Combination of fuzzy-AHP and GIS techniques in land suitability assessment for wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivation

Land suitability classification is a useful management practice to ensure planned and sustainable use of agricultural lands according to their potentials. The main purposes of this study were to analyze land suitability for bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivation and generate a land suitability map for wheat by integrating the analytical hierarchy (AHP)-fuzzy algorithm with the Geographical Information System (GIS) in the Tozanlı sub-basin located in the upper part of Yeşilırmak Basin, Turkey. Topographic (elevation, slope, aspect) characteristics of the basin and some of physical and chemical properties of soils (texture, pH, electrical conductivity, lime, organic matter, and soil depth) were used as criteria in determining the suitability classes. Ninety-two disturbed soil samples were collected from 0 to 20 cm depth in October 2017 using random sampling method. Weighted overlay spatial analysis in GIS was used to combine different thematic layers to identify areas suitable for wheat production. The fuzzy-AHP suitability assessment model was adapted to determine the weights for topographic and soil properties. The highest specific weights were obtained for soil depth (0.232) and elevation (0.218), while the lowest weight was calculated for aspect (0.042). Highly, moderately, and marginally suitable lands for wheat cultivation cover 2.63, 9.85 and 32.59% of the study area, respectively. In addition, the results indicated that 54.92% of the total area is permanently unsuitable for wheat cultivation. The results revealed that integration of AHP-fuzzy algorithm and GIS techniques is a useful method for accurate evaluation of land suitability in planning for specific crop production and decreasing the negative environmental impacts of agricultural practices.     

Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities of the lipophylic extracts of Pistacia vera

In the present study, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties of 15 lipohylic extracts obtained from different parts (leaf, branch, stem, kernel, shell skins, seeds) of Pistacia vera were screened against both standard and the isolated strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis by microdilution method. Both Herpes simplex (DNA) and Parainfluenza viruses (RNA) were used for the determination of antiviral activity of the P. vera extracts by using Vero cell line. Ampicilline, ofloxocine, ketoconazole, fluconazole, acyclovir and oseltamivir were used as the control agents. The extracts showed little antibacterial activity between the range of 128-256 microg/ml concentrations whereas they had noticeable antifungal activity at the same concentrations. Kernel and seed extracts showed significant antiviral activity compared to the rest of the extracts as well as the controls.     

Impact of tannic acid on blood pressure,oxidative stress and urinary parameters in L-NNA-induced hypertensive rats

Hypertension is a major health problem with increasing prevalence around the world. Tannic acid is water-soluble polyphenol that is present in tea, green tea, coffee, red wine, nuts, fruits and many plant foods. It has been reported to serve as an antioxidant or a pro-oxidant depending on the type of cells and its concentration. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of tannic acid on systolic blood pressure, oxidative stress and some urinary parameters in the rat model of essential hypertension. Blood pressures of all rats were measured using the tail-cuff method. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N (omega)-nitro-L-arginine was administered orally at a dose of 0.5 g/l/day for 15 days to rats in order to create an animal model of hypertension. Tannic acid was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 15 days. Superoxide dismutase, catalase activity and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in blood plasma and homogenates of heart, liver and kidney. In order to evaluate renal functions, urine pH, urine volume, urine creatine, uric acid, and urea nitrogen values were measured. Compared with the hypertension group, a decrease in MDA concentrations of heart tissue (p < 0.01), urea nitrogen values (p < 0.01) and urine volumes (p < 0.001) were established in hypertension + tannic acid group. There was also a decrease in blood pressure values (20th and 30th days) of this group, but there was no a statistical difference according to hypertension group. The findings of our research show the effect of tannic acid in lowering blood pressure in hypertensive rats.     

Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic degradation of municipal solid waste in bioreactor landfills

Two landfill bioreactors were operated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in a thermo-insulated room at a constant temperature of 32 °C. Reactors were filled with 19.5 kg of shredded synthetic solid waste prepared according to the average municipal solid waste compositions determined in Istanbul and operated under wet-tomb management strategy by using leachate recirculation. Aerobic conditions in the reactor were developed by using an air compressor. The results of experiments indicated that aerobic reactor had higher organic, nitrogen, phosphorus and alkali metal removal efficiencies than the anaerobic one. Furthermore, stabilization time considerably decreased when using aerobic processes with leachate recirculation compared to the anaerobic system with the same recirculation scheme.     

New water mites of the family Hygrobatidae (Acari,?Hydrachnidia) from Turkey

In this study, the findings of three water mite species of the family Hygrobatidae collected from different streams in Turkey were evaluated. Hygrobates (s. str.) anatolicus Esen & Pešić, sp. n. is described as new for science. Hygrobates (Rivobates) diversiporus Sokolow, 1927 and Atractides (s. str.) nikooae Pešić, 2004, which were illustrated and thoroughly discussed, are new records for the Turkish fauna.     

Development and verification of a three-dimensional (3D) breast cancer tumor model composed of circulating tumor cell (CTC) subsets

Molecular Biology Reports - Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types among women in which early tumor invasion leads to metastases and death. EpCAM (epithelial cellular adhesion...     

The effect of ellagic acid on caspase-3/bcl-2/Nrf-2/NF-kB/TNF-α /COX-2 gene expression product apoptosis pathway: a new approach for muscle damage therapy

Molecular Biology Reports - The goal of this study was to determine the protective role of ellagic acid (EA) against CCl4-induced muscle injury in rats. In this study, 36 Wistar albino rats...     

Turkey as a crossroad for Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus: evidence from population trends and ring-resightings (Aves: Phoenicopteridae)

The Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus is a waterbird commonly found in saline and brackish lagoons throughout the Mediterranean Region. We have gathered existing data on Greater Flamingos in Turkey and carried out field surveys to present the most up to date information on wintering (1999–2014) and breeding (1969– 2014). The wintering population of flamingos shows an increasing trend with 54,947±20,794 individuals mainly concentrated in the Gediz, Büyük Menderes and Çukurova deltas, respectively. Breeding attempts were recorded in at least seven wetlands in Turkey in the past, yet after 1999 most of the colonies were abandoned due to basin scale intensive water management practices in Central Anatolia. Currently, only Tuz Lake and Gediz Delta are used as regular breeding sites, while breeding has been recorded sporadically in Ac?göl and Ak?ehir Lakes. The breeding colony of Tuz Lake is of prime importance at the Mediterranean scale, with the number of young chicks in 2011, 2012 and 2013 accounting for the highest number of fledglings in the Mediterranean Region and West Africa (18,418, 20,274 and 20,292 respectively). Finally, building upon the previous findings about Turkey and the western Mediterranean metapopulation links, recent resightings of Turkish flamingos (despite the limited numbers) confirm post-fledging and natal dispersal reaching the western Mediterranean Basin and West Africa. Flamingos from Turkey were also found to disperse to Israel and to a region outside the known flyways of the western Mediterranean and West African flamingos (i.e. to Israel and UAE). Thus, Turkey, due to its geographic position, appears to be a crossroad between the western and eastern Mediterranean Region and southwest Asia.     

Infection-Mediated Priming of Phagocytes Protects against Lethal Secondary Aspergillus fumigatus Challenge

Phagocytes restrict the germination of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia and prevent the establishment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunecompetent mice. Here we report that immunecompetent mice recovering from a primary A. fumigatus challenge are protected against a secondary lethal challenge. Using RAGγc knock-out mice we show that this protection is independent of T, B and NK cells. In protected mice, lung phagocytes are recruited more rapidly and are more efficient in conidial phagocytosis and killing. Protection was also associated with an enhanced expression of CXCR2 and Dectin-1 on bone marrow phagocytes. We also show that protective lung cytokine and chemokine responses are induced more rapidly and with enhanced dynamics in protected mice. Our findings support the hypothesis that following a first encounter with a non-lethal dose of A. fumigatus conidia, the innate immune system is primed and can mediate protection against a secondary lethal infection.