Determination of chilling temperature effects on nutrient elements composition and distribution in cole (Brassica oleracea L. Cv. Acephala) using the WDXRF spectroscopic technique

Cole (Brassica oleracea L. cv. Acephala) is a naturally very hardy species to (at) chilling temperatures. It has been observed that the plant species can be viable even under snow during a cold winter. The cole seedlings were grown in soil for one month. Chilling temperatures were then applied to these seedlings under controlled conditions. These seedlings were subsequently, cut into root tip, root middle part, root upper part, hypocotyl, epicotyl, petiole and leaf and sampled randomly. Concentrations of inorganic elements (Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, and Mg) in the parts were measured by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry to test chilling temperature effects on nutrient accumulation and distribution within these seedlings. Results indicated that the distribution of some inorganic elements among organs (roots, stem and leaves) of cole plants is significantly altered by chilling stress. There was an association between chilling temperatures and distributions, and accumulations of Ca, Fe, P, Cl, S especially Si and Al in cole seedlings. In addition, the WDXRF technique is a simple, fast, economic and accurate tool for biological studies related to the determining of the amount of plant nutritions in ppm level

Palaeozoic-Recent geological development and uplift of the Amanos Mountains (S Turkey) in the critically located northwesternmost corner of the Arabian continent

<p>We have carried out a several-year-long study of the Amanos Mountains, on the basis of which we present new sedimentary and structural evidence, which we combine with existing data, to produce the first comprehensive synthesis in the regional geological setting. The ca. N-S-trending Amanos Mountains are located at the northwesternmost edge of the Arabian plate, near the intersection of the African and Eurasian plates. Mixed siliciclastic-carbonate sediments accumulated on the north-Gondwana margin during the Palaeozoic. Triassic rift-related sedimentation was followed by platform carbonate deposition during Jurassic-Cretaceous. Late Cretaceous was characterised by platform collapse and southward emplacement of melanges and a supra-subduction zone ophiolite. Latest Cretaceous transgressive shallow-water carbonates gave way to deeper-water deposits during Palaeocene-Eocene. Eocene southward compression, reflecting initial collision, resulted in open folding, reverse faulting and duplexing. Fluvial, lagoonal and shallow-marine carbonates accumulated during Late Oligocene(?)-Early Miocene, associated with basaltic magmatism. Intensifying collision during Mid-Miocene initiated a foreland basin that then infilled with deep-water siliciclastic gravity flows. Late Miocene-Early Pliocene compression created mountain-sized folds and thrusts, verging E in the north but SE in the south. The resulting surface uplift triggered deposition of huge alluvial outwash fans in the west. Smaller alluvial fans formed along both mountain flanks during the Pleistocene after major surface uplift ended. Pliocene-Pleistocene alluvium was tilted towards the mountain front in the west. Strike-slip/transtension along the East Anatolian Transform Fault and localised sub-horizontal Quaternary basaltic volcanism in the region reflect regional transtension during Late Pliocene-Pleistocene (<4 Ma).</p

Revisiting the optical properties of the FMO protein

We review the optical properties of the FMO complex as found by spectroscopic studies of the Qy band over the last two decades. This article emphasizes the different methods used, both experimental and theoretical, to elucidate the excitonic structure and dynamics of this pigment–protein complex

Flavaglines Alleviate Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity: Implication of Hsp27

Background: Despite its effectiveness in the treatment of various cancers, the use of doxorubicin is limited by a potentially fatal cardiomyopathy. Prevention of this cardiotoxicity remains a critical issue in clinical oncology. We hypothesized that flavaglines, a family of natural compounds that display potent neuroprotective effects, may also alleviate doxorubicininduced cardiotoxicity. Methodology/Principal Findings: Our in vitro data established that a pretreatment with flavaglines significantly increased viability of doxorubicin-injured H9c2 cardiomyocytes as demonstrated by annexin V, TUNEL and active caspase-3 assays. We demonstrated also that phosphorylation of the small heat shock protein Hsp27 is involved in the mechanism by which flavaglines display their cardioprotective effect. Furthermore, knocking-down Hsp27 in H9c2 cardiomyocytes completely reversed this cardioprotection. Administration of our lead compound (FL3) to mice attenuated cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis, as reflected by a 50 % decrease of mortality. Conclusions/Significance: These results suggest a prophylactic potential of flavaglines to prevent doxorubicin-induce

Randomized, double-blinded comparison of tropisetron and placebo for prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after supratentorial craniotomy

This prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of tropisetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting after elective supratentorial craniotomy in adult patients. We studied 65 ASA physical status I-III patients aged 18 to 76 years who were undergoing elective craniotomy for resection of various supratentorial tumors. Patients were divided into two groups and received either 2 mg of tropisetron (group T) or saline placebo (group P) intravenously at the time of dural closure. A standard general anesthetic technique was used. Episodes of nausea and vomiting and the need for rescue antiemetic medication were recorded during 24 hours postoperatively. Demographic data, duration of surgery and anesthesia, and sedation scores were comparable in both groups. Nausea occurred in 30% of group T patients and in 46.7% of group P patients (P > .05). The incidence of emetic episodes was 26.7% and 56.7% in the two groups (P < .05). Rescue antiemetic medication was needed in 26.7% and 60% of the patients (P < .05). Administration of a single dose of tropisetron (2 mg intravenously) given at the time of dural closure was effective in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting after elective craniotomy for supratentorial tumor resection in adult patients

A reappraisal of the association between Behcet's disease, myelodysplastic syndrome and the presence of trisomy 8: a systematic literature review

Objective. A number of patients with Behcet's disease (BD) associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with or without trisomy 8 have been reported. A high frequency of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement was reported in such patients. The aim of this systematic literature review was to delineate whether GI involvement is an inherent feature of BD associated with MDS, whether these patients do actually have BD rather than GI symptoms related to MDS, and whether the presence of trisomy 8 plays a role in the disease expression of BD associated with MDS