Direct observation of maternal sensitivity and dyadic interactions in the home: Relations to maternal thinking.

This study assessed whether 3 forms of maternal views (recall of her own parental acceptance, the sense of self, and perceptions of the child) are related to each other and to mother–child interaction. The Mother–Father–Peer Scale was sent to mothers of infants aged 11–19 mo; 37 mothers were selected as extremes on the basis of the Acceptance subscale. Ss were observed in their homes using Ainsworth-type observations. The Maternal Sensitivity Scale, Dyadic Physical Avoidance Scale, and Dyadic Harmony Classification by M. D. Ainsworth et al (1978) were used. Mothers were sent questionnaires assessing the sense of self and perceptions of the child. There was 84% concordant classification between recall of parental acceptance and the observationally assessed dyadic harmony classification. Furthermore, mothers' recall of parental acceptance, perception of infant responsiveness, covert anxiety, and the observational measures showed intriguing relationships with each other. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of recycling number on the mechanical,chemical, thermal,and rheological properties of PBT/PC/ABS ternary blends: With and without glass‐fiber

The recycling possibilities of poly(butylene terephthalate)/polycarbonate/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (PBT/PC/ABS) ternary blend with and without glass‐fiber content were investigated using repeated injection molding process. In this study, PBT/PC/ABS ternary blends were reprocessed at five times and the results were presented after each recycling process. The recycling possibility of PBT/PC/ABS ternary blend was evaluated by measuring the mechanical, chemical, thermal, and rheological properties. Mechanical properties were determined by the tensile strength, yield strength, strain at break, elastic modulus, impact strength, flexural strength, and flexural modulus. Chemical and thermal properties were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Rheological properties of the ternary blends were studied by melt flow index measurement. From the results, it was found that mechanical properties of recycled composites were better than virgin PBT/PC/ABS ternary blends. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:2074–2084, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Plasma polymerization‐modified bacterial polyhydroxybutyrate nanofibrillar scaffolds

The design and the development of novel scaffold materials for tissue engineering have attracted much interest in recent years. Especially, the prepared nanofibrillar scaffold materials from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers by electrospinning are promising materials to be used in biomedical applications. In this study, we propose to produce low‐cost and cell‐friendly bacterial electrospun PHB polymeric scaffolds by using Alcaligenes eutrophus DSM 545 strain to PHB production. The produced PHB was characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Nanofibrous scaffolds were fabricated via electrospinning method that has a fiber diameter approximately 700–800 nm. To investigate cell attachment, cell growth, and antioxidant enzyme activity on positively and negatively charged PHB scaffold, PHB surface was modified by plasma polymerization technique using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and ethylenediamine (EDA). According to the results of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity study, PEG‐modified nanofibrillar scaffolds indicated more cellular resistance against oxidative stress compared to the EDA modification. As can be seen in cell proliferation results, EDA modification enhanced the cell proliferation more than PEG modification, while PEG modification is better as compared with nonmodified scaffolds. In general, through plasma polymerization technique, surface modified nanofibrillar structures are effective substrates for cell attachment and outgrowth. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Is it PAO-GAO competition or metabolic shift in EBPR system? Evidence from an experimental study

Reduced EBPR performance in full and bench-scale EBPR studies was linked to the proliferation of GAOs but often time with the lack of any evidence. In this study, a detailed enzymatic study was coupled with batch tests and electron microscopy results for a realistic explanation. The results eliminated the possibility of population shift from PAO to GAO or other non-PAO due to the short batch test period provided which would not allow a population shift and further justified with the electron microscopy results. The results indicate that glycogen serves not only as source of reducing power for PHA production but also serves as an alternative energy source when the poly-P pool of the PAOs is depleted. Slow generation of ATP via glycolytic pathway at 5 degrees C cannot satisfy energy requirements of EBPR cells to complete several cell functions including acetate uptake and PHA storage. However, the glycolytic pathway is efficiently operable at warm temperatures (> 20 degrees C). The reduced performance of enhanced EBPR facilities operated at warm temperature may not be a result of GAO proliferation; instead it may be related the efficient use of the glycolytic pathway by PAOs which results in more glycogen storage and less P uptake, thereby reducing the EBPR performance.     

Analysis of the impact of science and technology on energy R and D

A pilot study for Turkey, which analyzes the interrelationships of disciplines of science and technology with energy R and D activities, is described. Some preliminary results are given and further refinements of the approach are discussed.     

A decision model for setting target levels in quality function deployment using nonlinear programming-based fuzzy regression and optimization

Quality function deployment (QFD) is a customer-oriented design tool for developing new or improved products and services to increase customer satisfaction. The inherent fuzziness of functional relationships between customer requirements and engineering characteristics, and among engineering characteristics in QFD modeling justifies the use of fuzzy regression. However, when linear programming is used in fuzzy regression, spread values of regression coefficients tend to approach zero. In order to overcome this problem, this paper employs a nonlinear-programming-based fuzzy regression approach to model functional relationships in product planning. Then, a fuzzy mathematical programming model is developed to determine target levels of engineering characteristics using the functional relationships obtained from fuzzy regression. Fuzzy mathematical programming model enables to account for the spread values as well as the center values of the parameter estimates of the functional relationships. A washing machine quality improvement problem is presented to illustrate the application of the proposed approach.     

Evaluation of the bond strength of different bonding agents to porcelain and metal alloy

This study was carried out with the purpose of testing the bond strength of different bonding agents bonded to different substrates.Substrates consisted of cylindrical specimens of three different materials: porcelain, metal, and a porcelain–metal combination. Specimens were all 10 mm in diameter and 4 mm thick. Surfaces to be bonded were air-abraded with Al₂O₃ and cleaned ultrasonically in distilled water for 10 min. After the preparation of the surface was complete, three different bonding agents were applied to the central region of the substrates. Composite resin of a 3.5 mm diameter and 2 mm thick was applied. All specimens were thermocycled between 5 and 55 °C for 200 cycles with a 30-s dwell time. After thermocycling, specimens were stored at 37 °C in distilled water for an additional 7 days before being subjected to a shear load. Shear testing was conducted Hounsfield test machine.The univariate analysis of variance and the Duncan multiple comparison test were used for statistical assessment. It was found that both type of bonding agents and of substrate led to statistically significant differences in bond strength (p<0.01).It was found that the highest bond strength was produced by Clearfil and on pure alloy substrate (33.36 MPa) and the lowest bond strength in Single Bond and porcelain–alloy substrate (4.25 MPa).     

The Making of Early Republican Ankara

Zeynep Kezer outlines the ascendancy and development of Ankara from an obscure, central Anatolian town into a capital city that was to become the focus of the new nation state. Informed by German architectural and technological expertise, it was executed to rigorous Modernist planning principles and aesthetics, and came to represent in urban form the polarisation of pre-republican and republican Turkey. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.