Free radical scavenging activity,total phenolic content,total antioxidant status,and total oxidant status of endemic Thermopsis turcica

Thermopsis turcica, endemic to Turkey, is in danger of extinction. Studies on this species are very few due to the fact that it was only discovered in 1983 and grows in a small circumscribed area in Turkey. In this study, free radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content, total oxidant status (TOS), and total antioxidant status (TAS) of methanol (TTM) and acetone (TTA) extracts of T. turcica were measured spectroscopically. Free radical scavenging activity was determined according to the elimination of DPPH radicals and total phenol content was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu reaction. Total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured with commercially available kits. Methanol and acetone extracts of T. turcica were found to have a specific radical scavenging effect. This effect was found to be related to the total phenolic content of the extracts. Since the TTA had a higher phenolic content than the methanol extract, it had a stronger radical scavenging effect. In addition, the total antioxidant capacity of the methanol extract was observed to be higher than that of its acetone counterpart. As a result, due to its antioxidative properties, T. turcica is thought to be a natural source of antioxidants.     

Electricity generation from young landfill leachate in a microbial fuel cell with a new electrode material

This study aims at evaluating the performance of a two-chambered continuously fed microbial fuel cell with new Ti–TiO₂ electrodes for bioelectricity generation from young landfill leachate at varying strength of wastewater (1–50 COD g/L) and hydraulic retention time (HRT, 0.25–2 days). The COD removal efficiency in the MFC increased with time and reached 45 % at full-strength leachate (50 g/L COD) feeding. The current generation increased with increasing leachate strength and decreasing HRT up to organic loading rate of 100 g COD/L/day. The maximum current density throughout the study was 11 A/m² at HRT of 0.5 day and organic loading rate of 67 g COD/L/day. Coulombic efficiency (CE) decreased from 57 % at feed COD concentration of 1 g/L to less than 1 % when feed COD concentration was 50 g/L. Increase in OLR resulted in increase in power output but decrease in CE.     

Development and verification of a three-dimensional (3D) breast cancer tumor model composed of circulating tumor cell (CTC) subsets

Molecular Biology Reports - Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types among women in which early tumor invasion leads to metastases and death. EpCAM (epithelial cellular adhesion...     

Pristine C60 Fullerene Nanoparticles Ameliorate Hyperglycemia-Induced Disturbances via Modulation of Apoptosis and Autophagy Flux

Neurochemical Research - Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent metabolic disorder associated with multiple complications including neuropathy, memory loss and cognitive decline. Despite a long history...     

The influence of environmental instability on the reproductive strategy of the critically endangered Acıgöl killifish (Aphanius transgrediens)

To investigate the variability in the reproductive tactics of Acıgöl killifish (Aphanius transgrediens), one of the most seriously threatened freshwater teleost species, this study compared its reproductive ecology in two contrasting habitats that differ substantially in terms of stability of environmental parameters, particularly salinity regime (stable vs. unstable). Fish were sampled monthly from October 2013 to September 2014 with the aim of testing whether the reproductive life-history response of fish to stable and unstable conditions differed. The reproductive effort (gonad weight) of both sexes did not differ significantly between the two habitats, but females in the unstable habitat had significantly lower fecundity and larger eggs. The relationship between fecundity and fish size was stronger in the stable habitat, whereas the relationship was quite variable and uncertain in the unstable habitat. Fish born in the unstable habitat reached their first maturity at a smaller size than those in the stable habitat. The gonado-somatic index and the duration of hydrated eggs showed that reproduction continued from February to May in both habitats; nonetheless, a second spawning event occurred during July and August in the unstable habitat, which included the reproductive contributions of YOY individuals and older generations. This study’s results suggest that A. transgrediens employs varying reproductive strategies against environmental instability in its restricted unique range. This may have further implications for the ways in which habitat-specific conservation methods are used.     

Temperature and host plant effects on development and fecundity of Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

The development, survival and reproduction of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) were evaluated at three constant temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C) on cabbage, cauliflower, red cabbage, turnip and radish. The development periods of immature stages ranged from 10.7 d at 20°C to 7.60 d at 30°C for red cabbage. Total percentages of survivorship of immature stages varied from 39.40 and 82.50 within the temperature range of 25–30°C on radish. The average progeny per female was 31.15, 28.95 and 23.77 at 20, 25 and 30°C on cabbage.     

ICAM1 K469E and E-selectin S128R polymorphisms could predispose to increased autoantibody production and TSH suppression in Graves’ disease

The etiopathogenesis of Graves’ disease (GD) has not been clearly elucidated although the role of chronical inflammation and endothelial dysfunction has been established. Adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), and E-selectin are secreted from vascular endothelium and promote accummulation of leukocytes in damaged endothelial areas. This study examined the possible association of ICAM1 (G241R and K469E), VCAM1 (T-1591C and T-833C), and E-selectin (S128R) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the occurence of GD. ICAM1 (G241R and K469E), VCAM1 (T-1591C and T-833C), and E-selectin (S128R) SNPs in DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes of 171 patients with GD and 259 healthy controls were investigated by real-time PCR combined with melting curve analysis using fluorescence-labeled hybridization probes. We did not find significant differences in the distributions of studied polymorphisms, nor in the haplotype frequencies between patients with GD and healthy control. However, the anti-TPO levels in E-selectin 128R allele carrying subjects (SR + RR) were higher than S128S genotype (p < 0.05). In addition, the decline of TSH levels was more prominent in ICAM1 469 E carrying subjects (KE + EE) in comparison with wild homozygotes (p < 0.05). Although there is not assosiation between ICAM1 (G241R and K469E), VCAM1 (T-1591C and T-833C), and E-selectin (S128R) SNPs and susceptibility to GD, higher anti-TPO in E-selectin 128 SR + RR, and lower TSH in ICAM1 469 KE + EE subjects suspect that these genotypes are prone to increased antithyroid autoantibody production with more accentuated TSH suppression in GD. Further studies with a larger cohort, analyzing other polymorphisms in ICAM, VCAM1 and E-selectin genes are necessary to support our observations.     

The relationship between the presence of ADHD and certain candidate gene polymorphisms in a Turkish sample

Due to the high heritability of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), parents of children with ADHD appear to represent a good sample group for investigating the genetics of the disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ADHD and six polymorphisms in five candidate genes [5-HT2A (rs6311), NET1 (rs2242447), COMT (rs4818), NTF3 (rs6332), SNAP-25 (rs3746544) and (rs1051312)]. We included 228 parents of children diagnosed with ADHD and 109 healthy parents as the control group. The polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays and analyzed using the chi-square test and the multinomial logit model. SNAP-25 (rs3746544) polymorphism was associated with loading for ADHD, while 5-HT2A (rs6311) and NET1 (rs2242447) polymorphisms were associated with ADHD. On the other hand, there was no significant association between the SNAP-25 (rs1051312), NTF3 (rs6332), or COMT (rs4818) gene polymorphisms and ADHD.     

Karyotype analysis of some Minuartia L. (Caryophyllaceae) taxa

Karyotypic characters, mitotic metaphase chromosomes, monoploid idiograms and karyograms of Minuartia anatolica (Boiss.) Woronow var. phrygia (Bornm.) McNeill, Minuartia anatolica (Boiss.) Woronow var. scleranthoides (Boiss. & Noe) McNeill, Minuartia corymbulosa (Boiss. & Balansa) McNeill var. gypsophilloides McNeill and Minuartia aksoyi M.Koç & Hamzao?lu were investigated for the first time. Analysis of somatic metaphases showed that the chromosome numbers and the formulas of these taxa were 2n = 24 = 14m + 6sm + 4st for Minuartia anatolica var. phrygia, 2n = 14 = 6m + 8sm for Minuartia anatolica var. scleranthoides, 2n = 14 = 6m + 4sm + 4st for Minuartia corymbulosa var. gypsophilloides and 2n = 30 = 14m + 10sm + 6st for Minuartia aksoyi. No satellites were observed in the karyotypes of these taxa. Karyotype asymmetry was estimated by many different methods, namely the Stebbins classification, the karyotype asymmetry index (As K %), the total form percent (TF %), the Rec and Syi indices, the intrachromosomal asymmetry index (A1) and interchromosomal asymmetry index (A2), the dispersion index (DI), the degree of asymmetry of karyotype (A index) and the asymmetry index (AI).     

Turkish nationalism and the Kurdish question

This article addresses the ways in which Turkish nationalism has perceived the Kurdish question. It is shown that both Turkish nationalism and the Kurdish question have passed through some paradigmatic moments in the twentieth century. This, I argue, has shaped the way that the Kurdish question has been perceived by Turkish nationalism. While the Kurdish question had been seen by Turkish nationalism mostly in terms of a fatal rivalry between the backward, pre-modern and tribal past and the prosperous present in the first half of the century, it was perceived in terms of a tension between the peripheral economy and national market in the fifties and sixties. In the 1970s, the Kurdish unrest was believed to be a product of communist incitement. Despite this impurity in perception, one thing has remained nearly unchanged for Turkish nationalism: Kurds could become Turkish. In other words, Turkish nationalism of the republican era has principally perceived Kurds as future-Turks. However, the signs in circulation at present indicate that the confidence of Turkish nationalism as to Kurds’ potential of becoming Turkish is not as firm as it used to be. At present, Turkish nationalism seems to be getting prepared to abandon its contention that Kurds are future-Turks.