Effect of ultrasonic laundering on thermophysiological properties of knitted fabrics

The paper focuses on the application of ultrasonic energy in textile laundering. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in ultrasonic energy application in textile industry; however, the effect of ultrasonic laundering on the thermophysiological properties of knitted fabrics has not been studied yet. This study was conducted by using polylactic acid (PLA), cotton, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and poly acrylic (PAC) fibres containing yarns and their blends. Knitted fabrics, single pique, were made from these yarns by using weft knitting machine. The fabrics were washed ten times for 15 and 60 minutes under 40 °C by using conventional and ultrasonic washing methods. The main aim was to determine the effect of washing methods on the thermophysiological properties of the fabrics. It is also aimed to analyse and evaluate the thermophysiological properties of the PLA fabrics. The incorporation of 100 % PLA and cotton/PLA yarns into single pique knitted fabrics has been attempted to produce for the first time and studied their thermal comfort properties. The results show that the washing processes have a critical importance for the tested fabrics in terms of thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, thermal absorbtivity, water vapour permeability, and heat loss. It has been also demonstrated that the fabric cleaning by using ultrasonic method enhanced the properties of tested fabrics such as thermal conductivity and % recovery. It was also noted that 15 minutes ultrasonically washed fabrics had significantly lower thermal resistance as compared to conventionally washed fabrics.     

Effects of 17β-estradiol injection on the reproductive efficiency of freshwater crayfish,Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823)

The effects of 17β-estradiol injection (10^?7mol/crayfish) in adult female Astacus leptodactylus on the reproductive efficiency (i.e., pleopodal egg and stage 1 juvenile numbers) were investigated. In addition, hepatosomatic index, gonodosomatic index, and 17β-estradiol (E2) levels of crayfish ovary, hepatopancreas, and heamolymph before and after injections were also determined. Results showed that E2 injection to females enhances the reproductive efficiency of A.leptodctylus. E2 injection significantly increased pleopodal egg and stage 1 juvenile numbers, GSI, HSI, and concentrations of E2 in heamolymph, ovary, and hepatopancreas. However, E2 injection did not accelerate time of mating and proportion of pleopodal egg-berried females at the first week of reproduction season in this species. This study highlights that to improve the reproductive efficiency of A.leptodctylus by using hormones to regulate the ovarian cycle, E2 should be used at least 1.5 months before the commencement of the breeding season.     

Presence of phylogeographic structure among wild diploid alfalfa accessions (Medicago sativa L. subsp. microcarpa Urb.) with evidence of the center of origin

The genetic structure of wild germplasm on a macrogeographic scale has implications for collection and conservation of wild genetic resources of economically important plants. Cultivated alfalfa is derived from a taxonomic group called the Medicago sativa–falcata complex, which includes a number of morphologically and genetically differentiated diploid and tetraploid subspecies representing the primary gene pool for alfalfa improvement. Although the origin of the taxa included in M. sativa–falcata complex has been described broadly, the center of diversity for each taxon is not clear. In this study, 60 individual genotypes from 16 accessions of the diploid taxon M. sativa subsp. microcarpa Urb. [M. sativa subsp. caerulea (Less. ex Ledeb.) Schmalh.] were obtained from the two proposed centers of diversity, Caucasia and Central Asia, and were genotyped with 89 simple sequence repeat markers. Phylogenetic reconstructions together with population genetics statistics (heterozygosity, allelic diversity, and F_ST) were used to describe the pattern of present genetic diversity, to deduce biogeographic history, and to infer the center of diversity. Our results revealed that the Central Asian accessions were distinct from the Caucasian accessions, and that overall accessions, genetic distance was positively correlated with geographical distance, indicating a spatial genetic structure. The accessions from the Caucasian region had higher mean F_ST values, higher allele diversity and higher heterozygosity, suggesting that the Caucasian region is the likely center of diversity for M. sativa subsp. microcarpa [M. sativa subsp. caerulea] and the accessions recolonized Central Asia from Caucasia after the glacial retreat.     

Effect of breed on fattening performance, slaughter and meat quality characteristics of Awassi and Morkaraman lambs

The influence of breed on fattening performance, slaughter and meat quality traits was studied in Awassi and Morkaraman male lambs at approximately 8 months of age. All of the groups were fed a diet consisting of concentrate mixture offered ad libitum, and 300 g of grass hay per lamb per day during 60-day fattening period. Initial live weight, final live weight, daily weight gain and feed conversion efficiency (concentrate and hay consumption for 1 kg of live weight gain) were 39.63 kg, 55.08 kg, 0.258 kg and 6.37 for Awassi; 40.54 kg, 55.58 kg, 0.234 kg and 6.77 for Morkaraman, respectively. The effect of breed on fattening performance and slaughter traits except for LD area was not significant. In addition, meat colour parameters (L = lightness, a = redness, b = yellowness, H = hue angle and C = chroma), pH values, drip loss and sensory attributes were not affected by breed in present study. A significant muscle effect was observed for instrumental measurements of some meat quality characteristics as meat colour parameters (L, a and C), collagen, drip loss, pH, moisture and protein content, WBS, and for some sensory attributes (tenderness, juiciness, acceptability and number of chewing). Results of this study indicate that fattening performance, slaughter and meat quality traits were similar between Awassi and Morkaraman male lambs.     

Genetic relationships of Brassica vegetables determined using database derived simple sequence repeats

Sequence databases were screened to identify simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in Brassica oleracea sequences. A total of 512 B. oleracea DNA sequences were screened and 43 potential SSRs were identified. Thirty-six primer pairs were designed to amplify target sequences. Of the 36 primer pairs, six failed to amplify fragments of expected sizes, and 17 primer pairs failed to generate polymorphisms. Thirteen SSRs were used to assess genetic similarity between 54 B. oleracea cultivars, belonging to 3 variteal groups (cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli). Pairwise genetic similarities were calculated for cultivars, and a dendrogram of relationships was produced. All cabbage cultivars were distinguished from each other and clustered in two separate groups. Five cauliflower cultivars could not be distinguished with SSR markers used in the study. Three broccoli cultivars clustered with cauliflower cultivars, and two cauliflower cultivars grouped with broccoli cultivars. The varietal group with the narrowest genetic variation in the study was cauliflower (B. oleracea var. botrytis) followed by broccoli (B. oleracea var. italica) and cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata) groups. Polymorphism information content (PIC) values and number of alleles produced per marker ranged between 0.25 to 0.86 and 1 to 8, respectively, for database derived SSR markers.     

Segregation distortion of Brassica carinata derived black rot resistance in Brassica oleracea

Three segregating F₂ populations were developed by self-pollinating 3 black rot resistant F₁ plants, derived from across between black rot resistant parent line 11B-1-12 and the susceptible cauliflower cultivar ‘Snow Ball’. Plants were wound inoculated using 4 isolates ofXanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) race 4, and disease severity ratings of F₂ plants from the three populations were scored. A total of 860 arbitrary oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify DNA from black rot resistant and susceptible F₂ plants and bulks. Eight RAPD markers amplified fragments associated with completely disease free plants following black rot inoculation,which segregated in frequencies far lower than expected. Segregation of markers with black rot resistance indicates that a single, dominant major gene controls black rot resistance in these plants. Stability of this black rot resistance gene in populations derived from 11B-1-12 may complicate introgression into B. oleracea genotypes for hybrid production. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A morphological and stereological study on brain,cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum of New Zealand rabbits

The aim of this research was to determine brain, cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum volume and volume ratios by using stereological methods and investigate morphological differences between female and male New Zealand rabbits. The study was applied on 14-month old (10 male and 10 female) New Zealand rabbits. The materials removed from the cavum cranii using dorsal approach. After following routine histological procedure, paraffin blocks were prepared and cut every seventieth section at 10 μm thickness. Slides were stained with Crossmon's triple stain and photographed. The sectional images obtained were transferred to ImageJ program to estimate grey and white matter volume on cerebral hemispheres and cerebellum with principle of Cavalieri. According to results, there was no asymmetry on the left and right cerebral hemispheres of New Zealand rabbits. In the total hemisphere volume calculated by Cavalieri principle, grey and white matter ratio was 81.57% and 18.43% in female, 82.80% and 17.20% in male. It was found that the white matter was significantly higher in females than males in cerebral hemispheres (p < .05). Also, it was found that grey and white matter ratio in total cerebellum volume was 67.82% and 32.18% in female, 67.94% and 32.06% in male respectively. It was determined that the females' white matter was larger than male rabbits in cerebellum (p < .05). It is thought that morphometric data obtained from this study will contribute to the existing anatomical knowledge and also considered as reference values in the clinical sciences.     

Phenolic Compounds,Antioxidant Activity,Fatty Acids and Volatile Profiles of 18 Different Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Cultivars and Genotypes

The study was carried out to determine phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, total lipids, saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of 18 different walnut (Juglans regia L.) cultivars and genotypes grown in Usak province, Turkey. The biochemical compounds were identified for each cultivar and genotype and a comparative evaluation was carried out. The results showed that most of the biochemical compounds are significantly varying among each other (p?<?0.05). The existence and abundance of the biochemical compounds in the cultivars and genotypes have not only found to be a cause of differentiation, but they have been important parameters for the similarities among the cultivars and genotypes. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity ranged from 750.67 to 1245.64?mg GAE ml^?1 and from 42.46 to 56.50% in kernels, respectively. The highest contents of the phenolic compounds were noted from gallic acid (11991?mg kg^?1), ellagic acid (1057.16?mg kg^?1), catechin (425.4?mg kg^?1), and rutin (216.6?mg kg^?1), as an average of all cultivars and genotypes. The highest lipid contents were noted from ‘Franquette’ and ‘Fernette’ as 64.28% and 63.26%, respectively, while the lowest content was noted from ‘Oguzlar 77’ (52.52%). A total of 42 VOCs were described from the 18 different walnut cultivars and genotypes. Overall, results showed that the phenolic profiles, fatty acids composition, and VOCs play an important role in similarities and diversities among the cultivars. According to the results, 7 different clusters were developed from the 18 cultivars and genotypes. Herein, ‘Fernor’, ‘Maras 18’, ‘Arslan Local Type’ and ‘Cisco’ cultivars were found to have the lowest biochemical compositions. The superior cultivars or genotypes, in terms of the abundance of the biochemical composition, were found to be ‘Gulizar Hanim Type’, ‘Lara’, ‘Pedro’, ‘Tulane’, ‘Fernette’, ‘Balkan’ and ‘Franquetta’, where they were found to develop 3 clusters by 1:3:3, respectively.

     

Epidemiology and genetic characterization of BVDV,BHV-1, BHV-4, BHV-5 and Brucella spp. infections in cattle in Turkey

The aim of the study was to determine the epidemiological data of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4), bovine herpesvirus-5 (BHV-5) and Brucella–associated cattle that were previously reported to have abortion and infertility problems in Ankara, Corum, Kirikkale and Yozgat provinces, Turkey. Whole blood and sera samples were obtained from 656 cattle, and antibodies against Brucella spp. were detected in 45 (6.86%) and 41 (6.25%) animals by Rose Bengal plate and serum tube agglutination tests, respectively. The seropositivity rates against BVDV, BHV-1 and BHV-4 were 70.89%, 41.3% and 28.78%, respectively. RT-PCR and PCR were performed to detect RNA and DNA viruses in blood samples, respectively. The BVDV 5′-untranslated region and BHV-1 gB gene detected in this study were phylogenetically analyzed. The BVDV strains analyzed in this study were closely related to those previously reported from Turkey. The nucleotide sequence from the BHV-1 strain detected in this study is the first nucleotide sequence of BHV-1 circulating in this area of Turkey deposited in the GenBank. The presence of Brucella spp. and prevalence of BHV-1, BHV-4 and BVDV in cattle should be further investigated throughout these regions.