Premarital screening of 466 Mediterranean women for serum ferritin, vitamin B12, and folate concentrations

Background/aim: Iron, folate, and vitamin B12 serum levels are closely related with dietary habits and have an essential role in the healthy development of a fetus. We aimed to investigate hemoglobin, ferritin, folate, and vitamin B12 levels in preconceptional women in an area where a plant-based diet referred to as Mediterranean cuisine is commonly used. Materials and methods: The study population included 466 women between the ages of 18 and 45 years admitted for thalassemia screening. Sociodemographic variables and history of menometrorrhagia, pica, and dietary habits were collected. Serum vitamin B12, folate, ferritin, and hemoglobin levels were measured. Ferritin of <12 μg/L, vitamin B12 of <200 pg/mL, and folate of <4 ng/mL were accepted as deficiencies. Hemoglobin level of <12 g/dL was classified as anemia. Results: Polymenorrhea was present in 11.7% and hypermenorrhea in 24.8% of women. Anemia was detected in 24.9% and thalassemia trait in 3.0% of women. Low ferritin levels were observed in 46.1%, vitamin B12 in 21.6%, and folate in 3.4% of women. In the group with low vitamin B12, decreased meat consumption was more prevalent (27.5% vs. 16.9%; P = 0.019). Conclusion: Vitamin B12 and iron are the main micronutrients depleted in our community. This necessitates implementing a public health program for women consuming a Mediterranean diet. © TÜBİTA

Identification of Radiopure Titanium for the LZ Dark Matter Experiment and Future Rare Event Searches

The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment will search for dark matter particle interactions with a detector containing a total of 10 tonnes of liquid xenon within a double-vessel cryostat. The large mass and proximity of the cryostat to the active detector volume demand the use of material with extremely low intrinsic radioactivity. We report on the radioassay campaign conducted to identify suitable metals, the determination of factors limiting radiopure production, and the selection of titanium for construction of the LZ cryostat and other detector components. This titanium has been measured with activities of $^{238}$U$_{e}$~$<$1.6~mBq/kg, $^{238}$U$_{l}$~$<$0.09~mBq/kg, $^{232}$Th$_{e}$~$=0.28\pm 0.03$~mBq/kg, $^{232}$Th$_{l}$~$=0.25\pm 0.02$~mBq/kg, $^{40}$K~$<$0.54~mBq/kg, and $^{60}$Co~$<$0.02~mBq/kg (68\% CL). Such low intrinsic activities, which are some of the lowest ever reported for titanium, enable its use for future dark matter and other rare event searches. Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to assess the expected background contribution from the LZ cryostat with this radioactivity. In 1,000 days of WIMP search exposure of a 5.6-tonne fiducial mass, the cryostat will contribute only a mean background of $0.160\pm0.001$(stat)$\pm0.030$(sys) counts.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

Determination of the cold storage conditions of some apple cultivars

Bu araştırma 2000 2002 yıllan arasında Eğirdir Bahçe Kültürleri Araştırma Enstitüsü ve Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Bahçe Bitkileri Bölümü Derim Sonrası Fizyoloji Laboratuvarında yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada M9 anacı üzerine aşılı Granny Smith, Imparatore ve Idared elma çeşitlerinin soğukta depolanma koşulları incelenmiştir. Uygun depolama koşulunu belirlemek için iki farklı zamanda derilen elmalar ilk yıl 0 oC ve % 90-95 nispi nem , ikinci yıl -1, 0 ve +2 oC sıcaklık ve yine % 90-95 nispi nem koşullarına sahip üç farklı soğuk odada 6 ay süreyle depolanmışlardır. Depolama boyunca birer ay aralıklarla depodan çıkartılan örneklerde ağırlık kaybı, meyve eti sertliği, suda çözünebilir kuru madde, titre edilebilir asitlik ve renk değerleriyle beraber fizyolojik ve patojen kaynaklı bozulmalar incelenmiştir. Deneme sonuçlarına göre Eğirdir ekolojisinde M9 anacı üzerinde yetiştirilen Granny Smith, Imparatore ve Idared elma çeşitlerinin 0 oC sıcaklık ve % 90-95 nispi nem koşullarında 5-6 ay depolanabileceği saptanmıştır.This research was carried out at Horticulture Research Institute of Egirdir and Postharvest Physiology Lab. of Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Süleyman Demirel between 2000 and 20002. Storage conditions of apple varieties Granny Smith, Imparatore and Idared grafted on M9 rootstock were investigated. In order to determine the optimum storage condition, these varieties harvested two different stage were stored at 0 Ctemperature and 90-95%relative humidity in the first year, and at -1, 0 and +2 Cand 90-95% RHin the second year for 6 months. During the storage period, weight loss, fruit flesh firmness, total solible solid, titretable acidity, colorimeter values (L*, a*, b*) and physiological disorders of apples taken from storage by montly intervals were examined.According to the storage results, it is determined that Granny Smith, Imparatore and Idared apple varieties can be stored at 0 Ctemperature and 90-95%relative humidity for 5-6 months

Metabolomics characteristics associated with milk yield and milk quality in sheep

Standart süt testleri, süt verimi ve kalitesi gibi izleme özelliklerini içerir. Standart süt testlerinin yapılmasına ek olarak, süt özelliklerini belirlemek için potansiyel biyobelirteçler olarak hareket edebilecek metabolitleri değerlendirmek artık mümkün. Bu çalışma İvesi koyunlarında süt verimi ve kalitesi ile ilgili metabolomik parametreleri belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Çalışmamızda süt verimi yüksek 13, süt verimi düşük 13 olmak üzere toplam 26 İvesi koyunu incelenmiştir. Metabolomik analiz için sıvı kromatografi tandem kütle spektrometrisi kullanıldı. Aspartik asit, ornitin, anserin ve sistatiyonin düzeyleri açısından iki grup arasında farklı düzeylerde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark vardı (P&lt;0.05 ve P&lt;0.01). Süt verimi ile aspartik asit (r=-0,630) ve anserin (r=-0. 522) seviyeleri (P&lt;0.01). Laktoz seviyeleri ile lizin (r=−0.501), alfa-aminoadipik asit (r=−0.524) ve hidroksilizin (r=−0.511) seviyeleri arasında anlamlı bir negatif korelasyon bulundu (P&lt;0.01). Somatik hücre sayısı ve alanin (r=0,493), aspartik asit (r=0,418), prolin (r=0,421), alfa-aminoadipik asit (r=0,407), beta-alanin (r=0,433) ve tiyaprolin (r =0.434) seviyeleri (P&lt;0.05) pozitif korelasyon gösterdi. Sonuçlarımız, koyun sütü verimi ve süt kalitesiyle ilgili metabolik olaylar hakkında, süt üretimini iyileştirmek ve koyun sütünün bileşenlerini geliştirmek için daha ileri araştırmalara rehberlik edebilecek önemli bilgiler sağlar. Somatik hücre sayısı ve alanin (r=0,493), aspartik asit (r=0,418), prolin (r=0,421), alfa-aminoadipik asit (r=0,407), beta-alanin (r=0,433) ve tiyaprolin (r =0.434) seviyeleri (P&lt;0.05) pozitif korelasyon gösterdi. Sonuçlarımız, koyun sütü verimi ve süt kalitesiyle ilgili metabolik olaylar hakkında, süt üretimini iyileştirmek ve koyun sütünün bileşenlerini geliştirmek için daha ileri araştırmalara rehberlik edebilecek önemli bilgiler sağlar. Somatik hücre sayısı ve alanin (r=0,493), aspartik asit (r=0,418), prolin (r=0,421), alfa-aminoadipik asit (r=0,407), beta-alanin (r=0,433) ve tiyaprolin (r =0.434) seviyeleri (P&lt;0.05) pozitif korelasyon gösterdi. Sonuçlarımız, koyun sütü verimi ve süt kalitesiyle ilgili metabolik olaylar hakkında, süt üretimini iyileştirmek ve koyun sütünün bileşenlerini geliştirmek için daha ileri araştırmalara rehberlik edebilecek önemli bilgiler sağlar

Investigation of pre‑treatment techniques to improve membrane performance in real textile wastewater treatment

Membrane technology has a significant role in textile wastewater treatment considering the modular design of the membrane processes that enables to conceive a complete treatment scheme. The study presents a comparative study of microfiltration (MF) (0.2 µm and 0.05 µm), ultrafiltration (UF), ozonation (0.1, 0.2 g/L ozone), ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and titanium dioxide (TiO2) (0.05, 0.15, 0.3, 0.5 g/L TiO2) and zeolite adsorption (125, 250, 500 mL/min flow rates) processes as pre-treatment prior to nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes for the treatment of real textile washing wastewater (WW). Experiments demonstrated that the applied pre-treatment methods enhanced the flux performance of NF270 and RO membranes except zeolite adsorption. By evaluation of all pre-treatment alternatives, it was seen that the best chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency (41%) was achieved with MF0.05 membrane. The highest conductivity removal efficiencies were obtained by UV/TiO2 application and with ozonation process the colour of the wastewater was removed at a performance of 80.5%, that was the highest among all pre-treatment applications. Based on the permeate flux and quality, the best pre-treatment method was selected as MF membrane with a pore size of 0.05 µm. Best conductivity removal efficiency was obtained by MF0.05 + XLE membrane combination at 93.6%. Also, considerably high COD removals were achieved with pre-treated NF and RO combinations together with a significant colour elimination (> 98%). In this study, it is aimed to create an efficient system that can be applied in real textile wastewater treatment by creating a combined treatment process

Cryopreservation of Mesopotamian catfish (Silurus triostegus H., 1843) spermatozoa: Effects of diluents and osmotic pressure on spermatozoa DNA damage, rate and duration of motility

This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of three different conditions of osmotic pressure (325, 365 and 385 mOsm kg(-1)) in combination with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and NaCl or glucose on spermatozoa DNA damage, rate and duration of motility. Sperm was collected from eight healthy mature Mesopotamian catfish, evaluated microscopically and pooled at 25 degrees C. The pooled sperm samples were diluted to a final concentration of 1/3 (sperm/diluents) in NaCl and glucose based extender (10% cryoprotectant and 10% egg yolk (EY) into 80% diluents) and separated into groups of 3 different osmotic pressures (325-365-385 mOsm kg(-1)). Equilibrated sperm was frozen in 0.25 mL straws. Sperm samples were tested for post-thaw sperm motility, duration of motility, DNA damage, and apoptotic index. The highest spermatozoa motility rates were obtained with glucose and NaCl diluents at osmotic pressures of 365 and 385 mOsm kg(-1) (p<0.01). The spermatozoa motility duration was found to be the highest in glucose and NaCl diluents at 365 mOsm kg(-1) osmotic pressure (p<0.01). The post-thawing live spermatozoa rate was determined to be the highest in the sperm frozen with glucose at 385 mOsm kg(-1). The apoptotic cell rate was determined to be the highest in the sperm frozen with glucose at 385 mOsm kg(-1) osmotic pressure. The necrotic cell rate was found to be the highest with 2.08 +/- 0.39% when frozen with the glucose diluent at 325 mOsm kg(-1) pressures. It is concluded that the glucose solution with low osmolality had a harmful effect on the spermatozoa

Identification of Radiopure Titanium for the LZ Dark Matter Experiment and Future Rare Event Searches

The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment will search for dark matter particle interactions with a detector containing a total of 10 tonnes of liquid xenon within a double-vessel cryostat. The large mass and proximity of the cryostat to the active detector volume demand the use of material with extremely low intrinsic radioactivity. We report on the radioassay campaign conducted to identify suitable metals, the determination of factors limiting radiopure production, and the selection of titanium for construction of the LZ cryostat and other detector components. This titanium has been measured with activities of $^{238}$U$_{e}$~$<$1.6~mBq/kg, $^{238}$U$_{l}$~$<$0.09~mBq/kg, $^{232}$Th$_{e}$~$=0.28\pm 0.03$~mBq/kg, $^{232}$Th$_{l}$~$=0.25\pm 0.02$~mBq/kg, $^{40}$K~$<$0.54~mBq/kg, and $^{60}$Co~$<$0.02~mBq/kg (68\% CL). Such low intrinsic activities, which are some of the lowest ever reported for titanium, enable its use for future dark matter and other rare event searches. Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to assess the expected background contribution from the LZ cryostat with this radioactivity. In 1,000 days of WIMP search exposure of a 5.6-tonne fiducial mass, the cryostat will contribute only a mean background of $0.160\pm0.001$(stat)$\pm0.030$(sys) counts

Functionalization of PEG-AgNPs Hybrid Material to Alleviate Biofouling Tendency of Polyethersulfone Membrane.

Membrane-based processes are a promising technology in water and wastewater treatments, to supply clean and secure water. However, during membrane filtration, biofouling phenomena severely hamper the performance, leading to permanent detrimental impacts. Moreover, regular chemical cleaning is ineffective in the long-run for overcoming biofouling, because it weakens the membrane structure. Therefore, the development of a membrane material with superior anti-biofouling performance is seen as an attractive option. Hydrophilic-anti-bacterial precursor polyethylene glycol-silver nanoparticles (PEG-AgNPs) were synthesized in this study, using a sol-gel method, to mitigate biofouling on the polyethersulfone (PES) membrane surface. The functionalization of the PEG-AgNP hybrid material on a PES membrane was achieved through a simple blending technique. The PES/PEG-AgNP membrane was manufactured via the non-solvent induced phase separation method. The anti-biofouling performance was experimentally measured as the flux recovery ratio (FRR) of the prepared membrane, before and after incubation in E. coli culture for 48 h. Nanomaterial characterization confirmed that the PEG-AgNPs had hydrophilic-anti-bacterial properties. The substantial improvements in membrane performance after adding PEG-AgNPs were evaluated in terms of the water flux and FRR after the membranes experienced biofouling. The results showed that the PEG-AgNPs significantly increased the water flux of the PES membrane, from 2.87 L·m-2·h-1 to 172.84 L·m-2·h-1. The anti-biofouling performance of the PES pristine membrane used as a benchmark showed only 1% FRR, due to severe biofouling. In contrast, the incorporation of PEG-AgNPs in the PES membrane decreased live bacteria by 98%. It enhanced the FRR of anti-biofouling up to 79%, higher than the PES/PEG and PES/Ag membranes

Flight-scheduling optimization and automation for AnadoluJet

AnadoluJet, a leading Turkish domestic airline carrier provides high-service, low-price flights to 28 locations within Turkey. Each winter and summer, AnadoluJet typically generates a new flight schedule. The company's primary scheduling concerns are aircraft fleet utilization and the waiting times of transfer passengers. Balancing the trade-off between these two criteria in a flight schedule is crucial for AnadoluJet's profitability. In this paper, we present the results of our study of AnadoluJet's flight-scheduling process. We provide a mathematical model that addresses this problem and then extend our studies and implement a heuristic algorithm for the development of a decision support system for the company. The objectives of the models we generated are to maximize fleet utilization, minimize waiting times for the majority of transfer passengers, and generate flight schedules subject to various constraints. The schedules that result from our models are superior to those that AnadoluJet's generated using its previous manual process. AnadoluJet currently uses our decision support system in its flight-scheduling process. © 2016 INFORMS