Analysis of genetic variation among accessions of critically endangered Rhaponticoides iconiensis and Rhaponticoides mykalea based on RAPD and SDSPAGE markers

Rhaponticoides iconiensis (Hub.-Mor.) M.V.Agab and Greuter is a rare and endangered endemic species of the Konya region of Turkey. One related taxon, Rhaponticoides mykalea (Hub.-Mor.) M.V.Agab andGreuter, is morphologically similar but occurs in different geographical locations. This study has been conducted on the biology of this threatened plant in order to understand better the factors that shouldbe included in the development of conservation practices. The genetic variations were studied using RAPD markers and SDS-PAGE profiles of total seed proteins for three R. iconiensis populations and two R. mykalea populations. The analyzed R. iconiensis populations belonged to different soil types (calcareous and volcanic). The analyzed R. iconiensis and R. mykalea populations belonged to different bioclimatic zones. A genetic diversity within populations was detected both by SDS-PAGE and RAPD for R. iconiensis populations. The level of variation did not differ with respect to soil type for the species studied. Populations collected from the same soil types carried more polymorphisms than those grown in different zones. The genetic diversity was revealed more clearly for all populations byRAPD than through analyzing proteins. Differentiation between ecological groups was higher than that revealed within groups. Conservation programs should take into account the level of genetic diversity within population revealed by these markers according to soil types

Contribution of heme oxygenase 2 to blood pressure regulation in response to swimming exercise and detraining in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Background: We aimed to determine the effects of exercise followed by detraining on systolic blood pressure (SBP), heme oxygenase 2 (HO-2) expression, and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentration in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) to explain the role of carbon monoxide (CO) in this process. Material/Methods: Animals were randomized into exercised and detrained groups. Corresponding sedentary rats were grouped as Time 1–2. Swimming of 60 min/5 days/week for 10 weeks was applied. Detraining rats discontinued training for an additional 5 weeks. Gene and protein expressions were determined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results: Aorta HO-2 histological scores (HSCORE) of hypertensive rats were lower, while SBP was higher. Swimming caused enhancement of HO-2 immunostaining in aorta endothelium and adventitia of SHR. Exercise induced elevation of blood COHb index in SHR. Synchronous BP lowering effect of exercise was observed. HO-2 mRNA expression, HSCORE, and blood COHb index were unaltered during detraining, while SBP was still low in SHR. Conclusions: CO synthesized by HO-2 at least partly plays a role in SBP regulation in the SHR-and BP-lowering effect of exercise. Regular exercise with short-term pauses may be advised to both hypertensives and individuals who are at risk. © Med Sci Monit

Exploring Gördes zeolite sites by feature oriented principle component analysis of LANDSAT images

Recent studies showed that remote sensing is an effective, efficient and reliable technique used in almost all the areas of earth sciences. Remote sensing as being a technique started with aerial photographs and then developed employing the multi-spectral satellite images. Nowadays, it benefits from hyper-spectral, RADAR and LIDAR data as well. This potential has widen its applicability in the various areas and professional disciplines much more efficiently as never been before. One of the areas that remote sensing has been applied well and has become one of the indispensable tools for the earth science’s scientists are geologic and mineral exploration studies and especially prospection stages of these studies. In this research, it was tried to determine and to map zeolite sites in Gördes region (Turkey) which were formed as alteration products having high level of water content and developed in volcanic rock beds by the help of remote sensing and GIS. The study area is about 400 km2 and located at the NorthEast of Manisa Province. The results confirmed that the zeolite areas obtained by classical exploration techniques can be determined using remote sensing techniques such as feature oriented principal component analysis. Other zeolite areas in the same scene were also determined or at least predicted by this computer learning process through the same remote sensing image analyses

Quantum-dot single-photon sources for entanglement enhanced interferometry

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST).Multiphoton entangled states such as “N00N states” have attracted a lot of attention because of their possible application in high-precision, quantum enhanced phase determination. So far, N00N states have been generated in spontaneous parametric down-conversion processes and by mixing quantum and classical light on a beam splitter. Here, in contrast, we demonstrate superresolving phase measurements based on two-photon N00N states generated by quantum dot single-photon sources making use of the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect on a beam splitter. By means of pulsed resonance fluorescence of a charged exciton state, we achieve, in postselection, a quantum enhanced improvement of the precision in phase uncertainty, higher than prescribed by the standard quantum limit. An analytical description of the measurement scheme is provided, reflecting requirements, capability, and restraints of single-photon emitters in optical quantum metrology. Our results point toward the realization of a real-world quantum sensor in the near future.PostprintPostprintPeer reviewe

Quantum-dot single-photon sources for entanglement enhanced interferometry

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST).Multiphoton entangled states such as “N00N states” have attracted a lot of attention because of their possible application in high-precision, quantum enhanced phase determination. So far, N00N states have been generated in spontaneous parametric down-conversion processes and by mixing quantum and classical light on a beam splitter. Here, in contrast, we demonstrate superresolving phase measurements based on two-photon N00N states generated by quantum dot single-photon sources making use of the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect on a beam splitter. By means of pulsed resonance fluorescence of a charged exciton state, we achieve, in postselection, a quantum enhanced improvement of the precision in phase uncertainty, higher than prescribed by the standard quantum limit. An analytical description of the measurement scheme is provided, reflecting requirements, capability, and restraints of single-photon emitters in optical quantum metrology. Our results point toward the realization of a real-world quantum sensor in the near future.PostprintPostprintPeer reviewe

Relationship between body condition score, blood metabolites and oxidative stress in transition period and reproductive performance of dairy cows

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗThe aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between prepartum body condition score (BCS), blood metabolites (Glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate; BHB), oxidative stress (Malondialdehyde; MDA, Glutathione peroxidase; GSH-Px) in transition period and some reproductive parameters in Holstein dairy cows. Fifty cows were divided into two groups [low-BCS = 2.75-3.0 (n=25); adequate-BCS = 3.25-3.75 (n=25)] according to BCS on the 21st day before expected calving. BCS was also recorded at 0 and +21 days after calving. Blood samples collected at -21, 0 and +21 days from calving for MDA and GSH-Px analysis as well as at -21, +14 and +21 days of postpartum for glucose and BHB. Data on reproductive parameters obtained from farm records were also collected. MDA concentrations were higher in group of low-BCS compared to group of adequate-BCS at -21 and 0 d related to calving (p<0.05). GSH-Px activity was lower in group of low-BCS than adequate one during the transition period (p<0.05). Low-BCS group also showed higher concentrations of BHB at +14 and +21 days after calving. During the transition period, low-BCS group had lower glucose concentrations compared to adequate one (p<0.05). Adequate-BCS group of cows showed shorter intervals of calving to first estrus (p<0.01) and calving to conception (p<0.01). In conclusion, cows with lower BCS at the prepartum period had worse metabolic and oxidative balance during the transition period. This situation also was associated with worse reproductive performance in cows

Autologous anti-SOX2 antibody responses reflect intensity but not frequency of antigen expression in small cell lung cancer

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Background: Anti-SOX2 antibody responses are observed in about 10 to 20% of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether such responses reflect a particular pattern of SOX2 protein expression in the tumor and whether this pattern associates with clinical outcome. Methods. Paraffin embedded tumor tissues, obtained from SCLC patients who had no evidence of paraneoplastic autoimmune degeneration, were evaluated for SOX2 expression by immunohistochemistry for both intensity and extent of staining. Sera from the same patients were tested for autologous antibodies against recombinant SOX2 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Correlates between overall survival and various clinical parameters including SOX2 staining and serology were determined. Results: SOX2 protein expression was observed in tumor tissue in 89% of patients. Seventeen patients (29%) were seropositive for SOX2 antibodies and, in contrast to SOX2 staining, the presence of antibody correlated with limited disease stage (p = 0.05). SOX2 seropositivity showed a significant association with the intensity of SOX2 staining in the tumor (p = 0.02) but not with the frequency of SOX2 expressing cells. Conclusion: Anti-SOX2 antibodies associate with better prognosis (limited stage disease) while SOX2 protein expression does not; similar to reports from some earlier studies. Our data provides an explanation for this seemingly contrasting data for the first time as SOX2 antibodies can be observed in patients whose tumors contain relatively few but strongly staining cells, thus supporting the possible presence of active immune-surveillance and immune-editing targeting SOX2 protein in this tumor type. © 2014 Atakan et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Eltrombopag for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia: The aegean region of Turkey experience

Objective: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by transient or persistent decrease of the platelet count to less than 100x109/L. Although it is included in a benign disease group, bleeding complications may be mortal. With a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, thrombopoietin receptor agonists, which came into use in recent years, seem to be an effective option in the treatment of resistant cases. This study aimed to retrospectively assess the efficacy, long-term safety, and tolerability of eltrombopag in Turkish patients with chronic ITP in the Aegean region of Turkey. Materials and Methods: Retrospective data of 40 patients with refractory ITP who were treated with eltrombopag in the Aegean region were examined and evaluated. Results: The total rate of response was 87%, and the median duration of response defined as the number of the platelets being over 50x109/L was 19.5 (interquartile range: 5-60) days. In one patient, venous sinus thrombosis was observed with no other additional risk factors due to or related to thrombosis. Another patient with complete response and irregular follow-up for 12 months was lost due to sudden death as the result of probable acute myocardial infarction. Conclusion: Although the responses to eltrombopag were satisfactory, patients need to be monitored closely for overshooting platelet counts as well as thromboembolic events. © 2015 Turkish Society of Hematology. All rights reserved

An energy efficient additive neural network

In this paper, we propose a new energy efficient neural network with the universal approximation property over space of Lebesgue integrable functions. This network, called additive neural network, is very suitable for mobile computing. The neural structure is based on a novel vector product definition, called ef-operator, that permits a multiplier-free implementation. In ef-operation, the 'product' of two real numbers is defined as the sum of their absolute values, with the sign determined by the sign of the product of the numbers. This 'product' is used to construct a vector product in n-dimensional Euclidean space. The vector product induces the lasso norm. The proposed additive neural network successfully solves the XOR problem. The experiments on MNIST dataset show that the classification performances of the proposed additive neural networks are very similar to the corresponding multi-layer perceptron. © 2017 IEEE