Temporal analysis of coastal erosion in Turkey: a case study Karasu coastal region

Coastal erosion may be caused by natural causes as well as human factors. Karasu town of the city of Sakarya in Turkey which is a touristic region on the Black Sea coast has been experienced a drastic coastal erosion. In recent years, this erosion reached the threatening dimensions for the structures in the settlement. According to the temporal analyses of Landsat satellite images, the maximum erosion on the coastline was detected 100 m between 1987–2013. The results of the study show that the harbour construct on the Karasu coast has the major impact on this event. The secondary factor is that the amount of the sediment carried by the Sakarya River was decreased in time due to different reasons. To prevent the coastal erosion, a series of offshore breakwaters were planned after the failed application of groins on the coastline. In this study, temporal changes of the coastline are investigated by the Landsat satellite data and land surveys, possible reasons of the erosion are discussed and the solutions are proposed regarding the coastal structures.     

Monitoring spatiotemporal variations of diel radon concentrations in peatland and forest ecosystems based on neural network and regression models

Concentrations of outdoor radon-222 (²²²Rn) in temperate grazed peatland and deciduous forest in northwestern Turkey were measured, compared, and modeled using artificial neural networks (ANNs) and multiple nonlinear regression (MNLR) models. The best-performing multilayer perceptron model selected out of 28 ANNs considerably enhanced accuracy metrics in emulating ²²²Rn concentrations relative to the MNLR model. The two ecosystems had similar diel patterns with the lowest ²²²Rn concentrations in the afternoon and the highest ones near dawn. Mean level (5.1?+?2.5 Bq?m^?3 h^?1) of ²²²Rn in the forest was three times smaller than that (15.8?+?9.7 Bq?m^?3) of ²²²Rn in the peatland. Mean ²²²Rn level had negative and positive relationships with air temperature and relative humidity, respectively.     

What affects perceptions of local residents toward protected areas? A case study from Kure Mountains National Park,Turkey

Local residents’ active participation is essential in protected areas to ensure achievement of conservation goals. One of the important steps for ensuring the active participation of local residents is to determine the perceptions and the factors that influence the perceptions of the local residents toward the protected area. In this context, the researchers of this study try to come up with the perception formed among the local residents toward the protected areas and especially toward Kure Mountains National Park (KMNP), the factors that would influence their perceptions and the ways how their perceptions are influenced. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the putative influence of variables on perceptions toward protected areas. According to study results, the survey respondents have displayed a positive perception toward the protected areas in the world and in KMNP. It was determined that the respondents formed a positive perception from their economic, environmental and recreational interaction with KMNP. Also, the outcomes of this study showed that the perception developed by local residents toward the protected areas in the world and KMNP are influenced by gender, the level of satisfaction derived from the national park, duration of their residence in the national park, and that the perception that KMNP conservation are beneficial for the source values of the area, the current protection works in the world, as well as its impacts on their living conditions.     

Concentration of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dioxin-like PCBs in human adipose tissue from Turkish men

There is no previous report from Turkey on chemically determined polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human tissues expressed as World Health Organization (WHO) toxic equivalents (TEQs). The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of PCDDs/Fs, and dioxin-like PCBs in the general adult Turkish population. For this reason we measured adipose tissue concentrations of PCDDs/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in 23 Turkish men living in Ankara,Turkey in 2004. PCDD/F concentrations ranged between 3.2 and 19.7 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat (5.34 and 42.7 WHO-TEQ/g fat, respectively, including dioxin-like PCBs). The mean concentrations of WHO(PCDD/F)-TEQ and WHO(PCB)-TEQ were 9.2 and 6.67 pg/g on a lipid basis , respectively. Samples were analyzed for PCDD/F and twelve dioxin-like PCB congeners using high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). This study is very important since it is the first report on PCDDs/Fs and dioxin-like PCB contamination in human adipose tissue from Turkey.     

Predicting field capacity,wilting point,and the other physical properties of soils using hyperspectral reflectance spectroscopy: two different statistical approaches

In this study, we examined the ability of reflectance spectroscopy to predict some of the most important soil parameters for irrigation such as field capacity (FC), wilting point (WP), clay, sand, and silt content. FC and WP were determined for 305 soil samples. In addition to these soil analyses, clay, silt, and sand contents of 145 soil samples were detected. Raw spectral reflectance (raw) of these soil samples, between 350 and 2,500-nm wavelengths, was measured. In addition, first order derivatives of the reflectance (first) were calculated. Two different statistical approaches were used in detecting soil properties from hyperspectral data. Models were evaluated using the correlation of coefficient (r), coefficient of determination (R ²), root mean square error (RMSE), and residual prediction deviation (RPD). In the first method, two appropriate wavelengths were selected for raw reflectance and first derivative separately for each soil property. Selection of wavelengths was carried out based on the highest positive and negative correlations between soil property and raw reflectance or first order derivatives. By means of detected wavelengths, new combinations for each soil property were calculated using rationing, differencing, normalized differencing, and multiple regression techniques. Of these techniques, multiple regression provided the best correlation (P?<?0.01) for selected wavelengths and all soil properties. To estimate FC, WP, clay, sand, and silt, multiple regression equations based on first(2,310)-first(2,360), first(2,310)-first(2,360), first(2,240)-first(1,320), first(2,240)-first(1,330), and raw(2,260)-raw(360) were used. Partial least square regression (PLSR) was performed as the second method. Raw reflectance was a better predictor of WP and FC, whereas first order derivative was a better predictor of clay, sand, and silt content. According to RPD values, statistically excellent predictions were obtained for FC (2.18), and estimations for WP (2.0), clay (1.8), and silt (1.63) were acceptable. However, sand values were poorly predicted (RDP?=?0.63). In conclusion, both of the methods examined here offer quick and inexpensive means of predicting soil properties using spectral reflectance data.     

Some technological properties and uses of paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa Steud.) wood

The aim of this study is to determine some physical and mechanical properties of Paulownia tomentosa wood grown in Turkey. The samples trees harvested from Kargi in Corum. Physical properties including air-dry density oven-dry density basic density swelling, shrinkage and oven-dry and air-dry thermal conductivity coefficients; mechanical properties including bending strength, modulus of elasticity in bending, compression strength parallel to grain, hardness, bonding strength were analyzed. Paulownia tomentosa wood's air dry and oven dry densities were determined as 0.317 and 0.294 g cm(-3); basic density was determined as 0.272 g cm(-3); volumetric shrinkage and swelling were determined as 7.78 and 8.41%; tangential, radial and longitudinal air-dry thermal conductivity coefficients were determined as 0.089, 0.090 and 0.133 kcal/mh degrees C, respectively. Fiber saturation point (FSP) was found 28.79%; bending strength, Modulus of elasticity in bending, compression strength parallel to grain and Brinell hardness values (parallel and perpendicular to grain) were determined as 43.56 N mm(-2), 4281.32 N mm(-2), 25.55 N mm(-2), 2.01 kgf mm(-2) and 0.88 kgf mm(-2), respectively. Consequently paulownia wood can be widely used for various purposes such as house construction, furniture making, pulp and paper and handicrafts.     

Polychlorinated biphenyl levels in adipose tissue of primiparous women in Turkey

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a mixture of 209 possible congeners with different chlorine substitutions and they are potentially hazardous compounds in the environment for human beings. The high lipophilicity and the resistance to biodegradation of PCBs allow the bioaccumulation of these chemicals in the fatty tissues of organisms. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of PCBs in the adipose tissue of women living in Ankara, Turkey. For this purpose, levels of seven major persistent PCB congeners (IUPAC Numbers: 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180) were measured in 29 primiparous mothers' adipose tissue samples by gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). PCB IUPAC numbers 138, 153 and 180 were the most abundant congeners, each accounting for > 20% of the total PCB content of adipose tissue. PCB 153 was the dominant congener in all the samples (141.7 +/- 132.3 ng/g lipid wt. basis). The results are compared with the similar studies from other countries. The concentrations of PCB 28, PCB 52 and PCB 101 were found to be higher than those found in industrialized countries. This study is important in terms of being the first study of determination of PCB levels in adipose tissue samples in Turkey.     

Unsustainable urban development for Zonguldak metropolitan area (NW Turkey)

Since Turkey is located on a region that is prone to the risks of natural disasters like earthquake, flooding, and avalanche; a majority of the residential areas are facing these risks at various levels. Before determination of these risks, taking action in order to decrease the vulnerability levels of the residential areas will help keep the damage at the minimum level in case of a disaster. Urban planning decisions which are made in accordance with vulnerability studies aiming to determine natural disaster risks will not only help prevent loss of life but also help decrease negative social and economic effects of disasters. The Zonguldak city has been chosen as a case study area since Zonguldak metropolitan area has endured almost all kinds of threats that a city can face. In this study disaster-producing factors in the area are primarily considered which can be named as topography, destruction of forest lands, geological and karstic structure, mining activities, and misuse of the land, and later risk assessment is conducted with geographic information system (GIS). It has been assessed that more than half of the buildings within the study area were constructed in areas not suitable for housing. It is concluded that there is a need for urgent urban development plan for the city.     

A factor analysis study: Air pollution,meteorology, and hospital admissions for respiratory diseases

It is well known that air pollution exerts adverse effects on health and environment. Bal?kesir located in the Marmara region (Turkey) has serious air pollution problems produced by heating in the months of winter. In this study, the effect of exposure to air pollution on hospital admission for respiratory illnesses among children and adults was examined. Epidemiological data from records of hospitals, air pollutants and meteorological data were used. During July 2005–July 2007 period, there was a total of 280,426 hospital admissions for respiratory diseases. In a population-based analysis, 9 children were admitted for asthma, 17 children for acute bronchitis, and 20 children for lower respiratory diseases out of 100 children. There was a significant increase in the hospital admissions for respiratory diseases and air pollutants from October to March. It was concluded that children living in the city suffer from respiratory diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, and lower respiratory diseases. Three factors that account for approximately 90% of total variance of hospital admissions, air pollution, and meteorology were identified by means of principal component factor analysis.     

Cadmium and nickel determinations in some food and water samples by the combination of carrier element-free coprecipitation and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A procedure for separation and enrichment of Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions based upon carrier element-free coprecipitation by using an organic coprecipitant, 2-{4-[2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)ethyl]-3-(4-methylbenzyl)-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl}-N′-(3-fluoro-phenylmethyliden) acetohydrazide, prior to their flame atomic absorption spectrometric detections has been developed. The effects of varied experimental conditions on the performance of the developed method such as pH, sample volume, amount of coprecipitating agent, etc. were evaluated in detail on the recovery of analyte ions, and the influences of some anions and cations were investigated. The limits of detection for Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions based on three times the standard deviation of the blanks (N: 10) were obtained as 0.70 μg L^?1 and 1.21 μg L^?1, respectively. The accuracy of the method was tested by analyzing a certified reference material and by spike tests. The method was applied to determine the levels of cadmium and nickel in stream and sea water, rice, red lentil, and wheat samples.