Effects of xylazine, medetomidine, detomidine, and diazepam on sedation, heart and respiratory rates, and cloacal temperature in rock partridges (Alectoris graeca).

In this study, heart and respiratory rates, cloacal temperature, and quality of sedation were evaluated before (0 min) and after (10, 20, and 30 min) i.m. administration of xylazine (10 mg/kg; n = 7), medetomidine (75 li; n = 6), detcmidine (0.3 mg/kg; n = 6), or diazepam (6 mg/kg; n = 7) in rock partridges (Alectoris graeca). All partridges recovered from sedation without any disturbance. Xylazine and diazepam administration did not induce significant changes in heart rate, which did decrease significantly after medetomidine and detomidine administration (P < 0.001). Mean respiratory rate was decreased dramatically at 20 and 30 min after xylazine (P < 0.001) and medetomidine (P < 0.005) administration, and at all stages of sedation after detomidine injection (P < 0.001), whereas there was not any significant change after diazepam injection. In all groups, cloacal temperature measured at 10, 20, and 30 min tended to decrease compared with baseline values. Sedative effects of the drugs started within 2.1+/-0.2 min for detomidine, 2.6 +/- 0.4 min for diazepam, 3.1 -+/-.4 min for xylazine, and 4.8+/-0.8 min for medetomidine application. There was an extreme variability in time to recovery for each drug: 205 +/-22.2 min for xylazine, 95 -12.2 min for medetomidine, 260+/-17.6 min for detomidine, and 149 + 8.3 min for diazepam. In conclusion, xylazine, medetomidine, detomidine, and diazepam produced sedation, which could permit some clinical procedures such as handling and radiographic examination of partridges to occur. Of the four drugs, xylazine produced stronger and more efficient sedation compared to the others, which could permit only minor procedures to be performed. However, depending on the drug used, monitoring of heart and respiratory rates and cloacal temperature might be required.     

Evaluation of free radical formation associated with diagnostic ultrasound

Our objective was to evaluate kidney antioxidant status in rats subjected to an ultrasound examination. Thirty rats were divided into five groups for injection of saline (S) or anesthetic (A), and application of ultrasound using different modes, B mode, pulsed wave Doppler, and continuous wave Doppler, under anesthesia. Ultrasound was performed on days 1, 3, and 5 relative to the initiation of the experiment. Rats were then scarified on day 6. The kidney tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured. Both TBARS level and SOD activity increased, 21% and 38%, respectively, due to anesthesia (P < 0.04 for both). SOD activity increased further by a factor of 1.2 in response to ultrasound examination (P < 0.05), whereas TBARS level was not affected by Doppler and continuous wave Doppler compared to anesthesia. Increases in the level of TBARS (P < 0.03) and SOD activity (P < 0.01) were greatest when B-mode ultrasound was employed. These substances did not increase further when continuous wave Doppler was employed. The peak-negative acoustic pressure (9.16 vs. 9.74 MPa) and frequency (3.57 vs. 6.95 MHz) for B mode and pulsed wave Doppler were greater than those for continuous wave Doppler (0.22 MPa and 1.96 MHz). The estimated mechanical indexes were 4.87, 3.70, and 0.15 for B mode, pulsed wave Doppler, and continuous wave Doppler, respectively. In conclusion, anesthesia may cause tissue damage as reflected by elevated lipid peroxidation and free radical formation and ultrasound examination may amplify tissue damage through mechanical effects caused by ultrasound absorption.     

Nucleotide and octapeptide-repeat variations of the prion protein coding gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">PRNP</Emphasis>) in Anatolian,Murrah, and crossbred water buffaloes

Resistance to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) that is significantly associated with insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphisms at two loci (putative promoter and intron 1) on the prion protein gene (PRNP) in cattle has been well documented. Studies suggest that the insertion alleles are related to BSE resistance. Until recently, BSE has never been reported in water buffaloes (unlike cattle). Previous studies have demonstrated that the PRNP gene in water buffalo consists mostly of insertion alleles at both loci; nevertheless, whether or not water buffaloes are genetically resistant to BSE and the role of indel polymorphisms in their resistance status is not clear. We examined the coding region of PRNP to determine the nucleotide and octapeptide-repeat (octarepeats) variations of Anatolian, Murrah and Murrah × Anatolian (M?×?A) water buffaloes. Three synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at positions 126, 234, and 285, and a non-synonymous SNP at position 322 (G108S) were detected. Triplet G/A/T base substitutions were observed at position 126 and two additional genotypes, T/A and T/G, at this position were determined. We also found six octarepeats that indicated the presence of the wild-type PRNP6 allele in the coding region. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the T/A and T/G genotypes in water buffaloes.     

Freeze Injure and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity of Grapevine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis Vinifera</Emphasis>) Under Bio-Boron Fertilizer Applications

This study was conducted to determine the effects of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) and boron (Bio-B) on the plant freeze injury, antioxidant enzyme activity and fruit yield of grapevine cultivar. The experimental plot was a completely randomized design with 5 replicates. As a trial model Bio-B and control were used as fertilizer agent. Bio-B fertilizer has been applied in different ways as soil?+?foliar, soil and foliar application methods to grapevine plants. Data through 2 years trials results showed that the use of Bio-B significantly decreased freeze injury and increased antioxidant enzyme activity of grapevine leaf. The highest damage rate at control group occurred with ?20?^°C and 94.89% ratio. In the same temperature degree at grape plant, the damage ratio of the Bio-B application from soil decreased by 21.55%; the application from leaf by 25.53% and with the application from soil?+?leaf by 26.24%. In addition to this, compared with control, in the CAT, POD and SOD enzyme activities increases occurred with the ratios as 28.57%, 22.05% and 39.25%, respectively. Generally, as results of this study under field conditions, Bio-B fertilizer application decreased freeze injure and increased antioxidant enzyme activity of the grapevine plant.     

Differences in virulence of genets of Heterobasidion annosum and susceptibility of young plants of different conifer species and origins

Heterobasidion species are the most important pathogens causing root and stem rot on conifers in northern hemisphere forests. The host list of this complex is very wide and includes over 200 species of trees and shrubs. Among the members of this complex, Heterobasidion annosum s. s. has the largest host range. In this study, young plants of Pinus sylvestris, Picea orientalis, Abies nordmanniana, Cedrus libani and Pinus brutia (three different origins) were inoculated on the lower stem with known genets of Heterobasidion annosum s.s. collected from Pinus brutia stands in south-western Türkiye. Infection frequency, assessed as presence of the conidial stage in stem discs following incubation, in the inoculated seedlings was 100%. The Heterobasidion annosum s. s. isolates were re-isolated from all inoculated host species. Control seedlings showed no symptoms of disease. Mortality in inoculated plants was 11.5% of the 735 inoculated plants, which died over an 8-weeks incubation period. The isolates showed greater growth on Cedrus libani, Pinus sylvestris and Picea orientalis seedlings compared to other species tested. On the other hand, it was found that the least affected seedlings were Pinus brutia TB12 and Abies nordmanniana. This study proved that differences occur in aggressiveness of Heterobasidion annosum s. s. to host species. A striking point in the results is that, despite being the host species from which the isolates were obtained, Pinus brutia seedlings showed lower sensitivity to Heterobasidion annosum s. s. than the other conifer species tested. Inoculations of three different Pinus brutia provenances suggested there was no significant difference in mean lesion lengths and fungal growth values in Pinus brutia plants, except in Pinus brutia TB14, which was more susceptible to extension growth of the pathogen.     

Comparison of fatty acid contents of wild and cultured rainbow trout <Emphasis Type="Italic">Onchorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis> in Turkey

Abstract:   The total lipid content and fatty acid composition were determined in the flesh and skin of wild and cultured rainbow trout in Turkey. The effect of diet content was also investigated on cultured trout. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for fatty acid analyses. Total lipid content of skin was higher than flesh in both types and when compared appreciably higher in cultured fish. The predominant fatty acid was palmitic acid (C16:0) in saturated fatty acids and oleic acid (C18:1n-9) in monounsaturated fatty acids. The amount of eicosapentaenoic acid was double in wild and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 1.5 times higher in cultured fish flesh. The n-3/n-6 ratio was higher in cultured fish than wild fish. The levels of palmitic, oleic, linoleic (C18:2n-6) and palmitoleic (C16:1n-7) acids were high in skin. The level of EPA was the same in skin of wild fish but 5.5 times higher in cultured fish, whereas the proportion of DHA in skin was lower for wild and 3.5 times higher in cultured fish. Wild fish had a high level of linoleic, arachidonic (C20:4n-6) and linolenic (C18:3n-3) acids. The total amount of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher in flesh of wild fish than cultured fish, contrary to skin of cultured fish. The data obtained demonstrated that fatty acid composition of cultured fish did not depend on that of feed.     

Nitric oxide improves high zinc tolerance in maize plants

A short-term experiment was carried out to study the effects of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) on some growth parameters and mineral nutrients of maize grown at high zinc (Zn). Maize seedlings were planted in pots containing perlite and subjected to 0.05 or 0.5 mM Zn in nutrient solution. Nitric oxide (0.1 mM) was sprayed to the leaves of maize seedlings. High Zn reduced total dry matter, chlorophyll (Chl.) content and leaf relative water content (RWC), but increased proline content and membrane permeability. Foliar application of NO significantly increased chlorophyll content, RWC and growth of plants treated with high Zn, and significantly reduced their membrane permeability and proline contents. High Zn resulted in increased leaf and root Zn, but lower concentrations of leaf phosphorus (P), and iron (Fe). Foliar application of NO lowered leaf and root Zn and increased leaf and root nitrogen (N) and leaf Fe in the high Zn plants. These results clearly demonstrated that externally-applied NO induced growth improvement in maize plants was found to be associated with reduced membrane permeability under high zinc. Results can be concluded that NO may be involved in nutritional and physiological changes in plants subjected to high Zn.     

The Effect of Yatagan Thermal Power Plant (Mugla,Turkey) on the Quality of Surface and Ground Waters

Yatagan thermal power plant consumes annually 5.4 million tons of coal and the annual production capacity of the plant is 3.78 billion KWh. The thermal power plant uses 15 000 tons of coal and discharges 5000 tons of fly and bottom ash daily to the disposal site. The waste is dumped using conveyer belts and pipes into a dam founded on metamorphic rocks. However, as the waste hills formed, the water level reached the karstic marbles that over lay schist. Water leaches through dried waste hills and karstic marbles, ultimately adversely affecting the quality of ground and surface waters. The concentrations of major and minor ions were determined on water samples taken at 2 points in the dam, 5 points in surface water and at 21 points in groundwater located in the vicinity of the waste disposal site, total of 28 samples, for three years. The chemical analyses revealed that the concentrations of Ca²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Sb²⁺ and SO₄ ^2- in some samples exceed the Turkish Drinking Water, the U.S. EPA and WHO limits. Isotope analyses were carried out to determine the origins of waters, which showedthat contamination is taking place in the vicinity of the waste disposal site.     

Establishing jujube trees in sub-Saharan Africa: response of introduced and local cultivars to rock phosphate and water supply in Burkina Faso, West Africa

In the Sahel zone, there is an increasing interest of farmers in conserving and enriching tree diversity on their farms as a source of food and income. Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. is one of the tree species farmers maintain on their farms. Even though the local variety of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. was ranked as one of the most preferred species, it produces small fruit whereas farmers are interested in varieties producing bigger and tasty ones. A factorial experiment in a split split-plot design was carried out to assess the performance of three introduced cultivars of Indian jujube in Burkina Faso. Investigated factors were irrigation (irrigated with 30 l plant⁻¹ week⁻¹, non-irrigated), rock phosphate containing 25% P₂O₅ (0 and 150 g P plant⁻¹) and cultivar (Gola, Seb, Umran, and local variety as control). Eighteen months after planting, Umran responded positively to irrigation and rock phosphate treatments by displaying the tallest height (313 cm) and the biggest collar diameter (6.4 cm). Gola gave the largest crown diameter (316 cm) at 18 months and the highest fruit production at the first (15.3 kg tree⁻¹) and second (71.6 kg tree⁻¹) fruiting seasons in the irrigated and fertilized treatment. The local variety was less productive compared to the introduced cultivars. In terms of income generation irrigated and fertilized Gola and irrigated Umran showed the highest potential after two fruiting seasons with net revenues of F CFA 2,526,915 and F CFA 1,930,546 per hectare respectively. Therefore, Umran and Gola may be recommended in intensive sub-Saharan peri-urban systems while Seb needs further investigation to improve its water and nutrient use efficiency through either better timing of water and fertilizer application or symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.