Challenge Journal Publications (TULPAR Academic Publishing)
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Enhancing mechanical properties of foam concrete with sisal fiber reinforcement: An experimental investigation
Full text linkIn this study, we explore the possibility of using sisal fibers as an environmentally-friendly reinforcing agent for foam concrete. We aim to improve its physical properties by combining environmental friendliness with engineering practicality to create a durable material that can be used safely today and a supplier of ecological sustainability for tomorrow. Known for being lightweight and thermally insulating, foam concrete has very low tensile strength and ductility as compared with other materials. This is why its application is often limited in scope. We naturally think that adding sisal fibers, which are a high-performance and renewable resource in themselves, will improve these properties. It is well known that they have a tensile strength of more than 400 kg/cm, and their long, stiff lamellae further increase this advantage. As a result, we integrated sisal fibers at different mixing rates: 0 (no Sisal), 0.25g, 0.5g and so on up to 1% volume. After the test specimens were standardized like this they went into the hence examining each of these properties in turn. With a reasonable content of fibres, the mechanical properties of foam concrete improved significantly. It was observed that the properties of fresh concrete decreased slightly in the samples where 0.50% sisal fiber was used. However, the compressive strength increased by 12.9% compared to the reference sample, and the flexural strength increased by 2.85 times compared to the reference sample. This study not only confirms the feasibility of using sisal fibers to reinforce foam concrete theoretically, but it will also serve as a useful reference for the development of more sustainable scientific building materials. The author provides a discussion of their results and future directions for research on construction materials, highlighting environmental and economic benefits from incorporating natural fibers into these materials
Determination of waste crushed baked clay aggregate concrete with granular composite material preparations
Full text linkWaste baked clay is an industrial waste that causes environmental pollution. Therefore, the possible utilization of this material would reduce environmental pollution. Utilization of baked clay as aggregate in concrete would have a positive effect on the economy. There are many studies on examining concrete as a granular composite. However, there are few studies on the examination of industrial or construction demolition wastes, which are used as aggregate in concrete, with granular composite models. This study was conducted to contribute to filling this gap in the literature. In concrete production, Portland cement, river sand, 4-32 mm in size crushed stone and crushed baked clay as coarse and medium aggregate in the replacement ratio of 0%, 50% and 100% were used. Compression tests were conducted on specimens. Stress-strain curves were drawn as a graph. Elasticity modulus were determined experimentally. Elasticity modulus were calculated using granular composite models. Experimental and calculated elasticity modulus were compared and examined. According to the results, it was determined that these wastes could be evaluated in concrete production and used in the elasticity modulus calculation of granular composite models
Comparison of ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca compartment block versus the combined obturator nerve and adductor canal block application in postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery
Full text linkBackground: Arthroscopic knee surgery is a surgical intervention that is frequently performed by orthopedic clinics and new studies are constantly carried out by anesthetists to ensure effective pain control. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided suprainguinal fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) versus the combined adductor canal and obturator nerve block application in terms of postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery under spinal anesthesia.Materials and Method: Sixty patients, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery under elective conditions were included in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups, Group 1 (n=30) and Group 2 (n=30), using a lottery method. Patients operated under spinal anesthesia received ultrasound-guided suprainguinal fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) for Group 1. The combined adductor canal and obturator nerve block for Group 2 at the end of the surgery. Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device containing tramadol was connected to all patients in both groups, and they were evaluated for Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores at 0, 2, 4, 12, and 24 hours of ward follow-up. The amount of PCA used at 24 hours, additional analgesic use, development of side effects, mobilization capabilities, and satisfaction levels were assessed at the end of 24 hours.Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics and the type of surgery performed (p>0.05). In Group 1, where fascia iliaca block was applied the block administration time was observed to be significantly shorter compared to Group 2 (p0.05).Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca compartment block alone can be effectively applied for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, instead of combined adductor canal and obturator nerve block
Comparison of the effects of femoral and axillary artery cannulation on ischemic cerebral injury in acute type A aortic dissection surgery: A retrospective study
Full text linkBackground: Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening condition requiring emergency surgical intervention. This retrospective study evaluates the impact of femoral and axillary arterial cannulation techniques on ischemic neurological damage and mortality.Materials and Method: A total of 60 patients who underwent emergency surgery for ATAAD between 2016 and 2021 were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the arterial cannulation technique: Group A (axillary cannulation) and Group F (femoral cannulation). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were compared between the groups. The primary outcome was incidence of ischemic cerebral injury and secondary outcomes included 30-day all-cause mortality, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay and postoperative complications.Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of ischemic cerebral injury (p=0.13). There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality between the groups (p= 0.27). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the cannulation type was a risk factor for ischemic cerebral injury development (OR [95% CI]; 119.034 [1.612–8791.314], p=0.029).Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the type of cannulation may be a risk factor for the development of ischemic cerebral injury. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal arterial cannulation technique for improving outcomes in ATAAD surgery
Effectiveness of dry needle therapy in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain
Full text linkBackground: Low back pain is a prevalent symptom worldwide, with various underlying causes, making differential diagnosis essential. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of dry needling treatment added to exercise in patients with chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain (NLBP). The McKenzie exercise program was applied to all participants.Materials and Method: The study comprised sixty participants, randomly allocated into two groups: the dry needling (DNG) and the exercise group (EG). The participants in DNG received a total of six sessions of dry needling treatment, two days a week, to the gluteus medius and quadratus lumborum and multifidus muscles. All participants were given a McKenzie exercise program two sets per day for three weeks.Results: A significant difference was noted in the VAS-night values of the patients within the DNG before treatment (p: 0.004), and the EG also exhibited a significant difference in the VAS-activity (p: 0.017) and VAS-resting (p: 0.024) values following the treatment. A statistically significant decrease was observed in favor of DNG in VAS-rest, VAS-night, VAS-activity values (p>0.001) in the comparions of the groups.Conclusions: Dry needling treatment added to exercise therapy in chronic NLBP patients is effective on activity and rest pain severity in the shortterm results. However, no additive efficacy of dry needling treatment was found on the number of trigger points, disability, and depression
Mechanical properties of lightweight photocatalytic marbelite
Full text linkThis study investigated the mechanical performance of lightweight photocatalytic marbelite (LPM). In the production of LPM, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and various fiber additives were used to impart self-cleaning properties to the LPM with photocatalytic effect. In the study, fibers were added to the LPM mix at different ratios (0%, 0.5%, 1%) and unit weight, ultrasound transmission rate, bending, splitting tensile and compressive strength tests were carried out on these specimens. The mixture was prepared with perlite and polyester resin and enriched with TiO2 and fiber additives. Perlite was used as an aggregate in the LPM and lightweighting properties were added to the specimens. The experimental results show that increasing the fiber content significantly improves the mechanical strength of the LPM. The improvement in bending strength reached 60%, while in compressive strength it reached 25% and in splitting tensile strength it reached 35%. With the addition of TiO2, the bending strength of LPM increased by 15%, while the compressive strength increased by 12% and the splitting tensile strength increased by 7%. These ratios were higher with increasing fiber content. These results suggest that LPM, which provide environmental benefits with their photocatalytic properties and improved mechanical performance, can be more effectively used in industrial applications
From ruins to reconstruction: Harnessing text-to-image AI for restoring historical architectures
Full text linkThe preservation of cultural heritage has become increasingly important in the face of conflicts and natural disasters that threaten historical sites worldwide. This study explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically text-to-image generation technologies, in reconstructing heritage sites damaged by these adversities. Utilising detailed textual descriptions and historical records, this study employed AI to produce accurate visual representations of damaged heritage sites, bridging the gap between traditional documentation and modern digital reconstruction methods. This approach not only enhances the architectural design process across various disciplines but also initiates a paradigm shift towards more dynamic, intuitive, and efficient heritage conservation practices. The methodology integrates data collection, iterative AI-generated image production, expert review, and comparative analysis against historical data to evaluate reconstruction accuracy and authenticity. By integrating AI with traditional preservation practices, this study advocates a balanced approach to conserving cultural legacies, ensuring their preservation and revitalisation for future generations. Preliminary findings suggest that AI-generated imagery holds significant promise for enhancing digital heritage preservation by offering novel approaches for visualising and understanding historical sites. These findings also highlight the need to address ethical, technical, and collaborative challenges to enhance the precision, reliability, and applicability of AI technologies in the field of cultural heritage. This study contributes to digital humanities and archaeological conservation, demonstrating AI's potential to support and complement traditional heritage preservation methods and suggests a pathway for substantial methodological evolution in the field
Anaphylaxis following unfractionated heparin administration: How safe is this drug in the treatment of thromboembolism?
Full text linkHeparin, a naturally occurring polysaccharide belonging to the glycosaminoglycans (GAG) family, is ubiquitously found in mast cells. Unfractionated heparin is the least processed form of natural GAG, purified from animal tissue. In a 67-year-old female patient diagnosed with hypertension and asthma, who suffered a femoral fracture due to a fall, intravenous heparin sodium was administered for thromboembolic treatment in the postoperative period following closed reduction. Subsequently, respiratory distress, loss of consciousness, and cardiac arrest occured following profound hypotension. The patient, whose clinical findings were evaluated as anaphylaxis, was successfully resuscitated with prompt intervention. Despite immune-mediated reactions and Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) being commonly encountered side effects in clinical practice, it is crucial for all healthcare professionals to recognize that widely used anticoagulant agents such as heparin sodium can lead to fatal complications