This study aimed to determine the structural relationship between internal and external egg quality (IEEQ) traits. In this study, 114 eggs produced from 24 weeks-old laying hens reared at the Ondokuz Mayis University Research Farm were used. Egg weight (EW), egg width (EWi), egg length (EL) and shell weight (SW) measurements were examined as external quality traits. Also, albumen height (AH), albumen width (AW), yolk height (YH), yolk weight (YW) and yolk diameter (YD) parameters were used as internal quality traits. Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to determine the relationships between IEEQ traits. Data analysis was performed with the LISREL package. It has been determined that the variables that are important in determining the external egg quality are SW, EWi and EL. When the variables explaining the internal traits were examined, it was determined that the YW, YD, AW, AH and YH were significant. It was determined that the relationship between external egg quality and internal quality was 0.96 and external quality explained the internal quality by 91%. It has been determined that the SEM used in this study is sufficient to explain the relationship between internal and external quality.

Erzincan Tulum Cheese (ETC) holds a significant place among the most popular cheeses in Türkiye. It has been awarded Protected Geographical Indication status, which restricts the allowable milk species, its production area, and specific sheep breed used in its production. Mineral content and antioxidant activity of ETC were aimed to be predicted using conventional FT-NIR and a portable FT-MIR spectrometer combined with partial least square regression (PLSR) and machine learning algorithms based on conditional entropy. Seventy ETC samples were analyzed for their mineral (Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and P) content using ICP-MS. The samples' antioxidant activity was measured using the DPPH•+ scavenging activity method. PLSR combined with FT-NIR spectral data correlated with antioxidant activity (r=0.89) and minerals (as low as r=0.83) except for Cr and Fe. FT-MIR data provided a good correlation for minerals (as low as r=0.82) except for Cr and Mn and a moderate correlation with antioxidant activity (r=0.64). Information theory was applied to select wavenumbers used in machine learning algorithms, and better results were obtained compared to PLSR. Overall, FT-NIR and FT-MIR spectroscopy provided rapid (~ 1 min), non-destructive, sensitive, and reliable output for mineral and antioxidant activity predictions in commercial cheese samples.

This study investigates the reactions of four summer pumpkin cultivars (cvs. Çağlayan, Mert Bey, Sena Hanım, TG38) to root and crown rot caused by Fusarium proliferatum by taking into account criteria such as disease severity, plant growth (number of leaves, height, dry and fresh weight of shoot) and the accumulation of phenolic compounds in the roots. Seeds of each cultivar were inoculated with the pathogen and left to develop for 1 month at 25oC in a controlled climate room. The content of phenolic compounds in ethanolic root extracts was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Cv. Sena Hanım had the lowest disease severity (4.40%) among the cultivars, followed by cvs. Çağlayan (10.62%) and Mert Bey (11.07%). Plants developed from inoculated seeds of cvs. Çağlayan and Sena Hanım had no decrease in the number of leaves and in length, fresh and dry weight of shoots in comparison to the control (plants from non-inoculated seeds), while cv. Mert Bey demonstrated a decrease at very low rates in shoot fresh and dry weight (2.24% and 0.77%, respectively). The phenolic compound that exhibited the highest increase in root extracts of cv. Sena Hanım compared to the control among the cultivars was p-coumaric acid (6.57-fold). This study demonstrates that p-coumaric acid can play an important role in the resistance of pumpkin to seed infestation by F. proliferatum.

Our cities, most of which do not show planned development, are turning into ecosystems that threaten the living life of the natural and cultural environment as a result of many environmental problems such as increasing human and building density and incorrect land use. This negative situation has the opportunity to be resolved with urban planning in which the physical structure of the city is balanced and with landscape plans that will create open and green areas in the city that contribute positively to human and environmental health. The urban heat island effect, which has emerged as a result of intense urbanization in recent years, creates problems for city residents. Unfortunately, most cities in the world face this negative climate phenomenon. It becomes difficult to combat the heat island effect, especially in cities where construction density increases unconsciously. Ecological planning appears as a factor that will prevent these problems from turning into important environmental problems in the future. The most important component to be considered in ecological planning is climate. In this study, thermal comfort areas were tried to be determined along Dr Sami Yağız Street, which is one of the most frequently used areas of Niğde. Temperature and humidity measurements were taken at 25 points at equal intervals on both sides of the street. Measurements were made on different days of the week and at 4 different times during the day. The obtained values were transferred to ArcGIS 10.3 software and maps were produced. A universal linear extension system was used in the evaluation of climate data, and climate factors and bioclimatically suitable areas on the street were determined and evaluated in terms of comfort level. It has been determined that the humidity rate in the study area varies according to measurement hours, and there is no significant change in temperature.

Yapılan çalışmada, iç mekân tasarımının kurumsal kimlik ilkesiyle nitelikli hale getirilmesi hedeflenerek eğitim mekânlarında, duvar yüzeyi tasarımının yapılması, uygulanması ve böylece belirlenen örneklem alanlarının iç mekân tasarımıyla kurumsal kimliği kapsayıcı şekilde kullanıcıya kazandırılması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada materyal olarak Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü ve Selçuk Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi’nin girişinde bulunan duvar yüzeyleri kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın metodunda, literatür araştırması yapılarak iç mimarlık disiplini üzerinden kurumsal kimlik ve eğitim mekânlarına odaklanılmıştır. Sonrasında örneklem alanlarını sürekli kullanan personel ve öğrencilerin görüş ve önerileri alınarak gözlem ve analizlerde bulunulmuştur. Buna bağlı olarak ele alınan eğitim mekânlarının girişlerinde kurumsal kimliği logo ile temsil eden, odaklayıcı aydınlatmalarla pekiştirilmiş, gelen misafir ve öğrencilerin fotoğraf çekinebilecekleri duvar yüzeylerinin olması gerektiği gözlemlenmiştir. Edinilen verilere göre, materyal olarak ele alınan eğitim mekânlarının kurumsal kimliğine göre duvar yüzeyi tasarımı yapılmış ve uygulanmıştır. Tasarımın uygulanmasından sonra, yerinde gözlem ve analizlere dayanarak personel ve öğrencilerin kuruma karşı aidiyetlik duygusunun geliştiği, gelen misafirlerin ve mezunların günümüzde yaygın olarak gerçekleştirilen fotoğraf çekme eyleminde bulunarak kurumun tanınırlığını arttırdığı, tasarımı yapılan duvar yüzeyinin ait olduğu mekâna kazandırılarak aktif hale geldiği görülmektedir.

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality features, antioxidant capabilities, microbiological and sensory aspects of yogurt fortified with 2%, 5%, and 7% red dragon (RD) peel powder. The yogurt was formulated using the classical technology adapted to laboratory conditions. The results of the physicochemical properties showed significant differences in pH (4.73–4.36), acidity (0.18–0.16 g lactic acid/100 g), and ascorbic acid (1.17-1.34 mg/100 g) among different yogurt formulations (P<0.05). In addition, RD peel powder fortification showed increasing trends in crude fiber (1.53-3.34 g/100 g), ash (5.19-5.29 g/100 g), and moisture (76.70-80.19 g/100 g) content, respectively; while the reversed trend was observed for fat (3.48-2.36 g/100 g), and crude protein (4.49-4.07 g/100 g) contents, respectively. Furthermore, gradual progression of RD peel powder in fortified yogurt manifested an improvement of the overall antioxidant activity (1.30-1.57 µmol TE/mL). The analyses of the sensory properties demonstrated that yogurt with RD peel powder in proportions of 2% received the highest hedonic score for consumer approval. Moreover, no coliform was reported in any of the control and fortified yogurts. Therefore, it could be concluded that RD peel powder can be employed as a functional food constituent in yogurt with improved quality attributes and sensory properties compared to plain yogurt.

Cucurbitaceae family fruits, especially melons, offers significant quantities of minerals carotenoids and phenolic compounds, contributing to their antioxidant activity. However, seeds of these fruits are usually discarded as waste by products. In current study, seeds of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo) were separated, dried, grounded and extracted, with 70% ethanol, to investigate total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (TFC), carotenoid content (TC) content, and total antioxidant activity (TAA). Further, antimicrobial activities of these extracts were tested against selected bacterial and fungus strains. Results showed that extracts of both cucurbits presented significant amounts of phytochemicals, with higher quantities presented by watermelon seeds. In watermelon seeds, TPC were found 156.50 mg/GAE 100 g, TFC 56.78 mg CE/100 g, TC 36.65 mg/100 g, and TAA 71%, and these amounts were significantly higher than those found in muskmelon seeds. Antimicrobial study results showed that extracts of both seeds exhibited significant zone of inhibitions against three bacterial and three fungal species, and these values were very comparable to the reference antimicrobial drug used, Ciprofloxacin. Findings of current research work provided significant grounds for presence of phytochemical bioactives in two melon fruits seeds, providing the basis for extraction and utilization of these bioactives, through processing and fortification different pharma foods.

The aim of this study was to determine the fertility, herd life and milk yield characteristics of Simmental (SIM) cows of Austrian origin, which have increased the interest of cattle breeders in Türkiye in recent years. From the records of the farm between 2011 and 2021, the first calving age (FCA), calving interval (CI), herd life (HL), productive life (PL), lactation length (LL), lactation milk yield (LMY) and 305 days milk yield (305-dMY) were calculated. A total of 307 FCA, 619 CI, 212 HL and PL, 447 LL, 271 LMY and 497 305-dMY data were used. The means of FCA, CI, HL, PL, LL, LMY and 305-dMY for SIM cows were 842.35±5.30 days (28.1 months), 422.98±3.18 days, 75.48±1.72 months, 47.15±1.73 months, 363.52±3.52 days, 10,596±152 kg and 8647.0±58.0 kg, respectively. Based on the long FCA and CI averages of Austrian-origin SIM cattle, although it can be interpreted that there are some problems in terms of reproductive efficiency in the farm, finding long HL and PL and high milk yield, it can be said that the farm contributes to the increase of milk yield per cow by turning the negativity caused by the reproductive efficiency into an advantage.

A survey of 200 farmers in the Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti region was conducted between June and October 2016. It was to determine their knowledge of different pests and disease control methods employed, access to extension services, pesticides use and other pests control methods. The study relied on data collected from respondents, 12 key informants (pesticides dealers, vegetable buyers and local chief farmers), field surveillance and observation as well as the reports of the Directorate of Agriculture in the Municipality. Data were captured and analyzed using MS Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPPS) version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) and interpreted into simple percentages on tables and charts. The result showed that farmers are above 20 years and 18% were female. The majority (74%) have at least basic education with six (6) or more years’ of experience in tomato production. Sixty-four percent (64%) had no access to extension services due to poor contact with the agricultural extension agents (AEAs). Most respondents (70%) lacked education on pesticides and alternative (e.g., integrated pests’ management) control. Nine-two percent acknowledged the dangers of pesticides to public health. Sixty-four percent practice bi-weekly calendar spraying while 30 % and 6% practice weekly and occasional spraying respectively. Forty-four percent of farmers throw used containers or leave them on the farm. More education is needed to ensure safe use of pesticides and wholesome tomatoes for the public.

The edible insect sector has, in recent times, gained significant prominence and attention. Particularly, the government of Kenya has made remarkable steps to achieve a potentially large and valuable edible insect market, with a significant milestone being the passing of regulations on edible insects as a new source of proteins. However, research on the edible insect marketing environment is still indistinct. Therefore, the study sought to evaluate the determinants of the market outlets preferred or used by smallholder farmers and traders of domesticated and field-collected edible insects (including cricket, bees, winged termites, lake flies, and dung beetle) in Siaya and Vihiga counties. This cross-sectional study was done among 188 edible insects’ farmers and traders. Purposive sampling identified the study area, while snowball sampling reached the study participants. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using multinomial logit regression to assess independent-dependent variable relationships, yielding marginal effects. Study findings showed that at 95% confidence interval, the yield was significant to the three outlets used by the farmers. Gender was significant to both institution and open-air markets outlets but insignificant to selling at the farm gate. Age, education level, and experience in marketing were insignificant to all the three market outlets. Marketing training was significant to the institution and open-air markets. The study also showed that farmers and traders had limited choices to sell their edible insect produce, which was majorly affected by yield and age variables. In view of these findings, enhancing edible insect marketing and training through initiatives that would increase production among farmers and breaking the attitudes toward open-air marketing among male farmers is pivotal to the thriving of the novel food enterprise towards achieving food security in the region.