMOW) data differed slightly within these categories: ranges from +22.1 to +22.8 per thousand and +20.8 to +21.7 per thousand were determined for both the authentic 100% agave and mixed products, respectively. The data recorded for commercial tequilas were less homogeneous; delta(13)C(VPDB) data from -10.6 to -13.9 per thousand and delta(18)O(VSMOW) values from +15.5 to +22.7 per thousand were determined in tequilas of both categories. Owing to overlapping data, attempts to differentiate between white, rested, and aged tequilas within each of the two categories failed. In addition, discrimination of tequila samples from other spirits by means of delta(13)C(VPDB) and delta(18)O(VSMOW) data of ethanol was restricted to the products originating from C(3) as well as C(4)/CAM raw materials.

Soil samples were screened for microorganisms selectively transforming FA. One of the isolated strains was identified as the bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia by its phenotypic features and genotypic characterization by sequencing the ribosomal RNA gene. Using linoleic acid as substrate resulted in the formation of two major compounds. After liquid chromatographic isolation and separation, their structures were elucidated by HPLC-tandem MS, GC-MS, and NMR techniques to be 3-hydroxy-Z6-dodecenoic acid and 3-hydroxy-Z5, Z8-tetradecadienoic acid. In additional experiments, other FA, such as α-linolenic, oleic, palmitoleic, myristoleic, and cis-vaccenic acids, were converted to 3-hydroxylated metabolites of shorter chain lengths as well. Determination of the enantiomeric composition revealed highly enriched (R)-hydroxylation (88–98% enantiomeric excess).