A flexible current‐mode classifier circuit and its applications

In this paper a new CMOS classifier circuit is presented, simulated, and compared with other recently introduced circuits. The proposed CMOS circuit operates in current‐mode and can classify several types of data. The architecture is designed using two threshold circuits and a subtraction circuit. Among many possible applications of the classifier circuit, template‐based pattern classification, namely template matching and character recognition with corruption, and in another direction its use as a quantizer are given. Using 0.35‐ µm AMS technology parameters, SPICE simulations as well as hard realization results for the classifier and application circuits are included; detailed Monte Carlo analyses to assess parameter mismatch effects are also performed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Correlation of shear flocculation of some salt-type minerals with their wettability parameter

This paper considers the importance of surface hydrophobicity in the shear flocculation process and presents a correlation between the shear flocculation and the wettability parameter for barite, celestite and calcite as salt-type minerals. The critical surface tension of wetting (γ_c) as a wettability parameter describes wetting characteristics of any mineral. The variation of the shear flocculation behaviours of barite, celestite and calcite with sodium oleate concentration in various methanol solutions was investigated. The shear flocculation of these minerals in the methanol solutions increased rapidly towards the optimum surfactant concentration, and thereafter remained relatively constant or increased slightly. On the other hand, the shear flocculation of the minerals decreased with increasing methanol concentration, depends on decreasing surface tension. The γ_c values of these minerals as a function of surfactant concentration were determined using a shear flocculation approach. It was found that the γ_c values did not change much at surfactant concentrations above the optimum. This result provides a reason for the observed lack of significant increase in the shear flocculation of the mineral suspensions when surfactant concentrations higher than the optimum are used. Furthermore, a strong correlation between the effective shear flocculation and the critical surface tension of wetting (γ_c) value was established. As the effective shear flocculation of these salt-type minerals increased sharply below a particular γ_c value, it was not much improved after reaching the γ_c value obtained at the optimum concentration of sodium oleate.     

Sunflower Oil–Beeswax Oleogels Are Promising Frying Medium for Potato Strips

Sunflower oil–beeswax oleogels at 3% (BWO-3) and 8% (BWO-8) organogelator concentration are prepared to evaluate oleogels as frying medium for potato strip frying against commercial sunflower oil (SO). Rheological and thermal analyses of oleogels prove that the samples are fully solid (20±3 °C) and totally liquid (180 °C), and thermoreversible. Fresh and used (after frying) fat analyses show that free fatty acidity (FFA), peroxide value (PV) and total polar materials (TPM) are enhanced in all samples at the 7th h, but the relative enhancement levels are lower in oleogel samples. Potato strips fried in oleogels absorb significantly less oil (11.97% and 12.07%) than the control sample (15.20%). Potatoes fried in oleogels are also more bright and yellower than the control sample. Textural profile of the fried potatoes indicates that the samples fried in oleogels are harder, springier, and gummier than that of the control sample. Sensory analysis shows that oleogel fried potatoes get higher sensory scores. Also, overall acceptability of potatoes fried in BWO-8 sample is the highest (8.50) among all. The prepared oleogels are found quite promising frying medium in this study. Further studies with other types of oleogels in extended period frying of various foods are suggested. Practical applications: The development of innovative frying techniques to produce healthier products with lower fat and calorie values are still a remarkable research area. Oleogelation is an emerging strategy used for solid-like oil designing and based on the formation of 3D networks by the addition of organogelators. Oleogelation is accepted as a healthy strategy to structure liquid oils into solid consistency, and oleogels have great edible applications in processed foods, and can be used as a frying medium. This work can guide the use of sunflower oil–beeswax oleogels as a frying medium and allow the development of more healthy fried snacks.     

Carbon dioxide emission from the Turkish electricity sector and its mitigation options

In this study, electricity generation associated CO₂ emissions and fuel-specific CO₂ emission factors are calculated based on the IPCC methodology using the data of fossil-fueled power plants that ran between 2001 and 2008 in Turkey. The estimated CO₂ emissions from fossil-fueled power plants between 2009 and 2019 are also calculated using the fuel-specific CO₂ emission factors and data on the projected generation capacity of the power plants that are planned to be built during this period. Given that the total electricity supply (planned+existing) will not be sufficient to provide the estimated demand between 2011 and 2019, four scenarios based on using different fuel mixtures are developed to overcome this deficiency. The results from these scenarios show that a significant decrease in the amount of CO₂ emissions from electricity generation can be achieved if the share of the fossil-fueled power plants is lowered. The Renewable Energy Scenario is found to result in the lowest CO₂ emissions between 2009 and 2019. The associated CO₂ emissions calculated based on this scenario are approximately 192 million tons lower than that of the Business As Usual Scenario for the estimation period.     

A prototype portable system for EEG measurements

In this study, a prototype EEG recording and analysis module for biomedical research applications is designed. The design of the system consists of an analog and a digital part. The system has two signal channels, but it can be extended to six channels construction. The analog module involves the following units; an input instrumentation amplifier, gain adjustable amplifier, band-pass filter, and a driven-right-leg- (DRL) circuit. The digital board consists of A/D converter and RS232 communication unit. In order to test system, the circuit simulation and the real-time EEG measurements are implemented. The proposed EEG system can be used in our department’s biomedical laboratory.     

Differentiation of benign and malignant cervical lymph nodes: value of B-mode and color Doppler sonography

AIM: Acute mesenteric ischemia is difficult to diagnose and is combined with a high mortality. In a retrospective analysis it was investigated how to improve the poor prognosis of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1988 through December 1994 a total of 46 patients were operated on for acute mesenteric ischemia. Mesenteric artery occlusion was present in three quarters of the cases (n = 35). These were analysed according to symptoms, diagnosis, mechanism of occlusion, operative procedure and prognosis. Distribution of gender was almost balanced (19 women, 16 men) with a median age of 70.5 years. RESULTS: Embolic arterial occlusion was predominant (n = 22). Most frequently, the superior mesenteric artery was exclusively concerned (n = 22). Serum levels of lactate and leucocytes were preoperatively elevated in over 90% (median values: lactate 53 U/l, leucocytes 15050/ml). In 16 patients diagnosis was made on the ground of clinical parameters and/or angiography, but 19 patients were not diagnosed until operation. 19 patients were operated within 6 hours, 12 patients within 24 hours after admission (> 24 hours: n = 4). Vascular reconstructive procedures only, such as thrombectomy and/or aortomesenteric bypass were performed in 9 cases, in a further 7 cases combined with bowel resection. Bowel resection alone was done in 7 patients, 12 patients had only diagnostic laparotomy. 13 patients survived, 10 of them had been treated with vascular reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Acute mesenteric ischemia ought to be suspected in every patient with uncertain abdominal pain, because only early diagnosis can improve prognosis. Measurement of serum lactate is diagnostically helpful, although not proving. In case of elevated lactate levels and uncertain abdominal symptoms angiography of the mesenteric vessels should be performed early. At operation, blood flow in the mesenteric arteries should be restored whenever possible.     

Pre-treatment technologies,and their effect on international bioenergy supply chain logistics. Techno-economic evaluation of torrefaction,fast pyrolysis and pelletisation

The pre-treatment step has a significant influence on the performance of bioenergy chains, especially on logistics. Torrefaction, pelletisation and pyrolysis technologies can convert biomass at modest scales into dense energy carriers that ease transportation and handling.     

Boron-Doped Strontium-Stabilized Bismuth Cobalt Oxide Thermoelectric Nanocrystalline Ceramic Powders Synthesized via Electrospinning

Boron-doped strontium-stabilized bismuth cobalt oxide thermoelectric nanocrystalline ceramic powders were produced by using a polymeric precursor technique. The powders were characterized by using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and physical properties measurement system (PPMS) techniques. The XRD results showed that these patterns have a two-phase mixture. The phases are face-centered cubic (fcc) and body-centered cubic (bcc). Values of the crystallite size, dislocation density, and microstrain were calculated by using the Scherrer equation. The lattice parameters were calculated for fcc and bcc phases. The SEM results showed that needle-like grains are formed in boron-undoped composite materials, but the needle-like grains changed to the plate-like grains with the addition of boron. The distribution of the nanofiber diameters was calculated and the average diameter of the boron-doped sample is smaller than the boron-undoped one. PPMS values showed that the electrical resistivity values decreased, but the thermal conductivity values, the Seebeck coefficients, and figure of merit (ZT) increased with increasing temperature for the two samples.     

Modeling the role of hydrogen interstitial concentration on internal stress fields in iron matrix

A numerical model was proposed to predict the hydrogen interstitial concentration in iron matrix both in the immediate surrounding of and far from an edge dislocation. The current formulation successfully incorporates the relaxation effect and, thus, correctly predicts the stress state around the dislocations.