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Biosynthesis, characterization, and investigation of antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of silver nanoparticles using Solanum tuberosum peel aqueous extract
No full textMetallic nanoparticle biosynthesis is thought to offer opportunities for a wide range of biological uses. The green process of turning biological waste into utilizable products gaining attention due to its economical and eco-friendly approach in recent years. This study reported the ability of Solanum tuberosum (ST) peel extract to the green synthesis of non-toxic, stable, small-sized silver nanoparticles without any toxic reducing agent utilizing the phytochemical components present in its structure. UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, flourier scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive analysis X-ray confirmed the biosynthesis and char-acterization of silver nanoparticles. Also, dynamic light scattering and thermogravimetric ana-lyses showed stable synthesized nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles was evaluated against four different bacterial strains, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), and a yeast, Candida albicans (C. albicans) using the minimum inhibitory concen-tration technique. The cytotoxic activities were determined against Human dermal fibroblast (HDF), glioblastoma (U118), colorectal adenocarcinoma (CaCo-2), and human ovarian (Skov-3) cell lines cancer cells using MTT test. The nanoparticle capping agents that could be involved in the reduction of silver ions to Ag NPs and their stabilization was identified using FTIR. Nano -particles were spherical in shape and had a size ranging from 3.91 to 27.07 nm, showed crys-talline nature, good stability (-31.3 mV), and the presence of capping agents. ST-Ag NPs significantly decreased the growth of bacterial strains after treatment. The in vitro analysis showed that the ST-Ag NPs demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity against cell lines. Based on the data, it is feasible to infer that biogenic Ag NPs were capped with functional groups and demonstrated considerable potential as antibacterial and anticancer agents for biomedical and industrial applications
Effect of the Presence of Silicone Oil in the Anterior Chamber After Complicated Retinal Detachment Surgery on Corneal Morphology by In Vivo Confocal Microscopy
No full textPurpose: This study evaluated the corneal endothelium, stromal keratocytes, subbasal nerve number and density in patients with silicone oil transferred to the anterior camera after pseudophakic complicated retinal detachment surgery by in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (IVLSCM). Methods: Sequential measurements were made by IVLSCM between 3–6 months after surgery in two groups of patients: a) with silicon oil migration (Group 1) and without silicone oil migration (Group 2). Results: A total of 63 cases (Group 1: 32 and Group 2: 31) were examined. The mean ages of patients were 65 ± 12 and 61 ± 11 and M/F ratio was 18/14 and 17/14, respectively. Mean intraocular pressures were 16.60 ± 4.60 and 15.75 ± 5.70 mm Hg, respectively. Changes were detected by IVLSCM mostly on the superior part of the cornea. A significant decrease in endothelial cell density and the number was detected in group 1 (2072 ± 116.2 cells/mm2 vs 2752 ± 512.3 cells/mm2; p < 0.001). Significant increases in posterior keratocyte density and stromal hyperreflective deposits were observed in group 1 (887 ± 45.8 cells/mm2 vs 725 ± 65.8 cells/mm2; p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was observed between the size of stromal deposits and endothelial cell density (r=–0.758; p < 0.001). The number and density of corneal subbasal nerves were significantly lower in group 1 (1.8 ± 0.8 and 4.8 ± 1.2 vs 420 ± 101 and 701 ± 112 µm/square; p < 0.001). Conclusion: IVLSCM is a useful tool for the early detection of corneal abnormalities caused by silicone oil injection. This study verified silicone oil’s detrimental effect on the corneal endothelium and revealed stromal changes in the anterior chamber, which we believe can be also been associated with the presence of silicone oil
Effects of human papillomavirus and LEEP on sexual function
No full textBackground: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection in humans. Aims: We evaluated the sexual function of human papillomavirus positive patients after colposcopy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). Methods: This study enrolled 344 patients with an HPV infection detected on routine screening in 2020–2022. Sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), which consists of six sections: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Results: The mean age of the 344 HPV-positive patients was 37.2 ± 8.2 years, and 28.2% of them were unmarried. Colposcopy, cervical biopsy, and LEEP were performed in 251 (73.0%), 189 (54.9%), and 42 (12.2%) patients, respectively. The sexual history and FSFI scores of the patients were recorded. The total and individual parameter scores on the FSFI decreased significantly after colposcopy. Similarly, the total and individual parameter scores on the FSFI were lower at 8 weeks after LEEP compared to those before LEEP. Conclusion: Cancer-related fear and anxiety and LEEP may cause sexual dysfunction in HPV-positive patients
Improved photoluminescence properties of one-dimensional (1D) composite fibers of Ho@PVP and Yb@PVP prepared by electrospinning
No full textTwo new Holmium3+ and Ytterbium3+ compounds, {Ho(4cba)3(phen)(H2O)} (1) and {Yb(4cba)3(phen)} (2) (4cba = 4-Cyanobenzoic acid, phen = 1,10-Phenanthroline) were synthesized. These compounds were then incorporated into a Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrix at different concentrations (5 wt% to 25 wt%) using an electrospinning technique, resulting in the formation of 1D luminescent composite fibers, Ho@PVP and Yb@PVP. The products were analyzed using various characterization techniques to determine their structures and morphologies. A comprehensive study was conducted to investigate the thermal and photoluminescence properties of these composite nanofibers in comparison to their pure compounds. The findings revealed signif-icant enhancements in the photostability and thermal stability of the composite nanofibers due to the solid environment provided by PVP for the compounds. Furthermore, it was observed that the composite nanofibers exhibited notably superior the thermal-stability and the photo-stability when compared to their pure compounds
A Numerical Study on the Efficiency of Jet Grout Columns in Liquefaction Mitigation
No full textA comprehensive site investigation was carried out on the site in Kocaeli, where a transformer assembly-disassembly building was located, and it was observed that there was liquefaction risk in the area. Therefore, jet grout columns were selected as the soil improvement method. After the production of the designed jet grout columns, it was investigated whether the liquefaction risk was eliminated through analytical and numerical analyses. The effectiveness of jet grout columns in preventing liquefaction was evaluated in terms of the generation of excess pore water pressure by using UBCSAND constitutive model on MIDAS GTS NX software which can perform effective stress-based finite element analyses. In addition, the effect of jet grout columns on the variation of shear stresses, shear deformations and excessive pore water pressure ratios in liquefiable soils were examined through the parametric analyses performed for different area and strength ratios of jet grout columns
A national, multicenter, retrospective study evaluating retention rate and efficacy of tocilizumab treatment in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who had an inadequate response to csDMARDs and/or TNF inhibitors
No full textBackground/aim: To describe the disease activity and retention rate in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with inadequate response (IR) to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) and/or tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) who were prescribed tocilizumab (TCZ) as first-line or second-line biologic treatment in real-world setting. Materials and methods: Data gathered from patients’ files was used in a multicenter and retrospective context. Retention rates and the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints with CRP (DAS28-CRP) were evaluated at time points. The relationship of drug efficacy with factors such as smoking, obesity, and previous use of TNFis was also examined. Results: One hundred and twenty-four patients with a median (IQR) RA duration of 3.7 (7.4) years were included. Mean (SD) age was 52.9 (12.9) and 75% of the patients were female. TCZ retention rates in the 6th and 12th months were 94.1% and 86.6%, respectively. In all patients, DAS28-CRP level decreased significantly from baseline to Months 3 and 6. There was an increase in patients with remission and/or low disease activity and a decrease in patients with high disease activity at Month 3 and Month 6 (p < 0.001 for both). Disease activity was similar between subgroups based on body mass index, smoking status, and previous use of TNFis at any time point. Regres-sion analysis showed that absence of concomitant corticosteroid treatment independently was associated with remission/LDA achieve-ment at Month 6 [OR = 0.31, 95% CI (0.14– 0.72), p = 0.006], and Month 12 [OR = 0.35, 95% CI (0.13–0.94), p = 0.037]. Overall, 25 mild adverse events were reported. Conclusion: TCZ was found to be effective and safe in RA patients with IR to csDMARDs and/or TNFis. The drug retention rate was considered satisfactory with more than half of the patients continuing TCZ treatment at Month 12
Life cycle cost assessment for thermal insulation of above-ground spherical container with different capacities in hot fluid storage processes
No full textDue to environmental and economic reasons, thermal energy saving has gained more importance especially in industry. This study is concerned with the application of insulation to improve thermal energy storage in spherical shaped containers positioned high above the ground. For this purpose, the thickness of the insulation applied to spherical containers of different diameters was optimized for convection and radiation heat transfer using life cycle cost analysis. In Turkey, the mechanism of storing the thermal energy of water at different temperatures in four different climatic conditions in Turkey (Ankara, Antalya, Erzurum, and Istanbul) in a container has been investigated. The results of the study show that the optimum insulation thickness and energy savings rise as the water storage temperature and the diameter of the container increase. While there is a 46% increase in the optimum insulation thickness for the vessel diameter from 0.5m to 3m in 20 °C water, a 69% increase is achieved in 100 °C water. Similarly, 85% and 114% increases were found for the optimum insulation thickness from 20 °C to 100 °C for 0.5m and 3m, respectively. In climates with the lowest heating degree-hours (Antalya), the highest energy savings are achieved with the lowest insulation thickness. To accurately determine seasonal storage heat load, a revised heating degree-hour method using hourly solar-air temperature data is recommended. This provides a 13% increase in energy savings
The effect of mobile application-based rehabilitation in patients with total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textObjective: Mobile applications have been used frequently in post-operative orthopedic rehabilitation in recent years. However, no systematic review has emphasized the importance of mobile applications in the rehabilitation process after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile application-based rehabilitation practices in patients with TKA. Material and Methods: PubMed, Web-of-Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Cochrane databases were searched. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool randomized trials 2 (RoB2) tools were used to demonstrate the methodological quality and risk of bias. Results: A total of 584 articles were screened. Finally, six papers were included in the systematic review. PEDro scores ranged from 4 to 7 (median: 5.5), indicating fair to good methodological quality. All studies were classified as “some concerns” in RoB2. Mobile application-based rehabilitation demonstrated better scores on pain, range of motion (ROM), objective and subjective function, satisfaction and compliance in general. Meta-analysis proved that mobile application-based telerehabilitation demonstrated better results on subjective function (ES:0.57, 95% CI: 0.11–1.02). Conclusion: Compared to conventional rehabilitation, application-based telerehabilitation provides more effective results in function, pain and ROM. Furthermore, mobile application-based rehabilitation should also be considered regarding patient satisfaction and compliance
Wireless Power Transfer for Underwater Vehicles
No full textWireless power transfer (WPT) through magnetic resonance coupling (MRC) offers a safe and simple solution for underwater (UV) vehicles without being affected by water conductivity. Due to its ease of control in WPT systems, the most suitable topology is Serial-Serial (SS). In this study, square transmitting and receiving coils with dimensions of 40 cm-40 cm were designed for 3.3 kW power transmission at 85 kHz. The design was studied in the air, pure water, and seawater environments. Three different cases were analyzed with ANSYS Maxwell 3D. The WPT system responded similarly in air and pure water environments. However, it was determined that the eddy current loss increased, the mutual inductance decreased, the coupling factor weakened, and the critical air gap decreased by about 0.2 cm in the seawater environment. The results showed that the WPT system's efficiency was similar for air and pure water but tolerably lower in the marine environment. Further, the health effects of the WPT design were examined through the ANSYS HFSS, in line with the IEEE standard and ICNIRP guidelines
Finansallaşma ve Gelir Eşitsizliği: Türkiye ve Avrupa Birliği Üzerine Dinamik Panel Veri Analizi
No full textFinansallaşma; finansal aktörlerin ve piyasaların öncülüğünde hanehalkı ve firmalar, ekonomiler ve devletlerin yapısal dönüşümüyle sonuçlanan bir süreci ifade etmektedir. Finansallaşmanın gelir eşitsizliği üzerindeki etkileri, finansal ve finansal olmayan kurumlar ve hanehalkı sektörü bağlamında farklı vekil değişkenler kullanılarak analiz edilebilmektedir. Bu çalışma, Avrupa Birliği ve Türkiye’de gelir eşitsizliği ve finansallaşma arasındaki ilişkiye odaklanmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, finansal kurumlar, finans dışı kurumlar ve hanehalkı sektörünün finansallaşma eğiliminin gelir eşitsizliği üzerindeki etkileri araştırılmıştır. 2000-2020 dönemine ilişkin olarak Arellano ve Bover/ Blundell ve Bond Sistem Genelleştirilmiş Momentler Tahmincisi (SYS-GMM) doğrultusunda dinamik panel veri analizi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, finansal sektörü temsil eden vekil değişken olan bankalar tarafından özel sektöre verilen yurt içi kredilerin GSYH içindeki payının artması ve hanehalkı sektörünü temsil eden vekil değişken olan hanehalkına ve hanehalkını destekleyen kar amacı taşımayan kuruluşlara tüm sektörler (finans ve finans dışı) tarafından verilen kredilerin GSYH içindeki payının artması gelir eşitsizliğini arttırırken, finans dışı sektöre ve hanehalkı sektörüne verilen kredilerin GSYH içindeki payının artması ise gelir eşitsizliğini gecikmeli olarak azaltmaktadır.Financialization; It refers to a process that results in the structural transformation of households and companies, economies and states under the leadership of financial actors and markets. The effects of financialization on income inequality can be analyzed using different proxy variables in the context of financial and non-financial institutions and the household sector. This study focuses on the relationship between income inequality and financialization in the European Union and Turkey. In this context, the effects of the financialization trend of financial institutions and the household sector on income inequality were investigated. For the 2000-2020 period, dynamic panel data analysis was carried out in line with Arellano and Bover/ Blundell and Bond System Generalized Moments Estimator (SYS-GMM). According to the results,, the increase in the share of domestic loans given to the private sector by the banks, which is the proxy variable representing the financial sector, in GDP, and the increase in the share of the loans given by all sectors to the household, which is the proxy variable representing the household sector, and the non-profit organizations that support the household, in GDP increase income inequality. increases. The increase in the share of loans extended to the non-financial and household sectors in GDP reduces income inequality with a lag