Fruit structure of 12 Turkish endemic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tripleurospermum</Emphasis> Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae) taxa and its taxonomic implications

This study concerns the evaluation of micromorphological and anatomical characters of fruit (achene-cypsela) in 12 Turkish endemic Tripleurospermum taxa using multivariate analyses (cluster analysis, principal component analysis, one-way analysis of variance). Pericarp in all taxa examined is mainly composed of several layers of parenchymatous and sclerenchymatous cells with one vascular bundle in each rib. In the achene, the thickness and width of lateral and adaxial ribs with presence or absence of a slime envelope have high taxonomic value for Tripleurospermum at interspecific levels. The slime envelope formation is also correlated with ploidy levels and habitats of some taxa in Tripleurospermum.     

Effect of sulfite exposure on zinc, iron, and copper levels in rat liver and kidney tissues

Sulfite is a potentially toxic molecule that might enter the body via ingestion, inhalation, or injection. For cellular detoxification, mammalians rely on sulfite oxidase to convert sulfite to sulfate. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of sulfite on zinc, iron, and copper levels in rat liver and kidney tissues. Forty normal and sulfite oxidase-deficient male albino rats were divided into four groups that included untreated controls (group C), a sulfite-supplemented group that received 70 mg sodium metabisulfite per kilogram per day (group S), a sulfite oxidase-deficient group (group D), and a sulfite oxidase-deficient group that was also given 70 mg sodium metabisulfite per kilogram per day (group DS). The iron and zinc levels in the liver and kidney in groups S and DS were not affected by sulfite treatment compared to their respective controls (groups C and D). Sulfite exposure led to an increase of kidney copper content in the S group when compared to untreated controls. The kidney copper levels were significantly increased in the unexposed deficient rats, but it was not different than that of the deficient rats that were given oral sulfite treatment. These results suggest that kidney copper levels might be affected by exogenous or endogenous sulfite. An erratum to this article is available at .     

The use of wild edible plants in western and central Anatolia (Turkey)

In this study, 121 wild edible plants used as food in Anatolia were surveyed to determine the plant parts used and their detailed preparation methods. The results of this study show that the plants may be boiled, fried in fat, and eaten raw or as rolled vegetables. They may also be consumed as pickles, fruits, sweets and spices, and drunk as cold and hot drinks. Thirty species (8 genera) were identified as belonging to the Lamiaceae family, 15 species (15 genera) belong to the Asteraceae family, 13 species (5 genera) belong to the Rosaceae family, 8 species (7 genera) belong to the Brassicaceae family, 6 species (3 genera) belong to the Orchidaceae family and 5 species (5 genera) belong to the Apiaceae family. The genera represented by the highest number of species in the study are as follows:Sideritis L. is represented by 13 species, Origanum L. by 7 species,Rubus L. by 5 species,Thymus L. by 4 species andRumex L. by 4 species.     

Ceruloplasmin, Copper, Selenium, Iron, Zinc, and Manganese Levels in Normal and Sulfite Oxidase Deficient Rat Plasma: Effects of Sulfite Exposure

A noticeable effect of sulfite treatment was observed on the plasma ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity of rats with normal sulfite oxidase activity when compared to normal controls. The plasma levels of selenium, iron, and zinc were unaffected by sulfite in normal and sulfite oxidase (SOX)-deficient rats. While plasma level of Mn was decreasing, plasma Cu level increased in SOX-deficient rats. Treating SOX-deficient groups with sulfite did not alter plasma level of Mn but made plasma level of Cu back to its normal level. This is the first evidence that Cu and Mn status were affected in experimental sulfite oxidase deficiency induced by low molybdenum diet with tungsten addition deserving further research to determine the underlying mechanisms of these observations in experimental sulfite oxidase deficiency.     

Electronic absorption and MCD spectra for octacyanometallate complexes M(CN)8, M=Mo(IV), W(IV), n=4 and Mo(V), W(V), n=3

Electronic absorption and 8.0 T magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra are reported for M(CN)₈ ⁴⁻, M=Mo(IV) and W(IV), in aqueous solution and M(CN)₈ ³⁻, M=Mo(V) and W(V), in acetonitrile solutions. In addition some absorption and MCD spectra are reported for the M(CN)₈ ³⁻ ions embedded in thin poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) plastic films at temperatures from 295 to 10 K. The temperature dependence of the MCD spectra confirms the presence of C terms. The solution and PMMA spectra for the both Mo and W complexes in either the IV or V oxidation states are remarkably similar to each other for the same oxidation state and are interpreted within a D_2d structural framework for the isotropic environment. The weak bands below 3.0 μm⁻¹ (1 μm⁻¹=10⁴ cm⁻¹) for the M(IV) complexes are assigned as metal-localized ligand field (LF) transitions. LF transitions are also suggested for weaker unresolved absorption between 3.0 and 3.6 μm⁻¹ for the M(V) ions. The intense bands above 3.6 μm⁻¹ for M(IV) and 4.6 μm⁻¹ for M(V) complexes are interpreted as metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) from the metal b₁(x²−y²) HOMO to CN⁻-based π * orbitals. The prominent intense bands observed below 4.5 μm⁻¹for the M(V) complexes are assigned as ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT) from occupied non-bonding or weakly π bonding CN⁻ orbitals to the half-filled b₁(x²−y²) HOMO.     

Comparative dynamics of three models for host-parasitoid interactions in a patchy environment

Phenomenological models represent a simplified approach to the study of complex systems such as host-parasitoid interactions. In this paper we compare the dynamics of three phenomenological models for host-parasitoid interactions developed by May (1978), May and Hassell (1981) and May et al. (1981). The essence of the paper by May and Hassell (1981) was to define a minimum number of parameters that would describe the interactions, avoiding the technical difficulties encountered when using models that involve many parameters, yet yielding a system of equations that could capture the essence of real world interactions in patchy environments. Those studies dealt primarily with equilibrium and coexistence phenomena. Here we study the dynamics through bifurcation analysis and phase portraits in a much wider range of parameter values, carrying the models beyond equilibrium states. We show that the dynamics can be either stable or chaotic depending on the location of a damping term in the equations. In the case of the stable system, when host density dependence acts first, a stable point is reached, followed by a closed invariant curve in phase space that first increases then decreases, finally returning to an asymptotically stable point. Chaos is not seen. On the other hand, when parasitoid attack occurs before host density dependence, chaos is inevitably apparent. We show, as did May et al. (1981) and stated earlier byWang and Gutierrez (1980), that the sequence of events in host-parasitoid interactions is crucial in determining their stability. In a chaotic state the size of the host (e.g., insect pests) population becomes unpredictable, frequently becoming quite large, a biologically undesirable outcome. From a mathematical point of view the system is of interest because it reveals how a strategically placed damping term can dramatically alter the outcome. Our study, reaching beyond equilibrium states, suggests a strategy for biological control different from that of May et al. (1981).