Indoor airborne fungal pollution in newborn units in Turkey

Pathogenic and/or opportunistic fungal species are major causes of nosocomial infections, especially in controlled environments where immunocompromised patients are hospitalized. Indoor fungal contamination in hospital air is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects. Regular determination of fungal spore counts in controlled hospital environments may help reduce the risk of fungal infections. Because infants have inchoate immune systems, they are given immunocompromised patient status. The aim of the present study was to evaluate culturable airborne fungi in the air of hospital newborn units in the Thrace, Marmara, Aegean, and Central Anatolia regions of Turkey. A total of 108 air samples were collected seasonally from newborn units in July 2012, October 2012, January 2013, and April 2013 by using an air sampler and dichloran 18% glycerol agar (DG18) as isolation media. We obtained 2593 fungal colonies comprising 370 fungal isolates representing 109 species of 28 genera, which were identified through multi-loci gene sequencing. Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Talaromyces, and Alternaria were the most abundant genera identified (35.14, 25.40, 17.57, 2.70, and 6.22% of the total, respectively).     

Bioenergy production from diluted poultry manure and microbial consortium inside Anaerobic Sludge Bed Reactor at sub-mesophilic conditions

In this study, anaerobic treatability of diluted chicken manure (with an influent feed ratio of 1 kg of fresh chicken manure to 6 L of tap water) was investigated in a lab-scale anaerobic sludge bed (ASB) reactor inoculated with granular seed sludge. The ASB reactor was operated at ambient temperature (17–25°C) in order to avoid the need of external heating up to higher operating temperatures (e.g., up to 35°C for mesophilic digestion). Since heat requirement for raising the temperature of incoming feed for digestion is eliminated, energy recovery from anaerobic treatment of chicken manure could be realized with less operating costs. Average biogas production rates were calculated ca. 210 and 242 L per kg of organic matter removed from the ASB reactor at average hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 13 and 8.6 days, respectively. Moreover, average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of ca. 89% was observed with suspended solids removal more than 97% from the effluent of the ASB reactor. Influent ammonia, on the other hand, did not indicate any free ammonia inhibition due to dilution of the raw manure while pH and alkalinity results showed stability during the study. Microbial quantification results indicated that as the number of bacterial community decreased, the amount of Archaea increased through the effective digestion volume of the ASB reactor. Moreover, the number of methanogens displayed an uptrend like archaeal community and a strong correlation (?0.645) was found between methanogenic community and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration especially acetate.     

Assessing different sources of uncertainty in hydrological projections of high and low flows: case study for Omerli Basin,Istanbul, Turkey

This study investigates the assessment of uncertainty contribution in projected changes of high and low flows from parameterization of a hydrological model and inputs of ensemble regional climate models (RCM). An ensemble of climate projections including 15 global circulation model (GCM)/RCM combinations and two bias corrections (change factor (CF) and bias correction in mean (BC)) was used to generate streamflow series for a reference and future period using the Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning (HBV) model with the 25 best-fit parameter sets based on four objective functions. The occurrence time of high flows is also assessed through seasonality index calculation. Results indicated that the inputs of hydrological model from ensemble climate models accounts for greater contribution to the uncertainty related to projected changes in high flows comparing to the contribution from hydrological model parameterization. However, the uncertainty contribution is opposite for low flows, particularly for CF method. Both CF and BC increases the total mean variance of high and low flows. The variability in the occurrence time of high flows through RCMs is greater than the variability resulted from hydrological model parameters with and without statistical downscaling. The CF provides more accurate timing than BC and it shows the most pronounced changes in flood seasonality.     

Effects of azadirachtin on Beet soilborne pomovirus and soil biological properties on sugar beet

Beet soilborne pomovirus (BSBV) is an important soilborne virus disease in growing areas of sugar beet. BSBV was transmitted by Polymyxa betae Keskin. Effects of azadirachtin on BSBV and soil biological properties were studied under a greenhouse. The presence of BSBV was tested in soil samples using bait plant test and triple antibody sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA). The concentration of BSBV in sugar beet roots was significantly reduced by the application of azadirachtin to the soils. TAS-ELISA absorption values in 1.52, 3.04, and 7.60 ppm were lower than that 0.38 and 0.76 ppm of azadirachtin. Furthermore, in this study, it was determined the 0.38, 0.76, and 1.52 ppm doses of azadirachtin in soils had high amounts of soil biological properties (Cmic, BSR, DHA), while the 3.04 and 7.60 ppm doses had no statistical significance compared to the control treatments.     

Comparative thermodynamic performance analysis of a cascade system for cooling and heating applications

In this study, a comparative thermodynamic performance analysis of cascade system (CCS) for cooling and heating applications is presented and compared for different refrigerant couples. The CCS consists of the low-temperature cycle (LTC) and high-temperature cycle (HTC). The CO₂ was used as working fluid in LTC, whereas the HFE 7000, R134a, R152a, R32, R1234yf, and R365mfc refrigerants were used in HTC. The heating and cooling coefficients of performance (COP_ht, COP_cl) and exergy efficiency of CCS are investigated parametrically according to various factors such as the evaporator, condenser, and reference temperatures. After thermodynamic analyses are completed, the COP_cl of CCS is obtained as 1.802, 1.806, 1.826, 1.769, 1.777, and 1.835 for CO₂-HFE7000, CO₂-R134a, CO₂-R152a, CO₂-R32, CO₂-R1234yf, and CO₂-365mfc refrigerant couples, respectively. Furthermore, the heat exchanger has the highest exergy destruction rate, whereas the expansion valves have the lowest of exergy destruction rate.     

Taxonomy of oxalotrophic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Methylobacterium</Emphasis> strains

Most of the oxalotrophic bacteria are facultative methylotrophs and play important ecological roles in soil fertility and cycling of elements. This study gives a detailed picture of the taxonomy and diversity of these bacteria and provides new information about the taxonomical variability within the genus Methylobacterium. Twelve mesophilic, pink-pigmented, and facultatively methylotrophic oxalate-oxidizing strains were included in this work that had been previously isolated from the soil and some plant tissues by the potassium oxalate enrichment method. The isolates were characterized using biochemical tests, cellular lipid profiles, spectral characteristics of carotenoid pigments, G+C content of the DNA, and 16S rDNA sequencing. The taxonomic similarities among the strains were analyzed using the simple matching (S _SM) and Jaccard (S _J) coefficients, and the UPGMA clustering algorithm. The phylogenetic position of the strains was inferred by the neighbor-joining method on the basis of the 16S rDNA sequences. All isolates were Gram-negative, facultatively methylotrophic, oxidase and catalase positive, and required no growth factors. Based on the results of numerical taxonomy, the strains formed four closely related clusters sharing ≥85% similarity. Analysis of the 16S rDNA sequences demonstrated that oxalotrophic, pink-pigmented, and facultatively methylotrophic strains could be identified as members of the genus Methylobacterium. Except for M. variabile and M. aquaticum, all of the Methylobacterium type strains tested had the ability of oxalate utilization. Our results indicate that the capability of oxalate utilization seems to be an uncommon trait and could be used as a valuable taxonomic criterion for differentiation of Methylobacterium species.     

Investigation of acute toxicity of cadmium chloride (CdCl2 . H2O) metal salt and behavioral changes it causes on water frog (Rana ridibunda Pallas, 1771)

The 96-h LC(50) value of cadmium chloride (CdCl(2).H(2)O), a metal salt widely used in industry, was determined in the water frog (Rana ridibunda Pallas, 1771). The experiments were conducted in two series and a total of 140 frogs were used to determine acute toxicity. In addition, behavioral changes in the water frog were determined for each cadmium chloride concentration. Data obtained from the cadmium chloride investigation were evaluated by using the probit analysis statistical method and the 96 h LC(50) value for water frog was estimated to be 51.2 mg/l.     

Genetic Algorithm Usage in Water Quality Monitoring Networks Optimization in Gediz (Turkey) River Basin

Selection procedure of the optimum station combination for decreasing the station number from 33 to 14 in water quality monitoring network of Gediz river basin was applied using an optimization method. Gediz basin is one of the important basins and it covers 2.3% of the total surface area of Turkey. The technique includes two stages as the data preparation and the optimization. In the data preparation stage, firstly, alternative station combinations decreased and then station combination scores obtained from assigned selection criteria for point and nonpoint pollution management objectives. Finally, genetic algorithm applied to select the best combination. The results were compared with a prior solution that used dynamic programming as the optimization technique.     

Investigation of acute toxicity and the effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl2 . H2O) metal salt on behavior of the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

In this study 96-h LC50 value of cadmium chloride (CdCl2 . H2O), a metal salt widely used in industry, was determined for the guppy (Poecilia reticulata, Pallas, 1859). The experiments were planned in four series of a total of 440 guppies employing the static test method of acute toxicity. 10 fish were placed in each replicate of each dose. The experiments were performed as four replicates, and behavioral changes in the guppy were determined for each cadmium chloride metal salt concentration. The data obtained were statistically evaluated by the use of EPA computer program based on Finney's Probit Analysis Method and a 96-h LC50 value for P. reticulata was found to be 30.4 mg/l in a static bioassay test system. This value was estimated to be 30.6 mg/l with Behrens-Karber's method. The two methods were in good agreement. 95% lower and upper confidence limits for the LC50 were 29.3 and 31.7 mg/l, respectively. The water temperature was kept between 21 and 23 degrees C. The behavioral changes observed in fish were, swimming in imbalanced manner, capsizing, attaching to the surface, difficulty in breathing and gathering around the ventilation filter.     

Polymer Supported Calix[4]Arene Derivatives for the Extraction of Metals and Dichromate Anions

Three newly synthesized polymer supported calix[4]arene ionophores (7–9) were synthesized, and their ion binding properties toward selected alkali (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺) and transition metal (Hg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺) cations were investigated. It has been observed that these ionophores are not selective toward a particular metal cation but show better ion binding property as compared to monomeric calixarene derivatives (2 and 6). Ionophore 6 and its supported polymer were also employed in dichromate anion extraction experiments. The polymeric ionophore (9) was found an effective extractant for dichromate anion even at pH 7.