This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Aspergillus niger strain and inoculum level on the nutritional composition of olive leaves. The experiment had a 2×3 factorial arrangement of treatments with two A. niger strains (ATCC 200345 [A] and ATCC 9142 [B]) and three inoculum levels (104, 106, and 108). Olive leaves were milled to 2 mm and fermented in solid-state by two different A. niger strains and analysed for nutritional composition. Crude protein (CP) was increased linearly as the inoculum level increased. Ether extract (EE) and crude fiber (CF) were decreased linearly in A strain or quadratically in B strain with increased inoculum levels. Crude ash and nitrogen-free extract content did not differ among groups. Strain A increased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) at higher inoculum level, whereas NDF was decreased as inoculum level increased in B strain. The lowest acid detergent fiber (ADF) was obtained from the B strain or 106 inoculum level. The results showed that the effect of two strains on CP and ADF changed similarly with increased inoculum levels. However, two strains affected EE, CF, and NDF content differently with increased inoculum levels. The optimal situations were 108 inoculum level for higher CP, A104 or B104 for higher EE, B106 for lower CF, B106 or B108 for lower NDF, 106 inoculum level or B strain for lower ADF. B strain at 106 inoculation level can be preferred to obtain an average CP and EE content and lower CF, NDF, and ADF content.

It is known that plants have been used by humans for a very long time in the treatment of diseases. A wide variety of plant species grown in different regions have been very successful in the treatment of many diseases. In this study, Echium italicum L. plant collected from different regions was used as material. The plant was extracted with ethanol in a soxhlet device. Then, antioxidant and oxidant levels of the plant extract were determined using Rel Assay kits. As a result of the analysis, the TAS values of the plant were determined 5.442±0.240 (Gaziantep), 4.896±0.081 (Hakkari) and 6.056±0.139 (Mersin), TOS values were 21.372±0.747 (Gaziantep), 12.255±0.341 (Hakkari) and 19.107±0.438 (Mersin), OSI values were 0.395±0.027 (Gaziantep), 0.250±0.005 (Hakkari), and 0.316±0.005 (Mersin). It was observed that antioxidant and oxidant values changed as the regions where the plant was collected changed. In addition, it was determined that E. italicum could be a natural antioxidant source.

This study has been carried out in 2017-2018 in order to determine seed dormancy and effective germination depth wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.). The in-vitro dormancy breaking experiments (tip breaking, sanding, H2SO4 application, holding in flowing and still water, GA3, KNO3 and GA3+KNO3 combination application) has been applied to wild mustard seeds collected from wheat field in Tokat province and has been applied to wild mustard seeds collected from wheat field in Tokat province and the most effective method was determined as 1000 ppm GA3+KNO3 with 98% impact on seed germination at 15°C within 72 hours. In contrast germination rate has been calculated as 5% in control plants. Furthermore 15°C was assessed as optimum temperature for seed germination was the most effective temperature and during depth studies 100% of wild mustard seeds germinated at 3-5 cm. Because of the difficulies with the work with seeds and plants that have dormancy, these data will contribute future studies.

In completed research, ferrous gluconate -a food additive- used to preserve black color to prevent discoloration during storage in ripe black olives, and Allium cepa L. species. A. cepa L. roots were treated with different doses of ferrous gluconate. The effective concentration EC50 (0.068 g/l) was determined. A. cepa root tips were treated with EC50/2 (0.034 g/l), EC50 (0.068 g/l), 2XEC50 (0.136 g/l) dose for 24, 48, 72 hours, and afterward, the root tips were prepared for observation under the light microscope according to the method of preparing mitotic preparation. Chromosomal abnormality index (CAI) and genotoxic effect of ferrous gluconate in A. cepa root tip cells were determined. Repeated measurement ANOVA and TUKEY multiple comparison tests were used to investigate the effect of time and dose together on genotoxicity. C-mitosis, polyploidy, polar shifting in anaphase, polar shifting in telophase, equatorial plate shifting, laggard chromosome was observed by microscope. The highest CAI (70.16±4.85) was observed at 72h for 2XEC50 dose. Chromosomal aberration is also observed in control group. While the most common chromosomal aberration is determined as C-mitosis; The least observed chromosomal aberration is determined as polyploidy. Research results revealed that ferrous gluconate has a genotoxic effect on the root tip of A. cepa.

In this study, the medicinal and aromatic plants sector of the Hatay province was evaluated with the SWOT Analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), and aimed to offer solutions for the development of the sector based on the opinions of the companies which are operating in the province. According to the research results, the rich natural vegetation of the province and its proximity to raw material resources, were found as the main 'strengths'. Insufficient incentives, lack of coordination, problems in accessing quality raw materials, and adulteration were found as the 'weaknesses'. Increase in demand and high added value potential, and the EXPO 2021 exhibition were found as the 'opportunities'. Security problems in the region due to the ongoing war in Syria were determined as the prominent 'threat'.

Su kahve hazırlamada kahve çeşidinden sonra ikinci önemli bileşen olup kahve kalitesini etkilemektedir. Bu çalışmada filtre kahve hazırlamada kullanılan dört farklı sertliğe sahip suyun (şişelenmiş, arıtma, orta sert ve sert su) filtre kahvenin uçucu bileşenlerine ve lezzetine etkisinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. En fazla sayıda uçucu bileşen orta sertlikteki su kullanılarak hazırlanan filtre kahvede (12 furan, 7 pirazin, 3 pirol, 2 aldehit, 1 furanon,1 keton, 1 piridin ve 1 tiyofen grubundan olmak üzere toplam 28 uçucu bileşen) belirlenmiştir. Filtre kahve hazırlamada kullanılan suyun sertliğinin 2-metilfuran, 2-metilbutanal, 5-metil-3-hegzanon, 1-metil-1H-pirol, 2-vinil-5-metilfuran, 2-(metoksimetil) furan, dihidro-2-metil- 3(2H)-furanon, 2-etil-3-metil-pirazin, 3-etil-2,5-dimetil-pirazin, 2-furankarboksaldehit, benzaldehit, 2,2'-bifuran ve 2,2'-metilenbisfuran uçucu bileşenlerinin alan yüzdesini etkilediği tespit edilmiştir. Koku karakterleri (kavrulmuş kahve (2,27), kavrulmuş fındık (2,35), badem (0,96), çiğ sebze (2,69), toprak (0,96)) sert suyla hazırlanan filtre kahvelerde düşük yoğunlukta algılanmıştır. Sert suyla hazırlanan filtre kahvede tat karakterlerinden acı (3,63) en fazla algılanırken, en az algılanan karakterler fındık (0,40), baharat (0,63), limon kabuğu (0,58), tatlı (1,04), ekşi (1,52) tat olmuştur. Orta sert suyla hazırlanan filtre kahvede ise fındık (1.63), baharat (1.96), limon kabuğu (3.21), tatlı (2.23) tat karakterleri yoğun algılanmıştır. Ekşilik yumuşak suyla hazırlanan örneklerde en yoğun algılanırken (3,55), orta sert suyla hazırlanan kahvelerde ekşiliğin yoğunluğu azalmış (2,55), en düşük ise sert suyla hazırlanan örneklerde (1,52) algılanmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda su sertliğinin filtre kahvenin lezzetini etkilediği belirlenmiş olup, daha fazla uçucu bileşen içeren filtre kahve elde edilmesi için filtre kahve hazırlanmada orta sertlikte suyun kullanılması önerilmektedir.

Ticari yumurta çiftliği endüstrilerinde, kusurlu yumurtaların otomatik olarak ayrılması ekonomik ve sağlık açısından önemlidir. Günümüzde, kusurlu yumurtaların tespiti manuel olarak yapılmaktadır. Bu durum, zaman alıcı, yorucu ve karmaşık süreçler içermektedir. Tüm bu nedenlerden dolayı, yumurta yüzeyinde oluşabilecek kusurların otomatik olarak sınıflandırılması oldukça önemli bir konu haline gelmiştir. Bu amaç doğrultusunda, bu çalışmada, nesne tanıma ve sınıflandırma alanlarında yüksek performans sağlayan Evrişimsel Sinir Ağlarına (ESA) dayalı geliştirilen AlexNet, VGG16, VGG19, SqueezeNet, GoogleNet, Inceptionv3, ResNet18 ve Xception mimarileri kullanılarak yumurta kusurlarının sınıflandırılması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu mimarilerin performansını test etmek için kirli, kanlı, kırık ve sağlam yumurtaları içeren özgün bir veri seti inşa edilmiştir. Deneysel çalışmalar sonucunda, en yüksek doğruluk skoru VGG19 mimarisi ile %96,25 olarak elde edilmiştir. Bu sonuçlarda, ESA yöntemlerinin kusurlu yumurtaların sınıflandırılmasında yüksek başarı sağladığı gözlenmiştir.

In this study, the hypometabolism behavior, epiphragm formation process, and the mineral composition of the epiphragmal structure of the Helix pomacella, Eobania vermiculata, Helix melanostoma, and Helix asemnis land snails were investigated during the hibernation period. 100 snails selected among mature individuals, 25 from each species, were collected from nature for the research. The snails were placed in four 50x50x5 cm pans containing 20-cm-deep humus soil. Snails were fed with lettuce by free feeding until the hibernation period. Hypometabolism behavior of snails that had hibernated between November and December 2018, and January and February 2019 were examined as entering the hibernation stage, hibernation stage, and leaving the hibernation stage. The ionic concentration (Calcium, Iron, and Phosphorus) of the epiphragm layer formed during the hibernation process was analyzed, its formation duration, and its degradation at the end of the hibernation period were examined. In the study, it was determined that the weight before hibernation reduced by 18-22% in all examined species (H. pomacella, E. vermiculata, H. melanostoma, and H. asemnis). The highest values in terms of epiphragm formation duration (19±0.30 days), weight (0.41±0.26 g), and thickness (0.310±0.22 mm) were determined in H. asemnis. In terms of the ionic concentration, the highest Calcium level was determined in H. asemnis (29.96±0.12 mg/g) while the highest Phosphorus level (4.02±0.20 mg/g) was determined in E. vermiculata, and the highest Iron content was found in H. pomacella (19.50±0.33 mg/g). The degradation duration of the epiphragm layer at the end of hibernation was determined the longest in E. vermiculata (7 days) whereas the shortest in H. pomacella (3 days). As a result of the present research, it was seen that the epiphragm layer is important for snails in terms of a sustainable life cycle and that the ecological tolerances of snails depend on the epiphragmal structure.

In this study, the effects of grape seed extract on insulin, adiponectin and resistin levels in diabetic rats were aimed to investigate. Weight of about 300-350g 7-8 weeks 32 female Wistar Albino rats were used. Weight of about 300-350g 7-8 weeks 32 female Wistar Albino rats randomly divided into four groups of eight each: control group (C), group with diabetes (DM), grape seed extract group (GSE), diabetes mellitus and grape seed extract group (DM+GSE). The diabetic group 45 mg/kg single dose of streptozotocin was administered intraperitoneally, and the grape seed extract groups (DM+GSE and GSE) grape seed extract was given orally every day with an intragastric tube for 20 days (0.6 ml/rat). Blood samples were taken from the hearts of rat’s end of the experiment. The sera obtained were used for insulin, adiponectin and resistin analysis measured via ELISA with commercial kits. The insulin and adiponectin levels of the rats in the diabetes + grape seed extract group were found to be higher than those in the diabetes group. There was no significant change in the resistin level differences between the groups. As a result; It is possible to say that grape seed extract has an increasing effect on insulin level and adiponectin levels of diabetic rats are decreased due to diabetes and it has no significant effect on resistin levels. Detected by the positive effects of grape seed extracts, it may be useful to use for the regulating of the diabetes in human.

The study examined the constraints of access to the use of agricultural insurance schemes (AIS) by small-scale farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. Sustainable agricultural enterprise in most developing countries like Nigeria can be achieved through adequate financing especially in the area of agricultural insurance. Despite the existence of insurance services by the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation and other private firms in Nigeria, there has been a low level of participation of farmers buying insurance premium; thus, there is a need to examine the hindrances in accessing the scheme. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economics characteristic of small- scale farmers, examine the types of agricultural insurance and evaluate the constraints in accessing AIS in the study area. Primary data were collected from 150 farmers with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that farmers in the study area were dominated by the married (68%), literates (81.33) and males (73.33%) with the mean age and farming experience of 47 and 19 years respectively. Crop insurance (56%) and farm implement insurance (46%) were the major types of agricultural insurance used by the farmers. Rigorous procedures in claim settlement (3.266), poor government attention (3.106) poor repayment (3.080) and non-coverage of all the crops (3.093) were among the major challenges in accessing AIS) in the study area. The study recommended that the government through the ministry of Agriculture or Bank of Agriculture should eliminate the bureaucratic processes and bottlenecks encountered by the farmers in accessing AIS.