Cotton in the new millennium: advances, economics, perceptions and problems

Cotton is the most significant natural fibre and has been a preferred choice of the textile industry and consumers since the industrial revolution began. The share of man-made fibres, both regenerated and synthetic fibres, has grown considerably in recent times but cotton production has also been on the rise and accounts for about half of the fibres used for apparel and textile goods. To cotton’s advantage, the premium attached to the presence of cotton fibre and the general positive consumer perception is well established, however, compared to commodity man-made fibres and high performance fibres, cotton has limitations in terms of its mechanical properties but can help to overcome moisture management issues that arise with performance apparel during active wear. This issue of Textile Progress aims to: i. Report on advances in cotton cultivation and processing as well as improvements to conventional cotton cultivation and ginning. The processing of cotton in the textile industry from fibre to finished fabric, cotton and its blends, and their applications in technical textiles are also covered. ii. Explore the economic impact of cotton in different parts of the world including an overview of global cotton trade. iii. Examine the environmental perception of cotton fibre and efforts in organic and genetically-modified (GM) cotton production. The topic of naturally-coloured cotton, post-consumer waste is covered and the environmental impacts of cotton cultivation and processing are discussed. Hazardous effects of cultivation, such as the extensive use of pesticides, insecticides and irrigation with fresh water, and consequences of the use of GM cotton and cotton fibres in general on the climate are summarised and the effects of cotton processing on workers are addressed. The potential hazards during cotton cultivation, processing and use are also included. iv. Examine how the properties of cotton textiles can be enhanced, for example, by improving wrinkle recovery and reducing the flammability of cotton fibre

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Aeromonas strains isolated from drinking water samples in Istanbul, Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the resistance patterns of Aeromonas spp. in drinking water in Istanbul, Turkey. We investigated a total of 1,680 drinking water samples ( 840 tap water and 840 domestic water tank samples) for Aeromonas strains between June 2002 and October 2005. A total of 147 Aeromonas strains were isolated from 49 (6%) of 840 tap water samples and from 98 ( 12%) of 840 domestic water tank samples. Antibiotic susceptibility of Aeromonas strains was determined by the disc diffusion method, according to the CLSI ( Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute) recommendation. Among the 147 Aeromonas strains, the prevalence was: A. hydrophila 68 ( 46%), A. sobria 50 ( 34%), A. caviae 11 ( 8%), A. salmonicida 9 ( 6%), A. veronii 5 ( 3%) and A. jandaei 4 ( 3%). Approximately 55% of the strains were resistant to ampicillin, 48% to erythromycin, 41% to amoxicillin- clavulanic acid, 28% to ceftazidime, 27% to cefoxitin, 26% to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, 22% to piperacillin, 14% to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 12% to tetracycline, 11% to aztreonam, 8% to meropenem, 6% to imipenem, 2% to nalidixic acid, 1% to ciprofloxacin, tobramycin and gentamicin. None of the strains were resistant to amikacin and netilmicin. In conclusion, Aeromonas spp. iso-lated from drinking water in Istanbul have a resistance potential and the antibiotic resistance rates of A. hydrophila, A. sobria and A. caviae were usually higher than those of other Aeromonas strains. It should be kept in mind that these microorganisms in drinking water might be a potential risk for public health. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Base

Value of lymph node biopsy in the diagnosis of acquired toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmic lymphadenitis generally involves a solitary lymph node in the head and neck regions, without systemic symptoms. In order to determine the frequency of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis, we reviewed the histological sections of 731 consecutive patients with reactive lymph node hyperplasia. Amongst 731 patients, 112 had histological features supporting a diagnosis of toxoplasmic lymphadenitis (15.3 per cent). In 80 of these patients (71 per cent), either Indirect Haemaglutination test (IHA), in 37 cases, or the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for detecting toxoplasmic IgG or IgM antibodies, in 43 cases, were performed. In 76 out of 80 patients (95 per cent), histological features correlated well with serological studies. The IHA test was positive in 30 patients with a titre of 1/64 or higher. The IgG-ELISA test was positive in 11 whereas the IgM-ELISA test was positive in 28 patients. These results provide further evidence of the distinctive nature of the histological changes in toxoplasmic lymphadenitis, which should enable the clinician to make a confident diagnosis of acute acquired toxoplasmosis

Effects of brassinosteroid on cotton regeneration via somatic embryogenesis

Brassinolide (BR), which is the most biologically active brassinosteroid, was used to examine the potential effect of hormone on cotton somatic embryogenesis. Ten-day-old cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L, cv. Cooker) seedlings were used for explant source and hypocotyls were removed and cultured on MS basal medium with 135 vitamins supplemented with 1 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine + 0.5 mg/L kinetin for callus induction. After one month proliferating calli pieces were collected and cultured on MS basal medium containing various concentrations of BR (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 AM) with their controls. BR treatments were negatively effective on the fresh weight of calli when compared to control. Differential somatic embryogenesis maturation rates due to BR treatment were observed. Somatic embryogenesis was stimulated especially for transition to cotyledonary phase at 0.5 mg/L BR. Histological preparations from embryogenic calli and somatic embryos at different stages of development revealed the spontaneous polyploidisation during early somatic embryogenesis on BR-treated calli. Present results suggest that BR negatively effected calli growth, however, had a stimulating role in maturation of somatic embryos

Sanal Tasarlama Studyosu deneyiminin ardindan: Tasarlama Studyosunda Iletisim ve Degisim (The Communication and Change: After the experience of virtual design studio)

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Direct and indirect plant regeneration from various explants of eastern cottonwood clones (Populus deltoides Bartram ex Marsh.) with tissue culture

Populus species are important resource for certain branches of industry and have special roles for scientific study on biological and agricultural systems. Plant regeneration via direct and indirect organogenesis of four Populus deltoides Bartram ex Marsh. ssp. deltoides × Populus deltoides Bartram ex Marsh. ssp. deltoides hybrid clones (89 M 011, 89 M 044, 89 M 048, 89 M 066) and P. deltoides ssp. deltoides clone (Samsun) were investigated. Direct organogenesis was established from nodes and internodes on woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with cytokinins and/or auxins. The 89 M 011 clone gave the highest percentage (100%) of regeneration on WPM with 1 mg/l zeatine from internode explants. Indirect organogenesis via callus phase was obtained from nodes and petioles on WPM supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). The nodes part of the 89 M 066 clone gave the highest rate of generative callus (100%)  on WPM supplemented with 2 mg/l 2,4-D. Indirect shoots were obtained from the node callus on WPM with cytokinins. There was root formation from directly regenerative shoots which were cultured on WPM or Murashige and Skoog Basal Medium (MS) containing different ratios of indole butyric acid (IBA). Rooted seedlings in vitro were successfully acclimatized. Data on in vitro study were subjected to statistical evaluation. The in vitro regeneration system will allow this study to set reliable procedures for the genus and clones.Key words: Poplar, tissue culture, regeneration, organogenesis