Volume 24 - 2022

TiO2 nanomaterials have gained much interest due to their importance of wide area application. In this study, TiO2 nanocomposites were modified with Ag NPs by the stober method. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, FTIR, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDAX), UV-DRS. Antibacterial activities were determined against the bacterial pathogens as well as in vitro cancer cell line and significant of nanocomposite’s anti-cancer activity were analyzed. Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite possesses efficient cytotoxic activity towards the A549 cell lines and can be used further for in vivo trials. Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites showed good antibacterial activity against different strains of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri and Bacillus sp. The zone of inhibition was found to be higher in synthesized Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites as compared to standard antibiotic streptomycin.

The field of optics is flourishing day by day on account of the wide usage of the internet and its associated technologies. Free Space Optics (FSO) is a data transmission technique that employs light propagation to send data. This technology is effective in those circumstances where fiber optic cables cannot be deployed. This paper provides a model and simulation of the Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) based FSO network under different environmental conditions, such as modulation types and data rates. Also, investigation of the impact of Multiple Access Interference (MAI) on FSO under design parameters has been done. The designed system performance is analyzed under the multiuser optical wireless network by changing data rates and modulation types. The proposed model's security is achieved through the use of the FBG encoder/decoder and the FSO channel for transmission. It has been inferred that the CRZ modulation type provides the best BER and Q factor compared to other formats, and a data rate as high as 1Gbps can be achieved using the CRZ modulation format. It has been noticed that as the number of users grows, the BER value begins to deteriorate.

This research discusses the prediction that “within the framework of the principles of sustainable development; in regions deemed suitable for ecotourism activities, spatial planning is required, which includes a ‘spatial sensitivity’, ‘participatory understanding’ and ‘holistic use’”. Within the framework of the hypothesis developed; a new method approach was developed for Kofçaz/Kırklareli sample, located in northwest Turkey, that could be incorporated into future ecotourism policies and plans with ECOS and AHP Method, which can be adapted to the space on a micro-basin basis. During the inventory phase of the study and determination of the current situation, a database was created in the GIS environment on the basis of 145 micro-basins determined by the philosophy of the basin and sub-basin of the data on natural and cultural landscape elements. 6 basic criteria, 23 evaluation factors and 73 sub-evaluation criteria were determined with ECOS method developed in the light of RRA Technique and literature findings to be applied in the field. To determine the priority values and ranking of the main and lower criteria, weight scores related to evaluation criteria were determined from 12 individuals via the AHP technique. Conformity values and conformity coefficients for the specified basic and sub-criteria were analyzed at 145 micro basin levels and thematic maps were created. With overlay analysis, synthesis pad was created, appropriate areas for ecotourism were determined, and ecotourism management strategies focused on rural development were developed. These results can be integrated into basin-scale spatial planning that stands out both nationally and internationally.

Kalamata’s decentralized waste management and composting scheme is a successful demonstration of the capacity of a municipality to manage its Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) by adopting methodologies that can be supported by small scale mobile equipment. According to the revised legislation, Join Ministerial Decision (JMD) 51373/4684/2015, each municipality in Greece should organize a regional decentralized waste management plan to comply with the National and EU Legislation. In Kalamata, a mobile Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) unit is in operation which consists of a sorting facility in which recyclable materials are recovered from mixed wastes and a composting facility where the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Wastes (OFMSW) is treated into closed aerated windrows. This paper attempts to analyze the characteristics of the applied methodology as well as to set a framework for the optimal treatment of the OFMSW in small decentralised units. Several trials have been performed to optimise the effectiveness of different composting practices for OFMSW. Desirable temperature values for degradation (over 50°C), were achieved during the composting process, while oxygen content was kept between 15-20%. Heavy metals were presented in all the samples analyzed, with concentration levels below the limits set by National Legislation. The values of the physicochemical parameters monitored in this study did not exceed the maximum permissible as well.