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Analysis of torsional vibration in viscoelastic functionally graded nanotubes with viscoelastic constraints using doublet mechanics theory
No full textIn this study, the torsional vibration behavior of functionally graded viscoelastic nanotubes under viscoelastic boundary conditions is investigated in detail within the framework of Doublet Mechanics Theory. A comprehensive solution method is presented that allows the combined consideration of nanoscale effects and viscoelastic behavior; the effects of fundamental parameters such as viscous damping parameter, scale parameter and power law exponent on the system dynamics are analytically revealed. Physical interpretations of both vibration frequencies and damping effects are made from the obtained complex frequency solutions, and the effects of these parameters on the frequency spectrum are analyzed in detail with the help of tables and graphs. The results clearly indicate that classical elastic models are inadequate for the torsional vibration behavior of viscoelastic nanotubes and damping effects at the nano level should not be ignored. Furthermore, it is displayed that there are clear mathematical relationships between the real and imaginary components of the complex frequencies obtained in the system under the direct influence of the viscoelastic model used. In this context, the study makes an important contribution not only theoretically but also in terms of practical applications for the design of nano-mechanical systems
Thermodynamic assessment of a desalination system integrated with combined cycle power plant via throttling process by using a vapour compressor
No full textThis study aims to conduct a thermodynamic analysis of desalination system integrated with combined cycle power plant (CCPP), with a focus on the throttling process method combined with a steam compressor, the influence of pinch point temperature difference (PPTD) on distilled water production (specific aquadest production/SAP) and specific energy consumption (SEC). Reducing condenser pressure from 10.89 to 8.43 kPa and PPTD of 10 can increase steam turbine power by 2.18% and allow the wastewater temperature to drop to 32.5 degrees C. At a throttle valve pressure of 2.65 kPa and a mass release of water into the sea of 99.5%, steam can be condensed into distilled water with a SEC value of -1,423.36 kJ/kg with a SAP value of 3.63 kg/s under optimal conditions. In addition, a lower PPTD allows the condenser to convert vapour into liquid more efficiently due to the smaller temperature difference, resulting in more effective heat transfer
Comparison of the effects of Aloe vera solutions administered intra-abdominally at different concentrations on postoperative adhesion development in rats
No full textSıçanlarda peritoneal adezyon modeli oluşturulan bu deneysel çalışmada, farklı konsantrasyonlarda hazırlanarak intraabdominal uygulanacak Aloe vera solüsyonlarının postoperatif intraabdominal adezyon gelişimini önleme üzerine etkisinin makroskopik ve histopatolojik yönden değerlendirilmesi, ayrıca moleküler düzeyde görev alan hücre adezyon moleküllerinden E-selectin, ICAM-1 ve VCAM-1 ile bir inflamasyon belirteci olan C-reaktif protein salınımlarına olan etkisinin araştırılması amaçlandı. Çalışmamızda denek olarak kullanılan toplam 48 adet Sprague Dawley ırkı rat, her grupta 8 denek olacak şekilde 6 gruba (kontrol, %7,5 İkodekstrin, %0,9 NaCl, %2,5 Aloe vera, %5 Aloe vera, %10 Aloe vera) ayrıldı. Sevofluran ile anesteziye alınan tüm deneklerde preoperatif hazırlığın ardından, laparotomi sonrası sekotomi ve peritoneal abrazyon (1x1 cm’lik bir alan) işlemi uygulandı. İşlem yapılan alanlara ait olduğu gruba göre %7,5 ikodekstrin, %0,9 NaCl, taze olarak konsantrasyonuna uygun hazırlanan Aloe vera solüsyonları 2 ml intraabdominal olarak uygulandı ve batın usulüne uygun şekilde kapatıldı. Kontrol grubu denekleri sadece kan örneği temini ve sağlıklı periton ile cecum’un antimezenterik kısmından doku kesiti almak için kullanıldı. Tüm deneklere 14. günde yüksek doz anestezik madde inhalasyonu ile ötenazi işlemi uygulandı. Ötenazi sonrası, abdomende ters “U” şeklinde ensizyon yapılarak intraabdominal sahaya ulaşıldı. Makroskobik olarak sekotomi yapılan alan, ensizyon bölgesi ve peritoneal abrazyon bölgeleri adezyon şiddeti için Knightly sınıflandırması ve adezyon yaygınlığı için, Linsky sınıflandırması ile kör şekilde değerlendirildi. Histopatolojik değerlendirme için tüm deneklerde periton ve cecum’dan elde edilen doku örnekleri, hematoksilen-eosin ile boyanıp incelendi. Boyanmış cecum, periton ve adezyon bölgeleri ışık mikroskobu altında hiperemi, ödem, hücre infiltrasyonu, damar sayısı, fibroblast aktivite skoru, kollajen oluşumu, batın dikiş hattında şekillenen adezyon oluşumu açısından değerlendirildi. Kardiyak alınan kandan elde edilen serum örnekleri ELISA kitleri ile serolojik olarak değerlendirilerek, E-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, ve C-reaktif protein düzeyleri belirlendi. Makroskopik, mikroskobik ve serolojik tüm verilerin karşılaştırılmasında “Kruskal-Wallis varyans analizi” yöntemi kullanıldı. Post-hoc karşılaştırmalarda “Dunn-Bonferroni testi” uygulandı. İstatistiksel analizlerde anlamlılık düzeyi olarak p<0,05 alındı. Makroskobik değerlendirmede Knightly sınıflandırmasına göre makroskobik olarak adezyon şiddeti skorlaması (p= 0,928) ve total adezyon skoru (p= 0,520) açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık bulunamadı. Linsky adezyon yaygınlık skorlamasına göre yapılan değerlendirmede ise, gruplar arasındaki farklılık istatistiki olarak anlamlı bulundu (p= 0,026). Mikroskobik değerlendirmede hiperemi yönünden gruplar arasındaki istatistiki fark anlamlı bulundu (p= 0,049). Yapılan ikili karşılaştırmada, bu farkın izotonik grubu ile %2,5 (p= 0,015), %5 (p= 0,015) ve %10 (p= 0,021) Aloe vera grupları arasında olduğu saptandı. İncelenen kriterlerden biri olan ödem açısından belirlenen istatistiki farkın (p= 0,026), %2,5 ve %10 Aloe vera grupları arasında olduğu belirlendi (p= 0,019). Hücre infiltrasyonu açısından yapılan değerlendirmede gruplar arasında belirlenen istatistiki farkın (p= 0,033), ikili karşılaştırmada izotonik grubu ile %5 (p= 0,038) ve %10 Aloe vera (p= 0,015) grupları arasında olduğu belirlendi. Damar sayısı açısından gruplar arasında belirlenen istatistiki farkın (p= 0,022), yapılan ikili karşılaştırmada izotonik grubu ile %2,5 (p= 0,010) ve %5 (p= 0,005) Aloe vera grupları arasında olduğu saptandı. Fibroblast aktivite skoru (p= 0,547) açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı istatistiki bir fark belirlenmedi. Kollajen düzeyi incelendiğinde istatistiki olarak anlamlı farkın (p= 0,035), ikili karşılaştırmalarda ikodekstrin ve %2,5 Aloe vera grubu arasında (p= 0,010), ayrıca %2,5 ve %5 Aloe vera grupları (p= 0,021) arasında bulunduğu belirlendi. Batına ait dikiş hattının adezyon şiddeti yönünden mikroskobik incelenmesinde gruplar arasında istatistiki bir fark belirlenemedi (p= 0,344). Serolojik inceleme sonucunda; E-selectin değerinin gruplar arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılık gösterdiği belirlendi (p= 0,034). Bonferroni düzeltmeli anlamlılık düzeyine (α= 0.003) göre ikili grup karşılaştırma sonuçlarından sadece %2,5 konsantrasyonda hazırlanan Aloe vera grubu ile %10 konsantrasyonda hazırlanan Aloe vera grubu arasındaki farkın anlamlı olduğu bulunmuştur. ICAM-1 (p= 0,068) ve VCAM-1 (p= 0,659) değerleri için karşılaştırılan gruplar arasında istatistiki açıdan anlamlı farklılık bulunamadı. CRP için iki kez farklı kit ile değerlendirme yapılmasına rağmen gruplara ait herhangi bir veri elde edilemedi. Elde edilen tüm veriler ışığında yapılan değerlendirmede adezyon şiddeti ve total adezyon skorunda gruplar arasında fark görülmemesi ile birlikte Aloe vera’nın pozitif kontrol grubu olan ikodekstrin’e yakın değerler sunabildiği, ayrıca hiperemi ve hücre infiltrasyonu sonuçlarının izotonik grubundan farklılık göstermesi ile Aloe vera’dan hazırlanan taze solüsyonların batın içerisinde yangıyı baskılayarak adezyon gelişimini azalttığı sonucuna varılmıştır. E-selectin düzeyinin, yoğunluğu artan Aloe vera solüsyonu kullanıldığında daha düşük olması anlamlı bulunmuştur.In this experimental study, in which a peritoneal adhesion model was created in rats, it was aimed to evaluate the macroscopic and histopathological effects of Aloe vera solutions prepared at different concentrations and applied intraabdominally on preventing the development of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions, and also to investigate their impact on the release of E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, which are cell adhesion molecules acting at the molecular level, and C-reactive protein, which is an inflammation marker. A total of 48 Sprague Dawley rats were used as subjects in our study and were divided into six groups of eight rats (control, 7.5% Icodextrin, 0.9% NaCl, 2.5% Aloe vera, 5% Aloe vera, and 10% Aloe vera). All rats were anesthetized with sevoflurane and, after preoperative preparation, underwent laparotomy and peritoneal abrasion (1x1 cm). Freshly prepared Aloe vera solutions, 7.5% icodextrin, and 0.9% NaCl were applied by 2 ml intra-abdominally to the treated areas. The abdomen was closed appropriately. The control rats were used only for blood sampling and tissue sectioning from the healthy peritoneum and the antimesenteric portion of the cecum. All subjects were euthanized on day 14 with high-dose anesthetic inhalation. After euthanasia, an inverted "U"-shaped incision was made in the abdomen to access the intra-abdominal area. Macroscopically, the cecotomy area, the incision site, and peritoneal abrasion sites were assessed in a blinded manner using the Knightly classification for adhesion severity and the Linsky classification for adhesion extent. For histopathological evaluation, tissue samples obtained from the peritoneum and cecum of all subjects were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and examined. The stained cecum, peritoneum, and adhesion areas were evaluated under a light microscope for hyperemia, edema, cell infiltration, vessel count, fibroblast activity score, collagen formation, adhesion formation at the abdominal suture line. Serum samples obtained from cardiac blood samples were serologically evaluated using ELISA kits, and Eselectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and C-reactive protein levels were determined. The Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance was used to compare all macroscopic, microscopic, and serological data. The Dunn-Bonferroni test was used for post-hoc comparisons. P<0.05 was considered the significance level for statistical analyses. In macroscopic evaluation, no statistically significant difference was found in macroscopic adhesion severity scoring (p= 0.928) and total adhesion score (p= 0.520) according to the Knightly classification. In the evaluation based on the Linsky adhesion extent scoring, the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p= 0.026). In microscopic evaluation, a statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of hyperemia (p= 0.049). Pairwise comparisons revealed that this difference was between the isotonic group and the 2.5% (p= 0.015), 5% (p= 0.015), and 10% (p= 0.021) Aloe vera groups. The statistical difference in edema, one of the criteria examined (p= 0.026), was found to be between the 2.5% and 10% Aloe vera groups (p= 0.019). In the evaluation made in terms of cell infiltration, it was determined that the statistical difference determined between the groups (p= 0.033) was between the isotonic group and 5% (p= 0.038) and 10% (p= 0.015) Aloe vera groups in pairwise comparisons. The statistical difference determined between the groups in terms of vessel number (p= 0.022) was found to be between the isotonic group and the 2.5% (p= 0.010) and 5% (p= 0.005) Aloe vera groups in pairwise comparisons. Among the criteria examined, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups regarding fibroblast activity score (p= 0.547). When the collagen level was examined, it was determined that the difference was statistically significant (p= 0.035). In pairwise comparisons, there was a difference between the icodextrin and 2.5% Aloe vera groups (p= 0.010) and between the 2.5% and 5% Aloe vera groups (p= 0.021). Microscopic examination of the abdominal suture line revealed no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding adhesion severity (p= 0.344). Serological examination revealed a statistically significant difference in E-selectin levels between the groups (p= 0.034). According to the Bonferroni-corrected significance level (α= 0.003), only the difference between the 2.5% and 10% Aloe vera groups was found to be significant among the two groups compared. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups for ICAM-1 (p= 0.068) and VCAM-1 (p= 0.659) values. Despite two separate CRP assessments using different kits, no data were obtained for the groups. Based on all the data obtained, the evaluation revealed no difference between the groups in adhesion severity and total adhesion score. Aloe vera provided values similar to the positive control group, icodextrin. Furthermore, hyperemia and cell infiltration results differed from the isotonic group. It was concluded that fresh solutions prepared from Aloe vera suppressed inflammation in the abdomen and reduced adhesion development. The lower E-selectin levels found with the higher concentration of Aloe vera solution were significant
Photovoltaic-supported battery charger system with low-side two-switch based buck-boost converter for electric vehicles
No full textThis study presents the design and performance evaluation of a photovoltaic (PV)-supported battery charger system utilizing a low-side two-switch buck-boost converter for electric vehicles. The proposed system aims to address the increasing demand for environmentally friendly and efficient battery charging solutions that reduce dependency on fossil fuels and grid electricity. By integrating a PV system with the charger, the system harnesses solar energy to charge electric vehicle batteries, thus offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to grid-dependent charging. The innovation lies in the use of a two-switch buck-boost converter, which simplifies the power conversion process by employing only one inductor and one capacitor, thereby reducing the overall size and cost of the system. The converter operates efficiently in both buck and boost modes, accommodating varying input voltages from the PV panels and ensuring optimal charging conditions for different battery types in the ratings of 72 V and 200 V nominal operating values. Extensive simulations in Matlab/Simulink demonstrate the system's capability to maintain stable and efficient operation under diverse irradiance (200-1000 ∼W/m2 ) and temperature (25-32° C) conditions. The results validate the system's effectiveness in managing PV power and delivering reliable battery charging, as evidenced by improved state of charge and voltage levels in the batteries. As a result, the PVsupported battery charger system with a two-switch buck-boost converter is a robust and efficient solution for sustainable electric vehicle charging, highlighting its potential for realworld applications and further optimization
Treatment of experimental arthritis with tolerance inducing dendritic cells obtained by gene modification
No full textRomatoid artrit (RA) otoimmün bir hastalıktır ve eklemlerde kronik ağrı ve ilerleyici deformitelere neden olur. Genetik eğilim ve çevresel faktörler hastalığın nasıl ortaya çıktığını büyük ölçüde etkiler. Günümüzde RA tedavisinde kullanılan geleneksel ilaçlara ek olarak TNF-α gibi biyolojik ajanlar hastalığın seyrini değiştirebilir. Bu tedavilere rağmen hastaların büyük bir kısmında tedaviye yanıtsızlık, ilaçlara karşı direnç gelişimi ve ciddi yan etkiler görülmektedir. Özellikle biyolojik ilaçların sistemik olarak yüksek dozlarda uygulanması ve sık enjeksiyonlar gerekliliği nedeniyle, tedavi maliyetleri artmakta ve hasta yaşam kalitesi olumsuz etkilenmektedir. RA tedavisinde yeni nesil hücre temelli terapötik yaklaşımlara ihtiyaç vardır. Bu tez, genetik olarak modifiye edilerek toleran hale getirilmiş dendritik hücrelerin (DH) kullanıldığı yeni bir hücresel tedavi yaklaşımının RA modeli üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektedir. Bu amaçla, üç farklı genetik modifikasyon yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Bu genetik modifikasyonlar ile (1) yüksek oranda IDO eksprese eden DH’ler, (2) CTLA4- KDEL füzyon proteini içeren vektör ile transfekte edilmiş DH’ler ve (3) CD80/CD86 ekspresyonu baskılanmış ve IDO overekspresyonu içeren kombinasyon vektörüyle modifiye edilmiş DH’ler elde edilmiş ve kolajen ile indüklenerek (CIA) model oluşturmuş farelere enjeksiyon yapılmıştır. Tedavi uygulanan hayvanlarda klinik artrit skorları kaydedilmiştir ve eklem dokularından histopatolojik incelemeler yapılmıştır. ELISA ve akım sitometrisi testleri, IDO ekspresyonunun arttığını ve CD80/CD86 yüzey ekspresyonunun önemli ölçüde azaltıldığını göstermiştir. DH uygulamasının hayvanların kaliper ölçümleri ile birlikte klinik skorlarında azalmayı sağladığı ve histopatolojik incelemelerde eklemdeki iltihaplanmayı azalttığını ayrıca doku hasarını azalttığını göstermiştir. Ek olarak, primer DH’lere genetik transdüksiyonun literatürde belirtilen ortalama verimliliklerden çok daha başarılı şekilde uygulandığı gösterilmiştir. Bu çalışma, literatürde çoğunlukla DBA/1 fareleri kullanılarak geliştirilen CIA modelinin aksine, özgün bir şekilde C57BL/6 – BALB/C farelerinde CIA modelini oluşturarak değerlendirmeleri gerçekleştirilmiştir.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that leads to chronic pain and progressive joint deformities. Both genetic predisposition and environmental factors play a key role in disease onset and progression. While conventional therapies are used in RA management, biological agents such as TNF-α have been shown to modify disease course. Nevertheless, a considerable proportion of patients still experience resistance to treatment, development of drug resistance, and severe side effects. Moreover, the need for frequent injections and systemic administration of high-dose biologics increases treatment costs and adversely affects quality of life. These limitations highlight the need for novel cell-based therapeutic strategies in RA. This thesis focuses on the therapeutic potential of genetically modified dendritic cells (DCs) engineered to acquire tolerogenic properties. Three genetic modification strategies were employed: (1) DCs overexpressing IDO; (2) DCs transduced with a CTLA4-KDEL fusion protein; and (3) DCs engineered to simultaneously suppress CD80/CD86 expression while enhancing IDO expression. Tolerized DCs were locally administered to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice using lentiviral vectors. Clinical arthritis scores were monitored, and histopathological analyses of joint tissues were conducted. ELISA and flow cytometry confirmed increased IDO expression and reduced CD80/CD86 surface levels. Administration of modified DCs significantly decreased clinical scores and caliper measurements, suppressed joint inflammation, and limited tissue damage demonstrated by histopathological evolation. Furthermore, genetic transduction of primary DCs was achieved with higher efficiency compared to most reports in the literature. Unlike traditional CIA models predominantly using DBA/1 mice, this study uniquely established and evaluated the CIA model in C57BL/6–BALB/c mice
Artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence and research integrity: A hybrid systemic review
No full textCurrent advances in academic research stem from two main sources: artificial intelligence technologies and the specific field of generative artificial intelligence. However, the ethical use of these technologies and their implications for academic integrity has not been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, this research examines the ethical use of artificial intelligence technologies and Generative Artificial Intelligence in academic research. It focuses on the current field conditions, detection of research trends, and critical gaps. The study uses a combination of bibliometric and thematic content analysis methods to examine the methodological framework of AI, GenAI, and academic integrity from an interdisciplinary perspective. The research reveals that GenAI integration speed has accelerated across all research stages, including academic writing, literature review, data analysis, and hypothesis development. The study also identifies risks such as biased algorithms, plagiarism risk, false information production, and potential damage to academic integrity. The research ethics approaches developed by academic institutions and journals have not reached maturity in the context of AI. Future research on GenAI within academic processes requires forming ethical principles integrated with oversight systems and policy frameworks
Comparative analysis of optimum thermal management systems for battery modules comprising 32700 and 18650 LFP cells at equivalent power capacity level
No full textThis study evaluates the immersion cooling performance of optimized modules consisting of forty-five 1.6 Ah 18650 cells and twelve 6 Ah 32700 LFP cells (total 230.4 Wh), using the corner-enhanced Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS)-Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) optimization under varying C-rates and flow rates based on thermal–flow criteria. A validated single-cell model provides the basis for module-level simulations. The results indicate that the optimized 18650 module achieves an 88.08 % reduction in pressure drop compared to its base design, accompanied by a slight increase in average temperature. The optimized 32700 module exhibits an 84.66 % decrease in pressure drop and provides a more uniform temperature distribution, despite a modest temperature rise. When compared directly, the 18650 module manages heat more effectively, while the 32700 module stands out with lower pressure losses and a smaller volume for the same power capacity. Under a 4C discharge rate and 0.1 kg/s flow rate, the average temperature in the optimized 18650 module reaches 303.18 K, whereas it stabilizes at 302.54 K under 1C and 0.001 kg/s. Corresponding pressure drops are 143.39 Pa and 1 Pa, respectively. For the optimized 32700 module, the average temperature under 4C and 0.1 kg/s is 307.03 K, decreasing to 304.11 K at 1C and 0.001 kg/s. Pressure drop values for this module are obtained as 64.73 Pa at 0.1 kg/s and 0.48 Pa at 0.001 kg/s. The findings confirm that cell and optimized design influence thermal behavior and flow resistance in immersion-cooled battery modules
Evaluation of β-thalassemias in the premarital hemoglobinopathy screening program: A retrospective study
No full textObjective: To retrospectively evaluate B-thalassemias in the premarital hemoglobinopathy screening program in primary care. Methods: The retrospective study was carried out in Bursa Uludag University Family Health Center in Turkey between 1-30 September 2023. In the study, the data of individuals who applied to the Family Health Center for premarital health examination within the four years between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2022, were taken from the database and evaluated retrospectively. Family history of hemoglobinopathy, sociodemographic findings, existing diseases, allergies, cancer, and genetic disease conditions were obtained. Complete blood count, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results were examined. P-values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Analyzes were made in the SPSS 25.0 program. Results: A total of 327 people, 171 men (52.3%) and 156 (47.7%) women, participated in the study. It was determined that the age of the individuals was 30.17 +/- 6.16. The average Mentzer index levels were found to be 12.95 +/- 4.56. Places of birth are Mediterranean with 8.3% and other regions with 91.7%. B-thalassemia type detected in family medicine was suspected with a rate of 1.5% and carrier with a rate of 0.6%. The rate of patients referred to a hematologist was found to be 2.1%. The rate of patients with a definitive diagnosis was determined as 1.8%. It was determined that B-thalassemia definitive diagnosis rates were higher in groups whose place of birth was the Mediterranean region, with a family history of thalassemia, with a diagnosis of cancer, and with a genetic, allergic, and chronic disease diagnosis (p=0.01). Conclusion: Although it is not located in the Mediterranean region, the high prevalence of B-thalassemia in our population and its relationship with diseases are important. We emphasize the importance of a premarital screening program for the diagnosis of B-thalassemia due to its increasing frequency and complications in the globalizing world
Chemical composition, in vitro and in silico biological activities of nepeta sorgerae
No full textThe aim of this study was to analyze phytochemical contents of Nepeta sorgerae (endemic), to evaluate biological activities corroborated by in silico studies and to present an updated overview revealing its pharmacokinetic properties by ADMET. The essential oil was analysed by GC-MS, revealing a significant presence of phenol (25.04%) and linalool (20.53%). It was determined that the methanol extract showed strong biological activities compared to other extracts. The extract was subjected to quantitative analysis using HPLC-DAD to determine the amounts of phenolic acids (quinic, vanillic, chlorogenic, tannic, syringic, rosmarinic, p-coumaric, 2-hydroxycinnamic and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids) and flavonoid (hesperidin) components. Major compounds 2-hydroxycinnamic acid (19.279 +/- 3.25 mu g analyte/mg extract), quinic acid (15.044 +/- 2.456 mu g analyte/mg extract) and p-coumaric acid (10.213 +/- 0.20 mu g analyte/mg extract) were determined in the methanol extract. According to agar well diffusion and microdilution tests, the extracts had inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans. Docking studies indicated that the tested molecules exhibited similar or greater binding energy values compared to positive controls at all targets, ranging from -6.7 kcal mol-1 to -4.7 kcal mol-1. It was determined that not all compounds showed AMES toxicity (in vitro genetic toxicology) and hepatotoxicity
A palynological perspective on a cave: Does pollen content differ in guano deposits within?
No full textCaves formed in some karst regions are important places where bat guano deposits containing abundant and well-presented pollen can be found. These guano deposits reflect the regional vegetation and have the potential to contribute to the reconstruction of paleovegetation by palynology. However, the exact mechanisms by which this pollen accumulation occurs and which factors affect it are not yet clear. This study pioneers the analysis of palynological data derived from annual guano accumulation, shedding light on how pollen distribution may take place in the cave from NW Turkey. In guano samples collected from various parts of the cave; notably, Quercus, Pinus, Poaceae, Cupressaceae/Taxaceae, Pistacia, Cuscuta, Silene, Fraxinus, Primula, Olea, and Abies emerged as the primary pollen components in the guano. The majority of the taxa represented in guano samples consist of pollen grains belonging to anemophilous plants; however, pollen belonging to entomophilous taxa in guano were much more abundant than those found in the atmosphere. The observed variations in total numbers and statistically significant differences among pollen types between sampling stations in the cave indicate that pollen ratios and distributions in the guano differ within the cave. Although palynological studies in cave guano sediments are quite limited, this study emphasizes the need to change the perspective on the sampling pattern within the cave. Therefore, further research in this area is essential