First Report on the Frequency and Molecular Detection of Neuropathogenic EHV-1 in Turkey

There has been an increase in outbreaks of neuropathogenic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in the United States and Europe. However, the presence and frequency of neuropathogenic EHV-1 in Turkish horses are not known at present. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of EHV-1 and neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1 in the Marmara Region of Turkey. Samples were analyzed for the presence of EHV-1 and neuropathogenic EHV-1 by real-time PCR TaqMan probe assays. Overall detection rate of EHV-1 was 45.5% (51 of 112). The detection rates were 70.5% (24 of 34) in aborted fetuses, 53.3% (8 of 15) in neonatal deads, 66.6% (4 of 6) in foals, 40% (2 of 5) in dead mares, and 25% (13 of 52) in living mares. Overall detection rate of neuropathogenic EHV-1 was 7.8% (4 of 51), and the real-time PCR results were confirmed by sequencing. Neuropathogenic strains of EHV-1 were detected in the brain and lung of two mares with neurological disease but without a history of abortion, in the brain of a foal that died of respiratory disorder, and in the nasal swab from a mare with a history of abortion. On histopathology, nonpurulent meningoencephalitis, hemorrhages, and vasculitis were seen in the brain. In conclusion, results of this study indicated, for the first time, that the neuropathogenic EHV-1 is circulating in the Marmara Region of Turkey. The results of this study also show that the current risk for non-neuropathogenic strains is high, whereas risk for the neuropathogenic EHV-1-G₂₂₅₄ strain seems to be low. As outbreaks of EHV-1 continue in the Marmara region of Turkey, surveillance for neuropathogenic EHV-1 genotype should be maintained.     

Maintaining the carbon–oxygen balance in residential areas: A method proposal for land use planning

The efforts to mitigate CO₂, one of the greenhouse gases causing global warming and climate change problems, have an important place in the worldwide agenda. One of the factors that cause CO₂ emissions is energy use in residential buildings, hence urban residential use is one of the areas on which mitigation efforts are focused. As land use planning determines the spatial development, density and form of residential areas, it has a direct role in the formation of residential emissions. However, these efforts to mitigate emissions could not yet be integrated with land use planning. It is possible to list the reasons as the mitigation efforts are made either on the building scale (mitigation of residential emissions by technological–architectural solutions) or on a global–regional scale (development of carbon sinks), the focus on transportation sector, and in land use planning, lack of considering the potential of urban green areas to mitigate emissions. By taking into consideration the O₂ production potential of green areas, a method proposal for land use planning is developed in this study to maintain the carbon–oxygen balance in residential areas. Depending on the form and density of the residential areas developed in a plan, the necessary size of green areas in such a plan is estimated by the method proposed. The varying emission amounts in different residential areas with diverse housing types, the number of actively used residential units, and local vegetation differences are included in the estimate. Therefore, an estimation method proposal that could be easily used in land use planning and that considers local differences is presented in the paper.     

Use of topical selamectin for the treatment of Syphacia muris infection in laboratory rats

Efficacy of selamectin was studied in naturally acquired S. muris infections in rats. Fourty-eight S. muris-positive rats were divided into six treated and two control groups. Selamectin (6 mg/kg) was applied topically to the skin in a single spot at the base of the neck in the treatment group. The rats of treated and control groups were necropsied on the 24th day after the treatment. Topical selamectin was found to be 40.7-63.3% effective (based on egg per gram method) in eliminating S. muris infection in rats. The efficacy of the treatment against S. muris (based on adult worm counts) in male and female rats was 35.14-58.88%, respectively (mean 48.39%).     

Use of topical selamectin for the treatment of Trichosomoides crassicauda infection in laboratory rats

The present study investigated the efficacy of topical selamectin for elimination of naturally acquired Trichosomoides crassicauda infection in rats. Twelve T. crassicauda-positive rats were assigned to the treatment group and six rats were assigned to the control group. Selamectin (6 mg/kg) was applied topically to the skin in a single spot at the base of the neck in front of the scapulae in the treatment group. To assess the efficacy of the treatment, animal faeces were investigated with the use of the flotation technique on days 0, 4, 14 and 24 after selamectin application. The rats of the treatment and control groups were necropsied on the day 24. In the treatment group, 7 of 12 infected rats were cured completely. Topical selamectin was found to be effective in eliminating T. crassicauda infection in rats.     

Climate effects and bottom‐up controls on growth and size‐at‐age of Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in Alaska (USA)

Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) are an ecologically, commercially, and culturally important Alaskan groundfish species. Commercial harvest of halibut dates back to the late 19th century and has been managed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) since 1921. IPHC surveys have revealed declining trends in survey biomass in multiple regions and region‐specific declines in mean size‐at‐age (size‐at‐age) over the past two decades (>50% in some areas). Changes in size‐at‐age can arise from a variety of physical, ecological, sampling, and fishery effects, including size‐dependent fishery or predation mortality, alteration in growth from variability in prey quality or quantity, and changes in temperature‐dependent metabolic demands. Here, we develop and apply a bioenergetics model for halibut using survey‐based diet and temperature data for Alaska to evaluate potential environmental drivers of size‐at‐age. In general, juvenile (<40 cm fork length) foraging rates were highest in the Gulf of Alaska concomitant with higher potential growth and elevated basal metabolic demands during warm summer conditions. In contrast, adult (40–120 cm FL) potential growth was highest in the Eastern Bering Sea, potentially reflecting lower metabolic costs and higher rates of prey consumption in that region. We additionally find evidence for interannual variation in potential growth, with a higher frequency of reduced growth potential in the last decade, particularly in the Eastern Bering Sea in 2015 and 2016 for both juvenile and adult halibut. These results suggest the potential for patterns in size‐at‐age to arise from trophic and environmental constraints that collectively limit growth in some regions and years.     

Contents of Antioxidant Compounds in Turkish Oats: Simple Phenolics and Avenanthramide Concentrations

Antioxidant products such as simple phenolic compounds and avenanthramides in oat (Avena sativa L.) may have health‐promoting effects on humans. Therefore, it is very important to determine simple phenolics and avenanthramide concentrations of different genotypes of oats from different regions of the world. The aim of this research was to determine the concentrations of simple phenolics and avenanthramides of Turkish oat genotypes. According to the results, Turkish oat genotypes were significantly different for three major avenanthramides (Bc, Bp, and Bf) and the simple phenolic, ferulic acid (FA), while not significantly different for p‐coumaric acid (PCA). Ferulic acid concentrations of Turkish oat genotypes were higher than a standard U.S. cultivar, Belle. However, the major avenanthramide concentrations of Turkish oat genotypes were significantly lower than Belle.     

Acaricidal effects of the essential oil of Origanum minutiflorum (Lamiaceae) against Rhipicephalus turanicus (Acari: Ixodidae)

The acaricidal effects of the volatile essential oil Origanum minutiflorum O. Schwarz & P.H. Davis (Lamiaceae) against adult Rhipicephalus turanicus was evaluated at a variety of concentrations and exposure times. Generally tick mortality increased with concentration and exposure. Ticks exposed to vapors from cotton wicks containing at least 10 μl/L resulted in complete (100%) mortality at 120 min. The major constituent of essential oil obtained from the plant material of O. minutiflorum was carvacrol.     

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.     

The variation of the amount of the neurosecretory materials in the Corpus Allatum of Pimpla turionellae L. (Hymenoptera: ichneumonidae) during oocyte maturation

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of neurosecretory material (NSM) in Corpus Allatum (CA) of endoparasitic Pimpla turionellae L. on reproduction. For this purpose, the egg maturation of the insect and the amount of the NSM in CA of the serial section of the brain were studied. Egg maturation was determined by measuring the terminal oocyte length. In order to determine the amount of the NSM in CA the neurosecretory granules of which were stained by paraldehyde fuchsin are considered. The egg maturation of P. turionellae have performed twice. The NSM intensity in CA continued increasingly from the first day of egg development until the first oviposition days; and reached the maximum level before the second egg maturation phase. These observations showed that the NSM in CA of this insect may be related to egg development.     

A Practical LC-MS/MS Method for the Detection of NDMA at Nanogram per Liter Concentrations in Multiple Water Matrices

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is one of the most important disinfection by-products (DBPs) due to its carcinogenicity even at low concentrations which correspond to the levels occurring in drinking water and wastewater effluents. Therefore, NDMA is a candidate DBP that is expected to be regulated in the near future. However, the measurement of NDMA in the low nanogram per liter range is challenging because of the limitations of analytical techniques including both the sample preparation and the LC-MS/MS. Moreover, the accuracy of most of the current methods is only tested for drinking water and no information is present for other matrices. In this study, a combination of solid-phase extraction (SPE) and LC-MS/MS method that does not require high-resolution MS or advanced techniques for sample pretreatment is developed. Moreover, important factors that affect the optimization of the SPE method are provided to enable readers to optimize their own SPE procedures if necessary. The proposed method was validated for surface water, groundwater, and wastewater samples and the method quantification limit was 2?ng/L. In addition, the proposed method was used to determine the concentration of NDMA precursors measured as NDMA formation potential (NDMAFP) throughout a drinking water treatment plant at two different sampling periods. NDMAFP decreased by approximately 40?% in both samples. The concentrations ranged between 4 and 11.5?ng/L and the presence of these low concentrations underlines the need for an easy to use, yet sensitive method for the determination of NDMA in environmental matrices.