A comparison of mathematical features of Turkish and American textbook definitions regarding special quadrilaterals

In this study, I analyzed and compared definitions of special quadrilaterals presented in the US and Turkish secondary school mathematics textbooks. To this end, seven textbooks from each country were examined based on the following features of mathematical definitions: form of presentation and mathematical correctness, minimality, the nature of definitions, and the reference sets and geometric properties used in definitions. The results showed that Turkish textbooks include both procedural and structural definitions of quadrilaterals, while procedural definitions are non-existent in the US mathematics textbooks. Meanwhile, all structural definitions and all procedural definitions excluding one are mathematically correct. Besides, in both country textbooks, there exists more number of minimal and inclusive definitions compared to the non-minimal and exclusive ones. Finally, textbooks from both countries mainly use quadrilaterals as reference sets and sides as geometric properties in definitions of special quadrilaterals. The results bring to light the varied opportunities provided to the students by the US and Turkish textbooks to experience and learn definitions of special quadrilaterals.     

Exact solution of Schrödinger equation for Pseudoharmonic potential

Exact solution of Schr?dinger equation for the pseudoharmonic potential is obtained for an arbitrary angular momentum. The energy eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions are calculated by Nikiforov–Uvarov method. Wavefunctions are expressed in terms of Jacobi polynomials. The energy eigenvalues are calculated numerically for some values of ℓ and n with n ≤ 5 for some diatomic molecules.      

Synthesis of Some Novel Norbornene‐Fused Pyridazines as Potent Inhibitors of Carbonic Anhydrase and Acetylcholinesterase

The reaction of benzocyclic norbornene derivatives with tetrazines provided the 1,3‐dihydropyridazine derivatives as a single product. The dihydropyridazine derivatives have been dehydrogenated with phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate) to yield the corresponding pyridazines in a high yield. Two stable diazines, primary product of corresponding 1,4‐dihydropyridazine, were also isolated. Structures were then determined by ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR beside to elemental analyses. The novel pyridazine derivatives ( 8 , 9 ) efficiently inhibited the cytosolic human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes I and II (hCA I and II). In addition, these novel pyridazine derivatives ( 8 , 9 ) were evaluated for their in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Ligand–receptor interactions are tested using molecular docking simulations. Obtained docking scores are in good agreement with in vitro results.     

Effect of the presence of strong and weak electrolytes on the existence of uniaxial and biaxial nematic phases in lyotropic mixtures

The lyotropic mixture of potassium laurate/decanol/water presenting only the uniaxial nematic calamitic phase was doped with one strong (potassium chloride, KCl) and 11 weak electrolytes with phenyl-rings (DL-mandelic acid, benzoic acid, DL-phenyllactic acid, phenylacetic acid, phenol and phenylmethanol) and with cyclohexyl-ring (RS-hexahydromandelic acid, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, cyclohexaneacetic acid, cyclohexanol and cyclohexylmethanol), separately. We also chose two nonpolar dopant molecules, benzene and cyclohexane, for the comparison of them with weak electrolytes, since they are located in the hydrocarbon core of the micelle. The nematic phase sequences, in particular the presence of the biaxial nematic phase, were investigated as a function of the dopant molar concentration and temperature. The laser conoscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering techniques were used to characterise the different nematic phases. Weak electrolytes having –COOH group as polar part were found to be very effective in stabilising the three nematic phases (two uniaxial and a biaxial). Guest molecules with only the –OH group did not show any effect on the stabilisation of other nematic phases. The experimental results are interpreted considering the screening effect of the hydrophilic parts of the dopants on the repulsion between the polar heads of the main amphiphilic molecules at micelle surfaces. This process favours the increase of the more flat micellar surfaces of micelles, which triggers the orientational fluctuations responsible for the biaxial and discotic nematic phases.     

Propolis-Based Nanofiber Patches to Repair Corneal Microbial Keratitis

In this research, polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA)/gelatin (GEL)/propolis (Ps) biocompatible nanofiber patches were fabricated via electrospinning technique. The controlled release of Propolis, surface wettability behaviors, antimicrobial activities against the S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, and biocompatibility properties with the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were investigated in detail. By adding 0.5, 1, and 3 wt.% GEL into the 13 wt.% PVA, the morphological and mechanical results suggested that 13 wt.% PVA/0.5 wt.% GEL patch can be an ideal matrix for 3 and 5 wt.% propolis addition. Morphological results revealed that the diameters of the electrospun nanofiber patches were increased with GEL (from 290 nm to 400 nm) and Ps addition and crosslinking process cause the formation of thicker nanofibers. The tensile strength and elongation at break enhancement were also determined for 13 wt.% PVA/0.5 wt.% GEL/3 wt.% Ps patch. Propolis was released quickly in the first hour and arrived at a plateau. Cell culture and contact angle results confirmed that the 3 wt.% addition of propolis reinforced mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and wettability properties of the patches. The antimicrobial activity demonstrated that propolis loaded patches had antibacterial activity against the S. aureus, but for P. aeruginosa, more studies should be performed.     

Experimental study on the 3D‐printed plastic parts and predicting the mechanical properties using artificial neural networks

This study investigates the mechanical properties of 3D‐printed plastic parts fabricated using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). For this purpose, a 3D printer named KASAME was designed and built by the researchers. The test samples were fabricated using polylactic acid (PLA). The experiments were conducted using three melt temperatures (190°C, 205°C, and 220°C), four layer thickness values (0.06 mm, 0.10 mm, 0.19 mm, and 0.35 mm), and three raster pattern orientations (+45°/?45° [the crisscross pattern], horizontal and vertical). Tensile strength tests were performed to determine tensile strength values of the samples and fracture surfaces were also analyzed. Using artificial neural networks, a mathematical model for the tensile test results was generated corresponding to the raster pattern employed in 3D fabrication. Tensile strength tests indicated that melt temperature, layer thickness, and raster pattern orientation had a significant effect on the tensile strengths of the samples. According to the result of the experiment, the maximum average tensile strength values were observed for the samples fabricated using the crisscross raster pattern. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) table shows the raster pattern (PCR) value of 48.68% was obtained with the highest degree of influence. With respect to R ², the best performing artificial neural network model, with test and training values of 0.999199 and 0.999997, respectively, was observed to be the crisscross raster pattern. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

One-step in-syringe dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and GC-FID determination of trace amounts of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and its metabolite in human urine samples

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is used as plasticizer in polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastics. Its metabolites and the parent phthalates are considered toxic. As the DEHP plasticizers are not chemically bound to PVC, they can migrate, evaporate or be leached into indoor air and atmosphere, foodstuff, and other materials. We have reported a novel, easy and available analytical method for the determination of DEHP and its metabolite, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) in human urine samples by the in-syringe dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method coupled with gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. The limits of detection and precision (RSD) were 2.5 μg/L and 1.4% for DEHP and 1.1 μg/L and 3.0% for MEHP, respectively. This method could be utilized for routine monitoring of the trace DEHP and MEHP in urine of human exposure to plasticizers.     

Effect of extraction conditions on measured total polyphenol contents and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of black tea

Black tea was extracted for 2, 8 and 18 h with absolute acetone, N,N-dimethyl-formamide (DMF), ethanol and methanol and their 50% aqueous solutions. The extracts were screened for total polyphenol contents, antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The polyphenol content of the extracts was found to be in the range of 0.44-114.01 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry weight tea, depending on the solvent used and the length of the extraction process. In general, aqueous acetone or DMF extracts displayed the highest polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity, while absolute acetone was the least efficient solvent. Antioxidant activities of tea extracts tested using the reducing power and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical methods ranged from 0.09 to 1.18 and from 2.60 to 95.42 %, respectively, depending on the extraction conditions and the antioxidant activities correlated well with the polyphenol concentrations. Aqueous solvent black tea extracts also possessed antibacterial activity, depending on the solvent used and bacterial species tested. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most sensitive to all tea extracts, except for the methanol extract. Tea extracts were not effective against Y. enterocolitica, L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7.     

Enantiospecific Synthesis of (R)‐3‐Amino‐4‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)butanoic Acid Using (S)‐Serine as a Chiral Pool

Starting from (S)‐serine, a new method was developed for the synthesis of the β‐amino acid part of sitagliptin in ten steps and with an overall yield of 30%. The crucial step of the synthesis was the ring opening of N‐ and O‐protected (R)‐aziridin‐2‐methanol with (2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)magnesium bromide to give N‐ and O‐protected (R)‐2‐amino‐3‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)propan‐1‐ol.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance characterization of gamma irradiation damage centers in powder of L-(+)-tartaric acid,N-acetyl-L-alanine and 1-methyl-L-histidine

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of γ-irradiated powders of l-(+)-tartaric acid, N-acetyl-l-alanine and 1-methyl-l-histidine were investigated at room temperature. Radiation damage centers are attributed to HOOCCH(OH)?(OH)COOH, CH₃?HCOOH and ?CH₂?HCOOH radicals. The spectra were computer-simulated. Hyperfine structure constants and g-values were determined for these three radicals. The unirradiated samples showed no EPR signal. Some spectroscopic properties and suggestions concerning the possible structure of the radicals are discussed in this paper.