Comprehensive Study of the Physicochemical Properties of Royal Jelly from Various Regions of Türkiye**

This study analysed some physicochemical and quality parameters of 176 royal jelly (RJ) samples from different regions of Türkiye, collected over different years and seasons. According to the obtained results, the moisture percentage varied between 47.36 % and 69.58 %, with no statistically significant differences seen across various seasons and areas (p>0.05). The average value of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which varies according to factors such as season, region, and year, was determined to be 2.32 %. It was also seen that this value was close to the international standard. The values of total acidity ranged from 28–58 mL 1 N NaOH/100 g. Furthermore, statistical significance (p<0.001) was observed for the year-region interaction in relation to 10-HDA and total acidity. The pH measurement results for all samples confirmed the acidic nature of the samples and resulted in a range between 3.45 and 3.80. And the pH variability was also found to be statistically significant for years (p=0.002) and regions (p=0.011). Finally, the correlation analysis between moisture (%), 10-HDA (%), total acidity, and pH revealed no statistically significant or strong differences. This comprehensive study, supported by statistical analyses, is thought to be a useful reference for future research on RJ.     

A Detailed Biological and Chemical Investigation of Sixteen Achillea Species’ Essential Oils via Chemometric Approach

Representatives of the Achillea genus are widely used as foods or nutraceuticals. Considering the increasing demand for herbal dietary supplements with health promoting effects, the objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oils obtained from sixteen Achillea species (A. biebersteinii, A. wilhelmsii subsp. wilhelmsii, A. aleppica subsp. zederbaueri, A. vermicularis, A. monocephala, A. nobilis, A. goniocephala, A. sintenisii, A. coarctata, A. kotschyi subsp. kotschyi, A. millefolium subsp. millefolium, A. lycaonica, A. spinulifolia, A. teretifolia, A. setacea, and A. schischkinii). Anticholinesterase, antiurease, antityrosinase enzymes inhibition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, toxic and cytotoxic activities of obtained essential oils were investigated. DPPH activities were found to be very low in all studied samples, while ABTS and CUPRAC antioxidant activities were found to be moderate. In addition, all samples were found to have moderate anticholinesterase and antimicrobial effects. It has been determined that the studied species have low cytotoxicity and high toxicity. Besides, chemical composition of the essential oils were determined by GC/MS and the results were chemometrically analyzed. The chemometric analyses of Achillea species collected from nine different regions were accomplished by principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) techniques. According to the PCA analysis, A. nobilis subsp. neilreichii was found to be different from all studied species in terms of essential oil composition. The major components found in these species were piperitone, camphor, α‐terpinene, eucalyptol, artemisia ketone, endo‐borneol, β‐eudesmol and verbenol. The fact that camphor was toxic and found in majority of the studied species stands out as a remarkable result.     

Molecular genetic diversity and association mapping of morphine content and agronomic traits in Turkish opium poppy (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Papaver somniferum</Emphasis>) germplasm

As the sole plant source of many potent alkaloids, opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) is an important medicinal crop. Nevertheless, few studies have characterized opium poppy germplasm with crop-specific molecular markers. Because Turkey is a diversity center for opium poppy, Turkish germplasm is a valuable genetic resource for association mapping studies aimed at identifying QTLs controlling morphine content and agronomic traits. In this study, the morphological diversity and molecular diversity of 103 Turkish opium poppy landraces and 15 cultivars were analyzed. Potentially useful morphological variation was observed for morphine content, plant height, and capsule index. However, the landraces exhibited limited breeding potential for stigma number, and seed and straw yields. Both morphological and molecular analyses showed distinct clustering of cultivars and landraces. In addition, a total of 164 SSR and 367 AFLP polymorphic loci were applied to an opium poppy association mapping panel composed of 95 opium poppy landraces which were grown for two seasons. One SSR and three AFLP loci were found to be significantly associated with morphine content (P < 0.01 and LD value (r ²) = 0.10–0.32), and six SSR and 14 AFLP loci were significantly associated with five agronomic traits (plant height, stigma number, capsule index, and seed and straw yields) (P < 0.01 and LD value (r ²) = 0.08–0.35). This is the first report of association mapping in this crop. The identified markers provide initial information for marker-assisted selection of important traits in opium poppy breeding.     

Improved activity and pH stability of E. coli ATCC 11105 penicillin acylase by error-prone PCR

Penicillin G acylase is the key enzyme used in the industrial production of β-lactam antibiotics. This enzyme hydrolyzes penicillin G and related β-lactam antibiotics releasing 6-aminopenicillanic acid, which is an intermediate in the production of semisynthetic penicillins. To improve the enzymatic activity of Escherichia coli penicillin acylase, sequential rounds of error-prone polymerase chain reaction were applied to the E. coli pac gene. After the second round of evolution, the best mutant M2234 with enhanced activity was selected and analyzed. DNA sequence analyses of M2234 revealed that one amino acid residue (K297I), located far from the center of the catalytic pocket, was changed. This mutant (M2234) has a specific activity 4.0 times higher than the parent enzyme and also displayed higher stability at pH 10.     

Strongyloidiasis associated with amebiasis and giardiaisis in an immunocompetent boy presented with acute abdomen

Strongyloides stercoralis (SS) is an intestinal nematode that is mainly endemic in tropical and subtropical regions and sporadic in temperate zones. SS infection frequently occurs in people who have hematologic malignancies, HIV infection and in individuals undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. In this study, we report a 12- year-old immunocompetent boy who was admitted to our hospital with acute abdomen. Laboratory evaluation showed strongyloidiasis, amebiasis and giardiasis. Clinical and laboratory findings immediately improved with albendazole therapy. Therefore, when diarrhea with signs of acute abdomen is observed, stool examinations should be done for enteroparasitosis. This approach will prevent misdiagnosis as acute abdomen. Complete clinical improvement is possible by medical therapy without surgical intervention.     

Effects of the nasal valve on acoustic rhinometry measurements: a model study.

The influence of nasal valve on acoustic rhinometry (AR) measurements was evaluated by using simple nasal cavity models. Each model consisted of a cylindrical pipe with an insert simulating the nasal valve. The AR-determined cross-sectional areas beyond the insert were consistently underestimated, and the corresponding area-distance curves showed pronounced oscillations. The area underestimation was more pronounced in models with inserts of small passage area. The experimental results are discussed in terms of theoretically calculated "sound-power reflection coefficients" for the pipe models. The reason for area underestimation is reflection of most of the incident sound power from the barrier at the front junction between the pipe and the insert. It was also demonstrated that the oscillations are due to low-frequency acoustic resonances in the portion of the pipe beyond the insert. The results suggest that AR does not provide reliable information about the cross-sectional areas of the nasal cavity posterior to a significant constriction, such as pathologies narrowing the nasal valve area. When the passage area of the nasal valve is decreased, the role of AR as a diagnostic tool for the entire nasal cavity becomes limited.     

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).     

Characterization of a mini ColE1 cloning vector.

Plasmid pHA105 (formerly pAC105), a mini ColE1 plasmid containing one restriction endonuclease EcoRI site, was further characterized using restriction endonuclease analysis thereby revealing its relationship to ColE1. The polypeptides specified by plasmid pHA105 in minicells are of low molecular weight making it a useful plasmid to define cloned polypeptides larger than 16,000 daltons and its use for that purpose was demonstrated. pHA105 was used to clone two different sized fragments of DNA containing the gal operon. pHA105 was also used to reclone a 2 Mdal fragment of DNA that, when expressed, represses the synthesis of capsular polysaccharide. The repression of polysaccharide synthesis was expressed when a plasmid containing one molecule each of pHA105 and the 2 Mdal fragment was prepared (pFM100). In contrast, a plasmid containing two copies of pHA105 and one of the 2 Mdal fragment (pHA138) did not repress polysaccharide synthesis. The results demonstrate that expression of a cloned fragment gene may be prevented in certain arrangements of the vector and cloned fragment. Plasmid pHA105 fails to exhibit relaxation after treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate in contrast to ColE1 treated in the same way. pHA105 replicates as a dimer form while ColE1 usually does not. A hypothesis that a function of a DNA-protein complex is required for monomeric DNA circle formation is discussed.