Performance model for asphalt concrete pavement based on the fuzzy logic approach

Accurate pavement performance estimation is very important for the managing and maintaining of surface transportation infrastructure. In the present study, a new model for the prediction of present and future performance of flexible pavements is developed using the fuzzy logic approach. The database of the model is able to use numerical measurements and also linguistic statements. Many models developed in the literature neglect the parameters that have little bearing on performance. However, it is a well known fact that these parameters do have an effect on performance to some degree. Different parameters were considered in the model as accepted by the authorities, and as having little bearing on performance. For each parameter, a certain weight was appointed, and the parameters that affected performance were assigned greater weights while the others were assigned smaller weights. As a result, the current model in the fuzzy logic approach is more flexible than the current Pavement Serviceability Index (PSI) and Pavement Condition Index (PCI) models. The model is different from previous fuzzy logic based models. Two stages of the fuzzy logic approach were used in these models. Since this new methodology does not need any mechanical tests, the model can be adopted by the Pavement Management System (PMS) of developing countries

ŞEHİRİÇİ KONTROLSÜZ EŞDÜZEY KAVŞAK KAZALARINI ETKİLEYEN UNSURLARIN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ

Özet Yol güvenliği araştırmalarında teori, modeller ve bunların uygulanabilirliği, trafik kazalarına karşı etkili önlemlerin alınması için kullanılan ana kaynaklardır. Modellerin hatasız ve uygulanabilir olması için de modelde kullanılacak teorilerin doğru tespit edilmiş olması gereklidir. Sinyalizasyonsuz kavşak kazalarını etkileyen unsurların ne olduğunun ve kazaları nasıl etkilediklerinin doğru bir şekilde tespit edilebilmesi, ileride yapılacak güvenlik araştırmalarının temelini oluşturmaktadır. Bu da kavşak iyileştirme çalışmalarına geçmeden önce derinlemesine bir kaynak incelemesi yapmakla mümkün olabilir. Şimdiye kadar yapılan hiçbir çalışmada sinyalizasyonsuz kavşak kazalarını etkileyen tüm faktörler beraberce incelenmemiştir. Bu nedenle kaza tahmin modelleri oluşturulurken veya kavşak güvenlik analizleri yapılırken, etkiyen parametrelerde hep bir kısıtlamaya gidilmiştir. Bu çalışmada şehiriçi sinyalizasyonsuz kavşak kazalarının oluşmasına sebep olan insan unsuru ve araç unsuru hariç, yol ve çevre unsuru, özellikle kavşak geometrik özellikleri ile kazalar üzerindeki etkilerinin tümü ayrıntılı olarak incelenmiştir. Çalışma şehiriçi sinyalizasyonsuz kavşak güvenlik analizi ile ilgili eksikliğin giderilmesini amaçlamaktadır ve elde edilen sonuç değerlerinin kavşak güvenliği araştırmalarına ışık tutabileceği düşünülmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Sinyalizasyonsuz şehiriçi kavşak geometrisi, kavşak kaza değişkenleri

Biochemical Characterisation and Sensory Evaluation of Differently Coloured and Shaped Tomato Cultivars

Antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, colour, sugar, volatiles, ascorbic acid and carotenoid (β-carotene and lycopene) contents of differently coloured and shaped tomato cultivars (cvs) grown in the Eastern Mediterranean region, Turkey were determined, along with a sensory evaluation. Tomato cultivars of two different types (cherry and beefsteak) and four different colours (red, yellow, orange and brown) were analysed. All plants were simultaneously grown in the same field and subjected to identical horticultural practices to minimise the effects of environmental conditions and to maximise those related to genotype. The red cherry cultivar had the highest lycopene content, while the orange beefsteak cultivar had the highest β-carotene content. The highest antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content and hardness scores were found in cherry-type tomatoes, except the yellow one. The red cherry cultivar had the highest sugar content. Red and brown cherry cultivars were also significant in terms of their high carotenoid and sugar contents, along with a high antioxidant activity. The brown cherry cultivar had the highest total phenol content. The highest quantities of 2-hexenal, 3-hexen-1-ol, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one were detected in red cultivars. The brown cherry cultivar had the highest sweetness, typical aroma and hardness scores, while the yellow beefsteak cultivars the lowest sweetness typical aroma scores. In terms of sensory parameters, red and brown cultivars scored higher than yellow and orange ones

Cytohistological discrepancies of cervico-vaginal smears and HPV status

Objectives: Discrepancies between abnormal cervical cytology or high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) status (cytolo-gy negative/HPV positive) and subsequent histological findings are a common occurrence. After using co-testing, the dis­crepancies between the HR-HPV status and cervical cytology have become an issue. In this study, we aimed to determine the characteristics of women with a discrepancy between histology and cytology/HR-HPV status, in terms of diagnosis, review and identification. Material and methods: A total of 52 women, patients of the University Hospital between 2013–2015, with cytohistologi­cal or HR-HPV status discrepancy were recruited for the study and retrospectively analyzed. The cytological samples were liquid-based Pap smears, classified according to the 2001 Bethesda system. The HR-HPV status was identified using the Hybrid Capture 2 HR-HPV DNA assay. The histological samples were obtained by cervical biopsy as well as large loop exci­sion of the transformation zone (LLETZ). Results: A cytohistological discrepancy was demonstrated in patients with (-)cytology/HR-HPV(+), ASCUS, LSIL, ASC-H, HSIL, AGC-NOS: 17.3%, 23.07%, 26.9%, 9.5%, 17.3% and 5.7%, respectively. When the degree of atypia in cytology increases, the concurrency of cervical cytology with biopsy also increases. A positive HR-HPV co-test result (19/24, 79.1%) was observed in nearly all CIN2 ≥ (+) cases. Our study emphasizes the significance of HR-HPV testing to determine CIN2 ≥ (+) cases, even in the presence of a normal cytological result. Conclusions: In case of cytohistological or HR-HPV discrepancies, a careful review of the HR-HPV status and the degree of cytological atypia should be performed before further intervention

COĞRAFİ BİLGİ SİSTEMLERİ İLE ISPARTA-ANTALYABURDUR KARAYOLUNUN KARA NOKTA ANALİZİ

Çalışmada, Isparta-Antalya karayolu üzerinde 1996-1999 yılları arasında meydana gelen trafik kaza raporlarıteker teker incelenerek MS Excel programında veri tabanı oluşturulmuştur. Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri (CBS), coğrafi koordinatlara gereksinim duyduğundan, her kaza noktasında GPS ölçümleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. ArcView programı kullanılarak, coğrafi koordinatlar ile veri tabanı birbiri ile ilişkilendirilmiştir. Yapılan sorgulama sonunda trafik kazalarının büyük çoğunluğunun yolun alinyiman kesimlerinde meydana geldiği, gündüz ve açık havalarda trafik kazalarının daha sık meydana geldiği görülmüştür. Ayrıca, özellikle ölümlü kazaların Antalya sınırında yoğunlaştığı görülmüştür

A finite element based backcalculation program for flexible pavements

221-230In recent years pavement maintenance planning has become a main task among highway agencies. In order to determine the structural capacity of a flexible pavement, non-destructive testing equipment is used. Many countries use the falling weight deflectometer (FWD). It is possible to obtain deflection data and backcalculate the pavements’ mechanical properties. However, the method used affects the backcalculated values. A user-friendly finite element code has been developed in order to backcalculate pavement properties. The problem in using any finite element program is to prepare mesh data. In order to facilitate the mesh preparation, a mesh generator have been developed. The constitutive equations for the bituminous mixture are visco-elastic, linear elastic, visco-elasto-plastic; for granular layers non-linear elastic (K-q Model, Boyce Model, Pappin Model, Elhannani Model) and linear elastic, while for the subgrade non-linear elastic and linear elastic are used. Considerable deflection data are analyzed during the study using different models. The results indicate that the back-calculated properties depend upon the model which has been used. Therefore, using simple models can cause either over-design or under-design problems. The program is then tested against other back-calculation programs. The results indicate that the proposed program is better than other existing programs