Some quality traits and neurotoxin β-N-oxalyl-L-α,β- diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP) contents of Lathyrus sp. cultivated in Turkey

In this study, 52 landraces accessions belonging to the species of Lathyrus sativus and Lathyrus clymenum collected from different regions of Turkey and one released variety of Lathyrus sativus were evaluated for some quality traits like seed coat color, 1000 seed weight, crude protein and neurotoxin β- N-oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP) content. Among the investigated landraces, high variation was determined for all the investigated traits, which was attributed to both genetic as well as environmental factors. Protein content was as between 24.07 to 30.90% and β-ODAP content was as 1.35 to 3.86 mg g-1 for seed. Many landraces with low β-ODAP content (< 2.00 mg g-1) and high protein content seem to be promising material for Lathyrus breeding. Furthermore, many investigated landraces showed lower β-ODAP and higher protein contents compared with the released variety. Also, the local consumption of L. sativus landraces as a food or feed was determined during the collection process.Key words: Lathyrus, landrace, protein, β-ODAP, Turkey

Seed yield and agronomic parameters of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) genotypes grown in the Black Sea region of Turkey

Nine cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) genotypes (two released cultivars and seven lines) were evaluated for grain yield and agronomic parameters at two locations within the Middle Black Sea region of Turkey for two years (2005 to 2006). Genotypes were evaluated for plant height, first pod height from ground, branches number per plant, main branch diameter, pod length, seed number per pod, thousand seed weight and seed yield. Results indicate that the effect of genotype, year and location were significant (P<0.05) for many of the traits studied. Line G1 had the highest plant height (122.4 cm). Seed number per pod was higher in line G1 (9.9) than in other genotypes. Thousand seed weight ranged between 138.7 and 233.2 g. Seed yield ranged from 1,010 to 1,420 kg ha-1. The highest seed yield (1,420 kg ha-1) was obtained in cultivar Karagoz. Among locations, average values for most variables studied were higher in Samsun than in Kavak.Key words: Vigna unguiculata, seed yield, thousand seed weight, Black Se

The effects of sheep manure application time and rates on yield and botanical composition of secondary succession rangeland

This experimental study was conducted in Samsun/Turkey on a secondary succession rangeland during 2006 - 2008. Botanical composition of the experimental area consists of 28% legumes, 64% grasses, and 8% of other species. Target rates of sheep manure were 0, 25.0, 50.0, 75.0, and 100 kg total N ha–1, based on the manure analyses results (according to N rates in sheep manure). The sheep manure was applied at two different times. Means of 3 years of experimental period and total dry matteryield was obtained from the manure treatment of 75.0 kg N ha-1 and 50 + 50 kg N ha-1 (4153 kg ha-1, and 3813 kg ha-1, respectively). With respect to the three-year average, ratios of legumes, grasses, and otherplants ranged from 20.8 to 40.7%, 41.6 to 66.9%, and 10.7 to 20.7%, respectively. Although ratios of legumes, and other plants increased in the all of the treatments, grass ratios decreased. The crude protein content of obtained rangeland hay ranged between 107.0 and 143.0 g kg-1 in 2006, 93.0 and 123.4 g kg-1 in 2007, 116.3 and 166.4 g kg-1 in 2008. The maximum benefit was provided from the application of 75.0 kg N ha-1 with a sum of 971.2 ha-1

A potential therapeutic role in multiple sclerosis for stigmast-5,22-dien-3 beta-ol myristate isolated from Capparis ovata

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the human central nervous system. It is one of the most common neurological disorders around the world and there is still no complete cure for MS. Purification of a terpenoid from Capparis ovata was carried out and its structure was elucidated as stigmast-5,22-dien-3 beta-ol, myristate (3 beta, 22E-stigmasteryl myristate; SDM) by NMR and mass spectral analyses. No information regarding its any health effect is available in the literature. In the present study, we have described its effects on inflammatory factors such as the expression levels of cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules as well as apoptosis/infiltration and myelination in SH-SY5Y cells. The expression levels of proinflammatory or inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as NF-.B1, CCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10 and HIF1A along with T-cell activating cytokines such as IL-6 and TGFB1 were significantly downregulated with SDM treatment. Moreover, the expression levels of the main myelin proteins such as MBP, MAG and PLP that are essential for healthy myelin architecture were significantly up-regulated. The results presented in this study strongly suggest that the SDM offers a unique possibility to be used with autoimmune diseases, including MS due to its activity on the manipulation of cytokines and the promotion of myelin formation

Homomorphic encryption and some black box attacks

This paper is a compressed summary of some principal definitions and concepts in the approach to the black box algebra being developed by the authors. We suggest that black box algebra could be useful in cryptanalysis of homomorphic encryption schemes, and that homomorphic encryption is an area of research where cryptography and black box algebra may benefit from exchange of ideas

Proteomic and Biological Analysis of the Effects of Metformin Senomorphics on the Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Senotherapeutics are new drugs that can modulate senescence phenomena within tissues and reduce the onset of age-related pathologies. Senotherapeutics are divided into senolytics and senomorphics. The senolytics selectively kill senescent cells, while the senomorphics delay or block the onset of senescence. Metformin has been used to treat diabetes for several decades. Recently, it has been proposed that metformin may have anti-aging properties as it prevents DNA damage and inflammation. We evaluated the senomorphic effect of 6 weeks of therapeutic metformin treatment on the biology of human adipose mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The study was combined with a proteome analysis of changes occurring in MSCs’ intracellular and secretome protein composition in order to identify molecular pathways associated with the observed biological phenomena. The metformin reduced the replicative senescence and cell death phenomena associated with prolonged in vitro cultivation. The continuous metformin supplementation delayed and/or reduced the impairment of MSC functions as evidenced by the presence of three specific pathways in metformin-treated samples: 1) the alpha-adrenergic signaling, which contributes to regulation of MSCs physiological secretory activity, 2) the signaling pathway associated with MSCs detoxification activity, and 3) the aspartate degradation pathway for optimal energy production. The senomorphic function of metformin seemed related to its reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity. In metformin-treated samples, the CEBPA, TP53 and USF1 transcription factors appeared to be involved in the regulation of several factors (SOD1, SOD2, CAT, GLRX, GSTP1) blocking ROS