GERMINATION PERFORMANCE OF SEQUENTIALLY HARVESTED TOMATO (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM MILL.) SEED LOTS DURING SEED DEVELOPMENT UNDER SALT AND OSMOTIC STRESS

This work concluded that tomato seeds harvested 70 days after anthesis showed the maximum germination not only under water but also salt stress. Seeds harvested earlier or later were more sensitive to stress at germinations. High Ki value of the lots indicated high resistance under stress conditions

Characterisation and mechanical modelling of polyacrylonitrile-based nanocomposite membranes reinforced with silica nanoparticles

In this study, neat polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and fumed silica (FS)-doped PAN membranes (0.1, 0.5 and 1 wt% doped PAN/FS) are prepared using the phase inversion method and are characterised extensively. According to the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis, the addition of FS to the neat PAN membrane and the added amount changed the stresses in the membrane structure. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results show that the addition of FS increased the porosity of the membrane. The water content of all fabricated membranes varied between 50% and 88.8%, their porosity ranged between 62.1% and 90%, and the average pore size ranged between 20.1 and 21.8 nm. While the neat PAN membrane’s pure water flux is 299.8 L/m2 h, it increased by 26% with the addition of 0.5 wt% FS. Furthermore, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques are used to investigate the membranes’ thermal properties. Finally, the mechanical characterisation of manufactured membranes is performed experimentally with tensile testing under dry and wet conditions. To be able to provide further explanation to the explored mechanics of the membranes, numerical methods, namely the finite element method and Mori–Tanaka mean-field homogenisation are performed. The mechanical characterisation results show that FS reinforcement increases the membrane rigidity and wet membranes exhibit more compliant behaviour compared to dry membranes

Halloysite nanotube-enhanced polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration membranes: fabrication, characterization, and performance evaluation

This research focuses on the production and characterization of pristine polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as well as halloysite nanotube (HNT)-doped PAN ultrafiltration (UF) membranes via the phase inversion technique. Membranes containing 0.1, 0.5, and 1% wt HNT in 16% wt PAN are fabricated, and their chemical compositions are examined using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is utilized to characterize the membranes’ surface and cross-sectional morphologies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is employed to assess the roughness of the PAN/HNT membrane. Thermal characterization is conducted using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), while contact angle and water content measurements reveal the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties. The pure water flux (PWF) performance of the porous UF water filtration membranes is evaluated at 3 bar, with porosity and mean pore size calculations. The iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiencies of PAN/HNT membranes from dam water are examined, and the surfaces of fouled membranes are investigated by using SEM post-treatment. Mechanical characterization encompasses tensile testing, the Mori–Tanaka homogenization approach, and finite element analysis. The findings offer valuable insights into the impact of HNT doping on PAN membrane characteristics and performance, which will inform future membrane development initiatives

Shaping 3D root system architecture

Plants are sessile organisms rooted in one place. The soil resources that plants require are often distributed in a highly heterogeneous pattern. To aid foraging, plants have evolved roots whose growth and development are highly responsive to soil signals. As a result, 3D root architecture is shaped by myriad environmental signals to ensure resource capture is optimised and unfavourable environments are avoided. The first signals sensed by newly germinating seeds — gravity and light — direct root growth into the soil to aid seedling establishment. Heterogeneous soil resources, such as water, nitrogen and phosphate, also act as signals that shape 3D root growth to optimise uptake. Root architecture is also modified through biotic interactions that include soil fungi and neighbouring plants. This developmental plasticity results in a ‘custom-made’ 3D root system that is best adapted to forage for resources in each soil environment that a plant colonises

Comparison of Reinforced Concrete Bridge and Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bridge Using Life Cycle Assessment

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an important tool assessing environmental impacts of the entire life cycle of a product or service. It provides an alternative method to enable reducing carbon emission and embodied energy (EE). The purpose of this study is to use LCA to compare two different structural materials used as reinforcement in a concrete bridge. The two materials are conventional steel reinforcement and Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP). The results show that FRP reinforced bridge produces 50% less carbon dioxide and requires 59% less EE throughout all the stages of LCA based on predicted equal life-span of two bridge applications

Permeability and removal rate of compacted clays to organic and inorganic matters

136-140Compacted clays are widely used for lining solid waste landfills containing wide range of organic and inorganic compounds which cause a major threat to groundwater quality. This study analyses change in permeability of compacted clays due to chemical reactions between clay and permeant. In first stage, permeability of compacted clay (uncontaminated and contaminated) samples was investigated by scanning electron microscope. In second stage, influent and effluent analyses was performed in order to determine treatment capability of compacted clay

Emergency contraception knowledge level and e-health literacy in Turkish university students

Background: Unwanted pregnancy is a serious problem, especially considering its impact on the lives of young people. Currently, emergency contraception (EC) is an effective method to prevent unwanted pregnancies that result in unsafe abortions and harm women's health. It is essential that university students, one of the risk groups for unwanted pregnancies, be familiar with this method. The aim of this study is to determine university students' knowledge of emergency contraception, influencing factors and e-health literacy levels. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 1003 senior undergraduate students at a public university. Data were collected via a Personal Information Form, Emergency Contraception Test, and e-Health Literacy Scale. For data analysis, descriptive analyses, t-test, ANOVA/Pearson correlation tests were used. Results: The e-HL score mean of students was found to be 25.68 +/- 7.0. EC knowledge scores of students were 5.7 +/- 2.8 for female students and lower for male students (4.3 +/- 2.0). There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of EC knowledge scores in favor of women (p < 0.05). EC knowledge score of those who received reproductive health education was 5.8 +/- 3.1, significantly higher than those who did not (p < 0.05). The knowledge score of those whose EC information source was an advisor/lecturer was significantly higher than those receiving information from other sources (p < 0.05). Scores on knowledge of emergency contraception were found to be significantly correlated positively with e-Health literacy scores (p = 0.00). Conclusion: Improved e-health literacy of students can be key to improving their knowledge of emergency contraception

Influence of leachates on permeability and removal rate of compacted clay

Low permeability clay liners are used for protecting groundwater resources from leachates of solid and hazardous wastes

Leachate removal rate and the effect of leachate on the hydraulic conductivity of natural (undisturbed) clay

Hydraulic conductivity (HC) is perhaps the most important unique parameter determined in the laboratory for predicting mobility of leachates through clay liners. Typically, HC must be < or = 1 x 10(-9) m/s for soil liners and covers used to contain hazardous waste, industrial waste, and municipal solid waste (MSW). Soil samples used in this study were obtained from the Kemerburgaz landfill in Istanbul. The study presents change in clay HC brought about by the chemical reactions between clay and a permeant. Any change induced by such a reaction in the microstructure (microfabric) of the clay was studied by scanning electron microscope. In order to determine the removal capability of the natural clay, COD, SS, VSS, Total P, TKN, Cu, Mn, Fe are also measured in the influent and effluent of the lab-scale reactor