Effects of cigarette and biomass smoke exposure on oxidant–antioxidant status in rabbits

To evaluate the effects of cigarette smoking and biomass (dried dung) smoke on the oxidant–antioxidant status, three groups each with 5 rabbits were used. Groups of rabbits were exposed to either cigarette smoke, dried dung smoke or dry air, 1?h daily for one month. Protein carbonyls, prostaglandin F_2α and malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased and protein sulfhydryls levels were significantly decreased in the cigarette smoke group compared with the control group. Only protein sulfhydryls levels were significantly decreased in dung group compared with the control group. Short course exposure to both cigarette smoke and biomass smoke decreased plasma antioxidant levels but only cigarette smoke increased plasma oxidant levels, whereas biomass smoke did not produce any change.     

Impacts of sublethal lead exposure on the hemato-immunological parameters in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

The effects of exposure of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) to sublethal concentrations of lead on hematological and immunological parameters were investigated. The fish were semistatically exposed to low (L) (0.5 mg L^?1), medium (M) (2.5 mg L^?1), and high (H) (5 mg L^?1) lead concentrations for 14 days. At the end of the trial, red blood cell (RBC) count, hematocrit (Hct) ratio and hemoglobin levels showed significant decreases in M and H groups, while RBC was significantly increased in L group compared to control group. Lysozyme activity showed a decrease in all groups on day 14 compared to control. A decrease in myeloperoxidase activity was seen in M and H groups on day 7, and in all treatment groups on day 14. In conclusion, it was found that exposure of O. mossambicus to lead concentrations affected hematological and immunogical parameters adversely.     

Electrocoagulation of some reactive dyes: a statistical investigation of some electrochemical variables

In this study, the decolorization of strong colored solutions containing the reactive textile dyes by electrocoagulation was investigated. The experiments were statistically designed and carried out according to a 2(4) full factorial design with two replicate and four center points. This design was extended with eight additional axial points. Then, the non-linear regression was applied on the data by using MINITAB software. The variables chosen for this work are mixing rate, cell voltage, electrolysis time and current density. Results showed that the effective variables on decolorization process are cell voltage, electrolysis time and current density. In addition, to determine the effect of dye and electrode type on decolorization, the additional experiments were carried out. It was determined the dye and electrode type are important on the decolorization process.     

Inactivation of coliform bacteria in Black Sea waters due to solar radiation

The effects of solar radiation and temperature on bacterial die-off rates in Black Sea coastal waters using total coliform as the indicator organism were studied. Coliform die-off experiments were carried out in seawater samples collected along the coastline. The experiments were conducted in beakers filled with seawater that were kept at constant temperatures and exposed to solar radiation. The membrane filter technique was used for the coliform analysis. Temperature ranging between 9 and 26 degrees C and solar radiation between 20 and 60 cal/cm(2) h were tested. Experiments in the dark were also conducted to isolate the effect of solar radiation from the other factors and, furthermore, to determine the effect of temperature on bacterial die-off. The solar radiation was found to be the most significant factor affecting the mortality of coliform bacteria.     

Performance evaluation of a horizontal axis wind turbine in operation

The operation of modern horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) includes a number of important factors, such as wind power (P), power coefficient (C_P), axial flow induction factor (a), rotational speed (Ω), tip speed ratio (λ), and thrust force (T). The aerodynamic qualities of these aspects are evaluated and discussed in this study. For this aim, the measured data are obtained from the Sebenoba Wind Energy Power Plant (WEPP) that is located in the Sebenoba region in Hatay, Turkey, and a wind turbine with a capacity of 2 MW is selected for evaluation. According to the results obtained, the maximum turbine power output, maximum power coefficient, maximum axial flow induction factor, maximum thrust force, optimum rotational speed, probability density of optimum rotational speed, and optimum tip speed ratio are found to be 2 MW, 30%, 0.091, 140 kN, 16.11 rpm, 46.76%, and 7, respectively. This study has revealed that wind turbines must work under optimum conditions in order to extract as much energy as possible for approaching the ideal limit.     

Performance investigation of a new solar desalination unit based on sequential flat plate and parabolic dish collector

A new system composed of a sequential flat plate and parabolic dish solar collector was applied to enhance the solar desalination productivity. Heated saline water was desalinated using the evaporation/condensation principle and an effort was made to achieve higher distillate production compared to previous studies. Desalination efficiency values were calculated between 23% and 57%. Maximum desalinated water productions were obtained as 1,038 mL/m².h in autumn and 1,402 mL/m².h in summer. The cost of solar desalination system was found as economically feasible with 3 years’ payback period and the produced water cost of 0.014 $/L. Physicochemical analyses revealed that as a result of the desalination process, salinity level decreased from 35.6‰ to 0.0–0.1‰, chloride concentration decreased from 21,407 mg/L to 10 mg/L, and electrical conductivity decreased from 53.1 mS/cm to 0.11 mS/cm.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of biofuels from biomass

A sustainable source of energy production can be provided using renewable resources. For instance, biomass is transformed into biofuels using several techniques such as supercritical fluid extraction, an effective thermochemical process. Here we review results on biofuels obtained from lignocellulosic and algal biomass using supercritical fluids. Biofuel yield and composition are controlled by operating conditions such as extraction temperature, pressure, biomass and solvent type, and the presence of catalysts. The extraction temperature is the major factor controlling biofuel yield. Biofuel yields can also be improved with the use of catalysts. Major compounds in biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass are phenols, catechols, guaiacols, syringols, syringaldehydes, syringyl acetone, acids, and esters. Most of these compounds are produced by lignin decomposition in lignocellulose. Furfural and derivatives are produced by the decomposition of cellulose and hemicellulose. Fatty acid alkyl esters are formed from lignin fragmentation by condensation of compounds bearing C–O or C=O. Prominent compounds in biofuels from algal biomass are saturated or unsaturated fatty acid alkyl esters.     

Fractionation of Aluminum in Soil and Relation to Its Concentration in Fruits

Aluminum concentrations in the fruit samples taken from different regions were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after dry ashing digestion. To identify the aluminum phases being most responsible for fruit-available aluminum, the soil samples near the fruit plants were also analyzed for aluminum by using various digestion and selective extraction reagents. The relation between the aluminum concentrations in fruits and in soil extracts was studied. The obtained aluminum concentrations in the fruits were in the range of 1.5 to 42.0 mg kg^-1 on dry weight basis. It was observed that the aluminum concentrations of morello cherry(R² = 0.79) and mulberry (R² = 0.99) were correlated to the aluminum concentrations in citric acid extracts of the soils. While the aluminum concentrations of the EDTA and acetic acid extracts in some soils samples include 35% and 25% of total aluminum, respectively, the other soils contain only 1–2%.     

Analysing land cover changes for understanding of forest dynamics using temporal forest management plans

This study analyses forest dynamics and land use/land cover change over a 43-year period using spatial-stand-type maps of temporal forest management plans of Karaisal? Forest Enterprise in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Stand parameters (tree species, crown closures and developmental stages) of the dynamics and changes caused by natural or artificial intervention were introduced and mapped in a Geographic Information System (GIS) and subjected to fragmentation analysis using FRAGSTATS. The Karaisal? Forest Enterprise was first planned in 1969 and then the study area was planned under the Mediterranean Forest Use project in 1991 and five-term forest management plans were made. In this study, we analysed only four periods (excluding 1982 revision plans): 1969, 1991, 2002 and 2012. Between 1969 and 2012, overall changes included a net increase of 3,026 ha in forested areas. Cumulative forest improvement accounted for 2.12 % and the annual rate of total forest improvement averaged 0.08 %. In addition, productive forest areas increased from 36,174 to 70,205 ha between 1969 and 2012. This translates into an average annual productive forest improvement rate of 1.54 %. At the same time, fully covered forest areas with crown closure of “3” (>70 %) increased about 21,321 ha, and young forest areas in developmental stage of “a” (diameter at breast height (dbh)?<?8 cm) increased from 716 to 13,305 ha over the 43-year study period. Overall changes show that productive and fully covered forest areas have increased egregiously with a focus on regenerated and young developmental stages. A spatial analysis of metrics over the 43-year study period indicated a more fragmented landscape resulting in a susceptible forest to harsh disturbances.