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A participatory design model for children to create natural playgrounds in kindergartens
No full textParticipatory studies become crucial in designing kindergarten spaces with children's needs. The aim of this article is to present a participatory natural playground design model for kindergarten children, outlining the stages and techniques of the design process through a case study conducted in T & uuml;rkiye. The unique aspect of the model is that it enables five-year-old kindergarten children to be the main actors in the design process. The study is based on a scientific research project conducted in collaboration with 20 five-year-old children from Bursa Uludag University Kindergarten. A five-stage model was developed, incorporating workshops that utilized various techniques. To evaluate the case study, observations of children's behaviors during the workshops were conducted, along with interviews with both the children and their teachers about the process. As a result of implementing the model, a natural playground design proposal reflecting the collective ideas of the children was successfully created. The model contributed to children in terms of fostering an interest in design practice, solving a site-specific design problem, effectively utilizing design techniques, successfully conducting and completing a participatory design process. In this context, the model appears to be both feasible and implementable, offering a participatory natural playground design process that can be adapted to various kindergarten settings
Evaluating progressive collapse in multi-story buildings: Influence of slabs and building height
No full textThe loss of a load-bearing element, in a building can occur due to various factors and may trigger progressive collapse. The partial collapse of the Ronan Point Apartment in 1968 greatly increased awareness of progressive collapse, which is reflected in the growing number of related publications. This study investigates the progressive collapse behavior of multi-story buildings with and without slabs. In the models without slabs, the load that is expected to be transferred from the slabs to the beams was externally applied to the beams. Additionally, the study considers five different building heights, and evaluates the results based on UFC guidelines. More than 240 removal scenarios, covering six different locations on the building plan and varying story heights, were simulated using the ELS software. The results show that as the number of stories increases, displacements due to column removal generally decrease. Buildings designed to withstand seismic forces demonstrated efficient resistance to progressive collapse, with no significant plastic rotations observed, provided the slab contribution was included in the model. In contrast, models without slabs experienced collapse in all scenarios. This study highlights the importance of including slab contributions in simulations, as neglecting them can lead to inaccurate results. Furthermore, after the loss of a column, initial failure was often observed at the end of the top reinforcement in the beams connected to the removed column. By extending the length of the top reinforcement in the beams, the location of the initial failure shifts to the face of the adjacent column
Chondroprotective effects of ozone and hyaluronic acid in rat knee osteoarthritis: Comparison of intra-articular and systemic administration
No full textThis study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of intra-articular (i.a.) ozone, hyaluronic acid (HA), their combination (ozone-HA), and systemic (intraperitoneal, i.p.) ozone in a rat model of surgically induced knee osteoarthritis (OA). OA was induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection in 60 female Sprague Dawley rats randomized into six groups: i.a. control (saline), i.a. HA, i.a. ozone, i.a. ozone-HA, i.p. control, and i.p. ozone. Treatments were administered weekly for five weeks, starting on day 14 post-surgery. Therapeutic outcomes were assessed using computed tomography, histopathological scoring (Modified Mankin, cartilage degeneration, and matrix loss width), immunohistochemistry (type II collagen, MMP-13), and serum TNF-alpha levels. At week eight, CT imaging revealed reduced structural damage in the i.a. ozone-HA group. The i.a. ozone-HA group had the lowest Modified Mankin score, significantly lower than the i.a. control (p < 0.001) and i.p. control (p = 0.007) groups. Cartilage matrix loss was significantly reduced in treated groups, particularly in the superficial zone (p = 0.010). Cartilage degeneration scores in the Z1 region were significantly improved in the i.a. ozone (p = 0.011) and i.a. ozone-HA (p = 0.004) groups compared to i.a. control. Additionally, type II collagen expression was significantly enhanced in both i.a. ozone and ozone-HA groups (p = 0.010). These results indicate that intraarticular ozone, particularly combined with HA, offers superior chondroprotective and regenerative effects compared to HA alone or systemic ozone, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic approach for early-stage osteoarthritis in veterinary medicine
Genomics in pancreas–kidney transplantation: from assessing risks to tailoring personalized treatments
No full textBackground: Pancreas and pancreas–kidney transplantation are well-established therapeutic options for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), offering the potential to restore endogenous insulin production and kidney function. It improves metabolic control, quality of life, and long-term survival. While surgical techniques and immunosuppressive strategies have advanced considerably, graft rejection and limited long-term graft survival remain significant clinical challenges. Method: To better understand these risks, the genetic and immunological factors that influence transplant outcomes are examined. Beyond traditional human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching, non-HLA genetic variants such as gene deletions and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have emerged as contributors to alloimmune activation and graft failure. Result: Polymorphisms in cytokine genes, minor histocompatibility antigens, and immune-regulatory pathways have been implicated in transplant outcomes. However, the integration of such genomic data into clinical practice remains limited due to underexplored gene targets, variability in study results, and the lack of large, diverse, and well-characterized patient cohorts. Initiatives like the International Genetics & Translational Research in Transplantation Network (iGeneTRAiN) are addressing these limitations by aggregating genome-wide data from thousands of transplant donors and recipients across multiple centers. These large-scale collaborative efforts aim to identify clinically actionable genetic markers and support the development of personalized immunosuppressive strategies. Conclusions: Overall, genetic testing and genomics hold great promise in advancing precision medicine in pancreas and pancreas–kidney transplantation
The anti-coronaviral activity of singular and mixed formulation of dill essential oil (Anethum graveolens L.) and tannic acid (Quercus infectoria)
No full textDue to the limitations in antiviral treatments for viral infections, the search for natural compounds with biocompatible and antiviral activities has gained importance. In this study, we investigated the antiviral efficacy of a unique formulation (DEO/TA-mix, Uluvir (R)) at the stages of viral replication, adsorption, penetration, repeated doses, and direct inactivation of the selected model virus, Bovine coronavirus (BCoV). In the presence of DEO (from Anethum graveolens L.)/ TA (Quercus infectoria extract) mix, 99.94% inhibition was observed in the mean viral titer values of BCoV at the 48th h of replication, while the inhibition activity stopped at the 96th h. With the addition of DEO/TA-mix every 48 h after virus inoculation, viral replication was inhibited by 98.79% at the 120th h. Treatment of BCoV with DEO/TA-mix showed 99.58% inhibition at the adsorption stage and 43.77% inhibition at the penetration stage in the viral titer. In the direct inactivation efficacy of DEO/TA-mix on BCoV, the mean viral titers decreased by 0.5 to 3.0 log in a time-dependent manner. The antiviral activity of DEO/TA-mix is predicted to be more effective in the early stages of BCoV replication. In addition, an additional dose of DEO/TA-mix every 48 h during the viral replication phase increases and prolongs the inhibition rates on viral titers. This study has demonstrated that DEO/TA-mix shares high antiviral activity and may be evaluated as a potential drug for virus infections
Pneumonia incidence and determinants in south punjab, pakistan (2016-2020): A spatial epidemiological study at tehsil-level
No full textBackgroundPneumonia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, such as Pakistan. In this study, we aimed to examine the spatial and temporal patterns of pneumonia incidence in South Punjab, Pakistan, and to analyze their association with socio-ecological factors.MethodsWe used case report data from the district health information system (DHIS) over the years 2016 to 2020 and applied global and local Moran's I to identify spatial autocorrelation. Furthermore, we employed hot and cold spot analysis to identify significant areas with high and low pneumonia incidence. We used Emerging Hot Spot Analysis (EHSA) and time series clustering to examine shifting and temporal patterns of incidence, respectively. In addition, Generalized Linear Regression (GLR) and Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) models were used to analyze geographic variation in the association of socio-ecological factors and pneumonia incidence.ResultsOur results showed no significant global clustering of pneumonia incidence. Local Moran's I identified a low-low cluster in DG Khan, while Hot Spot Analysis detected one hot spot in Rajanpur. Multan City showed higher case counts, but this reflected population concentration rather than elevated incidence rates. The temporal analysis confirmed a significant seasonal variation, as well as a decrease in certain Tehsils and an increase in others. Our MGWR model revealed that better female literacy reduced incidence rates of pneumonia, whereas poor housing quality increased incidence rates of pneumonia, particularly in the southwestern areas of South Punjab.ConclusionsWe conclude that socio-ecological variables significantly influenced the incidence of pneumonia in South Punjab, and this association varies substantially over time and space. Our results emphasize the need for locally specific public health interventions to minimize pneumonia incidence in vulnerable populations in Pakistan. Our spatial epidemiological approach can be adapted to other regions of Pakistan and similar socio-ecological contexts in low- and middle-income countries
Modelling the importance of ground and strong-motion variables on the damage status in the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes using supervised machine learning
Get PDFThe damage status of 44 locations was investigated, incorporating ground condition parameters such as Vs30, engineering bedrock depth (EBd), and predominant frequency (f0), as well as strong-motion parameters including PGA, Repi, and Rrup (epicentre and rupture distance, respectively). Various machine learning methods-logistic regression (LR), classification and regression trees (CART), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbours (KNN), and artificial neural networks (ANN)-were employed to evaluate the dataset through three approaches: the complete parameter set, solely ground-based parameters, and strong-motion parameters alone. Model performance, measured by Area Under the Curve of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUC-ROC), ranged from 0.466 to 0.989, with KNN achieving the highest performance (0.989) when using the complete dataset and 0.988 with ground-based parameters alone. The analysis highlighted EBd and f0 as the most significant contributors to damage outcomes (normalised variable importance of 100% and 85%, respectively), demonstrating strong correlations with structural vulnerability. Among earthquake-related parameters, PGA was identified as the most influential factor in models established through strong-motion parameters, whereas Repi and Rrup demonstrated a considerably lower influence. On the other hand, specificity values (determining no-damage status) consistently exceeded sensitivity (determining damage status) in models based solely on earthquake parameters. Overall, the outputs demonstrate that traditional seismic hazard approaches based on earthquake parameters could provide a broad framework for risk mitigation; local site conditions, particularly EBd and f0, are the primary drivers of seismic risk. Integrating these detailed ground parameters into seismic assessments is critical for improving predictive accuracy and advancing earthquake engineering practices
Design of a snp panel for highly accurate paternity identification in eşme sheep
Get PDFSNP paternity testing panels offer high-resolution capabilities for determining livestock paternity, thereby enhancing the reliability of genetic verification and ensuring pedigree record accuracy. In this study, we aimed to develop a SNP-based paternity test panel utilizing a 50K SNP chip for paternity testing and pedigree verification in the E & scedil;me sheep breed. Additionally, the study sought to validate the paternity test panel. Based on data from 26 rams and 524 lambs of the E & scedil;me sheep breed, the results indicated that the 50K SNP chip used demonstrated a very high genotyping rate, with the majority of its 53,738 SNPs exhibiting significant polymorphism. After filtering, the most suitable 144 SNP markers were identified for the paternity test panel. The minor allele frequency (MAF) values of the 144 selected SNPs ranged from 0.48 to 0.50. The combined probability of exclusion (CPE) and the combined probability of identification (CPI) values for the panel containing these 144 SNP markers were 0.999999995 and 4.9 x 10-62, respectively. Using this SNP paternity test panel, the pedigree error rate was remarkably low-only 3.44%-in paternity tests conducted across 11 breeders' flocks that utilized hand mating. In this study, a 50K SNP chip developed from DNA samples of various sheep breeds worldwide, including indigenous breeds from T & uuml;rkiye, was utilized. This suggests that the SNP-based paternity test panel presented in this research may also be applicable to other indigenous sheep breeds in T & uuml;rkiye. The widespread implementation of this test panel will not only reduce pedigree errors but also yield more accurate estimates of genetic parameters within the population.Adnan Menderes Universit
COVID-19 vaccination in patients on biologic or targeted-synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy: A multi center real-world data
No full textObjective:To assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing biologic (bDMARDs) or targeted-synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (tsDMARDs). Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted at ten rheumatology clinics in Turkey between May 1, 2021, and October 30, 2022. Patients with rheumatic diseases on bDMARD or tsDMARD therapy who received at least two doses of an mRNA or inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were included. After vaccination, COVID-19 infection rates, adverse events, and rheumatic disease flares were recorded. Data were collected via face-to-face or telephone interviews. Results:A total of 963 participants were included in the final analysis; 44% were male, and the median age was 49 years. The most frequently observed rheumatic diseases were ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis, accounting for 37.2% and 32.6% of cases, respectively. Adalimumab (19.2%) and infliximab (17.8%) were the most commonly used bDMARDs. Of the participants, 634 (65.9%) received an inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac) and 329 (34.1%) an mRNA vaccine (BioNTech). A total of 502 (52.1%) patients received a booster dose. Following the first, second, and third vaccine doses, adverse event rates were 19.9%, 15.9%, and 26.7%, respectively. Forty-two (4.4%) patients experienced a disease flare within six months after their first vaccination dose. COVID-19 infection occurred in 79 participants (8.2%) after two vaccine doses; most cases were symptomatic but did not require hospitalization. The COVID-19 infection rate was lower in participants who received a booster dose than those who did not (3.4% vs. 8.2%, P<0.001). Conclusions:Our study indicates that both mRNA and inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are effective in preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes, with an acceptable rate of adverse events and disease flares among patients with rheumatic diseases on bDMARD or tsDMARD therapy
Integrated lighting and solar shading strategies for energy efficiency, daylighting and user comfort in a library design proposal
Get PDFThis research proposes an integrated lighting and solar shading strategy to improve energy efficiency and user comfort in a retrofit project in a temperate-humid climate. The study examines a future library addition to an existing faculty building in Bursa, featuring highly glazed fa & ccedil;ades (77% southwest, 81% northeast window-to-wall ratio), an open-plan layout, and situated within an unobstructed low-rise campus environment. Trade-offs between daylight availability, heating, cooling, lighting energy use, and visual and thermal comfort are evaluated through integrated lighting (DIALux Evo), climate-based daylight (CBDM), and energy simulations (DesignBuilder, EnergyPlus, Radiance). Fifteen solar shading configurations-including brise soleil, overhangs, side fins, egg crates, and louvres-are evaluated alongside a daylight-responsive LED lighting system that meets BS EN 12464-1:2021. Compared to the reference case's unshaded glazing, optimal design significantly improves building performance: a brise soleil with 0.4 m slats at 30 degrees reduces annual primary energy use by 28.3% and operational carbon emissions by 29.1% and maintains thermal comfort per ASHRAE 55:2023 Category II (+/- 0.7 PMV; PPD < 15%). Daylight performance achieves 91.5% UDI and 2.1% aSE, with integrated photovoltaics offsetting 129.7 kWh/m2 of grid energy. This integrated strategy elevates the building's energy class under national benchmarks while addressing glare and overheating in the original design