CO2-defatted oats: Solubility,emulsification and foaming properties

Functional properties of conventional oat materials are relatively poor with respect to foam and emulsion formation and stabilization. This is largely due to the poor solubility of oat proteins and the presence of lipids in aqueous extracts of oats. In the experimental part of this study, extracts were prepared from different type oat flours (oat endosperm flour, oat fine flour, CO₂-defatted whole oat flour and CO₂-defatted oat flour) with a buffered aqueous extraction procedure at acidic (pH 4.5 and 6.5) and basic (pH 8.5 and 10.5) regions. The solubility of proteins was the highest at pH 10.5 and NaCl concentration of 2%. Among the extracts, CO₂-oat flour showed improved foaming and emulsifying properties at basic pH values. The presence of 0.1% NaCl resulted in the lowest foam volumes, but the emulsion activity and stability values being the highest. Sucrose addition resulted in increased foam and emulsion stability of suspensions. Heat treatment at 80 °C impaired foam properties, whereas the stability of emulsions increased with the increase in temperature from 20 °C to 80 °C. CO₂-extracted oats can be useful raw materials in beverages and other aqueous applications where protein functionality plays an important role.     

Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Aphanes arvensis Extracts

The objectives of this study were to examine the free radical scavenging activity and the protective effects against macromolecular oxidation as well as the cytotoxic activity of Aphanes arvensis aqueous and methanolic extracts. Free radical scavenging activity was determined by DPPH method. The methanolic extract showed a scavenging activity nearly equivalent to Trolox and Vitamin C and has an IC₅₀ value of 4.54 μg/mL. Total antioxidant capacity was determined by CUPRAC method. The antioxidant capacity of aqueous and methanolic extract was 0.792 and 1.550 mmol TE/g DWE, respectively. The protective effect of A. arvensis extracts against lipid peroxidation was evaluated using a liposome oxidation system. The methanolic extract was more active than the aqueous extract. The aqueous extract possessed protective effect against protein oxidation in a dose dependent manner. Both extracts showed inhibitory effect on DNA oxidation as measured by plasmid relaxation assay. Results presented here indicate that A. arvensis possess strong antioxidant activity and protective effects with very little cytotoxic effect, and they can therefore be used as a natural additive in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.     

Cryopreservation of scaly carp (Cyprinus carpio) sperm: effect of different cryoprotectant concentrations on post-thaw motility, fertilization and hatching success of embryos

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of various cryoprotectants on post-thaw sperm quality and fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved scaly carp (Cyprinus carpio) semen. The present study focused on freezing of scaly carp sperm utilizing a practical and inexpensive protocol for aquaculture. Semen was diluted with Kurokura’s extender composing 3.6 g/l NaCl, 10 g/l KCl, 0.22 g/l CaCl₂, 0.08 g/l MgCl₂ and 0.2 g/l NaHCO₃. The extender contained three different cryoprotectants (DMSO, DMA and egg yolk) at ratios of 5, 10 and 15 %. Semen was placed into 0.25-ml straws and exposed to liquid nitrogen vapor (?120 °C) using an insulated box with an adjustable tray for 10 min and then plunged into liquid nitrogen (?196 °C) tank. The thawing process was performed in a water bath at 40 °C for 10 s. The results indicated that type of cryoprotectants and their concentrations are rather effective in scaly carp sperm cryopreservation on post-thaw sperm quality, while they are very important in order to obtain high fertilization rates. The highest fertilization rate was determined as 96.4 ± 0.15 % with 15 % egg yolk, while the highest hatching rate was determined as 99.3 ± 0.80 with 15 % DMA. In conclusion, the applied cryopreservation method for scaly carp sperm is suitable to fertilize high amounts of eggs.     

A comparison of the growth and survival of two freshwater crayfish species, Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz and Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), under different temperature and density regimes

Growth experiments carried out with two juvenile crayfish species, Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz and Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), at different temperatures and densities highlighted the problem of cannibalism under conditions aimed at intensifying crayfish production. Cannibalism proved to be much lower in A. leptodactylus than P. leniusculus, suggesting that the former might be the better candidate for astaciculture. In the first of two population survival trials, A. leptodactylus showed a higher survival rate than P. leniusculus, with 26% of P. leniusculus surviving in the first replicate, compared to 42.3% of P. leniusculus, and 40.76% surviving in the second replicate, compared to 47.6% of P. leniusculus. The same trend was observed in the second experiment, with P. leniusculus showing survival rates of 48.5 and 55.3% (first and second replicates, respectively) in comparison to 65.2 and 68.2%, respectively, for A. leptodactylus. It is therefore highly likely that if P. leniusculus were to become established in Turkey, it would outcompete the native A. leptodactylus even if it were not to be devastated by the crayfish plague that has decimated the native species. The experiments also highlighted the problem of differential growth, with some juveniles hardly growing at all while others reached a relatively large size. The range in carapace length (CL) was 9–18 mm for A. leptodactylus and 8.5–18.5 mm CL for P. leniusculus at the end of the first experiment. While both species grew quickly, P. leniusculus hatched earlier, giving it an advantage over A. leptodactylus; consequently, by the end of the summer, the juveniles of the former were larger than those of A. leptodactylus. Specific growth rate values showed that the juveniles of the two species had similar growth rates. The results also revealed that growth was not significantly affected by density in both species at 15°C, but at 25°C, growth was significantly better at a density of 234 juveniles m⁻² than at 468 juveniles m⁻², and better at 468 juveniles m⁻² than at 937 juveniles m⁻² (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). We conclude that P. leniusculus is a good candidate for aquaculture as it has a rapid growth rate and early hatching and maturity; however, its aggressive behavior may make it a less attractive proposition than A. leptodactylus, which is also fast growing but less aggressive. This study is a part of PhD study of M.M. Harlıoğlu, who is supported by Fırat University Elazığ, Turkey.     

Effect of Oyster Mushroom,Pleurotus ostreatus,Extract on Hemato‐Immunological Parameters of Rainbow Trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

The current study investigated the effects of oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, extract on immunological and hematological parameters of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. The fish were fed diets containing 0 (control), 1, and 2% supplementation of the oyster mushroom extract for 6 wk. Blood samples were collected weekly for the first 6 weeks. After 6 wk of feeding, the fish were challenged with Lactococcus garvieae and mortality was recorded. The results of this study showed that feeding rainbow trout an oyster mushroom extract–supplemented diet stimulated phagocytic activity of phagocytic cells, lysozyme activity, and myeloperoxidase activity in serum, but it did not significantly affect the total serum immunoglobulin level. At the same time, a significant increase was found in the number of neutrophils, monocytes, and total white blood cells. Fish fed the diet supplemented with oyster mushroom extract showed reduced mortalities following L. garvieae infection compared with controls. These results show that supplementation of fish diets with oyster mushroom extract at 1 and 2% concentrations significantly imrpoves hematological parameters and modulates the immune response against L. garvieae in rainbow trout.     

Phytophthora citrophthora,a new pathogen causing decline on horse chestnut in Turkey

Dieback symptoms were observed on horse chestnut trees planted approximately 40 years ago in Ankara, Turkey. Lesions at the stem bases of the affected trees were similar to those of ink disease on sweet chestnut. A Phytophthora sp. was isolated from the fine roots and soil samples collected around the stem bases by baiting using chestnut leaves. The pathogen was identified as Phytophthora citrophthora based on several morphological features and DNA sequences of the ITS region. Pathogenicity of P. citrophthora was tested by stem inoculation on 3‐year‐old horse chestnut saplings. P. citrophthora produced large cankers in 20 days and killed 40% of the saplings. This is the first report of P. citrophthora causing dieback on horse chestnut.     

Genotype,production system and sex effects on fatty acid composition of meat from goat kids

Two trials were performed to assess the meat fatty acid profile of goat kids from different genotypes, production systems and sex. In the first trial, genotype effect was determined in 24 suckling male kids from Turkish Saanen, Maltese and Gokceada breeds. In the second trial, male and female Gokceada Goat kids were used to compare the effect of extensive and semi‐intensive production systems on fatty acid composition of meat. Significant genotype effect was observed in the percentages of myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1 n‐9), linolenic acid (C18:3 n‐3), arachidonic acid (C20:4 n‐6) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n‐3), despite no differences on the ratios of polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) and n‐6/n‐3 (P > 0.05). The effect of production system had also significant effects on fatty acids, but sex only influenced significantly stearic acid (C18:0), C18:1 n‐9 and C18:3 n‐3 fatty acids and total PUFA level and PUFA/SFA ratio. This study confirms that dairy breeds are prone to produce higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids in their muscle. Meanwhile, meat from Gokceada goat kids, which is one of the indigenous breeds in Turkey, had similar PUFA/SFA and n‐6/n‐3 ratios to Turkish Saanen and Maltase.     

Exploring the common ground of landscape ecology and landscape archaeology through a case study from eastern Anatolia,Turkey

Landscape Ecology - Landscape archaeology has a lot to offer to landscape ecology, being an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes the study of long-term human–environment dynamics. We...     

Obtaining medical textiles including microcapsules of the ozonated vegetable oils

In this paper, it was aimed to obtain disposable medical textiles having antibacterial and wound healing properties, as well as biological adaption. For this purpose, the St. John’s Wort oil and flax seed oil were ozonated, and the oils were capsulated with arabic gum. The produced ozonated oils were characterized through FTIR and TGA analyses, as well as the properties of antibacterial, wound healing, and biological adaption were investigated. The produced microcapsules were examined via optical microscope and FTIR. The characterized microcapsules of the ozonated oils were applied to the textiles with padding method. After the applications, the fabrics were researched with SEM and FTIR analyses; in addition the antibacterial and wound healing properties and biological adaption of the textiles were also investigated. The results showed that the St. John’s Wort oil and flax seed oil were successfully ozonated and microcapsulated. The microcapsules of the oils could be applied to the fabric samples with the determined application recipe. The ozonated oils and the fabric samples applied microcapsules of the ozonated oils gained high antibacterial and wound healing property. In addition, the fabric samples were produced as having biological adaptation.