Early-stage screening for heat tolerance in cotton

WOS: 000368810000011The study aimed to identify early-stage traits of cotton for heat tolerance using multitrait approach reflecting field yield performance. Seedling growth and physiological response of 16 cultivars to high temperature were investigated at three different developmental stages and four heat stress conditions in a climate chamber. Some traits such as hypocotyl dry weight, leaf pigment contents and cellular respiration were significantly correlated with previously known yield of ten cultivars grown in the hot field conditions. Sixteen cotton cultivars were classified for their heat tolerance by principle component analysis (PCA) using yield-correlated physiological traits. As a result, we showed that heat tolerance classification of cultivars based on PCA significantly coincided with the yield results of cultivars grown in hot field. As a conclusion, yield-correlated physiological traits determined in the study may facilitate selection of heat-tolerant cotton genotypes at early stage. In addition, yield-correlated early-stage traits can be used in phenotyping for QTL and association mapping studies to develop selection markers for heat tolerance.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [110O228]The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Project No. 110O228. Gratitude is extended to Dr. Zahide Neslihan Ozturk, Prof. Sedat Serce, Dr. Mustafa Ozden and Dr. Allah Bakhsh for critical reading of the manuscript, excellent suggestions and scientific discussing during writing the manuscript. We also thank Mehmet Vedat Ipek and Orhan Gazi Kaya for technical assistance during laboratory experiments

Irrigation and Yield Parameters of Soybean as Effected by Irrigation Management, Soil Compaction and Nitrogen Fertilizationy

Irrigation parameters (reference crop evapotranspiration, actual plant water use, amount of irrigation water, water use efficiency, irrigation water use efficiency, plant water consumption coefficient, variations in soil moisture based on plant water consumption-amount of irrigation water) and yield parameters (seed yield, 1000-kernel weight, harvest index) were investigated for soybean grown in Harran Plain under conventional every-furrow and alternate-furrow irrigation management systems, three different compaction levels (control without compaction, low compaction, high compaction) and three different nitrogen levels (6, 9, 12 kg da(-1)). Experiments were carried out during 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons in Sanliurfa, Turkey in split-split plots experimental design with 3 replications. Irrigation program was created by KanSched simulation model. The amount of applied irrigation water in conventional and alternate furrow systems in 2006 and 2007 were measured as 435.61 and 291.59 mm, and 429.51 and 271.72 mm, respectively. ET values decreased with increasing compaction levels. The highest ET value (568 mm) was observed in non-compacted control treatment and the lowest value (240 mm) in high-compaction treatment. Irrigation water use efficiency increased with decreased irrigation water and the values were higher than water use efficiencies. While the highest yield (94.78 kg da(-1)) was observed in control treatment of the year 2006, conventional furrow system had the highest yield (209.93 kg da(-1)) in the year 2007. While effects of compaction and irrigation on harvest index were insignificant, nitrogen doses were found to be significant. Results revealed that KanSched irrigation model could be used for irrigation scheduling but plant coefficients to be used in the model should be determined properly based on climate conditions. Negative impacts of soil compaction in agricultural fields due to traffic and various other reasons can be eliminated with proper irrigation and fertilization implementations. However, yield losses at high-compaction levels may reach up to 45%

Energy use pattern and cost analysis of cotton agriculture: A case study for Sanliurfa, Turkey

This survey was conducted to determine the energy use pattern and economic analysis of cotton farming in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (SEAP) areas in Turkey. Data were obtained through a questionnaire sent to 40 cotton producers from the different villages of Sanliurfa, Turkey which is the most important cotton province of the SEAR Basic operational data were measured by using a computer-based data acquisition system. Total energy input, total energy output, output/input ratio and net energy ratio were 37.910, 95.800, 2.52 and 1.532 MJ ha(-1), respectively. The highest contribution to the total energy consumption came from fuel and oil energy input at 10.417 MJ ha(-1). However, the lowest contribution to total energy consumption came from bund making at 99,6 MJ ha(-1)

Comparison of Incidence and Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers in the Pre- vaccination and Post-vaccination Periods: A Real-world Impact Study

Aim: Real-life data on the effect of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is limited. We aimed to compare the incidence of COVID-19 among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the pre-vaccination and post-vaccination periods during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify associated factors for COVID-19 development.Methods: In this single-center and cross-sectional study, HCWs employed in a tertiary care hospital were included. Pre-vaccination (14 October, 2020 and 14 January, 2021) and post-vaccination periods (1 March, 2021 and 1 June, 2021) were compared. A subgroup analysis was performed on HCWs without a previous history of COVID-19. Additionally, univariate regression analysis of COVID-19 development in the post-vaccination period was performed.Results: Of 2,922 HCWs, 2,096 (71.7%) were vaccinated. The incidence of COVID-19 was higher in the pre-vaccination period (16.3%) than in the post-vaccination (6.6%) (p<0.01). In the subgroup analysis, the incidence of COVID-19 was 16.6% in the pre-vaccination period and 8.1% in the post-vaccination period (p<0.01). Previous history of COVID-19 (p<0.01) and double-dose vaccination (p<0.01) were associated with a decreased risk of COVID-19 development.Conclusion: This study demonstrates the real-life impact of COVID-19 vaccination in reducing disease development and preventing poor clinical outcomes in a setting where the vaccination rate among HCWs was fairly low

Effect of mazEF, higBA and relBE toxin-antitoxin systems on antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus isolates

SANDALLI, Cemal/0000-0002-1298-3687WOS: 000455275200003PubMed: 30627331Background A toxin-antitoxin (TA) system is a set of two or more closely linked genes that are encoded as a poison and a corresponding antidote on a protein. in typical bacterial physiology, an antitoxin binds to a toxin and neutralizes it, which prevents the bacterium from killing itself. We aimed to determine whether P.aeruginosa and Staphylococcus isolates have TA genes and to investigate whether there is a relationship between the expression levels of TA genes and resistance to antibiotics. Methods This study included 92 P. aeruginosa and 148 Staphylococcus isolates. RelBE, higBA genes were investigated in P.aeruginosa by multiplex polyrnerase chain reaction (PCR). the mazEF gene and the all TA genes expression were detected by real time PCR. Results RelBE and higBA genes were detected in 100% of P. aeruginosa. It was found that the level of relBE TA gene expression is increased in isolates sensitive to aztreonam compared to resistant isolates (p0.05) whereas there was a significant difference between MSSA and coagulase-negative Stap,Vomccar (CNS) isolates, MRSA and CNS isolates (p<0.05). the levels of mazEF gene expression were found to be higher in isolates sensitive to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, clindamycin, phosphomycine, nitrofurantoin, fusidic acid, cefoxitin compared to resistant isolates (p<0.05). Conclusion Studies on the prevalence and functionality of TA systems emphasize that it may be possible to have new sensitive regions in bacteria by activating TA systems. the results of this study lead to the idea that resistance to antibiotics can be reduced by increasing TA gene expression levels. But there is need for further studies to support and develop this issue.Gaziosmanpasa UniversityGaziosmanpasa University [BAP-2015/25]This work was supported by Gaziosmanpasa University Research Fund Grants (BAP-2015/25)

Carriage of Class 1 and 2 Integrons in Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Clinical Specimens and a Novel Gene Cassette Array: bla(OXA-11)-cmlA7

SANDALLI, Cemal/0000-0002-1298-3687WOS: 000332131600005PubMed: 24506715The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria leads to serious problems in the treatment of infectious diseases. It has been shown that resistance genes can also be carried by the integrons. There are limited studies regarding the carriage of class 1 and 2 integrons in Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical strains in Turkey. the aims of this study were to investigate the carriage rates of class 1 and class 2 integrons in A.baumannii and P.aeruginosa strains isolated from clinical samples in Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, and to characterize the antibiotic resistance gene cassettes in these integrons by sequence analyses. A total of 137 strains (77 A.baumannii and 60 P.aeruginosa) isolated from various clinical specimens (56% were sputum, 19% wound, 11% urine, 11% blood, 3% catheter), between March 2010-December 2012, were included in the study. the identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests of the isolates were performed by Vitek 2 Compact (bioMerieux, France) and BD Phoenix 100 (Becton Dickinson, USA) systems. the presence of integrons were screened by PCR method using specific primer pairs targeting class 1 (intil1) and 2 (intl2) integrase regions. All the samples that revealed integron amplification were subjected to DNA sequence analysis, both in the forms of cloned products and PCR amplicons. in the study, the highest susceptibility rates were found against colistin (96%) and tigecycline (78%) in A.baumannii, and against piperacillin/tazobactam (97%) and piperacillin (93%) in P.aeruginosa isolates. the highest resistance rate was determined for piperacillin/tazobactam (95%) in A.baumannii strains. the presence of intl1 gene was detected in 33% (26/77) of A.baumannii and 10% (6/60) of P.aeruginosa isolates. When variable regions in intl1 positive strains were amplified by PCR, eight (8/77, 10%) A.baumannii and three (3/60, 5%) P.aeruginosa strains were found to harbor antibiotic resistance gene cassettes. Intl2 gene was not detected in any of the isolates. Resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam, ceftazidime, cefepime, ceftriaxone and ampicillin/sulbactam was detected as the common resistance pattern in all integron-positive A.baumannii strains, whereas resistance to ceftazidime, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin was the common pattern in all integron-positive P.aeruginosa strains. DNA sequence analysis of variable regions of integrons indicated that two separate gene cassette arrays (aacC1-aadAl and aac(3)-1) were carried by A.baumannii strains, and two types of gene cassette arrays (bla(OXA-30)-aadA1 and bla(OXA-11)-cmlA7) were carried by P.aeruginosa strains. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of the gene sequence of bia(OXA-11)-cmlA7 defined in an integron gene cassette of P.aeruginosa

A Single Clone Acinetobacter baumannii Outbreak in a State Hospital in Turkey

ERTURK, AYSE/0000-0001-6413-9165WOS: 000320094900014PubMed: 23698489Acinetobacter baumannii is an important pathogen in hospitalized patients, particularly those in the intensive care unit (ICU). A total of 21 A. baumannii (6 from 5 patients and 15 from environmental samples) were isolated in the ICU and the isolation room of a state hospital in June 2011. The possible source of the outbreak was investigated. A. baumannii isolates were identified using conventional biochemical tests, BBL Crystal Identification Systems, OXA-51 specific PCR, and 16S rDNA sequencing. All the isolates were multidrug-resistant, showing resistance to cephalosporins, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, and the aminoglycoside group of antibiotics. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis suggested that all A. baumannii isolates were derived from a common source

Comparison of clinical, laboratory and radiological features in confirmed and unconfirmed COVID-19 patients

Background: We aimed to compare the clinical, laboratory and radiological findings of confirmed COVID-19 and unconfirmed patients. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective study. Results: Overall, 620 patients (338 confirmed COVID-19 and 282 unconfirmed) were included. Confirmed COVID-19 patients had higher percentages of close contact with a confirmed or probable case. In univariate analysis, the presence of myalgia and dyspnea, decreased leukocyte, neutrophil and platelet counts were best predictors for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positivity. Multivariate analyses revealed that only platelet count was an independent predictor for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positivity. Conclusion: Routine complete blood count may be helpful for distinguishing COVID-19 from other respiratory illnesses at an early stage, while PCR testing is unique for the diagnosis of COVID-19

How does working in pandemic units affect the risk of occupational hand eczema in healthcare workers during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A comparative analysis with nonpandemic units.

Background Hand eczema (HE) has increased among healthcare workers (HCWs) working in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) units, and was associated with increased hand hygiene practices

Novel biomarker-based score (SAD-60) for predicting mortality in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: a multicenter retrospective cohort of 1013 patients

Background: The aim was to explore a novel risk score to predict mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter study. Results: A total of 1013 patients with COVID-19 were included. The mean age was 60.5 +/- 14.4 years, and 581 (57.4%) patients were male. In-hospital death occurred in 124 (12.2%) patients. Multivariate analysis revealed peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2), albumin, D-dimer and age as independent predictors. The mortality score model was given the acronym SAD-60, representing SpO2, Albumin, D-dimer, age >= 60 years. The SAD-60 score (0.776) had the highest area under the curve compared with CURB-65 (0.753), NEWS2 (0.686) and qSOFA (0.628) scores. Conclusion: The SAD-60 score has a promising predictive capacity for mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19