The aim of this study was to determine the growth parameters of European Flounder fry (Platichthys flesus luscus L. 1758) caught from the nature in different feeding methods in aquaculture conditions. The study was conducted between April and July 2011, and the fish were collected at the connection point of Sarıkum Lagoon with the Black Sea in Sinop Province using seines and large scoops. A total of 750 European Flounder with the average weight of 0.93±0.01 (0.71-1.21) g were stocked in 5 groups with 3 repetitions. The groups were organized according to the feeding protocols [G1:90 days Chironomid larvae (CL), G2:60 days CL+30 days CL+ granular feed (GY), G3:30 days CL+60 days CL+ GY, G4:90 days CL+GY, G5:90 days GY]. At the end of the study, the weights of the fish were determined as 10.83±0.51, 9.89±0.22, 6.33±0.21, 5.13±0.11, 3.81±0.09, respectively. It was found that feeding preferences of the fish had significant effects on weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and survival rate. European Flounder fry, as in their natural habitat, mostly preferred natural feed moving in the deep in the production site. It was determined that using live feed as the starter feed for the adaptation of European Flounder fry had a significant effect on growth parameters and survival rates.

The objective of this work was to study the differences between some minerals content of gariss samples collected from two different production areas in two different production systems (i.e. traditional system Kordofan area and semi-intensive system- which, the camels are kept in an open barn and graze around the farm. The lactating female camels are supplemented with concentrates in addition to good quality ration containing groundnut cake and Sorghum biocolor and water supply upon required in Kordofan and Khartoum provinces in Sudan at the different seasons (summer, autumn and winter) and their gariss samples were collected. Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus of gariss samples collected in autumn season (Kordofan area), summer season (Khartoum area), and winter season (Khartoum and Kordofan areas) were determined, after that the age of gariss was noted from farmers directly when the samples were collected. Four different ages of gariss which registered were (5-8 hrs, 12 hrs, 48 hrs and more than 48 hrs). Each fermentation time (age of gariss) was used for analyzing mineral contents. The results showed that gariss prepared from different production locations and in different seasons in Kordofan and Khartoum production areas were statistically different in most of the mineral contents determined. To conclude, different feeding sources or different physiological status may affect camels’ milk and consequently their gariss product, also different age of gariss had affects the mineral content of milk.

Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst (Reishi mushroom) is one of medicinal mushroom species. The chemical content of the mushrooms shows significant changes depending on the physical and chemical properties of their growing place. In this study; total soluble protein, total soluble carbohydrate (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and some mineral elements (P, K, Mg, Mn, S, Fe, Zn, Ca and Na) of Ganoderma lucidum collected from the nature and cultured on orange stump were investigated. According to the results; total protein, glucose, fructose, sucrose and starch content of the G. lucidum cultured on orange stump were found higher than G. lucidum collected from nature. Phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium and sulfur content were determined to be higher in mushroom samples cultured on orange stump. Calcium, magnesium, manganese and zinc values were found as higher in mushroom samples collected from nature. According to these results, G. lucidum cultured on orange stump had higher nutritional value than mushrooms collected from nature.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality characteristics of physical, chemical and microbiological of some fruit nectar samples produced from some local and imported companies and sold in the city of Tripoli, and to determine their conformity with Libyan specification standards. In this study, 40 samples of different fruit nectars (grape, pineapple, guava, orange, apple, and mixed fruits) were collected from different local supermarket, five imported companies and 4 domestic which were available at the time of study. The Samples were classified based on their type of fruit nectars and also marked as (A, B, C, D) and (E, F, L, M, N) for different domestic or imported and imported companies respectively. The results showed that all the samples were free from artificial colours added. Local and imported samples were conform with the Libyan specification standards (990-2014) for fruit nectars. Five local and four imported samples were unconfirmed with the standards. In terms of acidity, some local and imported samples were conform to the Libyan specification standards, except one local sample and 5 imported samples. However, 35.3% of local samples and 43.5% of the imported samples unconfirmed to the Libyan standard specifications. Microbiological results showed that all local and imported samples were free from total bacterial count, yeasts and molds and coliform bacteria. Heavy metals (cadmium, lead, arsenic, copper, zinc, iron) of local and imported samples were conform to the Libyan specification standard, except 3 samples of imported products were had higher arsenic concentration. Based on the results of this study which indicated the importance of quality control programs for such products not only during production but also during storage and sales due to possibility of contamination and spoilage.

In this study, selenium levels of P.citrinopileatus added different rates of red pepper waste to compost as a source of selenium were determined. For this purpose, six different compost groups were prepared and inoculated with P.citrinopileatus mycelia. Selenium levels of harvested mushrooms were analysed. In conclusion, 0.338 µg/g selenium were determined in one gram dry mushroom that red pepper waste added to compost at 5%. Mycelia growth and selenium accumulation were negatively affected by higher rates of red pepper waste.

Leafy vegetables are highly perishable and often subjected to post-harvest wastes. Among the various methods of preservation, the effect of shadow drying on the nutritive value and antioxidant properties of five (5) leafy vegetables species widely consumed in Northern Côte d’Ivoire was investigated. These species were Amaranthus hybridus, Andasonia digitata, Ceiba patendra, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Vigna unguiculata. Experiment was conducted as follow: portions of washed and drained fresh leafy vegetables (500 g) were spread on clean filter paper and kept in a well-ventilated room of the laboratory at 25°C for 5, 10 and 15 days. The results of proximate composition after 15 days of shadow drying were: moisture (15.19 – 20.36%), ash (9.14 -19.54%), crude fiber (11.04 – 27.40%), proteins (11.14 - 17.94%), lipids (2.41 – 5.86%) and carbohydrates (16.59 – 45.14%). The concentration of minerals increased with respective values after 15 days of shadow drying: calcium (68.14-408.09 mg/100 g), magnesium (50.62-317.23 mg/100 g), iron (27.52-92.03 mg/100 g) and zinc (10.17-16.73 mg/100 g). During shadow drying, vitamin C and carotenoids were subjected to losses estimated to 35.52 – 70.50% and 22.82 – 45.63%, respectively. Contrary to these losses, antioxidant activity increased and ranged from 57.45 to 75.55 % after 15 days of shadow drying. All these results suggest that the considerable nutrient contents of shade dried leafy vegetables make them good source of food supplements in order to meet the nutritional requirements of Ivorian population.

In this study, researchers on storage and quality properties of mushrooms cultivated in the world and Turkey have been investigated. Mushrooms contain some important minerals and vitamins such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and folate, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B, C, D and also they are a good source of carbohydrate and protein. After harvest, to extend the shelf life of mushrooms, some applications such as pre-cooling, storage in appropriate temperature, use of different types of polyethylene packaging, modified atmosphere packaging, nitric oxide and UV light applications were done on mushrooms. The effects of these applications on physical and chemical features such as like weight loss, firmness, cap opening rate, cap diameter, stem diameter, browning, colour, respiration rate, enzymatic reactions, total phenols, total sugars, aminoacid content were investigated.

Genomic imprinting is expression of gene’s only one allele in one of homolog chromosome depending on its maternal or paternal origin. A waste number of genes which are under the imprinting effect were identified as it has a key role in mammalian growth. The first three genes which is identified as imprinted are Igf2r, Igf2 and H19 which are first discovered in mouse genome. Over a hundred genes are identified as imprinted in mammals. Most of the imprinted genes are considered as they have a key role in growth and differentiation. In this review, epigenetic regulators of imprinted genes in mammals were mentioned.

In this study, ecological risks arising from the accumulation of some heavy metals in surface sediments of Lake Tortum are discussed based on the use of ecological indices, such as enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk index (PER) and the mean probable effect concentration quotient (mPEC-Q). Sediment samples were collected from six different sites using Van Veen grab and heavy metal and organic carbon content of sediments were determined. Results testify to the existence of minimal to moderate contamination in lake sediment. The highest value for the enrichment factor pertains to Cd caused by the use of fossil fuels in settlement areas in the lake catchment. PLI and PER estimations, on the other hand, reveals the presence of low heavy metals-induced ecological risk in lake sediments. Ranging between 15% and 29%, mPEC-Q values are indicative of the fact that Lake Tortum is a low-moderate priority site in terms of toxicity level caused by heavy metals.

The aim of this study was to detect Staphylococcus aureus contamination to different types of animal origin foods collected in the Kırşehir province of Turkey and to examine their enterotoxin production ability. Out of 120 food samples 38 suspected colonies were obtained and 23 of them were identified as S. aureus by biochemical and molecular analyses. Other species detected were S. chromogenes, S. cohnii ssp. cohnii, S. hominis, S. lentus, S. warneri, and S. xylosus. The isolates were also analysed with regard to carry mecA gene. None of them was found to have mecA gene indicating susceptibility to methicillin. To determine the enterotoxigenic ability of the isolates phenotypically, reversed-passive-latex-agglutination test against SEA-SED was used. Six out of 23 S. aureus isolates were determined to produce SEA, SEC and SED. Three of them had only one enterotoxin production, whereas others had SEA and SED production together. The results of phenotypic analyses were confirmed by PCR based examination. None of the coagulase-negative staphylococci were found to be enterotoxigenic by both phenotypical and PCR-based analyses. In conclusion, enterotoxigenic S. aureus is a risk in foods of animal origin in Kırşehir and its counties.