Investigating of Mechanical Properties of Mortars Based on Fly Ash and Blast Furnace Slag Activated with Alkali

Alkali activated mortars obtained from granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash were used instead of Portland cement by activating with alkali. Sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide were activated blast furnace slag and fly ash. Mortar samples were prepared 40x40x160 mm as prismatic samples according to TS EN 196-1 and they were cured at room temperature. Compressive and flexural strength of the mortar samples including blast furnace slag and fly ash were investigated by experimenting

Enhancement on mechanical and durability performances of binary cementitious systems by optimizing particle size distribution of fly ash

Fly ash is a well-known supplementary cementitious material that is the by-product of coal-fired thermal power plants. The contribution of fly ash to the enhancement of the mechanical and durability properties of cementitious materials has been documented in concrete technology for many years. In this study, to allow superior mechanical and durability properties, fly ash-based mixtures have been produced after optimization of particle size distribution (PSD) of Class F and Class C fly ash according to the formula of Fuller–Thompson. Different distribution modulus values ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 were used to achieve ideal PSD in accordance with the Fuller–Thompson equation. 30% of F- and C-class fly ash by weight of cement were used to replace with cement in cementitious composites by optimizing PSD with help of air jet sieve. The recommended optimization technique improved the 7-, 28- and 90-day compressive and flexural strength results of mortars. Compressive and flexural strength tests and rapid chloride permeability test of cement-based systems incorporating fly ash up to 15% replacement ratio with optimized PSD at 90-days exhibited better results than those of plain samples owing to the filler effect. © 2020, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology.Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas 115M325The authors wish to thank the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for financial support (Project: 115M325)

Fungi and aflatoxin B1 in horse and dog feeds in Western Turkey

To evaluate fungi growth and aflatoxin B1 contamination in horse and dog feeds, total of 41 feed samples were examined with agar plate incubation and ELISA methods. Fungi growth of the horse feed was not exceeding maximum tolerable limits (0.97 × 104 CFU/g). Although dog foods should not contain any fungi contamination, slightly less than half of the tested dog foods had fungi growth. Both feeds had aflatoxin B1 content in allowable limits (10 ?g/kg.), however, dog foods contain significantly higher aflatoxin B1 content than horse feeds do (P < 0.05) (6.69 ?g/kg and 1.98 ?g/kg, respectively). Fungi growth and aflatoxin B1 content did not correlate in either group of feeds (r2 = 0.09 and r2 = 0.30, respectively). Surveilance of both fungi growth and aflatoxin contents of both types of feeds are necessary for the health of the animals

Fungi and aflatoxin B-1 in horse and dog feeds in Western Turkey

Filazi, Ayhan/0000-0002-2800-6215WOS: 000223398200002To evaluate fungi growth and aflatoxin B, contamination in horse and dog feeds, total of 41 feed samples were examined with agar plate incubation and ELISA methods. Fungi growth of the horse feed was not exceeding maximum tolerable limits (0.97 x 10(4) CFU/g). Although dog foods should not contain any fungi contamination, slightly less than half of the tested dog foods had fungi growth. Both feeds had aflatoxin B, content in allowable limits (10 mug/kg.), however, dog foods contain significantly higher aflatoxin B I content than horse feeds do (P less than or equal to 0.05) (6.69 mug/kg and 1.98 mug/kg, respectively). Fungi growth and aflatoxin B I content did not correlate in either group of feeds (r(2) = 0.09 and r(2) = 0.30, respectively). Surveilance of both fungi growth and aflatoxin contents of both types of feeds are necessary for the health of the animals

Study of the relationship between Androctonus crassicauda (Oliver, 1807; scorpiones, buthidae) venom toxicity and telson size, weight and storing condition

Scorpions are included in the order Scorpiones; class Arachnida. Lethal scorpions are mostly of the Buthidae family. Among these, species belonging to Androctonus, Leiurus and Mesobuthus genera cause most scorpion envenomations in Turkey. This study was performed aiming the production of antivenom by using Androctonus crassicauda telsons. Venom toxicity is related to telson weight, size, and storing condition (open or closed). Telsons of A. crassicauda were collected in Southeastern Anatolia (especially in Harran town, Sanliurfa), Turkey. They were separated according to weight, size, and storing condition - open (a) and closed (b). Venom solution was prepared by maceration of telsons. Swiss albino mice were used to determine the lethal dose 50% (LD50), which was as follows: Group 1a - 2.31mg; Group 1b - 2.66mg; Group 2a - 2.32mg; Group 2b - 2.66mg; Group 3a - 6.66mg; Group 3b - 6.88mg. Among the groups of telsons, the first and the second groups showed different characteristics. However, there were no differences between their toxicity. In the third group, a fourfold amount of telsons was used for toxicity. In other words, telsons weighting from 19.99 to 20mg (first group) and from 29.99 to 30mg (second group) presented similar LD50 values, and telsons weighting from 10 to 19.99mg (third group) showed a fourfold higher LD50 value. This difference was caused by the maturity of scorpions and venom toxicity was related to their size. The first and second groups were considered to be mature and the third group, not adult. Therefore, we can conclude that obtaining open telsons due to environmental factors was not effective for venom toxicity

Determination of melamine in milk and dairy products by high performance liquid chromatography

Filazi, Ayhan/0000-0002-2800-6215WOS: 000299540600011PubMed: 22281324phase HPLC method was developed for the determination of melamine in milk (pasteurized and UHT milk) and dairy products (powdered infant formula, fruit yogurt, soft cheese, and milk powder). Following extraction with acetonitrile: water (50: 50, vol/vol), samples were purified by filter (0.45 mu m), separated on a Nucleosil C8 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 3 mu m) with acetonitrile: 10 mmol/L sodium l-octane sulfonate (pH 3.1; 15: 85, vol/vol) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min, and determined by a photodiode array detector. A linear calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range from 0.05 to 5 mg/kg. Milk and dairy products were fortified with melamine at 4 levels producing average recovery yields of 95 to 109%. The limits of detection and quantification of melamine were 35 to 110 and 105 to 340 mu g/kg, respectively. The method was then used to analyze 300 samples of milk and dairy products purchased from major retailers in Turkey. Melamine was not found in infant formulas and pasteurized UHT milk, whereas 2% of cheese, 8% of milk powder, and 44% of yogurt samples contained melamine at the 121, 694 + 146, and 294 + 98 mu g/kg levels, respectively. These findings were below the limits set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and European Union legislation. This is the first study to confirm the existence of melamine in milk and dairy products in Turkey. Consumption of foods containing these low levels of melamine does not constitute a health risk for consumers.Ankara University (BAP)Ankara University [10B3338002]This study was supported by Ankara University (BAP Project No: 10B3338002)