Bioactive Properties, Fatty Acid Composition and Mineral Contents of Grape Seed and Oils

The oil content of grape seed samples changed between 4.53% (Adakarası) and 11.13% (Sauvignon blanc). While the linoleic acid contents of grape seed oils ranged from 47.34% (Sangiovese) to 72.91% (Cinsaut), the oleic acid contents varied between 13.35% (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 26.30% (Sangiovese) (p < 0.05). Also, the palmitic acid and stearic acid contents of grape seed oils ranged from 7.15% (Cinsaut) to 16.06% (Sangiovese) and from 2.43% (Narince) to 6.55% (Sangiovese) respectively (p < 0.05). The flavonoid contents of the seeds changed between 263.53 (mg CE/g) and 1 706.00 (mg CE/g) (Cabernet Sauvignon). Total phenols were found to be between 6 711.14 (mg GA/g extract) (Sangiovese) and 8 818.69 (mg GA/g extract) (Narince). The linoleic contents of oils changed from between 47.34% (Sangiovese) and 72.91% (Cinsaut). The K contents of the grape seed samples changed between 4 347.80 mg/kg (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 9 492.60 mg/kg (Gamay) (p < 0.05). The Fe contents of seeds were found to be between 29.96 mg/kg (Narince) and 73.82 mg/kg (Sangiovese). As a result, the current study shows that grape seeds are useful for human nutrition due to their components

Paraoxonase responses to exercise and niacin therapy in men with metabolic syndrome

Our purpose was to characterize changes in paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity and concentration after single aerobic exercise sessions conducted before and after 6 weeks of niacin therapy in men with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Twelve men with MetS expended 500 kcal by walking at 65% of VO2max before and after a 6-week regimen of niacin. Niacin doses were titrated by 500 mg/week from 500 to 1500 mg/day and maintained at 1500 mg/day for the last 4 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected before and 24 hours after each exercise session and analyzed for PON1 activity, PON1 concentration, myeloperoxidase (MPO), apolipoprotein A1, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oLDL), lipoprotein particle sizes and concentrations. PON1 activity, PON1 concentration, MPO, and oLDL were unaltered following the independent effects of exercise and niacin (P > 0.05 for all). High-density lipoprotein particle size decreased by 3% (P = 0.040) and concentrations of small very low-density lipoprotein increased (P = 0.016) following exercise. PON1 activity increased 6.1% (P = 0.037) and PON1 concentrations increased 11.3% (P = 0.015) with the combination of exercise and niacin. Exercise and niacin works synergistically to increase PON1 activity and concentration with little or no changes in lipoproteins or markers of lipid oxidation.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Movimiento Humano (CIMOHU)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Sociales::Facultad de Educación::Escuela de Educación Físic

ZEITSCHRIFT FUR NATURFORSCHUNG SECTION C-A JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCES

Recent studies indicate an extremely high level of tolerance to boron (B) toxicity in Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl. but the mechanistic basis is not known. Puccinellia distans was exposed to B concentrations of up to 1000 mg B L-1 and root B uptake, growth parameters, B and N contents, H2O2 accumulation and center dot OH-scavenging activity were measured. Antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, peroxidase and glutathione reductase, and lipid peroxidation products were determined. B appears to be actively excluded from roots. Excess B supply caused structural deformations in roots and leaves, H2O2 accumulation and simultaneous up-regulation of the antioxidative system, which prevented lipid peroxidation even at the highest B concentrations. Thus, P. distans has an efficient root B-exclusion capability and, in addition, B tolerance in shoots is achieved by a well-regulated antioxidant defense system

Electric bus selection with multicriteria decision analysis for green transportation

Multicriteria decision-making tools are widely used in complex decision-making problems. There are also numerous points of decision-making in transportation. One of these decision-making points regards clean technology vehicle determination. Clean technology vehicles, such as electric buses, have some advantages compared to other technologies like internal combustion engine vehicles. Notably, electric vehicles emit zero tailpipe emissions, thereby ensuring cleaner air for cities and making these clean technologies preferable to other technologies, especially in highly populated areas for better air quality and more livable cities. In this study, we propose a multicriteria decision-making process using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) in the context of an electric bus in the center of Ankara. Six potential electric bus alternatives were evaluated under seven specific criteria. Overall, EV-2 electric buses outperformed other electric bus alternatives based on the chosen criteria. In addition, the stability of the results obtained under different scenarios using this method was established via sensitivity analysis. © 2020 by the authors

Strategic planning based on sustainability for urban transportation: An application to decision-making

Public transportation is one of the main goals of a developing city. This topic includes not only administrators, but also city residents and the environment, with economic, environmental, and social factors. This paper presents a multicriteria decision-making process for prioritizing alternative public transportation projects in Kirikkale, considering the urban type of a developing city. It outlines three planned projects for improvement: "electric municipality bus", "light rail system", and the "modernization of existing vehicles and network optimization". In this study, we use the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal situation (TOPSIS) application to prioritize transportation projects using economic, social, transportation, and environmental sub-criteria. The aim of this study is to select the most suitable project, based on sustainability, for more urban livability in Kirikkale city. In the strategic decision-making process, the weights of each sustainability criteria have been determined using analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The fuzzy TOPSIS method has been applied for ranking the proposed alternative projects for Kirikkale. Finally, the analytic decision process results are compared, and the electric municipality bus is selected as the best project alternative. The results of this study can not only offer a solution for current needs related to urban planning, but also ensure as a more transparent decision-making process for developing sustainability in developing cities in the near future. © 2020 by the authors

Oxidative stress responses in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) as influenced by boron toxicity and drought

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different boron (B) treatments on drought tolerance of watermelon plants. Drought tolerant Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai genotype ‘Kar 98’ was grown in controlled greenhouse conditions hydroponically and exposed to drought stress by applying PEG 6000 (polyethylene glycol) in the presence of three boron dosages: 0.05, 0.25 and 1.25 mM. Growth parameters (fresh weight, dry weight and lengths of shoot and roots), leaf relative water content, boron accumulation, lipid peroxidation level and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) enzymes were determined as well as the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl (•OH)-scavenging activity were assayed. Increasing dosages of boron alone caused more severe growth reduction than combined with PEG 6000-induced drought stress. Induced drought stress caused less accumulation of boron in leaves and roots. B concentration of 1.25 mM caused lipid peroxidation in a reactive oxygen species-independent manner and drought stress-induced lipid peroxidation was alleviated by increasing B dosages. Induced glutathione reductase activity under the combination of 1.25 mM B and PEG 6000-induced drought stress seemed an important physiological response in ‘Kar 98’ plants against multiple stresses

Response of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars to foliar and soil applied boron in borondeficient calcareous soils

Yield losses in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) may occur due to boron (B) deficiency when the susceptible cultivars are grown in calcareous boron deficient soils. The study was therefore aimed atinvestigating the effects of three B doses: control (0.0 kg ha-1), soil application (3.0 kg ha-1) and foliar fertilization (0.3 kg ha-1) on yield and some yield components of six common bean genotypes in the Bdeficient soil (with available 0.19 mg B kg-1). Plant height, pods per plant, seeds per pod, seed yield, protein content, 100-seed weight and B concentration in leaf were studied. Yield was obtained higher Bapplied genotypes than those of check. Applications both of soil and foliar B increased yield average of 10 and 20%, respectively. Genotypes had the highest seed yield when B was foliar applied indicating that soil factors affected available B. The highest seed yield was obtained from Karacaehir-90 with 4078.2 kg ha-1. Yunus-90 was found to be B tolerant, while the other genotypes appeared to be highly B sensitive. The result showed that B deficiency in common bean might lead to significant yield losses and foliar application should be advised

Polystyrene-b-polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) multicomponent polymer networks: Styrene polymerization with macromonomeric initiators (macroinimers) having PDMS units

A new macromonomeric initiator (macroinimer) was synthesized and evaluated for the bulk polymerization of styrene at 60 and 80°C. The macroinimer containing poly(dimethylsiloxane), PDMS, was synthesized via condensation reactions between 4,-4'-azobis-4-cyanopentanoyl chloride (ACPC), PDMS and methacryloyl chloride. The product (MIM I) was thermally homopolymerized and copolymerized with styrene in bulk. Kinetics of radical polymerization of styrene with MIM I at 60°C and at low conversion was studied. Rate constant K, k p (fk d /k t ) 1/2 , was estimated from kinetic data as 1.15 × 10 -4 1 1/2 mol -1/2 s. Bulk polymerization of styrene with macroinimers at 80°C gave crosslinked block copolymers. D.s.c. measurements showed that crosslinked block copolymers had a glass transition temperature around 45°C. This is evidence of a plasticizing effect of flexible polysiloxane segments in copolymers. Crosslinked PDMS-b-PS block copolymers obtained using macroinimers may be an interesting group of thermoplastic elastomers. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd

Evaluation of the efficacy of transcorneal electric stimulation therapy in retinitis pigmentosa patients with electrophysiological and structural tests

A Statement of significance: This study shows that the effect of transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES) therapy as a stimulator device in retinitis pigmentosa (RP)patients with have a significant increase in visual acuity and shortening of p100 latency in pattern visual evoked potential (pVEP) test during 3 months follow up. Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of TES therapy with electrophysiological and structural tests in RP patients. Methods: Thirty four eyes of 17 RP patients were included in the study. Initial examination included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and visual field (VF) test (Humphrey). Central macular thickness (CMT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and choroidal thickness (CT) were measured with using swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT). The patients were tested by Metrovision brand monpack model visual eletrophysiology device for pVEP and flash electroretinogram (fERG) tests. Patients were seen 12 times during 3 months: initial visit for screening and weekly visits for TES. All tests were repeated 3 times. The results of pre and post TES therapy were compared. Results: Patients’ baseline BCVA was 0,34 ± 0,22. The increase in the last visit BCVA was significant (p : .001) and it was 0.50 ± 0.29. The difference between CMT, RNLF and CT pre and post TES therapy were not significant (p > .05). The mean latencies of the 120’ pattern p100 waves that patients could see were shortened and statistically significant (p = .04). The peaks amplitudes of the 120’ pattern p100 waves that patients could see were increased; but not statistically significant (p :. 19). Conclusion: This study shows that the safety of TES as a stimulator device in our patient group and the effect on this group have a significant increase in visual acuity and shortening of p100 latency in pVEP test during 3 months follow up