Effect of boron application on calcium and boron concentrations in cell wall of durum (Triticum durum) and bread (Triticum aestivum) wheat

A greenhouse experiment was conducted with three doses of boron (0, 1, and 10 mg B kg^?1 in the form of boric acid (H₃BO₃). Durum wheat (Triticum durum L. cv: Çakmak-79) and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv: Gerek-79) cultivars were used as plant material. B toxicity symptoms strongly appeared in durum wheat compared to bread wheat. Applications of B at 1.0 mg B kg^?1 stimulated and increased the dry weights of both the cultivars, while high level B application (i.e., 10 mg B kg^?1) depressed and decreased the dry weights significantly. B concentration and uptake in the leaf tip were increased with an increase in B application, whereas calcium (Ca) concentration and uptake were decreased in both the cultivars. It was observed that a substantial amount of B was accumulated in the plant cell wall. As similar to leaf tips, B concentrations in the cell wall also increased with B application, whereas Ca concentration was decreased.     

Identification of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates from sheep and goats by PCR

The present study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of caseous lymphadenitis (CL) in sheep and goats slaughtered at the local abattoir in Elazig province located in the east of Turkey, between September and December 2000. A total of 2046 sheep and 2262 goat carcasses were examined during the study period and 118 abscessed lymph nodes, 89 from sheep and 29 from goats, were collected. Corynebacterium spp. strains were isolated from 81.4% of the abscesses, giving an overall prevalence of 2.2%. The prevalence was 3.5 and 1.1% in sheep and goats, respectively. PCR on DNA extracted from 96 suspicious isolates, using a pair of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis-specific primers, was positive for 93. Although cross-reaction with C. ulcerans, a human/bovine species, was observed, the PCR assay used in this study may successfully be applied for the diagnosis of CL in goats and sheep as an alternative to conventional methods, owing to its advantages of specificity and speed.     

Efficacy of sodium borate in the prevention of fatty liver in dairy cows

The effects of sodium borate (100 mg/kg body weight, p.o., 15 days) from a month before expected calving until a month after calving were evaluated in dairy cows susceptible to fatty liver. Cows received either sodium borate (n = 13) or no treatment (n = 10). All cows had mild fatty livers and increased plasma triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations at the beginning of the experiment. The control group of cows developed significant fatty liver after calving, and 2 of them had severe fatty liver associated with clinical and biochemical abnormalities. There were no clinicopathological signs related to sodium borate administration. Serum triglycerides and VLDL concentrations before calving decreased significantly at calving and after calving in controls, and they were within the normal range only after calving. There were significant alterations during the experiment in some hematological and chemical variables between groups, within period, but they were within the normal range. Unlike treated cows, serum triglycerides and VLDL concentrations correlated with liver fat content after calving in untreated cows. Our results document that sodium borate decreases the degree of fatty liver in dairy cows during early lactation.     

Polycarbazole modified carbon fiber microelectrode: Surface characterization and dopamine sensor

Electropolymerization of carbazole (Cz) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) onto carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFME) (diameter ∼7 μm) in dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂) solution of 0.1 mol·dm⁻³ tetraethyl ammonium perchlorate (TEAP) results in the formation of polycarbazole (PCz) thin film coatings. CV results showed that these PCz thin films have reversible redox behavior in monomer-free electrolyte solution. The resulting thin polymer films were characterized using Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results performed at optimum experimental conditions indicate that electrodes show a reversible and stable behavior over sixty eight days of testing for dopamine in 100 μmol·dm⁻³ buffer solution. A detection limit for PCz thin films as low as 0.1 μM (3S/N) was obtained for the polycarbazole (PCz) thin films formed using CV. Hence, this novel sensor can be considered as promising sensor for dopamine detection.     

Genetic and morphological divergences between wild and captive‐bred populations of Salmo trutta abanticus

Salmo trutta abanticus is a non‐anadromous trout species native to Lake Abant and Seven Lakes in Turkey. A restocking programme by captive breeding was initiated in 1999 to support S. trutta abanticus population. Reared 2‐year‐old juveniles from randomly caught wild parental individuals in Maçka breeding farm were introduced into Lake Abant. We aimed to compare genetic and morphological divergences between wild‐ and captive‐bred populations using seven microsatellite loci and geometric morphometric measurements. A significant genetic and morphological divergences were detected between all population in F_st and canonical variate analysis based on geometric morphometric with 10 homolog landmark. Eighty‐six microsatellites alleles were recorded across loci. Number of private alleles, observed alleles and observed heterozygosity are statistically significant higher in Maçka captive‐bred population than Lake Abant and Seven Lakes populations. Of 42 tests, three departures from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were detected in all populations after Bonferroni correction. Two pairs of loci (Ssa85 – Str73 and Str73‐Str543) in Maçka, one pairs of loci (Ssa85‐Str73) in Abant and two pairs of loci (Ssa85‐Str60 and Str73‐Str543) in Seven Lakes populations show linkage disequilibrium. Population structure analysed with Structure software showed three genetic groups (?K = 3) in our studied populations. Relatedness estimates show higher mean relatedness values (r = 0.220 ± 0.230) for Maçka captive‐breed population than wild populations of Abant Lake and Seven Lakes (r = 0.140 ± 0.210 and r = 0.170 ± 0.200 respectively).     

Effect of combination of dietary Bacillus subtilis and trans‐cinnamic acid on innate immune responses and resistance of rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss to Yersinia ruckeri

The present study investigated the effects of combination of dietary Bacillus subtilis and trans‐cinnamic acid on serum biochemical parameters, innate immune responses and resistance of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss to Yersinia ruckeri. Six experimental groups of fish with mean weights of 20.58 ± 0.35 g were used in the study. Five experimental groups of fish were fed diets containing Bacillus subtilis (10⁷ per gram) or a mix of the Bacillus subtilis (BS) and trans‐cinnamic acid (25 mg/kg‐25trcBS, 50 mg/kg‐50trcBS, 75 mg/kg‐75 trcBS, 150 mg/kg‐150 trcBS), whereas an additive‐free basal diet served as the control (Cont). In this study, an increase was observed in granulocyte percentage, respiratory burst activity, phagocytic activity, phagocytic index, myeloperoxidase activity and total antiprotease activity especially in fish fed with mix of the BS and trans‐cinnamic acid‐supplemented diets (p < .05). Moreover, at the end of the 20‐day challenge period the survival rates and antibody titre (p < .05), and relative per cent survival were higher in the BS group and all trcBS groups compared with control group. As a conclusion, the results in the present study show that feeding rainbow trout with diets containing a mix of B. subtilis and trans‐cinnamic acid over a 60‐day period might be sufficient for improving fish immune responses and disease resistance against Y. ruckeri.     

Acoustic effects of underwater drilling and piling noise on growth and physiological response of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Human‐generated noises are considered as underwater sound pollution with potential short‐ or long‐term impacts on behavioural responses and physiological reaction of aquatic living organisms. Few investigations are available so far on long‐term influences of impulsive and continuous sound sources on physiological response of fish. In the present study, opercula beat rates and pectoral wing rates were monitored as a physiological stress response of ventilation in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to long‐term repeated and continued sounds generated from underwater construction work. Fish responded to underwater sound treatment with significantly increased opercula beat—and pectoral wing movements. Maximum ventilation rate was observed as a startle response of fish at initial exposure to underwater sound. The ventilation rates remained at high levels over the first 4 weeks and showed a declining trend thereafter. Fish growth was almost stable for the first 4 weeks, but shifted forward from day 45 onwards. We found strong evidence that fish could attune to repeated playbacks of underwater noise exposures since we found higher specific growth rates for the sound exposed fish from day 45 onwards until day 120, a so‐called ‘catch‐up growth endeavour’.     

Effects of Sewage Sludge Amendment on Some Soil Properties,Growth, Yield and Nutrient Content of Raspberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubus idaeus</Emphasis> L.)

This study was focused not only at the assessment of effects of different sewage sludge application rates on vegetative parameters and yield of raspberry (Rubus ideaus L.) but also heavy metal accumulation in the soil and raspberry leaves. A three-year field study was set up in a completely randomized block design with five sewage sludge application rates (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0?kg of dry matter per plant) and three replications. One-year-old, virus free ‘Heritage’ saplings were used for the experiment. The results of this study clearly indicated that the sewage sludge application is an effective mean for improvement of vegetative growth, yield, soil and plant chemical properties of raspberry in light textured soils. In addition to macro-element contents, sewage sludge application also caused significant changes in micro-element content of soils. No adverse effects of these increases were observed on plants throughout the experimental period. The most effective application rate was found as 7.5?kg per plant for this ecological condition. It can be concluded that when properly treated and applied to farmland sewage sludge is not only disposed economically but also improved vegetative growth and yield of raspberry.     

Fatty acid metabolism in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): effects of n-6 PUFA and MUFA in fish oil replaced diets

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)-rich and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-6 PUFA)-rich vegetable oils are increasingly used as fish oil replacers for aquafeed formulation. The present study investigated the fatty acid metabolism in juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, 38.4 g) fed diets containing fish oil (FO, as the control treatment) or two different vegetable oils (the MUFA-rich canola/rapeseed oil, CO; and the n-6 PUFA-rich cottonseed oil, CSO) tested individually or as a 50/50 blend (CO/CSO). The whole-body fatty acid balance method was used to deduce the apparent in vivo fatty acid metabolism. No effect on growth performance and feed utilization was recorded. However, it should be noted that the fish meal content of the experimental diets was relatively high, and thus the requirement for n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LC-PUFA) may have likely been fulfilled even if dietary fish oil was fully replaced by vegetable oils. Overall, relatively little apparent in vivo fatty acid bioconversion was recorded, whilst the apparent in vivo β-oxidation of dietary fatty acid was largely affected by the dietary lipid source, with higher rate of β-oxidation for those fatty acids which were provided in dietary surplus. The deposition of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, as % of the dietary intake, was greatest for the fish fed on the CSO diet. It has been shown that European sea bass seems to be able to efficiently use n-6 PUFA for energy substrate, and this may help in minimizing the β-oxidation of the health benefiting n-3 LC-PUFA and thus increase their deposition into fish tissues.