The Effect of Total Anthocyanins Extracted From Sweet Cherry Cultivars on Carbonic Anhydrases and Antioxidant Activity

Total anthocyanins were extracted from eleven sweet cherry cultivars grown in Sakarya, Turkey. In vitro inhibition effects of extracted total anthocyanins on purified carbonic anhydrase I and II were investigated by using CO₂ as a substrate. The results showed that all extracted total anthocyanins inhibited the hCA I and hCA II enzyme activities. Among all cultivars, ‘Merton Premier’ was found to be the most active one against both hCA I (IC₅₀?=?0.83?µg/mL) and hCA II (IC₅₀?=?1.16?µg/mL). Additionally, the DPPH activities of the extracts were investigated as antioxidant properties. The results exhibited that ‘Churchill’ and ‘Merton Premier’ have high antioxidant activity with 74.102% and 73.503% DPPH activity, respectively.

     

Design of Neural Network Predictor for the Physical Properties of Almond Nuts

In this study, an adaptive neuro fuzzy interface system (ANFIS) based predictor was designed to predict the physical properties of four almond types. Measurements of the dimensions, length, width and thickness were carried out for one hundred randomly selected samples of each type. With using these three major perpendicular dimensions, some physical parameters such as projected area, arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, surface area, volume, shape index and aspect ratio were estimated. In in a various Artificial Neural Network (ANN) structures, ANFIS structure which has given the best results was selected. The parameters analytically estimated and those predicted were given in the form of figures. The root mean-squared error (RMSE) was found to be 0.0001 which is quite low. ANFIS approach has given a superior outcome in the prediction of the Physical Properties of Almond Nuts.     

Changes in Phenolic Compounds Profile and Anthocyanin Content of cv. Cabernet Sauvignon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">V. vinifera</Emphasis> L.) Induced by Different Doses of Foliar Oak Applications with Urea

Phenolic compounds and anthocyanins had pivotal roles on wine grape quality. In order to enhance contents of these substances, several techniques have been applied to grapevines. In recent years, there has been an increasing concern about using of foliar oak applications for improving wine grape quality. In this study, it was used a low concentration (0.6%) of urea for increasing efficiency of different doses of oak applications. For this aim, it was benefited from different doses of foliar oak applications with or without urea, including: 0?ppm oak (Oa), 1250?ppm oak (Oa), 2500?ppm (Oa), 5000?ppm (Oa), 0?ppm oak (Oa)?+?0.6% Urea (Ur), 1250?ppm oak (Oa)?+?0.6% Urea (Ur), 2500?ppm oak (Oa)?+?0.6% Urea (Ur), 5000?ppm oak (Oa)?+?0.6% Urea (Ur). Although yield and wine grape quality characteristics were favorably affected by increasing doses of oak applications; urea added oak applications were especially found to be more effective for both characteristics. As a result, application of 5000?ppm oak (Oa)?+?0.6% Urea (Ur) led to best results in terms of yield and wine grape characteristics of cv. Cabernet Sauvignon.     

The zonal distributions of alkaline phosphatase, adenosine triphosphatase, laminin, fibronectin and chondroitin 4-sulphate in growing rat humerus proximal epiphyseal cartilage: a histochemical and an immunohistochemical study

Although there are many studies about epiphyseal cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules in bone formation, studies of their distribution and role in the mineralization of these components in growing rat humerus proximal epiphyseal cartilage have not been sufficiently detailed. The aim of this study was to determine the distributions of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), laminin, fibronectin and chondroitin 4-sulphate in growing rat humerus proximal epiphyseal cartilage. The rats were killed by cervical dislocation, and the humeri were removed, sectioned (6 and 10 microm) on a cryotome or paraffin microtome, and stained using histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. ALP and ATPase were markedly observed in the hypertrophy and calcifying cartilage. In addition, ATPase was found to be very strongly positive in the tangential zone of articular cartilage. Results of immunohistochemical staining for laminin, fibronectin and chondroitin 4-sulphate showed that the immunostaining was the heaviest in the tangential zone of articular cartilage. In growing epiphyseal plates, there were differences in the density of these macromolecules of chondrocytes as a function of the maturation process. In conclusion, these ECM macromolecules of epiphyseal cartilage may regulate the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions as well as the matrix calcification during the ossification of epiphyseal cartilage.     

Development of energy generating photovoltaic textile structures for smart applications

The aim of this study is to develop a method with lower application temperature and a device structure to obtain reproducible photovoltaic textiles. Two different kinds of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) solutions over a silver (Ag) layer was used as anode, a blend of poly(3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as light absorbing layer and a thin aluminum (Al)/Ag layer as semi-transparent cathode. These devices capable of generating electricity from sunlight were fabricated on polypropylene tapes that could be woven into a textile fabric. The short-circuit current density and power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic tapes were increased by using an Ag layer beneath the PEDOT:PSS electrode. The photovoltaic textile structure exhibited remarkable power conversion efficiency (0.29 %) by transmitting the light through the upper electrode. This approach may be used in industrial applications to develop photovoltaic textile materials.     

The comparison of the effect of enzyme, peroxide, plasma and chitosan processes on wool fabrics and evaluation for antimicrobial activity

Pretreated (enzymatic and enzymatic+hydrogen peroxide) knitted wool fabrics were treated with atmospheric argon and air plasma to improve their adsorption capacity. After plasma treatments chitosan solution was applied to have antimicrobial effect on wool fabrics. The treated fabrics were evaluated in terms of washing stability as well as antimicrobial activity. The surface morphology was characterised by SEM images and FTIR analysis. From the results it was observed that atmospheric plasma treatment had an etching effect and increased the functionality of a wool surface. Atmospheric plasma treatment also enhanced the adhesion of chitosan to the surface and improved the antimicrobial activity of the wool sample. Argon was found to be more effective than air, since argon radicals played an important role in killing and removing bacteria. No significant difference in washing durability was observed in terms of plasma treatments. The samples of combined pretreatment processes had good washing durability even after 10 washing cycle. From the SEM images it was observed that combination of plasma and the other pre-treatment processes gave less damage than only one process.     

Assessment of spatial and seasonal changes in groundwater nitrate pollution of agricultural lands through ordinary and indicator kriging techniques

Geostatistical approaches (ordinary kriging (OK) and indicator kriging (IK)) were used in this study to investigate the spatial and temporal variations in groundwater nitrate concentrations in Çar?amba plain of Turkey. Groundwater samples were taken in April 2012, July 2012, September 2012 and March 2013 from 78 groundwater wells. The experimental semivariograms were often fitted well by a Gauss model for April 2012 and September 2012, whereas a spherical model was fitted to experimental semivariograms for July 2012 and March 2013. Spatial distribution maps revealed that groundwater nitrate concentrations were above the threshold value of 50 mg L^?1 specified for drinking water in 4.3% of the study area in April 2012, 40.8% in July 2012, 32.8% in September 2012 and 19.1% in March 2013. Probability maps created with IK showed that 3.1% and 3.2% of the total area had very strong probability (0.8–1.0) of exceeding the threshold nitrate concentration in July 2012 and September 2012, respectively. Current findings revealed that groundwater nitrate concentrations changed seasonally and increased much more in summer. It was concluded that OK and IK may yield significant outcomes for groundwater management, identification of risky sites for potential pollution and identification of the sites with excessive fertilizer uses.     

Leaf Removal Treatments Combined with Kaolin Particle Film Technique from Different Directions of Grapevine’s Canopy Affect the Composition of Phytochemicals of cv. Muscat Hamburg (<Emphasis Type="Italic">V. Vinifera</Emphasis> L.)

In some viticulture regions of the world, high temperature and irradiance can negatively affect the grapevine growth and grape quality. Particle film technology is a remarkable tool, leading to decrease in environmental stress conditions for grape production. In current study, leaf removal and kaolin particle film treatments were performed on east and west sides of grapevine’s canopy of cv. Muscat Hamburg and five different treatments were respectively evaluated: Control (C), leaf removal treatment from east side of grapevine’s canopy (LR-E), leaf removal treatment from east side of grapevine’s canopy plus kaolin particle film treatment (LR-E + K), leaf removal treatment from west side of grapevine’s canopy (LR-W), leaf removal treatment from west side of grapevine’s canopy plus kaolin particle film treatment (LR-W + K). In present research, the higher total phenolic compounds contents were measured in LR-W (2010.56?mg GAE/kg fw), LR-W + K (2006.42?mg GAE/kg fw), LR-E (1925.58?mg GAE/kg fw), LR-E + K (1913.15?mg GAE/kg fw) and C treatment (1851.46?mg GAE/kg fw). Furthermore, means of higher total anthocyanin content were obtained from LR-W (737.68?mg GAE/kg fw), LR-W + K (736.16?mg GAE/kg fw), LR-E (706.50?mg GAE/kg fw), LR-E + K (701.94?mg GAE/kg fw) and C treatment (679.12?mg GAE/kg fw). Consequently, it was observed that both LR-W and LR-W + K treatments had especially advantages in terms of increasing grape quality attributes of cv. Muscat Hamburg; were followed by LR-E and LR-E + K treatments.     

Dimensional and mechanical characterization of newly developed denim fabrics based on experimentally determined property-structural pattern relations for upholstery applications

The aim of this study was to develop new pattern denim fabrics and characterize the dimensional, the abrasion and pilling properties of these fabrics. Furthermore, tensile and tear strengths of these fabrics were determined. The potential enduses of pattern denim fabrics were evaluated by comparing the test results with traditional denim fabrics. The produced fabrics were classified as ‘Design group I’ and ‘Design group II’. In design group I, the fabrics had small structural patterns whereas the structural patterns of the fabrics of design group II were large. The dimensional properties and weights of developed pattern denim fabrics in both of the design groups were different in terms of weft densities, structural pattern sizes which influenced the numbers, directions and distributions of warp-weft interlacement. The abrasion behaviours of the traditional denim fabrics and the fabrics with large-small structural patterns were similar. However, it was determined that the fabrics with large and small patterns were abraded on the earlier abrasion cycles compared to the traditional denim fabrics. The pilling resistances of the fabrics not only depended on the hairiness levels of the yarns used during weaving, but also on the pattern sizes of the fabrics. The small structural pattern fabrics showed more resistance to pilling than those of the large structural pattern fabrics. There was a decrease on the warp and weft tensile strengths of the large structural pattern fabrics in comparison with the traditional denim fabrics. The average tear strengths of the large structural pattern denim fabrics on the warp course were higher than those of the traditional denim fabrics while the tear strengths of the large pattern and traditional denim fabrics on the weft course were similar to each other. The end-uses of the newly developed structural pattern denim fabrics were recommended as home textile.