Investigation of water process analysis method

Water is one of the most important natural resources on earth. All living things need water for a healthy and quality life. In this context, the conservation of usable water is very important. In this chapter, the water process analysis method which is developed to contribute to the protection of water resources has been examined. The method aims to identify vulnerable areas to water conservation. In the scope of the method, the infiltration of the precipitation water in the vegetation cover, soil and rock layers are evaluated and are mapped. The findings obtained in the context of the method contribute to the spatial plans developed on the basis of protection of water resources. In addition, these findings contribute to the determination of ecological land use decisions and the determination of vulnerable landscape. In this section, nature-based solutions, ecological processes, hydrologic cycle which are the basis of the method are examined. © Peter Lang AG 2019.2-s2.0-8511337826

Effect of bar shape on the pull-out capacity of fully-grouted rockbolts

This paper presents experimental results obtained from the direct pull-out test using different types of rockbolts having different shape of lugs. These are smooth surface bars, ribbed bars, single conical lugged bars, double conical lugged bars and triple conical lugged bars. It is found that the failure mechanism of the conical lugged rock bolt is different from that of conventional rockbolts, in which the adhesion or the shear strength at the bolt-grout interface provides the load bearing capacity. From the results of experimental study, the use of the conical lugged rock bolts is suggested, because it provides a greater anchorage strength due to wedging effect that is a combination of the shear and compressive strength of the grouting material. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

High-strength lightweight concrete made with scoria aggregate containing mineral admixtures

This paper presents a part of the results of an ongoing laboratory work carried out to design a structural lightweight high strength concrete (SLWHSC) made with and without mineral admixtures. In the mixtures, basaltic-pumice (scoria) was used as lightweight aggregate. A control lightweight concrete mixture made with lightweight basaltic-pumice (scoria) containing normal Portland cement as the binder was prepared. The control lightweight concrete mixture was modified by replacing 20% of the cement with fly ash. The control lightweight concrete mixture was also modified by replacing 10% of the cement with silica fume. A ternary lightweight concrete mixture was also prepared modifying the control lightweight concrete by replacing 20% of cement with fly ash and 10% of cement with silica fume. Two normal weight concrete (NWC) were also prepared for comparison purpose

Strength properties of lightweight concrete made with basaltic pumice and fly ash

This paper presents a part of the results of an ongoing laboratory work carried out to design a structural lightweight concrete (SLWC) made with basaltic pumice (scoria) as aggregate and fly ash as mineral admixtures. A control lightweight concrete mixture made with lightweight basaltic pumice (scoria) containing only normal Portland cement (NPC), and with fly ash lightweight concrete mixture containing 20% of fly ash as a replacement of the cement in weight basis was prepared. Fly ash is used for economical and environmental concern. The concrete samples were cured at 65% relative humidity at 20degreesC temperature. The compressive and flexural tensile strengths of hardened concrete, the properties of fresh concrete including density, and slump workability were measured. Laboratory compressive and tensile strength tests results showed that SLWC can be produced by the use of scoria. However, the use of fly ash seems to be necessary for the production of cheaper and environment-friendly SLWC with the compressive and tensile strengths similar to control SLWC containing only NPC. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

High level fluoroquinolone resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from animals in Turkey is due to multiple mechanisms

The aim of this study was to determine the molecular mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance in E. coli isolated from cattle, goats, sheep, cats, and dogs in Turkey. Twenty nonreplicate E. coli isolates (chosen on the basis of RAPD pattern) from foodproducing animals were selected for the study. To identify phenotypic differences between isolates, the sum of the MIC values of 14 antimicrobials was calculated; values ranged from 565 to 2520 μg/mL, indicating the diversity in antimicrobial resistance present in the panel of isolates. PCR and qRT-PCR were used to characterize the presence and expression levels of known molecular mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance. The number of E. coli isolates having single, double, and triple topoisomerase mutations was 2, 10, and 5, respectively. Moreover, the number of qnrA - , qnrS - , oqxB -, and aac(6')Ib-cr-containing E. coli isolates was 1, 4, 1, and 17, respectively. Increased expression of acrB and soxS was detected in 2 and 9 isolates, respectively. The results of this study show a wide range of different mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance in E. coli isolates in Turkey

Phenolic Compound Profiles, Cytotoxic, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Potentials and Molecular Docking Studies of <i>Astragalus gymnolobus</i> Methanolic Extracts

Since Astragalus is a genus with many important medicinal plant species, the present work aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and some biological activities of Astragalus gymnolobus. The methanolic fractions of four organs (stems, flowers, leaves, root and whole plant) were quantified and identified by Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS/MS) analysis. Hesperidin, hyperoside, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid and p-coumaric acid were identified as main compounds among the extracts. Among all cells, leaf methanol (Lm) extract had the highest cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells (IC50 = 0.069 μg/mL). Hesperidin, the most abundant compound in A. gymnolobus extract, was found to show a strong negative correlation with the cytotoxic effect observed in HeLa cells according to Pearson correlation test results and to have the best binding affinity to targeted proteins by docking studies. The antimicrobial activity results indicated that the most susceptible bacterium against all extracts was identified as Streptococcus pyogenes with 9–11 mm inhibition zone and 8192 mg/mL MIC value. As a result of the research, it was suggested that A. gymnolobus could be considered as a promising source that contributes to the fight against cancer

HEV seroprevalence in blood donors in Turkey by two commercial total anti-HEV Ab ELISA kits

WOS: 000482484500001PubMed ID: 31403185Previous hepatitis E virus (HEV) seroprevalence studies in Turkey have shown high variabilities, leading to conflicting results. We aimed to re-evaluate HEV seroprevalence among blood donors in Turkey using the Wantai (Beijing, China) and the Dia.Pro (Milan, Italy) total anti-HEV antibody (Ab) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits and compare their performances and to investigate the presence of HEV RNA in blood donors. Serum total anti-HEV antibodies were determined in a total of 2011 volunteer blood donor samples collected from different regions of Turkey (807 from Ankara, 243 from Kayseri, 284 from Izmir, 200 from Malatya, 200 from Kahramanmaras, and 277 from Van). HEV RNA was evaluated by a real-time polymerase chain reaction in a total of 272 anti-HEV seropositive samples. The country-wide HEV seroprevalence was calculated as 11.5% (Dia.Pro) and 12.2% (Wantai) with seropositivity rates of 12.0%-12.5% in Ankara, 7.4%-8.2% in Kayseri, 14.5%-15.5% in Malatya, 8.1%-8.8% in Izmir, 15.0%-16.0% in Kahramanmaras, and 12.6%-13.4% in Van by Dia.Pro and Wantai kits, respectively. The lowest detectable Ab concentrations were 0.16 and 0.14 units/mL WHO, for the Dia.Pro and the Wantai assays, respectively, showing no significant difference between assays. HEV RNA was not detected in any of the anti-HEV seropositive samples. Compared with previous studies, HEV was shown to have a higher overall seroprevalence in Turkey. Despite its limitation, the current study represents the most comprehensive HEV seroprevalence study in Turkey performed with two different commercial ELISA assays with high sensitivities so far. Further investigation is required to determine HEV genotypes in Turkey.Ankara University, Scientific Research ProjectsAnkara University [14B0207001]Ankara University, Scientific Research Projects, Grant/Award Number: 14B020700