Production and identification of rare-earth doped lithium triborate

Research in the field of non-linear optical (NLO) devices lead to an increasing interest in new borate compounds, capable of expanding the frequency range provided by common laser sources. Lithium triborate (LBO) is a newly developed ideal non-linear optical crystal used in laser weapon, welder, radar, tracker, surgery, communication, etc. In this study, synthesis and identification of rare-earth doped lithium triborate was carried out. Borates containing rare-earth elements are of great interest since they are found to be superior in non-linear optical applications. Lithium triborate was produced from the solid-state reaction. Lithium triborate was then doped with some rare-earth elements (Gd, La, Y, etc.) in several different concentrations. In this study, LBO samples doped with Gd are presented. Characterization of the new products was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) analysis. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) was used for examination of the thermal properties of the compounds, morphology of new compounds was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The compounds are then subjected to thermoluminescence (TL) studies. From the XRD, studies, no change related to addition of the rare-earth elements was observed. IR analysis showed that there is no change related to B-O link with the addition of rare-earth elements. DTA studies showed that the melting point of LBO decreases with the addition of rare-earth elements. In the SEM images, particles of rare-earth elements and lithium triborate were observed clearly

Buying Behaviour Of International Shopping Center Consumers- An Application In Bursa

Consumer behaviour is affected by many factors such as demographic, economic, social, psychological, cultural factors and product, price, place and promotion decisions. The composition of these factors determinesconsumer behaviour. Besides these factors, retail industry which is a developing sector, has a great impact on the differentiation of shopping habits. Supermarkets, hypermarkets and especially international shopping centers are shaping the buying behaviour of the consumers. As a natural result of the severe competition in the sector, retail companies try to determine better the needs and wants of their potential consumers. This paper covers the research of asubject which was not handled sufficiently especially in the domestic literature. In this study, the aim is therefore to profile the international shopping center consumers to examine the buying behaviour of these consumers by the help of various hypothesis and to make contributions to the literature involved.Consumer Behaviour, International Shopping Centers, Bursa.

The effects of supervised versus home Pilates-based core stability training on lower extremity muscle strength and postural sway in people with multiple sclerosis

Background

The development of organic sliceable black table olive products in sausage-like form from physicochemical, microbiological and organoleptic characteristics

Olive paste is recognized not only for its excellent taste and quality, but also for its health promoting effects. However, there is a limited range of olive products in the market. The aim of the present study was the production of a new organic olive product in sausage-like form which has sliceable properties by using organic olive paste and additives. The physicochemical, microbiological, sensorial and textural characteristics of the final product were also determined. The suggested olive product with 19.7% oil content and 3% organic locust bean gum which showed the most desirable texture characteristics allowing the solidified olive paste to turn into sliceable sausage form, is considered advisable for industrial production. Thus, the organic production of an innovative added value olive product in sausage-like form could meet the evolving expectations of consumers, boost food industry's research and development, and increase the profitability of the producer, with concomitant harmonization with the current environmental and nutritional trends

Structural, Electrical, and Electromagnetic Properties of Cotton Fabrics Coated with Polyaniline and Polypyrrole

In this study, the structural, electrical, and electromagnetic properties of cotton fabrics coated with polyaniline (PAni) and polypyrrole (PPy) were investigated and compared. For the aims, anilin and pyrrole were used as monomers, and in situ polymerization on cotton fabric by chemical oxidative polymerization was performed. After production, the structural properties of the fabrics were determined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. In addition, ultraviolet (UV) permeability, tensile strength, colorfastness, and electrical and electromagnetic measurements of the fabric samples were carried out. The resistance values of the cotton fabrics coated with PAni and PPy were found to be 350 and 512 Omega, respectively. The average electromagnetic shielding efficiency and average absorption values of the cotton fabrics coated with PAni were determined to be 3.8 dB and 48%, respectively, and these values for the cotton fabrics coated with PPy were 6 dB and 50%, respectively. Consequently, a significant difference was not observed between the resistance values and electromagnetic parameters of the fabrics coated with PAni and PPy, although the intact textile characteristics of the fabric coated with PPy were protected and improved, whereas the characteristics of the fabric coated with PAni were inferior. Moreover, we first report that the fabrics coated with conductive polymers had excellent UV-protection properties. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 114: 2003-2010,200

Electromagnetic and Electrical Properties of Coated Cotton Fabric with Barium Ferrite Doped Polyaniline Film

In this study, we aimed to produce fabrics with microwave absorbing properties in broad band. For this purpose, the cotton fabrics were coated with polyaniline (PAni) by using chemical oxidative polymerization method. Firstly, the type of protonic acid used, the polymerization time, the type and concentration of dopant, and the number of coating layer were varied as parameters. The effect of these parameters on resistance values of coated fabrics was investigated. We determined the most appropriate process conditions to provide the lowest resistance values. Secondly, the fabric was coated with PAni by adding, barium ferrite powder as filler with different ratios. Morphological properties, electrical, and electron magnetic properties of coated fabrics were determined. As a result, we obtained 350 Q of the minimum resistance values of coated fabric using 1M HCL, 0.5M aniline and 0.5M ammonium persulphate by chemical oxidative polymerization method for totally 4 h of polymerization time. The results of electromagnetic parameters showed that the absorption values of the fabric coated PAni was average 48% in the frequency range of 6-14 GHz. It Was Concluded that microwave absorber for a textile material can be successfully produced by this process. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113: 358-366, 200

Effects of Ecballium elaterium on brain in a rat model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy

Despite recent advances in antibiotic therapy, sepsis remains a major clinical challenge in intensive care units. Here we examined the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Ecballium elaterium (EE) on brain, and explored its therapeutic potential in an animal model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) [induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)]. Thirty rats were divided into three groups of 10 each: control, sepsis, and treatment. Rats were subjected to CLP except for the control group, which underwent laparatomy only. The treatment group received 2.5 mg/kg EE while the sepsis group was administered by saline. Twenty-four hours after laparotomy, animals were sacrificied and the brains were removed. Brain homogenates were prepared to assess interleukin 1beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidant status (TOS). Brain tissue sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to semi-quantitatively examine the histopathologic changes such as neuron degeneration, pericellular/perivascular edema and inflammatory cell infiltration in the cerebral cortex. We found a statistically significant reduction in brain tissue homogenate levels of TNF-α 59.5 ± 8.4/50.2 ± 6.2 (p = 0.007) and TOS 99.3 ± 16.9/82.3 ± 7.8 (p = 0.01) in rats treated with EE; although interleukin 6 levels were increased in the treatment group compared to the sepsis group, this was not statistically significant. Neuronal damage (p = 0.00), pericellular/perivascular edema and inflammatory cell infiltration (p = 0.001) were also significantly lower in the treatment group compared to those in the sepsis group. These data suggest that Ecballium elaterium contains some components that exert protective effects against SAE in part by attenuating accumulation of proinflammatory cytokines, which may be important contributors to its anti-inflammatory effects during sepsis