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This article, published in the journal Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeon, explores the potential benefits of inhibiting the cysteine protease cathepsin C (CatC) in improving graft function after heart transplantation (HTX) in rats. The study found that the CatC inhibitor BI-9740 decreased the proteolytic activity of neutrophil serine proteases and improved both systolic and diastolic function in the transplanted hearts. Additionally, the inhibitor was associated with a shorter graft re-beating time. These findings suggest that pharmacological inhibition of CatC may be a promising approach to enhance graft function after HTX. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, stuffed mussels were collected from 50 selling points in Istanbul, consist of street vendors (n=38) and retail shops (n=12), analyzed microbiologically and weighted per portion. Mean Total Aerobic Count result was 7.38±1.01 log10 cfu/g among the samples. Coliform was isolated from 44% of samples (2.85±0.57 log cfu/g), Escherichia coli from 12% of samples (3.76±0.71 log cfu/g), Staphylococcus aureus from 4% (4.15±0.30 log cfu/g), Bacillus cereus in 2% (2.78 log cfu/g) and Bacillus licheniformis in 4% (3.18±0.08 log cfu/g) of samples. Listeria ivanovii was isolated from 2% of samples (in 25 g). No Clostridium spp., Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were detected. Level of Staphylococcus spp. (S. aureus + S. epidermidis) contamination was significantly higher in the retail shop (P <0.05). The mean portion per stuffed mussel was 16.78±5.62 g. Except for the result of Staphylococcus spp., microbiological analyses and a gram of portions did not show a significant difference between retail shops and street vendors (P >0.05). However, an inappropriate level of S. aureus contamination in retail shops remain a food safety gap. Furthermore, the mean results of portions are assumed to be used in predictive microbiology studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the provoked environmental constraints under extreme climatic events, a better understanding of plant responses to these environmental stresses helps in obtaining sustainable productivity. Wheat is a significant cereal crop for the burgeoning population; its yield is significantly limited by too little water in the rhizosphere. The ramifications of water deficiency on the wheat crop can be reduced by the application of vermicompost. With the objective to cope with drought stress, a wire-house experiment was established where seedlings of two cultivars, viz., Faisalabad-08 and Galaxy-13 (drought-tolerant and -sensitive cultivar, respectively) were grown in pots and exposed to mild drought (D1, 45% field capacity) and severe drought stress (D2, 30% field capacity). A control with well-watered condition (70% field capacity) was kept for comparison. Various application rates of wheat straw vermicompost (control (VT0), 4 t ha−1 (VT1), 6 t ha−1 (VT2), and 8 t ha−1 (VT3)), were used in soil-filled pots under drought and control treatments. Our data depicted that compared with control, drought treatments recorded a significant reduction in morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes with maximum reduction under severe drought conditions. Nonetheless, it was observed that soil application of vermicompost, particularly at a high rate, ameliorated the negative effects of drought. Under severe drought conditions, a significant and positive influence on morphological and physiological traits was recorded for VT3 treatment, which increased root and shoot length by 27.55 and 27.85%, root and shoot fresh weight by 26.98 and 28.20%, root and shoot dry weight by 40 and 50.05%, and photosynthesis and transpiration rate by 27.65 and 49.25%, respectively, on average of two cultivars. Similarly, VT3 also significantly ameliorated the adverse effect of drought by enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activities as it increased superoxide dismutase activity by 14.28%, peroxidase by 27.28%, and catalase by 50% compared to the control treatment. Among cultivars, Faisalabad-2008 showed comparatively more resistance against drought stress. The findings of this work revealed that drought drastically reduced the growth and productivity of wheat; however, soil-applied vermicompost positively influenced the performance of wheat cultivars.

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Yeşilsırt, Tekirdağ ilinin Muratlı ilçesine bağlı bir köydür. Ekonomisi tarım ve hayvancılığa dayanan köyde daha çok buğday ve ayçiçeği ekiminde kullanılan tarım arazilerinde meyvecilik, ilçe merkezinde olduğu gibi çok küçük bir paya sahiptir. İklim özellikleri bakımından meyve yetiştiriciliğine uygun olan ve sulama suyu sıkıntısı olmayan bu bölgenin buğday ve ayçiçeği ekimi yapılan tarım alanlarından alınan 26 adet toprak örneğinin fiziksel ve kimyasal özellikleri değerlendirilerek, bu toprakların meyveciliğe uygun olup olmadığı sorgulanmıştır. Analiz sonuçlarına göre, toprakların pH değerleri elma, armut, erik ve kiraz yetiştirilmesi için uygundur. Fosfor, demir ve bakır bakımından iyi durumda olan topraklarda azot eksikliği mevcuttur. Toprakların yarısından fazlasında potasyum, mangan ve çinko eksikliği olduğu tespit edilmiş olup organik içerikli gübrelerle eksiklik giderilebilir. Toprakların tüm fiziksel ve kimyasal özellikleri dikkate alındığında, Yeşilsırt köyü topraklarının elma, armut, erik ve kiraz yetiştiriciliğine uygun olduğu saptanmıştır

Yeşilsırt, Tekirdağ ilinin Muratlı ilçesine bağlı bir köydür. Ekonomisi tarım ve hayvancılığa dayanan köyde daha çok buğday ve ayçiçeği ekiminde kullanılan tarım arazilerinde meyvecilik, ilçe merkezinde olduğu gibi çok küçük bir paya sahiptir. İklim özellikleri bakımından meyve yetiştiriciliğine uygun olan ve sulama suyu sıkıntısı olmayan bu bölgenin buğday ve ayçiçeği ekimi yapılan tarım alanlarından alınan 26 adet toprak örneğinin fiziksel ve kimyasal özellikleri değerlendirilerek, bu toprakların meyveciliğe uygun olup olmadığı sorgulanmıştır. Analiz sonuçlarına göre, toprakların pH değerleri elma, armut, erik ve kiraz yetiştirilmesi için uygundur. Fosfor, demir ve bakır bakımından iyi durumda olan topraklarda azot eksikliği mevcuttur. Toprakların yarısından fazlasında potasyum, mangan ve çinko eksikliği olduğu tespit edilmiş olup organik içerikli gübrelerle eksiklik giderilebilir. Toprakların tüm fiziksel ve kimyasal özellikleri dikkate alındığında, Yeşilsırt köyü topraklarının elma, armut, erik ve kiraz yetiştiriciliğine uygun olduğu saptanmıştır.

The present study was conducted to explore the role of different types of vermicomposts (VCs) prepared from different substrates to improve soil health (physical and chemical properties) and wheat plant growth under field conditions. Different combinations of vermicompost prepared from different substrates (cow dung, paper waste, and rice straw) and inorganic fertilizers were applied in soil using wheat as a test plant. The impact of three different VCs on physico-chemical characteristics and nutrient availability in soil was evaluated to examine their efficacy in combination with chemical fertilizers. Temporal trends in vermicomposting treatments at various stages showed significant improvement in physico-chemical attributes of the VCs substrates. All the plant physiological attributes showed significant response where N: P: K 100:50:50 kg ha−1 + 10 t ha−1 cow dung vermicompost was applied. In addition, post-harvest analysis of soil not only revealed that different combinations of the vermicomposting treatments improved the soil health by improving the physico-chemical attributes of the soil. Conclusively, application of cow dung vermicompost along with recommended NPK not only improved crop yield, soil health, reduced insect (aphid) infestation but also fortified grains with Zn and Fe.

Pheretimoid earthworms are invasive in hardwood forests of formerly glaciated regions in the USA. They alter the forest floor structure by creating an extensive, several cm-deep casting layer comprising loose macro-aggregates. Little is known about the physical properties of the casting layer and how they relate to earthworm ecology. Here, thermal and macropore properties of three forest soil textures (clay, silt, and sandy soils, with and without pheretimoids) were measured and compared to explore the possible relationships to their ecology. Thermal properties were significantly different between the casting layer (CAST) and original soil (NOCAST). Results indicate that CAST soils dampen temperature fluctuations occurring at the surface more than NOCAST soil. The increased dampening may be of particular importance to pheretimoid survival in forest fires and during spring when surface fluctuations could expose the hatchlings to fatal temperatures. Macropore volume, an indicator of ease of movement of pheretimoids, was significantly greater in CAST than NOCAST soil. Together, the ease of movement and greater temperature dampening of CAST soils may provide thermal refuges to pheretimoids from temperature variations outside the optimal range. This may improve their chances of survival in newly colonized areas where the climate differs from the original range.

In this study, an elastic-plastic stress analysis was proposed in order to obtain shear stress distribution in a double-lap joint, analytically. The solution was carried out using incremental theory. The obtained shear stress was then used for determining the peel stress in the adhesive. The elastic peel stress distribution in the adhesive was determined using Newton-Raphson method. In this study, FM73 (Cytec Industries Inc., New Jersey, USA) ductile adhesive was selected as it represents plastic hardening. The analytical results were compared with the finite element solution. For that, ANSYS 10 Software (Figes Engineering A.S., Turkey) was used so as to compare with the analytical results. A good agreement was obtained between the two methods.

Objective of this study is to determine spatial variability in a dry onion fi eld and to produce a management strategy which is based on spatial variability of yield and soil components. The onion fi eld properties were determined and given in maps. Soil samples were taken to determine properties of soil such as pH, salt, humidity, CaCO3, organic matter, total N, Zn, Fe, P2O5, Ca+Mg, K, texture. Longitudinal slope was also measured. Results were used to produce maps. Most percentage of the fi eld soils was determined as clay-loam. Small part of the fi eld was loam. Yield of dry onion decreased by increasing of Organic Matter, Total Nitrogen, Iron, and Zinc in the fi eld according to the related maps. Relationship between yield and phosphorous, CaCO3, Ca+Mg and salt was positive according to the related maps.

It seems that urea fertilizers have advantages over ammonium nitrate fertilizers in terms of leaching losses when they are applied in February. On the other hand, the losses from the urea fertilizers in the form of NH3 gas when they are applied in February which is damp and cool, may be considered to be non signifi cant, which becomes a profound idea. Conducting fi eld trials on the investigation of suitable time and rate of urea fertilizers application may be suggested a way to be followed. According to the diagnosis from the research, hydrolyse of urea is bound to features of the soil. In the beginning of the incubation for the fact hydrolysis of urea is fast that features of soil. Dry wheat agriculture which takes major part in our agriculture, urea’s progress of hydrolysis ensure suitable and balanced fertilizing and also ensure the amount and quality of crop increase in a fi eld. It has to be emphasized with processing of an adequate and balanced program of fertilizing is useful both our economy and environment.

Tekirdağ toprak, su ve iklim özellikleri açısından yüksek bir tarım potansiyeline sahiptir. Su, tarımsal üretimi etkileyen önemli bir faktördür. Bu nedenle su kaynakları tarımsal üretimin arttırılmasında büyük bir önem taşır. Bu araştırma, 2005 yılı Mart ve Nisan aylarında Tekirdağ’ın değişik yerlerinden toplanan 9 adet sulama suyu örneği üzerinde yürütülmüştür. Örneklerin pH, EC, Ca++, Mg++, Na+, K+, NH -N, COyapılmış ve bu sonuçlardan yararlanılarak çökelme indeksi Çİ , bakiye sodyum karbonat BSK , sodyum adsorpsiyon oranı SAO ve kalite sınıfları belirlenmiştir. Tüm sulama suları sertlik, Cl-, pH, SAO yönünden sulamada uygundurlar. Sulama sularını sınıflandırdığımızda, 3 numaralı örneğin C3S1 ve diğer 8 adet su örneğinin de C2S1 sınıfında olduğu bulunmuştur. Analiz sonuçlarına göre, su örneklerinde bazı ortalama değerler; pH 7.33, elektriksel iletkenlik 603 µS/cm, toplam sertlik 23.69 mg CaCO3/l, klorür 2.31 me/l, BSK 0.08 me/l ve Çİ ise 0.14 olarak bulunmuştur