Modeling of solar radiation using remote sensing and artificial neural network in Turkey

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to estimate solar radiation in Turkey (26–45°E, 36–42°N) using geographical and satellite-estimated data. In order to train the Generalized regression neural network (GRNN) geographical and satellite-estimated data for the period from January 2002 to December 2002 from 19 stations spread over Turkey were used in training (ten stations) and testing (nine stations) data. Latitude, longitude, altitude, surface emissivity for ?_4, surface emissivity for ?_5, and land surface temperature are used in the input layer of the network. Solar radiation is the output. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient (R²) between the estimated and measured values for monthly mean daily sum with ANN values have been found as 0.1630 MJ/m² and 95.34% (training stations), 0.3200 MJ/m² and 93.41% (testing stations), respectively. Since these results are good enough it was concluded that the developed GRNN tool can be used to predict the solar radiation in Turkey.     

Cox proportional hazards modelling of blockage risk in vitrified clay wastewater pipes

Older wastewater systems often contain vitrified clay pipes and these pipes are responsible for a significant proportion of blockages. From previous research and site experience, it is known that age, installation period, pipe length, diameter, depth and joint type affect the risk of blockage. Using statistical analysis we extend this list of variables to include soil type, road/rail proximity and road type. The analysis is based on blockage data for 43,976 vitrified clay pipes over a 7 year period. A Cox proportional hazards modelling (PHM) approach using established and new explanatory variables finds that pipe depth, pipe length, pipe gradient, pipe diameter, submergence in water, joint type, pipe installation decade, soil type, road proximity to the pipe, pipe purpose, land use code and road type are associated with risk of blockage. Pipes with the highest risk of failure due to blockage are identified and their locations and risk level are visually represented on a colour coded map. This analysis approach can be used by asset managers working in cost-constrained environments to appropriately target inspection, plan maintenance and replacement programs.     

Antimicrobial effect of PEG–PLA on food-spoilage microorganisms

Food Science and Biotechnology - Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyethylene glycol–polylactic acid (PEG–PLA) have an organic structure and no negative effect on human health. The...     

Cell loading and family scheduling for jobs with individual due dates to minimise maximum tardiness

This paper focuses on cell loading and family scheduling in a cellular manufacturing environment. The performance measure is minimising the maximum tardiness of jobs. What separates this study from others is the presence of individual due dates for every job in a family and also allowing family splitting among cells. Three methods are examined in order to solve this problem, namely mathematical modelling, genetic algorithms (GA) and heuristics. The results showed that GA is capable of finding the optimal solution with varying frequency of 60–100% and it is efficient as compared to the mathematical modelling especially for larger problems in terms of execution times. The heuristics, on the other hand, were easy to implement but they could not find the optimal solution. The results of experimentation also showed that family splitting was observed in all multi-cell optimal solutions and therefore it can be concluded that family splitting is a good strategy for the problem considered in this paper.     

Temperature-dependent and pump-probe ellipsometric studies of TlInSe2

Temperature-dependent phase-modulated spectroscopic ellipsometry over the photon energies 1.5-5.5 eV and temperatures 300-400 K, as well as pump-probe single wavelength rotating-analyzer laser ellipsometry at photon energy 1.61 eV and pumping power-density up to 160 W/cm² has been carried out on TlInSe₂ that has a quasi one-dimensional crystalline structure and apparently undergoes an incommensurate phase transition with temperature. Refractive indices and extinction coefficients, as well as their variation with temperature and pumping power-density have been determined. The change of the surface profile under pumping has been disclosed. The reversibility of the effect has been confirmed by the dynamic reflectance examination. Obtained results are discussed in terms of thermal effects and incommensurate phase transition in TlInSe₂. It is proposed that a giant thermo-elastic effect and a soliton wave formation are behind the observed reversible change of the surface profile.     

High‐performance liquid chromatography of some natural dyes: analysis of plant extracts and dyed textiles

In this study, wool fibre samples were mordanted by means of 25% alum mordant solution. The mordanted wool samples were dyed in 50%Reseda luteola L. (weld), 20%Rhamnus petiolaris Boiss (buckthorn) and 50%Datisca cannabina L. (bastard hemp) dyebaths. A reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode‐array detection method was utilised for the identification of dyes in the dyed wool samples and the plant extracts. The extraction of dyes was carried out with a hydrogen chloride/methanol/water (2:1:1; v/v/v) mixture.     

rGO/CuO/PEDOT nanocomposite formation,its characterisation and electrochemical performances for supercapacitors

ABSTRACT

Supercapacitor properties of rGO, CuO, PEDOT and rGO/CuO at [rGO]_o/[CuO]_o?=?1:1; 1:1.5; 1:2 and rGO/CuO/PEDOT nanocomposite at [rGO]_o/[CuO]_o/[EDOT]_o?=?1:1:1; 1:1:3; 1:1:5 were investigated using chemical reduction of GO and in-situ polymerisation process. SEM-EDX, HRTEM, BET surface area analysis confirm the nanocomposite formations. Nanocomposite materials are also analysed through FTIR-ATR, Raman, TGA-DTA, GCD, CV and EIS. The highest specific capacitance of C _sp?=?156.7 F/g at 2?mV/s is determined as rGO/CuO/PEDOT at [rGO]_o/[CuO]_o/[EDOT]_o?=?1:1:5. In addition, two-electrode supercapacitor device for rGO/CuO/PEDOT at [rGO]_o/[CuO]_o/[EDOT]_o?=?1:1:5 are found to provide a maximum specific energy (E?=?14.15 Wh/kg at 20?mA) and specific power (P?=?24730 W/kg at 50?mA), electrical serial resistance (ESR?=?13.33 Ω) with good capacity retention after 3000 cycles. An equivalent circuit model of LR1(CR2)(QR3) is proposed to interpret the EIS data. The supercapacitor performance of the rGO/CuO/PEDOT nanocomposite electrode indicates the synergistic effect of hybrid supercapacitors.     

MoOx/Ag/MoOx multilayers as hole transport transparent conductive electrodes for n-type crystalline silicon solar cells

Substitution of highly doped layers with conventional transparent conductive electrodes as carrier collecting and selective contacts in conventional crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cell configurations is crucial in increasing affordability of solar cells by lowering material costs. In this study, oxide/metal/oxide (OMO) multilayers featuring molybdenum oxide (MoO_x) and silver (Ag) thin films are developed by thermal evaporation technique, as dopant-free hole transport transparent conductive electrodes (HTTCEs) for n-type c-Si solar cells. Semidopant-free asymmetric heterocontact (semi-DASH) solar cells on n-type c-Si utilizing OMO multilayers are fabricated. The effect of outer MoO_x layer thickness and Ag deposition rate on the photovoltaic characteristics of the fabricated semi-DASH solar cells are investigated. A comparison of front side pyramid textured and flat surface solar cells is performed to optimize the optical and electrical properties. Highest efficiency of 9.3% ± 0.2% is achieved in a pyramid textured semi-DASH c-Si solar cell with 15/10/30 nm of HTTCE structure.     

Getting a Grip on the Undrugged: Targeting β-Catenin with Fragment-Based Methods

Aberrant WNT pathway activation, leading to nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, is a key oncogenic driver event. Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene APC lead to impaired proteasomal degradation of β-catenin and subsequent nuclear translocation. Restoring cellular degradation of β-catenin represents a potential therapeutic strategy. Here, we report the fragment-based discovery of a small molecule binder to β-catenin, including the structural elucidation of the binding mode by X-ray crystallography. The difficulty in drugging β-catenin was confirmed as the primary screening campaigns identified only few and very weak hits. Iterative virtual and NMR screening techniques were required to discover a compound with sufficient potency to be able to obtain an X-ray co-crystal structure. The binding site is located between armadillo repeats two and three, adjacent to the BCL9 and TCF4 binding sites. Genetic studies show that it is unlikely to be useful for the development of protein–protein interaction inhibitors but structural information and established assays provide a solid basis for a prospective optimization towards β-catenin proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) as alternative modality.