Neural extension of experimental data to investigate using phosphogypsume in light brick production

In this study, usability of wastes produced in phosphoric acid plants in structural brick manufacture has been investigated. There are several parameters involved in using these wastes in brick production namely the rate of added waste, firing speed and firing temperature. The performance of these parameters can be measured by several criteria such as natural drying shortening, water absorption and weight loss. Therefore, so many experiments are needed to investigate the effects of these parameters on the bricks produced with these wastes. The result of a series of experiments were utilized to achieve this end. The results have shown that the industrial wastes considered improve the performance of the bricks in terms of the criteria mentioned above. However, the results have also shown that further investigations are needed to explore the effects of interim values on the performance of the bricks. To achieve that end, a neural experimental study is adopted. For this purpose, the results of the experiments conducted were used to construct an artificial neural network. The trained and tested network was then used to check the effects of 280 different combinations for each type of material mixtures mentioned. The outcome of these artificial tests have provided the optimal values for the waste addition rate, firing speed and firing temperature based on the four criteria mentioned previously.     

Combine Effects of Essential Oils and Packaging on Smoked Rainbow Trout Stored 4°C

In this study, the effect of essential oils (thyme and clove) and packaging treatments (vacuum and modified atmosphere) on the storage of hot smoked rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets over a period of 120 days at 4°C was investigated. Fillets were subjected to microbiological (total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, psychrotrophic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeast and mould), chemical analyses (pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and total volatile base nitrogen) and quality testing throughout the storage period. Difference in microbiological and chemical changes between samples was found to be significant (p < 0.05) during storage period. Sensory evaluation showed significant differences between the samples, and V2 and M2 samples were assessed as the most acceptable products by the panellists. In conclusion, essential oils treatment to hot smoking had a positive effect on shelf life of rainbow trout, especially clove oil showed more positive effect when compared with thyme oil. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The TeO2-Na2O System: Thermal Behavior,Structural Properties,and Phase Equilibria

Thermal behavior, structural properties, and phase equilibria of the (100−x)TeO₂-xNa₂O system were studied in the 5 ≤ x ≤ 50 mol% composition range. Investigation of glass formation behavior in the binary system was realized, and the glass formation range was determined as 7.5 ≤ x ≤ 40 mol%. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques were used for thermal and structural characterization of the glasses. Influence of Na₂O content on glass transition temperature (T_g), glass stability (∆T), density (ρ), molar volume (V_M), oxygen molar volume (V_O), and oxygen packing density (OPD) values of sodium tellurite glasses was evaluated considering the structural transformations in the glass network. For the phase equilibria studies, DTA, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDS) techniques were utilized to characterize the heat-treated samples. According to the phase equilibria studies, three eutectic regions were detected in the 0 < x < 50 mol% composition range of the (100−x)TeO₂-xNa₂O system. A new invariant endothermic reaction was detected for the compositions between 40 ≤ x ≤ 45 mol%. Na₂O.8TeO₂ (11.11 mol% Na₂O) compound that was claimed to exist in the binary system in the literature was found to be the metastable δ-TeO₂ phase.     

The effect of replacing fat with oat bran on fatty acid composition and physicochemical properties of meatballs

Oat bran was used as a fat substitute in the production of meatballs. The effect of oat bran addition on the fatty acid composition, trans fatty acids, total fat, some physicochemical and sensory properties of the samples was studied. Meatballs were produced with four different formulations; the addition of 5, 10, 15 and 20% oat bran. Control samples were formulated with 25% fat addition as in commercial production. The major fatty acids were cis-oleic, palmitic and stearic acid in all the meatball samples, those with oat bran added as well as the control. Meatballs containing oat bran had lower concentrations of total fat and total trans fatty acids than the control samples. Meatballs made with 20% oat bran had the highest protein, salt and ash contents, L value (lightness), b value (yellowness), and the lowest moisture content and a value (redness). There was no significant difference among the meatball samples with respect to sensory properties, and all samples had high acceptability.     

Determination of industrial pollution effects on citrus honeys with chemometric approach

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of essential, trace and toxic elements, such as K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Al, Ni, Sn, Pb and Cd in citrus honeys from different regions (industrialized and nonindustrialized) of Hatay, Turkey. K, Ca, Na and Mg were the most abundant elements, with mean contents of 363.5, 256.6, 88.1 and 37.7 mg/kg, respectively. The trace element mean contents ranged between 0.032 and 15.58 mg/kg. Significant differences in Fe, Cu, Al, Ni, Sn, Pb, Cd, Co and Sr levels were observed between two different regions. The findings that Fe, Cu, Al, Ni, Sn, Pb, Cd, Co and Sr contents in citrus honeys from industrialized regions were higher than citrus honeys from non-industrialized regions indicate that the honeys were affected by industrial pollution. Chemometric methods were applied to classify honey according to mineral content. Cluster analysis showed three clusters corresponding to the three different regions.     

Anticonvulsant activity of furanocoumarins and the essential oil obtained from the fruits of Heracleum crenatifolium

The anticonvulsant activity of furanocoumarins, coumarin mixture and the essential oil obtained from the fruits of Heracleum crenatifolium was examined against maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizures in mice. Bergapten showed significant anticonvulsant activity. The furanocoumarins isolated from the fruits of the plant were identified using thin-layer chromatography, melting points and spectroscopic methods (IR, MS, ¹H NMR) as isobergapten (1), pimpinellin (2), bergapten (3), isopimpinellin (4), sphondin (5) and byak-angelicol (6). The essential oil content of the fruits were found as 5.5%. Twenty-two compounds representing 99.3% of the essential oil obtained from the fruits of H. crenatifolium were determined and the major components were identified as octanol and octyl acetate (3.1% and 88.4% respectively) by GC and GC–MS.     

New Evaluated Semi-Empirical Formula Using Optical Model for 14–15 MeV (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>) Reaction Cross Sections

In the next century the world will face the need for new energy sources. Nuclear fusion can be one of the most attractive sources of energy from the viewpoint of safety and minimal environmental impact. Fusion will not produce CO₂ or SO₂ and thus will not contribute to global warming or acid rain. Achieving acceptable performance for a fusion power system in the areas of economics, safety and environmental acceptability, is critically dependent on performance of the blanket and diverter systems which are the primary heat recovery, plasma purification, and tritium breeding systems. Tritium self-sufficiency must be maintained for a commercial power plant. The hybrid reactor is a combination of the fusion and fission processes. For self-sustaining (D-T) fusion driver tritium breeding ratio should be greater than 1.05. So working out the systematics of (n, t) reaction cross-sections are of great importance for the definition of the excitation function character for the given reaction taking place on various nuclei at energies up to 20 MeV. In this study, we have calculated non-elastic cross-sections by using optical model for (n, t) reactions at 14–15 MeV energy. We have investigated the excitation function character and reaction Q-values depending on the asymmetry term effect for the (n, t) reaction cross-sections. We have obtained new coefficients for the (n, t) reaction cross-sections. We have suggested semi-empirical formulas including optical model nonelastic effects by fitting two parameters for the (n, t) reaction cross-sections at 14–15 MeV. We have discussed the odd–even effect and the pairing effect considering binding energy systematic of the nuclear shell model for the new experimental data and new cross-sections formulas (n, t) reactions developed by Tel et al. We have determined a different parameter groups by the classification of nuclei into even–even, even–odd and odd–even for (n, t) reactions cross-sections. The obtained cross-section formulas with new coefficients have been discussed and compared with the available experimental data.     

Synthesis of polymer supported Ni (II)-Schiff Base complex and its usage as a catalyst in sodium borohydride hydrolysis

Influence of using as catalysis, Ni-Schiff Base complex which we previously synthesized [1] used to support with amberzyme oxirane resin (A.O.R.) polymer for increasing the catalytic activity in NaBH₄ hydrolysis reaction, to hydrogen generation was studied. The prepared catalyst was characterized by using SEM, XRD, BET, FT-IR analyze technique. Polymer supported Ni-Schiff Base complex catalyzed NaBH₄ hydrolysis reaction was investigated depending on concentration of NaBH₄, concentration of NaOH, temperature, percentage of Ni complex in total polymer supported Ni-Schiff Base complex and amount of catalyst factors. The maximum hydrogen production rate from hydrolysis of sodium borohydride with nickel-based complex catalyst compared to the pure nickel catalyst is increased from 772 mL H₂·g^?1 cat.·min^?1 to 2240 mL H₂ g^?1 cat.·min^?1 [1], and with supported amberzyme oxirane resin polymer this nickel based complex catalyst was increased to 13000 mL H₂·g^?1 cat.·min^?1 at 30 °C. The activation energy of complex catalyzed NaBH₄ hydrolysis reaction was found as 25.377 kJ/mol. This work also includes kinetic information for the hydrolysis of NaBH₄.     

Effect of Bismuth on hydrogen storage properties of melt-spun LaNi4.7-x Al0.3Bix (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) ribbons

The LaNi₅ intermetallic compound is an AB5 type hydrogen storage alloy which exhibits low operating temperature, easy activation, low pressure and tolerance to impurities. In this study, LaNi_4.7-x Al_0.3Bi_x (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) alloys were produced by melt-spinning technique and the effects of Al and Bi additions on the microstructure, thermal and hydrogen storage properties of LaNi₅ were investigated. The results showed that substitution of Ni with Al led to a desired decrease in absorption/desorption plateau pressure and hysteresis without a decrease in hydrogen storage capacity. In contrast, Bi substitution with Ni increased the absorption/desorption plateau pressure, reduced the hydrogen capacity and increased pulverization resistance of the alloy due to the formation of BiLa and AlNi₃ intermetallic phases at the grain boundaries.     

A model of energy management analysis,case study of a sugar factory in Turkey

This study presents a case study of energy management in a sugar factory in Turkey. The main idea of the study is to analyse energy consumption, the quantity of material production, and figure out a suitable energy efficiency for the case study of a sugar factory subsequently. Firstly, a material production and energy consumption audit were performed for the sugar factory. Secondly, energy efficiency was calculated from the energy data. The SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) statistical software was used to ensure the accuracy of the data. The factory’s energy consumption was calculated as 43,590.25 toe (tons of oil equivalent) over the last year. These results were used for CUSUM (Cumulative Sum Deviation Method) graphics. This research poses the consumption of energy, cost of energy and the relationship between energy usage and material production of sugar. The unit of energy cost was 688.22 [$/toe] for the last year. This result showed that the factory decreased the unit of energy by optimisation. The results indicated that the investigated sugar factory should pay attention to the energy management issue in order to comply with the Energy Efficiency of Turkish Law and Directives.