A qualitative case study of the impact of environmental and personal factors on prominent Turkish writers.

This study investigates environmental factors that impact the lives of highly creative writers, specifically, novelists in a specific sociocultural context, Turkey. A qualitative multiple case study where the participants were four highly acclaimed Turkish novelists—Ya?ar Kemal (b. 1923, male), Adalet A?ao?lu (b. 1927, female), Mario Levi (b. 1957, male), and Latife Tekin (b. 1957, female)—was conducted. Interviews with the participants, as well as other printed documents related to the participants were used as data sources. The constant comparative method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Lincoln & Guba, 1985) was used as the method of analysis. This article presents the overarching themes that emerged from the data and the general conclusions of the analysis. Findings emphasize the importance of various environmental factors, emotional and professional support networks, and participants’ self-efficacy for the participants’ creativity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quality of life is not related with liver disease severity but with anemia, malnutrition, and depression in HCV-infected hemodialysis patients

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may deteriorate quality of life. The relationship between HCV infection and quality of life in hemodialysis (HD) patients is unknown. The demographic characteristics, comorbidities, biochemical parameters, and Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS) were recorded. Child-Pugh classification, Beck Depression Inventory, and SF-36 were performed. Liver histopathology was examined. Thirty-two patients (21 Child-Pugh-A, 11 Child-Pugh-B) were included. There was high-grade portal necroinflammatory activity in 14, high-grade lobular necroinflammatory activity in 26, and hepatic fibrosis in 19 patients. Three patients had cirrhosis. Patients with a high stage of liver fibrosis had lower social functioning scores than patient with a low stage of fibrosis (P= 0.011). The only correlation was between aspartate aminotransferase and the physical function subscale (r=−0.395, P= 0.025). None of the SF-36 scores differed between Child-Pugh A and B patients. Instead, most of the SF-36 subscale and summary scores were related with hemoglobin, albumin, MIS and Beck Depression Score. Quality of life in HCV-infected HD patients was independent of liver disease severity anchors, but was correlated with anemia, malnutrition, and depression.     

An experimental study on shear stress characteristics of polymers in plasticating single‐screw extruders

Frictional forces (for temperatures less than the melting or devitrification temperature) and viscous forces (for higher temperatures) have important roles on solids conveying and melting processes in plasticating single‐screw extruders. These forces are related to the shear stresses at polymer–metal interfaces. For temperatures at which the frictional forces are the main factor for the shear stresses, it is experimentally difficult to obtain the shear stresses at the polymer–metal interface. The interpretation of the data has further complications due to the frictional energy dissipation at the polymer–metal interface. An instrument called the Screw Simulator was used for further understanding of shear stresses at the polymer–metal interface and comparison of melting fluxes of different resins. This article presents the shear stress and melting flux measurements for low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear LDPE (LLDPE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and high‐impact polystyrene (HIPS) resins as a function of sliding velocity and interface temperature at a fixed pressure of 0.7 MPa. The relationship between the experimental data and the extrusion process is also discussed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Synthesis of active carbon-based catalysts by chemical vapor infiltration for nitrogen oxide conversion

Direct reduction of nitrogen oxides is still a challenge. Strong efforts have been made in developing noble and transition metal catalysts on microporous support materials such as active carbons or zeolites. However, the required activation energy and low conversion rates still limit its breakthrough. Furthermore, infiltration of such microporous matrix materials is commonly performed by wet chemistry routes. Deep infiltration and homogeneous precursor distribution are often challenging due to precursor viscosity or electrostatic shielding and may be inhibited by pore clogging. Gas phase infiltration, as an alternative, can resolve viscosity issues and may contribute to homogeneous infiltration of precursors. In the present work new catalysts based on active carbon substrates were synthesized via chemical vapor infiltration. Iron oxide nano clusters were deposited in the microporous matrix material. Detailed investigation of produced catalysts included nitrogen oxide adsorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Catalytic activity was studied in a recycle flow reactor by time-resolved mass spectrometry at a temperature of 423 K. The infiltrated active carbons showed very homogeneous deposition of iron oxide nano clusters in the range of below 12 to 19 nm, depending on the amount of infiltrated precursor. The specific surface area was not excessively reduced, nor was the pore size distribution changed compared to the original substrate. Catalytic nitrogen oxides conversion was detected at temperatures as low as 423 K.     

Messmodelle im Ingenieurbauwesen. Eine Bilanz

Measurement models in civil engineering. A review The research project “‘Last Witnesses’ Measurement Models in Civil Engineering – Scientific Significance and Preservation” was funded as part of the priority program 2255 “Construction as Cultural Heritage” of the German Research Foundation (DFG) and consists of three sub-projects divided between the University of Innsbruck, the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and the Technical University of Munich. The project aimed to locate the last surviving measurement models in German-speaking countries, document them, classify them in terms of construction history, digitise them and evaluate their state of conservation. This report is intended to provide an overview of the initial situation, the approaches, the difficulties and the results and findings achieved in the project.