Different manifestations of Neolithization in Northwest Anatolia?: An Archaeobotanical Review from Barcın Höyük and Bahçelievler, Turkey

The Neolithic way of life was first established in Northwest Anatolia before the middle of the 7th millennium BC. The recently excavated sites of Barcın Höyük and Bahçelievler have yielded archaeological evidence for the earliest Neolithic levels in the region and provide new archaeobotanical datasets. To compare different adaptations to the changes brought on by the Neolithization processes, we studied 348 archaeobotanical samples from Phases VIe and VId1 at Barcın and 63 samples from the contemporaneous levels, Phase 6 and Phase 5, at Bahçelievler. The economic plants include hulled and naked six-row barley, einkorn, emmer, bread/hard wheat, small-sized naked wheat, lentil, bitter vetch, pea, chickpea, flax, hazelnut, bramble, and pistacia. Our analyses show small but significant differences between the sites in the selected economic plant ranges, among the cereals, pulses as well as gathered plants.FGW – Publications not associated with a particular research are

Synthesis of Mesoporous Lithium Titanate Thin Films and Monoliths as an Anode Material for High-Rate Lithium-Ion Batteries

Mesoporous Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) thin film is an important anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Mesoporous films could be prepared by self-assembly processes. A molten-salt-assisted self-assembly (MASA) process is used to prepare mesoporous thin films of LTOs. Clear solutions of CTAB, P123, LiNO3, HNO3, and Ti(OC4H9)4 in ethanol form gel-like meso-ordered films upon either spin or spray coating. In the assembly process, the CTAB/P123 molar ratio of 14 is required to accommodate enough salt species in the mesophase, in which the LiI/P123 ratio can be varied between molar ratios of 28 and 72. Calcination of the meso-ordered films produces transparent mesoporous spinel LTO films that are abbreviated as Cxx-yyy-zzz or CAxx-yyy-zzz (C=calcined, CA=calcined–annealed, xx=LiI/P123 molar ratio, and yyy=calcination and zzz=annealing temperatures in Celsius) herein. All samples were characterized by using XRD, TEM, N2-sorption, and Raman techniques and it was found that, at all compositions, the LTO spinel phase formed with or without an anatase phase as an impurity. Electrochemical characterization of the films shows excellent performance at different current rates. The CA40-350-450 sample performs best among all samples tested, yielding an average discharge capacity of (176±1) mA h g−1 at C/2 and (139±4) mA h g−1 at 50 C and keeping 92 % of its initial discharge capacity upon 50 cycles at C/2. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei

Self-cannibalism: The man who eats himself

Self-mutilation is a general term for a variety of forms of intentional self-harm without the wish to die. Although there have been many reports of self-mutilation injuries in the literature, none have reported self-cannibalism after self-mutilation. In this article we present a patient with selfcannibalism following self-mutilation. A 34-year-old male patient was brought to the emergency department from the prison with a laceration on the right leg. Physical examination revealed a well-demarcated rectangular soft tissue defect on his right thigh. The prison authorities stated that the prisoner had cut his thigh with a knife and had eaten the flesh

Levodopa-refractory hyperprolactinemia and pituitary findings in inherited disorders of biogenic amine metabolism

Elevated serum prolactin concentrations occur in inherited disorders of biogenic amine metabolism because dopamine deficiency leads to insufficient inhibition of prolactin secretion. This work from the International Working Group on Neurotransmitter Related Disorders (iNTD) presents the results of the first standardized study on levodopa-refractory hyperprolactinemia (LRHP; >1000 mU/L) and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in patients with inherited disorders of biogenic amine metabolism. Twenty-six individuals had LRHP or abnormal pituitary findings on MRI. Tetrahydrobiopterin deficiencies were the most common diagnoses (n = 22). The median age at diagnosis of LRHP was 16 years (range: 2.5-30, 1st-3rd quartiles: 12.25-17 years). Twelve individuals (nine females) had symptoms attributed to hyperprolactinemia: menstruation-related abnormalities (n = 7), pubertal delay or arrest (n = 5), galactorrhea (n = 3), and decreased sexual functions (n = 2). MRI of the pituitary gland was obtained in 21 individuals; six had heterogeneity/hyperplasia of the gland, five had adenoma, and 10 had normal findings. Eleven individuals were treated with the dopamine agonist cabergoline, ameliorating the hyperprolactinemia-related symptoms in all those assessed. Routine monitoring of these symptoms together with prolactin concentrations, especially after the first decade of life, should be taken into consideration during follow-up evaluations. The potential of slow-release levodopa formulations and low-dose dopamine agonists as part of first-line therapy in the prevention and treatment of hyperprolactinemia should be investigated further in animal studies and human trials. This work adds hyperprolactinemia-related findings to the current knowledge of the phenotypic spectrum of inherited disorders of biogenic amine metabolism

A Rescorla-Wagner Drift-Diffusion Model of Conditioning and Timing

Computational models of classical conditioning have made significant contributions to the theoretic understanding of associative learning, yet they still struggle when the temporal aspects of conditioning are taken into account. Interval timing models have contributed a rich variety of time representations and provided accurate predictions for the timing of responses, but they usually have little to say about associative learning. In this article we present a unified model of conditioning and timing that is based on the influential Rescorla-Wagner conditioning model and the more recently developed Timing Drift-Diffusion model. We test the model by simulating 10 experimental phenomena and show that it can provide an adequate account for 8, and a partial account for the other 2. We argue that the model can account for more phenomena in the chosen set than these other similar in scope models: CSC-TD, MS-TD, Learning to Time and Modular Theory. A comparison and analysis of the mechanisms in these models is provided, with a focus on the types of time representation and associative learning rule used

Influence of Different Heat Treatments on the Solid Particle Erosion Behavior of Aluminum Alloy AA 7075 in Industrial Applications

In this study, the solid particle erosion behavior of solutionized, artificially aged (T6) and annealed aluminum alloy AA7075 has been investigated. The samples were eroded in solid particle erosion test equipment at 45° impingement angle and 75 m/s impingement velocity with 180 mesh garnet erodent particles. Afterwards, microstructures of solutionized, artificially aged and annealed samples of AA7075 alloy were analyzed. In order to figure out the effect of ductility on erosion rates, the Brinell hardness of the samples was measured. The surface morphology images of the samples were taken before and after the erosion test by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effects of the microstructures and the hardness on the erosion behavior of the different heat treated specimens were examined. Finally, SEM images of the samples were deeply analyzed and the erosion mechanisms which occurred on the surfaces of the samples were discussed

The role of drones in ambient assisted living systems for the elderly

Following years of restricted military applications, recently unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) also known as drones have become the new disruptive force in many industrial and everyday life applications. Very obvious usage areas are transportation and parcel delivery. However, recent research reveals that there are a number of ways that drones can be employed to help elderly people sustain a better independent lifestyle. This paper introduces some of the most recent and interesting applications that drones can find in creating ambient assisted living environments for the elderly. Advantages and disadvantages, possible healthcare models and challenges are discussed. Even though these are some very interesting and original applications there are a lot of challenges involved in accepting drones as “flying assistants” to extend the independent living environment of the elderly. © The Author(s) 2019

Effect of dietary fish meal replacement by poultry by-product meal on muscle fatty acid composition and liver histology of fry of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Cichlidae)

Background. Poultry by-product meal (PBM) has been used as a potential substitute for fish meal (FM) in aquaculture feeds. However, there are concerns that high replacement of FM protein with PBM protein could adversely affect of the fish flesh quality, due to lowered (Σ n-3 PUFA) fatty acids content. While fatty acid composition of fish muscle has critical importance in human nutrition, the fish liver is a key organ that facilitates digestion of feed and plays an important role in fish digestive system. As has been recently demonstrated, the monitoring of this organ is important in FM replacement experiments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of PBM on the fatty acid composition of the muscles and on the histological structure of the liver of fry of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758). Materials and methods. Five isonitrogenous (34%, crude protein), isolipidic (9%, crude lipid), and isoenergetic (15 MJ · kg–1, digestible energy) diets were formulated to contain graded levels of PBM, where FM protein was replaced with PBM protein at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% level with lysine-, methionine-, and threonine supplementation. Triplicate groups of 20 fish (mean weight 0.879 g) were fed three times daily to apparent satiation for 12 weeks. Results. At the end of the experiment, the fatty acid contents of the fish muscle were significantly affected by the experimental diets. As the FM content decreased, there was no reduction of saturated fatty acids; the diet with lowest FM protein percentage having the highest monounsaturated fatty acids and lowest polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) proportions. The replacement of FM by PBM had a profound impact on the fatty acid composition of tilapia muscle with an increase in Σ n-6 PUFA and a decrease in the Σ n-3 and Σ n-3 : Σ  n-6 PUFA ratio.  The histological examination of liver tissue in all treatments of this study, revealed no histological abnormalities. Conclusion. The replacement of FM with PBM (range 0%–100%) significantly decreases the amount of docosahexaenoic acid (12.2%–1.2%) and eicosapentaenoic acid (4.4%–0.4%) in the muscle of fish. Therefore, further study is needed with PBM as a substitute of FM to determine acceptable fatty acid composition for commercial production

A novel and short synthesis of (1,4/2)-cyclohex-5-ene-triol and its conversion to (+/-)-proto-quercitol

(1,4/2)-Cyclohex-5-ene-triol was synthesized starting from cyclohexa-1,4-diene with two different approaches. Photooxygenation of cyclohexa-1,4-diene and epoxy-cyclohexene afforded anti-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-en-5-yl hydroperoxide and anti-7-oxabicclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-3-yl hydroperoxide, respectively. Hydroperoxy endoperoxide was reduced with aqueous sodium bisulfite; hydroperoxy-epoxide with dimethylsulfide-titanium tetraisopropoxide to give 7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-3-ol. Acidic hydrolysis of the epoxy-alcohol gave the (1,4/2)-cyclohex-3-ene-triol. Oxidation of the double bond with KMnO4 resulted in the formation of proto-quercitol