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The use of biomass fuel pellets is becoming widespread as a renewable and environment-friendly energy. Pellet fuels are produced in various pellet machine types. Pellet machines encounter problems such as pressure irregularities and choke at the initial start for different kinds of biomass feedstock. In this study, disc springs are integrated into a vertical axis pellet machine for a pressure regulation and design optimization. Force-deformation and stress-deformation relations of disc springs are investigated using analytical and finite element methods. Pelletizing pressures were calculated based on disc spring force values using the Hertzian stress formula. Utilized disc springs ensured the pressure regulation, production efficiency increase and damage prevention on the die-roller mechanism. © Czech Technical University in Prague, 2017., Ministry of Science, Technology and Space: 0823, TGSD.2015 Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit British Association for Psychopharmacology: 2012/28, This work has been made in collaboration with the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology (Project 0823.TGSD.2015) and the Scientific Research Projects Organization (BAP) of Dumlup?nar University, Turkey (Project 2012/28).

PubMed ID: 27511346, Background/aim: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics. Materials and methods: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption. The questionnaire was completed by each participating physician. Results: A total of 1906 specialists from 20 cities in Turkey participated in the study. Of those who participated, 1271 (67.5%) had ?5 years of occupational experience (junior specialists = JSs) and 942 (49.4%) of them were physicians. Specialists having >5 years of occupational experience in their branch expressed that they followed the antibiotic guidelines more strictly than the JSs (P < 0.05) and 755 of physicians (88%) and 720 of surgeons (84.6%) thought that the AR policy was necessary and useful (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that the AR policy was supported by most of the specialists. Physicians supported this restriction policy more so than surgeons did. © TÜBITAK.

Introduction: Elderly population is increasing in our country as in all over the world. We aimed to investigate the frequency of the leading cancer types in patients aged 65 and older. Materials and Method: Data of cancer patients admitted to Hacettepe University Hospitals from 1st January 2003 to 31st December 2007 were evaluated through the cancer registry system data base. Frequencies of the Şve leading cancer diagnoses were analyzed for both sexes among cancer patients aged 65 and older. Results: Total number of cancer patients aged 65 and older registered to database between 2003 and 2007 was 4789 (2732 men and 2057 women). Number of geriatric cancer patients in 2007 was twice that of 2003 (1205 vs 641). Male to female ratio was 1 in 2003 and 1,5 in 2007. Most frequent cancer type in geriatric women was breast cancer for all study period followed by uterine corpus, ovarian, cervix and colorectal cancers. Prostate cancer was the most frequent malignancy among elderly men. Other frequent cancers among men aged 65 and older were lung, bladder, colorectal and gastric cancers, respectively. Conclusion: Frequencies of the leading types were similar in both geriatric population and younger adults. However prostate cancer was more frequent than lung cancer in geriatric men., Arslan, C.; Tepecik E?itim ve Arafltirma Hastanesi, IzmirTurkey; email: arslancagatay@yahoo.com

Carbonic anhydrase plays different roles in various tissues. It is a key enzyme that regulates the acid-base homeostasis under both normal and pathological conditions. In this study, carbonic anhydrase (CA; E.C 4.2.1.1) was purified from erythrocytes of Van cat (Fells catus) by affinity chromatography. The purification rate was found to be 367.21-fold. SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) was used to control the purity of enzyme. Optimal pH, ionic strength, and temperature for enzyme activity were determined. Molecular weight of CA was identified to be about 30 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Optimal pH and temperature were 8.0 and 40 degrees C. The highest activity was found at a concentration of 0.12 M (NH4)(2)SO4 as ionic strength.

In this study, we compared the conventional and conservation tillage systems in terms of their effects on plant emergence and stand establishment. The systems consisted of conventional tillage with stubble burning (CT1), conventional tillage with stubble (CT2), minimum tillage with stubble (MT), combination of minimum and no tillage (MNT) and notillage (NT). The tillage treatments were used for Balatilla domestic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and Pioneer Brand corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars under crop rotation. Mean emergence day (MED), emergence rate index (ERI), percentage emergence (PE), multiple index (MI), skip index (SI), quality of feed index (QFI), mean spacing between plants for corn and plant density for wheat were evaluated for uniformity of plant emergence and stand establishment. ERI and PE were significantly higher under CT and MT compared with MNT and NT treatments in corn. Plant emergence in conventional tillage plots occurred faster with over 95% emergence. Tillage treatments also affected SI, QFI and mean plant spacing, but not MI. The best SI, QFI and plant spacing were recorded in the CT and MT treatments. Uniformity of plant stand in the tilled plots, CT and MT were better than that in no-tillage. No-till treatment had the poorest stand establishment. In wheat, the highest plant density was obtained under CT and MT treatments. Based on the average of 2 yr, the highest yield of wheat was obtained under CT and the lowest in NT. Corn yield had similar results. The trend in yield for both crops also followed that of the results for stand establishment and emergence parameters. The lower yield in no-till was related to the weaker plant emergence and stand establishment. The comparable effect of MT with CT suggests that MT can be an alternative tillage method for sustainable agriculture.

The stoma resistance influences the determination of the transpiration, which is one of the main components of the water balance in the soil and which is one of the morphological properties of the plants. Stoma in the plants control plant water consumption by the cells key doing the functions of closure and disclosure of the apertures through their original structures. In this respect, in the pot experiments which were carried out in a greenhouse conditions, the matric potential of the soil water and plant stoma resistance together along with the other environmental factors were investigated. In this study, using Seri-82 and Adana-99 wheat varieties the matric potential of the soil water and the stoma resistance values at the field capacity and the low moisture levels were measured. In the study, it was observed that the plant stoma resistance was influenced rapidly by the matric potential of the soil water. Although the stoma resistance at the limits of soil water field capacity was found at the limits of 0.69-4.74 s cm-1, the stoma resistance showed increments at the intervals of 7.6-54.8 s cm-1 against the increasing soil water tension.

Studies of clay mineralogy and related chemical composition are rarely connected with implications for soil management in the field. However, this study attempts to manifest the practical utilization of analytical data for determining the susceptibility to soil erosion. The data obtained involve the determination of clay mineral properties, calcium/ magnesium ratios, and free aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) oxides on structure stability, and hydraulic conductivity properties. Nine representative soil pedons developed on serpentine, limestone, and basalt parent materials were selected for the study. The soils were initially grouped into 3 according to their structural stability values. Group 1 soils had the lowest structural stability, highest smectite/ kaolinite ratios, and shallow profile depths with the lowest Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios. Group 2 soils had moderate structural stability and smectite/kaolinite ratios with moderate profile depths and the highest Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios. Group 3 soils had the highest structural stability values, the lowest smectite /kaolinite ratios with deep profiles, moderate Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios, and the highest free Al-Fe oxide contents with kaolinite being the dominant clay mineral, whereas smectite was dominant in Groups 1 and 2. Thus, the significance of smectite/kaolinite ratios for structural stability studies in soils, and Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents, Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios, and free Al-Fe oxides are indices reflecting erodibility (such as the shallow Group 1 soils) that should be considered more susceptible to erosion. © TÜBİTAK.