Artificial neural networks and adaptive neuro-fuzzy assessments for ground-coupled heat pump system

This article present a comparison of artificial neural network (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) applied for modelling a ground-coupled heat pump system (GCHP). The aim of this study is predicting system performance related to ground and air (condenser inlet and outlet) temperatures by using desired models. Performance forecasting is the precondition for the optimal design and energy-saving operation of air-conditioning systems. So obtained models will help the system designer to realize this precondition. The most suitable algorithm and neuron number in the hidden layer are found as Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) with seven neurons for ANN model whereas the most suitable membership function and number of membership functions are found as Gauss and two, respectively, for ANFIS model. The root-mean squared (RMS) value and the coefficient of variation in percent (cov) value are 0.0047 and 0.1363, respectively. The absolute fraction of variance (R²) is 0.9999 which can be considered as very promising. This paper shows the appropriateness of ANFIS for the quantitative modeling of GCHP systems.     

A new technique of processing for waste-expanded polystyrene foams as aggregates

In daily life, expanded polystyrene foams (EPS) are widely used as packaging material, construction material, and in household appliances as well as many others. On the other hand, waste EPS has caused lots of environmental pollutions because it cannot be decomposed in nature. Utilization of waste EPS in concrete technology is more common. In this study, a new recycling process developed of the waste EPS foams by using heat treatment. Its characters and process are described in this paper, as well as its experimental system. This technique reduces the volume of waste EPS about 20 times of the original. Before the heat treatment, the average density, thermal conductivity and compressive strength of waste EPS foams were 10 kg/m³, 0.0368 W/mK, and 0.12 MPa, respectively. The best result of modification was determined at 130 °C and 15 min. After the modification, density, thermal conductivity and compressive strength of waste EPS, increased to 217 kg/m³, 0.0555 W/mK and 8.29 MPa, respectively. This new material, which is obtained after the heat treatment, is called modified waste EPS (MEPS).     

Comparison of clustering algorithms for analog modulation classification

This study introduces a comparative study of implementation of clustering algorithms on classification of the analog modulated communication signals. A number of key features are used for characterizing the analog modulation types. Four different clustering algorithms are used for classifying the analog signals. These most representative clustering techniques are K-means clustering, fuzzy C-means clustering, mountain clustering and subtractive clustering. Performance comparison of these clustering algorithms and the advantages and disadvantages of the methods are examined. The validity analysis is performed. The study is supported with computer simulations.     

Performance-Optimized Design for Parametric Reliability

Process variations have a significant impact on behavior of integrated circuits (ICs) designed in deep sub-micron (DSM) technologies, and it has been estimated that in some cases up to a generation of performance can be lost due to process variations (Bowman et al., IEEE J Solid State Circuits 37:183–190, 2002), making it a significant problem for design and manufacture of DSM ICs. Adaptive design techniques are fast evolving as a potential solution to this problem. Such techniques facilitate reconfiguration of an IC to enable its operation across process corners, thus ensuring parametric reliability in such ICs, and also improving manufacturing yield. In this paper, adaptive design techniques with a focus on timing of ICs, i.e., performance-optimized adaptive design, are explored. The focus of such performance-optimized adaptive design techniques is to ensure that adaptation does not cause an IC to violate timing specifications, thus giving priority to performance, which remains one of the most important parameters of an IC.     

Exergoeconomic assessment of a geothermal assisted high temperature steam electrolysis system

Exergoeconomic formulations and procedure including exergy flows and cost formation and allocation within a high temperature steam electrolysis (HTSE) system are developed, and applied at three environmental temperatures. The cost accounting procedure is based on the specific exergy costing (SPECO) methodology. Exergy based cost-balance equations are obtained by fuel and product approach. Cost allocations in the system are obtained and effect of the second-law efficiency on exergetic cost parameters is investigated. The capital investment cost, the operating and maintenance costs and the total cost of the system are determined to be 422.2, 2.04, and 424.3 €/kWh, respectively. The specific unit exergetic costs of the power input to the system are 0.0895, 0.0702, and 0.0645 €/kWh at the environmental temperatures of 25 °C, 11 °C, and −1 °C, respectively. The exergetic costs of steam are 0.000509, 0.000544, and 0.000574 €/kWh at the same environmental temperatures, respectively. The amount of energy consumption for the production of one kg hydrogen is obtained as 133 kWh (112.5 kWh power + 20.5 kWh steam), and this corresponds to a hydrogen cost of 1.6 €/kg H₂.     

THERMAL REACTIVITIES OF SOME TURKISH LIGNITES

A DTA study has been made to investigate the thermal reactivities of five Turkish lignites (Elbistan, Ilgin, Karliova, Xangal, Yatagan) in an air atmosphere. The coal samples exhibited thermal reactivity at temperatures starting from 20 °C and continuing up to 671 °C. Endothermic peaks were observed at the lower end of the temperature range, the highest endothermic peak temperature being 146°C for Elbistan lignite. Exothermic peaks appeared at around 260, 360 and 600 °C. These temperatures are considered to signify the release and combustion of single benzene ring structures and combustion of condensed aromatic rings respectively. Corresponding stages are observed in the TGA traces. After correcting for differences in methodology, the overall heat effects measured by DTA are within greater than 90% of the calorific values of the coal samples determined by bomb calorimetry.     

Controlled release of imatinib mesylate from PLGA microspheres inhibit craniopharyngioma mediated angiogenesis

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres loaded with imatinib mesylate has been developed as a new therapeutic strategy to prevent craniopharyngioma recurrence. Microspheres composed of different lactic/glycolic acid ratios, molecular weights and drug compositions were synthesized and loaded with imatinib mesylate by modified double-emulsion/solvent evaporation technique and subsequently characterized by particle-size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release. Inhibitory potential of imatinib containing microspheres on tumor neovascularization was investigated on craniopharyngioma tumor samples by rat cornea angiogenesis assay. Results showed that microspheres in different LA:GA ratios [LA:GA 50:50 (G50), 75:25 (G25), 85:15 (G15)] considerably reduced neovascularization induced by recurrent tumor samples in an in vivo angiogenesis assay (P < 0.01). Our data indicate that local delivery of imatinib mesylate to the post-surgical tumoral cavity using biodegradable microspheres may be a promising biologically selective approach to prevent the recurrence of craniopharyngiomas, via inhibition of neovascularization.     

Effects of some drugs on hepatic glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in Lake Van fish (Chalcalburnus tarischii Pallas, 1811)

Inhibitory effects of some drugs on hepatic glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Lake Van fish (chalcalburnus tarischii pallas, 1811) were investigated. For this purpose, initially liver glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was purified 899-fold in a yield of 46.24% by using 2',5'-ADP Sepharose 4B affinity gel. In order to control the purification of enzyme was done SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band for enzyme. A constant temperature (+4 degrees C) was maintained during the purification process. Enzyme activity was determined with the Beutler method by using a spectrophotometer at 340 nm. Vankomycine, sulfanylamide, sulfanylacetamide, nidazole, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin and KMnO(4) were used as drugs. These drugs exhibited inhibitory effects on the enzyme. IC(50) values of vankomycine, sulfanylamide, sulfanylacetamide, nidazole, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin and KMnO(4) were 1.88, 0.037, 0.032, 1.178, 2.26, 643.5 and 0.0002 mM, and the K(i) constants 1.18+/-0.148, 0.119+/-0.021, 0.075+/-0.015, 1.15+/-0.21, 7.69+/-0.67, 1007+/-69, and 0.001+/-0.00022 mM, respectively. While vankomycine and nidazole showed competitive inhibition, others displayed noncompetitive inhibition. K(i) constants and IC(50) values for drugs were determined by Lineweaver-Burk graphs and plotting activity percentage versus [I], respectively.     

Statin use is associated with lower inflammation and erythropoietin responsiveness index in hemodialysis patients

Patients with end-stage renal disease are prone to inflammation and inflammation is related to erythropoietin-stimulating agent hyporesponsiveness and mortality in this population. Statins have been demonstrated to reduce cardiovascular mortality in selected populations of end-stage renal disease patients. These drugs have pleiotrophic effects such as anti-inflammation. In this retrospective analysis, we determined whether the use of statins improves inflammation and inflammation-related anemia in a cohort of hemodialysis patients. Data were analyzed from Fresenius Medical Care Dialysis Clinics in Turkey between 2005 and 2007. Seventy prevalent hemodialysis patients who were on statins at the start of the study and have been on statins during follow-up (statin users) and 1293 patients who were not on statin at the start of the study and had never been prescribed any lipid-modifying drugs during follow-up (statin nonusers) were included in the study. High-sensitive C-reactive protein levels were significantly decreased in statin users (1.50±1.49 vs. 1.33±1.11 mg/L, P=0.05) compared with nonusers (1.93±3.22 vs. 2.05±2.77 mg/L). Hemoglobin levels and the rate of erythropoietin-stimulating agent users were similar. However, the prescribed erythropoietin-stimulating agent dose (31.6±27.5 vs. 47.3±45.2 U/kg/week, P<0.05) and the erythropoietin response index (2.90±2.73 vs. 4.51±4.48 U/kg/week/Hb, P=0.001) were lower in statin users compared with statin nonusers. On stepwise multiple regression analysis, gender, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, duration of hemodialysis, serum ferritin, and statin use were independent determinants of the erythropoietin responsiveness index. Our results suggest that statin treatment leads to lower inflammation and improves hematopoiesis in hemodialysis patients.     

Vertical distribution of heavy metals in wastewater-irrigated vegetable garden soils of three West African cities

Application of untreated wastewater to irrigate urban vegetable gardens is raising serious concern about possible health risks associated with the consumption of these vegetables particularly with regard to the concentrations of heavy metals (HM) in their edible portions. The soil concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn), were investigated in seven vegetable gardens from the three West African cities of Kano (Nigeria), Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) and Sikasso (Mali). Also determined were input–output balances of Cd and Zn from five vegetable gardens under 30 years of wastewater irrigation in Kano. In these gardens Cd (2.3–4.8 mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (13–285 mg kg⁻¹) concentrations throughout the profile attained unsafe levels. The concentrations of Cu (0.8–18 mg kg⁻¹), Cr (1.8–72 mg kg⁻¹), Ni (0–17 mg kg⁻¹) and Pb (0.6–46 mg kg⁻¹) were below the safety thresholds for arable soils. Overall, concentrations of Zn, Cd, Pb and Ni were higher in Kano than in Bobo-Dioulasso and Sikasso. Input–output analyses in Kano indicated that irrigation wastewater contributed annually 400–3,700 g Cd ha⁻¹ and 7,200–22,300 g Zn ha⁻¹, fertilizer 30–2,100 g Cd ha⁻¹ 50–17,600 g Zn ha⁻¹, harmattan dust 0.02–0.4 g Cd ha⁻¹ and 40–200 g Zn ha⁻¹ while 300–500 g Cd ha⁻¹ and 2,700–4,700 g Zn ha⁻¹ came from rainwater inputs. Input–output calculations subtracting the amounts of HM taken out in vegetable biomass and that lost to leaching from total inputs yielded an annual net positive balance of 700–4,160 g Cd ha⁻¹ and 9,350–39,700 g Zn ha⁻¹. If such balances remain unchanged for another 10–20 years vegetables raised in these garden fields are likely to be unsuitable for human consumption.