Some phenolic compounds of extracts obtained from Origanum species growing in Turkey

Caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, rutin, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, apigenin, and acesetin were the main phenolic compounds of Origanum onites extracts in all applications. While acesetin contents ranged from 133.59 mg/100 g (U1) to 437.25 mg/100 g (S3), rosmarinic acid changed between 215.94 mg/100 g (U4) and 1120.56 mg/100 g (S2) in Origanum vulgare L. subsp. hirtum (Link) Ietsw. Both rosmarinic acid and acesetin were not found in U5 application. Only caffeic acid (19.39 mg/100 g) was found in U5 application. Rosmarinic acid contents of O. onites extract changed between 158.62 mg/100 g (U5) and 799.87 mg/100 g (S2). Generally, dominant phenolic compound of Origanum extracts was rosmarinic acid compared with other extracts. In addition, methanol:water:acetic acid mixture (S2) (95:4.5:0.5) was found as the best application. Phenolic contents of extracts obtained with U series mixtures were found low.     

Mineral contents and proximate composition of Pistacia vera kernels

The mineral contents of Pistacia vera kernels were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The minimum and maximum values of K, P, Ca, Mg, and S elements ranged from 6,333 to 8,064 mg/kg, 3,630 to 5,228 mg/kg, 1,614 to 3,226 mg/kg, 1,716 to 2,402 mg/kg, and 1,417 to 1,825 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, the mean values of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, B, Mo, Cr and Ni elements were determined as 42.48, 20.52, 12.81, 7.48, 11.31, 0.106, 0.511 and 1.67 mg/kg, respectively. Ash levels of kernels were found between 2.28 % (Urfa) and 2.79 % (Halebi). In addition, crude oil and protein contents were determined between 48.8 % (Halebi) to 55.3 % (Siirt) and 23.33 % (Uzun) to 27.16 % (Halebi), respectively.     

Fifteen-spined stickleback (Spinachia spinachia) females prefer males with more secretional threads in their nests: an honest-condition display by males

In the fifteen-spined stickleback (Spinachia spinachia), the male alone builds a nest and provides care for the eggs until they hatch. The nest is made of filamentous algae held together with shiny secretional threads of a glycoprotein, here called tangspiggin. Tangspiggin is produced by transformed kidney cells. I investigated how tangspiggin production was related to food intake by giving males low or high food rations. Males in the high-food group produced significantly more tangspiggin than those in the low-food group. Since low food rations did not lead to a significant drop in resting metabolic rate (oxygen consumption), tangspiggin production appears to be one of the first energy-demanding processes to be dropped during food deprivation. Among males given equal food rations, females preferred to mate with those with elevated levels of tangspiggin in their nests. Tangspiggin threads may signal safety for the offspring by keeping the eggs within the nest and protecting them from egg predators. Moreover, the threads become less shiny with age, due to particle deposition, and older nests that may house older (more valuable) eggs are thereby well camouflaged. Tangspiggin provides an honest signal of male condition, acting as an extra-bodily ornament, signaling direct benefits to females or possibly also indirect benefits of "good genes" from a male who is a successful forager.     

Determination of Commonly Used Herbicides in Surface Water Using Solid-Phase Extraction and Dual-Column HPLC-DAD

The present study describes the application of different solid-phase extraction techniques for the extraction, separation, and quantitative determination of 10 commonly used herbicides with different chemical structures (chlorsulfuron, diuron, bentazone, linuron, chlorpropham, fenoxoprop-ethyl, MCPA, diclofop-methyl, fluazifop-butyl, trifluraline) in water. Octadecyl (C₁₈) Empore extraction disks, octadecyl (C₁₈), and stryene divinylbenzene (SDB) Bond Elut Env cartridges were compared for solid-phase extraction efficiency. Herbicides were separated and quantified by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) with simultaneous separation on two columns of differing polarity (C₁₈ and CN) to confirm identification. Analytical separation was performed simultaneously on C₁₈ and CN columns. Reanalysis of the sample extracts on a (cyano) CN column were used to confirm the identity of these compounds. Method optimization and validation parameters were presented in this work. Recoveries varied from 76.0% to 99.0% for C₁₈ disks, from 75.1% to 100.0% for C₁₈ cartridges, and from 54.0% to 98.0% for SDB cartridges over concentrations at 0.025–0.4 μg L^?1. The limits of detection were 0.012–0.035 μg L^?1.     

Determination of total chlorine and bromine in solid wastes by sintering and inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry

A sample preparation method based on sintering, followed by analysis by inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS) for the simultaneous determination of chloride and bromide in diverse and mixed solid wastes, has been evaluated. Samples and reference materials of known composition were mixed with a sintering agent containing Na₂CO₃ and ZnO and placed in an oven at 560 °C for 1 h. After cooling, the residues were leached with water prior to a cation-exchange assisted clean-up. Alternatively, a simple microwave-assisted digestion using only nitric acid was applied for comparison. Thereafter the samples were prepared for quantitative analysis by ICP-SFMS. The sintering method was evaluated by analysis of certified reference materials (CRMs) and by comparison with US EPA Method 5050 and ion chromatography with good agreement. Median RSDs for the sintering method were determined to 10% for both chlorine and bromine, and median recovery to 96% and 97%, respectively. Limits of detection (LODs) were 200 mg/kg for chlorine and 20 mg/kg for bromine. It was concluded that the sintering method is suitable for chlorine and bromine determination in several matrices like sewage sludge, plastics, and edible waste, as well as for waste mixtures. The sintering method was also applied for determination of other elements present in anionic forms, such as sulfur, arsenic, selenium and iodine.     

Quality of Shallow Groundwater and Drainage Water in Irrigated Agricultural Lands in A Mediterranean Coastal Region of Turkey

Spatial and seasonal differences in water quality of drainage water and unconfined shallow groundwater were related to irrigation in Samandağ, a Mediterranean coastal region. Eighteen wells, seven drainage points and Orontes River were monitored bimonthly for one year for analyses of electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), cations (Na, K, Ca + Mg) and anions (CO₃, HCO₃, Cl and SO₄). Agricultural irrigation using saline groundwater decreased water quality of Orontes River during the irrigation season (May to September) more than during the non-irrigation season (October to April). Seasonal fluctuations in water quality of shallow groundwater were greater during the irrigation season than the non-irrigation season in the study area. Excessive use of groundwater resulted in a decline in the water table levels in the irrigation season. Water table level rose up to the soil surface in areas where there was a lack of drainage or poor drainage, due to the impact of precipitation in the winter. SAR and pH values of drainage water increased in the irrigation season, while the other properties of drainage water decreased. Irrigation water quality of Orontes River was classified as C₃S₁ in both seasons. Irrigation water quality of shallow groundwater and drainage water varied from C₂S₁ to C₄S₂ in one year. Drainage and well waters were found to be different on yearly basis in terms of Na, SAR (p<0.01) and Ca + Mg concentrations (p<0.001). Ca + Mg concentrations for both sources were different for all sampling dates (p<0.001).     

A Comparison of Volunteer,BioRID P3 and Hybrid III Performance in Rear Impacts

The most important tool for testing seat-systems in rear impacts is a crash test dummy. However, investigators have noted limitations of the most commonly used dummy, the Hybrid III. The BioRID I is a step closer to a biofidelic crash test dummy, but it is not user-friendly and the straightening of the thoracic spine kyphosis is smaller than that 220of humans. To reduce these problems, a new BioRID prototype was developed, the P3. It has new neck muscle substitutes, a softer thoracic spine and a softer rubber torso than does the BioRID I.

The BioRID P3 was compared with volunteer test data in a rigid and a standard seal without head restraints. The dummy kinematic performance, pressure distribution between subject and seatback, neck loads and accelerations were compared with those of ten volunteers and a Hybrid III. The BioRID P3 provided repeatable test results and its response was very similar to that of the average volunteer in rear impacts at Δv = 9 km/h.     

The effect of pyrolysis atmosphere on bio-oil yields and structure

A food industry waste, almond shell, was pyrolyzed under three different environment static, nitrogen, and steam to produce bio-oil and its derivatives. The oil yield obtained at pyrolysis temperature of 600°C was 24.23% in a static atmosphere, whereas it increased to 27.25% and 33.05% in nitrogen and steam atmospheres, respectively. The bio-oil obtained under steam atmosphere is very efficient due to the production of high liquid and gas yields. Moreover, co-feeding steam during the pyrolysis altered the bio-oil structure by increasing the aliphatics and reducing the asphaltenes. Moreover, steam treatment also increases H/C and heating value of bio-oils. According to the obtained results, steam pyrolysis is an alternative option for future applications in refineries.