Proximate,Mineral Composition,Color Properties of Organic and Conventional Grown Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.)

In this research, proximate composition, mineral composition and color characteristics of hazelnuts grown by conventional and organic methods in East, Central and West Black Sea Regions (Turkey) that are the center of world hazelnut production were investigated. Commercially important ‘Çak?ldak’, ‘Fo?a’, ‘Mincane’, ‘Palaz’, ‘Sivri’ and ‘Tombul’ varieties were selected as research material. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that organic hazelnuts contain lower moisture and higher ash, no difference was found in protein, fat and carbohydrate amounts. In terms of all micro elements (boron, copper, iron, manganese, zinc) organic hazelnuts were found to be richer and potassium from macro elements were found to be higher in conventionally grown hazelnuts. Color properties were generally not affected by the production method and no loss of color was observed in organic hazelnuts. The high ash and micro element content of organic hazelnuts compared to the conventional hazelnuts would be a good alternative for the elimination of micro element deficiency, which is frequently seen in human nutrition.

     

Mechanical properties of composites made from locally manufactured carbon fabrics and the composites produced from air-textured glass yarns

Composite materials have a wide range of applications in structural components because of their high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. However, the most crucial and common life-restricting crack growth mode in laminated composites i.e. delamination is of great concern. Air jet texturing was selected to provide a small amount of bulk to the glass yarn. The purpose was to provide more surface contact between the fibres and resin and also to increase the adhesion between the neighbouring layers. These were expected to enhance the resistance to delamination in the woven glass composites. The development and characterisation of core-and-effect textured glass yarns was presented in the previous paper. This paper describes the comparison of the mechanical properties of composites produced from air-textured glass yarns and the composites made from locally manufactured carbon fabrics. The tensile, flexure and inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) were compared and it was observed that although glass fibres are inferior to carbon fibres in terms of mechanical properties however, the flexure strength and ILSS of glass based composites increases after texturing and were found closer to the properties of carbon based composites.     

Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of extractives from Wedelia calendulacea

The cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts of Wedelia calendulacea were assayed by brine shrimp lethality bioassay and standardized disk diffusion method against 19 bacterial strains. Three diterpenes isolated from the plant were also evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activities. The LC50 for the crude extracts against the brine shrimp nauplii were found to be 4.59 microg/ml, 7.99 microg/ml and 14.88 microg/ml, respectively, whereas the positive control, vincristine sulfate showed an LC50 of 0.58 microg/ml. Among the crude extracts and pure compounds tested, (-)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid isolated from the chloroform extract showed the highest inhibitory activity against most of the bacterial strains with mean zone of inhibition of 10-21 mm at 200 microg/disc.     

Constituents and cytotoxicity of Zanthoxylum rhesta stem bark

3,5-Dimethoxy-4-geranyloxycinnamyl alcohol (1), 8-methoxy-N-methylflindersine (2), xanthyletin and sesamin have been isolated from petroleum ether extract of the stem bark of Zanthoxylum rhesta. The petroleum ether extract and 8-methoxy-N-methylflindersine showed cytotoxicity on brine shrimp nauplii.     

Anticlastogenic effect of apigenin in human lymphocytes treated with ethinylestradiol

In the present study the antigenotoxic effect of apigenin was studied against a genotoxic dose of ethinylestradiol using the damage parameters of chromosomal aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and cell cycle kinetics (CCK). Human peripheral blood lymphocytes were cultured and treated with 10 μM of ethinylestradiol along with doses of 5, 10, 15 and 20 μM of apigenin. A clear decrease in the genotoxic damage induced by ethinylestradiol was observed with increasing doses of apigenin, suggesting a protective role for apigenin during ethinylestradiol therapy.     

A serological investigation of pestiviruses in sheep in eastern border of Turkey

All pestiviruses are important veterinary pathogens causing economic losses in cattle, sheep, and pigs. In this study, blood samples randomly collected from 465 sheep were analysed for the presence of antibodies to pestiviruses (bovine viral diarrhea virus, border disease virus) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the province of Van and their towns. The seroprevalance were estimated as 75.9% and 60.0–82.5% in the sampled animals and sampled towns, respectively. The results revealed that pestiviruses are important abort pathogens in the province of Van and their towns.     

Prevalence and risk factors for subclinical coccidiosis in broiler chicken farms in Mazandaran province,Iran

Coccidiosis is a disease of almost universal importance in Poultry production. The subclinical form of coccidiosis has most significant economic impact due to impaired growth rate and feed conversion. Some factors such as: age, size of flock, season, etc., may effect on severity of this disease. In this study, the relationships between some major risk factors and prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis were investigated. This study was done in 120 broiler farms in five different cities of Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Five chicks (3–8 weeks of ages) were taken randomly from every 120 farms and post-mortem and parasitological examinations were performed. Five Eimeria spp. were recognized: Eimeria tenella, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, and Eimeria necatrix. The prevalence rate of subclinical coccidiosis among them is 75% (90 farms out of 120). E. acervulina was the most prevalent species (65.5%) followed by E. maxima (17.7%), E. tenella (15.5%), E. brunetti (10%), and E. necatrix (5.5%). According to what the results approve, the occurrence of subclinical coccidiosis is significantly related to the age and size of flock, whereas the other factors such as the season of year, industrial strains, chicken’s keeping system, and anticoccidial drugs do not affect this phenomenon remarkably.     

Measurement of Radionuclides and Gamma-Ray Dose Rate in Soil and Transfer of Radionuclides from Soil to Vegetation, Vegetable of Some Northern Area of Pakistan Using ��-Ray Spectrometry

The analysis of gamma emitters natural radionuclides, i.e., ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K, has been carried out in soil, vegetation, vegetable, and water samples collected from some Northern area of Pakistan, using gamma-ray spectrometry. The ??-ray spectrometry was carried out using high-purity Germanium detector coupled with a computer-based high-resolution multi-channel analyzer. The activity concentrations in soil ranges from 24.7 to 78.5 Bq?kg^?1, 21.7 to 75.3 Bq?kg^?1, and 298.5 to 570.8 Bq?kg^?1 for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K with the mean value of 42.1, 43.3, 9.5, and 418.3 Bq?kg^?1, respectively. In the present analysis, ⁴⁰K was the major radionuclide present in soil, vegetation, fruit, and vegetable samples. The concentration of ⁴⁰K in vegetation sample varied from 646.6 to 869.6 Bq?kg^?1 on dry weight basis. However, the concentration of ⁴⁰K in fruit and vegetable samples varied from 34.0 to 123.3 Bq?kg^?1 on fresh weight basis. In vegetation samples, along with ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th were also present in small amount. The transfer factors of these radionuclides from soil to vegetation, fruit, and vegetable were also studied. The transfer factors were found in the order: ⁴⁰K?>?²³²Th????²²⁶Ra. The analysis of water samples showed activity concentrations values for all radionuclides below detection limit. The internal and external hazard indices were measured and found less than the safe limit of unity. The mean value of outdoor and indoor absorbed dose rate in air was found 64.61 and 77.54 nGy?h^?1, respectively. The activity concentrations of radionuclides found in all samples during the current investigation were nominal. Therefore, they are not associated with any potential source of health hazard to the general public.