Correlating low energy impact damage with changes in modal parameters: a preliminary study on composite beams

This paper is an experimental study of the effects of multi-site damage on the vibration response of a composite beam damaged by low energy impact. The variation of the modal parameters with different levels of impact energy and density of impact is studied. Specimens are impacted symmetrically in order to induce a global rate of damage. A damage detection tool Damage Index is introduced in order to verify the estimation of damping ratios. Design of Experiments is used to establish the sensitivity of both energy of impact and density of damage. The DOE analysis results (using natural frequency only) indicate that impact energy for 2nd, 3rd and 4th bending modes is the most significant factor contributing to the changes in the modal parameters for this kind of symmetrical dynamic test

Determination of literacy levels of primary education students in environmental pollution and global warming

8th International Scientific Conference on Modern Management of Mine Producing, Geology and Environmental Protection, SGEM 2008 -- 16 June 2008 through 20 June 2008 -- Albena -- 101476It is generally agreed that education in environmental pollution and protection of the environment should begin at the primary school level. It can even be argued that teaching about the environment at the primary school level is a national duty. In recent years Turkey is paying greater attention to the threats of global warming and environmental pollution as part of their adaptation process to EU laws and regulations. In this study we tried to determine the cognitive and affective levels of primary education students between the ages of 10 and 14 in their attitudes towards global warming and environmental pollution. A survey was conducted among students from differing demographic backgrounds to determine their awareness levels in the subject of science and technology, nature and environmental pollution. In addition, literacy levels within the same age group as well as among different age groups were examined in terms of the following: 1. Scientific Literacy or illiteracy 2. Nominal scientific literacy 3. Functional scientific literacy 4. Operational (conceptual and procedural) scientific literacy

The comparative study of compulsory education applications in European Union countries versus Turkey

8th International Scientific Conference on Modern Management of Mine Producing, Geology and Environmental Protection, SGEM 2008 -- 16 June 2008 through 20 June 2008 -- Albena -- 101476Compulsory education is regarded as the most vital part of formal education. It entails that the individual shall be given education for a definite period of time during defined periods. All countries try to ensure that all young people enter working life with a minimum amount of human capital gained through the years of compulsory education. However it is observed that every country endeavors to apply a different standard for compulsory education. Specifically while we are in the integration process with the European Union (EU), we aimed to analyze the European Union Policy about Compulsory Education and applications of the European Union countries. Most European countries have separate systems for early childhood and compulsory education. The researchers believe in the importance of the appraisement of education systems and schools in assuring quality education when decentralization is becoming increasingly widespread in Europe. Pinpointing the evaluation of systems, the starting age of the compulsory education, the duration of the compulsory education, the financial support given by the governments and the diversity of the courses constitute our main concern in comparing the countries in this study. Previous studies about compulsory education, country reports, EU official documents and reports have been analyzed for this research. In the first part of the study the comparisons are made between the EU countries; where similarities and differences are highlighted. In the second part of the study the compulsory education in Turkish educational system is analyzed

Nterpretation of numerical data on the erasmus mobility activities of turkey within european union perspective

9th International Multidicsciplinary Scientific Geoconference and EXPO, SGEM 2009 -- 14 June 2009 through 19 June 2009 -- Albena -- 101472Turkey has took part fully in the Socrates programme, one of the Community education and culture programmes that seeks to increase the unity and integration between the people and countries placed in Europe, in 2004. As a result, Turkish higher education institutions have had the chance to join Erasmus -the higher education associated subprogram of the Socrates programme- all through the academic year 2004/2005 and recognized mobility activities with their European partners. The initial part of this article comprises the common information about the statistical data for contributing in Erasmus throughout the country. In the parts for student staff mobility, there is information on the numbers of outgoings, most-preferred countries and most-preferred subject areas of the related actions. © 2009 All Rights Reserved by the International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM Printed in Sofia, Bulgaria

Environmental education in turkey within the perspective of EU Integration

7th International Scientific Conference on Modern Management of Mine Producing, Geology and Environmental Protection, SGEM 2007 -- 11 June 2007 through 15 June 2007 -- Albena -- 101475Between the living things there has been always an ongoing interaction. Humankind is polluting consciously or unconsciously while interacting within the environment which is surrounding him. Because of the rapidly changing (physical, chemical and biological) ecological events recently in our world, the boost of technological contamination, roughness in technological use, personal or societal insensitivity once have proved how significant the environmental education is. In order to adapt universal environment policies, adjusting your policies in accordance with the technologically improved and advanced countries is a highly considered matter of fact. The states within the integration period of European Union have to incorporate both the universal and the EU Association Agreement criterion for the well-being of their country and the whole world. Hence there has been an increasing concern in environmental education policies; in 2003 after signing the European Union Association Agreement, the syllabus has been enriched in the educational institutions of Turkey. Specifically in the primary level, to be able to create environmental consciousness, the level of "science and technology literacy" is aimed to be elevated. Additionally in professional institutions, universities and with the support of NGOs, there has been a serious attention to ensure that this awareness become widespread. This study aims to investigate the educational system within the perspective of EU integration. The researchers try to find out in which levels of Turkish education environmental education is given and furthermore explores the content of the specified education. Conclusions are drawn from the point of compatibility with the European Union suggestions and norms

Effect of grain and secondary phase morphologies in the mechanical and damping behavior of Al7075 alloys

The present study evaluates the role of the microstructure in the static and dynamic mechanical behavior of as-cast Al7075 alloy promoted by ultrasonic treatment (US) during solidification. The characterization of samples revealed that US treatment promoted grain and intermetallics refinement, changed the shape of the intermetallic phases (equilibrium phases of soluble M and/or T (Al, Cu, Mg, Zn) and their insoluble Al-Cu-Fe compounds) and lead to their uniform distribution along the grain boundaries. Consequently, the mechanical properties and damping capacity above critical strain values were enhanced by comparison with values obtained for castings produced without US vibration. This results suggest that the grain and secondary phases refinement by US can be a promising solution to process materials to obtain high damping and high strength characteristics.This research was supported by FEDER/COMPETE funds and by national funds through FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and was developed on the aim of the research Post-Doctoral grant SFRH/BPD/76680/2011. Also, this work has been supported by the FCT in the scope of the project: UID/EEA/04436/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Value of p53 protein in biological behavior of basal cell carcinoma and in normal epithelia adjacent to carcinomas

Mutations in p53 gene are the most frequent gene alterations in human cancer. In this study, we have used the monoclonal antibody (DO7) to evaluate the role of the p53 gene mutation in the progression of basal cell carcinomas towards invasion. We tested the positivity for p53 protein in tumor cells in six cases of basosquamous cell carcinoma (BSCC), in twelve cases of infiltrative basal cell carcinoma (IBCC) and twenty-four cases of non-infiltrative basal cell carcinoma (NIBCC) in order to evaluate its potential prognostic significance. We also tested the expression of p53 protein in normal epithelia adjacent to carcinomas in order to determine its role in tumor progression. p53 protein staining with some peripheral accentuation was identified in 42,9% of all groups. No correlation was found between the immunreactivity of p53 protein and recurrence, pattern of tumor, diameter of the tumors and sex. However, there were statistically significant differences in positivity of p53 protein in normal epithelia adjacent to carcinomas and age of patients (t value: 2,21; p: 0,034). Results of the study suggest that the increase in p53 mutation frequency of morphologically normal epidermis was related to age and was independent of the degree of differentiation of BCC. © 2000 W B. Saunders and Company Ltd on behalf of the Ar£nyi Lajos Foundation

In depth evaluation of the prognostic and predictive utility of PTEN immunohistochemistry in colorectal carcinomas: performance of three antibodies with emphasis on intracellular and intratumoral heterogeneity.

BACKGROUND: Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome 10 (PTEN) loss of function is frequently detected in advanced colorectal cancer. Its detection is thought to have prognostic significance and it is being considered to predict responsiveness to anti-EGFR therapy. Unfortunately, while immunohistochemical assessment of PTEN expression is widespread, it lacks standardization and the results are hardly comparable across the available publications. METHODS: Retrospectively collected, formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded colorectal tumor tissue samples from 55 patients were combined into tissue microarray (TMA) blocks. We used three different PTEN antibodies to determine the frequency, intensity and intracellular pattern of PTEN immunohistochemical labeling: Neomarkers, Dako and CellSignaling. We evaluated the aforementioned parameters in selected regions of colorectal cancers and in their lymph node metastases by using three scoring methods that take into consideration both staining frequency and intensity (H1-H3-score). We also evaluated intracellular localization. RESULTS: The Dako and CellSignaling antibodies stained predominantly cytoplasms, while the Neomarkers antibody specifically stained cell nuclei. PTEN H-scores were significantly lower in all tumor areas as compared to the normal colonic mucosa based on staining with the DAKO and CellSignaling antibodies. Intratumoral regional differences or differences between matching tumors and metastases were not detected with any of the antibodies. Neither Dako, neither CellSignaling, nor the Neomarkers antibodies revealed a significant correlation between PTEN expression and pT, Dukes/MAC and clinical stage. KRAS status, histological grade correlated with PTEN H-scores based on staining with the Neomarkers antibody. PTEN H-scores did not correlate with MMR status. PTEN H-scores did not show any correlation with relapse-free survival based on staining with either antibody. CONCLUSIONS: While PTEN expression decreased in colorectal cancer according to two antibodies, neither of the three applied PTEN antibodies could justify significant correlation with clinicopathological data, nor had prognostic value. Thus, we might conclude that immunohistochemical PTEN investigation remains a challenge requiring more standardized evaluation on larger number of cases to clarify its utility as a prognostic and predictive tool in CRC. The standardization of immunohistochemical method is key in the evaluation process, which is further discussed

Tools for the co-designing of housing transformations: A study on interaction and visualization modes

In this paper we present and assess tools for visualizing architectonic modifications of existing housing in co-design projects with inhabitants. These tools should enable inhabitants to explore and understand design variations of alterations of their houses. This contribution is part of ongoing research on the use of artificial realities for supporting the transformations of existing housing in architectonically responsible ways. Such transformations may be needed after the delivery of housing, say after five years or later, due to changed regulation, the need of updates or changed living conditions of inhabitants. For arriving at architectonically responsible transformations, we use shape grammar system for defining possible modifications of the housing. For empowering inhabitants to understand and explore these modifications to their housing, we develop a transformation grammar tool—MyChanges—to visualize the modifications by three visualization modes, from fully immersive to non-immersive. Interviews and tests with real inhabitants were performed, and preliminary conclusions show that a tool like the MyChanges would have a good acceptance among inhabitants.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Pinealectomy Increases and Exogenous Melatonin Decreases Leptin Production in Rat Anterior Pituitary Cells: an Immunohistochemical Study

Summary Melatonin, the main hormone of the pineal gland, informs the body about the environmental light and darkness regimen, which in turn contributes to the photoperiodic adaptation of several physiological functions. Leptin, the hormone secreted mainly by adipocytes and some other tissues including the pituitary, informs the brain about the mass of adipose tissue, which plays an important role in energy homeostasis. Melatonin has been shown to decrease circulating leptin levels. It is currently not known whether melatonin has an effect on leptin synthesis in the pituitary. The aim of this study was to immunohistochemically examine the effects of pinealectomy and administration of melatonin on leptin production in the rat anterior pituitary. The pituitary samples obtained from 18 male Wistar rats including sham-pinealectomized, pinealectomized and melatonin-injected pinealectomized groups were immunohistochemically evaluated. Immunostaining of leptin was moderate (3+) in sham-pinealectomized rats, heavy (5+) in pinealectomized rats and low (1+) in melatonin-treated pinealectomized rats, respectively. The present results indicate that pinealectomy induces leptin secretion in anterior pituitary cells, and this increase of leptin synthesis can be prevented by administration of melatonin. Thus, melatonin seems to have both physiological and pharmacological effects on leptin production in the anterior pituitary of male rats