An analysis of energy use and input costs for cotton production in Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine direct input energy and indirect energy in per hectare in cotton production and compare with input costs. The study also sought to analyse the effect of farm size. Data were collected from sixty five farmers using a face to face questionnaire. The sample farms were selected through a stratified random sampling technique. The results revealed that cotton production consumed a total of 49.73 GJha⁻¹ of which diesel energy consumption was 31.1% followed by fertilizer and machinery energy. Output–input energy ratio and energy productivity were 0.74 and 0.06 kg of cotton MJ⁻¹, respectively. Cost analysis showed that net return per kilogram of seed cotton was insufficient to cover costs of production in the research area. The most important cost items were labour, machinery costs, land rent and pesticide costs. Large farms were more successful in energy productivity, use efficiency and economic performance. It was concluded that energy management at farm level could be improved to give more efficient and economic use of energy.     

Is unilateral breast enlargement always a sign of cancer?

Breast swelling is caused by many etiological factors, but should alert central vein occlusion in hemodialysis patients when the permanent vascular access is in the same arm. The swelling of the breast is caused by venous hypertension in the venous plexus draining the breast. Endovascular treatment relieves venous hypertension and related clinical signs. Additional diagnostic workup or invasive interventions such as a biopsy should be avoided in such patients, as diagnosis is straightforward with the presence of a functioning arteriovenous fistula in the same arm.     

Anodic behaviour of fulvestrant and its voltammetric determination in pharmaceuticals and human serum on highly boron-doped diamond electrode using differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry

The electrochemical oxidation of fulvestrant was made on highly boron-doped diamond electrode using differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The highest current intensities were obtained by applying +1.10 V during 150 s for boron-doped diamond electrode. For boron-doped diamond electrode, linear responses were obtained for the concentrations between 1 × 10⁻⁶ and 8 × 10⁻⁵ M in standard samples and between 1 × 10⁻⁶ and 4 × 10⁻⁵ M in serum samples. The repeatability of the method was 0.55 RSD% for differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The analytical values of the method are demonstrated by quantitative determination of fulvestrant in pharmaceutical formulations and human serum, without the need for separation or complex sample preparation, since there was no interference from the excipients and endogenous substances. Selectivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of the developed methods were demonstrated by recovery studies.     

Carbon corrosion characteristics of CN<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanostructures in acidic media and implications for ORR performance

Accelerated electrochemical corrosion of nitrogen-containing carbon (CN _x ) oxygen reduction catalysts was performed by a chronoamperometric hold at 1.2 V versus NHE in acidic electrolyte using a rotating disk electrode system. Cyclic voltammograms were used to measure the electrochemically active quinone/hydroquinone redox reaction couple indicating the degree of carbon corrosion. Half-cell testing of CN _x oxygen reduction catalyst materials showed superior carbon corrosion resistance compared to Vulcan carbon, the most ubiquitous cathode catalyst support. When oxygen reduction activity was measured before and after carbon corrosion, carbon corrosion resilience trended with the oxygen reduction activity. CN _x catalysts subjected to carbon corrosion testing did not show a change in the onset of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity potentials with only a slight reduction in current density, but showed improved ORR selectivity to the complete reduction of dioxygen to water.     

Energy and cost analysis for greenhouse and open-field grape production

The objective of this study was to examine the energy use patterns and cost of production in greenhouse and open-field grape production. Data used in the study were obtained from the experiment conducted at the Akdeniz university research field. In the study, energy values were calculated by multiplying the amount of inputs and outputs by the related energy conversion factors. The results indicated that total input energy use in greenhouse and open-field production was found to be 24513.0 and 23640.9 MJ/ha, respectively. However, the output energy of greenhouse grapes (73396.0 MJ/ha) was lower than open-field grapes (120596 MJ/ha). The output–input ratio for greenhouse and open-field grape production was found to be 2.99 and 5.10, respectively. The economic analysis revealed that production costs for greenhouse grapes were higher than open-field grapes but greenhouse grapes were more profitable than open-field due to premium prices for greenhouse grapes.     

Phase transition temperature in the Zr-rich corner of Zr–Nb–Sn–Fe alloys

The influence of small composition changes on the phase transformation temperature of Zr–1Nb–1Sn–0.2(0.7)Fe alloys was studied in the present work, by electrical resistivity measurements and metallographic techniques. For the alloy with 0.2 at.% Fe we have determined T_↔+β=741°C and T_+β↔β=973°C, and for the 0.7 at.% Fe the transformation temperatures were T_↔+β=712°C and T_+β↔β=961°C. We have verified that the addition of Sn stabilized the β phase.     

Nitrogen-Containing Carbon Nanostructures as Oxygen-Reduction Catalysts

Nitrogen-containing carbon nanostructure (CN _x ) catalysts developed by acetonitrile pyrolysis have been studied to better understand their role in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PEM and direct methanol fuel cell environments. Additional functionalization of the CN _x catalysts with nitric acid has the ability to improve both the activity and selectivity towards ORR.     

Novel Synthesis Techniques for Preparation of Co/CeO2 as Ethanol Steam Reforming Catalysts

Novel synthesis methods such as solvothermal decomposition, colloidal crystal templating, and reverse microemulsion have been used to prepare CeO₂-supported Co catalysts. These catalysts have shown much better catalytic performance than the catalysts prepared using conventional incipient wetness impregnation for Ethanol Steam Reforming. The improvement can be attributed to a better cobalt dispersion and a better Co–CeO₂ interaction for the catalysts prepared using these novel methods.     

Conversion disorder and its subtypes: a need for a reclassification

Four subtypes of conversion disorder were described in DSM-IV. There are few publications concerning studies aimed at separating the subtypes of the conversion disorder. Usually, pseudoseizures are in focus and attempts are made to differentiate these seizures from other disorders. The aim of the present study has been to investigate differences between the four subtypes of the conversion disorder and to discuss the possibilities for a reclassification. Ninety-five patients were seen by two researchers and diagnosed as conversion disorders. The subtypes were determined according to DSM-IV criteria. All completed the Patients Information Form, developed by the researchers, and the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES). Twenty-four (25.2%) of the patients had motor symptoms or deficits (Type 1), 5 (5.2%) sensory symptoms or deficits (Type 2), 23 (24.2%) seizures or convulsions (Type 3) and 43 (47.3%) had mixed presentations (Type 4). There were statistically significant differences between the subtypes as concerns occupation, family history of psychiatric disorders, hospitalizations and place of settlement. Furthermore, the DES scores were statistically different between the groups of patients with different subtypes of conversion disorder.