The implementation of nonlinear dynamical systems with wavelet network

A dynamic wavelet network circuit implementation for modelling the nonlinear dynamical networks has been proposed in this study. The dynamical wavelet network includes static wavelet network with Mexican hat wavelet function, the voltage-controlled switches and capacitors. The circuit simulations have been done in Spice for the period-1 limit cycle, the spiral and double scroll attractors of the Chua's circuit.     

The Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers hierarchy in fluid-filled elastic tubes

In this work, contribution of higher order terms in modified reductive perturbation method is studied for the propagation of weakly nonlinear waves in fluid-filled elastic tubes. The basic set of equation of fluid and equation of tube is reduced to the Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers equation for the first order displacement component in the radial direction and a linear Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers inhomogeneous equation for the second order displacement component in the radial direction. Dynamical processes of the solitary waves have been numerically analyzed by solving the Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers equation for the first order and the linearized KdV-Burgers equation with an inhomogeneous equation for the second order using pseudo-spectral method.     

Renewable energy market conditions and barriers in Turkey

Decentralized wind, hydropower, biogas and biomass, geothermal, solar thermal and solar electricity energy systems are the most commonly found renewable energy technologies promoted for rural energy supply within sustainable developments programs. They are, therefore, seen to have a central place in the practice of sustainable development and in allowing less development countries to bypass the environmentally damaging fossil fuel intensive paths made by industrialized countries. On the political front, many less development countries are critical of pressure on them to adopt environmental energy technologies.Turkey is situated the meeting point of three continents (Asia, Europe and Africa) and stands as a bridge between Asia and Europe. The country is located in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. As Turkey’s economy has expanded in recent years, the consumption of primary energy has increased. Presently in order to increase the energy production from domestic energy resources, decrease the use of fossil fuels as well as reduce of green house gas emissions different renewable energy sources are used for energy production in Turkey. The share of energy production from renewable energy sources has increased during the last 10 years. Turkey must import most of the energy to meet her needs. Turkey also has a large potential for renewable energies. The lack of knowledge about renewable energy technologies by most policy-makers, potential consumers, and energy firm managers has played against renewable energy developments. The paper presents renewable energy used in Turkey and Europe Union and evaluation of the market conditions and barriers of renewable energy use in Turkey.     

Performance comparison of a pilot-scale membrane bioreactor and a full-scale sequencing batch reactor with sand filtration: treatment of low strength wastewater from a northern Canadian Aboriginal Community.

Northern Aboriginal communities in Canada suffer from poor wastewater treatment. Treatment systems on 75% of Manitoban Aboriginal communities produce substandard effluent despite the presence of sophisticated treatment systems. A 200-litre, pilot-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) was established on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation to investigate the feasibility of MBRs in mitigating Aboriginal wastewater treatment issues. The pilot system was remote controlled and monitored via the Internet using the program pcAnywhere. The community utilized two existing sequencing batch reactors (SBR) and three sand filters for wastewater treatment. The community wastewater was relatively weak and highly fluctuating which led to poorly settling sludge that readily fouled the sand filters. A comparison study between the MBR and SBR was undertaken from September to December 2003. Operated at a 10-hour hydraulic retention time and 20-day solids residence time, the MBR outperformed the SBR and sand filtration on BOD and suspended solids removal. Furthermore, the MBR showed high levels of nitrification despite relatively cold water temperatures.     

Antimicrobial Contamination Removal from Environmentally Relevant Matrices: A Literature Review and a Comparison of Three Processes for Drinking Water Treatment

The effectiveness of conventional water treatment technology in preventing the dissemination of antimicrobial contamination has been questioned due to significant rates of antibiotic resistance elements found both in solid wastes and in effluents. This implies that preventive efforts must cover both solid waste quality and effluent quality monitoring. This article presents a review of the occurrence data for a number of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance carriers along with the effectiveness of conventional and advanced technologies in the removal of antimicrobial contamination from various matrices. Although the current literature suggests that the advanced oxidation processes are more promising, cost viable oxidant doses may not be sufficient to reach targeted removal efficiencies especially in biosolids and manure. As a result, antimicrobial contamination can inevitably reach natural waters and contaminate drinking water sources. In this context, a comparison of the effectiveness of three oxidation processes on the removal of a resistance carrier bacterial plasmid DNA was studied. The relative effectiveness of ozonation or heterogeneous photocatalysis over conventional chlorination was demonstrated.     

Use of eye fluid refractive index in sardine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sardina pilchardus</Emphasis>) as a freshness indicator

In this study the usage of eye fluid refractive index as a freshness indicator for sardine (Sardina pilchardus) was investigated. Eye fluid refractive index measurements and quality control analyses of sardine during storage at 0°C and +4°C were performed at 24h intervals. According to the sensory analysis results, the sardines stored at 0°C and +4°C had a shelf life of 6 and 4days, respectively. The changes in eye fluid refractive index values during storage at 0°C were not significant while the changes at +4°C were significant (p<0.01). TVB-N and TMA-N values significantly (p<0.01) increased. No microbiological growth was observed at 0°C, however the increase in microorganism counts was significant at +4°C. As a result, eye fluid refractive index measurements can be used as a quality criterion for sardine freshness, when stored at +4°C.     

Inhibition of lipid oxidation in anchovy oil (Engraulis encrasicholus) enriched emulsions during refrigerated storage

The aim of this study was to produce a functional emulsion product enriched with anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus) oil. Tomato and garlic extracts were added to perform oxidative stability. Tomato and garlic extracts were added to avoid oxidative degradation in such a product. The plant extracts delayed the formation of primary and secondary oxidation products. The value of conjugated diens (3.07 ± 0.15) was markedly low in the emulsions containing garlic extract at the end of the storage period. The p–Av values of the emulsions treated with the extracts were significantly (P < 0.01) lower than untreated samples. TBARS formation increased slightly, therewithal statistical difference was not observed in the samples treated with garlic extract during the storage. Strong odour and flavour of the garlic suppressed the odour of fish oil. The panellists preferred the flavour, odour and aroma characteristics of the samples treated with the extracts.     

Effects of ochratoxin A on micronucleus frequenncy in human lymphocytes

Ochratoxin A (OTA( a nephrotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxin, was investigated to examine its potency to induce micronuclei (MN) in cultured human lymphocytes. Lymphocyte cultures were treated for the last 48 h with OTA at concentrations of 25 μM , 10 μM , 1 μM , 100 nM , 10 nM , 1 nM , and 100 pM and absolute ethanol. At the highest concentration, OTA was found to induce MN in cytokinesis‐blocked lymphocytes (p < 05). The 25 μM OTA concentration also led to a clear decrease in the percentage of binucleated cells, probably due to cytotoxicity. OTA at the other concentrations tested did not induce MN frequency. These results indicate that a high concentration of OTA is genotoxic in cultured human lymphocytes.     

Determinaton of proximate composition and mineral contents of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and swim crab (Portunus pelagicus) caught off the Gulf of Antalya

The proximate composition and mineral contents of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and swim crab (Portunus pelagicus), caught off the Gulf of Antalya, were investigated. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the nutritive value. Claw and body meat of these two species were analyzed. For both species there were no significant differences in the moisture, fat and ash contents of claw and body meats but protein contents of swim crab were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those found in blue crab. Na, K, Ca, Zn and Cu values for blue crab and swim crab were not significantly different. There were no significant differences between Na, K, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu contents of claw and body meats of the two species.     

Optimisation of formulations and infrared–microwave combination baking conditions of chestnut–rice breads

The main objective of this study was to design gluten‐free breads containing chestnut and rice flour and xanthan–guar gum blend to be baked in infrared–microwave combination oven. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimise gluten‐free bread formulations and processing conditions. Weight loss, firmness, specific volume and colour change of the breads were determined. Rice flour mixed with different proportions of chestnut flour and different emulsifier contents were used to prepare breads. The gluten‐free formulations were baked using different upper halogen lamp powers, microwave powers and baking time which were varied from 40% to 80%, 30% to 70% and 9 to 17 min, respectively. Gluten‐free breads and wheat breads baked in conventional oven were used for comparison. Breads containing 46.5% chestnut flour and 0.62% emulsifier and baked using 40% infrared and 30% microwave power for 9 min had statistically comparable quality with conventionally baked ones.