Determination of Heat Requirements and Effective Heat Summations of Some Pomegranate Cultivars Grown in Southern Anatolia

Temperature (high and low) is one of the most limiting environmental factors for growth and production of fruits in different parts of the world. For temperate-zone fruit species, a certain total heat requirements are needed in order to obtain ripe fruits. The aim of this study was to determine heat requirements of three commercial pomegranate cultivars (‘Suruc’, ‘Katirbasi’ and ‘Hicaznar’) grown in Southern Anatolia region. The cultivars showed a narrower range of heat requirements for flowering (growing degree hours, GDH), i.e. ‘Suruc’ (25,000), ‘Katirbasi’ (25,270), ‘Hicaznar’ (28,000) and a wide range of heat requirements for fruit ripening, i.e. ‘Suruc’ (73,670), ‘Katirbasi’ (74,105) and ‘Hicaznar’ (88,052) GDH. Under the Sanliurfa province conditions, two years average of effective heat summation requirement from bud swelling to 50 % flowering stage for ‘Suruc’, ‘Katirbasi’ and ‘Hicaznar’ cultivars are calculated as 643, 655 and 718 growing degree days (GDD) and from bud swelling to harvest are 2734, 2802 and 3289 GDD. It can be concluded that the effective heat summation of Sanliurfa province is enough for commercial growing for all pomegranate cultivars.     

Synthesis and characterization of boron doped alumina stabilized zirconia fibers

Boron doped PVA/Zr-Al acetate nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning using PVA as a precursor. The effect of calcination temperature on morphology and crystal structure was investigated at 250, 500, and 800 °C. The study also establishes the effect of boron doping on the morphology of PVA/Zr-Al acetate nanofibers at various calcination temperatures. The measurements showed that the conductivity, pH, viscosity and the surface tension of the hybrid polymer solutions have increased with boron doping. In addition, the fibers were characterized by FTIR, DSC, XPS, XRD and SEM techniques. The addition of boron did not only increase the thermal stability of the fibers, but also increased the average fiber diameters, which gave stronger fibers. The DSC results indicated that the melting temperature (Tm) of the fibers was increased from 256 to 270 °C with the addition of boron. XRD peak patterns showed that after further heat treatment at 800 °C, zirconia exists in two phases of tetragonal and monoclinic modifications. Moreover, alumina does not transform into the γ-Al₂O₃ and θ-Al₂O₃ phase at 800 °C. The SEM appearance of the fibers showed that the addition of boron resulted in the formation of crosslinked bright surfaced fibers.     

Plant canopy effects on litter accumulation and soil microbial biomass in two temperate forests

The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in canopy structure and litter composition affect soil characteristics and microbial activity in oak versus mixed fir-beech stands. Mean litter biomass was greater in mixed fir-beech stands (51.9t ha⁻¹) compared to oak stands (15.7t ha⁻¹). Canopy leaf area was also significantly larger in mixed stands (1.96m² m⁻²) than in oak stands (1.73m² m⁻²). Soil organic carbon (C _org) and moisture were greater in mixed fir-beech stands, probably as a result of increased cover. Soil microbial biomass carbon (C _mic), nitrogen (N _mic), and total soil nitrogen (N _tot) increased slightly in the mixed stand, although this difference was not significant. Overall, mixed stands showed a higher mean C _org/N _tot ratio (22.73) compared to oak stands (16.39), indicating relatively low rate of carbon mineralization. In addition, the percentage of organic C present as C _mic in the surface soil decreased from 3.17% in the oak stand to 2.26% in the mixed stand, suggesting that fir-beech litter may be less suitable as a microbial substrate than oak litter.     

Antibacterial Bilayered Skin Patches Made of HPMA and Quaternary Poly(4-vinyl pyridine)

This study aimed to produce poly(4-vinyl pyridine) and hydroxypropyl methacrylamide (HPMA)-based bilayer wound dressings materials enhancing healing mechanism for the wounds which have self-healing problem and high infection risk. These materials were designed to protect wound from secondary traumas caused microorganism invasion and do not have toxic substance release problem. Synthesis of quaternary poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (poly(Q4-VP)) which is the antibacterial layer of wound dressing material was carried out in two stages. At first stage, poly(4-vinyl pyridine) polymer was synthesized from 4-vinyl pyridine monomer by free radical polymerization. Then, poly(Q4-VP) was synthesized from poly(4-VP) by alkylation reaction with 6-bromocaproic acid. Resulted polymer was structurally characterized by FT-IR. The macroporous spongy structure, as the lower layer of wound dressing material, was prepared by cryogelation of HPMA. Then, the antibacterial polymer was electrospun onto the cryogel structure and bilayered material was obtained. Cryogel structure, fiber morphology and layer integration was examined by SEM. In order to enhance wound healing process, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was loaded to cryogel layer and release was followed by spectrophotometrically. The antimicrobial properties of the materials were examined against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, respectively. According to the results, bilayered, antibacterial and antifungal against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, temporary wound dressings which can stimulate wound healing and have high swelling capacity were obtained successfully.     

新疆核桃品种试管苗不定根发生的影响因素研究

以新疆2个优良核桃品种新温185号、新温2号为试材,对影响试管苗的不定根发生的影响因素进行了研究。结果表明:基本培养基、外源IBA水平、光周期及黑暗条件对不定根发生具有一定的影响。选取生长旺盛的试管苗,采用一步浸蘸诱导生根法,即将试管苗放入经常规灭菌处理过的80 mg/L的IBA溶液中浸蘸处理75 min,然后转入不含任何激素的1/4 DKW中,黑暗处理12 d后置于光照下生根。利用这一方法快速诱导了试管苗生根,获得了高达90.90%的生根率,生根指数达254.44。     

Slope length effects on microbial biomass and activity of eroded sediments

Purpose  

Due to climatic and topographic conditions, soil erosion is a major problem in Turkey; approximately 86% of the land is suffering from some degree of erosion. This study investigated the relationship between bare soil slope length and the erosion-induced degradation of soil quality and the loss of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) from the microbial biomass in eroded sediment in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey.     

Scanning electron microscopic features of the ovine interdigital sinus

This article describes the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) features of the ovine interdigital sinus. The lumen was filled with a dense secretory material and quite a number of hairs embedded in the luminal content. For SEM purposes, the sinus was divided into three parts: base, body and neck. At the cut surface, the wall exhibited significant folds which were almost absent in the base, the very short blind end of the sinus. The wall had three layers: epidermis, dermis and fibrous capsule. Stratified epithelium with a prominent keratin layer faced the lumen. The inner surface was similar to the skin surface; however, it was coarser due to folds. The fibrous capsule was composed mainly of dense connective tissue, constituting the outermost layer of the wall. The dermis contained common skin structures including sebaceous glands, hair follicles, arrector pili muscles and apocrine glands. Sebaceous glands appeared as groups of bubbles if they were not collapsed. Apocrine glands generally appeared as a group of coiled tubules. They frequently exhibited apocrine blebs, which is a feature of apocrine secretion. SEM was able to locate some secretory vesicles in the lumen of apocrine tubules which is frequently filled by secretory content. Thus, the apocrine tubules exhibited classical features of apocrine secretion.     

Comparison of the Morphometric Features of the Left and Right Horse Kidneys: A Stereological Approach

The aims of this study were to determine the total volume of the horse kidney and volume fractions of its functional subcomponents (cortex, medulla, renal pelvis) using stereological methods and investigate any possible difference in the functional subcomponents of the right and left kidneys that may arise from differences in shape. The study was carried out on the kidneys of 5 horses of different breed and sex. The weight of the kidneys was measured by a digital scale, and kidney volume was calculated by Archimedes' principle. Total kidney volume and volume fractions of subcomponents of the right and left kidneys were estimated by the Cavalieri's principle. The weights of the right and left kidneys were 550 ± 25 g and 585 ± 23 g, respectively. The volumes of the right and left kidneys estimated using the Cavalieri method were 542 ± 46 ml and 581 ± 29 ml. The relative organ weight of the kidneys was calculated as 1:330. The densities of the right and left kidneys were determined to be 1.01 and 1.00, respectively. The mean volume fractions of the cortex, medulla and renal pelvis were determined as 55.6, 42.7 and 1.7 in both kidneys. No statistically significant difference existed between morphometric data pertaining to the right and left kidneys (P > 0.05). To determine precisely whether differences in shape cause any difference in the functional subcomponents of the right and left kidneys requires further investigation of differences in the number of microscopically functional unit of the kidney such as renal glomeruli and nephrons.     

蓝刺头属植物生物活性研究进展

[目的]为今后蓝刺头属植物进一步开发利用提供参考.[方法]就该属植物相关研究国内外文献并结合相关研究,对该属植物的药理活性进行综述.[结果]蓝刺头属多数植物具有很大药用价值,目前对蓝刺头属植物生物活性方而的研究则主要是针对植物粗提物进行活性评价,对于蓝刺头属植物治疗不同病症的起主要作用的活性化合物追踪研究很少有涉及.[结论]为综合利用这一丰富的植物资源,应对其生物活性进行更深入细致的研究,从而寻找到具有生物活性的天然产物,为开发新药提供更多的科学依据.