Quercetin attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced testicular damage in rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of quercetin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced sperm damages, testicular apoptosis and oxidative stress in male rats. Group 1 served as control, group 2 was treated with only quercetin, group 3 was treated with only CCl4 and group 4 received CCl4 + quercetin. All administrations were performed by gavage and maintained for 10 weeks. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in absolute and relative reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, concentration and testicular glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities, and significant increases in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, abnormal sperm rate and testicular apoptotic cell index, along with some histopathological damages when compared to the control group. However, administration of CCl4 together with quercetin provided statistically significant improvements in LPO level, abnormal sperm rate, the degree of histopathological lesions and testicular apoptotic cell index when compared to only CCl4 group. In addition, improvements observed in absolute and relative weights of reproductive organs, sperm motility and concentration, and testicular GSH-Px and CAT activities in group 4 were statistically insignificant when compared to only CCl4 group. In conclusion, quercetin has antiperoxidative effect, and its oral administration attenuates the CCl4-induced some damages in male reproductive organs and cells by decreasing the LPO

Effectiveness of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark oil in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced damages on male reproductive system

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the likelihood of detrimental effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on male reproductive system through oxidative stress mechanism and also protective effects of cinnamon bark oil (CBO). For this purpose, 28 healthy male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, seven rats in each. Group 1 received only olive oil daily; group 2 was treated with 100 mg kg 1 CBO daily; group 3 was treated with only 0.25 ml kg 1 CCl4 weekly; and group 4 received weekly CCl4 + daily CBO. All administrations were made by intragastric catheter and maintained for 10 weeks. Body and reproductive organ weights, sperm characteristics, testicular oxidative stress markers and testicular apoptosis were examined. CCl4 administration caused significant decreases in body and reproductive organ weights, testicular catalase (CAT) activity, sperm motility and concentration, and significant increases in lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, abnormal sperm rate and apoptotic index along with some histopathological damages compared with the control group. However, significant improvements were observed in absolute weights of testis and epididymis, all sperm quality parameters, LPO level, apoptotic index and testicular histopathological structure following the administration of CCl4 together with CBO when compared to group given CCl4 only. The findings of this study clearly suggest that CBO has protective effect against damages in male reproductive organs and cells induced by CCl4

Left Atrial Function Is Improved in Short-Term Follow-Up after Catheter Ablation of Outflow Tract Premature Ventricular Complexes

Background: Association of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and efficacy of catheter ablation treatment have been demonstrated in studies. The role of left atrial (LA) mechanics in the etiopathogenesis of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CMP) as well as changes in LA mechanics with catheter ablation have not been studied before. Methods: A total number of 61 patients (Mean Age 43 ± 3) with idiopathic outflow tract (OT) PVCs undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were enrolled. ECG, 24 h Holter, and echocardiographic evaluation with left ventricular (LV) diastolic functions and LA volumetric assessments were performed before and three months after RFCA. Results: Along with a marginal increase in left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), improvement in diastolic functions and left atrial mechanics were observed in the study (LVEF 53 ± 7 versus 57 ± 6, p < 0.01) in short-term follow-up. The frequency of LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) decreased with catheter ablation (n = 5 to 0, p = 0.02). The overall LA function improved. Left atrium passive and overall emptying fraction (LAEF) increased significantly (0.32 ± 0.04 to 0.41 ± 0.04, p < 0.05 and 0.62 ± 0.04 to 0.65 ± 0.004, p < 0.05, respectively). Active LAEF decreased significantly (0.29 ± 0.005 to 0.24 ± 0.006, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study are indicative of "PVC-induced atriomyopathy" which responds to RFCA in short-term follow-up. Atrial dysfunction might play a role in symptoms and etiopathogenesis of LVSD

Domates üretiminde farklı fide yatağı hazırlığı yöntemleri ve örtü bitkisi uygulamasının verim ve hasat sonrası kalite parametrelerine etkileri

In this study, the effects of seven different tillage methods, including 2 different conventional, 2 different reduced (conservational) and 3 different direct transplanting methods on tomato yield and some post-harvest quality parameters, were compared under cover cropped and no-cover cropped conditions in industrial tomato production. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) was used as cover crop material. Disc coulter opener of the conventional transplanting machine was modified and prototypes of new rippled discs were designed in order to make successful transplanting into the direct transplanting areas covered by plant residues. According to the results, tomato yield were found higher in conventional tillage methods than the other seedling bad preparation methods both cover cropped and no-cover cropped conditions. in terms of tomato post-harvest quality parameters, direct transplanting methods had more fruit shell resistance and soluble dry material percentage (brix) than reduced and conventional tillage methods. in addition to this, tomato fruits in conventional tillage methods were found larger than in reduced and direct transplanting methods.Bu çalışmada, domates üretiminde uygulanan iki farklı geleneksel, iki farklı azaltılmış ve üç farklı doğrudan dikim yöntemi olmak üzere yedi farklı toprak işleme yönteminin, örtü bitkili ve örtü bitkisiz koşullar altında, domates verimi ve hasat sonrası bazı kalite parametreleri üzerine olan etkileri karşılaştırılmıştır. Araştırmada örtü bitkisi olarak tüylü fiğ (Vicia Villosa) kullanılmıştır. Doğrudan dikim alanlarında başarılı bir dikim yapabilmek amacıyla, geleneksel dikim makinasının çizi açıcı üniteleri modifiye edilerek, toprak yüzeyinde doğal bitki örtüsü ve örtü bitkisi artıklarının bulunduğu doğrudan dikim alanlarında çalışabilecek kertikli çizi açıcı diskler tasarlanmış ve prototipleri imal edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, domates verimi açısından geleneksel fide yatağı hazırlığı yöntemlerinin hem örtü bitkili hem de örtü bitkisiz koşullarda diğer yöntemlere göre daha iyi sonuçlar verdiği belirlenmiştir. Hasat sonrası kalite parametrelerinden meyvede kuru madde (brix) ve meyve kabuk direnci parametrelerinde doğrudan dikim yöntemleri, geleneksel ve azaltılmış toprak işleme yöntemlerine göre daha yüksek değerler sağlamıştır. Bunun yanında, meyve boyu, meyve çapı, tek meyve ağırlığı açısından da geleneksel yöntemlerin üstün olduğu görülmüştür

Effects of different seedling-bad preparations and cover crop application on yield and post-harvest quality parameters in tomato production

Bu çalışmada, domates üretiminde uygulanan iki farklı geleneksel, iki farklı azaltılmış ve üç farklı doğrudan dikim yöntemi olmak üzere yedi farklı toprak işleme yönteminin, örtü bitkili ve örtü bitkisiz koşullar altında, domates verimi ve hasat sonrası bazı kalite parametreleri üzerine olan etkileri karşılaştırılmıştır. Araştırmada örtü bitkisi olarak tüylü fiğ (Vicia Villosa) kullanılmıştır. Doğrudan dikim alanlarında başarılı bir dikim yapabilmek amacıyla, geleneksel dikim makinasının çizi açıcı üniteleri modifiye edilerek, toprak yüzeyinde doğal bitki örtüsü ve örtü bitkisi artıklarının bulunduğu doğrudan dikim alanlarında çalışabilecek kertikli çizi açıcı diskler tasarlanmış ve prototipleri imal edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, domates verimi açısından geleneksel fide yatağı hazırlığı yöntemlerinin hem örtü bitkili hem de örtü bitkisiz koşullarda diğer yöntemlere göre daha iyi sonuçlar verdiği belirlenmiştir. Hasat sonrası kalite parametrelerinden meyvede kuru madde (brix) ve meyve kabuk direnci parametrelerinde doğrudan dikim yöntemleri, geleneksel ve azaltılmış toprak işleme yöntemlerine göre daha yüksek değerler sağlamıştır. Bunun yanında, meyve boyu, meyve çapı, tek meyve ağırlığı açısından da geleneksel yöntemlerin üstün olduğu görülmüştür.In this study, the effects of seven different tillage methods, including 2 different conventional, 2 different reduced (conservational) and 3 different direct transplanting methods on tomato yield and some post-harvest quality parameters, were compared under cover cropped and no-cover cropped conditions in industrial tomato production. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) was used as cover crop material. Disc coulter opener of the conventional transplanting machine was modified and prototypes of new rippled discs were designed in order to make successful transplanting into the direct transplanting areas covered by plant residues. According to the results, tomato yield were found higher in conventional tillage methods than the other seedling bad preparation methods both cover cropped and no-cover cropped conditions. in terms of tomato post-harvest quality parameters, direct transplanting methods had more fruit shell resistance and soluble dry material percentage (brix) than reduced and conventional tillage methods. in addition to this, tomato fruits in conventional tillage methods were found larger than in reduced and direct transplanting methods

Effects of solvent mixtures on the morphology of electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane nanofibres

The effects of solvent mixtures on the electro-spinnability of the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) solutions and the morphological appearance of the electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane nanofibres were investigated qualitatively by means of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and ethylacetate (EA) were used as solvents. TPU-DMF/THF and TPU-DMF/EA solutions and the resultant nanofibres were compared to those produced by TPU-DMF system. Fibre diameters increased with the increasing THF volume fraction. At 50/50 and 40/60 DMF/THF mixtures fibres were fused to adjacent fibres and electrospinning is restricted due to low conductivity and low boiling point of the THF, and the high viscosity of the prepared solution. On the other hand, 90/10 and 80/20 DMF/EA solutions led to lower nanofibre diameters. Therefore, diluting TPU solutions with 10 or 20% of EA had positive effect on electrospun nanofibres. © 2015, Ege Universitesi. All rights reserved

Energy and exergy analysis of stenter exhaust air heat recovery system for heat-setting processes [Termofi'ksaj i'şlemleri' i'çi'n ramöz atik havasindan isi geri' kazanim si'stemi'ni'n enerji' ve ekserji' anali'zi']

Energy recovery applications are of great importance for sustainable production with regard to efficient use of natural sources. Textile finishing processes generates large amount of waste energy. Recovery of this waste energy provides both economic and environmental benefits. In the scope of this study, heat recovery from the exhaust air of textile stenters was analysed. Process water is heated by the exhaust air of thermosetting process in an industrial scale heat recovery system retrofitted to a stenter. Thermodynamic model of the system was presented by energy and exergy analyses. Mass flow rate of water was observed to be the most significant parameter that affects the temperature of water outlet. 70-75 °C water outlet temperatures can be obtained at lower waste water mass flow rates. Decrease in the mass flow rate of water led to decrease in exergy destruction and increase in exergy efficiency. Exergy efficiency of the system was calculated between 10% and 30% depending on the mass flow rate of water