Environmentally benign alternatives: Plasma and enzymes to improve moisture management properties of knitted PET fabrics

Effects of enzymatic and atmospheric plasma treatments individually and their combinations on knitted PET fabrics were investigated in terms of hydrophilicity, surface modification and moisture management properties. Cutinase from Humicola Insolens, lipase from Candida SP and atmospheric plasma with air and argon gases were applied to PET fabrics. To evaluate results, moisture management tester (MMT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized. Wicking heights of samples were measured by wicking test method. Improved moisture management properties were observed with environmentally benign processes compared to the untreated ones. Especially combined treatments have given the same or slightly better results than those of conventional alkaline treatments. Fabrics treated with plasma and then followed by enzymatic incubations have significantly improved the wetting time, absorption rates and spreading speed results.     

Proteome profiling of the compatible interaction between wheat and stripe rust

Over the last decade, comparative molecular profiling studies between compatible and incompatible plant-pathogen interactions have shown that susceptible response of the host to a pathogen requires factors that promote disease development. In this study, we examined proteome profiles during a compatible interaction between wheat and stripe rust. A 2D-LC system (ProteomeLab PF2D) was used for protein separation and to compare the proteome from infected and control samples. More than 700 protein peaks at each time point were compared between pathogen- and mock-inoculated samples. Selected proteins, with significant differences in abundance were identified by nanoLC-ESI- MS/MS and generated spectra were searched against the wheat protein databases from UniProt, and NCBI and the Puccinia database from The Broad Institute. In total, the identified proteins comprised of 62 % wheat and 38 % Pst proteins. All identified proteins were searched by bioinformatics-based algorithms to detect their subcellular localization and signal peptide motifs which have the potential to catch the candidate effector proteins. The wheat proteins were classified based on their function. Although a compatible interaction, many wheat proteins, such as antioxidants, PRs and cold-responsive proteins, are implicated in defense and stress tolerance. On the pathogen side, 64 proteins were identified, and included some important pathogenicity proteins that can play role in pathogen virulence and suppress the host defense. In addition, we discovered that nine proteins have a signal sequence and three of the hypothetical fungal proteins, PGTG_11681T0, PGTG_07231T0 and CBH50687.1, have been tentatively identified as candidate effectors.     

Interaction Effect of Water Magnetization and Water Salinity on Yield,Water Productivity and Morpho-Physiological of Balkız Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Developing new tools for using low-quality irrigation waters is vital for the sustainability of irrigated agriculture and minimizing salt accumulation. Therefore, the present study focused on the interactive influence of irrigation treatments (magnetized (MT) and non-magnetized (NMT)) and water salinities (0.38, 1.5, 4.5, and 7.0?dSm^?1) on soil salinity, water use efficiency, yield and morpho-physiological changes of Balk?z bean. A pot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications under the rain shelter condition. Irrigation water MT treatment increased fresh bean yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) by 21.35, 23.00 and 14.8%, respectively, while saturated soil salinity was reduced by 20%, compared to NMT treatments. The leaf area, stomata, and leaf succulence in green beans in the MT treatment significantly increased by 13.4, 23.9, and 3.3% compared with those in the NMT treatment. Stems of the bean crops were more sensitive to salinity stress followed by roots and leaves. The study revealed that irrigation with magnetically treated water manages salinity related yield loss through increased morphological features as well as osmotic and stomatal adjustments. In addition, the bean crops showed an ability to protect water in tissue against salinity toxicity up to 5.24?dSm^?1 soil salinity level under magnetized saline water conditions. Finally, irrigation with magnetically treated 0.38?dSm^?1 irrigation water can be recommended due to providing a higher yield, WUE, IWUE, and sustainable production under saline irrigation in water scarcity regions.

     

Arsenic in Human and Cow's Milk: a Reflection of Environmental Pollution

Arsenic, an environmental pollutant, is present in minute but invariable amounts in food, drinking water and ambient air. Izmir is founded on a land of long extinct volcanoes, with vast areas of lava ground suitable for agriculture. It is located at close vicinity to high thermal activity, e.g., hot springs and thermal baths. In the present study, total arsenic level in breast milk was assessed in randomly chosen 35 lactating women of different socioeconomic levels who live downtown in Izmir and in milk of 36 cows grazing on shoulder grass of highways with heavy traffic. Total arsenic was assessed on an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AA-680 Shimadzu). Mean (± SEM) arsenic was found to be 4.219 ± 0.079 µg L^-1 in breast milk, and 4.932 ± 0.38 µg L^-1 in cow's milk. Conclusion: in Izmir, arsenic contamination of breast milk was not found so as to be considered noxious for suckling infants, whereas was found relatively higher in cow's milk. It would be prudent to remember breast and cow's milk arsenic contamination in breast fed or milk fed babies living in areas with higher thermal activity or in regions where ground water is with high arsenic content.     

Effects of Extraction Rates of Wheat Flour on Phyllo (Yufka) Properties at Different Storage Temperatures

Phyllo sheets were produced with flour obtained at different extraction rates (53, 58, or 67%), and stored at 4 and 25°C. Physical, chemical, and sensory properties of fresh and stored phyllo were researched. Fresh phyllo samples from wheat flour at 53% extraction rate were thinner (0.4 mm) and had whiter color (L* = 87.6). Textural properties and overall sensory acceptability of phyllo samples significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.01) with increased extraction rates and storage times. At the end of four days, toughness and extensibility decreased from 0.88 N and 10.9 mm to 0.65 N and 6.7 mm at 4°C and to 0.45 N and 5.6 mm at 25°C. The 53% extraction rate was more suitable for producing phyllo. The shelf life of phyllo samples for preparing borek was determined four days at 4°C and two days at 25°C according to acid contents and sensory properties.     

Fatty acid, triacylglycerol, phytosterol, and tocopherol variations in kernel oil of Malatya apricots from Turkey

The fatty acid, sn-2 fatty acid, triacyglycerol (TAG), tocopherol, and phytosterol compositions of kernel oils obtained from nine apricot varieties grown in the Malatya region of Turkey were determined ( P<0.05). The names of the apricot varieties were Alyanak (ALY), Cataloglu (CAT), C?loglu (COL), Hacihaliloglu (HAC), Hacikiz (HKI), Hasanbey (HSB), Kabaasi (KAB), Soganci (SOG), and Tokaloglu (TOK). The total oil contents of apricot kernels ranged from 40.23 to 53.19%. Oleic acid contributed 70.83% to the total fatty acids, followed by linoleic (21.96%), palmitic (4.92%), and stearic (1.21%) acids. The s n-2 position is mainly occupied with oleic acid (63.54%), linoleic acid (35.0%), and palmitic acid (0.96%). Eight TAG species were identified: LLL, OLL, PLL, OOL+POL, OOO+POO, and SOO (where P, palmitoyl; S, stearoyl; O, oleoyl; and L, linoleoyl), among which mainly OOO+POO contributed to 48.64% of the total, followed by OOL+POL at 32.63% and OLL at 14.33%. Four tocopherol and six phytosterol isomers were identified and quantified; among these, gamma-tocopherol (475.11 mg/kg of oil) and beta-sitosterol (273.67 mg/100 g of oil) were predominant. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the data from lipid components of apricot kernel oil in order to explore the distribution of the apricot variety according to their kernel's lipid components. PCA separated some varieties including ALY, COL, KAB, CAT, SOG, and HSB in one group and varieties TOK, HAC, and HKI in another group based on their lipid components of apricot kernel oil. So, in the present study, PCA was found to be a powerful tool for classification of the samples.     

Medical Waste Treatment via Waste Electrospinning of PS

Body fluid medical wastes are infectious clinical wastes (blood, saliva, urine) due to their high pathogenic content. Incineration is the most commonly used method in waste management that possess high water content along with molecularly dissolved species such as proteins. The process is costly; so that the removal of solid content dissolved in aqueous part by preliminary filtration can reduce the volume of the waste material. In this study, fibrous mats were prepared by electrospinning of PS wastes from DMF and THF solutions. Then they are employed in the removal of protein-based solid contents of body fluid medical wastes before their disposal. Two sources of PS waste (CD cover and Styrofoam) were employed along with virgin PS for comparison. The adsorption capacity of as-prepared electrospun fibers was examined for three model proteins: Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), Myoglobin (MYO), and Trypsin (TRY). The fibers obtained from PS CD wastes have remarkably larger protein sorption capacities (particularly BSA) than the fibers obtained from virgin PS. XPS reveals the presence of CaCO₃ domains in CD covers added into PS during their production steps probably to increase mechanical properties. There may be an electrostatic interaction between Ca²⁺ and the negatively charged groups of the protein. In this way, PS wastes could be converted to a beneficial secondary product by electrospinning and also resulting materials promises for the disposal of body fluid medical wastes. This may be one of the frontiers study on the removal of medical wastes by adsorbents produced via electrospinning of waste polymers.     

Subacute chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress in rat erythrocytes and the protective effects of catechin and quercetin

This study examined the effects of chlorpyrifos in the rat erythrocyte antioxidant system and evaluated the ameliorating effects of catechin and quercetin on the oxidative damage induced by chlorpyrifos. Sexually mature male Wistar rats were given chlorpyrifos (5.4 mg/kg, 1/25 of the oral LD₅₀), catechin (20 mg/kg), quercetin (20 mg/kg), catechin plus chlorpyrifos, and quercetin plus chlorpyrifos daily via gavage for four weeks. No statistical differences were found in the catechin-only and quercetin-only groups compared with the control group. By the end of the fourth week, chlorpyrifos alone increased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities compared with the control group in rat erythrocytes. In the catechin-plus-chlorpyrifos and quercetin-plus-chlorpyrifos groups, there were statistically significantly decreased MDA levels and increased SOD, CAT, and GPx activities compared with the chlorpyrifos-only group. Thus, it appears that catechin and quercetin ameliorate chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress in rat erythrocytes in vivo.     

Seedless Berry Growth and Bioactive Compounds of cv. ‘Recel Uzümü’ (V. Vinifera L.) as Affected by Application Doses and Times of Pre-Harvest Thidiazuron

The purpose of this research was to appreciate the impact of the synthetic cytokinin, well known as thidiazuron (TDZ) on seedless berry quality of cv. ‘Recel Uzümü’. Three concentration levels including 0, 5 and 10 mg/L were applied on the grapevines during different phenological stages of grapevine such as Time 1: beginning of berry stetting, Time 2: berries pepper corn size and Time 3: berries pea size. While TDZ application times had no impacts on cultivar characteristics, it was determined that the application doses of TDZ had major impacts on yield and quality components of cv. ‘Recel Uzümü’.     

Evaluation of the status of capsicum viruses in the main growing regions of Turkey

The incidence, severity and distribution of six viruses infecting capsicum were determined in the main growing areas of Turkey during the 2004 growing season. The surveys covered 50 randomly selected capsicum fields from four different areas in south-east Anatolia and the eastern Mediterranean region. 515 samples were individually collected and tested by DAS-ELISA for Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), Alfalfa mosaic alfamovirus (AMV), Potato X potexvirus (PVX), Potato Y potyvirus (PVY), Pepper mild mottle tobamovirus (PMMoV) and Tobacco etch potyvirus (TEV). 64.8% of ELISA-tested capsicum samples (334 out of 515) were infected by one (41.7%) or more (23.1%) viruses. PVY was the most widespread (26.4%), followed by PVX (25.8%), AMV (25.2%), TEV (23%), PMMoV (9.1%) and CMV (8.3%). Surprisingly high AMV infection was found in three areas (Kahramanmaraş, Şanlıurfa and Gaziantep) where AMV is reported for the first time in this study. However, AMV was not detected in Hatay. PMMoV is another new virus, in all the tested areas.