Local decision making and decision fusion in hierarchical levels

Hierarchical problem solving is preferred when the problem is overwhelmingly complicated. In such a case, the problem should better be analyzed in hierarchical levels. At each level, some temporary solutions are obtained; then a suitable decision fusion technique is used to merge the temporary solutions for the next level. The hierarchical framework proposed in this study depends on reutilization or elimination of previous level local agents that together perform the decisions due to a decision-fusion technique: a performance criterion is set for local agents. The criterion checks the success of agents in their local regions. An agent satisfying this criterion is reutilized in the next level, whereas an agent not successful enough is removed from the agent pool in the next level. In place of a removed agent, a number of new local agents are developed. This framework is applied on a fault detection problem.      

ANP application for evaluating Turkish mobile communication operators

The proposed decision model, based on Analytic Network Process (ANP), has been developed in order to determine the dynamics of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) market. In accordance with the sequence of ANP, first of all, the problem was structured and modeled. At the next step, a quantitative analysis was conducted with the customers in order to assess the importance of the related factors and forecast the market shares of the Turkish mobile communication operators. The forecasted market share values were compared with actual ones for the validation of the decision model. The assessed importance of the factors in a valid model would be a potential competitive advantage for the mobile operators.     

Gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric analysis of volatiles obtained by four different techniques from Salvia rosifolia Sm., and evaluation for biological activity

Four different isolation techniques, conventional hydrodistillation (HD), microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MWHD), microdistillation (MD) and micro-steam distillation-solid-phase microextraction (MSD-SPME), have been used to analyze the volatile constituents from the aerial parts of Salvia rosifolia Sm. by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. HD and MWHD techniques produced quantitatively (yield, 0.39% and 0.40%) and qualitatively (aromatic profile) similar essential oils. α-Pinene (15.7–34.8%), 1,8-cineole (16.6–25.1%), β-pinene (6.7–13.5%), β-caryophyllene (1.4–5.0%) and caryophyllene oxide (1.4–4.4%) were identified as major constituents of this Turkish endemic species. Besides, the hydrodistilled oil of S. rosifolia was evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The hydrodistilled oil of S. rosifolia showed antibacterial activity against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with a MIC value of 125 μg/mL. Other human pathogenic microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Candida albicans) were also inhibited within a moderate range (MIC = 125–1000 μg/mL). Antifungal activity of the oil was also observed against the strawberry anthracnose-causing fungal plant pathogens Colletotrichum acutatum, C. fragariae and C. gloeosporioides. No cytotoxicity was observed for S. rosifolia oil up to 25 mg/mL against malignant melanoma, epidermal, ductal and ovary carcinoma.     

The synthesis of some new imidazole and triazole derivatives: crystal Structure and DFT-TDDFT investigation on electronic structure

A series of new N′-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propylcarbamoyl-4-halogenebenzo hydrazonate (3a–b) were obtained by reaction Ethyl 2-((4-halogene phenyl) (ethoxy) methylene) hydrazinecarboxylate (1) and N-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole (2) at 120–140 °C. Compounds (4a–b) were obtained by the reaction compound 1 and N-(3-aminopropyl)imidazole (2) at 160–180 °C. The structures of compounds 3,4 have been inferred through UV–Vis, IR, ¹H/¹³C NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and X-ray crystallography. DFT level 6-31G (d) calculations provided structural information. The electronic structure of compound 3a has been studied by DFT level 6-31G (d) calculations using the X-ray data. The results are accordance with X-ray data.     

Quantification of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline in rice by stable isotope dilution assay through headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A new and convenient synthesis of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP), a potent flavor compound in rice, and its ring-deuterated analog, 2-acetyl-1-d₂-pyrroline (2AP-d₂), was reported. A stable isotope dilution assay (SIDA), involving headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography-positive chemical ionization-ion trap-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-PCI-IT-MS-MS), was developed for 2AP quantification. A divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) fiber was used for HS-SPME procedure and parameters affecting analytes recovery, such as extraction time and temperature, pH and salt, were studied. The repeatability of the method (n = 10) expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) was 11.6%. A good linearity was observed from 5.9 to 779 ng of 2AP (r² = 0.9989). Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for 2AP were 0.1 and 0.4 ng g⁻¹ of rice, respectively. The recovery of spiked 2AP from rice matrix was almost complete. The developed method was applied to the quantification of 2AP in aerial parts and grains of scented and non-scented rice cultivars.     

An ITO Based Disposable Biosensor for Ultrasensitive Analysis of Retinol Binding Protein

A highly sensitive electrochemical biosensor based on anti‐RBP biorecognition capable to analyze concentrations of retinol binding protein (RBP) was developed. The construction of the biosensor interfaces was carefully characterized by techniques such as electrochemistry, EIS, and scanning electron microscopy. In order to characterize impedance data, Kramers‐Kronig Transform was performed on the experimental impedance data. Besides, for an immunosensor system the Single Frequency Impedance technique was firstly used for the characterization of the interaction between RBP and anti‐RBP. Finally, artificial serum samples spiked with RBP were analyzed by the proposed ITO based immunosensor to investigate the usefulness of the biosensor for early biomarker diagnosis.     

Magneto-optical specifications of Rosen-Morse quantum dot with screw dislocation

This is the first study to consider a quantum dot with screw dislocation that has Rosen-Morse (RM) confinement potential, generated by a GaAs/GaAlAs heterostructure. An external magnetic field and Aharonov-Bohm (AB) flux field were also applied on RM quantum dot (RMQD) in order to stave the effects of a screw dislocation defect. The combined effect of the screw dislocation defect, the external magnetic field, and AB flux field on the total refractive index changes (TRICs) and the total absorption coefficients (TACs) of RMQD are thus investigated. Cylindrical coordinates are used due to the direction of application of the torsion and the external fields, as well as due to the structure's symmetry. The effective mass approximation and tridiagonal matrix methods are used in order to obtain the subband energy spectra and electronic wave functions of RMQD. The nonlinear optical specifications of RMQD are checked using compact-density-matrix formalism within the framework of the iterative method. Reviews without screw dislocation are also carried out in order to be able to clarify the effects of a screw dislocation defect on the optical properties, and then, both cases are deliberated. This study is the first attempt to analyze the AB flux field for RMQD without screw dislocation. In the present study, the influences of a screw dislocation defect on RMQD's TRICs and TACs are probed by considering different values of the external magnetic field and AB flux field, and the ranges of corresponding parameters on the optimum of the structure are specified. Moreover, the study also elucidates how to rule out the effects of screw dislocation on optical specifications by means of the external fields. Despite a certain screw dislocation, the frequency range is determined where the structure behaves as if it is perfect (namely, without screw dislocation) for its optimum, which in turn is crucial for experimental applications.