Nanopatterning by block copolymer micelle nanolithography and bioinspired applications

This comprehensive overview of block copolymer micelle nanolithography (BCMN) will discuss the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticle arrays by means of micellar diblock copolymer approach and the resulting experimental control of individual structural parameters of the nanopattern, e.g., particle density and particle size. Furthermore, the authors will present a combinational approach of BCMN with conventional fabrication methods, namely, photolithography and electron beam lithography, which combines the advantages of high-resolution micronanopatterning with fast sample processing rates. In addition, the authors will demonstrate how these nanoparticle assemblies can be transferred to polymer substrates with a wide range of elasticity. In the second part of this report the authors will introduce some of the most intriguing applications of BCMN in biology and materials science: The authors will demonstrate how nanoparticle arrays may be used as anchor points to pattern functional proteins with single molecule resolution for studying cellular adhesion and present a technological roadmap to high-performance nanomaterials by highlighting recent applications for biomimetic optics and nanowires.     

Effect of Trachelobdella lubrica (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae) on biochemical and haematological characteristics of black scorpion fish (Scorpaena porcus, Linnaeus 1758)

Black Scorpion fish (Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus 1758) caught during monthly sampling carried out in 2003 in the Dardanelles, Turkey, were examined for the parasite. Trachelobdella lubrica. Infested fish were caught only during December 2003, and the clinical conditions of the 12 fish naturally infested with T. lubrica included fin rot, swollen foci of skin and haemorrhages of the gill and abdominal skin. The prevalence, intensity and abundance of infestation in December 2003 were 40%, 1.75 and 0.70, respectively. The average hepatosomatic index of the infested fish was lower than that of noninfested fish, while the means of the kidney index, splenosomatic index, condition factor, body weight and length were not significantly different between the infested and noninfested fish groups. Blood analysis was conducted on 12 naturally infested and 12 healthy (noninfested) Black Scorpion fish to determine the possible characteristic changes in blood parameters of the fish in response to natural infestation with T. lubrica. Blood leucocyte counts, haematocrit levels, serum total protein, albumin phosphorus, urea, glucose, globulin, cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in naturally infested Black Scorpion fish were significantly less than those of the noninfested fish (p < 0.05). No significant decreases were observed in the serum sodium, iron, calcium, potassium, chlorine, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values of the naturally infested fish. Blood haemoglobin values, erythrocyte counts and serum glutamate aspartate aminotransferase (glutamate oxalacetate transaminase), alanine aminotransferase (glutamate pyruvate transaminase), uric acid and very low-density lipids levels of infested fish were insignificantly greater than those in healthy fish.     

Structure elucidation of new fusarins revealing insights in the rearrangement mechanisms of the Fusarium mycotoxin fusarin C

Fusarin C is a Fusarium mycotoxin that rearranges under reversed phase chromatographic conditions. In this study, the rearrangement of fusarin C was examined in detail, and the formation of fusarins under different conditions was optimized. All relevant fusarins including (10Z)-, (8Z)-, and (6Z)-fusarin C were isolated and identified by NMR. To confirm the involvement of the 2-pyrrolidone ring in the rearrangement of fusarin C, 15-methoxy-fusarin C was synthesized. For the first time, the structure of open-chain fusarin C was elucidated, and on the basis of these data, the rearrangement product of fusarin C was identified as epi-fusarin C. The results were confirmed by detailed NMR measurements and density functional theory calculations. Furthermore, a new fusarin C like metabolite, which was named dihydrofusarin C, was detected by analysis of the crude extract of fusarin C with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to UV and Fourier transform mass spectrometry.     

EFFECTS OF VARIOUS CROP LOADS AND LEAF FERTILIZER ON GRAPEVINE YIELD AND QUALITY

Crop loads and leaf fertilizers are highly important for yield and quality of grapevine. This research was conducted in the Konya province of Turkey in 2008 and 2009. The effects of crop loads and leaf fertilizers were investigated on yield and quality of Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Gök üzüm’. The combined leaf fertilizer (TAR??-ZF) significantly increased quality parameters such as berry length, berry weight, maturity index, juice yield and drying index of grapevine. Increasing crop load values (16, 21, and 26 buds/vine) increased fresh grape yield and juice yield; however, maturity index and drying index decreased in comparison to the control. According to these results, it was suggested that to produce a high yield 26 buds/vine pruning and non-fertilization could be utilized or to increase quality parameters 16 buds/vine pruning, and fertilization may be applied on grapevine cultivation.     

Comparison of conventional and organic management conditions on growth performance, carcass characteristics and haematological parameters in Karacabey Merino and Kivircik breeds

Growth performance, carcass characteristics, post-slaughtering and haematological parameters of Kivircik and Karacabey Merino male lambs in conventional and organic management systems were compared. The animals which were weaned at 7 weeks of age were divided into Kivircik conventional, Kivircik organic (KO), Karacabey Merino conventional and Karacabey Merino organic (MO) groups containing 12 lambs each. Fattening was ended when lambs attained 35 kg of live weight. The time to attain the determined fattening weight was significantly different among the groups, and Merino lambs having higher live weight gain were earlier than Kivircik lambs (p?相似文献   

An abattoir survey on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Turkey

The aim of this study was to investigate Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Turkish cattle in the Marmara region which borders the European Union (EU). For this, cattle brought to abattoirs in Istanbul were analysed. The high risk group were selected and therefore 384 cattle above 2 years old were included in the study. They were primarily examined for the presence of any clinical signs of nervous system and also other clinical disorders. The whole brains were taken and analysed for the presence of vacuolar degeneration and prion protein by PLATELIA BSE test kit. Only 5 cattle were found to be nervous and showed aggressive behaviour. There were no cattle showing incoordination or other neurological disorders. Cysts were observed in 3 brains. Histopathologically, no vacuolar degeneration indicative of BSE was found in any cattle examined. However, in 8 brains, few vacuoles were observed in neurons in sections taken from the brain, cerebellum, medulla oblongata and medulla spinalis. Slight mononuclear cell infiltration in 9 brain, intensed mononuclear cell infiltration in 1 brain, haemorrhages in 5 brains and gliosis in 11 brains were also found. No infective prion was detected by ELISA in samples taken from 384 cattle brain.     

Litterfall in relation to stand parameters and climatic factors in Pinus brutia forests in Turkey

With this study we investigated the effective factors on annual amount of total litterfall and needle litterfall in Pinus brutia forests and estimated them with a regression model based on certain stand parameters. We studied 27 permanent plots representing different stand structure and environmental conditions in South-Western Turkey. Litterfall was collected in three month intervals corresponding to each of four seasons for a three-year period. We found a significant relationship between litterfall and stand properties such as crown closure (%), basal area (m²?ha^?1), stand stem volume (m³?ha^?1), above-ground biomass (t?ha^?1), mean annual volume increment (m³?ha^?1?yr^?1) and site index (T?=?75). Similar relationships also hold true between litterfall and each of such climatic factors as seasonal mean temperature (°C), relative humidity (%) and temperature/precipitation ratio (dimensionless). The mean annual litterfall considerably varied depending on stand characteristics and certain environmental factors. Both needle litterfall and total litterfall may be predicted for long term by regression models using certain stand parameters. Models developed for litterfall of P. brutia forests in this study may be used for national C inventory in Turkey.     

Morphological investigations on the circulus arteriosus cerebri in mole-rats (Spalax leucodon)

The aim of the present study is to investigate the circulus arteriosus cerebri in mole-rats (Spalax leucodon). Six adult mole-rats were used for this purpose. Coloured latex was injected into the left ventriculus of the hearts of all the animals. After careful dissection, the circulus arteriosus cerebri (the circle of Willis) was investigated. The cerebrum and the cerebellum were supplied by the internal carotid- and the basilar arteries respectively forming the circulus arteriosus cerebri in mole-rats. In the investigated objects, the internal carotid- and the basilar arteries were not united directly and for this reason the circulus arteriosus cerebri was not formed completely in mole-rat. The branches supplying the medulla oblongata and the cerebellum originate from the basilar artery formed by union of the left and right vertebral arteries and the internal ophthalmic, the caudal cerebral, the choroid, the median cerebral, the rostral cerebral arteries originated from the internal carotid artery. After giving off the medial cerebral artery, the right and left rostral cerebral arteries on every two sides divided into the lateral and medial twin branches and by union of the lateral branches the internal ethmoidal artery, and by union of the medial branches, the ramus extending to facies medialis cerebri were formed. The ramus extending to the facies medialis cerebri was anastomosed with the branch of the caudal cerebral artery on the back of the corpus callosum. The last part of the basilar artery gave the two branches running toward the right and left side on the pontocrural groove (sulcus pontocruralis) and every one of these branches ramified into two rami. One of these rami formed into the rostral cerebellar artery and the other one extended to the tectum mesencephali. In conclusion, the arterial circle of the cerebrum and cerebellum was supplied by the internal carotid artery and the basilar artery respectively in mole-rats.