Günümüzde şehirleşmenin artması ve şehir merkezlerinin genişlemesi, birçok kent merkezinde sanayi alanları, yerleşim alanları ve tarım alanlarının iç içe geçmesine sebep olmuştur. Bu durum tarım topraklarının antropojenik kirlilik kaynaklarından önemli ölçüde etkilenmesine sebep olmaktadır. Bu toprakların kirlenmesi, gıda olarak tüketilen ürünler yetiştirildiğinde insan sağlığı açısından risk oluşturmaktadır. Bundan dolayı bu topraklar kirlilik yönünden kontrol edilmelidir. Bu çalışmada da Ankara İli Yenimahalle İlçesi sınırları içerisinde yer alan tarım topraklarında 20 farklı örnekleme istasyonundan, üç farklı toprak derinliğinden alınan topraklar numunelerinde, insan ve çevre sağlığı açısından en tehlikeli ve zararlı ağır metallerden olan kobalt (Co) konsantrasyonunun değişimi değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda ortalama Co konsantrasyonunun 0-15 cm derinlikteki topraklarda 14556,8 ppb, 15-30 cm derinliklerdeki topraklarda 15273,4 ppb ve 30-45 cm derinlikteki topraklarda 14761,1 ppb düzeyinde olduğu belirlenmiştir. Lokasyon bazında en düşük değer 7348,3 ppb ile L1 lokasyonunda (yerleşim alanında açık alanda) belirlenirken en yüksek değer 23609,1 ppb ile L8 lokasyonunda (yerleşim alanında, sanayi bölgesine yakın açık alanda) elde edilmiştir.

Bu çalışmanın amacı, çekirge kullanarak protein oranı artırılmış bir unlu mamul üretmek, bu sayede önemli bir gıda kaynağı olan yenilebilir böceklerin tüketilmesine olan bakışı değiştirebilmek ve entomofaji konusunda farkındalık oluşturmaktır. Dünya’nın azalan kaynaklarına daha sürdürülebilir bir tüketim ürünü kazandırmak esas amaçtır. Çalışmada göçmen çekirge (locusta migratoria) kullanılmıştır. Bir kontrol örneği ile %1 ve %2 oranlarında çekirge tozu içeren tuzlu kurabiye üretilmiştir. Ürünlerin 10 kişilik eğitimli panelist grubu tarafından duyusal değerlendirilmesi yapılmıştır. Genel beğeni puanı en yüksek olan ürün, sonrasında 81 kişinin tüketici beğenisine sunulmuştur. Değerlendirmelerde, görünüş, renk, tat, koku, tekstür, ağızda bıraktığı his ve genel görünüm kriterleri üzerinden 5’li Likert ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Eğitimli panelistlere uygulanan duyusal değerlendirme sonrasında elde edilen verilere göre %1 oranında çekirge tozu ile hazırlanan çekirgeli tuzlu kurabiye 4,7/5 puan ile en çok beğenilen ürün olmuştur. 81 kişinin katıldığı tüketici beğenisi testi sonuçlarına göre 4,6/5 genel beğeni puanına ulaşılmıştır. Eğitimli panelist grubunda %70 ve tüketici beğeni testinde %85 oranında ürünü “satın alırım” cevabı verilmiştir. Ek olarak, Tübitak MAM laboratuvarlarında Protein Kjeldahl yöntemi (AOAC 960.52. Foss Tecator Manuel 2300 AB 2003 AN, Tüm gıdalar) ile ürünlerin protein analizleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Analiz sonuçlarına göre; kontrol numunesinin protein oranı 11.4g/100g, hamur ağırlığının %1’i kadar çekirge eklenen numunenin protein oranı ise 11.69g/100g olarak tespit edilmiştir.

Kombucha is a slightly acidic sugary drink made by fermenting sweetened tea. It is known for its numerous health advantages. The objective of this study is to explore the possible effects of Salvia officinalis on enhancing the biochemical characteristics of kombucha. The present investigation compared traditional kombucha, produced using green and black tea, with kombucha derived from S. officinalis, examining their antioxidant properties, total phenolic, and total flavonoid content. The fermentation process lasted for a duration of 14 days. The present study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of fermented S. officinalis. The antioxidant potential was assessed using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and copper (II) reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) techniques. The DPPH radical reduction percentages were determined to be 93.5±1.65% for kombucha of green tea, 90.6±1.51% for kombucha of black tea, and 88.5±1.68% for kombucha of S. officinalis. According to the CUPRAC results, green tea kombucha was found to have 321.58±2.12 mg TE/g, black tea kombucha 305.91±1.98 mg TE/g and S. officinalis kombucha 301.97±1.78 mg TE/g. Total phenolic content was 154.15±1.22 mg GAE/g for kombucha of green tea, 145.41±1.31 mg GAE/g for kombucha of black tea, and 124.52±1.25 mg GAE/g for kombucha of S. officinalis. The determined value for the total flavonoid content was 101.12±0.98 mg QE/g for kombucha of green tea, 99.41±0.97 mg QE/g for kombucha of black tea, and 92.73±0.78 mg QE/g for kombucha of S. officinalis. The findings indicate that S. officinalis can serve as a substitute medium for kombucha fermentation, resulting in the development of a novel kind of kombucha with similar chemical characteristics.

Germination is the first stage of a plant’s life. The seeds of grain legumes are used both as food and as seedlings. The vitality of the seeds is crucial for both uses. This study was conducted to determine the effect of storing seeds of the Lara variety of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.), harvested in 2023, in different periods (4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 months) and different storage medium (paper bag, plastic bag, glass jar and plastic bottle) on their biological value. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design with three replications. Germination was done in 2 different materials (sand and paper) in room conditions. Germination speed, germination power, length of plumula and radicle, dry matter of them, seedling vigour index, allometric coefficient, germination energy were observed. On the 4th day, which is considered in determining the germination rate for faba beans, no germination value was determined in any process. Germination power values varied between 72.7% and 97.3%. The highest germination value was obtained from seeds stored for 8 and 10 months. The highest value was recorded in plumula and root length values in 12 and 8-month-old stored seeds, respectively. It was determined that storage medium did not have a single effect on the observed measurements for these experiments. However, statistical differences between storage period and storage material interactions were found to be significant. The statistical differences between storage period and storage material interactions were found to be significant. As a result, it was concluded that the germination rate of the faba bean was early on the 4th day, the counting day, and this value should be studied. It has been concluded that the loss of germination power is very low in about 1 year of storage of faba bean, which have strong germination ability.

Polyphenols are plant-sourced compounds that exhibit important dietary features on human health. They have been defined and used either as a food source or as a raw material in the food industry to enhance functional properties and nutritional quality. They have significant positive bioactivities as; antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, cardiovascular health protection, immune supporter, and also benefits on digestion and brain functioning. The effects and bioactivity ranges were studied in the literature which has been discussed in the review to emphasize the importance of these natural compounds to provide insight into health and well-being.

Tissue monitoring generally includes the stages of fixation, dehydration, clearing, hardening (infiltration), paraffin blocking/paraffin(emmeding), sectioning, water removal, routine staining, and mounting. Fixation is the basic and first step in the microscopic examination of tissues. The histotechnical process, which includes components such as detection, tissue tracking and staining, basically aims to capture and visualize the state of the relationships between tissue parts inside and outside the cell and various cells at a certain time as close as possible to the living state. Maintaining the natural structure of the tissue is important for the follow-up phase. The main feature of a good fixative should protect the sample and make the macromolecules insoluble without changing the chemistry of the sample studied and allowing it to be examined as closely as possible to its living state. In histological tissue analysis including light microscope and electron microscope techniques, an appropriate fixation method is selected for each study. Detection solutions are classified in terms of content. The most commonly used fixative in light microscopic follow-up procedures is 10% formaldehyde. For the electron microscope, the gluteraldehyde-osmium tetraoxide binary is widely used for fixation purposes. Gluteraldehyde acts more slowly and is more expensive than formaldehyde. Formalin is obtained by dissolving formaldehyde in water. In addition, the fixed samples can be stored in the solution for months. With a successful fixation process, the structural properties of the tissue are preserved and thus it is possible to examine the tissue as closely as possible. Thus, better quality sections are obtained from the tissue samples taken. For this reason, it will be more efficient to interpret well-fixed samples by photographing them. In this review, which was created by using various sources, the elements to be considered for an ideal fixation were determined and it was aimed to provide an overview of successful fixation for light microscope and electron microscope.

Excessive sugar intake can lead to poor health outcomes. The use of sweeteners is considered as a strategy to reduce added sugar consumption. The presence of sweeteners in food products has increased significantly in many countries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the added sugars and sweeteners in packaged products. 1550 (57.9%) out of 2676 food products contained at least one added sugar. Confectionery and desserts (35.38±24.82 g/100 g), and snack foods (20.70±16.20 g/100 g) were the main categories containing the highest amount of added sugar. 229 (8.6%) out of 2676 food products contained various types of sweeteners. The most popular added sugar was sucrose (62.9%), while the most popular sweetener was sorbitol (28.2%). This is the most comprehensive study in the city center of Edirne province in Türkiye reporting on the types and frequency of added sugars and sweeteners in packaged products. This study offers monitoring to improve the legislation of Türkiye on added sugars and sweeteners used in the food supply.

The global population is increasing at a rapid pace, posing significant challenges to sustainable development and food security. This review paper examines the advantages and challenges of organic farming as a potential solution to address the pressing issues in modern agriculture and food production. Organic farming offers a range of benefits, including improved soil fertility, higher profitability, reduced external input usage, land reclamation, improved market access, and enhanced farmer capacity and self-reliance. Organic farming practices prioritize environmental sustainability by reducing chemical usage and reliance on biological methods of pest control, as well as enhancing biodiversity, which strengthens ecological balance and resilience against pests and diseases. However, organic farming also faces challenges that need to be addressed for its widespread adoption. These challenges include uncertainty surrounding legislative environments, psychological and sociological costs of conversion, financial risks during the transition period, securing marketing channels for organic produce, and diminishing profit margins. Efforts should be made to provide farmers with the necessary support, including technical assistance, subsidies, and access to markets, to overcome these challenges. Despite the challenges, the potential of organic farming in promoting sustainable agriculture and ensuring a secure food system cannot be overlooked. It offers a natural and environmentally friendly approach to food production, prioritizing the health of both humans and the ecosystem.

Ülkemizde ağaç bamya olarak bilinen Araujia sericifera Güney Amerika’ya özgü istilacı, yaprak dökmeyen ipeksi bir bitkidir. . Birçok sebze sahip olduğu biyoaktif bileşenleri ile sağlık üzerinde olumlu etkiler göstermektedir. Sebzelerin içermiş olduğu biyoaktif bileşenler pişirilme işlemi sırasında olumsuz etkilenmektedir. Çalışmada farklı pişirme tekniklerinin Araujia sericifera bitkisinin biyoaktif özellikleri üzerine etkisini belirlemek ve çok kriterli karar verme yöntemiyle en iyi biyoaktif özelliğe ve genel kabul edilebilirliğe sahip pişirme yöntemini tespit etmeyi amaçlamıştır. Farklı pişirme yöntemleri uygulanan ağaç bamya örneklerinin toplam fenolik madde miktarları 4,75-15,15 mg GAE/g aralığında değişim gösterirken sotelenmiş örneklerin diğer pişirme yöntemlerine göre daha yüksek fenolik madde içeriğine sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çok kriterli karar verme teknikleri sonuçlarına göre ağaç bamyayı pişirmek için yapılan soteleme yönteminin biyoaktivite ve genel kabul edilebilirlik açısından en iyi yöntem olduğu belirlenmiştir.

The aim of this study was to determine some reproductive and growth characteristics and was to analyses some environmental factors the growth and survival performance of lambs between 2017 and 2020 reared within the framework of the National Small Ruminant Project in Altunhisar district of Nigde. The data of the study were collected from 24000 heads ewes and 24869 male and female lambs raised in 25 different farms. The average of infertility, fertility, fecundity, litter size, single and twining rates of Akkaraman ewes were found to be 7.90, 92.10, 1.04, 1.13, 87.49 and 12.51%, respectively. The effects of year of birth, type of birth, age of dam and gender on birth, 60th day and 120th day live weights of Akkaraman lambs were found to be statistically significant (P<0.001). It was also determined that the effect of type of lambing, gender, year of birth and dams age on the survival of lambs at 60th and 120th days was significant (P<0.01). The average survival rate of lambs at 60th and 120th day was 96.2 and 95.3.%, respectively. As a result, it was concluded that while the reproductive characteristics of Akkaraman ewes were in accordance with the literature reports, the effects of the environmental factors on the live weights and survival of lambs were significant and these factors were partially affected by slower growth.