The African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse) is a wild rodent in sub-Saharan Africa widely hunted as popular meat delicacy. Domestication of this rat has been poor, probably due to nutrition among other factors. Developmental studies of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum as well as investigations of diet-based structural modifications of the small intestine were carried out in the rats using neonates, juveniles and adults with the aim of providing useful research information which could lead to improved domestication. The mean body weights of the animals were 39.67±1.45 g, 225.00±25.00 g and 742.90±62.13 g, respectively for the neonate, juvenile and adult rats. Significant differences were also observed in the villus height, villus width and crypt depth between the neonates and juveniles, unlike between juvenile and adult rats. These changes in intestinal morphology between the neonate and juvenile rats could be a measure of the neonates’ adaptation to shifts from digestion of maternal milk to the consumption of solid and semisolid forages. Respectively for neonates, juvenile and adult rats, 188%, 228% and 30% increases in villus height for the duodenum, jejunum and ileum respectively, were observed. This is suggestive of larger surface area of the small intestine for digestion and absorption. This study elucidates the structural modifications of the small intestine which can be applied to dietary modifications in response to age in an effort to achieve a more successful domestication of the animal.

Organic matter (OM) content of the soils should be improved for sustainable productions. Municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) is an organic material used in several countries to improve soil OM contents. This study was conducted to determine potential use of MSWC as soil amendment. Field experiments were conducted for two years with single MSWC treatments. Experiments were conducted on 18 plots in randomized complete blocks design with 3 replications. Six different MSWC doses (0, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 t ha-1) were applied to experimental plots. Compost doses were calculated in dry weight basis, applied to 21 m2 plots and sunflower was sown as the experimental plant of the study. Following the sunflower harvest, disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were taken from the experimental plots and soil samples were subjected to various analyses. Applied MSWC doses significantly increased soil OM contents, electrical conductivity (EC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC), aggregate stability (AS) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and reduced soil bulk density (BD). Effects of MSWC on soil pH were not found to be significant. Effects of MSWC treatments were more remarkable with increasing doses. MSWC treatments increased soil OM contents about 3 folds and increased CEC by about 25%. MSWC treatments significantly increased salt contents of the soils. Such increases were found to be significant at 1% level in the first year and 5% level in the second year. Increasing OM contents also increase soil aggregation, thus reduced bulk density and increased hydraulic conductivity. Correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between OM and AS. Present findings revealed that MSWC positively influenced physical and chemical characteristics of clay-loam soils of arid and arid climates, but salt contents should carefully be monitored in repetitive uses.

Bu çalışmada keçiboynuzu ekstraktında bulunan D-pinitolün 1-5 kDa ayırma sınırı aralığında nanofiltreler kullanılarak zenginleştirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Zenginleştirme aşamaları ekstraksiyon, durultma, adsorban uygulaması ve nanofiltrasyon uygulamalarından oluşmaktadır. Nanofiltrasyon uygulamasını optimize etmek amacıyla Box-Behnken Cevap Yüzey Metodu (CYM) kullanılmıştır. Son aşamada elde edilen ürünün saflık kontrolü için D-pinitol içeriği, şeker kompozisyonu, toplam fenolik madde (TFM), toplam kuru madde (TKM) ve mineral madde kompozisyonları kullanılmıştır. Ekstraktlarda en yüksek D-pinitol konsantrasyonuna 5 kDa ayırma sınırındaki nanofiltrasyonda, 3 bar besleme basıncı, 25°C besleme sıcaklığı ve %83,3 permeat oranı koşullarında ulaşılmıştır. Bu koşullarda elde edilen permeat akısının D-pinitol içeriği 10,48 g/L olarak belirlenmiştir. Çalışmada ayrıca nanofiltrasyon prosesi için basınç, sıcaklık ve permeat/retentat oranı değişkenlerine bağlı bir optimizasyon modeli oluşturulmuş ve farklı koşullara bağlı olarak ekstraktların D-pinitol konsantrasyonundaki değişim yüksek doğrulukla (R2=0,91) matematiksel olarak modellenmiştir. Bu modele bağlı olarak, keçiboynuzu ekstraktlarında en yüksek sakkaroz, TFM ve TKM miktarları D-pinitol konsantrasyonunun %8,7 olduğu koşulda belirlenmiştir.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the ecological impact of groundwater recharging in the urban development area in the north of Kastamonu city. In this respect, the urban development area was examined in terms of water permeability, which is one of the functions of the landscape, and the ecological impact assessment was carried out in order to determine the level of change in groundwater recharging and land cover before and after urban development. With the methods used within the scope of the study, negative changes in groundwater and water retention capacity can be revealed as a result of other interventions on urbanization and landscape. On the other hand, it is important that landscape plans, where the ecological processes expressed as landscape function, including groundwater recharging and surface runoff potential, are considered as the priority action area of the multi-layered spatial planning process, rather than the investigation of the mentioned negativities after planning and/or implementation.

In this study, it was aimed to determine the usability of different diluents and cry protectants in cryopreservation of Peking duck semen. Semen samples were collected from five male ducks, twice a week for four weeks, using the abdominal massage method. In the study, 40 semen samples were used. Semen samples from ducks were combined (mixed) after being evaluated individually. Mix semen volume (ml), density (×109 / mL), pH, motility (%) and vitality (%) values were determined as 1.84±0.04, 1.72±0.8, 6.88±0.29, 71.55±3.28 and 74.27±4.67 respectively. In the study, as cry protectant, Glucose I (GⅠ) containing 6%DMF (dimethylformamide), Tris-Glucose I (TI), Lactated Ringer's-Glucose I (LGI), Lactated Ringer's I (LI) and Glucose II (GⅠI) containing 5% DMSO, Tris-Glucose II (TII), Lactated Ringer's-Glucose II (LGII), Lactated Ringer's II (LII) were used as diluents. The mixed semen was divided into eight equal parts and 1:3 ratio diluent was added and equilibrated in straws for 90 minutes at + 4°C. The straws were first frozen to -80°C with liquid nitrogen vapour, and then stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C. After freezing and thawing, the highest motility value was determined in diluent LGI with 41.91%. In other diluents used, the mortality values were determined as LII (33.10%), LGII (32.80%), LI (29.00%), GI (23.66%), TI (12.91%), GII (11.22%) and TII (6.90%). Vitality (%) values were determined as LGI (44.08%), LII (38.50%), LGII (35.10%), LI (33.58), GI (30.91%), GII (23.10%), TI (20.66%) and TII (14.80%) respectively. In this study, it has been determined that the lactated Ringer's-Glucose diluent containing 6% DMF is more advantageous in terms of semen vitality and mortality values when compared to other diluents and that it can be used for long-term storage of duck sperm.

In this study, the milk quality characteristics of Simmental (SIM) and Red-Holstein (RH) breeds raised in a private farm in Aydın were determined. As milk quality properties, the percentages of protein (MPC), lactose (MLC), non-fat dry matter (NFDMC), total dry matter (TDMC), casein (MCC) contents and also milk urea nitrogen (MUN), oleic acid (OA), beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) and somatic cell count (SCC) were determined. The averages of MPC, MLC, NFDMC, TDMC, MCC, MUN, OA, BHBA and Log10SCC belonging to RH and SIM breeds are 3.38 ± 0.021% and 3.40 ± 0.015%, 4.86 ± 0.028% and 4.81 ± 0.019%, 9.09 ± 0.037 and 9.09 ± 0.025, 11.18 ± 0.069 and 11.23 ± 0.048, 2.50 ± 0.020 and 2.44 ± 0.014, 12.07 ± 0.200 mg / dl and 12.28 ± 0.138 mg / dl, 0.258 ± 0.0095 g / 100 g and 0.255 ± 0.0065 g / 100 g, 0.284 ± 0.138 mmol / L and 0.269 ± 0.0093 mmol / L, and 5.417 ± 0.0173 (261216 cells / ml) and 5.401 ± 0.0118 (251768 cells / ml) were found, respectively. The breed did not differ significantly in milk quality characteristics, except for MCC. The lower SCC level in milk and the suitable level of MUN for both breeds shows that the factors such as maintenance-feeding-housing-herd management in the farm were optimal in this herd.

The present research was conducted to determine the effect of season, lactation number and type score factors on the somatic cell count (SCC) in Black and White cattle raised in the Mediterranean climate zone. 1368 milk samples obtained from 128 cattle were analysed for SCC determination. Significant effects of season, lactation number and type scores on SCC were observed. The results indicate that the necessity to comply with the care and barn cleaning of the cows in the summer and the importance of the type characteristics in the selection programs may be effective in reducing the of SCC.

In this study, we aimed to prepare new calixaren embedded mercapto groups supported liquid membranes and to use them in the transport of heavy metals. For this purpose 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-bis(3-thiol-1-oxypropane)-26,28-dihydroxylcalix[4]arene was synthesized. The synthesized calixarene compounds were fully characterized by spectroscopic and the other techniques. The prepared compounds were supported polyamide liquid membranes and obtained calix[4]aren embedded supported liquid membranes (C@PSMs). The characterization of C@PSM was carried out by FTIR, TGA and elemental analysis techniques. Transport experiments were carried out with Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) as trace metals, to transport from donor phase to accept phase. From the results, it was calculated flux (J) and recovery (RF) values. The affinity (the percentage of metal ion transferred from the source solution) of a PIM towards a range of divalent cations was found to follow the order Zn(II)> Cd(II)> Pb(II).

This research was carried out in Haymana Research Farm of Ankara University. Three different varieties of wheat were used in the study. These varieties were; Kırgız-95, Kırkpınar-79, and Svevo. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between soil electrical conductivity values and vegetation index. In the study, EM38, electrical conductivity sensor, and GreenSeeker, vegetation index sensor were used. The obtained values were evaluated statistically, and the relationships between the two parameters were determined. As a result of the research, the relationships between the electrical conductivity of the soil and plant growth index values were found to be negative (R2) as 0.7718 for Kyrgyz-95, 0.7675 for Kırkpınar-79 and 0.7807 for Svevo.

In this study, the relationship between temperature and humidity levels and live weight losses of day-old chicks in broiler pure lines with different feathering rates were investigated. The research material consisted of 3 female pure-lines (A1: slow feathering, A2: fast feathering, A3: slow feathering) and 2 male pure-lines (B1: fast feathering, B2: fast feathering) used in broiler breeding. The hatching chicks were individually numbered, sex-seperated, live weight determined and vaccinations were performed at 26-28°C temperature and 60-65% humidity levels in hatchery. The chickens from different genotypes were placed in cardboard boxes of 68×49×16 cm size with 3 unit and 150 chicks were used in the male-female mixed in 10 chicks in each unit. The chicks were transported in an air-conditioned vehicle for 9 hours between Eskişehir and Samsun, with an average temperature of 28.8°C and a humidity of 40.8%. When the chicks arrived to barn, weight losses are determined individually during transport. The effect of genotypes and feathering rates on live weight loss was found significant. The highest weight loss was determined 1.6 g and 3.8% in B1 and B2 genotypes equally without gender effect. Also, A2 and A3 genotypes were similar too; genotypes with the lowest weight loss of 0,7 g and 0.8 g and 1.6% respectively. Besides, the live weight loss in genotypes with fast feathering was found 1.3 g and 3.1%, which was significantly higher than the slow-feathering (0.9 g and 2.1%). The weight loss fast-feathering male pure-lines is higher than fast-feathering female pure-lines; it is thought that the increase in the metabolic rate due to the selection for live weight increase and faster depletion of the body reserves may be effective in these lines.