The Effect of Priming Treatments on Germination and Seedling Performance of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Seed Lots

This study was conducted to test the effect of a priming combination on the seed germination percentage and seedling emergence performance of purslane under climate chamber and field conditions. Four purslane seed lots were treated according five different methods, which were T1: Seeds kept at a hundred percent relative humidity for four hours at 20 °C; T2: Seeds kept at a hundred percent relative humidity for four hours at 20 °C, and then soaked in distilled water for 8 hours at 5 °C; T3: Seeds kept at a hundred percent relative humidity for four hours at 20 °C, and then soaked in distilled water for 8 hours at 20 °C; T4: Seeds soaked in distilled water for 8 hours at 5 °C; T5: Seeds soaked in distilled water for 8 hours at 20 °C; and C: Control (untreated). Seed germination was calculated for 14 days at 20 °C, seedling emergence percentages were calculated in the climatically-controlled chamber for 21 days at 22 °C, and in the field for 35 days at 15-25 °C. The highest seed germination (94%) and seedling emergence in the climatically-controlled chamber (87%) and field (82%) were obtained from seeds that had been kept at a hundred percent relative humidity for four hours at 20 °C, then soaked in distilled water for eight hours at 5 °C. Results indicated that farm-priming, can be an efficient priming method in purslane seeds

Radicle Emergence Test Estimates Predictions of Percentage Normal Seedlings in Standard Germination Tests of Aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) Seed Lots

An experiment was made to test the potential for radicle emergence (RE), and predict the germination percentage of normal seedlings both at constant (25 °C) and fluctuating (20/30 °C, 16 h/8 h) temperatures for 23 commercially available Thiram treated and untreated aubergine (Solanum melongena L.) seed lots. Frequent counts of RE at 96, 104, 112, 120, 128 and 136 hours in two different temperature regimes (constant and alternating) consistently predicted final normal germination after 14 days. The R2 values at fluctuating temperatures (R2=0.69 and 0.88, p < 0.001) were generally higher than those at a constant (R2=0.60-0.63, p < 0.01) temperature. Among the 23 seed lots, nine were Thiram threated. The R2 relationship in both temperature regimes were reduced (for Thiram-threated seed lots ranging between R2=0.60-0.79 at 25°C and 20/30°C respectively, and for untreated lots ranging between R2=0.68-0.91 at 25 °C and 20/30°C, respectively). Cumulative germination was slightly higher in the lots kept at fluctuating temperatures than in those kept at a constant temperature. The results showed that the RE test (i.e. 104 h count) can be used to make quick and repeatable predictions of the percentage of normal seedlings in aubergine lots. Moreover it was also significantly related to mean germination time (MGT) values at constant (R2= 0.769, p < 0.001) and alternating temperatures (R2= 0.861, p < 0.001)

Examining the Relationship Among Economic Growth, Exports and Total Productivity for OECD Countries Using Data Envelopment Analysis and Panel Data Analyses

The main objective of this paper is to explore the relationship between Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and economic growth and exports for OECD countries for the sample period 1990-2013. For this purpose, firstly, TFP values were calculated using data envelopment analysis (DEA) for the corresponding countries within the availability of their labor force and fixed capital formation data for the relevant sample period. Secondly, several panel data analyses were performed to determine the impact of TFP values on economic growth and exports of OECD countries. Consequently, results reveal a statistically significant positive impact of TFP on both economic growth and exports for OECD countries

Critical Success factors for Six Sigma Implementation in Gaziantep Carpet companies

Aim of this study was to determine the critical factors that will support the success of the six sigma implementation and to investigate the different obstacles that make difficult to implement Six Sigma (SS) in the Gaziantep Carpet companies. Survey data collected from 108 companies that chosen randomly around Gaziantep and analyzed by SPSS. The research concluded that the highest requirements of SS available were Top management support and commitment that according to previous literature of the most important requirements or factors. According to the results of research, the teamwork and employee training & education on Six Sigma (SS) are the most critical factors for SS success. Also, there are important factors about implementing SS such as effectiveness of communication on SS Program, support and involvement of Top management, changing the culture effectively for SS and Project Management Skills. Research results have shown that; Lack of project management, lack of resources and lack of involvement in management are the most common problems in the SS implementation. A large amount of companies does not show resistance to the implementation of SS. Key Words: Six Sigma, Critical Success Factors, continuous improvemen

The relationship between tax revenue and economic development in Turkey: Frequency domain causality analysis

Çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’de 1975-2013 dönemine ait yıllık verilerle vergi gelirleri ile kalkınma arasındaki ilişkinin varlığını araştırmakla beraber söz konusu ilişkinin yönünü farklı ekonometrik testlerle analiz etmektir. Hacker ve Hatemi nedensellik testi bulgularına göre, dolaylı vergi gelirlerinden kalkınmaya doğru tek yönlü; Breitung ve Caldelon frekans alanı nedensellik testi ise toplam vergi gelirlerinden kalkınmaya, dolaysız vergi gelirlerinden kalkınmaya ve kalkınmadan dolaylı vergi gelirlerine doğru tek yönlü ilişkiler tespit edilmiştir.The aim of the study is to investigate the existence of the relationship between tax revenues and development in Turkey for the period 1975-2013 and analyze the direction of the relationship with different econometric tests. According to Hacker and Hatemi causality test findings, unilateal relationship were observed towars development from indirect tax revenues, The Breitung and Caldelon frequency domain causality test, however, it was ascertained unilateal relationships towards development from total tax revenues; and towards development from direct tax revenues; and there also is unilateal relationship towards indirect tax revenues from development

Causation between energy consumption and climate change in the countries with the highest global climate risk

The study aims to examine if there is causation between "energy consumption" and "climate change" through the data of ten countries with the highest Climate Risk Index (CRI) scores. The ten highest CRI score countries include Puerto Rico, Myanmar, Haiti, Philippines, Mozambique, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, and Nepal. The annual data for the years 2005-2019 was used because of the data constraints. CRI is selected as the dependent variable. As for the independent variables, the ratios of the energy consumption of the key sectors indicated by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to the total energy consumption are chosen. These key sectors in energy consumption are industry (IND), transportation (TRA), trade and public services (TPS), and housing (HOU). Economic growth (EG), which is one of the main factors affecting climate change in the literature, is included in the model as the control variable. According to the results of the Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality test, there is one-way causality from transportation towards CRI, but not any causality between others. It is evaluated that since the transportation sector is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, it has a strong effect on the amount of CO2 emissions and a significant determining role on climate change

Does country-level governance matter for national development? An analysis on the founding states of Turkic council

This study aims to examine if there is a long-term relationship between the participation of 'country-level governance' and 'national development' through the data of founding countries of the Cooperation Council of Turkish Speaking States (Turkic Council)? The hypothesis of there is a significant long-term relationship between country-level governance and national development was tested via the panel data analysis of four Turkic countries: Azerbaijan, Kirgizstan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. The compounds of the 'Worldwide Governance Indicators' were used as the independent variable, and 'Human Development Index' as the dependent variable. A Panel Causation Test was conducted to investigate if there are long-term co-integration and causation between country-level governance and national development. Our results found that there is significant causation between the country-level governance indicators of 'Voice and Accountability' and 'Government Effectiveness' with the 'national development' process. Thus, our findings will contribute to both academics who study the effects of governance on development and to policymakers who utilize these sources for improved political and social development with the aim to prevent poverty and improve access to basic human needs

Longevity of organic pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seeds

This study was carried out to determine seed longevity in organic and conventionally produced pepper seeds from four different pepper cultivars. Seeds were stored at 20± 2 oC with 7.5±0.5 seed moisture over 48 months. Longevity of seeds were evaluated with Ki (initial seed quality), P50 (half-viability period), σ (standard deviation of distribution of seed deaths in time), and regression coefficient values. The highest longevity was observed in ‘Corbaci’ and ‘Yaglik’ cultivars, while ‘Surmeli’ and ‘K. Dolma’ were found to have shorter longevity. P50 was 43.4 and 40.2 months for ‘Corbacı’ and 34.9 and 39.7 months for ‘Yaglık’ organic and conventional cultivars, respectively, whereas it was about 21.4 and 23.7 months in ‘K. Dolma’ and ‘Surmeli’ cultivars. Similarly, the highest σ and regression coefficient values were observed for ‘Corbaci’ and the lowest for ‘Surmeli’ cultivars. Organic and conventional pepper seed longevity was not different in the same species. Regression coefficient values were 0.043 in organic and 0.046 in conventional seeds for ‘Corbaci’. Very close values were found between the two production systems for the other cultivars too. Results indicate that organic seeds had similar longevity to conventional ones. The main differences originated from the cultivars, not from the production system

Effect of mentha piperita (peppermint) extract and its juice on egg quality traits during different storage time in laying hens

Yumurtacı tavuklarda bitkilerin ve bitkisel ürünlerin kullanımının performans ve taze yumurta kalitesine etkileri üzerine çalışmalar yapılmış olmasına rağmen depolama kalitesine üzerine etkileri hakkında oldukça sınırlı bilgi mevcuttur. Çalışma; Mentha Piperitaekstraktının ve özsuyunun sırasıyla yem ve su katkısı olarak kullanılmasının farklı depolama sürelerinde yumurta kalitesine etkisini araştırmak amacıyla planlanmıştır. Çalışmanın hayvan materyalini 252 Babcock ırkı yumurta tavuğu teşkil etmiştir. Hayvanlar 7 ana gruba ve devamında 4 alt gruba ayrılmış ve her alt grup 9 hayvandan oluşmuştur. A Grubu rasyonunda herhangi bir katkı kullanılmamış ve kontrol grubu olarak belirlenmiştir. B, C ve D grupları sırasıyla nane ekstraktını 50, 100 ve 200 mg/kg dozlarında yem katkısı olarak; E, F ve G grupları ise aynı dozlarda nane özsuyunu içme suyu katkısı olarak tüketmişlerdir. Çalışma sonunda (56 gün) 252 yumurta (her gruptan 36 yumurta olmak üzere) rastgele olarak toplanmıştır. 84 adet yumurta depolama öncesi analiz edilmiş, diğer örnekler +4°C’de depolanmıştır. Depolanan yumurtalardan 84 tanesinin analizleri depolamanın 15 gününde, geri kalan 84 yumurtanın ise analizleri depolamanın 30 gününde yapılmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda yumurta kalite parametrelerinden yumurta kabuğu kırılma mukavemeti, yumurta sarısı rengi, haugh birimi ve yumurta ağırlığı, farklı depolama sürelerinde gruplar arasında istatistiksel farklılık (P>0.05) göstermemiştir.Much focus has been given on the use of herbs and herbal products to improve performance and to some extent the quality in freshly laid eggs but limited data are available regarding the impact of herbs on storage quality of eggs. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of Mentha Piperita oil and mentha juice in feed and drinking water respectively, on egg quality traits in laying hens at different storage intervals. A total of 252 Babcock laying hens were divided into 7 groups and each group was further divided into 4 subgroups having 9 hens in each. Group A served as a control. Group A was fed basal diet without any supplementation. Group B, C and D were offered diets supplemented with mentha extract @ 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of feed while groups E, F and G diets were having same doses of mentha juice in drinking water. At the end of the study (56 days), a total of 252 eggs (36 eggs from each group) were collected randomly. 84 eggs were analyzed at zero day of storage while other eggs were stored at 4°C temperature. Among these eggs, 84 were analyzed after 15 days and remaining 84 after 30 days of storage. The results revealed that egg quality traits like egg shell breaking strength (ESBS), yolk color (YC), haugh unit (HU) and egg weight showed non-significant difference (P>0.05) among all the groups at different storage intervals