Determination of Biological Treatability Processes of Textile Wastewater and Implementation of a Fuzzy Logic Model

This study investigated the biological treatability of textile wastewater. For this purpose, a membrane bioreactor (MBR) was utilized for biological treatment after the ozonation process. Due to the refractory organic contents of textile wastewater that has a low biodegradability capacity, ozonation was implemented as an advanced oxidation process prior to the MBR system to increase the biodegradability of the wastewater. Textile wastewater, oxidized by ozonation, was fed to the MBR at different hydraulic retention times (HRT). During the process, color, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal efficiencies were monitored for 24-hour, 12-hour, 6-hour, and 3-hour retention times. Under these conditions, 94% color, 65% COD, and 55% BOD removal efficiencies were obtained in the MBR system. The experimental outputs were modeled with multiple linear regressions (MLR) and fuzzy logic. MLR results suggested that color removal is more related to COD removal relative to BOD removal. A surface map of this issue was prepared with a fuzzy logic model. Furthermore, fuzzy logic was employed to the whole modeling of the biological system treatment. Determination coefficients for COD, BOD, and color removal efficiencies were 0.96, 0.97, and 0.92, respectively

Protective Role of Genistein in Acute Liver Damage Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride

Aim. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of genistein in experimental acute liver damage induced by CCl4. Method. Forty rats were equally allocated to 5 groups. The first group was designated as the control group (group 1). The second group was injected with intraperitoneal CCl4 for 3 days (group 2). The third group was injected with subcutaneous 1 mg/kg genistein for 4 days starting one day before CCl4 injection. The fourth group was injected with intraperitoneal CCl4 for 7 days. The fifth group was injected with subcutaneous 1 mg/kg genistein for 8 days starting one day before CCl4 injection. Plasma and liver tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and liver glutathione levels, as well as AST and ALT levels were studied. A histopathological examination was conducted. Results. Liver tissue MDA levels were found significantly lower in group 3, in comparison to group 2 (P < .05). Liver tissue MDA level in group 5 was significantly lower than that in group 4 (P < .001). Liver tissue glutathione levels were higher in group 5 and 3, relative to groups 4 and 2, respectively (P > .05 for each). Inflammation and focal necrosis decreased in group 3, in comparison to group 2 (P < .001 for each). Inflammation and focal necrosis in group 5 was lower than that in group 4 (P < .001). Actin expression decreased significantly in group 5, relative to group 4 (P < .05). Conclusion. Genistein has anti-inflammatory and antinecrotic effects on experimental liver damage caused by CCl4. Genistein reduces liver damage by preventing lipid peroxidation and strengthening antioxidant systems

Endoscopic Management of the Difficult Bile Duct Stones: A Single Tertiary Center Experience

Background. Most common bile duct (CBD) stones can be removed with standard techniques using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but in some cases additional methods are needed. In this study we aimed to investigate the management of patients with difficult stones and the factors that affect the outcome of patients that have undergone periodic endobiliary stenting. Materials and Methods. Data of 1529 patients with naive papilla who had undergone ERCP with an indication of CBD stones was evaluated retrospectively. Stones that could not be removed with standard techniques were defined as “difficult stones.” Cholangiograms of patients who had difficult stones were revised prospectively. Results. Two hundred and eight patients (13.6%) had difficult stones; 150 of these patients were followed up with periodic endobiliary stenting and successful biliary clearance was achieved in 85.3% of them. Both CBD (p<0.001) and largest stone size (p<0.001) were observed to be significantly reduced between the first and the last procedure. This difference was even more significant in successfully treated patients. Conclusions. Periodic endobiliary stenting can be used as an effective treatment for patients with difficult stones. Sizes of the CBD and of the largest stone are independent risk factors that affect the success rate

Relation of homeostasis model of insulin resistance and body mass index with cardiac repolarization inhomogeneity in overweight and obese patients

In obese individuals, asymptomatic minimal myocardial dysfunction can be encountered even in the absence of structural of functional cardiac alterations. Novel electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters are used to predict arrhythmias related to this situation. We aimed to evaluate body mass index (BMI) and homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels and investigate their relationship with the novel ECG parameters. The study was conducted with 250 individuals in five groups (normoweight, overweight, class I obese, class II obese, and class III obese) each including 50 subjects. The ECGs of the individuals were retrospectively reviewed. Corrected QT (QTc), QTc dispersion (QTcd), Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e) interval, Tp-e dispersion (Tp-ed), and Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were calculated and their relationship with BMI and HOMA-IR was investigated. ECG parameters indicating ventricular repolarization inhomogeneity were significantly different in overweight individuals compared with the normoweight individuals. Comparing overweight and obese subjects, it was determined that QTc, QTcd and Tp-ed parameters were significantly associated with obesity and showed positive correlations with BMI and HOMA-IR. There was a positive relationship of BMI and HOMA-IR with the novel parameters indicating ventricular repolarization abnormality. Novel and simple ECG parameters including QTc, QTcd, and Tp-ed might be beneficial in monitoring of such patients for critical cardiac events, such as ventricular tachycardia or sudden cardiac death. [Med-Science 2019; 8(1.000): 27-31

Box-Jenkins ve Gri Tahmin Yöntemleri İle Türkiye’de Hava Yolu Ulaşım Talebinin Tahmini

Günümüzde artan rekabet koşulları ve teknolojik gelişmeler hava yolu sektörünü de etkilemiş özellikleinsanların zamanı etkin kullanma isteği bu sektörde artan bir trende neden olmuştur. Avrupa Birliği İstatistik Ofisi (EUROSTAT), hava ulaşımına ilişkin 2012 yılı istatistiklerine göre Türkiye'de 130 milyon 352 bin yolcu havayolu ulaşımını tercih etmiş ve son bir yılda yolcu talebindeki artış yaklaşık 13 milyon olarak gerçekleşmiştir. Türkiye'de hava ulaşımı kullanan kişi sayısındaki artış, 28 AB ülkesindeki toplam artıştan 7 milyon 137 bin fazla olmuştur. Çalışmada, Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TUİK) tarafından yayınlanan Ulaştırma (havayolu) istatistiklerinden faydalanılarak ulaşıma olan talebi tahmin etmek için uygun bir model belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla, Zaman Serisi Analizi tekniklerinden, Box Jenkins Yöntemi ve Gri Tahmin Yöntemleri ile modeller denenerek, her iki yöntem için de uygun modeller belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca mevcut dönem ve bir sonraki dönem tahminleri yapılmış, bulgular mukayese edilmiştir

Inulin Based Characterization of Turkish Jerusalem Artichokes

Although Jerusalem artichoke is not recognized as a commercial plant species that is cultivated in very wide areas, it emerges as a product that increases its popularity due to its high adaptability, relatively easy cultivation and high inulin content in recent years. In this study, the inulin content of Turkish Jerusalem Artichoke accessions was aimed to determine for the first time. Jerusalem artichoke tubers of eighteen accessions, collected from nine different cities of Turkey, were used as plant material. To calculate the amount of inulin in tubers, the hydrolysates were analyzed using spectrophotometer. The results were expressed as percentage of inulin content on dry and fresh weight basis. Inulin contents in dry matter samples of the Jerusalem artichoke accessions were 47.34±12.51% on an average. The highest inulin content (82.34%) was obtained from the genotype 38*1 collected from Kayseri / İncesu; the lowest content (33.79%) was obtained from the accession 50*1 collected from Nevşehir/Gülşehir. The highest inulin yield was obtained from accession 19*3 collected from Çorum/Ferizli (80.13 g/plant). This was followed by genotype 19*1 collected from the same city (66.45 g/plant). Considering the inulin ratios in fresh tubers, the highest result was obtained from accession 38*1 (15.89%). The average inulin content of all accessions was 9.28% / fresh tuber weight. Cluster analyses were performed according to the Ward method and Euclidian distances using inulin contents of accessions in fresh tubers and dry samples. The most distant accessions are 38*1 to 50*1 (diversity coefficient: 49.39); the closest accessions were 19*4 and 40*1 (diversity coefficient: 0.36). All accessions were clustered in two main groups. Both clusters had an equal number of accessions. A high variation was observed in Jerusalem artichoke accessions collected from different regions of Turkey.</p

THE EVALUATION OF COMPETITIVENESS PERFORMANCE FOR DEVELOPING EIGHT COUNTRIES BY GREY TOPSIS

DergiPark: 543588kusbderThe World EconomicForum has developed the Global Competitiveness Index to measure the countries'competitiveness and rank the countries according to their level of competition.This index is calculated separately for each country starting from 2007considering the 12 indicators. In this study, a new ranking has been obtainedfor 8 countries (D-8) developed with TOPSIS-G method by using the annual GlobalCompetitiveness Index data published by the World Economic Forum over theperiod of 2007 to 2017. The relationship between the ranking of TOPSIS-G and observedranking was investigated by Spearman-Rank correlation coefficient and KendallTau nonparametric correlation coefficients. As a result, it was determined thatthe ranking found with TOPSIS-G method was strongly related to the annualpublished rankings. In addition, the new ranking is less affected by competingrankings over the years. While the country with the highest level ofcompetitiveness with Topsis-G method is Malaysia, Turkey is third. Pakistan isthe lowest competitiveness country

Yenilikçi ve Girişimci Üniversite Endeksi Verilerinin 2012-2017 Dönem Aralığında ARAS-G Yöntemi İle Değerlendirilmesi

Amaç: Yenilikçi ve Girişimci Üniversite endeksinde yer alan üniversitelerin 2012-2017 dönem aralığındaki değerlerinden hareketle alternatif tek bir sıralama oluşturmaktır. Yöntem: Çalışmada gri sayılar ile entegre olarak ARAS-G yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Önerilen modelin geçerliliğini incelemek üzere yıl bazlı sıralamalara ek olarak TOPSIS-G yöntemi ile de sonuçlar sıralanmış ve bu sıralamalar arasındaki korelasyonlar incelenmiştir. Bulgular: ARAS-G yöntemi ile bulunan sıralamanın tüm yıllar ile anlamlı yüksek korelasyona sahip olduğu ayrıca bu yöntemin TOPSIS-G yöntemine nazaran her yılı daha fazla temsil ettiği belirlenmiştir. ARAS-G yöntemi ile yapılan analiz sonuçlarına göre ilk sırada Sabancı Üniversitesi yer alırken, ikinci sırada Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi yer almıştır. Sonuç ve öneriler: Önerilen ARAS-G yöntemi, zaman boyutunun da karar sürecine dahil edildiği bu araştırmada, geçerli sonuçlar üretmektedir. Başka karar probleminde yöntemin uygulanabilirliğinin incelenmesi ayrıca gri sayılar elde edilirken hesaplanan ortalama ve standart sapma için yıllara göre ağırlıklandırma yapılarak analizin tekrar edilmesi önerilebilir. Özgün Değer: Belirlenen zaman kesitini temsil etmek üzere hesaplanmış gri sayıların ARAS yöntemi ile entegre kullanımı çalışmanın özgün değerini oluşturmaktadır