Geographical origin of imported and domestic teas (Camellia sinensis) from Turkey as determined by stable isotope signatures

In this study, stable isotope signatures (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and δD) of both tea leaves and tea infusions were investigated to identify the geographical origin of Turkish domestic and imported tea samples. Sixteen domestic tea samples collected from different locations in the Black Sea Region, which produces almost 100% of tea in Turkey, and 11 imported tea samples (Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and China) purchased from importers were studied. δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and δD in the samples were determined using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IR-MS). δ¹³C in the samples ranged from ?29.18 ± 0.01 to ?25.7 ± 0.2, while δ¹⁵N ranged between 1.1 ± 0.2 and 5.2 ± 0.8. However, δD in the samples were found to be in the range from 56.5 ± 0.3 to 72 ± 1. The classifications of the tea samples into domestic and imported tea samples were achieved with 100% accuracy using multivariate statistical analyses (principal component analysis, PCA, and hierarchical cluster analysis, HCA). In conclusion, the domestic tea samples had a distinctive isotopic fingerprint and the isotopic ratios used in the study can be significant predictors in determination of the geographical source of Turkish tea.     

Zero-Displacement Lateral Spreads, 1999 Kocaeli, Turkey, Earthquake

Three potential lateral spreads exhibited negligible displacements during the 1999 Kocaeli, Turkey Earthquake (Mw = 7.5) even though they were located within 7?km of the fault rupture. These spreads are analyzed to verify and augment current procedures for predicting liquefaction resistance and lateral spread displacement. The sites include ?ark Canal and Cumhuriyet Avenue in Adapazari, underlain by fine-grained sediment, and Degirmendere Nose adjacent to Izmit Bay, a steeply sloping area underlain by moderately dense silty sand. The plasticity index and moisture content criteria of Bray and Sancio set forth in 2006 indicate that much of the fine-grained sediment is liquefiable. Even though liquefaction likely occurred, lateral spreading did not occur due either to the dilative nature of fine-grained, sandlike sediments or the inherent strength of claylike sediments. Corrected blow counts, (N1)60, in moderately dense sand at Degirmendere Nose range from 15 to 25 blows/30?cm, indicating that liquefaction should have occurred but that the silty sand was too dense and dilative to deform. This finding is consistent with the MLR procedure of Youd et al. set forth in 2002 that identifies liquefiable sands with (N1)60 greater than 15 blows/30?cm as resistant to lateral spread during earthquakes with M<8.     

GRC5 and NMD3 function in translational control of gene expression and interact genetically

The yeast gene, GRC5 (growth control), is a member of the highly conserved QM gene family, the human member of which has been associated with the suppression of Wilms' tumor. GRC5 encodes ribosomal protein L10, which is thought to play a regulatory role in the translational control of gene expression. A revertant screen identified four spontaneous revertants of the mutant grc5-1ts allele. Genetic and phenotypic analysis showed that these represent one gene, NMD3, and that the interaction of NMD3 and GRC5 is gene-specific. NMD3 was previously identified as a component of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway. The point mutations within NMD3 reported here may define a domain important for the functional interaction of Grc5p and Nmd3p.     

Performance analysis and optimization of a hydrogen liquefaction system assisted by geothermal absorption precooling refrigeration cycle

The present paper deals with the hydrogen liquefaction with absorption precooling cycle assisted by geothermal water is modeled and analyzed. Uses geothermal heat in an absorption refrigeration process to precool the hydrogen gas is liquefied in a liquefaction cycle. High-temperature geothermal water using the absorption refrigeration cycle is used to decrease electricity work consumption in the gas liquefaction cycle. The thermoeconomic optimization procedure is applied using the genetic algorithm method to the hydrogen liquefaction system. The objective is to minimize the unit cost of hydrogen liquefaction of the composed system. Based on optimization calculations, hydrogen gas can be cooled down to ?30 °C in the precooling cycle. This allows the exergetic cost of hydrogen gas to be reduced to be 20.16 $/GJ (2.42 $/kg LH₂). The optimized exergetic cost of liquefied hydrogen is 4.905 $/GJ (1.349 $/kg LH₂), respectively.     

Environmental performance assessment of manufacturing sectors

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - This study addresses to rank the environmental performance of manufacturing sectors using Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment...     

Exergetic assessment of EAHEs for building heating in Turkey: A greenhouse case study

The present study undertakes an exergy analysis of earth to air heat exchanger (EAHE) and applies to a local one in Turkey. Namely, the exergy performance of an EAHE has been evaluated in a demonstration in Solar Energy Institute of Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Exergetic efficiencies of the system components are determined as an attempt to assess their individual performances. The daily maximum heating coefficient of performance (COP) value for the system is obtained to be 6.18. The total average COP in the experimental period is found to be 4.74.     

Alteration of renal blood flow during epidural anesthesia in normal subjects

The cardiovascular consequences of epidural anesthesia secondary to sympathetic blockade are well documented; however, their repercussions on renal hemodynamics in humans have not been reported. We investigated the effect of epidural anesthesia on renal blood flow (RBF) in 13 healthy volunteers 18-45 yr of age. RBF was measured using paraaminohippurate clearance before and after bilateral T6 epidural sensory block (to ensure adequate sympathetic renal nerve blockade). Epidural anesthesia was established using 22 +/- 3 mL of 2% plain lidocaine (without epinephrine) via L1-L2 epidural catheter; urine output was measured using a three-way Foley catheter. Mean arterial pressure remained > or = 70 mm Hg in all subjects without any pharmacologic intervention. Mean RBF before epidural anesthesia was 16.1 +/- 6.8 mL.kg-1.min-1 and 14.3 +/- 2.9 mL.kg-1.min-1 after bilateral T6 epidural blockade. We conclude that the institution of epidural anesthesia in healthy subjects does not result in a significant change in RBF (P > 0.25).     

Energy transfer studies from polymer bound naphthalene to anthracene in solution: translational and segmental diffusion rates

A graft copolymer of polyisobutylene with poly(methyl methacrylate) [PMMA] was prepared containing naphthalene [N] groups statistically distributed along the PMMA backbone. Fluorescence studies of dilute solutions of the polymer in ethyl acetate showed small amounts of N-excimer emission when the NMA/MMA ratio was 1:9, and undetectable excimer when the ratio was 2/98. Energy transfer experiments were carried out between polymer-bound naphthalene and anthracene [A] added to the solution. The rate constant for energy transfer, k_ET, for the process N* + A → N + A* was found to be 1.1 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 22°, slightly smaller than that (1.2 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) for energy transfer from naphthylmethyl pivalate to A. From the value of the rate constants, a value for the segmental diffusion coefficient of polymer bound naphthalene was calculated.     

Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spreading at Izmit Bay During the Kocaeli (Izmit)-Turkey Earthquake

This paper presents a study of liquefaction-induced lateral ground displacements along the coast of Izmit Bay during the 1999 Kocaeli (Izmit)-Turkey earthquake. The paper discusses: (1) observed ground displacements after the earthquake, (2) the results of field investigations by means of borings and in situ index tests, including standard penetration tests, static cone penetration tests, and piezocone tests, (3) analyses of expected lateral displacements using two empirical models and one semiempirical model, and (4) comparisons between observed and calculated lateral ground movements. The three models provide inconsistent predictions of observed lateral ground displacements, with one method overpredicting and two methods both overpredicting and underpredicting observed lateral ground displacements by large amounts. Thus, it appears that there is a need for improved engineering tools for prediction of small to moderately significant lateral ground displacements (lateral displacements of approximately 0.1–2.5?m) at soil sites with similar ground characteristics to the case history sites presented herein.