Changes in the proximate composition of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) reared in the cages located on the Gulf of Antalya (Turkey's Western Mediterranean coast) during the fattening period

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the proximate composition of bluefin tuna ( Thunnus thynnus ) muscle reared in cages during the fattening period. Samples were taken from tunas at monthly intervals between July and October. Moisture, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash were analysed. The fat and ash contents increased, and the moisture content decreased during the fattening period. There were no significant differences in the protein content during this period. The mean protein concentration was 21% over this period. The highest levels of dry matter (40%), fat (15%) and ash (1.21%) were found in October. Baitfish ( Sardina pilchardus, Sardinella aurita and Alosa fallax nilotica ) were also analysed. There were no differences in the moisture, protein and fat contents between baitfish, but a lower ash content was found in sardine than in the others. The mean moisture, protein, fat and ash contents of baitfish were found to be 68.28%; 19.2%; 8.5%; and 1.4% respectively.     

Intrauterine iodine administration is superior to antibiotics for reconception after late-embryonic losses in dairy cows

This field study was conducted to compare conception and insemination efficiency responses to intrauterine polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-I) and antibiotic (AB) treatments in dairy cows that experienced pregnancy loss. Data were collected from lactation cows with a history of pregnancy loss 27 to 70 days post-insemination (n = 97) during the 1st to 3rd lactation (days in milk = 196 ± 28). Cows were subjected to 1 of 3 treatments: i) 50 mL saline solution intrauterine infusion (S; n = 23); ii) 2% PVP-I (n = 42); or iii) 150 mg of amoxicillin trihydrate and 40 mg/mL gentamicin sulphate (n = 32). All cows followed the progesterone-based fixed-time insemination protocol. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test and 1-way analysis of variance. The PVP-I treatment (n = 25; 59.5%) was as effective as the AB treatment (n = 19; 59.4%), compared to the S treatment (n = 5; 21.7%) to achieve a new conception. The cows in group PVP-I conceived in a shorter time than those in group AB (46.0 ± 8.7 days versus 105.0 ± 10.0 days; P < 0.05) with a more efficient insemination to conception ratio (2.32 ± 0.43 versus 4.10 ± 0.32; P < 0.05). Data suggest that intrauterine PVP-I administration is superior to intrauterine AB administration in rescheduling reproductive protocol upon late embryonic and fetal losses.     

Microbiological and Physicochemical Quality of Carp sausage Enriched With Propolis Natural Extract during Chilled Storage

This study aimed to determine the effect of propolis extract on quality of liquid smoked carp (Cyprinus carpio) sausage stored at 2°C for 9 weeks. Carp sausages were separated into three groups: control group, without propolis extract; second group, with 1% (w/w) propolis extract added; and third group, with 2% (w/w) propolis extract added. Propolis extract added carp sausages showed lower total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) value, peroxide value (PV), and free fatty acid (FFA) content compared to control during the storage period. During 9 weeks of storage, propolis extract added carp sausages showed significantly lower total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB) and psychrophilic bacteria count (PBC) than those of control samples (p < .05). Yeast and mold were not detected in all fish sausages throughout the storage period.     

Adsorption of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution onto Perlite

Adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solutionsonto unexpanded and expanded perlite samples activatedby H₂SO₄ and NaCl solutions has beeninvestigated, to assess the possibility of usingperlite for removing cationic dyes from aqueoussolutions. The effects of pH and temperature of dyesolution on the adsorption capacities have beenevaluated. The experimental data were correlatedreasonably well by the Langmuir adsorption isothermand the isotherm parameters (Q _m and K) have beencalculated. The removal efficiency (P) anddimensionless separation factor (R) have shown thatperlite can be used for removal of methylene blue fromaqueous solutions, but unexpanded perlite is more effective.     

Effects of Extruder Screw Speeds on Physical Properties and In Vitro Starch Hydrolysis of Precooked Pinto,Navy, Red,and Black Bean Extrudates

Precooked pinto, navy, red, and black bean flours were extruded at different screw speeds (320, 380, and 440 rpm) with a twin‐screw extruder. Effect of speed on physical properties and in vitro starch hydrolysis was investigated. Increasing screw speeds reduced water activity, expansion index, and texture. Extrudates could not be obtained from pinto bean flour at 440 rpm because of the high shear effect. Water absorption index and water solubility index were not significantly affected by screw speed but were significantly higher than for unextruded precooked flour. A significant change in color was observed in navy beans, characterized by increasing b values on the Hunter color scale. Resistant starch ranged from 3.65 to 4.83% db and was not significantly affected by screw speed. Glycemic index of all extrudates was high, ranging from 81.3 to 86.9.     

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Prunus microcarpa C.A. Mey. subsp. tortusa analyzed by simple sequence repeats (SSRs)

Prunus microcarpa C.A. Mey. subsp. tortusa is a deciduous shrub well adapted to severe winter and dry-hot summer conditions. As the first step to explore the genetic and horticultural potential of P. microcarpa C.A. Mey. subsp. tortusa, we used SSRs to elucidate the genetic variation within its populations dispersed in upper Mesopotamia. We also investigated its phylogenetic relationship with economically important Prunus species; almond, apricot, sweet cherry, peach and plums. Using 47 amplifying SSR primer pairs, 63 P. microcarpa C.A. Mey. subsp. tortusa genotypes sampled from five locations and 15 cultivars belonging to other Prunus species were assayed. The cross-species transportability of SSRs was 96% indicating a high degree of homology between P. microcarpa C.A. Mey. subsp. tortusa and the other Prunus species. The genetic distance between P. microcarpa C.A. Mey. subsp. tortusa genotypes belonging to a particular geographic site was lower than that between genotypes of different geographic origins. Cluster analysis differentiated P. microcarpa C.A. Mey. subsp. tortusa genotypes according to their geographic sites and separated them from the other Prunus species. P. microcarpa C.A. Mey. subsp. tortusa and sweet cherry, the subgenus Cerasus, were located in the same major cluster, the other Prunus species, belonging to the subgenera Amygdalus and Prunus, were located in another one. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that genetic variation among individuals within populations (59.10%) was much higher than among Prunus groups (29.28%) and among P. microcarpa C.A. Mey. subsp. tortusa populations of different geographic sites (11.61%). The results indicate a substantial genetic diversity in P. microcarpa C.A. Mey. subsp. tortusa and the need of exploring a wider area to increase the chance of finding a particular genotype.     

Response of selected water chemical quality parameters to slight thinning in a mature oak–beech forest ecosystem under sub-humid climate conditions

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 18% thinning on streamflow nutrient flux from a mature oak–beech forest ecosystem by paired watershed approach. Two experimental watersheds including control (W-I) and treatment (W-IV) watersheds were used in the study. The experimental watersheds were monitored about 6 years from 2006 to 2011 for the calibration period and 4 years from 2012 to 2015 for the treatment period. The forest in the treatment watershed was thinned between October and December in 2011, and the forest in the control watershed was left untreated. Water grab samples were collected from the streams in the watersheds on weekly basis during both the calibration and treatment periods and analyzed for calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), Kjeldahl nitrogen (KN), sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), iron (Fe³⁺), aluminum (Al³⁺), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺-N), and sulfate (SO₄ ²⁻). The simple linear regression equations were developed between mean monthly nutrient fluxes of two watersheds in the calibration period with significantly high correlation coefficients, and they were used to estimate nutrient fluxes from the treatment watershed during the treatment period as if thinning had not been applied. The changes in the monthly nutrient fluxes were estimated as the differences between measured and values calculated with the linear regression equations. Results showed that removal of 18% standing timber volume did not significantly change nutrient exports except for KN and Na⁺ from the treatment watershed.

     

Soil Property Changes After Conversion from FOrest to Pasture in Mount Sacinka,Artvin, Turkey

Turkey's forests have been continuously facing conversion into both agriculture and pasturelands, causing not only degradation and fragmentation of forested lands but also negative changes in soil properties that have not been thoroughly investigated. In order to determine possible changes in some physical and hydrophysical soil parameters along with the dispersion ratio between natural coppice forests and the neighbouring forest‐to‐grassland converted areas, a foothill of Mount Sacinka in Artvin was chosen as a research area. Besides land use, possible effects of elevation change on soil properties due to the mountainous and moderately steep landscape of the region were also taken into consideration. The soil samples were analysed for soil texture, permeability, field capacity, bulk density, organic matter, pH and dispersion ratio. The results indicated that whereas permeability (43·05 mm h⁻¹ in forest and 18·82 mm h⁻¹ in pasture), field capacity (43·45% in forest and 38·08% in pasture) and organic matter (6·36% in forest and 5·34% in pasture) values turned out to be higher in forest soils, bulk density (0·91 g cm⁻³ in forest and 1·06 g cm⁻³ in pasture) and pH (5·89 in forest and 6·55 in pasture) values were low in grassland soils, meaning that conversion has negative effects on soil properties. Additionally, the mean dispersion ratios of 27·55% and 33·58% for forest and pastureland soils, respectively, indicated soil erosion problems in both land uses. In addition, as for elevation effect, forest soils especially showed better characteristics at higher elevations with high permeability, field capacity and organic matter and low pH and dispersion ratio. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.