A study on the productivity and cost of cable logging in Turkey

Tower yarders have recently been introduced to forestry in Turkey. Clarification of the productivity and cost of logging using the tower yarder is often requested because the cost for machinery is a significant factor in all calculations concerning mechanized operations. Machines are often extremely expensive compared with the low cost of labor in developing regions. In this study, a new logging system using a tower yarder was compared with a conventional system using a stationary yarder in terms of productivity and cost. The research was conducted in the northeast of Turkey, in 1989 and 1992. The productivity of the tower yarder and the stationary yarder was found to be 5.655 m³/h and 5.002 m³/h, respectively. Harvesting cost was analyzed based on observed productivity. The harvesting costs of the tower yarder and the stationary yarder were found to be 47,410 TL/m³ and 17,553 TL/m³, respectively. With the tower yarder, the machine cost reached 93.1 % of the harvesting cost while the machine cost using the stationary yarder reached 71.1%. A part of this paper was orally presented at the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Japan Forest Engineering Society (1996).     

PRNP gene polymorphisms in main indigenous Turkish goat breeds

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The polymorphisms of the PRNP gene influence the susceptibility to scrapie in goats. In this study, caprine PRNP gene was analysed in a total of 249...     

Clinicopathologic diagnosis of cutaneous toxoplasmosis in an Angora cat

This report deals with a case of cutaneous toxoplasmosis in a 2 year-old female Angora cat. Cutaneous lesions were characterized by prescapular ulcers and hyperemic nodules in the skin of the inguinal and dorsosacral regions. A skin biopsy sample was collected from the lesioned area and processed for histopathologic examination and immunoperoxidase test using Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum specific antibodies. Toxoplasma gondii immunopositive reactions were detected in keratinocytes and dermal macrophages while no immunoreactivity was detected for N. caninum. The case of cutaneous toxoplasmosis was further confirmed by PCR analysis using T. gondii B1 gene-specific primers. In conclusion, we report the first case of cutaneous toxoplasmosis in Angora cats.     

Proliferative response by the ostrich proventriculus in idiopathic gastric stasis: a case report

In this report, the late clinical, necropsy, and histopathological findings of idiopathic gastric stasis in an ostrich are described, with special attention to the proventriculus. An ostrich with clinical signs of gastric stasis was brought to our clinic in a state of impending death that could not be reversed with emergency medical care. At necropsy, the koilin layer of the gizzard was uneven without ulcerations. The proventriculus was distended with food items without impaction and mucosal lesions. None of the most typical aetiological factors including foreign objects, Macrorhabdus ornithogaster and parasitic infection with Libyostrongylus douglassii was present. Histologically, the proventriculus was characterised by hyperplastic mucosa with luminal buds and necrotic cells in the lumen. Immunochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) revealed a high rate of proliferation in epithelial cells of the glandular and mucosal lining in the proventriculus neighbouring the affected gizzard: approximately 88.6% of the cells were immunoreactive as compared to 34.4% of the cells in control ostriches used for comparison. In conclusion, in the absence of gizzard contraction, the mucosal lining of the proventriculus is hyperplastic with a high rate of proliferation that may help compensate the distension due to the accumulation of food items.     

Influence of Airborne Pollution on Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Al Accumulation and Physiological Parameters of Plant Leaves in Antakya (Turkey)

In this study, the effects of industrial and urban pollution on Pb, Al, Cd, Cu, and Zn accumulation, peroxidase activity, and pigment and protein contents were investigated in shrub and tree leaves in Antakya, Turkey. We determined that industrial and traffic activities produce the most plant-incorporated air pollutants in Antakya City. Cu and Al amounts were high in plants in the urban street location and Cd, Pb, and Zn amounts where high for all plants in the industrial site. Acer negundo L. showed maximum Pb and Zn accumulation at the industrial site and Al accumulation for the urban street site. Higher Cd and Cu amounts were detected in Platanus orientalis L. and Nerium oleander L. in the industrial and urban street sites, respectively. Compared to the control site, decreases in pigment and total soluble protein contents and increases in peroxidase enzyme activity were more evident in industrial and urban street sites. Our results indicated that industry and urban air pollution is high in Antakya City and Pb pollution was at an especially alarming level for vegetation and human health.     

Occupational safety and health conditions of forestry workers in Turkey

The safety and health conditions of forestry workers in Turkey were surveyed, as there are currently no statistics on these topics despite the occurrence of accidents and health problems caused by forestry work. We used a questionnaire that inquired about safety and health conditions, job satisfaction, and cumulative fatigue symptoms of forestry workers. Of the respondents, 24% experienced accidents during work, many of which consisted of cuts by chain saws or axes. Also, most respondents indicated that they did not use any personal protective equipment (PPE), although the use of PPE is strongly recommended to avoid fatal or serious accidents. With respect to job satisfaction, 43% of the respondents were dissatisfied with their job mainly because of the low salary and heavy work. Marital status, educational background and period of employment had the potential to greatly affect job satisfaction. As a result of research using the Cumulative Fatigue Symptoms Index (CFSI), mental, physical and social aspects of cumulative fatigue were recognized in the respondents. Furthermore, it can be concluded that job dissatisfaction negatively affected the incidence of cumulative fatigue in forestry workers, and that taking measures to enhance job satisfaction among forestry workers would improve their quality of life through lessening of cumulative fatigue. It should also be noted that sustainable forestry and environmental protection were the greatest concerns beyond salary and insurance among the respondents.     

Effect of brining on biological activity of leaves of Vitis vinifera L. (Cv. Sultani Cekirdeksiz) from Turkey

Leaves of Vitis vinifera (Fam. Vitaceae) cv. 'Sultani Cekirdeksiz' cultivated in Manisa-Alasehir in western Turkey, were processed with or without brine. Fresh, brined, and nonbrined leaves (after being subjected to 3 months of fermentation) were sampled and extracted with distilled water under reflux. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-nociceptive activities of the water extracts were investigated using in vitro and in vivo methods. Free radical scavenging activity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH* assay), iron(III) reductive activity (reducing power activity assay), capacity of inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation (ferric thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid method), anti-nociceptive activity (p-benzoquinone-induced abdominal constriction test), and anti-inflammatory activity (carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model) were used to determine biological activities of the extracts. In addition, the contents of total phenolics, flavonoids, and flavonols in the extracts were determined by spectrophotometrical methods. Results were compared with those of ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene, and gallic acid as reference antioxidants. The extracts of fresh, brined, and nonbrined leaves showed almost the same activity in all antioxidant assays. These extracts inhibited the oxidation of linoleic acid to the same extent as BHT. Compositions of the extracts were analyzed by a reverse phase HPLC-PDA method. The occurrence of hydroxycinnamic acids (e.g., caffeic acid) and flavonoids (e.g., quercetin) was verified in the extracts. The content of total flavonoids as well as quercetin was increased by fermentation.     

Immunolocalization of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in normal and hyperplastic ram prostates

The enzyme 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) is essential in the synthesis of all steroids by cleaving dehydroepiandrosterone to androstenedione. In the present study, 3beta-HSD immunoreactivity was investigated in the prostate of Akkaraman breed rams aged older than 3 years. Five normal and five hyperplastic ram prostates were processed for immunohistochemistry. Prostate hyperplasia was determined by histopathological evaluation of 375 ram prostate and confirmed with significantly (P<0.01) increased number of cells expressing proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunoreactivity in the glandular epithelia. The 3beta-HSD immunoreactivity with a variable intensity and pattern of distribution was present in the glandular epithelia and endothelia of blood vessels in normal and hyperplastic ram prostates. While immunoreactivity was focally present in some glands, some sections had a homogenous distribution. The presence of 3beta-HSD immunoreactivity indicates that steroids are locally synthesized in the ram prostate. No differences in the distribution pattern of 3beta-HSD immunoreactivity and the percentage of immunoreactive cells were observed between normal and hyperplastic prostates (P>0.05), suggesting that locally produced steroids have little or no effect on the pathogenesis of the ram prostate hyperplasia which affects a very small proportion of the ram population (5 out of 375).