Optimization of sponge iron (direct reduced iron) production with Box-Wilson experimental design by using iron pellets and lignite as reductant

Turkey’s iron ores may be used to manufacture sponge iron, and the country’s coal resources, which are plentiful despite being of poor quality, can be used as a reducing agent. With such a production, Electric Arc Furnace based on scrap imports, will be an alternative raw material for steel production, and this will create high value due to the usage of domestic resources. In this study, sponge iron production was tried to be optimized by using local sources. For this purpose, the effects of time, temperature and [CFix/FeTotal] weight ratio on the Reduction Degree (%) of the important parameters effective in the production of sponge iron by using Divriği Iron Pellets and Dodurga Lignite as a reductant were studied using a Box-Wilson experimental design. The optimum parameters were determined as 82.59 min, 996.73 °C and 0.49, and the highest Reduction Degree (%) value was calculated as 96.46%. The sponge iron obtained with a 71.91% Reduction Degree contains 97.12% Fe, of which 7.12% is oxidized. It is evident that higher Fe contents may be attained with research carried out in optimum parameters

Determination of Sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis Miller) Populations Distribution with Geographic Information Systems and evaluation of Landscape Metrics by using Habitat Quality Assessment; A case study of Mugla Koycegiz

Bu çalışmada, Köyceğiz-Dalyan Havzası'nda yayılış gösteren Sığla Ağacı (Liquidambar orientalis) popülasyonlarının coğrafi bilgi sistemleri yardımıyla belirlenmesi, peyzaj metrikleri kullanılarak bulunduğu matris içinde değerlendirilmesi ve koruma-kullanma önerilerinin geliştirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma; araziye ilişkin veri toplama, verilerin sayısallaştırılarak bilgisayar ortamında depolanması, peyzaj yapısının çeşitli peyzaj metrikleri kullanılarak analiz edilmesi, koruma önerilerinin geliştirilmesi şeklinde 4 aşamada yürütülmüştür. Veri toplama aşamasında bölgenin 1/25000 ölçekli topoğrafik haritalar, Landsat 7 ETM+ uydu görüntüleri ve ortofoto haritalardan yararlanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda ulusal ve uluslararası düzeyde önem taşıyan ve endemik bir tür olan Anadolu Sığla Ağacının (Liquidambar orientalis Miller), Köyceğiz-Dalyan Havzasındaki doğal yayılış alanı ve peyzaj yapısı belirlenmiştir. Özellikle tarım ve yerleşim alanlarının sığla ormanları üzerine baskısı olduğu ve bu ormanların tehlike altında olduğu görülmüştür. Bu kapsamda sığla ormanlarının bütünlüğünü korumak ve çevresel baskılara dayanımını artırmak üzere, orman içinde bozunuma uğramış yerlerin yeniden aynı tür ile ağaçlandırılması gerektiği ve ormanları çevreleyen 50 m ile 250 m arasında tampon bölgelerin oluşturularak kenar etkilerinin azaltılması gerektiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of the sweetgum trees’ (Liquidambar orientalis Miller) populations with geographic information systems, and to evaluate and propose protection-use development proposals by using the landscape metrics in the Koycegiz-Dalyan River Basin. The study has been carried out in four stages as data collection of land surface, data to be digitized and stored in the computer, landscape structure analysis by using landscape metrics and development of protective proposals and recommendations. During data collection, 1/25000 scale topographic maps of the basin, orthophoto aerial photograps and Landsat 7 ETM + satellite images were utilized. As a result, the natural distribution area of Anatolian Sweetgum tree (Liquidambar orientalis M.), which is endemic and important in national and international level, has been determined in the Koycegiz-Dalyan Basin. Especially, the agricultural and residential factors have increased the threat for the sweetgum forest. In this context, the a forestation should be done with the same kind of trees in degraded forest areas in order to protect the integrity of the forest and to increase resistance to environmental pressures, and forest edge effects should be reduced by creating surrounding between 50 meters and 200 meters buffer zones

Effects of verteporfin-mediated photodynamic therapy in breast cancer cells

560-566Photodynamic therapy works with a photosensitizer that is stimulated when exposed to a light source of a specific wavelength and produces a form of oxygen that can be used in cancer treatments. In this study, we investigated the effect of laser on apoptosis on breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231) treated with verteporfin in cell culture media. Verteporfin added MDA-MB-231 cells were incubated without light for 24 hours after applying laser light at a wavelength of 695 nm at an intensity of 50 J/cm2 at various times. Anti-proliferative effects were evaluated by immunoreactivity of anti-Bcl-2 and anti-Bax antibodies by immunocytochemical staining. When anti-Bax/Anti-Bcl-2 ratio are compared, the ratio of 1.5 in the control group cells decreases in short-term laser applications, while it approaches normal values in the 7th min after long-term laser application and reaches a very high value in the 9th min. Therefore, our results suggest that verteporfin-mediated PDT may be a potential combined therapy strategy against breast carcinoma by increasing apoptosis

Devlet Sulama Şebeketerinde Aylık Su Temini Oranının Belirlenmesi

Su kaynaklar ı projelerinin geliştirilmesindeki ana amaç, suyun yeterli miktar ve kalitede, istenilen yer ve zamanda teminini güvence alt ı na almak, insan yaşam ve faaliyetlerini suyun zararl ı etkilerinden korumakt ı r. Bu nedenle, son yı llarda sulama şebekelerinin etkin yönetimine ilişkin araştı rmalara önem verilmiştir. Çünkü, sulama şebekelerinin planlama, tasar ım uygulama ve izleme-değerlendirme aşamaları ile uyum göstermeyen bir su yönetimi, birçok sorunun ortaya ç ı kması na neden olmanı n yan ı nda, tar ı mı n sürdOrülebilirliğini de tehdit etmektedir. Su yönetimi performans düzeyini belirlemeye yönelik birbiri ile ilişkili olan göstergeler; su kullan ı m, tar ımsal, ekonomik, sosyal ve çevresel etkinlik göstergeleridir. Su kullan ım göstergelerinden birisi de ayl ı k su temini orantd ı r. Bu çalışmada, DSI taraf ı ndan işletilen sulama alan ı n ı n %85' ini temsil eden 119 sulama şebekesine ilişkin ayl ı k su temini oranlar ı , sulaman ı n en yoğun olduğu haziran, temmuz ve a ğustos aylar ı için s ı ras ı yla net su ihtiyac ı na göre ortalama 1.73 0.57-3.24 , 1.86 0.88-2.89 ve 2.02 0.79-3.34 , toplam sulama ihtiyac ı na göre ise ortalama 0.89 0.29-1.67 , 0.95 0.44-1.49 ve 1.03 0.40-1.71 olarak belirlenmiştir

Sulama Şebekelerinde Blaney Criddle ve Penman o Monteith Yöntemlerine Göre Sulama Suyu ihtiyacının Karşılaştırılması

Türkiye kurak ve yar ı kurak bir iklim ku şağı içerisindedir. Bu durum sulaman ı n önemini bir kat daha artt ı rmaktad ı r. Su kaynaklar ı n ı n etkin kullan ı labilmesi ve sulama projelerinin koşullara uygun bir şekilde haz ı rlanabilmesi için bölge koş ullar ı nda yetiştirilen bitkilerin yeti şme devresi boyunca kulland ı klar ı ayl ı k ya da daha k ı sa dönemlere ili şkin su miktar ı n ı n önceden bilinmesi gerekmektedir. Sulama suyu ihtiyac ı n ı n hesaplanmas ı nda esas bitki su tüketiminin belirlenmesidir. Bitki su tüketiminin belirlenmesinde en sa ğl ı kl ı yol doğ rudan ölçme yöntemleri olmas ı na karşı n bu yöntemler pahal ı ve zaman al ı c ı d ı r. Bu nedenle araşt ı rmac ı lar bitki su tüketiminin tahmininde kullan ı labilecek eşitlikler geli ştirmişlerdir. Bu çal ışman ı n amac ı Ülkemizde devlet sulama şebekelerinde Blaney-Criddle USDA-SCS ve Penman-Monteith yöntemlerine göre 1984-1993 y ı llar ı na ilişkin toplam sulama suyu ihtiyac ı n ı hesaplamak ve sonuçlar ı birbiri ile karşı laşt ı rmakt ı r. Bu amaçla 120 sulama şebekesinde sulama suyu ihtiyaçlar ı iki yönteme göre hesaplanm ış , sonuçlara bağı ms ı z iki grup için t-testi uygulanm ış ve incelenen şebekelerin 0/043'ünde farkl ı l ı k önemli bulunmuştur

Paranasal Sinus Fungus Ball, Anatomical Variations and Dental Pathologies: Is There Any Relation?

Objective:The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between anatomical variations and the fungus ball (FB), and the association between odontogenic etiologies and the maxillary sinus FB.Methods:We analyzed the clinical records of 66 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for FB. The anatomical variations determined were nasal septal deviation (NSD) and direction, presence of Onodi and Haller cell, concha bullosa and lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus. Further, dental X-ray records were reviewed to detect any possible odontogenic etiologies in patients with maxillary sinus FBs.Results:There were 41 female and 25 male patients. Positive fungal culture was found in 60 patients (91%) and the causative fungus was Aspergillus species in all cases. The correlation between NSD and localization of the maxillary sinus FB was statistically significant (p=0.0409). Maxillary sinus FB was more common on the concave side of the NSD. Presence of dental pathologies was significantly associated with maxillary sinus FB compared to the healthy side (p=0.0011). For sphenoid sinus FB, NSD was detected in a similar number for both the affected and unaffected side and there were no significant correlations (p>0.05). However, the relationship between sphenoid sinus FB and presence of lateral recess was significant (p=0.0262).Conclusion:Our study revealed that the maxillary sinus FB was more common on the concave side of the deviated septum. Also, dental pathologies or a presence of dental treatment history were associated with maxillary sinus FB

Association between myocardial hypertrophy and apical diverticulum: more than a coincidence?

PURPOSEWe aimed to investigate the possible association between the myocardial hypertrophy and the development of an apical diverticulum.MATERIALS AND METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 786 multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography examinations (520 males, 266 females; mean age, 57±15 years; age range, 18–78 years). The end-diastolic left ventricle wall thickness was measured in all patients, and a wall thickness of 11 mm was determined to be the cut-off value for myocardial hypertrophy. The ventricular apex and subvalvular area were evaluated for ventricular diverticula. The difference between the apical diverticula in patients with and without myocardial hypertrophy was determined.RESULTSThere were 12 myocardial hypertrophy and nine apical diverticulum cases. Myocardial hypertrophy was observed in four (44%) of nine patients who had apical diverticula, and an apical diverticulum was observed in four (33%) of 12 patients who had myocardial hypertrophy. There was statistically significant difference for myocardial wall thickness between the apical diverticula in patients with myocardial hypertrophy and those without myocardial hypertrophy (P = 0.011).CONCLUSIONDiagnosis of apical diverticula has become easier by using imaging modalities such as MDCT. There may be an association between myocardial hypertrophy and apical diverticulum

Evaluation of the placenta with relative apparent diffusion coefficient and T2 signal intensity analysis

PURPOSEWe aimed to test the null hypothesis that relative apparent diffusion coefficient (rADC) and relative signal intensity values (rSIHASTE) do not change in the evaluation of placental maturation with advancing gestational age.MATERIALS AND METHODSFifty-six fetuses with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) data were enrolled in this retrospective study. Fetuses were analyzed in three different gestational age groups: group 1, 18–23 weeks; group 2, 24–28 weeks; and group 3, 29–38 weeks. The rADC (mean ADC/ADCglobe) and rSIHASTE values (mean SIHASTE/SIglobe) were obtained. Two radiologists experienced in fetal MRI who were blinded to the patient information reviewed MRI images independently. Kruskal-Wallis Test was used to compare the rADC and rSIHASTE with gestational age groups. The agreement between the two blinded readers was tested using Krippendorff’s alpha ratio.RESULTSBoth placental rADC values and placental rSIHASTE values were not significantly different between the gestational age groups (P = 0.688 and P = 0.280, respectively). rADC and rSIHASTE measurements were reproducible with a good agreement between the two readers (Krippendorff’s alpha ratio was 0.613 and 0.778, respectively).CONCLUSIONThe rADC and rSIHASTE values do not change with advancing gestational age

Polatuzumab vedotin, rituximab, and bendamustine combination in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A real-world data from Turkey

Polatuzumab vedotin (Pola) with bendamustine and rituximab (BR) is a promising option for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We analyzed the data of 71 R/R DLBCL patients who had been treated with Pola-BR in the named patient program from March 2018 to April 2021 from 32 centers in Turkey. All patients received up to six cycles of Pola 1.8 mg/kg, rituximab 375 mg/m2 on day 1, and bendamustine 90 mg/m2 on days 1–2 of each cycle. Median age at Pola-BR initiation was 55 (19–84). The overall response rate was 47.9%, including 32.4% CR rate when a median of 3 cycles was applied. With a median follow-up of 5 months, the median OS was 5 months. Grade 3–4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the most common hematological toxicities. The real-world data from our cohort showed the Pola-BR is an effective option with a manageable toxicity profile