John P. Costas. / "May 16, 1950." / Bibliography: p. 7. / Army Signal Corps Contract No. W36-039-sc-32037 Project No. 102B Dept. of the Army Project No. 3-99-10-022

Zeolite beta has been synthesized using hydrothermal methods. In order to synthesize zeolite beta an aqueous gel having a molar batch composition of 2.2 Na2O&amp / #8729 / Al2O3&amp / #8729 / x SiO2&amp / #8729 / 4.6 (TEA)2O&amp / #8729 / 444 H2O was utilized. The synthesis parameters were SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (20 &amp / #8804 / x &amp / #8804 / 50) and crystallization time (6 &amp / #8804 / t &amp / #8804 / 16 days). Pure zeolite beta was crystallized from the experiments which were performed with the batch composition having SiO2/Al2O3 of 20 and 30 in 6 to 16 days period. For SiO2/Al2O3 of 20 and 30, the highest yield was obtained for 12 days. Therefore, the rest of the experiments, in which SiO2/Al2O3 was 40 and 50, were carried out keeping the synthesis time constant (12 days). Pure zeolite beta was also synthesized for SiO2/Al2O3 of 40 and 50. The highest yield and the most crystalline zeolite beta sample were obtained from the experiment performed at SiO2/Al2O3 of 50 with a synthesis time of 12 days. The morphology and crystal size of the zeolite beta samples were identified by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was observed that, zeolite beta samples had spheroidal morphology with the crystal size of about 0.5 &amp / #956 / m. According to the thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), it was found that template molecules and moisture constituted nearly 18 % by weight of the zeolite beta samples. The surface area of the calcined zeolite beta sample was determined by N2 adsorption and was found to be 488 m2/g. Gravimetric sorption analyses yield that, the limiting sorption capacity of Na-Beta for methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and n-butanol at 0&deg / C was about the same with a value of 0.25 cm3/g. For o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene that value was 0.21 cm3/g, 0.22 cm3/g and 0.24 cm3/g, respectively.

In this study, the surface acidity of Co and/or Pb doped SBA15 mesoporous catalysts were investigated by both diffuse reflectance fourier transform (DRIFT) infrared spectroscopy and transmission mode fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Pyridine was used to identify the Br&oslash / nsted and Lewis acid sites of the surface, at room temperature. From the DRIFT spectrum typical stretching vibrations of isolated terminal silanol (Si-OH) groups were observed for all the catalysts. These silanol group bands dissappeared after pyridine adsorption, indicating that these silanol groups are acidic and serve as chemical adsorption sites for pyridine. Pyridine adsorption on these catalysts revealed that while monometallic additions did not influence the overall acidity of SBA15, in the bimetallic system, characteristic bands due to pyridine adsorption on Co2+ ions were observed.

By the integration of dark and photo fermentative hydrogen production processes, higher yields of hydrogen can be obtained from biomass. In the first step, biomass is utilized for hydrogen production by dark fermentation and in the second step, the effluent of dark fermentation is further utilized for hydrogen production by photofermentation using photosynthetic purple non-sulfur bacteria. The purpose of this study was to develop a solar pilot scale tubular photobioreactor (PBR) for continuous photo fermentative hydrogen production from the effluent of dark fermentation. This study demonstrated the implementation of the solar pilot tubular PBR for this new technology for the first time and successful continuous operations were performed in different seasons. Two different strains of Rhodobacter capsulatus were used for the operations. It was showed that even in winter, pure hydrogen could be produced in the pilot PBR with an average productivity of 0.3 mol H2/m3.h, when circulation of the PBR was continuous. Productivity obtained by the mutant strain was 0.2 mol H2/m3.h with periodical circulation. The integration between dark and photo fermentation was proven at pilot scales by using real dark fermenter effluents of molasses and thick juice. DFE of thick juice yielded a maximum productivity of 0.27 mol H2/m3.h whereas the maximum productivity obtained from DFE of molasses was 0.12 mol H2/m3.h. The most important factor affecting productivity is found to be the total received light energy and a yield factor (mmol H2/g dry cell weight) was correlated with total received light energy. Acetic acid consumption rates were found to be first order for daytime and zero order for nights. Furthermore acetic acid utilization for different metabolic pathways were estimated and by-product, poly- &beta / - hydroxybutyrate, specific rates of product formation were determined.

One of the most commonly used boron compounds, boric acid, is produced by dissolving colemanite (2CaO&times / 3B2O3&times / 5H2O) in aqueous sulfuric acid whereby gypsum (CaSO4&times / 2H2O) is formed as a byproduct and must be separated from the main product. This process consists of two steps, dissolution of colemanite and formation of gypsum. The amount of boric acid formed depends on the first step, dissolution of colemanite. In the latter step, gypsum crystals are formed and stay in the reaction mixture to grow up to a size large enough to be filtered out of the solution. Filtration of gypsum crystals is a crucial process in boric acid production because it affects the purity and crystallization of boric acid. In this study it is aimed to investigate the effects of particle size of colemanite, stirring rate and reaction temperature on the dissolution of colemanite, gypsum formation and particle size distribution of gypsum formed in the reaction of boric acid production. Colemanite, sulfuric acid and distilled water were used as reactants for the boric acid production reaction in this study.The colemanite minerals were provided from a region of Emet, Kutahya, Turkey. Three types of colemanite minerals having different chemical composition and particle size were used. The sulfuric acid was supplied by Eti Holding A.S. Hisarcik 1 and Hisarcik 2 colemanites were crushed in a jaw crusher, ground in a hammer mill and then sieved. The sieve analysis was performed to learn the size distribution of Hisarcik 1 and Hisarcik 2 colemanite. Hisarcik 3 colemanite was brought from Emet Boric Acid Plant. The maximum diameter of the colemanite minerals was 150 &amp / #956 / m. The experiments were performed at different particle sizes of colemanite (0-150, 0-250 and 250-1000 &amp / #956 / m), temperatures (70- 90 &amp / #61616 / C) and stirring rates (350-500 rpm). The photographs of gypsum crystals were taken. The boric acid and calcium ion concentrations were determined for each experiment. Also, the solid content of the solution in the reactor were measured. The dissolution of colemanite can be followed by monitoring the boric acid concentration change in the slurry. The crystallization of gypsum from the solution can be found from the calcium ion concentration in the solution. The crystallization kinetics of calcium sulfate dihydrate was studied. The growth of the gypsum crystals were examined under the light microscope and the particle size distribution of gypsum crystals were analyzed by of the laser diffraction instrument.

Carbon can be in several forms. Amorphous, graphite and diamond. Fullerenes are accepted as the fourth form of solid carbon. They are basically, large carbon cage molecules. By far the most common one is C60. Nanotubes are actually longer forms of fullerenes. If a voltage is applied between two carbon rods, an arc will develop between them. If the arc is maintained in helium or argon (instead of air) clouds of black carbon powder is produced. Although many studies have been performed on cathodic deposits, (i.e. nanotubes first seen in this section) very few studies on the carbon sooth are found in the literature. Only around 10% of the black soot is fullerene, the composition of the remainder varies depending on the working conditions. But it is assumed to contain parts of various fullerene particles even higher fullerenes up to C300. This fraction is abbreviated as FES through the thesis. This work comprises the production of FES (fullerene extracted soot), soot, cathodic deposit produced under nanotube conditions and cathodic deposit produced under fullerene conditions and characterization of these in terms of their specific surface areas / pore volume distribution, porosity and as a second part, adsorption capacity of gases H2 and NH3 have been found. Both physical and chemical adsorption analyses were done using Quantichrome Autosorb 1-C surface analyzer. Obtained isotherms for nitrogen adsorption were found to be in between type II and type IV. BET surface areas for the samples of FES and soot prepared under nanotube conditions and cathodic deposit prepared under fullerene and nanotube conditions were found 240, 180, 14.6 and 29.7 m2/g of surface area respectively. Micropore volumes were calculated from Horwath - Kowazoe and Saito - Foley methods were found 0.045, 0.034, 2.38*10-3 and 1.19*10-3 cc/g respectively. Active surface areas for NH3 adsorption were found for FES, soot and Norit active carbon sample are found to be 39.2, 49.6, 32.5 m2/g at 300 C and 6.35, 14.65, 6.59 m2/g at 3000 C respectively. As a result of this work, it is concluded that although not superior to NORIT CN1 active carbon sample, FES is as active as that material and able to adsorb as much hydrogen as active carbon. This is important because FES is already a side product of the arc-evaporation fullerene production technique and has no known uses at all.

This thesis, depending on some Ottoman archival documents, examines the effects of the Tanzimat reforms on the Ottoman Armenians and Kurds and the origins of the conflicts amongst these communities in the Ottoman Empire. The reforms initiated in the Tanzimat era had such a transformative effect both on the Ottoman Armenian and Kurdish societies that social, political and economic structures of the two communities changed radically. Due to the effects of the Tanzimat reforms and of these structural changes, the relations between the Ottoman Armenian and Kurdish communities started to deteriorate and the communal conflicts emerged during the Tanzimat era. These conflicts between the Armenian and Kurdish communities continued after the Tanzimat era.

Recent studies have advanced our knowledge of factors that could affect problem solving performance, and also of the positive effects of problem solving ability on fitness measures (the ‘what’ of problem solving). However, a missing linkage exists between this ‘what’ and the corresponding ‘how’. Such linkage requires the understanding of how these factors contribute to problem solving. Therefore, the central aim of this thesis is to examine this ‘how’. The roles of learning and behavioural flexibility in the context of problem solving are shown across the experiments, primarily with laboratory and free-ranging grey squirrels and to a lesser extent with wild red squirrels. Under a recurring change, laboratory grey squirrels showed a rapid decrease in the number of errors they made per reversal phase in a serial spatial reversal learning task. Such efficiency is achieved by a gradual tactic change, from sequential to integrative tactics, with increased experience. It also involves support from cognitive mechanisms such as attention and inhibitory control. In a puzzle box task, wild grey squirrels showed that they were better problem solvers than the wild red squirrels. However, red squirrels that solved the puzzle box were more efficient than the grey solvers. Detailed analysis of the results showed that learning and flexibility play independent roles in problem solving. Each process is associated with particular traits that to increase efficiency. For grey squirrels, behavioural selectivity (effective behaviours) and persistence increased with increased experience. Flexibility, however, showed minimal positive effect for them, given that it decreased behavioural selectivity. In contrast, flexibility primarily provided a positive effect for red squirrels’ solving efficiency. These results showed that the two species appear to use both similar and different cognitive processes in solving the task. The discussion gathers the results and explores how learning and flexibility, along with other behavioural traits, vary in their contributions to problem solving performance. As learning and flexibility are definitely not limited in problem solving, the discussion also addresses how these two processes might be involved a construct of general intelligence (‘g’) in animals, and how they are relevant to wilder ecological aspects.

SNAP25 (Synaptosomal-Associated Protein of 25 kDa; part of the SNARE complex) is involved in the docking and fusion of synaptic vesicles in presynaptic neurons necessary for the regulation of neurotransmitter release, as well as in axonal growth and synaptic plasticity. In humans, different single nucleotide polymorphisms of SNAP25 have repeatedly been associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thus, in this study heterozygous Snap25 knockout mice were investigated as a model of ADHD. Heterozygous (+/-) Snap25 knockout mice as well as their wild-type (+/+) littermates were reared under control conditions or underwent a Maternal Separation (MS) procedure. Starting at the age of 2 months, mice were tested for locomotor activity in a repeated long-term Open Field (OF) task, for attention deficits and impulsive behavior in the 5 Choice Serial Reaction Time Task (5CSRTT), for anxiety-like behavior in the Light-Dark Box (LDB) and for depression-like behavior in the Porsolt Forced Swim Test (FST). The brains of these mice were subsequently tested for the expression of several ADHD related genes in a quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) study. Another group of female mice (+/+; +/-) underwent a one hour OF test after oral administration of 45 mg/kg Methylphenidate (MPH) or placebo. To find an optimized dosage for this MPH challenge, a pilot study was performed. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice were tested in a long-term OF with several dosages of MPH both intraperitoneally (i.p.) and orally. The brains of these animals were afterwards investigated for neurotransmitter concentrations. In this pilot study the dosages of MPH that were similarly behaviorally effective without causing symptoms of overdosing were 7.5-15 mg/kg intraperitoneally and 30-60 mg/kg orally. However, even though it was possible to find intraperitoneal and oral doses that correlate behaviorally, the neurochemistry was mostly different. In the study on Snap25-deficient mice, unstressed controls showed a hyperactive phenotype in the second of two long-term OF sessions (60 min) spaced three weeks apart. Considering all groups, there was a significant interaction of stress and genotype in the second session, with animals subjected to MS being overall hyperactive with no genotype differences. In the training phase of the 5CSRTT only effects of stress were found, with MS animals finding and consuming fewer rewards. In the single test trial, several genotype effects became apparent, with tendencies for the number of correct nose pokes and the number of rewards eaten, and a significant effect for the number of rewards eaten directly after the correct response. In all of these variables +/- mice performed worse than their wild-type littermates. In the LDB +/- mice entered the lit compartment of the arena earlier than the controls, thus showing attenuated anxiety-like behavior. Regarding depressive-like behavior in the FST, male +/- mice spent significantly less time struggling than male +/+ mice. In the gene expression study, +/- mice had lower expression levels of Maoa and Comt, and higher expression levels of Nos1 than wild-types. Finally, the locomotor activity response to MPH was exaggerated in +/- mice as compared to controls. Heterozygous Snap25 knockout mice show some of the behavioral characteristics of ADHD, as for example a mild hyperactivity in a familiar environment, difficulties in the correct execution of a given task and even some behavior that can be interpreted as delay aversion. Additionally, expression levels of three ADHD related genes were changed in these animals. Although the exaggerated locomotor activity response to MPH is not to be expected of an ADHD model, the difference in the response between +/+ and +/- mice nonetheless implicates a potential dysfunction of the brain dopaminergic system. / SNAP25 (Synaptosomal assoziiertes Protein, 25 kDa; Teil des SNARE Komplexes) ist an der Fusion von synaptischen Vesikeln mit der präsynaptischen Zellmembran beteiligt, und somit notwendig für die Regulation der Neurotransmitter-Ausschüttung. Außerdem wird eine wichtige Funktion bei dem Wachstum von Axonen und synaptischer Plastizität diskutiert. In Humanstudien wurden wiederholt verschiedene Einzelnukleotid-polymorphismen von SNAP25 mit Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit- / Hyperaktivitätssyndrom (ADHS) assoziiert. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden heterozygote Snap25 knockout Mäuse als Modell für ADHS untersucht. Heterozygote (+/-) Snap25 knockout Mäuse und ihre wildtypischen Wurfgeschwister wurden unter Kontrollbedingungen großgezogen oder einer maternalen Separation (MS) unterzogen. Beginnend im Alter von etwa 2 Monaten wurden diese Mäuse verschiedenen Verhaltenstests unterzogen: in einem wiederholten Langzeit-Open-Field (OF) Test wurde Aktivität untersucht, Aufmerksamkeitsdefizite und Impulsivität mit dem 5 Choice Serial Reaction Time Task (5CSRTT), angst-ähnliches Verhalten in der Light-Dark Box (LDB) und depressions-ähnliches Verhalten im Porsolt Forced Swim Test (FST). Die Gehirne dieser Mäuse wurden anschließend auf die Expression verschiedener ADHS bezogener Gene in einer quantitativen Real-Time-PCR (qRT-PCR) untersucht. Eine zusätzliche Gruppe weiblicher Mäuse (+/+; +/-) durchlief einen einstündigen OF Test nach oraler Gabe von 45 mg/kg Methylphenidat (MPH) oder Placebo. Um eine optimale Dosierung für MPH in diesem Experiment zu finden, wurde eine Pilotstudie durchgeführt. Hierbei wurden wildtypische C57/BL6 Mäuse in einem Langzeit OF Test mit Gabe unterschiedlicher Dosierungen von MPH, sowohl oral als auch intraperitoneal (i.p.), untersucht. Im Anschluss wurden die Gehirne dieser Tiere auf Neurotransmitter-konzentration geprüft. Diese Pilotstudie ergab als optimale Dosierungen von MPH auf Verhaltensebene 7.5-15 mg/kg i.p. und 30-60 mg/kg oral. Allerdings waren die neurochemischen Effekte der beiden unterschiedlichen Applikationsarten größtenteils verschieden. In der Snap25 Studie zeigten ungestresste Kontroll-Tiere einen leicht hyperaktiven Phänotyp in dem zweiten von zwei Langzeit-Open-Field Tests (60 min) im Abstand von 3 Wochen. Bei Betrachtung aller Gruppen ergab sich auch eine signifikante Interaktion von Stress und Genotyp in der zweiten Testung, und zwar dahingehend, dass MS Tiere grundsätzlich aktiveres Verhalten zeigten, ohne Genotypen-Unterschiede. In der Anfangsphase des 5CSRTT lagen nur signifikante Haupteffekte für Stress vor, gestresste Tiere hatten größere Probleme im Meistern der Aufgabe als Wildtypen. Erst im sogenannten Test-Trial am Ende der Versuchsreihe ergaben sich signifikante Haupteffekte für den Genotyp. Heterozygote Snap25 knockout Mäuse zeigten beispielsweise weniger korrekte Reaktionen und konsumierten auch weniger Belohnungspellets direkt im Anschluss an eine korrekte Reaktion als Wildtypen. In der LDB brauchten +/- Mäuse wiederum weniger Zeit als Wildtypen, um den erleuchteten Teil der Arena zu betreten, und zeigten dadurch ein reduziertes Angst-ähnliches Verhalten. Im Gegensatz dazu ergab sich ein erhöht Depressions-ähnliches Verhalten für männliche heterozygote Snap25 knockout Mäuse im FST. Auf der Genexpressions-Ebene hatten +/- Mäuse niedrigere Expressionslevels von Maoa und Comt und höhere Expressionslevels von Nos1 als Wildtypen. Abschließend zeigte sich eine erhöhte Reaktion auf MPH bei heterozygoten Mäusen. Zusammenfassend zeigen heterozygote Snap25 knockout Mäuse einige Charakteristika von ADHS auf Verhaltensebene, wie zum Beispiel eine leichte Hyperaktivität in bekannter Umgebung, Schwierigkeiten im Erlernen einer gestellten Aufgabe und sogar Verhaltensweisen, die auf eine Abneigung gegenüber Verzögerungen hindeuten. Zusätzlich kommt es aufgrund des Knockouts zu veränderten Expressionslevels verschiedener ADHS assoziierter Gene. Auch wenn die erhöhte Verhaltensreaktion von +/- Mäusen auf MPH nicht die erwartete Reaktion eines ADHS Modells darstellt, deutet sie dennoch auf ein Ungleichgewicht des dopaminergen Systems im Gehirn hin, das bei ADHS eine wichtige Rolle spielt.

This study presents an optimization approach to heat exchanger network synthesis (HENS). HENs are widely used in industry and bring several fluid streams into their desired temperatures by using available heat in the process for efficient usage of energy. Our aim is to provide a network design coupled with a detailed equipment design for heat exchangers. The suggested approach involves discretization of temperatures based on heat load equalities and reformulation as a shortest-path problem, rather than dealing with a nonlinear model and a previously structured HEN, which are common methods in the literature. We generate a shortest path network whose every node corresponds to a heat exchanger alternative and each path represents a HEN design alternative. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is solved to design each exchanger alternative in detail, considering all thermo-physical and transport properties of streams at their temperatures and pressures. Our approach has modeling flexibility and successfully finds the required number of heat exchangers and their connections. In addition, one can control the solution quality by deciding on the heat load steps between stream inlet and outlets. Several HEN examples from the literature are solved to assess the performance of our approach and comparable results are obtained.