Intentions to use mental health and suicide prevention resources among individuals with symptoms of the suicide crisis syndrome and/or suicidal ideation.

INTRODUCTION: The suicide crisis syndrome (SCS) has demonstrated efficacy in predicting suicide attempts, showing potential utility in detecting at-risk individuals who may not be willing to disclose suicidal ideation (SI). The present international study examined differences in intentions to utilize mental health and suicide prevention resources among community-based adults with varying suicide risk (i.e., presence/absence of SCS and/or SI). METHODS: A sample of 16,934 community-based adults from 13 countries completed measures about the SCS and SI. Mental health and suicide prevention resources were provided to all participants, who indicated their intentions to use these resources. RESULTS: Individuals with SCS (55.7%) were just as likely as those with SI alone (54.0%), and more likely than those with no suicide-related symptoms (45.7%), to report willingness to utilize mental health resources. Those with SI (both with and without SCS) were more likely to seek suicide prevention resources (52.6% and 50.5%, respectively) than those without SI (41.7% and 41.8%); however, when examining endorsements for personal use, those with SCS (21.6%) were more likely to use resources than individuals not at risk (15.1%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide insight into individuals' willingness to use resources across configurations of explicitly disclosed (SI) and indirect (SCS) suicide risk.

Relationship Between Severity and Length of Exposure to COVID-19 Parameters and Resulting Government Responses and the Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS).

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a globally devastating psychosocial impact. A detailed understanding of the mental health implications of this worldwide crisis is critical for successful mitigation of and preparation for future pandemics. Using a large international sample, we investigated in the present study the relationship between multiple COVID-19 parameters (both disease characteristics and government responses) and the incidence of the suicide crisis syndrome (SCS), an acute negative affect state associated with near-term suicidal behavior. METHODS: Data were collected from 5528 adults across 10 different countries in an anonymous web-based survey between June 2020 and January 2021. RESULTS: Individuals scoring above the SCS cut-off lived in countries with higher peak daily cases and deaths during the first wave of the pandemic. Additionally, the longer participants had been exposed to markers of pandemic severity (eg, lockdowns), the more likely they were to screen positive for the SCS. Findings reflected both country-to-country comparisons and individual variation within the pooled sample. CONCLUSION: Both the pandemic itself and the government interventions utilized to contain the spread appear to be associated with suicide risk. Public policy should include efforts to mitigate the mental health impact of current and future global disasters.

The Role of Edible Bulbous Layers on Macro, Micro, and Heavy Metal Contents of Leek (Allium porrum) Plant.

In this study, the degree of accumulation of biogenic element and heavy metal contents of different parts and edible layers of leeks cultivated in Konya in Turkey was revealed. The amounts of P and K of leek were determined from 154.69 (leaf top of leek) and 985.05 mg/kg (root of leek) to 1377.63 (onion part of leek) and 2688.50 mg/kg (root of leek), respectively. P and K contents of leek layers changed from 139.45 (1st layer) and 446.63 mg/kg (7th layer) to 1596.69 (2nd layer) and 2201.53 mg/kg (4th layer), respectively. While Ca amounts of leek parts vary between 577.09 (leaf of leek) and 666.87 mg/kg (root of leek), Mg contents of leek parts were determined between 130.70 (onion part of leek) and 264.58 mg/kg (root of leek). All of the macro elements were detected in the highest amount in the root of the leek, followed by the leaf and bulb parts in decreasing order. Fe and Zn contents of different parts of leeks varied from 0.506 (onion part of leek) and 22.71 mg/kg (root of leek) to 1.53 (leaf top of leek) and 5.85 mg/kg (root of leek), respectively. In general, the heavy metals found in the highest amount both in different parts of the leek and in the edible bulbous layers were As and Ba. The layers of the leeks are rich in potassium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.

The role of interpersonal stressors and connectedness in acute suicide risk and the suicide crisis syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The global COVID-19 pandemic rapidly and drastically impacted everyday life and relationships. Fear of contracting and spreading the virus brought governments and individuals to adopt strict social distancing measures. These changes have had a significant negative impact on mental health, including a suggested increase in suicidal behaviors. The present study examined the role of interpersonal stress and connectedness in suicidal ideation, deliberate self-harm, suicide attempts, and the suicide crisis syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An international sample of 7837 adult participants was recruited across ten participating countries to complete an anonymous online battery of self-report questionnaires. Questionnaires assessed suicide-related outcomes, stressful life events (SLE), and connectedness. Multilevel regression analyses were used to examine the associations between SLE and connectedness on suicide-related outcomes within the past month. RESULTS: Interpersonal SLEs and low connectedness were associated with an increased likelihood of suicide-related outcomes and increased severity of suicide crisis syndrome. Specifically, higher rates of SLEs and lower levels of connectedness were associated with more suicide-related outcomes. LIMITATIONS: The use of a cross-sectional design and snowball sampling method may restrict the ability to establish causal relationships and limit the representativeness of the findings. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest elevated suicide-related outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals experiencing multiple interpersonal stressful life events and low connectedness with others. The circumstances of social life during the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the urgency of implementing preventive programs aimed at mitigating potential suicide risks that may arise in the aftermath of public stress situations.

The development and initial validation of the Earthquake Fear Scale: Its links to personality traits, psychological distress, harmony in life, and mental wellbeing.

Unexpected and unpredictable earthquakes may have a negative impact on people's mental health. The earthquake fear experienced by individuals causes psychological problems. This article is made up of three different studies that look at earthquake fear. The seven item Earthquake Fear Scale (EFS) was confirmed in Study I (N = 407) utilising confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, Item Response Analysis was done, and it was found that all of the items showed a good degree of discrimination. The reliability of the EFS has been proven with different reliability coefficients. In Study II (N = 505), both correlation and network analysis were carried out, and earthquake fear was found to be significantly associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and mental wellbeing. Moreover, neuroticism and conscientiousness, two of the big five personality traits, are significantly associated with earthquake fear. In Study III (N = 382), it was revealed that psychological distress and harmony in life play a serial and fully mediating role in the link between earthquake fear and mental wellbeing. The psychological influence of earthquake fear is emphasised in this pioneering and comprehensive study on earthquake fear.

Childhood Maltreatment and Spiritual Well-Being: Intolerance of Uncertainty and Emotion Regulation as Mediators in Turkish Sample.

Spiritual well-being is a phenomenon that enhances the quality of life and acts as a protective factor against stress and negative emotions. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether childhood psychological maltreatment is related to spiritual well-being and whether intolerance of uncertainty and emotion regulation serially mediate this relationship. The study sample comprised 330 participants aged between 18 and 55 years from 46 out of the 81 cities in Türkiye. The study participants completed the Psychological Maltreatment Questionnaire, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Emotion Regulation Scale, and Spiritual Well-Being Scale, a scale derived from the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being that measures spiritual well-being by using the conceptualization of meaning and peace. The data obtained were analyzed using a two-step structural equation modeling approach, which indicated that childhood psychological maltreatment has an association with spiritual well-being, and this relationship is mediated by both intolerance of uncertainty and emotion regulation. The findings are discussed in the context of the literature on spiritual well-being.

Impulsivity and substance misuse among Turkish people: Serial mediating effect of emotion dysregulation and general anxiety disorder.

Substance misuse is an alarming issue worldwide that causes serious problems at both the individual and societal levels, placing a burden on public health systems and economies. Understanding the predictors of substance misuse may help prevent it and may be an adjunct to treatment. The present study examined the relationship among impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, generalized anxiety disorder, and substance misuse. A total of 462 participants age between 18 and 74 years (M = 33.67, SD = 12.91) from 49 cities across Türkiye, completed the measures of impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, generalized anxiety disorder, and substance misuse. Structural equation modeling indicated that impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, and generalized anxiety have a significant predictive role in substance misuse. Further, emotion dysregulation and generalized anxiety disorder mediate the relationship between impulsivity and substance misuse. These findings suggest that noticing and treating impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, and generalized anxiety may minimize the effects of substance misuse.

Electrochemical Detection of Cortisol by Silver Nanoparticle-Modified Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Coated Pencil Graphite Electrodes.

The sensitive cortisol detection by an electrochemical sensor based on silver nanoparticle-doped molecularly imprinted polymer was successfully improved. This study describes the method development for cortisol detection in both aqueous solution and biological samples using molecularly imprinted poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-N-methacryloyl-(l)-histidine methyl ester)-coated pencil graphite electrodes modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The cortisol-imprinted pencil graphite electrode (PGE) has a large surface area because of doped AgNPs with enhanced electroactivity. The prepared molecularly imprinted polymer was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The DPV response of the synthesized electrode with outstanding electrical conductivity was clarified. Cortisol-imprinted polymer-coated PGEs (MIP), cortisol-imprinted polymer-coated PGEs with AgNPs (MIP@AgNPs), and nonimprinted polymer-coated PGEs with AgNPs (NIP@AgNPs) were evaluated for sensitive and selective detection of cortisol in aqueous solution. Five different cortisol concentrations (0.395, 0.791, 1.32, 2.64, and 3.96 nM) were applied to the MIP@AgNPs, and signal responses were detected by the DPV with a regression coefficient (R2) value of 0.9951. The modified electrode showed good electrocatalytic activity toward cortisol for the linear concentration range from 0.395 to 3.96 nM, and a low limit of detection was recorded as 0.214 nM. The results indicate that the MIP@AgNPs sensor has great potential for sensitive and selective cortisol determination in biological samples.

Coronaphobia and academic procrastination in health sciences students during the first 3-month pandemic lockdown.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between coronaphobia and academic procrastination among university students during the first 3-month coronavirus disease-2019 lockdown. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2020 at the Hamidiye Faculty of Health Sciences, the University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey, and comprised Health Sciences students of either gender across 10 departments. The coronavirus disease-2019 Phobia Scale and the Scale of Academic Procrastination Behaviour were used to gather data. The relationship of the scores was examined with respect to gender and academic level. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 743 subjects enrolled, 681(91.65%) completed the survey; 548(80.5%) females and 133(19.5%) males. The overall mean age was 20.91±1.94 years (range: 18-35 years). The largest group was that of first year students 229(33.6%). There was a significant correlation between coronaphobia and academic procrastination (p=0.001). Total coronaphobia (p=0.023) and psychological subscale scores (p=0.001) of women were significantly higher than men. Negative perceptions regarding instructors were higher in men than women (p=0.038). The academic year was not significantly associated with either coronaphobia (p=0.249) or procrastination (p=0.546). CONCLUSIONS: The coronavirus disease-2019 created a phobia and this caused academic procrastination in health sciences students, especially women.

Simple and Fast Pesticide Nanosensors: Example of Surface Plasmon Resonance Coumaphos Nanosensor.

Here, a molecular imprinting technique was employed to create an SPR-based nanosensor for the selective and sensitive detection of organophosphate-based coumaphos, a toxic insecticide/veterinary drug often used. To achieve this, UV polymerization was used to create polymeric nanofilms using N-methacryloyl-l-cysteine methyl ester, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, which are functional monomers, cross-linkers, and hydrophilicity enabling agents, respectively. Several methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle (CA) analyses, were used to characterize the nanofilms. Using coumaphos-imprinted SPR (CIP-SPR) and non-imprinted SPR (NIP-SPR) nanosensor chips, the kinetic evaluations of coumaphos sensing were investigated. The created CIP-SPR nanosensor demonstrated high selectivity to the coumaphos molecule compared to similar competitor molecules, including diazinon, pirimiphos-methyl, pyridaphenthion, phosalone, N-2,4(dimethylphenyl) formamide, 2,4-dimethylaniline, dimethoate, and phosmet. Additionally, there is a magnificent linear relationship for the concentration range of 0.1-250 ppb, with a low limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.001 and 0.003 ppb, respectively, and a high imprinting factor (I.F.4.4) for coumaphos. The Langmuir adsorption model is the best appropriate thermodynamic approach for the nanosensor. Intraday trials were performed three times with five repetitions to statistically evaluate the CIP-SPR nanosensor's reusability. Reusability investigations for the two weeks of interday analyses also indicated the three-dimensional stability of the CIP-SPR nanosensor. The remarkable reusability and reproducibility of the procedure are indicated by an RSD% result of less than 1.5. Therefore, it has been determined that the generated CIP-SPR nanosensors are highly selective, rapidly responsive, simple to use, reusable, and sensitive for coumaphos detection in an aqueous solution. An amino acid, which was used to detect coumaphos, included a CIP-SPR nanosensor manufactured without complicated coupling methods and labelling processes. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) studies was performed for the validation studies of the SPR.

The accumulation of element and heavy metal concentrations in different parts of some carrot and radish types.

Vegetables, which are an important part of human nutrition, are very rich in minerals necessary for human health, and heavy metals can be found in vegetables at high rates because they can be easily taken by plant roots and leaves. In this study, the macro, micro element and heavy metal element concentrations accumulated in different parts of some carrot and radish types were investigated. The element concentrations in the samples were analyzed by Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES; Varian-Vista Model) equipment. P, K, Ca, Mg and S contents of the head of orange and black carrot samples were determined as 602.30 and 727.23 mg/kg, 19,790.91 and 22,230.21 mg/kg, 1765.66 and 1609.41 mg/kg, 580.34 and 660.79 mg/kg and 376.21 and 4444.46 mg /kg respectively. Also, exterior parts of orange and black carrots contained 281.65 and 336.43 mg/kg P, 7768.37 and 10,109.44 mg/kg K, 169.88 and 272.18 mg/kg Ca, 112.08 and 189.28 mg/kg Mg and 135.43 and 217.60 mg/kg S, respectively. P and K contents of the head parts of radish samples (white, red and black radish) were determined between 302.14 (red radish) and 1111.53 mg/kg (black radish) to 13,717.2 (red radish) and 22,202.4 mg/kg (white radish), respectively. Fe amounts of the roots of radish samples changed between20.47 (red radish) and 45.93 mg/kg (white radish). As and Ba were the most abundant heavy metals in both carrot and radish parts. The Ni contents of the parts of the carrots contain more than 50% lower than the head part. Also, while Pb contents of the parts of orange carrot change between 0.189 µg/g (interior of body) and 0.976 µg/g (shell), Pb amounts of the black carrot parts were recorded between 0.136 (head) and 0.536 µg/g (interior of body). The results obtained differed according to the vegetable type and parts. The head part of the radishes was the richest in zinc, followed by root, shell, exterior of body and interior of body in descending order. In general, the parts where heavy metals were most localized were the head and shell parts. The most localized parts of heavy metals in radishes were the head, shell and root parts. As a result, the most of the edible inner parts of carrots and radishes are thought to have a positive effect on human health, since their heavy metal content is low.

Macro-, micro-, and heavy metal element levels in different parts of celery (Apium graveolens L.) plant.

Potassium (K) was found in the highest amount in the macroelements of the celery plant, followed by P, Ca, Mg, and S in decreasing order. P and K amounts of celery plant parts were measured between 619.57 (leaf of celery) and 1244.80 mg/kg (root of celery) to 5594.83 (head of celery) and 7587.35 mg/kg (root of celery), respectively. Exterior and interior parts of celery body contained 866.51 and 1017.45 mg/kg P, 6786.97 and 7325.07 mg/kg K, 615.13 and 491.59 mg/kg Ca, and 286.34 and 224.74 mg/kg Mg, respectively. In general, the celery part with the richest microelements was the leaves, followed in descending order by the head of celery, exterior of celery body, interior of celery body, and root. Fe and Mn contents of the parts of celery plants were recorded between 0.351 (interior of celery body) and 67.79 mg/kg (leaf of celery) to 2.70 (root) and 6.84 mg/kg (leaf of celery), respectively. The lowest and highest concentrations of each heavy metal were found in different parts of the celery plant. In general, the leaves were the part of the celery plant with the most heavy metals. As and Pb accumulated in large amounts in the inner parts of the celery tuber. The highest Pb (0.530 µg/g) was determined in interior of celery body. The highest Co (0.409 µg/g), Cr (0.377 µg/g), Mo (0.854 µg/g), and Ni (0.741 µg/g) were found in the leaf of celery plant.

The role of irisin and asprosin level in the pathophysiology of prediabetes.

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine whether irisin and asprosin have a role in the physiopathology of prediabetes. METHODS: Hundred people were selected between the age of 18-65 years for the study population (60 prediabetes, 40 healthy). For the follow-up study, the patients with prediabetes were offered a 3-month program for lifestyle change and then reevaluated. Our research is a single-center, prospective observational study. RESULTS: Among the healthy group and patients with prediabetes, irisin levels were lower and asprosin levels were higher (p < 0.001) in patients. In the follow-up part, the patients' insulin levels, HOMA index scores, and asprosin levels were decreased while irisin levels were elevated (p < 0.001). Sensitivity was 98.3% and specificity was 65% for asprosin of > 56.3 ng/mL, while they were 93.3% and 65% for irisin of ≤ 120.2 pg/mL, respectively. It was found that irisin had diagnostic performance similar to insulin and the HOMA index, while asprosin performed similarly to glucose, insulin, and the HOMA index. CONCLUSION: Both irisin and asprosin have been found to be related to the prediabetes pathway and it has been shown that these molecules may be useful in daily clinical practice with diagnostic performances similar to those of the HOMA index and insulin.

Comparison of chemotherapy treatment administration via venous port and peripheral vascular access in terms of quality of life and costs.

PURPOSE: In this study, it was aimed to compare the administration of chemotherapy drugs via venous port catheter and peripheral vein in metastatic colon cancer patients in terms of quality of life and treatment costs. METHODS: The research was carried out in a university hospital in Turkey. The population of the study consists of 130 patients with metastatic colon cancer who were treated with chemotherapy. The sample of the study consists of 103 participants. During the data collection phase of the study, three data collection tools were used: demographic information form, EOTC QLQ-30 quality of life scale and invoices for treatments. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Office Excel and IBM SPSS 20 package programs. RESULTS: In the study, 71.8% of the participants received chemotherapy with a venous port catheter, 65% for more than 3 months, 56.3% in the day unit. As a result of the study, it was found that there were no significant differences in the quality of life (except social function) according to the chemotherapy method. In addition, when the research results are examined in terms of cost, statistically significant differences were found in the treatment cost (except total costs excluding drugs) according to the chemotherapy application method. CONCLUSION: In line with these results, it is thought that when choosing the chemotherapy application method, factors such as the treatment duration of the patients, the ease of opening the vascular access, and the patient's psychological state should be taken into consideration.

Determining Post-COVID-19 Symptoms and Rehabilitation Needs in Hospitalized and Nonhospitalized COVID-19 Survivors with Tele-Assessment Methods.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the post-COVID-19 symptoms, the severity of symptoms, and functional capacities seen in hospitalized and nonhospitalized COVID-19 survivors according to time periods (total 6, 1-3, and 3-6 months) by tele-assessment methods and to predict the need for periodic rehabilitation of COVID-19 survivors. Methods: Three hundred ninety-four COVID-19 survivors (50.18 ± 15.14 years) who were between 1 and 6 months after PCR(+) were included in the study, and their ongoing symptoms and the severity of these symptoms (0-10 points) were assessed with COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Screening (C19-YRS) Tool, and the 30-s Chair Stand Test (CST) was applied by tele-assessment methods. Results: In hospitalized and nonhospitalized survivors of COVID-19, 87% experienced at least one symptom within the first 6 months. The most prevalent symptoms were anxiety (47.7%), fatigue (46.7%), and muscle pain (45.7%). The most common symptom in the nonhospitalized group was fatigue (52.6%), whereas anxiety was 46.8% in the hospitalized group. The 30-s CST score of the nonhospitalized group was significantly higher than the hospitalized group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In the first 6 months post-COVID-19, musculoskeletal problems, anxiety, fatigue, and muscle pain were observed to be the most prevalent symptoms, regardless of time, in hospitalized and nonhospitalized survivors. There was a serious decrease in their functional capacity. Priority should be given to psychiatric, cardiopulmonary, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation in post-COVID-19. Inclusion of hospitalized/nonhospitalized COVID-19 survivors in a comprehensive rehabilitation program tailored to their needs by following a comprehensive tele-assessment by a multidisciplinary team will reduce the "long COVID-19 syndrome." ClinicalTrials.gov Registration Number: NCT04900441.

A surface plasmon resonance sensor with synthetic receptors decorated on graphene oxide for selective detection of benzylpenicillin.

Antibiotic residues in foods, water and the environment reveal antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, disrupting the ecological balance and causing serious health problems. For these reasons, the detection of antibiotic residues is crucial for the protection of human health. Herein, the detection of benzylpenicillin antibiotic from aqueous and milk sample solutions was carried out by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor using synthetic receptor-molecularly imprinted polymer. The benzylpenicillin-imprinted poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-graphene oxide-N-methacryloyl-l-phenylalanine) (MIP-GO) SPR sensor was prepared. Benzylpenicillin detection was performed by MIP-GO SPR sensor in a 1-100 ppb concentration range of benzylpenicillin with 0.9665 linear correlation and 0.021 ppb detection limit. Selectivity analysis showed that the MIP-GO SPR sensor detected the benzylpenicillin molecule 8.16 times more selectively than amoxicillin and 14.04 times more selectively than ampicillin. To examine the imprinting efficiency, non-imprinted poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-graphene oxide-N-methacryloyl-l-phenylalanine) (NIP-GO) SPR sensor was also prepared using the same procedure without benzylpenicillin addition. Since graphene oxide (GO) was added to enhance the sensor signal response by increasing sensitivity, the control analyses were performed by a poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-N-methacryloyl-l-phenylalanine) (MIP) SPR sensor without adding GO. Moreover, repeatability studies of MIP-GO SPR sensor were statistically evaluated and the RSD of intra-day assays less than 1% specified that there was no loss of performance for the benzylpenicillin detection ability even after four cycles. As a real food sample analysis, the benzylpenicillin spiked and unspiked milk samples were evaluated and high-performance liquid chromatography experiments were carried out for validation.

Problematic Internet use in Adults: The Role of Happiness, Psychological Resilience, Dispositional Hope, and Self-control and Self-management.

There is increasing literature examining the use of problematic internet in the context of psychological factors. Most of these studies are focused on the young population. On the other hand, the prolongation of human life and the increasing rate of adult individuals in society's population cannot be ignored. It is seen that the number of research examining the use of problematic internet in the context of psychological factors is quite limited. In this current study, the problematic internet usage of primary and secondary school students' parents was examined in happiness, psychological resilience, dispositional hope, self-control and self-management. The research was conducted on 1123 parents. Path analysis was performed to discover the relations between the structures. As a result of the path analysis, it was determined that there is a significant negative relationship between problematic internet use and happiness, problematic internet use and psychological resilience, problematic internet use, and dispositional hope. According to these findings, adults' high happiness levels, psychological resilience, and hope levels will reduce their problematic internet use. It has been determined that there is a significant indirect relationship between self-control and self-management and problematic internet use. Happiness, psychological resilience, and dispositional hope mediating role in this relationship. Increasing parents' happiness levels, developing psychological resilience, increasing dispositional hope levels, and developing self-control and self-management skills will reduce problematic internet use. In line with the findings, what can be done to reduce the use of problematic internet has been discussed. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10942-022-00482-y.

Determination of macro-, micro-element and heavy metal contents localized in different parts of three different colored onions.

The element found at the highest amount in onion samples was sulfur, and followed by K, Ca, P, Na, and Mg in decreasing order. While K contents of white onion parts are determined between 1406.31 (outer most edible) and 1758.72 mg/kg (inner most edible), K contents of the parts of brown onions were measured between 1779.79 (head) and 2495.89 mg/kg (inner most edible). Also, K amounts of purple onions were detected between 2248.73 (shell) and 3064.64 mg/kg (middle edible). In addition, in general, the highest P, S, and K were detected in the middle edible and inner most edible parts of the edible onion samples. While the highest Ca content was localized in brown and purple onion roots, it was most localized in the shell part of white onions. In edible white and brown onions, the highest Na content was found in the inner most edible part. Fe amounts of white and brown onion samples were identified between 7.94 (head) and 20.41 mg/kg (root) to 9.56 (middle edible) and 23.67 mg/kg (head), respectively. Also, Fe contents of the parts of purple onions varied between 13.04 (shell) and 20.61 mg/kg (inner most edible). While the highest Fe and Zn are determined in the middle edible part in edible white onions, the highest Fe and Zn were determined in the outer most edible part in brown onions. In general, the most heavy metals were localized in the bark, head, and root parts of the onions. This had a positive effect on the safe edibility of onions. The heavy metal detected in the highest amount in onion samples was arsenic, followed by Cr, Al, Ni, Se, Ba, Pb, Mo, Co, and Cd in descending order. Generally, purple onion type showed maximum values. Therefore, results of the present study seen to be beneficial in the way that it allowed us to selected some varieties with nutrition value that could be interesting to introduce in gastronomy.

Selective Amplification of Plasmonic Sensor Signal for Cortisol Detection Using Gold Nanoparticles.

Herein, gold nanoparticles (AuNP)-modified cortisol-imprinted (AuNP-MIP) plasmonic sensor was developed for signal amplification and real-time cortisol determination in both aqueous and complex solutions. Firstly, the sensor surfaces were modified with 3-(trimethoxylyl)propyl methacrylate and then pre-complex was prepared using the functional monomer N-methacryloyl-L-histidine methyl ester. The monomer solution was made ready for polymerization by adding 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate to ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. In order to confirm the signal enhancing effect of AuNP, only cortisol-imprinted (MIP) plasmonic sensor was prepared without AuNP. To determine the selectivity efficiency of the imprinting process, the non-imprinted (AuNP-NIP) plasmonic sensor was also prepared without cortisol. The characterization studies of the sensors were performed with atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements. The kinetic analysis of the AuNP-MIP plasmonic sensor exhibited a high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.97) for a wide range (0.01-100 ppb) with a low detection limit (0.0087 ppb) for cortisol detection. Moreover, the high imprinting efficiency (k' = 9.67) of the AuNP-MIP plasmonic sensor was determined by comparison with the AuNP-NIP plasmonic sensor. All kinetic results were validated and confirmed by HPLC.

Nutrient Homeostasis of Aegilops Accessions Differing in B Tolerance Level under Boron Toxic Growth Conditions.

Boron (B) is a crucial microelement for several biological processes in plants; however, it becomes hazardous when present in excess in the soil. B toxicity adversely affects the wheat yield all around the world, particularly in the arid and semiarid regions. Aegilops, the nearest wild wheat relatives, could be an efficient source to develop B toxicity tolerance in modern cultivars. However, to potentially utilize these species, it is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms that are involved in providing them tolerance. Other than hampering cellular and physiological activities, high B inhibits the uptake of nutrients in wheat plants that lead to nutrients deficiency causing a hindered growth. Thus, it is crucial to determine the effect of B toxicity on nutrient uptake and finally, to understand the role of nutrient homeostasis in developing the adaptive mechanism in tolerant species. Unfortunately, none of the studies to date has explored the effect of high B supply on the nutrient uptake in B toxicity tolerant wild wheat species. In this study, we explored the effect of 1 mM B (toxic B), and 10 mM B (very toxic B) B on the nutrient uptake in 19 Aegilops genotypes differing in B tolerance in contrast to Bolal 2973, the familiar B tolerant genotype. The obtained outcomes suggested a significant association between the B toxicity tolerance and the level of nutrient uptake in different genotypes. The B toxicity tolerant genotypes, Ab2 (TGB 026219, A. biuncialis genotype) and Ac4 (TGB 000107, A. columnaris genotype) were clustered together in the nutrient homeostasis-based heat map. Though B toxicity mostly had an inhibitory effect on the uptake of nutrients in root-shoot tissues, the tolerant genotypes revealed an increase in nutrient uptake under B toxicity in contrast with Control. The study directs towards future research where the role of external supply of few nutrients in enhancing the B toxicity tolerance of susceptible genotypes can be studied. Moreover, the genotype-dependent variation in the nutrient profile of the studied Aegilops genotypes under high B suggested that increasing number of Aegilops germplasm should be screened for B toxicity tolerance for their successful inclusion in the pre-breeding programs focusing on this issue.