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The objective of this study is to synthesize ZnO and Mg doped ZnO (Zn1-xMgxO) nanoparticles via the sol-gel method, and characterize their structures and to investigate their biological properties such as antibacterial activity and hemolytic potential.Nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by the sol-gel method using zinc acetate dihydrate (Zn(CH3COO)(2) .2H(2)O) and magnesium acetate tetrahydrate (Mg(CH3COO)(2) .4H(2)O) as precursors. Methanol and monoethanolamine were used as solvent and sol stabilizer, respectively. Structural and morphological characterizations of Zn1-xMgxO nanoparticles were studied by using XRD and SEM-EDX, respectively. Photocatalytic activities of ZnO and selected Mg-doped ZnO (Zn1-xMgxO) nanoparticles were investigated by degradation of methylene blue (MeB). Results indicated that Mg doping (both 10% and 30%) to the ZnO nanoparticles enhanced the photocatalytic activity and a little amount of Zn0.90Mg0.10O photocatalyst (1.0 mg/mL) degraded MeB with 99% efficiency after 24 h of irradiation under ambient visible light. Antibacterial activity of nanoparticles versus Escherichia coli (E. coli) was determined by the standard plate count method. Hemolytic activities of the NPs were studied by hemolysis tests using human erythrocytes. XRD data proved that the average particle size of nanoparticles was around 30 nm. Moreover, the XRD results indicated that the patterns of Mg doped ZnO nanoparticles related to ZnO hexagonal wurtzite structure had no secondary phase for x

The aim of this paper is to decide on heavy metal levels based on ecological parameters by effectively eliminating common disadvantages such as high cost and serious time-consuming laboratory procedures via an effective artificial intelligence approach. Therefore, this study is hinged on an artificial intelligence technique, ANN, because of its low cost and high accuracy in overcoming the mentioned limitations and obstacles in the determination process of the amounts of elements. The ANNs have thus been employed to determine essential heavy metals, such as Fe, Mn, and Zn depending on Ca, K, and Mg concentrations of soil samples obtained from different altitudes in Mount Ida. To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first study in the literature in which altitude was considered as a parameter in the prediction of nutrient heavy metals. The computed relative errors are significantly low for each of the considered elements (Fe, Mn, and Zn); and are found to be between 1.0-4.1%, 1.0-4.2%, 1.5-7.1%, respectively, for the training, testing, and holdout data. The findings indicate that the relative errors could still be decreased further by assuming the altitude as a factor variable.

Kyrgyzstan still suffers from the past practices of radioactive industry operated by the Soviet Union that caused significant impact on ecosystems in this region, especially related with storage of uranium in inadequate conditions. There are at least 50 abandoned sites used as radioactive waste dumps in the country. Due to the pressure of natural and anthropogenic reasons, the structural foundations of mine waste dumps are gradually losing their integrities. Here, particular interest of our research is to reveal current state of radioactive contamination and to make evaluation on the radiological impacts of pollution caused by uranium mine waste dump, one is situated near Kaji-Say Village in Issyk Kul Region-Kyrgyzstan. In this study, the leaf, stem, and root parts of Perovskia abrotanoides Kar. and their co-located soils as study materials collected from five different localities were used for investigation of existent alterations on element uptake and genetic material in the plant using ICP-MS and ISSR marker technique. Also, radioactivity readings were recorded using Geiger counter. The data showed that the levels of radiation (in mR/h) were found to be significantly high in comparison with normal acceptable limits. Uptake patterns of certain elements in P. abrotanoides grown in the uranium waste dump site were modified extensively as reductions and increments due to strong radioactive leakage in comparison with the control. Also, the results indicated that changes in ISSR profiles from exposed plant leaf samples included variation in band intensities, losses of normal bands, and the appearances of new bands compared to unexposed (control) plant leaf sample. Considering people living around the area where the research was conducted, the consequences of contamination as our data suggest could cause health problems through radioactive leakage. Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Commission of Scientific Research Project [KTMU-BAP-2018.FBE.01] This work was supported by the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Commission of Scientific Research Project [KTMU-BAP-2018.FBE.01].

Physiological responses were investigated in two cotton cultivars grown at various concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) in order to determine the degree of the tolerance of the cultivars to salt stress and understand the physiological responses with respect to utilization of mineral nutrients. After germination of the seeds of cotton cultivars, they were transferred into standard pots with 210 g sterilized compost and watered with 30 ml Hoagland’s solution containing different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mM) of NaCl at two-day intervals for 3 months. Growth parameters were measured and the mineral nutrient analyses were done using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltman, MA). It was observed that plant growth and mineral nutritional status of both cultivars were altered extensively in those grown with NaCl. Excess NaCl reduces the concentrations of certain mineral nutrients and increases that of others, the patterns depending on the mineral nutrient and the plant part and varieties being compared to the control., Marmara University, Commission of Scientific Research Project (FEN-A-030108-0016)

Heavy metal pollution in coastal regions has become a serious problem due to significant environmental degradations. In the present study, an algal species, U. lactuca, was investigated to assess the impact of heavy metal pollution on the six different locations along the coastal line of the Sea of Marmara in Istanbul. Heavy metal and mineral nutrient elements such as Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Zn were determined using ICP-OES. The following lowest and highest concentrations (mg/kg; dw) were measured in Ulva samples: 1,751.66-2,465.68 for Ca, 0.45-3.22 for Cd, 6.67-18.32 for Cu, 553.32-989.33 for Fe, 3,264.48-4,301.68 for K, 961.50-1,614.53 for Mg, 8.27-25.32 for Mn, 4.93-19.32 for Pb, and 15.16-41.30 for Zn. The data revealed that U lactuca is capable of accumulating considerable amounts of metals. Besides, metal deposition in the plant did not alter the mineral nutrient uptake pattern extensively, indicating relatively less contamination risk in the area. Overall, the comparison of heavy metal contents with seawater and sediment samples in the Ulva species showed that U lactuca is a suitable plant for biomonitoring studies.

Ozyigit, Ibrahim Ilker/0000-0002-0825-5951; YALCIN, IBRAHIM ERTUGRUL/0000-0003-3140-7922, Uncontrolled and unplanned urbanization and industrialization due to increase of population and rapid industrial development have created severe environmental problems in Kyrgyzstan during the last few decades. In this study, Juniperus virginiana, a dioecious species, was employed in order to make assessment of the heavy metal pollution rate in the area and of the heavy metal pollution impact on the mineral nutrient status of the plant. For this study, leaf (washed and unwashed) and bark samples of J. virginiana, and its co-located soil samples were collected from eight different stations, all in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, in 2012 vegetation period. The standard procedures were used and the determinations of heavy metal and nutrient element contents (Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb and Zn) in all samples were done using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. According to our measurements, J. virginiana was found to be capable of accumulating a considerable amount of metals and the mineral nutrient uptake pattern was altered because of metal deposition in the plant, which showed a contamination risk in the area., Kyrgyz Turkish Manas University [BAP-2013-FEB-02], This work was supported by Kyrgyz Turkish Manas University [grant number BAP-2013-FEB-02].

WOS: 000427344600004, Cirsium species have economic importance because of their botanical and medicinal properties. Thus, this study has aimed to investigate some heavy metal (Fe, Mn and Zn) and mineral nutrient (B, Ca, K, Mg and Na) status of narrow endemic Cirisum byzantinum. Plant and soil element concentrations were analyzed by using ICP-OES and the evaluation of plant-soil interactions for heavy metals and mineral nutrients were carried out by statistical methods. The measured element concentrations (in mg/kg) were in ranges of 5.936-19.044 for B, 1862.161-4811.168 for Ca, 12.610-38.474 or Fe, 3421.383-6881.885 for K, 190.984-593.427 for Mg, 3.830-17.301 for Mn, 21.236-62.025 for Na, and 6.183-28.060 for Zn in plant parts. Statistical analysis for element interactions between root/leaf and co-located soil samples revealed that there a was positive correlation between B, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Zn found in soil and Na and Zn found in roots, and Fe, Mn and Na found in leaves, respectively. Herein, results of this study could provide preliminary knowledge for future studies to better understand element uptake and heavy metal accumulation status of endemic species. Also, this study could also provide some insights for responsible authorities to develop conservation strategies.