Manganese tolerance in Verbascum olympicum Boiss. affecting elemental uptake and distribution: changes in nicotinic acid levels under stress conditions.

A multielemental determination methodology in conjunction with an organic acid analysis that were supplemented with other stress parameters and an ultrastructural analysis used herein to study Verbascum olympicum Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae) under Mn stress. Uptake and accumulation characteristics of B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn were evaluated in 8-week-old seedlings grown in Hoagland's nutrient solution and exposed to 5 (CK), 50, and 200 µM MnSO4 for 7 days. Hydrogen peroxide levels were determined to evaluate oxidative stress, and changes in compatible substance levels (total phenolic contents, glutathione and glutathione disulfide levels) were determined to assess antioxidant defense mechanisms. The distribution of manganese on the root surface was characterized by scanning electron microscopy images and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. The levels of nicotinic acid, which is involved in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis, were determined in roots and leaves to assess tolerance mechanisms. V. olympicum exhibited the ability to cope with oxidative stress originating from excessive Mn, while increased Mn concentrations were observed in both roots and leaves. The translocation factor of B was the most affected among other studied elements under the experimental conditions. Total nicotinic acid levels exhibited a trend of reduction in the roots and leaves, which could be attributed to the appropriate metabolic progress associated with oxidative stress based on the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cycle that may reach glutathione in response to manganese stress during plant growth.

Elemental Composition of Plant Species from an Abandoned Tungsten Mining Area: Are They Useful for Biogeochemical Exploration and/or Phytoremediation Purposes?

We aimed to evaluate the elemental (W, Mo, Zn, Fe, Cu, Co, Bi, Mn, Cd, Cr, As) composition of some plant species spread around the abandoned tungsten mining area of Uludag Mountain. The plant species tested were Anthemis cretica and Trisetum flavescens which are grown in this area and they are pioneer species on these contaminated sites. W levels in soils were found up to 1378.6 ± 672.3 mg/kg dry weight in contaminated areas. The leaf W contents of the selected plant species were found 41.1 ± 24.4 and 31.1 ± 15.5 mg/kg dry weight for A. cretica and T. flavescens, respectively. Our results indicate that the elemental composition of species changed by the increased tungsten and some element concentrations in soil without detrimental effect. So, these species can be useful tungsten removal and some elements from contaminated sites.

Elemental composition of Marrubium astracanicum Jacq. growing in tungsten-contaminated sites.

This study evaluates the elemental (W, Mo, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, Cr, Co, B, and Bi) composition of Marrubium astracanicum Jacq. (Lamiaceae), around the abandoned tungsten mine on Uludag Mountain, Turkey, to determine if it is an appropriate candidate for phytomonitoring and/or phytoremediation purposes. Three sample sites were selected around the mine for soil and plant sampling. Two sites approximately 500 m from the mine were assumed to be unpolluted sites. The other site was selected from a waste removal pool (WRP) and was assumed to be a polluted site. The soil and different organs (roots, leaves, and flowers) of plant samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the elemental content. The classic open wet digestion procedure was applied to the samples with 5 mL HNO3 and 3 mL H2O2 in a borosilicate glass vessel for the roots, leaves, and the flowers of the plants. Kjeldahl digestion was used for the soil samples. The W, Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, B, and Bi contents were found to be higher in the soil samples from the waste removal pools compared with the samples from the unpolluted sites. We also found that the elemental composition of M. astracanicum has generally been increased by the activity of the tungsten mine, and there were significant correlations between the elemental contents of the soil samples and plant parts, except for Mo and Cr. The high level of many elements in the soil samples indicates the presence of contamination related to tungsten-mining activity on Uludag Mountain. Assessing the elemental contents of M. astracanicum, we can suggest this species as a candidate for phytoremediation purposes of W-contaminated sites due to its high W-accumulation capacity.

Ni-induced Changes in Nitrate Assimilation and Antioxidant Metabolism of Verbascum olympicum Boiss.: Could the Plant be Useful for Phytoremediation or/and Restoration Purposes?

Verbascum olympicum Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae) were studied as a candidate plant for remediating the Ni polluted soils. The metabolic responses, such as nitrate assimilation (nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activity) and antioxidant system activity [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity], of this species exposed to nickel in Hoagland's nutrient medium were investigated as remediation performance parameters. The accumulation of nickel and the variations in the content of some elements (B, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo and Zn) and some growth parameters, such as the water content, biomass production, and contents of chlorophyll and soluble protein, were also examined. The accumulation of Ni in both the roots and leaves varied depending on the exposure times and doses. Increased oxidative stress was suggested by the increases in the activities of SOD, CAT and APX. Although some element contents were inhibited by Ni treatments, these inhibitory effects was decreased depending on the time, and even these elements are accumulated in roots. These results are the novelties in the use of this species in biotechnology.

Synthesis and characterization of water soluble O-carboxymethyl chitosan Schiff bases and Cu(II) complexes.

In this study, mono-imine was synthesized (3a and 4a) via a condensation reaction between 2,4-pentadion and aminobenzoic acid (meta or para) in alcohol (1:1). The second-imine (CS-3a and CS-4a) was obtained as a result of the reaction of the free oxo groups of mono-imine (3a and 4a) with the amino groups on the chitosan (CS). Their structures were characterized with FTIR and (13)C CP-MAS. Then, the water soluble forms of CS-3a and CS-4a were obtained through oxidation of the hydroxide groups on the chitosan to carboxymethyl groups using monochloracetic acid ([O-CMCS-3a] · 2H2O and [O-CMCS-4a] · 2H2O). Thus, the solubility problem of chitosan in an aqueous media was overcome and Cu(II) complexes could be synthesized more easily. Characterization of the synthesized O-carboxymethyl chitosan Schiff base derivatives and their metal complexes, [O-CMCS-3a-Cu(OAc)2] · 2H2O and [O-CMCS-4a-Cu(OAc)2] · 2H2O, was conducted using FTIR, UV-Vis, TG/DTA, XRD, SEM, elemental analysis, conductivities and magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Role of Branching of Hydrophilic Domain on Physicochemical Properties of Amphiphilic Macromolecules.

A novel series of amphiphilic macromolecules (AMs) composed of a sugar backbone, aliphatic chains, and branched, hydrophilic poly(oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (POEGMA)were developed for drug delivery applications. The branched, hydrophilic domains (POEGMA homopolymers with one hydroxyl group) were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA) monomers using 2-hydroxyethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate (HEBiB) as an initiator and copper bromide/bipyridine (CuBr/Bpy) as the catalyst system. To form the amphiphilic structures, the branched POEGMAs were coupled to hydrophobic domains that were formed via acylation of a sugar backbone. The impact of branching in the hydrophilic domain was investigated by comparing the AMs' solution and thermal properties with those of the linear counterparts. Although these highly branched AMs showed similar critical micelle concentration (CMC) values as compared to linear analogues, they possessed quite low glass transition (Tg ) temperatures. Consequently, these novel AMs with branched hydrophilic domain combine the desirable thermal properties of POEGMA with favorable solution properties of amphiphilic architectures, which make them suitable for injectable drug delivery systems.

Stimuli-responsive spherical brushes based on D-galactopyranose and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate.

Stimuli-responsive spherical brushes composed of 6-O-methacryloyl-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-D-galactopyranose (MAIGal) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) are prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using cross-linked polystyrene nanoparticles covered with a thin layer of 2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl methacrylate (BIEM) as ATRP initiator by the "grafting from" approach. The stimuli-responsive behavior of the deprotected spherical PMAGal-b-PDMAEMA block copolymer brushes is investigated by dynamic light scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. A brush with arms containing 160 MAGal and 170 DMAEMA monomer units shows a significant contraction of the hydrodynamic radius from 20 to 70 °C at pH = 8 with a cloud point at ≈40 °C, whereas no LCST is detected at pH = 6 and 7 due to the protonation of the DMAEMA units. Aggregates occur at low temperatures and pH 8 due to intermolecular interactions between the chains of different brushes, which disappear above LCST, when the PDMAEMA chains fold back to the core of the brushes, exposing the glycopolymer chains to the outside.

Nutrient status in soil of Ski runs in the sub-alpine belt of Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey.

Large areas of land are disturbed in sensitive bio-diverse mountain environments by Skiruns. Restoration of vegetation on such disturbed mountain sites may be hampered by soil degradation but the severity and nature of the constraints is not well understood. This study was designed to compare the water holding and nutritional status of soil in three Ski runs which had different construction dates and disturbance levels, and the adjacent undisturbed site in the Abies bommuelleriana forest community in the sub-alpine belt of Uludag Mountain (Bithynian Olympus). The values of soil parameters were depressed in proportion to the disturbance level. Water holding capacity (WHC), total nitrogen (N), organic carbon (C) and calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) and potassium (K+) contents (mg kg(-1) dry weight) of soils in the Ski run which had the highest disturbance level were lower than that of the undisturbed adjacent sites. However the results indicated that the soil parameters were less degraded when secondary vegetation was growing on the disturbed areas.

Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and hematologic malignancy: single center experience.

Although valuable information on many aspects of the pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza came to light in a relatively short period of time, the disease course among immunocompromised patients is largely unknown. In this study, we present the results of active H1N1 surveillance in 32 patients who were treated at our hematology/stem cell transplantation clinic between December 2009 and January 2010. We also report the clinical and laboratory features of patients with laboratory-proven disease and try to define the impact of novel H1N1 disease on their outcome. Eight patients in the hematology clinic and 7 patients in the hematology/stem cell transplantation unit tested positive for pandemic H1N1 infection. Patients were treated with oral oseltamivir for 5-15 days. In 10 patients the infection was limited to the upper respiratory tract. But in 5 patients it was complicated with lower respiratory diseases. Three of them required intensive care support with mechanic ventilation and all died during follow-up. As the clinical and radiological findings of H1N1 infection are nonspecific in nature, we should have a high index of suspicion in immunocompromised patients. Therefore, beginning empiric oseltamivir therapy while waiting for laboratory results and increasing the dose/duration of therapy in laboratory-confirmed cases could be life saving.

Verbascum bombyciferum Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae) as possible bio-indicator for the assessment of heavy metals in the environment of Bursa, Turkey.

In this study, we determined the heavy metal content (Cd(2+), Cr(3+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+), and Zn(2+)) in the soil surrounding the roots and different organs of Verbascum bombyciferum Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae), which is endemic to Uludag Mountain, Bursa, Turkey. Plant samples were collected from roadsides, and heavy metal accumulation capabilities were tested. This is one of the pioneer species of ruderal plant communities on roadsides, building sites, rubbish dumps, etc. Different organs of plant samples (roots, stems, leaves, and flowers) and their soils were analyzed by inductively couple plasma optical emission spectroscopy for their heavy metal contents. Some of the analyzed heavy metals (Cd(2+), Cr(3+), Pb(2+), and Zn(2+)) were usually increased depending on the traffic in the sample sites, and this variation was also reflected in heavy metal content of plant samples. Our results show that this plant can be used as a bio-indicator species in the monitoring of increased Cd(2+), Cr(3+), Pb(2+), and Zn(2+) in the environment. We also concluded that V. bombyciferum have the capability of Cd(2+), Cr(3+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+), and Zn(2+) accumulation.

Element content (Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) of the ruderal plant Verbascum olympicum Boiss. from East Mediterranean.

In this study, heavy metal content (Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) was determined in soils and different organs of Verbascum olympicum Boiss. This species is endemic to Uludag and spreads on destroyed areas such as: roadsides, developed building areas, ski lift stations and sheep folds. Soils and different organs (roots, stems, leaves and flowers) of plant samples were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer for determining the element content. Heavy metal contents in soils and different organs in this species were highly correlated (P < 0.05). However, the contribution of plant organs to the accumulation capacity varied according to the metal. These results suggest that this species may be useful as a bioindicator for heavy metals.