Plant clinics in Nepal has been started in 2008 and has coverage in more than 40 districts of Nepal. A study has been conducted in Chitwan district of Nepal to assess the changes on farmer’s knowledge attitude and practice due to implementation of plant clinics. Total of 175 clinic attendants and 175 non-attendants were selected by simple random sampling method and interviewed by using semi-structured questionnaire. By and large, this study found wider positive changes among clinic attendants than non-attendants especially on their knowledge and skills to identity pests and diseases with their causes and practice appropriate remedial measures against those problems. The study revealed positive impact to by increasing knowledge and skillset among attending farmers to assess the season of disease and pest occurrence, estimate economic threshold level as well as preventive and curative measures against the plant health problems. Plant clinic has made impressive positive changes on adoption of recommended dose of pesticides and organic control methods among attendants than non-attendants. The level of awareness and adoption of waiting period after pesticide use was found higher among attendants than non-attendants.

Bu araştırmada da tarım sektörüne yönelik Türkiye’ de 2004-2017 yılları arasında sağlanan tarımsal krediler ile tarımsal GSYH arasındaki ilişki panel veri analizi yardımıyla ortaya koyulmuştur. Analiz yöntemi olarak, Panel Birim Kök Testi, Panel Eşbütünleşme Testi ve Panel Granger Nedensellik Analizinden yararlanılmıştır. Araştırma, AB Kırsal Alan Sınıflandırmasına göre üç bölgede değerlendirilmiştir. Bu bölgeler, kentsel alan, ara kırsal ve baskın kırsal olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, her üç bölgede de değişkenler arasında uzun dönem eşbütünleşme görülmüştür. Nedensellik analizi sonuçlarına göre ise, kentsel alan ve ara kırsal bölgelerde değişkenler arasında iki yönlü nedensellik görülürken, baskın kırsal bölgede nedensellik ilişkisi görülmemiştir. Baskın kırsal bölgeyi oluşturan altı il dikkate alındığında (Artvin, Bayburt, Bingöl, Çankırı, Gümüşhane, Tunceli), gelir düzeyi düşük, ortalama arazi büyüklüğü nispeten daha küçük ve geçimlik işletme diye ifade edilebilecek işletme yapısından oluştuğu bilinmektedir. Dolayısıyla, yatırıma ve ekonomik değer elde etmeye yönelik tarımsal üretimin yoğun olmadığı bölgede tarımsal kredi ve tarımsal GSYH ilişkisinin olmaması beklenen bir sonuç olarak değerlendirilebilir. Bu çerçevede, tarımsal kredilerin ve bunlardan faydalanma olanaklarının gözden geçirilerek yöresel/bölgesel dinamiklere göre kurgulanması ve daha geniş bir tabana yayılarak üretim süreçlerinde kullanılabilme olanaklarının yapılandırılması gerekmektedir.

The study was carried out to examine the effect of varied levels of dietary monosodium glutamate on acetylcholinesterase, specific acetylcholinesterase and total protein concentrations in the brain regions of broiler chickens. Three hundred (300) day – old unsexed Abor – acre chickens were randomly assigned to diets: A, B, C, D, E and F containing 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 g/kg MSG respectively. Each treatment was replicated 5 times with 10 birds per replicate. The birds were fed ad – libitum and provided with clean water for 8 weeks (56 days) after which 2 birds per replicates were slaughtered. The brains were removed, dissected into different regions comprising of the olfactory lobe, pineal body, optic lobe, cerebellum and the medulla oblongata. The different parts of the brain were homogenized to determine the acetylcholinesterase and total protein which were also used in the assessment of the specific acetylcholinesterase of the brain. No significant differences were observed in the acetylcholinesterase activity of the olfactory lobe, pineal body, optic lobe, cerebellum except for the medulla. Likewise, the dietary monosodium glutamate did not influence the activities of the total protein and specific acetylcholinesterase of the olfactory lobe portion of the brain. The dietary monosodium glutamate exerted significant effects on the total protein of other brain parts studied and which invariably resulted in significant changes in the specific acetylcholinesterase of the optic lobe, cerebellum and medulla except for the optic lobe. This study revealed that monosodium glutamate added to broilers diet above 0.75 g/kg significantly altered the concentration of the brain acetylcholinesterase, total protein and specific acetylcholinesterase thereby impaired brain functions.

Public health around the globe is still under the major threats and of some serious infectious diseases though a marvelous progress carried out in the field of human medicines. Therefore, use of products from natural sources as medicinal agent probably antecede in human history. The advancement and knowledge of various useful plants and their properties, functions and its use over synthetic drugs has increased in recent years. Bauhinia variegata L. (Kachnar) is an ornamental flowering plant within the Leguminosae family. Hairy branches of the plant are widely used in various traditional remedies to cure vast range of disease infections. Several plant portions, like roots, stem and stem bark, leaves, buds and flowers, are not only popular in different disease treatment but also useful in the manufacture of fibers, gum and to conserve the nature. The phytochemical screening exposed that B. variegata consist of various important secondary metabolites like flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and steroids, saponins and tannins compounds that are appropriate to be used in the treatment of various biological activities, such as antibacterial, antidiabetic, antitumor, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiulcer, anticarcinogenic effects, anti-inflammatory, nephro and hepatoprotective effects and wound healing effect. The current review is to demonstrate the medicinal, nutritional and biological importance of B. variegata as multidimensional effects on various diseases.

Pothohar region of the Punjab, Pakistan is rain-fed with undulating topography. Soils of the area are predominantly loose with low water retention capacity and are vulnerable to erosion. Erratic and high intensity rainfall causes land erosion in the area producing gullies and gorges. Therefore, agriculture in the area faces twin menace of soil erosion and moisture stress. On-farm water control structures are among the important measures to control soil erosion and conserve moisture to enhance agriculture productivity. Present study was designed to evaluate the impact of these structures on soil moisture conservation and physio-chemical characteristics of soil in wheat growing fields. Wheat was sown in the fields, with and without structures during 2009 to 2013. It has been found that construction cost of such structures is about one-fourth that of conventionally used structures in the area whereas reduction in soil erosion has been observed up to 10% with 21% soil moisture conservation as compared to control. Soil fertility level improved significantly as a result of reduced run off and nutrient loss. A substantial improvement in wheat yield up to 15% due to increased fertility and moisture content was also recorded. These structures facilitated a safe disposal of surplus rain water which minimized the gully development, improved the soil structure, checked fertility loss and improved soil moisture retention.

In this study, plant growth, yield and sprout quality were investigated by planting at three different periods in three different Brussels sprout varieties in Çukurova Region. In this research, the effects of four different sowing and planting times on plant height (cm), main shoot diameter (mm), leaf number (number/plant), yield (g/m2), sprout weight (g), sprout diameter (mm), sprout height (mm), vitamin C (mg/100 g), antioxidant capacity [μmol trolox equivalents (TE)/g] and total phenolic content [mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g] were investigated in Franklin Fı, Maximus Fı and Divino Fı Brussels sprout varieties. According to the research results; Maximus Fı variety was found to be longer, thicker and more leafy than the other varieties in terms of plant height, main shoot diameter and number of leaves. Based on yield, Maximus Fı variety was recorded to be more efficient (584.88 g/m2) than the other varieties (367.97 g/m2 and 259.82 g/m2 in Franklin Fı and Divino Fı, respectively). Maximus Fı was superior than the other Brussels sprout varieties, Franklin Fı and Divino Fı in terms of sprout weight, sprout diameter and sprout height. When the planting times were evaluated, it was recorded that the 1st period was more suitable in terms of both yield and sprout characteristics compared to the other periods. In the vitamin C content, antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content, Franklin Fı was showed higher rates than the other varieties and more nutrient content was detected in the late plantings.

Gerçek zamanlı kantitatif polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu (q-PCR), hem gen ekspresyonu analizinde hem de rutin Deoksiribo Nükleik Asit (DNA) ölçümünde nükleik asit miktarının belirlenmesi için kullanılan ileri moleküler bir yöntemdir. Gıda ve yem ürünlerinde genetiği değiştirilmiş organizma (GDO) kalıntıları için etiketleme eşiğinin Japonya’da %5, Avrupa Birliği’nde ise %0,9 olduğu göz önüne alındığında, doğru bir ölçüm metodu şarttır. GDO bileşenlerinin tespiti, kesin miktar tayini ve besin matrislerinde eser miktardaki kalıntısının tespit edilmesi q-PCR’da mümkündür. Bu amaçla çeşitli q-PCR kimyasalları kullanılmaktadır. Bunlar; interkalasyon boyaları, primer bazlı kimyasallar ve prob bazlı kimyasallar olarak üç gruba ayrılmaktadır. Marketlerde GDO ürünlerinin artan sayısıyla birlikte, her örnek için gerçekleştirilen analiz sayısı ve bu nedenle analiz maliyetleri artmaktadır. Bunun için GDO çalışmalarında, GDO’ların varlığının miktarını belirlemede hızlı ve ekonomik olan uygulanabilir taramalar yapılabilmesi için geliştirilmiş tespit yöntemlerine ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, q-PCR kimyaları ekonomikliği, verimliliği ve uygulanabilirliği açısından karşılaştırılmıştır.

Gediz Havzası yaygın tütün tarımı yapılan toprakların verimlilik durumlarının incelenmesine yönelik yapılan bu çalışmada, 60 farklı noktadan 0-30 cm derinlikten alınan toprak örneklerinin bazı fiziksel-kimyasal özellikleri ile besin elementi içerikleri belirlenmiştir. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre topraklar; genel olarak kumlu-tın bünyeli, hafif alkalin reaksiyonlu, kireçli, organik maddece iyi ve tuzluluk yönünden herhangi bir tehlike içermemektedir. Yöre toprakları genel olarak değerlendirildiğinde, %94’ünde toplam azot %62’sinde alınabilir K yetersiz iken, %70’inde alınabilir P, %85’inde alınabilir Ca ve %56’sında alınabilir Mg yeterli bulunmuştur. Toprakların genel olarak alınabilir Fe (%83’ü) ve alınabilir Cu (%92’si) kapsamları yeterli iken alınabilir Zn (%86’sı) ve alınabilir Mn (%85’i) içerikleri yetersizdir. İncelenen toprakların fiziksel-kimyasal özellikleri ve besin elementleri arasındaki ikili ilişkilerde, pH-Elektriksel İletkenlik (EC), pH-kireç, pH-silt, pH-kil, pH-K, pH-Ca; EC-N, EC-P, EC-K, EC-Ca, EC-Cu, EC-Zn; organik madde (OM)-N, OM-P, OM-Ca, OM-Cu, OM-Zn; % kum-Fe; kil-K, Kil-Ca, Kil-Mg, Kil-Cu içerikleri arasında pozitif; pH-kum, pH-Fe, pH-Zn ve pH-Mn; OM-kum; % kum-kil, kum-silt, kum-K, kum-Ca, kum- Cu; kil-Fe içerikleri arasında önemli negatif korelasyonlar bulunmuştur. Besin elementleri açısından toprakların N-P, N-Ca, N-Cu, N-Zn; P-Cu, K-Mg, Mg-Fe, Mg-Cu, Fe-Cu, Fe-Zn, Fe-Mn, Cu-Zn, Cu-Mn, Zn-Cu, Zn-Mn arasında pozitif; Ca-Fe arasında ise güçlü negatif ilişkiler belirlenmiştir. Tütünde kalite özelliklerini doğrudan etkileyen azot, Zn ve Mn elementlerinin yöre topraklarında yetersiz olması nedeniyle yörede yapılacak gübreleme programlarında bu durumun göz önünde bulundurulmasında yarar vardır.

The aim of this study is to determine and evaluate the shopping centers with children-friendly design according to the use of families and children in the city of Konya. Our research can only be done at the “Kent Plaza” and “Novada” shopping center, where the official permission can be obtained. Although official writings were written from the other 2 major shopping centers in Konya, unfortunately, the survey was not allowed. In the study, a face-to-face questionnaire was conducted on the basis of volunteerism. The results of the questionnaires were evaluated and interpreted using MS Excel program. As a result of the study, it was found that the shopping malls that were surveyed were adequate for families with children. It has been determined that shopping centers are not only shopping and sightseeing places, but also places where families can have fun when they bring their children, they can spend time together, they can meet their needs, children playgrounds, children’s clothing stores, baby-sitting rooms, children’s toilets, , places suitable for children with disabilities. According to the results of the survey, it has been concluded that “Novada” Shopping Center has family and child friendly design in terms of interior design and variety of usage.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the thermal resistance of acid adapted and non-adapted stationary phase Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes in pomegranate juice. In addition, the performance of generic E. coli was evaluated as an indicator. Non-adapted stationary phase cells were grown by incubating inoculated tryptic soy broth without glucose (TSB-NG) at 36±1°C for 18±2 hours. Tryptic soy broth with 1% glucose (10 g/l; TSBG) was used for acid adaptation. All media used for L. monocytogenes was supplemented with 0.6% yeast extract. After washing the cells with peptone, 5 ml of pasteurized pomegranate juice was added onto the pellet to obtain inoculated juice with a initial concentration of 107-1010 log CFU/ml. Inoculated pomegranate juice was sealed into the microcapillary tubes. Microtubes were heat treated in waterbaths at 50, 52 and 54±1°C by immersing at pre-determined time intervals. Survived populations were counted on tryptic soy agar (TSA). S. Typhimurium had the lowest thermal resistance in pomegranate juice. At 50°C, E. coli O157:H7 was the most resistant, whereas L. monocytogenes was more thermally tolerant at 52 and 54°C. Acid adaptation decreased the thermal resistance of E. coli O157:H7, but increased the heat resistance of L. monocytogenes at all tested temperatures significantly. Thermal tolerance of S. Typhimurium increased only at 50°C. The most resistant microorganism was non-adapted generic E. coli at 50 and 52°C; acid-adapted L. monocytogenes had the most thermal tolerance at 54°C. Thermal inactivation of microorganisms in pomegranate juice could be tested at lower temperatures compare to other fruit juices. This may be due to the natural antimicrobial effect and more acidic content of pomegranate juice.