Classification using proximity catch digraphs

Machine Learning - We employ random geometric digraphs to construct semi-parametric classifiers. These data-random digraphs belong to parameterized random digraph families called proximity catch...     

The effects of different greenhouse covering materials on energy requirement,growth and yield of aubergine

Effects of UV stabilised polyethylene (UV+PE), IR absorbers polyethylene (IR+PE), double layers of polyethylene (D-Poly) and single layer of polyethylene (PE), as greenhouse covers, on aubergine growth, productivity and energy requirement were investigated in a late autumn season (2001). The late and final yields of plants grown in D-Poly houses were higher than those grown in UV+PE, IR+PE and PE. Light transmission was the highest in PE, intermediate in UV+PE and IR+PE, and the lowest in D-Poly houses. Relative humidity was the highest in D-Poly, intermediate in IR+PE and UV+PE, and the lowest in PE houses. The plants in D-Poly houses grew and developed faster (more leaves and flowers) than those in IR+PE, UV+PE and PE houses. Plant growth and development in UV+PE and IR+PE houses was similar. Economic analyses showed that aubergine production was economically viable in D-Poly, UV+PE and IR+PE houses. For aubergine production in climatic conditions similar to Black Sea Region, the D-Poly greenhouse is strongly recommended, because there was a higher productivity and a lower heating requirement in comparison to UV+PE, IR+PE and PE houses.     

In vitro evaluation of the use of zeolites as biomaterials: effects on simulated body fluid and two types of cells

Various zeolites were kept in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different periods of time. Possible changes that may occur in the crystalline structures of zeolites and the chemical composition of SBF were determined by various analysis techniques after this treatment. The possible effects of two different zeolites on the morphology and viability of chronic myelogeneous leukemia and swiss albino fibroblast culture cells were also investigated. It was determined that when different types of zeolites were kept in the SBF for up to 14 days, their crystal structures were not affected. Observable amounts of Si were detected in the SBF samples after their treatment with all the zeolites investigated. Another variation in the chemical composition of SBF, worth to mention, was the increase of about 10% in its K content after the treatment carried out by using clinoptilolite. The zeolites KA and silicalite, which allowed the lowest and highest amount of silicon transfer into the SBF, respectively, were observed not to have any significant biological effect on the two different cell generations investigated under the conditions used in this study.     

Improving the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of epoxy composites using flame retardants with red mud waste

In this study, a novel flame retardant ammonium tetrafluoroborate (ATFB) was successfully synthesized using boric acid (H₃BO₃) and ammonium hydrogen difluoride (NH₄HF₂) as the reactants. In addition to ATFB, aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)₃) was used as a flame retardant and red mud (RM) waste was used as a filler to prepare epoxy composite materials with enhanced flammability properties. The appropriate ratio of RM:ATFB:Al(OH)₃ both in terms of combustion and mechanical properties was found to be 15:10:5 wt%. The tensile strength of the composite in this ratio was obtained as 112 MPa, while the neat ER was 46 MPa. The burnout of the composite with the appropriate RM:ATFB:Al(OH)₃ ratio decreased in the first 10 seconds, and extinguished in 32 seconds. Moreover, the burned area of this composite was the smallest among all the others. The experimental and estimated LOI values for this composite was found as 26 and 29, respectively.     

Splenic abscess due to brucella in childhood. A case report

This experimental work was undertaken to study the difference in cell growth due to different attachment surface. Three types of attachment surface were studied (i) collagenized surface (ii) glass surface and (iii) plastic surface. Rat tail collagen suspension was prepared and coated on culture flasks. Human breast epithelial cells and breast carcinoma cells were cultured for three weeks. Cell counts were made before and after one, two and three weeks of culture. Out of five cases only two survived for more than a week. The best survival was observed on plastic surface. Collagenized and glass surfaces had similar results. Thus plastic surface is probably the best compared to glass and collagenized surface, possibly because the plastic surface provides better adhesion to malignant cells. It was also seen that in plastic surface the cells get lined up around a basement membrane like structure growing a resemblance to ductal structure. This is contradictory to the prevalent view that collagenized surface is best for in vitro growth and differentiation.     

Salmonella typhi infections. A 10-year retrospective study

Enteric fever is still a common health problem in many countries, especially in children. Thus a ten-year retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the clinical and laboratory properties of enteric fever and the incidence of antimicrobial resistance in children. Throughout the past 10 years, Salmonella was isolated in 105 patients by blood culturing, 27 of which were Salmonella typhi. Most of the patients were above the age of two. Besides the typical symptoms and signs of enteric fever, 29.2% of the patients had some neurologic findings. Besides, 68.5% had elevated liver enzymes while only 44.4% had hepatomegaly with or without splenomegaly. Anemia was present in 44%, leukopenia in 16% and leukocytosis in 11.1% of the cases. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance during the last five years against ampicillin, chloramphenicol and trimetoprim-sulfamethoxazole has created a challenge in treating these infections.     

Analysis of the structure and properties of expanded graphite‐filled poly(phenylene ether)/atactic polystyrene nanocomposite fibers

A miscible blend of 85.5 wt % atactic polystyrene and 9.5 wt % poly(phenylene ether) containing 5.0 wt % expanded graphite nanoparticles was melt‐spun and stretched up to 25 times. The structure and electrical and mechanical properties of the fibers were investigated. Characterized by a Hermans orientation factor of 0.6, the nanographite platelets were moderately aligned with the fiber axis, which likely occurred when the polymer itself was partially aligned during drawdown. The electrical conductivity of the oriented filaments was about 10^?4 S/cm, about what other researchers have measured in comparable unoriented systems. The conductive network of agglomerated graphite nanoparticles did not collapse during drawdown, which led to small protrusions, or bumps, on the fiber surface. The obvious lack of polymer–particle bonding led to reduced extrinsic mechanical properties; both the tensile strength and elongation of the fibers were 20–25% less than those of the neat fibers. The modulus of the oriented fiber was unchanged by the addition of the graphite nanoparticles. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 645–652, 2007