Structure determination of a bio-inspired self-assembled light-harvesting antenna by solid-state NMR and molecular modeling

Solid state NMR/Biophysical Organic Chemistr

Effect of harvest time on physicochemical quality parameters, oxidation stability, and volatile compounds of extra virgin olive oil

The aim of this study was to determine the changes in some physicochemical properties of olives (fruit weight, water content and oil content) and olive oils (total chlorophyll, carotenoid, pheophytin a, peroxide value and free acidity), and in the chemical properties (fatty acids, tocopherols, phenolics, oxidation stability and volatile profiles) of oils during ripening.Ripening indices (RI) of olive samples were 1.93 (unripe), 4.28 (ripe) and 5.89 (overripe). Most of the mentioned features changed with ripening. During ripening there was a sharp decrease in total chlorophyll, carotenoid and pheophytin a contents. An increase in oleic and linoleic acids and a decrease in palmitic acid were found in the fatty acid composition. Olive oils showed strong relations among oxidation stability, tocopherol content, total phenols content, and antiradical actvity of phenol extracts and these parameters decreased with maturation. Nevertheless, higher amounts of trans-2-hexenal were found in the oil from ripe olives than from unripe and overripe olives. On the other hand, the highest concentration of hexanal was found in the oil from overripe olives.In general, significant differences were observed in fruit weight, pigments, free acidity, fatty acid, tocopherol, and total phenolics contents, radical scavenger activity, oxidation stability, phenolic profile and volatile profile between the olive oils from the Gemlik cultivar at different stages of maturation

Characteristics of patients operated for primary hyperparathyroidism at university hospitals in Türkiye: Differences among Türkiye's geographical regions

Purpose: The aim of this study was to define the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients operated on for primary hyperpatathyroidism (PHPT) at university hospitals in Türkiye, and to investigate the differences in the clinical presentations of the disease between different geographical regions. Methods: Patients operated on for PHPT in the university hospitals of Türkiye were included in the study. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings and the operational data of the patients were investigated according to the whole country and to different geographical regions. Comparisons were performed according to whole country and regions. Results: A total of 1,162 cases were included in the study from different regions and 20 university hospitals. The mean age of patients was 52.4 ± 0.38 (mean ± standard error) in the general population of Türkiye. The rates of hypertension, urolithiasis, bone disease and 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency were 35%, 18.6%, 67.6%, and 63%, respectively. The median parathormone (PTH), serum total calcium (Ca+2) and phosphorus value were 220 pg/mL (range, 70-2,500 pg/mL), 11.2 mg/dL (range, 9.5-11.2 mg/dL), and 2.4 mg/dL (range, 1-4.7 mg/dL), respectively. The median size of the adenomas resected was 16 mm (range, 4-70 mm). Significant differences were observed in the clinical and laboratory findings of the patients operated on due to PHPT between different geographical regions of Türkiye (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients with PHPT in different geographical regions of Türkiye differ. Furthermore, the general findings of the cases in Türkiye give us a hint that the severity of the disease here is somewhere between Eastern and Western countries. Copyright © 2016, the Korean Surgical Society

Synthesis of B/P/N Containing Flame-Retardant Additives and UV Curable Hybrid Coating Applications

The aim of this study is to synthesize flame-retardant additive by using B/P/N and to investigate this additive's performance in the ultraviolet (UV) curable system. Therefore, in the first stage, borate ester (triethanolamine borate, TEAB) was synthesized by the reaction of boric acid and triethanolamine. In the second stage, phosphate salt of borate ester (triethanolamine borate polyphosphoric acid, TEAB-PPA) was synthesized by the reaction of borate ester (TEAB), which synthesized in the first stage and PPA. Thermal stability and flammability of the samples were evaluated by thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and limiting oxygen index. The samples were characterized with the following analyses: Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, UV transmittance, gel content, water absorption capacity, and stress–strain test. Hydrophilicity of the samples was determined by the contact angle measurements. Moreover, the surface morphology of the samples was investigated by a scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectrometer mapping. The obtained results prove that boron, nitrogen, and phosphorus increased the flame retardancy property of the synthesized additive and suggest desired flame retardancy using various resins and different ratio of additives. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

How long should we measure? An exploration of factors controlling the inter-annual variation of catchment sediment yield

Purpose: Although it is well-known that catchment suspended sediment yields (SY; tons per square kilometre per year) can vary significantly from year to year, little information exists on the magnitude and factors controlling this variability. This is crucial to assess the reliability of average SY values for a given measuring period (MP) and is of great geomorphic significance. This paper aims to bridge this research gap. Materials and methods: A worldwide database was compiled with time series of measured SY values. Data from 726 rivers (mostly located in Europe, the Middle East and the USA) were collected, covering 15,025 annual SY observations. The MPs ranged between 7 and 58 years, while catchment areas (A) ranged between 0.07 and 1.84 × 106 km2. For 558 catchments, the annual runoff depths corresponding to the SY observations were also available. Based on this database, inter-annual variability was assessed for each catchment, and relationships with factors potentially explaining this variability were explored. Results and discussion: Coefficients of variation of SY varied between 6% and 313% (median 75%). Annual SY data were generally not normally distributed but positively skewed. Inter-annual variability generally increased with increasing average SY. No significant relationship was found between the inter-annual variability of SY and A, while weak but significant relationships were noted with the variability in annual runoff and rainfall depths. Detailed analyses of a sub-dataset corresponding to 63 catchments in Romania revealed no clear relationships between inter-annual variability of SY and land-use or topographic characteristics. Nevertheless, indications were found that variability was larger for catchments with erosion-prone land-use conditions. Using a Monte Carlo simulation approach, the effect of inter-annual variability on the reliability of average SY data was assessed. Results indicate that uncertainties are very large when the MP is short, with median relative errors ranging between -60% and 83% after 5 years of monitoring. Furthermore, average SY values based on short MPs have a large probability to underestimate, rather than to overestimate, the long-term mean. For instance, the SY value of a median catchment after a 1-year MP has a 50% probability of underestimating the long-term mean by about 22%. Uncertainties quickly decrease after the first few years of measurement but can remain considerable, even after 50 years of monitoring. Conclusions: It is important to consider uncertainties associated with average SY values due to inter-annual variability, for example when attempting to predict long-term average SY values using a steady-state model, as such uncertainties put fundamental limits to the predictive capabilities of such models. © 2012 Springer-Verlag

Differential Immunomodulatory Activities of Schiff Base Complexes Depending on their Metal Conjugation

PubMedID: 31267275Immunomodulatory compounds have become crucial with advances in immunotherapy. Using our own immune system cells, we can direct the immune cell function and develop desired response against a certain threat. Immunotherapy applications have been suggested against tumors, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. Vaccination can be considered as one of the best known example of immunotherapy. Infectious agent’s signature molecular structures are introduced to the immune cells together with the adjuvants that further activate the immune cells to mount a proper immune response and memory. Immunotherapy and vaccine formulations are in constant need of a library of immunomodulatory reagents that can be applied depending on the target. In order to expand the number of immunomodulatory reagents that can find medicinal applications, our group has been testing unique chemical structures on the immune system cells, especially macrophages. Schiff base complexes are known for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. In this study, we used previously characterized Schiff base complexes with different metal conjugations. These molecules had differential immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory potentials on macrophages in vitro depending on the type of the conjugated metal. After light exposure, these complexes changed their characteristics and became powerful anti-inflammatory complexes. Due to their possible antimicrobial potentials, we also tested their activities against gram negative and gram positive bacteria. All of the complexes exerted antimicrobial activities which were not light responsive. Here, we present Schiff base complexes with differential immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory activities that can also efficiently eliminate gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Upon photo activation, they block the production of inflammatory TNF? cytokine. Therefore, together with the light, they can be used to treat bacterial infections associated with damaging inflammation. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature