Air leakage detection in various cross sectioned air ducts and research on manufacturing methods for airtightness

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Izmir, 2004Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 65-67)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishxv,108 leavesAir ducts and related equipments are important components of climate and ventilation systems in order to distribute clean air, necessary for the occupied space, to whole system and to control thermal comfort. Despite of Turkish standards on air duct are present, studies on energy consumption associated with air leakage are very rare in Turkey, on the contrary to many developed countries. In this study, the subject of preventing energy losses related to the leakage, which causes inefficient working condition, has been investigated. Firstly, air duct system and quality requirements have been explained and the main standards have been analyzed for airtightness of air distribution systems, as well. Secondly, duct system measurements have been conducted by choosing two different approaches. One approach covers leakage calculation of a single duct by using European Standard called Eurovent, whereas the other one divides the system into single sections and uses the Power Law Model for calculation of leakage occurred in each section.Single duct leakage measurements were made on 300 mm and 1000 mm diameter circular ducts and 300 mm by 250 mm and 1000 mm by 500 mm flanged joint rectangular ducts for positive internal pressures. Test results showed that duct leakage depends on the method of duct fabrication, method of sealing, workmanship and static pressure differential. Furthermore, calculated leakage factors were under the allowable leakage limits in classification .C. for rectangular and circular ducts that were produced by Venco A.Ş. Comparing rectangular to circular ducts both had the same length of seam and surface area; the leakage from circular ducts was less than 80% from rectangular ducts. The air leakage from all test ducts, with the same lock seam type, decreases, whereas the surface area increases.Branched duct leakage measurements were made on 300 mm and 630 mm diameter circular ducts and 300 mm by 200 mm and 500 mm by 300 mm rectangular ducts and also air distribution system for positive internal pressures. Test results showed that fittings in a system cause sudden changes in static pressure; therefore, duct leakage depends on fitting locations. The leakage rate in Spiro sealed system was less than 5% Trelleborg sealed system. The leakage measured in this study showed that seam leakage accounts from 14% to 20% of the total in the two rectangular ducts and from 8% to 13% for the round ducts with Pittsburgh and Spiral lock seams. These data show that the joints are the major source of duct leakage. Improvement in duct construction leading to duct systems with less leakage will need to focus on better joints. Keywords: airtightness duct system, air duct leakage, duct leakage model, ductwork test procedure and methods

Distance Education Adaptation of Vocational High School Students within the Digital Divide

The rapid development of information and communication technologies has led to a rapid change in the education system. The most important alteration is that distance education methods have been passed down in universities. In this context, it was carried out in order to determine whether there is a digital divide among the vocational high school students in different socioeconomic situation which makes their courses with distance education method. This study was carried out with the participation of 891 students from first year students of Dokuz Eylül University Technical Programs Department of İzmir Vocational High School. One sample t-test, ANOVA and spatial statistical methods (weighted average center, weighted standard distance and weighted standard deviation ellipse) were used in the analysis of the data. In the evaluation of the results, the students were determined as gender and cities where they graduate as factor. Among the students, it has been found that men use information technologies more effectively than women who have information technologies. Additionally, results of the spatial statistics there is no digital divide between regions of country according to city where students graduated

Sustainable destinations through local food: the Example of ayvacık

Günümüzde, turizm küresel ekonominin gelişmesine katkı yapan ana sektörlerden birisidir. Turizmde kullanılan kaynakların gelecek kuşaklara aktarımını sağlayabilmek için, sürdürülebilir turizm önemli bir turizm anlayışı olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Turizmin sürdürülebilir olabilmesi için ise bir bölgede var olan kültürel, doğal ve tarihi değerlerin farkında olunması ve bunun sonucunda korunması gerekmektedir. Destinasyonların bu anlamda ön plana çıkarabilecekleri değerlerin başında da yerel yemek kültürleri gelmektedir. Ayvacık, sürdürülebilir gastronomi turizmi bakımından önemli bir potansiyele sahiptir. Bu çalışmada amaç Ayvacık ilçesine özgü yöresel yemeklerin ortaya çıkarılması ve gastronomi değerleri aracılığı ile bölgeye gelen turistlerin yerel kültürü tanımalarının sağlanabilmesi için önerilerin geliştirilmesidir. Ayvacık ilçesine özgü yöresel yiyeceklerin ortaya çıkarılmasında, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden olan yüz yüze görüşme yöntemiyle yerel halktan elde edilen veriler kullanılmıştır. Aynı zamanda Ayvacık belediyesi tanıtım broşürü ve Cd’ler incelenmiştir. Bulgular betimsel analiz yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda Ayvacık potansiyel olarak gastronomi değerleri bakımından önemli bir gastronomi turizmi merkezi olmaya aday bir ilçe olduğu ortaya çıkmaktadır.Today, tourism is one of the main sectors contributing to the development of the global economy.Sustainable tourism emerges as an important tourism concept in order to enable the transfer of resources used in tourism to future generations.In order for tourism to be sustainable, it is necessary to be aware of the cultural, natural and historical values that exist in a region and to protect it as a result. Local food cultures are at the forefront of the values that destinations can bring to the forefront in this sense.Ayvacık has an important potential for sustainable gastronomy tourism values.The aim of this study is to reveal local foods specific to the Ayvacık county and to develop suggestions for local culture of tourists coming to the region through gastronomy values.The data obtained by face-toface interview with local people were used to reveal local foods specific to the Ayvacık county.The findings were analyzed by descriptive analysis method. As a result of the study, Ayvacık turns out to be a candidate to be an important gastronomy tourism center in terms of potential gastronomy values

Phenolic composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, larvacidal against Culex pipiens, and cytotoxic activities of Hyacinthella lineata steudel extracts

This study reports the phenolic composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, larvacidal, and cytotoxic activity of methanol and acetone extracts of Hyacinthella lineata leaves and bulbs. The phenolic composition of H. lineata was determined by HPLC. The most abundant component was gallic acid (421.9µg/g). The β-carotene/DPPH/ABTS/FRAP decoloration method was used to estimate the total antioxidant activity. The total antioxidant activity was the highest for bulb-methanol fraction (65.41 ± 0.05%). The total phenolic content for leaves-methanol extract of the plant was determined as 6.56 ± 4.027mg/mL gallic acid equivalents. Analysis of the antibacterial activity showed that the methanolic-bulb extract are efficient against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The cytotoxic effect on Artemia salina was assessed by Brine shrimp assay. Brine shrimp lethality assay showed that LC50 values of HBM were obtained as 4.105 ± 2.42μg/ml. The bulb extract of H. lineata showed the highest larvicidal activity against Cx pipiens with value LC50 (64.3275μg/ml). This study suggested that H. lineata may be used as a potential source of antioxidant, and for their biological activity, cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties. © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Physical education and sports students’ attitudes towards inclusive education (The sample of Kocaeli University)

The aim of this study was to observe if Physical Education and Sports students’ attitudes towards Inclusive Education differ or not. The research was done according to the scanning/screening model. “Personal information form” (2004) - (reformed by Orel and his friends) and “Attitude Scale related to Inclusion” (1995)-(reformed by Antonak & Larivee and adapted into Turkish by Kırcaali & Iftar ) were used for  Kocaeli University School of Physical Education and Sports /Physical Education and Sports Department’s 1st grade and the 2nd grade students (121 students) who didn’t take the Inclusive Education class and the 3rd and 4th grade students (193 students) who took the Inclusive Education class. In the statistical analysis of the research, frequency values of the data (which were obtained from  personal information forms) were surveyed and while analysing the data (obtained from the attitude scale related to inclusion) arithmetic average, standard deviation and t test (for the difference between two groups ) were applied.In statistical analysis and in all parameters  numerical difference was seen on the side of the students who took inclusive education class but no statEistically significant difference was found . (P<0,05). As a result, it can be said that Inclusive Education class had a positive change on the attitudes of  Physical Education teacher candidates towards inclusion

The effect of perceived organizational support in organizational commitment: a research in the hospitality industry

İşgörenlerde örgütsel bağlılığın ve algılanan örgütsel desteğin yüksek olması, işletmelerin başarılı olması ve hedeflerine ulaşmasında önemlidir. Konu ile ilgili alanyazında, örgütsel bağlılığı yüksek çalışanın örgütteki başarısı ve etkinliğinin yüksek olduğu, örgütün amaç ve hedeflerine ulaşmasında daha etkin çalıştığına dair bulgulara ulaşılmaktadır. Benzer şekilde, örgütsel bağlılık ile algılanan örgütsel destek arasında da güçlü bir ilişki olduğu ileri sürülmektedir. Algılanan örgütsel desteğin, en önemli sonuçlarından birinin örgütsel bağlılığa yaptığı olumlu katkı olduğu ifade edilmektedir. Örgütsel bağlılığı yüksek çalışanların kişisel performansında artış gözlenirken, bunun da personel maliyetlerinin azalmasını sağladığı yapılan araştırmalarda ortaya konulmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın temel amacı, algılanan örgütsel desteğin örgütsel bağlılığın boyutlarına (duygusal, normatif, devam) etkisini otel işletmeleri özelinde ortaya çıkarmaktır. Bu amaca yönelik olarak geçmiş çalışmalarla ilgili alan yazın taraması yapılmış ve hipotezler oluşturulmuştur. Bu araştırmada, t- testi, ANOVA testi, doğrulayıcı faktör analizi (DFA), yol (PATH) analizi, yapısal eşitlik modellemesi (YEM) kullanılmıştır. Temel bulgulara göre, otel işletmesi çalışanlarının örgütsel destek algıları arttıkça duygusal ve devam bağlılıkları artmakta, normatif bağlılık düzeyleri azalmaktadır.High level organizational commitmend and perceived organizational support of employees is an important factor for businesses in achieving their goals and to become successful. The literature on the subject has findings that employees who have high degree of organizational commitment work more effective in achieving the goals and objectives of the organization. Similarly, it is argued that there is strong relationship between organizational commitment and perceived organizational support. It is expressed that one of the most important results of percieved organizational support is positive contribution to organizational commitment. It is revealed in surveys that personnel costs reduce while individual performance of high committed employees increase. The main purpose of this study, is to reveal the impact of perceived organizational support on the dimensions of organizational commitment (emotional, normative, continuance commitment in the case of hospitality industry. Fort his purpose, former studies reviewed in the light of literature and hypothesese have been established. In this reseacrh, t-test, ANOVA, confirmatory factor analysis, path analysis and structural equation modelling were used. The main finding is when perception of organizational support of empoyees incrieses, emotional, and continuance bommitments increase while normative commitment reduces

ITPA related developmental encephalopathy: Key role of neuroimaging

A 4-month-old girl presented with poor head control. She was born at term without complications. Parents were nonconsanguineous but from the same village. Her neurological examination revealed normal deep tendon reflexes with flexor plantar responses. She had microcephaly (head circumference 36 cm, -3.5 SD) and also dysmorphic features including a high arched palate, long philtrum, anteverted auricles. Metabolic studies including ammonia, serum amino acids, urine organic acids, acylcarnitine profile, lactate, pyruvate levels, and thyroid function studies were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed delayed myelination (hyperintensities in the posterior limb of internal capsule) in the T2- weighted image and restricted diffusion in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, optic radiation, cerebral peduncles, substantia nigra, the pyramidal tracts in the midbrain, and cerebellar white matter [Figure 1]. After one month of follow-up, the patient exhibited intractable tonic seizures. Interictal electroencephalogram showed focal spike and slow waves in the left occipital region. She was treated with phenobarbital, levetiracetam, and topiramate. Whole–exome sequencing (WES) analysis revealed a homozygous pathogenic splice-site variant c. 124 + 1G > A located in intron 2 of ITPA gene (PVS1, PM2, PP3, PP5). This variant had been reported previously (rs376142053).{Figure 1

Conjunctival Impression Cytology and Tear Film Changes in Sarcoidosis: A Subjective and Objective Diagnosis Study

Objectives:To evaluate sarcoidosis-induced tear film changes using subjective and objective diagnostic tests, particularly conjunctival impression cytology (IC), and to compare the results with healthy individuals.Materials and Methods:This study evaluated clinical data collected between January 2019 and January 2021 from 57 right eyes of 57 sarcoidosis patients without ocular involvement (Group 1) and 33 right eyes of 33 healthy individuals with similar demographic characteristics (Group 2). The Schirmer I test, tear break-up time (TBUT), fluorescein staining, and conjunctival IC were all performed as part of the conjunctival and corneal examinations following a thorough ophthalmological examination. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used to assess subjective ocular symptoms.Results:The mean ages in Groups 1 and 2 were 49.26±3.18 and 51.91±2.89 years, respectively (p=0.720). The mean Schirmer I test, TBUT, and OSDI scores differed significantly (p<0.05 for all), with Group 1 having a significantly higher percentage of dry eyes than Group 2. Group 1 had significantly higher Nelson’s grading system grades than Group 2 based on conjunctival IC analysis (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in visual acuity (p=0.17) or intraocular pressure (p=0.14) between groups.Conclusion:Sarcoidosis patients had significantly higher Nelson grades in conjunctival IC, as well as significantly higher percentages of dry eye as determined by the Schirmer I test, TBUT, and OSDI. Reduced tear quantity and quality may destabilize the tear film layer, resulting in a variety of ocular symptoms

Individualised prediction of drug resistance and seizure recurrence after medication withdrawal in people with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

Summary Background A third of people with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) are drug-resistant. Three-quarters have a seizure relapse when attempting to withdraw anti-seizure medication (ASM) after achieving seizure-freedom. It is currently impossible to predict who is likely to become drug-resistant and safely withdraw treatment. We aimed to identify predictors of drug resistance and seizure recurrence to allow for individualised prediction of treatment outcomes in people with JME. Methods We performed an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis based on a systematic search in EMBASE and PubMed – last updated on March 11, 2021 – including prospective and retrospective observational studies reporting on treatment outcomes of people diagnosed with JME and available seizure outcome data after a minimum one-year follow-up. We invited authors to share standardised IPD to identify predictors of drug resistance using multivariable logistic regression. We excluded pseudo-resistant individuals. A subset who attempted to withdraw ASM was included in a multivariable proportional hazards analysis on seizure recurrence after ASM withdrawal. The study was registered at the Open Science Framework (OSF; https://osf.io/b9zjc/). Findings  368) was predicted by an earlier age at the start of withdrawal, shorter seizure-free interval and more currently used ASMs, resulting in an average internal-external cross-validation concordance-statistic of 0·70 (95%CI 0·68–0·73). Interpretation We were able to predict and validate clinically relevant personalised treatment outcomes for people with JME. Individualised predictions are accessible as nomograms and web-based tools. Funding MING fonds