Cesium Concentration Spatial Distribution Modeling by Point Cumulative Semivariogram

The theoretical basis of the proposed technique is the cumulative variation of ¹³⁷Cs measurements’ squared-differences between a reference and other sites. The change of the cumulative squared-differences with distance from the reference site is referred to as the point cumulative semivariogram (PCSV), which provides appropriate measure of cumulative similarity. Inspection of individual experimental PCSV provides local interpretation about the ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentration around each site, whereas collective inspections provide possibility for grouping similar sites and hence identifying homogeneous sub-areas within the study area. It is also possible to prepare ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentration maps based on pre-specified distances in each experimental PCSV, which lead to similarity levels. Such maps provide appreciation of ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentration regional dependence in Keban Dam Lake, Turkey. Apart from the individual PCSV interpretations, the whole lake is divided into four distinctive classes.     

Efficacy of sodium borate in the prevention of fatty liver in dairy cows

The effects of sodium borate (100 mg/kg body weight, p.o., 15 days) from a month before expected calving until a month after calving were evaluated in dairy cows susceptible to fatty liver. Cows received either sodium borate (n = 13) or no treatment (n = 10). All cows had mild fatty livers and increased plasma triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations at the beginning of the experiment. The control group of cows developed significant fatty liver after calving, and 2 of them had severe fatty liver associated with clinical and biochemical abnormalities. There were no clinicopathological signs related to sodium borate administration. Serum triglycerides and VLDL concentrations before calving decreased significantly at calving and after calving in controls, and they were within the normal range only after calving. There were significant alterations during the experiment in some hematological and chemical variables between groups, within period, but they were within the normal range. Unlike treated cows, serum triglycerides and VLDL concentrations correlated with liver fat content after calving in untreated cows. Our results document that sodium borate decreases the degree of fatty liver in dairy cows during early lactation.     

New coumarins from Cedrelopsis grevei

Two new coumarins, 7-methoxy-5-prenylcoumarin (isocedrelopsin) (1) and 3',4'-dihydrobraylin (2), were isolated from the trunk bark of Cedrelopsis grevei, along with five known coumarins, microfolicoumarin (6,7-dimethoxy-5-prenylcoumarin, (3), obliquin (4), 8-methoxyobliquin (5), aesculetin (6), cedrelopsin (7) and scoparone (8).     

Genetic and pathogenic characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Verticillium dahliae</Emphasis> isolates from eggplant in Turkey

During 2005 to 2007, eggplant fields in 19 provinces from three different regions (western, southern and southeastern Anatolia regions) of Turkey were surveyed for Verticillium wilt. Sixty-seven isolates of Verticillium dahliae from wilted eggplants were collected and used for vegetative compatibility analysis using nitrate non-utilizing mutants and reference tester strains of vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) 1A, 2A, 2B, 3, 4A and 4B. Among all isolates, 33 (12 from western, 15 from southern and six from southeastern Anatolia) were assigned to VCG2B, 23 (four from western, eight from southern and 11 from southeastern Anatolia) to VCG2A, six (four from southern, one from western, and one from southeastern Anatolia) to VCG4B and five (one from western, one from southern and three from southeastern Anatolia) to VCG1A, whereas VCG3 and VCG4A were not defined among isolates. In order to test if there is a correlation between VCG and pathogenicity in V. dahliae, pathogenicity of 30 isolates, representing the four multimember VCGs, were tested on Solanum melongena cvs. ‘Kemer’ and ‘Aydın Siyahı’ in an unheated greenhouse. All isolates were found to be pathogenic on both cultivars and there was no difference in susceptibility between the two cultivars. VCG4B isolates collectively led to higher vascular discoloration index (VDI) on both cultivars and higher disease severity index (DSI) on ‘Kemer’ compared with other VCGs. Similarly, VCG1A caused lower VDI on both cultivars and lower DSI on ‘Kemer’. Isolates within each of VCGs 1A, 2A and 4B caused similar VDI on both cultivars. Isolates of VCG2B were found to vary in their VDI values on both cultivars. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first report of natural infections of eggplant by VCG1A.     

Evaluation of Different Approaches for Respiratory Quotient Calculation and Effects of Nitrogen Sources on Respiratory Quotient Values of Hydrocarbon Bioremediation

Blechnum orientale L. is a traditional, medicinal fern found in China. To assess the characteristics of heavy metals and As accumulation, the fronds, roots, and the rooting soils of this fern were sampled from urban, suburban, and rural woodlands across Guangdong Province in southern China. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in both the fern and its rooting soils were separately detected by ICP-MS. Contamination levels of woodland rooting soils were also assessed using both a single pollution index and the Nemerow pollution index. Both the metal concentrations and the pollution index showed that soils from urban, suburban, and even rural woodlands were adversely contaminated by As, Cd, Hg, and Pb. Based on transfer factor, B. orientale had good translocation of As, Hg, and Mn, but poor translocation of Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn from the roots to the fronds. This result suggests that this fern could be an excluder to latter metals. Despite the significantly higher levels of metals in the roots as compared with the fronds, the low bioaccumulation factor suggests that this fern has a weak capacity for metal accumulation.

     

Effects of different finishing systems on carcass traits, fatty acid composition, and beef quality characteristics of young Eastern Anatolian Red bulls

The effects of three finishing systems on carcass composition and other characteristics of meat were studied in 15 young Eastern Anatolian Red bulls in Eastern Turkey. For 93?days, five bulls grazed pasture (P), five grazed the same pasture and were given concentrate supplementation (P + C), and five grazed the same pasture for 93?days, and then for an additional 40?days, they received concentrate in a barn (PF). Carcasses of the P bulls were lighter and leaner than those of the PF animals. Compared with the P carcasses, PF carcasses had a greater percentage of kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (P?相似文献   

Antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular subtyping of 55 Turkish Bacillus anthracis strains using 25-loci multiple-locus VNTR analysis

Anthrax, which is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is one of the oldest documented infectious diseases in both livestock and humans. The differentiation of B. anthracis strains is difficult because of their highly homogeneous genomes. We used multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) with 25 markers to genotype 55 B. anthracis isolates from 16 distinct regions of Turkey. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was investigated using the agar dilution method. An eight-loci MLVA assay revealed six unique genotypes (G(K)13, G(K)27, G(K)35, G(K)43, G(K)44, and G(K)61). However, the 25-loci MLVA was more discriminatory, revealing the presence of ten genotypes instead of six. The additional genotypes resulted from the split of four subtypes: G(K)35 (b and c), G(K)43 (a and f), G(K)44 (d and e), and G(K)61 (i and j). All of the Turkish B. anthracis isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, tigecycline, linezolid, and vancomycin. One isolate was resistant to penicillin and to doxycycline. A total of 34 isolates were susceptible, 20 isolates were partially susceptible, and one isolate was resistant to erythromycin. None of the isolates exhibited susceptibility to cefotaxime. A total of 53 isolates were susceptible to gentamicin, and two were resistant. The genotypes G(K)35 (n=24), G(K)44 (n=13), and G(K)43 (n=10) were the most prevalent in 10, 6, and 5 regions, respectively, of the total 16 provinces. The B. anthracis isolates collected from these regions implied that the movement of B. anthracis is a result of the increased transportation of livestock and the resultant cross contamination.     

Effect of Salicornia herbacea on Osteoblastogenesis and Adipogenesis in Vitro

Bone-related complications are among the highest concerning metabolic diseases in the modern world. Bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture increase with age and diseases like osteoporosis. Elevated adipogenesis in bone results in osteoporosis and loss of bone mass when coupled with lack of osteoblastogenesis. In this study the potential effect of Salicornia herbacea extract against osteoporotic conditions was evaluated. Adipogenesis inhibitory effect of S. herbacea has been evidenced by decreased lipid accumulation of differentiating cells and expression levels of crucial adipogenesis markers in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. S. herbacea treatment reduced the lipid accumulation by 25% of the control. In addition, mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)1c were inhibited by the presence of S. herbacea. Bone formation enhancement effect of S. herbacea was also confirmed in MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. The presence of S. herbacea significantly elevated the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity by 120% at a concentration of 100 μg/mL in differentiating osteoblasts. S. herbacea also significantly increased the expression of osteoblastogenesis indicators, ALP, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, osteocalcin and collagen type I (collagen-I). In conclusion, S. herbacea possess potential to be utilized as a source of anti-osteoporotic agent that can inhibit adipogenesis while promoting osteoblastogenesis.