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The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the possible microbiological contamination in terms of total counts and representative microbial groups found in the hazelnuts as well as in work areas and on the working surfaces of a hazelnut processing plant.

Some microbiological parameters related to the manufacturing process (e.g. aerobic colony count yeast and fungi) were evaluated. Indoor air samples were tested in order to evaluate the possible contamination of fungal strains (i.e. mycotoxin producing fungi).

The results showed that the highest values (>of 500 CFU/m³) for bacteria and fungi were only observed in the shelling and sorting areas. Some species such as Aspergillus and Penicillium (potential mycotoxin-producers) as well as some noxious colonies of Aspergillus fumigatus were detected along the processing line. No occurrence of aflatoxins was observed in the finished product. Microbial loads obtained through surface analyses were in accordance to the reference data.

The aim of this study was to monitor and improve the procedures currently used in a hazelnut processing plant.

Mushrooms have always been treasured and appreciated, thanks to their nutritional as well as medicinal properties. The purpose of this paper is to reveal these properties such as antioxidant activities and enzyme inhibition potentials of three mushroom species from Ordu, Turkey. Furthermore, phenolic profiles which are believed to be source of these properties are investigated.

The assays followed to determine total phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant contents, antioxidative and enzyme inhibition activities are spectrophotometric methods. Phenolic profiles of mushroom samples were investigated by using the HPLC system.

The highest phenolic content was found for Lactarius deliciosus. Pyrogallol was the major phenolics in all three samples. Total phenolic content values supported that finding. But, total flavonoid content was the maximum for Cantharellus cibarius. The magnitude of the antioxidant activities revealed by the different tests varied between species. Furthermore, inhibition potential degrees on acetylcholinesterase, butrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase and urease activities were worth mentioning. Lactarius pyrogalus had anti-tyrosinase activity with a 26.229 percent inhibition rate. IC₅₀ values for urease inhibition effect of mushroom samples were in the range of 0.37–0.90 mg/mL.

Enzyme inhibitory potentials for L. pyrogalus was revealed first time. On the other hand, studies on anti-tyrosinase activity of mushrooms are very rare, while almost no studies have been conducted on anti-urease activity. So, the results of present study are very valuable. Thus, the obtained data not only increase the ecological importance of the region but also provide significant contributions to the literature in terms of new sources rich in antioxidants.

The placement of each class of self regulating systems on the dimensional scale is a factor which determines the following : type of forces being responsible for the integration of the structural elements of the system; types of channels inside the negative feedback that supports the equilibrium of the internal system; degrees of motion freedom of structural elements inside biosystems can be higher than those of non‐condensed systems; existence of energy transformers (mitochondria) in biosystems and their absence in natural abiotic systems; very high number of specific submodels of the B‐system (living systems).

To investigate the potential food, feed and industrial values of some tropical underutilized medicinal plant materials.

Dry‐milled plants, namely: Gongronema latifolium and Vernonia amygdalina were subjected to chemical analysis to determine their proximate, mineral, elemental, fatty acid and amino acid compositions using standard procedures.

Results show that the lipid extract, ash, crude fibre and nitrogen free extractives, oxalate, phytate and tannin of the plants are within expected ranges. They however had unexpectedly high crude protein content: 27.20 and 21.69 per cent, respectively. Potassium, phosphorus, calcium and cobalt were the most abundant mineral elements. G. latifolium and V. amygdalina leaf oils are 50.22 and 24.54 per cent saturated; 39.38 and 65.45 per cent polyunsaturated, respectively. Palmitic and oleic acids were the major monounsaturated fatty acids. Degrees of unsaturation are 0.46 and 0.41, respectively. Major essential amino acids are leucine, valine and phenylalanine. Proportions of essential to non‐essential amino acid are 43.37 and 49.84 per cent, respectively.

The nutritional composition of the plant materials suggests that they may find use in food/feed formulation operations and as industrial raw materials.

This paper explores the historical roots of accounting for biodiversity and extinction accounting by analysing the 18th-century Naturalist's Journals of Gilbert White and interpreting them as biodiversity accounts produced by an interested party. The authors aim to contribute to the accounting history literature by extending the form of accounting studied to include nature diaries as well as by exploring historical ecological accounts, as well as contributing to the burgeoning literature on accounting for biodiversity and extinction accounting.

The authors’ method involves analysing the content of Gilbert White's Naturalist's Journals by producing an 18th-century biodiversity account of species of flora and fauna and then interpretively drawing out themes from the Journals. The authors then provide a Whitean extinction account by comparing current species' status with White's biodiversity account from 250 years ago.

This paper uses Gilbert White's Naturalist's Journals as a basis for comparing biodiversity and natural capital 250 years ago with current species' status according to extinction threat and conservation status. Further the paper shows how early nature diary recording represents early (and probably the only) forms of accounting for biodiversity and extinction. The authors also highlight themes within White's accounts including social emancipation, problematisation, aesthetic elements and an example of an early audit of biodiversity accounting.

There are limitations to analysing Gilbert White's Naturalist's Journals given that the only available source is an edited version. The authors therefore interpret their data as accounts which are indicative of biodiversity and species abundance rather than an exactly accurate account.

From the authors’ analysis and reflections, the authors suggest that contemporary biodiversity accounting needs to incorporate a combination of narrative, data accounting and pictorial/aesthetic representation if it is to provide a rich and accurate report of biodiversity and nature. The authors also suggest that extinction accounting should draw on historical data in order to demonstrate change in natural capital over time.

Social implications include the understanding gleaned from the authors’ analysis of the role of Gilbert White as a nature diarist in society and the contribution made over time by his Journals and other writings to the development of nature accounting and recording, as well as to one’s understanding and knowledge of species of flora and fauna.

To the authors’ knowledge this is the first attempt to analyse and interpret nature diaries as accounts of biodiversity and extinction.