Determination of fatty acid composition in seed oils of some important berry species and genotypes grown in Tokat Province of Turkey

This study was conducted to determine fatty acid composition in seed oils of four rose hips genotypes (Rosa canina L.), one Rosa montana L., one elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and guelder rose genotypes (Wiburnum opulus L.) growing in Tokat ecological conditions. As such, fatty acid contents were determined by GC. According to the findings, the amount and kinds of fatty acid contents in all fruit varieties and genotypes showed significant differences. It was determined that oleic acid and linoleic acid levels of all genotypes varied from 5,784 to 51,740% and 6,228 to 43,210%, respectively. In addition, it was determined by the findings of this study that palmitic acid and docosaheksaenoic acid (DHA) of these genotypes were similarly found as 1.183 to 7.702%, but no linolenic acid (ω-3) was found in some genotypes. Thus, linoleic acid level of Ar-11 genotype was higher (43.210%) than the others.Key words: Rosa canina, Rosa montana, elderberry, guelder rose, fatty acid composition

Designing microcapsules to save energy in buildings

Buildings consume the major portıon of the world’s energy. Improvements in building elements have been proven to significantly reduce this consumption. Integrating phase change materials (PCM) into a building’s parts is an effective solution to reduce energy consumption. PCMs help to maintain thermal comfort, reduce heating, cooling loads as well as improve passive storage of solar energy in buildings. Previous studies have concentrated on impregnating PCMs into materials like concrete mixes, gypsum wall boards, plasters, textured finishes, as well as PCM trombe walls, PCM shutters, PCM building blocks, air-based heating systems, floor heating systems, suspended ceiling boards, etc.[1]. The current challenge is to find a suitable PCM that can be safe, thermally effective and at the same time not adversely effect the durability of a building. PCMs may be in microcapsulated form to meet these challenges. The most common PCM studied previously is paraffin, be it in bulk or microencapsulated. Leakage of paraffin from porous structures, the breaking of microcapsules and the low thermal capacities of microencapsulated PCMs are the main problems that have been observed [2]. The current challenge is to find a suitable PCM that can be safe, thermally effective and at the same time not adversely effect the durability of a building. PCMs may be in microcapsulated form to meet these challenges. The most common PCM studied previously is paraffin, be it in bulk or microencapsulated. Leakage of paraffin from porous structures, the breaking of microcapsules and the low thermal capacities of microencapsulated PCMs are the main problems that have been observed [2. Paraffin is a fossil fuel derivative; thus, it is unsustainable. This study focuses on bio-based fatty acid mixtures as PCMs. We developed microcapsules of fatty acid mixtures that were tried in concrete mixes. Our design approach involved the following steps: determining and characterizing PCMs with suitable thermal properties; developing a method to synthesize microencapsulated PCMs; and finally incorporate these materials in buildings for improving thermal comfort and energy conservation. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Organic acids, sugars, vitamin C, antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds in fruits of white (<i>Morus alba</i> L.) and black (<i>Morus nigra</i> L.) mulberry genotypes

Mulberries (Morus spp) are historically grown in particular microclimatic regions in Eastern Anatolia, including Aras valley. In the valley, mulberries are one of the ancient crop and used for several purposes by local people. The aim of the present study was to first time evaluate organic acids, sugars, vitamin C, antioxidant capacity (TEAC assay, Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity). and phenolic compounds of the historical black and white mulberry genotypes growing Aras valley in Turkey. Results showed that, species and genotypes strongly influenced the chemical content and antioxidant capacity (p<0.05). Malic acid was the main organic acid in all genotypes and ranged from 1.130 to 3.040 g/100 g. Among sugars, fructose and glucose are predominant and were between 4.177 and 7.700 g/100g and 5.337 and 8.573 g/100g in all mulberry genotypes, respectively. The black mulberry genotypes showed remarkably higher antioxidant capacity determined by TEAC assay (10.167 to 14.400 µ mol TE/g) compared to white mulberry genotypes (6.170 to 9.273 µmol TE/g). Chlorogenic acid and rutin was the main phenolic compound

Digitally enabled health service for the integrated management of hypertension: A participatory user-centred design process

This article describes a user-centred approach taken by a group of five procurers to set specifications for the procurement of value-based research and development services for IT-sup-ported integrated hypertension management. The approach considered the unmet needs of patients and health systems of the involved regions. The procurers established a framework for requirements and a solution design consisting of nine building blocks, divided into three domains: service delivery, devices and integration, and health care organisation. The approach included the development of questionnaires, capturing patients’ and professionals’ views on possible system functionalities, and a template collecting information about the organisation of healthcare, professionals involved and existing IT systems at the procurers’ premises. A total of 28 patients diagnosed with hypertension and 26 professionals were interviewed. The interviewees identified 98 functional requirements, grouped in the nine building blocks. A total of nine use cases and their corresponding process models were defined by the procurers’ working group. As result, a digitally enabled integrated approach to hypertension has been designed to allow citizens to learn how to prevent the development of hypertension and lead a healthy lifestyle, and to receive comprehensive, individualised treatment in close collaboration with healthcare professionals

Cellular Levels and Binding of c-di-GMP Control Subcellular Localization and Activity of the Vibrio cholerae Transcriptional Regulator VpsT

The second messenger, cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP), regulates diverse cellular processes in bacteria. C-di-GMP is produced by diguanylate cyclases (DGCs), degraded by phosphodiesterases (PDEs), and receptors couple c-di-GMP production to cellular responses. In many bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae, multiple DGCs and PDEs contribute to c-di-GMP signaling, and it is currently unclear whether the compartmentalization of c-di-GMP signaling components is required to mediate c-di-GMP signal transduction. In this study we show that the transcriptional regulator, VpsT, requires c-di-GMP binding for subcellular localization and activity. Only the additive deletion of five DGCs markedly decreases the localization of VpsT, while single deletions of each DGC do not impact VpsT localization. Moreover, mutations in residues required for c-di-GMP binding, c-di-GMP-stabilized dimerization and DNA binding of VpsT abrogate wild type localization and activity. VpsT does not co-localize or interact with DGCs suggesting that c-di-GMP from these DGCs diffuses to VpsT, supporting a model in which c-di-GMP acts at a distance. Furthermore, VpsT localization in a heterologous host, Escherichia coli, requires a catalytically active DGC and is enhanced by the presence of VpsT-target sequences. Our data show that c-di-GMP signaling can be executed through an additive cellular c-di-GMP level from multiple DGCs affecting the localization and activity of a c-di-GMP receptor and furthers our understanding of the mechanisms of second messenger signaling

IFT74 variants cause skeletal ciliopathy and motile cilia defects in mice and humans

Motile and non-motile cilia play critical roles in mammalian development and health. These organelles are composed of a 1000 or more unique proteins, but their assembly depends entirely on proteins synthesized in the cell body and transported into the cilium by intraflagellar transport (IFT). In mammals, malfunction of non-motile cilia due to IFT dysfunction results in complex developmental phenotypes that affect most organs. In contrast, disruption of motile cilia function causes subfertility, disruption of the left-right body axis, and recurrent airway infections with progressive lung damage. In this work, we characterize allele specific phenotypes resulting from IFT74 dysfunction in human and mice. We identified two families carrying a deletion encompassing IFT74 exon 2, the first coding exon, resulting in a protein lacking the first 40 amino acids and two individuals carrying biallelic splice site mutations. Homozygous exon 2 deletion cases presented a ciliary chondrodysplasia with narrow thorax and progressive growth retardation along with a mucociliary clearance disorder phenotype with severely shorted cilia. Splice site variants resulted in a lethal skeletal chondrodysplasia phenotype. In mice, removal of the first 40 amino acids likewise results in a motile cilia phenotype but with little effect on primary cilia structure. Mice carrying this allele are born alive but are growth restricted and developed hydrocephaly in the first month of life. In contrast, a strong, likely null, allele of Ift74 in mouse completely blocks ciliary assembly and causes severe heart defects and midgestational lethality. In vitro studies suggest that the first 40 amino acids of IFT74 are dispensable for binding of other IFT subunits but are important for tubulin binding. Higher demands on tubulin transport in motile cilia compared to primary cilia resulting from increased mechanical stress and repair needs could account for the motile cilia phenotype observed in human and mice

IFT74 variants cause skeletal ciliopathy and motile cilia defects in mice and humans

Motile and non-motile cilia play critical roles in mammalian development and health. These organelles are composed of a 1000 or more unique proteins, but their assembly depends entirely on proteins synthesized in the cell body and transported into the cilium by intraflagellar transport (IFT). In mammals, malfunction of non-motile cilia due to IFT dysfunction results in complex developmental phenotypes that affect most organs. In contrast, disruption of motile cilia function causes subfertility, disruption of the left-right body axis, and recurrent airway infections with progressive lung damage. In this work, we characterize allele specific phenotypes resulting from IFT74 dysfunction in human and mice. We identified two families carrying a deletion encompassing IFT74 exon 2, the first coding exon, resulting in a protein lacking the first 40 amino acids and two individuals carrying biallelic splice site mutations. Homozygous exon 2 deletion cases presented a ciliary chondrodysplasia with narrow thorax and progressive growth retardation along with a mucociliary clearance disorder phenotype with severely shorted cilia. Splice site variants resulted in a lethal skeletal chondrodysplasia phenotype. In mice, removal of the first 40 amino acids likewise results in a motile cilia phenotype but with little effect on primary cilia structure. Mice carrying this allele are born alive but are growth restricted and developed hydrocephaly in the first month of life. In contrast, a strong, likely null, allele of Ift74 in mouse completely blocks ciliary assembly and causes severe heart defects and midgestational lethality. In vitro studies suggest that the first 40 amino acids of IFT74 are dispensable for binding of other IFT subunits but are important for tubulin binding. Higher demands on tubulin transport in motile cilia compared to primary cilia resulting from increased mechanical stress and repair needs could account for the motile cilia phenotype observed in human and mice

c-di-GMP Turn-Over in Clostridium difficile Is Controlled by a Plethora of Diguanylate Cyclases and Phosphodiesterases

Clostridium difficile infections have become a major healthcare concern in the last decade during which the emergence of new strains has underscored this bacterium's capacity to cause persistent epidemics. c-di-GMP is a bacterial second messenger regulating diverse bacterial phenotypes, notably motility and biofilm formation, in proteobacteria such as Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella. c-di-GMP is synthesized by diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) that contain a conserved GGDEF domain. It is degraded by phosphodiesterases (PDEs) that contain either an EAL or an HD-GYP conserved domain. Very little is known about the role of c-di-GMP in the regulation of phenotypes of Gram-positive or fastidious bacteria. Herein, we exposed the main components of c-di-GMP signalling in 20 genomes of C. difficile, revealed their prevalence, and predicted their enzymatic activity. Ectopic expression of 31 of these conserved genes was carried out in V. cholerae to evaluate their effect on motility and biofilm formation, two well-characterized phenotype alterations associated with intracellular c-di-GMP variation in this bacterium. Most of the predicted DGCs and PDEs were found to be active in the V. cholerae model. Expression of truncated versions of CD0522, a protein with two GGDEF domains and one EAL domain, suggests that it can act alternatively as a DGC or a PDE. The activity of one purified DGC (CD1420) and one purified PDE (CD0757) was confirmed by in vitro enzymatic assays. GTP was shown to be important for the PDE activity of CD0757. Our results indicate that, in contrast to most Gram-positive bacteria including its closest relatives, C. difficile encodes a large assortment of functional DGCs and PDEs, revealing that c-di-GMP signalling is an important and well-conserved signal transduction system in this human pathogen

Deficient Induction Response in a Xenopus Nucleocytoplasmic Hybrid

Defects in induction signaling and response underlie the nucleocytoplasmic incompatibility between two evolutionarily distant frog species, while specific treatments partially restore this response in explants and whole embryos