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The holistic risk assessment model defines vulnerabilities that may vary depending on the type of hazard in the urban settlement. This model aims to identify the priority issues that need improving across the entire city and the spatial distribution of these issues. The paper describes the physical risk assessment phase of the model. The model emphasizes evaluating natural events such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, and climatic events together. The pairwise comparison method through the literature review has defined the criteria and weights selected for the model, and the susceptibility, vulnerability, and risk mapping are made using a weighted sum model through geographic information systems. Risk size is assigned a numeric value from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest. In conclusion, the paper provides physical risk distribution mapping of Kırklareli Central district, the study area, based on each hazard type. The paper also defines the multi-hazard risk, combining maps with the weighted sum. Accordingly, the paper has demonstrated that approximately 80% of the central district settlement is a medium-risk area, and 2.85% is a high-risk area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new probability model called as Maxwell-Boltzmann-Exponential (MBE) distribution. The MBE distribution arises as a mixture distribution of the Maxwell-Boltzmann and exponential distributions. The statistical properties of the distributions are studied and obtained in closed-form expressions. Three methodologies are assessed and compared for the estimation of parameters in the MBE distribution. The MBE regression model is defined, with the proposed regression model being an alternative to the gamma regression model for response variables that are extremely right-skewed and bimodal. Two real data sets are used to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed models against the existing models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Photoactivation has been suggested to enhance the efficacy of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) in conditions other than dermatological diseases. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of photoactivated PRP (P‐PRP) treatment for melasma by comparing it with non‐photoactivated, classical PRP (C‐PRP). Methods: The study consisted of 38 female patients diagnosed with melasma between April 2022 and May 2023. The patients were randomized into the P‐PRP and C‐PRP groups. Three sessions of P‐PRP or C‐PRP were applied to the patients at 2‐week intervals. The Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) and Melasma Quality of Life Index (MELASQoL) scores were compared before and 2 weeks after treatment. Results: The median age was 38 years, and the median disease duration was 60 months. Clinically, 94.7% of the cases were centrofacial and 5.3% were malar. According to Wood's lamp examination, 55.3% of the cases were epidermal, 13.2% were dermal, and 31.6% were mixed‐type. The median pre‐ and post‐treatment scores were 14.5 and 9, respectively, for MASI and 36.5 and 17, respectively, for MELASQoL. The post‐treatment MASI and MELASQoL scores of both groups significantly decreased (p < 0.001 for both). However, the intergroup difference was not significant. When all patients were evaluated together a moderate, positive, and significant relationship was detected between PRP and the pre‐ and post‐treatment MASI and MELASQoL scores (r = 0.494 and p = 0.002). No side effects associated with PRP were observed. Conclusion: PRP is an effective and safe treatment method for melasma. Further studies are needed to evaluate the contribution of photoactivation to PRP treatment in melasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pineal gland volume (PGV), which is associated with sleep and circadian rhythm, is known to be changed in some psychiatric disorders such as major depression, mood disorders and schizophrenia. This study aimed to compare the PGV of children with mild and moderate intellectual disability (ID) and healthy children. Methods: This multicentre retrospective study included 40 children with ID (patient group), aged 6–12 years and 40 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy children (control group). The children were examined for their sociodemographic characteristics and for PGV using magnetic resonance imaging. Results: The PGV of the patient group was significantly larger than that of the controls (p = 0.023). There was no statistically significant difference in PGV between mild and moderate ID. A moderate and positive correlation was found between Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children‐revised (WISC‐R) performance score and PGV (p = 0.049, r = 0.313) only in the patient group. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve was 0.648, and the sensitivity was 70.0%, and the specificity was 60.0%. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the increased PGV levels were associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and PGV could be a risk factor in the aetiology of ID. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to clarify this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Studies on preventing antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture emphasise the need to responsibly and prudently use antimicrobials, selecting those most effective in controlling and/or reducing mortalities caused by vibriosis. In this study, the distribution of the antimicrobial susceptibility of 28 Vibrio anguillarum isolates from Turkish fish farms was determined using the broth microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline. The epidemiological cut‐off (COWT) values of the V. anguillarum isolates of florfenicol (FLO), tetracycline (TET), doxycycline (DOX), oxolinic acid (OXO), enrofloxacin (ENR) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT) were calculated using the normalised resistance interpretation (NRI) and ECOFFinder methods. Isolates were categorised as belonging to the fully susceptible wild‐type (WT) or non‐wild‐type (NWT) populations. Calculated COWT values (in μg mL−1) were ≤ 1.0 for FLO and DOX, ≤ 0.5 for TET, ≤ 0.016 for ENR, ≤ 0.032 for OXO, and ≤ 4.0 for SXT using the NRI analysis. Percentages of V. anguillarum isolates categorised as belonging to the NWT population were small for the antimicrobials FLO (10.7%) and SXT (0%), whereas they were higher for the antimicrobials OXO (39.3%) and ENR (39.3%). This is the first study to estimate the local COWT values for antibiotics used in the control of V. anguillarum isolates recovered from farmed fish in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this text, we discuss the filter banks used for speech analysis and propose a novel filter bank for speech processing applications. Filter banks are building blocks of speech processing applications. Multiple filter strategies have been proposed, including Mel, PLP, Seneff, Lyon, and Gammatone filters. MFCC is a transformed version of Mel filters and is still a state-of-the-art method for speech recognition applications. However, 40 years after their debut, time is running out to launch new structures as novel speech features. The proposed acoustic filter banks (AFB) are innovative alternatives to dethrone Mel filters, PLP filters, and MFCC features. Foundations of AFB filters are based on the formant regions of vowels and consonants. In this study, we pioneer an acoustic filter bank comprising 11 frequency regions and conduct experiments using the VGG16 model on the TIMIT and Speech Command V2 datasets. The outcomes of the study concretely indicate that MFCC, Mel, and PLP filters can effectively be replaced with novel AFB filter bank features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the neural processing of other-race and other-species faces, using spatial frequencies (SFs) to probe into early visual processing mechanisms. We conducted a basic classification task to reveal fundamental aspects of facial processing without the complexity of higher-order recognition tasks. This approach utilized SFs set at low (LSF, 0.53 cycles per degree [cpd]), broadband (BB), and high (HSF, 2.1 cpd) SFs to examine their impact on the both P100 and N170 components of event-related potentials. Our findings revealed a significant latency difference in the N170 component under HSF conditions, indicating race-specific efficiency in processing fine details between Asian and Caucasian faces. Furthermore, N170 amplitudes were consistently larger for human than monkey faces, with this difference more pronounced in LSF and BB conditions. This finding indicates that the other-species effect in early visual processing is more pronounced in holistic processing (LSF and BB conditions) rather than in fine-detail processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of study was to investigate whether CASP8 (CASPASE8) could be a biomarker for prognosis in neuroblastoma. The prognostic value of CASP8 was determined by analyzing CASP8 methylation status and gene expressions in the tumor tissues of 37 neuroblastoma patients. Bisulfite and quantitative multiplex-methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to identify the methylation status. CASP8 messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) expression levels were determined using reverse transcriptase–quantitative PCR. CASP8 expression levels associated with prognostic value were also analyzed using the TARGET NBL (141 cases) database through PDX for Childhood Cancer Therapeutics (PCAT) and SEQC (498 cases) via the R2 platform. CASP8 methylation status was associated with risk groups, MYCN amplification, and 17q gain status. CASP8 expression was found to be statistically different between high- and low-risk neuroblastoma groups. Low expression of CASP8 was associated with MYCN amplification status. Low expression of CASP8 has shown statistically significant prognostic value through TARGET NBL and SEQC-498 data sets. CASP8 messenger RNA expressions and methylation status were associated with the MYCN amplified high-risk group in neuroblastoma. CASP8 messenger RNA expressions may be considered as a clinical prognostic marker in neuroblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitin is the most abundant biopolymer group after cellulose and forms the exoskeleton of arthropods, the largest animal group. The morphology of chitin differs between and within species. In this study, we determined the physicochemical and biological activity of chitin samples obtained from different body parts of the boxwood moth Cydalima perspectalis for its application as a biotechnological material. The collected chitin samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis. FTIR confirms that the isolation of chitin is successful. The SEM results showed that the surface morphology of the obtained chitins was both fibrous and porous and had a rough surface. As a result of the elemental analysis, the %N values of chitins were calculated as 6.60 on average, and the values were shown to be close to each other. We also investigated the biocompatibility and antimicrobial properties of these chitin samples. We used L929 (mouse fibroblast) cells to perform indirect cytotoxicity experiments and investigated their viability by performing the MTT assay. Our findings showed that the samples had no cytotoxic effect on the L929 cells at 24, 48, and 72 h. The cytotoxic study showed that Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, and Candida albican fungi adhered to chitin surfaces regarding biofilm production. The chitin contents were determined as 21.02% for the head, 5.74% for the body, 32.22% for the wing, 33.53% for the legs, and 2.65% for the pupal shell. Chitin is a material with high potential for use in various fields. Our findings suggested that Cydalima perspectalis can be used as an alternative source of chitin in biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal toxicity adversely affects plants by changing physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. Lead (Pb) is one of the most common heavy metal pollutants. Hence this study investigated changes caused by exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA; 20 and 100 µM) and salicylic acid (SA; 2 and 20 mM) elicitors in local Karacadağ rice exposed to Pb stress (0, 100, and 400 ppm). The effects of elicitors on photosynthetic pigment content (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total carotenoid), proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), total phenolic and flavonoid, Pb, and total protein contents in stressed plants were evaluated. All parameters studied increased and decreased at varying rates in the treatment groups compared to the Pb-free group (control), indicating that rice plants were affected by Pb stress. The elicitors (MeJA, SA, and MeJA + SA) were applied by foliar spraying. The elicitor treatments increased photosynthetic pigment content, total protein, proline, total flavonoid, and phenolic contents depending on the elicitor type and concentration. MDA and Pb contents, increasing with Pb toxicity, decreased with elicitor treatments, and the stress degree was reduced. When the elicitors were compared, SA was more effective than MeJA in total flavonoid content at 400 ppm Pb toxicity. However, MeJA was more effective in photosynthetic pigment contents, MDA, total protein, Pb, total phenolic, and proline contents. The best results for all parameters examined in rice plants exposed to Pb toxicity were obtained from the 400 ppm Pb + 2 mM SA + 20 µM MeJA treatment group. In conclusion, this study showed that the combined application of MeJA + SA alleviated the harmful effects of Pb by reducing MDA and increasing photosynthetic pigments, total protein, proline, and secondary metabolites, especially at high Pb concentrations. Consequently, this study demonstrated that the combined use of MeJA and SA in rice plants eliminated the negative effects of stress quite effectively, even at high Pb concentrations. Therefore, future studies should focus on the synergistic application of different elicitors to better understand the effects of heavy metal toxicity on plant growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The experiences of GPs in Australia highlight key considerations regarding workload demands, remuneration incentives and the practical implications of working in regions with high ethnic density. This exploration helps to understand the elements that influence GPs delivery of care, particular for refugee women who exhibit disproportionately higher rates of chronic pain. This qualitative study explored the experiences of GPs providing care for refugee women living with chronic pain. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 10 GPs (9 female and 1 male) practicing across metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. GPs were recruited via purposive sampling and a snowballing strategy. Participants work experience ranged from one to 32 years. Audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and stored in qualitative data Nvivo 12 software for coding. Transcripts of interviews were analysed thematically using a phenomenological approach. Results: Three overarching themes were identified: (1) meeting the needs of refugee women living with chronic pain; (2) the role of the GP; and (3) the challenges of the health care system. These themes reflected the complexity of consultations which arose, in part, from factors such as trust, the competencies of clinician's and the limitations posed by time, funding and interpreter use. Conclusion: GPs acknowledged the uniqueness of refugee women's chronic pain needs and whilst doctors welcomed care, many were often challenged by the complex nature of consultations. Those that worked in settings that aligned with refugee women's needs highlighted the importance of cultivating culturally safe clinical environments and listening to their patients' stories. However, system level challenges such as time, funding and resource constraints created significant challenges for GPs. Exploring GPs experiences allows for a better understanding of how vectors of disadvantage intersect in health care and highlights the need to better support doctors to improve health care provision for refugee women living with chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of marinating beef, chicken, and fish with Micromeria fruticosa (M. fruticosa) on the inhibition of Nε‐(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL) and Nε‐(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML). Furthermore, our objective was to examine how different cooking techniques, temperatures, and durations affect the creation of CEL and CML in these meat products. The study began with the characterization of M. fruticosa. Subsequently, meat samples were marinated using an M. fruticosa‐containing marinade and stored at 4 ± 1°C for 24 h. Following storage, the meats underwent cooking in an oven at 200°C for 12 min and in an air fryer at 250°C for 8 min. Subsequently, pH, color, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), as well as CEL and CML analyses were conducted. M. fruticosa had high levels of biological activity and bioactive content. Moreover, increasing the M. fruticosa ratio in the marinade demonstrated a reduction in TBARS, CML, and CEL formation. This study concludes that M. fruticosa can be effectively used as a marinade component for meat, inhibiting the formation of CEL and CML. In conclusion, this research underscores the significant potential of M. fruticosa in reducing the synthesis of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) during meat processing. These results not only enhance our comprehension of the complex relationship between plant extracts and meat quality but also present encouraging prospects for fostering healthier and safer cooking methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions and/or compulsions with heterogeneous symptom presentations. This study examines the neurocognitive functions and metacognitions of patients with OCD who have autogenous and reactive obsessions. Data from previous studies on neurocognitive functions and metacognitions in OCD patients with autogenous and reactive obsessions present different results. The purpose of the research was to investigate whether this subtyping, performed within the context of cognitive theory, differs in terms of metacognitive and neurocognitive aspects. Method: The study included 67 patients with OCD, and 67 healthy participants matched with these patients. Patients were divided into groups based on their primary obsessions: autogenous and reactive. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), Trail-Making Test (TMT), Stroop Test (ST), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) were administered to all participants. Results: No significant demographic differences were found between the OCD subgroups. The autogenous and reactive groups received higher scores than the healthy controls on the uncontrollability and danger, need to control thoughts, and cognitive self-consciousness subscales evaluated with the MCQ-30. Although the reactive group scored higher than the autogenous group on the MCQ-positive belief about worry subscale, no difference was detected between both groups and the healthy controls. In the correlation analysis, there was a moderate correlation between the positive beliefs score subscale of the MCQ-30 and the RAVLT verbal learning and recognition memory scores and between the cognitive confidence score of MCQ-30 and RAVLT immediate recall, verbal learning, and recognition memory scores in the autogenous group. Conclusion: The study supports the presence of metacognitive beliefs and neurocognitive impairments in OCD subgroups. As a result, it can be concluded that the proposed grouping would be worthy of research in determining OCD subtypes. Future research with a larger sample may help to better explain metacognition and neurocognitive features in OCD patients with autogenous and reactive obsessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It was aimed to examine the relationship between sleep quality and anger levels of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 195 individuals with COPD hospitalized in the chest diseases ward of Van Training and Research Hospital between January and August 2023. Data were collected using the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), Richard-Campbell sleep scale (RCSS), and state-trait anger expression ınventory (STAI). Results: The mean age of the individuals who participated in this study was 67.81 (10.59) years and were diagnosed with COPD 9.85 (9.27) years ago. There was a weakly significant positive correlation (r=0.278; p<0.001) between the mean total score of the ESS and the mean total score of the RCSS, whereas there was no significant correlation between the mean total scores of the ESS and RCSS and the mean scores of the sub-dimensions of the STAI scale (p>0.05). A significant negative correlation was found between the year of diagnosis of COPD, the number of COPD attacks in the last year, and the mean total score of RCSS (p<0.001). It was found that those in global iniative for chronic obstructive lung disease stage I had higher sleep quality, lower daytime sleepiness, and internalized anger than those in stages III-IV. Individuals who never received oxygen therapy had lower levels of internalized anger than those who received occasional or continuous oxygen therapy (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that individuals diagnosed with COPD had poor sleep quality, and moderate anger levels and mostly expressed their anger inwardly. There was no relationship between sleep quality and anger levels of individuals diagnosed with COPD. It may be recommended that individuals with high disease severity should be followed up and treated regularly by mental health professionals in a holistic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) has been associated with lower limb deficits that can lead to altered biomechanics during dynamic tasks. There have been contradictory findings in terms of ankle and hip joint biomechanics to date, influenced by the variety of movement tasks and varying definitions of the CAI condition. How do biomechanical variables of the lower extremity differ during walking, running, and jump-landing in individuals with CAI compared with those without CAI? Thirty-two individuals (17 CAI and 15 controls) participated in this retrospective case-control study. Sagittal and frontal plane ankle and hip joint angles and moments, and mediolateral foot balance (MLFB) were calculated during the tasks. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was used for the whole trajectory analysis to detect group differences. Discrete variables, including initial contact (IC) and peak angles and moments, were additionally compared. No differences were found between groups during walking. During running, the CAI group exhibited a lower plantar flexor moment (p < 0.001) and more laterally deviated MLFB (p = 0.014) during mid-stance when compared to controls. Additionally, participants with CAI had a significantly greater peak plantar flexion angle in early stance (p = 0.022) and a reduced peak plantar flexor moment (p = 0.002). In the jump-landing, the CAI group demonstrated an increased hip extensor moment (p = 0.008), and a greater peak hip adduction angle (p = 0.039) shortly after ground contact compared to the control group. Differences in ankle and hip biomechanics were observed between groups during running and jump landing, but not during walking. These differences may be indicative of impairments in the sensorimotor system or of learnt strategies adopted to try to minimise instability and injury risk and can help to inform future intervention design. • Individuals with CAI display different ankle joint biomechanics than controls during running. • Individuals with CAI display different hip joint biomechanics than controls during jump-landing. • The level of demand for the task may influence the biomechanical strategy adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex interplay between hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and nitric oxide (NO) in endothelial cells presents challenges due to technical limitations in simultaneous measurement, hindering the elucidation of their direct relationship. Previous studies have yielded conflicting findings regarding the impact of H 2 O 2 on NO production. To address this problem, we employed genetically encoded biosensors, HyPer7 for H 2 O 2 and geNOps for NO, allowing simultaneous imaging in single endothelial cells. Optimization strategies were implemented to enhance biosensor performance, including camera binning, temperature regulation, and environmental adjustments to mimic physiological normoxia. Our results demonstrate that under ambient oxygen conditions, H 2 O 2 exhibited no significant influence on NO production. Subsequent exploration under physiological normoxia (5 kPa O 2) revealed distinct oxidative stress levels characterized by reduced basal HyPer7 signals, enhanced H 2 O 2 scavenging kinetics, and altered responses to pharmacological treatment. Investigation of the relationship between H 2 O 2 and NO under varying oxygen conditions revealed a lack of NO response to H 2 O 2 under hyperoxia (18 kPa O 2) but a modest NO response under physiological normoxia (5 kPa O 2). Importantly, the NO response was attenuated by l -NAME, suggesting activation of eNOS by endogenous H 2 O 2 generation upon auranofin treatment. Our study highlights the intricate interplay between H 2 O 2 and NO within the endothelial EA.hy926 cell line, emphasizing the necessity for additional research within physiological contexts due to differential response observed under physiological normoxia (5 kPa O 2). This further investigation is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the H 2 O 2 and NO signaling considering the physiological effects of ambient O 2 levels involved. [Display omitted] • Co-expressing HyPer7 and O-geNOps enable multichromatic imaging of H 2 O 2 and NO in endothelial cells. • Exogenous H 2 O 2 does not affect NO levels under hyperoxic and normoxic conditions. • Endogenous H 2 O 2 generation has minimal NO impact under normoxic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood. YAP (Yes‐associated protein) is a highly expressed protein in NB. Nestin is an important marker of neuronal differentiation in NB. Orthodenticle homeobox (OTX) is a transcription factor and is overexpressed in blastoma‐derived tumors. The aim of this study was to examine the potential roles of YAP‐1, Nestin, and OTX‐2 proteins in prognosis and risk stratification in neuroblastoma Methods: Tumor sections of 56 patients with different NB risk groups were analyzed. YAP‐1, Nestin, and OTX‐2 protein expression levels were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining in NB patient tissue samples. Results: YAP‐1, Nestin, and OTX‐2 protein expression levels were evaluated together with the clinical findings of NB patients. YAP‐1 was expressed in 18% of all tissues, while Nestin was expressed in 20.4%. OTX‐2 protein expression was found in 41.1% of the NB patients. YAP‐1 was expressed in 26.9% of high‐risk and 11.5% of low‐risk patients. Nestin was expressed in 24.4% high‐risk and 33.3% low‐risk patients. OTX‐2 was expressed in 68.2% high‐risk and 60% low‐risk patients.YAP‐1 was shown to provide survival advantages among risk groups. Interpretation: The findings of this study support that YAP‐1 may be a potential prognostic biomarker for staging and risk‐group assignment of NB patients. YAP‐1 expression in neuroblastoma is associated with significantly poorer survival probabilities and should be considered as a potential therapeutic target. OTX‐2 is a promising predictive biomarker candidate, but its mechanisms need further investigation in neuroblastoma, as nestin expression is not significantly linked to patient survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study was conducted to determine the relationship between insight and quality of life levels of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods: The data of this descriptive and correlational study were collected at a community mental health center (CMHC) in a province located in the Black Sea Region of Türkiye between February 2021 and July 2021. The population of the study consisted of 224 patients who were registered to the CMHC and diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-V diagnostic criteria between the specified dates. According to the sample calculation for a known population, the minimum number of people to be included in the sample was calculated as 141 (confidence interval: 95%, margin of error: 5%). However, considering the possibility of withdrawals and/or losses during the study, we decided to include more people. Thus, the study was completed with 148 patients who volunteered to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria. The three tools used to collect the data were the "Sociodemographic Data Form" prepared by the researcher, "Birchwood Insight Scale (BIS)," and "Quality of Life Scale for Patients with Schizophrenia (QLSPS)." Data were analyzed using the Statistical Program for the Social Sciences 22. In the analysis of the data, the Shapiro-Wilk test was used to determine whether the data were normally distributed. In the analysis of the data, numbers, arithmetic mean, percentile distributions, and standard deviation were used. While Pearson's correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the scales, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to calculate the reliability coefficients of the scales. Results: According to the study findings, the mean scores the patients obtained from the overall BIS and the QLSPS were 4.16±1.63 and 76.93±14.84, respectively. According to the analysis of the relationship between the sub-dimensions of the BIS and the sub-dimensions of the QLSPS, there was a negative and weak correlation between the mean scores obtained from the overall BIS and its Being Aware of the Symptoms and Being Aware of the Disease sub-dimensions and the mean scores obtained from the overall QLSPS and its interpersonal relationships sub-dimension. There was a negative, significant, and weak correlation between the mean score for the overall BIS and the mean scores for the occupational role, daily use of belongings, and activities sub-dimensions of the QLSPS (p<0.05). Conclusion: The patients had a low level of insight and a high level of quality of life. A relationship was determined between the mean scores the participants obtained from the BIS and the mean scores that they obtained from the QLSPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical properties (tensile strength (TS), modulus of elasticity in tensile (MET), flexural strength (FS), modulus of elasticity (MOE)) of the material to be obtained depending on the production parameters in the production of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) wood-polymer composites with Scots pine wood flour additive were predicted using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) model and without destructive testing. In the first stage of the study, an ANN model was developed using data from 56 different studies in the literature on the mechanical properties of wood polymer composites. In the second stage, in order to determine the reliability of the model, output values were estimated using input parameters that had not been used in training and testing of the model. Based on the same input parameters, test specimens were produced and mechanical tests were performed. The results obtained from the experiments and ANN model were compared by considering the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) value. The coefficient of determination (R2) values obtained in the training and testing phase of the ANN models were all higher than 0.90. In this way, the mechanical properties of the wood polymer composite were successfully predicted by the ANN model. Because most of the MAPE values obtained from the mechanical tests were below 10%, the model was considered a reliable model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effects of pharyngeal packing on antral cross-sectional area, gastric volume and post-operative complications. Methods: In this prospective, randomised, controlled study, 180 patients were randomly assigned to a control group or a pharyngeal packing group. Gastric antral dimensions were measured with pre- and post-operative ultrasound scanning. Presence and severity of post-operative nausea and vomiting and sore throat were recorded. Results: Post-operative antral cross-sectional area and gastric volume were significantly larger in the pharyngeal packing group compared to the control group. The incidence and severity of post-operative nausea and vomiting were significantly less in the pharyngeal packing group. More frequent and severe sore throat was observed in the control group within the ward. An increased Apfel simplified risk score and post-operative antral cross-sectional area were associated with post-operative nausea and vomiting during the first 2 hours, whereas septorhinoplasty and functional endoscopic sinus surgery, absent pharyngeal packing, and lower American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical status were associated with post-operative nausea and vomiting within the ward. Conclusion: Regardless of operation type, pharyngeal packing use resulted in smaller gastric volume, which was associated with reduced post-operative nausea and vomiting frequency and severity, and lower sore throat incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have presented discrepant findings of e-stories' contribution to children's narrative comprehension, which can be attributed to not only the variation of multimedia features among studies but also to learner and text features. The main goal of the present study was to expand understanding of the effect of e-stories on children's narrative skills and reading attitudes for poor and good story comprehenders. A quasi-experimental factorial design was employed to explore the effect of book type and group level on children's narrative skills and reading attitudes. The participating children were pre-readers. The printed version of The Red Winged Owl was read aloud to small groups of 4–5 children. Participants included 41 good and 40 poor comprehenders (age range 59–68 months) who were identified based on narrative comprehension scores. The experimental group was exposed to four e-stories on an iPad, while the control group listened to readings of the printed versions of the same storybooks. Data were collected by administering pre- and post-tests and the preschool reading attitudes scale and by asking narrative comprehension questions. Children's retellings were audio-recorded. The findings revealed that (a) the poor and good comprehender groups had higher narrative comprehension in the short text e-story condition, (b) there was a significant interaction effect for the narrative comprehension of poor and good comprehenders in longer texts and (c) children's post-reading attitude scores did not differ by group level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) has a economic and strategic importance that provides raw materials to the textile sector. Efforts are being made to increase cotton yield and fiber quality through breeding studies carried out in the world and in Türkiye. It is necessary to determine the yield and yield criteria of the genotypes to be included in the breeding programs and to determine their superiority compared to the control varieties. In this research carried out for this purpose, 165 cotton genotypes were tested to determine yield and yield components. The trial was carried out in 2019 in the experimental area of Siirt University Faculty of Agriculture, Field Crops Department, in 4 blocks according to the Augmented trial design, and 165 genotype materials, including 160 cotton genotypes and 5 control varieties (Stoneville 468, BA 119, BA 440, Edessa, Lima) was used as plant material. In the study, seed cotton yield, plant height, number of monopodial and sympodial branches, number of nodes and number of bolls were examined. Results showed that the highest seed cotton yield were obtained from MNH-786, Dpl-5540-85-subokra and Mex 123 cotton genotypes and that these genotypes showed the highest values than the superior control variety. Deltapine 5816, Stoneville 213 and CIM-70 genotypes were found to be promising for plant height, VH 260, Stoneville 213 and Tamcot Sphinx for sympodial branches, and Deltapine 905, NIAB 777, Tonia and Stoneville 213 genotypes for boll number. The findings showed that there is a wide genetic variability among cotton genotypes in terms of yield and yield component, genotypes with ideal values in terms of desired characteristics can be used as parents in cotton breeding program and new cotton genotypes suitable for the textile sector can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the effect of recovery satisfaction on customer satisfaction and trust and the effect of these two variables on corporate reputation. Customer satisfaction and trust provide opportunities for airline companies to gain competitive advantage. At the point of providing satisfaction and gaining trust, the process of compensating for errors that may arise during service delivery should be taken into consideration. In this context, the effect of recovery satisfaction in terms of customers' trust and satisfaction with the company was also tried to be determined in this study. During the data collection process, the participants were reached through online survey management. The questionnaire form of 402 participants who traveled by airline and whose complaints were resolved was taken into consideration. According to the research results, recovery satisfaction has a effect on customer satisfaction and trust, and customer satisfaction and trust has a positive effect on corporate reputation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments under Industry 4.0 allows to collect and analyze measurements during milling process. For such projects to be done, software needs to be developed. Developing software through testing is expensive and tedious. In this study, milling dynamics is simulated through Matlab Simulink. In order to explain dynamics of the process, literature research has been conducted to select suitable models and merged with chip regeneration model. For force model, linear force model and Martellotti static chip thickness model has been selected. For transfer functions, hammer tests conducted on the milling machine that experiments is done on and modal analysis is applied on obtained Frequency Response Functions (FRFs). For workpiece material, AL7075 has been selected and force coefficients has been obtained from another study that was conducted by authors. Cutting tests has been performed and acceleration of workpiece at X and Y directions are measured in order to be compared to simulation output which confirms the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Different organs respond differently to cisplatin (CDDP)-induced toxicity. Oleuropein (OLE) is a natural phenolic antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential protective effect of OLE against CDDP-induced ototoxicity by evaluating expression of genes associated with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage and repair in cochlear cells. METHODS: House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1) cells were treated using CDDP, OLE, and OLE–CDDP. The water-soluble tetrazolium salt assay was used for monitoring cell viability. Deoxyribonucleic acid damage in cells due to the CDDP, OLE, and combination treatments was determined using a flow-cytometric kit. The change in the expression of 84 genes associated with CCDP, OLE, and OLE–CDDP treatments that induced DNA damage was tested using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction array. Changes ≥3-fold were considered significant. RESULTS: House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 cell viability was significantly reduced by CDDP. The OLE–CDDP combination restored the cell viability. Cisplatin increased the H2AX ratio, while OLE–CDDP combination decreased it. Some of the DNA damage-associated genes whose expression was upregulated with CDDP were downregulated with OLE–CDDP, while the expression of genes such as Gadd45g and Rev1 was further downregulated. The expression of DNA repair-related Abl1, Dbd2, Rad52, and Trp53 genes was downregulated with CDDP, whereas their expression was upregulated with OLE–CDDP treatment. CONCLUSION: In cochlear cells, the OLE–CDDP combination downregulated DNA damage-associated gene expression relative to that upregulated mainly by CDDP. The results revealed that OLE has a potential protective effect on CDDP-induced ototoxicity in cochlear cells by altering the expression of DNA damage-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pistachio psylla [Agonoscena pistaciae Burck. and Laut. (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae)] is one of the pests that economically affect the worlwide pistachio production. Due to the harmful effects of chemicals used in pest control, residue problems can occur in products. In this study, the mass capturing efficiency of yellow sticky traps, which are mostly used to determine the appearance period of the pest, was determined with the 1016B coded version of the yellow sticky traps. The study was conducted in Tülmen, Karaköprü, Şanlıurfa (Turkey) province between 2016-2018. In the first year of the study, the difference between the cost of traps and the cost of pest control was determined between 4 traps/tree and 8 traps/tree in 100 trees. It was determined that 4 traps/tree was more economical. In the second and third years of the study, yellow sticky traps were hung on wild almond trees and pistachio orchards to determine the emergence of the pest from hibernation in these locations, and following the determination of emergence, psyllid adults and nymphs were counted on the 4 compound leaves of 10 trees by impact / visual control methods. After the count, traps were hung on 10 randomly selected trees, with 4 traps per tree, at the beginning of March each year. The adhesive on the traps was renewed monthly, and the number of nymphs was compared between March-November following the pistachio phenology on compound leaves with and without traps. In the statistical evaluation of the results of the study, it was determined that the psyllid nymph numbers in the orchards where 4 traps/tree were hung in both years were statistically different compared to the control. However, in 2017, the number of nymphs in the trees where traps were hung was much higher than in 2018, and this difference is assumed to be due to the fact that the precipitation was higher in 2018 and the adult individuals caught in the traps were fewer and the nymphs were damaged by precipitation in the control treatments. In terms of the number of nymphs on the compound leaves, it was determined that in 2017/2018, the number of trapped/control nymphs was 3381 / 6415 in 2017 while in 2018 this value was 3265 / 4746. In conclusion, the results of this study are important in terms of providing an alternative method to chemical control in pistachio integrated pest management and are promising in terms of offering an alternative control opportunity for psyllid control in low and medium populations. However, this method should be expected to reduce the psyllid population below the Economic Damage Threshold, by using it in combination with other control methods, rather than as a control method that can be used alone in high pest populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we are interested in two principal topics. First, the bright optical soliton solutions of the third-order (1+1)-nonlinear Schrödinger equation including power law nonlinearity with inter-modal and spatio-temporal dispersions are perused by taking advantage of the new Kudryashov method. Second, the impacts of power law nonlinearity parameters on soliton attitude are investigated for acquired bright soliton form. With the proposed technique, the bright optical soliton solution is acquired, and 3D, contour, and 2D plots are depicted. Then, the impact of power law nonlinearity parameters on the soliton attitude has been successfully demonstrated. As is clear from this perusal power law parameters have an important impact on the soliton attitude, and this impact alters based on the soliton form. As regards our investigation, this form of the equation has not been studied with the power law nonlinearity in the absence of the chromatic dispersion for nonlinear models and the proposed method has not been applied the introduced equation before. It is expected that the consequences which are acquired in this study will shed light on the studies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper tackles with the optical soliton solutions of stochastic the third-order nonlinear Schrödinger equation having multiplicative white noise via Ito calculus. Two efficient analytical procedures, which are the unified Riccati equation expansion method and the new Kudryashov method, are performed to structure the stochastic soliton solutions of introduced model. By making this choice, it has been intended to take advantage of the properties of these methods at the same time without using accessional operation and time in problem solving. Under favour of these techniques, bright and dark soliton forms are derived and their behavioral alterations on soliton dynamics under the effect of stochastic and the third-order dispersion terms are figured by 2D, contour and 3D diagrams. Considering the fact that the stochastic form of the equation has not been studied before in the absence of the chromatic dispersion term and the importance of noise effect for nonlinear models it is expected that the results which are obtained in this study will make a contribution to the studies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractVerbal fluency (VF) evaluates language and cognitive abilities. This study compared VF in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) and healthy controls (HC), examining variables including correct responses (CR), mean cluster size (MCS), switches (S), and fluency difference score (FDS). RRMS participants were subgrouped by Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), to explore the relationship between MS severity and VF. Twenty-four RRMS participants and matched HCs underwent Mini-Mental State Exam and VF Test. Statistical analysis compared VF between RRMS subgroups based on severity levels, and in HC. RRMS significantly impacted the CR, and S (CRSF p = 0.01, SSF p = 0.002; CRPF=0.002, SPF p = 0.002), while there was no significant difference in FDS between RRMS groups (p = 0.9). No significant relationship was found between EDSS scores, and VF subtests (CRSF p = 0.061, MCSSF p = 0.46, SSF p = 0.051, CRPF p = 0.521, MCSPF p = 0.966, SPF p = 0.599). In RRMS, our results demonstrate impairments in all VF parameters except the MCSSF+PF, and FDS. This study suggests that intact MCSSF+PF may reflect preserved verbal memory and word recall, while significant switching differences may indicate impaired cognitive flexibility. Similar FDS to those of HC suggest that no performance discrepancy in subtests in RRMS. Intact MCS might be a distinctive pattern in the early clinical stage of MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization studies for the energy management systems of hybrid electric powertrains have critical importance as an effective measure for vehicle manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption due to increasingly stringent emission regulations in the automotive industry, strict fuel economy legislation, continuously rising oil prices, and increasing consumer awareness of global warming and environmental pollution. In this study, firstly, the mathematical model of the powertrain and the rule-based energy management system of the vehicle with a power-split hybrid electric vehicle configuration are developed in the Matlab/Simulink environment and verified with real test data from the vehicle dynamometer for the UDDS drive cycle. In this way, a realistic virtual test platform has been developed where the simulation results of the energy management systems based on discrete dynamic programming and Pontryagin's minimum principle optimization can be used to train the artificial neural network-based energy management algorithms for hybrid electric vehicles. The average fuel consumption in relation to the break specific fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine and the total electrical energy consumption of the battery in relation to the operating efficiency of the electrical machines, obtained by comparing the simulation results at the initial battery charging conditions of the vehicle using different driving cycles, will be analyzed and the advantages of the different energy management techniques used will be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of overweight/ obesity and factors that may be associated with obesity in preschool children. Materials and Methods: The study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. All children between the ages of 4 and 6 years attending relevant educational institutions were included in the study. The height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference of 822 children were measured and 556 of the questionnaires were completed and included in the study. Our questionnaire included questions on socio-demographic characteristics and the Quality Index of the Mediterranean Diet in Children(KIDMED scale). The data were analyzed in the SPSS package, and logistic regression models were created with the variables found to be significant after univariate analysis. P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the participants, 68(12.3%) were overweight and 28(5%) were obese. When analyzing the overweight/obesity status, it was observed that the frequency of being overweight/obese was higher in males(p=0.05), children whose mothers were obese(p<0.001) and children who started complementary feeding before 6 months(p=0.042). In the KIDMED classification, 19.6% of the participants had a high level of compliance and 18% had a low level of compliance. In the logistic regression model, higher maternal Body Mass Index(BMI) increased the risk of obesity status of the participants approximately sevenfold, and switching to complementary foods before 6 months increased the risk approximately threefold. Conclusion: Because the mother is in the most important position in preventing pre-school childhood obesity, maternal health and education should be given importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of overweight/ obesity and factors that may be associated with obesity in preschool children. Materials and Methods: The study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. All children between the ages of 4 and 6 years attending relevant educational institutions were included in the study. The height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference of 822 children were measured and 556 of the questionnaires were completed and included in the study. Our questionnaire included questions on socio-demographic characteristics and the Quality Index of the Mediterranean Diet in Children(KIDMED scale). The data were analyzed in the SPSS package, and logistic regression models were created with the variables found to be significant after univariate analysis. P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the participants, 68(12.3%) were overweight and 28(5%) were obese. When analyzing the overweight/obesity status, it was observed that the frequency of being overweight/obese was higher in males(p=0.05), children whose mothers were obese(p<0.001) and children who started complementary feeding before 6 months(p=0.042). In the KIDMED classification, 19.6% of the participants had a high level of compliance and 18% had a low level of compliance. In the logistic regression model, higher maternal Body Mass Index(BMI) increased the risk of obesity status of the participants approximately sevenfold, and switching to complementary foods before 6 months increased the risk approximately threefold. Conclusion: Because the mother is in the most important position in preventing pre-school childhood obesity, maternal health and education should be given importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Our study aims to examine the thoughts of final-year (intern) medical students about their specialty choices and the reasons underlying these thoughts. Materials and Methods: Our study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Intern students studying in 2022 and 2023 were asked questions about their sociodemographic characteristics and specialty choice plans. In the study, logistic regression models were created for significant variables after univariate analysis. For statistical significance, a significance level of p < 0.05 was accepted. Results: The most common reason for those who did not want to specialize was the difficulty of the assistantship process, while those who wanted to specialize most commonly cited the desire to work in a specific branch that would provide professional satisfaction. It was determined that being male increases the choices for surgical sciences by 1.6 times. When socioeconomic status was examined, those with low status were found to prefer surgical sciences 4.6 times more than those with moderate status and 2.5 times more than those with high status. Choosing a surgical medical sciences increases high financial returns by 2.5 times, the desire to spend time for oneself/family by 1.8 times, the low malpractice risk in the specialty branch by 4.5 times, the difficulty of the education process by 1.8 times, and the influence of lessons/internships/instructors by 2.1 times for internal-basic medical sciences. Conclusion: Improving the economic conditions of physicians, minimizing malpractice risks, and achieving work/life balance are the most important topics that need to be developed for the successful delivery of health services to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent chronic joint condition causing substantial pain and disability. In recent years, intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), concentrated growth factor (CGF), and hyaluronic acid (HA) have emerged as promising KOA therapies. We aimed to compare the effects of intra-articular CGF, PRP, and HA in KOA patients. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with KOA and who were grade 2-3 according to the Kellgreen-Lawrence classification in radiological imaging were included in the study. Patients were randomized into three groups receiving a single injection of either HA, PRP, or CGF. Patients were evaluated for pain scores using the visual analog scale (VAS) and for pain, stiffness, and physical function using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) before and 1 and 6 months after the procedure. Results: Of 60 patients, 41 were female and 19 were male. According to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification, 27 patients had grade II and 33 patients had grade III KOA, with a similar distribution among the three groups. The VAS scores showed a statistically significant decrease in all groups at 1-month and 6-month follow-up compared to preprocedural scores. However, there was no significant difference among the groups in terms of VAS scores. The WOMAC-pain, -stiffness, -physical function scores also showed a significant decrease in all groups at 1-month and 6-month follow-up compared to preprocedural scores. The CGF group had the lowest WOMAC scores at both time points, with a statistically significant difference compared to the PRP group (p<0.05). Patient satisfaction rates were high in all groups, while the satisfaction rate was highest in the CGF group. Conclusion: CGF demonstrated superior pain alleviation and functional improvement compared to PRP and HA. Although the results of this study demonstrate the potential of regenerative treatments for KOA, more research with larger samples and longer follow-up is needed for robust validation. Additionally, the standardization of treatment protocols is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the effects of surfactant solutions on pressure drop properties and heat transfer characteristics in a double pipe heat exchanger have been investigated. An ionic surfactant (SDS) and two nonionic surfactants (NP-10 and Tween 80) solutions with 0.2 wt% are utilized at different flow rates. The results show that pressure drops for surfactant solutions are lower than those for water at equivalent flow rates. NP-10 demonstrates high drag reduction values, reaching a maximum of approximately 15%, whereas Tween 80 has lower drag reduction values, which vary according to the flow rate. Besides, Nusselt number for water in this study reveals a satisfactory agreement with the predictions derived from the Dittus-Boelter equation with a difference of 2.1%. While NP-10 and Tween 80 addition cause the Nusselt number to decline, SDS does not significantly alter it when compared to water. Energy correlations with high R2 values have been developed using experimental data for water and surfactant solutions. Furthermore, enhancement factors (η), the ratio of heat transferred at constant pumping power with and without surfactant, have been calculated. The η values vary within a range of 0.8‒1.1 depending on the flow rate, and for SDS solution, these values are above 1 when the Reynolds number is in the range of 13000–25000. In the case of NP-10 and Tween 80 solution, the η values are below 1 for the whole flow rate range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding which factors influence exchange rate movements is important for understanding economic development, trade patterns, investment decisions, and for designing economic policies. In this study, we allow for monetary, domestic and global financial variables to assess the relevant importance of each of the variables to exchange rate volatility in the case of Turkey. The paper investigates the dynamics of exchange rate volatility of the Turkish lira in a complementary perspective by employing both Generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) method and Lyapunov exponents over the period from March 1, 2019 to November 11, 2021. Firstly, decomposing the impact of domestic and global financial variables, the results of the GARCH model indicate that the exchange rate volatility is affected by Volatility index (VIX) and Credit default swaps (CDS). This result suggests that the exchange rate shocks experienced are mainly caused by global factors, therefore policymakers should focus on volatility spillovers caused by global financial markets. Secondly, detected positive maximal Lyapunov exponent shows that complexity in foreign exchange markets has been increased, market expectations lead to multiple-equilibria and diverging volatility eventually will generate recurrent spikes in currency value. These complementary findings have important implications for interventions of Central banks and preventing systemic risks, as well as portfolio and risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Prolonged intubation is a known risk factor of LTS. LTS related to COVID‐19 may result in a different phenotype: pronation affects the location of stenosis and COVID‐19 pneumonia can decline lung mechanics. Therefore, airway management in these patients may carry unique challenges for both anesthesiologists and surgeons. This prospective observational feasibility trial aims to evaluate the use of a novel thin, cuffed, endotracheal tube (Tritube) in combination with flow‐controlled ventilation (FCV) in the management of patients with COVID‐19‐related LTS undergoing laryngeal surgery. Methods: 20 patients suffering from COVID‐19‐related LTS, as diagnosed by CT, requiring endolaryngeal surgery, with or without CO2 laser, were included. Ultrathin endotracheal tube Tritube, together with FCV was used for airway management and ventilation. Feasibility, ventilation efficiency, and surgical exposure were evaluated. Results: Median duration of mechanical ventilation during their ICU stay was 17 days, (range, 7–27), and all patients had been pronated. In 18/20 patients, endoscopic diagnosis confirmed the initial CT diagnosis: posterior subglottic stenosis. Surgeons' satisfaction on the view was rated 9 out of 10 (range 7–10), where 0 was the worst view and 10 was the best view. Hemodynamic and respiratory variables were within the normal clinical range during the surgical procedure. One patient that had a SpO2 of 90% before induction of anesthesia, a temporal drop to 89%, caused meeting the predefined requirement of "respiratory complication." Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using Tritube with FCV in patients with relatively unusual subglottic posterior location tracheal stenosis, undergoing laryngotracheal surgery. Tritube provides a good surgical field and FCV provides highly adequate ventilation especially in patients with compromised lung mechanics. Level of Evidence: IV, non‐comparitive prospective clinical trial with 20 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of using exopolysaccharides (EPS) derived from whey as stabilizers in ice cream production on various characteristics of ice cream were investigated. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) were produced from whey using two different yogurt culture combinations. According to the obtained results, the firmness values of ice creams produced solely with EPS2 or in combination with EPS2 + Xs were significantly lower than the values of other ice creams (P<0.01). Additionally, EPS1 ice cream was found to be darker and greener in color compared to other ice creams (P<0.01). According to sensory evaluations, the ice cream sample produced solely with EPS1 was found to be statistically significantly lower in color compared to other samples (5.96 points, depending on the criteria examined, P>0.05-P<0.01). The total aerobic mesophilic bacteria content and yeast-mold content in the ice cream samples were found to be quite low. The highest bacterial counts were determined to be 3.23 log cfu/g and 1.12 log cfu/g for yeast-mold. Sample variation does not have a significant effect on these microbial contents (P>0.05). However, it has been observed that as the storage period increases, the total aerobic mesophilic bacteria count in the samples decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of naringenin (Ngn) on Nε‐(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) inhibition during the cooking of meatballs. In addition, to determine the relationship of CML formation in meatballs with TBARS and pH. For this purpose, CML, TBARS, pH, and sensory analyses were performed by cooking the meatballs in which Ngn was added at different rates and storing them at 4 ± 1 °C for 16 days, by cooking them at 250 °C for 10 min at intervals of 4 days. The amount of CML in the meatballs was 13.74 ± 0.73–14.29 ± 0.56 on day 0 and between 15.24 ± 0.12 and 18.15 ± 0.43 μg g−1 on day 16. TBARS values of the meatballs were between 1.55 ± 0.21 and 1.78 ± 0.17 on day 0 and between 2.54 ± 0.28 and 3.28 ± 0.47 mg MDA kg−1 on day 16. It was determined that there was a difference between the groups containing Ngn and the control group in terms of smell and general taste on the 8th storage day and in the general taste on the 12th storage day. As a result, it was determined that the addition of naringenin to the meatball composition inhibited the formation of CML in the meatballs, slowed the oxidation rate, and did not adversely affect the sensory properties. Thus, it can be emphasised that adding naringenin to meatballs will add functional properties to meatballs and turn them into a more beneficial product for human health. This research provides valuable references and guidelines for the safety of fried foods based on the control of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Shanghai Elbow Dysfunction Score (SHEDS) is a self-reported assessment of post-traumatic elbow stiffness that measures elbow-related symptoms and elbow motion capacities. This study aimed to (1) translate and cross-culturally adapt the SHEDS into Turkish and (2) investigate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version in patients with post-traumatic elbow stiffness. The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the SHEDS (SHEDS-T) were tested in 108 patients (72 male; mean age, 43.2 ± 11.2 years) with post-traumatic elbow stiffness. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficients were used to estimate test-retest. Construct validity was analyzed with the Turkish version of the Disabilities Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), and the Short Form-12 (PCS-12 and MCS-12). The SHEDS-T showed sufficient internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.83) and test-retest reliability (ICC =.96). The correlation coefficients between the SHEDS-T, the DASH, and the MEPS were.75 and.54, respectively (p <.001). There was a moderate correlation between the SHEDS-T and PCS-12 (r =.65, p =.01) and a weak positive correlation between the SHEDS and the MCS-12 (r =.40, p =.03). The SHEDS-T has sufficient reliability and validity to measure elbow-related symptoms and elbow motion capacities for Turkish-speaking individuals with post-traumatic elbow stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymomas originate from thymic epithelial cells. They are usually benign or low-grade tumors and may also show malignant potential. It is the most common primary mediastinal tumor in adults, accounting for 20% of mediastinal masses in adults. Thymomas usually originate from the anterior-superior mediastinum as a primary mass. However, they can be in any localization from the neck to the diaphragm. Thymomas can sometimes be located ectopically outside the mediastinum, in the cervical region, pericardiac area or within the lung. And even ectopic thymomas can be found in the lung periphery and lung hilus outside the intrapulmonary focus. In this article, we aimed to share the imaging findings of 3 cases of ectopic thymoma unrelated to the mediastinal thymus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human error is one of the most important factors contributing to occupational accidents. Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) methods have been used successfully in many fields to determine the probability of errors contributing to such accidents, estimate the impact of their consequences, and develop error reduction strategies. In this study, it has described some HRA methods and their implementations in several fields, including maritime, aviation, railway, space, health, nuclear, petrochemical, and construction sectors. Examples are drawn from articles dealing with HRA issues listed in the Web of Science Core Collection database between 2012 and 2022. The relatively small number of HRA studies conducted in Türkiye are found mainly in maritime applications. This review is intended to encourage the widespread use of HRA methods in all industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Elevated lactate has been found to be associated with a higher mortality in a various patient population of intensive care unit (ICU). Our aim is to review the relationship between arterial blood lactate level and the mortality rate in septic cases admitted to the ICU. Material and Method: Hundred and ten septic patients who were followed up in ICU between March 2021 and November 2021 were included in this study. The patients included in the study were divided into two groups as survivors and deceased and all the parameters studied were statistically analyzed for both groups. Results: Sixty-six (60%) were male of 110 patients. The mean age was 62(49-72) years. Mortality rate was 58%. LOS (length of stay) in ICU was 4(2-6) days. Septic shock was diagnosed in 60 (54.5%) of the patients upon admission to the ICU. The requirements for IMV (invasive mechanical ventilation) and NIMV non-invasive mechanical ventilation) for patients were 70(63.6%) and 43(39.1%), respectively. APACHE-II score was 24±9. Mean arterial lactate level was 3.5(2.4-5.2). As a result of the logistic regression analysis, Glasgow coma scale (GCS), requirement for IMV, arterial lactate level and LOS in ICU were determined as independent risk variables for mortality (OR =1.304 (1.073-1.586), p =0.008, OR =5.747 (1.501-22.002), p =0.011, OR =1.703 (1.190-2.518), p =0.004, OR =1.472 (1.042-2.213), p =0.04), respectively. Conclusion: As a result of the logistic regression analysis, GCS, requirement for IMV, arterial lactate level and LOS in ICU were determined as independent risk variables for mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground cable installation in historical areas, natural protected areas, narrow streets, or residential areas with high traffic flows is very difficult due to both legal permits and the conditions of the work sites. The trefoil layout requires a smaller channel than the flat layout. However, the trefoil layout carries some risks, such as damage to the cables together in the event of short circuit faults and reduced ampacity in single-side-bonded systems. This study's scope examines the current carrying capacities and thermal effects of directly buried underground cables in trefoil and vertical layouts using CYMCAP power cable analysis software. A field investigation was also carried out to verify the analysis results. The performance of the recommended method was evaluated by considering current and temperature measurements from the fieldwork and analysis. According to the studied cable design, the current carrying capacities of the cables in flat and vertical layouts are similar and higher than in the trefoil layout. However, it should be taken into consideration that these results will vary depending on a cable system's design parameters. As a result, this article emphasizes that a vertical layout can be considered as a layout option in certain areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debridement and Achilles tendon reinsertion (DATR) have been the most common surgical approach for the treatment of Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy (IAT), while dorsal closing wedge calcaneal osteotomy (DCWCO) has recently gained popularity as an alternative surgical option. This study aimed to systematically review the published literature on both surgical techniques and compare their clinical outcomes and complication rates. A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines using Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases. The inclusion criteria encompassed clinical studies reporting functional outcomes and complications, with a minimum of 10 patients and at least 12 months of follow-up. Seven studies (n = 169) were included for the analysis of DATR, and eight studies (n = 227) were included for the analysis of open DCWCO. Both groups showed a similar improvement in AOFAS score. The overall complication rates were 16.6% in the DATR group and 9.2% in the DCWCO group, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, there was a significantly higher incidence of wound complications in the DATR group (10.1%, 95% C.I.: 4.7–15.6) compared to the DCWCO group (2.5%, 95% C.I.: 0.6–4.4) as the confidence intervals did not overlap. Clinical outcomes and overall complication rates of both techniques were comparable, although DCWCO had a lower incidence of wound complications. Further research should be focused on prospective studies comparing the two techniques to corroborate the current findings. Level IV; meta-analysis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on some physicochemical properties and starter cultures of yogurts enriched with vitamins at different concentrations during storage. For this purpose, yogurt was produced by adding the vitamins folic acid (B9), biotin (B7), and vitamin D3 in different concentrations to sheep and cow milk and stored at 4 °C. Physicochemical analyses and microbiological analyses were performed for each group of yogurt on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. RESULTS: There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the groups in pH and titration acidity (%) during storage. It was determined that in the yogurts produced from sheep milk, the groups enriched with vitamins had a higher number of L. bulgaricus than the control group on the 7th day of storage. Moreover, the groups containing vitamin D3 exhibited a higher Lactobacillus bulgaricus count on the 21st day of storage. The highest L. bulgaricus counts on the 7th day in yogurts produced from cow's milk were observed in groups containing 0.5 mL of vitamin B9 and B7. No mold or yeast growth was observed during storage in any of the yogurt groups made from cow and sheep milk. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it was determined that the enrichment of yogurt with vitamins B7, B9, and D3 did not adversely affect the quality of the yogurt; rather, it improved. We recommend that yogurt enriched with micronutrients be studied economically, and mass production should be initiated by yogurt companies as soon as possible. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibilities of using organic wastes, such as hazelnut shells (HS), walnut shells (WS), hazelnut skins (HzS), and spent mushroom compost (SMC), as growth medium in cut flower rose cultivation in soilless substrate culture were investigated. The parameters, such as the date of cutting the flower (day), flower stem length (cm), flower stem diameter (mm), flower length (cm), flower diameter (cm), flower color, color of the top and bottom of the leaf, and yield (piece), were examined. In addition, samples taken from the growth medium at the beginning and ending stages of the experiment were analyzed. The first flowers were cut from the HzS +P medium 38 days after planting. The highest yield value (20.6 flower/plant) was obtained from SMC medium. The longest flowers (63.89 ± 0.947 cm) and the thickest stem flowers (5.86 ± 0.136 mm) were cut from the control medium. It was determined that the media also affected the flower and leaf colors. According to the results obtained, SMC and HzS+perlite mediums can be recommended as an alternative to cocopeat in the production of cut roses in soilless substrate culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, and is frequently exposed to injuries. The applied surgical treatments, protection of the shoulder after surgery, care in the use of the shoulder in activities of daily living (ADLs) and gradual exercise programs are all vital to the recovery process. The present study investigates the effect of video-assisted training (VAT) on upper extremity complications and functions after rotator cuff repair (RCR). Materials and method: Included in this prospective, parallel two-armed, randomized controlled study were an experimental group (n: 24) that received VAT detailing early postoperative care for RCR and instructions on performing ADLs, and that had access to a 90-day gradual exercise program, and a control group (n: 24) that received routine care. The primary outcomes were upper extremity problems and functions, as assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and modified Constant-Murley scores (MCM), while secondary outcomes were complications that had developed within the past three months. The outcomes were measured at baseline, after six weeks and at three months. Results: After 3 months, a statistically significant difference was noted in the DASH-Work (p = 0.001) and MCM ADLs scores (p = 0.003) of the two groups, and significant changes in which the scale scores of both groups when compared to the initial measurement. Only one patient in the VAT group developed complications after RCR at one month; there were no significant differences in the complications of the two groups (p = 0.235). Conclusion: VAT can increase function in RCR patients. Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, can use the VAT method to improve shoulder function in patients after RCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Although high muscle strength worsens the sense of force, it is unknown whether there is a relationship between this deterioration and the underlying molecular mechanisms. This study examined the relationship between decreased force sense (FS) acuity and strength-related gene expressions. Materials and methods: Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and FS (50% MVIC) tests were performed on the knee joints of twenty-two subjects. The expression analyses were evaluated by qRT-PCR in blood samples taken before, after MVIC, after 50% MVIC, and 15 min after the test. Results: MVIC and FS error values were significantly correlated with each other (r = .659, p = .001). The qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated that the expressed mRNAs of the interleukin 6 (IL-6), alpha-actinin 3 (ACTN3), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor (CNTFR) genes dramatically increased until 50% MVIC and subsequently decreased 15 min after the exercise (p < .05). The muscle-specific creatine kinase (CKMM), myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), and G-protein ß3 subunit (GNB3) genes reached their peak expression levels 30 min after MVIC (p < .05). ACE and ACTN3 gene expression increased significantly in parallel with the increased FS error (p < .05). These gene expression fluctuations observed at 50% MVIC and after the rest could be related to changes in cellular metabolism leading to fatigue. Conclusion: The time points of gene expression levels during exercise need to be considered. The force acuity of those whose maximal force develops too much may deteriorate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The use of online learning, which has spread rapidly worldwide in recent years, has increased considerably with the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to evaluate the online learning experience of children attending primary school 1st grade and the relationship between online learning, related factors, and emotional/behavioral problems. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out with 378 mothers who have a child attending primary school 1st grade. Demographic data were assessed with the Sociodemographic Data Form, which included information about the online learning process and school, and the parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess emotional/behavioral problems. Results: 50.5% of the mothers reported that their children experienced emotional/ behavioral problems, while 45.3% reported that online learning exacerbated their children's emotional/behavioral problems. SDQ emotional problems score was significantly higher in girls, while SDQ conduct problems and Hyperactivity/inattention sub-scores, and SDQ total scores were significantly higher in boys. The SDQ peer problems subscore and SDQ total scores of illiterates were significantly higher than those of literates. There was a significant negative correlation between the extracurricular screen time and all SDQ scores except the prosocial behavior subscore. The SDQ conduct problems and peer problems subscores and SDQ total scores of children with regular activities/hobbies were significantly lower than the others, while the SDQ prosocial behavior score was significantly higher. Conclusion: Our study findings showed that online learning negatively affected almost half of the children in terms of emotional/behavioral problems for different reasons, gender can lead to differences in emotional/behavioral problems in early childhood, illiterate children and children with increased extracurricular screen time may be more at risk in terms of emotional/behavioral problems and regular activities/hobbies may contribute positively to the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]