Cultured meat from muscle stem cells:A review of challenges and prospects

Growing muscle tissue in culture from animal stem cells to produce meat theoretically eliminates the need to sacrifice animals. So-called "cultured" or "synthetic" or "in vitro" meat could in theory be constructed with different characteristics and be produced faster and more efficiently than traditional meat. The technique to generate cultured muscle tissues from stem cells was described long ago, but has not yet been developed for the commercial production of cultured meat products. The technology is at an early stage and prerequisites of implementation include a reasonably high level of consumer acceptance, and the development of commercially-viable means of large scale production. Recent advancements in tissue culture techniques suggest that production may be economically feasible, provided it has physical properties in terms of colour, flavour, aroma, texture and palatability that are comparable to conventional meat. Although considerable progress has been made during recent years, important issues remain to be resolved, including the characterization of social and ethical constraints, the fine-tuning of culture conditions, and the development of culture media that are cost-effective and free of animal products. Consumer acceptance and confidence in in vitro produced cultured meat might be a significant impediment that hinders the marketing process.     

Determination of Energy Use Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions of Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) Production in Adıyaman Province

The purpose of this research is to perform the energy use efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of pistachio production. This research was performed for 2016 and 2017 production season in Ad?yaman province of Turkey in dry conditions in 2017. The data supplied from research were collected from 152 different farms by face to face surveys with simple random sampling method. The agricultural input energies and output energies used in pistachio production were computed to determine the energy use efficiency. According to the research findings, the energy inputs in pistachio production were computed respectively as 4561.11?MJ ha^?1 (35.50%) diesel fuel energy, 3206.24?MJ ha^?1 (24.96%) chemical fertilizers energy, 2420.93?MJ ha^?1 (18.84%) machinery energy, 1020.06?MJ ha^?1 (7.94%) human labour energy, 715.69?MJ ha^?1 (5.57%) animal labour energy, 656.95?MJ ha^?1 (5.11%) farmyard manure energy and 266.16?MJ ha^?1 (2.07%) chemicals energy. Total input energy was computed as 12,847.14?MJ ha^?1. Energy values of pistachio yield were computed as 15,008.65?MJ ha^?1. Energy use efficiency, specific energy, energy productivity and net energy computations were computed respectively as 1.17, 22.32?MJ kg^?1, 0.04?kg MJ^?1 and 2161.51?MJ ha^?1. The consumed total energy input in pistachio production can be classified as 49.01% direct, 50.99% indirect, 18.62% renewable and 81.38% non-renewable. Total GHG emission was computed as 1123.72?kg CO_2?eqha^?1 for pistachio production with the greatest portions for human labour (32.42%). The human labour followed up chemical fertilizers usage (23.21%), diesel fuel consumption (19.89%), machinery usage (15.30%), farmyard manure usage (5.65%), chemicals usage (3.25%) and animal labour usage (0.27%), respectively. Additionally, GHG ratio value was computed as 1.95 kgCO_2?eqkg^?1 in pistachio production.

     

The use of machine learning methods in classification of pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo L.)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Pumpkin seeds are frequently consumed as confection worldwide because of their adequate amount of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and mineral contents. This study...     

Soil determinants for distribution of Halocnemum strobilaceum Bieb. (Chenopodiaceae) around Lake Tuz, Turkey

In this study we aimed to reveal the ranges and effectiveness of soil parameters on the distribution of H. strobilaceum. Halocnemum strobilaceum Bieb. is a widespread species in saline habitats and the distribution pattern of this halophytic species around Lake Tuz in Central Anatolia was examined according to the soil characteristics. pH, electrical conductivity, soil humidity, salt percentage, soluble Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, CO3(2-), HCO3(-), Cl(-) and SO4(2-) values, total cations, cation exchange capacity, sodium adsorption ratio, exchangeable Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ values were the examined soil properties. The most effective soil parameters for flowering period were found as Na, SO4, total cations, SAR and EC and for seed bearing period as EC, Mg, total cations, Cl, Na, SO4 and salt (%) content of the soil.     

Comparative Studies on the Green Algae Chlorella homosphaera and Chlorella vulgaris with Respect to Oil Pollution in the River Nile

The effect of oil pollution on growth and metabolic activitiesof the fresh water algae Chlorella homosphaera and C.vulgaris was studied. The study was conducted on two locationsin the river Nile, one is oil polluted and the other is notpolluted. The assemblage of the different algal groups wasmonitored in both locations. Chlorophyta was more dominant thanCyanophyta and Bacillariophyta in both locations during allseasons except in winter when Bacillariophyta is the mostdominant group. The presence of crude oil or its refineryproducts (solar and lubricating) in the culture media of algaemarkedly influenced their growth, proteins and nucleic acidcontents. The toxicity of oil was a concentration dependent. Thelow concentrations stimulated growth, protein content andnucleic acids, whereas high concentrations had an inhibitoryeffect. Although DNA and RNA responded similarly to crude oil inthe two tested organisms, DNA showed more sensitivity than RNAto solar oil. Lubricating oil had a little phytotoxic effect onnucleic acids. Different species of algae response differentiallyto oil pollution; Chlorella vulgaris can be referred to asoil-sensitive, while Chlorella homosphaera can toleraterelatively higher concentrations of oil.     

Therapeutic Intervention with Dietary Chitosan Nanoparticles Alleviates Fish Pathological and Molecular Systemic Inflammatory Responses against Infections

Marine bio-sourced chitosan nanoparticles (CSNP) are antimicrobial and immunomodulatory agents beneficial for fish medicine. Herein, dietary CSNP was investigated for the amelioration of the systemic inflammatory responses of an induced fish model. One hundred and forty-four rainbow trout were assigned to one pathogen-free and non-supplemented group (negative control), and three challenged groups: non-supplemented (positive control), CSNP-preventive, and CSNP-therapeutic. After a feeding experiment extended for 21 days, the organosomatic indices (OSI) and molecular aspects were assessed. After a challenge experiment extended for further 28 days, CSNP-therapeutic intervention was assessed on fish survival and systemic inflammatory responses on pathology, histo-morphology, and molecular aspects. With CSNP administration, OSI nonsignificantly decreased and the relative expression of targeted inflammatory-mediator genes was significantly increased. The CSNP-therapeutic fish showed an RPS of 80% as compared to the positive control group, and CSNP-therapeutic administration retained the highest gene expression augmentation up to 28 days after the challenge. Notably, the splenic reticulin fibers framework of the CSNP-therapeutic group retained the highest integrity among the groups during the infection. After recovery, reticulin fibers density in the CSNP-therapeutic samples was significantly higher than in the negative control group, which indicates high innate immunity. Thus, CSNP showed promising biotherapeutic features enhancing fish resistance against infections.     

Influence of potassium humate on biochemical and agronomic attributes of bean plants grown on saline soil

To study the effect of soil application of potassium humate (KH) (0, 70 and 140 Kg ha^?1) on agronomic, biochemical attributes, and yield and its components on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars ‘Bronco’ grown under two sites having different level of salinity (EC = 3.00 or 5.00 ± 0.20 dS m^?1). Two field trials were conducted at the Agriculture Test Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, in 2014 and 2015. The obtained results indicated that addition of KH increased all of the studied growth parameters, i.e. plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem diameter and canopy dry weight. Moreover addition of KH significantly increased membrane permeability measurements. KH significantly increased chemical composition related to salt tolerant either inorganic e.g. N, P, K, and decreased Na and Cl contents of leaves or organic components e.g. chlorophyll a + b, carotenoids, anthocyanin total phenolics, total flavonoids and proline. DPPH radical-scavenging activity and yield and its components were increased. The soil application of KH was found to be highly effective at improving the growth and yield of bean plants by alleviating the inhibitory effects of soil salinity stress.     

Einfluss langjährig differenzierter organisch‐mineralischer düngung auf den ertrag,die Ertragsstruktur und die Backqualität von Winterweizen

Im Internationalen organischen Stickstoff‐Dauerdüngungsversuch (IOSDV) hatte die organisch‐mineralische Düngung starken, von der Jahreswitterung modifizierten Einfluß auf die Ertrags‐ und Qualitätsbildung von Winterweizen. Anhand von Blattflächenindex‐Messungen konnten Wachstum und Entwicklung des Winterweizens in Abhängigkeit von den geprüften Faktoren dargestellt werden. Auf den Kornertrag wirkte sich am stärksten die Jahreswitterung aus, gefolgt von der mineralischen N‐Düngung und der organischen Düngung. Dies beruhte auf den Bodenverhältnissen am Versuchsstandort. Trockenperioden während der Blütenbildungsphase, die insbesondere durch Wasserdefizite verursacht wurden, führten vor allem bei der Kornzahl je Ähre und Bestandesdichte zu starken Reduktionen. Im Mittel der Jahre wurde mit 60 kg/ha N‐Düngung das Erfragsoptimum erreicht. Höhere N‐Mengen waren nicht effektiv. Die organische Düngung in Form von “Stallmistdüngung”; und “Stroh‐, Grün‐, Rübenblattdüngung”; führte beim Winterweizen zu signifikanten Mehrerträgen, wobei die größten Unterschiede bei Verzicht auf Mineral‐N‐Düngung auftraten. Die Backqualität der B‐Weizensorte Ares war primär von der mineralischen N‐Düngung abhängig. Die erforderlichen Werte für Weichweizen wurden überwiegend erst mit 110 bzw. 160 kg/ha N Mineral‐N‐Düngung erreicht. Mit organischer Düngung und vor allem durch Rübenblattdüngung wurde die Backqualität des Weizens sowohl in den Varianten ohne Mineral‐N als auch in Kombination mit der mineralischen N‐Düngung verbessert.     

Lebenszyklus von Meloidogyne incognita acrita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood (Nematoda,Heteroderidae) in Wurzeln der Baumwolle,Gossypium barbadense L

The incubation period ofM. incognita acrita eggs took 24–72 hours till the appearance of the second larval stage hatching from eggs in the laboratory at 25±5°C and at 60±5 R. H. The second larval stage, was observed in cotton roots 48 hours after the addition of it to soil beside cotton seedlings. The 3rd and 4th larval stage and adult female were observed in cotton roots 7, 11, and 24 days, respectively, after the addition of second larval stage to soil beside cotton seedlings. The total life cycle ofM. incognita acrita on cotton, (Gossypium barbadense) lasted for 33–38 days, at 25±5°C and at 60±5 R. H.