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New K-State master's lands cover article in scientific journalA new Kansas State University graduate has earned the cover article in a scientific journal for her research on the biological process of wheat germination. Work by Hicran Koc, Istanbul, Turkey, a December 2007 master's graduate in grain science, and her research adviser, K-State's David Wetzel, professor of grain science and industry, was the cover article for the October issue of Spectroscopy. The article was based on research Koc had done over a two-year period under Wetzel's direction at K-State and at a federal laboratory. Koc was invited to write the article following an oral presentation of a paper she wrote, that was made at a national conference in March attended by 25,000 scientists. The nine-page article, which included several color graphics, was on research done with synchroton infrared microspectroscopy. Koc used this advanced form of analytical instrumentation and extremely bright radiation to perform experiments on Kansas wheat. The research was for the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. According to Koc, premature germination--or sprouting--of wheat in the fields is of economic concern in the state of Kansas. Using synchroton infrared microspectroscopy, Koc was able to observe the chemical changes inside the wheat kernel during the germination process that results in sprouting. The advanced technique Koc used enabled highly localized chemical analysis at the cellular or subcellular level, Wetzel said. The use of synchrotron radiation makes it possible to pinpoint chemical differences on the microscope stage that are separated by only a few micrometers. "Synchrotron radiation, unlike that of a lightbulb, does not spread out, is 1,000 times brighter and has no thermal noise--or fluctuation of intensity with time," Wetzel said. "To land a cover article, complete with color graphics, is a rare honor for a graduate student, particularly before they have graduated or even defended their research," Wetzel said. "Along with the eye-catching graphics, it is the type of article that will capture the attention of spectrometrists across the world, drawing attention to Hicran and her work, as well as research at K-State." For her research, Koc used breeding lines from K-State's Allan Fritz, professor of agronomy, that are being considered for potential release as varieties to be grown in Kansas. The specimens were prepared for analysis at K-State, with select specimens used in experiments that took place at the National Synchrotron Light Source at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y. 1/7/08 Date: 1/31/08
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