On guarding real terrains: the terrain guarding and the blocking path problems

Locating a minimum number of guards on a terrain such that every point on the terrain is guarded by at least one of the guards is known as the Terrain Guarding Problem (TGP). In this paper, a realistic example of the terrain guarding problem is studied, involving the surveillance of a rugged geographical terrain by means of thermal cameras. A number of issues related to TGP are addressed with integer-programming models proposed to solve the problem. Also, a sensitivity analysis is carried out in which five fictitious terrains are created to see the effect of the resolution of the terrain, and of terrain characteristics, on coverage optimization and the required number of guards. Finally, a new problem, which is called the Blocking Path Problem (BPP), is introduced. BPP is about guarding a path on the terrain with a minimum number of guards such that the path blocks all possible infiltration routes. A discussion is provided about the relation of BPP to the Network Interdiction Problem (NIP), which has been studied extensively by the operations research community, and to the k-Barrier Coverage Problem, which has been studied under the Sensor Deployment Problem. BPP is solved via an integer-programming formulation based on a network paradigm

Electrochemical degradation of Diclofenac on catalysts based on CNT and M/CNT modified electrodes

Diclofenac (DCF) - a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug - is one of the most frequently detected pharmaceutical compounds in the aquatic environment. Because of its negative effects on public health and environment, this emerging pollutant monitoring and removal from wastewater are of high importance. Electrochemical oxidation has attracted growing interest in the last years, due to its versatility, high efficiency and environment compatibility.Electrochemical oxidation of DCF has been studied using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and monometallic catalysts based on carbon nanotubes (M/CNT), at different pH media. The electroreactivity of DCF on modified electrodes and the kinetic parameters of the redox reactions were determined using cyclic voltammetry. Electrodegradation of DCF in aqueous medium was carried out using long-term electrolyses. The products of these electrolyses were identified and quantified by HPLC-MS, GC-MS, HPLC-UV-RID and IC.BioTecNorte (operation NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) and “AIProcMat@N2020 -Advanced Industrial Processes and Materials for a Sustainable Northern Region of Portugal 2020”, NORTE-01-0145-FEDER- 000006, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This work also has been funded by national funds (FCT, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), through the projects: PTDC/AAGTEC/5269/2014, Centre of Chemistry (UID/QUI/00686/2013 and UID/QUI/0686/2016) and LSRE-LCM (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Full-wave modeling of broadband near field scanning microwave microscopy

The authors would like to thank professor Dr. Gabriel Gomila from Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC) and Universitat de Barcelona for the fruitful discussion and support, as well as to Dr. Georg Gramse from Johannes Kepler University Linz for the experimental data. B.W. thanks the funding from the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for the support of his research at Queen Mary University of London, UK. Y.H. would like to thank EU-FP7 Nanomicrowave project for the financial support

IL-6 mediated JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in cancer patients with cachexia

CONCLUSION: STAT3 may be considered as a therapeutic target for cachectic patients with gastric, lung and breast cancer. Furthermore, IL-6 mediates STAT3 activation in cachectic gastric and breast cancer patients (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 62)

Classical Simulation of Relativistic Quantum Mechanics in Periodic Optical Structures

Spatial and/or temporal propagation of light waves in periodic optical structures offers a rather unique possibility to realize in a purely classical setting the optical analogues of a wide variety of quantum phenomena rooted in relativistic wave equations. In this work a brief overview of a few optical analogues of relativistic quantum phenomena, based on either spatial light transport in engineered photonic lattices or on temporal pulse propagation in Bragg grating structures, is presented. Examples include spatial and temporal photonic analogues of the Zitterbewegung of a relativistic electron, Klein tunneling, vacuum decay and pair-production, the Dirac oscillator, the relativistic Kronig-Penney model, and optical realizations of non-Hermitian extensions of relativistic wave equations.Comment: review article (invited), 14 pages, 7 figures, 105 reference

Commercial crossbreeding between Ile-de-France, Rambouillet, Chios and local fat-tail Awassi for market lamb production

A commercial crossbreeding experiment at the Research Farm of Çukurova University in Adana with Ile-de-France, Rambouillet, Chios and Awassi sheep is reported. The Chios breed was chosen for prolificacy and high milk production potential, the Ile-de-France for early growth and carcass quality, and the Rambouillet for early growth; the Awassi is the local sheep which is to be improved. The objective was to increase meat production by exploiting the reproductive efficiency of crossbred sheep. Firstly, Awassi ewes were mated with Chios rams, producing the F1 generation. Secondly, the F1 ewes were mated with Ile-de-France sires to obtain F1 ram lambs (designated IlF1), and F1 ewes were also mated with Rambouillet sires to obtain F1 ram lambs (designated RF1). Rambouillet (Rmb) and Awassi (Aw) sheep served as the control lines. Lambing rate (lambs born per mated ewe) was 1.65, 1.16, 1.05 and 1.03 for Il × F1, R × F1, Aw × Aw and Rmb × Rmb matings respectively. Twelve ram lambs in the IlF1, RF1 and Aw groups, and eight Rmb ram lambs were used in a fattening trial. Ram lambs weighing 38-40 kg were slaughtered and the chilled carcass was divided into eight primal cuts. Average daily gains were 311.6, 253.2, 281.2 and 226.0 g for IlF1, Aw and Rmb lambs, respectively, and feed efficiency was 3.8, 4.2, 3.7 and 5.4. Dressing percentage was higher for IlF1 lambs than for other groups. For cold carcasses of IlF1, RF1 Rmb and Aw lambs, the total bone percentage was 18.8, 19.5, 19.5 and 19.7 respectively, total muscle percentage 54.9, 53.5, 54.3 and 54.1, total subcutaneous fat percentage 12.3, 14.1, 11.6 and 16.6, and total intermuscular fat percentage 10.5, 9.5, 10.1 and 6.6. Fat thickness and rib-eye areas at the 12th rib were generally largest for IlF1 ram lambs. © 1990

Türkiye’de fındık üretimi ve ihracat rekabet gücü

Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’nin karakteristik tarım ürünlerinden ve gıda sektörünün önemli bir girdisi olan fındığın Türkiye’deki üretim, pazarlama ve ticaret koşulları ile bu ürüne ilişkin hükümet politikaları ve rekabet gücü incelenmiştir. Fındık, başta çikolata üretimi olmak üzere gıda sanayinde yoğun olarak kullanılmakta ve son yıllarda üretim ve ticareti dünya genelinde artış göstermektedir. Fındık üretiminin çok az ülkede ve kısıtlı alanlarda gerçekleştiriliyor olması bu ürünün üretimini ve ticaretini önemli bir duruma getirmiştir. Fındık üretiminin ve ihracatının yaklaşık %70’ini gerçekleştiren Türkiye bu konumu nedeniyle dünya fındık sektörünü yaptığı uygulamalar ve politik kararlarıyla yoğun bir şekilde etkilemektedir. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’nin fındık ticaretindeki uzmanlaşma düzeyi ve mukayeseli üstünlük gücünü belirlemek amacıyla Blassa’nın (1965) geliştirmiş olduğu Açıklanmış Karşılaştırmalı Üstünlükler (AKÜ) endeksi kullanılmıştır. Bu bağlamda, 2009-2011 yılları Türkiye fındık ticareti ortalama AKÜ indeksi 95 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Bu durum Türkiye’nin uluslararası fındık ticaretinde çok yüksek düzeyde karşılaştırmalı üstünlüğe sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, rakip ülkelerin hâlihazırda fındık üretimlerini arttırıyor olması bu alanda önümüzdeki dönemlerde daha yoğun bir rekabet ortamının olabileceğini işaret etmekte ve Türkiye’nin bu alandaki avantajlı konumunu tehdit etmektedir.In this study, production, marketing, competition and trade conditions in Turkish hazelnut sector were examined. Hazelnut is a characteristic agricultural product of Turkey and an important input for food industry globally. Due to the upgrade usage of hazelnut in food industry, especially for chocolate production, an increase on production and trade activities is been observed in recent years. For the reason that production of hazelnut can only be performed in limited areas of few countries, this fruit has a special position in the world market. Turkey generates 70% of total hazelnut production and exportation thus affects world hazelnut sector intensively through the national policies and applications. In this study, Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index which was developed by Blassa (1965) was used to identify the specialization level and comparative advantage power of Turkey on international hazelnut market. In this context, average RCA index of Turkish hazelnut trade for 2009-2011 was calculated as 95 which represent a great comparative advantage power of Turkish exportation on international market. However, competitor countries are already increasing their hazelnut production they started to be a treat for the advantage and superiority of Turkey on the world hazelnut market

Fertility, prolificacy and milk production in Çukurova and Taurus dairy goats under subtropical conditions in Turkey

Fertility, prolificacy and milk production of two recently developed synthetic dairy goats (Çukurova and Taurus) were compared under subtropical conditions. Çukurova, introduced in the low-lands, are based on Kilis goats. Taurus in the highlands and mountainous area, are based on Kilgoats. Çukurova (69) showed slightly better reproductive performance than Taurus (86). Twinning rate and litter size at birth were 61.0, 63.1% and 1.61, 1.63 for 3-yr-old Taurus and Çukurova goats, respectively. Mean corrected milk yields (corrected for year) of Taurus and Çukurova goats were 376 ± 13.9 and 352 ± 14.8 kg, respectively (P > 0.05). Taurus goats had longer lactation periods than Çukurova. It was concluded that the improved synthetic dairy goats, Taurus and Çukurova, gave satisfactory performances in milk yield, fertility and survival rate of weaning under subtropical climate conditions in the Çukurova region. © 1992