Alien species in the Mediterranean Sea by 2012. A contribution to the application of European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Part 2. Introduction trends and pathways

More than 60 marine non-indigenous species (NIS) have been removed from previous lists and 84 species have been added, bringing the total to 986 alien species in the Mediterranean [775 in the eastern Mediterranean (EMED), 249 in the central Mediterranean (CMED), 190 in the Adriatic Sea (ADRIA) and 308 in the western Mediterranean (WMED)]. There were 48 new entries since 2011 which can be interpreted as approximately one new entry every two weeks. The number of alien species continues to increase, by 2-3 species per year for macrophytes, molluscs and polychaetes, 3-4 species per year for crustaceans, and 6 species per year for fish. The dominant group among alien species is molluscs (with 215 species), followed by crustaceans (159) and polychaetes (132). Macrophytes are the leading group of NIS in the ADRIA and the WMED, reaching 26-30% of all aliens, whereas in the EMED they barely constitute 10% of the introductions. In the EMED, molluscs are the most species-rich group, followed by crustaceans, fish and polychaetes. More than half (54%) of the marine alien species in the Mediterranean were probably introduced by corridors (mainly Suez). Shipping is blamed directly for the introduction of only 12 species, whereas it is assumed to be the most likely pathway of introduction (via ballasts or fouling) of another 300 species. For approximately 100 species shipping is a probable pathway along with the Suez Canal and/or aquaculture. Approximately 20 species have been introduced with certainty via aquaculture, while >50 species (mostly macroalgae), occurring in the vicinity of oyster farms, are assumed to be introduced accidentally as contaminants of imported species. A total of 18 species are assumed to have been introduced by the aquarium trade. Lessepsian species decline westwards, while the reverse pattern is evident for ship-mediated species and for those introduced with aquaculture. There is an increasing trend in new introductions via the Suez Canal and via shipping.The research leading to these results was partly supported by funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme ([FP7/2007-2013]) under grant agreement n° 287600 - PERSEUS project (Policy-oriented marine Environmental Research for the Southern European Seas). MAMIAS has been developed for the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas of the UNEP/ Mediterranean Action Plan under contracts No 67, 68, 69, 70 and 71 /2011/RAC/RPA

Decolorization and partial mineralization of a polyazo dye by Bacillus firmus immobilized within tubular polymeric gel

The degradation of C.I. Direct red 80, a polyazo dye, was investigated using Bacillus firmus immobilized by entrapment in tubular polymeric gel. This bacterial strain was able to completely decolorize 50 mg/L of C.I. Direct red 80 under anoxic conditions within 12 h and also degrade the reaction intermediates (aromatic amines) during the subsequent 12 h under aerobic conditions. The tubular gel harboring the immobilized cells consisted of anoxic and aerobic regions integrated in a single unit which was ideal for azo dye degradation studies. Results obtained show that effective dye decolorization (97.8%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction (91.7%) and total aromatic amines removal were obtained in 15 h with the immobilized bacterial cell system whereas for the free cells, a hydraulic residence time of 24 h was required for an equivalent performance in a sequential anoxic and aerobic process. Repeated-batch experiments indicate the immobilized cells could decolorize C.I. Direct red 80 and reduce medium COD in five successive batch runs with enhanced activity obtained after each consecutive run, thus suggesting its stability and potential for repeated use in wastewater treatment. UV–visible spectrophotometry and HPLC analysis were used to confirm the partial mineralization of the dye. Data from this study could be used as a reference for the development of effective industrial scale biotechnological process for the removal of dyes and their metabolites in textile wastewater

Unpublished Mediterranean and Black Sea records of marine alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species

To enrich spatio-temporal information on the distribution of alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, a collective effort by 173 marine scientists was made to provide unpublished records and make them open access to the scientific community. Through this effort, we collected and harmonized a dataset of 12,649 records. It includes 247 taxa, of which 217 are Animalia, 25 Plantae and 5 Chromista, from 23 countries surrounding the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Chordata was the most abundant taxonomic group, followed by Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Annelida. In terms of species records, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Saurida lessepsianus, Pterois miles, Upeneus moluccensis, Charybdis (Archias) longicollis, and Caulerpa cylindracea were the most numerous. The temporal distribution of the records ranges from 1973 to 2022, with 44% of the records in 2020–2021. Lethrinus borbonicus is reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, while Pomatoschistus quagga, Caulerpa cylindracea, Grateloupia turuturu, and Misophria pallida are first records for the Black Sea; Kapraunia schneideri is recorded for the second time in the Mediterranean and for the first time in Israel; Prionospio depauperata and Pseudonereis anomala are reported for the first time from the Sea of Marmara. Many first country records are also included, namely: Amathia verticillata (Montenegro), Ampithoe valida (Italy), Antithamnion amphigeneum (Greece), Clavelina oblonga (Tunisia and Slovenia), Dendostrea cf. folium (Syria), Epinephelus fasciatus (Tunisia), Ganonema farinosum (Montenegro), Macrorhynchia philippina (Tunisia), Marenzelleria neglecta (Romania), Paratapes textilis (Tunisia), and Botrylloides diegensis (Tunisia)

Purified protein derivative: The vital part of the cervical tuberculous adenitis diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review the diagnostic procedures for tuberculous cervical adenitis (TCA) and state the most valuable diagnostic protocol. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight patients who presented with progressive, painless, enlarging neck masses and were diagnosed with TCA between 1988 and 1998 at Beyoglu Hospital, Istanbul, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The chest roentgenograms were normal in all patients. The purified protein derivative skin testing was positive in every case. The fine needle aspiration biopsy was consistent with mycobacterial infection in 27 (46%) of 58 cases, and biopsy results correctly diagnosed TCA in all masses excised. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the neck masses. Purified protein derivative with detailed history and physical examination should be the first step in the diagnosis

Biological control studies on fire blight caused by erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winslow Etal.

A total of 250 candidate bacterial antagonist strains were isolated from leaves, shoots and blossoms of apple and pear trees established in Adana, lçel, Kahramanmara and Nigde provinces. The first selection of strains was made on King B and Immature Pear Fruits to determine their in vitro antagonistic activity. According to tests, 9 Strains showed antagonistic activity against fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora. Strains were also tested on shoots of Pyrus communis cv. Deveci and Pyracantha sp. to determine in vivo antagonism under greenhouse conditions. According to test on pear shoots 6 strains suppressed to E,-winia amylovora as Erwinia herbicola (GSPB 450) best known antagonist of fire blight and antibiotic Streptomycin sulphate (200 PPM)

Studies on the control possibilities of fire blight by billing's revised system in the east mediterranean region of Turkey

The relationship between climatic conditions and infection risks in blossom period of fire blight disease on pears was evaluated using Billing's revised system (BRS) in the east Mediterranean region in 1990-1998. Maximum temperatures and rainfall were recorded at regional meteorology station 2-5 km away from orchards. Tree phenology and presence of the disease were monitored by 1-7 days intervals. The severe disease incidence was observed in blossom period when maximum temperatures were ? 24°C, even if days with rain ? 2.5 mm were rare. In 1995 and 1998, spray programs based on BRS and phenology were found effective as 63 %-83.8 % and 72.9 %-80.76 % respectively. 1. Introduction

Comparison of mechanical and microstructural behaviors of tungsten inert gas welded and friction stir welded dissimilar aluminum alloys AA 2014 and AA 5083

In this study, dissimilar aluminum alloys 2014 and 5083 have been welded using two different welding methods, namely the solid state joining method friction stir welding (FSW), and the fusion welding method tungsten inert gas welding (TIC). The joint has been investigated in terms of its microstructure, hardness and mechanical properties. Optical microscopy was used to characterize the microstructure of the weld area. Microstructural examination reveals that a fine grain structure is formed in the nugget zone of FSW as a result of recrystallization and that they are smaller in size compared to the grains in the weld center of TIC, where grain growth has been observed due to heat input. The tensile testing results show that among the two welding methods employed, FSW has yielded better mechanical properties. The mechanical strength of the dissimilar joint, both in terms of yield and ultimate tensile strengths using FSW was found to be varying for aluminum alloys 20:14 and 5083 between 60 % to values matching those of the base metal values, respectively. The results show that FSW can better suit to the joining of dissimilar aluminum alloys compared to TIC welding