The study aims at determining the physicochemical, proximate composition and the total viable count of Staphylococcus aureus in ‘Nono’ and yoghurt samples in Kaduna, Nigeria.Three hundred and eighty-four (384) fermented milk samples (Nono and yoghurt) were obtained from different selling points and were evaluated for the occurrence of S. aureus. The physicochemical and proximate analyses (pH, total titratable acidity, moisture content, ash content, protein content, and fat content) were determined. The results of the analyses showed that Nono had pH range of 3.56-3.61, total titratable acidity: 0.71-1.72, moisture content: 82.23-83.87%, ash content: 0.30-0.31%, crude protein content: 1.50-1.61%, crude fat content: 0.35-0.38 %. For yoghurt, the pH ranged from 3.76 -3.82, total titratable acidity: 1.10 -1.15, moisture content: 77.76-80.06%, ash content: 0.68- 0.70%, crude protein content: 3.40-3.45% and crude fat content: 1.76-1.79% from all the study areas. One hundred and four of the total samples were contaminated with S. aureus. Out of the 104 isolates of S. aureus that were isolated and identified, 88 were coagulase positive S.aureus. The Microgen Staph ID kit (Oxoid) was used to further confirm the characteristics of the 60 isolates of the coagulase positive S. aureus. The kit confirmed 43 isolates as S. aureus, the results indicated the presence of S. aureus in the milk samples which is of public health importance, as this can contribute to food-borne intoxication which can lead to food poisoning. There is a need for proper pasteurisation of raw milk to help eradicate S. aureus infection before human consumption.

Microwave (MW)-hot air (HA) combined drying was applied to white sweet cherries besides solely HA drying at 50, 60 and 70°C in the presence of citric acid, sucrose and freezing pretreatment in this study. Single power level of MW (90 W) was chosen, and drying behavior of all samples was modelled by using eleven thin layer equations. Two-term, rational and sigmoid models were the most suitable models for describing drying phenomena. Effective moisture diffusivities (Deff) ranged from 1.724×10-10 to 5.173×10-10 m2/s in HA drying and from 4.260×10-10 to 1.805×10-9 m2/s in MW-HA drying. Activation energies (Ea) were between 2.785 and 30.541 kJ/mol and 6.929 and 42.101 kJ/mol for HA and MW-HA drying techniques, respectively. Total color change (ΔE) levels of the outer surface of dried cherries were generally higher than the ones of inner surface. Freezing pretreatment had a comparably lower enhancing effect on the total phenolic content (TPC) of HA dried white sweet cherries compared to fresh sample. The TPC of freezing pretreated and HA dried at 50°C and HA dried at 70°C control samples were 1.481 ± 0.398 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry matter (DM) and 6.181 ± 0.012 mg GAE/g DM as the minimum and maximum, respectively. These values were determined as 4.183 ± 1.728 and 8.240 ± 0.502 mg GAE/g DM that were belonged to MW-HA dried at 50°C control and freezing pretreated MW-HA dried at 70°C samples in combined procedure, respectively.

In this study, it was investigated the total amounts of phenolic and flavonoid substances and antioxidant activities in different solvent extracts of Lonicera iberica M. Bieb. wild fruit. Total phenolic contents of the extracts were determined as equivalent to gallic acid using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and total flavonoid contents as equivalent to quercetin by aluminium nitrate method. In addition, the antioxidant properties of the extracts were determined using free radical scavenging (DPPH) and reducing power (FRAP) methods. The amount of total phenolic substance of L. iberica fruits in hexane and methanol extracts was calculated as 30.96 ± 0.67 mg of GAE / g and 23.70 ± 1.56 mg of GAE / g, respectively. In addition, the amount of total flavonoid substance was calculated as 46.50 ± 8.54 mg of QE / g and 42.09 ± 2.58 mg of QE / g, respectively. It was determined that DPPH radical scavenging activity correlated with total phenolic and flavonoid amount of substance, and L. iberica had a strong antioxidant effect. It is predicted that our study will shed light on new researches, since it is the first study done with L. Iberica fruits in this field.

This study was carried out at the meadows and pastures in Çolpan village of Van province in 2020. In the study, matter yield, botanical composition, plant covered area, rate of decreaser/increaser/invader species were determined. The Loop method was used to determine the botanical composition. In grassland area were identified 69 species belonging to 17 families. In meadow area were identified 20 species belonging to 6 families. The amount of Poaceae, Fabaceae and other families found in the grassland area were determined as 18.66%, 15.65%, and 65.69%, respectively. In the meadow area, the amount of Poaceae, Fabaceae and other families were determined as 67.50%, 15.0%, and 17.50%, respectively. Artemisia spicigera (4.74%) Taeniatherum caput-medusae (5.0%) Arenaria serpyllifolia (5.0%) Medicago monantha (5.92%) species were the most common species found in the grassland area. Hordeum brevisubulatum (25.5%), Bromus scoparius (16.75%), and Taraxacum androssovii (9.25%) species were the most common species found in the meadow area. According to the ratio of good plants, pasture was classified as poor pasture and meadow was in the moderate meadow class. Grassland and meadow matter yields were found to be 91.4 kg/da and 385.2 kg/da, respectively. In the grassland of Çolpan village, invader species were found to be dense. It was concluded that grassland area should be improved.

Spices and herbs are groups of vegetables with important properties for human health and food industries. They are generally consumed in cooked recipes and such treatment may affect the content of vital components such antioxidants. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of the cooking temperatures on total phenolics, flavonoids and vitamin C of some spices and herbs used in the locality of Bamenda, Cameroon. Briefly, the most consumed spices and herbs were selected through structured questionnaires administered to individuals involved in their consumption and selling. Thereafter, samples were collected and subjected to different boiling treatments and the levels of the antioxidants (flavonoids, phenols and vitamin C) were determined. Results showed that almost half the participants (48%) used Parsley, Basil, White pepper, Njansa, Mint and African nutmeg mainly for flavoring and medicinal purposes. The cooking temperature of 65°C increased total phenolics and flavonoids in spices (Mint, White pepper, Njangsa and African nutmeg) and herbs (Parsley, Basil) while higher heat treatments (75 and 85°C) lowered the content of these pytochemicals. Boiling of spices or herbs significantly and temperature dependently reduced the vitamin C content in all spice and herb samples with respect to the control raw samples. Summarily, the moderate boiling (65°C) treatment used by the local populations favors release of total phenolics and flavonoids though with some reducing effect on vitamin C.

In this study carried out in 2015 under conditions of Kahramanmaraş province of Turkey, it was aimed at determining the effects of sawgin and rollergin methods on fiber quality in some cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars. In the study varieties of Lydia, Carisma, PG 2018, Flash, BA 440, BA 119 Maraş-92 and Erşan-92 were used as experimental materials. The trial was established according to factorial randomized block design with four replications. Seed cottons obtained from the trial were ginned in the rollergin and sawgin machines. In the obtained lint cotton samples, a number of fiber characteristics were determined by using HVI and AFIS fiber analysis devices. Ginnig outturn (38.6%), fiber length (30.21 mm), uniformity index (86.02%), fiber strength (31.76 g tex-1), spinning consistency index (SCI) (104.68) determined by using rollergin system were found higher than ones determined by using sawgin system (respectivelly 37.2%, 29.78 mm, 84.61%, 30.97 g tex-1, 94.50). Short fiber index (3.47%) and nep count (59.40 number g-1) obtained from rollergin system were found lower than ones obtained from sawgin system (respectivelly 4.38% and 119.34 number g-1). As a result it can be said that the rollergin method has positive effect on ginnig outturn, fiber length, uniformity index, fiber strength, spinning consistency index, short fiber index and nep count. When fiber length, fiber strength, spinning consistency index, nep size are considered together the best variety was Lydia cv. (respectivelly 30.87 mm, 32.56 g tex-1, 104.25, 675.63 μm). Ginning outturn, uniformity index, short fiber index, total particule number, dust particule number and trash count are considered together the best variety was Erşan-92 cv. (respectivelly 39.4%, 86.02%, 3.48%, 231.4 number g-1, 206.3 number g-1, 25.13 number g-1). For fiber fineness the best varieties were BA 119 and Maraş-92 cv. (respectivelly 4.78 mic. and 4.80 mic.).

Global climate change is defined as a process that affects all living things and ecosystems globally and is claimed as the most critical problem of the current century. Turkey, which is shown as one of the most affected countries by this process, is among the “countries at risk.” It is stated that the temperature will increase throughout the country until 2100, and this increase may reach 6 ºC. In order to determine the possible effects of global climate change, it is necessary to predict how the climate structure and basic parameters may change. From this point of view, this study is aimed to determine the change of temperature and precipitation, climate types (according to De Martonne, Lang, and Emberger climate classification) which are the most critical climate parameters until 2050 and 2070 in Düzce, one of the important cities of our country. The current situation and possible changes in 2050 and 2070 have been compared using RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. As a result of the study, the temperature, precipitation, and related climate types would change significantly throughout the province of Düzce, and this change will show itself as a significant temperature increase and change in precipitation regime. In addition, a shift in climate types towards continental climate types is predicted until 2070. In order to avoid the destructive effects of global climate change, it is recommended to take measures on a sectoral basis.

Tillage is an important factor affecting different soil properties and crop yields. Tillage relates to applying forces to soil using different implements for preparation of a proper seed bed. For rice crop, land preparation is a rigorous and time consuming operation that needs special attention for preparing a puddled soil condition to transplant the weak and tender rice seedlings. A field experiment was established under agro-ecological conditions of Sheikhupura to evaluate different land preparation techniques during fall in 2017 and 2018 years. The experiment was performed at Adaptive Research Farm Sheikhupura. It was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four different land preparation techniques including T1= Cultivator (4 times) + Planking (2 times) (Farmer’s Practice), T2=MB plough (1 time) + Disc Harrow (1 time) + Planking (2 Times), T3=MB plough (1 time) + Cultivator (2 times) + Planking (2 Times) and T4= Rotavator (1 time) + Disc Harrow (1 time) + Planking (2 Times), each treatment replicated thrice during both the years. All the other agronomic and crop husbandry operations were kept uniform throughout the growing season every year. The results revealed that preparing land with MB plough (1 time), Disc Harrow (1 time) and Planking (2 times) is the best land preparation method can increase the paddy yield 13.5-17.5% as compared to the traditional method practised by the farmers. Moreover, highest plant height (134.00 cm and 132.00 cm), number of tillers (224 and 220 m-2), number of grains per spike (130 and 116) and 1000-grain weight (23.0 and 22.0 g) respectively during Kharif-18 and Kharif-19 was also recorded in the same treatment. So, preparation of land for paddy in agro-ecological conditions of Sheikhupura using MB plough (1 time), Disc Harrow (1 time) and Planking (2 times) can significantly enhance the paddy yield.

Potato is a high potential food security crop in Ethiopia. Genetic variability is the basis of all crop improvement programs. The study was conducted at Adet in 2018 with the objective of assessing the extent and pattern of genetic variability of potato genotypes for yield and yield related traits. A total of 36 potato genotypes were evaluated for 18 quantitative traits in simple lattice design. The analysis of variance revealed that highly significant difference among the tested potato genotypes for all quantitative traits except stem number per hill. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was ranged from 4.56 to 56.01% (for specific gravity and unmarketable tuber yield ha-1 respectively) and the genotypic coefficient of variation was ranged from 2.32 to 40.66% (specific gravity and late blight severity percentage respectively). Days to attain 50% emergence, leaf area index, number of marketable and total tubers per plant, marketable and total tuber yield ha-1, and late blight severity percentage showed high heritability and high genetic advance as percent of mean. Most of the traits had high phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation; and coupled high heritability with high genetic advance as percent of mean. Traits having high heritability and high genetic advance as percent of means is effective for simple selection.

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate yield and nutrient use efficiency in maize in response to various rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in silty clay loam soil of Khumaltar, Nepal during 2019 and 2020. Three factorial randomized complete block designs with 27 treatment combinations were used in experiments, which were repeated three times. Three factors were N levels (150, 180, 210 N kg ha-1), P levels (40, 60, 80 P2O5 kg ha-1), and K levels (40, 60, 80 K2O kg ha-1). The results recommend to revise fertilizer dose since N210 kg ha-1 and K2O 80 kg/ha were optimum for increased maize production with grain yields of 10.95 t ha-1 and 10.54 t ha-1, respectively. Partial factor productivity, partial nutrient budget, internal efficiency, physiological efficiency, recovery efficiency, and agronomic efficiency of NPK for hybrid maize were mostly influenced by nutrient levels. Application of higher rate of P and K fertilizer improved maize N efficiencies, and case was valid for P and K efficiencies. Maize was more responsive to N and K fertilizer and lower rate of P application limited efficient use of applied N and K. To increase overall NUE, we recommend to revise dose of fertilizer for hybrid maize under mid hill condition of Nepal.