The extent of the usefulness of a lactation model depends on how well it succeeds in imitating the biological lactation process and how well it adjust for environmental and other factors that could influence production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare five different lactation curve models (Wood, Cobby and Le Du, Wilmink, Exponential and Parabolic Exponential model), and to find the best model that provided a good description of the lactation curve of Jersey cattle herd. Data used in this study were the first to seventh lactation official milk yield records from monthly recording of 3 630 lactations between 1984 and 2008 in the farm. The results showed that Wood model which has minimum residual standard deviation (3.562), maximum adjusted R 2 value (91.6 %) and maximum persistency value (93.3 %) performed the best fit to the data and allowed a suitable description of the lactation curve. It was concluded that the Wood model provided accurate estimates of milk yield for all lactation numbers because this model was found to be more superior to the other models. Consequently, the usage of Wood model would provide some useful information on genetic improvement of the Jersey breed under pasture-based dry seasonal production systems. Keywords

This study was carried out to determine the performances of Mugla and Nigde ecotypes (A. m. anatoliaca), Caucasian (A. m. caucasica) and Carniolan (A. m. carnica) honeybee genotypes in the region of central Anatolia conditions. A total of 40 colonies (each genotype group consisted of 10 colonies) were used in the study. All queens were reared at the same time and in the same apiary and were instrumentally inseminated. The average numbers of combs covered with bees were found to be 11.24±0.59, 9.51±0.42, 8.11±0.31 and 12.38±0.72 per colony respectively; the average brood areas were found to be 2825.0±240.3, 2160.6±176.8, 1701.9±129.7 and 2883.0±104.4 cm 2 per colony respectively; and the average honey yields were found to be 28.60±0.88, 15.40±0.69, 23.40±0.54 and 31.60±1.12 kg per colony in Mugla ecotype, Nigde ecotype, Caucasian and Carniolan genotypes respectively. The mean differences among the genotypes for number of combs with bees, brood area and honey yield were significant (P<0.01). These results showed that the Carniolan genotype had the best performance and Nigde ecotype had the lowest performance in temperate climate conditions. Therefore, productivity of the Nigde ecotype can be increased by a crossbreeding programme with Carniolan and Mugla genotypes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of thymoquinone against the negative effects of varicocele on testicular tissue and sperm morphology. Five groups were formed by random selection from a total of 40 adult male Wistar rats (n = 8). Thymoquinone (5 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally to the varicocele‐dimethyl sulfoxide‐olive oil‐thymoquinone (VT) group and the sham‐thymoquinone group. At the end of the 60th day, all groups were anaesthetised and the left testis was removed from the body quickly. One half of the testis tissue, which was divided into two, was separated for biochemical and Western blot analysis, while the other half were fixed in Bouin's fixative. As a result of biochemical, molecular and histopathological analyses, a statistically significant increase was found in the varicocele group testicular tissues in the malondialdehyde level, apoptotic index, Bax expression, cytochrome c expression and Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio compared with the sham group. In addition, histopathological changes characterised by partial or complete degeneration of the germinal epithelium were observed in the seminiferous tubules in the same group. Total oxidant status level and sperm count with abnormal morphology increased in varicocele group, whereas total antioxidant status level decreased. In the VT group, all of the biochemical, molecular and histopathological changes detected in the varicocele group were statistically significantly reduced. When the findings obtained in this study are evaluated, it can be said that thymoquinone has the potential to be used as a preventive and therapeutic pharmacological agent in the medical treatment of varicocele. Although the exact mechanism of action of thymoquinone has not been fully elucidated, the findings obtained in this study support the view that thymoquinone showed a cytoprotective effect by reducing apoptosis, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation.

In the study, 234 Holstein heifers were observed visually during a one-year period and 1622 estrus records were used to determine seasonal effects on behavioral estrus signs and estrus detection efficiency. Estrus records were classified as standing, mounting, vaginal mucus discharging, and the other estrus signs. The rates of these estrus signs were found to be 50.6%, 22.7%, 20.7% and 6.0%, respectively and the differences were significant (P<0.01). These results showed that standing behavior was the most observable estrus sign in Holstein heifers. In addition, the rates of standing behavior in each season (66.2%, 59.7%, 50.4% and 38.0% in summer, fall, spring and winter, respectively) showed that it was also more observable sign than the other signs. The rates of estrus records according to seasons were found to be 34.4%, 32.9%, 23.6% and 9.1% in winter, fall, spring and summer, respectively and the differences were also significant (P<0.01). In the study, the mean overall estrus cycle length was found to be 21.15±1.85 days. The mean overall estrus detection efficiency was calculated as 57.8%. The mean detection efficiencies according to seasons were found to be 79.5%, 75.9%, 54.6% and 21.1% in winter, fall, spring and summer respectively. These results could be interpreted that estrus detection efficiency was decreased significantly with increase of temperature.

Aim Aspects of parenting are an under‐investigated topic amongst children with voiding complaints. We aimed to investigate the association between voiding complaints amongst children and two specific parenting‐related behaviours: 1) parental availability during the child's leisure time and 2) frequency of witnessing interparental conflict. Material and Method Children aged between 6 and 11 years with their parents were the participants. Two survey forms and informed consent form were sent to potential participants via children's teacher. Voiding dysfunction complaints were evaluated with the Dysfunctional Voiding and Incontinence Symptom Scale (DVISS). Results Data analyses were performed with 1101 eligible participants. The mean duration of parental availability during the child's leisure time was below 2 hours per day. Nearly one out of every four children witnessed interparental conflict at least once a month. Age, educational level of the mother, parental availability for the child's leisure time, and frequency of witnessing parental conflicts were found to be significantly associated with DVISS ratings. Adjusting age, socioeconomic level, and educational level of the parents and later adjusting parental availability during the child's leisure time did not change the association of frequency of witnessing interparental conflict with DVISS rates. An increase in the age, educational level of the mother, and parental availability during the child's leisure time was correlated with better scores on DVISS, while an increase in the frequency of witnessing interparental conflict strongly correlated with worse scores. Conclusion Exposing children to interparental conflicts and shorter togetherness with their leisure time is associated with voiding complaints.