Impact of sublethal di‐n‐butyl phthalate on the aquaculture fish species Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): histopathology and oxidative stress assessment

Phthalates such as di‐n‐butyl phthalate (DBP) and their esters are widely used plasticizers, their ubiquitous presence in daily life, inevitably leads to their restricted use due to important environmental pollution and health impacts and endocrine disruption potential. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a sublethal concentration of 10 mg L^?1 DBP on haematocrit (HCT) values, gills and liver histology, malondialdehyde (MDA, 2‐thiobarbituric acid‐TBA reactivity) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in gills and liver tissue as oxidative stress biomarkers in the aquaculture fish species Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after 24 (DBP‐24) and 96 (DBP‐96) h exposure. No differences were found between per cent HCT values in the 24 h exposure groups (P > 0.05). Response of antioxidant defence systems in liver and gill tissues of the fish were dependent on exposure duration and changed to a higher extent during 96 h. MDA levels in liver tissue increased in DBP treated fish in comparison to the control fish. However, the differences between the exposure and control groups were not significant (P > 0.05). A statistically significant decrease (P > 0.05) was recorded in gill MDA levels in the DBP‐96 group when compared to the control and DBP‐24 groups. The liver GSH levels were unchanged in the DBP treated fish. However, GSH levels were significantly lower in the gill tissue of the DBP‐96 group. Exposure to DBP caused several degenerative changes in the histology of gill and liver tissue. Gills displayed hyperaemia, epithelial lifting, oedema, talengiectasia, epithelial hyperplasia and fusion of secondary lamellae, whereas in liver several circulatory anomalies (hyperaemia, blood congestion and sinosoid dilatation) and vacuolization of hepatocytes were observed. Histopathological results demonstrated that the gills were more affected than the liver perhaps due to their direct contact with DBP.     

Partnerships for sustainable development as discursive practice: Shifts in discourses of environment and democracy

Partnerships for sustainable development are the Type II outcomes that emerged out of the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, 2002. These new mechanisms of environmental governance were an intersection point of three significant discourses in global politics: those of participatory democracy, private governance, and sustainable development. By analysing these three discourses around partnerships for sustainable development, this paper aims at revealing the larger frames of reference and the meta-narratives that explain why and how institutions like partnerships for sustainable development have emerged and how they have actualised. Using key concepts from and discourse theoretical approaches of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe, the paper focuses on the negotiations of formal international organisations as a practice of discourse institutionalisation. By recognising that the international negotiations can result in these institutions to carry contestations and conflicts, it traces the dilemmas inherent in partnerships, that reflect shifts in the discourses of environment and development.     

Proteome profiling of the compatible interaction between wheat and stripe rust

Over the last decade, comparative molecular profiling studies between compatible and incompatible plant-pathogen interactions have shown that susceptible response of the host to a pathogen requires factors that promote disease development. In this study, we examined proteome profiles during a compatible interaction between wheat and stripe rust. A 2D-LC system (ProteomeLab PF2D) was used for protein separation and to compare the proteome from infected and control samples. More than 700 protein peaks at each time point were compared between pathogen- and mock-inoculated samples. Selected proteins, with significant differences in abundance were identified by nanoLC-ESI- MS/MS and generated spectra were searched against the wheat protein databases from UniProt, and NCBI and the Puccinia database from The Broad Institute. In total, the identified proteins comprised of 62 % wheat and 38 % Pst proteins. All identified proteins were searched by bioinformatics-based algorithms to detect their subcellular localization and signal peptide motifs which have the potential to catch the candidate effector proteins. The wheat proteins were classified based on their function. Although a compatible interaction, many wheat proteins, such as antioxidants, PRs and cold-responsive proteins, are implicated in defense and stress tolerance. On the pathogen side, 64 proteins were identified, and included some important pathogenicity proteins that can play role in pathogen virulence and suppress the host defense. In addition, we discovered that nine proteins have a signal sequence and three of the hypothetical fungal proteins, PGTG_11681T0, PGTG_07231T0 and CBH50687.1, have been tentatively identified as candidate effectors.     

Effect of Nigella sativa on glucose concentration, lipid peroxidation, anti-oxidant defence system and liver damage in experimentally-induced diabetic rabbits

This study was carried out to investigate whether Nigella sativa could decrease the lipid peroxidation, increase the anti-oxidant defence system and also prevent the lipid-peroxidation-induced liver damage in experimentally induced diabetic rabbits. Fifteen New Zealand male rabbits were divided into three experimental groups: control, diabetic and diabetic and N. sativa-treated. The diabetes mellitus (DMI) was induced in the rabbits using 150 mg/kg of 10% alloxan. The diabetic + N. sativa-treated group was given extract of N. sativa seeds orally every day for 2 months after induction of DM. At the end of the 2-month experiment, blood samples were collected to measure malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), ceruloplasmin and glucose concentration, and livers were harvested for histopathological analysis. Treatment with N. sativa decreased the elevated glucose and MDA concentrations, increased the lowered GSH and ceruloplasmin concentrations, and prevented lipid-peroxidation-induced liver damage in diabetic rabbits. It was concluded that N. sativa might be used in diabetic patients to prevent lipid peroxidation, increase anti-oxidant defence system activity and also prevent liver damage.     

The Effects of Lithology on Water Pollution: Natural Radioactivity and Trace Elements in Water Resources of Eskisehir Region (Turkey)

The high radioactivity and trace elements in drinking water are common concerns for human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the eligibility of groundwater for drinking purpose in terms of both radioactivity and trace element contents in Eskisehir Region (Turkey). The study area is located in a highly populated residential area where water supply is mostly met from groundwater. The area is about 20,000 km², where igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks are exposed. The 209 water samples collected from 84 water resources (including thermal waters) were analyzed with respect to major ions, trace elements, and radioactivity (gross alpha and gross beta) during both in wet and dry seasons. Based on the analysis results, trace elements in 49 samples of 84 water resources were over the limits of Code TS 266 1997 (Turkish Drinking Water Standards) and WHO 1993 standards. Particularly, Fe, Mn, Al, As, Ba, Zn, Cr, Cu, and B ion concentrations exceeded the limits. The gross alpha values in 18 locations and gross beta values in three locations also exceeded the limits of aforementioned standards in terms of radioactivity (gross alpha?=?0.1 Bq L^?1; gross beta?=?1 Bq L^?1). Furthermore, water radioactivity levels were close to the allowable limits in 33 water resources. The obtained results explicitly indicate that there is a strong relationship between the higher radioactivity–trace element contents and geochemical composition of rocks, which controls the radioactivity and trace element concentrations present in the aquifer.     

Identification of resistance to bacterial canker (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas syringae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">syringae</Emphasis>) disease on apricot genotypes grown in Turkey

Bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syrinage (Pss) in apricot has widely spread in Turkey, especially in Malatya province, in recent years. The main objective of this study was to determine resistance of apricot cultivars to bacterial canker caused by Pss in apricot cultivars grown in Turkey. During the 2006–2007 growing period, bacterial isolations were taken from diseased apricot trees in Malatya and 53 Pseudomonas syringae isolates were obtained. Forty-two isolates were determined as Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and 11 isolates as pv. morsprunorum. In a pathogenicity test, leaves of cv. Hacihalilo?lu were used and five Pss isolates (K24, K25, K43, K47 and K51) were detected to be the most virulent and were used to test for cultivar resistance to Pss. Leaves of fifteen apricot cultivars (Alyanak, Çatalo?lu, Çölo?lu, Erken A?erik, Hacihalilo?lu, Hasanbey, ?smaila?a, Kabaa?i, Karacabey, Sakit 2, So?anci, ?am, ?ekerpare, Tokalo?lu (Erzincan) and Turfanda Eski Malatya) were tested for resistance to Pss. Green shoots were spray-inoculated with a concentration of 10⁸ cfu ml^?1 Pss mixed culture. Sprayed shoots were covered with moist plastic bags for 3 days and maintained in the growth chamber and monitored for symptom development. Hasanbey, Çölo?lu, So?anci and ?ekerpare apricot cultivars were resistant and ?am, Tokalo?lu (Erzincan) and Erken A?erik apricot cultivars were susceptible to Pss. This is the first report of a resistance source in apricot cultivars grown in Turkey against Pss.     

Embryonic and larval development of black skirt tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi,Boulenger, 1895) under laboratory conditions

The embryonic and larval development of black skirt tetra, Gymnocorymbus ternetzi, are described under controlled laboratory conditions. In addition, major histomorphological changes and the allometric growth patterns during larval development have been described. The laboratory‐reared broodstock, that is 1 year of age, were spawned. Hatching occurred 20–21 h after spawning at 24 ± 0.5°C. The cleavage was finished in 2 h and the early blastula stage occurred at 2:04 hours after spawning. The gastrulation started at 3:20 hours and 30% epiboly was observed at 3:34 hours after spawning. Eight‐somite stage was observed at 08:33 hours. And embryonic developmental stage was completed at 21 h after spawning. The newly hatched larvae were 1442 ± 14.3 μm in mean total length (TL). The mouth opened at 3 days after hatching (DAH). The yolk sac had been totally absorbed and the larvae started to swim actively within 3–4 days. Notochord flexion began at 11 DAH. The metamorphosis was completed and the larvae transformed into juveniles at 32 DAH. In this paper, the full developmental sequence from egg to juvenile of G. ternetzi is described for the first time.     

Effect of dietary microminerals in early weaning diets on growth,survival, mineral contents and gene expression in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata,L) larvae

In previous studies, combined inclusion of Zn, Mn and Se in early weaning diets improved larval growth, but suggested a potential toxicity by one of these elements. The present study aimed to determine the effect of the single inclusion of Zn, Mn, Se or Cu, their combination (Control+) or their absence (Control?) on larval diets. At the end of the trial, survival was significantly (p < .05) lowest in fish fed C+ diet (17.16 ± 7% mean ± SD), followed by that of larvae fed Mn diet (21.91 ± 7%). The highest survival was obtained by Cu diet (35.27 ± 15%), followed by C? diet (34.58 ± 9%). Cu and Se supplementation significantly improved total length and body weight, in comparison with the C? fish. On the contrary, fish fed Mn and C+ showed the lowest growth. Supplementation with Zn or Cu significantly increased CuZnsod, whereas gpx was significantly upregulated in fish fed Se and C+ diets. ARA/EPA level was significantly highest and DHA/EPA lowest in larvae fed the Cu diet in fish fed C+ diet. The results pointed out the importance of supplementation with Cu, as well as Se and Zn, on early weaning diets for gilthead sea bream, and the potential toxic effect of Mn.