Treatment of psychogenic leather picking in psittacine birds with a dopamine antagonist

It is suggested that neuropeptides, particularly dopamine, play a role in many self-mutilating disorders of both man and animals. Two grey parrots (Psittacus erythacus) were treated for obsessive feather picking with the dopamine antagonist, haloperidol. Refeathering was induced and normal behaviour maintained by administering haloperidol at approximately 0·4 mg/kg bodyweight/day for approximately seven months in both birds.     

Protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on rotenone-induced myocardial oxidative injury

Rotenone, an insecticide, causes toxicity through inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport chain at complex I and oxidative injury to the tissues. The aim of the present study was to determine in vivo effects of rotenone on myocardium and cardio-protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an antioxidant agent, against rotenone toxicity in rats. The rats were divided into three groups: untreated control, rotenone (2.5 mg/kg/day for 60 days, i.p.) and rotenone + CAPE groups. CAPE was administrated i.p. 10 μmol/kg/day for 62 days started two days before first dose rotenone injection. The malondialdehyde, nitric oxide levels and xanthine oxidase activity of rotenone group was significantly higher than control and rotenone + CAPE groups (p < 0.05). However, catalase activity in the rotenone group was decreased in comparison with the other groups (p < 0.05). The superoxide dismutase activity of rotenone group was insignificantly decreased compared to the others. In conclusion, rotenone caused lipid peroxidation in myocardial tissue and CAPE treatment prevented this rotenone-induced lipid peroxidation in rats. CAPE might be a cardio-protective agent against myocardial toxicities.     

Screening mycorrhiza species for plant growth,P and Zn uptake in pepper seedling grown under greenhouse conditions

We screened the mycorrhizal species for an inoculum protocol would green pepper seedling production and compensate for nutrient deficiency. Three greenhouse studies (on three successive years) were conducted under nursery conditions using five arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and their mixture. The AM fungi, Glomus mosseae, G. clarum, G. caledonium, G. intraradices and G. etunicatum propagated on maize roots were used. The AM fungi were inoculated to seed stages and half of the seed stages inoculated plants were re-inoculated at the seedling stages. In Experiment I, plants were harvested once and in Experiments II and III, plants were harvested twice at different developmental stages.     

RESPONSE OF MAIZE GENOTYPES TO SEVERAL MYCORRHIZAL INOCULUMS IN TERMS OF PLANT GROWTH,NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND SPORE PRODUCTION

A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the University of Çukurova, Rhisosphere Lab, Adana, Turkey, on a growth medium to assess the impact of several selected mycorrhiza including indigenous AMF-maize hybrid combinations on spore production, plant growth and nutrient uptake. In the experiment, six maize (Zea mays L.) (Luce, Vero, Darva, Pegasso, P.3394, and P.32K61) genotypes were used. Control, Glomus mossea, G. caledonium, G. etunicatum, G. clarium, G. macrocarpum, G. fasciculatum, G. intraradices, Dr. Kinkon (Japanese species), indigenous mycorrhizae (Balcal? series) and cocktail mycorrhizae species spores were used. The growth of maize genotypes was found to depend on the mycorrhizal species. For shoot and root dry weight production G. intraradices is one of the most efficient mycorrhiza species on average on all maize genotypes. Genotypes P.3394 and P.32K61 produced the highest shoot and root dry weight as well. Pagasso and Darva genotypes compared to the other genotypes have high root colonization percentages. On average G. clarium inoculated plants also have high percentages of root colonization. It has been found that the P.32K61 genotype has a high phosphorus (P)% content and Pagasso genotypes have higher zinc (Zn) content uptake than other genotypes. G. clarium inoculated maize genotype plant tissues have high P% and Zn content. G. intraradices is also efficient for P and Zn uptake. Mycorrhizal dependent maize genotypes showed variability in P efficiency from inefficient to efficient genotypes.     

TEMPO-treated CNF Composites: Pulp and Matrix Effect

This study examined the effects of matrix (PVA and Si) on the properties of TEMPO-treated nanocomposites preparing from different pulp sources (Kraft and NaBH₄ treated Kraft). Chemical characterization and crystallization were determined via FT-IR, thermal stability via TGA and morphological alterations via SEM. UTM and DTMA were used to measure the Young’s and storage moduli. The real and imaginary parts of permittivity and electric modulus were evaluated using an impedance analyzer. After interaction, prominent vibrations and alteration of crystallinity were seen. Storage and Young’s moduli decreased after Si and PVA interaction. The Si-TOCN films showed higher permittivity properties and all of the films followed a similar trend of significantly dropping ε' and ε'' values at high frequency. The PVA-TOCN films had mechanical advantages at room temperature compared to the Si-TOCN films. However, the Si-TOCN films had better thermomechanical properties at high temperatures. NaBH₄ revealed favorable effects on mechanical properties of the films.     

Enzymatic production of xylooligosaccharides from cotton stalks

Xylooligosaccharide (XO) production was performed from xylan, which was obtained by alkali extraction from cotton stalk, a major agricultural waste in Turkey. Enzymatic hydrolysis was selected to prevent byproduct formation such as xylose and furfural. Xylan was hydrolyzed using a commercial xylanase preparation, and the effects of pH, temperature, hydrolysis period, and substrate and enzyme concentrations on the XO yield and degree of polymerization (DP) were investigated. Cotton stalk contains about 21% xylan, the composition of which was determined as 84% xylose, 7% glucose, and 9% uronic acid after complete acid hydrolysis. XOs in the DP range of 2-7 (X6 approximately X5>X2>X3) were obtained with minor quantities of xylose in all of the hydrolysis conditions used. Although after 24 h of hydrolysis at 40 degrees C, the yield was about 53%, the XO production rate leveled off after 8-24 h of hydrolysis. XO yield was affected by all of the parameters investigated; however, none of them affected the DP of the end product significantly, except the hydrolysis period. Enzyme hydrolysis was maintained by the addition of fresh substrate after 72 h of hydrolysis, indicating the persistence of enzyme activity. The optimal hydrolysis conditions were determined as 40 degrees C, pH 5.4, and 2% xylan. The obtained product was fractionated via ultrafiltration by using 10, 3, and 1 kDa membranes. Complete removal of xylanase and unhydrolyzed xylan was achieved without losing any oligosaccharides having DP 5 or smaller by 10 kDa membrane. After a two-step membrane processing, a permeate containing mostly oligosaccharides was obtained.     

Cellulose-based chromatography for cellooligosaccharide production

The potential of using cellulose stationary phases for the chromatographic fractionation of cellooligosaccharide preparations has been explored. The impetus for the work is the current interest in using cellooligosaccharides as functional nondigestible oligosaccharides in foods. The conceptual studies illustrate the potential of using ethanol-water mobile phases in conjunction with cellulose stationary phases for cellooligosaccharide fractionation. Cellooligosaccharide solubility in ethanol-water mixtures and their elution order from cellulose-based columns using ethanol-water mobile phases were shown to be in line with their degree of polymerization (DP), with the higher DP cellooligosaccharides being less soluble and having longer retention times. The retention volume for all COS increased with increased temperature. Both microcrystalline and fibrous cellulose preparations were shown to work as chromatographic stationary phases. The application experiments demonstrate the potential of using cellulose stationary phases for the cleanup and fractionation of cellooligosaccharide mixtures generated via acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of cellulose.     

Sour Orange (Citrus Aurantium L.) Growth is Strongly Mycorrhizal Dependent in Terms of Phosphorus (P) Nutrition Rather than Zinc (Zn)

The partial sterilization of soil eliminates useful microorganisms, resulting in the reduced growth of mycorrhizae-dependent citrus plants, which are often unresponsive to the application of fertilizer. Research was conducted to test the hypothesis that indigenous mycorrhizae (IM) inoculation is as efficient as selected mycorrhizal inoculation under sterile and non-sterile soil conditions. Rhizophagus clarus and indigenous mycorrhiza spores, isolated from citrus orchards, were used as arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi under greenhouse conditions with sterile and non-sterile Çanakçi series (Typic xerofluvent) soils with low phosphorus (P) fertility. Different P (0 and 100 mg kg^?1) and zinc (Zn) (0, 5 and 10 mg kg^?1) concentrations were used at the start of the experiments. The shoot, root dry weight (RDW), root colonization, and P, Zn, iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) concentrations of the shoot were determined; mycorrhizae dependency (MD) was also calculated.

The results indicate that R. clarus and indigenous mycorrhiza in sterile and non-sterile soil conditions considerably increased the growth of citrus plants. Owing to existing beneficial indigenous rhizosphere microorganisms, citrus plant growth without inoculation was better in non-sterile soils than in the sterile soils. In non-sterilized soil, the plant growth parameters of R. clarus-inoculated soils were higher than those of indigenous mycorrhiza-inoculated soils. Mycorrhizae infection increased certain citrus plant growth parameters, such as root infection, biomass and nutrient uptake (P, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu). In sterile soil, the addition of up to 5 mg kg^?1 soil Zn and the inoculation of R. clarus significantly increased plant growth; inoculation with indigenous mycorrhiza produced more dry weight upon the addition of up to 100 mg kg^?1 phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅). Under sterile soil conditions, without considering fertilizer addition, MD was found to be higher than that of non-sterile soils. In general, the contribution of the indigenous soil spores is significant. However, indigenous soil mycorrhizae may need to be managed for better efficiency in increasing plant growth and nutrient uptake. The major finding was that the inoculation of citrus seedlings with mycorrhiza is necessary under both sterilized and non-sterilized soil conditions.     

Innovative and Competitive Structure of Regional Economies in Turkey

Regional development theories have experienced a transition from Keynesian state‐led economic development models to development based on public–private partnerships, innovation, industrial districts, etc. With the increasing concern for innovative milieu, products, process, organizational, and institutional innovations have assumed an important place in regional development policies. All these regional development paradigms have formed the basis of the initiation of a new process in regional development called the new regionalism, which includes cumulative efforts to revitalize local economic growth. In this paper, we identify technological levels of 26 NUTS 2‐level regions according to the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD)'s classification. Then, we develop an innovation and competitiveness index for Turkey by employing principal component analysis. In conclusion, we formulate some workable policy solutions and suggestions for regional economies in Turkey. According to the results, Istanbul is the most innovative and competitive region in Turkey. Ankara is becoming a regional knowledge cluster, thanks to its strong R&D infrastructure and highly qualified researchers.