A polyphenolic biomacromolecule prepared from a flavonoid: Catechin as degradable microparticles

Catechin (CAT) was crosslinked with trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether (TMPTGE) to obtain degradable poly(CAT) particles in a single step. Spherical p(CAT) particles with tens of micrometer size range and an isoelectronic point at pH 1.2 were obtained. The hydrolytic degradation of p(CAT) particles provided sustainable and extended release with 264 mg/g CAT release within 10 days at pH 7.4. The antioxidant capacity of 55.0 ± 0.9 μg/ml gallic acid equivalent in terms of total phenol content, and 0.88 ± 0.3 μmol/g trolox equivalent were estimated for p(CAT) particles displaying strong radical scavenging capability. Blood clotting and hemolysis assays demonstrated dose-dependent blood compatibility revealing higher blood compatibility for p(CAT) particles up to 10 μg/ml concentration. The cytotoxicity results show that p(CAT) particles have almost no toxicity for CCD841 normal colon cells at 250 μg/ml concentration in 24 h incubation time giving ~97% cell viability, whereas CAT molecules only provide ~34% cell viability.     

Supplier selection with an integrated methodology in unknown environment

This paper proposes an integrated methodology and its solution for supplier selection problem. A two-stage stochastic programming model and fuzzy TOPSIS methods are consolidated in this methodology. After pre-research phase, in the second part of the methodology, fuzzy TOPSIS is used for ranking potential suppliers considering qualitative data under fuzzy environment. In the third part of the methodology a group of ranked potential suppliers are included in a two-stage stochastic programming model for evaluation. In the two-stage stochastic programming model demand is assumed as uncertain and different scenarios are generated for this parameter. With this methodology, supplier evaluation procedure can be done in unknown environment. Our methodology is interested with a problem in multi-product, multi-period and multi-sourcing environment.     

Geochemical characteristics of major and trace elements in Sahinali Coals,Aydin, Turkey

In this study, geochemical behavior of elements is investigated in 25 coal samples collected at 10 locations of ?ahinli coaliferous units at southeast of Ayd?n, Turkey. In all the samples, X-ray powder diffraction and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses were performed and element and mineral compositions were determined. Total organic carbon (TOC) values of coals are between 14.6 and 37.7 wt% with average of 28.5 wt%. Samples are composed of quartz, calcite, feldspar, dolomite, mica, gypsum, and salt minerals which are accompanied by illite-, kaolinite-, and smectite-type clay minerals. Comparison of average element contents of world coals and studied samples yields that K > Fe > As > U > Cs > Y > Er > Al > Th > Rb > Yb > W > Tb > Dy > Lu > Ce > Sm > La > Ho > Si > Nd > Gd > Tm > Eu > Nb > Pr > Pb > Sn > Ni > Cu > Ga > Ta > Sb > Zr > Cd > V > Zn > Co > Mo > P > Hf > Ba are found to be enriched, while Mn > Be > Ca > Sr > Bi > Mg are found to be depleted. Statistically elements are correlated with TOC.     

Capacity allocation problem in flexible manufacturing systems: branch and bound based approaches

This study considers an operation assignment and capacity allocation problem that arises in flexible manufacturing systems. The machines have limited time and tool magazine capacities and the available tools are limited. Our objective is to maximise total weight of assigned operations. We develop a branch and bound algorithm that finds the optimal solutions and a beam search algorithm that finds high quality solutions in polynomial time.     

Exploring the dynamics of the Turkish construction industry using input–output analysis

Construction is commonly regarded as an important industry in economic policy making owing to its strong interactions with other sectors in the economy. Using six national input–output (IO) tables compiled to date and economic data for the period between 1969 and 2006, the behaviour of the Turkish construction sector and its relationships to investment, income and to other sectors in the economy are examined. Analysis reveals that the construction industry is losing its propulsive role and that it tends to exaggerate the fluctuations of the economy. The examination of lead and lag times between changes in GNP, construction activity and investments show that public sector spending cuts, in particular, have significant effects on the amplitude and the timing of slumps of the industry. The analysis of linkage indicators indicates that for the whole period under consideration the construction industry has high linkages with only one other industry. Thus the ‘leading’ role it plays in the economy is questioned.     

Allochthonous blocks misidentified as the basement: Implication for petroleum exploration in the SW Thrace Basin (Turkey)

The sedimentary sequence of the SW Thrace Basin (NW Turkey) comprises of three major sedimentary packages: a) Cretaceous (Meastrichtien)–Early Eocene package formed as pelagic carbonate, turbidite, shelf and nearshore-fluvial deposits, b) Middle Eocene–Early Oligocene package formed as shallow marine, slope apron and turbidite sediments, c) Middle Miocene–Early Pliocene package formed as alluvial fan-fluvial and nearshore deposits. This basin is structurally complex and its southern margin is represented by a fold-thrust zone. The Westward Propagation of the North Anatolian Fault (WPNAF) intersects the Thrace Basin along its southwestern flank. In the SW Thrace Basin, there are ophiolite and limestone blocks in the sedimentary succession, which previously were interpreted as suture of the Intra-Pontide Ocean, Cretaceous aged Yeniköy Mélange or Olistostromal Unit in the Eocene sediments. In this study these rocks have been defined as allochthonous blocks facies of the Gaziköy Formation aged Middle–Late Eocene.In previous studies the Karaağaç Formation (Early Eocene) was considered to be within oil window and have an average potential for oil and gas generation. According to our data the Karaağaç Formation has a moderate TOC content, is mature and overmature. In the study area, there are potential stratigraphic traps (submarine fans and channels of the Karaağaç and Keşan Formations, fluvial channels of the Fıçıtepe Formation and reefs of the Soğucak Formation), potential fractured tuffs (the Gaziköy Formation) and, potential structural traps related to the folds, thrusts and the WPNAF. Although 17 exploration wells have been drilled in the study area and vicinity, no discovery has yet been made. The cause of this may be that the wells were terminated at depths shallower than potential targets or possibly drilling may have been terminated at the allochthonous block facies of the Gaziköy Formation, which is especially derived from ophiolite mélange and was misidentified as basement.     

A three-way clusterwise multidimensional unfolding procedure for the spatial representation of context dependent preferences

Various deterministic and latent structure approaches for combining forms of multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis have been previously discussed. A new clusterwise three-way unfolding methodology for the analysis of two-way or three-way metric dominance/preference data is proposed. The purpose of this proposed methodology is to simultaneously estimate a joint space of stimuli and cluster ideal point representations, as well as the clusters themselves, such that the geometry underlying the clusterwise model renders some indication of the underlying structure in the data. In the three-way case, it is shown how multiple ideal points can represent preference change over contexts or situations. Partitions, overlapping clusters, stationary and context dependent preference representations are allowed. After a literature review of related methodological research, the technical details of the proposed three-way clusterwise spatial unfolding model are presented in terms of modeling context/situational dependent preferences (i.e., preferences for various stimuli collected over the same set of subjects over time, situation, etc.). The psychological basis for the models is provided in terms of the extensive behavioral decision theory and consumer psychology literature on contextual preferences and situational effects. An application to a data set exploring preferences for breakfast/snack food data over a number of different usage situations is then presented, followed by a discussion on future potential research directions.