Molecular and pomological diversity among pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars in Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important fruit species for Turkey where many cultivars are being cultivated. In this study, we determined the fruit characteristics and RAPD band patterns of sixlocal cultivars from Hatay, Turkey. Our results demonstrated that there is a great level of morphological variation. The principle component analysis of 18 quantitative fruit characteristics revealed that fruitweight, aril number/fruit, peel color and soluble solids/acidity ratio are important traits for discriminating the cultivars tested. The UPGMA cluster of fruit characteristics indicated that ‘Katýrbaý’and ‘Kan narý’ were similar to each other and they were separated from rest of the cultivars. Twenty-two RAPD primers generated total of 106 reproducible bands 22% of which were polymorphic. The UPGMAdendrogram of RAPD data showed that ‘Tatlý nar’ and ‘erife’ were very closely related while ‘ncekabuk’ is distinct from the other cultivars. As a result, discrepancies were detected between morphological and molecular data. Therefore, we confirmed that diversity among the fruitcharacteristics were not good indication of genetic relatedness while molecular tools are valuable to study such similarities

A radiotracer study of the adsorption behavior of aqueous Ba2+ ions on nanoparticles of zero-valent iron

Recently, iron nanoparticles are increasingly being tested as adsorbents for various types of organic and inorganic pollutants. In this study, nanoparticles of zero-valent iron (NZVI) synthesized under atmospheric conditions were employed for the removal of Ba2+ ions in a concentration range 10-3 to 10-6 M. Throughout the study, 133Ba was used as a tracer to study the effects of time, concentration, and temperature. The obtained data was analyzed using various kinetic models and adsorption isotherms. Pseudo-second-order kinetics and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm model provided the best correlation with the obtained data. Observed thermodynamic parameters showed that the process is exothermic and hence enthalpy-driven. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Combined approach of density functional theory and quantum Monte Carlo method to electron correlation in dilute magnetic semiconductors

We present a realistic study for electronic and magnetic properties in dilute magnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As. A multi-orbital Haldane-Anderson model parameterized by density-functional calculations is presented and solved with the Hirsch-Fye quantum Monte Carlo algorithm. Results well reproduce experimental results in the dilute limit. When the chemical potential is located between the top of the valence band and an impurity bound state, a long-range ferromagnetic correlations between the impurities, mediated by antiferromagnetic impurity-host couplings, are drastically developed. We observe an anisotropic character in local density of states at the impurity-bound-state energy, which is consistent with the STM measurements. The presented combined approach thus offers a firm starting point for realistic calculations of the various family of dilute magnetic semiconductors.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Epithelial barrier hypothesis and the development of allergic and autoimmune diseases

The “epithelial barrier hypothesis” proposes that genetic predisposition to epithelial barrier damage, exposure to various epithelial barrier–damaging agents and chronic periepithelial inflammation are responsible for the development of allergic and autoimmune diseases. Particularly, the introduction of more than 200,000 new chemicals to our daily lives since the 1960s has played a major role in the pandemic increase of these diseases. The epithelial barrier constitutes the first line of physical, chemical, and immunological defence against external factors. A leaky epithelial barrier initiates the translocation of the microbiome from the surface of affected tissues to interepithelial and even deeper subepithelial areas. In tissues with a defective epithelial barrier, colonization of opportunistic pathogens, decreased microbiota biodiversity, local inflammation, and impaired regeneration and remodelling takes place. A dysregulated immune response against commensals and opportunistic pathogens starts. Migration of inflammatory cells to other tissues and their contribution to tissue injury and inflammation in the affected tissues are key events in the development and exacerbation of many chronic inflammatory diseases. Understanding the underlying factors that affect the integrity of epithelial barriers is essential to find preventive measures or effective treatments to restore its function. The aim of this review is to assess the origins of allergic and autoimmune diseases within the framework of the epithelial barrier hypothesis