Masonry compressive strength prediction using artificial neural networks

The masonry is not only included among the oldest building materials, but it is also the most widely used material due to its simple construction and low cost compared to the other modern building materials. Nevertheless, there is not yet a robust quantitative method, available in the literature, which can reliably predict its strength, based on the geometrical and mechanical characteristics of its components. This limitation is due to the highly nonlinear relation between the compressive strength of masonry and the geometrical and mechanical properties of the components of the masonry. In this paper, the application of artificial neural networks for predicting the compressive strength of masonry has been investigated. Specifically, back-propagation neural network models have been used for predicting the compressive strength of masonry prism based on experimental data available in the literature. The comparison of the derived results with the experimental findings demonstrates the ability of artificial neural networks to approximate the compressive strength of masonry walls in a reliable and robust manner.- (undefined

Fracture strength and fractographic analysis of zirconia copings treated with four experimental silane primers

This study evaluated and compared the effect of new four experimental silane coupling agents on the fracture strength of zirconia copings. The findings were supported with fractographic and finite element analyses. All together 125 zirconia copings with a ?wall thickness of 0.6mm were fabricated on identical nickel-chromium master dies and then divided randomly into five groups (n=25). Four test groups were prepared according the experimental silane primer (labeled: OIWA1, OIWA2, OIWA3 and OIWA4) ?and one control group without silanization. The silane monomers used were: ?3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (in OIWA1), ?3-acryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (in OIWA2), ?3-?isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (in OIWA3) and styrylethyltrimethoxysilane (in OIWA4). Tribochemical sandblasting (silica-coating) treatment was performed to the inner surface of the copings in the ?test groups. All the specimens were silanized at the inner surfaces of the zirconia copings. Self-?adhesive universal resin cement was used to cement the copings to ?the underlying master die. Zirconia copings were vertically loaded on the ?cusp ?area until the first crack failure was occurred using Precision Universal Tester ?at a ?constant crosshead speed of 1mm/min. Then, the machine ?was manually controlled to cause more failure ?to further determine the texture of fracture. Three dimensional finite element analysis and fractography were performed to support the fracture strength findings. Based on the finite element analysis results, zirconia silanized with ?3-acryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane showed the highest fracture strength with a mean of ?963.75?N (SD 4.5N), while zirconia copings silanized with ?3-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane showed a mean fracture strength value of ?925.65N (SD 2.4N). Styrylethyltrimethoxysilane-silanised zirconia showed mean fracture strength of 895.95N (SD 3.5N). Adding silane coupling agents to the resin-zirconia interface increased the fracture strengths significantly (ANOVA, p<0.05). Silanization with four new experimental silane primers in vitro produced significantly ?greater fracture strength than the control group not treated with the test silane.

Cytosine-type nucleosides from marine-derived Streptomyces rochei 06CM016

WOS: 000370676800007PubMed ID: 26126744Rocheicoside A (3), a nucleoside analog possessing a novel 5-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methylimidazolidin-4-one substructure, was isolated from marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces rochei 06CM016, together with a new (4) and three known compounds. Structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by one-dimensional (H-1 and C-13) and 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC and HMBC) and HR-TOF-MS analyses. All the metabolites exhibited significant antimicrobial activity. A plausible mechanism was proposed for compound 3's formation from amicetin.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [109S361]; Scientific Research Foundation of Ege UniversityEge University [10-FEN-012]This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, Project No: 109S361) and the Scientific Research Foundation of Ege University (10-FEN-012)

Using xanthated Lagenaria vulgaris shell biosorbent for removal of Pb(II) ions from wastewater

Chemically modified Lagenaria vulgaris shell was applied as a new sorbent for the removal of lead (II) ions from aqueous solution in a batch process mode. The influence of contact time, initial concentration of lead (II) ions, initial pH value, biosorbent dosage, particle size and stirring speed on the removal efficiency was evaluated. Biosorbent characterization was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Four kinetic models (pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich model and Intraparticle diffusion model) were used to determine the kinetic parameters. The experimental results were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich and Temkin models of isotherm. Pseudo-second order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model best fitted the experimental data. Sorption process is obtained to be fast and equilibrium was attained within 40 min of contact time. The maximum sorption capacity was 33.21 mg g−1. Biosorption was highly pH-dependent where optimum pH was found to be 5. The results of FTIR and SEM analysis showed the presence of new sulfur functional groups. This study indicated that xanthated Lagenaria vulgaris shell could be used as an effective and low-cost biosorbent for the removal of lead (II) ions from aqueous solution