Determining the energy usage efficiency and economic analysis of broiler chickens raised under organic conditions

This study was conducted to determine the energy usage efficiency of broiler chickens raised under organic conditions. To accomplish this goal, the energy input-output of every 1,000 broiler chickens raised in organic conditions was calculated. Efficiency of energy use, energy productivity, specific and net energy for broiler chickens were calculated as 0.30, 0.03 kg/MJ, 35.36 MJ/kg and –75557.96 MJ/1,000 bird, respectively. If we were to categorize the energy input total that was consumed, 9.57% was direct, 90.43% was indirect, 89.57% was renewable and 10.43% was non-renewable. In this sense, organic broiler production cannot be deemed as economically viable considering the energy usage. Feed energy was observed as the highest rate of total energy input. To reduce feed energy input, chicks should not be kept under stress and total output energy should be increased by increasing bird production number. Benefit-cost ratio was determined as 2.41

Speciation and genetic diversity in Centaurea subsect. Phalolepis in Anatolia

14 p., mapas, tablasMountains of Anatolia are one of the main Mediterranean biodiversity hotspots and their richness in endemic species amounts for 30% of the flora. Two main factors may account for this high diversity: the complex orography and its role as refugia during past glaciations. We have investigated seven narrow endemics of Centaurea subsection Phalolepis from Anatolia by means of microsatellites and ecological niche modelling (ENM), in order to analyse genetic polymorphisms and getting insights into their speciation. Despite being narrow endemics, all the studied species show moderate to high SSR genetic diversity. Populations are genetically isolated, but exchange of genes probably occurred at glacial maxima (likely through the Anatolian mountain arches as suggested by the ENM). The lack of correlation between genetic clusters and (morpho) species is interpreted as a result of allopatric diversification on the basis of a shared gene pool. As suggested in a former study in Greece, post-glacial isolation in mountains would be the main driver of diversification in these plants; mountains of Anatolia would have acted as plant refugia, allowing the maintenance of high genetic diversity. Ancient gene flow between taxa that became sympatric during glaciations may also have contributed to the high levels of genetic diversity.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación [project CGL2010/18631] and Generalitat de Catalunya [Ajuts a Grups de Recerca Consolidats 2014-SGR514-GREB]Peer reviewe

New chromosomal data, karyotype asymmetry and polyploid variations of some Gundelia (Asteraceae) species from Turkey

The genus Gundelia is currently represented with 18 species, of which 16 are in Turkey. In genus Gundelia, the chromosomal data were reported from 12 species. In the present study, it is aimed to eliminate the deficiencies in the knowledge about chromosomal data of Gundelia species. In Genus Gundelia, only a single chromosome number had been detected as 2n=18 so far. The chromosome numbers of four species were reported here for the first time: G. armeniaca, G. cappadocica, G. siirtica, and G. tehranica. In addition, the polyploidy in the genus was rare and G. anatolica was identified as the first polyploid species. All karyotypes except G. tehranica were symmetrical, consisting of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes. Secondary constrictions were observed in the distal regions of the long arms of the longest metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes. Thus, the chromosomal data of all Turkish Gundelia species were completed. In conclusion, the present study presented new data into the karyological records relating the karyotype evolution and interspecific relations of genus Gundelia

Combining functional weed ecology and crop stable isotope ratios to identify cultivation intensity: a comparison of cereal production regimes in Haute Provence, France and Asturias, Spain

This investigation combines two independent methods of identifying crop growing conditions and husbandry practices—functional weed ecology and crop stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis—in order to assess their potential for inferring the intensity of past cereal production systems using archaeobotanical assemblages. Present-day organic cereal farming in Haute Provence, France features crop varieties adapted to low-nutrient soils managed through crop rotation, with little to no manuring. Weed quadrat survey of 60 crop field transects in this region revealed that floristic variation primarily reflects geographical differences. Functional ecological weed data clearly distinguish the Provence fields from those surveyed in a previous study of intensively managed spelt wheat in Asturias, north-western Spain: as expected, weed ecological data reflect higher soil fertility and disturbance in Asturias. Similarly, crop stable nitrogen isotope values distinguish between intensive manuring in Asturias and long-term cultivation with minimal manuring in Haute Provence. The new model of cereal cultivation intensity based on weed ecology and crop isotope values in Haute Provence and Asturias was tested through application to two other present-day regimes, successfully identifying a high-intensity regime in the Sighisoara region, Romania, and low-intensity production in Kastamonu, Turkey. Application of this new model to Neolithic archaeobotanical assemblages in central Europe suggests that early farming tended to be intensive, and likely incorporated manuring, but also exhibited considerable variation, providing a finer grained understanding of cultivation intensity than previously available

Haplophyllum ermenekense (Rutaceae), a new species from Turkey

A new species of Haplophyllum, Haplophyllum ermenekense (Rutaceae) is described and illustrated in line drawing. It grows on stony slopes of Ermenek town, Karaman province, in southern Turkey. It is compared with the closely related species H. myrtifolium. H. ermenekense is distinguished from the morphologically similar H myrtifolium chiefly by sepal shape, petal size, capsule size, presence of capsule hair and appendage form. On the other hand, the seed coat and pollen grains surface of H. ermenekense and H. myrtifolium are demonstrated in SEM photographs. In addition to the detailed description, the illustration, distribution map, conservation status and ecology of the new species are also provided

Linum aksehirense (sect. Dasylinum, Linaceae), a new species from Central Anatolia (Turkey)

Linum aksehirense (Linaceae) is described as a new species known from the slopes of the Sultan Mountains in the Akşehir district of Konya in Central Anatolia (Turkey). It is most similar to L. pubescens Banks & Sol. and L. anisocalyx P.H.Davis, from which it is easily distinguished by its stem leaf shape, sepal shape and petal colour. Seed and pollen surface ornamentations were photographed under SEM microscopy to explore micromorphological characters distinguishing the new species from close relatives. In addition, photographs of living material, a distribution map, ecological details, and an identification key are provided

Comparative Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Effects of Stem and Flower Extracts of Rhaponticoides iconiensis (Hub.-Mor.) M.V.Agab. & Greuter

Asteraceae is an exceedingly large and widespread family of flowering plants. The family has more than 1100 genus and 2500 species worldwide. Centaurea, is one of the largest and most diverse genera of this family. Rhaponticoides iconiensis is one of the species from this genera and endemic for Konya (Turkey). It was reported that various species from Centaurea genus has showed considerable cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines. To the best of our knowledge, there are not any phytochemical and cytotoxic activity studies on this species. Therefore, in this study the cytotoxic effects of methanol extracts of steam and flowers of R. iconiensis were evaluated against A-549, HEPG2, MCF-7, COLO-205 and BEAS-2b cell lines by MTT and SRB methods. Both methods supported each other. Extracts were cytotoxic on all cell lines except A549. Consequently both of the methanol extracts partioned to n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-buthanol sub-extracts. Then cytotoxic effect of these sub-extracts also evaluated. In result, n-hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate sub-extracts obtained from methanol extracts of steam and flower of plant is more effective against cancer cell lines than methanol extracts itself. The phytochemical and activity studies on this species are on going

HPLC-PDA DETERMINATION OF PSEUDO TARAXASTEROL (Ψ-TARAXASTEROL) IN DIFFERENT COUSINIA SPECIES

Active contours are now established as a technique for extracting salient contours from an image. Unfortunately the original technique suffers from many problems. A novel model-based dual active contour, a method of integrating global shape information with two active contours, has been developed to overcome the primary problems; sensitivity to initialisation and undesirable attractions by insignificant localised or regionalised features. The model guides the technique to avoid insignificant minima and is relinquished when the energy minimum is sufficiently compatible. The technique then finally operates as a pair of conventional active contours, ensuring that only image information is extracted, consistent with the original technique