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.     

Assessment of irrigation system sustainability using the Theil–Sen estimator of slope of time series

Agriculture, especially the irrigated sector, is the mainstay of Sudan’s economy as it accounts for 40 % of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 70 % of the workforce. The economic viability of irrigated schemes is dependent on three factors: crop yield, water management and cropped area. The research question of this study was whether or not the current status of these factors can be sustained in order to maintain the economic viability of irrigation systems? To answer this question, a new (to the best of the author’s knowledge) approach was developed based on time series analysis, and on the Theil–Sen estimator of slope. The study defined sustainability conceptually as “the ability of an irrigation system to sustain crop yields using the optimum cropped area and water consumption to realize the economic viability of the irrigation system without a decline in soil quality and environment”. Time series datasets of crop yields, cropped area and irrigation water consumption are collected routinely by statistical departments. Any abrupt years in the development of trends were detected and related to their driving forces/causes, of which climatic conditions and marketing policies were found to be the most important. The simple approach developed proved its suitability for quantifying the progress of irrigated schemes’ towards sustainability development as tested under the conditions of Gezira irrigated scheme in Sudan—the largest singly managed irrigation scheme in the world. The scheme was found to be sustainable under the condition that the crop yield is considered as the top priority; otherwise, the sustainability of the scheme is jeopardized.     

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.     

Time-varying causality between income inequality and ecological footprint in Turkey

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This paper investigates the relationship between income inequality and environmental degradation for the case of Turkey between 1987 and 2017 through...     

Impact of invasive ant species on native fauna across similar habitats under global environmental changes

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Biotic invasions can predominantly alter the dynamics, composition, functions, and structure of natural ecosystems. Social insects, particularly ants,...     

滨海软土中爆炸冲击对盾构隧道的影响研究∗

随着地下工程与城市管网的布设日益发展,在规划设计阶段往往需要考虑潜在发生的安全事故影响,确定安全距离。利用ANSYS/LS-DYNA有限元软件,结合天津滨海新区饱和软土特点,分析了可能发生的燃气管线爆炸所产生的冲击荷载对土中埋置盾构隧道的结构安全影响。运用有限元数值模拟,得到了隧道与管线的间距—隧道结构振速峰值的曲线关系;通过对标相关规范的振速限制,得到不同燃气压力下隧道—管线的安全避让距离关系。结果表明:随着燃气管道压强的增大,隧道—管线的安全避让距离呈现先增大后平稳的趋势。结论对于爆破与防护工程设计均具有重要的参考价值。     

滑坡动态变形过程的综合研究方法

影响滑坡变形破坏过程的因素具有复杂性和多变性,要合理评价和预测滑坡的动态发展过程,深入的地质原型调查是基础,地质分析不仅能为其它分析方法的正确使用提供资料,而且能直接对滑坡的变形破坏发展过程作出定性的判断。在此基础上建立力学模型,采用数学力学理论进行定量计算和反演分析,可进一步从本质上去把握滑坡变形破坏的发展规律。本文通过介绍李家峡水电站Ⅱ号滑坡的研究实践,说明了采用定性地质分析与定量力学计算相结合的研究方法揭示滑坡变形破坏动态过程的有效性。     

An Approach to Reaeration Coefficient Modeling in Local Surface Water Quality Monitoring

Reaeration coefficient (k ₂) for River Atuwara, Ogun State, Nigeria was calculated from dissolved oxygen and biochemical oxygen demand data collected over period of 3 months covering the two prevailing climatic seasons in the country. Both the Akaike and Bayesian information criteria were used in the selection and analysis of ten models to identify the most suitable reaeration coefficient (k ₂) model for Atuwara River. Models that passed the confidence limit were subjected to model evaluation using measures of agreement between observed and predicted data such as percent bias, Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, and root mean square observation standard deviation ratio. The used approach yield better results than empirical models developed for local conditions while it is also useful in conserving scarce resources.     

Mineral contents of seed and seed oils of Capparis species growing wild in Turkey

The mineral contents of seed and seed oils of Capparis species growing wild in Turkey were established by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry. Capparis spinosa var. spinosa (2010) and Capparis ovata var. canescens variety (2009) were determined to be rich in terms of mineral matter as 19,514.60 and 16,995.92 ppm as a total, respectively. C. spinosa var. spinosa collected from Mu?la-Milas region (2009) had the highest amount of Ca with 1,010.67 ppm in C. spinosa species and in C. ovata species. C. ovata var. canescens collected from Ankara-Beypazar? (2010) region had the highest amount of Ca with 833.92 ppm Ca amount in C. spinosa var. spinosa, inermis, herbaceae seeds decreased in 2010. C. spinosa var. inermis collected from Antalya-Serik (2010) in C. spinosa species had rich amount of Ca with 123.78 ppm and C. ovata var. palaestina seed oils collected from Mardin-Savur region (2009) had rich amount of Ca with 253.71 ppm in C. ovata species. The oil of C. spinosa var. herbaceae variety collected from Mardin-Midyat region (2010) was determined to have the highest major mineral matter (Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P) with 1,424.37 ppm in C. spinosa species. It was also determined that as a result, caper seed and oils were found to be important sources of nutrients and essential elements.     

Determination of some mineral contents of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) seed flours

The aim of this study was to determine some mineral contents of prickly pear (Opuntia f?cus-indica L.) seeds collected from different locations. The mineral contents of seeds were established by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. All the seeds contained Ca, K, Mg and P at high levels. Calcium content ranged between 268.5 (sample no. 11) and 674.8 ppm (sample no. 4). The level of K changed between 346.7 (sample no. 1) and 676.1 ppm (sample no. 13). Phosphorus content of seeds varied between 1,173.6 (sample no. 14) and 1,871.3 ppm (sample no. 1). It is apparent that seeds are good sources of the macro and micro minerals and can be consumed as a food ingredient to provide nutrition.