Search

In traditional pulping, black liquor is burned in an alkali recovery system to produce energy. According to the integrated forest biorefinery (IFBR) concept, hemicellulose is partially pre-extracted prior to pulp production to generate value-added products. Corn stalks have a remarkable carbohydrate content (75% w/w), and thus were examined in this study in terms of the IFBR concept. The hemicelluloses were pre-extracted with hot water (90, 120, 135, and 150 °C), NaOH, and NaOH + NaBH4 (50, 70, and 90 °C) for 4 h. NaOH charges of 16.7, 26.7, and 33.3% were explored. The extracts were utilized to produce bioethanol and biodegradable films, and papermaking pulps were produced from the solid fractions. Differences among groups were identified via analysis of variance, and the Duncan’s test was applied to determine those differences that were significant. The results showed that the alkaline pre-extraction (26.7% NaOH at 50 °C) removed 35.6% of the xylose from the stalk structure. The liquid fraction collected from the hot water pre-extraction at 150 °C gave a 14.7% (g/100 g soluble material) yield of bioethanol. Moreover, the theoretical ethanol yield was calculated as 89.4%. The addition of gluten and nanocellulose to the xylan enabled the production of high-quality biodegradable films. Furthermore, the pulps produced from the hot water pre-extracted solid fractions were comparable in yield and pulp properties to the control soda pulp.

For sustainable agricultural production, besides drought, plant resistance to irrigation water and soil salinity should be investigated. Researchers mostly focused on salinity and drought resistance of common species such as wheat, barley, maize, etc. However, the number of studies on chickpea with various uses is quite limited. In the present study, 11 chickpea varieties (Aksu, Arda, Hasanbey, Azkan, Cagatay, Aslanbey, Inci, Seckin, 21C, 42C and EN1867) were subjected to germination tests under different levels of irrigation water salinity (ECi) conditions to identify irrigation water salinity resistant and sensitive varieties. In germination tests, besides control treatment (0 dS/m), five different EC levels (6, 8 10, 12 and 16 dS/m) were used in germination solution. The sodium absorption ratio of saline waters was adjusted to be below 3. GGE biplot method was used for visual assessment of genotype response to saline irrigation waters. The threshold salinity value for germination was identified as 12 dS/m based on germination ratios and seedling dry weights, 8 dS/m based on seedling stem lengths and 10 dS/m based on seedling root lengths. Based on germination ratios and seedling dry weights, Azkan cultivar was identified as the most resistant and Cagatay cultivar was identified as the most sensitive cultivar to irrigation water salinity.

In recent years, technological developments in the area of nanotechnology have dramatically improved the technology. Some research have particularly been accomplished on medical and textile industries in Turkey. Even studies in forest industy on the subject have gained importance in the world, there is so limited research in Turkey. The aim of this review is to inform researches specifically studiying on wood science about nanocellulose production and uses. This review includes methods of nanocelllose production from wood cellulose and its physical and morphological and chemical properties. İn addition, the nanocellulose utlization areas are detailed.

Yenilenebilir enerji, sürekli devam eden doğal süreçlerdeki var olan enerji akışından elde edilen enerji olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Bu kapsamda dünyadaki enerji açığını azaltmak ve çevre kirliliğini en aza indirmek amacıyla yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarına yönelim artış göstermiştir. Biyoetanol üretimi ile kömür, petrol ve doğalgaz gibi fosil yakıtlara bağımlılıkta azalma olacağı düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışma kapsamında yağ ve çekirdeği çeşitli alanlara kullanılan ayçiçeği bitki saplarında bulunan glukan içeriğinin biyoetanol üretimi amacıyla glikoz dönüşümleri incelenmiştir. Ham numune, buhar patlatma işleminin ardından NaBH4, NaOH ve bu kimyasalların üç farklı konsantrasyonlarda karışımları ile ön muamele edilerek enzimatik hidroliz işlemine tabi tutulmuştur. Çalışma sonucunda elde edilen veriler NaBH4 ile ön muamele işlemine tabi tutulan örneklerde enzimatik hidroliz işlemi sonucunda glikoz ve ksiloz dönüşümlerinin %71.7 ve %59,7 (48 saat) olduğu belirlenmiştir. Diğer taraftan kimyasal ön muameleye tabi tutulmaksızın buhar patlatma işleminin lignini uzaklaştırmada (%21,2) en etkili yöntem olduğu görülmüştür.

Yenilenebilir enerji, sürekli devam eden doğal süreçlerdeki var olan enerji akışından elde edilen enerji olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Bu kapsamda dünyadaki enerji açığını azaltmak ve çevre kirliliğini en aza indirmek amacıyla yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarına yönelim artış göstermiştir. Biyoetanol üretimi ile kömür, petrol ve doğalgaz gibi fosil yakıtlara bağımlılıkta azalma olacağı düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışma kapsamında yağ ve çekirdeği çeşitli alanlara kullanılan ayçiçeği bitki saplarında bulunan glukan içeriğinin biyoetanol üretimi amacıyla glikoz dönüşümleri incelenmiştir. Ham numune, buhar patlatma işleminin ardından NaBH4, NaOH ve bu kimyasalların üç farklı konsantrasyonlarda karışımları ile ön muamele edilerek enzimatik hidroliz işlemine tabi tutulmuştur. Çalışma sonucunda elde edilen veriler NaBH4 ile ön muamele işlemine tabi tutulan örneklerde enzimatik hidroliz işlemi sonucunda glikoz ve ksiloz dönüşümlerinin %71.7 ve %59,7 (48 saat) olduğu belirlenmiştir. Diğer taraftan kimyasal ön muameleye tabi tutulmaksızın buhar patlatma işleminin lignini uzaklaştırmada (%21,2) en etkili yöntem olduğu görülmüştür.

Turkey annually produces 26 million tons of vegetables and is the third-biggest vegetable producer. After harvest, the waste of vegetable stalks lacking of economic value is burnt or left in the fields, causing environmental pollution. The aim of this study was to examine bioethanol production of a mixture of tomato, pepper, and eggplant stalks using an alternative chemical, sodium borohydrate (NaBH4) in a chemical pretreatment step. Both steam-exploded (SE) and dry-milled (DM) stalks were chemically pretreated and enzymatically hydrolyzed in this study. Results showed that SE stalks had better enzymatic digestibility compared to DM. NaOH treatment removed the highest amount of lignin (17.1%; SE, 2%, 90 min) but also glucose (21.5%; SE, 2%, 90 min) from the structure. On the other hand, NaBH4 removed the highest lignin in proportion to glucose for both SE and DM samples. Enzymatically hydrolyzed stalks gave the highest sugar yields of 30.1% (o.d.-dry matter) for the SE sample when it was pretreated with 2% NaOH for 30 min.

In this study, we investigated the in vitro potential of axially 1-morpholiniumpropan-2-ol disubstituted silicon (IV) phthalocyanine (SiPc) which was synthesized previously, on HCT-116 cells as a photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent. The singlet oxygen and photodegradation quantum yields of SiPc were calculated using UV-vis spectrophotometer. The cytotoxic and phototoxic effects of SiPc were evaluated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining kit, cell cycle kit, and mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨm) assay kit with JC-1 were used to indicate the cell death pathway. Caspase-3 and β-catenin protein expressions were evaluated by western blotting. The singlet oxygen and photodegradation quantum yields of SiPc were calculated as 0.73 and 3.64 × 10 -4 in DMSO. The cell viability assays showed that IC 50 value of SiPc did not reach to 100 μM without irradiation. However, excellent phototoxicity was observed in the presence of SiPc upon light irradiation. The cells undergoing early/late apoptosis significantly increased in the presence SiPc at 5 μM upon light irradiation. Besides, the proportion of cells at S and G2/M phase increased. Moreover, mitochondria membrane potentials significantly decreased at 1 and 5 μM of SiPc with light irradiation. While caspase-3 expression increased, β-catenin expression significantly decreased on HCT-116 in the presence of SiPc (p < 0.01). The results indicated that the PDT could be related to apoptosis and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Based on our findings, SiPc exhibited a significant PDT effect on HCT-116 cells therefore, worthy of more detailed study., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

There is growing evidence that boron (B) and B compounds are essential nutrients for animals and humans. Besides, B compounds have been suggested to treat inflammation and oxidative stress. As a part of our "Boron Project II" on B-exposed persons in Bandırma and Bigadic (Turkey) between 2014 and 2017, anti-oxidant/pro-oxidant and inflammatory parameters were assessed. In this first large-scale human study biomarkers of oxidative stress such as the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy-guanosine (8-OH-dG) were investigated, in relation to B exposure. The immune biomarkers interleukin (IL)-1ra, IL-6, IL-8 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) levels were included. There was no influence of human exposure to B on the parameters of oxidative stress and inflammation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Dental technicians may be chronically exposed to methyl methacrylate (MMA), used in the production of dental prostheses. We have studied whether occupational exposure to MMA affects genotoxicity biomarkers such as 8-OHdG formation, comet assay, and buccal micronucleus frequency. MMA exposure was assessed via ambient air analysis. Although no significant differences between exposed and non-exposed individuals were seen with respect to blood genotoxicity measurements, we found a higher level of buccal-cell anomalies in the exposed group., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, BODIPY compounds (2, 3, 5 and 6) bearing 3,4-bis(3-pyridin-3-ylpropoxy)benzyl, 4-(3-pyridin-3-ylpropoxy)benzyl groups were synthesized for the first time and further functionalized in a Knoevenagel condensation reaction with 3,4-bis(3-pyridin-3-ylpropoxy)benzaldehyde and 4-(3-pyridin-3-ylpropoxy)benzaldehyde. The water soluble derivatives of BODIPY compounds (3a and 6a) were synthesized by treating BODIPY compounds 3 and 6 with excess iodomethane in DMF. The photochemical properties and DNA binding modes of 3a and 6a were determined using ct-DNA by UV-Vis spectrophotometer and viscometer. DNA cleavage and topoisomerases inhibition properties were studied DNA using agarose gel electrophoresis. Their topoisomerase inhibition mechanisms were investigated at molecular level and correlations with the in vitro results were searched for using molecular docking method. In addition, cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of both compounds were performed on colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116) using MTT assay for 24 h. Annexin V-FITC/PI test was performed to determine the cell death mechanism of 6a induced by irradiation. Finally, 6a-loaded liposomes (LP6a) and PLGA nanoparticles (NP6a) were prepared and their cytotoxic and phototoxic effects were evaluated by MTT assay. The results claimed that 6a had great potential as photosensitizer agent for colorectal cancer owing to its photochemical, DNA interaction and phototoxic properties., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Boron-associated shifts in sex ratios at birth were suggested earlier and attributed to a decrease in Y- vs. X-bearing sperm cells. As the matter is pivotal in the discussion of reproductive toxicity of boron/borates, re-investigation in a highly borate-exposed population was required. In the present study, 304 male workers in Bandirma and Bigadic (Turkey) with different degrees of occupational and environmental exposure to boron were investigated. Boron was quantified in blood, urine and semen, and the persons were allocated to exposure groups along B blood levels. In the highest ("extreme") exposure group (n = 69), calculated mean daily boron exposures, semen boron and blood boron concentrations were 44.91 ± 18.32 mg B/day, 1643.23 ± 965.44 ng B/g semen and 553.83 ± 149.52 ng B/g blood, respectively. Overall, an association between boron exposure and Y:X sperm ratios in semen was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Also, the mean Y:X sperm ratios in semen samples of workers allocated to the different exposure groups were statistically not different in pairwise comparisons (p > 0.05). Additionally, a boron-associated shift in sex ratio at birth towards female offspring was not visible. In essence, the present results do not support an association between boron exposure and decreased Y:X sperm ratio in males, even under extreme boron exposure conditions.

Boric acid and sodium borates are currently classified in the EU-CLP regulation as "toxic to reproduction" under "Category 1B", with hazard statement of H360FD. However, so far field studies on male reproduction in China and in Turkey could not confirm such boron-associated toxic effects. As validation by another independent study is still required, the present study has investigated possible boron-associated effects on male reproduction in workers (n = 212) under different boron exposure conditions. The mean daily boron exposure (DBE) and blood boron concentration of workers in the extreme exposure group (n = 98) were 47.17 ± 17.47 (7.95-106.8) mg B/day and 570.6 ± 160.1 (402.6-1100) ng B/g blood, respectively. Nevertheless, boron-associated adverse effects on semen parameters, as well as on FSH, LH and total testosterone levels were not seen, even within the extreme exposure group. With this study, a total body of evidence has accumulated that allows to conclude that male reproductive effects are not relevant to humans, under any feasible and realistic conditions of exposure to inorganic boron compounds.

Boric acid and sodium borates are currently classified as being toxic to reproduction under "Category 1B" with the hazard statement of "H360 FD" in the European CLP regulation. This has prompted studies on boron-mediated reprotoxic effects in male workers in boron mining areas and boric acid production plants. By contrast, studies on boron-mediated developmental effects in females are scarce. The present study was designed to fill this gap. Hundred and ninety nine females residing in Bandirma and Bigadic participated in this study investigating pregnancy outcomes. The participants constituted a study group covering blood boron from low (< 100 ng B/g blood, n = 143) to high (> 150 ng B/g blood, n = 27) concentrations. The mean blood boron concentration and the mean estimated daily boron exposure of the high exposure group was 274.58 (151.81-975.66) ng B/g blood and 24.67 (10.47-57.86) mg B/day, respectively. In spite of the high level of daily boron exposure, boron-mediated adverse effects on induced abortion, spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), stillbirth, infant death, neonatal death, early neonatal death, preterm birth, congenital anomalies, sex ratio and birth weight of newborns were not observed.