Mg/B co-doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by using the sol–gel technique to investigate the role of the defects on the structural, biological and photocatalytic properties. Single phases with ...ZnO wurtzite hexagonal structures were observed in the X-ray diffraction measurements. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the surface, particle size, and shapes of the nanoparticles. Electron dispersive spectroscopy was used to determine the elemental compositions of the nanoparticles. Photoluminescence spectrophotometry and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy were used to study the defect type, density and crystal quality of Mg/B co-doped ZnO nanoparticles. A broad visible emission band (including violet–blue-orange and red emissions) was observed. The violet–blue-orange and red emissions could be attributed to the O vacancies (V
O
), interstitial Zn (Zn
i
), Zn vacancies (V
Zn
), and the double charged oxygen vacancy (V
O
(++)
), which were strongly dependent on the synthesis conditions and doping ratio. SEM images revealed that Mg/B-co-doped ZnO nanoparticle magnifications were dense, quasispherical, and agglomerating. The photocatalytic activities and blood compatibilities of Mg/B co-doped ZnO nanoparticles were studied by the photocatalytic degradation tests of crystal violet (CV) and hemolysis tests, respectively.
The worldwide tendency for growing more small fruits, including raspberries, shows permanent increase because this group of fruits has a relatively higher content of bioactive nutrients. To study the ...health benefits of red raspberry fruits, 11 preselected wild-grown and 1 well-known cultivar, Heritage, were evaluated for some of their physicochemical properties such as fruit weight, total antioxidant capacity (measured by β-carotene bleaching and FRAP assays), total phenolics, ascorbic acid, soluble solid content (SSC), and acidity. Fruit weight, SSC, and ascorbic acid contents were between 1.47 and 2.32 g, 10.87% and 13.60%, and 21 and 36 mg/100 g, respectively. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content varied among genotypes and the ERZ5 genotype had the highest antioxidant capacity as ascertained by both methods. This genotype also had the highest total phenolic (2031 μg GAE/g FW) content. There are linear relationships between antioxidant capacities and total phenols. The present study demonstrates the potential of certain wild genotypes, notably ERZ5, for improving the nutritional value through germplasm enhancement programs.
► The results indicated cultivar-specific differences for most of the characteristics searched. ► Fruit mass ranged from 33.18g (‘Champagne de Grasse’) to 61.38g (‘KKTC 3’). ► Flesh ratio were ...between 80.44% (‘Akko XIII’) to 86.29% (‘KKTC 3’). ► Total phenolic content varied from 140 (‘Guzelyurt 6’) to 253μg GAE per g (‘Akko XIII’).
Overwhelming evidence from epidemiological, in vivo, in vitro, and clinical trial data indicates that a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, particularly cancer. Some important physicochemical characteristics, bioactive content and antioxidant capacity of fruits of seven commercially grown loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) cultivars (‘Akko XIII’, ‘Champagne de Grasse’, ‘Guzelyurt 6’, ‘Hafif Cukurgobek’, ‘KKTC 3’, ‘KKTC 4’ and ‘Sayda’) harvested from Antalya province in Turkey were investigated. The results indicated cultivar-specific differences for most of the physicochemical characteristics, bioactive content and antioxidant capacity tested. Fruit mass and fruit flesh ratio ranged from 33.18g (‘Champagne de Grasse’) to 61.38g (‘KKTC 3’) and 80.44% (‘Akko XIII’) to 86.29% (‘KKTC 3’). Total phenolic content varied from 140 (‘Guzelyurt 6’) to 253μg GAE per g (‘Akko XIII’). The cultivar ‘Champagne de Grasse’ had the highest soluble solids content (14.58%). The highest total antioxidant capacity was observed in fruits of ‘Akko XIII’ with all three antioxidant-determining methods. There were close positive correlations between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content in loquat fruits. Results show that the loquat represents a good source of biofunctional phytochemicals because of their high phenolic, carotenoid and antioxidant contents.
Insect odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are small, water-soluble molecules that are thought to transport the hydrophobic odorants to their receptors in the chemosensory neurones. Here we report the ...identification and molecular characterization of the Anopheles stephensi odorant-binding protein 1 gene (AsteObp1), an Obp1 gene in An. stephensi, a major malaria vector in Asia. We show that AsteObp1 and Anopheles gambiae Obp1 (AgamObp1) are orthologues. These two genes share similar coding sequences and conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs) that may be involved in their regulation. Transcript of AsteObp1 was observed in larvae and reached a relatively high level in late pupae. Quantitative real-time PCR on female adult chemosensory tissues showed ~900-fold higher expression of AsteObp1 in antennae than in maxillary palp and proboscis. The amount of AsteObp1 in female legs was approximately 15-fold lower than that of maxillary palp and proboscis. The level of AsteObp1 transcript was seven and 85-fold higher in females than in males in the antennae, and maxillary palp and proboscis, respectively. Moreover, the AsteObp1 level was reduced by approximately 20-fold in maxillary palp and proboscis 24 h after a bloodmeal. Our results indicate that AsteObp1 is likely to function in the female olfactory response and may also be involved in blood-feeding behaviour.
The pomegranate is one of the oldest fruits that are traditionally consumed by the local inhabitants of the Coruh Valley, Turkey. In this study, the molecular and morphological characteristics of 19 ...promising pomegranate genotypes selected from the Coruh Valley were evaluated. For the morphological evaluation, 22 quantitative fruit characteristics were used. For the molecular evaluation, 47 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers were used for polymerase chain reaction analysis. The principle component analysis of 22 quantitative fruit characteristics revealed that fruit weight and skin color are dominant traits for genotype discrimination. The unweighted average distance cluster of fruit characteristics revealed 3 distinct groups. Among the 47 RAPD primers, 9 exhibited reliable polymorphic patterns, and generated a total of 63 RAPD bands, of which 49.2% were polymorphic. The similarity matrix showed that the highest (0.920) and lowest (0.556) genetic similarities occurred between the APS13 and APS28 genotypes and the APS12 and APS42 genotypes, respectively. We determined clear discrepancies between the morphological and molecular data; consequently, the differences obtained among genotypes for fruit characteristics did not support genetic relationships among genotypes. In conclusion, molecular data provided the most reliable results at the DNA level.
Odorant‐binding proteins (OBPs) are important molecular players in insect olfaction, which has a great influence on the host‐seeking behaviour of mosquitoes and other disease vectors. The mRNA level ...of the Anopheles gambiae Obp7 gene (Agam‐Obp7) is higher in the adult female antennae and is slightly reduced in the female heads after blood‐feeding. Here we report the cloning, sequencing, chromosomal mapping and transcript analysis of Aste‐Obp7, the Obp7 gene from the Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR showed that in adult female mosquitoes, Aste‐Obp7 was expressed abundantly in the antennae, much less in pooled maxillary palp and proboscis and at the lowest level in the legs. The Aste‐Obp7 level in female antennae was significantly higher than in male antennae and it slightly increased 24 h after a bloodmeal. The same pattern held for leg samples as well. The Aste‐Obp7 mRNA level dropped more than 10‐fold in the female maxillary palp and proboscis after a bloodmeal, although it was still significantly higher than in the males. Together, the above expression profiles suggest that Aste‐Obp7 probably functions in female olfaction and may possibly be involved in behaviour related to blood‐feeding. We also characterized the Obp7 gene from Anopheles quadriannulatus. Comparison among Anopheles Obp7 genes revealed conserved noncoding sequences that contain potential regulatory elements. The coding sequence and gene structure of Obp7 as well as local synteny of surrounding genes are conserved among the three Anopheles species and two divergent mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus. OBP7 protein phylogeny is congruent with the mosquito phylogeny and there is evidence of purifying selection acting on the mosquito Obp7 gene. Comparative genomics analysis will improve our understanding of the evolution and regulation of genes involved in mosquito olfaction.
In this work, an algorithm to design lossless ladder networks with simple lumped elements connected via commensurate transmission lines is proposed. After giving the algorithm, a lumped-element ...low-pass Chebyshev filter was transformed to its mixed-element counterpart to illustrate the utilization of the algorithm. The filter, designed for a frequency band around 1 GHz, was fabricated and experimentally characterized. We find very good agreement between measured and simulated transducer power gain over the entire frequency band of interest.
Aqueous and methanol extracts of the leaves of
Juniperus oxycedrus were investigated for their in vitro antimicrobial properties. The plant was collected from Pelitli Village of Gebze, Kocaeli, in ...the Marmara region of Turkey.
Juniperus oxycedrus is widely used as traditional folk medicine in Turkey for treatment of different infectious diseases. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts against 143 laboratory strains belonging to 56 bacterial species, and 31 isolates of 5 fungi species were evaluated based on the inhibition zone using the disc-diffusion assay, minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. The aqueous extract of
J. oxycedrus had no antimicrobial effect against the test microorganisms whereas the methanol extract had inhibitory effects on the growth of 57 strains of 24 bacterial species in the genera of
Acinetobacter,
Bacillus,
Brevundimonas,
Brucella,
Enterobacter,
Escherichia,
Micrococcus,
Pseudomonas,
Staphylococcus, and
Xanthomonas. In addition 11
Candida albicans isolates at a concentration of 31.25–250
μg/ml were also inhibited.
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