Genetic, neuropathological and biochemical investigations have revealed meaningful relationships between aluminum (Al) exposure and neurotoxic and hematotoxic damage. Hence, intensive efforts are being made to minimize the harmful effects of Al. Moreover, boron compounds are used in a broad mix of industries, from cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to agriculture. They affect critical biological functions in cellular events and enzymatic reactions, as well as endocrinal and mineral metabolisms. There are limited dose-related data about boric acid (BA) and other boron compounds, including colemanite (Col), ulexite (UX) and borax (BX), which have commercial prominence. In this study, we evaluate boron compounds’ genetic, cytological, biochemical and pathological effects against aluminum chloride (AlCl₃)-induced hematotoxicity and neurotoxicity on different cell and animal model systems. First, we perform genotoxicity studies on in vivo rat bone marrow cells and peripheric human blood cultures. To analyze DNA and chromosome damage, we use single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE or comet assay) and micronucleus (MN) and chromosome aberration (CA) assays. The nuclear division index (NDI) is used to monitor cytostasis. Second, we examine the biochemical parameters (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative status (TOS)) to determine oxidative changes in blood and brain. Next, we assess the histopathological alterations by using light and electron microscopes. Our results show that Al increases oxidative stress and genetic damage in blood and brain in vivo and in vitro studies. Al also led to severe histopathological and ultrastructural alterations in the brain. However, the boron compounds alone did not cause adverse changes based on the above-studied parameters. Moreover, these compounds exhibit different levels of beneficial effects by removing the harmful impact of Al. The antioxidant, antigenotoxic and cytoprotective effects of boron compounds against Al-induced damage indicate that boron may have a high potential for use in medical purposes in humans. In conclusion, our analysis suggests that boron compounds (especially BA, BX and UX) can be administered to subjects to prevent neurodegenerative and hematological disorders at determined doses.

This study examined Turkish pre-service science teachers’ awareness, uncertainty beliefs, values, and behaviours pertinent to climate change. It aimed to determine significant predictors of climate change-related behaviours and uncertainty beliefs about the reality of climate change. A Turkish-adapted survey was administered to 1277 pre-service science teachers from different geographical regions of Turkey. While majority of the respondents were certain that climate change is happening, there were also indicators of uncertainties in such belief. Pre-service teachers who value nature for its own sake tended to show favourable behaviours to mitigating climate change. Disinterest in and scepticism about the reality of climate change did not emerge as significant determinants of climate change-related behaviours.

Curcumin has a therapeutic potential activity through modulation of different signaling pathways in various types of cancer. However, the relationship between the efficacy of curcumin and the homologous recombination (HR) mechanism which plays important roles in the repair of double strand DNA (dsDNA) breaks remains uncertain. Herein, we explored curcumin-dependent dsDNA breaks and the association of curcumin with HR mechanism in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The cytotoxic and therapeutic activity of curcumin on HCC1937 (BRCA1 mutant), MDA-MB-231 (BRCA1 wild type) TNBC and HUVEC control cell lines were assessed. Then, the expression level and subcellular localization of H2AX, PARP1, BRCA1 and RAD51 were detected by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence analysis. Furthermore, ultrastructural changes of cell death were observed by TEM. Our findings for the first time demonstrated that curcumin’s therapeutic activity was more pronounced in HCC1937 cells through the suppression of HR mechanism and the induction of dsDNA breaks. Consequently, curcumin based therapy could benefit in patients with TNBC particularly especially in women with a BRCA1 mutation.

Environmental attitudes depend on the relative importance that individuals attach to themselves, other people, or all living things. These distinct bases have been found to predict environmental concern, and may act as statistically significant determinants of pro-environmental behaviours. We claim that examining the complex nature of value orientations and concern levels among elementary school students as well as the interrelationships between these attributes could guide researchers and educators in Turkey. This study aimed (1) to explore Turkish elementary students’ ecocentric and anthropocentric attitudes, and environmental apathy; (2) to investigate their egoistic, altruistic and biospheric value orientations as well as their environmental concerns; (3) to examine relationships among environment-related attributes and (4) to determine the role of gender on these attributes. Participants seemed to be highly concerned and held favourable ecocentric attitudes. Furthermore, students with higher levels of anthropocentric attitudes tended to exhibit higher levels of environmental apathy, and those expressing biospheric concerns held lower levels of egoistic concerns. The findings suggest that girls were significantly more concerned about environmental problems and tended to value nature more for its own sake than boys.