Comparison of different bronchial closure techniques following pneumonectomy in dogs

The comparison of the histologic healing and bronchopleural fistula (BPF) complications encountered with three different BS closure techniques (manual suture, stapler and manual suture plus tissue flab) after pneumonectomy in dogs was investigated for a one-month period. The dogs were separated into two groups: group I (GI) (n = 9) and group II (GII) (n = 9). Right and left pneumonectomies were performed on the animals in GI and GII, respectively. Each group was further divided into three subgroups according to BS closure technique: subgroup I (SGI) (n = 3), manual suture; subgroup II (SGII) (n = 3), stapler; and subgroup III (SGIII) (n = 3), manual suture plus tissue flab. The dogs were sacrificed after one month of observation, and the bronchial stumps were removed for histological examination. The complications observed during a one-month period following pneumonectomy in nine dogs (n = 9) were: BPF (n = 5), peri-operative cardiac arrest (n = 1), post-operative respiratory arrest (n = 1), post-operative cardiac failure (n = 1) and cardio-pulmonary failure (n = 1). Histological healing was classified as complete or incomplete healing. Histological healing and BPF complications in the subgroups were analyzed statistically. There was no significant difference in histological healing between SGI and SGIII (p = 1.00; p > 0.05), nor between SGII and SGIII (p = 1.00; p > 0.05). Similarly, no significant difference was observed between the subgroups in terms of BPF (p = 0.945; p > 0.05). The results of the statistical analysis indicated that manual suture, stapler or manual suture plus tissue flab could be alternative methods for BS closure following pneumonectomy in dogs.     

Fatty acid, triacylglycerol, phytosterol, and tocopherol variations in kernel oil of Malatya apricots from Turkey

The fatty acid, sn-2 fatty acid, triacyglycerol (TAG), tocopherol, and phytosterol compositions of kernel oils obtained from nine apricot varieties grown in the Malatya region of Turkey were determined ( P<0.05). The names of the apricot varieties were Alyanak (ALY), Cataloglu (CAT), C?loglu (COL), Hacihaliloglu (HAC), Hacikiz (HKI), Hasanbey (HSB), Kabaasi (KAB), Soganci (SOG), and Tokaloglu (TOK). The total oil contents of apricot kernels ranged from 40.23 to 53.19%. Oleic acid contributed 70.83% to the total fatty acids, followed by linoleic (21.96%), palmitic (4.92%), and stearic (1.21%) acids. The s n-2 position is mainly occupied with oleic acid (63.54%), linoleic acid (35.0%), and palmitic acid (0.96%). Eight TAG species were identified: LLL, OLL, PLL, OOL+POL, OOO+POO, and SOO (where P, palmitoyl; S, stearoyl; O, oleoyl; and L, linoleoyl), among which mainly OOO+POO contributed to 48.64% of the total, followed by OOL+POL at 32.63% and OLL at 14.33%. Four tocopherol and six phytosterol isomers were identified and quantified; among these, gamma-tocopherol (475.11 mg/kg of oil) and beta-sitosterol (273.67 mg/100 g of oil) were predominant. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the data from lipid components of apricot kernel oil in order to explore the distribution of the apricot variety according to their kernel's lipid components. PCA separated some varieties including ALY, COL, KAB, CAT, SOG, and HSB in one group and varieties TOK, HAC, and HKI in another group based on their lipid components of apricot kernel oil. So, in the present study, PCA was found to be a powerful tool for classification of the samples.     

Neural networks with artificial bee colony algorithm for modeling daily reference evapotranspiration

The study investigates the ability of artificial neural networks (ANN) with artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm in daily reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) modeling. The daily climatic data, solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed from two stations, Pomona and Santa Monica, in Los Angeles, USA, are used as inputs to the ANN–ABC model so as to estimate ET₀ obtained using the FAO-56 Penman–Monteith (PM) equation. In the first part of the study, the accuracy of ANN–ABC models is compared with those of the ANN models trained with Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) and standard back-propagation (SBP) algorithms and those of the following empirical models: The California Irrigation Management System (CIMIS) Penman, Hargreaves, and Ritchie methods. The mean square error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and determination coefficient (R²) statistics are used for evaluating the accuracy of the models. Based on the comparison results, the ANN–ABC and ANN–LM models are found to be superior alternative to the ANN–SBP models. In the second part of the study, the potential of the ANN–ABC, ANN–LM, and ANN–SBP models in estimation ET₀ using nearby station data is investigated.     

The effect of fabric balance and fabric cover on surface roughness of polyester fabrics

The effects of fabric balance and fabric cover on surface roughness values of textured polyester woven fabrics with different constructional parameters were investigated. The warp yarn properties (type, count and warp density) were kept constant while the effect of variation in weft yarn density and weave pattern were studied. Measurements were conducted on pre-treated white fabric samples and the results assessed in relation to their constructional properties. A general overview of the results showed that surface roughness values of polyester fabrics affected by fabric balance and fabric cover and the effects were related to fabric thickness, yarn densities, yarn crimp, positioning of yarns in fabric structure. A change in weave pattern from sateen to plain increased the fabric balance and fabric cover, but decreased the surface roughness. Similarly, an increase in weft density increased the fabric balance and fabric cover, but decreased surface roughness. In order to produce fabrics with smooth surface properties yarn density should be increased, yarn float lengths decreased, cover of fabrics increased and fabric balance improved.     

Investigation of developmental toxicity and teratogenicity of macrolide antibiotics in cultured rat embryos

Macrolides are considered to be one of the safest anti-infective groups in clinical use, with severe adverse reactions being rare. However, there are limited data about their embryotoxicity and teratogenicity. We aimed to investigate and compare the effects of these agents on embryonic growth and development. Rat embryos were cultured in vitro for 48 h in rat serum. Whole rat serum was used as a culture medium for the control group while different concentrations of spiramycin and azithromycin (1.25-6.25 microg/ml), and clarithromycin (2.5-30 microg/ml) were added to rat serum for the experimental groups. Dose-dependent effects of macrolides on embryonic developmental parameters were compared using morphological methods. Embryos were evaluated for the presence of any malformations. After morphological examination of the embryos, total DNA was extracted from the cells using standard procedures to determine fragmentation of nuclear DNA of embryonic cells. When compared with the control embryos, the macrolides significantly decreased all growth and developmental parameters dose dependently. While clarithromycin was found to cause more developmental toxicity than spiramycin and azithromycin, azitromycin was determined to have more teratogenicity potential. Compared with controls, there was no difference regarding the fragmentation of nuclear DNA of all the agents used. According to these results, when the toxic and teratogenic potential of the used agents compared, because of the lower toxic and teratogenic effects observed with spiramycin, this agent may be preferred for parturients.     

Evaluation of Pomological and Morphological Characteristics and Chemical Compositions of Local Pear Varieties (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrus communis</Emphasis> L.) Grown in Gumushane,Turkey

The aim of the present research was to investigate the fruit quality of twenty different local pear varieties (Pyrus communis L.), namely Ahlat, Ankara, Arpa, B?ld?rc?n, Çermai, Cinci, Gelin Bo?an, Hac? Hamza, Hah?r, Kabak, K?z?l, Kokulu, Mehrani, Menendi, Sulu, ?algam, Tokat Sultan?, Tur?u, Yaz, and Yaz Meyri?i, grown in Gumushane province in terms of pomological and morphological characteristics and chemical compositions. The fruit mass, fruit width and length, fruit stem thickness and length, fruit kernel width and length, hardness of pulp, number of seeds, leaf width and length, leaf stem length and thickness, and water soluble dry matter (WSDM) of the pear fruits have been determined as pomological and morphological characteristics. On the other hand, the chemical compositions of the pear varieties have been evaluated in terms of protein, ash, sucrose, fructose, glucose, total sugar, titratable acidity, moisture, and mineral element levels.Both pomological and morphological results demonstrated that the local pear varieties are important in terms of rehabilitation studies and detailed selection studies on these local varieties should be performed. The chemical analyses result of the pear varieties revealed that there is no component that may be harmful to human health when consumed, and also these varieties contains the necessary amount of mineral elements.     

Determination of Pomological and Morphological Characteristics and Chemical Compositions of Local Apple Varieties Grown in Gumushane,Turkey

The present study was conducted in order to determine the pomological and morphological characteristics and chemical compositions of some local apple varieties grown in Gumushane. As a result of field work in Gumushane province, sixteen different apples, which are Summer Apple, English apple, Green Belly, Black Belly and Yellow Belly Apples, Amasya Marble, Bey Apple, Chest Apple, Mahsusa, Arabian Girl, Willow Apple, Tav?anba??, Yellow H?d?r, Local Marble, Bride Apple, and Fatty Apple were collected in order to analyze. The average results of pomological and morphological properties and chemical compositions were obtained as following: fruit mass; 127.36 g, fruit width; 65.23 mm, fruit length; 57.30 mm, fruit stalk thickness; 2.17 mm, fruit stalk length; 17.63 mm, stalk pit depth; 12.75 mm, flower pit depth; 10.29 mm, fruit firmness; 13.79 kg/cm², seed house width; 15.89 mm, seed house length; 17.39 mm, number of seeds; 4.3, water soluble dry matter content; 14.53?%, ash content; 1.11?%, pH; 3.8, titratable acidity; 0.69 g/L, water content; 83.8?%, reducing sugar; 5.04 g/100 g, sucrose; 2.25 g/100 g, and the amount of total sugars; 7.29 g/100. The fruit peel color was determined by considering the light transmittance (L). The average L values were ranged between 112.06 and 66.32. On the other hand among the mineral elements, potassium and manganese amounts were determined as the highest and the lowest, respectively.     

Relationships Among some Pears Genotypes (Pyrus Communis L.) Based on ISSR and RAPD Analysis

Thirty one pears genotypes from east blacksea region were evaluated for genetic relationships by using Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and ISSR (Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats) markers from total 70 RAPD and ISSR primer investigated, 22 could amplify clearly and consistently. Cluster analysis of the pears genotypes was performed based on data from polymorphic bands RAPD and ISSR by using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient and the Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) clustering method. The 31 pear genotypes were classified into two major groups. Cluster A was divided into 2 subclusters: Gumushane pears and Trabzon pears. Cluster B consisted of Artvin pears. The similarity matrix values ranged between 0.105 and 0.968.