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DFT, DFTB and TD-DFT theoretical investigations of p-conjugated molecules based on thieno[2,3-b] indole for dye-sensitized solar cell applications
In this study, the electrochemical, photovoltaic and absorption properties of the new designed organic sensitizers dyes: Dye-1, Dye-2, Dye-3 and Dye-4 based on Dye-R, of D-pi-A architecture, before and after binding to the TiO(2 )cluster surface on the ability to inject electrons to the surface. The D donor is the thieno[2,3-b] indole, pi-spacer is thiophene, A acceptor is cycnoacrylic acid (CA). The properties were calculated using functional density theory (DFT), time-dependent TD-DFT and the density-functional tight-binding (DFTB) approach. Our study also focused on the analysis of the effects of the introduction of the auxiliary donor (D ')/acceptor (A ') groups on the main photovoltaic properties of the reference molecule Dye-R and to study the relationship between the molecular structure and optoelectronic properties. The analysis of the calculated properties of the new designed compounds D-D '-pi-A (Dye-1), D-pi-D '-A (Dye-2), D-A '-pi-A (Dye-3) and D-pi-A '-A (Dye-4), where A ' is benzothiadiazole and D ' is 9,9-diethyl-9H-fluorene, indicate that the molecular architecture has a significant effect on various properties of the studied dyes and that nature (donor D ' or acceptor A ') of the introduced groups, as well as the choice of their locations with respect to the 7E bridge, is of great importance. Indeed, among the four designed compounds Dye-4 (D-pi-A '-A) and Dye-3 (D-A '-pi-A) display significantly better properties than those of the reference molecule Dye-R (D-pi-A) and of the two other designed dyes Dye-1 (D-D '-7E-A), Dye-2 (D-pi-D '-A)
Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of Ascosphaera apis (Maassen ex Claussen) LS Olive & Spiltoir (1955) isolates from honeybee colonies in Turkey
Ascosphaera apis (Maassen ex Claussen) Olive et Spiltoir is a causal agent of chalkbrood disease and is widely found in mainly honeybee colonies worldwide. Chalkbrood disease rarely causes colony death, but severe infections can lead to a decrease in honeybee populations and as a result, a decrease in honey production or beekeeping byproducts. Therefore, it is important to determine the distribution and prevalence of this disease agent in a certain region in terms of controlling of it. In this study, it was aimed to identify chalkbrood disease agents affecting honeybee colonies especially in beekeeping places in Turkey, to isolate and identify them using morphological and molecular methods, especially ITS gene sequencing. Morphologically, pure cultures of clinically suspected samples in terms of chalkbrood disease were created and microscopically evaluated. After that, genomic DNA isolation was performed from pure cultures to amplify ITS gene region and the resulting gene sequences were used in molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis. For this purpose, a total of 1.193 hives were randomly selected from 400 apiaries in 40 provinces throughout Turkey between 2018 and 2019. As a result, the presence of A. apis was detected in 7 hives in 2018 and 19 hives in 2019, as a result a total of 26 samples were found to be positive. Accordingly, the infection rate was determined as 2.18%. The obtained results are thought to be important in terms of determining the spread rate of A. apis and the rate of chalkbrood disease in Turkey
Evaluation of musculoskeletal adverse effects in patients on systemic isotretinoin treatment: A cross-sectional study
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the frequency of musculoskeletal adverse effects in acne vulgaris patients receiving systemic isotretinoin treatment. Patients and methods: Between January 2016 and December 2017, a total of 200 severe acne patients (22 males, 178 females; mean age: 21.8±0.4 years; range, 15 to 53 years) who were on isotretinoin treatment were retrospectively analyzed. Data including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), duration of disease, diagnosis, and comorbidities were recorded. Back pain severity was evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: The treatment period was mean 8.5±0.1 (range, 6 to 12) months. The dose of isotretinoin was mean 0.6±0.1 (range, 0.5 and 1) mg/kg. Musculoskeletal side effects were seen in 99 (49.5%) patients. Back pain was reported during the treatment period in 78 (78.7%) patients. The diagnosis was mechanical back pain in 31 (39.7%) and inflammatory back pain in 47 (60.3%) patients. The moderate-severe back pain group received higher cumulative isotretinoin doses than the mild back pain group (p=0.003). The BMI values did not show a significant difference between the patients with and without back pain (p=0.55). There was no significant correlation between the BMI and VAS scores (p=0.06). The VAS scores were found to be correlated with age (p=0.04). Sacroiliitis was diagnosed in four (4%) patients. One (1%) patient was diagnosed with enthesitis. Creatine kinase elevation was reported in 18 (18.1%) patients, while three (3%) patients described myalgia of mild severity. Conclusion: Low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal side effects of isotretinoin treatment that usually resolves with dose reduction. The cumulative dose of isotretinoin does not seem to play a role in the development of back pain, but can determine pain severity. Pain severity is directly correlated with the increasing age. Evaluation of the patients for musculoskeletal side effects during isotretinoin use is important in clinical practice, as it is a common occurrence. © 2022 Turkish League Against Rheumatism. All rights reserved
Community of Inquiry Framework: Research Trends Between 2000-2020
The current study aimed to understand the trend in the community of inquiry that many researchers have been working on for over 20 years. Within the scope of this aim, 102 studies were reviewed with regards to some variables: most preferred keywords and words in abstract, year of publication, authors, journals, geographical distribution, academic disciplines, research methods, course delivery methods, participant type, and references. The findings demonstrate that the articles reviewed were from 216 authors in 20 countries. Most of the studies were from the Social Sciences field, and the continent with the most studies was North America. Quantitative research methods were mostly preferred in the studies, and the study group of a great of majority the studies were higher education students. Finally, various recommendations were made for future research after determining gaps that exist in the current literature
The correlation between pseudoexfoliation syndrome and the Triglyceride-Glucose index
Purpose: Pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome is an age-related disease characterized by the accumulation of extracellular material in many ocular structures, skin and internal organs. Recent studies have shown that the Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) index has clinical importance for the evaluation of vascular damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between PEX syndrome and TyG index, and to detect the risk in terms of vascular diseases. Methods: In the present study, 50 patients with PEX syndrome who were admitted to the ophthalmology outpatient clinic were evaluated along with 50 others who made up the control group. The Triglyceride-Glucose index was calculated with fasting plasma glucose and triglyceride values. Results: The mean age was 68.2 ± 1.2 years and 61.0% of the patients were male. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of blood sugar and lipid profile (except triglyceride) (p > 0.05). The TyG index value was 8.9 ± 0.5 in the PEX group and 8.6 ± 0.6 in the control group. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.003). In univariate regression analysis, TyG index (OR = 2.81; CI: 1.37–5.75; p = 0.005) was found to be correlated with PEX. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, this correlation remained statistically significant when adjusted for age and sex (OR = 2.89; CI: 1.35–6.18; p = 0.006). Conclusion: Results showed that the TyG index was high in patients diagnosed with PEX. The risk of vascular diseases can be determined by examining the TyG index in patients with PEX, and this predetermination would have significant consequences for public health. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
Genetic transformation of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) through Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying Cry1Ab gene
Background: Seed beetles are one of the most important causes of yield loss in bean production. It is essential to develop resistant varieties in the fight against these pests. Agrobacterium-based gene transformation is the most widely used breeding method worldwide to develop insect-resistant varieties. Methods and results: Embryonic axes and plumule explants were obtained from Agrobacterium tumefciens treated mature zygotic embryos of low and high raw protein-based common bean cultivars Akman 98 and Karacaşehir 90. Agrobacterium tumefaciens contained a synthetic Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crystal protein gene (Bt Cry1Ab) controlled by the 35S promoter and NOS terminator sequences. The transformation event was genotype and explant dependent. The plumule explants could not withstand kanamycin-based selection pressure and died. It was possible to get two transgenic plants using embryonic axis explants of low protein cultivar Akman 98. These results were validated using GUS analysis, PCR, RT-PCR, bioassay analysis, and ELISA test from the samples taken from T0 and T1 generations. Bioassay tests showed that these plants were protected from the damage of legume seed insects (Bruchus spp.). Conclusions: The results are very encouraging and may help in producing better transgenic common bean germplasm leading to safe agriculture and reducing environmental pollutions. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V
The future impact of climate and land-use changes on Anatolian ground squirrels under different scenarios
Climate and land-use changes are among the most important drivers of biodiversity loss and, moreover, their impacts on biodiversity are expected to increase further in the 21st century. In this study, the future impact of climate and land-use changes on Anatolian ground squirrels (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus) was assessed. Accordingly, a hierarchical approach with two steps was used. First, ecological niche modelling was used to assess the impact of climate change in areas accessible to Anatolian ground squirrels through dispersal (i.e. the impact of climate change). Second, based on the habitat preferences of ground squirrels, land-use data were used to assess the impact of land-use change in suitable bioclimatic areas for Anatolian ground squirrels under present and future conditions (i.e. the combined impact of both changes). Also, priority areas for the conservation of Anatolian ground squirrels were identified based on in-situ climate change refugia. This study represents a first attempt to combine niche modelling and land-use data for a species in Anatolia, one of the most vulnerable regions to the drivers of biodiversity loss, because it is the region where three of biodiversity hotspots meet, and interact. Habitat suitability (i.e. suitable habitats across suitable bioclimatic areas) was projected to decline by 19-69% in the future (depending on the scenario), mainly due to the loss of suitable bioclimatic areas (47-77%, depending on the scenario) at lower elevations and in the western part of the central Anatolia and in the eastern Anatolia, suggesting that Anatolian ground squirrels will contract their range in the future, mainly due to climate change. Thus, in-situ climate change refugia were projected mainly in the eastern and southeastern parts of the central Anatolia, suggesting these regions as priority areas for the conservation of Anatolian ground squirrels
Echocardiographic evaluation from a different perspective in asthmatic patients
Echocardiographic evaluation from a different perspective in asthmatic patients
Introduction: It is known that there is a complex interaction between asthma and cardiovascular physiology. Some investigations on echocardiography and electrocardiography (ECG) in asthmatic patients have revealed many findings such as pulmonary hypertension (PHT) and arrhythmia. In this study, we aimed to perform tissue Doppler imaging (TDIE) and conventional echocardiographic (CEI) assessment with many indexes of arrhythmia on electrocardiography (ECG) in asthmatic patients.
Materials and Methods: A total of 89 patients, 63 females (70.8%) and 26 males (29.2%), were included in this study. Patients were divided into three groups, and then each group was separated in two groups as mild-moderate and severe asthma.Results: There was no difference among groups with respect to age, sex and anthropometric data. There was no difference between the groups with respect to indexes of arrhythmia on ECG (p> 0.05). Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE), tricuspid annular alane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and both ventricular diastolic velocities on CEI were similar between the groups, except for left ventricular A wave velocity which was higher in severe asthmatic patients (p 0.05).Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be suggested that LA mechanical functions and intra-atrial LA electromechanical durations were impaired in severe asthmatic patients
Dataset of pollination traits in Fabales
The data presented in this paper is supporting the research article “Reconstructing an historical pollination syndrome: keel flowers” (Aygören Uluer et al., 2022). We present a dataset containing information on number of species, geographic distribution, floral type (keeled or not), presence or absence of fused petals, floral symmetry, presence or absence of a pentamerous corolla (petals+petaloid sepals in Polygalaceae), androecium type, presence or absence of enclosed reproductive organs, presence or absence of three distinct petal types (petals+ petaloid sepals in Polygalaceae), flower size, corolla size (i.e., in open flower) and/or filament size (i.e., entire filament size particularly in subfamily Caesalpinioideae), flower colour, UV reflectance, habit, height, inflorescence type and inflorescence size for 758 Fabales genera. The information was obtained from hundreds of appropriate, previously published sources. This the largest morphological dataset constructed for Fabales to date, and the data presented in this article can be used for morphology, biogeography, ancestral state, ancestral area analyses of any Fabales clades. © 202
The Relationship between the Hamstring-to-Quadriceps Ratio and Jumping and Sprinting Abilities of Young Male Soccer Players
The correct torque ratio between the knee joint extensor and flexor muscle groups can effectively prevent injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament and hamstring strain. However, it is unclear whether a high torque ratio of the knee joint flexor muscles to the extensor muscles is beneficial for sport performance. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the hamstring-to-quadriceps (H/Q) ratio and sprint times (10-and 30-m) and jump heights (CMJ—countermovement jump and SJ—squat jump) in soccer players. The study examined 26 young elite soccer players (age: 18.1 ± 0.7 years; body height: 1.77 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 72.7 ± 5.7 kg). Knee joint flexor and extensor peak torques were assessed using the Cybex dynamometer (at 60◦/s, 120◦/s and 180◦/s). Additionally, each participant performed the CMJ, SJ, and 30 m sprint. A significant relationship was obtained between the H/Q ratio (60◦/s) and 30 m sprint time (r = 0.47). The positive direction of this relationship may indicate an important role of knee joint extensors in sprinting performance. Moreover, the H/Q ratio was not significantly associated with the CMJ, SJ or 10 m sprint performance. The H/Q ratio should be considered together with the peak torque values in terms of the assessment of sprinting and jumping performance. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland