In this study, it is aimed to predict drought in Nallihan region by using streamflow drought index and artificial neural network method which is a part of artificial intelligence approaches. The measured data of some meteorological stations (Nallihan, Beypazari, Mihaliccik, Catacik, Goynuk, Mudurnu, Seben and Eskisehir) in the Sakarya Basin and the Nallihan streamflow observation station between 1996 and 2015 were used to forecast 2015-2030 streamflow values. The correlation coefficient in the education and test stages of the ANN model was realized with a high consistency of 0.990 and 0.967, respectively. According to the mean absolute error method, the error performance values of ANN model are 0.19 for the training phase and 0.26 for the test phase. Cumulative streamflow series were created for the reference periods (k1, October-December; k2, October-March; k3, October-June; k4, October-September) and the streamflow drought index values were obtained using measured and predicted values. According to these values, mild droughts were more frequent between 1997-2015 and 2016-2030, but the number of moderate and severe droughts increased gradually. It is predicted that in the future, it may be seen in extreme arid periods in the region. Drought in the 6-month period between October and March is similar to the average of all periods for 1997-2015 and 2016-2030. The use of 6-month drought data for the streamflow drought index is expected to be useful in predicting future drought.

Functional foods are the foods that provide health benefits beyond the basic nutrition. Dairy products have a prominent position in the functional food market. However, market share for functional dairy products in Sri Lanka is low compared to most of the countries in the world. Awareness of consumers and attitude towards a healthy life is essential for market success of functional dairy products. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the status of awareness of and attitudes towards functional dairy products among consumers from Western Province of Sri Lanka. The study was conducted using a pre-tested structured questionnaire during June to November 2018, with the participation of 307 purposively selected consumers. Information on consumers’ tendency towards a healthy life style, awareness and perception on health benefits of functional foods and dairy products, confidence on different information sources etc. were recorded. SPSS statistical software package was used for the data analysis. The empirical findings showed that the consumers still concern about taste and cost rather than health when buying food products. Consumer age showed a significant (χ2=19.41, p

This study was carried out to determine the effects of the use of hazelnut husk (HH), wood shavings (WS) and the mixture of 50% hazelnut husk + 50% wood shavings (MIX) in two different thicknesses (4 and 8 cm) as a litter material in broiler production. The experiment was carried out as a factorial experimental design (3 litter type and 2 thickness) and stocking density was 10 chickens per m2. At 6 wk. of age, the effect of litter types and thicknesses on broiler live weights, feed efficiency, and livability, were not significant. Also, no differences were found in terms of gizzard, digestive tract, abdominal fat and edible internal organ weight percentages. While carcass yield varied between litter groups, there was no difference between litter thicknesses. The litter moisture levels at the end of the trial were not affected the litter type and litter thickness, while the foot pad dermatitis (FPD) rates were significantly affected. The highest FPD levels were determined in the HH litter and 4 cm thickness. As a result, the use of HH, WS and MIX of them with a thickness of 4 and 8 cm had no effect on other traits except for FPD levels. It has been observed that these litter materials may be used successfully in broiler production and use of 8 cm thickness litter has minor positive effects except that the cost of litter has doubled.

In this study, the energy analyses of wheat production were compared for various geographic regions as Central Anatolia, Black Sea, Mediterranean, Eastern Anatolia and the Marmara. For this purpose, the data obtained from different studies conducted in these geographical regions were used. Five key indicators to assess the energy analyses in wheat production in the geographical regions of Turkey (energy profitability, specific energy, energy efficiency, energy use and net energy) were considered. As a result, the lowest specific energy was obtained in the Mediterranean/Adana region with 2.22 MJ kg-1, while the highest specific energy was obtained in the East Anatolia with 10.51 MJ kg-1. The lowest and highest energy use efficiency was obtained with 2.36 and 7.88 in the Black Sea/Samsun and East Anatolia/Erzurum region, respectively. The highest energy use rate is fertilizer energy in total input energy of the wheat production for geographical regions of Turkey.

In this study, a morphometric investigation was carried out on the Akbash Turkish shepherd dog breed using 30 exterior parameters. The study consisted of 96 dogs (54 males and 42 females) ranging in age from 2 to 9 years. All dogs were bred in the West Anatolia region of Turkey, around the city of Eskisehir. The following exterior parameters were measured and their means were obtained: height at withers (65.22±3.99 cm), height at mid-back (62.24±4.24 cm), height at rump (64.97±4.16 cm), height at base of tail (58.2±5.01 cm), height to elbow (36.07±4.06 cm), height to knee (35.83±4.96 cm), height to hock (17.08±3.21 cm), height to tip of sternum (45.12±4.30 cm), body length (70.58±5.58 cm), chest depth (29.58±3.23 cm), chest width (21.02±3.18 cm), breast width (16.86±3.41 cm), chest circumference (77.86±7.05 cm), pastern circumference (13.27±1.67 cm), rump length (19.21±3.27 cm), pelvic width (8.65±2.18 cm), rump protuberance width (7.58±3.02 cm), head length (27.20±2.85 cm), skull length (16.58±1.92 cm), muzzle length (10.30±2.35 cm), skull width (14.06±1.96 cm), muzzle width (7.60±1.26 cm). According to the obtained morphological characteristics the dog has a rectangular body format, and the rump is somewhat higher than the height at the withers. According to its craniological characteristics it belongs to the group of mesaticephalic dogs. The width of the skull is smaller than its length. Angles of the hind legs are more open than angles of the front legs.

Honey is the most known and consumed bee product by consumers. Therefore, from the past to the present, the investigation of the factors affecting the supply and consumption of honey has been on the agenda of the researchers. For this purpose, in our survey study, the effects of honey sales carried out via television channels (commercials) on consumers were investigated. According to the survey results, it was determined that 87.91% of consumers had a negative view about honey sales performed via television, 3.54% had a positive opinion, and 8.55% had no opinion on the issue. It was found that 5.83% of consumers bought honey through television commercials, and the education, income, gender and number of individuals in their households have an effect on the tendency to buy honey. Regarding the exposing of companies selling fake or adulterated honey by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, results showed that this situation positively affected 54.53 of consumers in terms of trust in honey positively, affected 13.30% of consumers negatively, and did not affect 13.30% of consumers in any way. As a result, deceptive honey commercials lead to consumer abuse and create an environment of distrust of honey. In order to minimize speculation on honey, it is seen necessary to increase deterrent penalties for businesses that lead to unfair competition.

Processing of melon plays a significant role in the livelihood of rural women as it serves as their major occupation. Despite its significant role, the women processors were faced with some challenges. This study, therefore, identified the challenges faced by women in melon processing in Enugu-Ezike Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 80 respondents using a structured questionnaire coupled with an interview schedule and analysed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the majority of the women processors were advanced in age, well experienced, do not belong to a cooperative society, and relied strictly on processing melon as their source of livelihood. They had an average income of N286,400 (USD 751.71) per annum. Low capital, poor credit facilities, high transportation cost, price fluctuation, rapid deterioration, low supply of melon, poor storage facilities, high cost of processing machine, and breakage of seed were the identified constraints facing them. The study recommended that the women processors should form a cooperative society which will help in financing and easy marketing of their products. Also, the government should provide financial assistance, good storage facilities, and subsidized melon processing machine to increase efficiency.

Biochar as agricultural soil amendment to improve soil physico-chemical properties, crop productivity and sustainable soil fertility management is a well-known practice. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar on growth and yield components of carrot and selected soil physic-chemical properties. The study was carried by employing a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement of four level of biochar (0, 4, 8 and 12 tons ha-1) and four level of Nitrogen/Phosphorus (N/P) fertilizer rate (0/0, 60/10, 90/15 and 120/20 kg ha-1) with four replications. Biochar significantly influenced physico-chemical properties of soils, such as bulk density, total porosity, pH, EC, SOC, TN, Av. P and CEC respectively, as compared to control. The results revealed substantial responses to biochar and N/P fertilization on growth and yield components of carrot with increasing level of biochar and N/P fertilizer rate. None of the others yield parameters were significantly affected by the interaction of two factors. From the present study, it can be concluded that dung cake biochar should be applied to enhance and improve soil physical and chemical properties for favourable plant growth.

In this study, it is aimed to determine the heavy metal pollution caused by wastewaters of leather factory in Keban Dam Lake (Agın region). For this purpose, water samples were taken monthly during one year from the selected stations (wastewater of leather factory, wastewater discharged region and open water region). The concentrations of some heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, As and Hg) were determined in water samples. The ranges of elements were found as Cu=11.71-19.14; Fe=82.03-169.92; Zn=39.06-70.31; Cr=58.59-82.03; Ni=2.5-10.25; Cd=45-72.5 mg/L; As=43.57-76.0 and Hg=0.42-0.76 µg/L in wastewater; Cu=6.25-9.74; Fe=42.96-87.89; Zn=16,21-42,96; Cr=39,06-58.59; Ni=1.22-7.25; Cd=23.75-45.0 mg/L; As=20.32-37.92 and Hg=0.19-0.38 µg/L in discharged water to dam lake, Cu=0.31-0.52; Fe=0.24-0.54; Zn=0.43-0.67; Cr=0.05-1.12; Ni=0.002-0.004 and Cd=0.009-0.02 mg/L in open water respectively. It has been determined that heavy metal pollution is very high in the wastewater of leather factory and discharged water to Dam Lake. Among these heavy metals, the most accumulated metal was chromium. In all three regions, the lowest concentrations were found in winter and the highest concentrations were found in summer. The results were compared with tolerable values for heavy metals provided from the WHO, EC and USEPA standards for freshwater. Cu, Fe, Zn, Cr and Ni concentrations in the wastewater and discharged water to the Dam Lake were found above the standard values given by WHO, EC and USEPA.

It is very important to develop a new way of treatment for foodstuffs to provide consumers more chances to choose their foods. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of microwave drying conditions on the rehydration process of Algerian truffles. Previously dried truffles, at different microwave power output (350, 500 and 650 Watt) and weights (100 and 150 g) have been utilized to analyses and to model the rehydration kinetics. Among the six used empirical models, Weibull model has been the most fitted model to all the treated samples. Microwave power output and sample weight were found to have an effect on truffles during drying, and consequently on their rehydration capacity. The high samples amount has decreased the effects of microwave drying by decreasing the density of treatment, also, the high-power output has probably reduced the time of evaporation, and thus more preservation to the dried truffles. These results can be taken into consideration for more industrial applications of microwave drying and subsequent rehydration of truffles.