Optimal site selection for solar power plants using multi-criteria evaluation: A case study from the Ayranci region in Karaman,Turkey

Currently, coal, oil and natural gas are mainly used for energy in most countries. These sources, called fossil fuels, are not renewable. Fossil fuels are limited, and their reserves are steadily decreasing. This situation causes the prices to rise constantly. On the contrary, renewable energy is clean, economical and unlimited. Turkey has a very high potential for renewable energy, and the Turkish government has made significant reforms for solar energy investments over the last decade. Site selection for solar power plants is a critical issue for large investments because of quality of terrain, local weathering factors, proximity to high transmission capacity lines, agricultural facilities and environmental conservation issues. Multi-criteria evaluation is a tool that allows one to choose the best criterion among multiple and offer a structure with a wide range of applications. In this paper, the ideal locations for solar power plant were selected using the geographic information system and analytic hierarchy process which is one of the multi-criteria evaluation methods. The resulting land suitability was grouped into three categories: low suitable, suitable and best suitable using an equal interval classification method. Consequently, 15,550 ha or 6.23% of the evaluated region was determined as the best suited areas for solar power plants.     

Synthesis,Characterization and O2 Permeability of Shape Memory Polyurethane Films for Fresh Produce Packaging

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of film formulations in an effort to obtain a fresh produce packaging film with increased temperature sensitivity for gas permeability. Series of shape‐memory polyurethane (SMPU) were synthesized using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate, 1,4‐butanediol and castor oil (CO) and casted into films. The changes in thermal, viscoelastic, shape‐memory properties and oxygen permeability of the films were studied. The polyurethane films with 1500 g mol^?1 PEG showed a phase transition temperature (switching temperature) between 20 and 27°C. The SMPU consisting of 50/50 CO/PEG had a log E′ value of 8.32 Pa and showed good elasticity as low density polyethylene. SMPU prepared from 1500 g mol^?1 PEG with 50/50 CO/PEG and 40/60 butanediol/(PEG + CO) ratios showed excellent shape‐memory properties with shape recovery ratio >85% and shape fixity ratio >90%. This film had higher oxygen permeability and showed up to 67% increase in Q₁₀ value for oxygen permeability compared with commercial packaging films like low density polyethylene. This film can be used to develop smart packaging with increased thermally responsive gas permeability to similar levels observed in respiration rates of fresh produce. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Model free head pose estimation using stereovision

In this paper we present a stereovision based model free 3D head pose (orientation and position) estimation system suitable for human–machine interface applications. The system works by obtaining a ‘face plane’ from the 3D reconstructed face data, which is then used for head pose estimation. The key novelty in this work is the utilization of the face plane together with the eye locations on the reconstructed face data to obtain a robust head pose estimate. This approach leads to a model and initialization free head pose estimation system; therefore it is suitable for natural human–machine interfaces. In order to quantitatively asses the accuracy of the system for such applications, several evaluation experiments were conducted using a commercial motion capture system. The evaluation results indicate that this system can be used in human–computer and human–robot applications.     

Comparison of Bayesian survival analysis and Cox regression analysis in simulated and breast cancer data sets

We aimed to compare the performance of Cox regression analysis (CRA) and Bayesian survival analysis (BSA) by using simulations and breast cancer data.Simulation study was carried out with two different algorithms that were informative and noninformative priors. Moreover, in a real data set application, breast cancer data set related to disease-free survival (DFS) that was obtained from 423 breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2007 was used.In the simulation application, it was observed that BSA with noninformative priors and CRA methods showed similar performances in point of convergence to simulation parameter. In the informative priors’ simulation application, BSA with proper informative prior showed a good performance with too little bias. It was found out that the bias of BSA increased while priors were becoming distant from reliability in all sample sizes. In addition, BSA obtained predictions with more little bias and standard error than the CRA in both small and big samples in the light of proper priors.In the breast cancer data set, age, tumor size, hormonal therapy, and axillary nodal status were found statistically significant prognostic factors for DFS in stepwise CRA and BSA with informative and noninformative priors. Furthermore, standard errors of predictions in BSA with informative priors were observed slightly.As a result, BSA showed better performance than CRA, when subjective data analysis was performed by considering expert opinions and historical knowledge about parameters. Consequently, BSA should be preferred in existence of reliable informative priors, in the contrast cases, CRA should be preferred.     

Current conduction mechanism and gas adsorption effects on deviceparameters of the Pt/SnOx/diamond gas sensor

This paper presents the results from analysis and modeling of the gas sensing performance, current conduction and gas detection mechanisms, and adsorption effects on device parameters of a Pt/SnO_x/diamond-based gas sensor. The sensor is sensitive and demonstrates high, repeatable, and reproducible reaction. The sensor response in seconds to small concentrations of O₂, CO, and H ₂ gases. The current conduction mechanism of the diamond-based CAIS (catalyst/adsorptive-oxide/intrinsic-diamond/semiconductor-diamond) diode was found to be dominated by space charge limited conduction in the forward bias region and tunneling in the reverse bias region, distinctively different from silicon based sensors. While gas adsorption causes a change in the barrier height and tunneling factor, no significant change was observed in the ideality factor over the temperature range investigated. The detection mechanism of the sensor is attributable to the change in occupancy ratio of the oxygen vacancies of the adsorptive oxide layer upon oxygen exposure, increasing the contact potential between adsorptive-oxide and intrinsic-diamond     

Synthesis of High‐Temperature‐Stable TiO2 and its Application on Ag+‐Activated Ceramic Tile

The main purpose of study was to provide a common synergy using Ag⁺‐doped calcium phosphate powder and high‐temperature‐stable TiO₂ for antibacterial and photocatalytic tile applications. Thermally stable SiO₂‐modified TiO₂ active layer was deposited on Ag⁺‐activated ceramic tiles by spray coating. The results showed that a nearly 100% cleanability degree was detected for SiO₂‐modified TiO₂ (TS)‐coated antibacterial tiles when compared uncoated and unmodified TiO₂‐coated tiles. Antibacterial tests and colorimetric analyses indicated that ceramic tiles provide both antibacterial and photocatalytic properties simultaneously.     

Effects of irradiation on respiration and ethylene production of apple slices

Respiration and ethylene production rates of irradiated apple slices from four apple cultivars were measured for 72 h. Doses less than 1.2 kGy had no effect on rates of CO₂ production and O₂ consumption, and irradiation at doses between 1.2 and 2.4 kGy had minimal effect for all cultivars. Respiratory response of ‘Idared’, ‘Law Rome’ and ‘Empire’ slices to irradiation was curvilinear, with maximum respiration occurring in the 3–6 kGy dose range. Response of ‘Delicious’ slices was linear over the irradiation dose range (0–11 kGy) studied. Respiratory quotient increased with irradiation dose. The degree of maturity of the slices affected respiratory responses. Irradiation reduced ethylene production of all slices. These results suggest that irradiation doses of up to 2.4 kGy can be used with minimum effect on the respiratory physiology of tissues. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Assessment of overall migration and specific migration of 1,4-butanediol from a thermoplastic polyurethane film developed for fresh produce packaging

A thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) polymer was synthesized, casted into films, and specific and overall migration (OM) tests were applied. A new method with gas chromatography–flame ionization detector was proposed to measure specific migration (SM) of 1,4-butanediol from the PU film. OM values in the four established simulants were under the legal limits. Determination of 1,4-butanediol migrating from PU film to the three established simulants showed maximum SM result as 1.5 mg/kg which was far below the legal limits. Therefore, the PU film has a good potential as a safe food contact material. Moreover, the analytical method used for determination of SM of 1,4-butanediol resulted in good analytical characteristics and detection limits at ppm level. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48638.