Ege University Institutional Repository
Not a member yet
116239 research outputs found
Sort by
Comparison of Humphrey 24-2 SITA Standard, SITA Fast, and SITA Faster Test Strategies in Patients with Glaucoma
No full textObjectives To compare 24-2 Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm (SITA) Standard (SS), SITA Fast (SF), and SITA Faster (SFR) tests performed with Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA3 Model 840, Zeiss) in patients with glaucomatous visual field (VF) defect. Materials and Methods Total of 72 eyes of 72 patients with glaucomatous VF defects were included in the study. Test duration, mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), visual field index (VFI), and the width and depth of glaucomatous VF defect were compared among the three tests. Results The most common diagnoses were primary open-angle glaucoma in 45 eyes (62.5%) and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma in 10 eyes (13.9%). Mean test durations for the SS, SF, and SFR tests were 420.38 +/- 53.87 s, 275.94 +/- 45.52 s, and 191.89 +/- 35.48 s, respectively. Test durations were found to be statistically significantly different in all three tests (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the three tests in terms of MD, width, or depth of glaucomatous VF defect (p=0.211, p=0.762, and p=0.701, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference among the three tests in terms of VFI and PSD values (p=0.008 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion Test duration was found to be shorter in the SFR test when compared to SS and SF tests. However, all three tests were similar in terms of the width and depth of the glaucomatous VF defect
Hearing rehabilitation in SERAC1 related MEGD(H)EL syndrome-implications from a multi-center retrospective cohort study
No full textObjective: 3-methylglutaconic aciduria (MEG), dystonia-deafness (D), (hepatopathy (H)), encephalopathy (E), and Leigh-like-syndrome (L) (MEGD(H)EL) syndrome is a rare, severely disabling progressive mitochondrial disease associated with biallelic pathogenic variants in SERAC1. Knowledge about hearing loss (HL) and hearing rehabilitation is scarce but highly sought after for best possible care in the absence of causative treatment. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Results: This study analyzed the audiometric data of 36 MEGD(H)EL patients (14 unpublished). Bilateral HL was diagnosed in 31 individuals (86 %). Detailed audiometric data, available for 23 of 31 patients, did not allow for general statements on site and degree of HL. HL was mostly congenital (n = 14/31), pre-lingual in six and post-lingual in nine cases (median age 2 years, n = 15/31; age unknown in n = 2). In four of the five patients without HL, the severity of the other clinical-neurological symptoms was milder and less progressive, and their onset was significantly later than in the patients with HL. Five of 36 patients acquired spoken language, these were 4 of the 5 individuals without and one with HL. Twenty-two individuals received hearing rehabilitation with conventional hearing aids, followed by cochlear implant (CI) surgery in six. One of these six individuals acquired spoken language, which lessened in clarity as disease progressed. Conclusions: Congenital HL represents a ubiquitous symptom in severe types of MEGD(H)EL syndrome, being absent in late onset milder forms. Regularly, severely affected MEGD(H)EL patients do not achieve spoken language, even with CI. Hence, hearing rehabilitation with CIs needs to be discussed very critically
Posteromedial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy has favourable outcomes in simultaneous medial meniscus posterior root repair and varus medial knee osteoarthritis patients without concomitant root tear
No full textPurpose To evaluate the radiological and clinical outcomes in two patient groups: first, varus aligned medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) patients who underwent posteromedial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (PMOWHTO) and simultaneous root repair; second, patients with varus medial knee osteoarthritis without MMPRT who underwent PMOWHTO. Methods Patients had MMPRT repair concomitant with PMOWHTO and varus medial knee osteoarthritis without concomitant root tear patients who underwent PMOWHTO and were reviewed. Radiographic parameters, medial meniscus extrusion (MME) and Knee Society Scores [KSSs, including the following subscores: knee score (KS) and knee function score (KFS)] were evaluated. Continious variables are expressed as the median and interquartile range (IQR) [IQR: (Q1;Q3); Q1: median of lower half, Q3: median of upper half]. The minimum follow-up period was 24 months [29 (28;35) months]. Results A total of 36 knees of 34 patients underwent PMOWHTO were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a MMPRT. Nineteen of the 36 knees had MMPRTs, and all of them had concomitant root repair (Group 1). Seventeen of the 36 patients did not have MMPRTs (Group 2). The posterior tibial slope (PTS) decreased postoperatively in a total of 36 knees (p < 0.001). There were no significant changes in MME postoperatively in any intragroup comparison. The preoperative and follow-up MMEs of Group 1 were greater than those of Group 2 (p < 0.001). The KSs and KFSs in both Group 1 and Group 2 increased during follow-up [KS; Group 1: 43 (36;53) vs. 86 (84;95), p < 0.001. Group 2: 49 (45;57) vs. 89 (80;93), p < 0.001. KFS; Group 1: 60 (50;60) vs. 90 (80;100), p < 0.001. Group 2: 60 (50;60) vs. 80 (80;90), p < 0.001]. All knees achieved minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in terms of KSs. Eighteen (95%) knees achieved MCID in Group 1, and 17 (100%) achieved MCID in Group 2 in terms of KFSs. There were no differences between Groups 1 and 2 in terms of preoperative and follow-up KSs or preoperative KFSs. The follow-up KFSs in Group 1 was significantly greater than that in Group 2 (p = 0.032). Conclusions PMOWHTO has favourable clinical and radiological outcomes and prevents PTS increase in simultaneous MMPRT repair and varus medial knee osteoarthritis patients without concomitant root tear.Turkish Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (TSOT/TOTBID)The present data were collected from the thesis of Ali Engin DASTAN (first author). The thesis has been awarded by Turkish Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (TSOT/TOTBID) (Prof. Dr. Munir Ahmet SARPYENER Best Thesis Contest,Third Prize, 2020). It has been presented in 15th Turkish Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy and Knee Surgery (TUSYAD) Congress and won the best oral presentation award (2021)
Assessment of Youth Water Polo Players' Swimming Sprint Potential: A New Approach to Building an International Model
No full textBackground: To cope with their horizontal swimming phases, water polo players use different swimming techniques, such as specific variants of the crawl swimming style. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the swimming skills of young water polo players. Methods: An all-out 25-m sprint swimming test in crawl style was completed by 273 international youth water polo players (age = 14.0 +/- 0.8 yrs) in two modalities: basic crawl with the head in the water (25C(HeadIN)), and a crawl performed while dribbling the ball (25C(Ball)). Results: We registered an average time of 14.79 and 15.64 s for 25C(HeadIN) and 25C(Ball), respectively, in which the ball dribbling increased to 5% of the swimming time. A swimming skill index (25C(SIC)) was calculated to account for differences in ball dribbling speeds, which, considering our international sample and in the absence of previous data, we could speculate as the first international standard value for 14-year-old male water polo players competing at international level. The averaged values for 25C(SI) and 25C(SIC) were 0.94 +/- 0.04 (a.u.) and 1.52 +/- 0.15 (a.u.), respectively. Factor analysis indicated that swimming with and without the ball are structurally distinct technical skills, highlighting the specificity of these water polo players' abilities. Moreover, the study shows significant differences (p < 0.05) between players from different countries and despite some limitations, its results provide valuable insights for the assessment and development of sprint swimming skills in youth water polo players. Conclusions: In summary, the findings of this research provide practical implications for training, player selection, player development and the optimization of youth water polo player performance
Oral hygiene influence on the incidence and severity of oral manifestations in Coronavirus Disease 2019
No full textIntro: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, severity, duration of oral manifestations in individuals with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the association of these manifestations with the severity of COVID-19 and the patient's oral hygiene. Methods: This study included 820 patients with confirmed COVID-19. A questionnaire form including oral hygiene habits, the severity of Covid-19, the presence, severity and durations of oral manifestations was prepared, and a web-based survey was performed using Google-forms. Obtained data was analysed with Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact tests with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Results: The most commonly reported manifestations were taste dysfunction (63.4%), xerostomia (59.9%), halitosis (31.1%), dysphagia (27.8%), hypersensitive teeth (27.2%) and gingival bleeding (14.3%). The incidence of the oral manifestations was found significantly associated with severity of COVID-19 (P = 0.000 V = 0.151), presence of systemic diseases (P = 0.034, V = 0.074) and age (P = 0.023, V = 0.099). Tooth brushing decreased the incidence of aphthous like lesions of tongue during Covid-19 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Maintenance of oral hygiene was associated with a reduced incidence of aphthous-like lesions, underscoring the protective role of routine oral care. These findings highlight the need to integrate oral health assessment and hygiene education into COVID-19 management protocols, which may also be important for potential future pandemics. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
Fusobacterium nucleatum fada proteini için DNA aptamerlerinin geliştirilmesi
No full textKolorektal kanser (CRC), dünya genelinde en sık görülen üçüncü kanser türü olup, özellikle geç tanı nedeniyle yüksek mortaliteye sahiptir. Son yıllarda yapılan çalışmalar, oral mikrobiyomun bir üyesi olan Fusobacterium nucleatum'un CRC ile ilişkilendirildiğini ortaya koymuştur. Bu bakterinin adhezyon proteini fadA, konak hücrelere invazyonu kolaylaştıran ve patojenitenin temelini oluşturan önemli bir virülans faktörüdür. FadA'nın bu özelliği, onu hedefe yönelik biyomoleküler girişimler için dikkat çekici bir aday haline getirmektedir. Aptamerler, hedef moleküllere yüksek afinite ve özgüllükle bağlanabilen tek iplikli DNA/RNA molekülleridir ve antikorlara alternatif olarak önem kazanmıştır. Bu çalışmada, F. nucleatum'a ait fadA proteini için DNA aptamerlerinin geliştirilmesi hedeflendi. Aptamer seçimi için SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) yöntemi uygulandı. Bu amaçla fadA geni pET-21a(+) vektörüne klonlandı ve rekombinant protein E. coli BL21(DE3) hücrelerinde üretildi. Saflaştırma işlemi Ni-NTA afinite kromatografisi ile gerçekleştirildi. Ardından protein NHS-aktif agaroz boncuklara immobilize edilerek SELEX yöntemiyle aptamer seçimi yapıldı. Toplam 16 tur SELEX uygulandı ve her tur sonrası amplifikasyon ve lambda ekzonükleaz ile tek iplikli DNA'ya dönüşüm sağlandı. SELEX turlarının sonunda seçilen final kütüphanesi Sanger dizi analizi için hazırlandı ve sonuçlar bioinformatik araçlarla değerlendirildi.Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer type worldwide and has a high mortality rate, particularly due to late diagnosis. Recent studies have shown that Fusobacterium nucleatum, a member of the oral microbiome, is associated with CRC development. The bacterium9s adhesion protein, fadA, facilitates host cell invasion and is considered a major virulence factor contributing to pathogenicity. This property makes fadA a compelling target for molecular therapeutics. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules that bind their targets with high affinity and specificity, and have emerged as promising alternatives to antibodies in cancer research. In this study, we aimed to develop DNA aptamers targeting the FadA protein of F. nucleatum. The SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) technique was employed for aptamer selection. To this end, the fadA gene was cloned into the pET-21a(+) vector, and recombinant protein was expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells. Purification was carried out using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Subsequently, the purified protein was immobilized on NHS-active agarose beads, and SELEX was performed. A total of 16 rounds of SELEX were conducted, with each round followed by PCR amplification and conversion to single-stranded DNA using lambda exonuclease. The final library selected at the end of the SELEX rounds was prepared for Sanger sequencing, and the results were evaluated using bioinformatics tools
Factors Influencing Satisfaction, Perceived Disability and Handicap among Hearing Aid Users in the Turkish Population
No full textBackground: To examine factors influencing satisfaction, perceived disability and handicap and to in- vestigate whether satisfaction correlates with perceived disability and handicap among hearing aid (HA) users in the Turkish population. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study involving 133 patients using unilateral or bilateral HAs was conducted. Data on demographic factors, including age, gender, socioeconomic status, degree of hearing loss, HA experience, HA fitting side, daily HA usage, and HA style were collected. Satisfaction, perceived disability and handicap were assessed using the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit and the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap (AIADH), respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis was per- formed to examine factors influencing satisfaction, perceived disability and handicap. Pearson correlation test was used to assess the correlation of satisfaction with perceived disability and handicap. Results: Age, degree of hearing loss, and HA side were significant predictors of APHAB satisfaction scores, while only degree of hearing loss pre- dicted AIADH scores (p 0.05). A weak negative correlation was obtained between APHAB satisfaction scores and the AIADH disability scores among HA users (p < 0.05; r: -0.390). Conclusion: The study highlights age, degree of hearing loss, and HA side as predictive factors for HA satisfaction. Furthermore,the degree of hearing loss influences perceived disability and handicap. HA satisfaction, perceived disability and handicap did not exhibit a notable relationship among HA users. These findings underscore the importance of healthcare professionals in addressing the specific needs of individuals with HA users to enhance their overall quality of life
Staphylococcus aureus'un akciğer kanseri hücreleri üzerindeki etkileri
No full textAmaç: Kanser tedavisindeki son gelişmelere rağmen, enfeksiyonlar hala önemli bir mortalite ve morbidite nedenidir. Diğer taraftan, bazı mikroorganizmaların kanser gelişiminde önemli bir rol oynadığı artık kanıtlanmıştır. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) akciğer kanseri hastalarında sık görülen bir komplikasyondur ve enfeksiyon kaynaklı problemlerin %70'inde saptanmaktadir. Ekstraselüler bir patojen olan S. aureus'un tümör dokularında hayatta kalabildiği ve çoğalabildiği gösterilmiştir. Çalışmamızın amacı S. aureus enfeksiyon modeli oluşturmak ve akciğer kanseri ile normal bronş epitel hücreleri üzerindeki moleküler ve hücresel etkilerini araştırmaktır. Yöntem: Hücre içi enfeksiyon modeli oluşturmak için, A549 akciğer kanseri ve BEAS-2B bronşiyal epitel hücre hatları 2 saat boyunca 1:25, 1:50 ve 1:100 enfeksiyon oranında S. aureus ile enfekte edilmiştir ve ardından hücre dışı bakterileri yok etmek için 2-4 saat boyunca gentamisin ile muamele edilmiştir. Hücre içi enfeksiyon Giemsa boyama kullanılarak görüntülenmiştir. Hücre içi S. aureus yükü CFU analizi ile belirlenmiş ve daha sonra enfeksiyon indeksi hesaplanmıştır. S. aureus enfeksiyonun hücre döngüsü ve hücre ölümü üzerine etkisi akış sitometrisi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Metastatik potansiyeli değerlendirmek için migrasyon testi yapılmıştır. Kanser mekanizmasinda ve migrasyonunda rol oynayan anahtar genlerin ifade düzeyleri RT-qPCR kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Bulgular: Hücre içi S. aureus kolonileri A549 ve BEAS-2B hücre hatlarında 1:25, 1:50 ve 1:100 oranlarında gösterilmiştir. BEAS-2B hücrelerinin A549 hücrelerinden daha enfekte olduğu gözlenmiştir. Migrasyon analizi sonuçlarına göre, S. aureus ile enfekte edilen A549 hücreleri, kontrol grubuna kıyasla migrasyon kapasitesinde önemli bir artış göstermiştir. Bu bulgu, S. aureus enfeksiyonunun A549 hücrelerinde hücre migrasyonu arttırdığını göstermektedir. Hücre döngüsü analizi, enfeksiyondan 24 saat sonra G2 fazında, özellikle enfekte A549 hücrelerinin biriktiğini ortaya koymuştur. Bu sonuçlar, S. aureus enfeksiyonunun bu iki hücre hattını farklı şekilde etkilediğini göstermektedir. Dahası, RT-qPCR analizi, önemli hücresel süreçlerde yer alan genlerin ifade seviyelerinde değişiklikler olduğunu göstermiştir. Sonuç: Bu çalışma, S. aureus enfeksiyonunun akciğer epitel hücrelerinde hücre tipine özgü tepkilere neden olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. BEAS-2B hücreleri kolonizasyona daha yatkınken, A549 hücreleri artan migrasyon ve G2/M fazı durması ile birlikte temel hücresel yollarla ilişkili gen ifadesinde değişiklikler sergilemiştir. Bu bulgular, S. aureus'un hücresel düzeyde kronik enfeksiyon veya tümör progresyonu gibi patolojik süreçlere katkıda bulunabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Bu bulgular, hem kanser ilerlemesine hem de bakteriyel enfeksiyonlara karşı hedefli tedaviler geliştirmek için altta yatan mekanizmaları keşfetme ihtiyacını vurgulamaktadır.Objective: Despite recent advances in cancer treatment, infections are still a major cause of mortality and morbidity. In addition, some microorganisms have now been proven to play an important role in cancer development. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common complication in lung cancer patients and is found in 70% of infectious problems. S. aureus, an extracellular pathogen, has been shown to survive and proliferate in tumor tissues. The aim of our study was to establish an S. aureus infection model and to investigate its molecular and cellular effects on lung cancer and normal bronchial epithelial cells. Material and Methods: To establish an intracellular infection model, A549 lung cancer and BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cell lines were infected with S. aureus at 1:25, 1:50 and 1:100 infection ratio for 2 h and then treated with gentamicin for 2–4 h to eliminate extracellular bacteria. Intracellular infection was visualized using Giemsa staining. Intracellular S. aureus burden was determined by CFU analysis and then the infection index was calculated. The effect of S. aureus infection on cell cycle and cell death was analyzed using flow cytometry. Migration assay was performed to evaluate metastatic potential. Expression levels of key genes involved in cancer mechanism and migration were examined using RT-qPCR. Results: Intracellular S. aureus colonies were shown in A549 and BEAS-2B cell lines at 1:25, 1:50 and 1:100 ratios. BEAS-2B cells were observed to be more infected than A549 cells. According to the migration analysis results, A549 cells infected with S. aureus at 1:100 ratio showed a significant increase in migration capacity compared to the control group. This finding indicates that S. aureus infection increased cell migration in A549 cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that infected A549 cells accumulated especially in the G2 phase at 24 h after infection. These results indicate that S. aureus infection affects these two cell lines differently. Moreover, RT-qPCR analysis showed changes in the expression levels of genes involved in important cellular processes. Conclusion: This study reveals that S. aureus infection induces cell type-specific responses in lung epithelial cells. While BEAS-2B cells were more prone to colonization, A549 cells exhibited increased migration and G2/M phase arrest, along with changes in gene expression related to key cellular pathways. These findings suggest that S. aureus may contribute to pathological processes such as chronic infection or tumor progression, depending on the cellular context. These findings highlight the need to explore underlying mechanisms for developing targeted therapies against both cancer progression and bacterial infections
Büyük güçler rekabetinin jeopolitik sonuçları: Westland-Rusland temelinde Ukrayna-Rusya savaşı
No full textBu araştırma, yirmi birinci yüzyılda geçerlilikleri Ukrayna-Rusya savaşı ile yeniden kanıtlanan jeopolitik teoriler ışığında, savaşın yalnızca iki devlet arasında yaşanan bir çatışma değil aynı zamanda jeopolitik düzende Ukrayna coğrafyası üzerinden yürütülen bir etki alanı mücadelesi olduğunu savunmaktadır. Bu etki alanı mücadelesi ile çalışma, Ukrayna coğrafyasında geleneksel "Doğu-Batı" veya "Avrupa-Rusya" temelli coğrafi ikiliğinin ötesinde üçüncü bir analitik modelleme ile yeni kategorizasyon üzerinden Ukrayna coğrafyasındaki etki alanı mücadelesini, mekânsal güç projeksiyonları temelinde analiz etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda, Avrupa güvenli inin yanı sıra Rusya'dan gelebilecek tehditlere bariyer işlevi gören, NATO ve AB ile entegrasyon hedeflerini yansıtan, liberal ve demokratik değerlerin karşılık bulduğu "Westland" ile savaş öncesinde ve sonrasında tarihsel hakimiyet iddialarının işgal girişiminin haklılığı ile ilişkilendirdiği, Ukrayna topraklarının kimliksel ve kültürel bir uzam olarak Rus dünyasının (Russkiy Mir) ayrılmaz bir unsuru olarak içselleştirildiği, gerektiğinde nükleer silah kullanma kabiliyetinin ortaya çıkarılmasını gerektirecek varlıksal değere sahip olan "Rusland" kavramları ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında iki farklı güç bloğunun Ukrayna coğrafyasındaki etki alanı mücadelesi "Westland" ve "Rusland" kavramları üzerinden incelenerek, savaşın Ukrayna toprakları üzerindeki yansımalarını analiz edilmiştir. Analiz sonucunda ortaya çıkan gerçeklik Ukrayna'nın iki blok arasında etnik ve kimlik temelli bölünmüşlüğüne dair kanıtları ortaya koyarken; Rusya işgali ve Batı desteğinin, nüfuz alanlarının yeniden tanımlanması mücadelesinin bir parçası olduğu doğrulamaktadır. Bunun yanında Ukrayna coğrafyası üzerinden yürütülen mücadelenin salt konvansiyonel bir çatışma olmasının ötesinde jeopolitik tahayyüllerin yeniden belirlendiği yeni bir döneme işaret ettiğini göstermektedir. Sonuç itibari ile iki farklı güvenlik paradigmasının Ukrayna coğrafyası üzerinde karşı karşıya geldiği durum, Ukrayna jeopolitiğinin parçalanmışlığını göstermekle birlikte bloklar arasında norm ve tehdit algılarını birbirlerinden uzak tutacak aktif stratejik mekânların yani tampon bölge ihtiyacının karşılanmasını gerekliliğini ortaya koymaktadır. Buradan hareketle çalışmanın somut sonucu, Ukrayna coğrafyasının her iki blok açısından varlıksal bir değer taşıdığını jeopolitik temelde kanıtlamakta ve büyük güç rekabetinin Ukrayna!yı parçalanmış bir geleceğe doğru sürüklediğini ortaya koymaktadır.This research, drawing on geopolitical theories whose validity was reaffirmed by the Ukraine-Russia war in the twenty-first century, argues that the war is not merely a conflict between two states but also a struggle for spheres of influence within the geopolitical order, waged over Ukraine. This struggle for spheres of influence in Ukraine is explored through a third analytical model and new categorization, transcending the traditional "East-West" or "Europe-Russia" geographical dichotomy. This study aims to analyze the struggle for spheres of influence in Ukraine based on spatial power projections. To this end, the concepts of "Westland," which serves as a barrier against threats from Russia as well as European security, reflects the goals of integration with NATO and the EU, and embodies liberal and democratic values, are explored. The concepts of "Rusland," which, both before and after the war, linked historical claims of dominance to the justification of the occupation attempt, internalized Ukrainian territory as an integral element of the Russian world (Russkiy Mir) as an identitysharing and cultural space, and possessed an existential value that necessitated the deployment of nuclear weapons if necessary, are explored. The study examines the struggle between two different power blocs for spheres of influence in Ukraine through the concepts of "Westland" and "Rusland," analyzing the war's repercussions on Ukrainian territory. The resulting reality reveals evidence of Ukraine's ethnic and identity-based division between the two blocs, confirming that the Russian occupation and Western support are part of the struggle to redefine spheres of influence. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the struggle over Ukraine's geography goes beyond being merely a conventional conflict and signals a new era in which geopolitical imaginaries are being redefined. Ultimately, the confrontation between two different security paradigms in Ukraine demonstrates the fragmentation of Ukraine's geopolitics, while also highlighting the need for active strategic locations4buffer zones4that will distance norms and threat perceptions between the blocs. Based on this, the study's concrete findings demonstrate the geopolitical significance of Ukraine's geography for both blocs and demonstrate that great power competition is driving Ukraine toward a fragmented future
Evaluation of the Inclusion of the Seaweed Ulva lactuca Produced in an Integrated System with Biofloc in the Diet of Juvenile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus
No full textMacroalgae biomass produced in integrated biofloc systems can become a high-quality nutritional product to replace ingredients in the diet of tilapia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of Ulva lactuca on the performance and antioxidant capacity of Nile tilapia. There were four isoprotein and isolipid diets with 5%, 10%, and 15% macroalgae meal, and a control treatment without macroalgae inclusion. The experiment lasted for 42 days in a recirculating system, with animal performance, blood sampling, and proximal composition being carried out. To assess the potential benefits of including algal biomass, a salinity stress test was carried out on the fish, and samples were collected for biochemical analysis. There were no significant differences in carcass performance and composition between the treatments. The results showed that the inclusion of 10% macroalgae resulted in a higher granulocyte count, while the antioxidant capacity obtained better results in the 5 and 10% macroalgae inclusions, followed by the modulation of the antioxidant system, as evidenced by an increase in glutathione-S-transferase activity and reduced glutathione levels. However, protein and lipid oxidation did not occur only in the 5% macroalgae inclusion compared with the treatments with higher algae inclusion. Therefore, the inclusion of 5% macroalgae in the tilapia diet is indicated to improve antioxidant capacity in the face of stress. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved