Nuclear AgNOR protein enhancement in nucleoplasms of peripheral blood lymphocytes of babies/children with down syndrome

Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most common chromosomal disorders. The factors contributing to the mental retardation together with other defects in this syndrome have not been fully explained. Individuals with DS have extra rRNA gene family since they carry an extra chromosome 21. The few reports available are on the relationship between the nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) and DS phenotype. The in vivo regulation of NORs expression on the extra chromosome 21 is not completely understood. Previous studies have shown that nucleoli of lymphocytes from infants (mostly neonates) with DS contain more in vivo and in vitro nucleolar AgNOR proteins when compared with healthy infants. The objective of this study is to compare the in vivo nuclear AgNOR protein level in nucleoplasms (also called as karyoplasm) of nonstimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes from babies/children with DS and healthy controls. Peripheral blood samples obtained from 20 babies/children with DS and 20 matched healthy controls were smeared on clean glass slides and then AgNOR staining was performed. The AgNOR protein level in nucleoplasms of lymphocytes from both groups was calculated using a computer program. Nearly 100 interphase nuclei per individual were analysed. Average nuclear AgNOR protein levels in nucleoplasms of lymphocytes from babies/children with DS were found to be significantly higher than those of the controls (P < 0.001). On the basis of our present results, we propose that the increase of nuclear AgNOR protein in in vivo conditions may contribute to the formation of DS phenotypes. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:133–139, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Erythromycin residue in honey from the Southern Marmara region of Turkey

Honey samples, collected from the Southern Marmara region of Turkey, were analysed for erythromycin residues by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization in the positive ion mode (LC–ESI–MS). Fifty samples, comprising chestnut, pine, linden and multi-flower honeys, were collected directly from hives and analyzed. The limit of detection and quantification were 6 and 20 ng g^?1, respectively, and recovery ranged from 85 to 89%. Four of the honey samples (8%) were found to be contaminated with erythromycin residues at concentrations ranging from 50 to 1776 ng g^?1. An erythromycin-fortified cake feeding assay was also performed in a defined hive to test the transfer of erythromycin residue to the honey matrix. In this test hive, the residue level in the honey, 3 months after dosing, was approximately 28 ng g^?1.     

Free vibration analysis of an adhesively bonded functionally graded double containment cantilever joint

In this study, Genetic Algorithms (GAs) combined with the proposed neural networks were implemented to the free vibration analysis of an adhesively bonded double containment cantilever joint with a functionally graded plate. The proposed neural networks were trained and tested based on a limited number of data including the natural frequencies and modal strain energies calculated using the finite element method. GA evaluates a value generated iteratively by an objective function and this value is calculated by the finite element method. The iteration process restricts us apparently to use directly the finite element method in our multi-objective optimisation problem in which the natural frequency is maximised and the corresponding modal strain energy is minimised. The proposed neural networks were used accurately to predict the natural frequencies and modal strain energies instead of calculating directly them by using the finite element method. Consequently, the computation time and efforts were reduced considerably. The adhesive joint was observed to tend vertical bending modes and torsional modes. Therefore, the multi-objective optimisation problem was limited to only the first mode which appeared as a bending mode. The effects of the geometrical dimensions and the material composition variation through the plate thickness were investigated. As the material composition of the horizontal plate becomes ceramic rich, both natural frequency and modal strain energy of the adhesive joint increased regularly. The plate length and plate thickness were more effective geometrical design parameters whereas the support length and thickness were less effective. However, the adhesive thickness had a small effect on the optimal design of the adhesive joint as far as the natural frequencies and modal strain energies are concerned. The distributions of optimal solutions were also presented for the adhesive joints with fundamental joint lengths and material compositions in reference to their natural frequencies and corresponding modal strain energies.     

Power quality assessment of grid-connected wind farms considering regulations in turkey

This paper presents measurement system and detailed analysis of power quality at the substation of two different wind farm sites which are of low and high power rate. Measurement system has been designed using a data acquisition board (DAQ), Labview software, Matlab programming and a portable PC. The system has been installed at medium voltage level at substation of both wind farms. The real measurement results at substations are compared to current regulations in Turkey.     

Effects of random particle dispersion and size on the indentation behavior of SiC particle reinforced metal matrix composites

This study investigates the effects of particle size, volume fraction, random dispersion and local concentration underneath a spherical indenter on the indentation response of particle reinforced metal matrix Al 1080/SiC composites. The ceramic particles in certain sizes and volume fractions were randomly distributed through the composite structure in order to achieve a similar structure to an actual microstructure as possible. The particle size and volume fraction affected considerably indentation depths and deformed indentation surface profiles. The indentation depth increases with increasing particle size, but decreases with increasing particle volume fraction. The experimental indentation depths were in agreement with numerical indentation depths in case the local particle concentration effect is considered. The local particle concentration plays an important role on the peak indentation depth. For small particle sizes and large volume fractions the random particle distribution affects the deformed surface profiles as well as the indentation depths. However, its effect is minor on residual stress and strain distributions rather than levels in the indentation region.     

Elastic response of functionally graded circular plates under a drop-weight

The three-dimensional impact behaviours of functionally graded (FG) circular plates were studied under a drop-weight. The functionally graded circular plate was composed of ceramic (SiC) and metal (Al) phases and the through-thickness mechanical properties through the region between the metal and ceramic layers vary continuously according to a power-law distribution of the volume fraction of the ceramic. The through-thickness material properties of the FG circular plate were determined using the Mori–Tanaka scheme. The effects of layer number and compositional gradient exponent as well as impactor velocity and plate radius on the elastic impact response of the FG circular plates were investigated. The compositional gradient exponent, impactor velocity and plate radius played an important role on the impact response of the FG circular plates, whereas the layer number through the plate thickness had a minor effect. In addition, the failure strains in all layers were determined using Tamura–Tomota–Ozowa (TTO) model in order to predict the damage regions in each layer through the thickness of FG circular plates.     

Numerical modeling and simulation of wheel radial fatigue tests

A computational methodology is proposed for fatigue damage assessment of metallic automotive components and its application is presented with numerical simulations of wheel radial fatigue tests. The technique is based on the local strain approach in conjunction with linear elastic FE stress analyses. The stress–strain response at a material point is computed with a cyclic plasticity model coupled with a notch stress–strain approximation scheme. Critical plane damage parameters are used in the characterization of fatigue damage under multiaxial loading conditions. All computational modules are implemented into a software tool and used in the simulation of radial fatigue tests of a disk-type truck wheel. In numerical models, the wheel rotation is included with a nonproportional cyclic loading history, and dynamic effects due to wheel–tire interaction are neglected. The fatigue lives and potential crack locations are predicted using effective strain, Smith–Watson–Topper and Fatemi–Socie parameters using computed stress–strain histories. Three-different test conditions are simulated, and both number of test cycles and crack initiation sites are estimated. Comparisons with the actual tests proved the applicability of the proposed approach.     

Synthesis, characterization and structure effects on preconcentration and extraction of N,N'-bis-(salicylaldehydene)-1,4-bis-(p-aminophenoxy) butane towards some divalent cations

Separation with solvent extraction of Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) from aqueous solution using N,N'-bis-(salicylaldehydene)-1,4-bis-(p-aminophenoxy)butane (H(2)L) as the new extractant has been studied. The new Schiff base, was synthesized by reaction of 1,4-bis-(p-aminophenoxy)butane and salicylaldehyde. Microanalytical data, elemental analysis, UV-vis (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectra and IR-spectra were used to confirm the structures. The extractability and selectivity of divalent cations was evaluated as a function of relationship between distribution ratios of the metal and pH or ligand concentration. Cu(+2) showed the highest extractability and selectivity at pH 7.8, whereas Ni(+2) and Co(+2) showed at pH 9.2. From the loaded organic phase, Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II) stripping were carried out in one stage with aqueous acid solution including various concentrations of HCl. The stripping efficiency was found to be quantitative in case of 1.5M HCl. From quantitative evaluation of the extraction equilibrium data, it has been deduced that the complexes extracted are the simple 1:1 chelates, CuL, CoL, NiL.