Evaluation of ISSR markers for genetic diversity analysis in Anatolian water buffaloes

BACKGROUND: The utilisation of molecular markers has increased in molecular research recently. Inter‐simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers allow the analysis of genomes without preliminary sequence information, since random primers are used. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate ISSR markers for assessing the genetic diversity of indigenous Anatolian Water Buffaloes reared in Afyon, Konya and Sivas provinces of Turkey, with a view to conservation of the gene resources. RESULTS: The 11 ISSR primers chosen for the analysis revealed a total of 110 bands, of which 76 (69.09%) were polymorphic. Also, genetic similarity, polymorphic information content (PIC), resolving power (R_p) and mean resolving power (R_p ), heterozygosity (H) and Shannon index (I) were calculated as 0.9479–0.9562, 0.35 ± 0.20, 2.73, 0.27, 0.18 ± 0.07 and 0.28 ± 0.11, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ISSR markers were found to be promising for assessing the genetic diversity in buffalo populations. Potential genetic parameters such as PIC, R_p, R_p , H and I were effectively used in this study. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Electrospun polymeric nanofibrous composites containing TiO2 short nanofibers

In this study, polymeric nanofibrous composites containing anatase TiO₂ short nanofibers (TiO₂-SNF) were successfully produced via electrospinning. The fabrication of the nanofibrous composite structure includes two steps. First, anatase TiO₂ nanofibers were obtained by calcination of electrospun PVP/TiO₂ nanofibers and then crushed into short nanofibers ranging from few microns in length. Second, these TiO₂-SNF were dispersed into polymer solutions and then electrospun into nanofibrous composites. We obtained nanofibers containing TiO₂-SNF from different polymer types including PMMA, PAN, PET and PC. The SEM and TEM imaging indicated that some of the TiO₂-SNF were fully covered by the polymeric matrix whereas some TiO₂-SNF were partially covered and/or stick on the surface of the fibers. The photocatalytic activity of nanofibrous composites containing TiO₂-SNF was evaluated by monitoring the photocatalytic decomposition of a model dye (rhodamine-6G) under UV irradiation.     

European research policy and bibliometric indicators, 1990�C2005

This paper describes and analyses the role played in the development of bibliometric indicators??and the use made of bibliometric indicators for policy purposes??by the European Commission??s Directorate-General Research in the period 1990?C2005.     

Strength and elastic properties of structural lightweight concretes

The study presents the influence of characteristics of four aggregate types (two sintered lightweight fly ash aggregates, cold-bonded lightweight fly ash aggregate and normalweight crushed limestone aggregate) on the strength and elastic properties of concrete mixtures. Different models were also used in order to predict the strength and modulus of elasticity values of concretes. The results of this study revealed the achievement of manufacturing high-strength air-entrained lightweight aggregate concretes using sintered and cold-bonded fly ash aggregates. In order to reach target slump and air content, less amount of chemical admixtures was used in lightweight concretes than in normal-weight concrete, leading to reduction in production cost. The use of lightweight aggregates (LWA) instead of normalweight aggregates in concrete production slightly decreased the strength. The models given by codes, standards and software and equation derived in this study gave close estimated values to the experimental results.     

An investigation into the mechanical and tribological properties of plasma electrolytic oxidation and hard-anodized coatings on 6082 aluminum alloy

A ceramic coating on AA6082 aluminum alloy prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) has been studied and compared against a sulphuric acid hard-anodized coating on the same alloy. Surface morphology and microstructures of the coatings have been examined by scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction is used to determine the phase composition of the coatings. The adhesion strength of the coatings has been evaluated using a scratch test method. The coating's mechanical properties such elastic modulus and hardness data have been generated using a dynamic ultra-microhardness tester. Sliding wear tests with different loading rates are performed on the coatings in order to assess their wear resistance. Test results show that the PEO treated samples exhibit significantly better mechanical properties compared to hard anodized samples. The elastic modulus and hardness of the PEO coating are 2-3 times greater than of the hard anodized coating and subsequently, an improved wear resistance of the PEO coating has been achieved. The mechanical properties of the coatings and their relations to their tribological performance are discussed.     

Cusp mirror—Heat pipe evacuated tubular solar thermal collector

A solar thermal collector was constructed based on an internal 1.15X cusp concentrator, thermal insulation involving a vacuum and selective absorber, and thermal transfer to a manifold via heat-pipe action. Performance of the collector was compared with that of an evacuated, selectively coated, flat-plate absorber equipped with flow-through heat transfer. It was shown that with single collector tubes, mirror losses lowered the optical efficiency of the cusp, heat-pipe collector below that of the flat plate, while the smaller absorber area of the heat pipe reduced thermal losses at absorber temperatures above ambient. Thus, a crossover in efficiency occurred such that the flat plate was more efficient at low while the cusp-heat pipe was more efficient at high . Testing of modules showed that manifold losses and gains could dominate these collector effects when the collector area approximately equaled the manifold area.     

Escherichia coli, enterococci, and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron qPCR signals through wastewater and septage treatment

Fecal indicators such as Escherichia coli and enterococci are used as regulatory tools to monitor water with 24 h cultivation techniques for possible input of sewage or feces and presence of potential enteric pathogens yet their source (human or animal) cannot be determined with routine methods. This critical uncertainty has furthered water pollution science toward new molecular approaches. Members of Bacteroides genus, such as Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron are found to have features that allow their use as alternative fecal indicators and for Microbial Source Tracking (MST). The overall aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration and fate of B. thetaiotaomicron, throughout a wastewater treatment facility and septage treatment facility. A large number of samples were collected and tested for E. coli and enterococci by both cultivation and qPCR assays. B. thetaiotaomicron qPCR equivalent cells (mean: 1.8 × 10⁷/100 mL) were present in significantly higher concentrations than E. coli or enterococci in raw sewage and at the same levels in raw septage. The removal of B. thetaiotaomicron target qPCR signals was similar to E. coli and enterococci DNA during the treatment of these wastes and ranged from 3 to 5 log₁₀ for wastewater and was 7 log₁₀ for the septage. A significant correlation was found between B. thetaiotaomicron marker and each of the conventional indicators throughout the waste treatment process for both raw sewage and septage. A greater variability was found with enterococci when compared to E. coli, and CFU and equivalent cells could be contrasted by various treatment processes to examine removal and inactivation via septage and wastewater treatment. These results are compared and contrasted with other qPCR studies and other targets in wastewater samples providing a view of DNA targets in such environments.     

Consumer Acceptability of Fresh‐Market Muscadine Grapes

The objective of this research was to investigate the acceptability of muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) genotypes (cultivars and selections) and to correlate overall liking to other quality measurements to determine the main drivers of liking. Twenty‐two genotypes grown at the Univ. of Georgia–Tifton Campus were evaluated. Four retail commercial grape genotypes (Vitis vinifera and “Concord”) were also evaluated for comparison. Panelists familiar with muscadine grapes used the hedonic general labeled magnitude scale (HgLMS, –100 = strongest disliking of any kind ever experienced, +100 = strongest liking of any kind ever experienced) to rate overall liking and the liking of appearance, flavor, pulp texture, and skin texture. Puncture testing was done to assess grape berry texture, and compositional attributes soluble solids and pH were also measured. The sensory results indicated that the grapes were variable with overall liking scores from 12.2 to 39.6. The factors highly correlated with overall liking scores were muscadine flavor, pulp and skin liking, while a significant negative correlation was found between skin liking and skin texture and mechanical texture measures. The muscadine grapes with the highest overall liking scores were Ga. 5‐1‐34 and Ga. 2‐8‐21. Principal component analysis confirmed that grapes with a thinner skin and a higher pH tended to group around overall liking and flavor points. These results indicate that even among panelists familiar with muscadine grapes, skin thickness is a negative characteristic. Breeding for thinner skins may be a positive step in muscadines gaining a more widespread appeal in the fresh fruit market.     

Luminescence intensity monitoring in a MOS tunnel structure with inhomogeneous thickness of the insulator

The electroluminescence (EL) time series in a metal-oxide-semiconductor tunnel structure of the Al/SiO₂/p-Si type have been measured. It is demonstrated that analysis of the EL curves in some cases provides more correct information about the state of the oxide layer as compared to that obtained from the results of electric current monitoring.