Model updating of a reduced-scaled masonry bridge by using response surface method

Historical structures reflect the historical and cultural properties of countries and also contributes to the economy in terms of cultural tourism. Therefore, it is important to understand the structural behavior of these kinds of structures under dynamics loads such as earthquakes, etc. to protect and transfer them safely to future generations. For this reason, this study aims to investigate the dynamic behavior of a reduced-scale one-span masonry arch bridge constructed in laboratory conditions by performing experimental and numerical analysis. Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) Technique was performed under ambient vibrations for experimental study to determine modal parameters of the reduced-scaled bridge model. Sensitive three-axial accelerometers were located on critical points on the bridge span and signals originated by accelerometers were collected to quantify the vibratory response of the scale bridge model. The experimental natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios resulting from these measurements were figured out by using Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition (EFDD) technique. ANSYS software was utilized to carry out 3D finite element (FE) modeling of the reduced-scale masonry bridge and determine the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the bridge numerically. Experimental results were compared with FE analysis results of the bridge. Significant differences appeared when comparing the results of the experimental and numerical with the initial conditions. Therefore, the finite element model is calibrated by using the response surface (RS) method according to the experimental results to minimize the uncertain finite element modeling parameters of the reduced-scale bridge model such as material properties

REAL TIME PCA BASED FACE RECOGNITION FOR FOLLOWING STAFF

REAL TIME PCA BASED FACE RECOGNITION FOR FOLLOWING STAFFAbstractWith the development of technology, security has entered our lives as an indispensable element. Nowadays, people are now using some methods that increase safety in every system. Biometrics technologies used in the identification of the physical properties of the body (facial, fingerprint and fingerprint) have become a common security detection approach today. Different methods are used for biometric applications. In this study, an application was developed by using PCA (Principal Component Analysis) method in the literature using face recognition algorithm. In this application, a workplace with hundreds of employees is followed by face recognition of the arrival and departure of the staff. After the follow-up, the persons who are late to the job or who are early to the desired time are reported to the management mail.Keywords: Biometry, Image processing, Facial identification, PCA, Personnel tracking.PERSONEL TAKİBİ İÇİN GERÇEK ZAMANLI PCA TABANLI YÜZ TANIMAÖzetTeknolojinin gelişmesiyle ile birlikte güvenlik vazgeçilmez bir unsur olarak hayatımıza girmiştir. Günümüzde insanlar artık her türlü sistemde güvenliği artıran bazı yöntemler kullanılmaktadır. Kişinin fiziksel özelliklerinin (yüz, parmak izi vs.) kimlik tespitinde kullanılan biyometri teknolojileri, günümüzde oldukça sık karşılaşılan güvenlik tespit yaklaşımı olmuştur. Biyometrik uygulamalar için değişik yöntemler kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada litaretürde bulunan PCA(Principal Component Analysis)  yöntemi ile yüz tanıma algoritması kullanılarak bir uygulama geliştirilmiştir. Bu uygulamada yüzlerce personeli olan bir işyerinde personelin işe geliş ve gidişinin yüz tanıma ile takibi yapılmaktadır.  Takip sonrasında işe istenilen zamandan geç gelen veya istenilen zamandan erken çıkan kişiler yönetime mail olarak bildirilmektedir.Anahtar Kelimeler: Biyometri, Görüntü işleme, Yüz tanımlama, PCA, Personel takip. 

Influence of blast-induced ground motion on dynamic response of masonry minaret of Yörgüç Paşa Mosque

This paper focuses on the dynamic response analysis of masonry minaret of Yörgüç Paşa Mosque subjected to artificially generated surface blast-induced ground motion by using a three-dimensional finite element model. The mosque is located in the town of Kavak of Samsun, in Turkey. This study intended to determine the ground motion acceleration values due to blast-induced ground motions (air-induced and direct-induced) calculated by a random method. In order to model blast-induced ground motion, firstly, peak acceleration and the time envelope curve function of ground motion acceleration were obtained from the distance of the explosion center and the explosion charge weight and then blast-induced acceleration time history were established by using these factors. Non-stationary random process is presented as an appropriate method to be produced by the blast-induced ground motion model. As a representative of blast-induced ground motion, the software named BlastGM (Artificial Generation of Blast-induced Ground Motion) was developed by authors to predict ground motion acceleration values. Artificial acceleration values generated from the software depend on the charge weight and distance from the center of the explosion. According to the examination of synthetically generated acceleration values, it can be concluded that the explosions cause significant effective ground movements. In the paper, three-dimensional finite element model of the minaret was designed by ANSYS. Moreover, the maximum stresses and displacements of the minaret were investigated. The results of this study indicate that the masonry minaret has been affected substantially by effects of blast-induced ground motion

Diverse approaches to scoliosis in young children

Management of scoliosis in young children needs a comprehensive approach because of its complexity. There are many debatable points; however, only serial casting, growing rods (including traditional and magnetically con trolled) and anterior vertebral body tethering will be discussed in this article. Serial casting is a time-gaining method for postponing surgical interventions in early onset scoliosis, despite the fact that it has some adverse effects which should be con sidered and discussed with the family beforehand. Use of growing rods is a growth-friendly surgical technique for the treatment of early onset spine deformity which allows chest growth and lung development. Magnetically controlled growing rods are effective in selected cases although they sometimes have a high number of unplanned revisions. Anterior vertebral body tethering seems to be a promising novel technique for the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis in immature cases. It provides substantial correction and continuous curve control while maintaining mobility between spinal segments. However, long-term results, adverse effects and their prevention should be clarified by future studies.Peer reviewe

Modal identification of a reduced-scale masonry arch bridge with experimental measurements and finite element method

This study aims to investigate modal parameters such as mode shapes, natural frequencies and damping ratios of a reduced scale one-span historical masonry arch bridge constructed in laboratory conditions by performing numerical and experimental analysis. Sarp Dere historical masonry bridge, in Ordu, Ulubey, has 15.5m in length and 4.75m in width was chosen as a prototype model. The reduced-scale bridge model and structural details were carried out in the scale of 1:12.5. Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) technique was used for experimental study. The experimental modal parameters of the bridge model were figured out by using Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition (EFDD). ANSYS software was used to create 3D finite element (FE) model and to expose the analytical modal parameters of the reduced-scaled bridge model. Moreover, FE model of the reduced-scale bridge model was calibrated based on the experimental results by using the Response Surface based FE model calibration technique to obtain more accurate results. The analysis results of experimental, initial and calibrated FE model were compared. It is noted that there are significant differences between the modal parameters obtained from experimental and initial FE model. Model calibration techniques are beneficial to get a more reasonable FE model

Neonatal bladder-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate bladder dysfunction in diabetic rat models

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a new mesenchymal stem cell type derived from the neonatal bladder (nMSC-B) on diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD). Materials and Methods: nMSC-B were harvested from neonatal male Sprague-Dawley rat’s bladder and expand- ed in culture. nMSC-B were transferred to Type-1 diabetic rats which were induced by a single dose 45 mg/kg Streptozocin (STZ). Stem cells were transferred via intraperitoneally (IP) (DM-IP group, n:6) and by direct injec- tion to the detrusor (DM-D group, n:6) at 12th week following diabetes and compared with Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) injected diabetic rats (DM-PBS group, n:6) and age-matched PBS injected non-diabetic normal rats (NR-PBS group, n:6). All rats were evaluated histopathologically and functionally four weeks after the stem cell treatment. Results: nMSC-B showed improvement in both voiding function and bladder structure. The maximum voiding pressure (MVP) values in the DM-PBS group were lower compare to DM-IP, DM-D and NR-PBS groups (13.27 ± 0.78 vs 16.27 ± 0.61, 28.59 ± 2.09, 21.54 ± 1.00, respectively, P < .001). There was a significant improvement for MVP values in stem cell-treated groups. Immunohistochemical examination revealed decreased bladder smooth muscle (SM), increased fibrosis and desquamation in urothelia in diabetic groups compared to normal group(P < .001). We detected recovery in the stem cell groups. This recovery was more evident in DM-D group. No statisti- cal difference was observed in SM and fibrosis between DM-D and NR-PBS groups (P = .9). Conclusion: It was shown that nMSCBs provided amelioration of DBD. We think that nMSC-B constitutes an effective treatment method in DBD

Of the importance of a leaf: the ethnobotany of sarma in Turkey and the Balkans

BACKGROUND: Sarma - cooked leaves rolled around a filling made from rice and/or minced meat, possibly vegetables and seasoning plants - represents one of the most widespread feasting dishes of the Middle Eastern and South-Eastern European cuisines. Although cabbage and grape vine sarma is well-known worldwide, the use of alternative plant leaves remains largely unexplored. The aim of this research was to document all of the botanical taxa whose leaves are used for preparing sarma in the folk cuisines of Turkey and the Balkans. Methods: Field studies were conducted during broader ethnobotanical surveys, as well as during ad-hoc investigations between the years 2011 and 2014 that included diverse rural communities in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey. Primary ethnobotanical and folkloric literatures in each country were also considered. Results: Eighty-seven botanical taxa, mainly wild, belonging to 50 genera and 27 families, were found to represent the bio-cultural heritage of sarma in Turkey and the Balkans. The greatest plant biodiversity in sarma was found in Turkey and, to less extent, in Bulgaria and Romania. The most commonly used leaves for preparing sarma were those of cabbage (both fresh and lacto-fermented), grape vine, beet, dock, sorrel, horseradish, lime tree, bean, and spinach. In a few cases, the leaves of endemic species (Centaurea haradjianii, Rumex gracilescens, and R. olympicus in Turkey) were recorded. Other uncommon sarma preparations were based on lightly toxic taxa, such as potato leaves in NE Albania, leaves of Arum, Convolvulus, and Smilax species in Turkey, of Phytolacca americana in Macedonia, and of Tussilago farfara in diverse countries. Moreover, the use of leaves of the introduced species Reynoutria japonica in Romania, Colocasia esculenta in Turkey, and Phytolacca americana in Macedonia shows the dynamic nature of folk cuisines. Conclusion: The rich ethnobotanical diversity of sarma confirms the urgent need to record folk culinary plant knowledge. The results presented here can be implemented into initiatives aimed at re-evaluating folk cuisines and niche food markets based on local neglected ingredients, and possibly also to foster trajectories of the avant-garde cuisines inspired by ethnobotanical knowledge

The genetic history of the Southern Arc: a bridge between West Asia and Europe

By sequencing 727 ancient individuals from the Southern Arc (Anatolia and its neighbors in Southeastern Europe and West Asia) over 10,000 years, we contextualize its Chalcolithic period and Bronze Age (about 5000 to 1000 BCE), when extensive gene flow entangled it with the Eurasian steppe. Two streams of migration transmitted Caucasus and Anatolian/Levantine ancestry northward, and the Yamnaya pastoralists, formed on the steppe, then spread southward into the Balkans and across the Caucasus into Armenia, where they left numerous patrilineal descendants. Anatolia was transformed by intra–West Asian gene flow, with negligible impact of the later Yamnaya migrations. This contrasts with all other regions where Indo-European languages were spoken, suggesting that the homeland of the Indo-Anatolian language family was in West Asia, with only secondary dispersals of non-Anatolian Indo-Europeans from the steppe

Statistical investigation of the effect of different damage conditions on the modal frequency value of a steel beam

This study aimed to parametrically investigate the changes in modal frequency values on a steel beam caused by specified damaged schemes. In this context, the ANSYS Workbench software program was used to create a steel profile's finite-element model. A cantilever steel beam profile is created with a 60x60 mm cross-section and 3m length utilizing single-sided fixed support. In the finite-element model, the crack depth, width, and distance to the support were parametrically assigned as the damaged scheme to the steel profile. To investigate the effects of those damages on the modal frequency values of the steel profile, first of all, the modal frequency values for undamaged cases corresponding to the first ten-mode shapes were obtained. Then, the specified crack properties were determined parametrically, and the changes in frequency values for damaged cases were examined. In addition, a comparative evaluation of the effect of crack properties on the natural frequency of the steel element was performed by utilizing response surface and six sigma analysis. The analysis results demonstrated that specified crack schemes have different effects on different modal natural frequencies. The applied response surface and six sigma analysis provided important statistical data on the modal natural frequency values of the steel beam

Nanofluids for electronics cooling

The goal of this study is to investigate experimentally the thermal performance of an electronics cooling system which is available in the market. Selected system is a water block used for liquid cooling of a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer. A suitable heater (resistance wire) is fabricated for producing heat similar to CPU. System is instrumented with K-type thermocouples for the temperature measurement of certain points. The experiments were carried out first with water and then with water-based Alumina nanofluid. Nanofluid sample was supplied from NanoAmor Inc., with particle concentration of 6.33 volumetric percent and diluted to 1 volumetric percent with water, by using a probe type ultrasound for 2 minutes at 70 W. During the experiments 60 W power applied to the CPU and the ambient temperature was 19 degree Celcius. Our results show that nanofluids, with low volume concentration (1 percent vol.) of Alumina particles decreases the maximum temperature of the system, almost 2.7 degree Celcius, compared to water