The Use of Artificial Neural Network for Prediction of Dissolution Kinetics

Colemanite is a preferred boron mineral in industry, such as boric acid production, fabrication of heat resistant glass, and cleaning agents. Dissolution of the mineral is one of the most important processes for these industries. In this study, dissolution of colemanite was examined in water saturated with carbon dioxide solutions. Also, prediction of dissolution rate was determined using artificial neural networks (ANNs) which are based on the multilayered perceptron. Reaction temperature, total pressure, stirring speed, solid/liquid ratio, particle size, and reaction time were selected as input parameters to predict the dissolution rate. Experimental dataset was used to train multilayer perceptron (MLP) networks to allow for prediction of dissolution kinetics. Developing ANNs has provided highly accurate predictions in comparison with an obtained mathematical model used through regression method. We conclude that ANNs may be a preferred alternative approach instead of conventional statistical methods for prediction of boron minerals

Photonuclear reactions with Zinc: A case for clinical linacs

The use of bremsstrahlung photons produced by a linac to induce photonuclear reactions is wide spread. However, using a clinical linac to produce the photons is a new concept. We aimed to induce photonuclear reactions on zinc isotopes and measure the subsequent transition energies and half-lives. For this purpose, a bremsstrahlung photon beam of 18 MeV endpoint energy produced by the Philips SLI-25 linac has been used. The subsequent decay has been measured with a well-shielded single HPGe detector. The results obtained for transition energies are in good agreement with the literature data and in many cases surpass these in accuracy. For the half-lives, we are in agreement with the literature data, but do not achieve their precision. The obtained accuracy for the transition energies show what is achievable in an experiment such as ours. We demonstrate the usefulness and benefits of employing clinical linacs for nuclear physics experiments

Sağlikli bir erkekte demir eksikliği anemisinin nadir görülen bir nedeni: Hijamah

[No abstract available

Effect of copper overload together with ethanol uptake on hippocampal neurons.

Copper is an essential trace element which forms an integral component of many enzymes. While trace amounts of copper are needed to sustain life, excess copper is extremely toxic in the brain. Also, ethanol intake causes morphological changes in the brain. The present study aims to investigate effects of copper overload with ethanol intake in hippocampal neuron numbers of rat brain. Control and experimental group of rats (n = 6 for each group) were fed ad libitum. Experimental group were given ethanol with copper in drinking water each day for ten days. Control group animals were given only drinking water during this period. Afterwards, animals were decapitated and their brains were removed by craniotomy. Frozen brains were cut by a cryostat. Sections collected via systematic random sampling were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. On microscopic images obtained from pyramidal cell layers in hippocampus, total neuron numbers were estimated using the optical fractionator method. We observed that pyramidal neuron numbers in the subdivisions of hippocampus were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. These results suggest that copper overdose with ethanol intake can cause neuronal loss in hippocampus of rat brain

Effect of nifedipine on hippocampal neuron number in penicillin-induced epileptic rats

Aim: Epileptic seizures lead to neuronal loss in the hippocampus. Experimental epilepsy can be induced by direct application of various chemicals to cerebral cortex. Nifedipine is an L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker. In spite of several studies that show the seizure-suppressing effects of nifedipine, it has been shown that nifedipine does not suppress but conversely increases epileptic seizures. Similarly, contradictory effects of nifedipine have been reported, such as neuroprotection, failed neuroprotection and neurotoxicity. We therefore aimed to investigate the effect of nifedipine on hippocampal neuronal loss in penicillin induced epileptic rats in this study. Material and Methods: The effect of nifedipine on total hippocampal neuron number was estimated by using the optical fractionator method (an unbiased stereological method) in penicillin-G induced epileptic rats. Results: The total number of hippocampal neurons in the control group was 183687 ± 3184. In the penicillin-induced group, the total neuron number significantly decreased to 146318 ± 3042 compared to the control group. In the nifedipine group, the neuron number significantly decreased to 128873 ± 1157 compared to both control and penicillin-induced groups. Conclusion: Nifedipine increased neuronal loss and did not suppress epileptic seizures in penicillin-induced epileptic rats. Nifedipine could not protect against hippocampal neuronal loss in penicillin-induced epileptic rats

Comparison of the calcaneal pitch angle and modified projection area per length squared method for medial longitudinal arch evaluation of the foot.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the calcaneal pitch angle (CPA) values measured on direct lateral radiographs of feet, and the modified projection area per length squared (PAL), which was calculated as a new method for the evaluation of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA) of the foot. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Direct lateral radiographs of patients who had weightbearing feet radiographies for any reason except trauma were retrospectively obtained from the archives. Direct lateral radiographs of the feet were printed and a transparent sheet was placed on it. A straight line was drawn between the most plantar process of the calcaneus and the head of the first metatarsal bone for the calculation of the PAL of the MLA. Two semilunar arcs were drawn upon this straight line. PAL1 and PAL2 were estimated using a point-counting technique. The CPA, lateral talo-calcaneal angles (LTCA), and talo-first metatarsal angles (TFMA) were measured. The correlations between PAL1, PAL2 of right and left feet and CPA, LTCA, and TFMA were explored. RESULTS: Fifty patients (27 females, 23 males) with a mean age of 40.12 (4-78) years were evaluated. Significant correlations were detected between PAL1, PAL2 and CPA, and TFMA for both right and left feet (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: A significant correlation was detected between the modified PAL method as a new technique and the standard CPA method for MLA evaluation. The PAL method is suggested as a simple and practical method for MLA evaluation

Do learning approaches of medical students affect their satisfaction with problem-based learning?

The aim of this research was to determine the satisfaction of medical students with problem-based learning (PBL) and their approaches to learning to investigate the effect of learning approaches on their levels of satisfaction. The study group was composed of medical students from three different universities, which apply PBL at different levels in their curricula. The revised two-factor study process survey was applied to the study group to determine their approaches to learning as "deep" or "surface" learning. In addition, another survey of 20 questions was used to determine satisfaction levels of students with PBL and other variables. Of the study group, 64.6% were found to adopt a deep approach to learning, and we confirmed that these students were reasonably more satisfied with PBL. © 2013 the American Physiological Society

Degradation of Dyes by Laccase

The goal of this study was to determine the optimum conditions for the enzymatic decolorization of eleven dyes by laccase. The dyes Cibacron Orange P-4 R, Direct Black VSF 600, Cibacron Red P-4B, Remazol Red, Burdirect Brown M, Burdirect Black Metakonz, Burdirect Dark Blue BH, Burdirect Blue 6B, Cibacron Black PSG, Burdirect Green B, and Remazol Turquoise Blau G133 were characterized spectrophotometrically. The dye that had the highest degree of decolorization (97%), Cibacron Orange P-4 R, was selected for further study. Optimum conditions for decolorization were a 1 mM initial dye concentration at pH 7.0 and an initial enzyme activity of 0.084 U at 25°C for 135 min. Sodium sulfate was selected as the activator at 50 mM. The decolorized products were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. No degradation products were identified following removal of 97% of the dye. © 2016, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC