Salmonella is considered as a global problem ranking first among food borne diseases. All motile Salmonella of poultry origin are zoonotic and readily transmit to human via meat and eggs but reports on non - typhoidal Salmonella serovars circulating in layer chickens is very limited in South-East Asian countries including Bangladesh. Salmonella serovars isolated from apparently healthy chickens were characterized in the present study. Of 170 samples (cloacal swab 150 and feed 20) collected from commercial layer farms, motile Salmonella was isolated 4% (6/150) and 50% (10/20) respectively by cultural, biochemical, motility test and by detection of hisJ gene. About 5% (8/170) samples possessed serovar-specific gene fimA, suggesting that isolates were Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated that the isolated serovars were multidrug resistant. Therefore apparently healthy layer chickens harbour and transmit S. Typhimurium to the environment, although little is alarming since it has zoonotic significance and the isolates were resistant to commonly used first line of antibiotic in Salmonella infection.

The effect of temperature and pH on adsorption-desorption of fungicide hexaconazole was studied in two Malaysian soil types; namely clay loam and sandy loam. The adsorption-desorption experiment was conducted using the batch equilibration technique and the residues of hexaconazole were analysed using the GC-ECD. The results showed that the adsorption-desorption isotherms of hexaconazole can be described with Freundlich equation. The Freundlich sorption coefficient (Kd) values were positively correlated to the clay and organic matter content in the soils. Hexaconazole attained the equilibrium phase within 24 h in both soil types studied. The adsorption coefficient (Kd) values obtained for clay loam soil and sandy loam soil were 2.54 mL/g and 2.27 mL/g, respectively, indicating that hexaconazole was weakly sorbed onto the soils due to the low organic content of the soils. Regarding thermodynamic parameters, the Gibb’s free energy change (ΔG) analysis showed that hexaconazole adsorption onto soil was spontaneous and exothermic, plus it exhibited positive hysteresis. A strong correlation was observed between the adsorption of hexaconazole and pH of the soil solution. However, temperature was found to have no effect on the adsorption of hexaconazole onto the soils; for the range tested.

This study is aimed to determine the microbiological and chemical quality of Feta cheeses which are consumed in Van city center. In this study, a total of 50 Feta cheese samples were used as material. At the result of microbiological analysis of Feta cheeses, the mean number of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, coliform, Escherichia coli, micrococcus/staphylococcus, coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Enterobacteriaceae, yeast and mold were found as 5.49 log cfu/g, 5.20 log cfu/g, 0.78 log cfu/g, 0.10 log cfu/g, 0.58 log cfu/g, 0.53 log cfu/g, 0.08 log cfu/g, 0.96 log cfu/g, 5.18 log cfu/g, respectively. At the result of chemical analysis, the mean value of pH, titratable acidity, dry matter, fat, fat in dry matter, salt and salt in dry matter were found as 4.38, 1.41% LA, 41.21%, 18.12%, 44.18%, 8.36% and 20.42%, respectively. All of the samples were found conforming to the standards in terms of titratable acidity. On the other hand, 8%, 52% and 100% of samples were found unsuitable in terms of coagulase positive S. aureus, pH and salt in dry matter, respectively. As a result, it was concluded that Feta cheeses examined are inadequate in terms of microbiological and chemical quality and they could pose a risk to producers and consumers. The implementation of the HACCP system based on GMP at all stages of the food chain will play an active role for food safety, public health and the protection of consumer rights.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, especially, in Côte d’Ivoire, the wild edible mushroom Termitomyces heimii Natarajan is the most prized and widely consumed for different reasons such as taste, flavour, attractiveness, uses as substitutes for meat or fish and medicinal values. The present study was aimed at evaluating the proximate composition and functional properties of T. heimii flour for further food products formulation. Fresh mushroom T. heimii were obtained from the market of Aboisso (5° 28′ 06″ N and3° 12′ 25″ W) in Côte d’Ivoire. The fresh mushrooms were dried and ground to obtain the crude flour. Chemical composition and functional properties were investigated using standard methods. The chemical composition revealed that it contains crude protein about 23.75%, crude fat 3.58%, moisture 11.59 %, ash 7.40%, total carbohydrate 54.70% and energy value of 345.90 kcal/ 100 g. These results suggest that T. heimii can be used in human diet to prevent undernourishment due to protein. Furthermore, the low fat content suggest that it would be an ideal food for obese persons and useful in preventing hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. The functional properties showed that it has high bulk density and water absorption capacity with values of 0.737 g/mL and 315.15 ± 45.74% respectively. This flour exhibited also good foaming properties. All these characteristics make it suitable as good thickeners in food products, useful in foods such as bakery products which require hydration and attractive for products like cakes or whipping topping where foaming is important. The mushroom T. heimii could be utilized for making some low-fat foodstuffs and snacks with considerable protein content. The mushroom flour shows good functional characteristics for use in many food industries.

The objectives of this study were to determine the saline concentration and moromi’s fermentation duration of Koro Benguk salty soy sauce at best organolepticly and determine consumers’ preferences towards Koro Benguk salty soy sauce from the best treatment results. The study was conducted using a randomized design method using two factors: the saline concentration (17%; 20%; and 23%) and duration of moromi’s fermentation (2; 3; and 4 weeks). The best treatment results based on the Friedman test was on the saline concentration of 17% and moromi’s fermentation duration was 4 weeks, with the NP value of 1,000; had a preference color level of 5:40 (liked); aroma of 4.30 (rather liked); flavor of 4.55 (rather liked); and viscosity of 5.05 (liked). The obtained protein was 7.14%; and dissolved solids of 27obrix. Consumers’ preferences towards the best treatment showed that product of Koro Benguk salty soy sauce was acceptable to consumers.

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’nin tarımsal mekanizasyon düzeyini, coğrafik bölgeler açısından belirlemektir. Bu amaçla, Türkiye’nin coğrafik bölgelerinin tarımsal mekanizasyon düzeyi verileri için; 2013 yılına ait Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu verileri kullanılmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda, Türkiye’de işlenen alana düşen traktör sayısı, traktör gücü ile traktöre düşen işlenen alan ortalamaları 2013 yılı için sırasıyla 77,73 traktör/1000 ha, 3,34 kW/ha ve 12,87 ha/traktör olarak bulunmuştur. Türkiye’de tarımsal mekanizasyon düzeyinin en yüksek ve en düşük olduğu bölgeler sırasıyla Ege Bölgesi ve Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi olup, mekanizasyon düzeyine yönelik ortalama değerler sırasıyla 147,86-27,23 traktör/1000 ha, 6,36-1,17 kW/ha ve 6,76-36,72 ha/traktör olarak bulunmuştur. 1000 ha işlenen alana düşen biçerdöver sayısı sırasıyla Marmara ve Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde 2,16 ve 0,07 değerleriyle bulunurken, en yüksek ve en düşük traktör başına düşen tarım alet ve makinaları sayısı ise sırasıyla İç Anadolu ve Güneydoğu Anadolu’dan elde edilirken, birim traktör başına tarım makinaları ve aletleri ağırlığı en yüksek ve en düşük sırasıyla İç Anadolu ve Güneydoğu Anadolu’da tespit edilmiştir. Türkiye’de tarımsal mekanizasyon kriterleri, coğrafik bölgelere göre farklılık göstermekte ve istenen düzeyde değildir.

Çınarlı Stream within the borders of Hafik district of Sivas city is famous for its natural beauties and rich water resource. By passing through a steep valley, Çınarlı stream reaches at forages exhibiting gypsum characteristic of Çınarlı Village. It supplies the irrigation water needs of Koşutdere and near villages where it merges with Koç Stream, and then mixes into Kızılırmak within the borders of Hafik district. Çınarlı Stream satisfies table and usage water requirements of Çınarlı, Bahçecik and Koşutdere villages, besides supplying the irrigation water for fertile agricultural lands near them. In this study, by observing the water quality of Çınarlı Stream via physico-chemical methods by taking samples from 6 stations on stream and analyzing these samples between October 2011 and September 2013, it has been aimed to determine and record the monthly and seasonal changes in water quality, to determine the quality criteria in accordance with Water Pollution and Control Regulation (WPCR), and to create a data base for further studies in Çınarlı Stream, where no other study has been carried out.

This study examined kinetic modeling of the detoxification induced by dechlorination of laccase enzyme obtained from Trametes versicolor which is a white rot fungi strain and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol which is a toxic chlorinated phenolic compound. In the evaluation of the kinetics of detoxification induced by dechlorination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol used as substrate, the Systat 10 software package which is a statistics program was used while two-substrate solution environment was used to explain the kinetic behavior of the dechlorination. It was observed as a result of experiments and statistical analysis that Moser equation is the optimal kinetic model. Given the statistical data obtained and the graph, the dual-substrate model was found to be compatible with the experimental data. The bio-kinetic parameter values obtained for the model that identifies enzymatic dechlorination kinetics were calculated as Vmax =9.341 ppmO2/min, Ks =38.254 g/L, Ko =20.747 ppm, R = 1.895 and N = 1.233. In the literature, no studies were found on kinetic modeling for the degradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, and through this study, we have been first to conduct a study on kinetic modeling of the degradation induced by enzymatic dechlorination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. The GC/MS analysis results showed that the chlorophenolic compound used throughout the enzymatic dechlorination performed with laccase enzyme was degraded 80% to 100%. Based on the GC/MS analysis results, the conclusion that the enzyme responsible for the dechlorination was laccase was also found to support the findings available in literature.

The study was conducted in Mahanawiyah district in AL-Qadisiya Province, Iraq to identify the training needs of rice farmers. 125 farmers were selected as a random sample. A list of 8 major areas of training needs in relation to rice cultivation practices was prepared whiten 50 sub-area. Scores were measured on four-point scale. The primary data were collected using a pre-tested structured interview schedule by conducting personal interview. Findings revealed that majority of the farmers had medium level of training needs. Weed management, disease and pests control, seed and seedling were the top most training needs of the farmers and the least training need was Land preparation. The variables educational attainment, area cultivated with rice, and annual revenue from rice cultivation had positive and significant association with the training needs.

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.