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Cough burden and quality of life in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis: A multicenter observational study
No full textBackground: Cough is a prevalent symptom in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), often significantly impacting quality of life (QoL). However, there is limited data on cough's burden and its effects on QoL in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cough burden on QoL among a cohort of patients with PPF. Patients and method: This multicenter, cross-sectional cohort study focused on PPF. Cough severity and its impact on QoL were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) scores. Results: Of the 248 patients included, 136 (54.8 %) had PPF due to rheumatic diseases, and 193 (77.8 %) reported experiencing cough. Patients with fibrotic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia had the highest cough frequency (p = 0.019). Correlations between cough measures and other variables were generally weak. The mean total LCQ score was 16.1 +/- 4.7, with correlations between age and LCQ sub-scores. LCQ total scores positively correlated with FVC (%) (r = 0.202, p = 0.002), DLCO (%) (r = 0.255, p < 0.001), and 6MWT distance (r = 0.277, p = 0.001). VAS scores showed a negative correlation with DLCO, FVC (%), FVC (L), and 6MWT distance. No factor was significantly associated with cough presence in logistic regression, but longer antifibrotic treatment duration and higher LCQ scores were linked to lower VAS scores in linear regression. Conclusion: Cough is highly prevalent in PPF patients and significantly impacts health-related QoL, underscoring the need for targeted management of this symptom in PPF
Question styles with criticism in the Quran
No full textBu araştırma, Kur’ân-ı Kerîm’in çeşitli sûre ve ayetlerinde yer alan tenkit içerikli istifham üsluplarıyla ilgili tümevarımsal bir incelemeden oluşmaktadır. Araştırmada tenkit içerikli istifhamların mecaz anlamdaki kullanımı üzerinde durulmuştur; çünkü gerçek sorular, bilgi talep etmek ve haber almak için kullanılır; eleştiri ifade etmez. Soru sorma, Kur’ân’da en çok kullanılan üsluplardan biridir. Öyle ki binin üzerinde soru içeren ayet bulunmaktadır. Bu nedenle çalışmada tenkit içerikli ayet-i kerîmelerin bir kısmına yer verilmiştir. Bu ayetler, belagat alimlerinin ve tefsircilerin görüşleriyle açıklanmaya ve eleştirinin bulunduğu noktalar üzerinde durularak dilbilgisel analizler yapılmaya çalışılmıştır. Bu çalışma beş bölümden oluşmaktadır. Birinci bölümde üslup, istifham ve tenkide dair kavramsal çerçeve, ikinci bölümde Kur’ân’daki tenkit içerikli istifham çeşitleri, üçüncü bölümde Kur’ân’da fikirlere ve olgulara yönelik istifhamlar, dördüncü bölümde Peygamberlere ve Peygamberlerden başkalarına yönelik istifhamlar, beşinci bölümde ise Müslümanlara, gayri müslimlere ve insan dışı varlıklara yönelik tenkit içerikli istifhamlar yer almaktadır. Sonuç olarak, bu araştırma şu iki soruya cevap vermeyi amaçlamaktadır: Birincisi, Kur’ân’da tenkit nedir? İkincisi, Kur’ân-ı Kerîm’deki tenkit içerikli istifham üslupları nelerdir? Araştırmacı, bu iki soru üzerinden tenkit kavramını tanımlayacak ve Kur’ân’daki tenkit içerikli istifham üsluplarını farklı soru tarzlarıyla ortaya koymaya çalışacaktır.This thesis is an inductive study of the question styles with criticism found in various surahs and verses of the Qur’an. The research focuses on the metaphorical use of interrogative questions with criticism, as real questions are used to request information and obtain news, and do not express criticism. Asking questions is one of the most commonly used styles in the Qur’an, with over a thousand verses containing questions. Therefore, this study includes a selection of verses with criticism. These verses are explained through the views of rhetoric scholars and commentators, and linguistic analyses are conducted by focusing on the points of criticism present in them. This research consists of five chapters. The first chapter provides a conceptual framework for style, questioning, and criticism. The second chapter discusses the types of interrogative questions with criticism in the Qur’an. The third chapter examines interrogative questions with criticism related to ideas and phenomena in the Qur’an. The fourth chapter focuses on questions directed at the Prophets and others besides them. The fifth chapter addresses interrogative questions with criticism directed at Muslims, non-Muslims, and non-human entities. In conclusion, this research aims to answer two questions: First, what is criticism in the Qur’an? Second, what are the interrogative styles with criticism in the Qur’an? The researcher will define the concept of criticism through these two questions and attempt to highlight the interrogative styles with criticism in the Qur’an through different types of questions
Acute neurochemical, psychophysiological, and cognitive responses to small-sided games vs. running-based hiit in young, male soccer players
No full textBackground: This study aimed to compare the immediate effects of small-sided games (SSGs) and running-based high-intensity interval training (HIITrb) on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, cognitive performance, and enjoyment in young, male soccer players. Methods: Twenty-four soccer players [age: 19.2 +/- 0.8 years] completed one session each of four-a-side SSG or HIITrb in a randomized, counterbalanced, and crossover design, with a one-week washout period. Blood samples and Trail Making Tests (TMTs) A and B were measured before and after exercise. Heart rate (HR) was monitored throughout the games, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and enjoyment were collected at the end of the measurements. Results: The results show no significant effects of time (p > 0.775), group (p > 0.276) or time x group interaction (p > 0.199) on BDNF levels. For TMT-A, the time effect (p = 0.866) and group effect (p = 0.057) were not significant; however, the time x group interaction was significant (p 0.061). Furthermore, enjoyment levels did not differ significantly between conditions (p = 0.976). Conclusions: These findings suggest that four-a-side SSG may enhance processing speed compared to HIITrb without changes in serum BDNF levels. Coaches may consider using 4v4 SSG formats in early training sessions or warm-ups to stimulate processing speed and mental readiness in young soccer players
Dynamic behavior of micromorphic viscoelastic euler-bernoulli beams under viscoelastic boundary constraints
No full textIn this study, the free vibration analysis of viscoelastic nonlocal strain gradient Euler-Bernoulli beams under viscoelastic boundary conditions has been conducted. First, the equation of motion has been derived using the nonlocal strain gradient theory and Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, and the Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic model has been incorporated into the problem to represent viscoelastic material behavior. Fourier series and Stokes' transformations have been employed for the solution of the problem, and by integrating the boundary conditions into the solution, an eigenvalue problem has been obtained to determine the frequencies of viscoelastic nonlocal strain gradient Euler-Bernoulli beams. The results of the study revealed that the nonlocal scale parameter has a negative effect on damping, while the strain gradient scale parameter has a positive effect. The findings have been presented in detail with the help of tables and graphs and thoroughly evaluated
Evaluation of the effect of using different types of clinker grinding aids on grinding performance by numerical analysis
No full textTo develop more environmentally friendly and sustainable cementitious systems, the use of grinding aids (GAs) during the clinker grinding process has increasingly gained attention. Although the mechanisms of the action of grinding aids (GAs) are known, the selection of an effective grinding aid (GA) can be difficult due to the complexity of appropriate selection criteria. For this reason, it is important to model the effect of GA properties on grinding performance. In this study, seven different types of GAs were used in four different dosages, and time-dependent grinding was performed. The Blaine fineness values of cements were compared after each grinding process. In addition, the modeling of these parameters using machine learning and ensemble learning methods was discussed. The Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (Smote) was used to generate artificial data and increase the number of data for the grinding efficiency experiment. The data were modeled using methods such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), Attentive Interpretable Tabular Learning (TabNet), Random Forests (RFs), and the XGBoost Regressor (XGBoost), and the ranking of the parameters affecting the Blaine properties was determined using the XGBoost method. The XGBoost method achieved the best results in the MAE, RMSE, and LogCosh metrics with values of 21.0384, 33.7379, and 15.4846, respectively, in the experimental modeling studies with augmented data. This study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between GA selection and milling process performance
The conductive modification of polyamide nanofibers produced by electrospinning via vapor phase polymerization
No full textBu tez çalışmasında, elektroçekim yöntemiyle üretilen poliamid nanoyüzeylerin buhar fazında polimerizasyon yöntemiyle iletken hale getirilmesi hedeflenmiştir. Çalışmada PA6, PA5.6 ve PA6.6 gibi farklı poliamid malzemeler kullanılarak aynı parametrelerde çözeltiler hazırlanmış ve elektroçekim yöntemiyle nanoyüzeyler üretilmiştir. Üretilen nanoyüzeyler, buhar fazında polimerizasyon yöntemiyle PEDOT kaplanarak iletken hale getirilmiş ve kaplama sonrası iletkenlik seviyelerinde belirgin bir artış gözlemlenmiştir. Çözelti karakterizasyonu kapsamında, hazırlanan çözeltilerin viskozite ölçümleri yapılmıştır. Nanoyüzeyler üzerinde ise; ağırlık ölçümleri, çekme testleri, yüzey kalınlık ölçümleri, FTIR ve SEM analizleri karakterizasyon çalışmaları kapsamında gerçekleştirilmiş, elektriksel iletkenlik seviyeleri detaylı olarak incelenmiştir. Bu çalışma, poliamid malzemelerin mekanik ve kimyasal özellikleri ile iletkenlik özelliklerini bir araya getirerek esnek elektronikler, giyilebilir teknolojiler ve biyomedikal uygulamalar gibi alanlarda kullanılabilecek yenilikçi nanoyüzeylerin geliştirilmesine yönelik bir temel oluşturmayı amaçlamaktadır.This thesis aims to render polyamide nanostructured surfaces electrically conductive by employing the vapor phase polymerization method after their production via electrospinning. Solutions of different polyamide materials, such as PA6, PA5.6, and PA6.6, were prepared under identical parameters, and nanostructured surfaces were produced using the electrospinning technique. The nanostructured surfaces were coated with PEDOT through vapor phase polymerization, resulting in a significant increase in conductivity levels after coating. As part of solution characterization, viscosity measurements of the prepared solutions were conducted. In addition, on the nanostructured surfaces, characterization studies included weight measurements, tensile tests, surface thickness measurements, FTIR and SEM analyses, while electrical conductivity levels were thoroughly examined. This study aims to combine the mechanical and chemical properties of polyamide materials with conductive features to develop innovative nanostructured surfaces for applications in flexible electronics, wearable technologies, and biomedical fields.Kutlucan Tekstil A.
Formation of colchicine-incorporated hybrid nanoflower with an intrinsic peroxidase-mimic and enhanced antimicrobial activities
No full textWe report the formation of colchicine-Cu-3(PO4)(2) hybrid nanoflowers (Colc-NFs) with intrinsic catalytic and antimicrobial activities with and without hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). While the colchicine molecule, known as a secondary metabolite with anti-inflammatory properties, was used as an organic part of Colc-NFs, the Cu2+ ion acted as an inorganic part of Colc-NFs. The acetamide group in the colchicine structure may react with Cu2+ ions in phosphate-buffered saline to form Colc-NFs. The Colc-NFs exhibited both an intrinsic peroxidase-mimic activity against guaiacol and antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans in the presence of H2O2. Both activities of the Colc-NFs rely on a Fenton-like reaction mechanism by producing reactive hydroxyl radicals. In addition to that high surface-to-volume ratio and porous structure of Colc-NFs may contribute to their peroxidase-mimic activities depending on the Fenton-like reaction.Erciyes University
FCD-2018-841
Comparison of profitability and effıciency levels of conventional and organic fruit growers in Cameroon
No full textBu çalışmada, Kamerun’da ananas ve kakao üretiminde organik ve konvansiyonel üretim sistemlerinin karlılık ve etkinliklerinin karşılaştırmalı olarak analizi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda, 81 ananas (71 konvansiyonel, 10 organik) ve 107 kakao üreticisinden (93 konvansiyonel, 14 organik) oluşan bir örneklemden yüz yüze anket yoluyla birincil veriler elde edilmiştir. Anket verilerine göre, ananas ve kakao üretimi yapan işletmelerin sosyo-ekonomik özellikleri ortaya koyulmuştur. Ayrıca, organik ve konvansiyonel üretim yapan işletmelerin değişken masrafları, gayrisafi üretim değerleri ve brüt karları hesaplanmıştır. Ananas ve kakao üreten işletmelerin kar etkinliklerinin belirlenmesi amacıyla parametrik bir yöntem olan Stokastik Sınır Analizi (SFA) kullanılmıştır. Ananas işletmelerinin ortalama arazi büyüklüğü 16,36 da iken, organik ve konvansiyonel üretim yapan ananas işletmelerinin arazi büyüklüğü sırasıyla, 10,5 da ve 17,19 da’dır. Kakao işletmelerinin ise ortalama arazi büyüklüğü 42,05 da olup, organik ve konvansiyel üretim yapan işletmelerin ortalama işletme büyüklüğü sırasıyla, 34,64 ve 43,17’dir. Ananas üreten işletmelerin ortalama brüt karı 353 140 FCFA/da, kakao üreten işletmelerin brüt karının ise 52 031 FCFA/da olduğu belirlenmiştir. Her iki ürün için organik üretim yapan işletmelerin brüt karı konvansiyonele göre daha yüksektir. Stokastik kar etkinliği skorlarına göre ananas üretiminde kar etkinliği ortalaması 0,83, organik üretim yapan işletmeler için 0,59 ve konvasiyonel üretim yapan işletmeler için 0,86’dır. Kakao üretiminde ortalama kar etkinliği 0,90, organik ve konvansiyonel üretim yapan işletmeler için sırasıyla 0,68 ve 0,94’tür. Kar etkinlik analizi sonuçlarına göre, organik üretim yapan işletmelerin konvansiyonel üretim yapan işletmelere göre etkinsizliklerinin fazla olduğu belirlenmiştir. Organik tarım yapan işletmelerin etkinsizliğini azaltmak amacıyla: organik tarımın ulusal tarım stratejilerine entegre edilmesi; organik girdilerin sübvanse edilmesi; üreticilerin teknik kapasitelerinin eğitim yoluyla güçlendirilmesi; kooperatiflerin geliştirilmesi ve katma değeri yüksek tedarik zincirlerinin (meyve suyu, kurutulmuş meyve) desteklenmesi; özellikle kadınlar ve gençler hedef alınarak kırsal krediye erişimin kolaylaştırılması yönünde politikalar geliştirilmelidir.This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the profitability and efficiency of organic and conventional production systems in pineapple and cocoa farming in Cameroon. For this purpose, primary data were collected through face-to-face surveys from a sample of 81 pineapple producers (71 conventional, 10 organic) and 107 cocoa producers (93 conventional, 14 organic). Based on the survey data, the socio-economic characteristics of the farms producing pineapple and cocoa were identified. In addition, the variable costs, gross production values, and gross profits of farms practicing organic and conventional production were calculated. In order to determine the profit efficiency of pineapple and cocoa producers, a parametric method Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) was employed. The average land size of pineapple farms is 16,36 da, while the land sizes for organic and conventional pineapple farms are 10,5 da and 17,19 da, respectively. The average land size of cocoa farms is 42,05 da, with organic and conventional cocoa farms having average sizes of 34,64 da and 43,17 da, respectively. The average gross profit for pineapple producers was found to be 353 140 FCFA/da, while the average gross profit for cocoa producers was 52 031 FCFA/da. For both crops, the gross profit of organic producers was higher than that of conventional ones. According to the stochastic profit efficiency scores, the average profit efficiency in pineapple production is 0,83, with scores of 0,59 for organic and 0,86 for conventional producers. In cocoa production, the average profit efficiency is 0,90, with organic and conventional producers scoring 0,68 and 0,94, respectively. The results of the profit efficiency analysis indicate that organic producers exhibit greater inefficiency compared to conventional producers. To reduce the inefficiency of farms engaged in organic agriculture, policies should be developed to: integrate organic farming into national agricultural strategies; subsidize organic inputs; strengthen the technical capacities of producers through training; support the development of cooperatives and high value-added supply chains (such as juice and dried fruit); and facilitate access to rural credit, especially targeting women and young people
A new treatment strategy for lung cancer with hdac and wnt/<i>β</i>-catenin pathway inhibitors
No full textLung cancer is a type of cancer with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. The overall survival rate of lung cancer patients is low due to a lack of therapeutic options. Recently, the combination of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors with anti-cancer agents offers a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Repurposing these drug combinations is important to evaluate their preventive effect on the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype, which plays a critical role in tumor progression and metastasis. In this study, the changes that the combination of the HDAC inhibitor Valproic acid (VPA) and Wnt/beta-Catenin pathway inhibitor Niclosamide (Niclo) may cause in cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell cycle, and EMT mechanisms in lung cancer cell lines (A549 and H1299) were examined. According to the results, the combination of VPA + Niclo significantly reduced cell viability in lung cancer cells compared to the use of Niclo alone. ELISA and Western blot analyses revealed that the combination of VPA + Niclo significantly enhanced the total acetylation of Histone H3 compared to the use of VPA alone. It was also found that the combination treatment induced apoptosis by increasing the activity of Caspase 3/7 and Annexin-V and significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic cells by causing depolarization of mitochondria. After cell cycle analysis, the combination treatment increased G1 phase retention in A549 cells, while G1-G2/M phase retention increased in H1299 cells. Wound healing and transwell migration assay results showed that the VPA + Niclo combination treatment inhibited cell migration in lung cancer cells. According to Western blot and PCR results, after VPA + Niclo treatment, the increase in E-Cadherin levels and the decrease in beta-Catenin, Fibronectin, Vimentin, and N-Cadherin levels at both protein and gene levels indicated that combination therapy may be useful in preventing the EMT process in lung cancer cells. As a result of the analyses, it was seen that VPA + Niclo combination therapy could play a critical role in preventing the acquisition of the mesenchymal phenotype, reducing cell migration and invasion ability, and preventing tumor cell survival and resistance to apoptosis. In conclusion, it was determined that VPA + Niclo combination treatment shows anticancer activity in lung cancer cells and is a promising approach that may have a synergistic effect in inhibiting EMT
Preventing the development of visual defects with early treatment in cases diagnosed with periocular hemangioma: A single center experience
No full textIntroduction: Hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that are common in childhood. If located around the orbit, it may cause amblyopia and permanent vision defects. Therefore, early treatment is very important. Our aim in this study is to assess the treatment outcomes and clinical characteristics of patients with periocular hemangioma. Materials and Methods: Cases with periocular hemangioma who applied to the clinic between 2013 and 2023 were included in this study. The data of the cases were examined from hospital records. Propranolol treatment was used in patients at a dose of 1-2 mg/kg/day. During the follow-up, blood sugar, heart rate and blood pressure were monitored. Treatment responses of the patients were obtained from the hemangioma photo archive. Results: Of the 55 patients included in the study, 67.3% (n = 37) were female and 32.7% (n = 18) were male. Their average age was 6.7 months (1-36). There was a history of premature birth in 25.5% (n=14) of the cases. Three cases were diagnosed with PHACE syndrome. According to the location, the most common hemangioma was in the upper eyelid in 45.5% (n=25) of the cases, and the second most frequent was in the lower eyelid in 32.7% (n=18). Oral propranolol was started in 87.2% (n=48), topical timolol maleate treatment was started in 5.5% (n=3), and oral glucocorticoid and propranolol treatment was started in 3.6% (n=2). The average treatment duration of the patients was 12.8 (+/- 9.8) months. In the evaluation made according to treatment response, a complete or almost complete response to treatment was obtained in 60% (n = 33) of the cases, and a partial response was obtained in 25.5% (n=14) of the cases. Amblyopia developed in 9.1% (n=5) cases. At the last follow-up, visual impairment was observed in two cases. Conclusion: Amblyopia still poses a great risk if the patient is not followed well. It may cause permanent vision loss. Propranolol treatment provides great benefits. However, due to its side effects, it should be started in experienced centers