Assessment and mapping of noise pollution in recreation spaces using geostatistic method after COVID-19 lockdown in Turkey.

Increased use of recreational areas after the lifting of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions has led to increased noise levels. This study aims to determine the level of noise pollution experienced in recreational areas with the increasing domestic and international tourism activities after the lifting of pandemic lockdowns, to produce spatial distribution maps of noise pollution, and to develop strategic planning suggestions for reducing noise pollution in line with the results obtained. Antalya-Konyaalti Beach Recreation Area, the most important international tourism destination of Turkey, is determined as the study area. To determine the existing noise pollution, 31 measurement points were marked at 100 m intervals within the study area. Noise measurements were taken during the daytime (07:00-19:00), evening (19:00-23:00), and nighttime (23:00-07:00) on weekdays (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and weekends (Sunday) over 2 months in the summer when the lockdown was lifted. In addition, the sound level at each measurement point was recorded for 15 min, while the number of vehicles passing through the area during the same period was determined. The database created as a result of measurements and observations was analyzed using statistical and geostatistical methods. After the analysis of the data, it was found that the co-kriging-stable model showed superior performance in noise mapping. Additionally, it was revealed that there is a high correlation between traffic density and noise intensity, with the highest equivalent noise level (Leq) on weekdays and weekend evenings due to traffic and user density. In conclusion, regions exposed to intense noise pollution were identified and strategic planning recommendations were developed to prevent/reduce noise sources in these identified regions.

Analysing daytime summer thermal comfort conditions for Turkey's third largest tourism destination.

Tourism is one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change since outdoor leisure activities are only possible in appropriate climate conditions for them. Among several climate or weather-related factors effective on tourist satisfaction, the concept of outdoor thermal comfort conditions gains importance with climate change because it is the combined effect of all atmospheric conditions on human body. Therefore, tourism-climate indices to reflect the favourability of destinations begin to include this parameter as a component. Mediterranean basin harbours world famous summer and cultural tourism destinations among others and climate change is expected to impact the region which covers the third largest primary destination of Turkey. The aim of this study is to analyse human thermal comfort conditions in the southwest part of Turkey, world-famous summer tourism region using Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) and Mean Radiant Temperature (Tmrt) values and Geographic Information System (GIS) as a tool to show their spatial distribution as a component of tourism climate indices. As the result of the study, the most influential factors on human thermal comfort conditions in the region are mean radiant temperature, moisture content, air movement and increasing dense urbanisation in 12 districts, where meteorological measurements were taken. As the result of the study, suggestions were proposed to reduce the effect of higher PET and Tmrt values on tourists in the study.

Why and When Is Electrophilicity Minimized? New Theorems and Guiding Rules†.

We investigate the physical basis, validity, and limitations of the minimum electrophilicity principle, MEP, which postulates that the sum of the electrophilicity indices, ∑ω, of the reaction products will be smaller than that of the reactants, Δω < 0. We present a much-improved understanding of the conditions for minimizing electrophilicity indices. Two indices, ω1 = (I + A)2/8(I - A) and ω2 = I·A/(I - A), are discussed, using ionization energies, I, and electron affinities, A, obtained from either ground-state (GS) or valence-state (VS) energies. The performances of ω1 and ω2 are compared for a wide range of chemical species from diatomic molecules, through large clusters to liquid water and solid crystals. New analytical arguments in support of MEP are found. Two new theorems are proved, and three new rules rationalize the changes Δω1 and Δω2 in association reactions, X + Y → XY. They explain why MEP is much more successful as a guiding rule than the maximum hardness postulate in such reactions. On the other hand, they also identify the increased electron affinity of the product as the reason for the rare but highly significant failures of MEP, e.g., in B2, C2, Si2, and CN. As a rule, electrophilicity is minimized in association reactions. However, both ω1 and ω2 are increased if the bond dissociation energy D(XY-) is larger than D(XY), which is equivalent to an increased product electron affinity. The large positive changes Δω1 and Δω2 in 2C → C2 exhibit a strong contrast to MEP. The changes in electrophilicity indices may help gain insights into the versatility of the chemistries of carbon and other elements. Solid-state double-exchange reactions are correctly assessed by Kaya's composite descriptor, somewhat less by ω2, but not at all by ω1. A wide class of failures of MEP is found as size-driven electrophilicity maximization, Δω > 0, e.g., in fullerenes, large metal clusters, and liquid water. Many electrophiles, especially superelectrophiles, show significantly larger electrophilicity indices than the largest index of their isolated atoms. The changes Δω1 and Δω2 provide important information on the reactivities of chemical systems; however, it appears that the minimum electrophilicity postulate cannot serve as a basis for a theory.

Removal of food dyes from aqueous solution by chitosan-vermiculite beads.

In this study, Chitosan (Ch)-Vermiculite (V) composite beads material which is a low-cost and naturally effective adsorbent were used for efficient removal of Sunset Yellow FCF (Sy) and Brilliant Blue FCF (Bb) food dyes from aqueous solution. Ch-V composite beads were characterized by using FTIR, SEM, XRD and PZC analysis. The adsorbent properties of Ch-V composite beads for Sy and Bb dyes were evaluated in terms of pH, concentration, kinetic (time) and thermodynamic (temperature) of adsorption. The experimental data presented were obtained from Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity for the Langmuir equation was found to be 0.387 mol kg-1 for Sy and 0.229 mol kg-1 for Bb, respectively. The results showed that the experimental data were better fit the Langmiur model for Sy and the Freundlich model for Bb. Adsorption energies obtained from DR model for Sy and Bb showed that adsorption processes were chemically. The pseudo-second order and intra-particle diffusion models of adsorption kinetics are in accordance with Sy and Bb. As a result of thermodynamic evaluation of Sy and Bb adsorption, it was found that adsorption processes were endothermic, entropy increased and reaction was spontaneous.

Computational study of the intramolecular proton transfer reactions of 3-hydroxytropolone (2,7-dihydroxycyclohepta-2,4,6-trien-1-one) and its dimers.

The proton transfer reaction and dimerization processes of 3-hydroxytropolone (3-OHTRN) have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31+G** level. The influence of the solvent on the proton transfer reaction of 3-OHTRN was examined using the self-consistent isodensity polarized continuum model (SCI-PCM) with different dielectric constants (ε = 4.9, CHCI3; ε = 32.63, CH3OH; ε = 78.39, H2O). The intramolecular proton transfer reaction occurs more readily in the gas phase than in solution. Results also show that the stability of 3-OHTRN dimers in the gas phase is directly affected by the hydrogen bond length in the dimer structure.