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Cut romaine lettuce, packaged under modified atmosphere, was subjected to 0.15 and 0.35 kGy gamma irradiation. Irradiation at 0.35 kGy decreased aerobic plate counts by 1.5 logs and yeast and mold counts by 1 log; these differences were maintained through the 22-d storage. Irradiation at 0.15 kGy caused smaller reductions in microbial counts. A decrease in headspace CO 2 was observed in the 0.35-kGy-treated lettuce, although CO 2 concentrations increased in all samples with storage. O 2 concentration was not affected by irradiation. Ten percent loss in firmness was observed at 0.35 kGy, while other sensory attributes such as color, generation of off-flavor, and appearance of visual defects were not affected.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of Arcobacter species in water sources and raw milk from healthy animals in Kayseri, Turkey. A total of 175 samples of drinking water (n = 100), spring water (n = 25), and raw milk (n = 50) were examined. Arcobacter species were isolated using the membrane filtration technique. Overall, 7 (4%) of the 175 samples yielded Arcobacter spp.: 3 (3%) drinking water samples, 1 (4%) spring water sample, and 3 (6%) raw milk samples. Two species of Arcobacter were recovered from the seven positive samples: Arcobacter butzleri, Arcobacter skirrowii, and A. butzleri plus A. skirrowii found in 3 (1.7%), 2 (1.1%), and 2 (1.1%) samples, respectively. Our study is the first to report the isolation of both A. butzleri and A. skirrowii together from drinking water and is the first report of Arcobacter in milk from healthy cows in Turkey. Based on these findings, the presence of Arcobacter species in environmental waters and raw milk may pose a potential hazard for human health.

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The effect of using yogurt on the viscosity, over-run, melting characteristics, pH, acidity, microbiological aspects and sensory characteristics of ice cream was investigated. The ice cream mix in all groups was 10% fat, 18% sucrose, 12% MSNF (milk non-fat solids), 0.8% stabiliser and 0.4% emulsifier. The use of yogurt instead of milk decreased the viscosity of ice cream mix and over-run capacity of ice cream. There was no negative effect of yogurt on the melting characteristics of ice cream. The use of yogurt at 0.7% lactic acid exhibited a good first drop (beginning of the melting point) and melting time, but it was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The results of the sensory scores showed that yogurt ice cream produced using the yogurt at 0.7% lactic acid was statistically similar to the control group. It was concluded that the conversion of milk to yogurt for ice cream production can be made at acidity 0.7% lactic acid with no loss of ice cream quality. Higher levels than 0.7% lactic acid contribute to progressive loss of sensory quality.

In this work, we have described the antibacterial activities of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles with different organic parts, including Humic acid (HA), Nicotinic acid (Nico) and Histidine (His), and the antibacterial activity of MnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles coated with PANI and SiO 2 against different bacteria and some standard antibacterial drugs. The present study revealed that the newly fabricated various Fe 3 O 4 and MnFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites, when combined with some different organic parts, are superiour antibacterial agents. Also, the synthesized nanocomposites can be easily separated from aqueous solution by magnetic filtration without any contamination of the medium.

Helicobacter pylori cagPAI genes play an important role in pathogenesis, however little is known about their functions in isolates from Turkish patients. We aimed to evaluate the intactness and the effect of the cagPAI genes (cagT, cagM, cagE, cagA) and cagA EPIYA motifs on the AGS morphological changes and IL-8 induction. Of 53 patients 38 were found infected with H. pylori. PCR amplification of the cagPAI genes showed 42.1 % intact, 39.5 % partially deleted and 18.4 % with complete deletions. Isolates from gastritis, duodenal and gastric ulcer patients with intact and partially deleted cagPAI genes induced higher IL-8 secretion than those with complete deletions. Isolates from gastritis patients had higher deletion frequencies of the cagT and cagM genes than the other two genes. Infection of AGS cells with isolates that possess intact cagPAI and EPIYA-ABC resulted in the formation of the hummingbird phenotype. The cagA positive isolates induced higher IL-8 secretion than cagA negative isolates. Isolates from DU patients with more than one EPIYA-C motif induced higher concentrations of IL-8 than those with EPIYA-ABC. In conclusion, the intactness of the cagPAI in our isolates from different patients was not conserved. An intact cagPAI was found to play an important role in the pathogenesis of DU but not GU or gastritis. The cagA gene, but not other cagPAI genes, was associated with the induction of IL-8 and the morphological changes of the AGS cells. An increase in the number of EPIYA-C motifs had noticeable effect on the formation of the hummingbird phenotype.

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