Essential oil composition and antioxidant activity of endemic Ziziphora taurica subsp. cleonioides

The essential oil of Turkish endemic Ziziphora taurica subsp. cleonioides aerial parts was found to contain (+)-pulegone (81.86%), limonene (4.48%) and piperitenone (2.30%) activity. The essential oil showed relevant antioxidant activity.     

Risk factors for occupational brucellosis among veterinary personnel in Turkey

Veterinarians and veterinary technicians are at risk for occupational brucellosis. We described the risk factors of occupational brucellosis among veterinary personnel in Turkey. A multicenter retrospective survey was performed among veterinary personnel who were actively working in the field. Of 712 veterinary personnel, 84 (11.8%) had occupational brucellosis. The median number of years since graduation was 7 (interquartile ranges [IQR], 4–11) years in the occupational brucellosis group, whereas this number was 9 (IQR, 4–16) years in the non-brucellosis group (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, working in the private sector (odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.55–5.28, p = 0.001), being male (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 1.05–18.84, p = 0.041), number of performed deliveries (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.002–1.02, p = 0.014), and injury during Brucella vaccine administration (OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 3.16–9.3, p < 0.001) were found to be risk factors for occupational brucellosis. We suggest that all veterinary personnel should be trained on brucellosis and the importance of using personal protective equipment in order to avoid this infection.     

Effect of Water Stress at Various Growth Stages on Some Quality Characteristics of Winter Wheat

A field experiment was carried out in Erzurum (Turkey) on winter wheat to analyse the effect of water stress at different growth stages – fully irrigated (FI), rainfed (R), early water stress (EWS), late water stress (LWS) and continuous water stress (CWS), on some quality characteristics – in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 cropping seasons. Water stress had a substantial effect on most of the quality characteristics. As averages of cropping seasons, CWS, EWS, R and LWS treatments decreased grain yields by 65.5, 40.6, 30.5 and 24.0 %, respectively, compared with the FI treatment. CWS increased grain protein content by 18.1 %, sedimentation volume by 16.5 %, wet gluten content by 21.9 % and decreased 1000‐kernel weight by 7.5 g compared with FI treatment. LWS caused an increase of 8.3 % in grain protein content, 8.7 % in sedimentation volume, 10.8 % in wet gluten content and a reduction of 3.8 g in 1000‐kernel weight compared with FI. EWS and R increased sedimentation volume and wet gluten content, but decreased 1000‐kernel weight compared with FI. The effect of LWS on grain quality was more significant than that of EWS. The results suggest that soil moisture conditions increase grain yield and kernel weight of winter wheat but decrease its quality.     

Growth and Yield Response of Facultative Wheat to Winter Sowing, Freezing Sowing and Spring Sowing at Different Seeding Rates

Growth and yield of wheat are affected by environmental conditions and can be regulated by sowing time and seeding rate. In this study, three sowing times [winter sowing (first week of September), freezing sowing (last week of October) and spring sowing (last week of April)] at seven seeding rates (325, 375, 425, 475, 525, 575 and 625 seeds m^?2) were investigated during the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, in Erzurum (Turkey) dryland conditions, using Kirik facultative wheat. A split‐plot design was used, with sowing times as main plots and seeding rates randomized as subplots. There was a significant year × sowing time interaction for grain yield and kernels per spike. Winter‐sown wheat produced a significantly higher leaf area index, leaf area duration, spikes per square metre, kernel weight and grain yield than freezing‐ and spring‐sown wheat. The optimum time of sowing was winter for the facultative cv. Kirik. Grain yields at freezing and spring sowing were low, which was largely the result of hastened crop development and high temperatures during and after anthesis. Increasing seeding rate up to 525 seeds m^?2 increased the spikes per square metre at harvest, resulting in increased grain yield. Seeding rate, however, was not as important as sowing time in maximizing grain yield. Changes in spikes per square metre were the major contributors to the grain‐yield differences observed among sowing times and seeding rates. Yield increases from higher seeding rates were greater at freezing and spring sowing. We recommended that a seeding rate of 525 seeds m^?2 be chosen for winter sowing, and 575 seeds m^?2 for freezing and spring sowing.     

Nasal chondrosarcoma in a Simmental cow

The pathologic features of a nasal chondrosarcoma, a rare tumor of bovines, in a Simmental cow are described. Upon clinical examination, stertor, difficulty in breathing, poor body condition, and a nasal mass were found. Histopathologic examination revealed that the mass was composed mostly of numerous cartilaginous lobules surrounded by spindle-shaped cells, often showing mitotic figures, atypical chondrocytes, and lacunae containing 2 or more cells. On the basis of the histological features, the mass was diagnosed as a nasal chondrosarcoma.     

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in the plasma of Japanese quail

Abstract

AIM: To determine the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of florfenicol in the plasma of healthy Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).

METHODS: Sixty-five quail were given an I/V and I/M dose of florfenicol at 30 mg/kg bodyweight (BW). A two-period sequential design was used, with a wash-out period of 2 weeks between the different routes of administration. Concentrations of florfenicol in plasma were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTS: A naíve pooled data analysis approach for the plasma concentration-time profile of florfenicol was found to fit a non-compartmental open model. After I/V administration, the mean residence time (MRT), mean volume of distribution at steady state (V_ss), and total body clearance of florfenicol were 12.0 (SD 0.37) h, 8.7 (SD 0.22) L/kg, and 1.3 (SD 0.08) L/h/kg, respectively. After I/M injection, the MRT, mean absorption time (MAT), and bioavailability were 12.3 (SD 0.37) h, 0.2 (SD 0.02) h, and 79.1 (SD 1.79)%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The time for the concentration of florfenicol to fall below the probable effective concentration of 1 µg/ml of approximately 10 h is sufficient for the minimum inhibitory concentration needed for many bacterial isolates. Further pharm acodynamic studies in quail are needed to evaluate a suitable dosage regimen.     

Energy Analysis and Emissions of Greenhouse Gases of Pomegranate Production in Antalya Province of Turkey

In this study, energy use patterns and the functional relationship between energy inputs and output for pomegranate production were investigated in Antalya province in Turkey. It further objective to identify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in pomegranate production. Data were obtained from 75 farms using face-to-face interview method. The results indicated that 50,605.5?MJ ? ha^?1 of total energy input was required for 76,252.3?MG ? ha^?1 pomegranate energy output. 1.51 unit energy output was provided by using 1 unit energy input. 1 unit energy output and 1?kg pomegranate require 0.66 unit and 2.57?MJ energy input, respectively. The average CO₂ emission amounts were also calculated to be 1.73?t CO₂ per hectare and 88.1?kg CO₂ per 1000?kg pomegranate production. Electricity, fertilizers and pesticides were the highest contributors to GHG emissions. Both total energy input usage and GHG emission amounts have been found to be decreasing as the farm size increases. Increasing scale of pomegranates orchards will not only increase energy efficiency and productivity but also decrease environmental pollution and damages. The regression analysis revealed that, excessive use of machinery and fuel inputs results in a decline in energy production in pomegranate.     

Properties of Edible Films Made From Anchovy By-Product Proteins and Determination of Optimum Protein and Glycerol Concentration by the TOPSIS Method

In the present study, the physicochemical and mechanical properties of films made from anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus) by-product proteins (ABPs) were characterized as a function of protein (3, 4, and 5%) and glycerol (30, 40, 50, and 60%) concentration. In particular, the thickness, color, transparency, water vapor permeability (WVP), solubility, oxygen permeability (OP), and mechanical properties of the films were measured, and generally, these properties were affected by both protein and glycerol concentration. The thickness, redness, WVP and solubility values of films increased, while their lightness and yellowness values decreased as protein concentration increased. Furthermore, lightness, yellowness, and elongation at break (EAB) values were found to increase at higher glycerol concentrations within ABP films, whereas tensile strength (TS) and elastic modulus (EM) values decreased. ABP films became more transparent with increase of glycerol concentration and decrease of protein concentration. The OP values of all films decreased depending on protein and glycerol concentration. The techniques for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method was used to determine optimum protein and glycerol concentrations. According to this method, an edible film containing 4% protein and 40% glycerol was the best film with a C value of 0.6665.     

Dietary profile of n‐3 series LC‐PUFAs in rainbow trout under regular stripping condition: Semen production and quality,hepato‐somatic index,haemato‐immunologic values,oxidative stress and fatty acid composition of liver,muscle and semen

In this study, the semen production and quality, hepato‐somatic index, haemato‐immunologic values, oxidative stress and the fatty acid contents in liver, muscle and semen of rainbow trout fed diets supplemented n‐3 series long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFAs) under regular stripping condition were investigated. For this aim, three diets (Control, D1 and D2) were prepared. These diets were contained n‐3 LC‐PUFAs (as a percentage of dietary total fatty acid) at 3.14%, 7.84% and 13.63% respectively. Experimental fish were fed with the control and test diets. The highest hepato‐somatic index, spermatologic (semen pH and volume, sperm motility and density), haematologic (haematocrit value, haemoglobin, erythrocyte count, corpuscular volume, haemoglobin and its concentration in corpuscular), immunologic (nitroblue tetrazolium activity, leucocyte count, phagocytic index, protein and immunoglobulin [IgM] in total plasma) and antioxidants (reduced glutathione, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) values were found in fish fed the D2, D1 and control diets respectively (p < 0.01). Increase in the dietary n‐3 LC‐PUFAs was not significantly (p > 0.01) increased the oxidative stress (malondialdehyde) in fish. The results indicated that the n‐3 LC‐PUFAs at 13.63% level of total fatty acid in the diet could increase the semen production and quality, hepato‐somatic index, haematologic and immunologic values, and the n‐3 LC‐PUFA contents in liver, muscle and semen of rainbow trout broodstock under regular stripping condition.