Fabrication of Bioinspired Structured Superhydrophobic and Superoleophilic Copper Mesh for Efficient Oil-water Separation

Oily water treatment has attracted the attention of many researchers.The development of effective and cheap oil/water separation materials is urgent for treating this problem.Herein,inspired by superhydrophobic typical plant leaves such as lotus,red rose and marigold,superhydrophobic and superoleophilic copper mesh was fabricated by etching and then surface modification with 1-dodecanethiol (HS(CH2)11CH3).A rough silver layer is formed on the mesh surface after immersion.The obtained mesh surface exhibits superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity and the static water contact angle was 153° ± 3°.In addition,the as-prepared copper mesh shows self-cleaning character with water and chemical stability.The as-prepared copper foam can easily remove the organic solvents either on water or underwater.We demonstrate that by using the as-prepared mesh,oils can be absorbed and separated,and that high separation efficiencies of larger than 92％ are retained for various oils.Thus,such superhydrophobic and superoleophilic copper mesh is a very promising material for the application of oil spill cleanup and industrial oily wastewater treatment.     

Differences between labeling index and DNA histograms in assessing S-phase cells from a homogeneous group of chronic phase CML patients

The reliability of DNA histogram analysis in accurately estimating S-phase cells from human tumors was tested by comparing the results to those of simultaneously obtained tritiated thymidine labeling index (LI) studies. Patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) during chronic phase were selected for study because the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) was the only cytogenetic abnormality in each case and, since it is a balanced translocation, the frequently encountered problem of aneuploidy in human neoplastic cells was avoided. Unfortunately, when 30 CML patients were studied simultaneously by DNA histogram analysis and LI studies, the correlation coefficient between the two results was only r = 0.611. A comparison of three different mathematical programs for DNA histogram analysis showed that none was completely satisfactory. We conclude that DNA histogram analysis does not provide the same data as autoradiographically processed labeling index studies even in patients with Ph-positive CML during the chronic phase when the situation is not complicated by additional aneuploidy.     

Improvement of shoot proliferation and comparison of secondary metabolites in shoot and callus cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phlomis armeniaca</Emphasis> by LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis

Phlomis armeniaca Willd. is a medicinal plant in the Lamiaceae family endemic to Turkey. The present study describes efficient plant regeneration and callus induction protocols for P. armeniaca and compares phenolic profiles, total phenol and flavonoid contents, and free radical scavenging activity of in vitro-derived tissues. Stem node explants from germinated seedlings were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 75 plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations. The highest shoot number per explant, frequency of shoot proliferation, and frequency of highly proliferated, green, compact callus were obtained on MS medium containing 0.25 mg L^?1 thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.25 mg L^?1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The best root formation was on MS basal medium (control). Methanol extract of leaves obtained from regenerants contained higher total phenol and flavonoid contents than the callus extract. The callus extract showed stronger free radical scavenging activity than leaves with IC₅₀ [concentration inhibiting 50% of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical] values of 4.30 ± 0.08 and 2.21 ± 0.04 mg g^?1 dry weight in leaves and callus, respectively. Apigenin, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, luteolin, rutin hydrate, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, salicylic acid, sinapic acid, and chlorogenic acid were detected by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis in in vitro-grown leaves and callus tissue. Rutin hydrate, p-coumaric acid, and vanillic acid were found at approximately tenfold higher levels in callus than in leaves. This new micropropagation protocol, the first for P. armeniaca, could be used in industrial production for new herbal tea and germplasm conservation.     

Resistance to macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin antibiotics in staphylococci isolated in Istanbul, Turkey

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and genetic mechanisms of erythromycin resistance in staphylococci. A total of 102 erythromycin resistant non-duplicate clinical isolates of staphylococci [78 coagulase negative stapylococci (CNS), 24 Staphylococcus aureus] were collected between October 2003 and August 2004 in Istanbul Faculty of Medicine in Turkey. The majority of the isolates were from blood and urine specimens. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined by the agar dilution procedure and the resistance phenotypes by the double disk induction test. A multiplex PCR was performed, using primers specific for erm(A), erm(B), erm(C), and msrA genes. Among the 78 CNS isolates, 57.8% expressed the MLSB-constitutive, 20.6% the MLSB-inducible, and 21.6% the MSB phenotypes. By PCR, 78.2% of these isolates harbored the erm(C) gene, 8.9% erm(A), 6.4% erm(B), and 11.5% msrA genes. In S. aureus, the constitutive MLSB (58.3%) was more common than the inducible phenotype (20.8%). erm(A) was detected in 50% and erm(C) in 62.5% of the isolates, while 37.5% contained both erm(A) and erm(C). erm(C)-associated macrolide resistance was the most prevalent in CNS, while erm(C) and erm(A, C) was the most prevalent in S. aureus.     

Factors affecting efficient in vitro micropropagation of Muscari muscarimi Medikus using twin bulb scale

Endemic Muscari muscarimi Medikus is the most fragrant plant among Muscari species and has a high ornamental potential. The natural populations of M. muscarimi, are severely affected by increased environmental pollution and urbanization. There is a need to develop a micropropagation method that should serve effectively for commercial propagation and conservation. Therefore, the study targeted to set up a strategy for efficient in vitro bulblet regeneration system of M. muscarimi using twin scale bulb explants on 1.0 × MS medium containing 4.44, 8.88, 17.76 μM BAP (6-Benzylaminopurine) plus 2.685, 5.37, 10.74 μM NAA (α-Naphthalene acetic acid). Maximum number of 19 daughter axillary bulblets and 16 daughter adventitious bulblets per twin bulb scale explant was regenerated on 1.0 × MS medium containing 17.76 μM BAP plus 10.74 μM NAA and 17.76 μM BAP plus 2.685 μM NAA respectively. The daughter bulblets regenerated on twin bulb scales on 8 out of 9 regeneration treatment could be easily rooted on 1.0 × MS medium containing 4.9 μM IBA (Indole-3-butyric acid). The daughter bulblets regenerated on 9th treatment (1.0 × MS medium containing 17.76 μM BAP plus 10.74 μM NAA) were transferred to 1.0 × MS medium containing 30 g/l sucrose to break negative carry over effect of this dose of BAP–NAA, where they grew 2–3 roots of variable length. Daughter bulblet diameter was increased by culturing them on 1.0 × MS medium containing 4.44 μM BAP plus 5.37 μM NAA. The results verified that both age and the source of explants had significant effect on regeneration. In another set of experiments, twin scales were obtained from in vitro regenerated daughter bulblets, although they induced bulblets, yet their bulblet regeneration percentage, mean number of bulblets per explant and their diameter were significantly reduced. In vitro regenerated bulblets were acclimatized in growth chamber under ambient conditions of temperature and humidity on peat moss, where they flowered. The study provides important information about selection of suitable micropropagation medium, strategies to improve bulblet diameter and rooting of M. muscarimi which offers a scope for commercial propagation.Abbreviations: MS medium, Murashige Skoog medium; BAP, 6-Benzylaminopurine; NAA, α-Naphthalene acetic acid; IBA, Indole-3-butyric acid