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Assessment of the Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements Contained in Natural Bentonites Collected from Quarries in Turkey
No full textPotentially toxic elements (PTEs) are an important type of pollutant, causing constant and far-reaching concerns around the world due to their increase in the mining process. Bentonite formed by the alteration of glass-rich volcanic rocks is a smectite clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite. Bentonite is an important mineral used in a wide range of applications in many fields such as oil and gas, agriculture, food, pharmacological, cosmetic, and construction industries due to its unique qualities. Given the widespread distribution of bentonite in nature and its use in a wide variety of consumer products, it is inevitable that the general population will be exposed to PTEs contained in bentonites. In this study, concentrations of PTEs in 69 bentonite samples collected from quarries located in different geographical regions of Turkey were analyzed by an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometric method. The average concentrations of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Zr, and Pb in bentonite samples were found to be 3510, 95, 129, 741, 30,569, 67, 168, 25, 62, 9, 173, and 28 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Results of the enrichment factor relating to Earth’s crust average indicated moderate enrichment with Cr, Ni, and Pb and significant enrichment with Co and As
Enhanced injectability of aqueous β-tricalcium phosphate suspensions through PAA incorporation, gelling and preshearing
No full textThe major shortcoming of aqueous calcium phosphate suspensions used in biomedical applications is their unstable flow during delivery by mechanical means. In this study, microstructural changes and the resulting flow instabilities of aqueous β-TCP suspensions are demonstrated under both pressure-induced and drag-induced flow regimes and then remedied with the incorporation and subsequent gelling and preshearing of Carbopol 940, a biocompatible hydrogel. Mixing and dispersion of calcium phosphate particles into the hydrogel matrix was not efficient under simple agitation conditions. Swelling of the polymer chains was induced at approximately pH = 9.0 by water and particle intrusion within the opened-up coil structure due to deprotonation of the carboxylic acid groups by NaOH. As a result the composite material underwent a rapid viscoplastic transition into a doughy state which was not amenable to further processing without preshearing. Manual kneading converted the material into viscous state and enhanced the flow behavior significantly. Preshearing and probing the microstructure by mechanical spectrometer revealed multiple microstructural mechanisms responsible for the observed stable flow behavior, including improved dispersion of the particles, attrition of the polymeric network into microgel domains, enhanced adhesion and lubrication between the solid and liquid phase, crosslinking of the polymeric network. The net effect of these probable mechanisms was stiffening of the composite matrix, mobilization of solid particles and a marked enhancement in the stability of pressure-induced flow. The resistance of the material to liquid phase migration and its ability to undergo wall-slip and relax under stress were confirmed by simultaneous capillary rheometry and thermogravimetric analyses. The processing method enables improvements in the delivery of this composite material for injection and direct ink writing of scaffolds
Machine Learning Methods for Virus–Host Protein–Protein Interaction Prediction
No full textThe attachment of a virion to a respective cellular receptor on the host organism occurring through the virus–host protein–protein interactions (PPIs) is a decisive step for viral pathogenicity and infectivity. Therefore, a vast number of wet-lab experimental techniques are used to study virus–host PPIs. Taking the great number and enormous variety of virus–host PPIs and the cost as well as labor of laboratory work, however, computational approaches toward analyzing the available interaction data and predicting previously unidentified interactions have been on the rise. Among them, machine-learning-based models are getting increasingly more attention with a great body of resources and tools proposed recently. In this chapter, we first provide the methodology with major steps toward the development of a virus–host PPI prediction tool. Next, we discuss the challenges involved and evaluate several existing machine-learning-based virus–host PPI prediction tools. Finally, we describe our experience with several ensemble techniques as utilized on available prediction results retrieved from individual PPI prediction tools. Overall, based on our experience, we recognize there is still room for the development of new individual and/or ensemble virus–host PPI prediction tools that leverage existing tools
Comparing ultrasound-guided modified thoracoabdominal nerves block through perichondrial approach with oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane block for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized, controlled trial
No full textBackground: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC) causes significant postoperative pain. Oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane(OSTAP) block was described for postoperative analgesia, especially for upper abdominal surgeries. Modified thoracoabdominal nerves block through perichondrial approach(M-TAPA) block is a new technique defined by the modification of the thoracoabdominal nerves through perichondrial approach (TAPA) block, in which local anesthetics are delivered only to the underside of the perichondral surface. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of M-TAPA and OSTAP blocks as part of multimodal analgesia on postoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing LC.
Method: The present study was designed as a randomized, controlled, prospective study. Seventy-six adult patients undergoing LC were randomly assigned to receive either bilaterally M-TAPA or OSTAP block after the induction of anesthesia and before surgery using bupivacaine 0.25%, 25 ml. The primary outcome was assessed as postoperative 24 h opioid consumption, between groups were compared. Secondary outcomes were Numerical Rational scale(NRS) scores, time to first opioid analgesia, patient recovery, using the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) scale, nausea and vomiting, sedation score, metoclopramide consumption, and evaluating the analgesic range of dermatome.
Results: The mean tramadol consumption at the postoperative 24th hour was higher in the group OSTAP than in group M-TAPA (P = 0.047). NRS movement score at 12th hour was statistically significantly lower in group M-TAPA than in group OSTAP (P = 0.044). Dermatomes showed intense sensory analgesia between T7-11 in both groups, and it was determined that there was proportionally more involvement in the group M-TAPA. There were no differences between the groups in terms of other results.
Conclusions: After the LC surgery, ultrasound-guided M-TAPA block effectively reduced opioid consumption, postoperative pain, and QoR-15 scores similar to OSTAP block
Long-Term Prophylactic Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Ameliorates Allodynia and Improves Clinical Outcomes in Individuals With Migraine
No full textObjectives: Migraine is a common and substantially debilitating disorder that may associate with allodynia, a marker of central sensitization in the pain circuits. Several unmet needs, like limited adherence to drugs due to adverse events and cost-effectivity, still occur in the prophylactic treatment of migraine. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has recently been indicated to be beneficial in individuals with migraine with and without allodynia. However, to our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating the efficacy of six-month tDCS in migraine. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized double-blind parallel-group sham-controlled five-month extension study after a one-month lead-in trial of tDCS in individuals with migraine. A total of 23 individuals with migraine with allodynia who completed the lead-in trial were recruited after their consent and were administered three consecutive sessions of 2-mA anodal 20-minute tDCS over the left primary motor cortex every month for an additional five months. Pain-related outcomes were determined using monthly headache diaries. Allodynia, depression, anxiety, and disability because of migraine also were assessed throughout the study. Results: Improvements in allodynia levels, attack frequency, number of rescue medications, and attack duration were higher, and mostly gradual during the trial, in the active group. Migraine Disability Scale grades also were lower in the active group, whereas no between-group differences were found in depression and anxiety scores. Higher responder rates of migraine attack frequency (56.8% vs 25%), number of headache days (56% vs 16.7%), and migraine attack duration (90.9% vs 8.3%) were observed after sixmonth tDCS in the active group than in the sham group. Conclusions: Long-term extended tDCS is shown to be a safe, efficacious, and plausible modality for prophylactic treatment in individuals with migraine with allodynia. Significance: Long-term extended tDCS can alleviate allodynia, which is an indicator of drug resistance and chronicity, and meet the goals of prophylactic treatment in individuals with migraine with allodynia
Assessment of the effects of the biotic and abiotic harmful factors on the amount of industrial wood production with deep learning
No full textThe protection and sustainability of forest assets is possible with planned production of forest products to lead to minimum loss. One of the products obtained from forests is the industrial wood, which is the most important raw material for many sectors. Thus, changes in industrial wood production amounts directly affect these sectors. For this reason, it is important to detect and examine the factors affecting industrial wood production amounts for optimum production and use of this raw material. This study aims to investigate and assess the effects of two biotic and two abiotic harmful factors on the amount of industrial wood production by building a deep learning estimation model. These factors are forest fires, insect outbreaks, diseases, and severe weather events. The study shows that the most harmful factor decreasing the industrial wood production level is diseases. The second effective factor, however, appears to be severe weather events. The third and the fourth factors were determined to be insect outbreaks and burned forest areas, respectively
Physiology Course Success Levels and Student Satisfaction in Face-to-Face and Distance Education Periods
No full textPhysiology Course Success Levels...
The 12 November 2017 Mw 7.4 earthquake in Sarpol-e-Zahab (Iran–Iraq): a complex fault rupture in the Zagros Mountains
No full textOn 12 November 2017, the NW–SE-trending fold-and-thrust Zagros Mountains (Iran–Iraq) border region experienced a large (Mw 7.4) and damaging earthquake. Using seismotectonic investigations coupled with InSAR and GPS data analysis, we test several scenarios of coseismic deformation associated with either a west-dipping high angle (76°) backthrust fault geometry or a gently (~ 16°) east dipping earthquake rupture. Apparently, no surface rupture was observed and with the local Iranian seismic network the mainshock is at 18 ± 2 km depth, in agreement with IPGP, GCMT, USGS GFZ and IRSC locations. Interferograms obtained from both ascending and descending Sentinel-1A–1B images show NNW-SSE-trending deformation lobes with uplift of up to 0.9 m in the WSW hanging block and subsidence of ~ 0.4 m in the ENE footwall. The thrust focal mechanisms of the mainshock being all comparable, the forward and best-fit inversion model concur with the WSW block uplift and backthrust geometry, reaching ~ 11 m coseismic slip at depth. Any forthcoming seismic hazard models for this plate boundary need to consider a segmented Zagros fold-and-thrust belt with major earthquakes on backthrust seismogenic faults
Predictive Role of the Systemic Immune Inflammation Index for Intravesical BCG Response in Intermediate- and High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
No full textIntroduction: In this study, we aimed to explore using the predictive role of systemic immune inflammation index (SII) for responses of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy in patients with intermediate- and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Methods: From 9 centers, we reviewed the data of patients treated for intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC between 2011 and 2021. All patients enrolled in the study presented with T1 and/or high-grade tumors on initial TURB had undergone re-TURB within 4-6 weeks after initial TURB and had received at least a 6-week course of intravesical BCG induction. SII was calculated with the formula SII = (P × N)/L, where P, N, and L refer to peripheral platelet, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, respectively. In patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC, the clinicopathological features and follow-up data were evaluated to compare SII with other systemic inflammation-based prognostic indices. These included the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-neutrophil ratio (PNR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Results: A total of 269 patients were enrolled in the study. Median follow-up time was 39 months. Disease recurrence and progression were observed in 71 (26.4%) and 19 (7.1%) patients, respectively. For groups with and without disease recurrence in terms of NLR, PLR, PNR, and SII calculated prior to intravesical BCG treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed (p = 0.470, p = 0.247, p = 0.495, and p = 0.243, respectively). Moreover, there were also no statistically significant differences between the groups with and without disease progression in terms of NLR, PLR, PNR, and SII (p = 0.504, p = 0.165, p = 0.410, and p = 0.242, respectively). SII did not show any statistically significant difference between early (<6 months) and late (≥6 months) recurrence (p = 0.492) and progression groups (p = 0.216). Conclusion: For patients with intermediate- and high-risk NMIBC, serum SII levels do not present as an appropriate biomarker for the prediction of disease recurrence and progression following intravesical BCG therapy. A possible explanation for the failure of SII to predict BCG response may be found in the impact of Turkey's nationwide tuberculosis vaccination program
Determining the Amount and Types of Wastes Generated in Vocational School Cooking Programs and Educational Kitchen Applications and Environmental Recommendations in Education: Example of Ortaca Vocational School
No full textIt is possible to find waste classification and waste management studies related to the food and beverage industry in the literature. Waste classifications and counts have been made in restaurants, hotel kitchens or production areas of mass nutrition systems. However, there is no waste management study related to educational kitchens in the literature. Educational kitchens differ from other kitchen applications interms of purpose and content. In educational kitchens, there is a variety of products, a variety ofproduction, and a small amount of production. Studies in these kitchens are carried out not for one type,but for the products of all different types of production. There are lessons in Ottoman cuisine, Turkish cuisine, regional cuisines, world cuisine, pastry, bread and many other fields. In addition, it is possible to increase the amount of waste due to mistakes and wrong applications during production. In educational kitchens, which are different for these and other reasons, information should be given not only on food production; but also on how to make production without waste andhow to reduce waste. Bringing this awareness to kitchen workers of the future at the beginning of their studies will be beneficial in the sectoral sense. For these purposes, the tools and equipment used in all applications and wastes produced in the application kitchen of Mugla Sitki Kocman University Ortaca Vocational School Cooking Program were counted, classified and recorded over a period of two weeks. According to the data obtained, it was concluded that the highest waste was production waste, while the second highest waste was food waste at the end of the day. Suggestions were made for the recycling of production and food waste; and for waste-free production practices training