The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778), is widely regarded as the significant ectoparasite of egg-laying hens worldwide. Since many molecular studies on poultry red mites have focused on analyzing COI and ITS1-2 genes, the present study aimed to identify 16S rDNA and the relatively understudied nuclear 18S rDNA genes of Turkish D. gallinae populations. Twenty-eight different D. gallinae populations were collected from henhouses throughout Türkiye, and the target genes were amplified using conventional PCR after morphological analysis. Haplotype analyses of the 16S rDNA sequences revealed 14 different haplotypes, with Turkish D. gallinae grouped into two of these haplotypes. The intra-species genetic variation of the 18S rDNA and 16S rDNA sequences examined in the present study and the available sequences in public GeneBank were determined as 0.17% and 0.53%, respectively. The obtained sequences belonging to D. gallinae from Türkiye were submitted to GenBank for the first time. Given the importance of identifying genetic diversity within and between species across different geographical regions, the obtained data may contribute substantially to the genetic knowledge of the PRMs.

The aim of this study was to determine the milk quality characteristics of Simmental (SIM) cows of Austrian origin, which have increased the interest of breeders in Türkiye in recent years. For this aim, the milk analysis results of a farm located in Menemen County, İzmir/Türkiye from 2012 to 2021 were used. Milk fat (MF, %), protein (MP, %), lactose (ML, %), total dry matter (TDM, %) contents and somatic cell count (SCC, cell/ml) were determined. In order to determine the current situation, milk samples were taken from the cows (90 heads) in August 2021, and in addition to the above milk components, the solid non-fat (SNF) and freezing point (FP) were determined. The effects of sampling season, calving month, lactation month, sampling season x calving month and sampling season x lactation month interactions were found to be statistically significant for all traits (P<0.05). Parity and calving month effects on Log10SCC were also detected to be statistically significant (P<0.05). The mean MF, MP, ML, TDM, FP and SCC of SIM cattle were 3.71±0.018%, 3.42±0.009%, 4.63±0.009%, 12.49±0.03, -0.535±0.003oC and 5.14±0.01 (138.038 cells/ml), respectively. It was concluded that the milk components of Austrian-origin SIM cattle are not very different from the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed, however, in the low SCC average for many years, besides the important contribution of the measures taken against mastitis in the farm, the resistance against mastitis may be higher in this genotype. This situation is thought to be the reason why breeders in Türkiye prefer Austrian-origin SIM cattle in addition to high milk yield and carcass weight.

The oleaster (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.), also known as wild olive, is a small fruit with three parts: the outer peel or exocarp layer, the edible part or mesocarp layer, and the inner seed or endocarp layer. The mesocarp layer is rich in essential vitamins and has great potential for use in various food products. The flour made from the mesocarp layer has a moisture content of 8.99%, an ash content of 2.66%, a fat content of 0.55%, a protein content of 5.99%, a crude fiber content of 3.32%, and a total dietary fiber (TDF) content of 26.36%. The TDF content is divided into insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) and soluble dietary fiber (SDF), which are 21.35% and 5.01%, respectively. The flour has color values of L*: 75.14, a*: 2.86, b*: 23.87, and a water activity value of 0.314. The water solubility, water absorption, and oil absorption are 67.33%, 4.91 g water/g sample, and 2.26 g oil/g sample, respectively. Additionally, the mesocarp layer contains minerals such as Mg, P, K, Ca, Fe, and Na. The mesocarp layer significantly affected the thermomechanical properties of wheat flour. As the substitution level of the mesocarp layer increased from 10 to 30%, the water absorption capacity, dough development time and stability time of the wheat dough significantly decreased. Specifically, the water absorption capacity dropped from 53.5% to 47%, dough development time reduced from 1.10 to 0.75 min, and stability time decreased from 8.90 to 2.25 min. Substituting a mesocarp layer in wheat flour can significantly improve product shelf-life due to slower retrogradation. The mesocarp layer is an functional ingredient in the food industry.

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites that can affect different warm-blooded species worldwide. In this study, it was aimed to detect T. gondii and N. caninum using PCR method in brain tissues of aborted sheep fetuses. Brain specimens were collected from 50 Morkaraman sheep fetuses that had undergone abortion at various stages of pregnancy, within the lambing seasons of 2023 in Muş. Approximately 1 cm³ of brain tissue from the right cerebral hemisphere was excised and subsequently frozen at -20°C for DNA extraction. DNA extraction and PCR amplification were then performed. As a result of this study, 11 (22%) of 50 brain tissues were positive. All brain samples examined in this study were negative for Neospora caninum. Based on the results of this study, it is possible to say that T. gondii is an important abortion agent in sheep in this region. Although N. caninum was not detected in this study, larger scale studies are recommended. Moreover, this study provides important information to breeders and veterinarians in the field in the evaluation and management of abortion.

A survey of 200 farmers in the Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti region was conducted between June and October 2016. It was to determine their knowledge of different pests and disease control methods employed, access to extension services, pesticides use and other pests control methods. The study relied on data collected from respondents, 12 key informants (pesticides dealers, vegetable buyers and local chief farmers), field surveillance and observation as well as the reports of the Directorate of Agriculture in the Municipality. Data were captured and analyzed using MS Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPPS) version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) and interpreted into simple percentages on tables and charts. The result showed that farmers are above 20 years and 18% were female. The majority (74%) have at least basic education with six (6) or more years’ of experience in tomato production. Sixty-four percent (64%) had no access to extension services due to poor contact with the agricultural extension agents (AEAs). Most respondents (70%) lacked education on pesticides and alternative (e.g., integrated pests’ management) control. Nine-two percent acknowledged the dangers of pesticides to public health. Sixty-four percent practice bi-weekly calendar spraying while 30 % and 6% practice weekly and occasional spraying respectively. Forty-four percent of farmers throw used containers or leave them on the farm. More education is needed to ensure safe use of pesticides and wholesome tomatoes for the public.

The farm is an abstract category in Economic theory for describing agents managing farming activity, while the real governing structures are farms of different juridical types – physical persons, sole traders, cooperatives, ago=companies, etc. Most of the time, farm’s competitiveness is inadequately assessed through technical and accountancy efficiency, factors’ productivity, profitability, market shares, etc. because critical governance aspects are ignored. This article incorporates the interdisciplinary New Institutional Economics assumptions and principles and tries to give new insights on the real competitiveness of economic organizations in modern agriculture.  It suggests a holistic framework for assessing farm’ competitiveness taking into account economic, financial, and governance efficiency, and evaluates absolute and comparative competitiveness of governing structures of Bulgarian farming. The novel assessment system includes four pillars, four criteria, 17 particular, and 5 integral indicators. The first-in-kind evaluation, based on survey data, found that the competitiveness of Bulgarian farms is good. The competitiveness of cooperatives is highest, followed by corporations and associations, sole traders, and physical persons. Critical for competitive positions of farms are: low productivity, income, financial security, and adaptability to natural environment, where public support and farms’ management strategies should be directed. Large shares of the country’s farms have low competitiveness, and if measures are not taken to improve management, restructuring, state support, etc., many farms will cease to exist in the near future. In some cases, other characteristics of governing structures like size, specialization, market orientation, and ecological location, are critical for determining competitiveness level. The suggested and successfully tested framework for assessing the competitiveness of farms should be further improved and applied more widely and periodically in the country and internationally. The precision and representativeness of the information used should also be improved by increasing the number of surveyed farms and their important characteristics. The later requires close cooperation with producer organizations, national agricultural advisory service, and other interested parties as well as extending and improving the system for collecting agro-statistical information in the country and the EU.

The aim of this study is to cover the design-implementation processes of the museum interiors of the museum building in Selçuk University campus, which consists of foyer, temporary and permanent exhibition areas that can realize the aims and functions of the museum in accordance with the culture of the institution to which it is affiliated. Two types of materials were used within the scope of the study. The first type of material is theoretical and visual information based publications, thesis studies, lecture notes, architectural and interior design printed publications and internet resources. The information scanned and analyzed was handled from general to specific. The second material is the analysis of the Selçuk University Museum building located in Selçuk University Alaeddin Keykubat Campus by the authors with the on-site identification stages, interviews with the relevant people, the requirements of the museum foyer, temporary, permanent exhibition areas and existing interior photographs. The method followed in the study is observation and detection. As a result of the researches and observations made by utilizing publications, thesis studies, course notes, architectural and interior architectural printed publications and internet resources on the subject, an identification study was carried out in the existing museum building. As a result of the research, it was stated that the museums within the university campus have an important place in terms of establishing a bond between the public and the university, apart from the educational areas affiliated to the institution.  Apart from education and training structures, from a different perspective, it was mentioned that they are common multi-purpose areas and the positive aspects they add to the institution to which they are affiliated. The interior revisions made in the determined areas of the museum building, the project design process and the implementation phases were mentioned.

Animal wastes are not stored correctly and are used haphazardly without control in agricultural lands. As a result, it causes many irreparable environmental pollution, especially water pollution. These wastes, which are described as diffuse pollution, cause pollution of both underground and surface water resources directly or indirectly and even make them unusable. In this research, waste generation as a result of animal breeding in Karaman province, its districts, neighborhoods and villages and the effects of animal wastes on environmental pollution were evaluated with distributed pollutant load calculations. In the study, the number of 1019277 ovine and 81368 bovine in Karaman in 2022 was used. The total nitrogen (TN) produced annually by the animals has been calculated as 1,723.23 tons/year, and the total phosphorus (TP) amount is determined as 124.23 tons/year. Additionally, for large ruminant animals, the annual total amount of dry manure is 130,305.77 tons, and for small ruminant animals, it is 41,984.27 tons. To prevent environmental pollution, these wastes should be stored in closed areas in compliance with standards, and processes such as composting, drying, and biogas production should be applied. By doing so, not only can environmental pollution be mitigated but also economic value can be obtained. The proper management and utilization of these wastes have high economic potential and can contribute to sustainable development, supporting the country’s economy. In addition, this study is a source for researchers working in the field in calculating the pollution load of animal wastes and is thought to be a guide for decision makers and practitioners.

Telomeres are natural nucleoprotein structures that cover the ends of chromosomes. The phenomenon of telomere shortening, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the genome, occurs gradually over time when cells undergo division due to the end replication issue. Multiple studies have demonstrated a correlation between telomere shortening and a range of illnesses, including diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality. Diet and lifestyle can affect telomere length. There exists a beneficial association between telomere length and the Mediterranean diet, particularly with regards to the consumption of dietary fiber derived from whole grains and vegetables. Micronutrients such as vitamins and trace elements also play a role in cell metabolism.  Some micronutrients, such as vitamin D, folate, and vitamin B12, are associated with telomere biology and cellular aging. Vitamin B12 is essential for DNA synthesis and epigenetic methylation processes. The present systematic review examines the results from clinical trials conducted in humans evaluating the role of vitamin B12 on telomere length. Cellular senescence is a state characterized by inflammation, altered cellular metabolism, genomic instability, and telomere dysfunction, which can be induced by changes in methylation patterns and oxidative stress. Vitamin B12 maintains antioxidative defense. Through these pathways, sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 may potentially play a role in the restoration of DNA damage. Most of the evidence is based on very few randomized clinical trials. Therefore, more extensive prospective cohort studies and better-designed randomized clinical trials are required to validate the correlations outlined in this review.

Varroa destructor mite poses a serious problem for the future of bee populations around the world. Today, there are many commercial drugs with the same and different active ingredients on the market to chemically control over of Varroa destructor. More frequent chemical applications for against Varroa destructor increases stress resilience, colony losses, loss of yield and residue problems in bee products. The scope of this project is aimed to determine the appropriate control method of Varroa by investigating the efficiency values of the evaporation and dropping methods of Oxalic acid. Experimental area were chosen three different apiaries. 28 colonies were determined in each apiary and equalization studies (area with brood, number of bees with bees, age of queen bees, honey, pollen, etc.) were carried out in these colonies. The determined colonies were randomly divided into 4 groups as 7 colonies. The first group is the control group, the second group is applying 2 g of oxalic acid by vaporizing, the third group is 4% oxalic acid 5 ml of sugar syrup (1:1) is dropped between the frames, and in the fourth group, the fight against a drug that is determined by the beekeeper in the market without interfering with the beekeeper. In order to evaluate the data, samples were taken for four periods, before and after spraying in spring and autumn. While the varroa measurements in the group of syrup, vapor and spraying were found to be statistically less than the control group, the syrup, vapor and spraying groups were statistically similar in terms of varroa measurements. Oxalic acid syrup application showed higher efficiency in spring and autumn than vapor application. There is no statistically difference between both two-application method reveals that it can be used as an effective and safe alternative to chemical control against varroa.