Ground red peppers: capsaicinoids content,Scoville scores,and discrimination by an electronic nose

High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and total capsaicinoids levels of different ground red pepper samples obtained from local retail markets in Izmir, Turkey. Scoville scores were determined using sensory tests. An electronic nose (EN) was used to discriminate ground red pepper samples by headspace volatiles. EN data were analyzed using discriminant function analysis (DFA). An overall correct classification rate of pepper varieties by EN of 91% was obtained. A linear correlation between capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and total capsaicinoids and Scoville scores was also observed, and R (2) values of 0.89, 0.85, and 0.91 were obtained, respectively.     

Hierarchical classification of environmental factors and agricultural practices affecting soil fauna under cropping systems using Bt maize

The population dynamics of soil organisms under agricultural field conditions are influenced by many factors, such as pedology and climate, but also farming practices such as crop type, tillage and the use of pesticides. To assess the real effects of farming practices on soil organisms it is necessary to rank the influence of all of these parameters. Bt maize (Zea mays L.), as a crop recently introduced into farming practices, is a genetically modified maize with the Cry1Ab gene which produces a protein toxic to specific lepidopteran insect pests. To assess the effects of Bt maize on non-target soil organisms, we conducted research at a field site in Foulum (Denmark) with a loamy sand soil containing 6.4% organic matter. The study focused on populations of springtails (Collembola) and earthworms (Oligochaeta) from samples taken at the beginning and at the end of the maize crop-growing season during 2 consecutive years. Farming practices, soil parameters, the biological structure of soil communities, and the type and age of the crop at the time of sampling, were used as attributes to predict the total abundance of springtails and biomass of earthworms in general and the abundance or biomass for specific functional groups (epigeic, endogeic and anecic groups for earthworms, and eu-, eu to hemi-, hemi-, hemi to epi- and epiedaphic groups for Collembola). Predictive models were built with data mining tools, such as regression trees that predict the value of a dependent variable from a set of independent variables. Regression trees were constructed with the data mining system M5′. The models were evaluated by qualitative and quantitative measures of performance and two models were selected for further interpretation: anecic worms and hemi-epiedaphic Collembola. The anecic worms (r²=0.83) showed preferences for less clay and more silt soil with medium pH but were not influenced directly by farming practices. The biomass of earthworms was greater in early autumn than in spring or late autumn. Biomass of hemi-epiedaphic Collembola (r²=0.59) increased at the end of the maize growing season, while higher organic matter content and pH tended to increase their biomass in spring. Greater abundance of Collembola was also noted in early autumn if the crop was non-Bt maize. The models assessed by this research did not find any effects of the Bt maize cropping system on functional groups of soil fauna.     

Toxoplasma Gondii in Swine in South-Eastern Norway

A total of 407 swine bred in south-eastern Norway have been tested for the presence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in serum by use of the dye-test, and diaphragm muscle from all sero-positive and some sero-negative swine has been tested for the presence of mouse-infective cysts.The prevalence of antibodies was as low as 10.1 %. The prevalence increased with the weight of the swine, but apparently with a decline after passing a weight of 140 kg. Only dye-test titres up to 50 were found. The prevalence of dye-test positive swine was higher in small herds (< 300 swine p.a.) than in larger ones (> 300 swine p.a.). The prevalence of herds with dye-test positive swine in the region surrounding the Oslo-fjord was higher in the coastal than in the inland zone. The incidence of infection was the same during the summer-autumn period as during the winter-spring period. Toxoplasma was recovered from the diaphragm muscle of about % of the dyeπtest positive swine. Parasites were isolated from some pigs with a dye-test titre of 4, and from all the pigs with a titre of 50. Toxoplasma was not isolated from dye-test negative swine. The epidemiological and food-hygienic significance of porcine toxoplasmosis in Norway is discussed according to the present results.     

Histo-anatomical studies on the accessory reproductive glands of the Anatolian souslik (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus) (Mammalia: Sciuridae)

In this study, the histo-anatomy of the accessory reproductive glands of the Anatolian souslik (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus) is investigated, using 102 males of the vouchers which were captured from central Anatolia and eastern Mediterranean regions. Averages of measurements taken from each part of the accessory reproductive glands were as follows: length of vesicular gland [right: 3.96 (+/-0.48) mm; left: 3.70 (+/-0.55) mm]; prostate gland [length: 2.55 (+/-0.38) mm; width: 2.63 (+/-0.45) mm]; length of bulbourethral gland [right: 2.32 (+/-0.33) mm; left: 2.37 (+/-0.39) mm], and the length of the pars pelvina of the urethra was 12.31 (+/-0.76) mm. Histological sections showed that vesicular gland was composed of typically branched tubulo-alveolar glands. As the fibrous connective tissue that was found among alveoles in the prostate was dense and relatively common, only few tubulo-alveolar glands occurred. The bulbourethral gland (Cowper's gland) was a tubulo-alveolar gland with a large and serrated lumen and septa between the alveoles consisted of dense fibro-muscular fibres.     

Field evaluation of a PCR for the diagnosis of chlamydial abortion in sheep

A total of 94 vaginal swab samples and 195 serum samples collected from aborted ewes in 15 flocks were examined by pcr and a complement fixation test, respectively. In addition, 172 samples of stomach contents from fetuses from different flocks submitted for the diagnosis of abortion during the four lambing periods between 2000 and 2004 were tested by pcr. Chlamydial dna was detected in seven vaginal swabs obtained from five of the 15 flocks and in six samples of fetal stomach contents. The results of pcr and flock serology for Chlamydia were positive in five of the 15 flocks and negative in eight.     

First genetic characterization of equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV-1) in Turkey

Equine adenovirus type 1 (EAdV-1) is a cause of repiratory tract infection in equids. In present study for the first time in Turkey, the prevalence of EAdV-1 in nasal swab samples obtained from horses showing respiratory symptoms was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and molecular characterization of the hexon gene detected in the Turkish (TR) strain was performed. Overall, the prevalence of EAdV-1 was found low (1.4%) as indicated by a positive PCR reaction from the nasal swab extracts tested. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial sequences of the hexon gene of a TR-EAdV-1 strain with those of previously isolated AdVs from different mammals and an EAdV-1 M1 strain showed that the EAdV-1 strains were placed into a unique cluster. Although the TR-EAdV-1 strain was closely related to CAV-1, CAV-2 and bat adenovirus reference strains, larger-scale studies are necessary to better understand the molecular epidemiology and population structure of EAdV-1 in Turkey.     

Effects of α-lipoic acid, vitamins E and C upon the heat stress in Japanese quails

Antioxidant vitamins are commonly used as colorant, preventive, sweetener, nutritive and antioxidant materials in food industry. Thus, many studies have been conducted in recent years. We have performed the present study to understand the effects of α-lipoic acid (ALA), vitamin C and E, added into rations of Japanese quails, on chronic heat stress. This study was carried out in five groups as: control, stress, ALA, vitamin E and vitamin C groups. Heat stress is applied to all groups except the control group. Superficial pectoral muscles tissues were used for biochemical determinations. During the research, it is found that heat stress exerted undesired effects such as increasing lipid peroxidation (LPO) level indicating oxidative stress in Japanese quails. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities and glutathione (GSH) amounts were studied to understand the behaviour of defence mechanism. While stress increased LPO ratio, it was determined that all antioxidant added into the ration decreases LPO significantly (p < 0.05). In addition, it was determined that all of antioxidants added into ration effectively restored SOD activity and LPO ratio which heat stress affected negatively. Interestingly, vitamin C did not adjust GSH ratio in contrast to vitamin E and ALA, where vitamin E and C did not perform any positive effect on heat stress decreased CAT activity. Finally, it can be thought that antioxidant vitamins relatively ameliorated these undesired affects caused by stress factors given.     

Armillaria ostoyae associated with dying 60‐year‐old Scots pines in northern Turkey

We investigated an Armillaria root disease centre in a 60‐year‐old, naturally regenerated Pinus sylvestris stand located at 1250 m altitude in Sinop province in northern Turkey. Based on sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA, the mycelial fans sampled from the infected trees were Armillaria ostoyae. Multilocus genotyping indicated that the fans belonged to a single genet, at least 0.2 ha in size. Drought as a predisposing factor is discussed. The study area received 50–70 and 25–50% of the normal precipitation in May, June and August in 2009 and in August and September in 2010, respectively. Moreover, earlier excavation work to prepare a forest road had probably disrupted the water table in the affected stand.