Aromatic products of 340 °C supercritical-toluene extraction of two Turkish lignites: an n.m.r. study

Fractions of Elbistan and Seyitomer (Turkish) lignites, extracted with supercritical toluene at 340 °C and 8 MPa, have been separated by solvent extraction and silica-gel chromatography. Analyses by n.m.r. and i.r. spectroscopies and other methods have been combined in structural-analysis schemes to yield information about the average molecule in aromatic extracts. Carbon aromaticities, f_a, derived from 22.63 MHz ¹H-decoupled pulse Fourier-transform (PFT) ¹³C-n.m.r. are more widely spread for Elbistan (0.34–0.56) than for Seyitomer (0.40–0.43), and are lower than for supercritical-gas (SCG) products from bituminous coals. ¹³C-n.m.r. also reveals the presence of aromatic ether-O in polar fractions. Narrow aromatic signals in 100 MHz ¹H-n.m.r. spectra suggest the presence of single-aromatic-ring average structures. In the hexane-soluble aromatics, 27% (Elbistan) and 29% (Seyitomer) of the available sites are substituted by alkyI groups, some of which are at least eight carbon atoms long; the hexane-soluble polar and asphaltene/asphaltol fractions contain fewer such groups.     

A self‐correction technique for real‐time simulation of regulated rivers

An automatic self‐correction scheme is presented for online adjustment of stream‐flow forecasts during simulation of river systems with regulating structures, when actual flow data for interior points are available in real time. Another scheme is presented which allows for the modelling of channel losses due to physical effects such as evapotranspiration, bank storage and diversions. A previously developed river simulation/reservoir management model has been modified to include both schemes. The model is particularly useful for real‐time, short‐term flood forecasting and reservoir operation. The model application is made to the Lower Colorado River in Texas.     

A novel data preprocessing method to estimate the air pollution (SO2): neighbor-based feature scaling (NBFS)

The forecasting of air pollution is important for living environment and public health. The prediction of SO₂ (sulfur dioxide), which is one of the indicators of air pollution, is a significant part of steps to be done in order to decrease the air pollution. In this study, a novel feature scaling method called neighbor-based feature scaling (NBFS) has been proposed and combined with artificial neural network (ANN) and adaptive network–based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) prediction algorithms in order to predict the SO₂ concentration value is from air quality metrics belonging to Konya province in Turkey. This work consists of two stages. In the first stage, SO₂ concentration dataset has been scaled using neighbor-based feature scaling. In the second stage, ANN and ANFIS prediction algorithms have been used to forecast the SO₂ value of scaled SO₂ concentration dataset. SO₂ concentration dataset was obtained from Air Quality Statistics database of Turkish Statistical Institute. To constitute dataset, the mean values belonging to seasons of winter period have been used with the aim of watching the air pollution changes between dates of December, 1, 2003 and December, 30, 2005. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed method, the performance measures including mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), and IA (Index of Agreement) values have been used. After NBFS method applied to SO₂ concentration dataset, the obtained RMSE and IA values are 83.87–0.27 (IA) and 93–0.33 (IA) using ANN and ANFIS, respectively. Without NBFS, the obtained RMSE and IA values are 85.31–0.25 (IA) and 117.71–0.29 (IA) using ANN and ANFIS, respectively. The obtained results have demonstrated that the proposed feature scaling method has been obtained very promising results in the prediction of SO₂ concentration values.     

The effects of the addition of corn husk fibre,kaolin and beeswax on cross-linked corn starch foam

Significant efforts have recently been made to improve the physical properties of starch foams formed using baking processes. For example, cross-linking starch with 0.126 g/kg glyoxal considerably reduces the baking time, density and water absorption of starch foams. In this study, we attempted to further develop the physical properties of glyoxal cross-linked starch foam by adding corn husk fibre, kaolin, beeswax and combinations of these products. We also studied the effects of these components on the microstructure and physicochemical and mechanical properties of trays. Starch-based trays in which additives were used showed improved water resistance. The water absorption capacities of the trays were 13%, 14% and 9% when combinations of kaolin/beeswax, fibre/beeswax and fibre/kaolin/beeswax were added, respectively.     

The Isoelectric Point of Lead Magnesium Niobate

Lead magnesium niobate (PMN) is an important relaxor ferroelectric material commonly used in multilayer capacitor and actuator manufacturing owing to its high dielectric constant and superior electrostrictive properties. However, the isoelectric point of this material in water is not known and there is justification for a detailed investigation. In this work, the isoelectric point (IEP) of aqueous PMN suspensions were determined as a function of solids concentration. Results showed that IEP of the PMN suspensions strongly depended on the solids loading. The IEP was between pH 9 and 10 at particle concentrations between 10 to 20 vol%. The IEP shifted gradually to a lower pH value as the particle concentration decreased. Solubility experiments showed that Pb²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions dissolved from the PMN surface, especially in the acidic pH range. The study provides a new insight on the aqueous stability of perovskite materials which possess more than one soluble cation in their structure .     

Determining of heat balance design criteria for laying hen houses under continental climate conditions

This study focuses on the heat balance status of laying hen houses in regions with continental climate. The material consists of 45 laying hen houses from 27 commercial farms selected from the survey area where continental climate prevails. These laying hen houses differ from each other with respect to capacity, planning system and materials used in construction. First observations were conducted on the size and dimensions of laying hen houses as well as construction materials used, insulation, heat loss factors, ventilation capacity, ground space per hen and total size of laying hen house in order to assess the sufficiency of heat balance. Then, seven laying hen house models were developed. These models were developed by considering the present situation in operating laying hen houses, relevant literature, features of continental climate and suggestions made by firms manufacturing laying hen house construction materials in Turkey. These models give heat conduction coefficients that will prevent moisture concentration and ensure heat balance under continental climate conditions and suggest different sets of materials that can be used on walls and roofs. At the end of the study, under the condition of no moisture on surface of structural components and in areas where the indoor and outdoor temperatures are 25.3 °C and 20.2 °C, respectively, maximum total heat conduction coefficients are calculated to be between 1.38 and 1.73 Kcal/m² °C h. According to the features of area and housing, for providing heat balance, total heat conduction coefficients requirements are calculated to be between 0.62 and 2.08 Kcal/m² °C h for walls, 0.33 and 1.62 Kcal/m² °C h for roofs. In research area, minimum ventilation capacities are determined as 0.72 m³/h hen for carbon dioxide balance and, according to outdoor temperature, as 0.83–1.20 m³/h hen for water vapor balance. Heat loss factors are calculated to be between 0.10 and 0.15 Kcal/°C h hen. We believe that these suggestions will greatly facilitate the work of project engineers in the design of laying hen houses in regions and areas with continental climate.     

The effects of the pretreatment of intravenous high dose methylprednisolone on Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase and lipid peroxidation and early ultrastructural findings following middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat

The sodium-potassium activated and magnesium dependent adenosine-5'-triphosphatase (Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase EC.3.6.1.3.) activity and lipid peroxidation and early ultrastructural findings were determined in rat brain at the acute stage of ischaemia produced by permanent unilateral occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). The effects of the pretreatment with intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone (MP) on these biochemical indices and ultrastructural findings were also evaluated in the same model. The rats were divided into four groups. In group I, 10 rats were used to determine Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase activity and the extent of lipid peroxidation by measuring the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and normal ultrastructural findings. In group II on 20 rats, only subtemporal craniectomy was done in order to determine the effects of the surgical procedure on these indices and findings. This group was treated intravenously with saline solution before occlusion. In group III with MCA occlusion, saline solution was administered intravenously to 20 rats in the same amount of methylprednisolone used in group IV, ten minutes before the occlusion. In Group IV, a single high-dose (30 mg/kg) of methylprednisolone was administered intravenously, ten minutes before occlusion in 20 rats. After occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase activity was decreased promptly in the first ten minutes in the ischaemic hemisphere and remained at a lower level than the contralateral hemispheres in the same group and the normal levels in group I, during 120 minutes of ischaemia. A single dose methylprednisolone pretreatment prohibited the inactivation of Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase. On the other hand, there was significant difference in malondialdehyde content between group I and group III. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased following ischaemia and a non-significant increase was observed in the contralateral hemisphere. Methylprednisolone treatment significantly decreased malondialdehyde content on the side of the ischaemic hemisphere. We conclude that there is a positive relationship between membrane-bound enzyme Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase activity, malondialdehyde content and early ultrastructural changes in the treated group with MP. These data suggest that the pretreatment injection of high doses (30 mg/kg) methylprednisolone contribute to the protection of the brain from ischaemia with stabilization of the cell membrane by effecting the lipid peroxidation and the activation of Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase.     

Neural plasticity in adults with amblyopia

Amblyopia is a neuronal abnormality of vision that is often considered irreversible in adults. We found strong and significant improvement of Vernier acuity in human adults with naturally occurring amblyopia following practice. Learning was strongest at the trained orientation and did not transfer to an untrained task (detection), but it did transfer partially to the untrained eye (primarily at the trained orientation). We conclude that this perceptual learning reflects alterations in early neural processes that are localized beyond the site of convergence of the two eyes. Our results suggest a significant degree of plasticity in the visual system of adults with amblyopia.     

Limited-Damage A*: A path search algorithm that considers damage as a feasibility criterion

Pathfinding algorithms used in todays computer games consider the path length or a similar criterion as the only measure of optimality. However, these games usually involve opposing parties, whose agents can inflict damage on those of the others. Therefore, the shortest path in such games may not always be the safest one. Consequently, a new suboptimal offline path search algorithm based on the A¹ algorithm was developed, which takes the threat zones in the game map into consideration. Given an upper limit as the tolerable amount of damage for an agent, this algorithm searches for the shortest path from a starting location to a destination, where the agent may suffer damage less than or equal to the specified limit. Due to its behavior, the algorithm is called Limited-Damage A¹ (LDA¹). Performance of LDA¹ was tested in randomly-generated maze-like grid-based environments of varying sizes, and in hand-crafted fully-observable environments, in which 8-way movement is utilized. Results obtained from LDA¹ are compared with those obtained from Multiobjective A¹ (MOA¹), which is a complete and optimal algorithm that yields exact (best) solutions for every case. LDA¹ was found to perform much faster than MOA¹, yielding acceptable sub-optimality in path length.