Colour contribution to children's wayfinding in school environments

The purpose of this study was to explore the contribution of colour to children's wayfinding ability in school environments and to examine the differences between colours in terms of their remembrance and usability in route learning process. The experiment was conducted with three different sample groups for each of three experiment sets differentiated by their colour arrangement. The participants totalled 100 primary school children aged seven and eight years old. The study was conducted in four phases. In the first phase, the participants were tested for familiarity with the experiment site and also for colour vision deficiencies by using Ishihara's tests for colour-blindness. In the second phase, they were escorted on the experiment route by the tester one by one, from one starting point to one end point and were asked to lead the tester to the end point by the same route. In the third phase, they were asked to describe verbally the route. In the final phase, they were asked to remember the specific colours at their correct locations. It was found that colour has a significant effect on children's wayfinding performances in school environments. However, there were no differences between different colours in terms of their remembrances in route finding tasks. In addition, the correct identifications of specific colours and landmarks were dependent on their specific locations. Contrary to the literature, gender differences were not found to be significant in the accuracy of route learning performances.     

Synthesis,structural, and spectral studies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>′-bis- (5-methylsalicylidene)-2,2′-diamino-4-4′-di-(trifloromethyl)-diphenyl disulfide

A new disulfide compound N,N′-bis-(5-methylsalicylidene)-2,2′-diamino-4-4′-di-(trifloromethyl)-diphenyl disulfide (C₃₀H₂₂F₆N₂O₂S₂) was prepared and characterized by ¹H-NMR, IR, mass spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Spectroscopic assignments and the crystallographic results indicate the predominance of the phenol-imine tautomeric form. [For example, N=C double bonds 1.274(9)Å and 1.275(9)Å, two very close hydrogen peaks to the atomic positions of O atoms in difference Fourier map and two strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds (O–H\(\cdots\)N) with O\(\cdots\)N distances of 2.611(10) and 2. 613(8) Åstrongly indicate that this tautomeric form is preferred]. The strong effect of the para CF₃ groups in the molecular and crystallographic arrangement was attributed to the electronegativity of the CF₃ groups.     

Evaluation on dye removal capability of didodecyldimethylammonium-bentonite from aqueous solutions

The removal efficiency of Reactive Blue 19 (RB19) by using surfactant-modified bentonite (MB) from aqueous solutions, and also textile wastewater samples was examined. Natural bentonite (NB) was firstly modified with didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDDAB) in order to increase the removal capacity of bentonite. MB was then characterized by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR), x-ray diffractometry (XRD), x-ray fluorescence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)/EDX, zeta potential, elemental, and thermal analysis techniques. The high adsorption capacity of MB was 407.7?mg g^?1 at pH?=?1.5 and 20^°C. The adsorption of Reactive Blue 19 onto MB agreed with the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models.     

Synthesis and characterization of diorganotin(IV) complexes of tridentate Schiff bases: crystal structure of [N-(3-hydroxypyridine-2-yl)-5-chlorosalicylideneiminato]dimethyltin(IV)

Some five-coordinated dimethyltin(IV) complexes of the type Me₂SnL (where L is the anion of a bifunctional tridentate Schiff base) were synthesized. These Schiff bases are N-(3-hydroxypyridine-2-yl)-3-methoxysalicylideneimine, HOC₆H₃OCH₃CH=NC₅H₃NOH (1), N-(3-hydroxypyridine-2-yl)-3-ethoxysalicylideneimine, HOC₆H₃OC₂H₅CH=NC₅H₃NOH (2), N-(3-hydroxypyridine-2-yl)-5-chlorosalicylideneimine, HOC₆H₃ClCH=NC₅H₃NOH (3), and N-(3-hydroxypyridine-2-yl)-3-methoxy-5-bromosalicylideneimine, HOC₆H₂OCH₃BrCH=NC₅H₃NOH (4). Dimethyltin(IV) complex of 3 (3a) was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction method and a coordination geometry that is nearly halfway between trigonal–bipyramidal and square pyramidal arrangement was found. Dimethyltin complexes of (1), (2), and (4) were also prepared and characterized by the comparison of their elemental analysis and ¹H-NMR-, IR-, UV- and mass spectral data with those of (3a). For example, in the ¹H-NMR spectra, the ²J(¹¹⁹Sn-¹H) in the Sn-CH₃ moiety have values between 80 Hz and 90 Hz, typical of five-coordinated tin species. By using these values in Lockart’s Equations, H₃C–Sn–CH₃ angles in the complexes were estimated to lie between 130° and 145°. X-ray diffraction value for 3a, confirms this estimate within 3.4% relative deviation (129.7° exp. Vs. 134.9° estimate).     

Use and Evaluation of Newly Synthesized Fluorescence Probes to Detect Generated OH• Radicals in Fibroblast Cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are pro-oxidant molecules synthesized in body with various functions and are essential for life. Increasing in reactive oxygen species or decreasing in antioxidants level cause oxidative stress which is very harmful. OH? radical is one of ROS’s, with tendency to bind to lipids, DNA and proteins which cause irreversible damage in cells. The most devastating consequences related to excess OH? radicals occur via direct binding to nucleic acids and proteins. Quantification of this high reactive radical with short life time is difficult. Electron Spin Resonance, Fluorescence, and Luminescence Spectroscopy are commonly used to determine the level of ROS. Fluorescence Probes have higher specificity and sensitivity with their excellent sensors to detect ROS’s compare to the other methods. Also, there are different probes specifically designed for each radical. The purpose of this study was to identify the probe better suiting for detection of OH? radical levels. The two most recommended fluorescence probes, 2-[6-(4 V-Hydroxy) phenoxy-3H-xanthen-3-on-9-yl]benzoic acid (HPF) and coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (3-CCA) to determine OH? radical levels were compared. Following the formation of OH? radical with Fenton reaction, HPF and 3-CCA probes were added to cells and spectrofluorometric measurements were performed in their respective wavelengths. The mean amplitude of fluorescence for HPF was 32.72?±?2.37 F.I (n?=?40) and for 3-CCA was 52.11?±?0.5 F.I (n?=?40). This difference was statistically significant. 3-CCA also demonstrated more stable measurements at different days compered to HPF.     

Measurements of indoor radon concentration levels in Kilis,Osmaniye and Antakya,Turkey during spring season

The fact that 50% of the natural radiation dose to which humans are exposed is caused by radon gas makes indoor radon measurements important. In this study, levels of indoor radon gas were measured in 204 houses in Kilis, Osmaniye and Antakya using passive nuclear track detectors. Cr-39 radon detectors were left in the living rooms of participants’ houses, then analyzed at the Radon Laboratory of Health Physics Department in Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center (ÇANEM) of Atomic Energy Agency of Turkey (TAEK). Average indoor radon activity concentrations for Kilis, Osmaniye and Antakya were 50 Bq/m³ (1.26 mSv/y), 51 Bq/m³ (1.29 mSv/y) and 40 Bq/m³ (1.01 mSv/y), respectively.     

Hybrid nanoflowers bearing tetraphenylporphyrin assembled on copper(II) or cobalt(II) inorganic material: A green efficient catalyst for hydrogenation of nitrobenzenes in water

Simple fabrication of organic–inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (TPP@CuhNfs and TPP@CohNfs) was achieved with tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) as organic counterpart and Cu²⁺ or Co²⁺ ions as inorganic materials via a green route, with lower cost and controlled pH. The effect of pH levels and TPP concentrations on the morphology of the TPP@CuhNfs and TPP@CohNfs materials was examined by scanning electron microscopy (energy-dispersive X-ray [EDX]). The formation and chemical structures of TPP@CuhNfs and TPP@CohNfs were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared. Elemental analyses of these hybrid nanoflowers were carried out by EDX. The fabricated TPP@CuhNfs and TPP@CohNfs nanomaterials under optimum conditions act as effective reusable catalysts for the hydrogenation of nitroanilines in aqueous media at ambient temperature. The time-dependent hydrogenation can be easily monitored spectrophotometrically and verified by ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance. These types of the catalytic reaction or system are recorded to be useful toward the hydrogenation of nitroanilines, regardless of the position and type of substrate. Moreover, TPP@CuhNfs and TPP@CohNfs catalysts demonstrated a type of metal ions-dependent catalytic efficiency toward hydrogenation of nitroanilines (organic pollutants), with TPP@CuhNfs found to be more effective than TPP@CohNfs. However, both catalysts containing Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions showed good performance and can be reused at least five times without a significant decline in yield. The presented approach based on hybrid nanoflowers provides as a low cost and ecofriendly method (green route) for different catalytic hydrogenations.     

Synthesis,spectral, theoretical studies and in vitro antimicrobial activities of novel diphenyltin(IV) complexes of Schiff bases derived from phenacylamine

A series of new diphenyltin(IV) complexes of the type Ph₂SnL (L¹: N‐phenacyl‐5‐bromosalicylideneimine, Ph₂SnL¹; L²: N‐phenacyl‐3,5‐dichlorosalicylideneimine, Ph₂SnL²; L³: N–phenacyl‐4‐methoxysalicylideneimine, Ph₂SnL³) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques. The C―Sn―C angles in the complexes were calculated using equations with the ¹J(^117/119Sn―¹³C) values from ¹³C NMR spectra. The possible structures, NMR and electronic properties of the studied molecules were calculated through density functional theory and results compared with experimental data. All the complexes were found to be mildly active against several microorganisms and some fungi. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adsorption and reaction studies on cobalt/alumina catalysts prepared by changing pH coprecipitation

Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts prepared by changing pH coprecipitation with Co loadings in the 8.7–36 wt.% range were analyzed by TSA, TPV, pore structure, XRD as well as CO, H₂, O₂ adsorption and CO hydrogenation. High O₂ uptake and reducibility coupled with low dispersion and constant MSA above 17 wt.% Co indicate large crystallites that are less exposed to H₂. CO hydrogenation per Co site decreases with increasing dispersion or decreasing metal loading.