The prediction of seedy grape drying rate using a neural network method

This paper presents an application which uses Feedforward Neural Networks (FNNs) to model the nonlinear behaviour of the drying of seedy grapes. First, a novel type of dryer for experimentally and mathematically evaluating the thin-layer drying kinetics of seedy grapes is developed. In the developed drying system, an expanded-surface solar air collector, a solar air collector with Phase-Change Material (PCM) and drying room with swirl element have been particularly included. Secondly, the drying rate is estimated as an exponential-type equation using non-linear regression analysis. Thirdly, the drying rate of seedy grapes is estimated using an FNN. Finally, the performance of the FNN model is compared with those of nonlinear and linear regression models by means of the root mean square errors, the mean absolute errors, and the correlation coefficient statistics. The results indicate that the FNN is more accurate and performed more consistently than alternative approaches employed in estimating drying rate.     

Note:Syringopais temperatella Lederer, 1855 and its parasitoids in wheat and barley fields in the southeast Anatolian region of Turkey

Larvae of the cereal leaf minerSyringopais temperatella Led. (Lep.: Scythridae) collected from wheat and barley fields in the southeast Anatolian region of Turkey during 2005–2006, and their parasitization rates, were determined in the laboratory,Bracon (Habrobracon) stabilis Wesmael andApanteles sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were identified as its parasitoids for the first time.     

Compensatory growth response of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) under cycled starvation and restricted feeding rate

The compensatory growth response of the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) that faced cycling starvation and restricted ration was assessed. Juveniles (10.5 g) were stocked into 15 tanks at a density of 25 fish per tank. Five different feeding regimes were tested on triplicate groups of fish: C_Satiation: control fed for 60 days without deprivation, C_Restricted: 25% restricted feeding, S‐R: 1 day starvation then 4 days C_Restricted feeding, R‐F: 1 day C_Restricted feeding then 4 days C_Satiation feeding, and, finally, S‐F: 1 day starvation then 4 days C_Satiation feeding. The specific growth rate of fish in the C_Satiation (2.5 ± 0.06% day^?1), S‐F (2.5 ± 0.11% day^?1) and R‐F (2.4 ± 0.18% day^?1) were significantly higher than that of C_Restricted (2.2 ± 0.05% day^?1) or S‐R (2.0 ± 0.01% day^?1). Fish in S‐F group were able to achieve catching up with the C_Satiation. There was no significant difference in feed conversion rates but R‐F and S‐F consumed approximately 34% more feed than C_Satiation following the first re‐feeding day. Although, the highest lipid content was observed in C_Satiation (14.4%), S‐R (33.3% dry matter) had the highest water content compared with the C_Satiation and C_Restricted (37.8% and 36.9% dry matter respectively). In conclusion, it may be concluded that sea bass has rapid response to cycling starvation/re‐feeding and that a 25% restricted feeding ratio is insufficient to invoke a compensatory growth response in sea bass.     

Effects of dietary selenium of organic form against lead toxicity on the antioxidant system in Cyprinus carpio

In this study was evaluated potential protective effect of organic selenium (Se) on heavy metal stress induced by lead (Pb) in Cyprinus carpio. For this reason, C. carpio was exposed to sublethal concentration of Pb (1.5 mg/L Pb(NO₃)₂) for 14 days. The fish were fed a basal (control; measured 0.55 mg/kg Se) diet or a basal diet supplemented with 2.50 mg/kg (measured 2.92 mg/kg Se) organic Se (Sel-Plex^®) during the experiment period. The variations in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, and levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) with malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver and brain tissues of C. carpio were investigated in experimental groups. GSH levels in liver and brain tissues were significantly decreased by exposure to Pb. GST activity was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in liver tissue, but decreased in brain of treated fish by exposure to Pb. Also, GSH-Px activity was significantly increased in liver tissue, but decreased in brain of Pb-treated fish. Levels of MDA were increased in liver and brain of Pb-treated fish. The organic Se treatment for Pb-intoxicated animals improved activities of GSH-Px, GST and levels of MDA within normal limits. Supplemented Se could be able to improve Pb-induced oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation and regulating antioxidant defense system in tissues.     

Cryopreservation of scaly carp (Cyprinus carpio) sperm: effect of different cryoprotectant concentrations on post-thaw motility, fertilization and hatching success of embryos

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of various cryoprotectants on post-thaw sperm quality and fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved scaly carp (Cyprinus carpio) semen. The present study focused on freezing of scaly carp sperm utilizing a practical and inexpensive protocol for aquaculture. Semen was diluted with Kurokura’s extender composing 3.6 g/l NaCl, 10 g/l KCl, 0.22 g/l CaCl₂, 0.08 g/l MgCl₂ and 0.2 g/l NaHCO₃. The extender contained three different cryoprotectants (DMSO, DMA and egg yolk) at ratios of 5, 10 and 15 %. Semen was placed into 0.25-ml straws and exposed to liquid nitrogen vapor (?120 °C) using an insulated box with an adjustable tray for 10 min and then plunged into liquid nitrogen (?196 °C) tank. The thawing process was performed in a water bath at 40 °C for 10 s. The results indicated that type of cryoprotectants and their concentrations are rather effective in scaly carp sperm cryopreservation on post-thaw sperm quality, while they are very important in order to obtain high fertilization rates. The highest fertilization rate was determined as 96.4 ± 0.15 % with 15 % egg yolk, while the highest hatching rate was determined as 99.3 ± 0.80 with 15 % DMA. In conclusion, the applied cryopreservation method for scaly carp sperm is suitable to fertilize high amounts of eggs.     

Site index models for Calabrian pine in the central Mediterranean region of Turkey

Stem analysis data of 432 trees were obtained from even-aged, pure natural stands of Calabrian pine in the central Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Eight dynamic site equations derived with the Generalized Algebraic Difference Approach (GADA) were compared, based on autoregressive analysis and a thorough evaluation of the goodness of fit. We used generalized nonlinear least squares methods for model fitting. The adjusted coefficients of determination (0.9825–0.9842), root-mean-square errors (0.8004–0.8435 m), and Akaike’s information criterion differences (0–145) indicated a good fit of the eight site index equations. The Hossfeld equation (M3) provided the best result. The Durbin-Watson test statistic did not reveal an autocorrelation issue while the Hossfeld equation provided a satisfactory solution to the serial correlation problem in stem analysis data as time series using autoregressive modeling. This study presents new site index models for Calabrian pine forests in the central Mediterranean region of Turkey where it is the most important commercial tree species. The site index equation, based on the Hossfeld model is recommended for height growth prediction and site classification of Calabrian pine stands in the central Mediterranean region of Turkey, providing a new basis for growth prediction and yield estimation in these important forest ecosystems.     

Effects of Root Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Inoculations on the Growth and Nutrient Content of Grapevine

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of seven nitrogen (N₂)-fixing and/or phosphorus (P)-solubilizing and siderophore-producing microorganism based bio-fertilizers in single and triple strain combinations isolated from the acidic rhizospheric soil of native tea, grapevine, and wild red raspberries. As a result of this study, bacterial efficiency was found to be variable and depended on the bacterial strains and evaluated growth parameters. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has improved macro- and micro-nutrient concentrations in grapevine leaves, and stimulated plant growth. Triple inoculation and single inoculation based bio fertilizers were found to stimulate overall plant growth, including shoot and leaf weight, main shoot length, leaf ground index, chlorophyll, nitrogen, zinc and iron content of grapevine cv ‘Italy’. Bio-fertilizers increased the nutrients such as nitrogen, zinc and iron concentrations and consequently increased the chlorophyll content of the leaves.     

Simultaneous Determination of Phorate and Oxyfluorfen in Well Water Samples with High Accuracy by GC-MS After Binary Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction

The potential risk of pesticides to cause harm to humans and other organisms even at trace levels calls for sensitive and accurate analytical techniques for their simultaneous qualitative and quantitative determinations. In this study, a sensitive binary dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (B-DLLME) strategy was developed for the simultaneous determination of phorate and oxyfluorfen by gas chromatography mass spectrometry after extraction/preconcentration from aqueous solution. An experimental design was used to optimize parameters of the B-DLLME method to obtain maximum outcome. Under the optimum conditions of B-DLLME, the limit of detection (LOD) for phorate and oxyfluorfen were found to be 0.41 μg L^?1 and 0.54 μg L^?1, respectively. The detection limits correlate to about 37 and 73 folds enhancement in detection powers when compared to direct GC-MS determination of phorate and oxyfluorfen, respectively. In order to find out the applicability of developed method to real samples, recovery tests were performed for 20 μg L^?1 of phorate and oxyfluorfen spiked in well water samples. Percent recovery values were found to be 94.5% for phorate and 101.9% for oxyfluorfen.     

Molecular Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Bovine Milk

The aim of this study was to identify methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains gathered from 2002 to 2006 from milk samples in Aydin region in Turkey. Among 93 S. aureus strains isolated from bovine milk with mastitis, 16 were resistant to methicillin. Methicillin‐resistant S. aureus strains were studied further for their staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types, pulsotypes, spa and MLST types, antimicrobial susceptibilities, mechanisms of resistance and presence of Panton–Valentine leucocidin (PVL) toxin gene. The MRSA strains were multi‐drug resistant. The susceptibility rates to antimicrobials tested were 0%, 0%, 0%, 0%, 6.25%, 16.25% and 56.25% for erythromycin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, tetracyclin, ciprofloxacin and vancomycin, respectively. All tetracycline and gentamicin resistant strains carried tet(M) and aac(6)‐aph(2) gene, respectively. Among macrolide‐resistant isolates, nine had erm(A), and seven had both erm(A) and erm(B) genes. The molecular characterization by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis showed presence of three pulsotypes with their variants. The pulsotype B strains were type IV with SCCmec typing, and representative of pulsotype B was t190 by spa typing and ST8 by MLST typing. The strains with pulsotype A and C were SCCmec III, and representative of these pulsotypes was t030 by spa typing. The MLST type of pulsotype A was ST239 and pulsotype C was one allele variant of ST239. None of the isolates harboured the PVL gene. Presence of hospital‐related MRSA strains may indicate transmission of these strains between human and animals. In case of clonal spread beside the infected animals’ treatment of MRSA carrier, farm workers should also be considered. Hygienic measures and rational antibiotic use may avoid resistance selection, clonal dissemination of resistant strains and decrease losses because of mastitis in dairy herds.