Determining the Socio-Economic Importance of Saffron as an Alternative Product to Opium Production in Afghanistan

The objective of this work is to determine the socio-economic importance of saffron production as an alternative to opium production in Afghanistan, and to determine if saffron production could influence farmers’ incomes. The primary data for the survey was obtained via direct interviews with farmers of 4 saffron leader districts in Herat, where 95% Saffron production was noted during 2016-2017. Factor analysis was used to determine the factors that influence saffron producers. Cluster analysis was used further, to separate farmer income groups. According to the first cluster, the most important factors affecting agricultural production were: negative climatic conditions while market instability was the second factor. Saffron producers’ annual average yield is 6.6 kg/ha in results that showed that if opium production is permitted, saffron farmers would produce opium due to the high revenue associated with opium production in Afghanistan

Fatty acid and conjugated linoleic acid content of Anatolian buffaloes at different muscle types and slaughter weight

This research was performed to detect tissue fatty acid (FA) composition and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in Anatolian buffaloes at different muscle types (MTs) and slaughter weights (SWs). The research was carried out on a private commercial livestock farm in Tokat. The research's animal material comprised 20 Anatolian buffalo calves with approximately 100 kg body weights, weaned at about 150 days of age. Before the experiment started, the calves were randomly divided into two slaughter groups (SW) as low weight (LW=225 kg) and high weight (HW=325 kg). Ten calves from each of the two experimental groups, which were intensively fed, were slaughtered in two different weights. After the slaughtering, FA composition and CLA content of the Semimembranosus (SM), Semitendinosus (ST), and Triceps brachii (TB) muscle tissues of the animals were examined. The study determined that palmitoleic acid (C16:1) and stearic acid (C18:0) were affected by MTs and oleic acid (C18:1) and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) were affected by SW (P 0.05). With the increase of SW (in LW and HW groups), n-6/n3 (SM: 7.783 and 6.533; ST: 8.115 and 7.859; TB: 8.416 and 8.215) (P > 0.05) and PUFA ratio decreased (P 0.05). Again, with the increase in SW, AI and TI values increased in SM and ST muscles, while the same index values decreased in TB muscle (P> 0.05). In conclusion, when considering the PUFA/SFA ratio and the beneficial effects of CLAs on human health, ST in the MT and LW groups in SW, and thus ST and LW in MT and SW were prominent in Anatolian buffaloes

Lactation curve and persistency of Anatolian buffaloes

WOS: 000360812300003The aim of this study was to determine the lactation curve traits of Anatolian buffaloes raised under different conditions in farms in Tokat Province, Turkey. Wood's gamma curve parameters were employed to identify the lactation curve types, and values for the parameters beginning yield (a), coefficient of rising (b) and coefficient of decreasing (c) were used to determine the shape and type of lactation curve. All parameters in typical lactation curves were positive, and in the event of one parameter being negative, the curve was considered to be an atypical lactation curve. A total of 690 lactation curves were investigated. It was determined that 406 (58.84%) of these curves were typical, while 90 (13.04%) were concave and 194 (28.12%) of a decreasing type. For typical lactation curves, a, b, c, persistency (S), time after parturition until the peak yield occurs (T-max), maximum daily peak yield (Y-max), and coefficient of determination (R-2) were 7.14 +/- 0.008, 0.85 +/- 2.1, 0.40 +/- 0.001, 2.68, 63.6, 6.41 and 76.33, respectively. For concave lactation curves, values for a, b, c, T-max, Y-max and R-2 were 4.94 +/- 0.42, -0.73 +/- 0.016, -0.23 +/- 0.0038, 95.40, 7.41 +/- 0.004 and 71.68, respectively. For decreasing typical lactation curves, values for a, b, c, T-max, and R-2 were 5.31 +/- 0.0041, -0.15 +/- 0.007, 0.039 +/- 0.0023, 3.89 +/- 0.11 and 79.94, respectively. Parameters predicted by the Wood model within the scope of this study have the potential of being useful for breeding programmes. Further breeding/selection activities could be conducted by using the female Anatolian buffaloes with typical lactation curves

Fatty acid profilies and some meat quality traits at different slaughter weights of Brown Swiss bulls

This research was done to detect some meat quality traits and tissue fatty acid combination of the longissimus dorsi thoracis (LT) muscle of Brown Swiss bulls at the different slaughter weights (SW). The animal material of the study comprised 20 Brown Swiss bulls. In the study, Brown Swiss bulls were divided into two groups according to their SW as low (LSW (n = 10); 431–503 kg) and high (HSW (n = 10); 504–583 kg). In the study, the LSW group showed the lowest final pH value (pHF) (5.44) (P 0.05). In the research, the differences observed between the SW groups considering a* (redness) and C (chroma) values were found significant (P 0.05). Freeze–thaw loss (FL) and ether extract (PEE) were found 4.35% and 1.01% higher, respectively, in the HSW group than the LSW group (P 0.05) in the LT muscle decreased with the increase of SW. As a result, when LSW and HSW slaughter weight groups were evaluated considering the water losses causing financial losses in meat and fatty acids having beneficial effects on human health, it was seen that the LSW group came to the fore. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V

A comparative experimental study of visual brain event-related potentials to a working memory task: virtual reality head-mounted display versus a desktop computer screen

Virtual reality head mounted display (VR HMD) systems are increasingly utilised in combination with electroencephalography (EEG) in the experimental study of cognitive tasks. The aim of our investigation was to determine the similarities/differences between VR HMD and the computer screen (CS) in response to an n-back working memory task by comparing visual electrophysiological event-related potential (ERP) waveforms (N1/P1/P3 components). The same protocol was undertaken for VR HMD and CS with participants wearing the same EEG headcap. ERP waveforms obtained with the VR HMD environment followed a similar time course to those acquired in CS. The P3 mean and peak amplitudes obtained in VR HMD were not significantly different to those obtained in CS. In contrast, the N1 component was significantly higher in mean and peak amplitudes for the VR HMD environment compared to CS at the frontal electrodes. Significantly higher P1 mean and peak amplitudes were found at the occipital region compared to the temporal for VR HMD. Our results show that successful acquisition of ERP components to a working memory task is achievable by combining VR HMD with EEG. In addition, the higher amplitude N1/P1 components seen in VR HMD indicates the potential utility of this VR modality in the investigation of early ERPs. In conclusion, the combination of VR HMD with EEG/ERP would be a useful approach to advance the study of cognitive function in experimental brain research

Data mining in higher education

Data mining is slowly but surely making its way into the educational field after dominating the business fields.  This paper focuses on the research completed in the area of data mining in the higher education sector: colleges and universities.  We will look at the different implementation of data mining and to what extent was it utilized and benefited from

THE EFFECT OF SOME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON MILK COMPOSITION OF ANATOLIAN BUFFALOES

WOS: 000413672900011The aim of this study was to determine the composition of raw milk from Anatolian water buffaloes raised under different village conditions in the Tokat province of Northern Turkey. The study materials included 600 milk samples from 120 water buffaloes raised at different farms in 12 separate villages of the Erbaa, Turhal, and Pazar counties in the Tokat Province. The dry matter, nonfat dry matter (or solid non fat), fat, protein, lactose, and casein content of the milk samples were determined. The study results demonstrated that the mean dry matter, nonfat dry matter, fat, protein, lactose, and casein content of the raw milk samples were 16.99 +/- 0.108%, 10.88 +/- 0.036%, 5.98 +/- 0.107%, 4.85 +/- 0.043%, 5.17 +/- 0,021%, and 3.61 +/- 0.036%, respectively. The study data were evaluated according to the water buffaloes' lactation stage, parity, and season by using the SPSS statistical program. It was concluded that the sampling time, parity, village conditions, stage of lactation and calving age had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the dry matter, nonfat dry matter, fat, protein, lactose, and casein content of raw milk from the Anatolian water buffalo.Ahi Evran University Scientific Research Projects Coordination UnitAhi Evran University [ZRT.E2.16.008]; General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies in Tokat provinceThis work was supported by the Ahi Evran University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit. Project Number: ZRT.E2.16.008. This study's data were obtained from the scope of the project of improvement of Anatolian buffalo in public hand supported by General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies in Tokat province. We would like to thank Tokat Water Buffalo Breeders' Association for valuable technical assistance

Comparison of diferent lactation curve models of Anatolian Bufaloes

Bu araştırmada, farklı işletme koşullarında 2011-2013 yılları arasında yetiştirilen Anadolu mandalarına ait kontrol günü süt verim kayıtları kullanılarak sekiz farklı laktasyon eğrisi modeli karşılaştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla, laktasyon eğrisinin tanımlanmasında Wood, Cobby ve Le Du, Üssel, Parabolik Üssel, Kuadratik, Ters Polinomiyal, Logaritmik Kuadratik, Logaritmik Linear modelleri kullanılmıştır. Laktasyon eğrisini en iyi tanımlayan modeli belirlemek için belirtme (R2) ve kalıntı standart sapma (KSS) katsayıları kriter olarak kullanılmıştır. En yüksek R2 ve en düşük KSS değerlerini veren Logaritmik Kuadratik ve Kuadratik modellerin en iyi uyumu gösteren modeller olduğu belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, Logaritmik Kuadratik veya Kuadratik modeller ile tahmin edilen parametrelerin ıslah çalışmalarında kullanılması, bu yönde yapılacak araştırmalara önemli katkı sağlayacaktır.In this study, eight diferent lactation curve models were compared by using test day milk yield records belonging Anatolian Bufaloes raised in diferent Farm conditions between 2011 and 2013. To identify the best lactation curve models of Wood, Cobby and Le Du, Logaritmic Quadratic, Exponential, Parabolic exponential, Quadratic, Inverse Polynomial and Logaritmic Linear mathematical functions were used. The coefficient of determination (R2) and residual standard deviation (RSD) statistics were used for determination of best fitted model in lactation curve. Logaritmic Quadratic and Quadratic functions are the best goodness of fit model as having the highest R2 and lowest RSD coefficients. As a result, the parameters are estimated by logarithmic quadratic or quadratic models, for use in breeding programs will make an important contribution to research in this field